Santa Cycles December 2013

A few photos from some cycles we went on with the Wakefield Cycle Forum.Some joined in the Christmas spirit! At the end of the cycles we were all treated to mince pies and coffee or tea. The weather was great for cycling on all of them - we can put up with cold if it is fine!

                          Setting off from Nostell Priory (National Trust Property)

  Mince pies and coffee at the end - back at the Courtyard Cafe.(Old stables for the Priory)

                             A rather heavily decorated tree we saw on route one day!

                                                  This was another day.

 Here is an idea!                Pages from an old book, shaped as cones....

                               Yum! Yum!

These four photos were taken inside Nostell Priory - the Christmas theme this year was ' Dickensian'.

                                             A different day .... some children this time.

 ... and ..Yes....this chap rode all the way with the 'tree' attached to his bike. He also played carols along the way!!

 We caused a stir along the way - school children in particular were impressed!

           A tea break at Angler's Country Park.

             The Courtyard Cafe - yet again! The mince pies were always delicious here!

These last three photos are again at Nostell Courtyard cafe..... this time it was a half way stop when we had set off from Pontefract.     (20 miles this day) 
       

                                           A Happy Christmas to you all.

Around and about.

 Part of an exhibition at the Bretton Sculpture park. Jon Edgar's Sculpture Series, HEADS, "presents clay sketches of key British figures associated with sculpture, including the artist,critic,curator,collector,observer,funder and entrepreneur."

              The sculpture SPIRITS OF THE HUVEAUNE-UBELKA by Lucy and Jorge Orta

                                                       Unknown

                                   by Barbara Hepworth

              Helen by Bill Owen's grave in the graveyard at St John's church, Upperthong





                                         Graham on a circular cycle route which included.......


                                    ......Elsecar Heritage Centre.

          A group of 8 very young calves which had escaped from a farm up by the mast, during the night, and had settled down in the lane behind our house.

 On the 1st November we went to York to see the 'Great Gathering' exhibition called....

.........to honour the 75th Anniversary of the Mallard breaking the World Speed record in 1938 (which still stands today). 




It was a reunion of the six A4 'family', built in the UK. Only 3 are still capable of running  ... Sir Nigel Gresley, Union of South Africa and the Bittern.

 ....owned by a Trust and runs mainly on special steamings.

this was originally called 'The Green Shuttle' and is just on loan from a museum in America.

   .....is privately owned and also runs on special steam days.

 .............and the same for the Bittern.
The mallard is on permanent display at the York Railway museum and could potentially run.

This is on loan from a museum in Canada.

They were all polished and gleaming for the many photographers and admirers.

Spain October 2013

From the 4th-13th Oct we visited Alasdair and Natasha in Catalunya. For 5 days we stayed at Santa Engracia, a small mountain village in the Pre Pyrenees.

 The cottage was hewn into the rocky outcrop on the right, just below the church.The car park is in the centre of the photo. Originally there were 48 families (subsistence farmers) living here, by 1980 1 family remained. The cottages are now holiday homes.

 Luggage and all supplies are transported to the cottage - hoping you have everything! It is 10km (approx 25 mins) back down to the main road - ---- - but what a view!

                                        Looking towards the village of Gurp.

                                           The church in the background.... evening view.

                                        Luxury - in October! The terrace at Casa Mauri.

Looking down towards the main road from the edge of the rocky outcrop.

 Sunrise from the rock. This church was built in 1691, the first was in the 1100's.

                                 One of many spectacular sunsets. Looking towards Talarn.

We saw LOTS of Griffin vultures - not easy to photograph.

 Another view of Santa Engracia, showing its stunning location, with part of the road up.                       Taken from the Pic de Lleras ridge walk we did from the cottage.

                                                              Has a look of Arizona?

                 Natasha and Graham on the summit meadows -'Pleta Verda'

                         A rather evil looking inhabitant who joined us after lunch!

Another view as we finished the circuit.

Walking in the Pyrenees from Sant Maurice, on a beautifully clear day.

                              Ratera Lake               -          One of over 200 in the area.

                                                  Lunch stop by a reservoir. 

                   Sant Maurici Lake in the Aiguestortes from the Mirador d'Estany

                            A visit to the medieval village of Montanyana.

                             All was quiet -  no inhabitants in sight  - not even a mouse!

                           The path up to the church and Abbey ruins. Flat shoes a must!

" The fortified Abbey was built around the 16th century to house the Clergy and the Grand Masters of the Military Orders."                    This tower had been the prison.


              Santa Maria de Baldos church built between the 12th and 13th century.
             You would need to be agile and in desperate need to attend the church!

                                             Some of the remains of the Abbey.

                "Gabled front with 6 archivolts and magnificent decorated capitals."

                                        The spectacular Mont Rebei gorge.

                                   Lunch spot -    Is that a 'face' in the top left corner?

                                              From the seat - looking back to the start.

 There was a cable attached on the left, most of the way along this stretch (if needed).

                Great seats/viewing platforms.Not a place for those who don't like heights!

                                           Alasdair standing on the previous seat.

There was evidence of an original mule track lower down. The high path was built to provide a route when the gorge was flooded during hydro development. We saw no mules

Natasha and I sitting on the seat in the distance.

                                                                      On the return

                                                               Going back to the start.

                                             A friendlier inhabitant. 'Stick-on-stick'.

A walk from the cottage to the village of Gurp on a mule track.

                                      Climbing up.............to a ledge above the village.

                      .....................and along................

                          ....................past old cave dwellings............


  .................and looking back to Santa Engracia.............and the Seros gorge.........

                              ..a room with a view and plenty of ventilation..

       ............ a stop for lunch.....while watching Griffin vultures soaring around....

                      ..........................and down to the village..................

                                ...................before heading back...........

            .........................for dinner (and wine) on the terrace.................

                          ..........................and coffee and cake in the living area.

                                An evening visit and meal at Cambrils.

 We parked at the village of La Morera de Montsant...................and climbed up........

                    ..........................and up..........................

    ...do we go up there?  Yes... through/up one of the cracks! An interesting via Ferrata!

                                Here goes! Barrots chimney................first one.....

                         ..................then another...........

                          .......................  and another .....................

                                    ...................all safely through that bit.....................

                       ..............a tricky low section............................

                   ......................worse for taller folk................

                                    ..............but worth it for the view!..............

  

                  .................back and over the lodged boulder.............

              ............and we have come from that ledge where those two figures are!........

                     ............... looking down to Montsant.

                         ....a bit of climbing during lunch break!!..............

                        .......out onto the exposed Montsant ridge ... at 1,163m

                ..............the one and only tree!.....lots of thyme, rosemary and lavender..

                       Raco de Missa..... Alasdair and Natasha's old climbing area  ....

                     ..........going down was a bit steep and narrow in places......

             ................... and that was Alasdair's birthday treat for Graham!!!...........

                 A limestone walk from the village of Llaberia to the white dome - 
                                            - a radar station and TV antennae

        ....welcome shade, scratching posts and rest area for the local flock of sheep.

                  View to Coldejou, Montbrio, Reus and Tarragona beyond.

                                                     A very sleepy street in Llaberia.

                        Plants fossilised in the stone - exposed when split.

                           A local inhabitant - took lots of patience to get this!!

                                A walk to the 'Hanging Church' from the village of Mont Reig.

                             Perched on top of a red sandstone outcrop, it's proper name is;
                                    'Ermita de la Mare de Deu de la Roca'

                                                     Large groves of olives.

                                                           A rather grand lunch spot!

          and so........the village where Alasdair and Natasha have been living..........

                                .............the flag of Catalunya

                                             ..................their street.......................

The end of our visit - 

and the end of Alasdair and Natasha's stay in Spain. 

We can recommend them as tourist guides and cooks.( and if you are wondering why we were not carrying  rucksacks - they were in training for their trekking trip in Nepal. )