Up a lace lined hill

We have had such glorious weather these last few weeks that it has felt more like summer than spring. This is the time of year I love the most, when the country lanes are lined with frothy trails of Queen Anne's Lace (or Cow Parsley, to use it's more common name). In search of a view, I headed off to a hill. Because to get a magnificent view, there is always, annoyingly, a hill to be climbed. 

I think the last time I attempted this mile long uphill drag was about seven years ago, on my dear old 'acoustic' bike Marjorie. I pushed her almost all the way to the top. To be fair, it is the kind of incline that only the really fit and hardened would be able to manage. This is the edge of the Shropshire Hills and very popular with serious cyclists, who seem to enjoy the endless ups and downs.  

On No.6, with pedal assist of full throttle, I actually made it two thirds of the way up before dismounting. Pushing is a chore. but when the scenery is so lovely it's nice to take things slowly and drink it all in.

At the top, the views across Shropshire are simply breath taking. Below you can see across to Wales, with the Long Mynd snaking low across the horizon.

Across to the north and even further views out towards Shrewsbury and beyond that,  the Cheshire Plain.

I had planned to go further this day, but I was quite hot and tired, and No.6 wasn't fully charged. We were only a few miles away from the cottage and it was past lunchtime.

The blissful reward after all the effort of getting to the top of a long hill is naturally the prospect of going down it. I think we covered a mile in about five minutes and were home in under half an hour.  

There was no question that I had earned my carbs. This is a small batch bread roll loaf made with just 250g of flour. It's perfect for my needs and one quarter is more than enough for a meal. 

I don't think there are many more satisfying meals when you are properly hungry - especially after exercise - than bread and cheese. Unless it's bread and cheese with piccalilli. 

There are lambs, green fields and olive rolls

 

It's hard to believe that at the start of the Easter weekend it was so chilly that I lit the fire when I was working downstairs. But that is part of the charm of a British Spring - it is by nature capricious and teasing; one day lifting your heart with a light breeze and cloudy sunshine, the next going into a cold sulk and making you wish you hadn't switched to a summer-weight duvet. 

I've managed a few more excursions on No.6 - it's been so long since I was able to get out and enjoy my favourite time of year that I am drinking in the fresh greens and scatterings of tiny, demure flowers sprinkling the hedgerows. And, of course, lambs.  

There have been almost no April showers though and the intense, dry heat we've had has given us hot blue skies and baked fields. 

Continuing my rediscovery of baking, I attempted a batch of rustic olive rolls the other day. I haven't made bread for a long time and this dough was almost ciabatta-like with a generous amount of precious olive oil (now used only for special occasions, since the price of it has almost put it out of my reach). 

I wish I'd left it in this shape and made a small loaf, as it looked perfect at this stage. But I went ahead and formed small buns, which turned out fairly well. I should have left them to prove for a little longer, but that is the fault of myself, not the recipe, which can be found here at Apron and Whisk. 

There are, of course, other recipes out there, but this was the one I felt comfortable with.

I'm using my mornings to paint and am having a steep learning curve remembering everything that I've forgotten. So progress is slow, but I've almost finished 'Lucifer and the Angels', seen here in all it's very large glory. 

I began sketching it out on Boxing Day and it's been a drawn out affair as I have had other things to work on. After so many years in the wilderness with anything art oriented, I think I'm back on track. 

Shropshire lanes and Shropshire hills

I’ve not been able to cycle for a few  years now, due to middle-aged knees that don’t work well; the last time I tried was about three years ago and I had to give up after half a mile as it hurt too much. Buying my own e-bike is not an option as they are way beyond my means, however thanks to a new local hire scheme, I have the use of a very swish and sturdy bike for a nominal fee per month which included servicing and most repairs. And it's made such a difference to my life. 

I have called him No.6, after a favourite TV series 'The Prisoner', because there are 100 of these identical bikes, and more to come, all branded and with trackers in so that usage can be charted. Something about it reminds me of The Village and the big white ball, 'Rover' which bounced and chased anyone who tried to escape. 'Be seeing you'.

My mental health, along with my other conditions, has not been good over the years, but being able to get out a couple of times a week (even if it does take me an hour to get ready and overcome my anxiety before setting off) has been amazing and transformative. Spring is slowly creeping in and the weather has been glorious, so this morning I set off for a big circular jaunt through the single track lanes that branch off the larger roads. (I realise that if you're reading this in the USA or another big country, my definition of a larger road is probably somewhat different to yours!)

The pedal assist has been a game changer and makes cycling so much easier on my knees. This is Shropshire Hill territory though and there are many ups and downs. Some of the inclines are just too steep for me, but I don't mind getting off to push, even though I was rather envious of the few 'man machines' who were powering up and past me like bionic super cyclists on non-electric machines - or 'acoustic bikes' as they are now known.

I managed nine miles today and even though my knees are very painful, it was worth it, for the freedom, fresh air and exercise. As well as the sense of achievement and improvement to my mental health.

Marjorie is having a well deserved retirement in the porch, because even if I may never ride her again, she will always be my special bike - the one that Andy bought me when my old Hercules bike was stolen and because he knew I'd never had my own new bike before. I just wish he was here to cycle with me and overtake me on the steep hills.