Still the London Trip

From Greenwich Observatory, I'm about to visit the Maritime Museum, just behind me. I notice too, the discredited banking capital at Canary Wharf in the distance. Pity its Sunday, or I would go and give them a piece of my mind. To help them to work up some more monkey business!

London Trip again

I think you can just about see me perched on the wingmirror of this rather fancy Red Cross Ambulance

I was able to get a lift in it to the aformentioned Dulwich Picture Gallery courtesy of my host's daughter's boyfriend. It is a completely different driving experience - seeing people give way courteously to you rather than carve you up - even without the blues and twos going. Parking's dead easy too - just stop anywhere -no-one gives you a ticket.

London Trip Part 2

A Canalletto ( spelling is not my strong point) in the Dulwich Picture gallery. Venice again.......... Must go there myself sometime.

The trip to London meant a journey of 512 miles there and back

The Big One!

On top of El Teide, at 12,197 feet the highest mountain in Spain(!). Thankfully I was able to take the cable car most of the way and only needed to do the last 500 feet up to the top and the crater under my own steam, using the special pass I was able to get in Santa Cruz last week. I didn't much like the smell of bad eggs or the hot smoke coming out of the fumaroles, but I was reassured that there hasn't been a proper eruption here since 1909.

For the record, the round trip to Tenerife was 3,928 miles, I toured 399 miles by car while on the island and walked 44 miles, climbing 8,700 feet. Phew!

View from the top

Worth the climb for the views across Las Canadas and down to the Rocques de Garcia. But at 8,917 feet the air is thin and I am well out of puff.

Sunset view of Mount Guajara

The view from my hotel balcony towards Mount Guajara. Tomorrow we will be climbing the 2,630 feet up from the hotel to the top.

Making Friends

With the new friend I met near where we were staying in Garachico. The lava came down the mountain and through the town in 1706 and destroyed the harbour, which now consists of rock pools for bathing.

Palmar Valley

Looking down towards El Palmar, with Mount Teide looming in the background (I get there later with a little help).

Above Masca

Not good for my vertigo but worth it for the fantastic views from the ridge across the Masca valley and down to the sea.

Walking on Tenerife

Here I am sitting on a Bird of Paradise flower in the botanical gardens of Puerta de la Cruz at the start of my walking holiday.

London Trip

On Saturday 3 October I went for a weekend to London. At Greenwich Observarory I saw the 4 chronometers that Harrison made, which helped our sailors navigate the world, and in the meantime..........

My trip to probation!

On Monday the 28th September I went to visit Probation in Scarborough - I hadn't done anything wrong it was strictly on work business - I am not a common criminal !

I had a great time with Colin and Rachel - but they were a bit mean and didn't get me any fish & chips or even an ice cream - how tight !!

Also Rachel muscled in on my photo - how rude !

Sunday 27 September 2009 Jervaulx Abbey

Jervaulx Abbey - in ruins - I think it was Henry the VIII that did for this, after the Northern uprising led by John Aske, as the rebel troops used this area as a base camp for a while. It had been one of the richest church estates in the country. Not much left now though.
The sun shone and we had a picnic ( with bananas - my favourite) and read the papers and went for a bit of a wander along the river and went home.

I didn't pray -saw no point really.

Added 32 miles to the total travelled.

Friday 25 September 2009 Whitby

How can I possibly regain my cool image after being associated with such strange hand coverings?
You will note the ruin in the background - associated with Dracula I am informed - and I definitely noticed a few people in the town with the total black garb look ( Goths?) - is this the new look this season? Perhaps I will have to reconsider my attire. And tell my 'handler' she should reconsider...

More ruins to go to next I gather- again - why??

Friday 25 September 2009

This is a bit of a comedown after my Italian trip, but at least it wasn't raining. We walked along the beach from Whitby to Sandsend, and I sat on this handy rock to catch my breath. After a short lunch break ( not even fish and chips!) we walked back - what was the point? We added 90 miles though to my total travel distance.