Stroll 42

Once over the bridge the path followed the south bank of the Humber to New Holland (named after the Dutch drainage engineers from the 18th century). This is the view of the Hull waterfront.

Stroll 42 - The Bridge

I took the train to Hessle where the Humber bridge joins the north bank of the river. I walked across the bridge which is a great experience, and one that was being enjoyed by a fair number of people. The bridge was closed to pedestrians and cyclist a few years back because of the suicide risk. This was plain daft, and I am glad it is now fully open again.

Stroll 41

Last picture from Stroll 41. This is the now defunct lifting bridge across the Trent at Keadby. It carries the main line to Scunthorpe, and the main road as well. Magnificent but redundant.

 

Elmet - The Play

 At the weekend we made our first visit for Bradford's years as City of Culture. A play has been made of Elmet, the novel by friend Fiona Mozley, which we went to see with Robert and Julia. A quick lunch in the indoor market, then an intense couple of hours of the play. The Unthanks were  performing the music live, and the whole thing worked well. Not as good as the book, and a film would be amazing, but still a great experience.

This is what a Trent looks like these days, taken from the Keadby bridge.

Stroll 41 Scunthorpe

I walked from Scunthorpe to Crowle. Never been to Scunny before, and found it leafy and pleasant. This lane was just a short way from the centre. The path went right to the Trent river, which I crossed by the impressive and now redundant lifting bridge at Keadby.
 

Stroll 40 Thorne to Crowle

After dramatic highland walking, it was back to the Stroll. It is still mild, and I managed to get a good couple of walks in this week. First was a route that took in Thorne Moors, walking right across it from west to east, then via the Isle of Axholme through Crowle and Ealand to the Stainforth and Keadby canal and Crowle station. Good to be rolling again.

 

Cranes

These cranes were in place, ready to lift a heavy new iron cycle and foot bridge over the east coast mainline. It is all part of the redevelopment of York Central, an area of disused railway land. It is an exciting development, which our sometime lodger Pat is heavily involved with through her job with York City Council.

Holiday in Strathyre 8

 So, we returned home after a good break. I got a couple of shots that I might exhibit. Here is one, taken on the loch, abstract enough to draw people in, I hope.

Holiday in Strathyre 7

Danielle is into (quite) wild swimming. So the wet suit was packed in the car and she got two swims in loch Lubnaig. As you can see Layla was a little non-plussed; she does not swim.

 

Holiday in Strathyre 6

We walked into Callander via the forest ridge, to get a paper on Saturday, then walked back on this old railway line that is now a Sustrans track. There was a great cafe in the park at Callander, so all in all a good day. 

 

Holiday in Strathyre 5

We took our traditional trip to a distillery; this one at Deanston across the river Teith from Doune. The old tall building used to be, a cotton mill until the 1960s when the whisky distillery was established. We got a half bottle of some very nice single malt from muscatel casks. The staff were happy to welcome Layla into the shop (quite a leap of faith on their part, but she did not cause any mayhem), and showed me their stills and casks. The distillery has its own hydro electric plant linked to the river, which provides for all their electric needs, and exports to the grid as well.

 

Holiday in Strathyre 4

I climbed to the top of Ben Ledi. Misty on the top, but a strong wind blew the cloud away from time to time, giving dramatic changes of view which would then be snatched away by the clouds once more. 

Holiday in Strathyre 3

We further explored the forest the next day, the difference being we now had glorious sunshine. Just great to be here.

Holiday in Strathyre 2

We got ourselves sorted out in our cabin, then walked up through the forest. Great to be exploring and path-finding right on our doorstep. Layla located a path for us, she goes ahead, finds the path then just sits there waiting for to see the route she has planned. 
 

Holiday in Strathyre 1

We had booked a forest cabin at Strathyre in the Trossachs on the banks of Loch Lubnaig. When power to the whole area went down during Storm Amy it looked like we might have to miss the first day of our time there. But amazingly all was sorted out and we survived potential range anxiety to arrive on Monday in time for the storm to cease; and I was able to photograph the moon over the loch as I took the dog an evening walk. 

 

A Cycling Life 3

When I went away to school, aged 8, I had a large heavy second hand bike that was hard work. A couple of years later I got a new bike for christmas, which opened a new world up to me. 5 gears! Drop handlebars! I have no memory of this bike race at Sports Day one year, so I think I'll say that it shows me winning the race.

 

A Cycling Life 2

I progressed to a real trike, with my improvised hay-turner on the back (actually an old umbrella stand so legend has it).

 

A Cycling Life 1

 

First trike. Grimsargh, Preston

Naming

 

This pond is currently part of the soon to be closed tip. It will then be part of the new community forest west of York. We call the forest the new forest, and this area will be known as the lake district. The raised land that is built on the tip will be the peak district.

Quiz Time

I got a call from friend Emma, in need of reinforcements for a pub quiz team. Hugh and Velveda from the US, and Imogen from around the corner. I couldn't really hear anything. We came last. But it was fun, and not something I have done often.
 

Stroll 39

Layla enjoying a dip in a lake en route to Sheffield

 

Stroll 39

From Kiveton to Sheffield, via the post industrial landscape of old pits, disused railway lines and heathland. A great route that passed through the Rother valley park woods, that I planted in a 1978 holiday job in the freezing winter.

 

On the Station

Not a great photo, but it was hard not to capture this image. Not a stag night, but actual old soldiers.

A rose arose

"I never thought I would see you photographing a rose, like that" So spoke Danielle when I took this shot, and I know what she means; but it is beautiful that it had to be done. Picked from the garden.
 

Still Life

Low sun casting shadows onto the redwood table. Can't resist.