Miscellaneous

Visit to UK: 2019 – Part 4

13 January, 2020 / By alextdel / In Family, Photos / Leave Comment

A few more photos of Bude’s main beach (Summerleaze).

Beach huts overlooking Summerleaze Beach at Bude.

Barrel Rock from the base of the Ocean Pool

Another angle of Barrel Rock from the rocks at the base of the Bude Ocean Pool.

A rock, Bude Breakwater and Compass Point in the distance

Ebbingford Manor, my accomodation during my stay.

This is Upper Tamar Lake, I used to do fly-fishing for trout at the lake when I was a teenager. On the first weekend at Bude, I did the Tamar Lake Park Run – it was freezing and windy.

Visit to UK: 2019 – Part 3

13 January, 2020 / By alextdel / In Family, Miscellaneous, Photos / Leave Comment

During my trip I took a few landscape photos around Bude. The next couple of posts will contain a few of my attempts.

Near Bude’s breakwater is Whale Rock, named for obvious reasons.

Taking photos around the beaches and headlands was a trial with strong gusty winds causing significant vibration. The lighting was also difficult with cloud cover taking a lot of colour from the scenes.

This is where the river and mouth of the Bude Canal meet. Photo taken at low tide.

This was taken from above the previous photo. This is the arm for the last canal lock.

Crab and lobster fishing are active industries for the area.

Barrel Rock at the end of Bude’s breakwater. See the seat for scale.

The Compass Point building looking out to Lundy Island.

Another view of Compass Point and Lundy in the distance.

On the day I took these photos, I walked from Bude along the downs toward Widemouth Bay. I didn’t get far though as the strong wind was bringing a few significant squalls and the light was fading. After a few hundred metres I turned around and returned to Bude. I didn’t escape getting soaked, but only on one side due to the wind.

Visit to UK: 2019 – Part 2

4 January, 2020 / By alextdel / In Family, Miscellaneous / Leave Comment

Toward the end of my trip, I visited my brother Ray and his wife Shirley and two of their grown up kids. Another brother, Dez and his kids visited Ray and Shirley also. Dez had come down for a quick visit to catch up with all of us for Christmas and my visit.

As much of the family as could be fitted in Ray and Shirley’s kitchen.

It was great to see them all. As mentioned in Part 1, I caught up with my sister and her family on a different day during my trip. The only brother I didn’t see was Ed who, like me, lives in Australia with his wife Caroline and their children.

Here are some photos of the time I spent with Ray and Shirley, some of their kids – George and Ed (with Ed’s partner Jade); Dez, along with Callum, Annie and Tom; and our mum, Peta, and brother Matthew.

Dez telling us all about it at the table.

The four eldest with Mum, Peta
& remembering our Dad, Albert, who died 30 years ago.

It was a nice afternoon, I then said my goodbyes to Dez, Callum, Annie and Tom (I was leaving the next day). Luckily though I got one last hug the next day as Dez and kids turned up while I was visiting to say goodbye to Ray, Shirley, George, Ed and Jade, prior to having lunch with Mum and Matthew and then driving to London in preparation for my return flight.

Part 3 will have some more general photos of my trip.

Visit to UK: 2019 – Part 1

2 January, 2020 / By alextdel / In Family, Miscellaneous, Photos / Leave Comment

In December I visited the UK particularly to see my mum but also to catch up with some of my brothers, my sister and their families.

It was great to go on a couple of trips with my brother Matthew, it reminded me of when we were kids and Matthew and I used to walk or bicycle to local fishing spots.

The following are a few photos of my trip – they are in the order I processed them and not necessarily the order I took them.

I got to catch up with my sister and her family.

Sylvia and Mike in their new house with our Mum and the kids.

It rained a lot in Cornwall during my stay but some days had a bit of sun. On one of these sunnier days Matthew, Mum and I went for a drive to Crackington Haven. We stopped for a photo of Widemouth Bay. Here is Matthew attempting, in a raging wind (which was freezing), to take a photo.

Matthew taking photos and Mum (very sensibly) in the car.

This was what we were seeing.

It was blowing a gale and here is my very sensible mum snug in the car – the reflection is me getting jostled and pushed by the wind.

Earlier in the week, first full day in Bude (the nearest town to my mum’s house), I went for a walk. I re-familiarised myself with Summerleaze Beach, the Breakwater, Ocean Pool and the Canal.

A photo taken on a windy December day across the Bude beach, river mouth toward the Ocean Pool and Crooklets Beach in the distance. Photo taken from the headland above the Breakwater and Barrel Rock (on left with steps and pole).

More to follow as I develop my photos.

Day 4 – Rest Day

11 September, 2015 / By alextdel / In Cycling, Family, Photos / 1 Comment

Tuesday is the rest day. And I needed it!

We spend the whole day in Warwick at the showgrounds and in the city itself.

Above you can see the tents and in the distance a large bank of solar panels, there were several of these. Read More