If I Knew What They Looked Like...

I could have such fun.





Alas I don't know what The Artic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs, Funeral for A Friend, Paul Weller, or Skint and Demoralised look like...





We live in deepest Lincolnshire, right on the edge of nowhere. A neighbouring village has two recording studios which are used by lots of groups and singers...

It is so successful that they are building a large new accommodation block.

Shirley Bassey, Wet, Wet, Wet, and Barbara Dickson, OMD, Ocean Colour Scene, The Propellerheads, The Damned...

have all enjoyed the facilities in this lovely, leafy part of Lincolnshire.

Sometimes what gives them away is using an entirely unsuitable vehicle for narrow, muddy, country roads. Sometimes it is the appearance of hoodie-wearing young men who dash around as though being pursued. Ha! They should be so lucky!





The neighbours are quiet, the village peaceful. No shop, no pub, no school.

Just lovely Lincolnshire - and a great recording studio.

Hug a Vet Today

This morning I will be heading to town for breakfast. Hy-Vee is hosting their annual free breakfast for veterans. Thanks, Hy-Vee.
I send warm wishes to my fellow Vets. To my Nam Vet friends, "Welcome Home".

Merry Christmas from Mala Compra

Overcast morning, threatening a shower, but I had planned to ride some dirt today. Headed to the Hammocks for a ride on the Mala Compra Greenway Trails.
I parked across Rt A1A from the trailhead at Mala Compra Rd. checked the trail map at the kiosk and ended down the trail. Most of this trail is rated as a "blue" trail. there area also side trails rated as "black diamond" and one that I saw rated "double black diamond".
Most of the trail is a tight, curvy trail though the wood. Solid surface except fpr short sections of palm roots and soft sand. At lease you can recognize the sandy spots because its a white sand.
Obstacles are highlighted as a black diamond trail marked with a blue bypass. (see photo) At the 16th St trailhead is another kiosk. It had some trail brochures with trail map. Just the map I was looking for 9which I could not find anywhere on the internet!.
Was not sure if I would ride singletrack on the trail back, but after a rest and some G2, I was ready to ride on. This end of the trail area had some rougher trails - longer sections of black diamond, some quick climbs and descents, ridge-running. I bypassed those trail section!
On the way back, there were several area where a wide, walking path paralleled the singletrack. At 3.5 miles, I was getting tired, to switched to the walking path. Ended up with 3.8 miles, 1:08 riding time, and 22 photos.

Clouds and Ice

It is kind of a blustery (but mild!) day today, with some falling (but mostly blowing) snow. The blustery nature of the day has me thinking back to a few days ago when the day was absolutely calm and quiet. The photo you see here was made on this quiet day, with barely a sound to be heard along the shoreline. When this cloud drifted over the ridge of ice plates I knew I had to photograph it. The complementing blues of the ice and sky were beautiful. I sure hope we get a day like this on wednesday of next week, if we do it will be a perfect day for our wedding ceremony!

Snow time...

Quite a bit of snow has fallen over the past week leaving plenty at Paradise (a solid 2 feet). As you can see in this John Piastuck image, skiers and boarders (32 ants by my count) are "chomping at the bit" to climb Panorama Point for early season turns... This is looking to be a very promising ski season folks. The question is, will it hold; will it continue?
The Washington State Climatologists have something to say about our weather. They just published an interesting report about our 2007 summer temperatures. It points to data that says we're still experiencing a warmer than normal trend (0.01 to be exact for Aug). I also found that they are willing to post an "Outlook" for the fall and winter. Check it out, but don't look for any clarity as it doesn't really predict anything substantial or exciting: "The Climate Prediction Center's 3-month outlook for November-December-January is for equal chances of above, below, or normal temperatures for Washington..."
Whatever the case, we're off to good start and the ants on Pan Point are seemingly stoked. With them are a few climbers who are hoping to find the summit this week. Perhaps they'll successfully weave through the upper mountain crevasses and visit Columbia Crest during this weather window.

If you are planning to climb this fall, here are few safety, registration and camping tips:

• Expect crevasses: Though it's been snowing quite a bit this Sept/Oct, be prepared for lightly covered crevasses on the mountain.
• Avalanche: Yes, slides have killed climbers in the fall on Mount Rainier and it could easily happen again. It doesn't take much to knock a team into a terrain trap (crevasse, cliff, hole) or bury someone. This is especially the case if the wind is blowing which could contribute to large snow deposits.
• Poor weather: Ok, this is a constant on Rainier, but fall is definitely the time when storms linger longer than expected and climbers regret their "fast and light" plans. Be prepared to sit out inclement weather and expect heavy wet snow.

You can register in Longmire at the museum, or self register (i.e. honor system) at Paradise on the front porch of the Jackson Visitor Center. Most teams will select the Camp Muir Public Shelter for high camp accommodations. Over the past few years, that hut has been very accessible... But you should still bring a shovel to dig out the door and always clean up after you leave. On nice/busy weekends, bring your ear plugs (snoring, running stoves, chatter) and expect to breath stove exhaust in the hut.

Jurassic Way 5 - Winwick to Sibbertoft

Winwick - Elkington - Welford - Sibbertoft

11 miles. With Marta. Fine, sunny, very warm. Dry conditions.

Winwick church - photograph taken at end of the walk! See time.

From the pond at Winwick we walked past the gateway to Winwick Hall, then turned left, through a field gate to the bridleway.

The gates and Winwick Hall.

The route was clearly marked until we had to turn off to the left towards Honey Hill. This sign was a little harder to find:

Hunt the way markers

The path to Honey Hill skirts the hillsides to begin with, through some fields - at one point there is a way marker near a wooden bridge - don't even bother trying to cross the bridge, the path continues round the field and on, alongside a golf course, which you eventually cross over.
The climb starts here and after crossing a field or two, you join a wide surfaced track past Honey Hill Farm and a field with horses - lovely views if you look back.

The third horse was just relaxing - above Honey Hill Farm.

The road flattens out, and you pass another large house before reaching the road between Welford and Cold Ashby. Turn left for a very short stretch, and the footpath leads off to the left, taking you down Honey Hill towards Elkington.

From the path down Honey Hill

The path was opened here in 1994

In Elkington, you turn right along the road, and follow it to the junction. On the noticeboard, this notice caught my eye - memories of times past, not I hope portents of times to come:

Keep to the left hand road (signposted to Yelverton) and after a short distance, you cross a canal bridge. Turn right here and follow the canal for about a mile, along and under the A14. Continue to bridge 31.

I haven't yet worked out what these 'living milestones' are for

At bridge 31 you leave the canal, cross the bridge and take the footpath on the left. At this time of year, the sign is half hidden in the hedge, but the path is clear.

Uphill to Hemplow Hills. On the following walk we saw a hare ahead of us on this path.

Part of West Hill Farm

The path through the woods is clear - a bit steep at the start. Once you emerge, go along beside a field where young trees are growing, and along a track past West Hill Farm, and these lodge buildings. Then it's over a stile by a remote controlled gate and along Hemplow Drive, past Hemplow Lodge Farm and childcare nursery. Continue along the drive until you reach the crossroads. Cross over and West End is the road leading into Welford village.

At this point we went to the pub at the Wharf, rather than following the official JW path, rejoining it on the Naseby Road, just past the fishermen's car park.

We walked along the path next to the reservoir, then across the causeway.

A less daunting causeway in summer time!

the path cuts across fields, through the bumps and hollows of the deserted mediaeval village of Old Sulby, through a field of cows, past some farms to a track where we turned right and followed the path through several fields - it is well marked.

Soon we arrived at Sibbertoft, where we followed the route round to the churchyard before returning to the car.

Sibbertoft church, photo taken before driving to Winwick - see time on clock!

Royal Honeymoon at the Oyster Box, South Africa

As one fairytale wedding begins to fade from our memories, another one is set to take place. On July 1^st Prince Albert of Monaco will marry his love, Charlene Wittstock, and what could possibly follow a fairytale wedding? How about an enchanting honeymoon at a seaside resort at the other end of the world?

Standing majestically on Umhlanga’s prestigious beachfront on the eastern seaboard of KwaZulu-Natal, with sweeping views of the Indian Ocean and direct beach access, the Oyster Box Hotel is one of South Africa’s most distinguished hotels.




This family-run, luxury hotel in the Umhlanga Rocks is 20 minutes north of Durban. "Constructed in 1869 and originally used as navigational beacon, a beach cottage known as the 'Oyster Box,' was first converted into a hotel in the 1930s," according to its website.

I’m sure the royal couple will spare no expensive to ensure they have the honeymoon of their dreams. The President's Suite which encompasses two floors, an ornate gold-leafed bed, a private swimming pool and a freestanding marble bath overlooking the Indian Ocean. Its terrace and private dining area can hold 10 guests. The royal price: $7,500 per night.

Dubbed South Africa's "garden district," the country's northeastern coastline holds special meaning for Wittstock. The Rhodesian-born swimmer, moved to Durban at age 17 to train for her Olympic bid while also teaching swimming to children in the nearby port of Richard's Bay.

With the many facilities the hotel has to offer the newlyweds will most likely stay in. There are six venues to dine in, offering fine-dining and more casual options, each beautifully decorated. This luxury hotel also has a wine cellar, oyster bar and cinema room. Guests can also relax around the Infinity pool that overlooks the ocean, or indulge in the world-class Spa… all located on this spectacular property.


We may never marry a real Prince, but we can however vacation like one!

Tossing Chips

This time of year, wildlife is abundant as many animals are busy preparing for the coming summer season. As is the case with many creatures, this means building a nest in order to raise their young. Today at Grand Portage State Park (which is where I work for my day job) my co-workers told me about a large bird that they had seen climbing out of a hole in a tree. Based on their description I told them it was probably a Pileated Woodpecker. They showed me where they had seen it and sure enough, that's what it was. He was diligently working all afternoon on carving out a nest cavity in a tall aspen tree. When we first got to the tree the bird was nowhere to be seen, but we could hear a muted tapping sound. After a few moments the woodpecker stuck his head out of the hole and promptly threw a mouthful of wood chips to the ground. We watched him do this over and over again.

I knew I had to get some footage of this activity, so after work I went back to the nest and he was still hard at work, tapping inside the tree then throwing the wood chips out. I watched and photographed him for about an hour. Hopefully this means that they will be having babies soon and we will be able to see them being fed by the parents. This is an easily accessible location at the park so it would be neat to share this wildlife encounter with park visitors :-)

Jam

Our recent trip to Speyside coincided with the raspberries in my Dad's garden being ripe. And that means only one thing - jam.

I must have pulled about 30lbs of berries, some for us and some for neighbours, and still the berries are ripening. Now that we are back in Edinburgh my Dad has been phoning round ever more distant neighbours in an effort to have the berries used. This has its benefits, of course: in the barter system that operates very effectively in my home village, home baking is flowing in return.

Every container in the house was pressed into use.





My mother's trusty Salter scales were brought out - not a metric measurement in sight.





Eventually I ran out of jam jars and had to resort to filling casserole dishes - in this case a lovely Norwegian one. It won't be a problem to use up the open dishes. There is nothing better than the very freshest raspberry jam.





What produce gluts are you coping with at the moment?

Little Things

LITTLE THINGS
Little drops of water,Little grains of sand,Make the mighty oceanAnd the pleasant land.
Thus the little minutes,Humble though they be,Make the mighty agesOf eternity.
So our little errorsLead the soul awayFrom the path of virtue,Oft in sin to stray.
Little deeds of kindness,Little words of love,Make our earth an Eden,Like the heaven above.
Author Unknown

Kneeling in the Mud

We had a lot of much needed rain last night. Unfortunately that meant that the ground was too soggy for me to get back to my digging.So I headed into the garden for a little session with the macro lens and found this beauty down in the hellebore patch. Odd man out amongst the green flowers.Nearby I found this Chinese Lantern Skeleton, I was kneeling in the mud (accidental, I wobbled) trying to get a decent macro shot whenmy very cute 'assistant', Sparky made me jump, when she pushed her sweet little face into the lens. I gave her a fussing and sent her off to earn her keep, catch a mouse, preferably a rat...I picked up the displaced Chinese Lantern and tried again. Very amusing, but not what I was after.

I gave up.



I did the ironing instead.





She probably did me a favour, the ironing basket is now empty!