Penarth

Our last destination was to Penarth to see Katy and David who moved there from London five years ago. They live in a semi-circular house with great views across Cardiff bay. Had a lovely time.

On the Level

Next on the list of places I had always wanted to see, was the Somerset Levels. Pre internet, it was hard to work out where they were exactly and how to experience them. No difficulty now: we had a great walk on a National Nature Reserve and saw Great Egrets, Cetti's Warblers and Marsh Harriers. 

All's Wells

A few years back I was reading about Wells cathedral, and saw a photo of these bracing arches. I assumed they were mid 20th century, they looked so modern. So to discover that they were built in the 14th century was amazing. Ever since then I have wanted to see them. So en-route to Cardiff from Cornwall we stayed a night at nearby Glastonbury, and I got to see the cathedral. It is the most moving and beautiful cathedral I have ever visited.

Four

Next up were the lost gardens of Heligan. Very much the low key cousin to the Eden Project, but it was the one I would be happy to revisit most. Just great to be able to walk about the various parts of the gardens. The weather was perfect for our whole holiday, not too hot, no rain, gentle breeze. 

Three

Next day was the Eden Project. Danielle is on the board of the National Lottery fund. One of her fellow board members is head of something at the project. He met us, explained about the history, then ushered us in to the project as guests. Very kind. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed looking around, the large domes were very impressive. To be honest though, I found the plants to be the best bit. This grass was in the Mediterranean dome and was magnificent.

Two

Next day we went to Port Isaac, a tiny fishing village on the north coast. I had last visited here in 1982, but it looked pretty much the same. We had a good walk on the coast path, then fish and chips in the pub, and a walk on the Camel Trail Sustrans path on the way back.

Walk

 I found that we could walk down through the woods and across fields to a halt on the Bodmin preserved steam railway. Wave our hand at the driver and the train stops. We got on, visited Bodmin (not a great place to see on a Sunday afternoon to be honest), got the train back then walked back to the hut on a different route by way of a great bridleway. 

Cornwall

 Danielle had never been to Cornwall, and wanted to visit. Not my favourite place, but we decided now was the time. So we moved on from Hereford and stayed for a few nights in this great hut in Cardinham Woods near Bodmin. A perfect location, we could walk out of the door to miles of forest paths and very few people. Just great.

Long time no see.

 It is over ten years since Danielle and I saw Mike and Karen together. We had so much to talk about, and so much to catch up on that I never got around to taking any pictures of us, them or the ridiculously picturesque village of Weobley in Herefordshire where they live. So here is shot from 1985. 

The Stroll - Stage 6 c

 

This is what the old railway lines look like now. Birch trees, as ever, the first responder to post industrialism. They provided welcome shade on a hot day in South Yorkshire. Layla is good at finding that shade when she needs it.

The Stroll - Stage 6 b

I was walking on the track, when I came across a group of older Barnsley folk enjoying the trail. I saw this shot under a bridge, and liked the angles, contrast, all the rest of it. "What are you doing?". I explained, and one woman thought about it, then pointed out this shadow of the tree against the concrete. "I think I prefer that." She had a point.

 

The Stroll - Stage 6

 

Good to get going on The Stroll again. Stage 6, on a lovely day, was from Bolton upon Dearne to Barnsley along the Trans Pennine Trail using old railway lines. A fantastic route through the Dearne valley. This vineyard was a bit of a surprise, "A crisp white from Barnsley anyone?" it could happen.

Living Roof. Northern Lights

Friday our living roof was installed. It is 22 years since we had our roof fitted, so it needed changing. We decided to combine the new roof with this living one, made up of sedum plants. Should be interesting seeing how it grows etc.

In the evening we had one of our whisky evenings with a couple of Quaker friends - Carol and John. We were so into the chat, that we neglected to know about the northern lights appearance, let alone go out and look at them. Oh well. People in the street saw them well.

City Scene

I went to Quaker meeting on Sunday. First time for a while. Afterwards I walked through town and found a big wheel had landed in Parliament Street. Coupled with the pollarded trees it gave the scene a mid-European feel to me: Strasbourg maybe.

Tandemania

We have been using the tandem more recently. This was Rowan's climbing tree on the cycle track from York to Selby, back in the day.

Spring

A walk at Escrick in the spring is a beautiful thing. Bluebells in the wood. Chiffchaffs, blackcaps, whitethroats and treecreepers all around (thanks to the Merlin bird identification app). Buzzards, kites, sparrowhawks and kestrels are common enough in the area, but the marsh harrier I saw was a real bonus in this neck of the woods.

Gig

Last week Andy, Tina, Shin-Sook, Peter and us went to Pocklington (a Wolds market town to the east of York) for an Italian at a local restaurant, then to see Jah Wobble play at the Arts Centre (where I had a photo show a few years ago). It was a really unexpectedly brilliant gig. Improvised pieces that I wanted to just go on and on. We all enjoyed it.

Ahead of the installation of our living roof, we have been tidying up a bit. I was in the garden, Danielle on the deck.

NYOS

 

Three weeks until my second Open Studios of the year, this one is for North Yorkshire. York and North Yorkshire got a Labour Mayor last week, so it is a happy place.

Perfect Day

The last days of our long weekend and we headed to the North York Moors for a walk through Langdale forest. Just great to be up there again with spring making its way forward towards summer. This gem of a valley is just near Blakey Topping. 

We got home in time to watch the third stage of the Giro drinking the first wine from the annual Giro case of wines made on the route of this years race. Then to finish a perfect day we watched Perfect Days, a brilliant Wim Wenders film set in Japan. 

Bank Holiday

We had a band practice last week, went well, a hot day though. This weekend Danielle and I have had a great time at home - doing the garden, visiting the soon to be community woodland on the outskirts of York (renamed the New Forest by me), sharing a pint or too with a friend who supports Ipswich (promoted to the Premier League) and having a barbecue in the nearly-spring weather.
 

Wetlands

Everywhere is sodden. This is normally the Pocklington canal on the right, a ditch in the centre and a field on the left. This year the water is everywhere, a few 100 metres on from here the three bodies of water were joined, and my wellies were just about tall enough. Discretion won and we cut the walk short. I did see a short eared owl though, so that was some recompense.

Trundle pt2 b

The bad news was I had a front tyre flat, at speed that led to me very nearly crashing; one of those situations where time really does slow down. The following thought process took place within a second or two. "oh, what was that? my front wheel is sliding away from me, I am going to crash badly, I have managed to stay upright. I have bellowed very loudly, I am ok"

The good news was that there was a mini park of benches and a water fountain, meaning I could have lunch, fix my wheel, wash my hands and move on.

Trundle pt2

 The second part of my cycling Trundle was from Doncaster to York, on the sustrans route that I first used when we moved to York from London 26 years ago. It has always been a favourite route with sections on old railway lines, canal towpaths, old pits etc. It inspired me to write my Elmet book. 

This was the first time I had been on it for a good few years, and it was great to find that a lot of it had been resurfaced and resigned. The whole area is sodden at the moment, this is the river Went, which is normally a stream you hardly notice beneath a stone bridge. Not this year.