#cycle
In order to compensate for the missed couple of days of cycling during the week, owing to snow, I went on a #Night #Ride today. This enabled me to get used to #riding in the #dark. On my usual route, there are some fairly quiet and hence secluded and #unlit stretches, where #BikeLights are essential although it's still very difficult to spot pedestrians in dark clothing (and also their dogs). Still, no close encounters today. Because of the recently passed #Storm #Bert, a lot of #trees and #hedges have shed #branches and #twigs, which can be more than just a mere nuisance. In the past, they have caused #punctures and have even jammed in the #spikes causing #skidding #hazards. Luckily, no problems today.
Here is my Monday update on the #construction work on the #Osgoode Link Pathway. They finally got the northern-most 2 km section completed and we were able to at least bike that far this morning. It looks like next they will be installing the bike crossing lights at the road intersection, as the ground detectors have already been wired in. That means that we will just have to pull up on our bikes and the lights will flash for crossing, I think.
The pathway is still blocked 2 km further south, waiting for the ground work to be finished on the crossing lights there.
It is Friday so I was just checking on this weeks' #construction work on the #Osgoode Pathway, hoping that the last 500 m of stone dust surface finishing would be complete. I went down and found that nothing at all has been done this week. All the piles of materiel are still sitting there, just no work done at all. The northern portion is all finished and that is it.
Speaking of #bikes, I photographed this one next to the #Rideau Canal in #Ottawa today. Not sure who threw it in the canal, who got it out or how long it was in the canal, but looks like at least all summer. It is possible it was stolen and disposed of. I hope the owner can be found and get it fixed up to ride again.
Beware, this is going to be a long post...
My standard longer #bike ride is a 30 km round trip to #Starcross, which is #village on the west coast of the #ExeEstuary on the way to #Dawlish. The ride is motor-traffic-free for a goo 80% of the distance. It's also through a lot of #countryside and it's my intention to photograph some of the #trees through all the seasons. However, this set contains a little more for your edification.
Not all trees are alive. For example, this one is a hulk of what was once probably a magnificent specimen.
Most #FarmFields have been replanted after harvesting and even now, shoots are appearing. Meanwhile most #Trees still have their #Foliage.
The #plants and #insects that feed off them are also a food source for these male and female #pheasants.
The village of #Starcross is small but it happens to have a #RailwayStation on the line from #LondonPaddington and #Penzance, though the #IntercityTrains don't usually stop there. This is the last part of the journey for me before I turn and head back homewards at the station itself.
Here is an #IntercityTrain passing. It is run by #GWR or #GreatWesternRailways, which was a company in existence before nationalization and which came back after privatization.
Starting to head back, you can get a good view of the other side of the #Estuary, where the #town of #Exmouth can be seen. There happens to be a nice ferry trip on which you can take your #bike between #Starcross and #Exmouth
The #ExeEstuary has a few #wrecks in it. I presume they are #NavigationHazards but I guess it would prove too expensive to clear the #waterway. Perhaps they provide a #habitat for #MarineLife. Here you can see #Birds (I can't tell whether they are #Cormorants of #Shags).
Next, we come to #PowderhamCastle, which is now a #NationalTrust property. It has a herd of #deer numbering in the hundreds.
The mild #autumn #Sun is seen shining through this #tree's #branches.
More #trees in the grounds of #PowderhamCastle.
At first glance, this may look like a dead #tree but you can see that parts of it still has #foliage.
This #tree, on the other hand, looks completely dead.
This #Pheasant is eyeing the #photographer warily.
This #cycle #bridge was installed not much longer than a decade ago. It makes traversing the #RailwayLine easy. I think there was a #footbridge before this but I'm not sure. A nice addition to #cycling #infrastructure.
From the top of the #bridge, you can see the #barracks of the #RoyalMarines in #Lympstone. Technically, this #photograph is a #Selfie too.
Getting closer to home now, here is the #M5 #Motorway which links #London to #Exeter. This #concrete #viaduct goes over the #Estuary, thankfully leaving much it intact.
Some parts around the #Cyclepath form natural ponds.
Any #journey of moderate length or longer often leaves one #reflecting. Here, you can let the scenery do it.
This #swan was preening on the #ExeterCanal (and so was its #reflection).
Lastly, this is the #bridge over the #RiverExe, which is a sign that my home is a mere 5 km away. A sight that is always welcome. The bridge is old but it a #cyclepath was constructed as an extension to it on the far side, which blends in very nicely with the existing #masonry.
It has been raining persistently today, the type of rain which, though not too heavy, soak into you if you are out in it for a period of time. It means that there are relatively few #pedestrians around to have to be wary of. However, on a stretch which is completely #car-free and where the #cyclepath and the #footpath run in parallel, I nearly came a cropper.
A couple were walking in the same direction as me but I didn't notice that their dog was on the other side of my path and it was still leashed, meaning the lead passed across the entire width of the #cyclepath. As visibility was low and the lead was black, on a grey background, I didn't see it until the absolute last second. I got tangled in it but at least the person let go and so it didn't get too entangled and I was able to come to a controlled stop. I'm grateful that they didn't try to blame the incident on me and were reasonably apologetic about it. Ultimately, no harm was done to any animal involved. I just wish that sometimes people would think about other users.
The #Yuga #Cycle, the #Plasma #Universe and our #Spiritual #Destiny (1:40:00)
October 15, 2024
#REALITY-CHECK
The Hidden Teaching: #SheldonMoore (book)
#JayWeidner is joined by scholar #Sheldon-Moore to discuss the little known #Yugacycle of the Indian #Yogi #Sri #Yukteswar