Battie Delights...

Our recent tour around New England was one of our best holidays for years. While we enjoyed the whole thing, there were a few elements that really 'made' the holiday. Our stay in Maine, at the Mount Battie motel near Camden, was one of those.

Mount Battie Motel

From 2010-08-30

First of all, there is the Mount Battie Motel itself, run by the wonderful Christine and Ed. There is no question that they gave us the warmest welcome of all of the places we stayed in New England, and I am having trouble thinking of a hotel or motel anywhere else that comes close in this regard. They went out of their way to help us find some good things to do during our short stay in the region, of which they are clearly and justifiably proud. It is clear that Ed and Christine have made themselves firmly part of the local community - on our very first night Ed picked up the phone to book us a table at a local restaurant, saying 'Hi, it's Ed...'. The good things don't stop with the welcome; breakfast is a delicious and ample buffet of excellent home baking. We ate our breakfast each morning outdoors, on the verandah overlooking the sea. The accommodation is spacious and comfortable, and there is an admirable attention to detail everywhere - such as the plants and flowers all kept pristine. Do I recommend it? I certainly do.

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse

From 2010-08-28

On the first day - we were a bit frazzled from solid city tourism in Boston, so chilled on the little local beach for a while, then had a potter to the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. We came across the local swimming club on our walk along the breakwater, doing a long distance race.

Mount Megunticook

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With just a couple of days -we had great walk up and around Mount Megunticook in the Camden Hills state park - a solid hill walk (about 6 miles, and ~1200 feet of ascent) a wooded trail leading up to a smooth granite ledge, with some amazing views over the Penobscot Bay.

From New England August 2010

Cool Janice

An Early Morning Walk on Eype Down, Dorset

Early on the second morning of our long weekend in Dorset, I had an irresistable urge to go out for a walk. My instincts turned out to be good, because it was the most beautiful morning imaginable. I walked up from our cottage to the ridge above that joins with Eype Down. From then on the views were absolutely superb both of the coast and inland. At one point on the walk I could look down at the cottage we were staying in, so I sent Tess a text to look out of the window and started waving. I later found out that everyone saw me. Very pleasing.

Whirly thing

Whirly thing (on Vimeo)
Originally uploaded by Brother Swampicus.

We found this just as we were about to leave Sudeley Castle near Stow-on-the-Wold. Very simple and utterly charming and I think we could have gazed at it for even longer than we did. I strongly recommend taking a look at the video which you'll find linked.

The Most Outrageous Ripoff

The Most Outrageous Ripoff
Originally uploaded by Brother Swampicus.

Imagine the scene. It's a so-so day of weather and you're on holiday, so you all pile into the car in search of a little innocent indoor entertainment. After several hours of driving ('Hyperbole, not exaggeration' as my English Lit. teacher said, when I said 'Suh, but I bet that whale never really all that big') we arrive at this car park that could hold no more than four cars. We should have turned away then; little did we realise that four cars would have been a peak season maximum. We walked into the little gift shop that led into the main museum, and I handed over six quid to the man with the luxuriant moustache at the till. "Much obliged to you" quoth he. Actually, I'm not surprised he was pretty obliged, because the little gift shop turned out to be the whole darned museum. There were bits of aeroplane debris in glass cases, but much of the museum wall space was taken up with letters from other guys with moustaches saying how great the whole thing was. We managed to while away a pretty tedious seven minutes, before slinking out and escaping.

This is what happens when you drink too much caffeine

Ever thought of switching to decaff? This guy is a warning to us all. 

Stormy skies over Beilngries

For an englishman, it is almost reassuring to discover that the weather isn't perfect abroad. We had one or two really rather wet days, but none that stopped us from doing our thing. Mostly, the weather was warm with 'sunny intervals', with one or two real beauties. 

Walking on the heads of the Twelve Apostles

A beautiful walk along a ridge above a series of stone columns, locally called the Twelve Apostles. Sam, who is precise about this kind of thing, counted fourteen.  

Stranger in a strange land

A holiday in Germany this year, the Altmühltal, part of Bavaria. This was a bit of an expedition into the unknown for us. Altmühltal turns out to be a little bit like the Wye valley. But first, the journey down; I had forgotten how to drive on German motorways; the most entertaining are the two-lane no-speed-limit sections. Here, the speed on the inside lane is about 60 mph (which feels a bit slow), and the speed in the outside lane is about 110 mph (which is above my fear factor). I start out by overtaking a slow lorry, with the road behind apparently empty, only to find a black Audi with its headlights on materialise behind me. 

Canoeing in Altmühtal

We had a fine day canoeing along the river Altmühl. We collected our boats from a wiry little old guy in a back street of Beilngries, who drove his carlike a maniac to get us to our start in Kipfenberg. After several excursions along the Dordogne and the river Wye, we're getting reasonably competent. It was my second try at the double kayak with Tess; lots more fun than the rather more majestic progress of a canadian canoe.

Back from Holidays

We're back from our visit to deepest, darkest Germany. A 540 mile drive yesterday - started driving at 10am and stopped at 9pm. Yikes. Today we spent doing the serious tourist bit about Brugge, then a blast under the channel and home.

Getting Ready for Holidays

Four days and counting. Three weeks away from work, for the first time in so long I can't remember. I'm looking forward to cycling, canoeing, walking sketching, reading, whistling etc for a long time.

Happy drinking Espresso

Sometimes, you just need that fix. 

Dreaming at the Trowbridge Village Pump Music Festival

• Streamers 1 Originally uploaded by Brother Swampicus.

What a fine way to spend a weekend. Great music, from bands big and small. From the Huckleberries and 'Last Nights Fun' to Karine Polwart and 'Show of Hands'. At the campsite, more music with Hannah, Andy, Andy and Glenys. Good also to meet Bob and family properly for the first time.

Who could have predicted that the cool instrument for teenage boys would have been, of all things, the Ukelele.

Java and Chocolate

DSC04672
Originally uploaded by Brother Swampicus.

For the discerning geek.

Titans of the Scottish Highlands

Who payed the ferry man? Two Andys on top of the world not posed - honest. 

Family hike in Shropshire

DSC04262
Originally uploaded by Enro Mojave.

...by a gnarled tree near the beginning of the hike.

Our little Corner of London

 

How not to welcome honoured guests

Spotted on our walk from the docklands to Greenwich. 

London trip: Selected highlights

Decision time at the Deep Blue Cafe in the Science Museum. "mind the draught..." Reconstruction of Babbage's difference engine at the Science Museum. Piles of boxes at the Tate Modern.