tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309292822024-02-19T05:09:25.145+00:00walkderbyshireThis is the blog of Les Singleton, inveterate walker, photographer and lover of the countryside. My aim is to share, and encourage. If I can be of any help to anyone who wants to walk either here in Derbyshire, or anywhere else I've walked, then let me know, and I'll help as much as I can. Please see my photo's and past posts - click one the three links RIGHT. You can also visit my other blog, which is purely walks in Derbyshire at www.pearlsofthepeak.blogspot.comLes,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-1152727771711814962021-01-20T11:49:00.002+00:002021-01-20T11:49:23.372+00:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2995/3326/1600/013%20Owners%20of%20miners%20arms%20Eyam,%20since%201630.1.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2995/3326/1600/013%20Owners%20of%20miners%20arms%20Eyam,%20since%201630.0.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2995/3326/320/013%20Owners%20of%20miners%20arms%20Eyam%2C%20since%201630.0.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> Hi, here we are on day three (or, rather, here I am - NO guest book signings, so I am probably talking to myself - but they DO say it's the only way to get any sense!) <div align="left">Another lovely day. Azure blue skies here, with a bit of a breeze. Too strong really for a BBQ, but I hold great hope for tomorrow. It better be good, as I have got the meat etc in now, and will put stuff into marinate in the morning. Don't you just LOVE outdoor cooking and eating (or it is just a bloke thing?).</div><div align="left">I had a good walk around Eyam, (pronounced; eee-m) on Sunday. It was only 11 miles, but enough in the heat. My brother Colin and I started from Hathersage, and did a circular walk. We had lunch on the seats in the village square, and a welcome pint in the Miners arms (reputedly haunted by two lost female souls). There's a very good list of previous landlords - quite an impressive record - hanging in a frame on the wall.</div><div align="left">I really want to add more pictures to this blog, embedded in the text, but each time I add more than one - they ALL appear at the start of the page - REALLY annoying :-(</div><div align="left">I wish someone would give me a clue!</div><div align="left">A close friend of mine is doing the coast to coast walk on her own, and I've just seen the weather forecast for the next few days - <span style="color: red;">hot, hot, HOT!!!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="color: #330033;">It's Ashbourne Highland gathering this weekend - Scotland brought RIGHT to our door here in Derbyshire. It's a really good day, I've been for the last two years, and I wouldn't want to miss it now! Ashbourne is a pretty good place, I wish I could afford to live there, but alas, house prices reflect that it's a nice place in a nice location, hence mega-prices! They have the famous 'Shrovetide football' (or, rather, ROYAL Shrovetide, to give it its proper title). What do you MEAN, you've never HEARD of it?????</span></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.ashbourne-town.com/highland/">http://www.ashbourne-town.com/highland/</a></div><div align="left">See YOU, Jimmy!</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">
</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-12878300182564951812009-06-30T19:43:00.001+00:002017-07-27T15:30:22.944+00:00New blog alert<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NOW HEAR THIS, NOW HEAR THIS!!!<br /><br />DUE TO SIZE AND LOADING TIMES, I HAVE STARTED A <span style="color:#ff0000;">NEW BLOG</span>.<br />PLEASE GO TO;<br /></span><a href="http://www.walkpeaks.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">WWW.WALKPEAKS.BLOGSPOT.COM</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />(and, if you want to, become a follower)<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#ff0000;">THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER POSTS ON THIS BLOG.<br /></span>THANKS TO ALL MY READERS - I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO ENJOY MY PHOTOS ON THE NEW BLOG,<br />AND IT WILL LOAD UP A LOT FASTER.<br />CHEERS,<br />LES</div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-31528500621103702092009-04-26T06:58:00.006+00:002009-04-26T07:12:53.598+00:00Eight miles of loveliness<div align="center"> </div><div align="center">A lovely morning dawned for our day off. I said to Sue; "where would you like to go today". Her one word answer was; "high". So, with Kinder Scout on our minds, we set off on this glorious morning, passing this tree just outside our cottage. It's only like this for a few days every year, then it loses its blossom.</div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQHcdP-5cI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/4OD_wDH3LEo/s1600-h/001+Tree+onYeld+road.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328892444555535810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQHcdP-5cI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/4OD_wDH3LEo/s400/001+Tree+onYeld+road.jpg" border="0" /></a> My plan was to park at Fairholmes visitors centre, next to Ladybower reservoir, and do a route from there. I couldn't resist this arty-farty shot though, as I noticed the view in my door mirror.<br />My planned walk was just under eight miles, but in this terrain, and on the route I'd chosen, that also meant we'd be doing more than 2,500 feet of ascent. A hard but rewarding day lay ahead.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQHb3pXotI/AAAAAAAAEQw/8Pl916gfqgw/s1600-h/002+On+reflection.....jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328892434461467346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQHb3pXotI/AAAAAAAAEQw/8Pl916gfqgw/s400/002+On+reflection.....jpg" border="0" /></a>Show me a wood in the morning, and I'll show you heaven!<br />We both LOVE woods at this time of the year. The light is really great on the stark trunks, but there's a promise of life. A few tiny shoots or buds, a lift in the greenery. Whatever, it certainly lifts us!<br />Already we were being treated to a great variety of birdsong. Only a few hundred yards from the car, and we'd heard many, many varieties.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQHbzY5iUI/AAAAAAAAEQo/J7GdsbJJK0Y/s1600-h/003+Stark+trunks+in+sunlight.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328892433318644034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQHbzY5iUI/AAAAAAAAEQo/J7GdsbJJK0Y/s400/003+Stark+trunks+in+sunlight.jpg" border="0" /></a> Also, just a little further on, I saw a little lizard scurry away in the undergrowth. I whipped out the camera, but the morning sun made him much too fast to catch.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQHR6WU-CI/AAAAAAAAEQg/HNB2tE4waL4/s1600-h/004+The+path+up+to+Lockerbrook.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328892263388215330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQHR6WU-CI/AAAAAAAAEQg/HNB2tE4waL4/s400/004+The+path+up+to+Lockerbrook.jpg" border="0" /></a> This wood sorrel wasn't going anywhere though, and it looked so lovely, leaning against the step.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAzjBQ9-kqzjNt7hr6PSAD9gOmNs4DDDH1H0IO2-lX6Ci84Z3WEciQMJEQhv3_VdQKx0WeNhAVYRzvIQwOo5_nadAObsWhMbFAj7E2xmTCx3sBr1ZYXb2xcsmX4E5nTDZpjK6TA/s1600-h/005+Wood+sorrel+on+step.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328892260502862514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAzjBQ9-kqzjNt7hr6PSAD9gOmNs4DDDH1H0IO2-lX6Ci84Z3WEciQMJEQhv3_VdQKx0WeNhAVYRzvIQwOo5_nadAObsWhMbFAj7E2xmTCx3sBr1ZYXb2xcsmX4E5nTDZpjK6TA/s400/005+Wood+sorrel+on+step.jpg" border="0" /></a>Lockerbrook outdoor centre.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmtmI5B-SBtuDTF47osmkERkzckP9GO4Seh78xpBRhiCRa6uXBIB1kCpk7_L-044XIr_KTHEGAy3F8ARFoSlt5_KvYB-cN4iNAIv_WoaVOH37LmzEMuBH9N3TnuM8cF8iOpqBYA/s1600-h/006+Lockerbrook+outdoor+centre.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328892257435789490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmtmI5B-SBtuDTF47osmkERkzckP9GO4Seh78xpBRhiCRa6uXBIB1kCpk7_L-044XIr_KTHEGAy3F8ARFoSlt5_KvYB-cN4iNAIv_WoaVOH37LmzEMuBH9N3TnuM8cF8iOpqBYA/s400/006+Lockerbrook+outdoor+centre.jpg" border="0" /></a> One of the things they teach at Lockerbrook is drystone walling.<br />Here's a fine example of before, and after.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQHRcPmz8I/AAAAAAAAEQI/8seGrdjwbrI/s1600-h/007+New+%26+old+walls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328892255306960834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQHRcPmz8I/AAAAAAAAEQI/8seGrdjwbrI/s400/007+New+%26+old+walls.jpg" border="0" /></a> We passed Lockerbrook and pressed on up the track, heading S/SW.<br />When we topped out, we got this super view of the Lose hill to Mam tor ridge.<br />Now, after all that climbing, we were going to drop right down to Hagg farm, another outdoor centre.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnE8mn2a5vOo0DKXnIW3Hhu9We9LKlDnUwciuuiqf5RFBL31o7YU5RJBEC-bEE0_L3vfzz8GqHbc78lcE5bnFsTy1_VU3oITKRC1OXcqFWFRh8aOKzfR8yhjVVxhDl3hvDP6kew/s1600-h/008+View+forward+from+Hagg+side.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328892254350683586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnE8mn2a5vOo0DKXnIW3Hhu9We9LKlDnUwciuuiqf5RFBL31o7YU5RJBEC-bEE0_L3vfzz8GqHbc78lcE5bnFsTy1_VU3oITKRC1OXcqFWFRh8aOKzfR8yhjVVxhDl3hvDP6kew/s400/008+View+forward+from+Hagg+side.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is a bad picture of a Willow Warbler, but his melodious song deserved a shot. Just after I took this picture, Sue excitedly said; "LOOK, LOOK!". When I looked, there was a deer in the undergrowth. I didn't get time for a shot before it bounded away.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQHEAk4Y9I/AAAAAAAAEP4/IdGR_xuqVoQ/s1600-h/009+Willow+warbler.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328892024541701074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 276px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQHEAk4Y9I/AAAAAAAAEP4/IdGR_xuqVoQ/s400/009+Willow+warbler.jpg" border="0" /></a> I wonder if they also teach 'observance' at Lockerbrook?<br />It would be a crime not to see things like this wood violet, which are all over the place, if you just look.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhSCQ9b1v3Y89CtfGk5jHjxtbc2TEVbvjE0YgBbnskdbm31LTFT6BbPpf4LhNMiT8BwkAl-MBowlPFhIUBSRGeF_0RnctLPCPgA-1ZA0mF9bPSjYA_l86RTh7vX3nKud3M69NwQ/s1600-h/010+Wood+violet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328892020618115330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhSCQ9b1v3Y89CtfGk5jHjxtbc2TEVbvjE0YgBbnskdbm31LTFT6BbPpf4LhNMiT8BwkAl-MBowlPFhIUBSRGeF_0RnctLPCPgA-1ZA0mF9bPSjYA_l86RTh7vX3nKud3M69NwQ/s400/010+Wood+violet.jpg" border="0" /></a> The rocky track, through the dappled shadows, up to Crookstone.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFi07Wcegt0hOyx6SbuP8lNiKXlYu2oxiNe8bhQZuT1Af88sgAuchxPHIisFPLFyr2FVHZ_0M8iDED7gj61TKT9HeU2LBiAScLpKEkDP_ZfZ-PAVKmZQDDigdGr8G873xgSafzCw/s1600-h/011+Rocky+path+up.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328892023667987346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFi07Wcegt0hOyx6SbuP8lNiKXlYu2oxiNe8bhQZuT1Af88sgAuchxPHIisFPLFyr2FVHZ_0M8iDED7gj61TKT9HeU2LBiAScLpKEkDP_ZfZ-PAVKmZQDDigdGr8G873xgSafzCw/s400/011+Rocky+path+up.jpg" border="0" /></a>At the top, we were again treated to a lovely view.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMJzqC5BUYFaxREuwgYBUXNxExyDme1NyggXdngdjMhrq7AWWWsOxtJivp8wLnRbulyB3aVYJaVXpZ5ost889AwN2IF1zvXVoqwco0B80yQQLTzqEMZ2PqNmOA-b8BBsdIa9SDQ/s1600-h/012+Lose+hill+to+Mam+tor+ridge.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328892014618975842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMJzqC5BUYFaxREuwgYBUXNxExyDme1NyggXdngdjMhrq7AWWWsOxtJivp8wLnRbulyB3aVYJaVXpZ5ost889AwN2IF1zvXVoqwco0B80yQQLTzqEMZ2PqNmOA-b8BBsdIa9SDQ/s400/012+Lose+hill+to+Mam+tor+ridge.jpg" border="0" /></a> So Sue stood awhile to admire it.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQHDQst8WI/AAAAAAAAEPY/CPcBxoCVW8M/s1600-h/013+Sue+admires+the+view.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328892011689668962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQHDQst8WI/AAAAAAAAEPY/CPcBxoCVW8M/s400/013+Sue+admires+the+view.jpg" border="0" /></a>Me too.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBKy_1idN_QOVgCXWP8EWatAC615klerah5pGZpnq4ukrW-SZEL8ron8hfoJfNUyolDHtm55zTBd_SICjnRygTjs0SWJAMsYCf96lDsKc3QdRxTOwH0Hdx5Q38isiM3m_ayvcUQ/s1600-h/013+me+%26+view.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328891796959109842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBKy_1idN_QOVgCXWP8EWatAC615klerah5pGZpnq4ukrW-SZEL8ron8hfoJfNUyolDHtm55zTBd_SICjnRygTjs0SWJAMsYCf96lDsKc3QdRxTOwH0Hdx5Q38isiM3m_ayvcUQ/s400/013+me+%26+view.jpg" border="0" /></a>In the middle of this picture is Jaggers clough, which leads up onto the Kinder Scout plateau.<br />THAT was where we were heading next, but not before dropping DOWN into the valley in front of us. NOW can you see why there is so much climbing involved today?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfEDO2-5UmPncBSJciJBqpPvI1JUCKVuEGhmGNOK3jOiRG2gIab_JOfpLwo5UFJ5Ep3zcJgvtWfJBNCCnjMRUGjy4ByEBi4z0cvZOlIfJZTwOPdPpuxHSFb1qXmK8NuJlTbJ8dw/s1600-h/014+Jaggers+clough+from+afar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328891794235335474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfEDO2-5UmPncBSJciJBqpPvI1JUCKVuEGhmGNOK3jOiRG2gIab_JOfpLwo5UFJ5Ep3zcJgvtWfJBNCCnjMRUGjy4ByEBi4z0cvZOlIfJZTwOPdPpuxHSFb1qXmK8NuJlTbJ8dw/s400/014+Jaggers+clough+from+afar.jpg" border="0" /></a>Lots of little lambs about this week.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQG2s_Up5I/AAAAAAAAEPA/8XuiFGfCLXI/s1600-h/015+Lambs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328891795945596818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQG2s_Up5I/AAAAAAAAEPA/8XuiFGfCLXI/s400/015+Lambs.jpg" border="0" /></a> There were lots of these green beetles about as well, but they weren't annoying, preferring to fly away from you, rather than into your face etc. </div><div>Quite a pretty thing, with iridescent green wings.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlAZoyh8JJeN0XpaGpSkzxUmp13MPNXLjjWHKNaoW9mxz-XAObMQ96yHQKyiUP-Hm_BUnr0PPxhdjjC8C-XgXVpLyweObXLmGYS-NQo1RTHghmarAuwVOQtD_uUYFR6LPoxZYBw/s1600-h/016+Green+beetle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328891789660493410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 279px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlAZoyh8JJeN0XpaGpSkzxUmp13MPNXLjjWHKNaoW9mxz-XAObMQ96yHQKyiUP-Hm_BUnr0PPxhdjjC8C-XgXVpLyweObXLmGYS-NQo1RTHghmarAuwVOQtD_uUYFR6LPoxZYBw/s400/016+Green+beetle.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQG2fN1egI/AAAAAAAAEOw/lFCYGEcZ1PE/s1600-h/017+Green+beetle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328891792248371714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQG2fN1egI/AAAAAAAAEOw/lFCYGEcZ1PE/s400/017+Green+beetle.jpg" border="0" /></a> After a while, and after a stop to eat, we reached the top of Jaggers clough.<br />A look back saw where we had come from. See that U shape? That was where we left the track to start the climb up. The big hill is Win hill.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EEKintShesqGNkg4jKYjXJrAHhA2ZZG1W9VDWl_5E-qC6M5FEtqGRDHTR260-zXSZfum9Q25SW3sjnfpI3FI-eYCjfELpIANHj3pm211Chc8wb5IMmOXCJWxnU0oDtAULVJQ-g/s1600-h/018+View+down+Jaggers+clough.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328891522187198002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EEKintShesqGNkg4jKYjXJrAHhA2ZZG1W9VDWl_5E-qC6M5FEtqGRDHTR260-zXSZfum9Q25SW3sjnfpI3FI-eYCjfELpIANHj3pm211Chc8wb5IMmOXCJWxnU0oDtAULVJQ-g/s400/018+View+down+Jaggers+clough.jpg" border="0" /></a>We skirted around Kinders Eastern edge, then followed round to the Northern edge to see the Alport valley come into view. What had been the perfect day was now turning very cloudy and cooler. Great walking temperature, but would we get wet?<br />The path lay down into the valley, and yes, you guessed it, UP again over that ridge, and back to Ladybower.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQGm5vMBXI/AAAAAAAAEOg/-1FyWflLq5o/s1600-h/019+Alport+valley.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328891524489676146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQGm5vMBXI/AAAAAAAAEOg/-1FyWflLq5o/s400/019+Alport+valley.jpg" border="0" /></a> Come the 'glorious 12th', this will be the killing fields.<br />For anyone who's never seen one, this is a grouse butt, where the shooters lay in wait.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapabsC_FVWCl9vIzCPI6_ewK2AY1jD1AIDTkBWgQQB0qPS9G3cqmJFPySjhR8j9Kk4RsjtXoFUPfuZZkaL2DPnGrylxxfVDCNf_3KEZrC2R8nFWyfkpFNj4ru5EKY5Roeyl7YIg/s1600-h/020+Grouse+butt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328891525803268962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapabsC_FVWCl9vIzCPI6_ewK2AY1jD1AIDTkBWgQQB0qPS9G3cqmJFPySjhR8j9Kk4RsjtXoFUPfuZZkaL2DPnGrylxxfVDCNf_3KEZrC2R8nFWyfkpFNj4ru5EKY5Roeyl7YIg/s400/020+Grouse+butt.jpg" border="0" /></a> And this is Jubilee shooting hut, where the shooters and beaters gather.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQGmkfTHmI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/0fqcDZta3Gw/s1600-h/021+Jubilee+shooting+hut.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328891518785887842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQGmkfTHmI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/0fqcDZta3Gw/s400/021+Jubilee+shooting+hut.jpg" border="0" /></a> We reached the point where it was all downhill to the car. As you can see, it was getting really cloudy now, and although we felt the odd spit of rain, it came to nothing and we remained dry.<br />All we had to do now was get back to Bakewell and light the barbie!<br />A great end to another perfect day.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQGmi2GZeI/AAAAAAAAEOI/pEABRslYiSk/s1600-h/022+Stormy+skies+over+Ladybower.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328891518344652258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1foBYrprf3o/SfQGmi2GZeI/AAAAAAAAEOI/pEABRslYiSk/s400/022+Stormy+skies+over+Ladybower.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-12226968888109822592007-06-25T05:56:00.001+00:002009-04-24T14:43:53.933+00:00RHB Part two, the South cliffs<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn9ec7GDizI/AAAAAAAAA8A/rPDSVzSdXkQ/s1600-h/043+Bee+on+flower+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079882755689646898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn9ec7GDizI/AAAAAAAAA8A/rPDSVzSdXkQ/s400/043+Bee+on+flower+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn9eKLGDiyI/AAAAAAAAA74/RFmaPub8HLc/s1600-h/045+Sunlight+on+bay+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079882433567099682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn9eKLGDiyI/AAAAAAAAA74/RFmaPub8HLc/s400/045+Sunlight+on+bay+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn9eALGDixI/AAAAAAAAA7w/jZGMUlmVASE/s1600-h/048+Insects+on+flower+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079882261768407826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn9eALGDixI/AAAAAAAAA7w/jZGMUlmVASE/s400/048+Insects+on+flower+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzDu6i5ATT5DW3VO8W-lcwF3cJ1mWrP5yvQ4OewWoJ3hexYe-DFp4NQDH6fymwOFPnUqYTY9MbrUhdOJVUQ5tQx0Udv_no9TFScU3WYX_SDiZPtYcjH1__s8_-XmOD0AHTFCUsw/s1600-h/049+Walking+the+coast+path+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079882064199912194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzDu6i5ATT5DW3VO8W-lcwF3cJ1mWrP5yvQ4OewWoJ3hexYe-DFp4NQDH6fymwOFPnUqYTY9MbrUhdOJVUQ5tQx0Udv_no9TFScU3WYX_SDiZPtYcjH1__s8_-XmOD0AHTFCUsw/s400/049+Walking+the+coast+path+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a> <div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiameFwnjQaoKBjGb19XnWPk8QP9Ry5DJ-ut1g1wG-cUJMgSGMh20XtGSUVSsS82_CQcwGtPtdMduizRMbF7GRWU7ccWsbDQBAuVTRskiummBuDwytB4udsZY1rs850_GZC6R3-6g/s1600-h/051+Fields+&+sky+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079881707717626610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiameFwnjQaoKBjGb19XnWPk8QP9Ry5DJ-ut1g1wG-cUJMgSGMh20XtGSUVSsS82_CQcwGtPtdMduizRMbF7GRWU7ccWsbDQBAuVTRskiummBuDwytB4udsZY1rs850_GZC6R3-6g/s400/051+Fields+%26+sky+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KMSNYSP2_o9nDjDlivpd_JsJ4N_i68F9C4t_Kaoh_RTm8Amzv4SVaU0S3sam0-hO0M9HMny7vz95DFQS8FXaZRnLdcqbxlQxM7-TC7bMvjzJhyGuiQwCKVgUBz5fuU49Rzrrsg/s1600-h/055+Birds+on+nest+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079881523034032866" style="DISPLAY: block; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn9cQLGDisI/AAAAAAAAA7I/E_nhsQjW6gE/s400/056+Cliff+path+erosion+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuU1PkuEWfeNCubFhLinWoRROs0WQzb8AQ37igJT2pkjk2HyGgFuvtluivmpFbVYmpcNANErPVJlAMGHlQ8DcNZOUcGdA9yKdacGAEqzJR_vTguRdXbMyk-22CJSexZ8iHsjL4w/s1600-h/057+Fields+&+sky+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079880191594171058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuU1PkuEWfeNCubFhLinWoRROs0WQzb8AQ37igJT2pkjk2HyGgFuvtluivmpFbVYmpcNANErPVJlAMGHlQ8DcNZOUcGdA9yKdacGAEqzJR_vTguRdXbMyk-22CJSexZ8iHsjL4w/s400/057+Fields+%26+sky+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI-oV8ciTDTdlbjhuzH6Kf_zSRQw7vDeNSX6_mTga95iksFErdWbaFig87GEREtmSvDY5a-QgyDfeZLm9GEM70PtZXC4HxeB_c1Z7RvFH1B_XQ5xrj0Zr1i209P41pqiZWOi1SQ/s1600-h/059+River+browning+of+sea+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079880006910577314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI-oV8ciTDTdlbjhuzH6Kf_zSRQw7vDeNSX6_mTga95iksFErdWbaFig87GEREtmSvDY5a-QgyDfeZLm9GEM70PtZXC4HxeB_c1Z7RvFH1B_XQ5xrj0Zr1i209P41pqiZWOi1SQ/s400/059+River+browning+of+sea+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8FYsvVyIyVB2l_VR4SQEJkYb2nCSxG863jOg5JMxNiG91lcf6EG_P2nc5olWfTLkHFaO7VQoZ4Wv4JVYp6brb0DjNBmkvNeSfEXA1aJsshVP-yjXxWzaIOpdUfDI-y2xSFikTA/s1600-h/060+Witby+abbey+rose+window+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079879744917572242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8FYsvVyIyVB2l_VR4SQEJkYb2nCSxG863jOg5JMxNiG91lcf6EG_P2nc5olWfTLkHFaO7VQoZ4Wv4JVYp6brb0DjNBmkvNeSfEXA1aJsshVP-yjXxWzaIOpdUfDI-y2xSFikTA/s400/060+Witby+abbey+rose+window+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYq5ftARMKjE6eJBdfX9IQXsEduL58RBnLEFeTVH1fl5Jh7WU3W0gSJpi7LbK9PztQ0AscpJwLHUdfwOT1OZpbOsvJvp1PXxrpU52eP3_oqb4Gi_LCw32tZMvKsUkl1dcsgBAjw/s1600-h/061+Whitby+North+shore+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079879581708814978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYq5ftARMKjE6eJBdfX9IQXsEduL58RBnLEFeTVH1fl5Jh7WU3W0gSJpi7LbK9PztQ0AscpJwLHUdfwOT1OZpbOsvJvp1PXxrpU52eP3_oqb4Gi_LCw32tZMvKsUkl1dcsgBAjw/s400/061+Whitby+North+shore+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn9bWLGDinI/AAAAAAAAA6g/77S0ym8pi-c/s1600-h/063+Signpost+and+Ravenscar+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079879341190646386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn9bWLGDinI/AAAAAAAAA6g/77S0ym8pi-c/s400/063+Signpost+and+Ravenscar+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWFYkaDkM3fzFNH7YFMLB4iaZSkcOgCC_oNnYS0wGsAsGCvk9PIkXSWwEmKG4YhHk4nEGD6cBWVMbsctnkdFbg6lre7YekVjtPd3zjutBtE5Wy9oi3jaZokHBWLtt-7n-dRKXQw/s1600-h/064+Robin+Hoods+bay,+from+South+cliffs+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079879096377510498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWFYkaDkM3fzFNH7YFMLB4iaZSkcOgCC_oNnYS0wGsAsGCvk9PIkXSWwEmKG4YhHk4nEGD6cBWVMbsctnkdFbg6lre7YekVjtPd3zjutBtE5Wy9oi3jaZokHBWLtt-7n-dRKXQw/s400/064+Robin+Hoods+bay,+from+South+cliffs+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-i8WqxWOWigmILxLyPV7qUWXjMfFiFSZTCcvnJ3sZL6H7XTOFlWiyytErVcsCmfIggDhaQOIOduSK9gZfpOr9aKMQ3aCLsp55FW5HRkAEYgBDWqkHNx821StgGTtpuouvLFH8EA/s1600-h/065+RHB+from+beach+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079878898809014866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-i8WqxWOWigmILxLyPV7qUWXjMfFiFSZTCcvnJ3sZL6H7XTOFlWiyytErVcsCmfIggDhaQOIOduSK9gZfpOr9aKMQ3aCLsp55FW5HRkAEYgBDWqkHNx821StgGTtpuouvLFH8EA/s400/065+RHB+from+beach+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKp-OyZxsnbWBz0_9RBbkZfcGQN8unzIld8yyrJ2h1OgsI6xkZ5X_1q0icN_DqWm5X1SSnir22JkbLzst-yrPj7LQYZoQGMLu24jZ6FbKuaBPvz-vyrEWXhhkewlgVdTT762ibQ/s1600-h/066+Looking+back+to+Bay+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079878615341173314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKp-OyZxsnbWBz0_9RBbkZfcGQN8unzIld8yyrJ2h1OgsI6xkZ5X_1q0icN_DqWm5X1SSnir22JkbLzst-yrPj7LQYZoQGMLu24jZ6FbKuaBPvz-vyrEWXhhkewlgVdTT762ibQ/s400/066+Looking+back+to+Bay+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-85519009216614063372007-06-23T20:50:00.000+00:002007-06-23T22:35:19.809+00:00A week in Robin Hoods Bay<div align="center">I've been in Robin Hoods Bay for a week, helping to run a friends B&B while they went to Portugal. The weather was awful, both here and there. The only two days I got free, were lovely! Over the weekend, I saw a steady procession of wet, bedraggled and disillusioned walkers file into the B&B. I got the Monday off, so I went on the NYMR (North Yorkshire moors railway). I was lucky it was a STEAM DAY!</div><div align="center"> </div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn2ewrGDijI/AAAAAAAAA6A/xR86PggJzzk/s1600-h/001+Train+view+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079390513782819378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn2ewrGDijI/AAAAAAAAA6A/xR86PggJzzk/s400/001+Train+view+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a> <br />When it's 'chuffing' like this, leaning out of the window and taking pics is very hard as you get a faceful of soot to remind you of why the coal & steam age was responsible for the 'pea-soupers' we used to get.<br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn2efbGDiiI/AAAAAAAAA54/WdnjDie9RdY/s1600-h/017+Train+view+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079390217430075938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn2efbGDiiI/AAAAAAAAA54/WdnjDie9RdY/s400/017+Train+view+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>I only went as far as Goathland - one stop, but it didn't stop them charging me £4:50 for the ten minute ride! No WONDER we went electric/diesel! (Nice station though)<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GQFsGp9tI7OoIn5235YJZTgFAaaxI4-1P22_lRBfOnG2xqX1uz_wcLMHtyep2eIT49-pgYNz2sWhCi6ybddZssqHRpmCk9fezCALCemaXNUp53hG9JMzSiir7DXi__gekkNlZw/s1600-h/021+Goathland+station+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079369657421629970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GQFsGp9tI7OoIn5235YJZTgFAaaxI4-1P22_lRBfOnG2xqX1uz_wcLMHtyep2eIT49-pgYNz2sWhCi6ybddZssqHRpmCk9fezCALCemaXNUp53hG9JMzSiir7DXi__gekkNlZw/s400/021+Goathland+station+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Ready to go.<br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn2LprGDigI/AAAAAAAAA5o/OtoViYIXhU0/s1600-h/023+Goathland+bench+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079369502802807298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn2LprGDigI/AAAAAAAAA5o/OtoViYIXhU0/s400/023+Goathland+bench+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You can see by the sky what a lovely day it was.<br />I have a nice video of the train pulling out of Goathland station, if anyone wants me to send it, just email back, and I will. This is the last view I got of the track before setting off across the moors. The heather is JUST starting to bloom purple, which surprised me, as I KNOW the moors will be that wonderful purple sea when I come to Whitby in August, so June I didn't expect to see any of the flowers? Is this global warming, I wonder?<br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxXh-ZE_Bgm-NxTKf5ewiqPYGvq1MVh3CoRPwuNhL3J94UuzpLTeu93x2VMSWIviQyhx2Ns4FM2Lm4_67Upf2g49xevXbjod-A3DQa5NpFAZRo4CNIjBRNnbOGigrFDvkhQNKWQ/s1600-h/025+NYM+track+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079369133435619826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxXh-ZE_Bgm-NxTKf5ewiqPYGvq1MVh3CoRPwuNhL3J94UuzpLTeu93x2VMSWIviQyhx2Ns4FM2Lm4_67Upf2g49xevXbjod-A3DQa5NpFAZRo4CNIjBRNnbOGigrFDvkhQNKWQ/s400/025+NYM+track+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This little bridge had some lovely foxgloves growing at the side of it. Most of the stone walls are hugged by this plant at this time of the year (Latin - Digitalis) which, by the way, is the most poisonous plant in the UK.<br />EVERY part of the plant is poisonous!<br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn2KfrGDieI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/i_ntQyV3Mjs/s1600-h/026+Bridge+&+foxgloves+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079368231492487650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn2KfrGDieI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/i_ntQyV3Mjs/s400/026+Bridge+%26+foxgloves+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a> ....and yet - SO pretty!<br /><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ69eQqQcXOLDkBdy7NPAKbLaYYWQamSkZ46tVzMOmoIg9x6QunTcjl6WnPW1EQlNXTqZ9NFkMnAz0qlq1aJBlYylPyvmST6L-TO_P02SzyOtEbvRMuFVtj67UWk6qHjmlrWREJw/s1600-h/027+Foxgloves+close+up+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079367376793995714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ69eQqQcXOLDkBdy7NPAKbLaYYWQamSkZ46tVzMOmoIg9x6QunTcjl6WnPW1EQlNXTqZ9NFkMnAz0qlq1aJBlYylPyvmST6L-TO_P02SzyOtEbvRMuFVtj67UWk6qHjmlrWREJw/s400/027+Foxgloves+close+up+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a> <br />I looked across the moors to Fylingdales. There used to be a collection of huge 'golf balls' on the moors, but a few years ago, they disappeared and were replaced by this strange wall-like structure.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn2Jj7GDibI/AAAAAAAAA5E/xeiQALHiY3I/s1600-h/030+Fylingdales+listening+post+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079367204995303858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn2Jj7GDibI/AAAAAAAAA5E/xeiQALHiY3I/s400/030+Fylingdales+listening+post+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a> Nice shot of a wall leading you up to the blue sky.<br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn2JZbGDiaI/AAAAAAAAA48/TN3fN0yy1OE/s1600-h/036+Wall+&+sky+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079367024606677410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rn2JZbGDiaI/AAAAAAAAA48/TN3fN0yy1OE/s400/036+Wall+%26+sky+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a> I was JUST coming back into Grosmont, and I dropped into a wooded glade. My attention was drawn to the most amazing thing, a young doe! I've walked across Scotland a few times, but THIS was the best and closest encounter with a deer I've ever had. I really felt privileged to stand so close, looking at this beautiful wild animal. She watched me, chewed a bit, and suddenly, was gone in a few bounds. I stood there quite a while, baking in the situation.<br /><div align="center"><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkreOy91NuS-xAmNUFfqRaXKtt_wXpvcmR5wsFyvfSWmQtQ2Fhu4vpMr2lWExc1cWYjeTrTVJzBvr9CCnULL6vQkFyoap2g7xVvnjDYXM8g5vyG-cJazNP-MBSVxQG_vsZEPd5A/s1600-h/040+Deer+in+undergrowth+at+grosmont+(Small).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079365770476226946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkreOy91NuS-xAmNUFfqRaXKtt_wXpvcmR5wsFyvfSWmQtQ2Fhu4vpMr2lWExc1cWYjeTrTVJzBvr9CCnULL6vQkFyoap2g7xVvnjDYXM8g5vyG-cJazNP-MBSVxQG_vsZEPd5A/s400/040+Deer+in+undergrowth+at+grosmont+(Small).JPG" border="0" /></a> That was the end of my first walk. I did a second to Whitby, then up to Boggle hole, but I'll post those pics in another entry later. I hope you enjoy these. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-58729695911190597202007-06-22T06:37:00.000+00:002007-06-22T17:09:21.997+00:00France, next pictures - THE CAVES!<div align="center">The next instalment - which features the cave pictures. As I think I've said, we were really lucky with the weather. Although a lot of days were somewhat overcast, it was always great walking weather and we got 10 mountain walks in, in the 11 available days (day 12 we had to be at the airport for 10:00AM,). The one day it DID rain, and rain quite steadily all day, we decided to visit the Grottes de grande canalettes. I am SO glad we did, as you'll see. These pictures don't even come CLOSE to doing the place justice, it really was that good! You can't hear the music on here, or see the fantastic light show, etc etc. I wish I could bring it to you all, but I can't, only as these pictures. I hope you enjoy them anyway.<br /><br />Carrying on from where I left off, Mannes & Brenda took us to the bottom of a very steep climb that rose from a col. They decided to stop at this point, as it was unsafe for the dogs on the rocks, plus the snow was deep. We went almost vertically up to this frozen lake. At one point I got Colin to video me as I pressed my walking pole into the snow under my feet. I went right up to the handle! We were searching for a plane wreck, but as you can see, the snow was getting deeper, the higher we went. The weather also started to close in, so we did the sensible thing and came down. If it had come on bad, we really could have been in danger. The lake was at twice the height of Snowdon!</div><div align="center"><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnv-7bGDiXI/AAAAAAAAA4k/Z_bKtNi45eQ/s1600-h/041+Frozen+lake+on+top.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078933301629258098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnv-7bGDiXI/AAAAAAAAA4k/Z_bKtNi45eQ/s400/041+Frozen+lake+on+top.jpg" border="0" /></a> We reckoned that ridge above was where the wreckage we were looking for was. The sky looks lovely and blue, doesn't it?<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnv-0LGDiWI/AAAAAAAAA4c/uqK6PcgSDdw/s1600-h/042+Too+much+snow+to+go+on.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078933177075206498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnv-0LGDiWI/AAAAAAAAA4c/uqK6PcgSDdw/s400/042+Too+much+snow+to+go+on.jpg" border="0" /></a> But when we turned around, THIS is what was approaching, hence the decision to abandon the search and come down.<br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEQEbgRHuH15LGx43edNAnk0g8mNLbMB2MqWxgdonFISMNajBSEdwIS_sApqd8YtdPkT7CFucrF4uMI6aTfVv8FxpzpBgOX4cWc1Zb9An-3f41tYxepoYzHRFayukkiN6apadZQ/s1600-h/043+Coming+down+as+weather+closes+in.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078933056816122194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEQEbgRHuH15LGx43edNAnk0g8mNLbMB2MqWxgdonFISMNajBSEdwIS_sApqd8YtdPkT7CFucrF4uMI6aTfVv8FxpzpBgOX4cWc1Zb9An-3f41tYxepoYzHRFayukkiN6apadZQ/s400/043+Coming+down+as+weather+closes+in.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />As usual, this is how the evening started. Brenda put out 'nibbles', and we all had a beer (or two) as an aperitif.<br />After the nibbles, a more serious course was brought forth.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQoRjAM91aojJ5HXWebOsEiHHA7GrYXrZ7iFkHiTAMxlskKVzd66AtarB5Egcmqv7EQ-Mgb7ridW98s7Wr0IKPVo5g7f6cNkM7mcViQJZX-_xnfkfnMe0ItGok3AUHtFg8WngRg/s1600-h/044+Evenings+always+started+like+this.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078932966621808962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQoRjAM91aojJ5HXWebOsEiHHA7GrYXrZ7iFkHiTAMxlskKVzd66AtarB5Egcmqv7EQ-Mgb7ridW98s7Wr0IKPVo5g7f6cNkM7mcViQJZX-_xnfkfnMe0ItGok3AUHtFg8WngRg/s400/044+Evenings+always+started+like+this.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Always the spiv, Colin decided to do his hair specially for the occasion.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnv-irGDiTI/AAAAAAAAA4E/Gml7ilUkspk/s1600-h/045+Colin+does+his+hair+for+dinner.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078932876427495730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnv-irGDiTI/AAAAAAAAA4E/Gml7ilUkspk/s400/045+Colin+does+his+hair+for+dinner.jpg" border="0" /></a> And Mannes was the waiter - note, the bottle has COLIN'S name on it!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHYu-Ib-oFkOVStQvXguoK8u7PCcpQn8aJ_gzGUjMGJDQ0YTw1Epa6mhxboFfy_RHc6ZXwrS3HJ7HVUf0tPejD0QoyIi6Bx9atuA4XoneUejyJK9JcyWH26CmOZYqPxtr925Abg/s1600-h/046+Mannes,+wine+waiter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078932777643247906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHYu-Ib-oFkOVStQvXguoK8u7PCcpQn8aJ_gzGUjMGJDQ0YTw1Epa6mhxboFfy_RHc6ZXwrS3HJ7HVUf0tPejD0QoyIi6Bx9atuA4XoneUejyJK9JcyWH26CmOZYqPxtr925Abg/s400/046+Mannes,+wine+waiter.jpg" border="0" /></a> The next morning we woke to rain, and I am tempted to say; 'HOORAAAYYYYY!'. Off we went in Mannes' car, and he dropped us off at the caves. We'd seen these caves each time we'd visited this area of France (in the village of Villefranche de Conflente), and often said we ought to visit them. Well, today it was on the cards, so the Grottes de Grand Canalettes had the pleasure of our company at LAST.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnv9FrGDiRI/AAAAAAAAA30/hB_-aIEUt90/s1600-h/047+Start+of+grottes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078931278699661586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnv9FrGDiRI/AAAAAAAAA30/hB_-aIEUt90/s400/047+Start+of+grottes.jpg" border="0" /></a> I was in awe from the moment we stepped inside the entrance. These pictures aren't bad, but you can't BEGIN to appreciate just how fantastic the place is. It was seven euros to go in (about a fiver), but I would have GLADLY paid twice, even three times that. We were in there for almost three hours, and we were all wonderstruck! All the time, gentle, but exciting music accompanied the walk, our way lit by subtle LED lights (blue on the way in, red on the way out). At the innermost cavern, a HUGE affair, there was a gallery that could seat about 150 people. At that point, there was a fantastic light show spectacle, accompanied in voice by the likes of Pavarotti. I wish I could show you some of it, but it's not possible in email to do so, you will just have to imagine - or visit the place.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJkeTMXr8Z403pA6I-IhugwUQfOUIb3E_mrmNbfBIJEJI_gecb1CkREn5f_-v42HNUiwEPD2dFgZahUiqLZsPJARCrHyswBhkkM5DYXh1z3_pfZkly_m0_VzZay5Kn6Z24cdGVw/s1600-h/048+Grottes+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078931162735544578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJkeTMXr8Z403pA6I-IhugwUQfOUIb3E_mrmNbfBIJEJI_gecb1CkREn5f_-v42HNUiwEPD2dFgZahUiqLZsPJARCrHyswBhkkM5DYXh1z3_pfZkly_m0_VzZay5Kn6Z24cdGVw/s400/048+Grottes+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> These 'straw stalactite's' were fragile, but beautiful.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyexZTivuTKrJ_8Nvoz_hyphenhyphenjOsuobPsTdwt9rut5nAKj_s1zToFE6qXccV2CEZCAJdadTbBzlhrDTY4U4oDjh1Ck0D44MXp1KqOiE7ZHlbd3aMyIi7TAdBVB2bMFyzxJ6dyE0Iwg/s1600-h/049+Grottes+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078931025296591090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyexZTivuTKrJ_8Nvoz_hyphenhyphenjOsuobPsTdwt9rut5nAKj_s1zToFE6qXccV2CEZCAJdadTbBzlhrDTY4U4oDjh1Ck0D44MXp1KqOiE7ZHlbd3aMyIi7TAdBVB2bMFyzxJ6dyE0Iwg/s400/049+Grottes+3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wp3g370edShZxjexySNwSG4SgwYdi2NS-razdV_8AiD31xkilvYBBPCV473zle3J6CWR3UJWAXwEtm-LL2Ez_5s46tDtWtVv3LnDXoPLbzlgYb0J3b6Skmlvnw4Yjl2NN3tAkw/s1600-h/050+Grottes+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078930827728095458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wp3g370edShZxjexySNwSG4SgwYdi2NS-razdV_8AiD31xkilvYBBPCV473zle3J6CWR3UJWAXwEtm-LL2Ez_5s46tDtWtVv3LnDXoPLbzlgYb0J3b6Skmlvnw4Yjl2NN3tAkw/s400/050+Grottes+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaqlCpm7-GtxBl_4lhAmggPHh-jmafFy0Ocg6aXv0CcEEiSJ2rumPS57sqm6R4zMycRpBwU-fkL9n_rn_H2-pqpmm9XBFmmPFEM69Y9g-cLou4fElofi4a5cf1TdnJzftREV_0w/s1600-h/051+Grottes+5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078783561889450194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaqlCpm7-GtxBl_4lhAmggPHh-jmafFy0Ocg6aXv0CcEEiSJ2rumPS57sqm6R4zMycRpBwU-fkL9n_rn_H2-pqpmm9XBFmmPFEM69Y9g-cLou4fElofi4a5cf1TdnJzftREV_0w/s400/051+Grottes+5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnt11LGDiLI/AAAAAAAAA3E/RktBWujg5HU/s1600-h/053+Grottes+7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078782561162070194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnt11LGDiLI/AAAAAAAAA3E/RktBWujg5HU/s400/053+Grottes+7.jpg" border="0" /></a> You can see how sympathetic the walkways are in this shot.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPoD4jGKlqk7MHwvui02jtJ19uVORFofnqHHDFmN3k_BV-DvtRjB4mklPns6aJ4ucaicnA6rGKbC3APRzzokAH-4qYlEZ3QbJSF5ZK89Yds-pwsEsXLRew6YOS34JomIAfsvvzQ/s1600-h/054+Grottes+8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078782363593574562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPoD4jGKlqk7MHwvui02jtJ19uVORFofnqHHDFmN3k_BV-DvtRjB4mklPns6aJ4ucaicnA6rGKbC3APRzzokAH-4qYlEZ3QbJSF5ZK89Yds-pwsEsXLRew6YOS34JomIAfsvvzQ/s400/054+Grottes+8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnt1e7GDiJI/AAAAAAAAA20/bRewYgVSdS8/s1600-h/055+Grottes+9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078782178909980818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnt1e7GDiJI/AAAAAAAAA20/bRewYgVSdS8/s400/055+Grottes+9.jpg" border="0" /></a> This one is called le chevaux (the horse). It's about two feet long, but SO delicate.<br />Caused, it said, by magnetic forces and draught.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnt1GbGDiII/AAAAAAAAA2s/G2OdvbqZHuA/s1600-h/056+The+horses+head+stalactite.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078781758003185794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnt1GbGDiII/AAAAAAAAA2s/G2OdvbqZHuA/s400/056+The+horses+head+stalactite.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnt0cbGDiHI/AAAAAAAAA2k/I5Nsd0QjwGU/s1600-h/057+Grottes+10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078781036448680050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnt0cbGDiHI/AAAAAAAAA2k/I5Nsd0QjwGU/s400/057+Grottes+10.jpg" border="0" /></a> After being totally blown away by all this, we decided to see if the other caves were open. The 'Grottes de Petite Canalettes' was closed, but the 'Grottes de Prehistorique' were open, so off we went.<br />WHAT a let-down after the grandeur of the Grand Canalettes. THIS cave looked to be mostly for children, and was tacky to the MAX! Instead of Pavarotti, in this one, we got 'Jurassic Park' music, along with plastic dinosaurs and unconvincing bats in the roof. See what I mean?</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnt0U7GDiGI/AAAAAAAAA2c/FASPmcME98s/s1600-h/058+unconvincing+bat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078780907599661154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnt0U7GDiGI/AAAAAAAAA2c/FASPmcME98s/s400/058+unconvincing+bat.jpg" border="0" /></a>Oh, oh - I'm FRIGHTENED (not!).<br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnt0NLGDiFI/AAAAAAAAA2U/IFV1X9yVTaM/s1600-h/059+Unconvincing+dinosaur.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078780774455674962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rnt0NLGDiFI/AAAAAAAAA2U/IFV1X9yVTaM/s400/059+Unconvincing+dinosaur.jpg" border="0" /></a> The rain finally abated, so we took the little yellow train back to Nyer station. As you can see, the skies stayed angry all that night, but we weren't bothered - we'd had a super day!</div><div> </div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GhK3XbA-0CImr2p7qdu3BQ4x1T8jbhu55sqCTUYbmFv3wg7gRH7ptavc50PEVymkDOL6OsenfzNUdt74BgemZSu887Cznw_czqUK72rwqSNZ_Rz61LFHKgH4-fGE6yenmjMijA/s1600-h/060+Walking+home+at+end+of+rainy+day.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078780675671427138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GhK3XbA-0CImr2p7qdu3BQ4x1T8jbhu55sqCTUYbmFv3wg7gRH7ptavc50PEVymkDOL6OsenfzNUdt74BgemZSu887Cznw_czqUK72rwqSNZ_Rz61LFHKgH4-fGE6yenmjMijA/s400/060+Walking+home+at+end+of+rainy+day.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-21691152023102258482007-05-30T18:19:00.000+00:002007-05-30T18:45:49.606+00:00France 2007 - next 20 pictures<div align="center">Well, here's the second instalment of pictures. I'm not sure I could pick a favourite day, as they were ALL fantastic! Maybe I should have a vote at the end LOL? Anyway, today we wanted to climb this mountain, called 'Bugarach'. There's a really good site with loads of information on the mountain, and area, here; <a href="http://www.perillos.com/bugarach1.html">http://www.perillos.com/bugarach1.html</a></div><div align="center"><br />We were driven, as always, by Brenda & Mannes, to a gite. A gite is like a hostel, some are good, some are not so good. The one at Bugarach (also the name of the village), is superb! It's run by ONE young woman, and unfortunately, she was suffering from a VERY bad case of sciatica. I could well empathise with her, as the same thing afflicted me two years previously just before I went to France, and it is EXCRUCIATING! </div><div align="center"><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl3DykZPAhI/AAAAAAAAA2E/FTKvUD0_EUs/s1600-h/021+Bugarach.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070424029019439634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl3DykZPAhI/AAAAAAAAA2E/FTKvUD0_EUs/s400/021+Bugarach.jpg" border="0" /></a> Before any mountain assault, it's VERY important to relax.<br />To some people, this simple act comes naturally........<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl3DmEZPAgI/AAAAAAAAA18/C3U68VGT3eU/s1600-h/021+Relaxing+in+hammock.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070423814271074818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl3DmEZPAgI/AAAAAAAAA18/C3U68VGT3eU/s400/021+Relaxing+in+hammock.jpg" border="0" /></a> Others seem to find it extremely difficult (and amusing). <div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUVcFNKyyIanSiFyD2qU2t_27U2LfkKo_NVjTZsGyBw95F6n70MTwVgrwTl58A7Atzhh__y9unhAlKpyA5ppLNr7KKezFMz2ixLe51vvJj6DZh8Pz2TjLw7LY2ZNzqLddD6v1jA/s1600-h/022+Struggling+with+hammock+concept.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070423698306957810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUVcFNKyyIanSiFyD2qU2t_27U2LfkKo_NVjTZsGyBw95F6n70MTwVgrwTl58A7Atzhh__y9unhAlKpyA5ppLNr7KKezFMz2ixLe51vvJj6DZh8Pz2TjLw7LY2ZNzqLddD6v1jA/s400/022+Struggling+with+hammock+concept.jpg" border="0" /></a> Before we started the walk, B&M decided we had to see the most remote village in France. I'ts called Montet! More to the point, this is typical of B&M, their patience and time seems of no regard to themselves, if it means taking us somewhere new, or showing us something interesting. </div><div>The village was a picture postcard, really lovely. The drive TO the place was amazing, let alone anything else.<br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLNty8t8A-Yt0392jlyG7Kso7V7EYBrofXnF-GaaxtEluUex7Tw9n3BC_7bFKmknDRbS1V6D9WULelP4O76G_dwcZhmNppiQqpzwVrjeFq2Zaqb74tlq9jULtwal_mGFHBmvOAQ/s1600-h/025+Looking+back+to+road+up+to+Bugarach.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070423565162971618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLNty8t8A-Yt0392jlyG7Kso7V7EYBrofXnF-GaaxtEluUex7Tw9n3BC_7bFKmknDRbS1V6D9WULelP4O76G_dwcZhmNppiQqpzwVrjeFq2Zaqb74tlq9jULtwal_mGFHBmvOAQ/s400/025+Looking+back+to+road+up+to+Bugarach.jpg" border="0" /></a> This was the village cat, a lovely tortoiseshell.<br />Just LOOK at the backdrop to this photo.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhki1tGHsOyjzN9IPuGFY6HqEiRZs2Rw6QxvA7PatxfKP1bw15qIqamJq1THLpO_ISUl0g7Sel0FARc2GS8uhwcRNpJvf5OjZ4czhPiKAOco_tB7P09Xot4DkQw98fwKM91iFIcPg/s1600-h/026+cat+in+Montet+village.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070423359004541394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhki1tGHsOyjzN9IPuGFY6HqEiRZs2Rw6QxvA7PatxfKP1bw15qIqamJq1THLpO_ISUl0g7Sel0FARc2GS8uhwcRNpJvf5OjZ4czhPiKAOco_tB7P09Xot4DkQw98fwKM91iFIcPg/s400/026+cat+in+Montet+village.jpg" border="0" /></a>A stiff climb marked the start of the walk. It looks a hard climb, but it wasn't too bad, and the weather was lovely, with a soft breeze to keep us cool. At one point, I put my glasses on a rock to wipe my brow. BIG mistake, as I forgot to pick them up and had to return for them after I realised 15 minutes further up the mountain.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1veOQkvueGjAGUds1c1e1g9WSpnq6EUDnxBe3jE7LXvqUx2MNC8JHhRt4BkRhRg24Oaa-C4AkB4HgH_mnJA6j919XG9hVwV8UBtgMUxI7WjAqoCpwhEg9CXhE_oUWeVR6To5uA/s1600-h/029+View+from+path+to+tres+estelle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070422727644348850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1veOQkvueGjAGUds1c1e1g9WSpnq6EUDnxBe3jE7LXvqUx2MNC8JHhRt4BkRhRg24Oaa-C4AkB4HgH_mnJA6j919XG9hVwV8UBtgMUxI7WjAqoCpwhEg9CXhE_oUWeVR6To5uA/s400/029+View+from+path+to+tres+estelle.jpg" border="0" /></a> At the first col, we came upon these mountain horses. Aren't they LOVELY?<br />They really remind me of that Guylian chocolate seashells stuff, JUST the same colour! You would think they had been groomed all day to look at their coats, just perfect.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-3ovHlQHS4_sJBTW0z-wo2kaiq6AaqT2R2u66y1PLyENMpPVVHaWUJswIzPqfGRnmZw20orxoX5ZZPonZyrZ9akavwnwIqBo7jJZD2cKY880T0qdr03aRto-xuRnACG_hOm48A/s1600-h/031+Mountain+horses.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070422465651343778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-3ovHlQHS4_sJBTW0z-wo2kaiq6AaqT2R2u66y1PLyENMpPVVHaWUJswIzPqfGRnmZw20orxoX5ZZPonZyrZ9akavwnwIqBo7jJZD2cKY880T0qdr03aRto-xuRnACG_hOm48A/s400/031+Mountain+horses.jpg" border="0" /></a> LOOK at that view, just another day in the Pyrenees.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl3CSUZPAZI/AAAAAAAAA1E/zMJ2qgo8v4I/s1600-h/032+LOOK+at+that+view.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070422375457030546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl3CSUZPAZI/AAAAAAAAA1E/zMJ2qgo8v4I/s400/032+LOOK+at+that+view.jpg" border="0" /></a> My brother Colin and I, at the top of Tres Estelle - 6,000 feet.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnKmt7PW1Db2JML2uySBY8AlW7JG3zNbnyqJJ_AmtSZ5lNCxuYgd9EJUmljf97CNm-IoCYfULO2u4gvD-rLQ1CLUf_W1UChmrIxc63EUcaR7s4KZA064yhF3AXgGqnd6z8fA61Q/s1600-h/033+Me+&+Colin+at+6,000+feet,+Tres+Estelle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070422250902978946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnKmt7PW1Db2JML2uySBY8AlW7JG3zNbnyqJJ_AmtSZ5lNCxuYgd9EJUmljf97CNm-IoCYfULO2u4gvD-rLQ1CLUf_W1UChmrIxc63EUcaR7s4KZA064yhF3AXgGqnd6z8fA61Q/s400/033+Me+%26+Colin+at+6,000+feet,+Tres+Estelle.jpg" border="0" /></a> Look, you KNOW you expect it - so here it is - the 'me on a rock' picture.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJZ6nhH26KOYHHXNXXeHnQnUGeaAVBvuVocwG3TqOzlS76MLcV_Kn0MOpTlBmtugiQASw0VlZ8TuZR6ulyBBpx7PtigYQ2cUbArwKZW2R_tJduGLgm-wZA1Zm2WHpLEpVzLOttg/s1600-h/034+Me+on+rock+Tres+Estelle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070422139233829234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJZ6nhH26KOYHHXNXXeHnQnUGeaAVBvuVocwG3TqOzlS76MLcV_Kn0MOpTlBmtugiQASw0VlZ8TuZR6ulyBBpx7PtigYQ2cUbArwKZW2R_tJduGLgm-wZA1Zm2WHpLEpVzLOttg/s400/034+Me+on+rock+Tres+Estelle.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Beautiful pine cones. All this wild magnificence around us, but I always take time to look near as well, as there is so much else to see. They were very sticky if you touched them.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDN_bINwzriZ8Ay1R3V25fxe50TVlmWFf9HEF-vteOGL9axOZhftT_wYLODCmrRwjy0PaHNnqeO6zOXN5wvA90dSWfWW5YCHgpCXEXUFr7W35nT9f_uZWLjAmfd_HWNTMiyYtiFg/s1600-h/035+Pine+cones.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070422036154614114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDN_bINwzriZ8Ay1R3V25fxe50TVlmWFf9HEF-vteOGL9axOZhftT_wYLODCmrRwjy0PaHNnqeO6zOXN5wvA90dSWfWW5YCHgpCXEXUFr7W35nT9f_uZWLjAmfd_HWNTMiyYtiFg/s400/035+Pine+cones.jpg" border="0" /></a> I call this picture; 'driving towards heaven'</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3G09x7HrGP7SXWjotni1KPDKVGk3yPtMTIjKOjhCW6p6mBlCAlXTT1yjKhmGlaI6hfXRK3mZIV-jdu8JX7srjjV7bn8wuUv6MKiYU7FSIQgicBiVyMrQjKXh843wSgB0KfJIMA/s1600-h/036+Driving+towards+heaven.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070421924485464402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3G09x7HrGP7SXWjotni1KPDKVGk3yPtMTIjKOjhCW6p6mBlCAlXTT1yjKhmGlaI6hfXRK3mZIV-jdu8JX7srjjV7bn8wuUv6MKiYU7FSIQgicBiVyMrQjKXh843wSgB0KfJIMA/s400/036+Driving+towards+heaven.jpg" border="0" /></a>These are Mannes' favourite mountains, because they look like a pair of breasts.<br />TYPICAL bloke!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjAJI3lQ7jmxrQAAICaVz66ezDsFnxh3sxXQGKnhVIjT62ztS5o1hjiFev2TSn-NrfC22e5RtUUNm3Xo4hqMjwCqQQvtjcWNe-2P2Lg4qwNxrK8FYZiZURCF8kALasyxrHW2DKQ/s1600-h/037+Breasts+mountain.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070421821406249282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjAJI3lQ7jmxrQAAICaVz66ezDsFnxh3sxXQGKnhVIjT62ztS5o1hjiFev2TSn-NrfC22e5RtUUNm3Xo4hqMjwCqQQvtjcWNe-2P2Lg4qwNxrK8FYZiZURCF8kALasyxrHW2DKQ/s400/037+Breasts+mountain.jpg" border="0" /></a>We met up with B&M's friends, a French couple. We then went up another 6,000 foot mountain. We WERE in search of a plane wreck from the year I was born, but unfortunately, as we got higher, the snow became very deep, and the wreckage was probably covered, so we gave up. The walk was great though.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7jwBArfKoIY_aU8SnSIr0mnyKTKiusjw0Jq3tyWupiQZBxOKjhTZPNBEAgygmbietyzGpojxnfEIgQ7ik6AsPhJlxTzBJwPfiLoDE23MLS8dEGXUXmpILM_w72cCykfcyNfXRQ/s1600-h/038+Snow+at+6,000+feet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070421645312590130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7jwBArfKoIY_aU8SnSIr0mnyKTKiusjw0Jq3tyWupiQZBxOKjhTZPNBEAgygmbietyzGpojxnfEIgQ7ik6AsPhJlxTzBJwPfiLoDE23MLS8dEGXUXmpILM_w72cCykfcyNfXRQ/s400/038+Snow+at+6,000+feet.jpg" border="0" /></a> You can see the snow getting deeper here.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXz5pJ8lfpMJDQzB3kbe3z92zEMu5pI1prqNpDayoBI-1msHJOn6DY54E_dZyxUkyDAywq6mQLg2JGhqRwlAfwgLNNP2Dq429D2SImj6fPfxrkgklv2NLg9smBIkL9w0z9Ya0WyA/s1600-h/039+That+looks+DEEP.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070421456334029090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXz5pJ8lfpMJDQzB3kbe3z92zEMu5pI1prqNpDayoBI-1msHJOn6DY54E_dZyxUkyDAywq6mQLg2JGhqRwlAfwgLNNP2Dq429D2SImj6fPfxrkgklv2NLg9smBIkL9w0z9Ya0WyA/s400/039+That+looks+DEEP.jpg" border="0" /></a>We DID find a nice bare patch, with some sun-warmed rock, to have lunch though.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl3BQEZPARI/AAAAAAAAA0E/XY3GsNulmr4/s1600-h/040+Lunch+above+the+snow+line.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070421237290696978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl3BQEZPARI/AAAAAAAAA0E/XY3GsNulmr4/s400/040+Lunch+above+the+snow+line.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />In the next set of picture, you will see just HOW deep the snow was as we got higher. B&M decided to wait lower down, and WE took the high road. There's a super frozen lake, and snow at over a metre in depth - I know, because I decided to stick my walking pole in it - and it went RIGHT up to the handle, and still didn't bottom out!<br />Les<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-45696945230118418222007-05-30T17:23:00.001+00:002011-07-08T08:32:58.932+00:00France trip, 2007<div align="center">Hi all,<br />
I have to say, it's really hard to sort through the hundreds of pics I took in France. I'm getting there, but thought you'd like the first 'instalment' to be going on with. I am up to the day we went into some fantastic caves, the grottes de grand canalettes. This was an incredible experience, and I think there are some really good photo's. Of course, NOTHING can do it justice like being there. Those are to come, but for now here's from day one.<br />
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These are the people that made it all possible, Brenda and Mannes. We are eternally grateful to them for everything. You just could not buy a holiday like they gave us. They ran us everywhere in the car, knew all the very best places, fed us like kings, had patience when we wanted to take pictures, go further, stay longer, climb higher, and never ONE sigh or cross word. Saints, the pair of them! The dog is Robi, he belongs to Mannes. Robi found the leg of an Izzard (an antelope) on a day walk. God KNOWS where he got it, but within only three hours, the three dogs (Brenda has two Samoyedes) had devoured it, fur, toes, the LOT. Again, those pics later.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwXwdVPSmvSWClXnw8CPEdwsc1hzOeoJBylp5R96cs82KKDlsuh5uVIMUHep7rFP5Z10298sKhDJm-VQpk-0NMFU7YF1nxln4n9yB87ONBDb_i_mKIYfQF5f6LP2mievsNkwgwQ/s1600-h/001+Brenda+&+Mannes.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070412591521530114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwXwdVPSmvSWClXnw8CPEdwsc1hzOeoJBylp5R96cs82KKDlsuh5uVIMUHep7rFP5Z10298sKhDJm-VQpk-0NMFU7YF1nxln4n9yB87ONBDb_i_mKIYfQF5f6LP2mievsNkwgwQ/s400/001+Brenda+%26+Mannes.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> This is Brenda's lovely house, 'Les Samoyedes in a little village called 'Nyer' (pronounced knee-air). The balcony on the left is right outside my bedroom, bliss, whatever the weather.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIBfbr-OyRI4leuia43Hml1oe3y3oYV2o1m2cIie_kfqLF9olYW6Ptqc4NiWl6MgWsI8gugZa51XTJdzBn4oPUfETRTEBZ5JkOufYPu9IEzx0bR_jqQa101mjJQwPx6L5DZfZHg/s1600-h/001+Maison+de+Brenda.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070412501327216882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIBfbr-OyRI4leuia43Hml1oe3y3oYV2o1m2cIie_kfqLF9olYW6Ptqc4NiWl6MgWsI8gugZa51XTJdzBn4oPUfETRTEBZ5JkOufYPu9IEzx0bR_jqQa101mjJQwPx6L5DZfZHg/s400/001+Maison+de+Brenda.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>"Make sure you have your boots on - you are walking straight off the plane".<br />
They were the instructions from Brenda. We did a lovely walk through the vineyards, then it turned into quite serious climb to a tower on top of a hill. A good warm-up for what was to come in the following days.<br />
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<div></div><br />
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<div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl25M0ZPAOI/AAAAAAAAAzs/kjEZx9OKr1o/s1600-h/001+First+walk,+in+vineyard.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070412385363099874" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl25M0ZPAOI/AAAAAAAAAzs/kjEZx9OKr1o/s400/001+First+walk,+in+vineyard.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> That was where we were making for, that tower. As you can see, it was a lovely, warm day.<br />
You may also deduce that the hill it sits atop looks VERY steep.<br />
It WAS!<br />
<br />
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4d_NlNsiaOdvUVfWAYmaW0wOEWhxdxkdnxiyNbmnCE7P84o-MEA3RO2LZ-KHOP0mNPLNoaLwE8rJIMzn026jhqQxe3WQ44aVHrZ9Tm1fiqEZm_ZVMYR0wTCQj1s0N3ciZvWllg/s1600-h/002+Our+objective,+that+tower.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070412226449309906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4d_NlNsiaOdvUVfWAYmaW0wOEWhxdxkdnxiyNbmnCE7P84o-MEA3RO2LZ-KHOP0mNPLNoaLwE8rJIMzn026jhqQxe3WQ44aVHrZ9Tm1fiqEZm_ZVMYR0wTCQj1s0N3ciZvWllg/s400/002+Our+objective,+that+tower.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> I went to France last August, with the sole objective of getting to the top of 'Le Canigou'. At a tad under 10,000 feet, it's the highest I've been on foot. I can tell you now, it is HELLISH cold at that height! No chance of going up there this time of the year though. As you can see, there is a lot of snow<br />
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<div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl249UZPAMI/AAAAAAAAAzc/aRR5d49_kPU/s1600-h/003+View+of+Canigou.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070412119075127490" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl249UZPAMI/AAAAAAAAAzc/aRR5d49_kPU/s400/003+View+of+Canigou.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
I love this picture. It's got it all, the mountains, the snow, and the flowers.<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7dUtRn04TAD8az9RkENaG_pPWvoy0dWhTJ-IoVnNDtISdeqaf1PQs_dEJPmKaBW1UfY7ADeurl-eYeGzKy_4gS32r6P29yeTQ8v3GrQkRbxsGwdvPtk8Q-iHLh4wtkU6UYHOuw/s1600-h/004+Poppies+&+views.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070411912916697266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7dUtRn04TAD8az9RkENaG_pPWvoy0dWhTJ-IoVnNDtISdeqaf1PQs_dEJPmKaBW1UfY7ADeurl-eYeGzKy_4gS32r6P29yeTQ8v3GrQkRbxsGwdvPtk8Q-iHLh4wtkU6UYHOuw/s400/004+Poppies+%26+views.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> On the walk down, we passed through a lovely village. There was a ruin on top of a hill, so of course, we climbed up to it for pictures. Brenda & Mannes, as usual, waited patiently for us.<br />
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<div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl24o0ZPAKI/AAAAAAAAAzM/7UTQWjYJKVE/s1600-h/006+View+from+ruin.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070411766887809186" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl24o0ZPAKI/AAAAAAAAAzM/7UTQWjYJKVE/s400/006+View+from+ruin.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> Aren't these little villages just too nice for words?<br />
(But what do the people all DO for a living????)<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJLMuNIdbV71zjgYPPl91yilMfhIVm1l5VZmPKIRoeTGuuAl-nAQbyp7ENF33TwepgOl_bv1F4MKgCwCCIdEG5MgPsTtFxyfY4EMBc_V2cn03O8BI_voxeVaSQdZ1eL1dRUrYGw/s1600-h/007+Village+&+view.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070411638038790290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJLMuNIdbV71zjgYPPl91yilMfhIVm1l5VZmPKIRoeTGuuAl-nAQbyp7ENF33TwepgOl_bv1F4MKgCwCCIdEG5MgPsTtFxyfY4EMBc_V2cn03O8BI_voxeVaSQdZ1eL1dRUrYGw/s400/007+Village+%26+view.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> What a lovely vista.<br />
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<div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl24OUZPAII/AAAAAAAAAy8/OmaTUPZ-mSo/s1600-h/008+Lovely+day.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070411311621275778" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl24OUZPAII/AAAAAAAAAy8/OmaTUPZ-mSo/s400/008+Lovely+day.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> The ever-present vineyards. The vines had tiny grapes on them, we were FAR too early!<br />
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<div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl24EUZPAHI/AAAAAAAAAy0/WwI5gvvkvNU/s1600-h/009+Vineyard+&+mountain.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070411139822583922" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl24EUZPAHI/AAAAAAAAAy0/WwI5gvvkvNU/s400/009+Vineyard+%26+mountain.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Another view of Canigou. </div><div>Mannes' house has a wonderful view of this mountain, which he loves dearly. </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3dQd50yFT6IZ3pH26wPS8YL-u2olJojtz58iKl6-Q7P_nLR5pzHBMjPKu7PRK_Zvy13qX6ao-XHUGlsqoCktqxo0bv55mGKevU5a1GabnQjLcBXhf8h-_UY_4Fl1KuvRAHcKvw/s1600-h/010+Snow+on+tops.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070411002383630434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3dQd50yFT6IZ3pH26wPS8YL-u2olJojtz58iKl6-Q7P_nLR5pzHBMjPKu7PRK_Zvy13qX6ao-XHUGlsqoCktqxo0bv55mGKevU5a1GabnQjLcBXhf8h-_UY_4Fl1KuvRAHcKvw/s400/010+Snow+on+tops.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> Looking across the valley to the mountains.<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzYyiBxSD7A0Gqrza2uILqoS0ztuIvqvHh69wF0EeteDOwicVzWYMufnKM1aWVBettY8EQolH8Tixi0g6uf0DYRzZZsnESubhaaQqFel7GhwTVtoYQQdprlXm0M0VJf-2D2HziQ/s1600-h/011+Looking+across+valley+to+mountains.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070409799792787538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzYyiBxSD7A0Gqrza2uILqoS0ztuIvqvHh69wF0EeteDOwicVzWYMufnKM1aWVBettY8EQolH8Tixi0g6uf0DYRzZZsnESubhaaQqFel7GhwTVtoYQQdprlXm0M0VJf-2D2HziQ/s400/011+Looking+across+valley+to+mountains.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> We were sent out on our own this day, to go up the Caranca gorge. Brenda wouldn't take the dogs, as it's far too dangerous.<br />
You'll see why soon. I actually was drawn off the path by what we could see above us, so we had to go back again later in the holiday, led by Brenda, to do it again, and it was WELL worth it.<br />
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<div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl22wUZPAEI/AAAAAAAAAyc/ZOxv4im3SGE/s1600-h/012+Caranca+gorge+start.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070409696713572418" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl22wUZPAEI/AAAAAAAAAyc/ZOxv4im3SGE/s400/012+Caranca+gorge+start.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> Once I saw THIS above us - I made a bee-line for them! If only I'd known, these are good, but the BEST balconies were further up the gorge, where Brenda told us to go. I am too impulsive!<br />
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<div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl22nkZPADI/AAAAAAAAAyU/ahNlOTjfRow/s1600-h/013+Looking+up+to+balconies.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070409546389717042" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl22nkZPADI/AAAAAAAAAyU/ahNlOTjfRow/s400/013+Looking+up+to+balconies.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
As we climbed higher up the gorge, the views got better and better.<br />
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<div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl22d0ZPACI/AAAAAAAAAyM/mvDlJZ5A6IY/s1600-h/014+Climbing+to+top+of+Caranca+gorge.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070409378885992482" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl22d0ZPACI/AAAAAAAAAyM/mvDlJZ5A6IY/s400/014+Climbing+to+top+of+Caranca+gorge.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> After taking the shot above, I just turned around, and this was behind me.<br />
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<div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl22XkZPABI/AAAAAAAAAyE/D9pVLUHwn-Y/s1600-h/015+Looking+up+Caranca+gorge.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070409271511810066" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl22XkZPABI/AAAAAAAAAyE/D9pVLUHwn-Y/s400/015+Looking+up+Caranca+gorge.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>How's your head for heights? This path just drops away to the gorge floor, a LONG way down.<br />
Not so bad, IF the path looked stable!<br />
Does this look stable to you? No - me neither.<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1QCSIE2upTatstxXj-f9234xXiwLRCk2WmgE-ZzduW7fjHjwNljWzferAgONkT7E9LiNp8qxRy8WWmxfchWAKUk7qEUhi1DSbKYVHFedfcRTI0c2wnvPf81AK4RcrzLEorA2kw/s1600-h/016+Unstable+looking+balcony+path.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070409172727562242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1QCSIE2upTatstxXj-f9234xXiwLRCk2WmgE-ZzduW7fjHjwNljWzferAgONkT7E9LiNp8qxRy8WWmxfchWAKUk7qEUhi1DSbKYVHFedfcRTI0c2wnvPf81AK4RcrzLEorA2kw/s400/016+Unstable+looking+balcony+path.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> View over the edge - you need a steady hand and foot up here. </div><div>See the path we came up on below?<br />
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<div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl22LkZO__I/AAAAAAAAAx0/dRLkBLc98RQ/s1600-h/017+Looking+down+to+path+in+gorge.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070409065353379826" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl22LkZO__I/AAAAAAAAAx0/dRLkBLc98RQ/s400/017+Looking+down+to+path+in+gorge.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> Some sections were quite a breeze though.<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftbIuGZCJd60WM59XfQN819Z4AiarulXlkodPo1aPNMWbpJJyyJ541UhWvn4xxaxVOlfwyqG89boaBOUBJg42IHWNcoGL7A8NtYnCUEbZE27E-dZnIuDCDDGIzCuQDTtAGR1bqg/s1600-h/018+Mind+the+edge.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070408949389262818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftbIuGZCJd60WM59XfQN819Z4AiarulXlkodPo1aPNMWbpJJyyJ541UhWvn4xxaxVOlfwyqG89boaBOUBJg42IHWNcoGL7A8NtYnCUEbZE27E-dZnIuDCDDGIzCuQDTtAGR1bqg/s400/018+Mind+the+edge.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> I do the French speaking, cooking and wine pouring and Colin, my brother, does the navigation (very well too, I might add).<br />
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<div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl21yUZO_9I/AAAAAAAAAxk/a0U3fCaz3G8/s1600-h/019+Where+are+we+Bruv.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070408631561682898" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl21yUZO_9I/AAAAAAAAAxk/a0U3fCaz3G8/s400/019+Where+are+we+Bruv.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>You don't have to speak French to know this is telling you to be VERY careful up here!<br />
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<div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl21l0ZO_8I/AAAAAAAAAxc/IYIGZ0ofauU/s1600-h/019+You+dont+have+to+speak+French+to+know.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070408416813318082" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl21l0ZO_8I/AAAAAAAAAxc/IYIGZ0ofauU/s400/019+You+dont+have+to+speak+French+to+know.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<div></div>Just a kid at heart, there was a carpet of fallen leaves. Well, we couldn't just leave them LYING there - could we?<br />
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<div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl21U0ZO_7I/AAAAAAAAAxU/ci6G3rLORWI/s1600-h/020+Kicking+leaves.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070408124755541938" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rl21U0ZO_7I/AAAAAAAAAxU/ci6G3rLORWI/s400/020+Kicking+leaves.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>That's the first 20 done. I hope you like them. </div><div>I am really looking forward to posting the cave ones - oh go on then, ONE sneak preview..........<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MU6OfYAMLEn48Z_3orrcevciBQQ1caWEKDKeDOGF3bRPN2Lh_-jKJnImfo9_4J7cHbt8jDB0yE3x1BVA8MgPZEojTsCUF4XysvtR8P9qpyxxatC787SdJ2O5r2htSa_qDFoFWw/s1600-h/049+Grottes+3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070407781158158242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MU6OfYAMLEn48Z_3orrcevciBQQ1caWEKDKeDOGF3bRPN2Lh_-jKJnImfo9_4J7cHbt8jDB0yE3x1BVA8MgPZEojTsCUF4XysvtR8P9qpyxxatC787SdJ2O5r2htSa_qDFoFWw/s400/049+Grottes+3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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</div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-57852561447563135002007-05-18T18:45:00.001+00:002021-01-20T11:51:07.857+00:00My fifteen minutes of fame<div align="center"><a href="http://www.lunasa.ie"><span style="font-size: 180%;">www.lunasa.ie</span></a></div><div align="center">
<span style="font-size: 180%;">If you haven't heard of them, you have no interest at all in Irish folk music. Lunasa are a world famous band, selling out most of their venues. They travel extensively, but when they are within 150 miles of me, I get a ticket to see them. Last Wednesday they appeared at Nottingham University (a sell out), and I was in the second row.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: 180%;"><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">
Anyway, after the last time I'd seen them, at Litchfield, I was my usual gushing self about the performance. Mind you, it is always perfection. I jokingly sent a; 'Jim'll fix it' email to their site for me to play with them on stage (one of my hobbies is playing the bodhran, or Irish drum). It was very tongue in cheek, and I just forgot about it.
I checked my emails just before going on Wednesday, and there was one from Tracy Crawford (the lead of the band's other half, I guess), saying my email had only just been seen, then going on to apologise that there was NO WAY Lunasa could invite an unknown onto the stage without practice, knowing ability, etc etc. She was very nice about it, and I was a bit embarrassed, as I hadn't really expected them to agree to it.
Anyway, off I went to Nottingham University's Djanogly theatre. First half, fantastic, second half, just as good, then they came back for the encore, and Kevin suddenly announced they were going to dedicate this last song to Les Singleton (yours truly). I was stunned, to say the least, but what happened next was he got me up, took me to the stage, (for some bizarre reason made me put on one of those Day-Glo vests), and then the band struck up. I was given the drum, and off we went!
It was a dream come true, and I think I 'held my own'. I even got a smile & a wink from the usually dour Cillean Vallely - praise INDEED! Sean Smith looked over and winked too, and that really put me at ease. Well, after our little number, the auditorium erupted, and I was SO proud! Here I was, in such fantastic company, me - and I had actually played along with Lunasa.
Does it get any better?</span></div><div align="center">
<span style="font-size: 180%;">Thanks lads.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jlj49fqGeS9i_PNvrgYo6JDir-tlSuoLHkhv_XByG7e0g5jULphNa71EXvE8uc4W-Yd5dnriIRA_KS5CfRt3NIIDcoxmeIK9Dc3stwzMxRFQ4JMYBX70OAsQ3XmS735TtRZHrg/s1600-h/Lunasa+1+(Small).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065974404246077330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jlj49fqGeS9i_PNvrgYo6JDir-tlSuoLHkhv_XByG7e0g5jULphNa71EXvE8uc4W-Yd5dnriIRA_KS5CfRt3NIIDcoxmeIK9Dc3stwzMxRFQ4JMYBX70OAsQ3XmS735TtRZHrg/s400/Lunasa+1+(Small).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTeHBcaB40jQa9jkjfMb6upNbIQ5InjHr06XLRSsnx5HpmAfmnleFXfbgq_NeriPgh2yNT2BO19XFhD5jlh5mFQ3foENKgYIMpTSbp30l14YuoYqa4Mv3vzWj1MkhC0QW8aQ6dQ/s1600-h/Lunasa+4+(Small).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065973910324838258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTeHBcaB40jQa9jkjfMb6upNbIQ5InjHr06XLRSsnx5HpmAfmnleFXfbgq_NeriPgh2yNT2BO19XFhD5jlh5mFQ3foENKgYIMpTSbp30l14YuoYqa4Mv3vzWj1MkhC0QW8aQ6dQ/s400/Lunasa+4+(Small).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>
<div></div></div></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-57634276427168532032007-04-24T06:18:00.000+00:002007-04-24T06:20:55.130+00:00On my JOLLIES!!!<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Ri2ht8oGNRI/AAAAAAAAAss/AVp8kSIcRbI/s1600-h/Plane+BIG+across+screen.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056875767347426578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Ri2ht8oGNRI/AAAAAAAAAss/AVp8kSIcRbI/s400/Plane+BIG+across+screen.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center">Hi all, I am now on holiday in France for 12 days - more pics when I get back.</div><br /><div align="center">Les</div><br /><div align="center"></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-62941270136310629322007-04-20T06:58:00.000+00:002007-04-21T20:43:33.397+00:00A trip to see old friends<div align="center">This entry describes a walk around the area near to Cerrigydruddion, about 20 miles beyond Corwen. I went to visit some friends there.</div><div align="center">When I first started doing long distance paths (LDP's), my third one, in 1993, was the Pembrokeshire coastal path (diary of this walk can be found here; <a href="http://walkdiaries.blogspot.com/2006/07/pembrokeshire-coastal-path-diary-les.html">http://walkdiaries.blogspot.com/2006/07/pembrokeshire-coastal-path-diary-les.html</a> . </div><div align="center">About 4 days into it, I met Ron, and his wife Rhiannon, and had a couple of days walking and meeting/chatting with them. Amazingly, we have kept in touch over the years, and I finally decided it was time we had a 're-match', so at his kind invite, I went over to a little village they live in called 'Cerrigydrudion'.<br /><br />Here are my friends;</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjr6mT59VPF0xISWj8NhiE1TTsOJ5wecd3tSiTUkVoBOwbNWHY_iuQpx5rat8ILbgNLpT4zWNOcZZN4DfTSRiYdTrJ5pv3XvcX3w9sK3uxOu7hk96ffeFJb7851epejm1tyKFhA/s1600-h/001+Ron+&+Rhiannon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055936217481622786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjr6mT59VPF0xISWj8NhiE1TTsOJ5wecd3tSiTUkVoBOwbNWHY_iuQpx5rat8ILbgNLpT4zWNOcZZN4DfTSRiYdTrJ5pv3XvcX3w9sK3uxOu7hk96ffeFJb7851epejm1tyKFhA/s400/001+Ron+%26+Rhiannon.jpg" border="0" /></a> I KNOW Rhiannon won't thank me for putting her picture on here (shy little flower, isn't it), but I have to say, I think I caught them just right, and it's a nice shot of them.<br /><br />On the way down, I passed these lovely castle remains.<br />It is in Ellesmere, and it just took me to capture it.<br />Nice that the swan posed for me too.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4y4rj0J4kSIitj9C6QXcz2sEtcPibKTjqzXfPJxChRCLJJ4fZJ8Pn7jm_Bw1Bfnc4uKLmJjdzZfkqrsnn5V68lX2Mpt_6O9KXngwoqdDmml_3CDRl0Zplq2Uz2uXOaR_1Clm6A/s1600-h/001+Castle+&+swan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055936062862800114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4y4rj0J4kSIitj9C6QXcz2sEtcPibKTjqzXfPJxChRCLJJ4fZJ8Pn7jm_Bw1Bfnc4uKLmJjdzZfkqrsnn5V68lX2Mpt_6O9KXngwoqdDmml_3CDRl0Zplq2Uz2uXOaR_1Clm6A/s400/001+Castle+%26+swan.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is the miners track up Cwmannog woods. It was quite a steep path, but we plodded on and up.<br />A short while after this was taken, a young girl in what looked like waitress garb came striding the other way - complete with white shoes and dress!<br />As you can see, although warm, the day was hazy. And for this reason, I'll include some of Ron's pics, taken when it was clearer, so thanks to Ron for them.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RipK2coGNOI/AAAAAAAAAsU/H4KmtPABov8/s1600-h/001+Miners+track+up+Cwmannog+woods.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055935830934566114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RipK2coGNOI/AAAAAAAAAsU/H4KmtPABov8/s400/001+Miners+track+up+Cwmannog+woods.jpg" border="0" /></a> Looking down on the disused Klondyke copper mine. The walk would traverse around the hills to the left and behind the mine, and we were to visit it later in the day.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhv2F_a6yfO5K-wXBxFuLFGO6txj60k0wEfoe3bC0LlxQIkOKYBQ9gwdSpQF6kwmK36B-DTWOQtNc30lii8tPslx4aFosnFGBIR4of6mIRMB0hS49UqBY6uAqvTHESg8sppGM4WQ/s1600-h/002+Looking+down+on+the+disused++Klondyke+copper+mine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055935689200645330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhv2F_a6yfO5K-wXBxFuLFGO6txj60k0wEfoe3bC0LlxQIkOKYBQ9gwdSpQF6kwmK36B-DTWOQtNc30lii8tPslx4aFosnFGBIR4of6mIRMB0hS49UqBY6uAqvTHESg8sppGM4WQ/s400/002+Looking+down+on+the+disused++Klondyke+copper+mine.jpg" border="0" /></a> looking towards the disused slate quarry<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBagfFmdlWS59VNPF78HVsczSR8N_OHLdkA0LcFEdaaIIlwVNzWY2WuIgOaoW0oPPEe37_sQwe5pWI9c8-dpqynFjtJqUOFlPKxLk92vINstJbcFl83vTB-u1OrZOlVg3OCOcHA/s1600-h/003+looking+towards+the+disused+slate+quarry.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055935568941561026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBagfFmdlWS59VNPF78HVsczSR8N_OHLdkA0LcFEdaaIIlwVNzWY2WuIgOaoW0oPPEe37_sQwe5pWI9c8-dpqynFjtJqUOFlPKxLk92vINstJbcFl83vTB-u1OrZOlVg3OCOcHA/s400/003+looking+towards+the+disused+slate+quarry.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Llyn ceirionydd from the west side. This was a bit of a honeypot, and there were quite a lot of people here. The morons were out in force too, and we saw a crowd who had put TWO disposable BBQ's directly on one of the wooden picnic tables. Rhiannon took it upon herself to tell them, and to my surprise, there wasn't a torrent of abuse in return.<br />I don't think they'd take any notice though, and I wouldn't bet on them taking their rubbish away either!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoxs5TFXr4csv9AyN7DIO8ZxYaCD3Ci_isQS-E7xjQOf9oPO8vn8Eb2zqb_vw_m47uaWw-gtn6byyxO1jpsCTay87bE2pGsiRGrsAREF5O4bX7qpmySNzG5BuCaSbTGvuMN932Q/s1600-h/005+Llyn+ceirionydd+from+the+west+side.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055935375668032690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoxs5TFXr4csv9AyN7DIO8ZxYaCD3Ci_isQS-E7xjQOf9oPO8vn8Eb2zqb_vw_m47uaWw-gtn6byyxO1jpsCTay87bE2pGsiRGrsAREF5O4bX7qpmySNzG5BuCaSbTGvuMN932Q/s400/005+Llyn+ceirionydd+from+the+west+side.jpg" border="0" /></a> A fine figure of a man.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc_sINwfSxYBNBX8G4nJcEu_SJSmopHY30GZSZtfnl9WwVHNQqdS6M05Nmt975jkG7rkHJcIBCsR5ubbpimXd4gOmvLgOZVTlc98umPAqdCFeJjtYsTEQfzu7u0zOzkGIdqM2xQ/s1600-h/005+Ron+climbs+the+stile.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055935251113981090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc_sINwfSxYBNBX8G4nJcEu_SJSmopHY30GZSZtfnl9WwVHNQqdS6M05Nmt975jkG7rkHJcIBCsR5ubbpimXd4gOmvLgOZVTlc98umPAqdCFeJjtYsTEQfzu7u0zOzkGIdqM2xQ/s400/005+Ron+climbs+the+stile.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Creigiau Gleision in the gloom. Nice show of Gorse though.<br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOUbEV8hPSpL_qn6vxJ1Zo1OaBFcz-bCAY98PTT3A1l63Cr5IK3KLqBOpgwI3kj600JhYn1gZfC1zu-bi0KVm6NCAB3IrKRPC7W5J1GDsGeHM0ZqT_SfZrLhtNUwphD1VSIeQ2w/s1600-h/006+Creigiau+Gleision.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055935117969994898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOUbEV8hPSpL_qn6vxJ1Zo1OaBFcz-bCAY98PTT3A1l63Cr5IK3KLqBOpgwI3kj600JhYn1gZfC1zu-bi0KVm6NCAB3IrKRPC7W5J1GDsGeHM0ZqT_SfZrLhtNUwphD1VSIeQ2w/s400/006+Creigiau+Gleision.jpg" border="0" /></a> Cornel Farm & Llyn Ceirionydd.</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RipKE8oGNII/AAAAAAAAArk/jmSS4ztQzvU/s1600-h/007+Cornel+Farm+&+Llyn+Ceirionydd.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055934980531041410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RipKE8oGNII/AAAAAAAAArk/jmSS4ztQzvU/s400/007+Cornel+Farm+%26+Llyn+Ceirionydd.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div></div>Klondyke copper mine & silt beds<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RipJ3MoGNHI/AAAAAAAAArc/VQivgG3p4-w/s1600-h/008+Klondyke+copper+mine+&+silt+beds.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055934744307840114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RipJ3MoGNHI/AAAAAAAAArc/VQivgG3p4-w/s400/008+Klondyke+copper+mine+%26+silt+beds.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />May blossom and an old cart at Cymannog farm<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RipJq8oGNGI/AAAAAAAAArU/1vCXkytHC-Y/s1600-h/011+May+blossom+and+an+old+cart+at+Cymannog+farm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055934533854442594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RipJq8oGNGI/AAAAAAAAArU/1vCXkytHC-Y/s400/011+May+blossom+and+an+old+cart+at+Cymannog+farm.jpg" border="0" /></a> The date on the pulpit in Llanrhychwyn Church.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RipJjMoGNFI/AAAAAAAAArM/q6MYM-F04ns/s1600-h/015+Date+on+pulpit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055934400710456402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RipJjMoGNFI/AAAAAAAAArM/q6MYM-F04ns/s400/015+Date+on+pulpit.jpg" border="0" /></a>The roof of the old church.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHshT4YQ_MnqSwoUAvx_ujs9ei2lnhApT5kJ9OJ_8K6_Czf3SS7tgGyFHMv70YATIjrXcIHZ86ttEKFrEMWJzewJVgMEytXqoT0v8MCJkCeXBNtWJPph41427V5YCVoemNWcIULA/s1600-h/013++Llanrhychwyn+Church+roof.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055934211731895362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHshT4YQ_MnqSwoUAvx_ujs9ei2lnhApT5kJ9OJ_8K6_Czf3SS7tgGyFHMv70YATIjrXcIHZ86ttEKFrEMWJzewJVgMEytXqoT0v8MCJkCeXBNtWJPph41427V5YCVoemNWcIULA/s400/013++Llanrhychwyn+Church+roof.jpg" border="0" /></a> Plenty of nice little clumps of violets, lots of wood anemone too!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaOZcdfS0Hhr1y9mmOWCHJXBcc1t4DROExIE1bBIki_gkly4Fe63N29tKvqm-Xfslyb3dMfJXDroKfj6jrepkxBDw4NBrqqEFAb0fyLW2WYI9IRRF2nVY5Rzd2knTOw0HfZU1cQ/s1600-h/018+Violets.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055934044228170802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaOZcdfS0Hhr1y9mmOWCHJXBcc1t4DROExIE1bBIki_gkly4Fe63N29tKvqm-Xfslyb3dMfJXDroKfj6jrepkxBDw4NBrqqEFAb0fyLW2WYI9IRRF2nVY5Rzd2knTOw0HfZU1cQ/s400/018+Violets.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ha-harrrrr - Jim lad!</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuE8dl5P3dNEWOKox28MZMvT0zWxpWtiMvJzmpuvjrm6KD_rOSAYfyjLunNYgSrEX5OI3sIExMf-roplGEUjBeeIvtV37xG9iaj-vH4mhBg_AJwimJJym3m7VjNex3ye67ZObI-A/s1600-h/020+me+and+parrot+at+Penrallt+farm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055403950774563874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuE8dl5P3dNEWOKox28MZMvT0zWxpWtiMvJzmpuvjrm6KD_rOSAYfyjLunNYgSrEX5OI3sIExMf-roplGEUjBeeIvtV37xG9iaj-vH4mhBg_AJwimJJym3m7VjNex3ye67ZObI-A/s400/020+me+and+parrot+at+Penrallt+farm.jpg" border="0" /></a> If any of you out there are thinking; 'I MUST tidy that shed out this weekend',<br />well - here is the most UNTIDY shed in the world (alleged).<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-sFGKs02hEnZWB0yOtRM-faJSmOsiCnP5-dknOhiFBT18aXK7_HuG-XUwKobgAifscqgXW4PVh2biVFXMyaD4ZuYnmbxEjkiFA76PQ6yWERWm_ZNBzknFXOrg6hnU4M9I46LHA/s1600-h/021+I+must+tidy+that+shed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055403826220512274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-sFGKs02hEnZWB0yOtRM-faJSmOsiCnP5-dknOhiFBT18aXK7_HuG-XUwKobgAifscqgXW4PVh2biVFXMyaD4ZuYnmbxEjkiFA76PQ6yWERWm_ZNBzknFXOrg6hnU4M9I46LHA/s400/021+I+must+tidy+that+shed.jpg" border="0" /></a> And now, courtesy of Ron, a few clear pics.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rihm5coGNAI/AAAAAAAAAqk/ZilbcsjTtI4/s1600-h/022+Klondyke+mine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055403718846329858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rihm5coGNAI/AAAAAAAAAqk/ZilbcsjTtI4/s400/022+Klondyke+mine.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQEAZBaEzt6e39pQ013Yimy1lLVGNTf1Whxd1KdfHL8nSkt-nD9a3mzJ5lwOVXV04z8ZbeUakErkz49KmZiuUXgvPD3ug9hfdx1LXZfOFZHlfwmw_4akP70IbyMAfnGVafOsClg/s1600-h/024+Tryfan+and+the+Carneddau+to+the+right.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055402894212609010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQEAZBaEzt6e39pQ013Yimy1lLVGNTf1Whxd1KdfHL8nSkt-nD9a3mzJ5lwOVXV04z8ZbeUakErkz49KmZiuUXgvPD3ug9hfdx1LXZfOFZHlfwmw_4akP70IbyMAfnGVafOsClg/s400/024+Tryfan+and+the+Carneddau+to+the+right.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RihmEsoGM-I/AAAAAAAAAqU/cvjfD6KjuVw/s1600-h/025+Tryfan+and+Carneddau.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055402812608230370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RihmEsoGM-I/AAAAAAAAAqU/cvjfD6KjuVw/s400/025+Tryfan+and+Carneddau.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RihllMoGM9I/AAAAAAAAAqM/GBXsK4JnJrc/s1600-h/026+Middle+section+where+we+walked.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055402271442351058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RihllMoGM9I/AAAAAAAAAqM/GBXsK4JnJrc/s400/026+Middle+section+where+we+walked.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO44Ck38nXVXR8TRQAU4pzDgQEOHdNmbuD2VsG9t9e5LUUb4biRtAn7iObYkBNAlFlrSI6oKP2aU0KlR8a5EHJvBiisRZrUyqZzu_6XY6DDMmZutzcrpmQ17nS0BJPfGeoNZdorA/s1600-h/027+Siabod+with+Snowdon+behind.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055402164068168642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO44Ck38nXVXR8TRQAU4pzDgQEOHdNmbuD2VsG9t9e5LUUb4biRtAn7iObYkBNAlFlrSI6oKP2aU0KlR8a5EHJvBiisRZrUyqZzu_6XY6DDMmZutzcrpmQ17nS0BJPfGeoNZdorA/s400/027+Siabod+with+Snowdon+behind.jpg" border="0" /></a>And with a sigh and a goodbye, we headed off home. My thanks go to Ron & Rhiannon for their invitation, transportation and hospitality. Oh yes, and for the sharing of food. I did a really clever trick. After making up the most DIVINE sandwiches of ham, roast beef (separate), salad, olives, blue cheese etc, I promptly left them on the back seat of the car to slowly broil in the 28C sunshine. Ah well, I like banana sandwiches Rhiannon, thanks XX<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-29416999540427985442007-03-20T18:03:00.001+00:002012-01-26T14:32:16.394+00:00Sample information plaque<div align="center">This is a sample plaque for wall information. I have uploaded it at full size, so if you click on the picture, you should get a much larger version that you can read. If you right click on the large picture, and select 'save picture as', you can download it to your own PC, then open it in an image program and blow it up to read the detail. I hope this helps.</div><div align="center">Les</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVHZD68VJcvwq2L9zMENCK3zSii8y4EIIs1lded9tKN5AUC0Kzqhm80YY6SghAK1B1xeWeYgT56qRN9EXQTkvB3hAVlunWXFOsezhMQWz-mgjyDWDcMS8jZVwRXx4SL8vclYBbw/s1600-h/2007_0114_151011AA.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044069279365910018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVHZD68VJcvwq2L9zMENCK3zSii8y4EIIs1lded9tKN5AUC0Kzqhm80YY6SghAK1B1xeWeYgT56qRN9EXQTkvB3hAVlunWXFOsezhMQWz-mgjyDWDcMS8jZVwRXx4SL8vclYBbw/s400/2007_0114_151011AA.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><br />
<div></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-81180291212139461602007-03-18T10:35:00.000+00:002007-03-18T12:24:23.409+00:00Nottingham trams & the castle<div align="center">I decided a day out to Nottingham was due, as I really like that city. It was a nice day, this was what I saw when I started out in the morning. I just love clouds :-)</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf0jFCbPhxI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/lbFjdMqIFjo/s1600-h/001+Nice+clouds.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043225727182276370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf0jFCbPhxI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/lbFjdMqIFjo/s400/001+Nice+clouds.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>I parked on the outskirts of the town, and took the new NET tram to the city centre. The new square was supposed to be opened for the Xmas market (see earlier entry in this blog), but of course, whoever believes a builders promise? Here it is, still 'almost finished'. To be honest, I preferred the old square, and think that the millions they have spent on 'improving' it were wasted. However, I suppose you have to make the best of what you've got, and residents will eventually get used to it. This is the view at the moment, with my back to the council house (that's the next target to spend more of the taxpayers money - a re-vamp of the building).</div><div align="center">Boring and flat, isn't it?</div><div align="center"><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinB6uad1BNn4foThQXIsXqF9-jKB_0_0VO8l-E_6FW9OxH4byN7BJj4xl99eahcFaou_LXOL88Hj3lJKuf_CJkv3S4dJpp-HLhRxRo3AEww2nxW4hdUoNIIovGfzYgiEjs0Q0eNw/s1600-h/005+Square+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043225061462345474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinB6uad1BNn4foThQXIsXqF9-jKB_0_0VO8l-E_6FW9OxH4byN7BJj4xl99eahcFaou_LXOL88Hj3lJKuf_CJkv3S4dJpp-HLhRxRo3AEww2nxW4hdUoNIIovGfzYgiEjs0Q0eNw/s400/005+Square+1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><div></div>This isn the view towards the council house.<br />Boring and flat, isn't it?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkoCed3wFHZysdn4jwEvIEuX-9B59-B2Cfr8Q4TxXmS_ysFU-MY6IjV2cuRJC3rWs1UdwIPxEjEZxgje5Se5vrtJN1q-Xe0oD5Iy17S8Ayr9B6sPkM9TAmzF_fsCj4lNh1TofRA/s1600-h/006+Council+house.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043224928318359282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkoCed3wFHZysdn4jwEvIEuX-9B59-B2Cfr8Q4TxXmS_ysFU-MY6IjV2cuRJC3rWs1UdwIPxEjEZxgje5Se5vrtJN1q-Xe0oD5Iy17S8Ayr9B6sPkM9TAmzF_fsCj4lNh1TofRA/s400/006+Council+house.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><div></div>Some things are sacrosanct though, they wouldn't DARE take the lions away.</div><div>Many a tryst has started with the words; "I'll meet you at the lions".<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf0iPSbPhuI/AAAAAAAAAY4/hk9-W9b6w2U/s1600-h/007+Lion.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043224803764307682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf0iPSbPhuI/AAAAAAAAAY4/hk9-W9b6w2U/s400/007+Lion.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Now these I DO agree with! Sleek, comfortable, and affordable. The new trams are worth every penny, and the long inconvenience to traffic they caused during construction and track laying.</div><div align="center">I think they SO fit in with the city, and I use them whenever I go.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKDeWK_9chMdZV6yOmCPWkV4nsXfOose8l5BMJFWNzOOMtBdNoTqD_oj4GkUHqs-X7Dzs-HcesKjKfiTM3APc7XjH-KGUrRdJscY5kTPyTcYJcNiBT3hNOfhW_dplzIAINucYWw/s1600-h/004+Tram+front.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043224481641760466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKDeWK_9chMdZV6yOmCPWkV4nsXfOose8l5BMJFWNzOOMtBdNoTqD_oj4GkUHqs-X7Dzs-HcesKjKfiTM3APc7XjH-KGUrRdJscY5kTPyTcYJcNiBT3hNOfhW_dplzIAINucYWw/s400/004+Tram+front.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is looking up The Poultry. The old Flying Horse pub is on the right. I spent many a happy night there when I was young, now no longer a pub :-(<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTabIbPpaoelgBLCuF5AhU2EN6Ma2Exqb74qsMVVDCjkzS7IA0DzFsqDPVQ7vx7qWun6ZKY_t7a_9E5XDqeSGwVg6ctldI0NH-EVQNC9KoZjXHriwEN06tMMlIiGv4xqRqAvpJVw/s1600-h/008+Tramlines++flying+horse.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043224322727970498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTabIbPpaoelgBLCuF5AhU2EN6Ma2Exqb74qsMVVDCjkzS7IA0DzFsqDPVQ7vx7qWun6ZKY_t7a_9E5XDqeSGwVg6ctldI0NH-EVQNC9KoZjXHriwEN06tMMlIiGv4xqRqAvpJVw/s400/008+Tramlines++flying+horse.JPG" border="0" /></a> Looking down exchange walk, with the flower seller.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGfWFiod3hJRlpYEe2WSRcydOVbE8eUEidgYduhOBwvDgsZMBeH8K6jOWgIeis8hr3Fe6FmFh9PeItTIXQKnfGZ5xmgzhzIuOJiqXmENN82NOEvfoweQgoFckHC9zIm9E33SPhQ/s1600-h/009+Exchange+walk+flowers.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043224176699082418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGfWFiod3hJRlpYEe2WSRcydOVbE8eUEidgYduhOBwvDgsZMBeH8K6jOWgIeis8hr3Fe6FmFh9PeItTIXQKnfGZ5xmgzhzIuOJiqXmENN82NOEvfoweQgoFckHC9zIm9E33SPhQ/s400/009+Exchange+walk+flowers.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is inside a shop. I was amazed at the great prices for really nice stuff. It's called 'stone the crows', and is on Hounds Gate.<br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf0hiybPhqI/AAAAAAAAAYY/NvZnVIH5nUY/s1600-h/011+Shop+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043224039260128930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf0hiybPhqI/AAAAAAAAAYY/NvZnVIH5nUY/s400/011+Shop+1.JPG" border="0" /></a> No trip to Nottingham would be complete without a visit to the castle. I was really disappointed to find they are now charging £3:50 for a 'combined ticket' for the castle and the museum. As I lived in Nottinghamshire for twenty years, I have seen the museum and castle dozens of times. All I wanted to do was walk the grounds to take a few pictures of the windmill at Sneinton, but that's not now allowed. Pay or stay out, is the rule. Wrong, in my opinion. <div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGi6hofUP73BvQQPQjQ8JuKCI4r4AlbqnvpDlkq3nS5JOu1oyeBsleXiiBOCKyRto25NjfWYrMV95TTrrRmEo31pv0Pkltdn9beSHVFtBW9LVEft0JUXose7Yd6Wum6P4DQKdO8Q/s1600-h/015+Nottm+castle.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043223588288562834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGi6hofUP73BvQQPQjQ8JuKCI4r4AlbqnvpDlkq3nS5JOu1oyeBsleXiiBOCKyRto25NjfWYrMV95TTrrRmEo31pv0Pkltdn9beSHVFtBW9LVEft0JUXose7Yd6Wum6P4DQKdO8Q/s400/015+Nottm+castle.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div>The impressive gate of Nottingham castle.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZMp3yWton9a8wBdKrVIBOUTi4sMXuSkrN9gHAWk9cL80WJyoM52pe_FffU-r4jhzyL0l2RMfv0rlkwrtk74xQVsG2hzGOXMSZ_KfLehsC1N7u26C15H_FaxpPKfhGROPfOW6Ow/s1600-h/019+Castle+gate.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043223450849609346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZMp3yWton9a8wBdKrVIBOUTi4sMXuSkrN9gHAWk9cL80WJyoM52pe_FffU-r4jhzyL0l2RMfv0rlkwrtk74xQVsG2hzGOXMSZ_KfLehsC1N7u26C15H_FaxpPKfhGROPfOW6Ow/s400/019+Castle+gate.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The Man himself - Robin Hood (well - his statue, anyway).</div><div>You'll notice he is arrowless - they keep getting stolen!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVp8u-0HsKlFt5KU6gYIHzNEBa2LKeFE_-slyzGtc-aIOVNyp2VxtC1OUOU3vTbeQdPAnLRAjdClGzGgKV-UTIxEm1T0Yrw6OQRCnvoaBKQzodZCPls7ksWXYmRGRNhQbgqu1wIw/s1600-h/2007_0310_112907aa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043223296230786674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVp8u-0HsKlFt5KU6gYIHzNEBa2LKeFE_-slyzGtc-aIOVNyp2VxtC1OUOU3vTbeQdPAnLRAjdClGzGgKV-UTIxEm1T0Yrw6OQRCnvoaBKQzodZCPls7ksWXYmRGRNhQbgqu1wIw/s400/2007_0310_112907aa.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>He stands in the courtyard below the castle.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf0fzSbPhmI/AAAAAAAAAX4/Ge-KiMLpzg4/s1600-h/017+Robin+hood+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043222123704714850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf0fzSbPhmI/AAAAAAAAAX4/Ge-KiMLpzg4/s400/017+Robin+hood+1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div>The Robin Hood way starts from the yard in front of the castle gates.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf0fgybPhlI/AAAAAAAAAXw/d9UP0x2e-IE/s1600-h/016+Robin+Hood+way+plaque.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043221805877134930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf0fgybPhlI/AAAAAAAAAXw/d9UP0x2e-IE/s400/016+Robin+Hood+way+plaque.JPG" border="0" /></a> A lovely old lace market building, dismantled and rebuilt next to the castle. </div><div>It now sells the famous Nottinghma lace to tourists<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf0fVibPhkI/AAAAAAAAAXo/K0sS5Dzd0AE/s1600-h/020+Lace+centre.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043221612603606594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf0fVibPhkI/AAAAAAAAAXo/K0sS5Dzd0AE/s400/020+Lace+centre.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>The oldest pub in England since 1289 AD, don't believe the pretenders!</div><div>It's an amazing place, with nooks and crannies hewn out of the sandstone of castle rock.</div><div>The museum is just further on.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhl9V__VbBSJMUXwHuU_RMtchxhomjpdeCD3Ddt_1QHDs9SArm8JgKAyg75C8HY6F3q9R5O8kYhyphenhypheniO1mMUE4aWyUojsT6gEPirDCkoDJYiPKnS3SOwg_q_5jjYuX-vl0jjoa8Yg/s1600-h/023+Old+trip+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043221496639489586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhl9V__VbBSJMUXwHuU_RMtchxhomjpdeCD3Ddt_1QHDs9SArm8JgKAyg75C8HY6F3q9R5O8kYhyphenhypheniO1mMUE4aWyUojsT6gEPirDCkoDJYiPKnS3SOwg_q_5jjYuX-vl0jjoa8Yg/s400/023+Old+trip+2.JPG" border="0" /></a> Nottingham has always attracted players, entertainers, minstrels etc over the years. It still does, and this guy gave a great show of fire eating and juggling.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AXT7P02JD-f1STFFgpEoTZ3bYynRu8fFlrJhjXM9rLPs004PPjgJyBv_9tJgdHrmSjw2euvyOONwoGcOEL0wKvQ9TPEZrXWsQmG8tWshv2oDkWyrj7oRHO9AY1r3qtcfHyK1dA/s1600-h/024+Fire+juggler+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043221286186092066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AXT7P02JD-f1STFFgpEoTZ3bYynRu8fFlrJhjXM9rLPs004PPjgJyBv_9tJgdHrmSjw2euvyOONwoGcOEL0wKvQ9TPEZrXWsQmG8tWshv2oDkWyrj7oRHO9AY1r3qtcfHyK1dA/s400/024+Fire+juggler+1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZHPx0rw_CZ1GknNhMsRTNbZZ593u7Y9ln-_eCwMW6vH_mIPpzoZ5dQXXabTOLgN7QamX-s-i37_C1oUF4gf2rITaf43AXVBq3s-Uj1RorWG3iWH-YHVEygKUzzSgKEiHNEyHBg/s1600-h/025+Fire+juggler+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043221101502498322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZHPx0rw_CZ1GknNhMsRTNbZZ593u7Y9ln-_eCwMW6vH_mIPpzoZ5dQXXabTOLgN7QamX-s-i37_C1oUF4gf2rITaf43AXVBq3s-Uj1RorWG3iWH-YHVEygKUzzSgKEiHNEyHBg/s400/025+Fire+juggler+2.JPG" border="0" /></a> I hope you have enjoyed the short tour. As I said, there is another entry when I was there just before Xmas, if you look back in the archive of this blog.<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-82570997392264779792007-03-02T00:20:00.000+00:002007-03-20T08:19:56.972+00:00Drystone walls - a pictorial tutorial<div align="center">At Wirksworth, Derbyshire, there's the National Stone centre. As a lot of quarrying is done in the area, it's there to educate people all about stone, why we need it, what it's used for etc etc. </div><div align="center">I suppose it also helps to atone some of the guilt the big companies feel about decimating the landscape, as they often have their little 'supplied by' plaques on various seats/exhibits/walls etc. The quarries HAVE provided, and continue to, a lot of empolyment in the area, so it depends on how you look at things as to whether you agree or are against it.</div><div align="center">All that aside, I have always been interested in stone walls. They are, to me, a quintessential part of the countryside, especially in Derbyshire and Yorkshire. They do tell me, the 'folk in the know', that Limestone is one of, if not the, most difficult mediums to wall with. This accounts for why we have so many champion wallers in the county. I watched one, Gordon Wilton, walling in the Manifold valley one day. It was like watching a painter. The wall he built is just SO perfect, I always think of him when I see it. Now it has some 'age' on it, and a bit of greenery here and there, it looks even better. </div><div align="center">His tight and neat style means his walls will stand for a VERY long time!</div><div align="center">Anyway, enough drivel, on to the centre. This is the 'guilty plate' I was talking about. It has all the info' on the walls (collectively called 'The Millenium wall'), and a; 'this plaque was supplied by' dedication at the bottom.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lU_dp13x_omfpz6b2bDGFXnq3uMIoImXfIjU0PdfTKbY7ogD-xaV9wFiDqQ75SLW08PWAYJskg7OoWCMYD319LPqWUE958I6RRrGtXr7gFXd12j1N0CemJVmLsreo3nddRY-PA/s1600-h/001+plinth.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043904305377103346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lU_dp13x_omfpz6b2bDGFXnq3uMIoImXfIjU0PdfTKbY7ogD-xaV9wFiDqQ75SLW08PWAYJskg7OoWCMYD319LPqWUE958I6RRrGtXr7gFXd12j1N0CemJVmLsreo3nddRY-PA/s400/001+plinth.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Each wall has a descriptive notice on the end of it, telling you about the style of wall, where you will find walls like it, etc. It also alludes to the method of construction. Some walls look as if they are just a pile of stones, not very strong at all, while others, like Gordon Wiltons, look as if they will stand forever!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf-MIfMQzeI/AAAAAAAAAcY/haau8WBpwZI/s1600-h/001+wall+info.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043904185118019042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf-MIfMQzeI/AAAAAAAAAcY/haau8WBpwZI/s400/001+wall+info.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div>Also dotted around the centre grounds are some pieces of stone 'art'<br />I leave you to draw your own conclusions on this.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1c0e7STuov1qC_qauotnl5Xo9izAHaLBGkTf2Cx_uQQfKsagAmkAjaXUHPrdKpo_3nJxSHllSrifJ3EjBIeHQDo3Sa_HS34AilCPPq_2SleILJsUTlKKWFs84ZExEO130IFVmSQ/s1600-h/020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043904069153902034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1c0e7STuov1qC_qauotnl5Xo9izAHaLBGkTf2Cx_uQQfKsagAmkAjaXUHPrdKpo_3nJxSHllSrifJ3EjBIeHQDo3Sa_HS34AilCPPq_2SleILJsUTlKKWFs84ZExEO130IFVmSQ/s400/020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div>So, on to the walls. I will let the pictures speak for themselves. If you click on the title of this entry, there's a link to the stone centre, where you can get all the info' you need about it.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdMXzIQ0s1jbLGLAKWjKDg3gCeAdBCcSKp_U8cYp1ChzhOC7wDAHcIhlwLgTo9a0gF824WMbP56Hb22u3u4dbK2ZvBwtQAM2Q3WhNn50H2qTLM_rOXKBx6Zd3NlG0thrJwJ-Lqw/s1600-h/025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043903918830046658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdMXzIQ0s1jbLGLAKWjKDg3gCeAdBCcSKp_U8cYp1ChzhOC7wDAHcIhlwLgTo9a0gF824WMbP56Hb22u3u4dbK2ZvBwtQAM2Q3WhNn50H2qTLM_rOXKBx6Zd3NlG0thrJwJ-Lqw/s400/025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IIE7qa3cT_MwOZc7H23bA9vjn6wv1DFm0XvCcHqjzTOMkoBn4lqF8hAdZRDazv-I4gPYMJvW4JM-yl7z5PjbdTqxm22G2jKJbhTKwVzOZ2CLpSU2FI9kVddFULkQpP8CBCzxQA/s1600-h/024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043903811455864242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IIE7qa3cT_MwOZc7H23bA9vjn6wv1DFm0XvCcHqjzTOMkoBn4lqF8hAdZRDazv-I4gPYMJvW4JM-yl7z5PjbdTqxm22G2jKJbhTKwVzOZ2CLpSU2FI9kVddFULkQpP8CBCzxQA/s400/024.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf-LqvMQzaI/AAAAAAAAAb4/3PNwwRieViE/s1600-h/022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043903674016910754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf-LqvMQzaI/AAAAAAAAAb4/3PNwwRieViE/s400/022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_iH2fPHOb_VI58C9O09J1AX-s1ohwSWvNW3Uz5qOhgdeUTUQTG_fOmXFgknnsxgGG0EAOxpFm_3wYVRgb7CWIaR1QxKpjhZoDctcaUsFCkOjU-nkV0VglMnGcurEzY77xRgVxw/s1600-h/021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043903515103120786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_iH2fPHOb_VI58C9O09J1AX-s1ohwSWvNW3Uz5qOhgdeUTUQTG_fOmXFgknnsxgGG0EAOxpFm_3wYVRgb7CWIaR1QxKpjhZoDctcaUsFCkOjU-nkV0VglMnGcurEzY77xRgVxw/s400/021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1gkaDHKGJobqQaw8wsTZjAw0NnBJKx0kpBaY053iQnGRlVsmuHYT7ApFEKFwsAbUBomDLKXn_HDGgY-r7kEuA1rGmHz_7yCINx66bESDQiIUzEbH6KsV_GPmkULnUQwPaTWBvg/s1600-h/018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043903235930246530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1gkaDHKGJobqQaw8wsTZjAw0NnBJKx0kpBaY053iQnGRlVsmuHYT7ApFEKFwsAbUBomDLKXn_HDGgY-r7kEuA1rGmHz_7yCINx66bESDQiIUzEbH6KsV_GPmkULnUQwPaTWBvg/s400/018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TzxxUXEzFw3uQVhwdin0ddi9QysRkFVMaNAg74SEZrr7o-efqfuD9-KJikV8Lvq8UdPELfNUhmsANq14oLMqdDRZjzzMVCEqvaoK_hsCRHmjfjm476PnpDgGDfRSC-LSJeKdHw/s1600-h/017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043903141440966002" style="DISPLAY: block; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf-Kl_MQzTI/AAAAAAAAAbA/vT9lBtZ7dI4/s400/013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf-Kd_MQzSI/AAAAAAAAAa4/V8yIAVWDEa4/s1600-h/012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043902355461950754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf-Kd_MQzSI/AAAAAAAAAa4/V8yIAVWDEa4/s400/012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TPV-O9xIdB3Zm9V2316-5U4y1XVijXizY29Lo7dCyM9VeIsiGyA40vh6NlitUtQEH4eH6dPtpCl-TmXyOYAsfkpn1KMN7oYNqhfaQUtc7ylQnMqVI7lH5U7x1tS4ZYV9JwTH5w/s1600-h/011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043901930260188434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TPV-O9xIdB3Zm9V2316-5U4y1XVijXizY29Lo7dCyM9VeIsiGyA40vh6NlitUtQEH4eH6dPtpCl-TmXyOYAsfkpn1KMN7oYNqhfaQUtc7ylQnMqVI7lH5U7x1tS4ZYV9JwTH5w/s400/011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDirPytliRLydbBm2FvPBWGFWyKaexHDp2StsSpYWtCpUB_9ZGsDJAwgPMfS74re7MQxBFAQucQPUr0sf_FrGJ_qsQeKoTBVhzwf_rIidFB-HjO6IgMuQKf4nLWJAZd_lFS4YLWw/s1600-h/010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043901771346398466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDirPytliRLydbBm2FvPBWGFWyKaexHDp2StsSpYWtCpUB_9ZGsDJAwgPMfS74re7MQxBFAQucQPUr0sf_FrGJ_qsQeKoTBVhzwf_rIidFB-HjO6IgMuQKf4nLWJAZd_lFS4YLWw/s400/010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIk56gbXRcEPeJ3IiDmuuZgSFgL1wWg2n4uBFXWznm3Ljix5H9BQPpKBqtMYIFW48e1hItvdQbq7kwLobtAKlrV4LKbidH1APBCADuTvIV7ZLYMq0DsmYMPuW5mgsF0I-XjBBftQ/s1600-h/009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043901535123197170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIk56gbXRcEPeJ3IiDmuuZgSFgL1wWg2n4uBFXWznm3Ljix5H9BQPpKBqtMYIFW48e1hItvdQbq7kwLobtAKlrV4LKbidH1APBCADuTvIV7ZLYMq0DsmYMPuW5mgsF0I-XjBBftQ/s400/009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJLiJavAzmDrhfbZai1mdsIoCUEVdHkI6MT3JyDBCGzbyXo-0SQzzPcsTJVe6HjrJP6tglxzOS3ciYnb0IGjR4pFadaVBnneYXzjO9dKTrse5Jg9EoavrJmWRxDL_j84ID4Ea6g/s1600-h/008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043901440633916642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJLiJavAzmDrhfbZai1mdsIoCUEVdHkI6MT3JyDBCGzbyXo-0SQzzPcsTJVe6HjrJP6tglxzOS3ciYnb0IGjR4pFadaVBnneYXzjO9dKTrse5Jg9EoavrJmWRxDL_j84ID4Ea6g/s400/008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjiuAQNUd8iftI34e8b5HC82TlrOmTBNUYTEnsg59Cauq7Lw2j1dUX2JHPYjjS-fEKQd4sr2b2jYm3Q7ZCF1jXpXdXPqetEZVn7II25NoIA3FFiF8SUZzYd1X_HTrvjkXFjoKvA/s1600-h/007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043901268835224786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjiuAQNUd8iftI34e8b5HC82TlrOmTBNUYTEnsg59Cauq7Lw2j1dUX2JHPYjjS-fEKQd4sr2b2jYm3Q7ZCF1jXpXdXPqetEZVn7II25NoIA3FFiF8SUZzYd1X_HTrvjkXFjoKvA/s400/007.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf-JZPMQzMI/AAAAAAAAAaI/fMUdhO6y3OQ/s1600-h/006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043901174345944258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf-JZPMQzMI/AAAAAAAAAaI/fMUdhO6y3OQ/s400/006.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div align="center"></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf-JQfMQzLI/AAAAAAAAAaA/7KEFt6ylLww/s1600-h/005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043901024022088882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf-JQfMQzLI/AAAAAAAAAaA/7KEFt6ylLww/s400/005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RISu0HPYFuSCmN2AniZYnSPR3hU_zQ3GdeM-MpFB0-XUW4vmZYtDX8p2YF3V-vzzdLyMI5E5EO4YpqNl6AFl7kudJPwFp7Q0oYIthQPHbZTqpHvAVsa_xMgAVdt4fr00ECVQPw/s1600-h/004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043900856518364322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RISu0HPYFuSCmN2AniZYnSPR3hU_zQ3GdeM-MpFB0-XUW4vmZYtDX8p2YF3V-vzzdLyMI5E5EO4YpqNl6AFl7kudJPwFp7Q0oYIthQPHbZTqpHvAVsa_xMgAVdt4fr00ECVQPw/s400/004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTezxyqIAlqWhkNS_JpgYzJUudH1jkKC7z78d_e22RiVCco_r-wuW8uK0U3LUA05b_4jZ0pdSdPBM_MZWQyLbOV5XL4rYREYKxAcFOCY_z5hen2-6CmDbTBSLVZZqQDpG09iSQ3w/s1600-h/003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043900736259280018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTezxyqIAlqWhkNS_JpgYzJUudH1jkKC7z78d_e22RiVCco_r-wuW8uK0U3LUA05b_4jZ0pdSdPBM_MZWQyLbOV5XL4rYREYKxAcFOCY_z5hen2-6CmDbTBSLVZZqQDpG09iSQ3w/s400/003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf-I4PMQzII/AAAAAAAAAZo/3ZSF7mfgRCk/s1600-h/002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043900607410261122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Rf-I4PMQzII/AAAAAAAAAZo/3ZSF7mfgRCk/s400/002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfGEziGXM7peqe3qWE8KkmEcJkoQZx_Dq0EMx_ceZwyoP_tCzF9nB2J7bYT5fwuJUWdgJx19037W0LOeqa9V3gCy8Ic123VDBGcas-h5Nu9EcFy0udpfLfv0SsOZEDUzlGMdRYw/s1600-h/001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043900469971307634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfGEziGXM7peqe3qWE8KkmEcJkoQZx_Dq0EMx_ceZwyoP_tCzF9nB2J7bYT5fwuJUWdgJx19037W0LOeqa9V3gCy8Ic123VDBGcas-h5Nu9EcFy0udpfLfv0SsOZEDUzlGMdRYw/s400/001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Redu8MrvY-I/AAAAAAAAAUc/h9Re4-gu0F4/s1600-h/025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037116688713081826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/Redu8MrvY-I/AAAAAAAAAUc/h9Re4-gu0F4/s400/025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-45583439538507952192007-02-08T21:24:00.000+00:002007-02-05T20:46:18.459+00:00A touch of snow<div align="center">No big write-up on this one. We got the promised snow, that's it!</div><div align="center">Actually, the media went into overdrive, over-hyping the threat. We were supposed to be BURIED in the stuff, but in fact we got about an inch or so.</div><div align="center">These pictures are around Codnor Park reservoir. It was frozen over, so the snow settled on the top of the ice. Always a nice touch, I find.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RcucraZTPyI/AAAAAAAAAJs/YVaNV51ffSo/s1600-h/001+Frozen+reservoir.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029285678523039522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RcucraZTPyI/AAAAAAAAAJs/YVaNV51ffSo/s400/001+Frozen+reservoir.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">It was snowing quite heavily when i stopped the car, but it soon abated.</div><div align="center">Still, this was a nice picture of the flurry.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DMDJi9GUBB8rkHq7vfkSeEGx2GeJGbGZ1xrcCwheF4IrbbkxU9Ejo76tL2PcuZOxGXXaPhZgFqX51F6BESE7VAip4PFfSNWMjf5S-9UOW-hdQlQP4-NbSKVwDyNOpRQ9TGxtig/s1600-h/002+Snowing+hard.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029285128767225602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DMDJi9GUBB8rkHq7vfkSeEGx2GeJGbGZ1xrcCwheF4IrbbkxU9Ejo76tL2PcuZOxGXXaPhZgFqX51F6BESE7VAip4PFfSNWMjf5S-9UOW-hdQlQP4-NbSKVwDyNOpRQ9TGxtig/s400/002+Snowing+hard.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br />A pristine track, with no footprints in the virgin snow.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RcubeqZTPvI/AAAAAAAAAJU/2IvYlit4hIY/s1600-h/003+Track+at+side.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029284359968079602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RcubeqZTPvI/AAAAAAAAAJU/2IvYlit4hIY/s400/003+Track+at+side.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>I think this ice would be TOO thin to skate on.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIVLCU0OLf-QAAVqi_cKvJJ8N95rlj64CZvCXvcDn4zrvj9ot3obfb9WziA0gyUKy2-wEfJn6vgEsoG5DzlGJmn0ZHjTWQvmI9a7dReAij7vWzAb_ECRtLR9O0zyEVlwgzYvdyg/s1600-h/005+Snow+cover+on+ice.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029283741492788946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIVLCU0OLf-QAAVqi_cKvJJ8N95rlj64CZvCXvcDn4zrvj9ot3obfb9WziA0gyUKy2-wEfJn6vgEsoG5DzlGJmn0ZHjTWQvmI9a7dReAij7vWzAb_ECRtLR9O0zyEVlwgzYvdyg/s400/005+Snow+cover+on+ice.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><div></div><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVtOjr818DxjZ_QXRloma7Iivk4Jbvwodw0A_ZVe5mcCsy4Ptt4Vv1CJwzvNqVeWq7wvP63K_3sigAcCK7Q4gU6ypbX_OXAPtgJwYhQy5d1Vbe1-x389icB5ZhpI1MFZsMuS4yQ/s1600-h/007+Snow+on+branches.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029283488089718466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVtOjr818DxjZ_QXRloma7Iivk4Jbvwodw0A_ZVe5mcCsy4Ptt4Vv1CJwzvNqVeWq7wvP63K_3sigAcCK7Q4gU6ypbX_OXAPtgJwYhQy5d1Vbe1-x389icB5ZhpI1MFZsMuS4yQ/s400/007+Snow+on+branches.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><div></div><div></div>Sticky snow, great for snowmen and snowballs. No time for either, though.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RcualKZTPrI/AAAAAAAAAI0/bWOt0fjQtwM/s1600-h/009+Looking+up+track.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029283372125601458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RcualKZTPrI/AAAAAAAAAI0/bWOt0fjQtwM/s400/009+Looking+up+track.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><div align="center"></div><div></div><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RcuaD6ZTPpI/AAAAAAAAAIk/ohZMX7aMNHw/s1600-h/010+tree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029282800894951058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RcuaD6ZTPpI/AAAAAAAAAIk/ohZMX7aMNHw/s400/010+tree.jpg" border="0" /></a> This Robin was a bug**r to catch on camera. He kept flitting about, This was the only one I managed to get of him. They are usually quite co-operative, but not today!<br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RcuVPKZTPoI/AAAAAAAAAIc/hSg1y40Uao0/s1600-h/011+Robin.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029277496610340482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RcuVPKZTPoI/AAAAAAAAAIc/hSg1y40Uao0/s400/011+Robin.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div align="center"> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div></div></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-7996946619924197542007-02-05T20:02:00.000+00:002007-02-05T20:41:29.384+00:00A walk around Trentham gardens.<div align="center">Last saturday, I took a trip to see Trentham Gardens, near Newcastle Under Lyme. I'd heard my Mum talk of the place, but I'd never been, so I thought it was time to put that right. I chose the most perfect of days, as it was cold, crisp and clear. I walked around the edge of the lake, up to the monument, back down through the woods, and back to the car, but not until I had had a taste experience (more of which in posting below).</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Here's the lake view that greeted me. The sun was melting the frost wherever it kissed it, and a slight mist hung over the water.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RcePeAYeEFI/AAAAAAAAAFM/WZ2AnsktdTM/s1600-h/005+Morning+lake+view.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028145254643929170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RcePeAYeEFI/AAAAAAAAAFM/WZ2AnsktdTM/s400/005+Morning+lake+view.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br />I suppose I could do the; 'you can see their cox' joke here, but I don't want to spoil the effect of this photo.</div><div align="center">(Oh - too late, I've already said it..........LOL)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAwJQVDutNMnDH-1zjzDCsGXTDvV4XJS3qVFV-HEqrFtByvZkTlWkULJvuojWAsHeQNsYNMHcpPiB59H9M3AMG3ETEEzelAGfUHnJkIbDuo4tUQeDccYBOvPu-HUhUEpp-dLNzg/s1600-h/003+Morning+exercise.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028145117204975682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAwJQVDutNMnDH-1zjzDCsGXTDvV4XJS3qVFV-HEqrFtByvZkTlWkULJvuojWAsHeQNsYNMHcpPiB59H9M3AMG3ETEEzelAGfUHnJkIbDuo4tUQeDccYBOvPu-HUhUEpp-dLNzg/s400/003+Morning+exercise.JPG" border="0" /></a><div align="center"><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br />Halfway round the lake, and this is the view along it.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RceO5gYeECI/AAAAAAAAAE0/vvZi_djHfAM/s1600-h/006+Looking+down+Trentham+lake.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028144627578703906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RceO5gYeECI/AAAAAAAAAE0/vvZi_djHfAM/s400/006+Looking+down+Trentham+lake.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div></div><div></div>A perfect tree, against a perfect sky.<br />'Nuff said!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RceOtwYeEBI/AAAAAAAAAEs/nXpY7U894FQ/s1600-h/007+Tree.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028144425715240978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RceOtwYeEBI/AAAAAAAAAEs/nXpY7U894FQ/s400/007+Tree.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div></div>This guy was called Granville Leveson-Gower. He was the first duke of Sutherland. You can find out more about him here (copy and paste this into Internet Explorer); <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granville_Leveson-Gower,_1st_Earl_Granville">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granville_Leveson-Gower,_1st_Earl_Granville</a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicORTPWSHGlz9mNWnjOjQufhbkFCywweOskIq5sX-Bnqq7_e237BOT6WBo9OtObKZsDfmFS-lnGHJGkwJrYitnlbEYnMsdE0aJNP8UjhJNqAd_WYbYm3VRcGwAZI40uArarB29Jw/s1600-h/010+Granville++Leveson+Gower+statue.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028144021988315138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicORTPWSHGlz9mNWnjOjQufhbkFCywweOskIq5sX-Bnqq7_e237BOT6WBo9OtObKZsDfmFS-lnGHJGkwJrYitnlbEYnMsdE0aJNP8UjhJNqAd_WYbYm3VRcGwAZI40uArarB29Jw/s400/010+Granville++Leveson+Gower+statue.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><div></div><div></div>The lake was very popular with scullers. </div><div>This shot makes reminds me of water boatmen beetles!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RceOFAYeD_I/AAAAAAAAAEc/cVBiM10qLb8/s1600-h/011+Ready,+steady.......JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028143725635571698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RceOFAYeD_I/AAAAAAAAAEc/cVBiM10qLb8/s400/011+Ready,+steady.......JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div></div>Bullrushes and the lake.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLy_DLIe5GvWoo6vkYwHab-0PTl1tkJgzkN1EISnhNMFuoqpbo6outThfPJa0NzJG1mi1hX6-QVeSggQPl8q8t3XN0Cf0UvTtmQhRDwFfR1b7PV1ITsbuG7LR01BNvC5LrTzdBrQ/s1600-h/014+Bullrushes+&+lake.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028143618261389282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLy_DLIe5GvWoo6vkYwHab-0PTl1tkJgzkN1EISnhNMFuoqpbo6outThfPJa0NzJG1mi1hX6-QVeSggQPl8q8t3XN0Cf0UvTtmQhRDwFfR1b7PV1ITsbuG7LR01BNvC5LrTzdBrQ/s400/014+Bullrushes+%26+lake.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div></div>Woods and forests always fascinate me. In a good light, they are beautiful.</div><div>Today was a good light<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7z33calGZ_HnMfcsFex64qHDsq6Hr_aEjt7dmzraUk7i30aTHY8_-coPrWUC6LchN0daT7xy-eEhtlF-4Nm3uBqNaDeWry-D-xXayToi26p-pmOdQOmQWlPVVd37RCUx2G_9Ww/s1600-h/018+Sun+through+the+trees.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028143437872762834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7z33calGZ_HnMfcsFex64qHDsq6Hr_aEjt7dmzraUk7i30aTHY8_-coPrWUC6LchN0daT7xy-eEhtlF-4Nm3uBqNaDeWry-D-xXayToi26p-pmOdQOmQWlPVVd37RCUx2G_9Ww/s400/018+Sun+through+the+trees.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div></div>The warm weather had brought out some early 'visitors'.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RceNiQYeD8I/AAAAAAAAAEE/_TJTnxb_v9o/s1600-h/021+Daffs+close+up.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028143128635117506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RceNiQYeD8I/AAAAAAAAAEE/_TJTnxb_v9o/s400/021+Daffs+close+up.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />.....and caused others to recline!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbvk8K15t11CjcqCuLi_8Qf92iPB1m6ghvHLh08vlhrkyRurHu8Lxzz6tOw9Z5vyGcgkTutl-ze5IGYxUvKzsi-CgQlTOPDAaIVN3MalaBUXsTe9_SuHkA5URJgs7MmQaL1fIQg/s1600-h/022+relaxing+in+chair.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028142986901196722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbvk8K15t11CjcqCuLi_8Qf92iPB1m6ghvHLh08vlhrkyRurHu8Lxzz6tOw9Z5vyGcgkTutl-ze5IGYxUvKzsi-CgQlTOPDAaIVN3MalaBUXsTe9_SuHkA5URJgs7MmQaL1fIQg/s400/022+relaxing+in+chair.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The next day I walked to, and around, Buxton. You can see the pics on my other blog at <a href="http://www.pearlsofthepeak.blogspot.com">www.pearlsofthepeak.blogspot.com</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-47524885233364206762007-02-05T19:25:00.000+00:002007-02-05T20:46:18.507+00:00Oil HeavenAs you'll see from the photo's above, I went to Trentham gardens last Saturday. After a lovely walk, we visited the 'retail area'. I'm not really into these places, but I spotted the 'country larder', and my mind turned to interesting cheeses and the meat deli'. There WAS all that, but the crowning glory was the oil and balsamic vinegar selection. I only had a quick taste at first, but was soon hooked. They were, without a DOUBT, the finest flavours I've ever tasted in oil and vinegar. I had already selected two bottles, when Karl, the owner and 'recipist' came out to where I was enthusing over his wares. He is SO devoted to what he does, and he showed me how to mix the already gorgeous flavours to create even better, more complex ones.<br />If you are over that way, I strongly suggest you go and get your buds tickled, you will thank me! Apart from the oils etc, there is a fantastic range of other yummy food (bread, cheeses (over 100) and meats).<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RceEvQYeD6I/AAAAAAAAADw/Ww9SpYKCH4c/s1600-h/023+Fantastic+oils+&+vinegars.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028133456368766882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1foBYrprf3o/RceEvQYeD6I/AAAAAAAAADw/Ww9SpYKCH4c/s400/023+Fantastic+oils+%26+vinegars.JPG" border="0" /></a>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-1168979619607172872007-01-16T20:29:00.000+00:002007-01-16T22:20:59.090+00:00Steam train pictures<div align="center"></div><p align="center">At the weekend, Kingsley & Froghall Station saw the arrival of a V.I.T. (very important train), the Great Marquess! Here are a few pictures, for those train spotters among you.<br /><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/244885/001.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/670377/001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/571644/002.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/905071/002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/591800/003.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/822937/003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/795834/004.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/398923/004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/115756/005.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/712760/005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-1167937465076997212007-01-04T18:57:00.000+00:002007-01-04T19:04:25.106+00:00REAL ale - REAL warning!<div align="center">I thought I'd regale you with this sign, which hangs in the real ale pub; The Three stags Heads, at Wardlow Mires.</div><div align="center">Please.............DON'T ask!</div><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/159311/Smack%20in%20mouth%20sign.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/291359/Smack%20in%20mouth%20sign.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-1167147678767521332006-12-26T15:26:00.000+00:002006-12-26T15:44:15.696+00:00More mists and frost<div align="center">Here are a few more misty pictures, allied with some nice frosty ones. We had one of those very heavy, sticky frosts, so I made the most of it. The one picture I didn't get was one of a frozen spiders web - next time, maybe.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/423256/001%20Heavy%20frost%201.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/582084/001%20Heavy%20frost%201.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>These deadheads always hold frost well, but i just thought these two were particularly good.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/160091/002%20Frozen%20dead%20heads.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/644020/002%20Frozen%20dead%20heads.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>I stopped the car to get these pictures, doesn't this field look magic?<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/194170/003%20Cows%20&%20mist.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/313617/003%20Cows%20%26%20mist.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>I bet those cows don't appreciate all this beauty!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/686294/004%20Mist%20&%20woods.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/722539/004%20Mist%20%26%20woods.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/535877/005%20Mist%20&%20Crich%20stand.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/954251/005%20Mist%20%26%20Crich%20stand.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-1166687401009422092006-12-21T07:47:00.000+00:002006-12-21T07:50:01.023+00:00A very Merry Christmas to all my viewers!<div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/268265/merry%20Xmas%20glittery%20large.gif"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/329835/merry%20Xmas%20glittery%20large.png" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>.....and a happy and peaceful new year.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/805537/smiley%20waving.gif"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/200/611770/smiley%20waving.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-1166644249152707462006-12-20T19:21:00.000+00:002006-12-20T19:50:49.226+00:00Christmas mists<div align="center">October is supposed to be the month of mists, and mellow fruitfulness, NOT December! </div><div align="center">Well, there's not much fruit about (outside Tesco's anyway), but today saw some really pretty mists around Wirksworth and Crich. </div><div align="center">I took these pictures from the roadside. What a wonderful place to be, eh?</div><div align="center">This one is looking across to the tiny hamlet of Alderwasley.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/905335/001%20Mist%20around%20Alderwasley.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/54431/001%20Mist%20around%20Alderwasley.jpg" border="0" /></a> This one is the camera turned to look up the valley towards Crich village. I love the cows in the foreground, munching away at the grass.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/660766/002%20Looking%20to%20Crich.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/332137/002%20Looking%20to%20Crich.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>This is the Crich cliff, in reality, a quarry face (which was recently re-opened). The tower on the top is Crich stand, a memorial to the 17/21st lancers. Information can be found here; </div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.qrl.uk.com/h_17_21.html">http://www.qrl.uk.com/h_17_21.html</a><br /><br /></div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/738946/003%20Crich%20ctand%20in%20the%20mist%20zoomed.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/318978/003%20Crich%20ctand%20in%20the%20mist%20zoomed.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><p align="center">This is the same picture with the zoom off. Don't forget, you can click on any of the pictures to get a larger version. It's really ethereal when you see the land like this.<br /><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/249492/004%20Crich%20stand.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/417176/004%20Crich%20stand.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><p align="center">Another, similar view.<br /><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/689278/005%20Misty%20Crich%20valley.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/336517/005%20Misty%20Crich%20valley.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><p align="center">One last one, as I just LOVE the way this looks in the mist.</p><p align="center">Well, I hope you enjoyed my 'fruitful' account of a misty Derbyshire day. </p><p align="center">Please feel free to sign the comments book.<br /><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/85755/crichstand.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/138718/crichstand.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-1165863626568988592006-12-11T18:40:00.000+00:002006-12-11T22:47:51.126+00:00Xmas trip to Nottingham part 1<div align="center">Around the end of November, the German market comes to Nottingham. I LOVE the atmosphere, pretty stalls, food and drink, and the lights too! It's a lovely day, or night, out and, coupled with the rest of the Xmas activities, for me it's a MUST! I had an extra reason to visit Nottingham this year though, the ALL NEW market square, which was due to be completed for Christmas. Did someone say 'trust a builder'???? No? THOUGHT not because, as expected, it was a massive disappointment to find the square nowhere NEAR done, with a fence right around it and notices telling that it was now due for completion in March,. 2007. I won't be holding my breath. </div><div align="center">The day started with the sight of the Salvation Army Santa, along with his hoardes of collectors. The choir was nice, but better was to come at the old maket square. Don't forget, you can click on any of the pictures to enlarge them, and also, if you click on the title of the post (Xmas trip....), there's a link to the 'visit Nottingham' website.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/278412/002%20Salvation%20Santa.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/93291/002%20Salvation%20Santa.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>Here's the spire of St Peters church. This is at the bottom of exchange walk, and looks down on all the festivities below.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/713412/004%20St%20Peters%20church.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/233756/004%20St%20Peters%20church.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>Indian Pan Pipe players. Pan Pipes are as old as the hills, but I had to chuckle at the battery of modern gear behind this 'authentic' band. They had a portable generator, mixing deck, echo machine, etc etc. Of course, there were the ubiquitous CD's on sale too!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/305311/006%20Flute%20player.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/401026/006%20Flute%20player.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>Now THIS is what you CALL a choir! They sang their hearts out, and were very good too. I watched them for many a while on the council house steps before moving on.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/813117/008%20Choir%20on%20council%20house%20steps.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/41428/008%20Choir%20on%20council%20house%20steps.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>Looking along some of the German market stalls.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/505432/010%20Stalls%202.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/98173/010%20Stalls%202.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Please go to part two (below)<br /><br /><div align="center"></div></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-1165862382184715712006-12-11T18:33:00.000+00:002006-12-11T23:09:57.316+00:00Xmas trip to Nottingham part 2<div align="center">There were one or two stalls that looked decidedly UN-German like this one! It was African crafts! (Had some nice stuff, though).</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/884763/015%20Native%20craft%20stall.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/156087/015%20Native%20craft%20stall.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>Here's the sausage stall, before it got busy, and BOY! Did it get BUSY!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/809736/012%20Sausage%20stall%20in%20daylight.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/523542/012%20Sausage%20stall%20in%20daylight.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I counted 200 sausages on here, and later on, they couldn't keep up with demand! I'd like the cash takings from this stall, at the end of the day.<br /><div align="center"></div><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/842645/014%20Sausages%20cooking%201.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/392638/014%20Sausages%20cooking%201.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>When you're in a city, any city, look up. There's the most sublime architecture on show. Most people miss it, but I always take time to look up. This little spire, for instance. A lot of pride and craftsmanship went into this, what a shame if it goes unnoticed?<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/884160/020%20Lovely%20roof%20spire.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/515737/020%20Lovely%20roof%20spire.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>Here too, pressed into the side of a building, is a little topped out spire.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/300110/019%20Roof%20architecture.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/291894/019%20Roof%20architecture.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div>And just LOOK at the workmanship on these figurines over the Council house frontage!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/893094/022%20Stone%20figures%20above%20council%20house.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/849771/022%20Stone%20figures%20above%20council%20house.jpg" border="0" /></a>Inside the shopping malls of Victoria and broad marsh, they've really gone to town on the decorations. This tree was really well done.<br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/699530/024%20Look%20down%20to%20Xmas%20tree%20in%20Broad%20marsh.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/868445/024%20Look%20down%20to%20Xmas%20tree%20in%20Broad%20marsh.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Please move on to the last part, part three (below)<br /><br /><div align="center"></div></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30929282.post-1165824826553462362006-12-11T08:08:00.000+00:002006-12-11T23:05:51.330+00:00Xmas trip to Nottingham part 3<div align="center"></div><p align="center">As darkness started to fall, the other side of the Xmas decorations surfaced - the LIGHTS! All the stalls on the market took on a different look, the sort of look that gets children (and me) excited and expectant.</p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/572914/027%20Wooden%20toy%20stall.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/156795/027%20Wooden%20toy%20stall.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><p align="center">People milling around at the side of the council house. It was more crowded than it looks - I waited quite a long time to get this shot.</p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/638657/025%20Nottm%20street%20after%20dark.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/47745/025%20Nottm%20street%20after%20dark.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><p align="center">Look now at the way things look.</p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/810674/033%20Market%20stalls%20at%20night.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/827405/033%20Market%20stalls%20at%20night.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><p align="center">Under the Xmas tree - Santa's sleigh and reindeer.<br /><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/774279/032%20Santas%20sleigh.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/487442/032%20Santas%20sleigh.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><p align="center">The lovely Christmas tree in market square.</p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/467071/030%20Xmas%20tree.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/471166/030%20Xmas%20tree.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><p align="center">Lights on exchange walk.</p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/630044/035%20Exchange%20walk%20lights.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/129653/035%20Exchange%20walk%20lights.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><p align="center">The dome on top of the council house. Whoever had this idea deserves a pat on the back. The columns are lit up in an array of colours, changing hue every five seconds or so. This sort of show comes second only to fireworks, in my book.</p><p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/1600/82424/038%20Red%20columns.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2995/3326/400/787296/038%20Red%20columns.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">And so I boarded the tram to make my way home. I never tire of Nottingham, but I am not sure I want to be there too long after dark!<br /><br /><br /></p><div align="center"></div>Les,http://www.blogger.com/profile/09506376434599831866noreply@blogger.com0