Stroll 85 Congleton to Stoke on Trent

Probably as far as I am going down this part of the Stroll, for a while at least. Walked on the Macclesfield Canal and the Trent and Mersey. This shot, which I think could be in next years Open Studios, was taken south of Kidsgrove. The canal disappeared into Harecastle Tunnel and my path took me around Bath Pool. The image is called Heartbreak.

 

Delines

After the party I went to Leeds with Paul to see the Delines at Leeds Variety Hall. Great venue with perfect sound, and a fantastic band. Really enjoyed it.

House Guest

Fair to say that Althea and Layla got on OK.

 

Party

Althea from Chicago came to visit us again. As ever, a real pleasure to have her with us. We went to Emilie's party on Sunday. Althea, Danielle, Emilie and Renee. America 3 UK 1.

 

Daughter Time

Rowan was up with us for a few days. Monday she came with me to Thorne Moors on a beautiful autumnal day. Tuesday she helped me clear out the garage - a long time coming, I needed a helpful shove which she provided.

 

From the Smoke3

The Olympic legacy seems to be real, the park is a vibrant place with plenty going on.

 

From the Smoke2

The V&A east is quite a location and quite a building. Even the cafe was good.

 

From the Smoke1

Taken in London, somewhere between Islington and the V&A East in Stratford. Quite happy not to remember where it was exactly.

 

London 2

The next day I met up with Andy, Katie and Anne. We had all first met 50 years ago when we began our time at Liverpool University in October 1976. Half a century. We went to the Earl of Essex in Islington then to the Tamil Crown round the corner to eat. Earlier in the day I had revisited The Music is Black exhibition at the V&A East, with Katie and Anne. Good to meet Andy's partner Ren as well.

 

London 1

Down to London I went once more. Met up with friend Victor at the Guinness brewery in Covent Garden. A good time as usual.

 

The Unexploded Bomb

We missed the excitement, but there was an unexploded bomb found up the road. The army experts took it to the middle of Hob Moor where they blew it up and disposed of it. Always something going on.

 

Harvest Time

It has been the best of tomato harvests this year. Risottos, salads and sauces. I even tried some in my dal recipe this week, and it worked well.

 

Stroll 84 Saxilby to Lincoln

 Lincoln has really benefitted from the establishment of the University there. It feels a buzzy place to visit with plenty going on. The route followed the oldest canal in the country; the Fossdyke was built by the Romans and makes for a pleasant walk with few people around.

Stroll 83 Haltwhistle to Hayden Bridge

The Stroll route is now completed to Haltwhistle. A good walk along the South Tyne and up into the hills around Allen Banks. The cattle are interested in the dog, not me.

 

Trains

 

Often an interesting train in the sidings as I walk over the footbridge to the Mount in York. The shiny one on the right is a 50 year old HST, used for measuring track movement. The one on the left is an express arriving from London Kings Cross.

Friends

Friends Paul and Coral were in York, so we met up with them and other friends at the cafe at York Art Gallery. We had a pretty joyous time.

 

Hob Moor

Autumn still feels a long way off on the beautiful Hob Moor

 

Skosh

One of the dishes from a meal at Skosh. Salmon.

 

Tea Time

Sunday tea, courtesy of Danielle. Tasted as good as it looked.

 

House Guests

Mark and Mandy came up for the weekend. We went to Skosh for lunch on the Saturday and had (as ever) a great meal and a great time.

 

Stroll 82 pt2

Layla cooling down in a lovely pool on Newbrough Burn, a tributary of the South Tyne. So we have crossed the line from becks to burns: Scotland looms.

 

Spot the Bug

Taking the dog a walk there is always something to catch your eye. Like this ladybird in the flowers.

 

Budapest

Rowan found this old picture from when we went to Budapest, an incredible nine years ago. I can't believe how time has passed so quickly.

 

Stroll 82 Hexham to Haydon Bridge

 

This magnificent bridge over the Tyne is Hexham was built in 1793 after three failed attempts. I headed west up the South Tyne valley for a varied walk along the river, then high up to the north before dropping down to Haydon Bridge.

Lit & Phil 2

After a while my gaze turned up to the ceiling, with these amazing skylights. It felt like a giant owl was looking down on me.

 

Lit & Phil

Friend Robert, who died last year, had told me about the Literary & Philosophical Library in Newcastle. Known as the Lit & Phil, it was founded in 1793, just down the road from the central station. Robert had said I had to go and see it. So I did, sadly without Robert, but I immediately saw why he loved it so. You can just go in, sit down amidst these amazing stacks of book, have a think, write some thoughts down etc. A secret special place.

 

Stroll 81 Newsham to Ashington

 The route took me through a real mix of post industrial landscapes. This railway bridge is now in use on the new line from Newcastle to Ashington, as well as having Drax bound bio fuel freight trains trundling over it. A rare sight in the UK, a girder viaduct.

Stroll 80 South Shields to Newsham

The Stroll route heads north out of Newcastle, aided by the newly reopened railway line to Ashington. The first leg involved crossing the Tyne on the foot ferry, and walking the coast through Whitley Bay up to Blyth. 

St Mary's Island, seen from the coast path at Seaton Sluice

Stroll 79 Ilkley to Harrogate

 This was the longest leg of the Stroll so far, walking 20 miles today. I followed the Dales Way route from Ilkley to Harrogate, a really good walk over Denton Moor, through Timble Woods, along the Haverah valley, past Harlow Carr (a RHS garden) then down through Valley Gardens to Harrogate. A great walk. Both man and dog were tired out.

The path through the heather on the moors.

Stroll 78 Chorley to Preston

 

Chorley was always just somewhere between Preston and Wigan, when I was growing up in Preston. I barely remember going there at all. It is the birthplace of John Foxx (brilliant original leader of Ultravox) who I saw five or six times in the 70s.

Today it was the start point for the Stroll that took me back to Preston. Turns out it is a lovely place, with parks and woods that created a great final leg of that part of the journey.

Book Group

Our book group meets upstairs once a month. This is what it looks like some of the time.

 

Welcome Committee

Alfie was very keen to be ready when owner Emilie returned. Layla was keen to be there with him.

 

The Gateway

The gate into the back garden. As the sun gets lower the shadows become more prominent.

 

Bracket

It is very easy to ignore some of life's wonders. Like this bracket fungus which emerged from nowhere in the woods by the racecourse. It is Laetiporus, know as chicken of the woods. I decided not to risk my health on the word of Google Lens, but I am sure that I could have.

 

Guitar Guitar

And here is Felix with the guitar, and sister Clara controlling the amp. The next generation starts here.

 

Family Visit

Niece Sarah came to see us with Laurance at the weekend. Purpose of visit? To collect a guitar and amp I am lending to Felix who is starting to learn electric guitar at school.

 

Hope

 Drove a friend to Leeds for cancer treatment last week. Not the first person I've done it for. Hope.

From Hatfield Moors

Hatfield again.

Friend Emilie has been in Finland for a week, so we had Alfie the dog staying with us again. We all went to Hatfield Moors for a picnic breakfast then a walk amidst the heather and rowan berries. Layla was busy looking for deer when this photo was taken.

 

Stroll 77 fin

Congratulations to Bridlington station staff for growing and showing 4 metre high sunflowers. Made the station a better place to be.

 

Stroll 77 iii

The footpath went through these field beans (I think) which had a bit of a post-apocalyptic vibe.

 

Stroll 77 ii

Harvest had come and gone atop the wolds. Look to the right and see the wind turbines.

 

Stroll 77 Bridlington to Napperton

A walk that took me from the seaside at Brid, up onto the Wolds by way of an old Roman Road (Woldgate in photo) and finally down to chalk streams at Napperton. 

 

Veg News 2

 

The courgettes have done well this year as well. A glut of courgettes is always a mixed blessing. Great to have, hard to use creatively; soup is usually the best idea.

Veg News 1

The vegetable garden has done well this year, in its usual haphazard way. A squash self-seeded in the spring, and has since attempted to take over the entire raised bed. Football sized squashes are on the way.

 

Stroll 76 iii

 

Ribblehead viaduct always stuns me when it comes into view. 

It's a Family Affair

We drove down to Bicester, collected Rowan from the station, then went up to cousin Gill's for lunch with auntie Alison (96 and going very strong). It was great to see her again, and to have a good chat. In the photo Gill, AA, cousin Richard, Rowan, Danielle and Robert (Gill's husband). 

 

Stroll 76 ii

 

Hard to resist a lonely dead tree, especially if the sun allows for a good black and white image.

Honey. The Product

And here it is, 21 kilos of lovely honey to keep us going for a while.

 

Honey. It's Back

After a three year honey break, we are back in business. The new queen who arrived in June has delivered the goods. Danielle is holding one of the frames full of honey.

 

Book Group

 In book group we had read The Tie That Binds by Kent Harif. His other book Plain Song had been enjoyed by all. This one, less so. An American gothic special that I could have done without. Some in the group liked it, which is the great thing about a book group; there is never any group think.

A snicket in Settle.