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RobCowell
RobCowell

RobCowell

Follow me on my adventures as I visit different places and photograph stunning locations. Leggi altro🇬🇧United Kingdom
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  • RobCowellHebridean RendezvousViaggiatore
    This is way steeper than it looksThere were two other campervans here and so quietEverywhere was well kept, but there was absolutely no-one aroundA very scenic 500m walk to the toiletI'm not sure all things listed were actually seen or even existedA 180 view from the top of the viewpointAnti-midge protection: Check

    Creag Meagaidh, Loch Laggan

    17 luglio 2022, Scozia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    I wasn't all that far from my chosen overnight stop, but having arrived at the end of Loch Laggan (no, I'd never heard of it either) I was amazed to see what looked like white sand beaches so I stopped at a layby to have a closer look. This was a little trickier than expected due to an extremely steep path down to the lakeside with nothing to hold on to. In the end I decided to run down, only to find my legs running faster than my brain so thank goodness for the trees I grabbed to use as a brake.

    The beaches were in fact white sand being the exposed areas due to the reservoir level being low. I'm not sure where they came from but there were a few people already there and walking along the sand across the water from me. I stayed about 15 minutes, took the photos you see and then headed off to find my place for the night.

    The place I had chosen to stop is a nature reserve which has a large car park with free use for overnight stays for campervans and motorhomes. An Honesty Box is provided so you can donate a pittance to help pay towards the running costs. A toilet is provided but it is a 500m walk to the visitor centre, so best not to have an upset tummy whilst staying there unless your second job is an Olympic sprinter. It was a pleasant stroll there to be honest, though the wonder of it all was flushed away upon discovering the absence of anything which can even vaguely be described as a bottom wiping accessory.

    Just outside the toilet was a display area, helpfully provided in case you used your underwear to wipe your bottom and now flaunt your assets to the awaiting ensemble. There were information leaflets, though sadly lacking anything about the location of toilet roll, a large LCD screen telling you about the flora and fauna of the area and a white board for listing the things you have seen, or think you may have seen, or not even seen, whilst visiting. I've included it as one of the footprint photos so you will see it if you scroll through, or not if you don't.

    On the way back to the van I ascended a viewpoint topped with a flagpole and flag. I've included a photo taken from here which is a panorama to give a better idea of the view. It was whilst climbing the path that the midges decided it would be fun to come out to play, but thankfully they weren't really the biting kind and were just annoying. I still decided to fit the insect net to my sliding window though, just in case.

    So that was the day that was. It was a travelling day really as is tomorrow so I'll try and remember to take some views as I continue my journey to Ullapool.    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellHebridean RendezvousViaggiatore
    Such a lovely view on such a lovely morning
    I didn't realise this would be the best I could get.You can see where they repairing the viewing platform

    No Rush To Leave

    17 luglio 2022, Inghilterra ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    What a lovely relaxing morning I've had after a restful sleep amongst the campervans of Ullswater. Okay, that's a bit dramatic but there were quite a number parked up for the night and all credit goes to the National Trust who keep the car park available overnight to relieve the stress on local laybys and small park-ups. For a small fee it was worth it.

    I woke at 7.30am to a cloudy morning. I had been hot in the night but I woke to a perfect temperature, got dressed and emerged from the van for a wander and although I never covered any distance, it took nearly an hour to get back to the van due to a chance encounter when I met Becky, from Cheshire, and for a while we connected. You know, that's what life is all about isn't it and I'll never meet her again, but for a while we found a connection and what a difference it made to the day, It was such a great start to this adventure and made me remember that you can never predict the unexpected. Bring it on.

    Breakfast and coffee and then it was time to explore my location. The NT car park was for the Aira Force Waterfall and it simply had to be seen, so I popped my real camera into its discreet shoulder bag and headed up to see it and ... what a simply gorgeous walk it was through old trees, woodland and thoughtfully managed estate. Tourists had arrived because it is a popular location, but for me that didn't matter because this was my time and that is just what it turned out to be. I loved my time there this morning because there were no pressures and I was surrounded by stunning landscape vistas. My proper camera never got used because fallen trees has damaged the viewing platforms so after all that, I never got to see the Aira Force waterfall and never got an arty-farty photo. Guess what - it didn't matter.

    I ended my morning with lunch at the café then it was time to leave to continue my journey, so after a little while surveying possible landing points for tonight and choosing one which sounded ideal, I turned the ignition key and headed north.

    (Okay, I'm speaking with forked tongue - I headed east to get to the motorway and then headed north. Poetic licence is allowed isn't it?)    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellHebridean RendezvousViaggiatore
    1

    First Night in the Lake District

    16 luglio 2022, Inghilterra ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Unless an aircraft is involved with its associated deadlines, I find it near nigh impossible to sort myself out and start the journey at the time planned and today was absolutely no exception. Yesterday I felt I was ready because I had sorted everything I needed and only had to transfer the pile of stuff from my house to the campervan but of course, it took much longer than expected so the departure time kept creeping back. My view on this, of course, is I'm simply mirroring the current procedures in airports right now, so my van was forced to wait at Gate 1 for ages before it could even begin to taxi to the roadway.

    Today is Saturday and I need to be in Ullapool at 0930 on Tuesday morning to catch my ferry to the island and I have given myself three days to drive the 500 miles, which is more than enough really...and there lies the problem. Today was an easy drive to my first stop in the Lake District so there was no real need to leave at 2pm when 4pm is available...and so it was! Then came the first surprise of this trip.

    The journey was faultless with the M6 virtually empty all the way, which was so pleasant and refreshing to discover given the M6 to Manchester is usually Hell on Earth. I had a short stop for a snack at Lancaster services which was - yuk! If one must have a burger I would always choose Burger King over McDonald's any day, but their disgusting attempt at food today was undoubtedly the worst BK I have ever tasted, truly awful, or perhaps I simply chose the wrong place to stop.

    I arrived at Ullswater in the Lake District just as the sun was sinking to the horizon and although I wasn't treated to a stunning sunset, the light was pleasant with even a soupçon of midge, which gave me my first encounter of this trip. These aren't real midges though, because they don't really bite all that much and prefer to drive you insane instead, so after capturing a few shots on my proper camera I headed back to the van and drove the two miles to where I'm staying now - a National Trust car park that allows overnight stays for campervans and motorhomes. Toilet block included - how posh is that?

    So that's it then, the first footprint of a new adventure where I hope you'll join me to discover the sights and experiences that await. As always, the photos on here are taken with my phone because it is easy to 'snap and post'. Tomorrow I continue the journey to Ullapool with my second stop somewhere in Scotland, but where will that be? You will have to wait to find out.    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore
    The wind was so strong I could hardly stand up at this point

    Such a Day About Nothing

    6 novembre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    I woke up to the sound of the wind this morning, though it wasn't raining - yet. The main photo today is a phone panorama through the front window which, I'm sure you'll agree, is another great view to start a day. Then the rain came.

    There has been a pattern on this trip, of poor weather before lunch then quite pleasant afternoons and today was to be the same again. The wind howled and the rain poured and some brave souls still ventured out onto the beach to walk their dogs. Not many though.

    My morning was therefore dedicated to sorting out competition photos for the photographic society and also catching up on email that had accumulated whilst I was out in the wilderness. However, I was eventually pleased to see things brighten up and a hint of sunshine appear.

    I spent the afternoon on the beach, taking a stroll and attempting, badly, to find compositions in the rocks and pools. The highlight was the appearance of a rainbow which I captured on my camera, but forgot to take with my phone.

    The footprint photos today are a bit on the bland side because that's what my day has been like really. As I sit in the van and write this, the sky is clear outside but the van is being shaken by the force of the wind. Long-exposure night photography just doesn't work when you have to keep chasing your tripod across the landscape.    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore

    Bamburgh Castle

    5 novembre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    My view from the window this morning isn't quite as good as yesterday but in only a few paces it gets much better, as you can see in photo 3.

    After breakfast I packed things away for my travels and set Google Maps to take me to Bamburgh and, if you've followed my travels, you may know I've been here before, towards the end of the Scotland trip. I wanted to visit again and see if I could get better photos than last time but there are other coastal photo opportunities nearby, so it was a case of go furthest north and work southward.

    The journey here was extremely scenic because Google took me on quite a number of small roads lined with trees which were displaying their full-on autumn colours. I arrived in Bamburgh with enough time to park up and be ready for a sunset photo. There was a sunset of sorts but the best of the colour was in the opposite direction to where I hoped it would be. Even so, I still managed to get three photos involving the castle which I'm happy with and the main photo today is one of them - the last one I took when it was almost dark. It's taken from my proper camera because the phone simply can't cope when the light fades - photo 4.

    Tomorrow is the last planned day of photography so hopefully the weather will be an aid rather than a nuisance, though the forecast does say gale force wind in the afternoon. Oh dear!    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore

    Too Good to Leave

    4 novembre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C

    Upon leaving the car park, the first task was to visit Kielder Waterpark so I could purchase a parking ticket for my overnight stay. I needed coins or 4G to pay last night and I had neither so I was relieved when the Ranger had allowed me to buy my ticket today.

    Kielder Waterpark is just over 3 miles from where I was parked and the drive there was stunning. It was so stunning that by the time I was purchasing the ticket I had decided to stay until tomorrow.

    The first photo here was actually the last of the day, but it makes for a good main photo. Part of the afternoon was spent doing woodland photography (this is Kielder Forest after all) and taking some scenic shots which often look great when I take them, but somehow lose their charm when I process them. I'll wait and see.

    It's now 6.30pm and outside it's totally dark so in a while I'll look to see if my photography is over for the day. I hope the skies clear not only because I'm in one of the best dark sky areas in England, but because the KP index earlier was 8.33 - I had a brief data connection at the Waterpark. The index goes from 1 to 10 and indicates the strength of the solar wind that causes the Northern Lights. That's really high so there may well be a chance the Lights might appear tonight.

    It was fingers and toes definitely crossed but that didn't help I'm afraid. For most of the evening there was the odd area of open sky visible but later it clouded over completely.    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore

    Morning View

    4 novembre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C

    One of the advantages, or disadvantages depending on your viewpoint, is you don't always know where you will stay for the night when travelling in a campervan.

    So here I am, in Kielder Water car park having not set the alarm so at 9.30am this was the view as I peered out of the window. A solitary small van with two people preparing their bikes for the day with nothing else and no-one around except the colours of autumn lit by golden sunshine. Later, after I'd had breakfast, I grabbed the second photo before sorting things to leave.

    You may think me lazy waking at 9.30, but this place just kept giving and at midnight I was once again setting up the tripod under a magnificently clear sky. I was playing for a couple of hours then, towards the end as I photographed towards the northern sky, the camera started to 'see' the merest hints of pink and green, though to my eyes the sky was black. Was that my imagination, or was I getting the most subtle effects of an Aurora? Who knows, but there was definitely colour in the later captures that were not present in those taken earlier. Spooky or what?    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore

    Kielder Water Car Park

    3 novembre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C

    Given the weather forecast for the two weeks I'm away, I'm surprised I even got the opportunity to photograph nighttime landscapes. I had no idea what the forecast was for tonight, but just fancied taking the detour to the Kielder Forest area, simply to see what it was like.

    I'm heading toward the Northumberland coast and to get to Kielder involves a left turn at the right moment, then a drive of about 20 miles to get to the large reservoir where you are allowed to stay overnight for a small charge. This includes access to toilets but there's nothing else available.

    The final part of the journey was a frustrating drive, not because of bad roads or anything, but because there was the most amazing sunset. Yes, it was the best I've seen in ages but there were no safe places to stop that also provided anything useful for a photo. When I arrived at Kielder Water the display was almost over but I snapped it on my phone, which is the main photo of this footprint. But it's nothing compared to what came before.

    You can see the car park here is quite large, especially as I'm the only person here. Photo 3 is the view from the van as it was getting dark and you can see the clouds lurking ominously. A short time afterwards though, I was amazed to see the clouds part leaving a wonderful display of stars, one which was even better than I'd seen in Goathland ... by far.

    In no time I'd set up the camera and was photographing the Milky Way to the north - a view I don't often take because it's not usually all that visible compared to the view to the south. Here though, it was exceptional. Wow!

    At about 8.30 the clouds began to appear again and that wonderful sky started to fade away. A park Ranger arrived a little later to check I had paid for my overnight stay, then I was once again the only person here.

    The clouds stayed put but I was pleased I'd been able to see a clear sky while I was here. It was a very pleasant surprise in fact.    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore

    An Early Start

    3 novembre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C

    Sunrise is about 7.15am so I set my alarm for 6am so I could be up and ready at the car park to attempt a sunrise photo at a location not far from there. Upon peering out of the van window at 6.03, it didn't look hopeful for good light but I decided to give it a go in any case. Photos 1 and 2 give you the idea of how it turned out and photo 3 is the view from where I parked.

    A good chunk of the day, until just after lunch, was exploring the area from the car park and revisiting the sycamore tree to try to get that fresh take on the standard photo. The last photo in this footprint is another typical shot of the lonely tree, but not really what I was after. I bet every angle and composition has been done to death so it was never going to be easy, especially when most of the time the light was dull and flat.

    Having spent a relaxing time around this section of Hadrian's Wall, I got back to the van just as the rain started, so my next stop was the Visitor Centre cafe for a snack. I then began my journey northward again and to the Kielder Forest dark sky reserve.

    Within minutes of starting my journey I could see Sycamore Gap from the main road so I stopped for one last photo. Good job too, because the one I took here, that's still on the camera card, may well be my favourite of that perfectly placed tree.    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore

    Another Single Tree

    2 novembre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    After a leisurely start and with everything in its place in the van, I began my journey northwards to a place called Once Brewed in Northumberland. In case you're wondering, there is also a place called Twice Brewed and it's pretty much next to the other one and yes, beer is involved in the naming of these places.

    Near Once Brewed, and not far from Twice Brewed of course, is Sycamore Gap where a single sycamore tree can be found ... in a gap. What you may not know about this tree is that it is probably one of the most photographed trees in existence because it grows perfectly placed between a dip in the landscape along the line of Hadrian's Wall. It's a perfect composition really.

    I've never been to see any section of this Roman wall so I was pleased to finally see it. Having parked the van it's about a 20 minute walk to the gap but if you take the route alongside the Wall, there are some steep ups and downs on the way which is why some people take the alterative route that isn't so steep.

    The photos here show the kind of terrain and photo 5 is the classic photo taken by thousands, if not many thousands more. The final photo was taken on my way back to the van along the lower route, which was much quicker and far less effort. It was the safest choice too, because the light was almost gone and I didn't have a torch with me.

    Having arrived safely back I then went to find a pub for my evening meal and then found my place for the night. Though I'd bagged my photo of that famous tree I wanted to get something slightly different to the standard shot, so I decided I'd revisit the location tomorrow, so my mission wasn't over yet.    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore

    Scarborough

    1 novembre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Today was a trip to Scarborough which, as some of you may know, was a place of significance in my early twenties because my then future wife (and Penny's mum of course) trained to be a teacher there and I used to visit for a weekend roughly every three weeks or so whilst she was there. This is also how I know Elizabeth, because she and Sally became friends then and Scarborough is also where I Proposed and Sally accepted. Romantic or what?

    This visit was therefore an opportunity to stroll around the town and discover if the old haunts still existed and see how things had changed. Some areas of the town were different but along the seafront it all looked just as it did all those decades ago. Yes, there were slight changes but fundamentally it was pretty much the same, though thankfully there were not so many stalls selling seafood snacks which I simply have never been able to describe as food. There were definitely fewer fishing boats and more yachts in the harbour though - a sign of the times I think.

    One essential stop was to the Harbour Bar which is an ice-cream parlour in the style of an American diner, with yellow walls and red 'leather' seats and yes, it has not changed one iota and is exactly as it was in those student days. Even the strawberry milk shake was as I remembered it

    A quirky object found in one of the tiny back streets behind the promenade shops I have photographed for you to see - is this the next campervan? I don't think so, but I certainly found it amusing and an interesting take on a theme. I've certainly not seen anything like this before - have you?

    Overall we reckon we must have strolled four miles or so around the town and along the length of the seafront before we headed back to the car to return to Goathland. The skies had cleared too, so now you've most likely guessed I'd be out with the camera later in the evening ... and of course I was.

    My astro photography tonight was not far away, perhaps two or three miles from the village and up towards the main road to Whitby. The sky wasn't as clear as last time but I still managed a couple of photos before it also turned foggy. To be honest, I was struggling to find some foreground interest for my images so in the end I used my van to help with that. A photo of my van with the Milky Way as a backdrop: sad but true!

    I wasn't late tonight as I returned around midnight. This is because I don't want to be tired tomorrow when I head further north to Hadrian's Wall in search of another single tree.    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore

    Change of Plan

    31 ottobre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    The aim for today was to travel to Roseberry Topping, a 320m hill some way from Goathland but a location both I and Elizabeth wanted to visit and for walking. However, when I opened the curtains the view outside was dismal with the rain tumbling down, blown by a gusty wind and in no way was this walking weather.

    The morning therefore ended up as relaxation and chat and watching the water spray leaving the body of my van caused by the high winds. We both commented how, if the temperatures were lower and the rain was actually snow, we would be witnessing true blizzard conditions. But just like the previous days, at lunchtime blue sky arrived, the wind eased and the sunshine arrived.

    After a lunch snack we set off for a short four mile stroll in the local area, walking through the village then across the railway lines at the station (the one used in the Harry Potter films) then up the hill and out into the countryside.

    The ground was very wet and the streams in full flood. The main photo in this footprint is supposed to be of the stepping stones across a river but as you can see, they were now more like a waterfall so we had to turn back. The photos here hopefully give you the idea of what we did and saw.

    It was a pleasant walk and it at least got the muscles working and the blood flowing. The afternoon light was lovely and emphasised the autumn colours, then in the evening it was a meal out in a local hotel bar. A nice end to the day.

    It was definitely a different day than expected and probably the sort you should have on a holiday - no set agenda, relaxation, a bit of fresh air and a nice meal so definitely a holiday day. Tomorrow it's a journey back in time to refresh the memory of days gone by.    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore

    Whitby on Saturday

    30 ottobre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    The weather continues to be unsettled so it was just as well the day was planned for a relatively slow start because upon opening the curtains this morning it was dull and rainy. How unusual for this trip.

    As the time arrived to leave I was not hopeful the weather would improve but went anyway, which turned out to be exactly the right thing to do. Elizabeth dropped me off, leaving me to walk down towards the harbour area, and as I headed through the streets the sun began to break through the clouds and marked the arrival of lovely weather for the rest of the day. Just to prove it, the main photo here was taken on my way to get picked-up at the end of the afternoon and it had been like that throughout..

    My goodness was Whitby crowded, as you can see in the photos. This is great for the town of course - I believe around £1 million is deposited into the community over the three days. As suggested yesterday, there were more people in costume today but the photography was harder because it was tricky to isolate them from the busy backgrounds filled with people. There were way more photographers too, but life wasn’t impossible and I still managed to get photos I was pleased with.

    To show you more photos than the six per footprint allowed, I’ve split today into two footprints so read-on to the next one to see a few of my favourite ones from today,    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore

    Saturday Goths and a Missed Aurora

    30 ottobre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    These photos are again from my camera rather than the phone - hopefully you can tell - and I’m aiming to use these as components to make other photos. Taking the first one as an example, you will see I have removed this gentleman’s background - he was actually sitting outside a bar having a gin & tonic with his wife, with a window behind him where the back of someone could be clearly seen. I’m hoping to place him in a entirely different location, creating a composite photo which is perhaps better described as photographic art. These types of photos can do well in local and national photographic competitions so I thought I’d give this style of photography a go and see how I get on. Time will tell.

    Having spent a few hours taking photos and enjoying my time in Whitby, Elizabeth picked me up late afternoon then later that night, with the skies remaining crystal clear, I spent the early hours of Sunday morning under the stars with my camera photographing the constellation of Orion, my favourite of the winter skies. When I say ‘crystal clear’ by the way, I really do mean it. The sky teemed with glistening stars on a deep black sky with the Milky Way shining brightly right across the heavens. I got to bed around 3.30am, though thankfully it was an hour earlier than that because the clocks were turned back to GMT. I won’t be processing the photos I took until I get home.

    (One very annoying thing happened tonight. You see, the Northern Lights were visible from Scotland and Northern England - I’d seen the forecast saying they would be so while I was out I kept an eye on the northern horizon just in case, but I saw nothing. However, only 20 minutes by car from where I was standing, just south of Whitby, it had been possible to see the Aurora. So why didn’t I see it? It was because the green glow was visible only very low on the horizon and to my north there were trees blocking my view. I was so disappointed when I saw a photo on Instagram the next morning, taken by someone so close to where I was standing. I’d love to see the Northern Lights from the UK but I’ll just have to be patient and hope there will be another opportunity.)

    Tomorrow Elizabeth and I will be off walking in the Yorkshire countryside, so hopefully the weather will be better than the current prediction. Do you fancy placing a bet on our chances for a walk?    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore

    Photography Begins Again

    29 ottobre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    The journey up to Goathland went extremely well with none of the traffic queues and hold-ups I had experienced when travelling to Malham earlier in the week. I arrived exactly as planned a little after 6pm and the evening was spent catching up with my friend Elizabeth, with whom I was staying, and sorting a timetable of events for the weekend.

    Today, then, was an easy morning with me fixing a couple of computer issues then an easy two mile walk just outside Goathland looking to capture a photograph to enter into the photography club competition this month. The theme is ‘Nature’s Colours’ so all I had to do was walk and take photos of the autumn colours around us. I submitted the photo this evening, which is the main photo for this footprint.

    Elizabeth dropped me off in Whitby after lunch and I then spent a couple of hours strolling through the town with my camera taking photos of some of the Goths that had already arrived for the festival. As I had found when I photographed Steampunks a few weeks ago, they were so friendly and we’re more than willing to pose for photos. Here’s five I took which are from the camera as I didn’t take any phone photos today. I really enjoyed the afternoon and chatting with the various people in themed costumes. I was also amazed to discover a couple from Bradmore in Wolverhampton who knew Seisdon, where I live, and who knew a couple of people I knew. It is a small world isn’t it.

    Quite a few mentioned that tomorrow there would be far more people in costume so I shall be visiting Whitby again, hoping the weather won’t let us all down. It doesn’t look too good for the morning but things are forecast to improve as the day progresses.    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore

    The Phone Call

    26 ottobre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    I had a leisurely breakfast followed by more coffee while I browsed Google Maps for my next photo location. Mind you, had I not downloaded the north of England into my phone (the map, not the entire entity known as Northern England) I wouldn't be doing much browsing because the 4G signal in this area is intermittent to dodgy at best. Luckily, I also have a guide book for the Yorkshire Dales which lists ideal photo locations, so I was browsing that too and I could see two potential spots within a radius of three miles or so. On that basis I decided to sit things out and hope things would improve as had been implied by the weather forecast and yes, the rain stopped a little after 11am even though the heavy mist remained. "Okay", I thought, "It's now or never."

    Finally then, I got my single tree photo and from different viewpoints too - looking north, south and west. The single photo in this footprint, captured on my phone of course, is side-on to the way the limestone rocks run and gives a general idea of what I was trying to achieve. Yes I know it is a single tree but it is also a black & white photo and not something you see me do all that often.

    As always, time passed quickly and especially because of the amount of time waiting for the mist/fog to clear so I could actually see what I was trying to photograph. By the time I returned to the van it was definitely time for a sandwich before moving on to my second location: Janet's Foss, a nearby waterfall. Then the phone rang and all my plans changed.

    After spending well over an hour on the phone trying to decide why a whole section of a school had no access to their servers, It was agreed the best course of action was to return home and cancel my photography in the Yorkshire Dales. This meant the rest of the day was spent driving whilst trying to decide if the expenses I was being paid to return were any consolation. The best discovery whilst driving home however, was that I could talk to Google and ask for virtually any piece of music to be streamed from my YouTube Premium account into the sound system in the van. How good is that?

    There will now be a break in the time sequence while I fix IT systems and then restart my travels Thursday lunchtime, when I drive up for the Goth Festival in Whitby and the odd walk or two with my friend who lives in Goathland, not far from Whitby. Rumour has it this may well be the last Goth Festival there, so perhaps it is fortunate I am visiting this year.

    [I'm actually writing this footprint on Wednesday evening from my living room, having successfully fixed the problems at the school and left them working and happy. I've already sent the invoice!]    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore

    It's Gone

    26 ottobre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ 🌧 8 °C

    The alarm woke me with plenty of time to get dressed and get myself in position for an amazing sunrise, the sky full of colour with the merest hint of the mist still hugging the hills to the south.

    Well, that's what I hoped for, but the weather forecast was correct. Though it wasn't heavy rain there was rain nevertheless and the scene was dull and flat. I made a coffee.

    Things improved a little after sunrise - the first photo here shows the view from the side window of the van. However, in no time the tree disappeared as the low cloud (fog) and heavier rain arrived, so the view through the window changed accordingly, as you can see.

    So I settled back in the warm, had breakfast then decided what I'd do on a wet day in Yorkshire.    Leggi altro

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  • RobCowellTravels t’Up NorthViaggiatore

    Late Start

    25 ottobre 2021, Inghilterra ⋅ 🌧 7 °C

    The next adventure begins.

    I have come to realise I need a flight departure time and a deadline to arrive at the airport to check-in. This kind of trip, in just another part of England, doesn't require me to be somewhere at a precise time and what this leads to is a rather laid-back approach to leaving. In the end I left some time around lunchtime rather than 'early' as intended, but giving plenty of time, I thought, to arrive at my first location for a sunset photograph.

    The first photo in this footprint shows the first of the traffic queues, somewhere north of Stoke-on-Trent due to an accident, then there was another delay further on for the same reason, and that was after Google rerouted me to avoid an accident near Warrington. Then there were queues because there were queues and slow vehicles etc, so I was more than pleased to arrive at my location not far from Malham Tarn, which in itself is not all that far from Malham Cove, which is near the village of Malham - even though it was much later than expected.

    I arrived just too late for sunset because the sun had just set, but undeterred I still popped my boots on, grabbed a waterproof coat and gloves and headed off to photograph a tree. You can see the tree in the second photo - the one furthest away, just above the door mirror. The third photo is a photo of my camera taking the photo ... rivetting stuff or what!

    The light was fading quickly and in the short time I was near that tree I was blown by the wind, the tree was blown by the wind and we both got rained on. Having captured the first image, which I'm not sure will be anything special, I carefully made my way back to the van.

    The skies cleared for a little while and I thought there may be a chance of a starry sky shot, but in no time fog cloaked the scene and ended that prospect for the night. I've set my alarm to try for the tree at sunrise even though the forecast is for heavy rain at that time. We shall see.

    In case you are wondering what the fascination is to photograph that tree, it is an iconic shot around these parts due to it being one of only a few trees in the area and one of the few surrounded by those limestone rocks, which make for a great composition. I thought it would be an easy target for the first photo, though maybe it's not so easy after all    Leggi altro

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  • Sails, Sunsets & Snaps II
    Last view of our yacht
    Final walk down the jettyView across the harbourIs this maybe the best location all week for breakfast

    Time to Leave

    3 ottobre 2021, Grecia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    A little earlier a start today because at 9am the yacht must be vacated and handed back to the flotilla company. The last of the bags was packed and transferred ashore, which sounds very grand until you realise that actually means the bags were carried off the boat! There were a few goodbyes, especially to Lou and Dylan who had coordinated things all week and who now glady received everyone's drinks leftovers and, it seems, various supplies of loo roll and other miscellaneous items. Plenty of thanks were given too.

    The minibus to transfer to the airport wasn't due until 11am so the adjacent Yacht Club bar was the destination for breakfast. Yes, just to make you jealous, photo 4 is actually the view as we sipped coffee, ate Greek yoghurt and honey and consumed early morning crepes ... and more. Heaven or what!

    Rob went for an arty photo again, of a single yacht offshore, but you will have to wait to see that because the posh camera was used instead of the phone.

    So that was it then, it's all over. The transfer to the airport went smoothly as did check-in and even though the flight departure was delayed, time was clawed back and the plane landed only a few minutes late at Gatwick.

    On arrival the assisted travel through the airport was luxury on steroids as we were once again whisked past queues and were given the honour of passport control coming to us to check passports etc rather than the other way around. Plus, our Border Force officer was the model of courtesy and even joked with Rob so how pleasant is that, making you wonder why this isn't the norm ... the pleasantness and fun bit that is - you can't expect them to come and see every arriving passenger. Let's be reasonable here.

    It's been a wonderful week of predominantly blue skies and lovely temperatures. All four of us commented how nice it had been and how relaxed it all was. Alan also said how much better he felt, not just physically but mentally too. It's been a long time since foreign places had been seen and/or visited and this week made you realise just how much that was missed. Was it worth going? You bet it was!

    Without all the effort and skills of Penny & Tom, none of this could never have happened so thank you both, for making this a week to remember.    Leggi altro

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  • Sails, Sunsets & Snaps II
    Our final berth

    Best Meal of the Week

    2 ottobre 2021, Grecia ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    Harmonia slowly glided into the harbour at Palairos just before 5pm with Penny at the helm and Tom and Rob dealing with the mooring ropes. All was made good and the engine turned off for the final time ... but it's not all over just yet.

    For the meal tonight a table had been booked at a restaurant in town called 'New Mill Tavern'. There is no menu here and not even a wine list because food is simply brought to your table through the evening, leaving you to relax and chat for as long as you'd like to - the table is yours for the entire time you want to be there and you definitely want to be there. The wine, by the way, was a 5 litre bottle of a very pleasant rose but before you panic, you only get charged for what you drink, but ehen the food and drink is so good, why complicate life with choices?

    Your surroundings in this family run restaurant are enchanting and the host so friendly and welcoming. The food is second to none as the dishes are brought to your table at a leisure pace, prepared and cooked to perfection. The meal here was definitely the food highlight of the week and it's easy to see why a table must be booked.

    All too soon it was time to return to the yacht. The skies were crystal clear, as they were last weekend at the start of the holiday, so Rob was tempted to venture out with the camera again to see if there was a photo to be found. The best of the Milky Way had been much earlier in the evening but even so, Jupiter and Saturn were shining brightly and Rob eventually found a photo to bring home.    Leggi altro

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  • Sails, Sunsets & Snaps II
    Breakfast perfection
    Arty shot of the dayWe need s bigger boatIs that pirates? No, tourists.A relaxing final stop for lunchHome port in sight

    Last Full Day

    2 ottobre 2021, Grecia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Once more the crew rise to warm and sunny weather with breakfast at the same restaurant as last night. This really is a beautiful spot with clear water rippling onto the beach of tiny stones. Rob couldn't resist an arty shot with the different blues and the orange buoy. You can see an expensive boat anchored in the bay too, though that was nowhere near as big as the ship that passed by a little later. A helicopter on board too ... we wondered how much that lot cost to purchase and run. What do you reckon?

    The fourth photo in this footprint is of a strange boat indeed. A first reaction was 'Pirates!' but it was in fact a tub full of tourists on an excursion who, after a commentary from a guide, all spilled out onto the jetty to deposit their cash into the local economy. Life back to normal then!

    There wasn't far to sail today so there was no rush, though 'sail' is a bit of an optimistic term given there was still virtually no wind. Lunch was at the same bay as on the last day three years ago. There were more yachts there this time but even so, it is still a great place to chill and allow one's senses to absorb the scenic panorama and the warmth of the day. Then, reluctantly, the engine was started, the anchor raised and Harmonia began its final leg of the trip towards its home port.    Leggi altro

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  • Sails, Sunsets & Snaps II
    The outboard motor just wouldn't start
    Beautiful weather as we head out to seaLunch stop and tuna spottingAlan about to board the yacht at the end of the evening

    Another Hard Day Afloat

    1 ottobre 2021, Grecia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    On the way to Vathi yesterday, Rob had taken the helm for quite a time during afternoon and also berthed the yacht at its mooring - he really enjoyed that it has to be said.

    Once again this overnight port had been chosen because of the threat of high winds overnight but, as before, they never materialised. It did rain during the night though, but by morning the blue skies and sunshine had returned.

    The mooring was quite a walk from the town and too far for Alan to manage, but the restaurant had been close by (pretty much all there was there actually) and the meal was pleasant enough. Today though, the restaurant was closed so a visit to the town was needed to get breakfast and lunch supplies.

    Penny & Tom planned to take the dinghy but following outboard motor issues, they decided to cross the harbour in the yacht instead and moor-up near the shops. This went smoothly and in no time the supplies were on board and it was time to set sail.

    The journey to the next port followed the pattern of very light winds and plenty of time to relax.

    The lunchtime stop was really nice too, at a small bay with only one other yacht there - another from our flotilla. Penny, Tom and the pineapple took to the water as usual but before they did, everyone spent time looking for tuna, which the other family had spotted just as we arrived. Tom and Rob saw one swim close to the boat but they were hard to spot and Penny saw none whilst she was in the water.

    The penultimate stop tonight was at Spartochori which we knew was a lovely location because it was one of the stopovers during the sailing trip in 2018. This time Alan was at the helm to park the boat and did a splendid job of it too. In the evening it was another group meal with everyone seated at a big long table. Rob, Alan, Penny & Tom ended up at one end next to Lou and Dylan, the flotilla leaders. It was really interesting to chat with them and all too soon it was time to return to the yacht. How come time goes so quickly?    Leggi altro

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  • Sails, Sunsets & Snaps II
    A view as we head out to sea
    Location for LunchBe careful with that G&T

    The Storm that Never Came

    30 settembre 2021, Grecia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    The day started with Penny & Rob receiving an early bath after a wave rolled over the harbour wall and gave them a cold awakening. The wind was quite strong this morning and the waves bigger too, but by the time the morning briefing was over and breakfast eaten (crepes today), the wind and ocean activity had subsided and by the time the yacht was in open water the wind that was hoped for was virtually gone.

    The day was to be a repeat of the others: calm weather, lovely temperatures, deep blues and relaxation.

    All was not lost however, because during the afternoon the wind did actually pick up and the crew finished the day with the yacht piercing the waves at a steady speed and with the engine switched off. At last then, the sails were used and everyone on board were happy bunnies - including the pineapple.

    If your are wondering about those high winds and thunderstorm ... yes, the winds were stronger and there was rain during the night but no thunderstorm materialised. No drama there then.    Leggi altro

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  • Sails, Sunsets & Snaps II
    A familiar scene whilst sailing
    Arriving in KalamosThe view as we walked to the restaurant

    Hoist the Sails - Wind at Last

    29 settembre 2021, Grecia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    It doesn't take long before you start to forget what happened on what day. This is commonly known as relaxation or, to some, Blob Mode. This isn't helped by the unbearably perfect temperatures, the drone of the engine, the soothing sounds of water flowing around the hull and the gentle rocking motion as the yacht meanders through a world of blue. Both the sky and the ocean are a deep shade of blue with the mountains of the coastline caressed by a delicate blue haze, so it is virtually impossible not to switch off and simply enjoy what surrounds you.

    And so it is, this family of four spending another day navigating their way through the Ionian Islands, though lunch was taken on the fly as there was enough wind to sail for most of the day, albeit slowly at times. Penny and Tom had their now regular swim in the crystal clear Mediterranean water but we weren't anchored in a bay this time - the yacht simply drifted in deep water whilst they jumped in and swam for a while.

    Afterwards the journey continued to Kalamos and it was great the wind had suddenly appeared to help Harmonia on its way and it was nice to be able to sail properly. We arrived in Kalamos about 17.30 with the evening meal in a restaurant only a short walk away.

    The Flotilla leader had chosen this port specifically because overnight high winds and a potential thunderstorm was forecast. As we returned to the boat for the night, the wind was already stronger and the waves were splashing against the harbour wall.    Leggi altro

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  • Sails, Sunsets & Snaps II
    No blue skies to start the day
    A typical scene from todayThe traditional activity at the end of the dayEating out - you can see our boat in the background

    It's Sailing, but with no wind

    28 settembre 2021, Grecia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    The day once again started with the briefing meeting and breakfast then soon afterwards the motley crew made ready the yacht and cruised out to the open water. As you can see from the first photo, it was a low contrast, somewhat grey start but with a pleasant temperature, but it wasn't long before the blue skies appeared, with deep blue water below us.

    There really was no wind to speak of today so it was cruising with the engine running, relaxing as we went and admiring the view as it slowly changed.

    Lunch was again taken at anchor at a quiet spot with Penny, Tom and the pineapple deciding to take a dip. Afterwards it was a pleasant cruise to our next stop for the night and once the boat was safely moored, it was time for the traditional G&T. Penny & Tom also rigged-up the hammock they'd brought with them and you can see Penny proving its worth.

    Dinner that night in Vasiliki was at the restaurant right next to where the flotilla boats were parked. It was a shared occasion to allow the various groups to mingle - a lovely evening getting to know a family in the next table from one of the other boats, with talk of skiing and travel to places far and wide and Alan recounting stories of his time in the Navy.

    It was so nice to spend time like this, eating outside late into the evening in warm temperatures and summer clothes. We finished the evening with a visit to the ice-cream parlour - who wouldn't?    Leggi altro

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  • Sails, Sunsets & Snaps II
    Penny took this of our yacht whilst swimming
    Lunch on boardProbably the worst selfie Rob has ever been part ofPlenty of fish around as you can seeView down the jetty to the restaurant where we ate this eveningLate night harbour scene

    Calm Seas

    27 settembre 2021, Grecia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    The first full day, waking to clear skies and sunshine, once it rose above the large hill to the east of our mooring. There were a few things to do before leaving including the morning briefing given by the flotilla leaders who detailed the destination for the day and any potential issues when mooring up that evening. Oh, and breakfast of course as well as shopping for important supplies such as food for lunch snacks and fruit juice to make rum punch. That last bit was the most essential, naturally.

    Then, it was time to leave. Penny is the skipper on this trip, as before, so under her coordination the vessel was made ready, the engine started and the mooring ropes released.

    This was a day of not a little amount of wind, but actually no wind whatsoever so it was engine power all day. The sails were hoisted, Jim Lad, but not for long because they did absolutely nothing.

    We dropped the anchor for lunch at a pleasant location just off a beach where that rum punch came in handy, and swam with an inflatable pineapple for a while. Bet you are so envious - about the inflatable pineapple that is.

    It was then a gentle cruise to our stop for the night - a port we visited last time called Sivota. It was a relaxing stop after a relaxing day, which ended with Penny Rob and Tom taking cocktails at a quiet bar at one end of the port whilst Alan preferred an early night.    Leggi altro

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