An outing

Today’s guest picture comes from my brother who has recently visited Whitby and took this excellent picture of the town.

We were promised a nice day today and although it had rained again over night, it wasn’t a bad morning even though it was cloudy and rather chilly again.  I was in no rush to get going on my bike as I was disappointed that the weather was not better but after a quick look round the garden…

The new clematis finally making an appearance along with the usual damp poppies

…I finally got going, armed with a banana, a honey roll, some dates and guava.

I was in a bit of a grumpy mood as I pedalled up the hill to the top of Callister, into a cool wind with grey skies overhead.   There have been far too few sunny, warm summer cycling days this year and although compared with Texas we are in a very good place, I still felt the lack of warmth on my back quite keenly.

The wild flowers are going over which didn’t help my mood.

Still, once I was over the hill and heading south there was extra food by the road side….

…and some interesting buildings to look at….

A curious looking modern church in Eaglesfield

The ex nuclear power station at Chapelcross being slowly and steadily dismantled

…and the occasional break in the clouds to cheer me up.

I also like trees so I enjoyed this row of four of them marooned in the middle of a field near Eastriggs.

I was intending to visit the Solway shore when I got down to the coast but a quick look showed me that the tide was so far out that I could almost have walked across to England so I didn’t bother and went to Gretna where I had egg and chips for my lunch while people got married in the marriage room attached to the cafe.

Cheered up by all this, I headed further south into England after lunch.  There was a patch of pink nettles that caught my attention near Rockcliffe…

…and I had a look at the River Eden from a high bank.

It was quite  a clear day even though it wasn’t sunny and I could look across the Eden towards the Lake District hills.

The television mast at Caldbeck shows up very clearly.  We used to get our telly pictures from there via a relay on the top of a local hill but now we have entered the satellite age and get digital pictures from the sky.

I pedalled down to Harker, where I passed a major node on the National Electricity Grid.

I am amazed that I can pedal so close to so much power and not feel a thing.  It always seems a bit daring to go past the station.

I pedalled quietly along the back roads of north Cumbria, passing the church at Kirklinton…

A truly pastoral scene

…and shortly after passing the church, I stopped at a little stream because the sun had come out and I thought it was worth a picture…

…and it had a nice bridge too.

My route took me back through Longtown and as it was such a nice day by now, I made a little diversion to Corries Mill on my way home which let me stop to eat my honey roll at another little bridge and stream.

The stream may be in danger of being  blocked though as one of the large trees beside it has an ominous fungus growing on it.

I was going to continue my diversion but some grey clouds looming up made me settle for a direct route home so I headed down to the A7 from Cubbyhill and had the great pleasure of a wind almost directly behind me to help me over the final two hills.

Because of my grumpy mood at the start, I had adopted a very gentle pace for the ride and although I speeded up a bit when I found the wind behind me, it was very relaxing trundling through the countryside and I finished the ride in a lot better mood than when I started.

Even having to stop to put my rain jacket on for a shower just as I got to Langholm did discourage me.

I ended up doing 63 miles in about five and a half hours including all the eating and photo stops so it was a good way to spend the day.  Mrs Tootlepedal had been very busy in the garden while I was out and as the rain had stopped, we had a walk round when I got home.

Special Grandma has produced a late flower….

…and the poppies and wild eyed dahlias looked good.

I had hoped that the new clematis would be fully open by this time but it was still rather tentative.  It should look very good when it does open.

I looked down at less showy plants which I should not ignore.

Lobelia and viola which flower faithfully for many weeks

I had enough energy to mow the drying green but not enough for the middle lawn which was on my to do list.  I had a shower and cycled up to the High Street to buy some milk to make custard to go with a plum crumble which Mrs Tootlepedal was cooking for our tea.

On my way back, I took a picture of some late sun which was brightening up the suspension bridge.

And that, apart from eating the plum crumble, concluded the business for the day.

No flying bird of the day but my son Tony’s friend Robbie has taken a remarkable picture of Tony’s two dogs enjoying a choral moment so here is that instead.

‘Full throated’ is the correct description I think.

Those interested in the bike route can click on the map below for more details.