Clarity

On this first day of my mammoth ten day xmas break, I decided to start as I mean to go on and go out for a nice ride first thing. Yule Fever seemed to grab me though and I invented my newest tradition whilst getting ready to go out.

I packed a big bag of peanuts which I'd bashed and broken up with my marble rolling pin, a flask of coffee and two mince pies along with the usual survival kit I pack into my pannier for each ride.

Getting through the Xmas-Eve-Madness traffic as quickly as possible, I hopped onto the Downs Link and headed out towards Bramley. At strategic points along the way I put a handful of crushed peanuts on top of posts or in piles of leaves that blackbirds were showing an interest in. The day really brightened up from its dull, cloudy beginning quite quickly.



So I rode on to Bramley scattering food as I went. I stopped a number of times for a while where there was a convenient bench, scattering food and then sitting extremely still for some minutes until the local small wildlife had forgotten I was there, and started going about their business again.

Once I eventually got to Bramley I sat in the station and relaxed in the sunshine whilst Jackdaw basked outside (!).



And had my coffee and mince pie.



I then then rode back the same way replenishing the peanut supply where I had left food on the way. I stopped off at the local church for a rest and some water and had a good chinwag with the local vicar about bikes, windproofs and the South Downs Way. The sunshine was still making everything very warm and comfortable. I rode back home in a stress-free contemplative mood.

So there you have it - the new tradition - The Christmas Eve Mince Pie Run!