Today's Ride

[moonlite]

Cold and a fine stinging sleet today, perfect day for a bush ride. Cold feet with two pair of wool Sox and windproof riding shoes. I wore insulated gloves, two flannel shirts, insulated light jacket and a heavy windbreaker.View attachment 789100View attachment 789101View attachment 789102View attachment 789103View attachment 789104View attachment 789105
This is a connector trail I built years ago. The next weekend the ATV folks had found it and flagged it. Now it’s an ATV trail, even over stumps I went around on my bicycle. The atv folks made two detours as the trees were too thick and big.
View attachment 789106

Gorgeous colours!

 

[2manyoranges]

The stories of lost farms and homes are always interesting, I think. When I was in my teens in Wiltshire there were fields in which you could still see and walk on bronze age hut foundations. One place from my youth which still is in my mind is Poltesco Higher Mill in Cornwall - a tiny water mill built in the 19th century. When I was 16, I found the mill in a mass of brambles and trees, and was astonished to find all of the mill machinery intact inside the building - complete yet being overtaken by nature. The mill leat was dry and full of debris and decay was setting in to everything. You can imagine the smell of leaf mould, the dark and damp, huge hanging masses of spiders' webs, intrusive brambles, bindweed. Set in a dark, damp and cold valley with overhanging trees, It was clear that a few more decades would see the roof collapse and the whole thing fall into complete ruin. I was astonished and really pleased to later find out that a miller had taken on the restoration and returned the mill to working order. In 2013 a new farm tenant did amazing work all over the estate, including more restoration work. instead of going the way of 'Grants Farm' it now is a fascinating working mill...

 

[moonlite]

The stories of lost farms and homes are always interesting, I think. When I was in my teens in Wiltshire there were fields in which you could still see and walk on bronze age hut foundations. One place from my youth which still is in my mind is Poltesco Higher Mill in Cornwall - a tiny water mill built in the 19th century. When I was 16, I found the mill in a mass of brambles and trees, and was astonished to find all of the mill machinery intact inside the building - complete yet being overtaken by nature. The mill leat was dry and full of debris and decay was setting in to everything. You can imagine the smell of leaf mould, the dark and damp, huge hanging masses of spiders' webs, intrusive brambles, bindweed. Set in a dark, damp and cold valley with overhanging trees, It was clear that a few more decades would see the roof collapse and the whole thing fall into complete ruin. I was astonished and really pleased to later find out that a miller had taken on the restoration and returned the mill to working order. In 2013 a new farm tenant did amazing work all over the estate, including more restoration work. instead of going the way of 'Grants Farm' it now is a fascinating working mill...

View attachment 789243

Fascinating story -- well told! Good to know it's been restored.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

The stories of lost farms and homes are always interesting, I think.

I remember coming across a crumbling tennis court in the middle of the woods deep in Algonquin Park. The gilded age barons had built a mansion which they abandoned when times got tougher.
There are a few lodges, cabins, and hotels too. The forest has taken back most of the land now

 

[reindeer]

 

[moonlite]

Yet another sunny but cold/windy spring day here. Nice ride, partly on hilly dirt roads and partly on rough tracks in a logged-out area outside town.

This ride distinguished by my first-ever birdstrike. It happened when descending at speed -- a Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala), so named because it 'mines' the nectar out of flowers -- it's not a misspelling of Mynah. These are common in this sunkissed land, regarded as pests in urban environments as they drive other birds away and are known to swoop on any encroachers on their turf.

They are a familiar sight along this route too, although not usually sitting somewhat cluelessly on the common highway. But this individual was a bit small and weedy -- a juvenile, I guessed as the distance closed rapidly. Predictably, junior took off on perceiving my rapid approach. Then, unpredictably, it changed direction -- and flew back into the line of fire, so to speak. There was no time for either of us to react: I felt a soft thump on my right shin and was grateful the bird didn't bounce into the spokes.

 

[BOBU]

First ride for a while,

snow out in the cairngorms....

 

[dorset boy]

Today turned out very nice with lots of sunshine ! 30 miles with a big hill thrown in.

 

[al-onestare]

Great ride yesterday morning with, as folks have mentioned, much better weather than the forecast (trash as usual). Managed to catch the first glimpse of sunshine, much missed the past week.

 

[PercyInglesFlyingCircus]

Day off from the circus and with a few delays (2hrs) managed a good 4/5ths of what I intended to ride today before the darkness comes after the weekend

Views from High pike were spectacular as always

Stopped for an adhoc picnic in a sheltered gateway before the last big ascent and just now sinking a pint in the valleys and putting the disco lights on for the last couple of hours back home