Gordon & Melanie's move

Yesterday and today I am helping Gordon and Melanie with their move. I just couldn't resist making a small 4 image panorama of Gordon in action. Good weather again today, so perfect for the job in hand. Looking forward to a fluid celebration when all is completed this evening!

Pieces of eight?

Almost every day that I am out and about, somebody asks me for directions, and I nearly always know the answer, even in a strange place. It's spooky! Yesterday an elderly man approached me, asking for directions to a place off Walnut Tree Close in Guildford. His intented destination was in view, so easily pointed out. He left with thanks, and I smiled to myself as I crossed the road. As I did so, another man approached, asking for directions to an electrical wholesaler. I knew the one he was looking for had moved, and gave him new directions.....hold on a moment.....was that a parrot on his shoulder? Mind if I take a photo? Sure help yourself! The parrot was saved from a rescue centre, and my new aquaintance told me he was a parrot whisperer. I nodded, to conceal my ignorance on such matters, as the parrot started squawking happily, and VERY loudly. Resisting the tempation to allow it to snip off my fingers, I hurridly snapped some shots, and we went on our separate ways.

The parrot was unrestrained, and sat very knowingly on his saviours perch. A strange encounter indeed!

Brighton Pier

Had a lovely day in Brighton with Anna on Wednesday. Weather was glorious, but I wasn't really in the mood for taking lots of photos for some strange reason. This panorama is made up of 5-6 images. The advantages of digital for tackling wide subjects is demonstrated here. Pity about the fences on the left hand side, I should have moved further to the right, but realise that being that picky about things is best left to when I am on my own!

Now the clocks have sprung forward an hour, I am looking forward to more evening shots with reasonable light at last.

Hartlepool

Went on a trip recently overnight to Hartlepool, and just had time for an early morning stroll around the Old Quay area. I did my Industrial Design degree in Middlesborough in the late 1970's, and I am not sure I got to Hartlepool then. The North East has suffered from neglect and under-investment for years, and seems to be largely ignored by those "Arrogant Southerners". Having recently passed through Middlesborough and other Teesside towns recently, I was surprised to find myself feeling nostalgic for a part of my life that was certainly a bit grim! I feel inspired to revisit some of my old haunts as a ghost from the past, and see how things have developed (or not) over the intervening.....errrr....THIRTY YEARS!!!

There are many unique gems in this area, and the character of some of these industrial towns is quite unlike anything else in the country. The surrounding countryside is quite spectacular too, and unknown to the many that prefer to ignore the North East. People often refer to Middlesborough and the neigbouring towns in derogatory terms, as an example of the worst types of urban existence. My experiences there, so many years ago, enriched my perception of other people's perspective's, hopefully made me less arrogant than I may have been when I first arrived. We ignore such places at our peril.

Guildford at Night

Attended a Committee meeting for Guildford Photographic Society on Thursday, and realised on the way home that I had my tripod in the car. I had taken a few photogrtaphic notes earlier in the week with my Lumix, to remind me to try some night time images of Guildford with my Olympus E3 and a tripod. It was night, I had my Olympus, and I had my tripod! Off to park at the bottom of the High Street and set up some shots in Friary Street.

Things were going fine, even though I get really annoyed at all those cables strung across the streets in Guildford for Christmas decorations, which are left up ALL YEAR. I have removed them from the image using Photoshop.

Halfway through a long exposure (careful...!) at the North Street end of Friary Street, I was approached by two police officers about their nightly patrol. They quizzed me about what I was up to, perfectly politely, and after I reassured them I knew my Rights and was a member of GPS rather than a terrorist, they left me in peace.

Since I have looked at my results, I realise that I need to take more care setting the exposure for the highlights, as the tonal range at night is colossal, and I have many burnt out highlights to sort out.

Off to take some photos now, so will be wandering around town soon.

Cobham Mill

Just trying to remember how to arrange the layout and add photos, so this is just a test image. It is composed of four photos stitched together to form a panorama, of The Mill at Cobham, Surrey.

Springing into Life again

My blog was started some time ago, specifically for a cycle ride with Ye Olde Gits, to chronicle our 675 mile journey across France. The following year I added to it in a rather half-hearted manner, to record the first leg of our cycling of a Compostella route, starting in Le Puy, France. This first leg took us over the Massif Centrale, over the Pyrenees, and into Pamplona. We were going to complete the jouirney to Composella this year, but the economic climate persuaded two of us it was worth posponing it until next year.

So.....I have decided to treat my blog in a more diary-like manner, and will add to it when I feel like it, and ignore it when I don't! I am inspired by friends at The Guildford Photographic Society, a number of whom maintain interesting blogs. Mine might not be so interesting, but I shall do my best.

Day 10 Sunday 15 June Valcarlos to Pamplona

Day 9 Saturday 14 June Navarrenx to Valcarlos

Having refreshments in St-Jean Pied de Port before continuing to our hotel at Valcarlos. Making good progress and the Pyrenees look fabulous.

Day 8 Friday 13 June Aire L'Adour to Navarrenx

Showered and getting ready for meal at Hotel du Commerce, Place des Casernes in Navarrenx. Really good, if demanding ride, and we can see the Pyrenees at last (can spell it now too!) It's been a good Friday 13th. Missed being drenched by minutes, which was a surprise considering the early morning rain.

Day 7 Thursday 12 June Condom to Aire L'Adour

Had Armagnac tasting on the way today. A kind owner filled our water bottles with fresh water, then topped each up with a generous sample of Armagnac - tastes wonderful! Some major roads today which were smooth, but had we had to be very careful with the HUGE lorries thundering past. Our hotel is on a crossroads with the same road and our rooms are a the front...hoping that will drown the sound of snoring! Weather hot all day today and the beautiful clouds in the French blue skies.

Day 6 Wednesday 11 June Moissac to Condom

Group photo at Flamarens

The main square Lauzerte - four refreshed old gits!

Day 5 Tuesday 10 June Cahors to Moissac

Day 4 Monday 9 June Figeac to Cahors

Day 3 Sunday 8 June Estaing to Figeac

We are having technical difficulties in emailing information back to the UK. Please come back here tomorrow! SHW

Day 2 Saturday 7 June - Aumont-Aubrac to Estaing

Day 1 Friday 6 June Le Puy to Aumont-Aubrac

Very wet and cold all day & extremely difficult conditions - Simon and Peter pleased to arrive at Aumont-Aubrac to a warm shower and a welcome meal.

London to Le Puy

Early start at T5 for flight to Lyon. Re-acquainted with the bikes. Train from Lyon to St Etienne change for second train to Le Puy. Feeling proud of route planning - so far!

Bikes assembled and tested successfully.Bike bags packaged for forwarding to Pamploma ahead of us. Washed and ready for a decent drink, supper and early night. Tipping it down!

'Stuffed' with a really good meal and unnecessary trimmings. Basic but delightful hotel.

The FROGS go cycling again!

Last minute preparations are underway. Simon HW has packed his pair of undies and toothbrush and the Frogs jet off tomorrow for another exciting cycling trip from Lyon in France, across the Pyrenees and into Spain. Log in here during the next 2 weeks to read all about it!

Day 12

The 'FROGS' motto!

The 'FROGS' arrive in Montpellier

More to follow....

Day 11

We decided to start our day by making an extra round trip of about 8 miles, to see the recently completed Millau Viaduct, designed by Norman Foster. Not everyone was convinced this was a worthwhile detour, but Peter and Simon were very insistant, and won their case! Even from our first glimpse of the structure on the skyline it was hard not to be impressed, and Peter and Simon were spurred on to ensure we cycled all the way to marvel at this monumental creation! As we approached, the entire structure became obscured behind a rocky hilltop, but as we rounded the bend we were humbled by the sheer size and elegance of what must surely be one of the new Wonders of The World.

While cycling back to Millau, Simon decided to take "just one more photograph", and lost contact with the other trio, as they made their way southwards. Image captured, Simon cycled confidently on at speed to catch them up, undaunted by much tooting of horns and cries of "Pas de velo, PAS DE VELOOOOO!" He was aware of the stories of the French being much more cycle friendly than the Snotty Surrey 4 x 4 Set, but it all came as rather a shock to realise he was cycling up a slip road leading directly down from the motorway, and that the motorists were desperately trying to avoid an embarrassing accident! Hands held high in shameful thanks, cautious retreat completed, and safely back on the correct side of the road once more, he was now momentarily LOST! Mobile phone to the rescue to contact the Chief Navigator, for instructions to follow the route out of town, over the river bridge in the direction of The Doubie Brothers......well........that's what it sounded like! Glimpse of bridge, river and direction sign to Canyon de la Dourbie seemed a reasonable choice. Thus started one of the most beautiful sections of our journey, as the walls of the canyon rose to tower above us, and shepherd us on our way.

Lunch at 14.45 south of Nant

More to follow.....

Day 10

As the mists rose out of Estaing, so did we. Andy decided to stay in the hotel to write postcards, with the intention of cycling at twice the speed of sound to catch us up a little later. We were somewhat dubious about this happening, but he was determined to send his snail mail home. The gradient continued upwards through pretty countyside on the D556 towards Espallion. A rare navigational error saw us climbing out of Espallion, away from the river, but Peter and John quickly spotted this and we descended back into the town to take the correct road following the river. A steep climb took us past rewarding views, and we finally reached a very welcome café at the summit in Lassouts. Relaxing into shaded chairs,drinking a long Citron Pressé, cooled our glowing muscles after the arduous climb. Much to our amazement, Andy arrived almost simultaneously, like a steaming racehorse, much in need of refreshment and rest. He must have cycled like the wind.

An unclassified road took us past a lovely farm. We had a long and speedy blast along a main road for a while, before our second long climb of the day. Numerous stops were made to take photos, spot birds, Orchids and other delights as nature provided us with a visual feast.
John has now trained us all to scan the verges and pinpoint exotic species. This newly aquired skill enabled Simon to quickly identify the Lesser-Spotted Austin Sunglasses, which had made a desperate break for freedom, by hiding in the verge. Sunglasses and thankful owner were reunited after a couple of miles.




We stopped for a well timed picnic lunch at 14.00 at Col de Lagarde. Our energies recharged, we continued along well surfaced roads at good speed. The weather had been the hottest so far, and as we spotted a grey cloud forming in the distance, the temperature started to cool. As we watched, this cloud developed an increasingly menacing appearance. A few spots of rain triggered Peter and John to take precautions and don their rain jackets. Simon and Andy decided that a refreshing drop of rain would bring welcome relief from the heat. After initial enjoyment, the drops grew larger and wetter and, stair-rodding earthwards, caused flash streams to appear in an instant. We quickly realised we had underestimated the ferocity of this electic storm. Visibility reduced to a few yards, John and Andy invisible ahead, Simon waited for Peter to emerge from the deluge. It wasn't possible to get any wetter, so with a quick raising of the eyebrows and shrugging of the shoulders, we decided to battle on through the worsening storm. The rain grew colder and small hailstones started bouncing on the tarmac. As these grew larger, the battering on our helmets sounded like rifle shots, with ears and exposed fingers began to sting. In the thick of this, Peter and Simon spotted a familiar specimen. The Austin sunglasses had expoited the chaos to go awol once more. Peter cycled on as Simon volunteered to recapture the wayward pair. Whilst executing this delicate manoever he crashed to the ground, scattering the precious contents of his bar bag all across the road! The hailstorm intensified, filling the bag with water, and pulverising soaked documents where they lay. The hailstones had grown to over half an inch in diameter, the pain was becoming intolerable, and the noise overwhelming. As soon as all the sodden possessions had been retrieved, Simon hurled himself into a thorny hedge, hands clasped over peppered helmet, to sit out the unforgiving blast from the heavens. Apart from the hedge, the storm had ambushed us on a very exposed limestone plateau, with no other shelter. Peter and Andy had huddled together under a small tree, and as we advanced down the road, we spotted John emerging from the shelter of a roadside barn, to record the bedraggled trio approaching. I began to get a fearful taste of how vunerable it most have felt at Le Somme.

We dried out on the magical descent through the valley to Boyne, which impressed Peter as looking like a "Lost Kingdom". The road drop swiftly for over four miles, then lead us through a gorge that gave us a fantastic "5 Star" ride, before arriving at Millau. We had a timetable to maintain, as European Cup Final Champions League was being played in the evening between Liverpool and Milan. Milan won 2-1.

"First goal to Milan........!"

"Drinks all round anyway!

Day 9

Having cycled at total of 85 miles with shattered bearings, today was going to be make or break day for the success of Simon's journey. We had tremendous cooperation from the hotel manageress, who had offered to drive John and Simon with the damaged bike to Aurillac, to a specialist bike shop she had spoken to yesterday on our behalf. We asked "are you sure?", and she said "Why, are you afraid". It was only when we were being whisked on our way at over 120 kph on tortuous country lanes, she wasn't kidding! John and I thought of the irony of having an accident in a car, while on a cycling holiday.When Simon picked his bike up to load it in the car, the back wheel fell off! It was now evident that the bearings were so completely seized, that the only reason the wheel was able to turn, was because the retaining nuts had worked loose! Don't try this at home! Our new found friend from the hotel left the charming bicycle repair man in no doubt that our repair was urgent, and should be completed without delay!

As John read his book on the grass on the forecourt, Simon caught up with the blog, as the new wheel was prepared. Within 90 mins, we were taxiied back to our hotel, with a gleaming new wheel fitted. Smiles all round! Peter and Andy set off on todays journey to Estaing at 09.45. After meeting the CTC backup van driver outside the hotel (who we had met on the ferry to Caen), John and Simon finally commenced their ride at 11.15am. Twitchers and Smudgers (Birdwatchers and Photographers), have been known to extend travel times by indulging in these extra pursuits....!! Left to our own devices, we started our extra curricular activities after barely a mile had been consumed. By the time we got to Marcoles, our quest for provisions for lunch had failed, as the locals were busy consuming theirs! We therefore felt fully justified in making full use of L'Auberge du Tour, and nobody was there to disagree. We were the only customers, the barmaid did smile, but you had to look VERY carefully! Beer was very good, sandwich was very good. A couple of essential phone calls were made, by which time we couldn't remember if the beer was any good....it would have been impolite not to have made sure...so we did!

A stroll round the fascinating medieval village completed our lunch hour, and we continued on our way. John's enthusiasm for spotting interesting birds and some stunning Orchids, gave Simon some new subject matter for his image making. We were becoming increasingly aware that that we had travelled very few of the 57 miles required today, and it was now unlikely we would arrive in Estaing before 7pm. We had two serious climbs today, one up to Mamet, and then a slightly smaller one up to Morales. Lacapelle had an alpine feel to it's landscape and local buildings. We had a gentle ride through lush countryside, past woods, grazing and cultivation. After a swift, snaking descent to the bridge over the river, there was a long hard climb up to Mamet. The highlight of the day was a breeze of a descent, as fast as we dared, for the five miles down to the river, Le Lot. We followed the river on a road that seemed to defy the laws of physics, as the gradient almost felt as though we were going downhill, but we were in fact gently climbing. This 20 mile stretch took us through the magnificent Gorge du Lot, bristling with inspirational sights to photograph. After a break for a refreshing oringina at Viellevie, Simon and John arrived in Estaing at 7pm, just half an hour after Peter and Andy. The waitress decided what we were having to eat for supper, but it was a good choice and we had a very good evening.