Another Trip to the Seaside on the Stumpy.

Another Trip to the Seaside on the Stumpy.

Apart from the strong and very cold easterly wind off the sea, this was an excellent ride on the mountain bike to the coast.  I set off to Waltham and then down Cheapside and onto Waithe Church.  I have been keen to explore the lane beyond the church for sometime being attracted by studying the OS map and the possibility of Waithe Mill.  Although on private land the footpath continues through the property and speaking to the lady who lives there, she was only too pleased for me to photograph the mill, which still has the remains of the water wheel in the old mill race.  She also gave me directions for continuing my ride.  A bit of single track and then a good vehicle track over the golf course to Tetney.  From here it was road riding until Tetney Lock and then off road again to the sea lock where a lot of work is going on.  From here I continued on to the Fitties and onwards to Cleethorpes Country Park before returning home via Weelsby Woods and the Horsefield.  An excellent 20 miles.  I was delighted to see/hear 5 warblers: at least 6 singing reed warblers, a single sedge, several chiffchaffs and black caps and willow warbler on the edge of the woodland burial ground.  A good day.

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Waithe Church

Waithe Beck

Waithe Beck

Waithe Mill

Waithe Mill

Waithe Mill

Louth Canal approaching the sea lock

Tetney Marsh

Cleethorpes

Cleethorpes

Another Session on the Stumpy

As Heather was keen to get in the saddle again, we decided to go off road and ride the first part of my ride from yesterday.  It was yet another bright and sunny day with still no rain.  After the floods of the winter our next crisis on the weather front will be drought.  As awful as the coronavirus situation is the media and government can think of nothing else and I worry that eyes have been take pf the climate emergency ball - until some disaster befalls us that is.

Our route was a slight variation on yesterday as we went out through Scartho top otherwise it was the same.  We saw all of the same plants and took great joy in them.  We also enjoyed watching a group of four swallows swooping and settling on a telegraph pole by Bradley ponds.  I have still seen no house martins of swifts, though.
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Dixon's Wood

Looking back to Bradley Woods

Looking back to Bradley Woods

Cowslips on the trail heading back to Bradley from Barnoldby

Cowslips on the trail heading back to Bradley from Barnoldby

Cowslips on the trail heading back to Bradley from Barnoldby

Early Purple Orchid, Bradley Gairs

Cycling and Meditation.

I unleashed my mountain bike, the much loved 'Stumpy', for the first time in a few years.  As it is so dry and the ground bone hard I decided that now was a good opportunity; less people on the trails too, a big consideration at this time of social distancing.  Although I covered 14 miles, I stayed close to home riding both sides of the village as far as Bradley Woods and Barnoldby to the west and to the east across the Horsefield and around Weelsby Woods.  It was great riding, but there was that bitter easterly wind again.  

It was good to ride through the woods full of bluebells, wood anemones and stitchwort and catch glimpses of cowslips and early purple orchids on the ditch banks.  I saw plenty of swallows and heard skylarks too.

As part of my daily routine I do an online meditation session which helps to calm the mind at the beginning and end of the day.  Currently we are asked to consider who or what we appreciate and meditate on the answer.  The who is easy; I am blessed with a loving and caring wife who worries about me constantly, whether my heart or my back or keeping me away from people as I am 'vulnerable' at this time: over 70 and with underlying heart problems.  Mind we nearly came to divorce earlier today when she asked me to cut the back of her hair for her!!! 😂  I am very lucky, as I am with my children, who also worry, and all of our wider family and friends.  The what is easy too, especially in this time of coronavirus lockdown.  I am able to get out either side of the village quickly either on foot or by bike and enjoy the changing seasons and wildlife, both observing and photographing. Although it is good to see rare plants and creatures one of the things that I take delight in is the common, everyday aspects of nature and its intricacy and beauty Like everyone else, though I look forward to being 'let out' and can't wait to get back to the caravan and see the children.
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Herb Robert

Early Purple Orchid

Early Purple Orchid

The Stumpy on the trail from Barnoldby to Bradley Woods.