“Golden Hour” on Latrigg (368 m.)
Late afternoon “Golden Hour” hike for exercise after the frustrations of work setting up my project here, with only time for a quick raid up Latrigg, a walk out from Keswick. Latrigg is a minor peak compared to Skiddaw (931 m.) immediately behind which dwarfs it, but the views from Latrigg are always rewarding. The sun set behind Grisedale Pike (791 m.) and its shadow climbed up the fells behind me as I hiked home.
Hammersmith Bridge - south side
Sporty circular walk out to Barnes Bridge and round the Thames path on the Surrey bank, passing around Hammersmith Bridge (which is closed, even to pedestrians or river traffic) and back home via Putney Bridge. I did this today as a training walk, so a couple of litres of water as weight in my rucksac, walking fast and with as few stops as possible.
First contact project - looking for Life
First photo imagined from a robot space lander sent to explore Richmond Park
Imagine NASA had just landed a robot spacecraft in Richmond Park looking for Life, as it has just done with Perseverance on Mars.. These might have been the first pictures their lander sent back.
Fireblade at my front door
Great to see Ernst this afternoon on his Fireblade - just a socially distanced coffee outside together as he was passing by.
Glimpses
Precious glimpses from my rail journey in the lockdown to meet with my support bubble mate in Brighton. Familiar to many commuters, these snatched views have a special poignancy at this time when our freedom to roam is suspended and so many are working from home.
Crossing the River Thames at Battersea. Snow and frost on the North Downs, crops germinating under the Balcombe viaduct and the South Downs looming over Hassocks.
Photography note: optical filter used for these photos, Wratten Number unknown but usually referred to as “Southern Railway dirty window”; this gives a pleasing diffusion effect.
Battersea Power Station chimneys as the train leaves Victoria station
Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac, 2001
Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac, 2001 - a claret from the gods
Celebration of a family event with a bottle of Pontet-Canet 2001 and roast pheasant. No disappointments with this bottle from my Father’s cellar, the Grand Cru (listed in 1855) delivers the fine muscular old-claret nose, body and that beautiful warm and long-lingering after-taste that comes only from these wines which take more than ten years to reach their best.
Lockdown restrictions mean that only the two of us could celebrate in person within the support bubble rules.
Col de l’Iseran: 2770 m. Alps rideout August 2020 - 2
Col du Lautaret (2057 m.)
Col du Galibier (2642 m.)
Ride to the Alps day 2: aiming for the Col de l’Iseran, at 2770 m. it’s said to be highest paved road pass in Europe.
