A Bicycle Before The Storm

Winter is forecast to return this week so I took the opportunity to get the bike out and see the countryside before it disappears beneath a blanket of snow. Actually it seems unlikely that the snow will reach this far south despite the dire warnings in the papers. But any excuse to pedal along country roads and byways.......

 There was a touch of frost after a clear night,

but the cowslips were bravely waiting for the sun.

 A country church appearing through the mist?

No,

just a happy arrangement of farm buildings!

Malton Lane,

a Yellowhammer sang from the tree,

a small flock of Golden Plovers

darted across the road.

Into Orwell village.

Sheep in the field,

a rare sight these days around here.

Lambs on the Wimpole Estate. Aaaaah!

OK, just one more!

And a shire horse if we must!

Then it was off-road

and on to a bridleway,

mainly for horse-riders but

Bicycles are allowed too.

The track led into a small wood...

...with a fine show of violets.

A Buzzard mewed overhead

and a herd of Fallow Deer were seen too.

The map showed an old moat.

Probably once the site of a manor house

or farmhouse.

I eventually reached Hayley Wood.

Plenty of Dog's Mercury around,

a plant which is said to be an indicator of ancient woodland.

And also a few

early Bluebells.

Take care.