I don't worry too much about silly things I see while riding along - as just occasionally it's me that does it!  However I feel a little 'talkative' tonight.  While riding up Aldgate Valley Road later this afternoon, I had three vehicles overtake me at different places.  The first waited patiently behind as it was at one of the most bendy areas.  As soon as I was sure the road ahead was clear, I gave a thumb's up and it passed by with a wave from the occupants.  Both the next 2 vehicles also…

While struggling up a quiet climb this afternoon, I momentarily thought wouldn't this be more enjoyable if the gradients in the Hills were a little more gentle.

But if they were a little more gentle, they'd probably be suburbs.

Keep tweeting little birds.

Evans Drive, Mark Oliphant Conservation…

I was still in the suburbs before ascending into the Hills when I got the highlight of my day.  I was passing a mum and her daughter (about 3 years old) who were on the footpath, the little girl on a little tricycle.  She looked over at me, gave a big smile, adding "I'm riding a bike too!"

The moment survived for the gold medal against strong competition.  There was my picnic lunch with a bush setting and a view on a beautiful sunny day, some new roads (for me) and new sights, the…

I was able to head out around 3 pm today.  I took the closest traffic-free route out of the city for me - up the Lynton-Belair path (I'm probably the only one in the sport I play that rides this path for Interval Training!).   Past the production line of 'picking-up' parents and grandparents at the primary school on Sheoak Rd, and into Belair National Park. 

No ride on through and up to Crafers today, just a slow treadle along…

Riding up a longish straight suburban street at night with a car at the other end coming towards me.  It was going a sensible speed, but had it's lights on high-beam.  The distance between us was diminishing.

Would the driver see me?   Would the driver realise that a cyclist also needs to see the road?  Would the driver care?

Just before the car reached that balance point, the lights went to low-beam.  Beauty.  The driver does see me.  The driver does care.

The car at…

I love being out and about in the afternoon on a nice day, whether it's walking or riding.  It's my favourite time of the day.  The gradual lengthening shadows, shadows highlighting the folds in the hills, the colours in the leaves as the sun lowers, the hues that develop across the hills, then the colours of the clouds and sky as dusk approaches, and the start of the cool of the evening on the skin.  

Left home at 1.30pm…

I did my own trip to Murray Bridge last Friday, as was there over the weekend for a tournament.  Took the quiet roads.  After skirting Mt Barker (town and hill), went on the Back Callington Rd.  Unsealed, I took it easy on the descents with loaded panniers (camping gear), spun slowly up the climbs - and just enjoying the countryside.  Not thinking about much, dropped over a rise and around a bend and was confronted by ...…

(Bike track to Willunga, Bangor Rd, Range Rd West, Wakefield Rd, Pages Flat Rd)

                                      Wakefield Rd - a tad different to it's namesake in the…

Set out this morning like Baloo the Bear (with only the simple bare necessities) - up the hill to join the Wednesday Wheelers (Bike SA) group.  Met at Belair Rwy Stn.  Off through Belair NP via Queen Jubilee Drive and on to Crafers.  Wound down to Hahndorf for a kransky lunch.  Managed a visit to the Hahndorf Academy to view the "Oratunga: into the landscape" exhibition.

Ride to Mylor via River Rd - the WW are heading back to…

 …

I've wanted to ride Burma Rd ever since I saw the name on a map (sometime last weekend) - a name that triggered the imagination.  Cycling thoughts went round in my head as the kilometres rolled by under Bike's wheels.  Up Penneys Hill, down Pottery.  Woodgate Hill - a lovely road - I'm feeling happy and peaceful.  Random thought - does Andrew Bolt ride a bike? Doubt it.  Then I'm there - no Compass help required.

Burma Rd has…

Got up feeling a bit Leyland Brothers, so went to see a bit of Oz countryside.  Quite some time since I took the spiders for an outing, so put BIKE on the rack and drove to Nairne.  Cloudy to start with (10.30am) but soon became a gorgeous day.  Six kms into the ride I had my first surprise - Brukunga and the ex-Pyrites mine - fascinating.  Headed east and onto unsealed roads.  Gradual descent into the Bremer Valley and across the Bremer River.  Countryside here…

Was in McLaren Vale for a lawn bowls tournament Monday and Tuesday, and stayed on for a ride on Wednesday. The overnight rain curtailed plan A, and had no plan B. Rode the backroads through the vineyards as the weather fined up until an idea came to me. Dropped into Willunga Bakery to fill the lunchbox, then took the grid-roads towards Sellicks Hill. Had magpie-larks swoop me in two different spots - what rank do we give them?…

Bike and I had an outing this afternoon. Felt akin to those magnificent young men of long ago:

we went up diddely on up, we went down diddely on down

up down cruising around, rode a good loop then we rode back to town.

Wanted to ride with minimal traffic and good scenery, so ... headed for the nearest exit, the Lynton-Belair bike path (UP!). Saw a 2 1/2 foot brownie while on the…

Set off for a wander at 10am this morning. Took the Veloway to Reynella (played matador to the Major - he tried several times, but judged my glances back well to put him off), then the Coast-to-Vines to Mclaren Vale. Yellow-tailed black cockatoos in the pines by the trail in MV. Up to the bakery for sweet supplies, then took some back roads heading for Kangarilla. Stopped on a quiet bit of road for lunch, then on through Kangarilla to Mt Bold Reservoir. It's close to full, magic sight with…