A field of Poppies and one of Linseed

I was out for a bicycle ride on a beautiful summer's day and passed these two colourful blooms, one of poppies and the other of linseed which is used in various products which are oil based. For those visitors to my site from around the world and with varying climates here in England at this time  of year the daylight hours are the longest of the year from 4am in the morning until about 10pm depending on the cloud cover. We have had very heavy rain showers of which I was caught in one on my bike which meant a complete change of clothes when I arrived home, but it is all about the pleasure of cycling! I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Codicote Steam Rally and Country Fair

I recently visited the Steam Rally and Country Fair in the village of Codicote in Hertfordshire which was very interesting and on display were steam engines and road rollers as well and ancient tractors. The picture (right) is of a steam powered lorry, it having a fire and boiler in the front of the vehicle which can just about be visible from the photo. When I was a young boy I just remember them delivering the beer to the local public house. They sure did make a smoke screen as they went along the road! A nice and warm drive for the driver in the winter! I think the owner of the engine above was about to sweep the chimney and his ladder was in place! Just a short cycle ride of 20 miles.

Stream and country fair

Just a ride with a friend

With the coming of nice weather in England I went for  ride with a friend which was very nice but I got a rather stiff neck looking up at him!

A Wicked Lady

• Just a few miles from where I live, in an area known as Nomansland, is a public house and restaurant named after Katherine Ferrers, a highway woman who lived in the village of  Markyate, who was bored with the life of a lady of leisure and to enable to have a bit of  excitement in her life had a go at being a highway women. Read all about her by Googling Wicked Lady. Another interesting event in the area is the creation of a new forest where thousand of  trees are being planted which is very good for the environment. (Google Heartwood Forest to read about this project.)  So on a glorious spring day with the warm sun shining I hope you enjoy reading about that wicked lady.

Someries Castle

Recently I took a short bicycle ride to Someries Castle, which is just inside the boundary between Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. It is an old manor house which is designated a castle, which boasts the fact it is the first brick built castle in England. If you want to read more look on Wikipedia and type in Someries Castle. The original occupants, if they were alive today, would wonder where the noise comes from because it is right next to the runway of Luton International airport. Just a 10 mile ride today.