It's been a bit of an odd time - I caught a particularly nasty bug the night after my event which left me feeling rough on and off up until this week really.. it was really draining and after a day at work I was completely wiped out .. and my knee hasn't recovered properly.. so not the most interesting of times for writing the blog really.
Still I have managed to get out for a few rides .. in between all the coughs and sneezes!!
The first outing was over to Alex's - she managed to get her local newspapers interested and they wanted a photo of us both together... we also took the opportunity to get out on one of the many cycle routes near Alex and do a decent bike ride (which Alex has written about - so I'll not go into it)..
All I say is - the sun shone .. we had a great ride.. and a lot of fun :-) ... even the photographer!!
So the next bike ride I did was at Ennerdale.. I love it down there - so peaceful and tranquil... a million miles from the hustle and bustle of Windermere!! The only trouble was we left Carlisle and it was glorious.. in fact it was glorious everywhere - except for Ennerdale.. but it was a nice ride and although not very long (12 miles) it was rough tracks and not too bad for a 'sicky' :-)
The following weekend the sun shone (hard to remember!!) and it was hot and glorious - I had 2 bike rides .. The first was just a short ride around Scotby and Wetheral (where I grew up)... it was almost exactly 2 years since I lost my Mum, so it was a bit of a ride reliving old memories of childhood.. happy days :-)The second ride was a 22 mile circuit near Melmerby - fantastic weather .. and ride - Penninines on one side - Lake District mountains on the other... and surprisingly very little traffic!
It was a lovely route.. so 'Summery' - people swimming in the river .... amazing!! The route took me past Acorn Bank (you can just see it in the background of the photo below) - I went there with Trudy on a trip from our Garden Design Course..
It was a hot day.. I kept thinking about going for a swim at the end of my ride at the heated outdoor pool at Lazonby - I was sure I had my swimsuit in my gym bag in the car...
Sadly I didn't.. but it was too nice to go home - so as I still had a sandwich with me I drove to Ullswater - had a paddle and sat on a rock and watched the swan on the lake whilst eating my tea... quite idyllic an idyllic ending to a great weekend of cycling
Then on the Jubilee weekend I was cat-sitting for Lisa (my daughter) as they'd only just moved house and started to let the cats out, so didn't want to put them in a Cattery..
I managed to get out for two more bike rides - the first was along the Firth Forth Canal from Lisa's house to the Falkirk Wheel (34 miles in total).. obviously totally flat - but an interesting ride on a very good surface.. so nice to be able to do it from Lisa's house too!! Must get her on it - bought her a bike for her 30th Birthday present .. so next time I'm up she'd better be ready to try it out with me!! I'm sure she'll love it too... just a shame she can't come to Cuba - but young Jonas needs his Mum :-)
The weather stayed dry.. but there was a cold wind and I wished I'd brought my gloves with full fingers in!!
Saw lots of swans and cygnets.. they seem to be following me - hope they're lucky!!
The Falkirk Wheel was an astonishing example of engineering - it's basically a lift which connects the Firth Forth to the Union Canal (79 ft high) and was opened in 2002. There's a great bike ride (which I really want to do) from Edinburgh to Glasgow running along the side of the canals - it's 66 miles long .. about a day's ride in Cuba!! Must do it sometime... could take the bike up on the train and stay at Lisa's.. 
Being on a bike was a great way to see the wheel operating, as you could watch it from the basin level with the people getting in the boat, then the huge arm of the wheel turned and as it lifted upwards slowly there was time to cycle round, watch it moving upwards...
and then be there at the top as the people disembarked
The weather improved in time for a spot of lunch on the Union Canal.. before heading back to Lisa's
The following day had a bit of an 'odd' start.. I'd read Sustrans description of a cycle route up the west side of Loch Lomond - described it being away from the road at the Loch's edge.. sounded good .. the sun was shining and we set off from Balloch. Took a while to find the actual start - nearly crashed into Nick Knowles (DIY SOS) .. quite a surprise - and much more handsome in real life :-)
The route started quite well .. through a park and some woods - past Duck Bay.. children paddling - very pretty...
.... and then we hit the road ... only the A82 - horrendous!!! After 3.5 miles I couldn't stand the noise and the fumes from the cars any longer - even if it did get back to the Loch shore later!!
So we headed to Loch Katrine - it wasn't a long journey but we'd been before and knew there was a road up one side of it that was generally free from cars (only residents can use it). Sir Walter Scott wrote the poem 'Lady of the Lake' about it.. although surely it should have been 'Lady of the Loch'??? Anyway we nearly gave up and left ... we couldn't get a car parking space - then just as we were about to leave we got one!!
The Loch is also a reservoir (for Glasgow) and runs a steamship to the opposite end.. another time I'd like to catch the boat (with the bike) to the far end and cycle back.. lovely way of seeing the Loch from on it and beside it!!
The Loch has several little islands in it at the start and made me think I'd also like to paddle on it with my kayak!!It was relatively busy at first .. but after a couple of miles it thinned out and was a lovely ride.. with mountains, loch, bluebells and even Highland cows (with a calf - bit like a big fluffy teddy bear).. v cute
As the road went further along it got hillier and there were several long hauls up and down - which I discovered I actually preferred to the long flat ride of the canal.. more interesting and although you put the effort going up hills you reaped the reward coming down them!
Sadly there wasn't enough time to get to the end (you can actually cycle almost 3/4 of the way round the Loch.. bit of a shame you can't do it all).... but definately another one to come back to - when I've more time .. and maybe go on the steamer...
All in all (when added to the Loch Lomond bit) it was a total of 21 miles..
So when I started writing this Blog tonight I didn't think I'd done much lately... mm perhaps I was wrong!! I also managed to get back to the gym this week and have started the exercises my physio gave me again.. which PLEASE let them help - my knee has been worryingly bad lately..
So now I'm just about up to date - only ride left is the short one Alex and I did yesterday .. in the midst of torrential rain we managed a but a brief hour - so nice to get some fresh air though. Alex seemed to really enjoy it - it was her first time back on the bike since our last long venture out .. hopefully this time will encourage her to get out again now her event is over :-)
Today Telfords (Skoda) kindly invited me along to the launch of their new car (Citigo) to see if I could raise some money... it was a horrendous day (raining madly - again!!) and not many showed up.. those that did were only interested in winning a competition for the car for a weekend. I didn't mind really the weather was so bad.. however and some people were interested. Takings not so good though - grand total of £7 ... but they let me leave a collection bucket behind to see if they can get me any more..
So finally I'm up to date and can go to bed and hope for a better day (and knee) tomorrow - then maybe I can get out on my bike again :-)
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