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Now retired but busy still living..

Wednesday 14 March 2012

A COUPLE OF RIDES WITH A MATE........

MISTY ON THE PURBECK RIDGE TODAY
So far this week JD has managed to come cycling with me on two of my three rides. 
Monday was an absolutely stunning day with gorgeous bright sunshine and quite warm for this time of year as well. 
Today the early morning mist just seemed to hang around all day as it did yesterday.
JD RIDING IN MONDAYS SUNSHINE
Quite a few riders have been out these last few days trying to get fit for various events. 
Today JD and I met a young guy at the ferry who was on his way to Lands End. He had set off from Chelmsford on Sunday and he intended to get to Weymouth for this evening. 
He didn't have a tourer but was riding an adapted mountain bike....he told me that he expected to get to Lands End for the weekend and then he planned on getting a train back home. 
He said that he had a few days with nothing to do so he thought that he would have a bike ride.........
MAIN STREET IN CORFE....
When we got to Corfe today the mist was still around and the air felt pretty chilly. We stopped for a short break in the main street and had a quick drink. 
In the picture above you can just make out Corfe Castle shrouded in the mist at the end of the town.
THATCHED COTAGE WITH THATCHERS SIGNATURE ON ROOFLINE
While we were having our drinks we noticed the thatched cottage on the opposite side of the road. Corfe is full of some very picturesque cottages and a number of them are thatched. 
If you look at the picture above you can see the cottage and it's thatched roof and also the 'signature' that the thatcher has left on the roofline in the shape of a bird. 
A lot of thatchers leave their 'signature' on their work in the shape of an object or bird or something similar. These 'signatures' are individual to each thatcher and show the roof as having been completed by them.
BACK ON THE PURBECK RIDGE BEFOR THE DESCENT BACK TO THE FERRY
Following our quick break in Corfe we headed down to the coast again at Swanage and then we carried along the coast before heading back up to the top of the Purbeck ridge and then set off down the 'hill of death' and the general descent back to the ferry..... We didn't break any speed records, but we had a good couple of rides together and a fair old chat all the way round the route.  
It's always great to go for a cycle ride with a mate...........

14 comments:

limom said...

Interesting.
I'm supposing one good make a decent living restoring and repairing those thatched roofs.

Steve A said...

My initial impression on your photos is - that guy is riding on the wrong side of the road. THEN, I remember all your motorists DRIVE on the wrong side of the road - instead of the right side.

MrDaveyGie said...

yeap, sure has been sweet riding weather. Such history and culture in those homes, nice riding scenery.

rlove2bike said...

I very much enjoy reading and looking at the pictures of your rides. I expand every picture. It looks like a very nice area to ride.


Thanks for the post!

GreenComotion said...

Hi Trevor,
It is indeed a pleasure to ride with a mate. Things are looking green and lush. I suppose Spring is here, eh?

BTW, nice signature on the roof by the roofer. Very cool, never seen anything like that before.

Paz :)

TrevorW�� said...

*limom*
There are not a huge number of Thatchers around these days as most youngsters don't want to do a tough all weathers kind of job.
The Thatchers that are out there can be booked up as much as a year ahead and although it won't make you a millionaire a good living can still be made...

*Steve A*
The left side is the right side and the right side is the wrong side if you follow my thinking....and we are not the only country to understand this Steve. I think at the last count 76 countries were left handers including India,Australia,New Zealand, Pakistan,Japan,Ireland,Malta and Cyprus to name just a few..

*MrDaveyGie*
Yes..there is lots of history and culture in the buildings around this area Dave...

*rlove2bike*
I'm pleased that you get some enjoyment from the text and pictures on the blog, it makes it worthwhile. Thanks for the comment.

*Chandra*
Yes, it certainly seems as if Spring has 'sprung'....
That signature is a nice touch isn't it.....

Paul said...

Trevor, my best riding experiances have been when I'm riding with a friend.So much more fun than riding alone.

lavinka said...

I used to come into your neighborhood. Just do not know how to learn to ride on the other side of the road. The beautiful town!

Chafed said...

I am pleasantly and un-apologetically envious of your long beautiful picturesque rides. Are the roads as quiet as they look in the photos?

TrevorW�� said...

*Paul*
Solo riding can be good for specific training....but as you say, riding with a friend is always best for the most fun.

*Lavinka*
Thanks for your comment..Corfe is a pretty little place.

*Chafed*
At this time of year the roads are reasonably quiet.
Come the summer however it can get very busy with holidaymakers and day visitors....we then head inland for our rides and we have some great inland routes that remain quiet all year..

Marsha said...

Tiffany certainly is a handsome bike!

TrevorW�� said...

*Marsha*
Thanks....I think so too, but then I am biased. One could say she is 'modern, but with a certain retro chic'.

anniebikes said...

I loved the village photos, especially of the thatched home. My husband and I had the pleasure of talking to a thatcher once, and being from the U.S. it was an interesting line of work. I never knew about the signature though. It's very quaint and ingenious, really.

TrevorW�� said...

*anniebikes*
Yes, the signature is something that a lot of people are unaware of.....
Thanks for your comments Annie.

Six weeks off.

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