He's on the Train...

Awakening far too early, what with reverting to GMT an'all...

So may as well relive the closeish encounter.
What an amazing drive home from work this fellow has; bowling his way down the line towards Settle; just as dusk descends.
i wonder; if anything keeps him awake at night?

Today? Malham for obligatory geologising; then onwards; and doubtless upwards.

Having garnered some invaluable local knowledge re 'unmissable bits' from someone who knows.

Barns abound; forecast for fair weather.

It's All Too Beautiful...

That was today's cycling song.
Quite stunning autumnal loveliness; even in cloudy weather.

..There are many reasons why I generally cycle trip alone. My enthusiastic yet abysmal singing being just one.

In addition to libations consumed last night; progress was slowed by so; so very many fine stone barns just begging to be pictured "See how we nestle"

I'm not ashamed to admit it brought tears to my eyes; or was that something else?

Couldn't have been a stray smut from the Carlisle Settle Railway, as it's closed for works; all the same got a cheery wave from the guy riding the, all lights blazing, maintenance train as he drove towards me. Thrills aplenty.

Managed 50 something miles today (sorry stat's lovers; bit vague) despite all the stoppages; not too bad for a first day; the hills are quite persistent in these parts.
Gonna have to camp tomorrow; to justify lugging all that tentage etc.

But for now?
In the bath yum...Awaiting delivery of an Indian..Double yum..

Food silly; and no; not eating in the tub; I've only just met these generously accomodating people of the Dale.

Tomorrow? Geology field trip...Then find somewhere stealthy to pitch...Probably

First Pitch, Morland Cumbria.

Well it was late; getting dark; Marlene had already made the bed up...

It's not like I need the tent erection practice. Although plenty of flat pitching space.

Toastily welcomed; as predicted by my contact "Like a long lost daughter..."

Generously fed and 'watered'. Much yarn was spun; and you can rest easy folks; it's all going to be OK; the world has been thoroughly put to rights...

All those empty bottles that were clanking about accusingly this morning?
May be some correlation between their numbers and velo velocity today?

Oh and George; I do expect to see that porch finished; by the time of my next visit.
I will be back....

Glasgow was Sunny

Shame I couldn't stay longer...

Ah well; will just have to bask in the 'sorry for your inconvenience' first class upgrade for return journey instead...

Fiona, this trains manager, was very sweet and soothing. And by then I'd seen the funny side of my incarceration...

Silver linings etc....
And there is enough space for yoga practice in here; they already think I'm nuts; so what is there to lose?

Hope they're not planning to keep me as the train mascot...

Temporary Glitch

Trains are ace ; sentiment and patience tested ....Not 'allowed' off train at Carlisle; trapped in guards van....apparently it happens quite often!  So a  brief visit to Scotshire then... Sunny Glasgow on the 'prison train' 

Then back down to Penrith for a somewhat truncated cycle to first pitch this eve' (better make it a taut one)

Ho and indeed Hum...

You'd think I'd get some kudos from the travel pixies for not flying??

Plastic Bag Toting Hayseed

On the train.....Using
"Bicycle Friendly Public Transport"

No one told me that friendly had been redefined as...'Indifference; verging on irritation; by way of 'don't expect me to help with any hefting'.

Just as well I've got some 'strong arm tactics'...

Guess they're just jealous of the stylish luggage combo.

No matter; they don't get to spend the next week cycling and camping in the rain....Poor loves.

And; as is Traditional at Times Like These...

Just a few more hours vegetable work...
And then?

Some serious kit riffling; to be prepared for the wild 'blue' yonder.

But best make contingencies for less than ideal meteorological conditions; I suppose...

Waterproof trousers....Urghhh..

Still; there should be lots of tea shoppes where I'm going..

Preparing to Sally Forth...

Swanning off; once again. What kind of a farmer is she?

Like many of us I suspect; whatever our profession....

One that is often torn; between being a settler; and being a nomad.

Community, security, the comfort of the known.

Versus...
 Broader horizons; new views; and the tingle; or on occasion the terror; of the wide unknown.

Not really going that far; not even leaving the country.

Although my fellow 'county people' would suggest that I'm visiting "God's Own".

But as with most travelling, or indeed as is the case with  most endeavours; it's how you go; not how far you go...That; makes all the difference.

Perhaps however I should transport my share of the delightful 'Thursday Custard' subcutaneously...Even I don't pack this badly...

And just a little bit more farm prep before leaving it in two pairs of very capable hands.

Will I have time to hitch up and go round with the mower?
It makes things look under control; at least...

Or maybe I should peruse some maps properly?

But then; there's always the train for that...

The Grass is Always Greener...

In this case the ladies did have a point. After over two weeks of scratching about on the same patch; I've just extended their run to give them access to some fresh greenery.

This should discourage them from hopping over the fence in a bid for freedom; and broader range.

For as the tales do tell us; freedom comes at a price. There's a far greater chance 'out their' of these girls being hunted down and consumed by the Big Bad Fox.

Or more prosaically; and with less fatal consequences; being gathered up; and chucked unceremoniously back in to their enclosure.

Although most can be lured back with the rattle of the corn bucket; a few will remain stubbornly; ultra free range; exploring pastures new...Until nightfall that is; when the safety of the coop seems altogether more reassuring.

Getting Tucked In.

If just recently losing all the words for my latest installment of 'derring done' wasn't an act of cyber crime; (far more likely I know to be self-inflicted cyber incompetence)

Then this 'top tip' for saving a bit of dosh might make me the subject of; online industrial espionage; interest to purveyors of over priced crop covering; cloche hoops...

Protecting here the multicoloured leaves of rainbow chard, keeping off a bit of cold, over the winter (gains an extra 4 degrees) and possibly even more importantly the wind.

Using 'cosy tex' (which is as the name suggests) supported by hoops made from thickish alkathene pipe.
I prefer black; to bright blue in the garden; but I don't think the vegetables care that much.

Get yourself down to the farm store, or plumbers merchant, buy a roll for a few pounds, cut at a slant, to your required length, which depends on your bed width, BTW slicing through with branch loppers is very quick. Make a few inches of guide hole in the soil for the end of the hoop, which you need to push in firmly, this will support your chosen cover and stop it abrading the leaves.

Only got the rest of the working week to get all the crops that need to be covered, snuggled up.
If it's done too soon; then it can overheat the plants and make them go soft; as with most successful operations; timing is key...

But by the start of November; even in these soft southern climes we can get a frost hard enough to scorch the tender growth...

Making pilot holes for the hoop ends ; with a length of rebar; certainly helps to keep the biceps toned and ready; for the upcoming arm wrestling championships.....