This evening I got out on my bike again. The weather has just been too filthy for fair weather cyclists like myself, or I've just been too bloomin' tired.

The rain stopped today at about lunchtime so I ventured out this evening after I spent the day hunting round my house trying to find the flamin' mouse I spied this morning. Little swine has got away - for now!

I don't meet many people at the time of day I usually cycle. Tonight I just met a couple of dog walkers and an amorous pair of septuagenarians who didn't hear me coming.

Now I have nothing against OAP's as such. I hope to be one one day. I just wish that they wouldn't tell me off for creeping up on them when they are quite palpably deaf as posts.

The cycle path I was on is a mixed use path. Pedestrians and cyclists. At the point I was approaching the path is quite narrow and beside a main road so I can't pass around on the grass or such.

My bike has a bell. I rang the bell like mad as I approached. It had been good enough to warn all other fellow travellers. When I got nil response I called out.

I slowed to walking pace. Rang my bell and shouted. But the couple were strolling along hand in hand all romantic like, oblivious to all and sundry. After about 40 yards of this and being unable to pass because of oncoming traffic we arrived at a group of houses where the curb had been lowered to allow car access.

A break in traffic and I was off the path and around them and back on the pavement.

The look they both gave me as I passed them suggested that the last thing they expected to see on a cycle path was indeed a cycle.

Ah well.

Not a bad trip otherwise though, got round in less time than last time along same circuit and didn't feel like throwing up at the traffic lights. Mind you I did arrive at the lights alone this time and had my requisite breather before my sprint to tbe lay by.

Time for a long hot soak in the bath