tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91180458655882052652024-03-13T12:34:35.248+00:00Walkies!One man and his blog - about walkingrichard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-47917538982609051092007-06-17T07:10:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:26.703+00:0017. Canal du Midi<div><div><strong>Toulouse - Carcassonne.:- </strong>A walk along the Canal du Midi in the south of France. I planned to do a short sharp 60 miles over 3 days, but my footwear was inadequate and I settled for a sore-footed but shorter distance to compensate. <strong>Distance:-</strong> 25 miles over two days. <strong>Going:-</strong> mostly on the towpath - now a cycle route thronging with BGV's - les bycyclettes de grand vitesse. Also a tremendous storm the night before made the unpaved sections somewhat soggy. <strong>Progress:-</strong> Walked 208 - to go 292. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/CanalDuMidiFrance">Photograph Hyperlink</a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076932178644318066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RnTi6vDYN3I/AAAAAAAAAtk/QkdGd_ew7RM/s320/2007_0611Canaldumidi0034-1.JPG" border="0" /> <div align="center">The Canal du Midi.</div><div></div><div align="left">Except for the towpath and the locks it's like walking a riverbank. The canal is not straight, but meanders gracefully through the Midi. There are tree lined banks with overhanging branches Watervoles plop in now and then for a spot of sculling; heron lurk for lunch in quiet sidings, warblers, including nightingale sing their socks off from the overhead boughs, and in the blue sky above buzzard and black kites spiral upwards on the wheel of a thermal lift.</div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076933570213721986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RnTkLvDYN4I/AAAAAAAAAts/Xo3cnH2b_eU/s320/2007_0611Canaldumidi0025.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Meanwhile....</div><div></div><div align="left">.....down in the water the French bid for Olympic swimming gold in Beijing 2008 is forging full steam ahead. </div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076934755624695698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RnTlQvDYN5I/AAAAAAAAAt0/4_O6yl202AE/s320/2007_0611Canaldumidi0035.JPG" border="0" /><br />A dead BGV -A mini-monument to speed.<br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div align="left">Tales From The Towpath. As a walker you seem to be the lowest form of towpath life along the canal. The towpath is now in fact a designated cylcle path. The bicycle brigade assume full ownership. I was carved up and scowled at constantly. Put a frenchman in a pair of velcro cycle shorts with go-faster stripes down either side, and he thinks he's Eddie Merx on heat. After the cyclists in the peck order come the joggers, who also do a nice side line in scowling. It all made me feel quite humble. But at least there was some interest along the towpath.....</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076935382689920930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RnTl1PDYN6I/AAAAAAAAAt8/3Yf_WT3hfkY/s320/2007_0611Canaldumidi0040.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>.....Ou est les bateaux? </div><div> </div><div align="left">Perhaps the strangest thing was the absence of boats plying to and fro. I saw only two all the first day. One was this traditional barge, of which there are many alongside the canal, almost all converted to houseboats. The other was a Norfolk Broads class booze cruiser - replete with bikini clad figurehead draped across the deck - tottymungous! </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076937036252329922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RnTnVfDYN8I/AAAAAAAAAuM/nVzU3LlHzUE/s320/2007_0611Canaldumidi0033-1.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div><br /><p align="center">Grafitti!</p><p align="left">Everywhere you look in France there is graffitti. It's on the buildings, the walls, the signs, the bridges - everywhere. In Bordeaux my friend Ian has had his white van graffitied; and he's not alone. So don't stand rooted on one spot too long - or they'll do you as well!</p>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-6124621190181185222007-05-21T05:53:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:30.452+00:0016. Lavenham - Stowmarket<div align="left"><strong>Details:-</strong> After being dropped off by Denise in Lavenham at 9.00am on a sunny <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Saturday</span>, I walked the country lanes between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lavenham</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Stowmarket</span>, arriving back by train in time to catch the Cup Final. I might as well have kept walking - the match was rubbish! <strong>Distance:-</strong> 15 miles; <strong>Going;-</strong> Easy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">peasy</span> - only some of the <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/LavenhamStowmarket/photo#5066887824944020738">cars drive a bit close,</a> when I am hoping to be given a wider by-pass. <strong>Progress:-</strong> Walked 183 - 317 to go. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/LavenhamStowmarket">Photographs Hyperlink</a>.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066891840738442594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RlE3SJqKPWI/AAAAAAAAAqk/1k-I_Gxk2jw/s320/Prentice+Street,+Lavenham+018.jpg" border="0" /><br />South Suffolk...... </div><div align="center"><br />.......where since <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Hereward</span> was awake, the medieval streets have given onto the open countryside.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066892570882882930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RlE38pqKPXI/AAAAAAAAAqs/hFm17iFgZRw/s320/Prentice+Street,+Lavenham+021.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p align="center">South Suffolk....<br /><br /></p><p align="center">...where since Edmund became the patron saint of hedgehogs, the oak timbers have acquired a lovely silvery hue with the passage of the centuries.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066893803538496898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RlE5EZqKPYI/AAAAAAAAAq0/f90Y31R8vog/s320/lancashire+5+07+005.jpg" border="0" /> South Suffolk....</p><p align="center">....where since <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Pontius</span> was a pilot time seems to have stood still, and the years roll back as the countryside rolls over.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066895259532410258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RlE6ZJqKPZI/AAAAAAAAAq8/9cOBgBT0UZw/s320/DSCF0016.JPG" border="0" /> South Suffolk...</p><p align="center">...where since Edward was a confessor, folk have lived off the fat of the land.....</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066895912367439282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RlE6_JqKPbI/AAAAAAAAArM/LT6i5whKGVw/s320/flat-tyre.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">.....but still don't have the time to sort the flat of the Land Rover.</p><p align="center"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066897239512333762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RlE8MZqKPcI/AAAAAAAAArU/yic2PmMEUhk/s320/lancashire+5+07+013.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">South Suffolk....</p><p align="center">....where since Constable squeezed hay-wain yellow over his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">palette</span>, the fields of barley have conducted themselves in an endless M<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">exican</span> wave.</p><p align="center"></p><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066898283189386706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RlE9JJqKPdI/AAAAAAAAArc/GQxYSBCcw-o/s320/DSCF0002.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p align="center">Henry Ford might have well said history is bunk, but my guess is he never went to South Suffolk!</p>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-61107273406313853862007-05-18T13:55:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:31.757+00:0015. Stonyhurst, Lancashire.<div align="left"><strong>Details:- </strong>This was a Sunday afternoon stroll, all mellowed out after a good lunch. The walk started at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Stonyhurst</span> College and took me down to the River <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ribble</span>, along the river bank of both the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ribble</span> and its tributary the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hodder</span>, past Cromwell's bridge, and back up to the college. <strong>Distance:-</strong> 7 miles; <strong>Going:-</strong> it drizzled, but was easy to walk. Progress:- Walked 168 - to go 332.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/StonyhurstLancashire">Photographs hyperlink</a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065905462844210194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rk22LZqKPBI/AAAAAAAAAn4/8i_qnBDIH24/s320/Stonyhurst+7-04+011.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Stonyhurst</span> College. </p><p align="left"><br />The approach down the mile long Avenue is impressive. This huge collection of interconnecting buildings are Grade 1 listed as of architectural/historic interest. Only 2% of listed buildings are Grade 1, so this then is one of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Lancashire's</span> finest.<br /></p><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065906493636361250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rk23HZqKPCI/AAAAAAAAAoA/zfg8tqfG0ig/s320/Stony2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">From The Air....<br /></p><br /><p align="left">showing something more of the size and scale. St Peters church at bottom right hand corner can accommodate 600 or so pupils at mass on a Sunday morning.<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065907408464395314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rk238pqKPDI/AAAAAAAAAoI/jc4SqPymVco/s320/lancashire+5+07+093.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"> The Upper Corridor.<br /></p><p align="left">In the 1970's many of the college's Durer engravings were hung on these walls. After some eight or so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Rembrandts</span> were stolen in the early 1980's the Society of Jesus was forced to be a little more circumspect with its possessions! </p><br /><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065909040551967810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rk25bpqKPEI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/RLf5vRSdq9Q/s320/lancashire+5+07+105.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Cromwell's Bridge.</p><p align="left">No longer in use, <a href="http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=686">Cromwell's Bridge </a>once carried a packhorse trail over the River <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hodder</span>, about a mile from its confluence with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Ribble</span>. It earned its name after Oliver Cromwell's parliamentary army crossed the bridge on their way from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Gisburn</span> to where they fought the King's men in the Battle of Preston. There is in the refectory at the college a long table with an inscription under it to the effect of: 'Cromwell slept 'Ere'. What provenance there is for this is a little unclear.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065912480820771922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rk28j5qKPFI/AAAAAAAAAoY/XjP0a8cOo1U/s320/lancashire+5+07+107.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">The River <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Hodder</span>....</p><p align="left">....drains much of the Forest of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Bowland</span>, and the upper reaches also feed the large Stocks Reservoir which supplies much of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Lancashire</span> with its water. The School still owns much of the farming land around the lower reaches, together with the fishing rights. In this river I once managed to tickle a young trout out from under his stone - but that was many years ago!</p>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-41315747108962905162007-05-18T10:39:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:33.008+00:0014. Hurst Green, Nr. Clitheroe, Lancashire.<div align="left"><strong>Details:-</strong> Another <a href="http://www.walkingworld.com/findawalk/findawalk.asp">Walking World</a> walk; as always scenic, and with mainly clear and reasonably concise instructions. At one point the directions were muddled when by luck I took the right path. It is a relief to have good guidance when out walking; otherwise losing your way (but rarely lost) deprives my day of its relaxation. This walk climbs up Longridge Fell, from the top of which there are excellent views of the Ribble Valley and Pendle Hill. It then drops down to the hamlet of Walker Fold and finishes past the front and through the grounds of the Jesuit public school <a href="http://www.stonyhurst.ac.uk/">Stonyhurst College.</a> <strong>Distance:-</strong> 7 miles; <strong>Going:-</strong> Height gain 200 metres, but not as you'd particularly notice. The huff/puff factor was not exactly up to wheeze level. <strong>Progress:-</strong> Walked 161 - to go 339.<br /></div><div align="left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/HurstGreenLancashire">Photographs Hyperlink</a><br /></div><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065861774436875042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rk2OcZqKOyI/AAAAAAAAAl8/VnpaXyrI7Vo/s320/lancashire+5+07+072.jpg" border="0" /><div align="center">A dim glimpse......</div>......of the Ribble Valley beyond the forests of Longridge Fell. Regrettably the day was dull and the views a little disappointing. That great hothouse of medieval witchery - <a href="http://www.pendle.net/Attractions/pendlehill.htm">Pendle Hill </a>- was a bit dim and distant - see photo below.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065872133897993010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rk2X3ZqKOzI/AAAAAAAAAmE/EQC6VhQTKdU/s320/lancashire+5+07+112.jpg" border="0" /><p align="center">Pendle...,</p><p align="left"><br />.....behind the Stonyhurst cricket pavilion. The cricket oval is great setting on which to hear the thwack of leather on willow, nestling as it does close to the River Ribble 'twixt Pendle Hill and Longridge Fell.</p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065873379438508866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rk2Y_5qKO0I/AAAAAAAAAmM/YSHQITH0Vz4/s320/lancashire+5+07+068.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Ent Lookalike?</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">Because it is common knowledge that JRR Tolkein was writing TLOTR at Stonyhurst during the war, everyone assumes that his inspiration for Middle Earth is taken from the countryside around the college. There is now a 'Tolkein and The Three Rivers Walk' around the school. Whilst the confluence of the Ribble with the Calder and Hodder might just bear some resemblance to the map in The Hobbit, I personally think that most of this so-called inspiration owes more to our own imaginations than to anything he was thinking about whilst he lived in the school. If you ever do the walk you'll see what I mean. So - the B 6246 that takes in Hodder Bridge is meant to be his Great East Road? I don't think so!</div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065876102447774546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rk2beZqKO1I/AAAAAAAAAmU/_lNOXPqLO2U/s320/lancashire+5+07+083.jpg" border="0" />The Eagle Towers.<br />Symbol of Stonyhurst.</div>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-80909932065921223842007-05-12T07:31:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:34.343+00:0013. Settle, North Yorkshire.<div align="left"><strong>Details:-</strong> This is a walk from the <a href="http://www.walkingworld.com/findawalk/findawalk.asp">Walking World </a>website, for which I pay to subscribe. There are some excellent walks on the site, which are well presented, and generally easy to follow. My only gripe is that they are mostly less than ten miles long, and I would like to see some longer walks provided. This was one of their longer ones. <strong>Distance:-</strong> 12 miles. <strong>Going:-</strong> Well....the information said there was a height gain for the walk of 700 metres, but since nowhere on the walk is higher than 650 odd metres I find this hard to fathom. I should have thought it was a height gain of 150 metres or so. <strong>Progress:-</strong> walked 154 - 346 to go.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/Settle">Photographs Hyperlink.<br /></div></a><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064459596307048466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RkiTK5EzKBI/AAAAAAAAAjE/e6LbwDWe5Wo/s320/lancashire+5+07+051.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The Yorkshire Dales....</div><div align="left"><br />Wow! Wonderful walking country. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">texted</span> Jack who did <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Malham</span> on his Duke Of Edinburgh Silver expedition. All he could remember was constantly treading in the droppings of the countless numbers of sheep up there. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hmmm</span> - he probably slept well anyway.</div><div align="center"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065793707795167714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rk1QiZqKOeI/AAAAAAAAAjU/Gp6hNylBvyg/s320/lancashire+5+07+032.jpg" border="0" /> </div><p align="center">Bomber. </p><p align="center">My peace and quiet was shattered when this RAF bomber ripped the overhead sky apart as the pilot practised some (very) low level flying across the Dales. The noise level was enormous as it flew off into the distance; it's powerful engines roaring out loudly across most of the county.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065795593285810674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rk1SQJqKOfI/AAAAAAAAAjc/LipWJaz_tak/s320/lancashire+5+07+006.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.malhamdale.org.uk/malham_tarn.htm"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Malham</span> Tarn.</a> </p><p align="left"><br />So here you are walking on all this porous limestone pavement with a myriad of pot holes beneath your feet. So how come there's this large freshwater pond holding up from beneath? Why doesn't the water permeate down <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">through</span> the limestone and form tights or mites or whatever it does down there? My rudimentary knowledge of geology affords me no clues. Any offers?</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065797861028542978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rk1UUJqKOgI/AAAAAAAAAjk/QcTyOeoRoEo/s320/lancashire+5+07+033.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">A drunken dry stone wall....<br /><br /></p><p align="left">.....receding distantly towards <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Penyghent</span>. We're in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Ribblesdale</span> here, There are plans to <a href="http://save-the-ribble.blogspot.com/2006/04/riverworks-threat-to-river-ribble.html">barrage the river </a>at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Penwortham</span>, near Preston - as they have in Cardiff - for the purpose of redevelopment. I hope they don't. Gerard Manly Hopkins, the Jesuit who taught at my old school <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Stonyhurst</span>, (which stands close to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Ribble</span> near <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Ribchester</span>), puts it well:- "What would the world be, once bereft of wet and wildness? Let them be left, oh let them be left, wildness and wet; long live the weeds and the wilderness yet."</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065804097321056802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rk1Z_JqKOiI/AAAAAAAAAj4/dQiEiVscY4w/s320/collage.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="left"></p><p align="center">A Cheese Scone/Yorkshire Pud Debate.</p><p align="left">I do like a cup of tea and a scone, preferably cheese, after a walk. But in the Naked Man Tea Shop in Settle I saw natives tucking into Yorkshire puddings filled with gravy - at tea time no less. I have to say I'm not tempted. Indeed I wonder at all the fuss about puddings from Yorkshire; and at their elevated position as exemplary of our national cuisine. Surely tea is the quintessential english past-time, and a good scone is at the centre of a good tea-time. At the risk of upsetting the natives of 'god's own county' - about which I don't suppose I'll lose too much sleep - give me a cheese scone any day of the week! Anyone anxious to differ?</p>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-51079236864751672692007-04-27T07:23:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:34.949+00:0012 Haza de Lino, Alpujarra, Andalucia<div align="left">Lynne & I walked 14 kilometers in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Alpujarra</span> - the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. This circular walk is from the book of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Alpujarran</span> walks by <a href="http://www.walkalpujarra.com/aboutus.html">Jeremy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Rabjohns</span></a>. It takes you from the bar in the small settlement of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Haza</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">de</span> Lino up 200 - 300 metres through a forest of cork oak and onto a high point from where there are great views down to the med, and up to the snow capped sierra. Then we went down again through a very picturesque valley and up onto the road, from where we walked back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Haza</span>. <strong>Distance:-</strong> 9 miles with the time taken at 3.75 hours. <strong>Going:-</strong> Regrettably it was a cloudy day with some rain and a cold wind up on the top. The views were not as good as we would have wished. The pictures were taken on an earlier occasion when I did this walk alone. <strong>Progress:-</strong> walked 142 - 358 to go.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/HazaDeLino">Photograph Hyperlink</a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058379872531064610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RjL5sZEzJyI/AAAAAAAAAhI/VZxg57Kl5U8/s320/Spain+Dec+06+014.jpg" border="0" /> The Sierra Nevada....</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><p align="left">......highest peak is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulhac%C3%A9n"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Mulhacen</span></a> at 3749m or 11414ft, at which height the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">bio-climatic</span> type is tundra, and the peaks are snow capped all year around. 50 km away, and at the other ecological extreme, is the <a href="http://www.andalucia.com/environment/protect/tabernas.htm"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Desierte</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">de</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Tebernas</span></a>, the only semi-desert in Europe. Therefore on a 50k walk you could potentially pass through all the bio-climatic zones of Europe. The variety of flora and fauna is as wide as the view above.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058383776656336690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RjL9PpEzJzI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/qpIChxrHvFI/s320/Spain+Dec+06+013.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">The View Towards the Med....</p><br /><p align="left">.......on a hazy day and looking into the sun. You can just see the white uprights of wind turbines on the ridge below, with the coastal plain in the background on the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">right hand</span> side, and a mountain village bottom left hand side.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058384670009534274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RjL-DpEzJ0I/AAAAAAAAAhY/JGBKM_3328M/s320/Spain+Dec+06+012.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Cork Oak (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">quercus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">suber</span>)...</p><p align="left">...you can see the cut around the top of the trunk where it the bark was harvested a few years ago. Here the cork oak grows at an unusually high altitude (c.1400m). When the bark is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">stripped</span> the trunks turn in colour to bright orange, and then weather to a red-oxide/purple hue as the bark layers begin to regenerate.</p>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-80009368319704888812007-04-25T06:19:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:36.027+00:0011. Ipswich - Stowmarket<div align="left"><strong>Details:-</strong> This was a linear walk along The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Gipping</span> Valley Way, from Ipswich to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Stowmarket</span>. The path follows the river via man made cuts which were part of the old navigation system. The are still several locks along the way - all disused now. <strong>Distance:-</strong> 17 miles, which I did @ 4mph in 4hrs 15 minutes, the fastest that I have ever done a longer walk. <strong>Going:-</strong> very easy, and on a lovely sunny spring day. <strong>Map:-</strong> OS Explorers 197 & 291. Progress:- walked 133 - 367 to go. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/Ipswich">Hyperlink to Photographs.</a></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057251133650839042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Ri73HJEzJgI/AAAAAAAAAew/JCbRS6XG1ZA/s320/Ipswich+001.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"> Sculpture....</p><p align="left"><br />....in the countryside - I'm starting to see more of it in the UK, and about time too. Not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">entirely</span> sure about this though!</p><br /><p align="left"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057251760716064274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Ri73rpEzJhI/AAAAAAAAAe4/0KNx60QxR2s/s320/Ipswich+026.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Snake in the water. </p><p align="left"><br /><br />His head is on the left, and the ripples behind are caused by the motion of his body below the surface - doing the snake paddle I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">suppose</span>. It's a great time for flora a<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">nd</span> fauna - the wild flowers are up and doing, and I saw a mink working a riverside boardwalk for signs of lunch. Little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">varmink</span>!<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057253667681543714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Ri75apEzJiI/AAAAAAAAAfA/Won_FmDCUo4/s320/Ipswich+002.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"> River <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Gipping</span> in Ipswich.<br /></p><p align="left">For a river that turns into the large Orwell Estuary downstream of Ipswich, it's a remarkably minor affair upstream, and up at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Stowmarket</span> is little more of a stream than a river.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057255377078527538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Ri76-JEzJjI/AAAAAAAAAfI/iCUunwei6vU/s320/Ipswich+020.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"> Forgot me knots.</p><p align="left">This is the best of the floral shots taken to-day. The poet Longfellow called the stars the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">forgetmenots</span> of the angels. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Hmmm</span>.<br /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057258173102237250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Ri79g5EzJkI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/3R3ocPTCmZY/s320/Ipswich+024.jpg" border="0" /> Mills............</p><br /><p align="left">...........both ancient and modern are along the route. This, at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Baylham</span> is probably the most appealing of the lot.<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057259392872949330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Ri7-n5EzJlI/AAAAAAAAAfY/AkxRhKAIJDQ/s320/Ipswich+029.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Stowmarket</span> Railway Station.</p><p align="left">Perhaps Suffolk's finest station building; in an elaborate Elizabethan style, and built in 1849.</p>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-25428138534928809642007-04-15T06:32:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:36.731+00:0010. Dunwich, Suffolk.<div align="left"><strong>Details:-</strong> Lynne & I walked 9 miles along the Sandlings Way from Dunwich to Southwold on a warm April morning when the sun was warm, and the air heavy with the scent of gorse. This was a linear walk; so we had to drive back to Dunwich afterwards and collect the other car. <strong>Distance:-</strong> 9 miles; <strong>Going:-</strong> good; I've never seen so many people walking the footpath bet-ween Southwold & Walberswick.<strong> Map:-</strong> OS Explorer 231. <strong>Progress:-</strong> Walked 116 - 384 to go.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053544201588018498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RiHLrTBjjUI/AAAAAAAAAbk/icibW_2nBc4/s320/Nightjar%2520not%2520too%2520far%2520west%2520of%2520Cley%2520Beach%2520Cafe,%25207th%2520May%25202006.jpg" border="0" /> The <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/n/nightjar/">Nightjar</a>....</div><p align="left">....is the symbol of the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/nature/sculpture/nightjar_sculpture.shtml">Sandlings Walk </a>. This footpath was only recently created and runs 60 miles between Ipswich & Southwold, We did the last section and a half, and we are now doing two long distance footpaths simultaneously - the other being <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereward_Way">Hereward Way</a>. The walk connects the remaining heathlands of the Suffolk Coast. April is a great time to be out on the heath - the colours , scents and sights are an endless source of interest. Goerge Borrow would have enjoyed being out there to-day - 'There's the wind on the heath brother; if I could only feel that I would gladly live forever.' </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053547173705387346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="114" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RiHOYTBjjVI/AAAAAAAAAbs/5qTiB3QiP4g/s320/Dunwich+010.jpg" width="338" border="0" /><p align="center"> Towards Southwold.<br /><br /><br /></p><p align="left"><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053547474353098082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RiHOpzBjjWI/AAAAAAAAAb0/3ye0B9ceXRc/s320/Dunwich+005.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">Westwood Marshes<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053547680511528306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RiHO1zBjjXI/AAAAAAAAAb8/MNOts79NdKs/s320/Dunwich+009.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Walberswick Church.</p>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-30443590426567627862007-03-30T12:50:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:38.181+00:009. Kirtling, Newmarket.<div align="left"><strong>Details:-</strong> Lynne & I just did this circular competition walk organised by the <a href="http://www.ldwa.org.uk/">Long Distance Walkers Association</a>, Norfolk and Suffolk Branch. We started at at the village hall in Kirtling, south east of Newmarket, and we meandered around West Suffolk, between Newmarket and the Stour Valley. We had our entry cards marked at three checkpoints along the way. <strong>Distance:-</strong> 19 miles. <strong>Going:-</strong> almost effortless, since it was a wonderful sunny spring day, and we talked most of the way round (hence so few pics), and so we barely noticed the clicks ticking over. <strong>Map:-</strong> OS Explorer 210; <strong>Progress:-</strong> Walked 107 - 393 to go. </div><div align="center"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/Kirtling">Photographs Hyperlink.</a><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047699711245155378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rg0IJL2b_DI/AAAAAAAAAZg/3CvuwPEfT_o/s320/Kirtling+003-1.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">The Daffodil Dawdle..... </p><p align="left">.....is one of four walks organised by the <a href="http://www.notadog.org.uk/nsldwa/index.html">LDWA Norfolk & Suffolk Branch</a>. </p><p align="left">The programme this year is:- </p><p align="left"><strong>Daffodil Dawdle</strong> (Kirtling) - 25 March 2007 - 18 or 26 miles. </p><p align="left"><strong>Poppyline Marathon</strong> (Sheringham) - 10 June 2007 - approx 17.3 or 26.8 miles. </p><p align="left"><strong>Poppyline Fifty</strong> (Sheringham) - 4/5 August 2007 - approx 52.7 miles. </p><p align="left"><strong>Flower of Suffolk</strong> (Dunwich) - 7 October 2007 - 16.3 or 26.0 miles.<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047699986123062338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rg0IZL2b_EI/AAAAAAAAAZo/j57Tkiwq2I0/s320/Kirtling+001-1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">Walking the tramlines....</p><p align="left">....you can't see them here, but there were about a hundred and twenty walkers and runners doing this event. Along the way and at checkpoints we talked to a number of them; they were from as far afield as Blackheath and Hertfordshire. The man from Blackheath was sixty eight, and was running with some friends from his running club. He told us that he does three marathon runs a month, all over the country! Impressive, but we wondered what his wife, if he had one, might have to say about it - not something you can actually ask!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047700518699007058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rg0I4L2b_FI/AAAAAAAAAZw/ZBJ6NY6N11w/s320/Kirtling+009-1.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Kirtling Village Hall....</p><div align="left">.....where secretary Chris is running off 'sustificates' for those who completed the course. At each checkpoint refreshments are laid on, and there is a hot food at the end. We passed up on the hot food in favour of our favourite end of walk refreshment - a cup of tea and a cheese scone! </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">PS - we came in tenth and eleventh out of 22 the entrants for the short walk. Lynne was well chuffed - it was her first competition walk.</div>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-50666068363417086102007-03-09T07:03:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:38.830+00:008. Holland Park, West London<div align="left"><strong>Details:-</strong> A walk from the Time Out book of London Walks. Lynne & I started in Holland Park, and then we followed the route through quiet streets elegantly lined with large C19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> houses and studios, and eventually onto <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kensington</span> Gardens to see the Diana Memorial. <strong>Distance:-</strong> 4 miles; <strong>Going:-</strong> Easy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Peasy</span> Lemon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Squeezy</span>; although a heavy shower just after getting off the bus saw us huddled under the umbrella. <strong>Map:-</strong> Time Out Book Of London Walks Vol. 1; <strong>Progress:-</strong> Walked 88 - 412 to go. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/HollandPark">Photographs Hyperlink.</a><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039820072759707714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RfEJp3C5yEI/AAAAAAAAAXE/3pu0xWfRdp4/s320/Holland+Park+004.jpg" border="0" /><br />Holland Park.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="left">My first visit, and wow! How lovely to wander the gardens of Holland House, itself in tatters, ruined by bombs in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ww</span>2, and left to the nation. There are lawns, formal gardens, a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Japanese</span> garden, and acres of semi-wilderness presently sprouting daffodils. A fine refuge from a fast moving metropolis.</p><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"></p><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039822039854729298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RfELcXC5yFI/AAAAAAAAAXM/FFV_4xhazpE/s320/Holland+Park+006.jpg" border="0" /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kensington</span>.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="left">The back streets of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Kensington</span> and Holland Park are a delight. We noticed how quiet are these backwaters away from the hustle and bustle of the main thoroughfares. And as we stroll along what a pleasure it is to read about some of these wonderful houses and their inhabitants.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039823620402694242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RfEM4XC5yGI/AAAAAAAAAXU/LRg8ZVS2Fo4/s320/Holland+Park+009.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Albert Memorial/Hall.<br /></p><p align="left">The purpose of our visit to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">London</span> was an evening out at the Albert Hall for dinner and an opera; my valentine gift from Lynne. It was my first visit to the Albert Hall , and it didn't disappoint. Our dinner in the Elgar <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">restaurant</span> was mostly very good; and marked a special occasion for us. Madame Butterfly was also very enjoyable; it was done 'in the round' with the stage set out in the promenade area of the hall. The singing was a joy, although at times slightly overpowered by the orchestra. We walked back across <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Kensington</span> Gardens to our hotel in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Bayswater</span> with Puccini's wonderful music ringing in our ears, and with a total eclipse of the moon overhead.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039826034174314610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RfEPE3C5yHI/AAAAAAAAAXc/ECHumdnvvyI/s320/Holland+Park+011.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">Diana Memorial....</p><p align="left">.....having heard all the hype when this was made in 2004, I came expecting to be entirely underwhelmed. But in fact....we thought it was great! All that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">beautifully</span> carved granite creating a circular watercourse of great variety and interest that is a pleasure to walk around and enjoy. This is the blurb from the website:- ''It contains 545 pieces of Cornish granite - each shaped by the latest computer-controlled machinery and pieced together using <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">traditional</span> skills. The design aims to reflect Diana's life, water flows from the highest point in two directions as it cascades, swirls and bubbles before meeting in a calm pool at the bottom. The water is constantly being refreshed and is drawn from London's water table.'' Sounds like something and nothing, but my advice is check it out before you decide!<br /></p>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-90734021439841093332007-02-28T06:47:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:40.416+00:007. Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.<div align="left"><strong>Details:-</strong> A largely town based walk from the railway station along the South Quay to the mouth of the River <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Yare</span>, and then along the full length of the sea front through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Caister</span>, and on to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Calfornia</span>, where I turned inland to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ormesby</span> St Michael, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ormesby</span> Broad, before catching a bus back to the town centre. <strong>Distance:-</strong> 15 miles; <strong>Time Taken:-</strong> 4.25 hours; <strong>Avg Speed:-</strong> 3.53 mph;<strong> Going</strong>:- It rained most of the way around. <strong>Map:-</strong> OS Explorer <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">OL</span> 40; <strong>Progress:-</strong> walked 84 - 416 to go. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/GreatYarmouth240207">Photographs Hyperlink</a></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039594922784485170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RfA84aBubzI/AAAAAAAAAWI/nAM1S31map8/s320/Halesworth+10+02+07+014.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Scroby</span> Sands Wind Farm</div><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Scroby</span> Sands is one of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">UK's</span> first commercial offshore wind farms. Commissioned in March 2004 the £75million project generated enough energy to supply over 36,000 homes in 2005, saving the emission of over 65,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, nearly 600 tonnes of sulphur dioxide and nearly 200 tonnes of nitrous oxide.The first annual report into the performance <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">reported</span> that last year, 27 intermediate speed and 12 high speed gearbox bearings needed replacing, along with four generators. As a result there were "serious implications for resources, costs and downtime". However the wind farm still generated 153<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">GWh</span>, which is around 90% of its forecast annual output. I say - nice work!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039596688016043842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RfA-fKBub0I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/pQlw8qNV-ic/s320/Halesworth+10+02+07+013.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Marine Parade, Great <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Yarmouth</span>.</p><p align="left">The speculation in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Yarmouth</span> at present is about guessing where they will build the newly promised Casino. I suppose there's no prize for guessing whether or not there will be a Gamblers' Anonymous helpline set up in the town, - of course there will - run entirely on voluntary <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">contributions</span> no doubt. Is it only me - or are there not are enough diddler machines in Great <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Yarmouth</span> already - why on earth, let alone in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Great</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Yarmouth</span>, do we need more? The old fashioned image of the casino where the rich go to blow their excess cash just doesn't fit this traditional kiss-me-quick seaside resort. Scrap the casino I say!<br /></p><br /><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039599247816552274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RfBA0KBub1I/AAAAAAAAAWY/DRtt6arFWgs/s320/Halesworth+10+02+07+019.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">This Rig Supply Boat...</p><p align="left">...was reversing out of the harbour because the river is too narrow for turning, There are plans for an <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/GreatYarmouth240207/photo#5035972580787703234">outer harbour </a>to ease the congestion, and allow larger ships to dock. But I think they'll need to dual the A12 before <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Yarmouth</span> sees any major renaissance.</p><br /><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039802248645429250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RfD5cXC5yAI/AAAAAAAAAWk/UQv4CSTK55U/s320/Halesworth+10+02+07+026.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">California, Norfolk.... </p><p align="left">...and there are so many references to California along the East <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Anglian</span> Coast. I've seen place and street names in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Woodbridge</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Southwold</span> - where there is also a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Klondyke</span> beach, and here north of Gt <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Yarmouth</span>. My brother, Bob, who has studied the history of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">longshore</span> fishing industry, says they are indeed a reference to the gold rush in 1849. It's just curious that there are so many of them.<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039804447668684818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RfD7cXC5yBI/AAAAAAAAAWs/m19ViR-NSTo/s320/Halesworth+10+02+07+002.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">North Quay...<br /><br /></p><p align="left">This door has six letter boxes! I only wonder if there are six cages fixed to the other side, or whether all the post piles up in one heap on the doormat anyway! The little white sign says:- Flat One Knock Once; Flat Two Knock Twice; Flat Three Knock Three Times; & Flat Four Knock Four Times. It doesn't say about Flats Five & Six.</p><br /><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039807729023698978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RfD-bXC5yCI/AAAAAAAAAW0/ycO_GheNnMY/s320/Halesworth+10+02+07+016.jpg" border="0" /></p><div align="center">Notice On Caravan....</div><br /><p align="left">.....There are large caravan sites north of Gt <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Yarmouth</span> with literally thousands of caravans. There have obviously been break-ins, because some of them have notices like this placed in the window. Is my thinking squiffy, only I consider this demonstrates a lack of understanding about thug mentality. Surely the vandalism is mostly wanton; and often entirely unconnected with burglary. As well as nick stuff, they also just want to smash things up, and get up your nose Mr & Mrs Caravan Owner whilst they do it. Sticking a sticker up will only encourage them to smash your window and door, even if there are no valuables inside. Well anyway that's my take on it.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039809842147608626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RfEAWXC5yDI/AAAAAAAAAW8/yiAJpQl-G8Q/s320/BartonBroad.jpg" border="0" />At <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Ormesby</span> St Michael there are lovely views of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Ormesby</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Rollesby</span> Broad from the main road. Suddenly to left and right these breathtaking glimpses across large expanses of reed fringed water loom into view. Only on this occasion I was late for my bus and I didn't have time to walk up there to take the picture. Instead The Borrower has lived up to his name and lifted this photo of Barton Broad from another site! It approximates more or less the view at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Ormesby</span>.richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-12353771865492095912007-02-14T07:26:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:40.776+00:006. Halesworth, East Suffolk.<div align="left"><strong>Details:-</strong> A solo walk, mostly on roads, from Halesworth Station north to Holton, where there has been the outbreak of bird-flue, and then onto the hamlet of Mill Common, before returning to Halesworth. <strong>Distance:- </strong>13 miles; <strong>Time Taken:-</strong> 3.5 hours; <strong>Avg. Speed:-</strong> 3.7 mph. <strong>Going:-</strong> very muddy off road (<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/Halesworth100207/photo?pli=1#5029968369036356098">see photo</a>);<strong> Map:-</strong> OS Explorer 231; <strong>Progress:- </strong>Walked 69 - 431 to go. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/Halesworth100207">Photographs Hyperlink</a>.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032007649573268194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RdVIS-vc6uI/AAAAAAAAAP0/xBZwKtF7UVY/s320/Halesworth+10+02+07+008.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="left"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">An Unusual & Slightly Sinister Reason For Footpath Closure....</div><br /><div align="left">....but entirely understandable. The debate in the national press mostly concerns the mystery of the origin of this outbreak. But a far greater worry is where does it go from here. DEFRA are sufficiently anxious about the 'flu mutating into a human variety to health check all those in close contact with this outbreak in Suffolk. My reading suggests that such a mutation is inevitable, but that it will probably occur in Asia, probably Indonesia, where bird 'flu is now endemic in the poultry flocks, and where no action is being taken to destroy the infected birds. Consequently workers in the industry are increasingly falling victim to the disease; it is in one of these people that the 'flu strain is likely to mutate. The advice goes on to say that in the event of the strain mutating one third of the UK population will become infected, and 60,000 will die from it. Chilling or what....?! The <a href="http://www.bernardmatthews.com/">Bernard Matthews website </a>has amongst it's FAQ'a:- What is avian flu? It is a disease which usually only affects birds' Hmmm.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031402334062439122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RdMhw-vc6tI/AAAAAAAAAPk/LanpyL60USQ/s320/Halesworth+10+02+07+011.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">Bernard Matthews Turkey 'Farm', Holton.</p><br /><p align="left">It seems all the more remarkable then that Bernard Matthews have been allowed to re-open their on-site factory for turkey processing only a few days after the outbreak, when they don't know how the 'flu strain arrived. Let's hope those government inspectors know what they are doing! </p>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-18517838611265430732007-02-09T15:06:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:41.381+00:005. Castle Acre, West Norfolk.<strong>Details:-</strong> This was another walk with the Norfolk & Suffolk Long Distance Walkers Assoc.; this one led by Neil Cordell. Some sixteen members from as far afield as Cambridge and Maldon took part. We went west from Castle Acre along the Nar Valley Way almost to Narborough; then south as far as Beachamwell, where we stopped for lunch, and finally north and east back to Castle Acre. <strong>Distance:-</strong> 20 miles in 6.5 hours, with a half hour so of break time. <strong>Avg. Speed:-</strong> 3.33 mph.<strong> Going:-</strong> mostly pretty good; <strong>Map:-</strong> OS Explorer:- No. 236; <strong>Progress:-</strong> Walked 56 - 444 to go. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/CastleAcre04022007">Photographs Hyperlink.</a><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="left"><strong>Competition Walking:-</strong> Long distance walkers use these social walks in order to get in training for 50 or 100 mile walk competions. Such members don't hang about; one was carrying a very heavy rucksack to improve her performance. I'm told that others go hill walking to achieve their peak of fitness. Whichever, they look pretty lean and mean and ready for the big one. Me - I'm not tempted; a twenty six-miler is enough to satisfy my ambitions.</div><div align="center"><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029556108010514642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RcySoevc6NI/AAAAAAAAAJw/ySaiLY_fMq8/s320/Castle+Acre+04+02+07+005.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="center">Somewhere in West Norfolk.</div><br /><div align="left"><strong>Walking West Norfolk:-</strong> It's not unattractive countryside. The hallmarks are prairie like fields interspersed with large areas of woodland. It rolls a bit, but not much. There were two or three lovely buildings <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/CastleAcre04022007">(see pics),</a> particularly Castle Acre Priory.<br /></div><p align="center"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029560183934478578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RcyWVuvc6PI/AAAAAAAAAKI/n_FrhbJZwbg/s320/Castle+Acre+04+02+07+019.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">Castle Acre Priory</p><p align="left">C<strong>astle Acre Priory:-</strong> This is managed by <a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=conProperty.13">English Heritage</a>, and they charge £4.50 to check it out. It dates originally from, but in the C16th was knocked for six by the destructive Henry VIII. The ruins span seven centuries and include a 15th century gatehouse, a 12th century church with an elaborate west front, a prior's lodging still fit to be lived in, and his private chapel.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029576071018506498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rcykyevc6QI/AAAAAAAAAKU/VLhLhJFIdn8/s320/Castle+Acre+04+02+07+011-1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="left"></p><p align="center">Vernacular Architecture - Clunch.</p><p align="left"><strong><a href="http://www.clunch.co.uk/">Clunch</a></strong> is a soft limestone used for building; it is still used in parts of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and is also found in West Norfolk. In this instance the flank wall has been renewed or at least cleaned recently. Brick is used for the corners and edges, because the <a href="http://www.clunch.co.uk/">clunch </a>will in itself not afford a hard enough edge. Because it is soft it carves well, and is good for internal decoration - churches etc. External use of clunch is prone to deterioration. </p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"><br /></p><p></p>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-51166471084862522007-01-29T16:20:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:42.389+00:004. Eye, Suffolk.<div align="left"><strong>Details:-</strong> This was a social walk (as vs. a challenge walk), organised by the <a href="http://www.ldwa.org.uk/">Long Distance Walkers' Association</a>. Twelve two-leg and two four-leg members set out from Eye on a circular route, mainly along the The Mid Suffolk Footpath and <a href="//http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/paths/angles.html">The Angles Way</a>. We passed through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Brome</span>, Oakley, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hoxne</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Billingford</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Diss</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Palgrave</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Yaxley</span>. <strong>Distance;-</strong> 19 miles; 6 hours walking, and 30 minutes of rest breaks; <strong><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">avg.</span> speed:-</strong> 2.92 mph; <strong>Going:- </strong>one or two muddy spots; map OS Explorer 230; <strong>Progress:-</strong> walked 47 - 453 to go. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/Eye28107">Photographs Hyperlink</a>.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025492145581804754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rb4ieu7rTNI/AAAAAAAAAFg/Rj8Fc-Ln5wE/s320/Eye,+28+1+07+011.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Some Norfolk & Suffolk Long Distance Walkers.</div><br /><div align="left">They may look like common or garden ramblers, but don't be deceived. Among those present are several veterans of the hundred mile walk. This is a challenge walk which has to be completed in forty eight hours, with rest breaks of no longer than two hours! Alex on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">rhs</span> front is off to Wales in May to do his sixth hundred miler; another has done sixteen of them to date.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025493867863690466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rb4kC-7rTOI/AAAAAAAAAFo/KjcdqupYMno/s320/Eye,+28+1+07+008.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Brome</span> Hall, </div><br /><div align="left">where I got faintly excited by these dilapidated farm buildings, which I thought might be 17<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">th</span> century, and of some status. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Pevsner</span> put me in my place though with a brief disinterested comment:- 'mostly late C19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">th</span>'. So there.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025495182123683058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rb4lPe7rTPI/AAAAAAAAAFw/E_Fo78Mr6fE/s320/Eye,+28+1+07+013.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Street Sign in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Diss</span>, </p><p align="left">where the local authority are rumoured to be naming their next new street '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Letsbe</span> Avenue' in honour of Delia Smith ( pun for Norwich City <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">FC</span> supporters).</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025496062591978754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rb4mCu7rTQI/AAAAAAAAAF4/MK6pOp3I7Qo/s320/Eye,+28+1+07+014.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Another <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Diss</span> Pun,</p><p align="left">and around the corner is the Able Taxi service, known locally as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Diss</span> Able Taxis. Across in Victoria Road is the New <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Diss</span> Swimming Pool (geddit - nudist), so named after it was rebuilt a few years ago; & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">et</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">cetera</span>.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025498433413926178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rb4oMu7rTSI/AAAAAAAAAGI/Rjg-jqnBSwc/s320/Eye,+28+1+07+015.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Diss</span> Mere,</p><p align="left">was formed at the end of the last ice-age <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">i.e</span>. about twelve thousand years ago. As the ice receded it created the collapse of underlying chalk bedrock in which water collected, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">forming</span> the lake. It is up to 60 feet in depth with a further 40 foot of mud beneath that. During it's 12,000 year history it has provided the town with a water supply, a sewer and a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">wash place, probably all at once! </span>Now it's a duck pond.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025500409098882354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Rb4p_u7rTTI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/IvkSy-D4lq4/s320/Eye,+28+1+07+017.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Thrandeston</span>,</p><p align="left">Here's another duck-pond; it's on the green at Thrandeston - one of the more scenic villages of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Waveney</span> Valley.</p><p align="left"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-84098869018230693872007-01-22T15:59:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:42.807+00:003. Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.<strong>Details:-</strong> Lynne & I set out from Angel Hill, opposite the <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/BuryStEdmunds21107/photo#5022981647002979138">Great Gate</a> of Bury St Edmunds Abbey, and the route mostly followed <a href="http://www.walkingpages.co.uk/trails_paths/LDP_stedmundway.htm">St. Edmunds Way</a>; first around and then out of the city in a south easterly direction to the villages of Nowton and Sicklemere, before heading back again into the city centre. <strong>Distance:-</strong> 9 miles; <strong>Time Taken:-</strong> two and three quarter hours; <strong>Avge Speed;-</strong> 3.2 mph; <strong>Going:</strong>- easy peasy ; <strong>Map:-</strong> OS Explorer 211; <strong>Progress:-</strong> walked 28 - 472 to go. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/BuryStEdmunds21107"><strong>Photographs Hyperlink.</strong> </a><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Bury St Edmunds Millennium Tower:- <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RbTl--7rSvI/AAAAAAAAABo/WEjvGO4nSHE/s1600-h/tower2_300_225x300.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022892354632895218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RbTl--7rSvI/AAAAAAAAABo/WEjvGO4nSHE/s200/tower2_300_225x300.jpg" border="0" /></a></strong><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><p align="right"><strong><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RbTmNe7rSwI/AAAAAAAAABw/vL4WzR4mz9Q/s1600-h/bury_cathedral1a_st_eds_470_470x300.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022892603740998402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RbTmNe7rSwI/AAAAAAAAABw/vL4WzR4mz9Q/s200/bury_cathedral1a_st_eds_470_470x300.jpg" border="0" /></a></strong></p><p align="center"><strong></strong></p><p align="center"><strong></strong></p><p align="left"><strong></strong></p><p align="left">Where was once a stump which gave the cathedral a hunchback-like appearance, is now an immaculately built stone tower; the final piece in the jigsaw that is <a href="http://www.stedscathedral.co.uk/">St. Edmundsbury Cathedral</a>. The tower cost £12 million, and was built of Barnack which is the most famous of the Lincolnshire limestones - the last remaining quarry seam was opened up for this tower. Finally then, this jumped up market town of a city has a landmark other than the brewery chimney! £7m of the above total came from lottery money, and £3.5m was raised by the people of Suffolk. Not bad when you think how little people actually go to church any more.</p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"><strong>Greene King:-</strong> Are serious beer drinkers sulky old soaks or what?! Looking on the <a href="http://www.greeneking.co.uk/">Greene King Brewery</a> website; I see that in recent years they have expanded and bought out the following breweries:- </p><p align="left">1. Ruddles (Rutland in 1997); 2. Belhaven (Dunbar, in 2005), 3. Morland (Abingdon, in 2000); and 4. Ridleys (Hartford End Essex, in 2002). Ridleys had previously bought out Tolly Cobbold of Ipswich, who are now effectively controlled by Greene King. 5. Hardy & Hansons (Nottinghamshire, in 2006).</p><p align="left">Controversially for the real ale lobby all the acquired breweries except at Belhaven have been shut down, and the brewing moved to Suffolk. CAMRA is accusing Greene King of running a monopoly. Many beer drinkers are unhappy as the following <a href="http://lewesarms.blogspot.com/">blog exerpt </a>demonstrates.</p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">''A drop of disloyalty from disgruntled drinkers. Regulars at a pub in Lewes, East Sussex have been staying away in droves following the withdrawal of the local beer by the giant brewers, Greene King. Since the last pint of Lewes-brewed Harveys, the most popular beer sold in the pub, was pulled in the Lewes Arms on 10th December, there has been a boycott of the pub by its regulars who have held a vigil outside the pub at peak times during the two busiest drinking weeks of the year.''</span><br /><p align="left">C'mon you serious beer drinking fraternity; things move on! So you can't get Old Speckled Hen like you used to; but there's a whole bottle store of new beers out there produced by a new generation of small independent breweries. Vote with your purchase power; not your boycott of the landlord's livelihood.</p><p align="left"><strong>Sign in Bridewell Lane for the Hyperactive:-</strong><br /></p><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022907906709474066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RbT0IO7rSxI/AAAAAAAAACA/Fu7CMVBz2Z4/s320/DSCF0013.JPG" border="0" /> </p>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-49239054951149870442007-01-17T07:20:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:43.120+00:002. Caister St Edmund, Norfolk.<div align="left"><strong>Details:-</strong> I started at the Roman town of Caister St Edmund south of Norwich, and walked back into the city along Boudica's Way via Arminghall and Trowse to Carrow Road. <strong>Distance:-</strong> 7 miles <strong>Walking Time:-</strong> 2 hrs 30 minutes; <strong>Average Speed:- </strong>2.8 mph; <strong>Going</strong>:- mud up to the underside of my undersoles (sounds bad but isn't); <strong>Map:- </strong>OS Explorer 237; <strong>Progress:-</strong> walked 19 - 481 to go. <strong>Photographs:-</strong> none of my own - I forgot the camera!<br /><br /><strong>Oxymoron of the day: - Bus Service!</strong> I took the bus from Norwich to the start of this walk. Looking at the timetable both First and Anglian do this route to Poringland every hour, but running within three minutes after each other! I caught the Anglian bus and there were twelve of us aboard. After alighting and setting off down the road the First bus trundled past a couple of minutes later - absolutely empty! Why have a bus every half hour when you can do a full one and an empty one every hour.<br /><br /><strong>Wildlife:- </strong>two dead trees blown across the path near Arminghall. There was nix roaming the countryside of South Norfolk to-day.<br /><br /><strong>What Did The Romans Do For Us?</strong> Caister St Edmund, or <em><a href="http://www.norfarchtrust.org.uk/caistor/photos_and_plans.htm">Venta Icenorum</a></em>, is an old brownfield site, and only one of three Roman towns in the country not buried beneath a modern settlement. But even now the archaeologists know next to nothing about the place. It's raised to the ground and there's nothing to see - perhaps it was demolished in revenge by descendents of Boudica whose tribe, the Iceni, were from around these parts. Indeed they think the town was originally built in AD 60ish after Boudica's revolt to quell the native tribes of East Anglia. </div><br /><div align="right"></div><br /><div align="right"></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021041726239492770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Ra5S2O7rSqI/AAAAAAAAAAw/n4j2iI__s94/s320/2006_2684.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p align="center">AD 47 Boudica's XI 6 - Romans 0.<br /></p><strong></strong><br /><p align="left"><strong>Seasonal Image:-</strong> A patchwork of gently rolling fields in a livery of winter seeded green and spring seeded brown; and above are fast moving, heavy clouds; dark grey and ominous, as if threating to dump all over us at any moment.<br /><br /><br /><strong>New Word:-</strong> for my dictionary - a <strong>farlow</strong> which is a bungalow pretending to be a farm, not to be confused with a <strong>farlowe</strong> - or a has been pop star, best known for the single 'Baby Baby You're Out Of Time', inspired by issuing parking tickets in his previous job as a traffic warden.<br /><br /><strong>Bench:- </strong>I've not seen this before - a park bench in cast iron and hardwood set on a concrete base in a prominent spot overlooking the Tas valley, and left for the benefit of walkers and inscribed 'Dawne Victoria Hill 1939 - 2004 who loved these footpaths' I approve. Knowing the local authority I bet it was a planning nightmare to organise.<br /><br /><strong>Carrow Road. </strong>The walk terminated at Carrow Road, where I watched <a href="http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Home/0,,10355,00.html">Norwich City</a> get beaten 3-1 by Plymouth Argyle. (why Argyle? - it's at the other end of the country?) Oh dear! It's been a frustrating time watching Norwich in the last few months; we need a Boudica on our team.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021042903060531890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/Ra5T6u7rSrI/AAAAAAAAAA4/-X23qkFuMdQ/s320/carrowroad2.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">AD 2007 Plymouth Argyle 3 - Norwich City 1.<br /></p><p align="center"></p><br /><p align="left"></p>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118045865588205265.post-19018926238463549632007-01-08T12:56:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:30:43.769+00:001. Waldringfield, Suffolk.<div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Details:- </strong>Start and Finish at Woodbridge Station - via Martlesham Creek, Waldringfield, Hemly, Newbourn and Martlesham. <strong>Distance</strong> - 12 miles; <strong>Walking Time</strong> - 4hrs 30mins; Avge Speed 2.6mph. <strong>Going</strong>:- Along Martlesham creek was muddier than a Mississippi mud pie; so I abandoned the river and walked the C roads and villages. <strong>Map:- </strong>OS Explorer 197. <strong>Progress:-</strong> Walked 12 - 488 to go.</span> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardjellicoe/20071Waldringfield">Photographs Link<br /></a><br /><strong>Wildlife:-</strong> Greenshanks? close up; a flock of blackwits flying across my path, and a dead hedgehog on the road outside the RSPCA Animal Home in Martlesham - perhaps an accident waiting to happen.<br /><br /><strong>Refreshments:-</strong> It was most refreshing seeing the word 'bugger' on a church notice board! </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5017653313131851202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RaJJGodJLcI/AAAAAAAAAAY/T2Rb8Wrf6mU/s320/2007+-+01+-+07+Waldringfield+007.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"></div><p></p><p align="center">It's a trubute to John Waller the sporting parson of Hemly, in the form of a framed series of cartoons. In this one he's on his boat, 'Jesus' and casting his net out towards us. On the bank a local sage calls out:'You won't git bugger-all there bor! Why don't you cast your nets on the other ruddy side?!'<br /></p><div align="right"><br /></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="left"><strong>Surprise Of The Day:- </strong>In Hemly an old red phone box with phone in working order. BUT, it wasn't exactly the same as I remembered because it didn't smell of fags!</div><br /><div align="right"><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><strong>Aesthetic Highlight:- </strong>In <a href="http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/waldring.htm">Waldringfield Church </a>and in <a href="http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/newbourn.htm">Newbourn Church, </a>two very good fonts. I think one was Copperplate Gothic and the other Times New Roman. But definateley not Wingdings.</div><br /><div align="right"><strong></strong></div><div align="left"><strong>Unrestrained Moment:- </strong>Taking a natural break out back in the churchyard at Newbourn. I'm sorry if anyone from the parish reads this, but in my long struggle between the call of god and nature, I find that nature usually wins out.</div><br /><div align="left"><strong>Most Unusual House Name:-</strong> St. Farm, Hemly. Do they pray to him for a good harvest?</div><br /><div align="right"><strong></strong></div><div align="left"><strong>Monstrosity of the Month:-</strong> The British Telecom Research Laboratories at Martlesham. Whover thought that skewed conning tower would be eye-catching in the pleasant sense of the word was a compleat twat!</div><br /><div align="right"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5017652363944078770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AMjktbidGRg/RaJIPYdJLbI/AAAAAAAAAAM/A0mQBF30rc0/s320/2007+-+01+-+07+Waldringfield+016.jpg" border="0" /><br />BT: Still trying to get in touch with ET. The line's down! </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"><strong>Rant of the day:-</strong> Blatant fly tipping on the roadside just outside Newbourn. The Minority Spoiling for the Majority, Type No. 1356. Not high in the order of anti-social behaviour, but irritatingly irresponsible.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><strong>Payback Moment:-</strong> That first sip of tea and bite of date and nut slice in Notcutt Nursery tea rooms.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div>richard jellicoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519634427289281035noreply@blogger.com12