Category: breathe

A Sunny Ride Round the Island

Bike silhouette

Somehow cycling around the Isle of Wight in May wasn’t enough for this year, and on Saturday morning we found ourselves once again setting off on the chain ferry to register for the 110k route around the Island.  This sunny September day was in sharp contrast to our previous wet ride, and a perfect celebration of Autumn.  It wasn’t a ride for stopping and taking pictures.  But, Tom did a great job at balancing camera and handlebars for some snaps from the saddle.

Cycling through oak tree tunnel, Newtown Isle of Wight

Cycling up Freshwater Down

Self-portrait of Tom and Rusty mid-ride

Cycling into distance and bikes leaning against a wall

Silhouette, with River Yar behind

I love this ride in any weather, but it is all the more delicious in the sunshine.

Autumn to do list
Basket full of skeins of different coloured yarn, with more yarn in the background
All produced by the Isle of Wight Guild of Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers

There is change in the air: chilly mornings, wood fires, and woolly jumpers. And a change in my habits: what I eat, read and do. I know I’m not the only one who changes mood at this time of year, and starts looking forward to autumnal activities. Inspired by Michelle, I’ve put down a few of my own autumn ‘to dos’.

  1. Read some classics – old stories of big rattling houses, mysterious attic residents, and strangers in a storm. Perfect fireside reading.
  2. Bake something new – I have my baking favourites that I stick too, perhaps for lack of time, or inspiration. But, I am going to try out some of the recipes on those clean, unrumpled pages in my cookbooks.
  3. Do muddy walks & pub lunches – the food is all the tastier, and the warmth all the cosier, having been out in the wet and wind.
  4. Sew something to wear – I’ll happily sew stuff, but am daunted by proper seamstressing. So, this is my challenge to myself.
  5. Take a city trip – stripped back trees showing more architecture, new exhibitions, and extra excuses for coffee stops.
  6. Pick up sticks – I haven’t knitted anything since this project went a little awry. ‘nough said.
  7. Take naps – my new job involves commuting daily by ferry. I have big plans to read lots while I travel, but I suspect that won’t happen..
  8. Correspond – sitting down with pen and paper for some proper snail mail catch up is the perfect pace for this time of year.
  9. Embrace the wind – strolling on the beach, getting buffeted about and watching the whipped up waves.
  10. Wrap up in wool – plenty more excuses now to wear my favourite fibre.

What’s on your to do list?

Mini Adventure to St Catherine’s Point

Friday afternoon, dashed home from work, and straight out the door to catch the last of the light at St Catherine’s Point.

old wooden posts on the beach and Rusty walking in the background

Aerial view of wood and pebbles

sunset behind cliff and pebbly beach

Lighthouse silhouette, with setting sun

Silhouette of Bryony and fence on clifftop

Clifftop sunset at St Catherine's Point

We hopped over rocks, scrambled up cliffs, wandered across fields, and watched the setting sun, before walking up the lane for a pint at the pub.  Just one hour exploring a new patch of ground and everyday hassles feel a world away.  I am in love with mini adventures.

Last Days of Summer

Butterfly on a buddleia

We’ve had the most perfect bright September days – clear mornings, blue skies, and slanting sunlight. The country lanes have been full of my favourite colours: yellow ochre, moss green, and chestnut brown. Bonfire smoke has replaced the barbecues, and the beaches now have more dog walkers than deckchairs. It’s been a delicious change in season.

Today is the last official day of summer. I’ve eked out these last sunny days with early morning starts, bike rides to work, and going the long way home. Rain is due on Sunday and I can enjoy the excuse for some reading and baking, knowing I made the most of these last few days of summer.

Tree

Familiar Roads

Path through the woods

There’s no doubt that the Isle of Wight is great for a cycling holiday, but it is also pretty fantastic for the locals. It’s no secret I’m a fan of Island roads. Knowing its network of little lanes offers endless possibilities mid-ride, and I love to make it up as I pedal. On Sunday we headed out for a coffee and ended up riding 60k, spurred on by the last of the summer sun, and the excuse for another coffee (and cake) stop.

It’s a pleasure to know roads well enough to plan a route in your head and travel without a map. I’m a little in love with the old road names, and wonder at their origins. Our Sunday route took us up Kite Hill, through Firestone Copse, down Beacon Alley, across Bleak Down, past Thorness Bay, and over Egypt Hill. I’m not practical enough to remember useful road names, (I pity the driver who asks me for directions in a town) but these old road names are so evocative, they’re forever in my head.

Do you have a favourite road, or a favourite route?  Mine always has to involve a good coffee stop!