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.

#MyWork #MyPhoto #CCBYSA #DSLR #Nikon #D7000 #Autumn

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.

#Bike #Biking #Cycle #Cycling #Bicycle

This pair of #Swans and their juvenile #Cygnets have set up a resting spot on the banks of the #Canal and on the edge of the shared #Cyclepath and #Footpath. I'd passed them before but didn't have a camera with me at the time. As you can see, they have no concerns with people being quite close by but someone told me that they've been quite aggressive, no doubt if someone has been perceived to be a threat.

#MyWork #MyPhoto #CCBYSA #Android #Summer #Birds #Wildlife

Aquabike

#humour #humor #PisteCyclable #CyclePath #Signalisation #RoadSign

We had a #cycletrip to #BudleighSalterton today, which is a nice round trip of 48 km. It was a very pleasant day, not too hot and with a refreshing breeze to keep you cool. Those of you in the know will be glad that I wore short trousers and so my pump could not get stuck in my trouser leg.

The #beach is made up of pebbles of various sizes ranging from the size of your hand (15-20 cm) down to less than a centimetre. The colours vary from #purple and #pink to #grey and #blue. Here's a typical assortment.

Looking out to #sea (the #EnglishChannel), you can see that the water is various colours too ranging from marine #blue and #green to #brown near the #shore where #sediment gets churned up. (Note, it is nothing to do with the current notorious practices of private water companies.)

Looking #west and #east respectively, you can see the #sandstone and #mudstone #geology of the #cliffs

Right up by the #sea, you can sea the small #waves lapping the #shore. I suppose this #photograph is technically a #selfie.

Finally, on the way home, I took a picture of the #cyclepath between BudleighSalterton and #Exmouth which stretches about 6 km and avoids motor traffic altogether. I can't think of many more pleasant routes to #cycle on.

#MyWork #MyPhoto #CCBYSA #Android #Summer #Bike #Biking #Cycling

First day of #Winter and a couple of km from home, I rode over some twigs on the #CyclePath and suddenly I head a slap-slap-slap coming from the front #wheel. Looking down I saw on of them had become embedded in the #tyre. I hoped that the thorns from it hadn't #punctured the #InnerTube but a few hundred metres further down, I knew it had deflated and I had to walk the rest of the home. So, another chore for me to do. Ho hum.

#Bicycle #Bike #Cycle #Cycling #Biking

A #WarmFront went through just before today's #bike ride and just following the heavy downpour, a moderately steep #cyclepath became a temporary #stream. It was fun #cycling up that slope against both gravity and the flow.

#Biking #Rain