The Winds of Change Blew us Through

As we teeter on the cusp between the new year and what remains of the old year it is natural to have a glimpse over one's shoulder and maybe have a chat with family or friends, reviewing some events.





Sometimes we are happy to be leaving the old year and our old baggage behind us, moving on to fresh beginnings and new horizons; occasionally there is sadness at having to leave something, or someone, behind.





.. was an interesting year in our household. Without wishing to bore you with trivia I will stick to a few of the major changes. George retired from work. For many years he had worked away in Saudi Arabia, Germany, Holland, Kazakhstan, etc. Suddenly he was home 24/7. People shook their heads, muttered about how difficult it would be for us to adjust...





Well, 9 months on I am delighted to tell you all that it is fine, we really do still get on pretty well, we can work together. Relax, be happy. We are.





Jonny went to work in China and by all accounts he is working hard but having a great time. Phew!





Davina is expecting her second child any time now and is taking a break from teaching.





Tim is doing well and is mulling over the pros and cons of returning to work in Canada again.





We lost poor old Pip, she put up a good fight and certainly had a great life. Toby still misses her like crazy - which is surprising considering that she made his life a misery at times!





Bennie and Sparky came to live with us and have brought much fun and love along with them, they've proved themselves to be excellent ratters and mousers. They earn their keep!





We still have three of the hens and now that they spend their days roaming around the little wood they are as happy as it is possible for ex battery hens to be. They have a wonderful life.





I have discovered the joys of the world of blog and have had the privilege to meet so many new friends! I thank you all.





Happy New Year!

Tires Did Wonders

This afternoon I took a ride on the hybrid to check out the new tires. Blaine had selected Serfas Seca 700x28c tires. (The bike had OEM Bontrager 700x35c Select Invert B tires.) Did a quick ride to see how they rode. I could feel that I was riding much faster.
After re-setting of the computer, I headed out for a pavement ride. Rode from the bike shop to Trails Center, on to the "Bob Bridge", and back. That ride was 26.38 miles in 1 hour and 49 minutes - 14.52 mph.
My previous fastest ride (regardless of bike) was 14.33 mph on the Trek 4300. On the hybrid my fastest ride was at 12.94 mph. Today's ride was about 12% faster with the new tires.
I could feel some difference in bike handling. The response is faster. This may be the thinner tires and/or the higher pressure. That change I can get used to - is not objectionable. Hell, may be an advantage as I ride the bike more!
Regarding "comfort". There, once again I could feel the higher tire pressure. I could feel the bumps, road/trail surface stronger. That said, it did not make a big change and not objectionable - for the 26 miles. The Ergo grips I have been using helped lots. With the dirt riding I have done, my hand grip is looser - which I think helps the comfort. Will have to see as I do longer rides.
I am looking forward to make some longer rides on the FX next week. Did not ride the Fuel EX with the new tires. Will check that out within the next few days (trail conditions allowing). Watch for details.
OH, BTW - today made another 100+ mile week. Nearly 1000 miles since the 4th of July.

Cuyuna Country

After a frustrating week, FINALLY yesterday I got the car registered. The county was going to send it back to the bank because an error in the lien fee - luckily i was there and paid the fee. Headed back home and packed the car for a trip to Minnesota.
Was a beautiful day today. Would have been nice to be on the trail, rather in the car. But, I made it up to Deerwood, MN. Checked into the motel, started unpacking, and headed to the recreation area to shoot some photos.
Was not ready to head out on the dirt trails with the 500 mile drive. After it warms up in the morning, planning to rides some dirt. One day I want to ride pavement (Cuyuna Country State Trail). if I have time, I an thinking of driving down to Brainard to ride a section of the Paul Bunyon Trail.
Miner Mountain. This is the country I will be riding.

Jubilee - and those dogs

No royal motif is left unexploited in the wave of Jubilee merchandise that is upon us. The Queen's corgis feature in surprising manifestations. Above, a Jubilee corgi cracker.

The limited edition Jubilee Marmite is now on sale - as the poster says, it's a love-it-or-hate-it thing. I love it, and will be buying my supply very soon before it sells out. Not too sure how long I can keep it tho - might not be a good souvenir to pass on to the grandchildren.



This blurry shot of the Jubilee crackers in Marks & Spencer was the result of a case of 'security-itis', that phenomenon well known to bloggers. I was happily framing the shot, and already planning the next one I would take (a winning composition of my 6ft plus son standing under a Jubilee crown pinata - apologies to Spanish speakers, I can't find the right accent to go over the 'n'), when a store manager materialised and stopped me in my tracks. Quite what the security aspect was I can't think. If I wanted to manufacture my own counterfeit corgi crackers all I had to do was buy a box and take them apart. I would have thought M&S would be glad of the publicity - export orders streaming in from across blogland for corgi crackers.



You'll see more Jubilee gems at Writing from Scotland, as well as a tale of being in a Royal presence. Christine has also featured the Ma'amite - it's irresistible!

Spa day

I'd never thought about it until I came across a pillar box enjoying a spa day, but there's obviously a whole cleaning and sprucing up programme across the nation so that we can have clean pillar boxes to pop our letters in.
And for pillar box cleaning there's a panoply of scrapers and squeegees and soft mop things which if I were more in tune with cleaning my own house I would know the name of.

Yosemite National Park

After spending Christmas in San Francisco I drove on to Yosemite National Park, which is a few hours away from San Francisco. I arrived in Yosemite in the late afternoon on Christmas Day, with enough time to scout a location to shoot for sunset. Even on Christmas Day there were quite a few visitors in the park. Luckily I was able to find a location that I had all to myself when it came time to start making images. There was snow when I arrived at the park and it looked like it had fallen a couple of days earlier. It was a fairly mild evening with temperatures hovering in the mid-30's, which made for some beautiful fog that hovered just off the ground throughout the floor of the valley. The fog also meant that the trees and shrubs were all covered in frost.


After the sun had set I drove around for a little while looking for locations to do some star shooting once it was dark enough. I found a couple more fantastic spots and as soon as the stars became visible, I was shooting again. I had a wonderful time shooting the stars in Yosemite Valley, and I have a feeling that is something that not many people have done. I have seen many images of Yosemite, but only one or two night-time images. There was a little bit of moonlight which provided some nice illumination on the rocky cliffs. The moonlight wasn't bright enough to wash out the stars, though. And boy, let me tell you.... rarely have I seen a sky so full of stars! It was an incredible night, one I will not soon forget!


I returned to Yosemite again the following day, but the conditions for photography were less than favorable. It was a chilly, damp day with gray skies. I ended up driving around some more on the park roads to some areas that I hadn't seen the day before, but I really didn't take any pictures. I also visited the Ansel Adams Gallery, which is located near the park's visitor center. The gallery is definitely worth a visit. They have some really amazing framed prints of some of Ansel's most famous images, as well as images by other photographers that are well worth a look. Do yourself a favor and check it out if you ever find yourself in Yosemite!

Three Derbyshire walks

Carsington Water - 8.5 miles - Sunday 13 October

RAF Quadrant Tower from the 1940s

The weather was pretty wet all morning, but we decided to risk a soaking. At least the track is clear and well marked.

Much of the way is slightly sheltered by trees, but they didn't keep us anything like dry.

Hansel and Gretel house near the dam

The sky lightened slightly at about 2:30 pm, and we dried out before having a large tea and scone in the Mainsail restaurant in the visitor centre.

A good walk, at a brisk pace, with no navigational skills required - just as well, since my map was old enough to predate the reservoir!

Hartington to Milldale and back - 9.5 miles - Monday 14 October

This is part of a walk I did last summer, in much drier conditions.

Once again the way is clear all along, and well signed, though we had to cross from Derbyshire to Staffordshire and back - footbridges over the Dove.



The first section crosses fields from the path between the pottery shop and the toilets in Hartington, then heads through Morson Wood into Beresford Dale, with its caves and grassy hillsides.





Next is Wolfscote Dale, which narrows a little. We emerge at the road to Alstonfield, half a mile from Milldale village, and the joy of finding Polly's Cottage open, serving hot coffees. There are public toilets, and a shelter, as well as the Information Barn near Viator's Bridge.



We waited for the worst of the downpour to be over, before retracing our steps to Hartington.















The tea shop in the Post Office was our next stop!

Dovedale to Milldale and back - 6 miles - Tuesday 15 October

At last some blue sky!

Chaffinch at Lovers' Leap

The arch near Reynard's Cave

Lion's Head Rock

Ilam Rock

Polly's Cottage, Milldale

Robin on mossy wall

Lovers' Leap

Stepping Stones

Looking upstream

Even though we have to return home today, we make the most of this by walking from Dovedale car park, and heading north to Milldale. It's just three miles, and passes the stepping stones below Thorpe Cloud, lovers' Leap, Reynard's Cave, Tissington Spires, Lion's Head Rock, Ilam Rock and Dove Holes. Another coffee stop at Milldale, and we buy sandwiches for later.

This time we sit and watch the ducks by the river. There's a robin perching on a mossy wall by a holiday cottage.

On the way we've seen a heron, dippers, a chaffinch, crows and squirrels.

We eat our lunch at the stepping stones, decide that today is not a Thorpe Cloud day, and make our way back to the car park.

Bringing Home the Tree

You'll have to start at the bottom and go up to view these photos in order.  
We went to a tree farm a few miles away and cut a Leyland Cypress tree down.  We got the next to cheapest one for $30.  It still galls me to have to buy a Christmas tree.  
Growing up in Tennessee, every year we would go out into the woods and cut our tree down.  In the first years                   of our marriage we did the same thing.  
Then we moved to South Georgia where white pines or cedar trees don't grow like weeds on the side of the road.  Our land is either open fields, pecan trees, or thick woods.  
So we have to go to a store and BUY a tree.  Going to a tree farm is a better choice to me.  At least we get to be involved in the cutting down process, and it's as fresh as it can possibly be.
And here's the real question of the day....does this jacket make me look fat?  Yes it does, so don't answer that question!