Post-Christmas Swim in the Sea
After the walk we just had to do the post-Christmas swim. Even with wet suits it was a tad colder than the walk. Bracing. Yogi got into the spirit of things by finding and eating a stinky fish on the walk back. He's Mr Fish now.
Post-Christmas Walk on the Beach
A windy stroll along Padstow's beach to Hawker's Cove. Blowy there, but the wind veered and so it was helpfully blowy back too.
Padstow Food and Drink
The Harbour Inn (always); Cherry Trees (also always, and always over Cherry Blossom); Padstow Tasting Room (beer flights!); and POTL (again! & would love to be always 😉).
Failure
A great spot for a photo but I failed miserably in persuading Ewok and Yogi to pose for one.
Run
A run to grab the bike from the station (where I'd left it after the night out at the Comedy Store). Highlight: saying "hi" to the santa special. Low light: suspecting that the mud wasn't all just mud.
Spring Rolls
An early morning cross-country ride to Oxford (yes, it was freezing) to seek out rice paper for the Thai-style spring rolls. Jing Jing on the Cowley road FTW.
Practice may be necessary.
Sleeping Dogs
There's been complaints of not enough Yogi. Personally, I don't think he could care less.
King of the castle
King¹ of the coastal battery too
Footnotes
[¹] Ewok is very proud of his fatty lumps, but this pic has been Photoshoped to hide one. He's not impressed.
Too Early!
Ewok was in a pesky mood. Tap, tap, Shuffle, shuffle. Still mostly asleep at 0630 but he really, really, wanted me up. So we went for a walk. And what a wonderful way to start the day.
Another reminder that the best camera is the one you have with you; and to always listen to Ewok.
And back home in time for breakie.
Harlyn but no surf for us
Magic Seaweed¹ said poor, with 15ft swell (that's way too big for us), so instead a blustery sunset walk with the pups to Trevone.
Footnotes
[¹] I know it's not Magic Seaweed anymore, but for me it always will be.
POTL
POTL had space, so a last minute Thursday date, great food, super service and amazing company. Thank you F. ☆☆☆☆☆'s
Stepper Point Loop
Up the hill and over the fields out of Padstow.
Through Crugmeer and then north on the Hawker's Cove road.
Go left when the road goes right, across the field to the coast path.
Before your feet hit the waves, turn right again and follow the path past the coast guard lookout and around the headland of Stepper Point.
Drop down into Hawker's Cove and then across the beach and past the war memorial before dropping back into Padstow.
Then bath.
Hawker's Cove
Morning walk across to Hawker's Cove
Always wondered why these trees are exactly there. Maybe this is the answer.
It was a little breezy.
With showers mixed in with the breeze.
A beautiful way to spend time with lovely F.
Spoilt for Choice
When we first started charging here there were three chargers. There's a few more than that now.
Autumn Walks
Everything was great with our morning circular walk.
Until it wasn't. It went all a bit damp. So we did a there and back walk.
Collecting Bike
Left my bike after J's party, so a brief run to collect it.
St Peter's was open. So I popped in for a shufty.
San Juan Memories
Memories of the San Juan's (especially West Beach on Orcas Island) triggered at MOMA Oxford.
Day out in Oxford
P&R. Police Station. Story Museum. Moma. Books. Westgate. Books. Handle Bar (for Lunch!). Books (Bodleian & Blackwell's). Christ Church. Police Station. P&R.
Danger of death
From large poles falling from the sky and embedding themselves deep into the ground.
cheeky
Ewok got all the way to the end of our walk, waited for me to get distracted by Yogi, and then "pretended" he’d lost us and danced, yes the only way I can describe it is dancing, danced most of the way back to the river before I caught up with him. Cheeky Ewok.
NYC Color
Yes, there is some color in New York. Not much. Some.
Look closely and you can see the office
Hotel Two
Is this the hotel I booked? I'm sure this alley will be fine…
Feeling 25 years too old for the Moxy.
It's quicker to walk
New York sounds like a traffic jam. It sounds like it is. So walking is usually faster. And you see more.
30k Sunday Wander
Starting at the hotel, a Sunday wander around New York. 30k to Central Park and back.
I slept well.
Hidden Treasure
Hanging out in WTC4, the New York office, for a few days.
It's a great spot for weather watching. But less dramatic than last time
Where did the water go?
A walk on the Doom Bar. Spring low and suddently the sand goes to the horizon.
Morning Padstow
Up early. Walked the dogs. Nipped down to the harbour and caught the sunrise. But missed the tide by about an hour. Take the wins.
Birthday Treat at 100
To the pub for a birthday beer, ice cream and a salmon treat. It was the last ice cream too!
walking into the rising sun
This time of year is perfect for getting Yogi and Ewok out (or for them getting me out) to experience the sun rise on our morning walk. Heading back into town it's rising and warming your face as you stride down Cross Street, accelerating towards breakfast.
Nearly 100 walk
Ewok is nearly 100. So we went for a walk on his favourite beach.
Great company. Great views.
art, music, London
A day trip to London, starting with a walk down the lane for a ride.
(And where every other visitor or member of staff appeared to be a fellow sisters fan.)
Huge day out.
Diolch yn fawr, G, S and S.
Climbing in the gorge
The boys treated me to an afternoon climbing Sea Walls in the Avon Gorge. Mega! Thanks lads 🤩
Cleaned cracks
I think I prefer them overgrown and messy. But A has a thing about order in the garden.
Tractor turned
Bob's field stayed very unhappy. So unhappy that nothing grew, and the same region has now been deep ploughed. My pet theory is an accidental weed killer overdose. WDYT?
Politics on the edge
In town with the boys for box park food, second half pub football, and an evening with Rory Stewart (plus David Dimbleby, and a semi-incoherent mediation lawyer from Bristol).
Padstow Crabber
S won on size. I won on quantity.
The best bit about crabbing is the excuse to sit at the end of the harbour wall and watch the world float by. The worst bit is everyone else looking your way and wondering when some kids will rock up.
Working from the shed
In between the showers I was working in the courtyard. Lovely. During them, I was relegated to the shed. Will be lovely. One day.
Cornwall 2023
Someone labelled the beach so you'd know where you were, and when you where there. Approximately.
Hawker's was looking good too.
Harvest time
It's the time of year when we estimate how many boxes of weetabix one of Bob's fields makes.
This year my guess is 42.
Excuse me, I have a train to catch
The Camel Trail back to Bodmin was a tad busier than on the way down. Note to self: if you want the trail to yourself in August, ride at night.
The train was on time. But the bike spot GWR booked was, again, in a carriage that isn't accessible at Bodmin Parkway.
But that didn't matter, because when I got to the "you must book a bike to travel" place it was already kinda occupied.
Joined. Up. Thinking.
A book to read
A book recommendation from my third-joint-second favourite book shop. Killing Thatcher: The IRA, the Manhunt and the Long War on the Crown by Rory Carroll. Devoured.
Little Petherick Loop
My favourite loop. Possibly. Padstow to Little Petherick and back, along both sides of the creek. Podcast on the way out, tunes on the way back. 9-ish kilometers (but don't tell F).
Reading Spot
The perfect reading spot, a mug of tea on the harbour wall, while waiting for pizza from Embers for dinner. Mushroom.
Harlyn by foot
The surf looks 👍 so headed over the fields to Harlyn from Padstow via Trevone for some boarding.
After the bridge the path got a little... constrained.
The return trip is perfect for collecting supplies from Padstow Farm Shop. Coffee beans and bacon!
Cornwall By Train & Bike
Wallingord - Cholsey - Reading - Bodmin - Padstow by bike and train. Three attempts and this was the second success¹.
Getting to Bodmin after 10pm meant I had the Camel trail all to myself for the ride to Padstow. Spooky.
Footnotes
¹ But it was almost a repeat of the first run choas. I got on the connection at Reading not realizing that it was actually the previous train, delayed by an hour, by doors that wouldn't open. We then sat at Plymouth for a while to let the train behind us overtake. I guess that looks better on the statistics. Corinne Stockheath would be impressed.
Arnolfini Bristol
The book case was my favourite. Celebrating artists who are also immigrants.
F thought it better in colour.
Bristol Cathedral
Looking up.
And looking down.
People have been doing the same in the same spot for 800 years.
Tagmr
Abandoned. This was a lovely place to sit and watch the river until someone parked their boat here.
Saturday Walk (and pub)
Saturday afternoon and a lovely pub and walk with the lovely H & D. And Fay found L a tractor. Result.
Saturday Ride
Saturday morning, up onto Langdon Hill and Cholsey Downs.
I learnt that 'byways' aren't great for gravel riding, because heavy vehicles create deep ruts, which mean peddle strikes.
Oh, and some of the ruts are deep.
And full of water.
Muddy water.
Fun ride 🤩
Fika
New packaging from Horsebox Coffee. Three years and counting. And still an excellent choice for fika.
Between the showers
Between the showers the light was pretty awesome. The seagulls enjoyed the view too.
Ewok, for ever
Wikipedia defines as follows: "The Ewoks are a fictional species of small, furry, mammaloid, bipeds in the Star Wars universe. They inhabit the forest moon of Endor and live in arboreal huts and other simple dwellings, being seen as primitive in comparison with other sentient species."
But we know that Ewok is far from fictional 🤩
An election is coming
You heard it here first. Election before the end of the year.
The difference between red and blue in a picture. (via John Burn-Murdoch at the Financial Times).
Collective noun for a group of cabs
Network cabinets proliferating under the shade of the traffic junction. I'm wondering what the collective noun of these boxes might be?
Last (whole) day on Vis
Is it
Always makes me smile
A list of aiddy approved activities
Jana, is everywhere
Komiža again.
And an early morning ferry.
Tito's Caves
Three hours walk from Vis are a couple of caves where Tito and gang hung out.
That's three hours by foot. We drove.
Big Ship
Woke up to the on-board announcements of the day's excursions from the big ship in the bay,
The way to Fay's Beach
Along the path from Ruk, out to the entrance to Vis bay, is a little lovely swimming spot. Fay's beach.
Dinner at Fort George
Another amazing meal at Fort George. Great food, fantastic service, and that evening view!
Vis Run 1
Rain, on Vis? Perfect for a short loop up to the memorial and down the hiking trail. Short maybe, but steep! More of a brisk walk than a run in many places. Not bad for the views though.
Split
Day 1 of vacation. Chilling in Split en route to Vis.
Bonus: protein drink snacks for the ferry.
We're seasoned travelers on this journey, and has sussed the shady spot while waiting for Petar Hektorović.
Cholsey and Wallingford
David Hockney with F was aweome, but the bike was left at the wrong station. Risky.
M's birthday, also with F, was also awesome, but the car was left at the venue. Less risky.
Solution: Morning run to the bike and then ride to the car. Running with a spanner (to remove the front wheel) was fun. Riding with the same spanner less fun.
Central Saint Martins
Another timewarp memory. This time an institution rather than a place (because he place is now a book shop) some 30ish years later.
Brownsea
And now, for the arty pix...
J is getting married (whoop!) and M was coming over from home for the occasion, so an ideal opportunity to gather as many cousins (5 of 8) as could make it. Awesome organisation from the amazing C and a fantastic weekend of catching up and saying hello.
New Milton Fall
An extra walk along the sea at New Milton.
Bristol with Granny
Stop off in Bristol for a spot of brunch (Primrose cafe, recommended) and then a mini-tour with F and Granny.
Tree fern assisted drying
Drying the board ahead on the island trip, with the good-looking tree fern taking notes from the corner.
Morning Paddle
Morning coffee down by the harbour was so nice that the harbour-master persuaded me that it was a good morning for a paddle.
And they were right.
Therapy?
Theraphy? at the Bullingdon. Thanks chaps.
Coronation Flowers
Amazingly all the tulips in Victoria Embankment Gardens have flowered right on time for the Coronation.
May in the Garden
May in the garden. Early May. More May in the Garden.
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 (May-ish) | 2017 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005
Drone Operator
Nothing to see here. Just a drone operator on the beach. VR googles too. Beach drone racing practice?
Garda Síochána
This, of Garda Síochána, is a leftover from a peaceful Dublin trip. A long time ago I commented that the best camera is the one you have with you (a line stolen from where I can't remember). But that's not always true, because sometimes the best camera is in your bag and you still reach for the phone… which might be challenging my definition of "best".
First Ride of April
Wow. Without thinking this turned into a thing. The flat, the climbs, and anything tarmac was much faster on the gravel bike, but the bumpy downhills were sloooooooow. But maybe that's no bad thing at my age ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
To Dublin, By Train
Let's try this again. This time it's Dublin rather than Cornwall. And train+ferry to boot. But no bike 😉
Oxford had phone boxes on the platform. I wonder how many calls a month they have? I should have grabbed the number.
Crew had puddles...
...and bikes.
There's a bridge from Holyhead station and passenger ferry terminal across to the town. A recommended detour, especially if you have time for a full Welsh and two flat white's at Rueben's before the ferry.
Look closely and and you can see Snowdon!
Before long it's the end of the harbour wall.
And a walk (half nice, half dodging ferry port trucks) from the terminal into the city centre.
New Gate. New Road
Ewok inspecting the new gate and the (maybe) temporary access road for the lock keepers.
Spring Evenings
An early evening walk. Ewok was gently persuaded to climb down the rocks to the beach. He wasn't too keen, but loved the sand when he eventually made it.
Window Sill
The lemon geranium is pondering whether to recover from being left alone with the curtains closed.
Post run views
Muddy run == muddy shoes == take them off before entering house
Daffs
Little Petherick loop is turning into my favourite run. Podcast until somewhere around 6k and then beats to get me home. Half way round I panted past a field of Daffodils. Yellow buds as far as you could see.
Where do you get your coffee
Stein's asked "Where did you get your coffee while we were closed in January?"
Cherry Trees. And now my loyalties are split.
Blocked Sink
A Saturday morning spent removing gunk from the sink waste. I kinda hoped we'd be starting with the renovations by now. Next year?
Post-lunch stretch
A post-(bistro)-lunch required a short stroll to walk off the loveliness. I don't think that F was impressed that it turned into an 11k loop. The dogs are now sleeping though!
Working from the office
What's this? A change from working in the office? Yup. Another day in big London towne.
Bike Gear
It's depressing, and somehow frigtening, how much difference riding with that little camera sign makes. It's almost as if many drivers only decide not to gamble with my life when they think they might be caught on film.
Construction
Environment Agency construction. An access road for the lock keepers because the weir is unsafe and the footpath across it is now closed. It may be a while.
Dunkers
Gift from the new country. Dunkers! All the way from NYC Trader Joes. Huge thanks to K for lugging them all the way.
Seeding
The wonderful Sequoia seedling, a gift from lovely M, pic taken to include as an illustration for a team gathering. The team recommended naming it Filiz, which is sprout in Türkçe.
Hello Filiz.
Knee, after meeting road
Knee, meet road. My fault. Forgot to slow down (at all) before taking the corner. Idiot. More of a slide than a fall. Must ride slower!
Active Travel
Oxfordshire have a policy to encourage active travel. You probably couldn't guess from the state of the footways.
Frost to Fog
Frost turned to freezing fog for the best part of the week.
Which meant the smoke from that smouldering bonfire lingered.
While the newly cleared woodland path disappeared into white nothing
It was even foggy in the big smoke. Look carefully and you'll see not-really-Big-Ben peering through the murk.
But, it did mean the patio lights were pretty!
Comfortzone Expanding Wine
R had a theory that time goes faster as you get older because you have fewer new experiences. We decided to put this to the test by going for a different bottle of wine at our favourite Wallingford eatery. Comfort-zone expanding.
Biffa Bin
Garry, the garden waste bin, feels unloved. Biffa have been ignoring him. I've said not to take it personally, but I don't think I've been that persuasive.
Garry has written to Biffa, we'll keep you updated.
Tidy Jumps
The kids that jump really do keep the woods tidy. We could learn a thing or too from them. Not least because they clean up the mess that people throw out of their car windows and then blows in from the road.
Lock Rescue
The environment agency are preparing a rescue mission for the lock keeper. First stage is creating a parking area that's protected from the mud-quake.
Gravel loop ride
The diverge managed an awesome south Oxfordshire loop. It was nicely muddy, with only just enough grip from the hybrid tyres. A slip-sliding backend of a ride.
Thames Path
The path is closed at Benson lock.
Debris damage to the wear and the walkway over it means the path across the river may be shut for a while, possibly to 2024.
The folks from Richmond who left their boat on the beach in September came back to try and pump it out. But the pump and generator weren't up to the task so the boat is still there... but now with fresh coloured holding straps.
