Rover 3

Day three I took the train to Newcastle, then across the Tyne Valley line to Carlisle. Next train took me to Oxenholme, and from there I walked to Kendal my sister Ro and Pete have just moved from Suffolk. A great house up a steep hill, good to have them back up north.
I then got a train back from Lancaster to Leeds on a real old fashioned branch line.

Rover 2

On the second day of rovering I took the Trans Pennine Express to Redcar (a new destination for the service) then walked on the English Coastal Footpath to Middlesborough. It was a fascinating journey through industrial Britain past and present.

Rover 1

Two weeks till the puppy arrives, after which she and I will be housebound for a while. So I got a Rail Rover ticket for 4 days travel across the north, to be taken in 8 days. It is incredible value and great fun, get off one place, walk to the next, get another train. Free and easy travel.
Day 1 I took the train to Beverley in the East Riding then walked up the Hull river to get a train back from Arram. The whole area used to be wetland, so in this wet winter it was a squishy experience. This shot seemed to sum up the whole experience.

Askern 2

Some of the wetlands of South Yorkshire have been caught and tamed and transformed into a bizarre municipal park in Askern. It is a lovely park, just seems totally out of place.

Askern 1

I did some research for my Elmet book last week, visiting Askern north of Doncaster. The pit has gone, the Spa has gone (medicinal waters, not budget supermarket) but there was still plenty to see. Had a good walk around the old pit, where I found this water tower which used to be part of the set up. It is pretty much all that now remains.

Burns Night

Eddie and Sue invited us to a great Burns Night celebration. 11 people, we all had bits of Burns to recite, perform or sing. We got Ae Fond Kiss, which was written as a song. I couldn't imagine us singing the traditional version, so I set it to something I had written. Danielle and I sang it to a backing tape I had made. Much better than the original imho. Vegan haggis, plenty of whisky, good chat, a quiz. Back home by 2am.

This is the loosing quiz team.

Amy

Two weeks today, if all goes to plan, we should be picking up Amy from her foster home in the Dales. She will be 8 weeks old then. She is the puppy of a rescue dog, and is Labrador-ish crossed with unknown. Do we know what we are letting ourselves in for? No. Looking forward to it though.

Blog to Print

Every two years I get the blog produced in a book form. It means we have a record of the past 16 years for when the great cloud in the sky melts. This is the latest volume.

On The Tops

I walked up on the tops above Wensleydale last weekend. Always to get up there.

Sunday we went to friend John Gilham's launch of his new poetry book which was packed, with friend Andy's band Slack Habits playing as well. Great to be able to walk to things like this, no need for the car at all.

Birthday Party

Rowan had her birthday party in London at the weekend. 50 people in a pub, theme was Northern Night Out: the mind boggles. The days of us having to organise things (roller-blading, wall-climbing, scuba diving etc) are long gone. A relief to all of us.

Rowan and her flatmate Orla

DC6

Monday we walked to the Metro, caught it to DC, then walked to the newish Museum of African American History. It is a fine fine museum - really well done and with a great vibe. It was pretty empty compared with how it is at weekends so we had a good relaxed visit.

DC5

Sunday we caught the Amtrak back from Philadelphia to Alexandria where Ben lives. The central station at Philly is amazing architecturally.

DC4

Saturday Ben drove us up to Pennsylvania to see Danielle's Great Aunt Maxine who is 91, going strong, and still driving. Definitely worth the effort to see her, cooked a meal, lot of chat. Found out that her late husband, Uncle Ralph, worked in rocket development for the military. One of his patents was for a rocket powered ejector seat for helicopter pilots. Just think about that for a little while: tricky job. Quite a family.

DC3

This building (probably falling into the Phenomenal - but Ghastly category) emerged from the Woods in Rock River Creek.

DC 2

I explored whilst Danielle was in her seminar. I walked up Rock Creek, came back down to the centre through Columbia Heights then visited the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery. It was fantastic, great art, hardly anyone there, really enjoyed it.

They have roofed the inner courtyard in the style of the British Museum, not quite as impressive but still a great space.

DC 1

Danielle had a work thing in Washington DC, so we decided to combine it with some family visits as well. We flew from Heathrow and stayed in the Eaton Hotel which was really great. Our room had a deck and four choice albums for us to play: Miles Davis, Earl Bostic etc. Great idea!

Birthday 3

They brought Danielle a mini cake for her birthday which was a good surprise.

Birthday 2

After the drink we met Rowan at Vanilla Black round the corner and had a great meal. Vanilla Black is a vegetarian restaurant that opened in York where we were enthusiastic customers, before it suddenly shut, then reopened in Holborn in London. It is now one of the best vegetarian places in the capital. So, it was a bit of a treat.

Birthday 1

For Danielle's birthday we met up with friend Clem and had a drink at the Law Society in Chancery Lane (where Danielle used to work last century). Always good to see her.

Pond Life

A quick bike ride on Sunday took me to Askham Bryan and this lovely pond. Always good to have a rest on the bench.

Strensall 2

Another part of Strensall Common. These pools come and go with the wetness of the land: it is pretty wet right now.

Strensall

Walked on the beautiful Strensall Common at the weekend. It looks like the savanna to me.
Danielle is holed up doing her MA assignment.

More Wolds

Rowan and Danielle walking past a sinister corner of the Wolds: Ash trees that look like they might grab you, and a dodgy caravan.

Return to The Wolds

When Rowan was here we went for a walk in the Wolds. Inevitably we talked about Milo. A lot. It was a great misty morning.

New Years Day we met up in the pub with David, Anita, John, Katy et al. Good to catch up.

NYE

New Years Eve we went to Robert and Helen's annual party. Always a good evening. I look up, see the atrium windows and take a photo; an elaborate selfie.

York

This was last week when we walked into town with the family

The Blue Bridge at eventide.