03..5.10 - Flying with swallows and swans

Isn't it amazing how much better everything is when the sun shines?


Yesterday we packed up the car, Himself threw (well - staggered beneath) the bikes onto the rack and we set off to the Southern Lakes for a day out.


We stopped at the village of Levens in Cumbria. Himself had devised a lovely (flat) route for us going up one side of the Lyth Valley and crossing over to return down the other side.  Despite a bitterly cold wind, the flashes of sun between the clouds was wonderful.


When the boys were smaller and lighter than now, Himself pulled them along in a bike trailer and until recently it had languished forgotten and dusty at the back of the garage. This weekend saw it being given a reprieve as Himself dusted it off and loaded up with our picnic goodies. 

We found the area ideal for trundling around on quiet lanes. 

The views were gentle and invigorating

I usually ride at the back, where I have my own company with my boys ahead in my view. It's here I can think, I can see and I feel free.  Quietly free-wheeling along a straight lane something caught my eye. I turned and flying alongside me was a swallow. It flitted and swirled with me for a couple of minutes and for that brief time, with wind in my hair, I felt like I was flying too.

Today - Monday, we had planned to make the most of the bank holiday but with a damp start and Eldest firmly attached to the computer trying to finish his homework for tomorrow, we didn't get out as early as we had hoped.

I played around with some sheep's fleece, trying out hand spinning whilst Youngest and Himself did a bit of baking.

We finally managed to escape the dreaded half-nelson grip of the homework and once again we jumped into the bicycle laden car and set off to find somewhere to ride.

It was wonderful being out alongside the canal.

We wondered about the history of this old stone.

The evening sunlight bathed us in a warm glow

As we were nearing the end of our ride, I saw a swan silently gliding on the canal, it stretched it's neck out as I came alongside, swept it's wings round and lifted itself out of the water with that wonderful reedy noise their feathers make. The swan flew for about 10 - 15 metres then landed again in the water. 

It has been a wonderful weekend - just wish it wasn't finished just yet..............