Emerging

The weather was damp and misty with outbreaks of rain in the morning, but the forecast for the afternoon was for it to clear away - I have to say, it didn't look very likely.

However, as we ate lunch, the clouds broke up and the sun appeared and by one o'clock, it was - as predicted - a beautiful afternoon. It was time for the cycling. I got the rack out of the shed and got it on the car, loaded up the bikes and off we went to Bickleigh to cycle down the Plym Valley.

This was the first time for three years that Mrs. Mikey had been on a bike, so the gentle downhill along the old railway line was ideal. We went over a couple of viaducts and eventually reached the one where there is a good view of nesting peregrine falcons at Cann Quarry. Unfortunately, the young had fledged, and there was no sign of them. Regardless I put the telephoto lens on and took a couple of shots.

As we looked over the parapet, a buzzard plunged into the bushes next to the river, about fifty feet below. It stayed in there for a few minutes, giving me the chance to set the camera up and focus it on the point from which it was likely to emerge. Sure enough, out it came and I managed eight shots as it flew below us and out of sight under the viaduct. This was the best shot - it makes a change from butterflies in flight!

As it was downhill on the way there, poor old Mrs Mikey had the uphill bit on the way back to the car. She had to work hard, but she kept going. This is the start of her new fitness regime!