On my last trip down here I made a comment on my blog that Vejer de la Frontera was deserving of a visit for a day or even a weekend. Yesterday I took the scenic route through the mountains and on back roads to Vejer meeting hardly any traffic on the way, imagine my horror to find that thousands of people agreed with my thoughts of four years ago, the place was packed to the rafters so I beat a hasty retreat only to find long traffic queues on the coast road, fortunately not in my direction of travel. I gave up and went back to Jimena where I made the aquaintance of Gonçalo an itinerant artist who was recovering from a five day party at the local fiesta, he had an interesting view on his entitlement to an income from the government to pay for his drink, drug and smoking habits but he is a talented artist and sculptor.
I must make a mention of Melissa who owns and runs Casa Henrietta, the place is clean, very reasonably priced and a delightful place to stay.
This morning after a leisurely breakfast I took the mountain roads again and headed up to meet Keira and Kay who are renting through Airbandb for two weeks, their little cabin is on the outskirts of Seville but 400 metres from the nearest houses and part of a farm type complex with chickens, dogs, bats and lizards for company but most of all a little swimming pool, wonderful.
Thursday, 17 August 2017
Tuesday, 15 August 2017
Spain again.
I am travelling super economy on Ryanair with just hand luggage so Harry and Marmalade have stayed at home to guard Llys Onnen. The journey went reasonably well subject to the usual delays, queues and other stress points, the car hire interlude was amusing - I had an elderly English guy who tried to jump the queue in front of me, I remonstrated with him, quite amusingly he got all huffy but in the end his British sense of fair play won out and he invited me to go first. The next fun was the charming man who was filling in all the car hire forms, when I refused the extra insurance at €120 for the week predictably the charm disappeared and he became Mr Surley.
I drove down the non-toll coast road from Malaga Airport through the resorts of Fuengirola, Marbella etc and it confirmed my opinion of such places - to be avoided at all costs, it was a pleasure to turn up into the hills to my destination for the next three days, Casa Henrietta in Jimena de la Frontera, a quirky, hippy establishment that I stayed in for one night on my first road trip in 2013.
I visited the castle here before I checked in, believe it or not I did not notice it on my last visit. The views from up there were incredible, I could see Gibraltar quite clearly but the countryside is very parched and brown after the heatwave they have had, I feel sorry for the cattle and sheep.
Well it is dinner time, I will check out the restaurant that I had pig cheek stew in last time but I have the option of dining in this hotel apparently they only provide evening meals in the season.
I drove down the non-toll coast road from Malaga Airport through the resorts of Fuengirola, Marbella etc and it confirmed my opinion of such places - to be avoided at all costs, it was a pleasure to turn up into the hills to my destination for the next three days, Casa Henrietta in Jimena de la Frontera, a quirky, hippy establishment that I stayed in for one night on my first road trip in 2013.
I visited the castle here before I checked in, believe it or not I did not notice it on my last visit. The views from up there were incredible, I could see Gibraltar quite clearly but the countryside is very parched and brown after the heatwave they have had, I feel sorry for the cattle and sheep.
Well it is dinner time, I will check out the restaurant that I had pig cheek stew in last time but I have the option of dining in this hotel apparently they only provide evening meals in the season.
Wednesday, 14 June 2017
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.
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.
Tuesday, 13 June 2017
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.
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.
Monday, 12 June 2017
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.
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.
Friday, 7 April 2017
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.
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.
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