My bike took a turn for the terminal. Maintenance it seems is a good thing, because under the dirt you can find such things as a crack around a third of the down tube. I saw it, I sat down and my blood ran cold.
Funds were juggled and a deal was found for the new and lighter (alright!) version. I’ve swapped some good parts over onto the new frame, and had a wee ride tonight to see how it handled so far. That was all fine, the trails were good the bike was fine, but it was a lovely evening to be out. The habit I’ve got into of packing the camera all the time is worth it sometimes.
My local trails take me by the river, onto some singletrack, along the old Caledonian Railway. around the remains of industry and further onto the Kilpatricks or like tonight, back home because I had no lights fitted. The sculptures above have lasted well, accessible to neds and weather, but still intact. I like stuff like this, the naysayers can live in a dull world if they want, I want to have a wee smile now and again when I come across something unexpected and fun.
The Erskine Bridge is part of the landscape now, it looked very different before, well in the photies it does, I was 3 when it opened. You can stand under it and see where the oil rig hit it a few years ago, the repair looks like big Elastoplasts.
The lights of home twinkle down the Clyde, and on the horizon the hamlets of Inverclyde wave from a safe distance while the cloud unfurls on us like a monster roll of deep-pile carpet.
I often say it’s not about hills and getting away from it all, it’s just as much about making the most of what’s available outside your door. I’m in no-mans-land between city and countryside, and it’s really not too bad at all.
awesome pics mate! i really should get out on a night with my camera
Great photos there! You’re right, often we long for distant hills and forests, and don’t see the beauty in the front of our door!
That second one looks very sci-fi… ‘Invasion of the Monopods!’
I’m back on the bike now (cycling to work whenever I can), and looking forward to a bit of night riding again soon – it was dark at 9 o’clock last night, summer is definitely on the way out….
Don’t tease us, what we really want to see is the new bike! :)
You never regret taking a camera with you, only not taking it with you.
I think I’ve been on that bridge at night time; for no apparent reason when at primary school our teachers took us to “see” it. Random!
Moggy, you can make a good job of night stuff if you stick with it and play with the settings, “Intelligent Auto” and wearing bike gloves maybe isn’t the best way though :o)
Aye Hendrick, I know that where we live must make a big difference, but longing for days in the wilds isn’t going to keep those feet in good condition, we’ve got to get out there.
Matt, you’re not wrong. It felt very wintery last night, Joycee said I was unreasonably cheerful when I came in…
Vorlich, soon. I took a couple of shots but the lens was misted, which means you can’t see my Honey Stinger bike jersey yet either :o)
Next ride I’ll get a couple and put them up.
By swapping the forks that came with the frame with my own Fox Floats I knocked a kilo off the bike. If only it was so easy with a rucksack.
Local’s good.
On a recent usual Wednesday night walk around this area, I found out that Robert Louis Stevenson used to visit when he was wee. According to legend(!) he visited caves in the area and these became his inspiration when writing Treasure Island! (don’t quote me on that one though). It’s amamzing the things on your doorstep and you don’t even realise.
PS…Special Edition post ‘A Hunner’ is live! :o)
“local” can be really great. I have had some great nights camped out on a 300m hill 4 miles from my house. From the top of this hill you can see both Severn bridges which look great at night
Aye, winter’s on it’s way…from MWIS tonight…”…sleet highest Scottish tops.” ;-)
Keth, a visit to the Erskine Bridge? I hope the packed lunch was nice as an incentive!
Aye see we’ve all got something near by, local is somebody else’s day out, there’s good stuff all over.
And wintery too it seems … ?
…away to check oot A Hunner.