29.03.10 - recovering

Recovering from the change of hours from Greenwich Mean Time to British Summer Time - Yawn.

Recovering from over a 23 km (14 mile) long bicycle ride - creak

Recovering from a late night (homework and difficulty in lifting said creaking body off the settee)

Recovering from Youngest waking me at 2.30am to say his bed had escaped - again

But!


This creaking body actually enjoyed the outing with Evelyn! It's been so long since I actually leapt athletically onto a bicycle and sallied forth merrily. (Joke)

BCE (Before Children Era), Himself and I did a fair bit of mountain biking - not your hardcore stuff, more your getting out and riding 8 - 10 hours over hill and dale, camping in a 2 man tent then doing it all again, before returning home completely knackered ready for work (erm - not so much of the 'ready for work' more your going-to-work-for-a-rest......)

I have had a brilliant sturdy much loved mountain bike with more than enough 'grunt' for both of us, which Himself has quickly taken over kindly adopted.

So, it was with trepidation, excitement and a dose of good old fashioned fear that I stepped over this lady-like-girly-bike sans helmet and mountain bike gear and in an instant was transformed to someone off the 'Cycle Chic' website ..... And it felt good.

We started in a village just outside Lancaster and followed the old railway track, now converted to a traffic free bicycle lane. There were many people with their bikes, trundling along, I wish I'd taken photos, but I was still in the semi hazy state of ecstatic-bike ownership and the nervous still getting used to being back on a bike.

Eldest 'off-roading' to check out the daffodils

We trundled through parks and by universities; we peddled over bridges and alongside creeks until we reached Morecambe on the coast. Here we had one very quick and terrifying moment where we had to deal with traffic and despite us having right of way I had to shriek at Youngest to stop before a car added him to the fly collection on the radiator grill.

Urgh, horrible - this is why I have taken so long getting back on a bike - car drivers..................

But, once on the promenade, we returned to the genteel act of cycling amongst other cyclists, walkers, holiday makers and dogs. All in their own worlds, all enjoying the sea air and all out of their cars.

There is a certain light, a specific colour that can only be found at the coast and I find that both invigorating and relaxing.

All along the front are sea bird sculptures,

the best, in my mind,

were the ones in the centre of the roundabouts,

however, I was not about to stop for photographs

whilst Youngest was playing 'squash' with the traffic

At the end of the promenade, we turned inland and followed the track along a canal which wound its serene way through villages and fields. Swans and geese silently floated on the water whilst narrow boats puffed and chugged their occupants through the waterway.

Bikes cast aside in favour a mug of tea

We crossed over the Lune Aqueduct , not one for those without a head for heights.

But, oh so beautiful.

Evelyn and giddy dog on the Lune Aqueduct

All my boys on the Aqueduct

We carried on, time was not waiting for us and we still had to get back to the car. Hunger, homework and showers were on the cards.

The last of the afternoon honeyed sunlight on the Aqueduct.

And, final view - of Evelyn and the River Lune.

This Sunday was lovely and the behind tender - but it was worth it :)