Tuesday 29 October 2013

harvesting

We're busy (between showers and bike rides) harvesting our local hedgerows- or we were until they were very efficiently and tidily shorn!!  We'll be quicker next year!!

The Pirate's treatment progresses steadily...it feel better to have a few actual dates for things and gradually more knowledge. We're both quietly confident of his success, but there is always that "but" at the back of your mind.....

We have been out watching more cyclo cross...and getting nicely wet again!  The race was at the southern tip of Loch Lomond at Balloch.   Then we intended calling past the velodrome to say hello to friends and warm up.....advice....in Glasgow don't just follow the road signs...they will send you miles out of your way, you end up on a motorway heading in completely the wrong direction for your desired destination!!  THEN they send you back in the right direction from the other side of Glasgow!!

We just went home!!

I've booked a place at a local market to be held at the Carrick Centre in Maybole from 10am this Saturday (2 November) and I've heard of other markets run for rural crafters...sounds like I might have found the local grapevine!! I could do with some sales! Here's hoping for decent weather....

Thursday 17 October 2013

After the ball...

I managed fourth place in the sprint...not bad for one year back racing after thirtyfive off at this level!!
We had a good, mostly dry drive home on the Saturday night, and stayed over with friends in Dumfries..three hour's driving was enough, even with stops.
On the Sunday we had a beautiful hour's drive home, seeing the stretch of road in daylight for a change!!

Then it was to work with a vengeance...airing the house, three lots of washing then and two more the next day!
Back mowing grass again-when will it stop for the Winter?!

We went to the hospital for The Pirate to get his verdict....Bone Scan result fine, a scrip for medicine and injections for two or three months, then the joys of going to Glasgow five days a week for a couple of months.... so all being well, in six to eight months he should be starting to rebuild towards competing again....oh, and an op to improve his 'plumbing'......

The Pirate has never had a stay in hospital, ever, let alone a general anaesthetic.    Lucky man.

Today we went out for a ride to see a cottage we're doing maintenance on, for others.  It was a beautiful day, the colours of the hills brought up by the grey clouds, the road a silver ribbon in the sun. The last five miles are a steady climb, giving us a good start to foundation training for next year's racing.

We had the choice of driving up to Glasgow for a session  on the velodrome, but apart from saving £50 of all the costs of the day out, we chose a ride in the sun and fresh air.
The weather has turned here, wet and windy with sunny periods so far. I can't say that we are looking forward to ice and snow...the log pile is growing just in case, and we're busy foraging from the hedgerows.

Sunday 6 October 2013

World Championships

I've ridden my first race in the World Masters Track Cycling Championships...500m Time Trial, ridden with a standing start, which nowadays takes place in a starting gate which releases you on Go.....

As my age group is short of riders- only four and you need six for a separate championship-we were riding a 55+ championship.  
So both groups lost out...60+ riders were 4th and 5th....preventing a 55-59 yr old winning a bronze....and myself winning a bronze in the 60+.    We just need to get more of our opponents from the past riding again!!