Cold-hearted orb that rules the night
Removes the colors from our sight
Red is gray and yellow white
But we decide which is right
And which is an illusionThe Day Begins – The Moody Blues
Mornings are peaceful, and
the last couple of mornings I have enjoyed the blue sky of predawn as I rode from home to Okanagan Lake, silently pedalling along.
Mornings are peaceful especially on the side streets, few people need to commute just after 6 a.m. in Penticton.
I am bundled up, full face fleece toque so only my eyes are exposed to the wind, gloves on my hands, warm shoes, and windproof jacket and pants.
My bike is lit up, lights back and front and reflective tape all help to keep me noticeable.
I saw an owl,
as I rode along this morning, my bike lights were extremely noticeable on the path which has no lights; to my delight an owl passed over my head and it whirled as it was silhouetted against the city lights. You can be certain I was very pleased to spot this shy hunter.
SS Sicamous – the paddlewheeler landmark on Okanagan Lake
Silence is a blanket as I wind along,
and often the wind is pushing me and that makes it especially silent.
It’s a perfect time for me to talk out loud without anyone fitting me for a long jacket with sleeves that buckle behind my back.
Arriving home in slightly longer than an hour,
I look forward to warming up by the fireplace and I am definitely wide awake, as it usually only 1 degree outside not including any windchill effect.
Wide awake without caffeine! It’s a great way for me to begin my day.
Some people are out at 6:30 a.m. but mostly it is still, and peaceful
As long as the weather and road conditions allow I will try to awaken early to enjoy the fresh air with a rendezvous with my bike.
It’s a treat I don’t usually have this time of year.
Just a short post, December 21 is the first day of winter – in a few days the daylight hours will begin to grow fractionally. But first I know there will be days of snow, and wind. That’s part of living where you experience all four seasons. As my wife would say, you got to have snow, if you want to snowshoe. 🙂
Life and Random Thinking 
Great photos! Happy Solstice! 🙂
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Thanks Lynette 👍. I always look forward to today!
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Love the Moody Blues Reference. And I admire your fortitude. Lately I can’t even get motivated to join my husband and the dog on walks when it’s cold and wet. Cold and dry is different, but still, you guys get frigid up there! Hope your Holly days are Jolly days Dave.
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I hope you have a Holly Jolly Christmas also Ilona. You caught the Moody Blues reference, could you hear it? Today was 4 am I got up, but will wait until 6 to head out. I cleaned up the kitchen, dishes etc, had some breakfast. Hopefully it is like when the shoemaker woke up and the shoes were all made, only this time the shoemaker is my wife.
Cold is no fun, but it gets tougher when there is a wind chill. My face toque makes a huge difference. My daughter may drive up in a few days from Vancouver so I am hoping that means some days filled with board games. I don’t win, but it’s always fun.
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Enjoy Dave!
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Next time get a picture of the owl please! I’ve never seen one and am jealous.
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I would love to, I don’t spot owls too often. The best time would be to take a picture would be in the summer. If you are lucky you spot them around dusk and dawn, but there also a big nest of them at Sunoka beach – 16 km, we saw the babies in the nest a year ago but stayed away so not to disturb them. The adults seem so stoic and they are far from the ground. I also like spotting the bats whirling at that beach or here in town. They are amazing flyers. Thanks Joni!
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Thanks for the chuckle ! The snow is creeping down the valley sides, and this morning I cuddled with a book – I will head out for a ride just after sunset in an hour. No wind right now so will be perfect. I appreciate your posts, and your comments. Thank you coach.
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Hi Dave, Susan and family. Thank you for such a picturesque rendering of your early morning ride. There is something very dreamy about being out and about in the very early hours. No one around,, or at least very few. (I probably would have had a coffee first tho.😊. Especially if it’s cold.). It does sound invigorating for sure. May I take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very special Christmas and Happy Healthy New Year! Looking forward to more of your blogs next year.
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Thank you Claudette, mornings are cool literally! I had a wonderful ride this morning, it started snowing a bit kind of icy rain so I cut it short at about 13 km. Something about the quiet streets I enjoy and I saw both a bald eagle and huge owl later on this morning. I look forward to talking to you next year. Merry Christmas
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Oh, nice continue to enjoy the cold weather! God bless & keep you safe! 🙂
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I really like your blog. A pleasure to come stroll on your pages. A great discovery and very interesting blog. I’ll come back to visit you. Do not hesitate to visit my universe. See you soon.
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I appreciate your encouraging comment, how did you come across it? I will visit your universe today. 🙂
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