Rear derailleurs and fertility rites...

Whoever promotes cycling as a cheap mode of transport has got it all wrong. Since buying a mountain bike almost two years ago, it has cost over half as much again of the initial cost with upgrades and parts replacement. Only yesterday the rear derailleur failed on a ride, leaving me with only one gear to limp home on.

Today, I fit a replacement and set off to the local river for a test ride and some spring shooting. Glorious spring weather continues and the trees are beginning to acquire pale green foliage. The hawthorne  (Crataegus oxyacantha) is in flower (photograph).

At one time thought to have magical properties, hawthorne flowers were once used to decorate May poles, the centrepiece of ritualistic fertility dances.


24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/640 second at f/11. - 0.67 EV compensation. ISO200

© 2011