Easter Holiday Weekend Of Four Hot Dry Days In The UK

[Captain_Slash]

Good Fridays ride

Distance 148 km

A week ago this was what it was like with ice on the cars and a very cold temperature

Fired the BMW up this morning, it hadn't been started for over six months but burst into life with a push of the button

Today its lovely sunshine and a much hotter than normal temperature



Along the back roads close to my home

The bluebells are in bloom now

I noticed a good few rape fields in flower today

Lots of farmers are now using this sediment from river mouths instead of cow shit to plough into the fields



That's a busy railway line, I stopped here for my lunch and about six trains went past during that time

A double decker bus along these country lanes wasn't what I was expecting to see



The GS is fun on these roads

The river Test at Whitchurch, not far from its source





A duck making slow progress going up river



The duck is paddling hard going against the current

This one coming down river is getting a move on

I don't ride through that today but might try it in a few months time when the water level is lower





A Church out along the back roads, the trees are just beginning to bloom











Its great to be back home and riding here with lovely fresh air and no smoke



Country life and the lovely aroma of cow shit coming from the muck spreader

Chicken Shawarma for tea

 

[Captain_Slash]

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[Captain_Slash]

Saturdays ride

Distance 165 km

Getting used to this warm weather now and no need to put lots of layers underneath the leathers

A few people enjoying their fishing at this lake





Just left the BMW dealer after chatting about suspension upgrades for the GS, I love riding these back roads but the bikes suspension needs sorting out



Lunch time and a healthy chicken sandwich with a shallot and banana
Not much water flowing through the fields now, there should be a lot more than this in april
Not much water flowing through the fields now, there should be a lot more than this in april

I guess this old vehicle is permanently parked here in the garden



This is a fun twisty road that is always pretty much traffic free

The wind turbine was spinning quite fast













A striking hedge

A Church on the back roads between Newbury and Basingstoke







Raiding the freezer and a portion of Irish beef and Guinness stew was found that I made last year. This went down well with some steamed potatoes

 

[Captain_Slash]

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[Captain_Slash]

Easter Sundays ride

Distance 347 km





So many rape fields where I ride, its good as we are producing our own rapeseed oil rather than importing the stuff, I remember reading an article recently saying don't waste your money buying expensive imported olive oil, use our own rapeseed oil as it has some advantages over olive oil







The cows are getting inquisitive of me and come a lot closer





These guys were enjoying the unusually warm weather

The river Test just outside Winchester



The river Test close to Romsey, here it has picked up a lot more water from other rivers



Seldom do I find this barrier down as its not a busy line

Riding through a village and there are daisies and dandelions everywhere











These shots are out near Glastonbury



The BM out in its natural environment





This narrow road will take me to Frome in Somerset where I will fill up with cheaper petrol then ride back home



Lots of people on top of the white horse close to Westbury

I have been enjoying this twisty road for many years now

Back home and its time for food.
Cooked without using any oil, pressure cookers are very useful things for cooking chickens, they can then be put in the oven for 20 minutes to crisp up the skin

 

[Captain_Slash]

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[Captain_Slash]

Easter Mondays ride

Easter Monday's ride of 165 miles/263 km, four lovely days for the holiday and I rode 577 miles/923 km in total over the four days



Still a bit of water in this stream but others I passed today are completely dried up. In April they should have lots of water in them





I wondered what was going on here as I have never seen so many people with metal detectors in one place before. It was a charity event with people from all over the place

Lots of thatched cottages in this area





Two more white horses seen today



Stones at Avebury











I stopped for lunch here and quite a few bikes came past on this twisty lane but no cars used it at all

The trees are starting to bloom now and this very warm weather should get things moving







Now I understand why I see so many white horses



The river Kennet flowing past the houses in a village I rode through



Looking up river and a kid has a plastic swan in the water

Down river and a real one is in the water



The Avon and Kennet Canal



More fun twisty back roads again today







Cold chicken with a jacket potato and home made green tomato chutney

 

[Captain_Slash]

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[2wheels]

Delightful scenery.

 

[Ally]

Test, Kennet, loads of pollarding, Detectorists and Rape!

Thanks Colin