London 2

 Danielle is a visiting professor at City University in London, and was giving a lecture to Masters students on Saturday morning. They put her up at a hotel in Finsbury Square, which was great. I met up with Rowan and had a cup of tea with her at her flat. We then walked down to meet Danielle once she was finished. Finally we met up with Chris and Frank again at Kings Cross for lunch, then got the train home.

You were allowed to enter and touch the exhibits in the Saatchi garden at Chelsea, which was a rarity. These sculptures could be spun around. Look forward to seeing them at B&Q soon.

London 1

 Danielle had a high school friend visiting from Germany with her husband; Chris and Frank. Chris is into gardening, so we met them at the Museum of Gardening at Lambeth Palace, got the river boat to Chelsea, went to the Chelsea Flower Show, then met up with Rowan for a tapas in the evening. Quite a day, all done in 30 degrees heat.

Mango

 We got news last week that Layla's mother, Mango had died aged 8 or thereabouts. Sad for the couple who took Mango as a rescue dog, then helped her raise five unexpected puppies; Layla was one of them.

Stroll 64 pt3

 

And here is the beautiful viaduct, stepping out across Batty Moss. Perfect fit of landscape and industry.

Stroll 64 pt2

Inglebrough is a great mountain. An iron age hill fort used to be atop it, and it now dominates the landscape around Ribblehead viaduct. I arrived at Ribblehead station with over an hour till my train was due. Not a bad place to wait, made even better by the excellent cafe that was there to serve walkers and rail travellers. Perfect.
 

Stroll 64 pt1

 I took the train to Garsdale, high in the Yorkshire Dales. From there I walked south to Ribblehead. It was a high level route with views like this one down to Dentdale. Jet fighters trained by flying beneath us down the valleys very fast. Layla, who is terrified of hot air balloons was totally fine with the supersonic weapons of mass destruction that swept past us.

Sheffield 2

 Walking on, I crossed the upper reaches of the river Don. It was the kind of fast flowing rocky river that is tailor made for dippers and grey wagtails. Sure enough both popped up, as soon as I looked over the bridge.