17 October 2019

Walk to Work, London


I had a conference in the Dorchester hotel (ballroom to be precise)... so I went up on the train from Guildford, parking in the multi storey by the station, the train was delayed 20 mins by "congestion" and then the climate change protesters had affected the underground so the queue was outside the building ... shank's pony then across to Hyde Park.
Going across London on the bridge above Waterloo bridge.
Up to Trafalgar square, and down the Mall
Across Hyde park corner then up Park lane to the hotel

Waterloo Bridge

Admiralty Arch

Nelson's column

Duke of Wellington Memorial

QE2 memorial

Buckingham Palace


Airforce Memorial

After the conference, (or rather after the main part) I walked then across to Katie's exhibition in the Aldwych for a viewing and also to take her back to Guildford on the train with me, as she was back in the city from Nottingham to take everything down. I headed across to Aldwich ... effectively due east, leaving the hotel and heading towards Trafalgar Square. Then along Haymarket to Leicester Square and on to Covent Garden. From here it was simply down Southampton Row to Aldwich. After picking Katie up we walked over Waterloo bridge to the station.
Trafalgar Square

Eros

Helios Horses - Haymarket

Covent Garden


02 October 2019

Walk to Work, Guildford

My van needed to go into the shop so they could check if there was any corrosion around the opening roof...

As has become normal, I set off to walk the 5½ kms to the office ... taking an hour each way, but it is always more difficult on the way back after a day at work and the stiffer muscles that know what is ahead.

10 July 2019

Low Force, Durham

On the same valley as high force, but slightly lower is low force. this one is free to visit, you only need to pay (donation) to stop in the car park. As well it is a series of lower falls rather than one big one.
The walk starts by crossing the river on a suspension bridge.
A series of falls
Stone Sculptures
Carvings with quotes
time for a sit in the sun and watch the river, before returning to the van and on to the cottage.


09 July 2019

Raby Castle, Durham


On the way we saw signs to another part of the Raby estate (owners of the land around the waterfall) .. Raby castle so we stopped by and after lunch in the car park wandered around.
The much amended castle had some original features including this interesting gatehouse.
The main part of the castle ..a collection of conjoined buildings rather than a keep.
Much of the interior was changed for later inhabitants with the usual opulence and large portraits hanging .. I did like the weapons display in the large entrance hall (not the way we went in though!).
Back outside .. the parkland and obligatory lake running away from the buildings.
The formal gardens were back beside the stable block where we came in. We walked the long way around through the park and around the back of the stables.
The formal gardens laid out along the side of the stable/ carriage block and running down to a stream .. but away from the castle itself.
From here it was back to Barnard castle and hence to the cottage


High Force, Yorkshire Dales

A very comfortable night in the grammar school house, and with the new day .. being overcast and the threat of rain we had to do something off the tops.
We set off up the valley towards high force ... supposedly a spectacular waterfall .. we drove up the car park and I was annoyed that we had to pay for car parking and then also to go down the path to the falls.
The path down to the falls was a gentle gradient, and ended on a viewing platform looking across to the base of the falls.
Spectacular it was, but you could not get to the top on this side .. we would find out later that parking lower down the valley (at low force) and walking up the pennine way would take us to the top for free.

We did not stay long and were soon making our way back towards Barnard castle.

08 July 2019

Corbridge & Chesters Fort, Northumberland


Another early start ... mainly because we were so used to it. This was the last of our days at this campsite, and so we packed up fully in readiness for moving to our next residence. Before that a Roman day ...
First to Corbridge ... parking in our usual car park by the bridge, and crossing over to walk along the river to the Roman ford and then up to the Roman remains, and back to the van.
Along the river was this Heron.
We walked up the hill to the Roman site ... still closed as we were too early, but could see through the gate.
Following on from this disappointment it was back to the van to head up to Hadrian's wall
Chesters roman fort was the next location on Hadrian's wall .. this was one we had not been to previously .. a cavalry fort beside the river crossing. .. there was a museum of artifacts in an attached building and then onto the field ... only a small proportion was uncovered .. but showed the layout
The gatehouses ... very similar to the one I was doing for the joust.
It was interesting to see how it was joined to the wall going off in the different directions.
the old crossing point ... where the wall and a bridge was built. on the far side is the abutments for the bridge.
the barracks and the admin buildings
down by the river again was the bath house ... a large affair
From here we had a cup of tea before heading south towards Barnard Castle, stopping for lunch on the way.