Rejuvination time

The last few days I spent walking and swimming in Exmoor national park.
We swam in the East Lynn, up from Watersmeet. In a oxbow pool. The rivers are in spate and brimming with vigour.
We also swam in the Barle, downstream from Simonsbath..We wandered up the rivers course and swam in a pool below an ancient ruined settlement. We walked back picking raspberries and whortleberries.We didn't meet a soul until back near the village. A (East home county)Woman asked.
"Wots up there then?" I described the river meandering through the heather and bracken clad hills. I tried to en capture the tranquility and romance..
"Is that all!" We looked back at her..."No animals..Deer?"..
We wished them good luck.
We swam yesterday at Woody bay. And walking back up were asked again by a large group; "Is there anything down there?"
I looked askance..
They meant in a catering sense.
I was tempted to lie about a really funky kebab bistro ,with succulent shish kebabs cooked while you wait. And a little cool terrace, where you can sip ice cocktails while soaking up the view and the ambience.

Dog whispering/shouting

We thought we were moving so we bought a puppy. He is a lovable little tike, but I feel sorry that there are so many NOs in his world. He has many chew toys, but in fact likes to chew everything.
He had his last jab recently but we still have to keep him in, nearly all the time. We do take him to quiet places, for little strolls. And if we see another dog , I pop him in his bag. He sticks his head and paws over the top.
If we walk anywhere public, it brings on a chorus of ahhs. And many glances and nudges. It is possibly the nearest experience I could get to being a film star..
Oh, he is a Border collie called Basil..

way out west

We spent last week down in the west country. The first few nights on the Lizard, in an empty field bar one other tent..The occupant of which was a trained sniper! It isn't everyday you get chatting to a sniper..
Then we headed back along south Cornwall..We walked down to the cove at Lanssalos, all wet suited up ready for action. The sea however was far to rough so we headed inland and camped on Dartmoor..Headed north next day and swam in the Salmon pool at Castle Drogo.It really is a lovely spot..The River was in spate and was a rich tawny whiskey colour, it made our bodies look really magical.
The last few days we spent on Exmoor, probably my new favorite spot in England.We camped in the Lynn valley and swam in Crook pool upstream from watersmeet.

The big picture

On Friday I flew back to England from Gothenburg. We took off and headed north, up toward Marstrand then out over the Skagerack to Denmark.It was a beautiful sunny evening as we crossed Jutland and then down the North sea..All the way down are blocks of shipping, groups of twenty or so, on both sides about four miles off the coast, just anchored up waiting for commerce to start again..
On Saturday I rented a van and drove down to Shoreditch to move my daughters..One has moved to Clapham, and the other to Finsbury park..It was a hot day, and we had some tense swearing, as I manoeuvred the too large van through the busy teeming streets..
Next week is the beginning of my four week summer break, and we are starting off with a weekend of Foraging, wild swimming, Astronomy and Philosophy in Devon..

Stroking the landscape

When I cycle I feel as if I am stroking the texture of the landscape..All the bumps and hollows..
On the way up hills I am sucking in air. and forcing blood and energy through my thighs n Calfs and on through my tyres and into the ground..
My mind then holds a topographic memory. It is the same with astronomy. I am getting to recognise stars and know how far away they are. I am building a three dimensional map of our galaxy..It is intellectual effort more than physical, but the principal is the same..

Coast to Coast

On Friday we set off from Bideford. Our intention was to Cycle all the way to Plymouth..
The Tarka trail was a proper treat. Bluebells, Ramson, buttercups and new ferns all sprouting brand new growth..The trail follows an old railway track and there are many viaducts to cross with views along the river Torridge..
We spent a pleasant night at the Half moon inn at Sheepwash, then cycled back past Bideford and up the estuary into Fremington quay..
We put the bike back onto the roofrack and drove across the moor into Tavistock.
In the morning we cycled from Lydford to the Meldon viaduct, then back again..

Sublime Virile Dominator

So the other day we met up with some pals on the South coast and we circumnavigated the Isle of White..My pal has a RIB, which is really quite fast..We zapped up the Solent and stopped at a beach near Ryde.My pals had made a picnic lunch, so we ate that while we observed all of the pleasure and commercial craft making their way into Portsmouth and Southampton..Then we reembarked and scooted around past the Needle's and back up into Lymington before tying up outside the Ship Inn for a beer..My Mate has really got the hang of picking up the bow waves of larger craft and surfing their wake..
The Top Banana at work was talking to his acolytes the other day..Behind him on his Power wall were two images..One of a severely tailored jacket, like his. And the other was of The Rampant Gherkin building in London..Freudian overkill..