Moorland Shoreline

As usual, best appreciated in large

I had a lot of fun with yesterday's Painting Clouds, and it seems like a lot of you out there enjoyed it too, to the extent that you sneaked me into the spotlight momentarily. Thanks so much for that. This honour means a lot and is always a lovely surprise.

After posting yesterday evening I headed out on the bike as designated leader of the A ride. Not a lot of leading was required and certainly very little was actually done! The group pretty much looked after itself, although it got rather exciting at one point. The forecast had been for heavy showers, but by the afternoon they had changed their mind and all looked to be set fair for a pleasantly warm evening. It was a trick! Halfway around our circuit and we saw lightning flashes, followed by rumbles of thunder. The skies soon darkened to a terrifyingly dark shade of grey which could have passed quite reasonably for black. Within seconds we were engulfed by torrential driving rain. We were caught by a full-blown summer thunderstorm.

The storm lowered the air temperature but it had the effect of raising the temperature of the pace - which became decidedly hot. When I occasionally got to the front to do a stint it seemed that I could only keep the speed going for a few hundred yards, by which time I was in a massive oxygen debt and I then struggled to hold on to the wheels going past me. But what a terrific buzz. We were wet through in the pub afterwards but so high on adrenaline that we barely noticed. I'm proud to report that I managed to finish with the leading group. I think my form is beginning to return at last!

Despite being cream-crackered by that ride, something in me stirred early this morning and I found myself wide awake at 5am. I'd normally have tried to get back to sleep, but I noticed that it was misty outside following all the overnight rain. It immediately occurred to me that there was likely a temperature inversion effect in operation and that I could get above all the mist by heading up onto the moor. I was thinking blip! I took quite a few interesting shots, but I chose this one in the end for its simplicity. I like it a lot. I suspect this was exactly why I woke up so early. Blipping is rapidly getting into my very soul!

As a footnote, after just watching the Tour de France highlights, I've found out that Bradley Wiggins' bid for a podium place is over today after a bad crash. I'm utterly gutted for him and his team. I'm going to really miss cheering you on over the top of the Galibier. This sure is a tough, tough sport.