St Aidens bird pond thing

Do you like big diggers? 

Then you are in for a treat. This big rig is located just on the edge of the St Aidens ponds. Not functional but it's a pretty big piece of machinery. 

We are sort of running ahead of the whole ride and why I thought to put this down in writing. 

The season for cycling is sort of nearing the end where it's still pleasant and enjoyable. So I picked fairly warm +15 degree Sunday to get away from home and my four walls. 

Put some air in the wheels. Stuck my headphones in. And I chose some Spotify playlist with American country music. 

Yeah I know. Weird. But to be honest I love it sometimes. It's all about ford 150 trucks, corn, my baby, gun racks and kicking ass. The music goes well with the nature and fresh air for sure. 

I decided to go to St Aidens because the wind blew from there and it's always nice to be pushed back home by it. 

The ride trough city goes by fast. It's Sunday so there is almost no traffic and only the tow path is full of walkers, joggers, pets, and sleeping homeless people near royal armouries museum. 

It's strange how many people walked by that man without checking if he is still with us. 

I joined the masses and concentrated on keeping the living alive. While gliding between people excusing my self and making bell noises with my mouth. Which is actually amusing. People mostly react to it with smile and it feels less patronising than actual bell. 

I reach Skelton bridge. Once I am across I can finally get some speed on. Way less walkers but don't ever assume that you are alone. Someone will hear you sing along Dolly Parton for sure. 

The path is winding trough the bushes there until you reach the first pond. I believe it's called Skelton (something) it has petrol station at the back and you can get a decent cup of coffee there. Even if you don't ride but feel like going somewhere outside and get some food with some wilderness just at the door step then Skelton (something) petrol station is great for that. 

I got my coffee and hid in bushes by the pond. Watched a gang of swans gliding on the pond back and forth carefully examining me stood there with a coffee. These are no bread hungry city swans. These don't want anything to do with you. 

Thought was born there at the side of the pond. If ever there was a coffee shop and it needed a name then "Swan's & Coffee" would be great. 

Pleased with my ingenious thought I jumped back on my bike and crawled out of the bushes. 

Joined the tow path towards St Aidens. 

I arrived there some 15 minutes later. 

The big digger you saw earlier can be seen from pretty far away. That's where the picnic tables and benches are. 

Once you are there all settled on the bench. You can enjoy the panoramic view of the big pond and you'll notice how loud birds can actually be. Scarborough flashbacks. 

While sat there I was joined by elderly couple. 

We struck a conversation. And they were here to do some bird watching. 

Which apparently was something that everyone else was doing there. Every other person was equipped with large telescopic lense. 

We spoke for a bit and I thought I'll leave them be. Two or three sentences later I would have to tell them that I am from eastern Europe and I didn't want to ruin their day. 

Wished them a pleasant day and jumped back on my bike. Slowly costing down from the hill where the digger is silently sat like a retired giant. 

And minutes later I bumped in this ..

I have never seen so many bird watchers in one spot. 

One of them was just leaving the crowd while scrolling through the loot of pictures he just took there and I asked. Who was the star there. And he said the name of the bird and for the life of me I can't remember what he said but I remember that he said that this particular bird is one of probably three in UK. 

I raised my eyebrows and shook my head in agreement. I understood the fuss. 

Now reflecting on that day. I still can't believe I didn't even Google what the bird looks like. 

But I bet it's something to see for a person that is in to avian variety. 

Back on bike and heading home. On my way I saw few kids running around with mushrooms in their hands. They had really good ones so I started to look while riding and found one. 

I believe it's from boletus edulis family. I found only one so I stuck it back in where I found it. So it makes more next year. 

In conclusion. It was fun. Spoke to strangers. Saw things. Had coffee. Said "ding ding" at least 50 times.. 

And returned home pleasently tired. 

Thanks for reading... I don't get paid for this.