Windy ... almost blown backwards!

Riding up the Palmerston Hill when I heard this noise. Couldn't place it, then a bike went past. Well it certainly wasn't a bell but one of those "honk" squeeze things. Anyway, this guy passed me easily going up the hill. Well what's new, everyone passes me uphill. Then on the downside I flew past. He started pedalling like mad to catch up and asked if I minded if he rode just behind me. He doesn't have any lights. So as the guy did for me a few months ago when my Ay-ups died, I rode next to him and it was so good to be able to talk to someone riding along.

It turns out its his second ride into town, in fact his first cycle to work. He is going to buy a light today. The first trip was on the weekend, a trial run. He took the back cycle path through Lyneham etc rather than Northbourne Avenue (hope it is well lit!) so we parted company, but it was nice to have someone to chat to.

As for my ride, the very strong southerly made it slow going with only a 20.3kmph average. Oh well, still made it in 58 minutes so really can't complain. And think of the extra calories burned!

Today's pic is from the National Gallery. Something different as taking a photo of the lake in the dark is getting rather tedious and it was too overcast (with some drizzle) to photograph the lake again. (what is with the bold and underscore -- I don't know how to turn it off!