The dying of the light

 

Winter arrived. Autumn hung on, the weather mild for longer than what was normal. The leaves in place on deciduous trees more numerous than I remember. As the temperatures plummeted, the Gingko biloba at work soon shed what foliage remained. As is typical, the crisp brown leaves of the beech hedges in my garden cling on. I was in two minds whether to cycle today. Glad I did. A degree or so above freezing, the roads, in particular the lanes, were icy, but cautious pedalling avoided a spill.

The ford close to home was thick with ice. The Grand Union canal frozen over in places.

Slow in progress and laden with clothing but conversely lightened in spirit, it's rides like these that rank among my favourites.