Saturday, July 11, 2009

On yer bike!

Son 1 has missed out on day-to-day cycling this year. Ben cycles to work every day, and Son 2 and I continued the cycle ride to primary school, which I then extend to have a bit of morning exercise. However, Son 1 started College (Secondary School), and walked there on his own each morning, as his road-skills weren't good enough to cycle without an adult.

Well, in September, both boys will be at college (gulp), and both want to cycle there. Son 1 has decided, of his own volition, to have a crash course in cycling skills over the holiday, with me as supervisor and tester! Every morning so far we have been off at about 8am, for a cycle ride around the rural edges of our town.
Yesterday we took the camera, as I wanted to capture the harvest scene in the field next to our house. The combine harvester was there on Wednesday, causing a quite incredible amount of dust which is still floating in the air, visible in shafts of sunlight.
We crossed the town and went up the steep hill to my friend's house, to drop of Ben's jam book and a sugar thermometer. She has an over-productive peach tree this year and has decided to try bottling fruit for the first time. Her friends and family have taken to addressing her as Martha Stewart.Cutting across country from her house, we arrived in a lane which combines wonderfully froggy ditches with beautifully sunny flowers! Son 1 was intrigued by the moon, which you can glimpse in the photo above.On the return home, I finally had my camera to snap the wildflowers which have grown up in the verges around all the local towns in the last two years. There has clearly been a lot of seeding done by the municipal gardeners, and all along the roadsides the scrubby grass has been relplaced by poppies, cornflowers and other self-seeding wild flowers. It will be interesting to see how the verges develop as the plants go truly wild.The boys and I are flying off to Edinburgh this evening, but when we get back, I am sure the road will call once again... Happy holidays!

9 comments:

JuanitaTortilla said...

Son 1 has company -- I am still not confident with my pedalling and turns, and I wouldn't dare dream of cycling on the roads without adult supervision!

Jackie said...

Your cycle route looks lovely ~ I'm not really a cyclist, I don't think I have done any since leaving school which is a long time ago! I hope you have a lovely week with your boys in Edinburgh ~ not sure what the weather has to be like for next week but it's lovely just now :O)

Angela said...

Just found your lovely blog via "French Village Life" - Have a good time with your boys in Edinburgh, I look forward to reading your posts when you get back! blessings

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Help me out here. Your saying your sons now go to "college". Ok - I am on the other side of the "Pond", and "college" here is where you go after you graduate "high school". In the pictures you have shown of your sons, they look so young to be in college. Great photos. Have a fun and safe trip.
Glenda

Lace hearts said...

What lovely pictures. Hope the cycling goes well - I'm nervous at the thought of my eldest being out there on a bike en route to school, but haven't had to face it yet as she hasn't asked.
Hope you have a wonderful time in Scotland.

Elizabethd said...

Glenda...living in France also I can tell you that College is the French secondary school. After that comes Lycee, which is roughly eqivalent to 6th form in UK. It took me ages to gwet used to it!

Lululiz said...

And she is off to raid the Edinburgh charity shops again, lol, I hope she hasn't forgotten her charity shop map!

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

Wow what a good mum you are Floss! I mean 8am!!! Hope they improve enough to ride to school. Hope your holiday is enjoyable. I'm busy working on a little project for you, not telling though!

Olga said...

Good luck with the lessons.. I bet you might be a bit preoccupied with all the changes for your kids, time is flying fast. By the way, those are stunning views, it must be so beautiful there, usually the pictures don't reflect the beauty in full.