Last night's ride was extended thanks to the unexpectedly warm temperature and lack of rain; my enjoyment buoyed further by more surprise smiley redhead content on the tow path
This morning was bleak but warm and dry barring the fine mist hanging in the air. A headwind to start couldn't keep the smile off my face from simply being out on the bike in tolerable conditions.
A nice peaceful ride laced with the warm comforting smell of autumnal decay and punctuated by the gentle, reassuring patter of detritus hitting my extended front mudflap (and as such not getting stuffed up the bottom of the seatpost tube to cause untold damage).
I had a few nice interactions including with a couple of keen blokes at the monkey bars when I stopped briefly for a bit of decompression. I saw quite a few coots / moorhens (can never tell the difference) and managed to miss the old deaf cat that likes to sit in the middle of the tow path; despite it's increasingly effective camouflage against the carpet of fallen leaves.
The secateurs have remained unused in my bag for the past week or two and I think snippy-snippy season is over with the brambles relenting until next year.
I'm glad to have the opportunity to push the rides out a bit more as often getting out is the hardest bit; although I suspect this will ultimately come to an end as the dark tightens its grip and temperatures fall..
