Travel journal 2015
31 Dec 2015
Harefield Hospital, on the western outskirts of London, specialises in cardiology. We were intrigued to discover its strong ANZAC connection.
It's just celebrated its centenary as it was founded to treat injured ANZACs in 1915 and the connection has endured.
Decided not buy a ticket to the fireworks (no, really!) and saw NY2016 in at Abbey Wood, from where we had a good view of Woolwich Arsenal fireworks.
25 Dec 2015
And later another Xmas toast, this time with silly paper things on our heads, to the sacrificial turkeys. Later, Mitch's impromptu - and very good - speech (right).
And later, sporting silly mask things...
25 Dec 2015
All ten of us...
...getting smoked salmon and scrambled eggs ready for Xmas Day breakfast...
...after a Prosecco toast to kick things off.
24 Dec 2015
A carol service in Buxton, a scenic drive away through the heart of the Peak District and, afterwards, a return trip with a full moon rising directly ahead.
Plenty of movies and games at the barn, with Joe here showing off his Wii ten pin bowling prowess.
...and Mitch sharing something humorous on the iPad (no I don't know what it was about either).
23 Dec 2015
22 Dec 2015
Thanks to Amy for these great B&W shots on the day of the winter solstice.
22 Dec 2015
In the scenic Peak District, the Grange Barn was the ideal place to celebrate Xmas, particularly as it was the first time in over ten years that the Gilpin family had been in the same country at this time of year.
So the first arrivals needed a walk and a drink at the Barley Mow in the nearby village of Kirk Ireton.
Suitably refreshed, a happy group about to return to Grange Barn.
11 Dec 2015
Heinz Stücke
We've been reflecting on a great event put on by Brompton at the Design Museum yesterday. We had a couple of chats with Heinz, warm, sharp-witted and looking very fit, demonstrating the exercise benefits of 50 years of cycling. He autographed his book for us and invited us to visit him in Hövelhof; an invitation we're very keen to fulfil.
Although now sponsored by Brompton (no doubt with a much bigger marketing budget), he spoke very well of his 50,000 kms on his Bike Friday Pocket Llama.
We'd recommend you purchase his book, see here. It's an inspiring read for anyone into cycling and overland travel.
There's more on Heinz's web site here and on Wikipedia.
10 Dec 2015
From antiquity to the modern era today. Started with another brilliant exhibition at the British Museum, "Egypt - faith after the pharoahs" (no photography allowed, of course) then a cool rainy walk for three miles...
...across London, mainly down High Holborn, over London Bridge where this was taken, en route to the Design Museum on the right side of the river just past Tower Bridge, shining in the distance...
...to the Cycle Revolution exhibition there, celebrating everything from the first safety bicycle, arguably this Rover, first exhibited in London in 1885 to the modern day carbon fibre, electric and folding bikes. (See next block below).
10 Dec 2015
Notably there were no tandems, but cargo bikes, now enjoying a renaissance (except in Holland of course where they've been forever) did get a look-in as these historical shots show.).
(Continued on next block below.)
10 Dec 2015
But the highlight was a special event with Heinz Stücke, the world's most travelled man, now retired after 50 years on the road.
Most of his 648,000 kms through 196 countries were on this 25 kg German bike. The map doesn't clearly show all the myriad lines crossing the world's continents but the black dots show each Xmas location - always in a different place!
We were lucky to be at the head of the long queue for book signing. Happy to spend plenty of time with each purchaser, Heinz was going to have a sore wrist by the end of the night!
6 Dec 2015
Now back in our cosy van as winter arrives. This photo is notable for the fact it was sunny, although cold of course. Sunshine during an English winter is something to treasure.
We took the opportunity to take the red machine out of its two-year hibernation at Stansted, planning to get it registered for when the nice riding weather arrives next year...
...and moved it into our storage container at Littleport, north of Cambridge.
30 Nov 2015
Looking back on six iconic London shots taken during November... Here are yet more horses spotted during a walk/run just next to our regular Walton on Thames site.
And, a first for us, live music at the Old Post Office Bakery in Brixton.
More music, this time at St Martin in the Fields at Trafalgar Square. We listened to a young soprano at one of St Martin's free (well, actually, suggested donation) concerts. When next you have an hour free in London, check out the recitals there.)
30 Nov 2015
More Nov. shots, this one a view from atop the excellent Tower Bridge Museum showing some of London's shapely buildings. They are from left to right, the "Armadillo, the Shard, the "walkie-talkie", the "cheese grater" (part hidden) and the "gherkin".
Another view of the London Eye, this time from Waterloo Bridge with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament to the right.
Full marks to London, spending millions of pounds on cycling infrastructure (here Cycle Superhighway 7 at Clapham) but as you can see, they haven't quite got the European idea of traffic segregation!
