JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR (3)

In my wanderings around the Fifth Quarter of the World - "The World, according to the best geographers, is divided into Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Romney Marsh" (Rev. Richard Barham) I tend to avoid the coast around Dymchurch during the holiday period, from Easter until late August. This is because the little town, or large village, is the magnet for daily  and seasonal holidaymakers. The first because it is so accessible from the towns of East Kent and the second because there is a number of large residential caravan parks in the vicinity.

However, during this Easter week I decided to cycle the 15 miles down to it to see how the "lockdown" was affecting it.

The lanes I cycled on the way were absolutely deserted by the usual traffic, making my journey pleasantly quiet and brought back memories of my early cycling days in the 1950s. But, on reaching Dymchurch I found it a ghost town, with all shops closed and shuttered and very little traffic in a High Street, which at this time of year, is usually quite difficult to cross.

Of course my usual cafe was amongst all those closures, but I had allowed for this and packed a raspberry jam sandwich and banana (the ultimate in naturally self-packaged cycling snacks) along with a flask of coffee, laced, as usual, with whiskey.

I rode up onto the sea wall to sit and eat my elevenses and viewed the sands which in Easter week would normally be teeming with holidaymakers. I could just make out one man and his dog.

 The sea wall is usually a favourite promenade, but this year, no one

Quite eery, really. I felt alone in a deserted world and it is not something I would ever wish for again, in spite of being a solitary and natural avoider of noisy crowds.

Coronavirus USA..............

I see the current deaths from Coronavirus in USA at running at about 30,000...................

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR (2) The kindness of neighbours

We live in a large close of 48 houses, subdivided into a number of smaller, five house closes.Being on the entrance corner we have a good view of all that passes in and out.

A number of inhabitants, us included, are old and retired, some are widows/widowers. 

We have tended to nucleate with neighbours immediately surrounding us and our neighbour on the opposite side of the road came up with the idea of all keeping in touch during these unusual, self isolated times. He (and others) is using the "Whatsapp" smartphone app to do this, but some of us old Luddites do not have smartphones. 

So we have all have initiated a system whereby, if OK and in good health, a green paper is displayed in a window. If needing help with anything one changes this to a red paper and a passing neighbour will get in contact.

It takes me back to the village where I was a boy. Everyone knew everybody else and if you needed anything you stood in the doorway to hail a passer by. Since there were only 10 cars in the village (mostly owned by farmers) everybody walked past to get to the one shop.

Fortunately no "red cards" have been displayed yet in our close...........

ALL FOOLS DAY 2020

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR

The first Sunday morning ride since the lockdown and I met with my 80 year old cycling buddy, also an ebike user due to health problems. We usually meet on a Sunday either at a cafe in Hamstreet or one in Appledore and, after coffee and toast, ride out together over Romney Marsh. At a convenient place we split up he returning to New Romney and I to Ashford.

Cafes are now a no-no, but we still met at Hamstreet and sat on a bench (at each end, to preserve "social distancing") by the village green, having each brought a flask and food. Munching a banana/jam sandwich it was just like "elevenses" breaks in the old Cyclists' Touring Club (we are both life members) club run days of some 65 years ago.

Luckily it was dry, but we would not have been out anyway if it was raining. Whilst we so sat a woman, who we both recognised as a regular Cosy Kettle Cafe customer walked over the green, holding a takeout cup of coffee and sat at a nearby bench. She also recognised us and on greeting said, "the cafe is still open for takeaways if you want a cup of coffee and a slice of cake". We said we were a self preservation society, thank you. "I need to get out amongst others since my husband died a while ago, so it is good to be able to still go the the cafe, even if I can't sit there and chat to people", she said - from a safe distance.

The cold wind began to make itself apparent on our backs after a while so we shouted our goodbyes and "Marsh meandered" away. Around Hamstreet (which is just off the Marsh) primroses were absolutely prolific, but it is a known phenomenon that once below the Royal Military Canal and on the Marsh proper all wild primroses disappear completely.

COVID-19 CORONA VIRUS

My wife and I are both 81. She is in the high risk group as she has a  low immune system due to rheumatoid arthritis, so we are both going into voluntary isolation, since I do not want to get the virus and infect her.

But this does not mean not getting out into the fresh air. I can take her for drives and I shall still continue to cycle. But I shall do it alone and won't call into cafes.  It will be like my youth when I couldn't afford to buy food in cafes and took my own flask and sandwiches when out cycling. But my heart goes out to those small, intimate cafes. They are going to experience a large drop in clientele, as will many others. It looks like the big hitters like airlines will be government subsidised (from us, the tax payer, ). But these small, often one man/woman businesses which try to make their way will be thrown to the wolves.

Our government's latest announcement suggests that anyone over 70 should put themselves into 4 months quarantine, regardless. Hell! I was very busily working until I was 75 until a stroke told me that I was, perhaps too busy. Even now, at 81, I need to get out for 30 mile rides, albeit on an e-bike. If I was really "confined to barracks" I should get stir crazy.

Hopefully we can get food delivered from our local supermarket, although they are experiencing difficulties with over subscription at present, so planning ahead will be vital.

But I am just reading Hilary Mantel's last volume in her "Cromwell" trilogy and the 16th century's matter-of-fact attitude to the mortal "Sweating Sickness" (gay at breakfast, dead by evening) and the Black Death puts these current tribulations into better focus.

I hope we all have a long, hot summer, which apparently kills the virus and will give a chance to find a vaccine.

Christmas Day morning ride

Christmas Day, about 12.00 noon. I decided the weather was too perfect to stay indoors looking at tinsel and drinking Port, Whiskey, Baileys (take your choice - I do!).

So a gentle 25 miles beckoned. Across Romney Marsh and down to St. Mary's Bay and a three mile toddle along the sea wall to Dymchurch. Of course, no cafes were open but I had prepared for that, taking a flask of coffee and a couple of mince pies.

This view looks East towards Folkestone - you may just discern Folkestone cliffs on the promontory if you click the image. The sea looks almost Mediterranean and there was no wind, but the temperature was 4 degrees C, so I eschewed bathing.

There were quite a few cars about and some brave souls were out walking dogs, children and/or elderly relatives when I reached Dymchurch, but on my ride home through the lanes back to Ashford only 4 vehicles passed me.

A delightful way to work up an appetite for the Christmas lunch cooked by Mrs Avus (But I did my bit with the washing up!)

SEASONS GREETINGS

It has a been a somewhat unsettling time for a while now but hopefully things are now beginning to settle. So a couple of videos for you all, for this Christmas season.

First, I thought that that "Changes" sung by Alan Price, seemed appropriate

And then, to get a feel for the old time traditional Christmas spirit, poet John Betjeman reading his poem "Christmas". He wrote this in 1940 when Britain was standing alone against the might of Nazi Germany, bombs falling all around. To be living at that time puts our petty current troubles into focus.

A very happy Christmas to everyone. With a peaceful and progressive 2020 (I hope!)

LAST(?) AMENDMENT TO A MOTORCYCLING LIFE

Some five years ago I had a stroke. For a couple of months thereafter motorcycling, and indeed all driving, was curtailed. That stroke affected my left side, meaning that at first it was impossible to ride a conventional motorcycle since my left hand (needed for the clutch) and left ankle/foot (needed to change gear) were not fully operative. I sold my then current bike, a Royal Enfield Bullet and used the money to buy a small "twist and go" Honda scooter which had no clutch and was fully automatic.

This served me well during my recuperation and eventually I was able once more to get a small 250cc bike, which I christened "Elsie" since her Reg. number was J734 LCN. I sold the scooter, which, in retrospect, was a bad move. (See below)

A sweet little classic Honda in very good condtion, I thought it would serve me for what is left of my motorcycle life (I am approaching 81). I have managed it for two years but increasingly the neuropathy in my left foot/ankle made changing gear awkward and painful. I had to think about how to wangle my foot around the lever and this spoiled my riding, when it should be an unthinking action, snicked in automatically.

Regretfully she had to go and was advertised nationally on Ebay. An interested buyer got in touch. Could he come down to view the bike? I gave directions and soon the doorbell rang. When I answered it we both looked at each other and said together, "I know you!" He was an old colleague, a retired police motorcycle cop who I had worked with in the days when we both trained bus drivers. He was in remission from throat cancer and the treatment  had left him weak so that, like me, he was looking to change his powerful, heavy bike for something smaller.

A deal was very soon done, and he came back the next day, driven by his wife, to ride it home. So we were both very happy. He had got a very reliable little bike and I knew it was going to a good home. But what an absolute coincidence. Advertised nationally, it went to an old friend and colleague!

So I was now, after 64 years of motorcycling, without a motorcycle of any kind. My memory went back to the twist and go scoot. I could still manage one of them. I used Elsie's sale money to look for and buy another! I have fitted a screen and hand shields and can report that it is cosy and comfortable at sub-zero temperatures. And I don't have the gear change problem!

A far cry from the heady days of my BMW 1000cc (owned and loved for 27 years), but at least I can still tootle around the lanes under two-wheeled internal combustion power!

Desk top clocks (for Roderick Robinson)

Roderick Robinson has a problem with putting a clock on his desktop PC since changing from Windows 7 to Windows 10.

I needed to buy a new PC and it came with Windows 10, which I abhorred. So I asked my pet professional to install Windows 7 on it. I don't know about Windows 10, but in the older setup one simply goes into "Gadgets", selects the clock and clicks to install:

He also mentions that I used to display a clock by my blog's header and it has disappeared. I had not noticed! But Blogger has done some curious stuff recently and I shall need to go back and consult the HMTL of my older blogs to see what's up.

Meanwhile has anyone any ideas why this should have happened?

COFFEE STOP IN COUNTRY CHURCHYARD.......

I usually home in on a country churchyard somewhere when out on the e-bike. Once it was because I had an antiquary interest in medieval churches. That's till the case but in my stiff old age I need  a break from the saddle after 12 miles or so. The days are gone when I could just lounge on the grass - I would find it difficult to arise now, but a seat always seem to be available in a churchyard for a rest (and there is always a pew inside if cold or inclement.)

So, making for  Kenardington church, I passed a nearby farm

I was sitting in the churchyard, coffee in hand and musing on that farm's name, watching a man mowing around the many ancient gravestones. As he drew closer I called out a "good morning". Which resulted in him stopping the engine for a chat. "Any idea why the farm down the road is called "Battle Hill Farm", I enquired. He settled beside me on the seat. "Well you've come to just the right person. I own the farm and, for my sins, am the churchwarden - all the work and little thanks.

" Close to where we are now was once an Alfred the Great era Saxon fort. My farm has been so called for centuries from, I suppose, a folk memory. But I have done a lot of research and the reason is that this was once on the edge of an estuary inlet from the river Rother, you can see where it was looking over to the valley over there.

"Well Viking longships rowed up there, attacked the half finished fort, established a base here and went along to ravage Appledore,, then a seaport, about three miles away.King Alfred had established other forts at Newenden and Lympne and soon got reinforcements along the coast to deal with the Viking camp and smashed the lot!"

Seeing my interest and answering my questions had obviously established that I was not just a chance tourist. "I have often picked up stuff from that battle site, bits and pieces of armour and a couple of swords, whilst ploughing over it. I keep them in the farm office, do you want to pop back down the hill to see them?"

Of course I was interested! When he had put the mower away we went down a footpath to the farm. He had quite a collection and I was reaching for my camera when he requested no photographs and did not want to tell me the exact  field where he had made the finds.

"I don't want it shared around or I shall have metal detectorists and the county archaeologist all over the place. But I felt your interest and I don't often get the chance to show off my hobby."

Well the  half hour coffee stop turned into over an hour's involvement, but a leisurely life on a bike is possible when you are a retired 80 year old!

WISPER E-BIKE.. IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED........

Those who read a recent post of mine will remember the unsuitable Raleigh crank drive ebike I injudiciously bought. It did sell eventually but I lost £600 over the deal.

Having given the dust (and Mrs Avus) time to settle I looked around once more to replace my Freego bike as that firm went into administration. They had three containers of ebikes on the high seas from China when the EU slapped a 38% import tariff on stuff from there, resulting in bankruptcy.

The result was a Wisper bike - the nearest in spec. to my original Freego, in "Stealth Black".

After experiencing a couple of road test rides I can report that I am pleased with it. It is well equipped and of good quality. I specified the optional 700 watt, long range battery which , the way I ride, should give about 75 miles before a recharge is needed. Since my maximum day ride, in my senility, is no more than 40 miles that will do nicely.

The motor, located in the rear wheel is very powerful. Although rated at the maximum legally  permissible 250 Watts it will power the bike along on pedal assist to about 18 mph. (legal limit for ebikes in the EU is 15.5 mph). Having a weak left leg since a stroke I need an independent  throttle to give me a push off. Again, these have been made illegal in the EU, but a 4 mph "walk assist"  mode to help with pushing a heavily laden bike is acceptable. Wisper have circumvented the throttle legislation by making the twist grip work to 4mph, pedal free, but as soon as the pedals are turned the full throttle takes over. Apparently it's legal as long as the pedals need to be turning. What a ridiculous situation!

Once I am under way I never use the throttle, preferring the exercise and leg movement of the pedal assistance. Again, the power of the unaided throttle is strictly illegal since it will waft the bike up to 20 mph!

My only bleat, and this applies to all ebikes, is the ridiculously high overall gearing caused by the 52 tooth front chainring. I shall do my usual conversion and fit a 42 tooth one asap. To see what I am on about see my previous post about cycle gearing.

FAMILY FUN

Our emigrant daughter and her Australian husband (HHnB blog of yore) are staying with us for a month. As they have both been converted to the true religion (motorcycling) he decided to hire a couple of bikes whilst over here to bimble around the Kentish countryside.

However, to collect them meant a 40 mile trip to Tonbridge from Ashford, so I was enlisted as chauffeur. Sod's Law meant a day of teeming rain, but they endured  and my daughter actually enjoyed that feeling of brisk accomplishment when they returned. Here they are, suitably wrapped up at Tonbridge ready for me to lead them back to Ashford.

Fortunately the weather cleared subsequently and I hoisted out my own motorcycle as Susan wanted to experience some father/daughter rides around Romney Marsh and the Kentish Weald - but boy, it was windy!

We stopped off at Rye Harbour to enjoy a bikers' break at the Bosun's Bite. I tried to do justice to my sausage sandwich, but confess to leaving the crusts! (I shall never get curly hair)

Also enjoyed were runs out to Dungeness to sample lunch at The Pilot, a pub/restaurant near the foreshore constructed around the original which is built of wrecked ship timbers.

They enjoyed themselves, as their faces show

Time came to return the bikes. The English weather obliged by dropping down storm force rain and the ride back to Tonbridge (during the morning rush hour) was hell. Two very wet relations returned in my car. At least they can rely on weeks of decent (if hot) weather in Oz!

The following day I relaxed by taking the ebike for a peaceful poodle down to a country churchyard on the Marsh. My elevenses were a little more delicate than the gustatory fare in the sausage image - pain au chocolat and coffee laced with whiskey.

E BIKE DILEMMA - A Cautionary Tale.

I have been a cyclist all my life (life member of the Cyclists' Touring Club), but had a stroke some 4 years ago which has left me with severe nerve damage to my left leg/foot. This means weakness in that area and pain if I indulge in any activity that pressurises it, so I cannot walk far. Thus an ebike seemed my only remedy.

For my first experiment I bought a kit and converted my own Claud Butler bicycle. To date I have now owned three ebikes and  I have been quite satisfied with my present Freego Eagle over two years and some 5,000 miles .

This bike uses a motor in its back wheel. You dial in a level of power assistance. A small magnetic disk behind the chainwheel circulates with it and a sensor picks up its signal and sends it to the motor. which then attempts to put in enough power to maintain that level of assistance as you cycle along. Being manufactured before the latest "pedalec" laws (which outlaws them) it also has an independent handlebar throttle which will power the machine up to 16 mph without pedalling. I find this useful to give me a "push" to move off or when crossing busy intersections.

However, Freego has recently gone into administration (something to do with increased European tariffs on Chinese products, which had reduced their profit margins).  So I decided to look around for a new ebike. The Raleigh Motus Tour (made in  EU Hungary for Raleigh of Nottingham) is the current head of reviews for normal touring ebikes.

This bike uses a Bosch electric crank drive, which is supposedly more efficient with low-down torque for slow hill climbing. The motor is neat, integrated into the bottom bracket and controlled by a handlebar mounted computer display.

 The motor works by sensing the level of pressure the rider puts into the pedals and powers the revolving cranks accordingly. There is no independent throttle. The "pedalec" law makes them illegal and since the pedals need to be exerting pressure for the motor to operate it would not be possible anyway.

I tested this latter bike at the dealer's around their industrial estate which had one small hill. Allowing for the strangeness of a new system, I felt OK with it and ordered one.(they were doing a special spring offer, knocking about £300 off the £2,000 book price, which was an additional inducement.)

It was delivered to me and on Easter Saturday I rode it for 17 miles, towards the end in great pain. Over that Easter weekend I was in subsequent agony as a result, with sleepless nights. My Freego Eagle never caused me such and analysing this I can only put it down to the way each system is activated. The Freego wheel motor will output power when the pedals turn (even without actual pressure on them). The Bosch crank drive needs pressure input to the pedals before it "wakes up".

Thank goodness I had kept that Freego! I asked if the dealer could give me a refund on the Raleigh, but they only deal in new bikes and said this was now "used". How enthusiastic they were to sell it to me and how uninterested they were in my subsequent problem.I am now advertising the bike for sale and will, no doubt incur a fair loss - that'll teach me!

POST OFFICE E-BIKES

I see that the Post Office is trialling postal ebikes - an encouraging sign for the future. I hope it takes off. 

But those central low hanging derailleur tension arms look very vulnerable to lumps and bumps. Also if the rider (driver?) comes to an unexpected halt (it quite often can happen in town riding) and they have not changed down the gears, which requires the pedals to be in motion with a derailleur, can you imagine trying to move off in a high gear with that weight behind you - even with electrical assistance.

It would appear far better to install a Shimano Nexus type hub gear in the nearside driven wheel. More compact, much less vulnerable and any gear can be selected whilst stationary.

I want one for winter cycling, but without that large back container (although I suppose it could be converted into a cosy coffee break retreat!

THE BREXIT MESS

I have never "done politics" on my blog before but irrespective of whether you voted to stay or leave the EU, I think our sorry MPs have finally exposed themselves for the incompetent and self serving things they are. Is democracy now dead? I am ashamed of our government with its petty infighting and how we must appear to the rest of the world.

I think Cromwell had it about right:

Dissolution of the Long Parliament by Oliver Cromwell speech given to the House of Commons, 20 April 1653.

     

It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonoured by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter'd your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?

Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil'd this sacred place, and turn'd the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress'd, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.

In the name of God, go!

CURRENT AFFAIRS!

To pursue a couple of current events.....................

(Well humour is needed these days!)

NEW BREXIT 50p COIN

Her Majesty the Queen has just approved a special Brexit 2019 fifty pence coin. Issued to commemorate her thoughts on the organisational skills and incisiveness of her government at Westminster.

Their next great challenge will be to attempt the organisation of a piss-up in a brewery.

SEASON'S GREETINGS

No wonder the sun was seen as a god by the ancient races. Agriculture and life itself depended on its benediction. It was so important that, to mark is passage, 5000 years ago, a long forgotten people built Stonehenge. The alignments of the mid summer and mid winter solstices can be seen from the stones.

Many now believe that the mid winter one was seen as the most important to those peoples. The gradual darkening of their days towards winter must have filled superstitious folk with terror as the sun "left them." Thus that mid winter solstice must have been the cause of great celebration as the priests "recaptured" the sun and brought it back to them.

When the fledgling Christians decided to superimpose their feast days on the old Pagan ones it must have seemed natural that their most important one, the birth of their Christ, should coincide with that mid winter solstice.

I tend to experience SAD symptoms at this dull time of year, so the lengthening of the days after 21st December gives me a shot of pagan joy. Slowly at first but then quickening, the the light at mornings and evenings increases - over the next 6 weeks we shall get 33 minutes of longer daylight. It cannot lengthen fast enough for me!

So Seasons Greetings to my readers. These times seem somewhat stark, so I am signing off with not a pretty Christmas carol, but "Fairytale of New York", by The Pogues, with Kirsty MacColl. Its opening lyrics are:

It was Christmas Eve babe

In the drunk tank

An old man said to me

Won't be seeing another one

And then he sang a song

The Rare Old Mountain Dew

I turned my face away

And dreamed about you.

Got on a lucky one

Came in at eighteen to one

I've got a feeling

This year's for me and you

So happy Christmas

I love you baby

I can see a better time

When all our dreams come true.

They've got cars big as bars

They've got rivers of gold

But the wind goes right through you

It's no place for the old

When you first took my hand

On a cold Christmas Eve

You promised me

Broadway was waiting for me

You were handsome

You were pretty

Queen of New York City

When the band finished playing

They howled out for more

Sinatra was swinging

All the drunks they were singing

We kissed on a corner

Then danced all night...

EMPEROR'S NEW ( Cycling) CLOTHES

Winter cycling is always cold. In the good old days, when I was cycling on a "proper" bike and generated my own heat it was less so than now. Now means using an ebike as a stroke has left me with a weak left leg. Easier to ride, but less extra heat is generated so more clothing layers are needed to keep the winter at bay.

Recently, reaching my 80th birthday, I decided to treat myself to some new cold weather cycling kit from the top down. I have an odd shaped skull (narrow front to back) so the usual head measurements work wrongly for cycle helmets, which seem to assume everyone has a round head. Although I have experimented in the past I have never found a comfortable one. So in 65 years of club/touring cycling I have always gone bare headed or with a baseball cap. However, whilst "present" buying I decided to try another helmet which is "one size - adjustable". I deemed it wise to get one so other road users might see me coming, so opted for a fluorescent yellow Centro Commuter Cycling Helmet

Helmets have cutaways for ventilation - not a good idea during the winter, but useful in hot weather, also my ears are in danger of frostbite at this time of year, so a Mavic Winter Underhelmet seemed desirable. This particular make provides side slots for specs, thus saving them being pushed between the underhelmet and skull and creating draughts,

Now the main man needed addressing (or dressing). I needed a warm base layer so opted for a Thermal Long Sleeve Fleece Lined Base Layer 

A thick shirt of some kind will go over this but I decided to get a roomy, thermal top layer in the form of a Funkier Tornado  TPU Thermal Jacket

There was a time, long, long ago when the lads in my cycling club eschewed long leg protection in winter and continued in shorts (although we did succumb to knee length socks when it got really cold). These days my 80 year old arthritic knees (probably contributed to by that youthful machismo) demand long cycling trousers in winter and even then, when it's coldest, thermal "long john" pants go underneath. So a new pair of Tenn Waterproof Breathable Cycling Trousers were added to the order

Finally, I have always found mitts are warmer in winter than gloves and I raided the local golf club's shop for a new pair of Nike Cold Weather Golf Mitts since my old ones needed renewal.

Some might say "why bother" when the weather is cold and inclement, but I find it gets me out, gives me exercise (albeit less than "real" cycling) as the legs need to revolve to keep the ebike going. I can view the countryside up close and interact with people along the way or when "coffee stopping" . Better, by far, than vegetating in an armchair! Some lines from one of my favourite poems, A. E. Housman's "A Shropshire Lad" come to mind:

Clay lies still, but blood's a rover;

Breath's a ware that will not keep.

Up, lad: when the journey's over

There'll be time enough to sleep.