A Quiet January

With the weather and various events January has turned out to be very quiet on the sporting front. Riding a bike isn't much fun when the roads are icy.

Looking up the wintry lane.

Cath had her operation early in the new year so I took a week off work to look after her after she left hospital. Looking after an improving patient is a lot of hard work, it gave a small insight in to how much work is done by full time carers especially those helping terminally ill relatives. A lot of respect due.

There were one or two days that I managed to get out for a quick ride but they were pretty cold, cold enough to need ice climbing gloves rather than cycling ones! One ride was a blast up to Kettlewell and back on the day they announced the Tour de France route for Yorkshire in 2014 - they'll have to do some work on the roads before then.

A deer running through the field below the house. 

Big snowfalls often lead to strange events - we had a roe deer wander round the outside of the garden one morning. On a more painful note I took a flyer when walking down the lane and slipped on some black ice. Cue one sprained ankle:

Some nice swelling, the bruising came later.

It's still sore ten days later but slowly becoming easier. I might risk a bike ride this weekend if I can get my foot in my shoe. I need to get some miles in as I've entered the Etape du Dales, a 112 mile sportive over a number of rather large hills in the Dales.