College Friends

One of Danielle's old college mates from Grinnell in Iowa, RJ [on her right] runs a studio to the south of the Catskills. So we met him in Phoenicia, another lovely village in the mountains. We were just sitting down in a bar on the main street when, quite by chance, another of old college friend, Mark, was parking his motorbike right by the bar. So we all had some food and chat. A good evening.

2016 Rowan Palmour Graduation from George School

Here is Rowan receiving her diploma at her high school graduation. Just like the prom it is all totally alien to me, but it was a lovely day and lots of Rowan's American relations came to watch [Maxine, Marna, Randy, Joan, Wanda, Natalia, Ben, Kari KC and Liam] so that was great.

The Catskills

After the Finger Lakes came the Catskills; beautiful wooded mountains in New York State. We stayed at a perfect B&B in Windham and got some hikes in the wilderness areas near the town. On two long day hikes we saw just two other people [and a dog]. The trails were great and the whole experience fantastic. It was only when we got back in the evening and found that there had been a bear in the carpark that we realised that the bears were just waking up from hibernation. I am just glad I wasn't worrying about them when I was walking.

Prom

We saw Rowan at school before she went to her Senior Prom. Here she is. It was lovely to see her at school amongst her friends - she has been gone two years and we have rarely seen her at school before.

2016 400m Friends Schools League

We met up with Rowan at the Friends Schools League finals at Westtown School in West Chester PA. This is her winning the 400m. This distance is now her preferred event. We have not seen her run for a year, so it was good to see. As you can see it was hot and amidst beautiful surroundings. If the video here looks a bit ropey try YouTube at https://youtu.be/Tu__x4JCDxw

Cayuga

A sadly disused railway line runs the length of Lake Cayuga. In the UK it would be a heritage line, here it is slowly rotting away.

Finger Lakes

Danielle had never been to the Finger Lakes in upstate New York [and nor had I] so we had a look and stayed a couple of days there. Really beautiful glaciated ribbon lakes and surprisingly undeveloped. These steps took us down to the lake shore from where we were staying.
The nearest town was Ithica [home to Cornell University] which was a great little university town with the famous [to us anyway] vegetarian restaurant The Moosewood where we had lunch. We felt so at home in the town that I nearly ended up buying a Telecaster in the old-style guitar shop - managed to resist.
Wineries abound around the lakes, and we visited one for a tasting which led to a small purchase, the whites were really nice. Some goats cheese from the local creamery and our dinner was sorted.

Quaker Deeds

We drove north of the Susquehanna. I found a great forest we could walk in near Montrose PA. Turned out it was bequeathed to the nation by a Quaker farmer and his daughter long ago.

At the centre of the forest was this swamp, with a Beaver dam at one end. During our visit we saw 0 humans.

Bridge

To get down to the river we had to cross a five lane highway [no lights, no crossing etc] because the bridge only had a sidewalk on one side, then cross back again to reach the accessible bit of the river. Then it was beautiful. You have to really work hard not to use a car in the US.

Susquehanna

We stayed at Tunkhannock where the beautiful Susquehanna river flows. Hard not to be impressed by the scale of things out here.

Red Red Wine

Danielle and I are happily sat on the plane. Amazingly the people in front are not tippers so my legs are not squashed. The Hindu vegetarian meals I ordered have turned up and all is good.
Suddenly I am soaked with red wine as a steward manages to somehow empty a bottle of wine all over me with some collateral damage to Danielle and the bloke in front. Not a good feeling. The endless "I am so sorry!" although undoubtedly true, does not help. Even the complementary bottle of red wine we are given feels a little like adding insult to injury. Anyway it was a bit of a first world problem I know, but not one I enjoyed dealing with.

A lovely bit of Victorian canal side architecture used as a canvas for this graffiti. Interesting.

Facts

Here are my two favourite facts of the moment,

1 Liverpool is to the east of Edinburgh

2 Bangladesh has a bigger population than Russia

Here is a photo of Sefton Park in Liverpool.

Sustrans

My route on Sunday included some Sustrans trails. I always offer a little thanks to Sustrans for creating such a brilliant network of off-road trails across the country where there was none.
This shot includes one of the Sustrans mileposts which enliven many a ride.

Leeds

I took the car into Leeds for its annual service. So I walked into town whilst they worked on the car. Listening to Alice Isn't Dead podcast which is an American Gothic scary thing gives the whole city a slightly menacing feel [not difficult in Leeds]. So when I come to this pretty amazing foot tunnel, which I have never seen before, I am not sure which reality it belongs to. I walk through [miraculously I fit, like that bus in Harry Potter], it is not a pleasant environment down there, but I emerge unscathed. I love Leeds.

Pilmoor Loop

This is the best time of year for cycling on bridleways through the countryside. The ground is dry, and the vegetation [particularly nettles] has yet to grow too much. I took a route I'd devised last year on tracks north of York. Amongst the places of interest I passed were:
A renovated windmill
A Georgian country house
A WW2 airfield
The site of the Battle of Myton 1319 http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/The-Battle-of-Myton/
An old railway junction [now disused] that used to be of strategic importance.
and finally the Minster and the Racecourse on the way back home.
Not bad for 90 kilometres.

Siegfried

The photo is from a rare boggy part of the Wolds; usually the water drains straight through the porous chalk.

Last night we went to see Siegfried, the third part of Wagner's ring cycle. Again it was really enjoyable. We were sat with the same group of people from the previous part, so it was fun to compare notes on the Opera, and on the quickest way to get to the cafe at the intervals.

Spring

The spring blossom is coming out in force on the Moor. The freshest time of the year.
Rowan has got a better financial offer from the University of Pennsylvania [or UPen as it is known] which might make it possible for her to go there. TWT.

Photography Group

I have been teaching the photography after-school group at The Mount for three or four years now. I enjoy it, the talent of the girls who attend is really high; young minds are open to learn and to challenge. This shot - on the theme of water - was taken by a Mexican girl last term.

Mah jong

Another one of Charlie. This one of him playing mah jong with friend Gail on the balcony when I lived in Cannonbury Place in Islington. Charlie Sue and I played many long mah jong sessions back in Princes Drive when we all lived there in Liverpool 8.

Leeds Half Marathon

Sunday Danielle ran the half-marathon in Leeds, and I cycled over to meet her at the finish. A lovely sunny day for cycling, a bit too hot for running. Her time was under 2 hours, which is impressive.

My route took me through Tadcaster which currently has three bridges across the Wharfe. The far one is the railway viaduct which was built in the 19th century for a railway that was never finished. So it is a magnificent structure that has never had a train on it.
In the middle distance is the road bridge which collapsed during the floods at Christmas last year. It is still shut for repairs.
And I am stood on a footbridge which the local feudal landowner [Sam Smith Brewery] finally, after much pressure, deigned to allow on their land to let the townsfolk get to their town. It was a sad and sorry affair.

Charlie

I first met Charlie 40 years ago in Manchester, he was a mate of my school friend Adrian. We got on; turned out he was going to Liverpool University in September 1976 too, same Hall of Residence as well. Charlie studied Law, I did Sociology. Through Charlie I met Mark, Rob & Doug, so an important moment. Over the years we always kept in touch - often long gaps between meet-ups, often Charlie not making it, but he was one of my best friends. And now he is dead. Bleed in the brain at night, dead in the morning. No build up, presumably no pain. Rest in peace you old bastard.

Running News

Rowan has been running 400 metres as part of her track team at school, doing a sub 60 seconds run for the first time yesterday. Here is the team.

Wagner

Last Saturday we went to see The Valkyries, the second part of Wagner's ring cycle. It was new to us, and we both thought it absolutely brilliant; great music, performances, themes, just great. We go back for part 3, Siegfried next week.

And here is said Bluebell wood from our trip to Ilkley

Gate

The house in Ilkley had some very interesting commissioned iron gates. Useful for dog-tethering as well.

Ilkley

Sunday we went to Quaker meeting in Ilkley. Very nice meeting house as you can see. We then had lunch with Rob and Julia who were new to me, and very good company. Great meal then a walk through the bluebell woods of Middleton.

Sonic Boom Boy

Two unexplained huge "thumps" on Monday night. Milo was very worried, sounded like thunder but the sky was clear. We were bemused. Turns out it was two sonic booms as RAF Typhoons were scrambled. What! Here is the story http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/14466226.Sonic_boom_heard_over_York___caused_by_RAF_Typhoons/ .
Get those conspiracy theories rolling ...

The dog got over it

Wash Day

I walked by the Wash on the way back from the funeral in Suffolk. Big skies are the norm.

Parenthood

Markus reading to Rosalind at Ro & Pete's last week. Good to see.

Activity

Went to see the Tour de Yorkshire with Dave and Robert on Friday. Really fantastic to see whole villages [most of whom no little about cycle racing] coming out to cheer and enjoy. It is a great achievement to have built on the Tour de France in Yorkshire success of two years ago.
In the evening we were at the University of York Court meal which we go to twice a year [Danielle is part of the Court]. Usual interesting company [two Tory North Yorkshire councillors, and one very interesting counsellor this year] and a bit of a laugh.