|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
An Early Morning Ride
I awake early this morning, rather too early really for the evening's drinks
to have properly dispersed. The open window has allowed the noise to disturb me. An itinerant thrush has landed too near the ivy in the old apple tree and the blackbird that I know to be nesting there, vociferously chases away the thrush, along with what remains of my sleep. ....... I pick up the muni, and after locking the door I traverse the patio, and have surprisingly little trouble with the 5 steps that take me down to the rough path past the goldfishpond, and then up along the narrow pathway up the side of the garage. The frogs, as always are looking up, heads sticking out of the surface weed, a huge amphibious starry gazy pie. My progress as I brush past the japanese maple tree causes most of them to retreat below the surface. Only the tadpoles and pond skaters remain, gently rippling the water near the odd remnant of floating fish pellet that the goldfish missed. By the garage I negotiate the garden gate, closing it neatly behind me and after a few yards reach the smooth newly tarmaced pavement. Time to get on the unicycle/ My first problem: I lean against the gatepost to mount the unicycle, having long since given up any idea of freemounting the damn thing. The curtains in the flats across the road twitch again, as I knew they would, the old lady is on guard duty as usual ready to harangue those passers by who are too loud, or who drop litter near her bit of the tarmac. Slowly I push off, always a slightly tense moment, but I usually manage this without falling off these days, and I ride my way slowly down towards the railway. The GPS tells me I am going SSWest at about 4mph. It is quite fast enough for me. After some 150 yards I rest against the wall, not quite panting with exhaustion, not quite ready to move on. The corner leading to the path alongside the railway is tight and I know I will have to carefully jerk the unicycle around it if I am not to UPD. I manage it quite well and steer down the narrow path trying to avoid the dog excrement and the slugs and snails that appear to view it as an excellent breakfast. A pair of great tits watch as, trying to avoid the last couple of slugs, I unceremoniously UPD, nearly demolishing the rotting fence on my right. But I land on my feet and am undamaged. My first UPD of the day, and the GPS tells me I have already covered close on 250 yards. I suspect this is a crow flies measurement and so the reality will be more like 350 yards. One of the slugs looks to be past help and I lean sadly against the metallic green fence and briefly watch a fox on the railway embankment until the Virgin Express train scares it off. Nothing usually puts the slugs off their meal, except perhaps dry weather. During the winter this secluded pathway attracts the fly tippers, who throw anything from mattresses to half eaten Macdonalds over onto the embankment. At this time of year though the luxurious growth of grasses, shrubs and ferns covers most of that which has been dumped, nature doing its best to at least hide, if not to repair the damage. It is easy riding now, along the path by the railway, perfectly smooth tarmac except for one tree root and a couple of manhole covers. I steer inexpertly but effectively round them and progress for some 300 yards before needing another rest. Then I ride another short stretch, but I am as ever too tired to reach the station and instead elect to walk home along the bus route. The postman gives me an odd look as I pass him by but otherwise makes no comment. I again have no problems with the gate, the front gate this time, so I walk up the drive and back inside the house. I park the uni in the hall near to the juggling clubs, and wander back upstairs, contented and tired, to resume my sleep. A good ride, slightly less than 1/2 a mile, with only one UPD Naomi ;-) with a small apology to Mikefule. -- Mill's Mess NEEDS gravity, it is probably what Newton invented it for. But why, oh why, did he have to give us quite so much of it? .. |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
An Early Morning Ride
Great little story! It reminded me of when I wasn't trapped in the the
Urban jungle of Toronto! Seems like you have a great place to do some riding... although anything that isn't concrete and constantly full of the noise of traffic looks fantastic to me right now! Fortunately in 2 weeks I'll be out of the city for a few months and living in a provincial park in Northern Ontario. Then I'll have some nice quiet areas, and beautiful trails to advance my MUni skills. I hope you're learning continues to progress... all the best. Carney "Naomi" wrote in message news:YK9uc.329$5z1.317@newsfe6-win... I awake early this morning, rather too early really for the evening's drinks to have properly dispersed. The open window has allowed the noise to disturb me. An itinerant thrush has landed too near the ivy in the old apple tree and the blackbird that I know to be nesting there, vociferously chases away the thrush, along with what remains of my sleep. ...... I pick up the muni, and after locking the door I traverse the patio, and have surprisingly little trouble with the 5 steps that take me down to the rough path past the goldfishpond, and then up along the narrow pathway up the side of the garage. The frogs, as always are looking up, heads sticking out of the surface weed, a huge amphibious starry gazy pie. My progress as I brush past the japanese maple tree causes most of them to retreat below the surface. Only the tadpoles and pond skaters remain, gently rippling the water near the odd remnant of floating fish pellet that the goldfish missed. By the garage I negotiate the garden gate, closing it neatly behind me and after a few yards reach the smooth newly tarmaced pavement. Time to get on the unicycle/ My first problem: I lean against the gatepost to mount the unicycle, having long since given up any idea of freemounting the damn thing. The curtains in the flats across the road twitch again, as I knew they would, the old lady is on guard duty as usual ready to harangue those passers by who are too loud, or who drop litter near her bit of the tarmac. Slowly I push off, always a slightly tense moment, but I usually manage this without falling off these days, and I ride my way slowly down towards the railway. The GPS tells me I am going SSWest at about 4mph. It is quite fast enough for me. After some 150 yards I rest against the wall, not quite panting with exhaustion, not quite ready to move on. The corner leading to the path alongside the railway is tight and I know I will have to carefully jerk the unicycle around it if I am not to UPD. I manage it quite well and steer down the narrow path trying to avoid the dog excrement and the slugs and snails that appear to view it as an excellent breakfast. A pair of great tits watch as, trying to avoid the last couple of slugs, I unceremoniously UPD, nearly demolishing the rotting fence on my right. But I land on my feet and am undamaged. My first UPD of the day, and the GPS tells me I have already covered close on 250 yards. I suspect this is a crow flies measurement and so the reality will be more like 350 yards. One of the slugs looks to be past help and I lean sadly against the metallic green fence and briefly watch a fox on the railway embankment until the Virgin Express train scares it off. Nothing usually puts the slugs off their meal, except perhaps dry weather. During the winter this secluded pathway attracts the fly tippers, who throw anything from mattresses to half eaten Macdonalds over onto the embankment. At this time of year though the luxurious growth of grasses, shrubs and ferns covers most of that which has been dumped, nature doing its best to at least hide, if not to repair the damage. It is easy riding now, along the path by the railway, perfectly smooth tarmac except for one tree root and a couple of manhole covers. I steer inexpertly but effectively round them and progress for some 300 yards before needing another rest. Then I ride another short stretch, but I am as ever too tired to reach the station and instead elect to walk home along the bus route. The postman gives me an odd look as I pass him by but otherwise makes no comment. I again have no problems with the gate, the front gate this time, so I walk up the drive and back inside the house. I park the uni in the hall near to the juggling clubs, and wander back upstairs, contented and tired, to resume my sleep. A good ride, slightly less than 1/2 a mile, with only one UPD Naomi ;-) with a small apology to Mikefule. -- Mill's Mess NEEDS gravity, it is probably what Newton invented it for. But why, oh why, did he have to give us quite so much of it? . |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
An Early Morning Ride
On Sun, 30 May 2004 01:18:27 +0100, "Naomi" wrote:
the GPS tells me I have already covered close on 250 yards. I suspect this is a crow flies measurement and so the reality will be more like 350 yards. Nice read. Sorry to disappoint you about the distance but it is usually along track, because if this quote "A good ride, slightly less than 1/2 a mile" was also based on the GPS reading when you were back at the starting point, it would be 0 miles "as the crow flies". Klaas Bil - Newsgroup Addict -- be sure to remove the saddle and simply sit on the seat post. this is far more comfortable - tennisgh22 on the comfort of Savage unis |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Mayors to Ride, Unicyclists, Music, etc: 2004 Mayors' Ride Set to Begin | Cycle America | General | 0 | May 7th 04 06:52 PM |
2003 Illinois AITC ride report(long) | harryo | Recumbent Biking | 14 | September 9th 03 01:01 AM |
2003 RSVP (post ride ramblings) | William Higley, Sr. | Recumbent Biking | 0 | August 11th 03 02:07 AM |