Water, water.

I assume that Cancer is a water sign, I seem at my happiest and most relaxed when water is a part of the picture.

Today started again with the full heart attack on a plate but it was too big and I mean who can eat four slices of fried bread and black pudding as well as all the usual suspects, tomorrow I may just go for the cereal.

We were on the road by 9am and first stop was the Royal Navy museum in Hartlepool where the main attraction for me was the Trincomalee a Royal Navy sailing ship built in India in 1817 just 2 years after the Battle of Waterloo. It was a dream come true to see an actual 46 gun ship of the line from my hero Hornblower's era and the various other displays in the recreated 18th century dockyard only added to the experience.

Another trip exploring remote villages eventually brought us out at High Force waterfall in the upper Tees valley, I had seen photos and indeed I took some of my own but it is hard to capture such a physical force of nature in words and photographs.

Very little walking today but I have racked up over 18 miles since last Friday and fingers crossed I will be standing on the top of Roseberry Topping tomorrow morning.

This trip has opened my mind to UK holidays, I knew Britain was a beautiful place but to realise how much there is to see and do has brought it home to me. I know it has been helped by the good weather but now I can see no reason to go abroad during the summer months.

3 NT

Today started perfectly, full fry then programme the Tomtom for the shortest route to Hardcastle Crags and she took me on a wonderous journey through town centres, back streets and unused country roads including the full cobbled length of Heptonstall. The valley Hardcastle Crags are in could be a good day out with possible walks of 6+ miles and facilities close to hand, I did the short Crags Constitutional which was a level people free walk with wildlife all around.
The next stop after negotiating a manically busy Hebden Bridge was East Riddlesden Hall which turned out to have interesting grounds and a number of keen volunteers with a huge knowledge of the place but not really my kind of venue. Now Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens were something else entirely, the abbey ruins again amazed me how the people in those far off times could build such huge and intricate structures without modern aids such as cranes and the water gardens were peaceful and beautiful, if one tenth of my photographs come out well I will be very pleased.
I am now in Welbury in North Yorshire for three nights, the locals have been friendly and offered lots of good advice and recommendations for my next few days, so watch this space.

England road trip.

It feels good, we are together again, Harry is made up to be up in the north of England where it seems his heart lies, Marmalade on the other hand is back being mardy I think she wanted to be travelling internationally, hopefully Harry and I can talk her round and stop her sitting there contemplating her navel.

First stop today was Knott End a tiny place on the end of a peninsula in north Lancashirewit a huge bay to the north and east across the mouth of the river Ribble from Fleetwood, the last time I was there was over fifty years ago when my sister's father in law took me there to show me the man who's job was to sweep the sand off the end of the Fleetwood ferry ramp, since then the Knott End cafe had been rebuilt but it was the same greasy spoon inside and serves up a huge all-day breakfast. Next stop was Ribchester and its museum covering the history of the Roman fort that was the reason for the growth of the town, it is a lovely setting with quaint honey stone built cottages and houses. From there we zigzagged acros country to tonight's overnight stop at the Old Stone Trough Country Lodge & Inn which for £30.00 per night B&B is outstanding value for money, I think all the patrons are working locally but far from home so far I have detected accents from all over the UK.

Tomorrow we cross the border into Yorkshire for three days.

The team.

The Saga rep in Scilly is the manager of the Atlantic Hotel which is run by the St Austell Brewery. Our tour guide is Chas, an incomer of 18 years standing who has an unlimited store of one liners and stories about the islands, his wife Cathy runs Scilly Walks and she is the resident archaeologist, so both good contacts for any future visit. This trip I am definitely the youngest Saga lout, the eldest lady is 94, she and the other sixteen are all interesting characters with their own stories to tell.

Seeking the sun.

OK, Tomtom offered me a route of 305 miles at 7 hours 10 minutes driving time and I covered less than 265 miles in 6.5 hours via Pentrefoelas, Bridgenorth, and Kidderminster to The Duporth guest house in Penzance, admittedly it was in one hit with no stops.

The B&B was interesting with a very shy gentleman who showed me the room who obviously did not want to engage in small talk. The room was a little tired with a spring based bed however the towels were soft and the in room, self serve breakfast was very good indeed, fresh fruit and yoghurt with toast and boiled eggs if you can work out how to use the egg boiler!!

A very friendly efficient chap relieved me of my car only a hundred yards from the Scillonian ferry that was to take me smoothly to the island of St Mary's in the Isles of Scilly. My first impression was that this could be a nice place to explore in a boat of some kind but the known 700 wrecks off the coast may indicate a measure of planning and care may need to be exercised. St Mary's is cute, quaint and apparently a desirable place to live and could be regarded as a paradise with warm temperatures, no crime and a population of only 1700 people but against that there are only three pubs, virtually no entertainment and it is very small, I think that gaol fever could lead to alcoholism very easily.

Today, Saturday we went to Tresco to visit the gardens which are full of plants mainly from the antipodes and South Africa and although they are pretty I personally don't think that are a challenge to Bodnant and other mainland gardens. The highlight of the trip was the walk round the island which gave us spectacular views of a coastline that could have been in the Caribbean or some other exotic location, I could visit there again.

Tomorrow is a free day so I plans a short relaxing walk after visiting the museum then on Sunday we are walking the islands of Gugh and St Agnes with the added incentive of a Cornish pasty for lunch.

Madeira photos.

As promised the photos that I could not upload whilst I was there.



The top of Pico Ruivo, Madeira's highest peak.

Sunrise from my breakfast table.

More cruise passengers arriving to clog up Funchal's streets.

Islas Desertas on the horizon, better view without the cruise ship.

Machinou the Irish Hawk paying a visit to scare off the pigeons.

Waterfall on the Risco Levada

Risco selfie

main waterfall at 25 Fontes before the organised tours arrived.

Laverda do Norte, wonderful peaceful views and easy level walking.

Journey's end, Camara de Lobos after a 1000 foot descent in 3 kilometres, that beer did not touch the sides.

Rugby in the sun.

Three completely different games but typical 6 Nations rugby. I watched all the games in Moynihan's in Funchal which served up good food, Guinness and a great atmosphere, it will be hard to beat that when I am home. The highlight for me was Scotland's outstanding performance, I know Ireland got a little bogged down but the hard graft by the pack with the Gray brothers tackling their hearts out and the free running of the backs made it a delight to watch.