A thread to honour my friend Di Di sent me a photo not unlike this one on Christmas Eve last year and wished me a happy Christmas. I rang her straight away and we chatted for a while. She was a warm and generous friend

And some more shots of the cicadas on the trees.

I cycled around the Lake today and stopped at the Log Loos to get some photos of the amazingly loud cicadas.

I was in Tours in western France for the northern summer solstice this year, where it was 40°C at 7.00pm. Now I am back home in Canberra for the southern summer solstice where the forecast is for a mere 27°. The Fete de la Musique was worth it, though.

For quite a few of the Bishops* I have met across my lifetime, it's a toss-up between the Turtle and the Crazy Jester! * Howell Witt (of blessed memory) being the standout exception. He definitely was a Noble Officer.

A thread: I was out with a social group on Friday and a new bloke turned up. I wound up at a table with him and his wife when he made a blatantly racist comment. I was speechless and left the table as soon as possible. Hoped never to see him again.

Such exciting options offered to me by the internet lately! Should I: a) pursue my career opportunities as a prison officer in Victoria; or b) buy those wonderful shoes specially designed for the elderly with balance problems? How can anyone decide?

That's me, with my bum 8 inches off the road. I hope you can make it.

I had a good Sydney to the Gong Ride today, and I was happy with these numbers: 90.55km 4 hours, 51 minutes, 37 seconds 18.6kph average speed 69.9kph maximum speed 127 bpm average pulse 153 bpm maximum pulse 943 metres total ascent Train back to Sydney and an easy drive home to Canberra.

We had a visitor at the start of our ride this morning. Isn't he majestic!

Here's one you might appreciate, @carlafrancome.bsky.social Sandy posts wonderful photos, mainly of Australian birds but with lots of other fascinating stuff as well.

I dropped in to Floriade this afternoon. The way these tulips were waving in the breeze was gorgeous.

Hey @bogwitch.bsky.social do you know about the Museum of English Rural Life? It's in Reading, but it's closed today so I haven't seen the place. I guess it wouldn't be a million miles away from your interests.

When you get a chance @bogwitch.bsky.social you might enjoy a visit to the Chateau at Chateaubriant. There's a certain vibe that seems very you!

What an amazing afternoon! Piastri wins the Belgian GP! The Yellow Jersey goes on the attack in stage 21 of Le Tour!!

I think I found your new car, @bogwitch.bsky.social !

A sight to lighten your day I hope, @bogwitch.bsky.social I rolled into Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire yesterday and discovered a Fete Medieval in full swing. Anything here appeal to you?

Hello @sandyhorne.bsky.social I found a new take on your theme today as I was heading cross country east of Poitiers. I reached Poitiers at 11.00am and it was 36° already.

Hey @bogwitch.bsky.social you don't need any more 'stuff' right now so I didn't buy this for you today, but it might be worth looking for in a few months time. www.exeterpress.co.uk/products/the...

Hey @bogwitch.bsky.social I rode over a crest today to be greeted by this sight and immediately thought of you. Sending this to remind you that hope springs eternal, and that you are making progress.

Hey @sandyhorne.bsky.social I thought of you when I saw this tree beside the road today. It's on a country lane heading south from Cornbury Park Estate Office towards Leafield, on the edge of the Cotswolds.

Hi @bogwitch.bsky.social I did think you might notice those posts. I've also posted this photo and some more info on my blog about today.

I found a proper lych gate today at a church in Great Gransden. It's a place to shelter a coffin prior to a funeral, and for the pall bearers to rest from the work of carrying the coffin to the church. This is at St Bartholomew's Church.

I resisted temptation today. I thought about buying a t-shirt, but in the end, I decided that wearing it would be more than a little passive aggressive. It was beautifully presented and was very on-brand for Cambridge. It said “The universe is made up of protons, neutrons, electrons and morons.”

In Hertford today, I came across this sculpture, for the 13th centenary of this meeting in Hertford. Two Australian contrasts. The indigenous people have lived in Australia for 65,000 years, ie 50 times longer. I have lived for 30.23446% of the period of white settlement of Australia.

While I'm in the mood to post things, I laughed at this today. If you know those EU number plates which all have the EU flag and a code for the individual nation (F for France, I for Italia and so on), this seems to be the Brexit response. I think what I actually laughed at was Farage's legacy!

Hey @sandyhorne.bsky.social I stopped beside this English field today and when I saw this chap circling above it, I thought of you. The quality isn't wonderful, but I brought my lightest camera on my four month cycling holiday - 15 year old Samsung WB550.

Many thanks to @carlafrancome.bsky.social and @bikefit.bsky.social and @rustytrike.bsky.social and (well, this is embarrassing!) whatsisname … woops … help! I had a wonderful time riding with you all, especially around some LTNs in this area. I love them!

I met @rustytrike.bsky.social on a ride today and promised to re-post this video. This is how it's done, Ben!

Sitting in London with a dodgy internet, went through the list of seats on ABC news site. Many "LIB held, ALP ahead" (including Dickson!) Some "ALP held, IND ahead" None "ALP held, LIB ahead" I'm liking what I'm seeing.

I loved how the bollards beside the queue at Australia House in London were wearing Labor t-shirts!

I'm writing a blog on my travels around the UK and Europe. It's at www.kevinsgrandadventure.wordpress.com Anyone can subscribe and get a notification whenever I post something, and you can comment as well.

That is the new edition for 1980. It cost me £1.25!

At my end of the reverse journey I managed to cycle 40+km from the airport, and I've had my shower and an early night is calling me. May sleep be a blessing to us both.

Hey @carlafrancome.bsky.social Out for dinner tonight, met a neighbour who said I looked "very dapper" so I decided to share that with you. Then the person I asked to take this photo also said I looked "very dapper". Any thoughts?

Wollongong born and bred here - does the Aunty Jack Show count?

Tram ride, Gungahlin to Dickson, 18 minutes, 9 stops, less than 9 kilometres, and by my count 41 separate speed limit zones! I wonder what process is in place to ensure compliance with that!

My camellia is outdoing itself this autumn!

I love that a little part of the Paris Roubaix route is a road that I rode back in 2012. It’s the approach to Guiscard. I stayed a night just east of the road at the Chateau de Quesmy. Here’s an extract from my route and a couple of shots of the Chateau.

I've published a new post on the blog for my trip to the UK and Europe later this month. It's at www.kevinsgrandadventure.wordpress.com If you're interested in the meandering thoughts of a meandering cyclist over the next few months, feel free to find the "Subscribe" button and follow along.

I saw an ad on TV this afternoon that used the tag-line "getting back on track." It seemed very serendipitous that the ad was for a brand of laxative!

As @carlafrancome.bsky.social mentioned recently, I will be in London in four weeks time, to start a long holiday. Today I began a blog to tell the story of my trip. If anyone wants to follow, it's at: www.kevinsgrandadventure.wordpress.com

Have you seen this, @carlafrancome.bsky.social ?

My phone camera has done weird stuff with the colours in these photos. It's all the same colour - in fact the second and third photos show the same sleeve!

I'm starting to make progress on the back of my new jumper. I struggled at first so I made the sleeves to learn that part of the pattern, and now the back, with the extra complex central panel, is finally working out.

My grandmother had 2 daughters, my mother (born 1930) and her younger sister. Years ago she told me that she had an ectopic pregnancy between those two, and she was "saved" by medical treatment. I stand with the woman! Thanks @gennerveevy.bsky.social for re-posting this.

Hey @bogwitch.bsky.social do you know about this place? museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk

I've just read this ABC News article. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02... I'm amazed that the option of cycling isn't mentioned. The terrain is flat, 13km isn't far, 40 minutes door to door is reasonable. For the future, building a separated cycle path would be cheaper than other options.

I went to the Canberra Show today, and got some good photos. Here’s a thread with some of them. They had two entries in the horse-drawn vehicles competition. 1/5

Well, that was one of my more interesting rides of late! The Pedal Power Friday Twilight Ride to a café for dinner. I rode 10km to the start point in Florey. The group that assembled was me on the trike, two guys on a tandem, three women and two other chaps.