Cycling in the rain

I broke my cycling rules today, rejecting lemon yellow gear in favour of a total black waterproof look - from head to toe. I made the assumption that there wouldn't be many super-speedy cyclists out and about in the rain (I was right), which would mean less chance of being run into - which nearly happens quite regularly, even when I am dressed as a flourescent lemon. 


My sun glasses are perfect for cycling (they don't actually cycle) as they are big enough to stop my eyes from watering. I didn't dare wear these today due to the rainy darkness. The hood of my waterproof jacket is all encompassing of my head and face (if you see what I mean), and the addition of sunglasses plus rain would have resulted in extremely poor all round visibility. My ordinary glasses were reasonably alright, except that I had to stop occasionally to wipe off the rain.


When I complete this image with the final details, you'll wish you could see a picture! I tucked camera, peanut butter roll and i phone in a bag inside the front of my jacket, which apparently made me look pregnant. Fortunately, the offsetting of this by compacting my waterproof trousers at the ankles by someone else's (!) bicycle clips (usually worn only by men of a certain age) had the effect of counteracting any vague allusions to pregnancy. 


So determined was I to have a semi-picnic in the rain, that I attempted to attach a mug (with lid) of coffee to my handlebars, to be sipped somewhere along the way. My trusty bike used to accommodate Philippa on the back when she was a toddler (she is now in her twenties) and does not boast modern fitments of any kind. It is still reasonably good at transporting a person, but definitely not toddlers or drinks (hot or cold). Most of the coffee had spilled within the first fifteen minutes. 


The advantages of cycling in the rain, apart from not being able to see very well, were that I only passed two or three other cyclists. When I reached the beach there was hardly a person in sight. I bought a cup of tea from one of the many people-less seafront cafes and was shown a copy of The Sun newspaper, and you'll be relieved to know, had the weather forecast for the next month pointed out - more continuous rain. 


There was still plenty of action on the beach.

Seaweedy sea

Loads of gulls

Pointy tails

Prancing

Floating

Dozing

Summer snapshots

Although I was dressed for rain (!), it didn't. It started off cloudy and ended windy, which resulted in strenuous cycling in the rain gear. There was lots  happening, in the usual windy/windswept way and I haven't worked out the best way to manage the wind on my new camera. These are some of the managed pictures.

The wind was as much of a challenge to me as the surfer and after several tries, I captured person and sail in the same picture.

Another one 

It is difficult to believe it's mid-summer

Two hardy souls 

Disinterested donkeys

More cycling

The weather is unusually hot, sunny and summery for April and I am making the most of it.

Cycle-stopping cattle by the track

Seaside as the sun goes down

Cycling buddy

Exe Estuary cycling is a world away from Nepalise family transport

Arrived home a week ago today

I'm writing this at the end of the day, rather than during events or soon after. A week after arriving home from Oz, jet lag still affects evening energy levels. As I'm writing this in the evening, any thoughts and events relating to the day are shrouded in a mist - unlike the picture to the left, which I took on a bracing walk to Topsham this morning.

I took many pictures of water-related scenes, boats and skies. As I have a tendency to favour photographs which feature brightly coloured artefacts, this was an obvious choice. This time, skies and watery scenes couldn't complete. The temperatures have dropped and it has been a very cold day, leading to the purchase of more layers of warm cycling clothes and a flourescent cycling jacket. The general plan is that all the walking will naturally lead to cycling - maybe next week. A jogger was hit by a car yesterday, just up the road, near the garage.

When we returned from yesterday's outing, the main road was closed and we guessed it was the result of an accident, due to the helicopter overhead and the sirens heard a bit later. Jogging is such an apparently innocent occupation that it is at odds with such a horrible event. As anyone who has cylced or walked along this stretch knows, it isn't designed or suitable for pedestrians and vehicles. I'm going to need the flourescent jackiet.