Wimps R'Us

I hate the rain, and we've certainly had plenty of it. I don't like riding in it, I don't like walking in it, so apart from the necessities of dog-walking, I've confined myself to barracks and done useful things like cataloguing my (vast) music collection. Being addicted to exercise, I have a cross-trainer, which does the job, but listening to audio books while working out in the garage is no substitute for being outside.

But today, the roads were dry and there was nothing to stop me. You forget how brilliant it is...

Sadly, the rain has returned.

That 'feel good' rush...

After a pretty dreadful summer in Cornwall, the last couple of weeks have been absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately I haven't been en pleine forme to take full advantage, but this afternoon, although lounging in the garden with the latest Private Eye tempted, I decided to go out on the bike. And what an afternoon to be on a bike. That feeling of euphoria as you cycle through beautiful countryside almost effortlessly has to be experienced. Unfortunately, it soon evaporates, really I should blog while I'm out on the road, but, well, can't be bothered. Attached photo is the Camel at Grogley (yes, really).

It was good to have some pleasure today before watching England get marmelised by the Aussies in the rugby.

Love to you all...

Something must be done

It has been the worst summer I can remember in Cornwall. Seldom a day without rain, often rain for day after day, and usually torrential. I don't mind the cold, but I don't like being wet, so I have not done a lot of cycling since I got back, especially as I was unable to sit down comfortably for a couple of weeks.

At last, now that summer is over, summer seems to have arrived. I fancy doing one last trip before winter, and thought I might go to Lands End, well, not Lands End itself because it is ghastly. It is in private hands and it just gets worse and worse. Only Disney could make it more dismal than it is already...I digress, not Lands End itself, but probably Porthcurno, worth a visit for its telegraph museum alone.

It will be a bit of a juggling act, I need two fine days, but at the moment, hotel prices are still ridiculous, so I shall wait until they come down a bit, and hope the weather waits with me. In the meantime, there is good cycling around here, and I am trying to track down a most irritating noise....

Ants

You can see how empty life is without cycling filling every waking hour - I am reduced to talking about ants.

But first, a cautionary tale - rocks can be slippery when wet. Out with the dogs on Monday morning, as usual, and it was chucking it down, as usual. There is a stile into the field near us, which I go over twice a day, every day. There are rocks either side of the stile, normally providing a sturdy path, and given little thought. On this fatal day, however μ, the coefficient of friction, was obviously considerably sub-optimum for reliable traction. Down I went, possibly the most painful thing that has happened to me since, and I still don't know how it happened, I got myself tangled up with my bicycle frame whilst descending the South Downs rather fast. Anyway, it could have been worse, could have been life-changing had I been less lucky, but as it is I have a backside the colour of a baboon's and pains in my back which make gardening difficult...into each life a little rain must fall.

Oh, yes, ants...idling in the conservatory, unable to do any gardening - see above - I was surprised to see a large squadron, I would say swarm, but apparently that is racist, of ants heading in my direction. Normally, I take a benign view towards other life on this planet, if it leaves me alone, I am happy to reciprocate. I addressed the advancing horde and told them they were not wanted, that they must leave, and that would be the end of the matter. I think the leader muttered something about 'all property is theft', so desperate measures will be taken.

And finally, cue for a song...Blue Moon

Catullus

I just came across this quotation from Catullus, translated by the ever-amusing Edward Enfield:

You come back to your own home and you lie on your own bed and after all that struggle abroad there is nothing left to worry about. What could be better? This alone would make it all worthwhile.

Excerpt From: "Downhill all the Way: Cycling Through France from La Manche to the Mediterranean" by Edward Enfield. Scribd.

It is beyond doubt true, but already, I'm missing being on the road, and thinking ahead to the next trip, this time with far less luggage.

Me again

It just goes to show how cycling can fill your life. When I was cycling, you got a fact-filled post every day, but now...tumbleweed. I haven't been doing nothing (is that a double negative? I don't think so.), but most of what I have been doing has revolved around catching up with all the stuff that I didn't do when I was away enjoying myself.

We have a big garden. I don't enjoy gardening. Worse than that, our big garden consists of a mixture of granite, marble, bracken and what we laughingly call the lawn, but what you and your friends would call a field. Just to make absolutely certain that not one iota of fun can be obtained while working in the garden, this seems to be an especially good year for horseflies.

On the much-missed nature table, something which is puzzling me. Last night, when out cycling, I saw a dead badger beside the road. Although it's a quiet road, badgers have very poor eye-sight, so quite likely it was hit by a car. This morning, while out walking, on the other side of the ride, another dead badger. What do you think?

Finally, and I don't know why I'm telling you this, I am actually doing something revenue-earning tomorrow. One of my former customers is paying me to take the train to London, plus my time, plus a free lunch so as to sort out his laptop. I did tell him there were probably people locally who could do it more cheaply and he said those magic words that all self-employed love to hear: "Money is not an issue".

Back to my war on bracken, but I'll leave you with this photo of why I just love living here:

Gee..but it's great to be back home...

One of the plus points about going away is that it makes you appreciate how good you have it at home. I like my comforts and I like my privacy, and  you have to forsake both when you're on the road on a bicycle. The thing that I found most irksome was getting clothes washed and, more importantly, dried. After a month, you really do get fed up with putting on damp socks. I had a gauze bag and thought it would be possible to dry stuff by putting it in the bag and trailing the bag in the wind, but a) you look a dick and b) everything just gets dirty again.

I do like Brittany Ferries, their boats are large and comfortable. Certainly a better option than driving back to Cornwall from Portsmouth, or even worse, Dover.

My bike was utterly disgusting, it took me a morning to clean it, and the chain is still a bit yukky. It has developed a very irritating creak when I'm pedalling hard, and I am trying to track it down. Hopefully not the bottom bracket.

Anyway, home to a garden looking like a rainforest, and bickering at the flying club...I must start planning my next trip.