Today’s guest picture comes from my Somerset correspondent Venetia. She has strayed as far from Somerset as Madeira and sent me this picture from the Mercado dos Lavradores there.
After yesterday’s very dank and gloomy weather, it was a relief to wake up to some friendly sunshine this morning. As it was combined with reasonable temperatures, it seemed like a good day for a cycle ride.
I didn’t get off as early as I should have done because I spent a little time watching the birds.
I keep hoping that some waxwings will visit (they have been seen regularly in Dumfries 30 miles away) but there is no sign of them. I had to be content with a blue tit above…
…and a blackbird below.
I was further delayed by the need to have another go at repairing my mudguard. This required the removal and then the replacement of the front wheel but I was pleased with the result as the wheel turned smoothly.
By then, I needed a cup of coffee but I got away at last, stopping to buy two filled rolls and a couple of bananas from out local shop on my way.
The sun was shining, the larches were golden…
…and all would have been perfect if my mudguard wasn’t still rubbing. I decided to ignore it rather than go back and start again and I managed to live with the noise for quite a few miles before a halt and a rather desperate attempt to sort the problem actually succeeded. The rest of the ride was trouble free.
I chose a route that would take me past yet another wind farm under construction near Gretna.
Most of our wind farms are up in the hills but this one is down near the sea on flat land.
I wondered whether the famously large (but invisible) moon would have resulted in a high tide and when I saw that the tide was in, I pedalled down to the shore at Gretna to have a look. The tide certainly was high…
…and was lapping at the very side of the road. I took a minute to eat one of the rolls and a banana as I watched some very excitable gulls having fun.
You can see from the fence post in the middle of the water how high the tide was.
From a few yards further on, I could look out over the Solway…
…which was gleaming in the low sunlight.
I cycled through Gretna and on into England, keeping to flat roads. I did less climbing in 45 miles today than I did in 30 miles on my last outing and as a result, my legs were in much better humour.
England was looking very pretty and I thought that this view near Rockcliffe might be the best of the day….
…until I saw this one a few hundred yards further along the road.
I made a loop that took me back to Gretna and then had to choose between a rather dull ride straight back up main roads with the wind behind me or winding back across country on a longer, more hilly and more adventurous journey.
Of course I chose the direct route and with the wind behind me, rattled along very comfortably.
I made a quick stop to eat my other roll and banana beside the Esk near Longtown…
…and then made only one more stop to enjoy some very pretty young larch trees on the new road just outside Langholm.
Mrs Tootlepedal had had a busy time volunteering to help with serving meals at the Buccleuch Centre while I was out and we were both quite happy to settle down for a quiet time for the rest of the day.
It was already getting almost too dark for looking at the birds though I did notice that the robin had been beaten to the fat balls in the cage by a dunnock.
Looking at the forecast, it seems that we will soon be back having chilly nights so this dangling poppy may well be the very last flower of the day…
…but I hope to see many more chaffinches as flying bird of the day over the winter.
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That is a high tide by our invisible moon! Tonight is not shaping up for moon viewing here either, although we had some very brief sun and blue sky this morning.
The back road into England looks lovely, with a nice stand of birch off to the right. A good ride!
So the dunnock is in the clink today, and appears to be frowning. Beautiful poppy of the day and quite the exuberant chaffinch of the day to finish!
The whole moon thing, much touted in the press, has been very disappointing.
Your foliage colors are getting really intense and beginning to look a lot like ours. The birches were a nice shot.
We had flooding at our small piece of New Hampshire seashore because of high tides as well. I suppose everyone else must have had the same.
The larches are pretty and the poppy is beautiful.
The poppy looked surprisingly good considering that it was very droopy indeed.
Your guest picture was stunning, and I thoroughly enjoyed your photos of England’s fall colors. Very enjoyable!
Even though your photos show that winter is approaching, I still liked the photos from you ride today, especially the larches. The poppy is lovely also.
Lovely pictures of the high tide and the autumn views. I was impressed that you took the easier ride home, common sense kicking in at last?
Gorgeous autumnal colours! I can well identify with the frustration of malfunctioning bicycle accoutrements having sworn in most unladylike fashion over my carrier and its ability to unscrew itself at the furthest point from home.
Your flying bird of the day seems intent on you catching their best side 🙂
Generally I have been very lucky with the reliability of my machine except for the mudguards whihc are plastic and break all the time. I can’t get the bike shop to find metal ones for me.
What a difference a day makes! Beautiful autumn colours and a lovely seascape too. The birds look smart and happy and the poppy is beautiful as too the fruit in your colourful guest photo. Wonder what the ‘fruit’ is on the bottom left looking like fir cones!
I was wandering about that fruit myself.
I’m told that it’s called the Delicious Fruit – and that it is.
It looks interesting
Lovely colours in Madeira, and along your ride, too.
The Delicious Fruit = Monstera deliciosa. In other words it’s the fruit of the Swiss cheese plant!
Beautiful foliage.
We didn’t see much of the moon either; a glimpse on Sunday evening and then I saw it again this morning for a minute or two.
I have also been on the look-out for waxwings as they have been sighted near here, but no luck so far.
Beautiful shot of the silvery Solway, lovely foliage and a very pretty pink poppy.
Mrs Tootlepedal loves waxwings so she is very sad that we haven’t had a visit so far.