Sorry for the misleading name but you will find some posts that are specifically about walking in London. The rest is the other stuff I get up to.

Monday 24 October 2011

A Visit to Brownsea Island

Visiting Brownsea island in Poole Harbour for my birthday is becoming something of a tradition. despite my birthday being in the middle of October, I usually get good weather and this year was certainly no exception.

The drive to Poole is always a bit of a chore - the distance makes it right of the edge of what we can do for a single day trip.

We arrived in time for the noon ferry crossing from Poole Quay, and had a bit of lunch in the excellent cafe before we set off around the island. Initially, family groups with small children making loads of noise kept the squirrel sightings quite fleeting.

Brownsea Island 2011

We walked up to the south side of the island first, passed the church where a Pea Hen was fussing over a couple of chicks...

Brownsea Island 2011

Then up to the cliff overlooking the Sandbanks ferry.

Brownsea Island 2011

My first shot of a Red Squirrel for the day - he was really moving fast across a path.

Brownsea Island 2011

Then he stopped a couple of feet up a tree.

Brownsea Island 2011

Futher along the south shore we came across a young Sika Deer, who seemed completely oblivious to the cameras. I'm sure loads of people will have taken excellent photos.

 Brownsea Island 2011

Brownsea Island 2011

Later in the afternoon the light changed and the paths got a little quieter, and that's when the squirrels really came out.

Brownsea Island 2011

Brownsea Island 2011

Brownsea Island 2011

We managed to get on a ferry before the last one for a change, so got a tour of Poole harbour on the way back to the quay.

Brownsea Island 2011

Happy birthday to me!

Monday 17 October 2011

Heritage Motor Centre

Dad was 76 on the 28th September, and as he's almost impossible to buy presents for, I decided to take him on a trip to the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire. Neither of us had been before and at 90 miles it would also give Dad a good idea of what the Silver Scirocco is like. The trip reminded me a lot of when Dad used to take me to the Motor show at the NEC all those years ago. I took Tuesday off work, rather than go at a busy weekend, and fought off a developing cold to get up and over to Mum and Dad's place. It took around an hour and a half to get up to the Museum.

The Museum complex looks fairly new and is very clean and well kept; there are nice access roads and large car parks. The resturant is modern with an art deco theme, and we had sandwiches and an excellent coffee from a machine, none of which was overly expensive.
 Heritage Motor Museum


A proportion of the exhibits came from the old British Leyland collection, so there is a definite bias towards Rover, Wolsey, Morris, MG et al, rather than Fords and Vauxhalls. There is a Model T on display, and lots of more modern cars - including some movies cars.

This is a collection of MG record breakers, designed for salt flat racing.
Heritage Motor Museum


A More modern racer - an Aston Martin DBR9, and a TVR Tuscan racer behind in black and yellow.
Heritage Motor Museum


This is an experimental Rover gas turbine car, based on a P5. The unusual treatment around the nose made it look like a sports car.
Heritage Motor Museum


Dad. We found a car you can sit in.
Heritage Motor Museum


Two halves of an MG.
Heritage Motor Museum


Lara Croft's Luggage.
Heritage Motor Museum


Lara Croft's Land Rover. Behind to the left is a Land Rover made up as a Mega City Cab from the Stallone film Judge Dredd.
Heritage Motor Museum


This might be the only MG SV I've ever seen. These were based on a De Thomaso concept and were quite fierce - with a Mustang V8 they had the power to match the looks, but it all happened at a bad time for MG Rover.
Heritage Motor Museum


Dad inspecting an Aston Martin DB2.
Heritage Motor Museum


Morgan have just started making new 3 wheelers - but this is one of the originals.
Heritage Motor Museum


The Triumph TR6. Always one of my favorites, and this one is about the same age as me.
Heritage Motor Museum


Lotus 6.
Heritage Motor Museum


Lotus 7. Much later than the six above, and almost identical in looks to the current Caterham 7 models that are based on it.
Heritage Motor Museum



View from the Mezzanine across the main floor of the museum.
 Heritage Motor Museum

The Red car here was a proposal for a new MG, based on a TVR. The Green Car is a Triumph Lynx, which has the front half of a Triumph TR7, but a pair of small rear seats and a coupe back.
Heritage Motor Museum

This display has three Minis - all Monte Carlo winners, from 1964 1965 and 1967.
Heritage Motor Museum


All in all an excellent day out for Dad and me.

Thursday 6 October 2011

Walking in the Lakes (Part 2)

For the Weekend, Anthony, Eddie, Justin and I returned to the Langdale Valley to have another go at getting to the top of Harrison Stickle.

Eddie drove in his (surprisingly excellent) bus, and we stayed in an identical caravan as last time.
The Lakes

Us.
The Lakes

Weather conditions were pretty much perfect for walking up.
The Lakes

The Tarn, about half way up was calm and beautiful.
The Lakes

Justin.
The Lakes

Eddie, Ant.
The Lakes

And Me. Good god, do I really look like that?
The Lakes

View from the top with Lake Windermere in the distance.
The Lakes

Bacon Sandwiches at the top!
The Lakes

Fabulous views on the way down.
The Lakes

And we finished where we always finish... Kingfield v Westfield.
The Lakes