A beat the rain ride on Sunday morning. Usually it’s a BIG FAT BOLLOCKS to the BBC weather app; but the blackened skies up above the Estuary Wilds told me it was time to get a shifty on.
There had been some serious rain overnight. This was the first time in a number of months I have had to avoid puddles whilst pushing the pedals.
My rough direction of travel was over towards Lawford. This involves around two minutes or so on an A road. For once there was a considerate motorist who was happy to let me slip off onto the slip road without taking me out from behind. Thank you, Madam.
I reached the lanes. Consideration scales soon started to diminish. Some dickhead driver in what looked like a Land Rover couldn’t resist revving up behind me, and then close passing, leaving a thick dark dirty black plume right in my face.
You dirty dog.
Finally I had some quiet around the lanes. It was tranquil apart from the other riders. Sunday morning seemed to be something of a Last of the Summer Rides around these parts.
The terrain got more remote as I ploughed on through. I did stop to allow an approaching car to have the road on a particularly barren lane. As I stopped I noticed something flapping around by the roadside.
Oh dear.
A closer inspection revealed a rook who looked like his days were done. To my surprise the motorist also stopped and out stepped a big old Essex geezer.
He was actually wonderful and knew how to handle the situation. He managed to pick up the rook and feel the strength that was remaining. The diagnosis was the feet were gone, there was still a little flapping left in the wings.
We both agreed on a dignified end to what was a very sad situation. He placed the rook somewhere quiet in a nearby field. At least that would mean no other passing motorist would finish off the poor bird.
We both stepped away and then looked on from a distance for a couple of minutes. The rook was still flapping and fighting for its life. It looked like a bit of airborne action might happen. We both decided to cut our losses, shake hands, and head in our opposite directions.
The rest of the ride was uneventful. I barely changed gears. It felt like I was riding on a fixie.
