iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Fab walk along Derwent Edge today after the early mist cleared to blue skies - 100% Goretex free (shoes, socks and coat) Two surprises - Ladybower res is really, really empty 🏜️ - there is a peat fire on the moors - we first saw this as we drove in last Friday 🔥 ...and this is in mid-October 😬😱😭

A stava screenshot of a 13km walk through the Dark Peak - virtually no features on the map at all, just a green background - because this is remote moorland

a photo looking north east along Derwent Edge in the Peak District - the bracken is autumnal brown, but the grass and trees are very green. Blue skies with the odd whispy cloud

Looking west from Derwent edge over the northern section of Ladybower reservoir. the norther most 500-1000m of reservoir is empty with brown sides where the water normally is. It has been empty for so long that grass is starting to grow and show the higher sections of the reservoir base turning green

Looking south east from Derwent edge over Bradfield and Broomhead moors - the bracken and heather is completely brown, but there is a black section with smoke billowing from the edges. The wind is strong and blowing the smoke along the floor for hundreds of metres

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Had a fab start to a week in the Peaks - 3rd ride in 5 weeks today, tested on NCN 627 over Wharncliffe Woods 🚵‍♂️😬 and then along NCN 67 on my Brompton under insanely clear skies, then a ramble up Cut Gate path while the conditions were best - no breeze, sunny spells 😍

A cup of coffee on a picnic bench in a courtyard in a regenerated victorian industrial site. The sky is blue and totally cloud free.

A cup of coffee on a picnic bench in a cafe garden. The cafe is in the background and is painted in the style of the tour de france polka dot jersey with a whie background and red dots.

A section of Cut Gate path over the Dark Peak. The stony path snakes off up the hill with a steep but shallow valley to the right. the valley bottom is green and luscious, the path is assorted autumnal heather colours - brown, purple, yellow and green

a medium size reservoir that is maybe 20% full. The banks are bare, showing the stony terraces used to prevent erosion from lapping wind waves. The sky is mixed clear blue and fluffy clouds. The sun is behind the reservoir, and a light breeze means that the water that is in there is totally calm and reflecting the sky

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Ohno Kept an Instagram account to follow folks that inspired me, inc many riders. Tonight the cat shit posts took over my feed. I have no idea how to stop this travesty. Bring back riding posts, please 🙏 (On evil Instagram)

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

4 weeks ago at 5:20pm I got knocked off my bike. I was super lucky to only have some road rash, bumps and bruises and a massive hematoma. A few setbacks in recovery, but I managed to get out for a ride before the 4 week anniversary 🙏 I missed the riding, I definitely did not miss the motorists...

A strava screenshot of a 22km ride with 200m of ascent in mid Hertfordshire. Title is shuttles on the ayot greenway, car free loveliness

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I've fond memories of @bobbyllew.bsky.social in Red Dwarf, and I wasn't sure what to expect when substack suggested I follow him. I shouldn't have worried, he's brilliant. Helps I'm in tune with his opinions, but he's a great read as well - check him out llewellyn.substack.com/p/dug-up-or-...

llewellyn.substack.com

Dug up or Grown.

That’s everything you’ve ever touched

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Celebrating a solid day of autumn garden jobs completed today in my shorts and t-shirt drinking a G&T in the garden at 7pm in late September. Super still and often quiet with only the odd car passing. This would only be topped if I was on my bike right now, but gin seems more appropriate...

A medium size glass half full of a clear liquid held up to the sky looking west. Camera focused on the glass, so rhe skyline of trees is slightly blurred. Sky is almost clear with the odd line if ice crystals reflecting the setting sun. Sky is 60 percent blue and fading across to oranges and yellows on the horizon.

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Got a taxi back from the station tonight cos of train fucktastrophe meant we missed the last bus. Got home, taxi asked for cash only, I said card only, wifey volunteered some cash from the bottom of her bag. I was willing to walk away as we were home...

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Week in Cornwall last week - managed to get through the week in shorts and Tee all week 🕺 Got back to Herts last night just after 9pm - it was 21C, which is higher than we had all week in Cornwall 🙃 Solar did well though...

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Midweek on our hols and I've come to terms with no watersports or riding after I was knocked off as abrasion recovery is slow. Strava had taunted me since then with "This was easier than your usual effort" on my daily walks. Today I got a "This was consistent with your usual efforts". Progress 📈

A strava screenshot of a 14 km out and back walk along the north cornish coast, including 812m of ascent. The title of the walk is "bimble along the coast path to perranporth for lunch"

A clifftop view above an eroded cove, several parts of the cliffs have calved off and fallen into the sea leaving sheer cliffs and debris in the water below

A view across perran beach from just outside perranporth. the beach is about 4km long and there are large waves breaking along its length

Red wine and aperol spritz on a table on a verenda above the breaking waves at Trevaunance Cove

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Grrr, yes it rained a bit last night, but this has become normalised by the water companies. There was no obvious discharge in progress at 1030am to our untrained eyes, and all the run outs through the beach were clear and no froth or anything. Wonder if the notice was default "just in case needed"?

A chalk board on a slipway onto a north Cornwall beach saying "advice, south west water discharge notice for 10am today". The beach is looking clean after the tide has gone out, there are white waves crashing onto the shore under blue skies with the odd fluffy cloud

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I know it is one of the most water resistant bikes you can get, and I know I'm happy to ride it in the rain, through puddles and even in rivers. But intentionally leaving it outside overnight in the rain doesn't sit well with me.

A mountain bike locked to a pillar on a decking next to a rattan sofa and a hot tub. skies are cloudy and it has been raining with puddles in sight and beads of water on the bike

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Just watching the beginning scenes of butch cassidy and the sundance kid Hehe Sounds like modrern us politics (intentionally lower case) Hehe, maybe they watched it a while ago and thought it was just fine...

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Got checked out + xrays at urgent care last night and sent home with advice on how to clean my grazes. Drove to Cornwall today with plenty of discomfort in the car for 5 hours. Reassured that an hours walk to break the journey and the swelling receded and wounds felt fine. 1/3

A cropped strava screenshot showing a 420m walk - the map wasn't very helpful, but it was from a holiday rental down to the beach bar at Trevaunance Cove, st Agnes Cornwall

a mountain bike locked to a pillar in the middle of a decking with a rattan setee behind it, a glass balustrade and hot tub next to it

Trevaunance Cove - there are lots of surfers enjoying the waves as the tide comes in under clear blue skies and light winds

two gin and tonics in tall glasses on a picnic bench in a beer garden

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Lovely ride, until I got knocked off (I'm OK, just some road rash and bruises). Driver didn't see me coming despite a clear view, pulled out across a cross roads and clipped my rear wheel. 1/2

A strava screenshot of a 46km bike ride through mid hertfordshire in 2 hours 17 minutes

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Sigh, WGC and Welwyn have great local byelaws that outlaw parking on verges due to the spirit of a "garden city". Fines are rare AFAIK, and I didn't report the clown who parked here, only because they very nearly didn't park on the verge 🙃 Next door has a disabled person with a walking frame 😡😡😡😡😡

a residential road, with a grass verge between the road and the pavement - part of the Welwyn Garden City influence of green spaces where people can walk wherever they want to go

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Hmm - the new river out of Enfield is usually very pleasant, esp as it is traffic free. But today it doesn't look like a river anymore, or anything wet (apart from the weeds being green). The authorities are trying to help by pumping water for some flow, but I wonder when it will smell really bad?

The "New River" - medieval water course from north of London taking fresh water to central London - amazing feat of engineering, still a bit canal like. This shows a very straight section in Enfield that is usually clear and slow moving where the weeds and algae have totally covered the water with some plumes 20-30cm above the water. It looks like a green road.

a before photo of new river walk with the water totally clear of weeds/algae and also looking very clear

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Just caught up with the MTB CX worlds on iPlayer - great ride by all the riders, but totally blown away by the crowds - huge, noisy, insane! I was in Morzine about 8 years ago, and the French national DH was going on - that was pretty special, but not a patch on today's spectacle! 🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I have no idea why this just came to me cos I haven't watched a Queen gig for a while now, but what came first - bib tights, or Freddie's harlequin cossie? I thought it would be fun to ask bsky what they thought rather some AI drivel... Might be something @carltonreid.com has in his archives?

Freddie Mercury in an iconic 1970s tour photo with a skin tight spandex outfit, full arms and legs, but his chest is exposed full width and down to hit belly button. He's also wearing ballet shoes.

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Not sure the last time I watched a film right through in one go, let alone went to an actual cinema - about to watch Odyssey 😮. Was a bit worried I'd be missing a rule # 9 ride as well, but it isn't raining hard at all, so all's good

Inside an old school cinema, screen not too big, plenty of space, great view

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

First time out for a daytime midweek coffee since the heat hit a couple of months ago - forgot how many roads are closed during the day 🤷 Anyway, more time on the bike it is then, cos I'm not taking motor diversions around closures, I'm taking safe riding diversions of my choice 🚴🚴🚴

A strava screenshot of a 51km ride in 2 hours 30 minutes around mid Hertfordshire - assorted points where the route doubled back on itself negotiating road closures

A coffee on a picnic bench in a courtyard outside a farm coffee shop, under blue skies with some fluffy clouds

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Everyone's been enjoying the rain in various measures today, well everyone apart from me. We had some drizzle this morning, and now I'm surrounded by thunder claps, the dog is stressed as anything, and the sun is out where I am. Worst bit - my best riding routes are NE and NW to avoid big towns 🤷😭⚡🌧️

stormy skies to the west - a small amount of blue sky to the left, the sun poking around a huge thunder cloud, and dark stormy clouds covering 80% of the sky. It is so dark and thundery that the tree line in the photo is black and thee are no details showing in the trees.

A rain radar screenshot showing multiple heavy thunder showers passing through with gaps between moving north of london through the home counties and up into cambridgeshire. My location is shown by a pin that is exactly in the middle of the dry section between two big shower masses

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

😬 I rode past where this happened at 7am on Tuesday, 90 minutes earlier. I ride that way quite a lot. I ride that way as it is a wide road with plenty of space for bikes and general traffic, and it is 30mph. I'll ride that way again soon, and will stop and reflect. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Cyclist dies after Potters Bar collision with a coach

A man is released on bail after his arrest on suspicion of causing death by careless driving.

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

We're having some work done so I'm working at home for the next couple of days to babysit the contractors. Tonight (Tue) now feels like it is the weekend tomorrow. I checked the forecast (thunder), and my immediate reaction was "oh, have to adjust my ride route", rather than "work, work, work" 🤷

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Oh no, was hoping for an early night, and Jaws has come on the TV. Fabulous film, was it the one that defined Speilberg? Suspect not, he must have had a gazillion more before...

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

I'm catching up on the WToB and the Vuelta, and having rambled around a few countries on my bikes I must say I absolutely love it when the pros ride a race on roads I have ridden on. Wifey is nonplussed when I shout "I've ridden there", and I'm just loving it 🚴‍♀️🚵‍♀️🚴‍♂️

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Decking cleared for one last time. No cleaning or oiling this year, it has had its time and is off to to meet the great decking maker in the sky. It has served us really well over the last 15 or so years, and only needed one full strip down and re-oil. 1/2

A rectangle of decking showing signs of wear with peeling coating, misaligned and the occasional rotting plank. What isn't in the picture is the fact that the wooden frame that used to hold it up is 50 percent rotted away

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Another indicator of a bonkers year for the climate in mid herts, no guests in our bug hotels at all this year. We've not had a wasp plague, nor hornets, and virtually no bug splats on the car windscreen, all despite the heat 🤷‍♂️😐😬😶 Bees seem happy though...

Two garden bug hotels hanging from a garden fence post, one just bamboo, one half bamboo and half log with holes drilled in it. All holes remain open

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I'm doing better with not posting random grump-fests that are too reactionary. What I will post an angry-gram about is a US academic that I have total respect for in their field posting the footage of the awful incident involving Fin Tarling. Have some respect please! (I didn't watch it). 1/2

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Sigh. Lost concentration chopping the runner beans for dinner. Took a bit too much off the end. It has stopped bleeding now, and seems OK. Now fearful for the next time I need to change gear or brake at short notice - pre-ouch... Or ring my bell, that's on the left hand side as well...

A bloodied thumb with a Heath Robinson dressing

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

...probably should mention, my traffic free local routes is just route inspiration, my motivational challenge is find out which of my strava followers have done more distance than me this year, then see how many I can beat by year end. Should carry me out of summer into autumn weather quite well...

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

🚵🚴 mojo recovery is accelerating - I think I've combined it with an excellent little motivational challenge 🤞 Today was getting more time in the saddle with one of my favourite route challenges - how far can I ride traffic free without repeats apart from returns - this one was 53km traffic free 🕺🕺🕺

A strava screenshot showing a ride through mid hertfordshire called "minimum roads on local NCN railway routes" - the ride was 71km with 660m of ascent in 4 hours 15 minutes

A takeaway coffee on a picnic bench next to a road junction under blue skies with the odd whispy cloud

A cyclepath along an old railway line. The surface is smooth, there are steep sides to the cutting with plenty of trees keeping the gradient stable and there is a victorian road bridge across the trail

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Grump-fest incoming... But I am going to leave it to the morning in case I change my mind, cos I might be overreacting 🤷‍♂️

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Weather's changing they said, more chance of rain they said #bluff

A clear blue sky at sunset, no clouds at all

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Ready for my 3rd bike commute this year tomorrow (at last) - bike prepped - lights charged - panniers packed and on - selection of lycra laid out But - will I be able to face the ride if it is RAINING for the first time in months? (hoping a public declaration of intent makes me just do it)

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Two days two rides two pretty pointless closures for cyclists two bypasses on my MTB one on a footpath, one on a verge I'm getting increasingly bothered that this is all for the convenience of the contractors working less than a third of the day, and maximises inconvenience for cyclists - boo!

A traffic free cyclepath, C20, across a bridge in Enfield - closed with barriers, 3 big red signs, one being a diversion for pedestrians. There is a digger that is not on the path but on the riverbank, and there is absolutely nothing on the cyclepath - closed for no reason

A narrow lane blocked off with 6 foot tall barriers right across, some cones and a road closed sign next to a CCTV in operation sign. there is a small hole dug on the side of the road between the barriers that cars and vans could easily pass, let alone cyclists. Not sure why this is closed like this - diversion is for motor traffic onto a busy A road.

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Looked like it might rain on my ride tonight - definitely worth a photo cos we've not seen rain for ages. Sadly the interweb confirmed it wasn't rain, just a promising looking cloud formation. I'll continue my dancing and hoping it isn't going to rain soon to urge it on, cos we need it, right...

near sunset looking west from a road across scorched harvested corn fields. In the distance clouds are forming and there are definite hints that the clouds are reaching down to the horizon in a haze that could be precipitation

screenshot of the metoffice rain radar for my location showing the actual Doppler radar for rain in the last few minutes - there is no rain shown for approximately 30 miles west where the prevailing weather is coming from. There is a faint blob of light rain 30 miles to the north

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Forecast said today was 24C, with yesterday being 35C. Walked 2 hours home yesterday from 2-4pm in the heat. Walked to the pub for lunch today, from 1130-1600. Apart from the cooling breeze, today felt exactly the same temp as yesterday. It's going to be a while until the ground cools down...

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

In my increasing years I'm becoming more intolerant of abuses of language. I'm a great fan of true irony, but too many use it to mean something completely different nowadays - like coincidence, or just a bit unexpected. I use the following as tests - weathers nice innit🌧️ - the silence is deafening🫢

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Having seen a few drivers who stacked their vehicles recently in clear, dry conditions with no excuses at all (probably), tonight's ride mind wandering reminded how much the bitumen has bubbled to the top of the road leaving a slick grip free surface. It's going to be "fun" when it rains next 😨😬🤔

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I was excited to see what effect today's partial eclipse had on our solar generation - seems the angle of the dangle for our roof mounted panels was a bit too south facing for the event and there was no impact 🤷 Still another bonkers day with 42 kWh of generation- total so far is 19.5 MWh - mega!

A graph of our solar panel generation numbers for today - I've ham fisted drawn a circle around the point of the partial eclipse today, but there is no obvious deviation on the graph/line

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Fab ride to work this morning, then a trip to the pub after work. After _some_ red wine and an extra glass the option was 40 min ride from Hertford, or wait 20 mins for a train to watton for a shorter ride. No brainer 😜

A strava screenshot of a 14km ride with an approx 20km train journey from Enfield to Welwyn

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Right - first commute in a very long time in the morning, 32km, no wind to speak of, but temp will be 10C - do I ride in with tights or leg warmers? (got shorts for the way home). I'm thinking my leg warmers might be too warm, but not warm enough to take off... (I haven't considered gloves yet 😳)

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Went out for a ride this evening as my blisters weren't up for a walk - passed the aftermath of a head on crash on a 60 mph stretch of 2 lane road that the police were sorting out - small car with no front end anymore, van 3m into the bushes at 90 degrees to the road... 1/2

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Another 20km of Thames Path in the bag last week - that's 185km so far. Oxfordshire gets us back to linear walks as the train line is always near the river, but we are getting further from home - this walk was ~4 hours travelling, which only just counts for our "must walk for longer" rule...

A wide section of the river Thames in South Oxfordshire - farmland stretching out on the far bank, moorings and properties on the right hand side. There is a slight ripple on the water from light winds, and broken clouds above.

A calm and tree lined section of the Thames close to Tilehurst, under clean blue skies

A strava screenshot of a 24.8km walk along the river thames in five and a half hours

A screenshot of a map showing a record of our Thames Path walk to date, from the start at Dartford in East London, to Cholsey in Oxfordshire

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

End of our first stay-cation week for a long time - lots of walking and stuff that we've thought of doing for ages but not got around to. Today's adventure was to the west end, and a fabulous production of Cyrano de Bergerac by the RSC - with @adrianlester.bsky.social doing what he does so well

Facade of the Noel Coward Theatre in the west end. There are assorted lights and a banner advertising Cyrano de Bergerac

The theatre stalls filling up with people, red stage curtains are closed

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

ooh, ooh, oooooh - we *might* get a 40% chance of rain in 7 days time in Hertfordshire. Excuse me if I don't hold my breath... In other news, the riding trails are so dusty they are grabbing my gravel tyres - needs some concentration as I daren't fall off... ...and the bitumen continues to wilt...

a UK metoffice website screenshot showing sunny or partly sunny days for the next week, but a 40 percent chance of rain next Tuesday

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Ackers on a bike/hike @malcolmackland.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

@pcorfe.bsky.social - did you feel this today? or were you in the wrong valley? (I do like to fact check things like this from people on the ground 😁)

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