.......never mind I'll remember you this way.......

This time last year it was like this, so it being a bit damp isn't too bad really, you can still get out there, ride your bike and enjoy the view. I've being doing that a few times over the last week, damp and chilly but once you hit those hills you soon warm up. I may of mentioned previously about it being a bit slippy out on the trail at the moment so bought a new rear tyre to see if it would make a difference.

I first ventured out with the new tyre last week, first ride of the year and it felt like it, a bit of a trudge on the ups but I persevered and quite enjoyed it in the end. A usual loop with a detour thrown in at the end just to see where a track went, it went down, which is good. I did notice and probably anyone within earshot of me did too, that my brakes didn't sound well at all and discovered later I'd worn the braking surface off the pads, oops.

Hit the road on Friday and felt really good after I'd warmed up that is, I seem to be starting off with a few aches but they soon go once I warm up and they didn't reappear so it's probably just old age. Tried a new uphill which I went up quite well and did a PB on the climb out of Withypool which is a favourite of mine as it takes you out onto the moor. I was going well but took a wrong turn at a fork stuck in the road, I knew it was the wrong way once I started heading down the steep hill and the next steep muddy hill after that! Thankfully the mobile signal in Devon is really good and was able check a map and a nice lady on a horse pointed me in the right direction. The right direction was up another steep hill which I got up which I was quite pleased about, not lost, discovering new routes :)

Sunny but icy this morning so mtb again with new brake pads so I can actually stop and not sound like there's an irate seal heading down the trail towards you. Went looking for a new track to try, which was uphill, no surprise there then, which linked up with another track I sometimes ride which was good because it gives me more route options.

I know it's a man made commercial woodland where I was riding but there's something about being amongst the trees a tranquillity of sorts which I like. A few more ups and downs and a very muddy descent and another good ride in the bag.

Needed to get out there today to see the blue sky and enjoy life and think of my mother, miss you.

.........by the deep sea, and music in its roar.........

Amazing you live so close to things but life, work and all that stuff involved with it sometimes blinds you to what is around you. Exmoor never stops surprising me, hidden history, to me anyway, continually unveils itself and it's a pleasure discovering it. Left the bikes at home today and drove down to Porlock Weir to go for a walk along the South West Coast Path to Culbone Church reportedly the smallest church in England. The tide was really high and pebbles littered the car park when I arrived but it wasn't raining so thought I should just head off. A nice two mile or so walk from the Weir through the woods, didn't see another soul, a refreshing change from the bike.

On the way to the church you walk through the remnants of Ada Lovelace's Gothic mansion in the hillside with tunnels apparently built by nineteenth century Swiss mountaineers. Need to go back and explore this place some more and take more pics.

Went for a wander around the Weir when I returned, the tide was subsiding and my car was thankfully where I left it, just started raining as I left, good timing.

.....one tree hill......

I like this tree, it sits on its own by the roadside on Dunkery Hill. It has appeared to me through mist and I've ridden by it in glorious sunshine and driving rain.

Ridden the road bike a couple of times this week, once past this tree the other time not. That's this year over cycling wise I think, achieved so much this year, thank you to those who helped me make it.

I like this tree, think it's the bleak but statuesque beautiful loneliness of it..........

....eat less biscuits....ride up hills........

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

........the path I walk's in the wrong direction........

Went out on the road bike last week, the weather forecast was a bit dodgy but I wanted to get up the Toll road one last time before the year was out. You can break up the ride up into two really, the first half just past the toll house is nice and sheltered in the trees and I did my best time of the year. The second half is more exposed and if the wind is in the wrong direction it's hard going, and it was. Once up and after catching my breath I went straight back down, battling across the moors in the wind didn't appeal. Did a loop around some lanes and a sprint down the seafront, the wind in my favour this time.

This week I've been mainly mountain biking, wet,windy and freezing cold on the road bike didn't appeal so I rode up some hills on the big green bike for a couple of days. Quite pleased with how I've progressed this year with my fitness. Eighteen mile mtb rides used to be a major expedition and take most of the day but now I just want to keep riding, what used to be two separate rides I'm now doing as one.

On Thursday I did a loop which took in some hard climbs, even trickier when its wet, muddy and still mulchy out on the trail. It's a balancing act going up hill on the mtb, trying to keep your weight distributed, fighting to keep the front end down whilst the back wheel is slipping did get a bit annoying and led to some expletives. Whacked my shin slipping off, it smarted, didn't cry though.

Lucky with the weather again though but it was cold on top of the hill before heading back to home. A herd of Exmoor ponies came and said hello though which was nice., went like this.

On Friday I went in the opposite direction but just went where the mood took me. I did consider keeping low and riding some lower paths but that doesn't make sense so headed up then down Dunster Path to the red mud. Went this way to see how I fared on the fireroad slog up after riding yesterday, not my quickest but did it, nearly 6000ft of climbing in 36 miles, is that classed as hill repeats?

......you say to me I don't talk enough but when I do I'm a fool......

A tragic teenage hero of mine once said "When taking a journey, it's not about the getting there, it's enjoying the view on the way" I enjoyed the view today......

I did a usual loop but was feeling really good so extended it a bit more, so glad I did because it meant I got some more images.

Actually felt strong on the bike today don;t know why but enjoyed it, went something like this.......