Getting the starter going was quicker than I can recall. Just one feed was required for the bubbles and distinctive sour aroma. I took 3/4 of the starter, mixed it with 200g of flour, a big slurg of olive oil and a good pinch of salt. After a good 10 minutes kneading, the dough is being left to rest at room temperature. At this stage I don't know I long it will take to rise. I have yet to get to know my starter. Exciting!
Simple:
- 1 jar
- 1 'cup' of white flour
- 1 'cup' of water
Discard half on a daily basis, add half a cup of water and half a cup of flour. repeat until mixture starts to ferment nicely.
Do not:
- Be oblivious to the changed weather forecast and turn up without overshoes nor leg warmers.
- Not knowing where the group is heading
- Pick up a bottle dropped by one of your fellow riders and then assume they took the usual route
- A much shorter ride on the bike
- A much wetter/colder ride
- Club mates who probably waited for me further on but did not see me turning up.
- Preparation for the Fred Whitton goes from bad to worse
- I will have to train hard this week to catch up.
So far we have Basil, Oregano, Chard, Jerusalem artichokes, borlotti beans, peas, radish, ornamental rhubarb (Ooops), potatoes, runner beans, parsley, broad beans.
Tomorrow:
Various kinds of salads (rocket, mizuna, little gem...), tomatoes, salsify, scorzonera, kohl rabi, savory and asparagus*, spinach.
* hoping for a 2011 harvest!
8 of us met at 8:15 this morning in Grasmere for an 8:45 start. We headed to Ambleside taking a left towards Kirkstone via the struggle (a swine of climb that one, yuck), down back to Ambleside through Holbeck lane. We had a very welcome stop in front of the Drunken duck pub as it was our rendez-vous point with Allan. Allan was having an interesting day already with a very strong headwind coming from Ulverston and it was his marriage anniversary but was on the bike!
Anyhow, we carried on up Hawkshead hill via Tarns How. Absolutely gorgeous. I will coming back with the girls there soon. A quick descent saw us to Coniston past the sport centre where the Fred Whitton will start in little more than three weeks time. Then the best bit of the ride: strong tailwind, flattish road and perfect surfacing. It would not last.
One "steep bugger" to Broughton Mills and then over Stickle Pike -- Allan's least liked climb in the Lakes. I can understand why. It goes on and on without much in the way of pretty views. The winds were picking up and had a mind of their own going in random directions and gusty. So gusty that I was blown off my bike. No harm done. Only a knock to my left knee. My saddlebag came the worst out of the fall. Fortunately I could attach it back and carry on. The descent to Ulpha was steep and windy with many accounts of near blow off by the winds.
At Ulpha, we all had a well earned stop at the shop. Allan wisely recommended to avoid going over Corney fell but take Birker Fell as Corney Fell would be too exposed. Birker Fell is steep alright (25%) but is quite short. Not the worst climb of the ride.
The worst was to come.
A bit of flat and up Hardknott. Hardknott is horrible. I hate it. The wind made it even worse. Worse than hitting it after 100 miles in the Fred whitton last year. I was struggling even to walk up the 33% incline. At the top everyone was waiting for me sheltered by a lone rock.
I proceeded down Hardknott with extreme care, two hands firmly on the brakes. I did not really want to have another off today. A Cockey Beck Allan turned right to head back to Ulverston and make the most of what was left of today's marriage anniversary. We plodded along, me more than the fit lads. The wind was ridiculous. In the relative flat interim between Hardknott and Whrynose, I was pushing along on inner ring and granny gear. I had enough. I wanted to go home was dreaming of warm bath. Not yet. Up Wrynose. Hard... I had to stop a few times to avoid getting pushed back by the wind -- and catch my breath! It was awful. The lads were steaming ahead and were no longer in sight.
Again I descended the steep Wrynose at a slow slow pace. No point in being silly. At the foot of Wrynose east, I saw Brian who was coming back to get me. The lads were worried. Nope I am just slow slow slow and even slower because my confidence and energy levels were very reaching record lows.
A few more climbs over Wallend, Redbank and straight down to Grasmere.
This was the hardest climb of the year and a real knock to my confidence to ride the Fred Whitton this year. I know one thing for sure: I will not start the ride if the weather people forecast an Easterly wind or rain.
Thanks to the lads for the company and Rich for concocting a hell of route.
What do you love about where you live?
Submitted by Emu with a Clue.
- near the seaside (even though you can swim around Morecambe bay!)
- very close to some stunning countryside
- nice spacious garden
- 20' walk from the city centre
We have completed our four vegetable beds thanks to some wood from the Timber centre and a big trailer load of quality top soil / manure mix from Picadilly gardens. Assembling the beds was a simple affair. Four fence posts, two planks screwed on each side and bob is your uncle. We left 10 cm worth of fence post sticking out to allow for the installation of some wire netting to keep birds and cats away from the beds. This latter point is a sore point as our cat box is pleased to see four large cat litters springing up in the garden. I love him but he'd better keep out ;-)
So this afternoon, we are going to the garden centre to get some chicken wire netting, two rhubarbs crowns, compost, strawberry plants and peas.
