Ramble On

That's what I'm gonna do - just ramble on. Really weird how the human brain works. Recently got sent this lovely picture from a friend who is just starting out on her painting journey.

Hope she is going to paint it one day so I can put it on my wall. So, out again today on the bike testing my leg hoping to get back to the gym this Sunday and some decent miles in before my next race in two weeks time. Thought nothing about the picture, just liked it.

Earlier today, riding along, I could see a man sat on a bench, walking sticks and an expanding
waistline that had been carefully cultivated and maintained in our many local drinking venues. He
verbalised something that I didn't catch, not sure if it was aimed at me or his surroundings in general
but as I pulled level with him a little scabby terrier sort of dog thingy nonchalantly ambled out of the
long grass beside the  track. Right in front of me. It was the total opposite, looking nothing like its owner being skinny with an intelligent glint in its eye. Braking hard I turned and muttered, " That was close."

 He replied with, "I fuckin told you!"

Hmmm, dealing with unprovoked aggression not being a strength and combined with an
uncontrollable urge to poke, provoke, pinch and tweak I replied with, "It's only a dog!". At which point he got up and gave chase screaming, "I'll fuckin it's only a dog you!".  The guy could move, I
had to sprint, praying my poorly leg would hold out. Then the man mountain threw his walking sticks at me, I was almost tempted to turn round, pick up his sticks and ride off with them!! His dog, I noticed over my shoulder, was taking a shit.

Anyhow, continued riding hoping to beat the weather, which had started to look like this. Now, the
thing that caught my eye was the light ring of cloud in the centre or the picture, and that was it, total weirdo brain connection thingy!!

So I now think I'm heading into Mordor, what with the ring thing and general feeling of doom and foreboding as a result of my previous encounter and the fact that it was highly likely I would have to pass him later - the route I took today was an out and back.  Then my mind fills with Led Zeppelin's Ramble On, complete with references to Gollum and Mordor! Then I remember this picture from the other day.

Then I recall this image, from travelling the images of Tolien's settings for work.

Then I think,"How fuckin coincidental is that!" 

Then I remember that Ramble On was a Page/Plant composition from 1969,  possibly a reference to Tolkien's 'Namarie',  and that took me to a genuinely odd moment - but more of that in the next post.

 Anyway, on the way back and a Gollum of my own. I passed the twin peaks of of doom that I had missed on the way out. There in the grass at the side of the track,  were the twin, pasty white spotty buttocks of a large man, head and hands buried in the deep grass. "Can I help?" I offered.

"I've lost me walking sticks!" Came the reply. As I looked over my shoulder, the scrabby little terrier thingy was taking another shit!

Funny how the mind works.