The Good, The Bad and Butterflies

When we were in Austria we saw some butterflies that were new to us. There was a Ringlet and this Blue, which attached itself to Danielle for a few kilometres on the bike.

On return I found that Cabbage White butterfly caterpillars had just about wiped out my Kale and Cabbage crops.

You can't have one without the other...

On the last day of our Austria ride, we had a hike up to an Alp, where we rejoined our bikes, this is the Alp - real Sound of Music stuff, luckily no Julie Andrews.

Rowan went to play with her friend Douglas from school today. She had a really good time, with Douglas' Dad taking them to Rowntree Park http://www.thisisyork.co.uk/york/insideout/todo/rowntree_park.html on their bikes. We cycled back home, just in time for me to take Rowan to the gym on the tandem for her trampoline lesson. Got back, Rowan carried on with her friend Rhianna, selling plums to our neighbours. Oh yes and I had a badminton lesson where my game was deconstructed by my post modernist coach - trouble is it is now much less effective than it was - expect another defeat to Edward on Friday, before the new super-game emerges from the deconstructed wreckage - that is the theory.

Lost in Translation

The photo is in Munich - I like it a lot.

One of the things that having Rowan has bought home to us as a bi-national family, is that American English and English English differ in just about everything. When Rowan would ask "what is that?" she would often get different answers from the two of us simultaneously. So I am starting a dictionary. In all cases the first word is English English, with the Amercian English translation following. Any additions will be gratefully recieved. Here is the first batch of five.
Press-ups = Push-ups
Pudding = Dessert
Cutlery = Silverware
Treacle = ????????
Pans = Pots

The Crew

Here is the winning crew from the Austria ride. The boiler suits are not our riding gear, but what we had to wear to visit the Salt Mine at Hallstadt http://www.salzwelten.at/cont/salzwelten/en_salzwelten_home.aspx . We have spent today chilling out [ well, going to Meeting, then the gym] and Rowan has just enjoyed watching My Fair Lady for the first time [that pleasure awaits me] http://www.filmsite.org/myfa.html .

Home

The train journey went really well, such a delight compared to the tedium of air travel. Good to be home of course. Here is the first photo from the Austria trip - Rowan and Danielle cycling in the evening sun.

I had some good ideas for my next piece of work [an e-training package] whilst I was away, and have got a client wanting some photos as well. So the September restart is all set to begin.

Way Back

Said goodbyes, Rowan exchanged E Mail addresses with Maeve, as did we. A bit more Salzburg, then the train to Munich where have a good time looking round and taking an open top bus tour. Next event - the Night Train to Paris

Day 8

Our last day. We have been seeing all the news reports of floods etc. We have been very lucky and missed it all. Today was beautiful sunshine as we all set off to St Gilgun [where Mozart was born] then hiked up a 500 metre climb before beginning a great cycle down into Salzberg. Rowan and Royce both did really well. Sol, a 12 year old on the trip, has been so impressed by Rowan that he is talking about getting her a special prize - this would of course make her holiday. It was a dramatic route down gorges and through forests back to Salzburg. All looking forward to a last evening, before getting the train back home tomorrow. Due to arrive in UK Saturday lunchtime

Day 7

We had another day off today, and the rain stayed away most of the time. In the morning we all went on a stainless steel tobogan run down a mountain side. Very exciting, especially for Danielle who managed to come off hers [going too fast as usual]. Then we took the steam rack and pinion railway up the mountain that towers above St Wolfgang. This was very impressive, a lot like the railway up Snowden.

Day 6

Tough day , with a couple of soakings for us all, as we cycled through Bad Ischl to Wolfgang See. Rowan and Royce did reallly well, despite the rain. We were all glad to see the hotel. On the TV we discovered that nearby parts of Austria are suffering really bad floods - so we are lucky after all.

Day 5

A day off. So Rowan and Danielle went swimming, Royce had a (well earned) rest and I cycled up into the mountains and had a good explore. The sun even mad a brief appearance.

Day 4

Drizzle today, but not cold. So we were a happy damp bunch who cycled the next leg of the ride. We are now on the Traunsee lake, staying at a hotel that is also a Schnapps distillery - so plenty of tasting was done last night!

Day 3

A day off from cycling. It was raining so we went off to the ancient Salt Mimes at Halstedt - it was really interesting and the kids loved it - especially the wooden slides that take you deep into the mine (Danielle managed to clock the fastest time by wearing her protective clothing inside out).

Day 2

Today's route was 67k and hilly. The whole group were amazed that Rowan did it. She was a reall star! It was beautiful weather again and fantastic lakes and mountains. We now hardly see Rowan once we reach the hotel at the end of the ride - she is off swimming and playing with the other children.

Royce has cycled the whole way too! So everyone is happy.

Day 1

Yeastersay we met our fellow travellers. Rowan immediately went off with the other very friendly children and we relaxed with wheat beer. I discovered that I knew one of the party - Hannah who I used to work with in Islington. A good group of people.

The first days cycling has been great, many hills, beautiful weather and good cycling. As I write this D & R are swimming in the lake and Royce recuperates in the shower ( I hope)

Salzburg

The train journey was fantastic. Eurostar came with dinner and champagne, then the night train from Paris to Munich was comfortable and exciting. Arrived in Salzurg this morning, light rain, but it will clear. At the hotel we met up with the guy who is co-ordinating the bikes etc. He did the same job on the Holland trip, so it was good to catch up with him. Rowan has a brand new bike at her disposal - shiny, red and with suspension - so that went down well. Today we spent looking around Salzburg, with the river very very high and fast flowing. Meet up with the other cyclists at 6pm. Anticipation rising.

Eurostar

So the plan is, GNER to Kings X at lunchtime, then Eurostar to Paris this evening. Across Paris then the Night Train to Munich. Change in Munich to the train to Salzburg, should arrive there Wednesday morning. Excitement levels are high. This shot is high above Aberdovey on one of the cycling routes.

Preparation

This shot is of our hotel in Aberdovey [the big white building] from the beach - no need to add anything. Today Rowan had her friend Ned from school to play, he got the official "best person to play with" award after a happy morning. Then Royce took his favorite [only] grandchild into town for various bits and pieces, meaning that I could get on with preparing for tomoro.
The Second shot is from Cader Idris looking down to the corrie below.

Work

The stag/hen meal last night was really good, at an Italian restraunt, good fun. This morning Rowan went swimming, which was nice for Royce to be able to see how she is getting on. I went to the gym, then had to work through the day. Finished it off though. Getting ready for our Austria cycle trip. The photo is of Happy Valley [really] which is on my Aberdovey Mountain Bike route. Whilst we were in Wales we saw lots of jelly fish washed up on the shore, and later found out there had been an influx borne upon the Gulf Stream.

Photos from Wales 2

Rowan and Danielle on the crowded beach at Aberdovey

Stag Time

Danielle's dad, Royce, arrived this morning from Philadelphia. He is coming with us on our cycling holiday in Austria next week. Rowan is delighted to have hime here. Our friends John and Heather are getting married next month, so today was stag and hen activity. John's involved beer tasting in our garden, GPS challenges on Hob Moor involving Su Doku, and assembling an Ikea bookshelf without the instructions. He did pretty well. The pouring rain added to the Englishness of the occaision [6 blokes tramping around Hob Moor in rain gear]. This evening Danielle and I are off to the joint Stag/Hen meal, which should be fun.

Ynis Hir

This is a view from Cader Idris, which we climbed this week. Yesterday we went to Corris Craft Centre http://www.corriscraftcentre.co.uk/ then the beach, then whilst Danielle and Rowan walked into Aberdovey to replace Rowan's priceless [well £1.25] lost mood ring, I went on another great bike ride on bridle paths behind Aberdovey. It is a fantastic area to explore. Rowan made another friend, Georgia, and had a great play, which meant we could enjoy our last meal at the hotel.

Today we went to Ynis Hir RSPB reserve, http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/y/ynys-hir/index.asp which was great, a really lovely walk in the oak woods - didn't see many birds though. The journey back was torturous and wet but I reckon putting up with the M62 once a year is not too bad.

Cader Idris

Today we all walked up Cader Idris [second highest mountain in Wales]. It was a beautiful day again and the mountain is really dramatic. Probably a bit much for Rowan. She was brilliant going up, but found it a pain coming back down [not the first person to do so]. Safely back home now Rowan is demolishing her tea. As seems to happen every year Rowan has made friends here, and two little girls and her spend most of their spare time terrorising the putting green and trying not to run about everywhere. Luckily they too are staying until Friday so we should be well set.

Talyllyn

Another fantastic day. Weather perfect again. We all cycled into Twyn [Danielle on the mountain bike, Rowan and I on the tandem] then went on the Talyllyn railway www.talyllyn.co.uk . This is our favorite line. It is just idlyic, steam engines, very laid back [On the way up our train was delayed on account of two sheep walking up the line in front of the train for a mile or so - we had to slow down to sheep pace. On the way back we came to an emergency stop when the driver saw a sheep stuck in a fence adjacent to the line - he and the guard helped it free, then we went on our way] with some great walks in the woods. We went to Dolgoch falls and walked between a couple of stations. The museum at Twyn has a section on the Rev W Audrey - author of the Thomas books, so that went down well with us all as well. Cycled back in time for a swim.

Jellyfish

Perfect weather again today. Walked along the beach to Aberdovey, seeing lots of Jellyfish along the way. Got Rowan a body board [childrens surf board] very cheap and cheerful. Great fun riding the waves [sort of]. In the afternoon I went a great bike ride on roads and tracks, with a lot of climbing - felt really good. Looking forward to the meal now, yesterdays was fantastic.

Arrived

Arrived at Aberdovey for our five days. Perfect weather, running around on the beach, splashing in the sea. It is a huge swathe of sand, with a few people dotted around it. The mountains loom, kites are flown, butterflies in the sand dunes. Great.

Our excuse for coming to this hotel in year one and year two was "so that Granny has somewhere comfortable" as she came with us. Last year the excuse was "so that Poppa has somewhere comfortable" as he came with us. This year, no excuse, but we all love it so.

Fountains Tree

This lonely tree is on the way to Fountains Abbey http://www.fountainsabbey.org.uk/. Dave and I cycled there today on the fantastic backroad route that leads fromYork. Danielle and Rowan met us at the cafe and we all drove back together - they had been swimming at the gym. Tomorrow we set off for Wales.

Being Prepared

It is pretty rare to find a picture of me on the blog, or anywhere else come to that, so I thought I better post this one that Rowan took at the Sculpture Park this week.

We leave for Wales on Sunday, so are busy getting ready today. All part of the excitement. We are staying at the hotel we have been to for the last four years http://www.trefwales.com/ in Aberdovey. It is fantastic, and recommended to everyone.

Planets Sweet

Rowan and I cycled down the planets http://www.solar.york.ac.uk/ to have lunch at slide-shops [this is our name for the designer outlet place, on account of it having a really good covered play area] Then we all went to the gym - Rowan for trampoline again. Danielle went to a seminar at Quaker Yearly Meeting. This is the big annual Quaker event, which this year happens to be at York. I must admit I have managed to totally avoid it, and Danielle is just going to this one thing. Maybe next time it's in York [ten year off at least!] it just doesn't appeal at the moment http://www.britainyearlymeeting.org.uk/york2005/

The photo is of the Oxford Natural History museum

Badminton - New player

Rowan went to play at her friend Melissa's house today, which meant I could get on with various bits of home administration [electrics, holiday, etc]. Danielle made the final batch of jam from the blackcurrants, it has been a really good crop this year - more through accident than design.

Yesterday I had my first piece of badminton coaching ever, after 17 years of playing it came not a moment too soon. The basic message from the very pleasant coach was "you have many bad habits, we have to deconstruct them before you can start to play how you should". Fairly daunting and tempting to revert to Bad Simon style. But today I played my friend Adrian for the first time [he has not played for 10 years] and tried out all the new stuff. We had a good game and will play again.

The photo is of baby Cecilly from yesterday.

Spam Free

The photo is another from the Sculpture Park. Played badminton today again, first time since doing my back in 10 days ago. The good news is that my back is fine. The bad news ... I lost.

Went into town and met up with Em and Tom, Louie, and baby Cecilly. The kids had a good run about the Minster grounds. http://www.yorkminster.org/ .

Nearly all my Spam seems to have stopped. I kind of miss the endless invitations for Rolex, Viagra and Meds [whatever they are]. Has this happened to anyone else?

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Rowan and I called in at Ikea in Leeds to get a new mattress [out futon mattress had become a stress mat] which we enjoyed as usual [no really]. After our traditional lunch of Vege Dogs we went to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. http://www.ysp.co.uk/view.asp?id=1 which is fantastic. Henry Moore sculptures are scattered across the hillside, with plenty of other outdoor sculptures too. Really good. The photo is of Rowan using a Henry Moore bronze as a slide [as you can see from the shine on it, she was not the first...]