Tempus Fugit

I hadn't realised that a whole week had passed without a word from me.

Thursday was a good day, Chris and I took the Motorbikes (Me on the Harley) for a long run taking in Sabden, Clitheroe, Grassington, Kettlewell, over the Famous Coverdale road to Middleham, Leyburn, Reeth, Muker, Buttertubs pass, Hawes, Ribblehead, Ingleton, High Bentham, Great Harlow, Slaidburn, Sawley then back over the Nick of Pendle, Sabden again and Home. A truly great run over some of the best motorcycling roads in the country, and to make things even better, we stayed dry!

Chris's BMW on the road out of Kettlewell looking to the West

Friday I went out with my friend Pete, he on the Vincent and Me on the AJS. we had a gentle ride to slaidburn and back, taking in a brew and a cream covered scone at the cafe in Slaidburn.


Saturday not as good, went fishing with a gentleman called Arthur who hadn't tried fly fishing before and sadly we caught nothing. It was quite a cool windy evening, at about 20-30 hrs it looked like the trout were beginning to rise, but too dark by that time to change flies or really see what was was happening, so we called it a day.

Thomas in New Halloween Costume, performing "Incy wincy spider"

Grandson Thomas stayed over Saturday night, so we all went for a short walk this morning and managed to get home before the rain set in.

Summer?

Blimey, has summer come at last? She who must be obeyed is visiting her friend Margaret in Llandudno or we may have had the second Barbecue of the year, but she is and we didn't.

Had a good day today, took the Harley for a gentle ride over to Settle and back calling in at Slaidburn for the customary mug of Tea and a chat with fellow motorcyclists - very pleasant.

Salmo Gairdneri

This evening went for a couple of hours fishing at my club reservoir. Excellent couple of hours, Missed a couple of fish, returned three fish to fight again, and brought home my bag limit of three fish - a total of 5 lbs (roughly 2.3 Kg) All caught on a dry fly called (and representative of) "Daddy Longlegs" That is a crane fly - Tipula Maxima, I believe our colonial friends from the wrong side of the Atlantic call some kind of Spider a Daddy Longlegs, but what do they know?
Tipula Maxima

The piccies show a proper "Daddy" and the three fish (Which are now in my freezer) complete with a 6 inch steel ruler to give some perspective.

Idle

Had a really lazy day, got up late, had a BLT Lunch made by the wonderful Mrs J (the first wife), watched the MotoGP from Brno - Valentino Rossi won again, my that boy is good. Then watched the Athletics from Berlin where the Lass from Sheffield, Jessica Ennis, Won the Gold in the Heptathlon. After all that sport I feel quite exhausted. Oh yes, some bloke called Insane Bolt won a running race. aparently he was quite fast.

Allonby

The right hand side of the building is the cottage we rented, only small but has three bedrooms and can accomodate 5 adults,or a family of 6 for more details visit http://www.woodbine-cottage.co.uk/

This is Jay the autistic Spaniel wondering where the Sea had gone!

An evening view from the cottage, looking across the Solway Firth towards the Dumfies and Galloway coast as the Sun was setting. the place is renown for it's glorious sunsets.

Back from a very relaxing few days in North Cumbria, a quiet little seaside place called Allonby - approx halfway between Maryport and Silloth on the Solway Firth. The whole town comprises two pubs, a post office, an Ice-Cream shop and a corner Shop that sells all sorts of things including Bacon Butties in the Morning and Fish and Chips in the Evening.

The main attraction is that from anywhere in town you are no more than two minutes from the beach. A mindblowing Bay, I would guess at 4+ miles from Maryport almost to Silloth, which is so spacious you can walk for hours in almost total solitude. When the tide goes out (around half a mile) there is a massive stretch of sand, with a few rock pools scattered about.

Even at high tide there is plenty of room to walk for as long as the old legs will carry you. Jay the autistic Spaniel was in heaven, running and swimming to his hearts content.

Holiday

Going on holiday on Monday, only for a few days, we are going to Allonby which is halfway between Maryport and Silloth on the Cumbrian coast. We are looking forward to four days of warm Cumbrian rain instead of all this wet Lancashire rain. I will try and get a couple of photographs, they will probably be of Jay the Autistic Spaniel swimming in the Sea. I think it is the sea there, or it may be the Solway Firth. Who knows?....Who cares? I will be back by next weekend so I will let you know.