I’ve not been on the bike much this week – what with the weather, and being a bit under it, and being busy as well. But yesterday, I had to cycle down to the village in the evening, just as the last of the light was leaving the sky.
As I headed down the first hill, I became aware of something flying above me – a pipistrelle bat, jinking in and out of view as it hunted for insects in the dark. And then, as I turned the corner into the village itself, there was a great wild honking of geese, heading off to the reservoir to roost. They passed overhead, still calling to each other, only just visible against the sky, and then disappeared over the shoulder of the hill.
There’s a couple of people here who are puzzled by my insistence on cycling down to choir practice in the dark and who very kindly offer to give me a lift should I need one. I’m fully prepared to take them up on it, the next time that it rains. But when it’s dry, I wouldn’t be shut up in a tin box on that road for the world.
Hmmm. Jinking is a new term for me. Though I like the kind of “traffic” you get on these village roads. By the way, I just came across this – photos of bad bike paths – and immediately thought of you, of course.
Oops – this got caught in the spam trap. Thanks for the link – if you look on the flickr group it references, you’ll even find a couple of mine…
That captures it brilliantly. Thanks. I wish I’d gone for a ride this evening now.
You were looking for a reason to go riding … glad to have supplied one
That sounds spectacular. I think it would be too dangerous for such as myself should I cycle on your roads, caught up in the wonder of critters unknown in these parts, honking or flitting overhead. Bound to end up in a ditch or something.
I know what you mean: It’s not unknown for a buzzard to escort me through the valley near here, quite close too, as if he’s doing ot for a dare with his mates. I get tailed by bats in the village but never thought to write about it before, which is very silly. Thanks for reminding me to enjoy the small things…
Jenny – the ditches are a danger here, it’s true, but that’s mainly because when it’s dark it’s very dark. I need to post more about that…
Andy – plenty of buzzards too, although they normally wait until I’m running to start tailing me, possibly hoping for a fresh carcase.