......If you've got my back I'll go on.......

 I often think things through and clear my head of rubbish whilst cycling, it takes my mind off the actual effort of propelling my bulk up the hills and when that's done, there's always the view to admire. It's very therapeutic and today it crossed my mind I haven't bored anyone with a blog for a while.

I've not blogged for so long, I've not been inclined to, which isn't good, I've not had the the inclination to do a lot of things. This is a kind of cathartic blog which is a big word, well it is for a bear of very little brain.

The last year has been a bit of a rollercoaster, not exactly a 'Annus Horribilis' as Lizzie once put it but it was interesting to say the least. Physically I didn't feel quite right all year, perhaps it's my age catching up with me or I just wasn't trying hard enough. I had the massive high with the arrival of our beautiful grandson, closely followed by, two days later, the massive low of being made redundant.

Redundant, you kind of take it personally, not good enough, not worth investing in, there was all sorts of other corporate b*llshit. The prospect of trying to find a new job was something that hadn't even crossed my mind and then you're suddenly dropped the bombshell. It took some getting my head around but I struck lucky early and managed to get a job lined up locally. At the end of it all, 176 lost their jobs, some more, sad day.

Times goes on though and you have to remember what you've got, family and friends, the ones that you love, that's what is important in life, well to me anyway.

So I'll keep cycling, taking pics and enjoying life  with my beautiful family and friends, onwards and upwards, I'll let Frank sing us out........

Photo Project "Minehead with a fresh pair of eyes" 2015

I had the pleasure of taking part in a photo project this year. The brief was to take a fresh view of Minehead. a great experience with some great people and some really nice feedback.

.....good and gone.....

Sometimes the things you need are right back where you started from............

........I'm trying to get better because I haven't been my best........

It has been a while but I felt an update of sorts was needed if anyone is interested that is?

I've lost it somewhere I don't know quite where. You know the thing, my mojo, my enthusiasm to ride my road bike, the reason why? I'm still riding but it doesn't feel the same I can't quite explain why. I can count the number of events I've done on two fingers this year, one I hated most of the way around because I felt crap mentally and physically. The other I really enjoyed because I rode on my own and set out to achieve something which I did. As last year I rode between Birmingham and Taunton for a great person and good cause again. This time we headed south and we had the weather, the wind and a peleton of sorts which made things easier.

Sadly I bailed on a ride with a mate basically because I didn't want to ride, get up, drive somewhere, I really couldn't face riding with people and struggling to keep up. I'm not proud.

Whilst out riding the other week someone went past me going up a hill, no acknowledgement, no hello which I always think is a bit rude but sadly the norm. Over the crest of the hill they decided to turn at a junction, hit some gravel and subsequently fell off into a heap. Was it karma? I stopped and helped them up and checked they were okay until one of their mates arrived and I carried on, wondering.

Something needs to change I probably just need to bloody cheer up and have some of that carpe diem. I need to get out and ride, enjoy the view, go and see some mates that's if they want to see me of course. I'm sure things will get better........

In the meantime I've always got my mtb..........

Walking through history......

Up early, no cycling today my less than perfect lungs are having some function issues but hey I can always walk and go and take some pictures. I ventured up to the Brendon Hills to take a walk along the The Mineral Line which has always intrigued me having come across the railway bridge at Comberow some years ago and thinking why is there a railway bridge in the middle of nowhere? It's a very pretty and tranquil nowhere though and somewhere I've ventured to on a bicycle on the odd occasion. Comberow is down at the bottom of the hill though and I was visiting the top today to take some pics at Burrow Farm engine house and the Winding house at the top of the incline.

I parked up in "Naked boy lane" the meaning better explained in this article by Martin Hesp. There was a bitter wind blowing up here you must be a hardy soul (or sheep) to work up here on a bleak winters day. The old track bed is still really defined no doubt grazed by the sheep in the surrounding fields.

Naked boy stone

Track bed.

This engine house was originally built in nearby Chargot woods but after twelve years that mine was closed and it was taken down and moved two miles to this site, Victorian recycling?

I retraced my steps and not really knowing the area I headed back down the road and onto the Winding house and the top of the incline the 1 in 4 slope, that's 25% for those using metric. The carts were hauled up and down using steel cables housed in massive drums the anchor points for the drums were excavated and still remain in the ruins. Apparently passengers went free, at your own risk! I went a little way down the incline but I think I'll save further exploration for another day as I was puffing a bit walking back up.

Looking down the Incline.

Anchor bolts.

Steps to the incline made of railway sleepers.

Looking back up the Incline.

I'll have to revisit another day and bring a bicycle and ride the bits that are permitted and do the length of the whole route to Watchet.

Smile!

............so in the stillness of the moment........

A selection of some pics from the year, some taken while out cycling and the odd one of other people cycling, as they say on Strictly.....in no particular order...........