Goodbye sunshine

The clocks have fallen back. Undoubtedly, the extra hour has been greatly appreciated; the day has seemed elongated and full (baking and reading to accompany homework.) This weekend always seems to herald the beginning of life without sunshine however. Dark in the morning on the way to work. Dark coming home as well. Fluorescent gear will come out of the cupboard. Will hope not to get run down on quiet and gloomy country roads…

Thankfully, it’s been half term with some pretty fantastic autumnal weather (bright, blustery and beautiful) with the chance to get out on the bike and on foot. Although weekends will provide some respite, and outdoor activities will be planned into the school week, there won’t be so much sunshine for me for the next few months.

Goodbye sunshine, you’re great.

Our town

Oh, how I love you, little town by the sea!! The weekend is always off to a good start when we spend the morning wandering about Cowes in the sunshine. Sometimes I get a bit overexcited.

Lovely old buildings, with high, oddly shaped windows in the low autumn sun.

And a newly-discovered sculpture in the wood above the Esplanade.

Pedalling the Island

We found this quote on an apron at a little shop on our Sunday morning bike ride. And while this Island may not be the only one, it is certainly our favourite. We spent the weekend exploring both ends of it by bicycle, stopping for local food and plenty of coffee, and sometimes, just stopping to enjoy the view.

Vincent Cox holds the Guinness world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by bicycle. At the recent intelligence squared cycling festival he celebrated the power of the bicycle to transport us at the perfect speed; to notice every small detail, and yet cover enough ground to see plenty of it.

This is surely the best way to travel.

Vintage Island

The Island has been awash with various vintage events this weekend: a ball, a fair, a car show, and a motorbike display. We came across the latter two on our bikes this Saturday, enjoyed the variety and marvelled at people’s ability to restore such old machines to their former glory.

Sunday discovery

One pleasure in living on this beautiful Island is knowing almost every road. We can set off on our bikes and simply make up the route as we go, knowing almost every tiny country lane across this corner of England. But, occasionally we discover a little pocket of the place that is brand new to us, and we marvel that it has remained hidden from us for so long. Today we set off on foot along the coastal path from Yarmouth to Newtown; a perfect amble through woodland and meadows before reaching the top of a hill to breathtaking (and brand new!) views of Newtown creek, the New Forest, and the Downs. Autumn has truly fallen, and I am loving every windy, bonfire-infused minute of it.