Gammy Leg!

I've had a few issues with my right leg since falling off my bike last week.

I was hoping that it would heal quite quickly after a few days rest but unfortunately not. I did visit the gym last Tuesday for a shorter than normal work out. I didn't do much running or any rowing, but I did everything else that I would normally do there. My leg felt generally fine at the time but I didn't push it too hard.

However, after going into work on Thursday it was hurting quite a bit all day. When I got back home I noticed that it had swollen up quite a bit and also turned a shade of grey! There was also a dark bruise that wasn't there before either.

I decided to take a visit to A&E after some dinner because I knew how long a wait there can be. A doctor eventually saw me and her diagnosis was that my leg wasn't broken or fractured in any way. The reason it was swollen was that I hadn't rested it properly in the past week. Oops! I think that everything I did was opposite to everything I should have done with it. I would have laughed but the doctor was quite serious at the time.

I was told to rest it for the next week or so and to also try to keep it above my heart so that the swelling would go down. The reason it was still hurting was also because I didn't rest it properly. When I spoke to Allen about it he was very surprised that they didn't take an x-ray of it just in case there was a small fracture on the bone, then again there's the NHS for you, trying to save money all the time!

Here's my leg while I'm working from home. It is a bit awkward to try to work while having my leg propped up and I'm sure health and safety would have a fit if they saw me working like this! I'm at an angle to my monitor, slouched on my work chair and with one leg on another chair! Thankfully I can take regular breaks while working at home.

It doesn't look like I'm going to be able to do any exercise till my leg heals properly. This won't be for at least another week or two. It's going to be a difficult week for me!

The allotment at work is coming along quite well. There have been signs of the long lost tadpoles in the pond. Some of them also have sprouted small legs too! In the foreground are potato plants, behind them some rhubarb and onions after that. There are also green beans, tomatoes and lettuces in the allotment, as well as other vegetables.

Wonderful views, life is great, crash back to earth!

I've just had one of the most painful showers in recent memory. Probably about as painful as when I last badly fell of my bike.

There are a couple of images of my wounds later on, so you have been warned.

Susan, Ben and I went out on another cycle ride around the Wallingford area today after work. We started off at a bike shop in Pangbourne and then cycled towards Whitchurch-on-Thames, where we were last week.

Here's Susan smiling for the camera in a forest trail that we were riding.

We went off the track once down a slight hill to try to get back to the bridleway that we wanted to be on. Unfortunately it ended up in a dead end so we had to walk back up.

Within the same forest we also found a small enclosure with some huts and what appeared to be an electrified wire and wire fence around it. It was a very strange set-up in the woods and looked like something you'd find in a horror film. I should have taken a picture of it because it was a bit spooky. I wonder what it is used for?

After getting very lost at one point (how lost can one get in a small area?), we eventually came across a fantastic view over Goring. It really was quite a breathtaking view over the small village on a warm spring evening.

We were all quite happy and cycling along the bridle path along the river when we came across some steep steps down into a dip. Ben went first and managed to negotiate them, he later said that he was very close to coming off his bike at the bottom of the steps.

I went next and after three steps went straight over my handlebars and landed on my right shoulder and side. I remember everything stopping for a split second as I went over the bike and the next thing I was landing on my right side and trying to cross my arms. Fortunately I instinctively managed to cross my arms so just rolled a few times down a step without breaking anything. The biggest problem, other than the steep drops, was that I was going too slowly. I knew that I was going too slowly when coming down, but at the time didn't want to go any faster as well. The next time I'll have to tackle the steps at a faster pace.

Me with my big mouth open for the camera after the fall, I'd been sat down for a few minutes before this was taken.

My bike is where it landed after I went over. I sat up after falling and immediately felt pain down the right hand side. I knew my leg was quite badly bruised as it was shaking a little as was I from the shock of the fall.

Susan took this from the bottom of the dip.

After the fall I eventually walked out of the dip, there were some equally steep steps on the other side, which were quite painful to climb up with my bike as well. At the top I decided to get on my bike and try to cycle on. We were already heading back, as it was around 8.30 by now. Fortunately it was only a few miles to the cars and none of them were uphill miles.

We stopped at a pub for the usual drinks and evening meal. It was a really nice meal, walking back to the car after sitting down for an hour wasn't so good. I think I more limped back rather than walked. :-o

I managed to drive back to Bristol and got home around 11.30. On the positive side (the cup is always half full for me), the pain in my leg really helped keep me awake for the drive home.

This is my leg injury, it hurts more than it looks as I think it's quite badly bruised on the muscle. Hopefully nothing is fractured on the bone, I'll have to wait and see how it feels in a few days time.

My right arm was also badly grazed, but what surprised me were the wounds on my right shoulder. I guess I must have landed on it harder than I thought.

It was still a really fun ride, and after I've got over the injuries I'm sure I'll look back on it with very fond memories. The most annoying thing for me right now is that I can't go to the gym tomorrow morning. :-(

Can't wait for next weeks adventure, I think a weekend at home resting will do me some good for now. :-)

Witnessing the birth of a new life, (and how to cycle over a lamb)!

I’ve been up to the Peak District last weekend for some more cycling around the area with my good mate Dave.

Here's Dave doing his Tango man impression.

We started of with a good climb up a very rocky hill. It was quite tiring to climb up the hill after a week of exercise, but I made it up to the top eventually.

We saw three other bikers along the way, which were on a similar route from the very beginning. We kept catching them up and then letting them go on ahead for the first few miles.

Dave came off his bike along the top of the hill. I was just following him when his back wheel skidded on a rock and he slid off into the bushes.

Then we had a great descent along the side of a hill. At some points the path was only six inches across and with a sheer drop on one side it was quite exciting to ride along. Both of us kept thinking not to look down or even steer down the hill. We both made it down and had a good laugh over the past couple of miles.

This is a panoramic view just before the side of the hill ride.

At this point the bridle path had come to and end and we had a choice to either turn back or take a footpath over some fields. We decided to push on on the footpath and had a few styles to negotiate along the way.

There were also plenty of streams of various depths to cross. Some of them were quite easy and a few quite tricky as well. Neither of us got really wet feet but we did have to put our feet in the water at least once.

Here's Dave crossing one of the streams. You can just see a little drop on the right, which put Dave off a little as he came to it. Of course I managed to cross the stream without any problems, honest!

When approaching one of the small lambs it turned to see me and then came straight towards me. I had just come to a stop and the lamb ran straight into my front wheel. I caught the rear right of the lamb and saw it limp off. I had to cycle off while hearing it call out in distress, because I knew I couldn't do anything about it. Dave who was following me said it was fine once it had stopped hobbling around.

Some of the violent attacking lams on the hillside.

We saw some highland cows when cycling up one hill. I didn’t notice them till Dave saw them. I think I was too busy concentrating on my cycle up the hill.

At one point Dave came across one of the highland cows, which had just given birth to a calf. Here you can see it eating up the afterbirth off the calf. So fantastic and yet so disgusting at the same time!

We then had to negotiate some really rocky up and down tracks along the top of the hills. It was quite a challenge and some of the rocks that we had to cycle over looked much too big to cycle over but with some speed and a big smile I made it over them.

One of the rocks decided to get its own back on me. As I cycled over one my front wheel kicked up the rock and it went straight into my right lower leg. At first it didn’t hurt to much but as I tried to cycle on it started to hurt more. I came to a halt and found a nice big bump on my leg.

When coming down the hill there was one track, which was covered in loose white stones. It was quite fast going coming down the track and at the end both Dave and I had insane smiles on our faces. We both said that at one point we almost came off the bikes at speed. I think if either of us had come off down the hill we would have had quite a serious accident.

Once we got back to a main road we headed back to the car. There was one final good uphill cycle to finish the route off, and a marvellous few hours out in the Peak District.

Here we are back at Dave's communicating to each other in our usual way. Just like at work.

Jennifer was obviously very impressed with her dad.

More extreme sports on Sunday afternoon. I even had a go next, Dave wasn't needed to push me though.

Fairweather Thursday biking on Wednesday.

Last Wednesday I went out on another ride with Susan around Wallingford. Wiki gave us a good route to follow from Stoke Row. We started at Wiki's house in Stoke Row and then followed some roads and bridle paths towards the south through mostly forests.

As it turned out I only took some photos of trees and none of the route that we followed or any of anyone cycling either. Still they were a few pretty pictures of very green trees.

We found some great single tracks trough the forests and also managed to get very very lost while cycling though Bottom Woods.

There was plenty of wildlife around the area, from loads of rabbits in the fields to grouse and deer in the woods.

Susan picked up a puncture in the woods after a small climb. Fortunately I had the tools to replace the inner tube. Then upon coming out of the woods we thought we had come out at one point when it turned out we actually came out somewhere else. We eventually ended up at Whitchurch-on-Thames, much further south than either of us had expected.

The only real problem was that it was about 8pm at this point and only I had lights on my bike. We did eventually get back to the cars in Stoke Row but it was gone 9.30 by then and quite dark.

The only thing left to do was to stop off at the local pub for a quick drink and some much needed food. It was a really fun ride in the end, despite getting hopelessly lost.

The Quantock Hills, at last!

We finally managed to arrange the long discussed Quantock Hills ride last weekend. We all met up at my place in Bristol after work on Friday afternoon.

Once everyone got to my house it started to rain and then as I expected the light shower to pass, it then started to thunder and thunder hard! We must have been right under the thunderstorm in the local pub that we ate dinner at. There was lightning all around us and very heavy rain as well. We were sat under a sloped glass extension in the pub so could see the heavy rain pouring down the roof. It was quite amazing but didn't bode well for the weekend.

As it turned out the weather for the weekend couldn't have been sunnier or drier. Actually we probably would have like a little less sunshine as it was very sunny on Saturday and even sunnier on Sunday.

Along for the ride were Ben (Susan's flat mate), Wiki, Susan and James (work friend Becky's husband). Here they all are on Saturday morning outside our accommodation at The Hood Arms. Possibly the last time we were seen in one piece. :-o

The route started off with a gentle uphill ride along the main road from the hotel in Kilve to Holford where the actual Quantock route started.

We had a nice uphill climb of around 500ft in well-shaded forest. It was a good climb to start the ride off with as it warmed everyone up for the days riding.

There were quite a few people that we saw all day along the Quantock hills, something that surprised me. I guess there are a number of car parks at the edges of the hills which makes it quite accessible to lots of people.

Here's Wiki looking particularly cheerful around the top of the hills as Ben cycles off.

Wiki had a new compass that she wanted to try out on the day. We had quick practice before we set off from The Hood Arms. Immediately Wiki proclaimed that we should head right along the main road from the pub, obviously we needed to head left!

There was a very good, and also very steep and rocky descent into Smith's Combe. While we were struggling down the descent two extremely fast mountain bikers literally flew past us. They must have been barely touching the ground on their way down. Ben went down the route very quickly but these two other riders were something else. I guess if you have the courage you can just let yourself go and fly down the tracks. If you do make a mistake though I'm guessing it would be hospital time.

Wiki managed to get down this descent with only a few stops and she didn't even walk any of it, which made her particularly pleased. Unfortunately Susan did fall over when trying to stop when going down, but she wasn't seriously injured. I think the steepness of the slope meant that while she could stop herself, her bike wanted to continue down the hill with her in the way.

One of many steep climbs throughout the day. Unlike Wales where there are a few long and sometimes steep climbs on a days riding, the Quantocks was more of a case of shorter climbs but many more of them. Ben labeled me a hill-climbing demon as most of the time I was first up to the top of the hills, I blame my big thighs. At least everyone's smiling in this photo. :-)

After yet another climb we decided to stop for lunch in a shaded area before leaving the forest. The sun was particularly hot around lunchtime and only Susan had put on any suntan lotion. We all had bought some along, but none of us thought to bring any along for the ride, as it was quite overcast when we set off.

Here's Ben after another climb to some fantastic scenery of the north coast and Bridgewater Bay. Unfortunately we went the wrong way at this point and had to turn back down the hill for a bit.

Susan coming down a good gentle but steep decent. You can get an idea of the speed when coming down the descent in this movie. I remember when I was coming down this hill in front of Wiki. I stopped at one point just after negotiating some steps as the track got a lot steeper, and Wiki shouted at me to get a move on. So spurred on by Wiki's voice I just rode down the steep bits to the bottom. Then when Wiki got to the bit where I stopped, she stopped too and then realised why I had came to a halt for a minute.

Here some of us are at the very peak of one of the higher Quantock Hills. We were all very happy to have made it this far up to the peak.

A better idea of the terrain around the peak. Everyone else had made it up by this point.

An even better panoramic view from the peak.

I recall that at one point I was following Wiki and she ran into a muddy track, I tried to go left around her and my front wheel just dug into the mud when I was moving along. I ended up vaulting over my handlebars as my front wheel just stopped. As it turned out I flew along past the mud and landed on my hands and ended up lying chest down a few yards further ahead. Wiki and Ben said it looked like quite an impressive vault. It was a total reflex action on my part to end up laying on my front avoiding all the mud too!

On the way up what turned out to be the final and longest ascent Susan spotted a herd of deer on the right. Wiki and I completely missed the deer as we were busy cycling up the hill. I guess if you do walk up you might see a little more of the scenery.

Even Wiki and I gave up trying to cycle up to the very top of this hill. It was around 4pm by now and we were all starting to feel the affects of cycling all day. On the way down the hill we saw what was probably a group of beginners on a bike ride with a couple of tour guides. A couple of the beginners we carrying obvious injuries.

Around half way up the hill Wiki was saying that she really wanted a fizzy drink. Quite unusual for her as she doesn't normally drink fizzy drinks. We all put it down to exhaustion and heat stroke and had a good laugh over the subject. We were actually starting to run out of water at this point. Both Ben and I only had small amounts left in our camel packs and everyone else had run out by now.

I still had some energy at the top and while waiting for the others to get here I did my Capricorn One film end scene of running towards the camera while Wiki took some photos. I did feel a little odd at this point as my legs didn't feel tired at all, despite everyone else saying they were suffering a little. I put it down to my own delusions of grandeur.

Once we finally descended back into a valley we came across a relatively shallow ford. It appeared as if cycle tracks went into the river for around 50 yards. While everyone else decided to cycle around the river route to the right I really wanted to try cycling through the ford.

Once everyone else had got to the end of the ford I started across it. I did manage to get to the other side without stopping at all, which I was quite pleased about. However at the end of the ford there was a ten-inch lip that I had to put a foot into the ford to pull my bike up to the bank. I must admit about half way along the water I was slipping quite a bit on the algae covered rocks. I did wonder whether I would make it at that point.

Here's a shot looking back at the ford and path.

At Holford on the way back to the inn, we found a very nice and quite posh hotel. In our very muddy state we weren't allowed inside the hotel, but we were served drinks outside. James had some very tasty scones as well. He did eventually share out the last scone to the rest of us as he just couldn't manage any more. ;-)

Wiki even had her fizzy drink that she was craving.

We got back to The Hood Arms at around six and as well has a good shower all had a well-deserved drink. It must have been one of the best pints of Guinness in recent memory for me.

Dinner was in The Hood Arms as there wasn't much choice of anything else in Kilve. There is only one pub and one corner shop in the village. After dinner everyone else was quite tired so went to bed relatively early at 10.30. I was still up for at least one more drink, so Susan and I stayed up for another hour with a couple of drinks.

We managed to complete around two thirds of the actual killer loop that we were following. Including getting lost a few times we did 18 miles which is a good days cycling off road.


Sunday started with a drive down to the southern Quantock Hills. This area is mainly forested and it was a good idea to cycle here for half a day, as it was clear and sunny from sunrise.

We started at a car park, which was quite high up, so the first few miles were just quick wide tracked descents. Eventually we reached a small stream with an incomplete bridge. We all took turns crossing the steam. Everyone made it without putting a foot down in the stream, but it was very muddy on both sides of the stream.

Here's Susan's attempt.

We decided to just cycle around the forest tracks without following any map directions. Whoever was in the lead would just decide to follow whichever path looked most interesting to them.

We came across a single track which was quite muddy and grassy. It turned out to be a great track as it was slightly downhill as well as being technical. It came to a grassy junction where we stopped for a short break. It really felt as we were in the middle of nowhere in the forest at this point. A very calm and relaxed feeling.

At this point we were counting our injuries from the previous day. Can you guess who's knee this is with the big bruise? Fill in the opinion poll on the left of the blog to have a guess.

Here are the group after we finally decided to look at the map for some more sensible directions. I think Wiki had decided to stop testing her compass and map reading skills at this point.

On the way back to the cars we had to go over the same unbridged river as before, here's James crossing it.

And here's Ben making the crossing and also making it look much easier than the rest of us did.

A few more climbs later and we eventually reached the cars again. We then headed back to the inn for a shower and then back to Bristol. We only managed 8 miles this morning, but we were only out for three hours and most of the routes were wide-open tracks.

At Bristol we went to Wagamamas for a late lunch. James had to get back at this point, but the rest of us went for a brief shop and tour around Bristol.

I took everyone around parts of Clifton and down to the town centre. Here's a view of the old unused cranes by the Arnolfini.

And here we all are enjoying the lazy afternoon Sunday sunshine.

I had a fantastic weekend and would like to thank Susan, Wiki, Ben and James for coming along for the weekend and making it as much fun as it was. It was just as good as the Real Ale wobble, but in a very different way. The much warmer climate made it much more of a pleasant ride rather than the challenge that the wobble was.

If only every weekend could be as much fun! :-)

We're already planning our next trip, I've heard mentions of possibly a canadian boat river camp out and also a ride around either the Lake District or Peak District. I look forward to them both as I know I'll enjoy it with such great company on my adventures.

Car repairs, cycling, bomb sites and bluebells.

I'm having to make some minor repairs to my new car as it ages. After all it is just over two years old now. My S2000 was six years old and I never had any problems with it. However my Alfa isn't ageing as well. It has already had one of the windscreen squirters stop working and now some of the interior trim is coming away. The squirter was easily repaired by taking apart the tubing, but the interior trim is proving a little more difficult. Here's my temporary botch job to hold the trim in place for now, till I can get some better glue for it.

Of course I could take it to the local Alfa dealer to have it repaired under warranty, but I'd have to take a day off work for that and really don't want to unless I really can't repair it. As an object I do still like it, but as a reliable car it is testing me. :-)

Last Monday on the bank holiday I took the opportunity to cycle around Cheddar Gorge and the Mendips again. It was still quite muddy on the routes despite the recent spell of good weather. It's always nice to do a route twice, the first time to figure out where to go and the second time to try to do it with minimal stops.

You can just about make out my tracks here where I came to an abrupt stop in the mud and had to put my foot into the mud to avoid falling over.

I took a slight detour on the long rocky downhill section of the route and came across this interesting sign, which was directed at people entering the path that I had just come from!

Last Thursday Susan and I went out on a really nice ride around Russells Water, a small village near the work office. There is a small nature reserve there and as a result some really nice tracks to ride.

Here we are at the village with our two cars parked up.

Around the nature reserve there were plenty of bluebells in the forests. They looked like a blue mist over the undergrowth and smelt fantastic.

It was a really pleasant ride and we discovered some unexpected nice tracks. All preparation for the Quantock Hills that we're about to ride this weekend.

More on this ride to come...

Parents leaving and the work allotment.

Just over a week ago my folks had to go back to Hong Kong. It's difficult to believe that they had been over here for five weeks already.

On their last night here my mum made one of my favourite meals. Lobster with ginger, spring onions and noodles. It was a great meal and everyone enjoyed it.

In this photo you can see Aran, Eric (a friend of my parents who used to run the 'other' take away business in Alton) and Nanette (Aran's mum).

Here's Elise showing me her tiger mask that she made at school with a friend. It was very impressive.

It was very sad to have to say goodbye to my parents. I'm not sure when I'll get to see them next, possibly much later on this year, or more likely sometime next year.

At work we have been given some space on the manor house grounds for an allotment. Claire, Richard Bridge and Simon have been working on it the most, with occasional contributions from other people within the company.

It's coming along quite well and some of the vegetables really are growing. The proof will be in the tasting, but it should be good to get some produce from it.

Here's Emily, Richard Bridge and Richard Body around the pond, which has some frogspawn!

This is Susan and Ian, and you can see the vegetables in the background. The rhubarb is on the right. Actually quite a few more vegetables can be seen now that the sun has finally come out.