C R O S S O A K

“Are you celebrating?” asked Sunny the waiter. “Yes, that it’s Friday night” we replied. Moments later, a Prosecco with flair :-)

[Yes, I know it’s a flare, but homophones.]

I love this tree, it’s by the car park at the clumps. I can never quite capture it, which is probably part of its charm.

Fay adding some decoration to the Camerados-inspired Wallingford Living Room.

The best river views are in the evening, after the rain that dumped all day has cleared.

F went camping in the damp

Sunbeams after the storm cleared, from The Clumps.

Our landscape is full of linescapes. Here the hedgerow along the field edge peters out. Inspired by reading Hugh Warwick.

The awesome Band of Hope (renowned third best band in Wallingford, apparently) at the Boat House during Bunkfest.

The stupidity of this bike lane has me so grumpy that I’m posting a picture of it again.

It’s below the minimum recommended width; and in the wrong place (per the Highways Agency Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, Volume 5, Section 2, Part 4, Advice Note TA 91/05).

It encourages drivers to think there is sufficient space to overtake (see Highway Code rule 163 “give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car“).

It has a rainwater drain that occupies two-thirds of the width which all but guarantees that a cyclist will be forced to move right (which is likely to become an unpleasant reminder of Rule 213 “Motorcyclists and cyclists may suddenly need to avoid uneven road surfaces and obstacles such as drain covers or oily, wet or icy patches on the road. Give them plenty of room and pay particular attention to any sudden change of direction they may have to make.“)

Big milestones. Brings back memories of a smaller guy on a beach.

Just as well that dogs can read these days.

Third time, this time the left arm and a double fracture. I blame irresponsible parenting, although heroic goal saving antics might be a contributory factor.

Down to the boat house and back for a drink.

Feeling like summer is over.

H sporting the classic 2005

The power of protective paint. Keeping you safe.

The first leg of my London commute home is by bike from nearly Shoreditch to Paddington. The route along High Holbourn crosses the junction with Kingsway and Southampton Row. It’s not the nicest ride.

Good news. My new shoes from Good News arrived. Lovely.

Martin & Co. gave me a book about a crazy guy who rode a bike through Europe from the cold north to the hot south. I’m pretty sure the bike was one of these — an East German manufactured folding bike, but without the usual strengthening wooden cross-bar addition seen here.

I can’t find the book right now, so a note to self to check my memory later.