Country Roads

I think you could say I quite like my summertime work-life balance! This morning was a gorgeous sunny calm morning. I climbed on my bicycle at a respectable hour (ie when most other people were already at work) and cycled out into the countryside to deliver my relieving details to a school where I know several teachers.

You can see that I had a nice easy ride... we are talking flat floodplains in this direction. You can also see how dry the countryside is: it has been a warm, dry summer that we townies have loved, but that is not so easy for farmers.
The hills in the background... that's the direction I walk in when I want my hill walking practice. But today.... a nice gentle bike ride was a greaaat way to spend a couple of hours!

UPDATE: And just to make you all the more envious - I have just spent a couple of relaxed hours in the armchair, looking at the Lonely Planet book for Paris that I got out of the local library, working out what I might do on my three (jetlagged) days in Paris. My list is already too long for three days of course!
And just to make you less envious. Tonight I loaded up my pack. The pile on the bed did not look very big, but it weighs a ton. Tomorrow morning I plan a 3-4 hour hilly walk with said pack on my back. Guess who will be finding some items 'non-essential' after the walk!!