Sunday, September 9, 2012

A Short Cool Ride

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Synchronized swallows swooping and dipping
Pewter-grey clouds with sun-polished edges
Tiny grass seed glowing mistily red

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I wasn't sure I'd even ride today - we'd been gone to a family function this weekend and only arrived home in the wee hours of this morning. Short on sleep and behind on housework, I thought I'd play catch-up at home. But the day was too beautiful to stay indoors, so late this afternoon Iris and I hit the road for a quick one.

The weather is suddenly autumn-ish, with mild sunny days and almost chilly nights. Today it's 70º, and a cool (not to say cold) wind is blowing from the northwest. Painterly clouds are scudding across the sky, and the air is crisp and clear.

Asters have sprung up everywhere, in great lush bouquet-like bunches:


Look at this blossom, flecked with pink, its petals insouciantly tousled:


(A very casual, weekend-at-home look. If asters can be said to lounge, this one is decidedly lounging.)

Today's sky is almost impossibly blue, with improbably perfect clouds trailing their shadows over harvested fields.


Telephone lines are fascinating things. Who knows what words are flying back and forth along them? Loving words, thoughtful words, encouraging words, sad words, angry words, empty words, last words, first words....


The corn is turning caramel-coloured in many a field, as it dries down towards the harvest:


Bright red barns punctuate a swooping fence.


A fascinating drive curves out of sight in a sun-dappled wood:


The goldenrod, which peaked early this year, is beginning to dry up a bit - but there's still enough to keep the bees busy.


Shadow shot.


While coasting gaily pedalling diligently down a hill, I snap the stubble fields stretching away to my right.


If you look closely, you can see eight horseshoes nailed to the side of this barn:


Trees and sky mirrored in the water at my favourite marshy bend:


There's still plenty of Queen Anne's Lace about, though many of the blossoms have closed up shop for the year.


Just under the Queen Anne's Lace lies a hint of the colour to come:


Around the next corner, these heliopsis turn their faces to the afternoon sun. (Soak it up while you can, guys.)


Just a few miles from home, I spot a flock of wild turkeys and for ONCE manage to get a few clear pictures of them. (Turkey sightings are frequent at this time of year but the wily buggers have a way of melting into the brush before I can get the camera focused.)

The turkeys are between me and the sun - you can see its light shining through their wattles.


I turn the bike around to get one last shot, before they disappear over a rise and into a small quarry.


A quick, refreshing ride over familiar roads close to home.

15.4 miles

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15 comments:

  1. Lovely golden light. I like the barn and fence pic best this trip.

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    1. Thanks, Anne. I need to hop over to your blog and read about your weekend ride. :)

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  2. Another lovely bike ride. I love the stubble field and the red barns!
    Have a great week, Sue!
    Sandra

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  3. Sunday was that kind of day, in my neck of the woods too. Purrrrrrrrrrfect early Autumn day. :-)

    You "rode" in a healthy way. I "rode" in a lazy way, in a car. But we both enjoyed the countryside. :-)

    Your photos are magnificent, as always. -happy sigh-

    "Auntie"

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    1. So glad you enjoyed the photos, Auntie. And the weather. :)

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  4. Good for you to fit in the bike ride in spite of the late hours and other activities. Those turkeys are awesome!!!

    Thank you also for the basil idea and the sweet comment. :-)

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    1. You're welcome, Liz. I love seeing wild turkeys. :)

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  5. Gorgeous as always, we have wild turkeys here, too. They are quite fun to watch.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  6. Look at those steady lines in that stubble field, it's an art, although I guess with the use of gps in tractors now, not everyone is as clever as they look.

    Loving the wild turkey....yep, your cycles are very exotic....we have a big organic turkey farm around the corner from us, and that's the only place I would see them wandering about.

    Late nights or not, I think 15 miles is slacking it rather after your mammoth cycle last week ;-)

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  8. Looks like a dreamy day. We had very similar weather here. Great photos to capture the memories of such an idyllic excursion. Been back to school for three weeks now which means practically living at the school with 10 and 12 hour days. Often the first one there and the last to leave! But... happy joy... I do believe I have gotten a good rhythm of lesson planning and daily sorting and paper grading into orbit and am only planning to stay late two nights a week instead of all five. Dear me, I do feel good being able to type that as a positive for sure instead of a someday hopeful. Means I should be getting more regular in my blogging again soon. Been missing my visits with friends like you! :-)

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    1. Wow, you've got a packed schedule. Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

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