tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53978557739166932622024-03-05T18:19:12.507-08:00Maalie<i><b>His Majesty the Maalie King records his travel and wildlife pursuits</b></i>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-15191459902022731892011-05-12T12:00:00.000-07:002011-05-16T11:00:36.928-07:00All good things...It is with great sadness that I have to bring to a close this remarkable record of outstanding achievement.<br />
<br />
Jim Fowler passed away on Thursday 12th May 2011 while doing what he had recently come to love best - kayak fishing on Coniston Water in the English Lake District. He leaves behind his two sons Alun and Carwyn, his sister Jill and his two adoring grandchildren, Jimmy and Heledd.<br />
<br />
Gone but not forgotten, he will continue to be an inspiration to all who knew him.<br />
<br />
Many thanks for the interest, support and stimulation you've provided through these pages; it is a comfort to know our loss is shared by so many wonderful friends.<br />
<br />
AlunMaaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com78tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-57773473926606415322011-05-02T18:13:00.000-07:002011-05-02T20:18:07.688-07:00Outback wildlife<div style="text-align: justify;">Following previous floods further north in Queensland, the flood waters drained into the Darling River which overflowed its banks into the surrounding flood plain, covering huge areas. When Simon and I arrived in the Kinchega National Park, the water levels were starting to subside, leaving areas of muddy, boggy ground with lagoons that were drying out.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJl4FaRIHj-u5phlAiDH36TAS836ArDoiLFOMP2m71xKWO_Ys7Hh_ykX2i9jJlLtjQWcHofS9bumoeBoxu4GRlQcK8fhvXz4rYal6tY7qpsyPjr_YZmA_OWBB3K0g4xHK2TpGJXB8Chbqt/s1600/Landcruiser.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn1hjQbS4WlNnyAFCpn8jrwMIL0dsTlYw3Zn1Yv5fcoXyZEFnv4N5FlPq11vXEHSbOgYm3bqHIPgMJAtQJgbQlq5jfpAv4dDU5krL72izSoJxEesqPJbP2Pv2QzYdba_Ygthtdv167fGG/s1600/Kinchega+floods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn1hjQbS4WlNnyAFCpn8jrwMIL0dsTlYw3Zn1Yv5fcoXyZEFnv4N5FlPq11vXEHSbOgYm3bqHIPgMJAtQJgbQlq5jfpAv4dDU5krL72izSoJxEesqPJbP2Pv2QzYdba_Ygthtdv167fGG/s640/Kinchega+floods.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You can see the muddy margin of this lagoon </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">on the far side, as it begins to dry out</b></div><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJl4FaRIHj-u5phlAiDH36TAS836ArDoiLFOMP2m71xKWO_Ys7Hh_ykX2i9jJlLtjQWcHofS9bumoeBoxu4GRlQcK8fhvXz4rYal6tY7qpsyPjr_YZmA_OWBB3K0g4xHK2TpGJXB8Chbqt/s1600/Landcruiser.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJl4FaRIHj-u5phlAiDH36TAS836ArDoiLFOMP2m71xKWO_Ys7Hh_ykX2i9jJlLtjQWcHofS9bumoeBoxu4GRlQcK8fhvXz4rYal6tY7qpsyPjr_YZmA_OWBB3K0g4xHK2TpGJXB8Chbqt/s400/Landcruiser.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Simon tinkers with his engine before a tour of the </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kinchega National Park to observe the rich wildlife</b></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfC8JaCrPv49H1c6CGyiJO_zvcDm-kpIjMQ82mgJMk3D8SJyP7IkXr95ZWnJZmcy1fX6vXg7lzGovXESmZNI4zWieDSAiREaeaQrDu5fQsaN-T2loeirW9t3bhb1ilDeOMyiysxhb7E0am/s1600/Kinchega+Floods+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfC8JaCrPv49H1c6CGyiJO_zvcDm-kpIjMQ82mgJMk3D8SJyP7IkXr95ZWnJZmcy1fX6vXg7lzGovXESmZNI4zWieDSAiREaeaQrDu5fQsaN-T2loeirW9t3bhb1ilDeOMyiysxhb7E0am/s640/Kinchega+Floods+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Parts of the higher ground that was innundated </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">is now rendered to an impassable muddy surface</b></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNiidom-VW6GPNGA9GUPL8ESZhDDoIgifAAgsc-u_QbfrI1I-mAmuJrFbdm4RvaX8LzfMQXR_n-suGsJp2xWoZm__SHX1rZo9zJJ6ps36VjrMq11IhCO8t7piUlPY14YBMBrmmkXdzPiX/s1600/Kinchega+Floods+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNiidom-VW6GPNGA9GUPL8ESZhDDoIgifAAgsc-u_QbfrI1I-mAmuJrFbdm4RvaX8LzfMQXR_n-suGsJp2xWoZm__SHX1rZo9zJJ6ps36VjrMq11IhCO8t7piUlPY14YBMBrmmkXdzPiX/s640/Kinchega+Floods+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are numerous wet areas that were previously dry. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This has resulted in population explosions of fish, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and the birds that feed on them.</span></b></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPS28tf7gxXo2z49o9zSd-9fsZNZ-I-wkr8sfU8LEuoZmaFD65lp6R-EejZOXgO7XbY98dsTyi3s4sDRJPa_jf5WReWwNRJdy4czH67c6pEtbiXm2XwR-yO7U6KByvHwch5F2SihNaz7Z/s1600/Great+White+Egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPS28tf7gxXo2z49o9zSd-9fsZNZ-I-wkr8sfU8LEuoZmaFD65lp6R-EejZOXgO7XbY98dsTyi3s4sDRJPa_jf5WReWwNRJdy4czH67c6pEtbiXm2XwR-yO7U6KByvHwch5F2SihNaz7Z/s640/Great+White+Egret.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As the lagoons dry out, the huge numbers of fish become concentrated, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">making them easy prey for the voracious Great White Egrets, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and many other fish-eating birds</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEZlu-BXCOsC-SArPw48DI-eIUCq7PIglZXVdp0UxVXZOYV4GNwcVGJ5hWHlLJhLWtWt1XMCtxPkufWOFeNvwUT9izWVe8tRFoAAvKwCI8NJlVz5axf1ERYyIJsMeBRjeKO55Ph9Uhqda/s1600/Landcruiser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbT1UQu9hN3HvtcBUf6HUHmejXpY1VHQXlVVpzRmK-P_JvjIivnX-qpf1OCTVSF2neD3LSAG9-_rhCMa33ShxBjh6-cPkkRijJV3Da2jP8lNTJ5IpHQ_eWe2VsQs66_RhnEEYry6K_Qfu/s1600/Australian+Pelican.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbT1UQu9hN3HvtcBUf6HUHmejXpY1VHQXlVVpzRmK-P_JvjIivnX-qpf1OCTVSF2neD3LSAG9-_rhCMa33ShxBjh6-cPkkRijJV3Da2jP8lNTJ5IpHQ_eWe2VsQs66_RhnEEYry6K_Qfu/s400/Australian+Pelican.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> A mob of Pelicans circle round looking for somewhere </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">to join in the feeding bonanza</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJcit1gTOTxM67_VnFciuncJ2nLiOL44jwfvH41W-GtMJETb5WYdhI6seWkOBSsU_lb3N0nHFlxi202ASEZ4G37_aEq09c0PbvBZyS0olhd9FHhg6apy17LfRIyirVpOM9di1ffLPdP0f/s1600/Black+Kite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxcCu_3f0ijRz7DX4np-j3A7hYUNI8d9t6wf9EZ9woGRUZ605Lrk5yJdKzGV5scxarc66x41H8O3AyBd5YsXum-yIDgaO-_vcwlJVpSuJl_TaNQNzgDqoSa4l7WAvT5wprZxmRvjyYMjP/s1600/Darter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxcCu_3f0ijRz7DX4np-j3A7hYUNI8d9t6wf9EZ9woGRUZ605Lrk5yJdKzGV5scxarc66x41H8O3AyBd5YsXum-yIDgaO-_vcwlJVpSuJl_TaNQNzgDqoSa4l7WAvT5wprZxmRvjyYMjP/s400/Darter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Australian Darter uses its dagger-sharp bill to spear fish</span></b></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhVoMJSQdQ1c6U4d2qZAM6AN1_FNu8Lj1LgJd_boA1Xk3Z872J4RwTK0YfE_El_VZa5BX6EzPnUulEXHQOGJKWSNdwkBndwMzuIQdkmO5s_VwrcKUav4xvFEoANKCb_omHp7OnhXILILj/s1600/Whistling+Kite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhVoMJSQdQ1c6U4d2qZAM6AN1_FNu8Lj1LgJd_boA1Xk3Z872J4RwTK0YfE_El_VZa5BX6EzPnUulEXHQOGJKWSNdwkBndwMzuIQdkmO5s_VwrcKUav4xvFEoANKCb_omHp7OnhXILILj/s640/Whistling+Kite.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Whistling Kites sit around the margins waiting to swoop </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and grab a hapless fish from the water...</b></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBoFJYIDjvYyDUD4JErEDIqoZFuabrIq1ibqeLA2OAoAeTdtRFLfDuDGwKKQDSp3lglQpNmf_dpBV_RSdXzM-PjtIBIoz6CuIZt_alb2NQWH30QSNX4xIFnw_4NAoiZbG22u_HpSR2C7L/s1600/Black+Kite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBoFJYIDjvYyDUD4JErEDIqoZFuabrIq1ibqeLA2OAoAeTdtRFLfDuDGwKKQDSp3lglQpNmf_dpBV_RSdXzM-PjtIBIoz6CuIZt_alb2NQWH30QSNX4xIFnw_4NAoiZbG22u_HpSR2C7L/s400/Black+Kite.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...whilst the Black Kite is more of a scavenger, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">snatching fish from other birds, or tucking into dying fish </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">that have been stranded in shallow water as the lagoons dry out</b></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoKliQ2B0cQHa4e1jIIyED-85bL_KCxMbQOjHgTkfgst72B7NfuiSpoiqD3AoY05_ZQluq3OcxO5VPrf6M8knxitRgAPjZuYvMYzsNvfLe-sGS9u-GC2pwUl5cyKpCC9SZnNVfcJbsaaI/s1600/Red-tailed+Black+Cockatoo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoKliQ2B0cQHa4e1jIIyED-85bL_KCxMbQOjHgTkfgst72B7NfuiSpoiqD3AoY05_ZQluq3OcxO5VPrf6M8knxitRgAPjZuYvMYzsNvfLe-sGS9u-GC2pwUl5cyKpCC9SZnNVfcJbsaaI/s400/Red-tailed+Black+Cockatoo.jpg" width="298" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Seed-eating birds, like these Red-tailed Black Cockatoos,</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">also benefit from the flooding when vegetation flourishes</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-LgSf5Rrj_FKm5EgQgSyl4ftSre8jsLIF47oz-5VjcJ8oi5Er48lM5T3KfQmbeP-BcIbATzp63PJV4lho8xPhu69tQHoVmwo7ZuxYOTWakby-MmFsNVPcpaXtr2oFMEljbRUl4GLzrJs/s1600/Budgerigar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-LgSf5Rrj_FKm5EgQgSyl4ftSre8jsLIF47oz-5VjcJ8oi5Er48lM5T3KfQmbeP-BcIbATzp63PJV4lho8xPhu69tQHoVmwo7ZuxYOTWakby-MmFsNVPcpaXtr2oFMEljbRUl4GLzrJs/s400/Budgerigar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Small flocks of Budgerigars appeared </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">as migrating flocks dispersed</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HzRtG7fAJ6WDx8B3ht3T8OFF1hj5gw_9xAiM841hsPZ1Ucc2fQ_me66UILHN2XfNRGEQwQlL1BWSrQICnWiEbPeW5GLycb8qGXmFnbIeNtDNqiHQweJq5j5rOY8xy_HD-CtK9ePM83Tb/s1600/Darter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0Pp-I9Si24FNQKdSXrL_N939yUgj0okLjmruTi0nzPfGtzVMeATlIe7-RwLTf6qvsWyuJkO9wnbILl9XqlVZPFwIlC4tnnwUm_XuxCMEnkdjmZDTMwRnCnoF4d-II4W6mWfTtt9tRO5B/s1600/Stumpy-tailed+Lizard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0Pp-I9Si24FNQKdSXrL_N939yUgj0okLjmruTi0nzPfGtzVMeATlIe7-RwLTf6qvsWyuJkO9wnbILl9XqlVZPFwIlC4tnnwUm_XuxCMEnkdjmZDTMwRnCnoF4d-II4W6mWfTtt9tRO5B/s400/Stumpy-tailed+Lizard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HzRtG7fAJ6WDx8B3ht3T8OFF1hj5gw_9xAiM841hsPZ1Ucc2fQ_me66UILHN2XfNRGEQwQlL1BWSrQICnWiEbPeW5GLycb8qGXmFnbIeNtDNqiHQweJq5j5rOY8xy_HD-CtK9ePM83Tb/s1600/Darter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Many land animals will have drowned during the flooding, </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">but this Stumpy-tailed Lizard evidently found a dry place to survive</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDjKN99pC5rK58QLNtMc86W4ZF_TiIfVRJMeVj8-UkmX5oEDFHE2__Cz0U0AJehHlZ5Zh4IcAkR-DT8IF__g4memOxeysN-GGMmgwri6d-7qkqcGIg6pRGAL39h0mP3_uptsbOSTzlu8K/s1600/Kookaburra+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDjKN99pC5rK58QLNtMc86W4ZF_TiIfVRJMeVj8-UkmX5oEDFHE2__Cz0U0AJehHlZ5Zh4IcAkR-DT8IF__g4memOxeysN-GGMmgwri6d-7qkqcGIg6pRGAL39h0mP3_uptsbOSTzlu8K/s640/Kookaburra+2.jpg" width="444" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDjKN99pC5rK58QLNtMc86W4ZF_TiIfVRJMeVj8-UkmX5oEDFHE2__Cz0U0AJehHlZ5Zh4IcAkR-DT8IF__g4memOxeysN-GGMmgwri6d-7qkqcGIg6pRGAL39h0mP3_uptsbOSTzlu8K/s1600/Kookaburra+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This Laughing Kookaburra strayed too close </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">without realising that 'Fowler' means 'birdcatcher'</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><b>This is my final post on an Australian theme.</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><b>I should like to thank my hosts</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><b>Simon, Bonny, Rosalie, Susana and David</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><b>most sincerely for their warm and generous welcome</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>and for making me feel one of the family.</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Next stop Japan!</b></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-34940252806831215002011-04-30T04:41:00.000-07:002011-05-02T21:29:18.300-07:00Outback Kinchega<b>After a day on the Southern Ocean, it was time to head back towards the centre of Australia and the outback.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrw9pqm1qBZ0DW5iLyOLWsYLRhZWS1it8zctXeRLyllKsfY9CjW-UMVxceTlkoV9IvdG5ML_perg9HXPCNemAt4T2ReqHn9q6q9S-Ye0keYyYOkCSpd81-jT_KNfDKy5RQ4YuZWFehGWU4/s1600/outback+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrw9pqm1qBZ0DW5iLyOLWsYLRhZWS1it8zctXeRLyllKsfY9CjW-UMVxceTlkoV9IvdG5ML_perg9HXPCNemAt4T2ReqHn9q6q9S-Ye0keYyYOkCSpd81-jT_KNfDKy5RQ4YuZWFehGWU4/s640/outback+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCk-TAk8hLEtTMIsBuIifNcTVNq_Mh27BgxT1cV-MQRbJXA3x0k5ivjSELR5uVTS4CmcHQ_ELsbJVNE7-jQgesISrmr1WRpYjK9qQyy66iMGK35SJ2VOhMgUtAmYNL9yQ1HkyuJGIfYnh/s1600/outback+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="35" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCk-TAk8hLEtTMIsBuIifNcTVNq_Mh27BgxT1cV-MQRbJXA3x0k5ivjSELR5uVTS4CmcHQ_ELsbJVNE7-jQgesISrmr1WRpYjK9qQyy66iMGK35SJ2VOhMgUtAmYNL9yQ1HkyuJGIfYnh/s400/outback+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zq-HRPEpZroqqERV__ZfpgPDGXLAZnviVSHOR-cPbDYHC-VXavLPfZXGwsJa1hJNUBmAagM4-2xeBVAzWO-ymFCRhhOmDbto4H_3NvqgZUyASK7UgrAhth1xA8tPd3FPERL8BZB7hnXo/s1600/outback+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="37" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zq-HRPEpZroqqERV__ZfpgPDGXLAZnviVSHOR-cPbDYHC-VXavLPfZXGwsJa1hJNUBmAagM4-2xeBVAzWO-ymFCRhhOmDbto4H_3NvqgZUyASK7UgrAhth1xA8tPd3FPERL8BZB7hnXo/s400/outback+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The roads can be long, straight and deserted. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is not unusal to drive for 250 miles in a straight line </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">without seeing another car!</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9kn7JZ5-lT00_eUQfqcj8KgEG32i_BRZMehT6JkWg2O5N_zoFEpjoRqigtDvXH8Bg3cwqkrjvkRuueYLp9R2AwnhrbfNw6Rj78U0Gpff3_xGkt1Zl1CAiO_fMyV4Hp6gVcFPjh630TAa/s1600/outback+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9kn7JZ5-lT00_eUQfqcj8KgEG32i_BRZMehT6JkWg2O5N_zoFEpjoRqigtDvXH8Bg3cwqkrjvkRuueYLp9R2AwnhrbfNw6Rj78U0Gpff3_xGkt1Zl1CAiO_fMyV4Hp6gVcFPjh630TAa/s640/outback+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the harsh desert conditions of the Australian outback, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Simon's 6-Cylinder factory-turbo Toyota Landcruiser </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">is an appropriate vehicle for exploration</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmFv028GD8TTv3IE31ou0d4G-of1tKxnjE8BnNvLnpFaTo_aFi0v1UtBchGlIgAwiuNRpjEBqlVVv9k_R-Sk7higXWIgzIPWDf0oYgKK-Ag3IkCiNMtWbu__eocpWg4Dp5vz9vbyIRbt8/s1600/outback+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmFv028GD8TTv3IE31ou0d4G-of1tKxnjE8BnNvLnpFaTo_aFi0v1UtBchGlIgAwiuNRpjEBqlVVv9k_R-Sk7higXWIgzIPWDf0oYgKK-Ag3IkCiNMtWbu__eocpWg4Dp5vz9vbyIRbt8/s640/outback+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Our destination was the<a href="http://www.visitnsw.com/town/Menindee/Kinchega_National_Park/info.aspx"></a><a href="http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkhome.aspx?id=N0017"> </a>Kinchega National Park near Menindee...</b></div><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-Cd0zP8wc_ZUm4sQf1Rxu6Oeqa2687eh399w3kbhMJ73moqVhyiozpbHse9w3iTWAztvReVTTeLxncshSzGrHrBKnRTc3je7RohmLZ2Eyyk7H4fm6kq8-jB088Rq9iAN1pjmhLYi2J_3/s1600/outback+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-Cd0zP8wc_ZUm4sQf1Rxu6Oeqa2687eh399w3kbhMJ73moqVhyiozpbHse9w3iTWAztvReVTTeLxncshSzGrHrBKnRTc3je7RohmLZ2Eyyk7H4fm6kq8-jB088Rq9iAN1pjmhLYi2J_3/s400/outback+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...where our accommodation was the old sheep-shearers quarters </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">of the former <a href="http://dwpicture.com.au/picture.asp?picture=9436">woolshed built in 1850</a>, </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">now preserved as a historic heritage site </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jSHxCGgtPM8AUzD4OSQqTOUq6hugnn-AynnIdZpEtUtl_3f8KLK8b2_3Ti9enDGcwHKg3_wIJuHngQ58RCTLGFvI0eGSw3CmX1n1Tr_ssnDmhvH3OqTc4pshSyuHHH8khXGdI5aCKtpg/s1600/Outback+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jSHxCGgtPM8AUzD4OSQqTOUq6hugnn-AynnIdZpEtUtl_3f8KLK8b2_3Ti9enDGcwHKg3_wIJuHngQ58RCTLGFvI0eGSw3CmX1n1Tr_ssnDmhvH3OqTc4pshSyuHHH8khXGdI5aCKtpg/s640/Outback+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This year the desert has come to life with fresh growth after recent rains</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUSgALzOXUBbx7STtrsyeDktDS6xVIXbzmBh_qQ0xygC2D1276p-5ejmIOBmz1HHkLKvXVHyWrdpe8PSLrpfh8jtTSx66ZDVYBH1gWHps4q9rMdeF94xqyikyGdS2AtTTple21YBc0wt3/s1600/outback+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUSgALzOXUBbx7STtrsyeDktDS6xVIXbzmBh_qQ0xygC2D1276p-5ejmIOBmz1HHkLKvXVHyWrdpe8PSLrpfh8jtTSx66ZDVYBH1gWHps4q9rMdeF94xqyikyGdS2AtTTple21YBc0wt3/s640/outback+9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Flood waters from further north in Queensland drain into the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray-Darling_basin">River Darling</a> </b></div><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">that flows through the Kinchega National Park.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfFF20hLaOFY5OezWl9Ybqu8tDH9HHI0Ww8TIKU00gGp47v09GZVfcvy7MGxkzm-KBeXyAk7MtX0ejiVeU0gYB_Q-zV9XZHhypV6NT7Ud9DcrmCMOVXN_3fO0LKvFVYUHmRdsV22GTrpB/s1600/outback+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfFF20hLaOFY5OezWl9Ybqu8tDH9HHI0Ww8TIKU00gGp47v09GZVfcvy7MGxkzm-KBeXyAk7MtX0ejiVeU0gYB_Q-zV9XZHhypV6NT7Ud9DcrmCMOVXN_3fO0LKvFVYUHmRdsV22GTrpB/s640/outback+10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Lakes that have been dry for over a decade are now brimming full </b></div><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">as the River Darling flowed into the flood plain</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRsM8u7GHFOyJWkehtbbjcy8l6-1zayVnIiSUoTScW9Yzu9p49oz007-Rfp0MeEEfGK40p_dRzfXJ9GB7Ogr9JzLZQJPblrWM0g4CScZCRTpPRlvmt1M-f9kpyRsxqa3ZUEcjd9BpUuzN/s1600/outback+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRsM8u7GHFOyJWkehtbbjcy8l6-1zayVnIiSUoTScW9Yzu9p49oz007-Rfp0MeEEfGK40p_dRzfXJ9GB7Ogr9JzLZQJPblrWM0g4CScZCRTpPRlvmt1M-f9kpyRsxqa3ZUEcjd9BpUuzN/s640/outback+8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>The gum trees, now with wet roots, have lush new growth</b></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>I shall show more pictures of the Kinchega lakes </b></i></div><i><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and some of the wildlife in my next post</b></i></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-69820408742169082102011-04-23T19:46:00.000-07:002011-04-23T19:48:28.131-07:00Pelagic trip<div style="text-align: justify;">On 23rd April Simon and I participated in a pelagic boat trip operated by the <a href="http://www.sossa-international.org/">Southern Ocean Seabird Study Association </a>(SOSSA), leaving Wollongong Harbour to cruise some 25 miles (30km) to beyond the continental shelf to 34.38S, 151.12 E. What birds might be seen depends on the time of year and we were delighted to record about 18 species of seabird from the boat.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmg75PU5CwBL4ScM1uE9aBIc3tg5TTA7gBoeoaxPRBeefRdu2Ej3VlO-eq7g45M7iDBw_bSkjOEQZnFqN4mImLp_cjWWBJcdRZs3mqGiSFpSHMvEbrJyjdxchmuMzi1JzobxB2izcrg6z/s1600/Crestet+Tern+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmg75PU5CwBL4ScM1uE9aBIc3tg5TTA7gBoeoaxPRBeefRdu2Ej3VlO-eq7g45M7iDBw_bSkjOEQZnFqN4mImLp_cjWWBJcdRZs3mqGiSFpSHMvEbrJyjdxchmuMzi1JzobxB2izcrg6z/s400/Crestet+Tern+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On leaving the harbour, Crested Terns were flying past the boat</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSw44drnPWorPLyjVbJiy4k0oBi0NEiRA9IZK_05rRVUYHLNYLsKD4p_G85QYZ9gDMaOBkgFtdwdY_yzaCooKMiH3kMO6Gc9cKXcI8_h3Zg87f7ILNwTuIk4IC-soC58JCEGvyBCF1moL/s1600/Sandra+K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSw44drnPWorPLyjVbJiy4k0oBi0NEiRA9IZK_05rRVUYHLNYLsKD4p_G85QYZ9gDMaOBkgFtdwdY_yzaCooKMiH3kMO6Gc9cKXcI8_h3Zg87f7ILNwTuIk4IC-soC58JCEGvyBCF1moL/s640/Sandra+K.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Clear of land, throwing out offal and food scraps </b><br />
<b>attracted many seabirds close to the boat,</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">even close enough for catching and ringing </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCnRqV4V2D2ukOOvcAmXjhO1Z6G4j1GJMoxrJb8uDUuHDfEaqtGsPEV94WrBu5-Oj6zRW0X2OST8nNW5nTfaLlR2X1UKYN_rkPX0UmcNcAfC3O4YzrxkYugBKbNlU3ijOsT8tWv32tZH0/s1600/Flesh-footed+Shearwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCnRqV4V2D2ukOOvcAmXjhO1Z6G4j1GJMoxrJb8uDUuHDfEaqtGsPEV94WrBu5-Oj6zRW0X2OST8nNW5nTfaLlR2X1UKYN_rkPX0UmcNcAfC3O4YzrxkYugBKbNlU3ijOsT8tWv32tZH0/s400/Flesh-footed+Shearwater.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Among the first to be seen were Flesh-footed shearwaters...</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K5QEXefSjG4JERpt6SFWu4kIJXiJY4yGs8bHrKfpNOKP9-MagHKX8lhY0K8e4TkqjM2SixBDaaP9aBLXVZDPurimumEd9Zg_IfL_s5hkTLBuMaj6iKmFc83M8HyjtU-gjXNuQogYWfDQ/s1600/Wedge-tailed+Shearwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K5QEXefSjG4JERpt6SFWu4kIJXiJY4yGs8bHrKfpNOKP9-MagHKX8lhY0K8e4TkqjM2SixBDaaP9aBLXVZDPurimumEd9Zg_IfL_s5hkTLBuMaj6iKmFc83M8HyjtU-gjXNuQogYWfDQ/s400/Wedge-tailed+Shearwater.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...and the more elegant Wedge-tailed Shearwaters</b></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjEp4xdmkHMZ2zSA4ztoC7gdz7LVp1O0DyuSx3v67j25ASf-9FAkURxFo5EBjOw4F3kLR1nJKFEdtRvi8VR5e4vBub_tmK4n78w_EU4Gr9Y5UqPncchoNGZjp8ZQqbuTrDxO0MKPIEXZF/s1600/Providence+Petrel+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjEp4xdmkHMZ2zSA4ztoC7gdz7LVp1O0DyuSx3v67j25ASf-9FAkURxFo5EBjOw4F3kLR1nJKFEdtRvi8VR5e4vBub_tmK4n78w_EU4Gr9Y5UqPncchoNGZjp8ZQqbuTrDxO0MKPIEXZF/s320/Providence+Petrel+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A rare Providence Petrel puts in an appearance</b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Further out to sea, the first Albatrosses appear</b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3UUfCV8cXc_3ygPIai4VrqNGmFyQyeEhdaDgCq6brnATnbMLy8VNu_SZoFeM2smb_fvx7564J2tXAgfYPKRiLBCVg4TYcV7d6Jgv3ZYxaejZg1Hq7W6L5_cKwfUIJJ-BUeaAaOFdcRlj/s1600/Black-browed+Albatross.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3UUfCV8cXc_3ygPIai4VrqNGmFyQyeEhdaDgCq6brnATnbMLy8VNu_SZoFeM2smb_fvx7564J2tXAgfYPKRiLBCVg4TYcV7d6Jgv3ZYxaejZg1Hq7W6L5_cKwfUIJJ-BUeaAaOFdcRlj/s400/Black-browed+Albatross.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Black-browed Albatross - note the characteristic under-wing pattern, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">compared with...</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifw5vnYoygaD9fcdbq_ke8jaiTIgnK_xxVKRoh9Q-LidpC9ude1pBM3OCe5y9DZE5TpNqZqeViqgcxlV_I_R0otIOtLuY8mPLCASIHC5ELge4B7NIHNrBtRMvnkQySt4fzJnnvJFnsZe9R/s1600/Shy+Albtaross+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifw5vnYoygaD9fcdbq_ke8jaiTIgnK_xxVKRoh9Q-LidpC9ude1pBM3OCe5y9DZE5TpNqZqeViqgcxlV_I_R0otIOtLuY8mPLCASIHC5ELge4B7NIHNrBtRMvnkQySt4fzJnnvJFnsZe9R/s400/Shy+Albtaross+4.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...the Shy Albatross</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> which has a much narrower black margin to the under-wing.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCBscJ_9v4EXoON3hNR-pvwgWzY_2TkX1ktfwml3aLRKBH3L7bNFIvNLokVagX1Ep-vdZ6hcwbRkiG9qtE-X9YGw5kRuC3M9Na-1v7TnrKNGVt6zidG6s6FcCQ3ZqofITtBy73MwplWox/s1600/Campbell+Albatross.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCBscJ_9v4EXoON3hNR-pvwgWzY_2TkX1ktfwml3aLRKBH3L7bNFIvNLokVagX1Ep-vdZ6hcwbRkiG9qtE-X9YGw5kRuC3M9Na-1v7TnrKNGVt6zidG6s6FcCQ3ZqofITtBy73MwplWox/s400/Campbell+Albatross.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Some Campbell Island Albatrosses show up, </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>distinguished from the closely-related </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Black-browed by the conspicuous yellow eye...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgvwtaFr2Qguz1doh-Fx5NoG2IRPnj135IXuUYoIh9Sz28YoRVAMXRnhoonetvbXQawxHT3A1U67RfjUGNZNlOE5uMulhxzlie9JFJPM4zyHf097q87w2nW1PW0B7XS8ElYXlp2djzZau/s1600/Campbell+Albatross+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgvwtaFr2Qguz1doh-Fx5NoG2IRPnj135IXuUYoIh9Sz28YoRVAMXRnhoonetvbXQawxHT3A1U67RfjUGNZNlOE5uMulhxzlie9JFJPM4zyHf097q87w2nW1PW0B7XS8ElYXlp2djzZau/s320/Campbell+Albatross+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>The yellow staring eyes of the Campbell Island Albatross,</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> compare with</b>...</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbL1-6ZHf0eU4uabdTw_LL9l3Wdgu5NsPQmpYAI1SCTNdBAYRsncwxY3fTkQI7qxyYcV3rF46wEcs_XyVkd8zaXXUX21UJyIE9cdQTuvpWS6IwcHSEjzbx1FX0awk8gXBq0CQann9pUB0n/s1600/Bullers+Albatross+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbL1-6ZHf0eU4uabdTw_LL9l3Wdgu5NsPQmpYAI1SCTNdBAYRsncwxY3fTkQI7qxyYcV3rF46wEcs_XyVkd8zaXXUX21UJyIE9cdQTuvpWS6IwcHSEjzbx1FX0awk8gXBq0CQann9pUB0n/s400/Bullers+Albatross+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...the darker eye of the Black-browed</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7KT0l_1amQ11mwuhFGJQN0BSiE-mkUWssMtt5VvVldxklZiONbP7lRTALQOxNT602mOBknfShIu2Uwl26I8TXn0jT5dTLpw6UWus_5DsCpUvP9DdqBeVCXcdXX7YGLRw4AGVyk_d7c5p/s1600/Campbell+Albatross+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7KT0l_1amQ11mwuhFGJQN0BSiE-mkUWssMtt5VvVldxklZiONbP7lRTALQOxNT602mOBknfShIu2Uwl26I8TXn0jT5dTLpw6UWus_5DsCpUvP9DdqBeVCXcdXX7YGLRw4AGVyk_d7c5p/s640/Campbell+Albatross+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Campbell Island Albatross is caught and I was allowed to ring this bird</b></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6VFzCJWn18FN9Dc1Zfdhp5x6ZY1Yp5wU5ItjQ5hdhe3wx8tMf_tyuOMpDLaQkQYLxi3x-qUa7VdiOZzSPYVqq3GrSzLdKUUHmjIOuYtGOa2C0cEVrfFNVIN1lPf1KoKcT4irdqqxSUE-/s1600/Yellow-nosed+Albatross+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6VFzCJWn18FN9Dc1Zfdhp5x6ZY1Yp5wU5ItjQ5hdhe3wx8tMf_tyuOMpDLaQkQYLxi3x-qUa7VdiOZzSPYVqq3GrSzLdKUUHmjIOuYtGOa2C0cEVrfFNVIN1lPf1KoKcT4irdqqxSUE-/s400/Yellow-nosed+Albatross+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3UUfCV8cXc_3ygPIai4VrqNGmFyQyeEhdaDgCq6brnATnbMLy8VNu_SZoFeM2smb_fvx7564J2tXAgfYPKRiLBCVg4TYcV7d6Jgv3ZYxaejZg1Hq7W6L5_cKwfUIJJ-BUeaAaOFdcRlj/s1600/Black-browed+Albatross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A few Yellow-nosed Albatrosses appear</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjEp4xdmkHMZ2zSA4ztoC7gdz7LVp1O0DyuSx3v67j25ASf-9FAkURxFo5EBjOw4F3kLR1nJKFEdtRvi8VR5e4vBub_tmK4n78w_EU4Gr9Y5UqPncchoNGZjp8ZQqbuTrDxO0MKPIEXZF/s1600/Providence+Petrel+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnte5gMtn4Rytgb_9ZThY63kFlwW4g8RqFulGRQ2bBqawv_1ZRw2zvf0Dwnyt03HZ-8iYwZPU6T_RNx4aJFPgMG2bz5Z3rj26MxqHQSszuGAF5wZCbNALDYOqk2OkCVBhbAkVCo0ln_6G/s1600/Bullers+Albatross+1.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnte5gMtn4Rytgb_9ZThY63kFlwW4g8RqFulGRQ2bBqawv_1ZRw2zvf0Dwnyt03HZ-8iYwZPU6T_RNx4aJFPgMG2bz5Z3rj26MxqHQSszuGAF5wZCbNALDYOqk2OkCVBhbAkVCo0ln_6G/s640/Bullers+Albatross+1.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A single Buller's Albatross graced us with its presence</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgvwtaFr2Qguz1doh-Fx5NoG2IRPnj135IXuUYoIh9Sz28YoRVAMXRnhoonetvbXQawxHT3A1U67RfjUGNZNlOE5uMulhxzlie9JFJPM4zyHf097q87w2nW1PW0B7XS8ElYXlp2djzZau/s1600/Campbell+Albatross+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9H89PU-dzRdb8-UMjrzMblP8m2AZGF83N71ebuhW8uRcrVyBeOFj_gcA26QYMQKfbzi-pMnTNvVD-ZPGvjHvrVH5UWMtcDhdRupDjc_aQWug46XPLDq8RrrKmNwd02HMKiGuGrEUHNYFJ/s1600/Great+Shearwater+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9H89PU-dzRdb8-UMjrzMblP8m2AZGF83N71ebuhW8uRcrVyBeOFj_gcA26QYMQKfbzi-pMnTNvVD-ZPGvjHvrVH5UWMtcDhdRupDjc_aQWug46XPLDq8RrrKmNwd02HMKiGuGrEUHNYFJ/s400/Great+Shearwater+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b> The real excitement of the day occured when a Great Shearwater flew </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>in and circled the boat. </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>This species is extremely rare in Australian waters</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtM7ZaefUfLG4l87YKVbT4CIgGv6yNbu8S4nadks2xmZAbEkoxQatvrRWjo8qzNXzWxpLKoS5kY7xF6Wk60qRRO5-y0_V6oYtTR5afkvuQeKty-xE4KpiIGdF0HwgGFWbsD4LxuOaHy19/s1600/Great+Shearwater+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtM7ZaefUfLG4l87YKVbT4CIgGv6yNbu8S4nadks2xmZAbEkoxQatvrRWjo8qzNXzWxpLKoS5kY7xF6Wk60qRRO5-y0_V6oYtTR5afkvuQeKty-xE4KpiIGdF0HwgGFWbsD4LxuOaHy19/s640/Great+Shearwater+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The bird was enticed close to the boat with bait and was skillfully caught and ringed</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmg75PU5CwBL4ScM1uE9aBIc3tg5TTA7gBoeoaxPRBeefRdu2Ej3VlO-eq7g45M7iDBw_bSkjOEQZnFqN4mImLp_cjWWBJcdRZs3mqGiSFpSHMvEbrJyjdxchmuMzi1JzobxB2izcrg6z/s1600/Crestet+Tern+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We thoroughly enjoyed the whole excursion which was excellently organised, with good company, friendly and extremely knowledgable & helpful leaders. The trip is excellent value for money and we recommend it unreservedly to anyone who loves the sea and seabirds.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Visit the SOSSA Webesite (and make bookings) <a href="http://www.sossa-international.org/">here</a>.</span></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-79707533602617181582011-04-21T14:03:00.000-07:002011-04-21T14:46:08.879-07:00Wollemi<div style="text-align: justify;">Our next adventure in Australia was two days camping int the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wollemi_National_Park">Wollemi National Park</a>. It is the second largest national park in New South Wales, and contains some of the largest wilderness area of mountain and forest. It lies 129 kilometres northwest of Sydney and forms part of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Blue_Mountains_Area" title="Greater Blue Mountains Area">Greater Blue Mountains</a> World Heritage Area. Our camping site was at an especially attractive part called Dunn's Swamp (see a film about the swamp <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaQYoi9lwRk">here</a>).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5daDzXj8VcTG_wXGrvAwiz1j2Y-96vODe-TPV7kUXC2SGSsGXRxMuRJLdois2zkmqyjudGFA7OAO5uY-6CzmXvscyuYAM2fiF8Vrgr9w0LMiZi27U7cAAU8RaBWOyzag5PDz0HoeIvJOr/s1600/Wollemi+Park+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5daDzXj8VcTG_wXGrvAwiz1j2Y-96vODe-TPV7kUXC2SGSsGXRxMuRJLdois2zkmqyjudGFA7OAO5uY-6CzmXvscyuYAM2fiF8Vrgr9w0LMiZi27U7cAAU8RaBWOyzag5PDz0HoeIvJOr/s640/Wollemi+Park+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The forest and Canyons of the Wollemi National Park, New South Wales, Australia </b></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsl-aQ7y7PnqAaTDPM6jwcm-OqmT43XacYZ0URnW-zqn5KVcczC0nYfv8hkUJMvnWJObSQh-yoZUmG6mU1CQTPm79c17cw8a891E3ifGh0HiW0RTImMG98y-B6S3KihuFyK2jWMdbH9PU/s1600/Wollemi+Park2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsl-aQ7y7PnqAaTDPM6jwcm-OqmT43XacYZ0URnW-zqn5KVcczC0nYfv8hkUJMvnWJObSQh-yoZUmG6mU1CQTPm79c17cw8a891E3ifGh0HiW0RTImMG98y-B6S3KihuFyK2jWMdbH9PU/s640/Wollemi+Park2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Dunn's Swamp fows through the centre of the canyon</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh48c1BPNpDWYyUQtc24CtvEkdEhfUcA3i4ntSydio7fzOy4C0q5xGsjuUjhfOlIIzWmOCslDRn6N5S4f9DtX_EJUI5erSLX3Cz8H4j3MvcKe-ksVRlwzxDSfokevHG4OUSGqWxJW0oJC8/s1600/Wollemi+Park3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh48c1BPNpDWYyUQtc24CtvEkdEhfUcA3i4ntSydio7fzOy4C0q5xGsjuUjhfOlIIzWmOCslDRn6N5S4f9DtX_EJUI5erSLX3Cz8H4j3MvcKe-ksVRlwzxDSfokevHG4OUSGqWxJW0oJC8/s640/Wollemi+Park3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Curious eroded rock formations known as the Pagodas</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nCbjjUuBATGfWzVeKO7TmnGW_jYftzEGEFgWHIYUvo76HfwRdBQkE8Cgs2mAKOG3PFqvQ81JHLVhk_i1AiIe-EZ-V5HuxwQpfAZ6e3Evg6bYJQgBbT35bN7gVqt9KVIstscmuBWfpxy1/s1600/Wollemi+Park5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nCbjjUuBATGfWzVeKO7TmnGW_jYftzEGEFgWHIYUvo76HfwRdBQkE8Cgs2mAKOG3PFqvQ81JHLVhk_i1AiIe-EZ-V5HuxwQpfAZ6e3Evg6bYJQgBbT35bN7gVqt9KVIstscmuBWfpxy1/s640/Wollemi+Park5.jpg" width="640" /></a><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Cudgegong River in full flow after recent rain in the canyon of Dunn's Swamp</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPyeHayYen-UF3anG_sYrE-kCknB-knthyphenhyphenaIeKMuP3kPUg01zH0oNxXc4Egqiou9VS8VPPNSZ2-ilXvDnJ8ZRM9rpIFxlGqm3Z-uYE-UgVNh8rPau97ChyUUTKUVEBCp8MxKPb_jas3rJ/s1600/Purple+Swamp+Hen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPyeHayYen-UF3anG_sYrE-kCknB-knthyphenhyphenaIeKMuP3kPUg01zH0oNxXc4Egqiou9VS8VPPNSZ2-ilXvDnJ8ZRM9rpIFxlGqm3Z-uYE-UgVNh8rPau97ChyUUTKUVEBCp8MxKPb_jas3rJ/s400/Purple+Swamp+Hen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bird life included the Purple Swamp Hen... </b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9rVErf9xFfDZ_skdu4X6XT-lOR0k_31h2i79dcRxFKD4aVeESPxjKG880KjJhG0KLAplklfplALhtjXQtvqEdI5aZrEI6wZJkBZOFVbuTqPkdhCW4mzv-q-Rxy0ITLySe1YohjVP6qa-/s1600/Laughing+Kookaburra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9rVErf9xFfDZ_skdu4X6XT-lOR0k_31h2i79dcRxFKD4aVeESPxjKG880KjJhG0KLAplklfplALhtjXQtvqEdI5aZrEI6wZJkBZOFVbuTqPkdhCW4mzv-q-Rxy0ITLySe1YohjVP6qa-/s400/Laughing+Kookaburra.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The cheeky Laughing Kookaburra </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">that woke us at dawn with its cackling laughing cries...</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4YAYP8qbApNNjCOraSEfIoD9kDb2YUdBxwMGsIy9Kk_DhhkpAF2OIBwaozxjRXJinyTO8p7Tk2y1BCbHEuXy7O67AwwsbYFszhPB9xfpfmOm2zOz6LD-MhF_ZuITORfXP5HudZxJKmOy/s1600/Scarlet+Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4YAYP8qbApNNjCOraSEfIoD9kDb2YUdBxwMGsIy9Kk_DhhkpAF2OIBwaozxjRXJinyTO8p7Tk2y1BCbHEuXy7O67AwwsbYFszhPB9xfpfmOm2zOz6LD-MhF_ZuITORfXP5HudZxJKmOy/s400/Scarlet+Robin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And the charming Flame Robin </b></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLWuuKYp21b2Pz8RjEB4JwIm6oXfBLhhV2FLwgYf1jYkk-JaP7SeQJ_XkFurhIFXYK9T6ZA4sFYGhlTRcnAxxcNWChsnFkL0BW-HBCnwv58pAzofTD0S56XBmDt6RVA0DCHg98zkLUqw6/s1600/Wollemi+Park4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLWuuKYp21b2Pz8RjEB4JwIm6oXfBLhhV2FLwgYf1jYkk-JaP7SeQJ_XkFurhIFXYK9T6ZA4sFYGhlTRcnAxxcNWChsnFkL0BW-HBCnwv58pAzofTD0S56XBmDt6RVA0DCHg98zkLUqw6/s640/Wollemi+Park4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> When darkness falls, Simon replaces his binoculars with a head-torch </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and prepares a barbeque of lamb chops and bacon. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vegetables were represented by fried onion rings.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The beer contains yeast products.</b></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-22452488758005920552011-04-19T01:16:00.000-07:002011-04-19T01:16:21.303-07:00Sydney<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ud7VYYCiMm8rb9zK9KrsApNYN_4Vo03i-IN84G2wbIKK8bQQLlA6ebf1z5z5pYpRUCzabY4a7Yp0g3CIywxgcjmX3LqswOznueWpzO_YEg0no09mncRcMNL9EaVuKOPxV0wtXot-ZhYQ/s1600/Sydney+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ud7VYYCiMm8rb9zK9KrsApNYN_4Vo03i-IN84G2wbIKK8bQQLlA6ebf1z5z5pYpRUCzabY4a7Yp0g3CIywxgcjmX3LqswOznueWpzO_YEg0no09mncRcMNL9EaVuKOPxV0wtXot-ZhYQ/s640/Sydney+050.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Botanic gardens.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's an item on my "Ought to See" list ticked off.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Now, please may we now go back into the outback?</i></span></b></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-85855488249683138912011-04-17T13:49:00.000-07:002011-04-17T13:49:03.254-07:00Willandra<div style="text-align: justify;">Our first foray into the Australian outback was four days camping in the Willandra National Park. The park is a former sheep station, that was famous for its wool. Now, the homestead and surrounding plains habitat are being restored to its original state and the biodiversity is recovering. Read more about the history of the <span id="goog_1648143430"></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willandra_National_Park">Willandra National Park</a>.<span id="goog_1648143431"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aOeOPj0CseNY6KNiC8EQTiUv9fxW5AR9kBYlnstJm1tJk6i9so5e-OmuFFGdblyhsnUugOnSVvMX274jLBRWDAYXDRR4wNmle4o3gz2U_h-Ff2orcE4sMB6PegFzK__CFt4rh4yfAqzG/s1600/Willandra+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aOeOPj0CseNY6KNiC8EQTiUv9fxW5AR9kBYlnstJm1tJk6i9so5e-OmuFFGdblyhsnUugOnSVvMX274jLBRWDAYXDRR4wNmle4o3gz2U_h-Ff2orcE4sMB6PegFzK__CFt4rh4yfAqzG/s640/Willandra+046.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunrise over a backwater of the Willandra Creek</span></b></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5XNrSLriozg4I-0TPXfAsjwepnFwHNwxy1R2JcZTtyKz0J3IIJo0NnDLfCwgUZsPWNK6RGIELBYMLrFYPaCH_FI9ZF_iTMr-iQcel7UINF2jL7I0MDzhnKmw4pmZNYEpzzlaIql4S7A2/s1600/Willandra+farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5XNrSLriozg4I-0TPXfAsjwepnFwHNwxy1R2JcZTtyKz0J3IIJo0NnDLfCwgUZsPWNK6RGIELBYMLrFYPaCH_FI9ZF_iTMr-iQcel7UINF2jL7I0MDzhnKmw4pmZNYEpzzlaIql4S7A2/s400/Willandra+farm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The shearing sheds and buildings of the former sheep station </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">are preserved for posterity in the Willandra National Park</span></b></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujcI8Dd263kUJh2uk8OY0rfIjeZ7nI3Aa8VswmV67oRN4mdzbYpt4WEUBEDIe3psY32aXddDIu9bOoOzZEW5YQ-xLX8c_c1BR08L5nK_kfkFIvsh0VDCxQJ_KAjmmjyoGX-TvGSd1htMK/s1600/Willandra+creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujcI8Dd263kUJh2uk8OY0rfIjeZ7nI3Aa8VswmV67oRN4mdzbYpt4WEUBEDIe3psY32aXddDIu9bOoOzZEW5YQ-xLX8c_c1BR08L5nK_kfkFIvsh0VDCxQJ_KAjmmjyoGX-TvGSd1htMK/s640/Willandra+creek.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secluded billabongs are a haven for wildlife</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGuwhMB6LH5qTRp2wy3P5sZD9eI5ZKSpH04Exg29kePFZ-vGwD8hieAnCH0_u3DrZpVRuK9cHgqitBymHInPdSKlsivS_0hRy4-kwWjUFCLYsU2IjM9VAPFalIxrt3NH0_XzEi3ra8HCz/s1600/Willandra+grassland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGuwhMB6LH5qTRp2wy3P5sZD9eI5ZKSpH04Exg29kePFZ-vGwD8hieAnCH0_u3DrZpVRuK9cHgqitBymHInPdSKlsivS_0hRy4-kwWjUFCLYsU2IjM9VAPFalIxrt3NH0_XzEi3ra8HCz/s640/Willandra+grassland.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The principal habitat under conservation are the grassy plains </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which stretch to the horizon</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFISjrBmECiQy56t2QIhg5KbxI4sfbab38KuR6hKy6UTRahyphenhyphenfFdECLAyViGBt3O8Ccz2iV8E97OrUVHHnRJz5DMUDn5eejdp4UZDTl0TMoV_rFBn-KVusL-YtEAQtMybzHqpsfelKgUw6/s1600/Willandra+blue+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFISjrBmECiQy56t2QIhg5KbxI4sfbab38KuR6hKy6UTRahyphenhyphenfFdECLAyViGBt3O8Ccz2iV8E97OrUVHHnRJz5DMUDn5eejdp4UZDTl0TMoV_rFBn-KVusL-YtEAQtMybzHqpsfelKgUw6/s400/Willandra+blue+flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a decade of drought, recent rains have brought </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">life and colour back to the grasslands </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimtXq7-nJy64TFR6bDNVgtic07ZXEh9qVPV36flh_3pLzm3rJ94Or4ODrucWU_Ck8vy3Iq6ToyPJnktXH5P826n1VlkAy-lwIsuYp1Wft-ArpKOoLYappclYn_vaPpVT3Y8P4G476GQRl/s1600/Willandra+convoy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimtXq7-nJy64TFR6bDNVgtic07ZXEh9qVPV36flh_3pLzm3rJ94Or4ODrucWU_Ck8vy3Iq6ToyPJnktXH5P826n1VlkAy-lwIsuYp1Wft-ArpKOoLYappclYn_vaPpVT3Y8P4G476GQRl/s640/Willandra+convoy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>With our two vehicles we set of for a safari </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>around the Willandra National Park</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC27qUHIDQ4gH5AONF0Q7JbTuaVBb_oGGav3cif8aCKcLsIz6KXDjcv9ybWFyyLHEcgExXmScXiCcMYO6wzJpcIGb8YEQIM-SJbPUbxb9i7y7pqqEwLlkwzramPXc6Lh2fbJh7U6eKLmWl/s1600/Emu1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC27qUHIDQ4gH5AONF0Q7JbTuaVBb_oGGav3cif8aCKcLsIz6KXDjcv9ybWFyyLHEcgExXmScXiCcMYO6wzJpcIGb8YEQIM-SJbPUbxb9i7y7pqqEwLlkwzramPXc6Lh2fbJh7U6eKLmWl/s400/Emu1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The grasslands are a habitat for Emu and... </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5qQr0NiUCBlpnnaarjRPTsiLdmWM1Ysja5tdE3sXWn-j3u39STGqe7KQVOu_ZAcllGIhQh8__uiYy-a-qFFJMdalpmFuWimrU4ugfxV3VWcWzvUFYtf7zx8Q-VQKTxVvATOWVNvAkCPD/s1600/Willandra+Red+kangaroo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5qQr0NiUCBlpnnaarjRPTsiLdmWM1Ysja5tdE3sXWn-j3u39STGqe7KQVOu_ZAcllGIhQh8__uiYy-a-qFFJMdalpmFuWimrU4ugfxV3VWcWzvUFYtf7zx8Q-VQKTxVvATOWVNvAkCPD/s640/Willandra+Red+kangaroo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Red Kangaroo</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy06KR0es2bcPMJWHnh-r5jQ2T_DsKn0cf0zD2gsEZ8DxSVjb3U0rCVOtqJwXwjXNlPV-xdWqIqas8PBxD2RljJEN9flcfaSq1LCIf6zpQ7fA0d9kpmzkxrjPaDYBJUi-6RC_wSR5ROSov/s1600/David+carp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy06KR0es2bcPMJWHnh-r5jQ2T_DsKn0cf0zD2gsEZ8DxSVjb3U0rCVOtqJwXwjXNlPV-xdWqIqas8PBxD2RljJEN9flcfaSq1LCIf6zpQ7fA0d9kpmzkxrjPaDYBJUi-6RC_wSR5ROSov/s400/David+carp.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the safari, David fishes for carp in a billabong...</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkwM4H1EQ3p-68lQDDPtQhSFEznf6KQRXFAv4Lx3olmWsTiOlDatY3VG3miTGL6Mn17OlX7r_DTCR9DnVDzUF_dLfAZENE6vvaMTix3SwehsbeR6NPmWtry-sHWSbsrY6rWmhDEoAWvyo/s1600/Willandra+barbie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkwM4H1EQ3p-68lQDDPtQhSFEznf6KQRXFAv4Lx3olmWsTiOlDatY3VG3miTGL6Mn17OlX7r_DTCR9DnVDzUF_dLfAZENE6vvaMTix3SwehsbeR6NPmWtry-sHWSbsrY6rWmhDEoAWvyo/s640/Willandra+barbie.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>...while Bonny and Simon set up a barbecue </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>under the shade of a coolibah tree...</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHf-PVlbYuvKMVvNwpXGdhTmOxXFn-5znniCkg8O335em1Q2p8qUC24M9lMB7WF-SWRox67sY0iQpm6cahowMHHveEvqm8-bdrSa2hXDdQV0K5Rf16X6CkDUvfWbUTey9eQ4qlG34DlQEL/s1600/Gallah+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHf-PVlbYuvKMVvNwpXGdhTmOxXFn-5znniCkg8O335em1Q2p8qUC24M9lMB7WF-SWRox67sY0iQpm6cahowMHHveEvqm8-bdrSa2hXDdQV0K5Rf16X6CkDUvfWbUTey9eQ4qlG34DlQEL/s400/Gallah+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>...watched over by inquisitive Gallahs</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31Rrf2p9TybW93ok5QPX7vfeqfyT2WKZVgH4OvpsfcOK3RB5Zr_SrkTp02IHW418RhfgLaXswCEoAO1Leg4xoQwbRozjs3Wm0Bu94bSLASyH3rw24QBwy6yf_OhlOjmA6z4rI8Qo3KD4v/s1600/Willandra+Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31Rrf2p9TybW93ok5QPX7vfeqfyT2WKZVgH4OvpsfcOK3RB5Zr_SrkTp02IHW418RhfgLaXswCEoAO1Leg4xoQwbRozjs3Wm0Bu94bSLASyH3rw24QBwy6yf_OhlOjmA6z4rI8Qo3KD4v/s640/Willandra+Sunset.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>At the end of the day, a blazing sunset over the Willandra plains</b></span></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-17067831486739354672011-04-12T23:36:00.000-07:002011-04-13T00:05:34.956-07:00Under the Southern Cross<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">My mate Simon met me at Sydney airport at 6.00am on 12th April and whisked straight to his home in Bowen Mountain in the the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, where I was able to catch up on some sleep and enjoy a walk in the nearby forest with his son David.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwiP2_mEeNI29IbpF9sADbk13BW57qQXOiK_b1CchEmPLJmRIRAs-vyvG_MdJn2YAWX4X_DBRmQNgtts0nHQZt8W3q7otdN72J_TcgwsUL9-Kbob89cswUAFV7Z3MfMcqzM7CUCv0pmz3/s1600/Southern+Cross+008e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwiP2_mEeNI29IbpF9sADbk13BW57qQXOiK_b1CchEmPLJmRIRAs-vyvG_MdJn2YAWX4X_DBRmQNgtts0nHQZt8W3q7otdN72J_TcgwsUL9-Kbob89cswUAFV7Z3MfMcqzM7CUCv0pmz3/s640/Southern+Cross+008e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As evening fell, the constellation of the Southern Cross was rising. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The two bright stars at the bottom right (</span></b><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Pointers</span></b></i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">point upwards towards the Southern Cross...</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkBv-32yWHqZFU2uQc5ULtt6o4JME89f5sAFQd0LjduRkxDc22WFx0zlSDoqgat8qv_3g34n8TtBt-Zk6SGmiJfALfGp3YJ3Jp3PVHQ9WL9zob9F8hyog-YAuxlCKy7UHtkbPa5-ce5Cv/s1600/Southern+Cross+005e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkBv-32yWHqZFU2uQc5ULtt6o4JME89f5sAFQd0LjduRkxDc22WFx0zlSDoqgat8qv_3g34n8TtBt-Zk6SGmiJfALfGp3YJ3Jp3PVHQ9WL9zob9F8hyog-YAuxlCKy7UHtkbPa5-ce5Cv/s400/Southern+Cross+005e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...prompting Simon to fire up his luxury barbeque </span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to sizzle up some some giant steaks</span></b></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxFZNCbu1UTJR3tTkCSy46zpkIMeebehC1WAWiDNcvWWxA7i-cDQkj7g5m0ZwrnEpc1G-er32xk-wZ-wSIE8k3agKTQJskVxe-0WINixL-MLVU1SofEZpQDae63ITXvPUdoOcUYs1-HY4/s1600/tim+tams+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxFZNCbu1UTJR3tTkCSy46zpkIMeebehC1WAWiDNcvWWxA7i-cDQkj7g5m0ZwrnEpc1G-er32xk-wZ-wSIE8k3agKTQJskVxe-0WINixL-MLVU1SofEZpQDae63ITXvPUdoOcUYs1-HY4/s400/tim+tams+1.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxFZNCbu1UTJR3tTkCSy46zpkIMeebehC1WAWiDNcvWWxA7i-cDQkj7g5m0ZwrnEpc1G-er32xk-wZ-wSIE8k3agKTQJskVxe-0WINixL-MLVU1SofEZpQDae63ITXvPUdoOcUYs1-HY4/s1600/tim+tams+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><br />
</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The girls had prepared for my arrival with some Australian delicacies:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Tim Tams, Freddo Frogs, Cherry Ripes</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>and of course a case of Victorian Bitter ale</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There was even time to find some Australian wildlife icons:</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi1VgCGjfoYBeaaLvh6iCFydvd3i-jg8q8zc2J0TworE7-lS3RHRs6_CsQMuv7maMwy4L24Ztu3tsK-YVQ9BRxjEqLVxOelfVOnQKNfXL5utSNEcW2LQ5zU9mLGE4QjvL5odUyoO1Em9I/s1600/laughing+kookaburra1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi1VgCGjfoYBeaaLvh6iCFydvd3i-jg8q8zc2J0TworE7-lS3RHRs6_CsQMuv7maMwy4L24Ztu3tsK-YVQ9BRxjEqLVxOelfVOnQKNfXL5utSNEcW2LQ5zU9mLGE4QjvL5odUyoO1Em9I/s400/laughing+kookaburra1.jpg" width="338" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laughing Kookaburra</span></b></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5zgxgOorHkBGsC-CR2M3tLI-AVPgKWZQVw7fgyHfzafnsK7v0bs9jL0cRipKIZ-FWsRk5XlOga5eLIWwGdPswiddPfRcfWs3itMcr4LqfuHBvBWf1r2VXG3TOWm9q5tzlEFBO6_hmvsd/s1600/black+swan+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5zgxgOorHkBGsC-CR2M3tLI-AVPgKWZQVw7fgyHfzafnsK7v0bs9jL0cRipKIZ-FWsRk5XlOga5eLIWwGdPswiddPfRcfWs3itMcr4LqfuHBvBWf1r2VXG3TOWm9q5tzlEFBO6_hmvsd/s1600/black+swan+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5zgxgOorHkBGsC-CR2M3tLI-AVPgKWZQVw7fgyHfzafnsK7v0bs9jL0cRipKIZ-FWsRk5XlOga5eLIWwGdPswiddPfRcfWs3itMcr4LqfuHBvBWf1r2VXG3TOWm9q5tzlEFBO6_hmvsd/s640/black+swan+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RmCzB0Zx_PM08kqp6Wxy7a80sqCQbmG2zSetInvetS76usc1FyKlCVdMwzzkuweTdYyacGxr-aTHKsEnnOkZINwkCmPxOmkcWwI9QSEZOKir2zJzIOCE4uucUgSOn7JVjsDVkmBadFZD/s1600/wallaby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Black Swan</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RmCzB0Zx_PM08kqp6Wxy7a80sqCQbmG2zSetInvetS76usc1FyKlCVdMwzzkuweTdYyacGxr-aTHKsEnnOkZINwkCmPxOmkcWwI9QSEZOKir2zJzIOCE4uucUgSOn7JVjsDVkmBadFZD/s1600/wallaby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RmCzB0Zx_PM08kqp6Wxy7a80sqCQbmG2zSetInvetS76usc1FyKlCVdMwzzkuweTdYyacGxr-aTHKsEnnOkZINwkCmPxOmkcWwI9QSEZOKir2zJzIOCE4uucUgSOn7JVjsDVkmBadFZD/s320/wallaby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Swamp Wallaby</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow we leave for the Outback </span></b></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-71022869254096774272011-04-08T13:06:00.000-07:002011-04-08T13:06:18.110-07:00Vanda Station, AntarcticaBy popular demand, here are some more previously unpublished pictures of my work as Leader of Vanda Station, Antarctica, 1972/73. Please see the post below this for more details.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWliaUmBECv4sBR-EUq8wGF2CytwO18znqfbnJgwJes6orbNYctj0uxu07t1AutACWNRu_8M9ovGHd-_T-bbcduKa2dsSDd01EcNcS9N54r_wtp2eghrYN1C-Ilp4HkmIH_vb5zEfUudvB/s1600/Vanda+13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWliaUmBECv4sBR-EUq8wGF2CytwO18znqfbnJgwJes6orbNYctj0uxu07t1AutACWNRu_8M9ovGHd-_T-bbcduKa2dsSDd01EcNcS9N54r_wtp2eghrYN1C-Ilp4HkmIH_vb5zEfUudvB/s400/Vanda+13.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Transport around the Dry Valleys of Victoria land is by helicopter</b></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjp-kNEi9AjMZNzhMBYiH1gt0pHi719lv0Jv2XdYUajZwYmV0kyso3S9kQQGdFzNXJXqx6jSXQjBCRiD7r7b4u3lNvEbSUtHuBAN7Id3IqkPZptoM-Z9uTC_IJSv-8KZG666fBjf-ATP7/s1600/vanda7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjp-kNEi9AjMZNzhMBYiH1gt0pHi719lv0Jv2XdYUajZwYmV0kyso3S9kQQGdFzNXJXqx6jSXQjBCRiD7r7b4u3lNvEbSUtHuBAN7Id3IqkPZptoM-Z9uTC_IJSv-8KZG666fBjf-ATP7/s320/vanda7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ready to board a helicopter </b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4SEzRsI-Ej1gVesK2L7x6raPabjMraN23x4x5ivfTxPDbFjH-Z3ociAItpaXtS2S97cIXAmaV3v5pylFZ67NUU1KwSAkO2T-cO5Wi-wOB5Hamddt0QfHLHsTfB9iAW9_1MqKGaWyNyiC/s1600/vanda6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4SEzRsI-Ej1gVesK2L7x6raPabjMraN23x4x5ivfTxPDbFjH-Z3ociAItpaXtS2S97cIXAmaV3v5pylFZ67NUU1KwSAkO2T-cO5Wi-wOB5Hamddt0QfHLHsTfB9iAW9_1MqKGaWyNyiC/s400/vanda6.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vanda Station flagpole </b></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01J7KBiH-vp5VDYQJ0pjktJktuHFLcuMyasdeVDjYxxwZyC8yzTkvNVyg1f60W_3PRn76nA6GjReFQPUQZBr3mUH3152q5FOvSDXQROK1YFLhAYR6V2D-oIUYxlO4gORDzICoLyZngNBM/s1600/vanda+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01J7KBiH-vp5VDYQJ0pjktJktuHFLcuMyasdeVDjYxxwZyC8yzTkvNVyg1f60W_3PRn76nA6GjReFQPUQZBr3mUH3152q5FOvSDXQROK1YFLhAYR6V2D-oIUYxlO4gORDzICoLyZngNBM/s640/vanda+12.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b> Vanda Station's main hut was a JCB packing case</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Laurie Cairns (surveyor); Jim Fowler (Station Leader 1973/73 Season) </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4SEzRsI-Ej1gVesK2L7x6raPabjMraN23x4x5ivfTxPDbFjH-Z3ociAItpaXtS2S97cIXAmaV3v5pylFZ67NUU1KwSAkO2T-cO5Wi-wOB5Hamddt0QfHLHsTfB9iAW9_1MqKGaWyNyiC/s1600/vanda6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQgz0qeCF1eECeH7O7jfGk7K9fi3Ono8qB9mZn33x2kPt0uQaRpUtgMVgSj5CwZzV9GKfMCb5Qj_QScZARMK-iTQeSGY6YUfBI03T42hyNHiiX4ECTmZ7UVJBXX9jnDzOmP2XHeYCnDSb/s1600/vanda+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQgz0qeCF1eECeH7O7jfGk7K9fi3Ono8qB9mZn33x2kPt0uQaRpUtgMVgSj5CwZzV9GKfMCb5Qj_QScZARMK-iTQeSGY6YUfBI03T42hyNHiiX4ECTmZ7UVJBXX9jnDzOmP2XHeYCnDSb/s640/vanda+8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Servicing the hydrology weir of the Onyx River, </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>a river comprising glacial meltwater </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>that flows only in the summer months </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGVxpjklZzHZGvuB0JvnvfY7hRDlbLJSllpcUhygS7cSmToe1FNodTp3l475nD0A5VIDDOVFizAHnlfOUsbbL3cz6u0Gjplo5CIST8Ngn9abM_W7GDijhei042oZ4q6L9vPCMNNIA5KpD/s1600/vanda+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGVxpjklZzHZGvuB0JvnvfY7hRDlbLJSllpcUhygS7cSmToe1FNodTp3l475nD0A5VIDDOVFizAHnlfOUsbbL3cz6u0Gjplo5CIST8Ngn9abM_W7GDijhei042oZ4q6L9vPCMNNIA5KpD/s640/vanda+9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>The tractor was vital for transporting ice from Lake Vanda </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">to the station to melt for drinking water</b></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM42vvO7csP4yy7-_B3AfXfUvBUw_GzW3wuKsWusisKUYpXYVlPERKw1nvq66TOPf8gc-QJIufTXfkiDrIUQLTB20L3Nwril0oTSg9Me33t-0fNdOaUrw4F6y-BHoIUA_iat5mSShZqkEK/s1600/vanda+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM42vvO7csP4yy7-_B3AfXfUvBUw_GzW3wuKsWusisKUYpXYVlPERKw1nvq66TOPf8gc-QJIufTXfkiDrIUQLTB20L3Nwril0oTSg9Me33t-0fNdOaUrw4F6y-BHoIUA_iat5mSShZqkEK/s640/vanda+10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Local trips around the Wright Valley </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>were made in this vehicle we called a "Gnat" </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVSGRV3pUnXqJDsfOht9c66NOD_dywUWq9sInW9AaXN2nG2rqBOpUZ4EpWmr3Q1K_kYd5rfhHsKuTJoTGIUbmu7OmlLTGMT8zNTl1dPVFJ9fIK_zNwuu5LFUns2uQqrXfXtGqcl7cAGLX/s1600/vanda+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVSGRV3pUnXqJDsfOht9c66NOD_dywUWq9sInW9AaXN2nG2rqBOpUZ4EpWmr3Q1K_kYd5rfhHsKuTJoTGIUbmu7OmlLTGMT8zNTl1dPVFJ9fIK_zNwuu5LFUns2uQqrXfXtGqcl7cAGLX/s400/vanda+11.jpg" width="270" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b> Is there a blizzard on the way?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Or maybe it is a photographer!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-14873167672754723592011-03-31T03:59:00.000-07:002011-03-31T06:25:45.584-07:00Maalie in Antarctica<div style="text-align: justify;">During the early 1970s I was privileged to serve as the Leader of a remote Antarctic field station in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Dependency">Ross Dependency</a>, administered by the then New Zealand Antarctic Research Programme (now known as <i><a href="http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/">Antarctica New Zealand</a></i>. The Ross Dependency lies due south of New Zealand and transport there was by flying from Christchurch, New Zealand directly to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMurdo_Sound">McMurdo Sound</a>.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_1-1weolQP8jt5M9ISEukzPzBj9SW9PnJTi2Fr5wxrWCQesDOEGU4dYYXdoUNNIerFb531Sm0oEuRbKLMU1odf8OT5OgzKWC3hdd9Y0gW_9p0kvzGWR-oWGufHFQLgf1qoy8iW2ngv6p/s1600/Mcmurdo_sound_USGS_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_1-1weolQP8jt5M9ISEukzPzBj9SW9PnJTi2Fr5wxrWCQesDOEGU4dYYXdoUNNIerFb531Sm0oEuRbKLMU1odf8OT5OgzKWC3hdd9Y0gW_9p0kvzGWR-oWGufHFQLgf1qoy8iW2ngv6p/s640/Mcmurdo_sound_USGS_map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The Ross Dependency, Antarctica. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Arrival was at McMurdo Sound and then to Scott Base (far right). </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vanda Station is a helicopter ride to the Wright Valley (left)</b>.</div><br />
My station, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanda_Station">Vanda Station</a>, was a small field station housing 3 - 8 scientists, normally for a summer season, located at the east end of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Vanda"> Lake Vanda</a> in the Wright Valley (see map above). The Wright Valley is within a system of essentially snow-free valleys in Victoria Land known as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMurdo_Dry_Valleys">Dry Valleys</a>.<br />
(There are many excellent pictures of the Dry Valleys <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=dry+valleys+antarctica&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&sa=X&ei=emCUTYbGJpKahQfRvOTfCA&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=606">here</a>).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88sno8zQ04M0zpzylMN4N0g4xcxWvQtMXbL0-uZ84AzOEiZ-7Y9TRJ8AtWiyI7p1ul6VERk8gDsRMIUOnm0EpeIf4T7nYgzfQo6sVSUv0BGZn3JdZjyZS8fFWDDtywQs012kYpsM3qx5H/s1600/247Lake_Vanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88sno8zQ04M0zpzylMN4N0g4xcxWvQtMXbL0-uZ84AzOEiZ-7Y9TRJ8AtWiyI7p1ul6VERk8gDsRMIUOnm0EpeIf4T7nYgzfQo6sVSUv0BGZn3JdZjyZS8fFWDDtywQs012kYpsM3qx5H/s400/247Lake_Vanda.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b> Lake Vanda in the Wright Valley, Victoria land, Ross dependency, Antarctica</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vanda Station is at the end of the frozen lake, bottom right.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(For internet picture source click <a href="http://www.aslo.org/photopost/data/502/medium/247Lake_Vanda.jpg">here</a>)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The remaining images are scans of my own prints, taken in Antarctica nearly 40 years ago. </span></i></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRM32Up2hRNH4rRIhCt_gsRUEsASvboF5hEUPtIs14rJtjPNCSBTgxAFUiE7TaGEY0NXw-VCH3a8xmxdOJvxKweeUCVwzYazWTei0lXfvp7GgdjLdOBUIvgjplU65WJgBoFAbbTig_8rfU/s1600/Vanda-01e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRM32Up2hRNH4rRIhCt_gsRUEsASvboF5hEUPtIs14rJtjPNCSBTgxAFUiE7TaGEY0NXw-VCH3a8xmxdOJvxKweeUCVwzYazWTei0lXfvp7GgdjLdOBUIvgjplU65WJgBoFAbbTig_8rfU/s640/Vanda-01e.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The ice-free Dry Valleys of Victoria Land resemble more of a moonscape </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">than a conventional image of Antarctica. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The tiny Vanda Station is arrowed</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ey3NP1EY2zMgv5MdTKvBHlFIUJU8ubSQxTaaduKyK1zdBikcWGmrpKKFyE7VudYiqAP21vn07Dz9WcHWjCdAhdx8a6kjKN0fQ7N2ylbjZTGX3v0K9rOXaOCL0r0R0g5e0r9WX0hSjZmk/s1600/vanda3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ey3NP1EY2zMgv5MdTKvBHlFIUJU8ubSQxTaaduKyK1zdBikcWGmrpKKFyE7VudYiqAP21vn07Dz9WcHWjCdAhdx8a6kjKN0fQ7N2ylbjZTGX3v0K9rOXaOCL0r0R0g5e0r9WX0hSjZmk/s640/vanda3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Vanda Station is a collection of wooden huts - </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">formerly <a href="http://www.jcb.com/">JCB</a> packing cases!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNU1j5yxZ1J_AintL7dfdpm7HiqSKNRu2kZFd2zhnIkxF6TdO3sFrauL7fmBklzM9oZ0zH9DJgbc9Xm1bp4VHXVdOwJbnzbzgCrZpCPLW24T2EahtN8dcb3SQG2835Yf4kABfyd-Y9vb6/s1600/vanda+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNU1j5yxZ1J_AintL7dfdpm7HiqSKNRu2kZFd2zhnIkxF6TdO3sFrauL7fmBklzM9oZ0zH9DJgbc9Xm1bp4VHXVdOwJbnzbzgCrZpCPLW24T2EahtN8dcb3SQG2835Yf4kABfyd-Y9vb6/s640/vanda+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Vanda Station team 1972-73 Summer Season</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mike Miles (Technician); Jim Fowler (Leader); Ian Brown (Meteorologist)</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdl0xfnbNYzzpHMDoVkaD_y8MWzsdorGFf1TzjouQN0_VygunsJN6VHmClYR53qgUhn23mwYGZMFyzBB_OxE6pfsbtb9wC4IxTPHM_QXBcIGbC7Wc-LPne0vTOAaUkvWsvoy9EQnE3Hkb/s1600/Vanda+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdl0xfnbNYzzpHMDoVkaD_y8MWzsdorGFf1TzjouQN0_VygunsJN6VHmClYR53qgUhn23mwYGZMFyzBB_OxE6pfsbtb9wC4IxTPHM_QXBcIGbC7Wc-LPne0vTOAaUkvWsvoy9EQnE3Hkb/s640/Vanda+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Meteorology was one of the prime research investigations at Vanda Station.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Maalie records observations at the station's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevenson_screen">Stevenson Screen</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVCNcrtoM8NsaOXSrUSk4CxWqE2i8I2zjM1tAmJh0iUEdRGI3O7mA39qhQhkopjhrCc3D-lXO2MKHzxQ_Njn_U2VOvcRGwZEzDTVjvSQW8rb26CQUjBFrPTsD4bG02HmxqcL-ASve0bnk/s1600/vanda+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVCNcrtoM8NsaOXSrUSk4CxWqE2i8I2zjM1tAmJh0iUEdRGI3O7mA39qhQhkopjhrCc3D-lXO2MKHzxQ_Njn_U2VOvcRGwZEzDTVjvSQW8rb26CQUjBFrPTsD4bG02HmxqcL-ASve0bnk/s640/vanda+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hydrology and glaciology are also important. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The summer sun causes glacial melt-water to form the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onyx_River">Onyx River</a> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">that flows along the valley floor into Lake Vanda. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Measuring glacial melt and the river flow provides </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">vital evidence about climate change</b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Note that the hanging glaciers on the sides of the valleys </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>in the background almost reach the v</b>alley floor .</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfs_IYeNlPiTLuzkC_pWVQGskU8AlQVoZ-4EBSMPc3zRarg3o2dx2jkHqSLkwiug-Sw2e1sxm1QZyfPIBGsIWlpaVAOKCSGBQiTdDyXaXkQbmiW-8VHoqGbxwsAf5189LjAdwRj9U8HIK/s1600/vanda+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfs_IYeNlPiTLuzkC_pWVQGskU8AlQVoZ-4EBSMPc3zRarg3o2dx2jkHqSLkwiug-Sw2e1sxm1QZyfPIBGsIWlpaVAOKCSGBQiTdDyXaXkQbmiW-8VHoqGbxwsAf5189LjAdwRj9U8HIK/s640/vanda+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9Y-ycC5g5cZoCghhY0gOGxmMqFh8xXJ3zkT-w8SHyIlzvsdwjTkumkOHjqOMxYLgDpO-Ca-WmUejLda4n0REeHqyIAwso52iJVNQaTTu6l1GYhJLdR9kcJKAbAZ9CvwiUG_hXKPO4cNP/s1600/vanda+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Maalie examines a seal that has lost its way from the coast </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and has become dessicated and mummified</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyrpHZd-aUzDKH2BdPGn0mRV8N0V6KNva9IF_oK_lDWQDdaTqVeGAUy7ZJ9t-mCa2NHYYXykBQjMd_8V3mrnQzY-wsZWk58UCKGypraAIPk_UvB5LeX3eF6UkVPKkYGg_UINgcyQ4K0IV/s1600/Vanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyrpHZd-aUzDKH2BdPGn0mRV8N0V6KNva9IF_oK_lDWQDdaTqVeGAUy7ZJ9t-mCa2NHYYXykBQjMd_8V3mrnQzY-wsZWk58UCKGypraAIPk_UvB5LeX3eF6UkVPKkYGg_UINgcyQ4K0IV/s640/Vanda.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>A present-day picture of the Wright Valley </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Notice how the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier#Types_of_glaciers">hanging glaciers</a> (projecting in from top and bottom) </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>scarcely reach into the valley itself.</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Compare with the picture of the river (above) that was taken 40 years ago.</i></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Tangible evidence of climate warming?</b> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-67236889983549147462011-03-19T12:17:00.000-07:002011-03-19T12:23:25.363-07:00Ostara with Przewalski's Horse<div style="text-align: justify;">Ostara is the Festival of the Spring Equinox, celebrated on 21st March. Now, the days are growing longer than the nights, until the Summer Solstice. I am celebrating Ostara in style in the <a href="http://www.nationalpark-neusiedlersee-seewinkel.at/en/">Seewinkel National Park</a> in Burgenland, Austria, where there is a breeding programme for the very rare Przewalski's Horse.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmWCNAgX6DCkMiD0cxjLaPukQRgp_2BZuqcdXlrWpIG36LzuYWtEwk5WLUoXkB4LcHKQP4v5Ahckwm6b1_oUQdbwgbS0RQhZfG4JPxGCE6LKgNi5MKV93-BoXjJT-02F8y_lmcLNr_CiL/s1600/Przewalski%2527s+Horse+3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmWCNAgX6DCkMiD0cxjLaPukQRgp_2BZuqcdXlrWpIG36LzuYWtEwk5WLUoXkB4LcHKQP4v5Ahckwm6b1_oUQdbwgbS0RQhZfG4JPxGCE6LKgNi5MKV93-BoXjJT-02F8y_lmcLNr_CiL/s1600/Przewalski%2527s+Horse+3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmWCNAgX6DCkMiD0cxjLaPukQRgp_2BZuqcdXlrWpIG36LzuYWtEwk5WLUoXkB4LcHKQP4v5Ahckwm6b1_oUQdbwgbS0RQhZfG4JPxGCE6LKgNi5MKV93-BoXjJT-02F8y_lmcLNr_CiL/s640/Przewalski%2527s+Horse+3.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Przewalski's Horse is declared "Extinct in the Wild"</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The horse was discovered in the steppes of the Gobi Desert in 1879 by Colonel Nikolai Przewalski, who took bones he found during his explorations back to the University of St Petersburg. There, zoologists confirmed it as 'a species new to science', and named it after the Colonel-explorer.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8rIYVnAbnaZPnBK_-P4Yqy62z4xwvq-Jatp8Du54rQACYAvk7FZZLSqsHNWBhTBjeq_wqEleIPqkwdI9lzqVE27Cf-b4_wSLPt9h9-m-oBf1_ZGyJmCRNZi8AO8HpH5UV68_Bh7YJRir/s1600/Przewalski%2527s+Horse+2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8rIYVnAbnaZPnBK_-P4Yqy62z4xwvq-Jatp8Du54rQACYAvk7FZZLSqsHNWBhTBjeq_wqEleIPqkwdI9lzqVE27Cf-b4_wSLPt9h9-m-oBf1_ZGyJmCRNZi8AO8HpH5UV68_Bh7YJRir/s640/Przewalski%2527s+Horse+2.JPG" width="480" /></a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The ancestor of the modern horse</b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Biologists consider the species to be the ancestor of the modern horse. Sadly, they were victims of over-hunting for meat and competition with people for habitat; in 1970 it was declared "extinct in the wild". However, the gene pool is preserved in coordinated captive breeding programmes around the world, and re-introduction of animals back into the wild has already begun.</div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhdyP-9cSdQ4MDPdZp5k4L5mMjVnvHWVPW2ZZypThXtiTr9D197UAPd455P4O_i9AD9mPghrcgJsxNafhblWUSZr340GOTSwmukZvx-cMQV5CRqvmr_B3ARrxegz3khL-JW6_N8G7B0A-/s1600/Przewalski%2527s+Horse+6.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhdyP-9cSdQ4MDPdZp5k4L5mMjVnvHWVPW2ZZypThXtiTr9D197UAPd455P4O_i9AD9mPghrcgJsxNafhblWUSZr340GOTSwmukZvx-cMQV5CRqvmr_B3ARrxegz3khL-JW6_N8G7B0A-/s640/Przewalski%2527s+Horse+6.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Conservation breeding programme - </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">these two look like they are getting on with it</b>!</div><br />
In the Seewinkel National Park, the horses are also part of a habitat management scheme in which their grazing maintains the biodiverstiy of the plant life.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeaB376FWQn7ByShx6eCcYSiaiaMM686wm_zvdt9jnBgLGONFNzRAj6fMKnWEkH6OJlEDRMQvxjTw7wzszZrypwa0z60GrPYnjdkj_q7LBvhvJiB3g5jB1nzQLtruWEViAHesGhe_ce9t/s1600/Przewalski%2527s+Horse+5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeaB376FWQn7ByShx6eCcYSiaiaMM686wm_zvdt9jnBgLGONFNzRAj6fMKnWEkH6OJlEDRMQvxjTw7wzszZrypwa0z60GrPYnjdkj_q7LBvhvJiB3g5jB1nzQLtruWEViAHesGhe_ce9t/s640/Przewalski%2527s+Horse+5.JPG" width="640" /></a><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Grazing by the horses is important for grassland management </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">in the <a href="http://www.nationalpark-neusiedlersee-seewinkel.at/en/">Seewinkel National Park</a></b></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFk3L9m8WqTABelgf-T5Ci2hEwAxNKN2kgi2WkC2r6xw1sDnX5vcYiGAR0LOM4I0O5Fqp4nZokIjl9Q6UgMEVXXbTWEnAu8fUoMmgFxQ01q-Sj4zsz_3uT2MZQYawEvx8olgbgmwZg1-kj/s1600/Przewalski%2527s+Horse+1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFk3L9m8WqTABelgf-T5Ci2hEwAxNKN2kgi2WkC2r6xw1sDnX5vcYiGAR0LOM4I0O5Fqp4nZokIjl9Q6UgMEVXXbTWEnAu8fUoMmgFxQ01q-Sj4zsz_3uT2MZQYawEvx8olgbgmwZg1-kj/s640/Przewalski%2527s+Horse+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks to the breeding programme </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">their descendants may be safe for the future</b></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A Happy Ostara to all my Readers!</b></span></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-7113847227520452982011-03-15T00:40:00.000-07:002011-03-15T00:40:49.299-07:00Illmitz comes to Askam<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was my pleasure to welcome my friends Helmut and Katharina from <a href="http://maalie1.blogspot.com/2010/11/burgenland.html">Illmitz</a>, Burgenland, Austria, to Maalie Court for a few days. Illmitz is on the border of Austria and Hungary close to the <a href="http://www.nationalpark-neusiedlersee-seewinkel.at/en/">Seewinkel National Park</a> where I go to conduct birds surveys.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76mJTlMuLZkNeuO1Y7flOcrNzioFjA5b3v-FbaRKrlpVZOk-nNQsRL6ILr39sq2dzcKsMtjkl-XErZJNUoTY0pen3N8MG1FSiSEW2u_8HfNwtiPtJ7daThHRGr_jl2CclhgG-S4PbXxz2/s1600/Gangl+visit+daffodils.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76mJTlMuLZkNeuO1Y7flOcrNzioFjA5b3v-FbaRKrlpVZOk-nNQsRL6ILr39sq2dzcKsMtjkl-XErZJNUoTY0pen3N8MG1FSiSEW2u_8HfNwtiPtJ7daThHRGr_jl2CclhgG-S4PbXxz2/s400/Gangl+visit+daffodils.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>The visit coincides with the blooming of the very first daffodils, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">for which Cumbria is noteworthy from the poetry of <a href="http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Poetry/WordsworthDaffodils.htm">William Wordsworth</a></b></div><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWANJgTuBz-h7FEpbBj-mDRSWdo6sHKEmtmRs8l6fNo_dx_H5m13Fbqp5UrklVN2XVkEMSoECsGhLAMUaBBK8sBWFzAlxucrxQZpOSq95ZOkP6Faxz2T7ui9UGzASZ6vlWrxzStUHJ-xm/s1600/Gangl+visit+Esthwaite.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWANJgTuBz-h7FEpbBj-mDRSWdo6sHKEmtmRs8l6fNo_dx_H5m13Fbqp5UrklVN2XVkEMSoECsGhLAMUaBBK8sBWFzAlxucrxQZpOSq95ZOkP6Faxz2T7ui9UGzASZ6vlWrxzStUHJ-xm/s640/Gangl+visit+Esthwaite.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Helmut and Katharina enjoy the view of Esthwaite Water, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">their first lake in the Lake District</b></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JvqRdczCRFqPtquCfEh45lf1Vt3vKpVHHmyXAkc08WbcljJLvcqO3cE-4zu1HUFlLePmo8gebwbqMQi7wA0etMARJqPgu0EJwtE-iEqzVrFIbanFV_K0Ow5MYih2koCgeLhwp83jklI8/s1600/Gangl+visit+264+birds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JvqRdczCRFqPtquCfEh45lf1Vt3vKpVHHmyXAkc08WbcljJLvcqO3cE-4zu1HUFlLePmo8gebwbqMQi7wA0etMARJqPgu0EJwtE-iEqzVrFIbanFV_K0Ow5MYih2koCgeLhwp83jklI8/s640/Gangl+visit+264+birds.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Soon they are observing the local bird life</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbXLYxutGuYD2g5LbhvjFoR2I1y3-e8J_d_iU_-ZofiqRSiSv9K-GP84es9y3IqZrVGcW_kai87oNKZK6W174C9GxEzFBaVYfDBBeeNRIrHY4JB1vm9ulOf1_DY-XbqgbAInnabiJV5eg/s1600/Gangl+visit+crummock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbXLYxutGuYD2g5LbhvjFoR2I1y3-e8J_d_iU_-ZofiqRSiSv9K-GP84es9y3IqZrVGcW_kai87oNKZK6W174C9GxEzFBaVYfDBBeeNRIrHY4JB1vm9ulOf1_DY-XbqgbAInnabiJV5eg/s640/Gangl+visit+crummock.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Negotiating a bridge over the beck at Crummock Water</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfeXIoeHZMtAbYHfV_EN_i1Qd_71goEVVSenYxH2Pkm0u-r1cnE72EgMWk0ZAHYmg1WsSTXaBcP42MlAkN4viC1CsfBEQ7S66nQ97FTMDnc01slWQUs82Lk-rR8ZpfIC0AbnYB49t5x56/s1600/Gangl+visit+stone+walls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfeXIoeHZMtAbYHfV_EN_i1Qd_71goEVVSenYxH2Pkm0u-r1cnE72EgMWk0ZAHYmg1WsSTXaBcP42MlAkN4viC1CsfBEQ7S66nQ97FTMDnc01slWQUs82Lk-rR8ZpfIC0AbnYB49t5x56/s640/Gangl+visit+stone+walls.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>The dry stone walls, characteristic of the north of England, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">is a source of fascination</b></div><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAtGtXhr73iHrO9OXMyffvVIUqVETAx1KQ3464iFGBdkvm8AtIH67-YtLxfd7IZeX9dFedS-iYWchfkwm48XnXRPMazDQw02GQLh1SRAOh84JOSg86s3SckvJLp8Ug3GWWYCpT5z7z88O/s1600/Gangl+visit+Buttermere.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAtGtXhr73iHrO9OXMyffvVIUqVETAx1KQ3464iFGBdkvm8AtIH67-YtLxfd7IZeX9dFedS-iYWchfkwm48XnXRPMazDQw02GQLh1SRAOh84JOSg86s3SckvJLp8Ug3GWWYCpT5z7z88O/s640/Gangl+visit+Buttermere.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfeXIoeHZMtAbYHfV_EN_i1Qd_71goEVVSenYxH2Pkm0u-r1cnE72EgMWk0ZAHYmg1WsSTXaBcP42MlAkN4viC1CsfBEQ7S66nQ97FTMDnc01slWQUs82Lk-rR8ZpfIC0AbnYB49t5x56/s1600/Gangl+visit+stone+walls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Buttermere is reputed to be the most attractive scenery in England</b></div><br />
<br />
<div >="" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div >="" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnDqSI28IsGvl5mzO5lYetWkxclULS76sX34l_YEbv6VFMjWW7BwgTQYJuqXuZvZ6YggdF1c8JYFOnxRaZEKm5rnaECdtM31V6gDEMC5NbXpwLlxdl8-isfEBJu4v0n0kEuGE23ee5Lwr/s1600/Gangl+visit+Black+Dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnDqSI28IsGvl5mzO5lYetWkxclULS76sX34l_YEbv6VFMjWW7BwgTQYJuqXuZvZ6YggdF1c8JYFOnxRaZEKm5rnaECdtM31V6gDEMC5NbXpwLlxdl8-isfEBJu4v0n0kEuGE23ee5Lwr/s400/Gangl+visit+Black+Dog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>And what better way to end a day exploring in the Lake District </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">than to sample a pint of Real Ale in the Black Dog pub</b></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-90141740882741111892011-03-10T12:39:00.000-08:002011-03-10T13:16:09.225-08:00When the wild swans fly...<div style="text-align: justify;">As the spring equinox draws inexorably closer, March is transition time for wildlife. There are still reminders of winter, but also strong signs of spring. Summer migrant birds have already arrived on the southern shores of Britain, whilst in Cumbria, a very few spring flowers have dared to open their petals in sheltered sun-traps on south-facing banks.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUbjmMNmQ3jeFMZo9DpvVPyAgQ8cc0AAeOMnMECoqqJn-IwhmDjjz7VKkz7uyvmZF7f4V8nYSWuVkd5eGzlF9AyQ8GYoDLnFFjjP8tkoZpLqQnplXGsZeXX1KEVRBOxgN33wLGRycVh5B/s1600/Crocus+1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUbjmMNmQ3jeFMZo9DpvVPyAgQ8cc0AAeOMnMECoqqJn-IwhmDjjz7VKkz7uyvmZF7f4V8nYSWuVkd5eGzlF9AyQ8GYoDLnFFjjP8tkoZpLqQnplXGsZeXX1KEVRBOxgN33wLGRycVh5B/s320/Crocus+1a.jpg" width="240" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Crocuses give a splash of colour to the hedgerow </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTjFYBpSensN6FE2eMj23wHHW8nVtBWquD9kJKvBY_AUVintM2W_MeKGj0HXY19-DkhBS0Z27qdZiAlSApagK1Z1OjzIJTjjfWLtfPaPB6Su883tJ66DOzE7yWF17PcgbvDrM8NCLk0Y3/s1600/Primrose+1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTjFYBpSensN6FE2eMj23wHHW8nVtBWquD9kJKvBY_AUVintM2W_MeKGj0HXY19-DkhBS0Z27qdZiAlSApagK1Z1OjzIJTjjfWLtfPaPB6Su883tJ66DOzE7yWF17PcgbvDrM8NCLk0Y3/s400/Primrose+1a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> A delicate primrose dares to show, defying night-time frosts</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Summer migrant birds have not yet reached Cumbria, but some of our winter-visitors are hanging on, preparing to depart soon, to head north to their tundra breeding grounds. I visited <a href="http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/martin-mere">Martin Mere wetland wildfowl refuge</a> to see some of the last wild geese and swans from the observation hides before they leave.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCyfcQMfutQ1fRSkoyCbsRvFDjqhcwFtmA5xryfkkYUvZFCoIP0TqWZBVuE_sA-CSi_Nt1NFk1A7uVCAuV7QF2g3pPstWLXeWyEnO599jPJ08BScLdbChAEyRMhHALWuW7yHcpxBU4IoO/s1600/Pink-footed+Goose+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCyfcQMfutQ1fRSkoyCbsRvFDjqhcwFtmA5xryfkkYUvZFCoIP0TqWZBVuE_sA-CSi_Nt1NFk1A7uVCAuV7QF2g3pPstWLXeWyEnO599jPJ08BScLdbChAEyRMhHALWuW7yHcpxBU4IoO/s640/Pink-footed+Goose+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>On the surrounding pastures, hundreds of Pink-footed Geese </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">look restless as think about getting on their way</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5hbn0cf4IeG6__SAlu0INRdmvmHwmJ3PcWSPbaMxLEucq-_Z2XzVAkzAR_CaJfvyVtXt0ihgmnb3tlAUnPN6PT79I3UH6PKSz56y9J_867ceA4ErUJlTUpBHmvVb6RLR8ghHu9HUQu3Y/s1600/Brambling+2e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5hbn0cf4IeG6__SAlu0INRdmvmHwmJ3PcWSPbaMxLEucq-_Z2XzVAkzAR_CaJfvyVtXt0ihgmnb3tlAUnPN6PT79I3UH6PKSz56y9J_867ceA4ErUJlTUpBHmvVb6RLR8ghHu9HUQu3Y/s320/Brambling+2e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>A colourful male Brambling fattens up at a bird feeder </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">before departing for Lapland </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjug_nkp4cll_Ty81TWFG4lXYyfEVudORtdfy21ve5D21To1FEAfKcn78y3ZmeOdP_c_Ndk8kuUoTUd8HSG4uS2-ss1_TzSV-sS7QDzcHGH20GBIzARt_I1UHuM3KxwoWnXRyjUn6Oe3niu/s1600/Whooper+Swan+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjug_nkp4cll_Ty81TWFG4lXYyfEVudORtdfy21ve5D21To1FEAfKcn78y3ZmeOdP_c_Ndk8kuUoTUd8HSG4uS2-ss1_TzSV-sS7QDzcHGH20GBIzARt_I1UHuM3KxwoWnXRyjUn6Oe3niu/s640/Whooper+Swan+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>On the mere, groups of wild Whooper Swans face into the wind, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">perhaps waiting for one or two more food handouts before migrating to Iceland</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9MWxG4zNgm1LPqh9LNLCZKGNqNgp6GvbC6m6yoPobGU_ZibIp0R9rwKLJddOriXnPW6ZAbM3yYz18o85mXwFR3gOtX76WnAEEvJ-gzqIjZaOYf9WehXywx7O7XElRO3tmw2Z56sc0yrm/s1600/Whooper+Swan+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9MWxG4zNgm1LPqh9LNLCZKGNqNgp6GvbC6m6yoPobGU_ZibIp0R9rwKLJddOriXnPW6ZAbM3yYz18o85mXwFR3gOtX76WnAEEvJ-gzqIjZaOYf9WehXywx7O7XElRO3tmw2Z56sc0yrm/s400/Whooper+Swan+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Some pairs of Whooper Swans are already "getting in the mood",</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> engaged in their synchronised courtship display</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7461x7ELCAhNgz3FTXIYfgT-JKRKIDTeTaMeannrz5Rdhz0AnVNe4mxgVNRx-freuZoD73Efi5vO38D0eIAp4ezrM6ndw6o6-oEfXznQ6vG9QAIvpoHeLg3mCBEMq5fvJ5eoXvGSrV2I/s1600/Whooper+Swan+e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7461x7ELCAhNgz3FTXIYfgT-JKRKIDTeTaMeannrz5Rdhz0AnVNe4mxgVNRx-freuZoD73Efi5vO38D0eIAp4ezrM6ndw6o6-oEfXznQ6vG9QAIvpoHeLg3mCBEMq5fvJ5eoXvGSrV2I/s640/Whooper+Swan+e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>"Farewell, I'm leaving soon; see you next winter!"</b></i></div><span id="goog_898992680"></span><span id="goog_898992681"></span>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-1931026901128219132011-02-24T12:53:00.000-08:002011-02-24T13:00:57.731-08:00Windermere - quest for Bownessie<div style="text-align: justify;">At just over 11 miles (18 km) long, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windermere"><b>Windermere</b> </a>is the largest natural lake in England. It was formed after the retreat of ice at the end of the last Ice Age. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhpryUmmqA6oAszkZKouH57zQpx0GbIPZ8r2qDou6ynl6LVgU6s2PJSNvvk1VJGaGPUJd8-5Z1mUh6TMvSBD2XmsmHBG2qBaSl4aYfMZQdoRgaOnnXB09IiAV65CXQgSoZRgPKK61qp_b/s1600/Windermere_aerial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhpryUmmqA6oAszkZKouH57zQpx0GbIPZ8r2qDou6ynl6LVgU6s2PJSNvvk1VJGaGPUJd8-5Z1mUh6TMvSBD2XmsmHBG2qBaSl4aYfMZQdoRgaOnnXB09IiAV65CXQgSoZRgPKK61qp_b/s400/Windermere_aerial.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aerial picture of Windermere</b><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Internet picture source <a href="http://www.badgersrestlodge.co.uk/gallery.html">here</a></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are a number of reports over the years of a large aquatic animal (possible prehistoric) that inhabits the lake. The Windermere creature has been named <a href="http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Weird-News/Lake-Windermere-Search-For-Englands-Loch-Ness-Monster-Nicknamed-Bow-Nessie/Article/201009215725530?f=rss">Bownessie</a>, hybridising the name of a village on Windermere (Bowness) and Nessie (the Loch Ness Monster of Scotland). A recent report (with photograph) prompted me to spend a few hours kayaking around Windermere today, to see what I could find...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fokgc6Pe_NNXd40mzR0arsifMui9JTiSNm-ApE2kVZADWr2XmvPCShegkhfHii5-SYIwEmwk-fE92m6GWDVe7MlennBPp7yuZYcIarZGlYcbOHJLTokEmsnJdcnyb8Mx91KBtjFaZXDI/s1600/Bownessie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fokgc6Pe_NNXd40mzR0arsifMui9JTiSNm-ApE2kVZADWr2XmvPCShegkhfHii5-SYIwEmwk-fE92m6GWDVe7MlennBPp7yuZYcIarZGlYcbOHJLTokEmsnJdcnyb8Mx91KBtjFaZXDI/s400/Bownessie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>A recent photograph of Bownessie. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Read the full report in the Daily Telegraph <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8332535/New-photo-of-English-Nessie-hailed-as-best-yet.html?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4d6413bd6f6e627f%2C0">here</a>.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaap6Rf8fRjaITJiSz_o8yI5hsmiKn_8oloFVDPJG3PBSawnycJmu8jROE5fKjwYvuUVScPDLB_5zOG7COULdg-YZyBTTwK1ADe_fjJKkNidIj0OtB86qav2SFM1LYt5IoTOel2omjPko/s1600/Windermere-Feb-11+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaap6Rf8fRjaITJiSz_o8yI5hsmiKn_8oloFVDPJG3PBSawnycJmu8jROE5fKjwYvuUVScPDLB_5zOG7COULdg-YZyBTTwK1ADe_fjJKkNidIj0OtB86qav2SFM1LYt5IoTOel2omjPko/s640/Windermere-Feb-11+011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Looking north up Windermere through the channel between </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Belle Isle (right) and the west shore of Windermere</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Windermere is a very popular place for boating and </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>water leisure activities of many kinds</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3blKqiTmgtJfm0fMgpAmmKFatuaYXBRLQQopiurftZHlThxIICmrvlMhysPCT2osbKvEXfDwgp4XkmA886xJ_pNzENXp_bZoOjOiskU8dJRokjUkmpbTm2Dn3oNeo7VlLRYxMuEi1KWE/s1600/Windermere-Feb-a11+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3blKqiTmgtJfm0fMgpAmmKFatuaYXBRLQQopiurftZHlThxIICmrvlMhysPCT2osbKvEXfDwgp4XkmA886xJ_pNzENXp_bZoOjOiskU8dJRokjUkmpbTm2Dn3oNeo7VlLRYxMuEi1KWE/s400/Windermere-Feb-a11+031.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But who wants to be a tourist...</b><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gM4L5T-b7AX5DVweJf28u0mGOzqjhrhZONtx_og-zulsAHmyPcrNKw1Wni_MAHSBFrfv1U0Efsf1IcYyyT2hxITsvsLNyWQFRV8UkWyLKXv_uaSlP9BCcDHcazPRWGNHqKqhbNy9-962/s1600/Windermere-Feb-11+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gM4L5T-b7AX5DVweJf28u0mGOzqjhrhZONtx_og-zulsAHmyPcrNKw1Wni_MAHSBFrfv1U0Efsf1IcYyyT2hxITsvsLNyWQFRV8UkWyLKXv_uaSlP9BCcDHcazPRWGNHqKqhbNy9-962/s400/Windermere-Feb-11+030.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And who wants to be a millionaire...</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Df177BSkH9cY-F5pb_xMENvxoxWjWpkNiKG5H0UpCnkBkNlGAfZtYzteqii0I4UdJ6NBRJqOnTDFkXl2oCCNRbj_LwK0jBn9CNQzGja3uGqn4VzLJrhPBt3pPLNffIDjGBQJJehp0jD6/s1600/kayak-1e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Df177BSkH9cY-F5pb_xMENvxoxWjWpkNiKG5H0UpCnkBkNlGAfZtYzteqii0I4UdJ6NBRJqOnTDFkXl2oCCNRbj_LwK0jBn9CNQzGja3uGqn4VzLJrhPBt3pPLNffIDjGBQJJehp0jD6/s1600/kayak-1e.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I can paddle off in my own little boat with perfect freedom...</b></div><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDWVFm4xNwKt8qQffOX4OGdxUwOHJOdDDFoTOim8-LNXiPXyujWt36JugjKN-3W7UtVQUo1_vH6_GMPuGE0aS5EoBKOqA5JfgCcemys4r8yMbOK-f5eRcI__pcTmNaMOUhOZXfiYmxiXm/s1600/Windermere-Feb-11+018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDWVFm4xNwKt8qQffOX4OGdxUwOHJOdDDFoTOim8-LNXiPXyujWt36JugjKN-3W7UtVQUo1_vH6_GMPuGE0aS5EoBKOqA5JfgCcemys4r8yMbOK-f5eRcI__pcTmNaMOUhOZXfiYmxiXm/s640/Windermere-Feb-11+018.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDWVFm4xNwKt8qQffOX4OGdxUwOHJOdDDFoTOim8-LNXiPXyujWt36JugjKN-3W7UtVQUo1_vH6_GMPuGE0aS5EoBKOqA5JfgCcemys4r8yMbOK-f5eRcI__pcTmNaMOUhOZXfiYmxiXm/s1600/Windermere-Feb-11+018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...quietly, close to the banks of the islands,</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">sliding under the overhanging trees in shallow water</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">watching the wildlife...</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3uDS8gtlavlSX1Kpsx0w2lCTnCxP0C5FSSBXL-0ZxtnsmfSEavmKFRbADuMstXwDaH14GfumUpN7RKedRRgwhxuZ84yFAL4k_MRmR0lvYweifmXGohEZhDgfG12FIo4VQGMGMEJbKsIN/s1600/Windermere-Feb-11+039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3uDS8gtlavlSX1Kpsx0w2lCTnCxP0C5FSSBXL-0ZxtnsmfSEavmKFRbADuMstXwDaH14GfumUpN7RKedRRgwhxuZ84yFAL4k_MRmR0lvYweifmXGohEZhDgfG12FIo4VQGMGMEJbKsIN/s400/Windermere-Feb-11+039.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> ...and choose my own little island to pull ashore </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">to brew a pot of tea with a picnic lunch...</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRKSdg4cfmx44TioqbbsVa0uwmJjZtmQcVrYKkrlr3MrUZbOyHV8flFhw1shZzzhtDETvmHli0VnmLl9brL4nZhrtFhTitAJNqLgB8R8mgNKfiVw5eE7xuj9GsWXNv9558dpxte7DhMHV/s1600/Windermere-Feb-11+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRKSdg4cfmx44TioqbbsVa0uwmJjZtmQcVrYKkrlr3MrUZbOyHV8flFhw1shZzzhtDETvmHli0VnmLl9brL4nZhrtFhTitAJNqLgB8R8mgNKfiVw5eE7xuj9GsWXNv9558dpxte7DhMHV/s640/Windermere-Feb-11+021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Provided that it is not right underneath the Cormorant colony!</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, did I find Bownessie? No.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Not this time...</b><br />
<br />
<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </b></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-9858276689345843672011-02-21T09:32:00.000-08:002011-02-21T09:42:39.722-08:00Nigella's Kitchen<div style="text-align: center;">There is no doubt that domestic goddess <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigella_Lawson">Nigella Lawson</a> is one of Britain's most popular television <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/chefs/">celebrity chefs.</a> Personally, I have made a number of culinary choices under her <a href="http://www.nigella.com/">influence.</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpmEyWraRLOZwWLeqdksQjINdObuEafvl3pfVdJeaMs4Q1ePVbXKlNj5lu7eVP9V2zxxPNy8nzWAZZsKePgEMhALDTRK3DkSoUpbm9goDTis8rWcpepWetcSQsDzYmBkiDnLta9-JitN9/s1600/nigella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpmEyWraRLOZwWLeqdksQjINdObuEafvl3pfVdJeaMs4Q1ePVbXKlNj5lu7eVP9V2zxxPNy8nzWAZZsKePgEMhALDTRK3DkSoUpbm9goDTis8rWcpepWetcSQsDzYmBkiDnLta9-JitN9/s640/nigella.jpg" width="542" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nigella Lawson slaving in her kitchen</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I study her cookery programmes avidly, and have picked up a number of tips. I visited my favourite kitchen hardware shop (<a href="http://www.gwdoling.co.uk/">Dolings </a>in Barrow-in-Furness) and asked for "one of those things that Nigella uses in her TV show". The kind manageress immediately found what I was looking for: it's called a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezzaluna"><i>mezzaluna . </i></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgVF2Fpj5UvJPpROT4MhxNS5m9WoRQupxovMihyQlV5anltynMAJPIgoX7RA7y99AWWJBfnhXIxxMpzwJCP01dsrAV-48HfvKzj0rfKfgdrmdY1jrzlh2RvbiizpCmHaBSbao_fx0_FKn/s1600/nigella+lawson+mezzaluna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgVF2Fpj5UvJPpROT4MhxNS5m9WoRQupxovMihyQlV5anltynMAJPIgoX7RA7y99AWWJBfnhXIxxMpzwJCP01dsrAV-48HfvKzj0rfKfgdrmdY1jrzlh2RvbiizpCmHaBSbao_fx0_FKn/s400/nigella+lawson+mezzaluna.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> </i>Nigella shows off her... errm, her <i>mezzaluna</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then a friend told me that in order for it to work properly, I needed a special <i>mezzaluna board</i>. This is like a normal chopping board, but has the centre chiselled out to make a depression corresponding to the radius of the mezzaluna. I searched in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/">Amazon </a>and was delighted to find that Nigella has created <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nigella-Lawson-Living-Kitchen-Mezzaluna/dp/B000BOK5LE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298307307&sr=1-1">her very own board</a> which I immediately bought, and it was delivered today.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelC-0Vmbey2Pb_Fd-s2EmJslaQDdHtxsTiRN2szHt0LnIjc4E0mzCq8ssflFMDaOradODAeAxjJyv28SmXqlBTpr0qOp63yOpIdAzLVIL531jpGDrNAODxg03em_1_oacVGUKJYsRkorJ/s1600/mezzaluna+002e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelC-0Vmbey2Pb_Fd-s2EmJslaQDdHtxsTiRN2szHt0LnIjc4E0mzCq8ssflFMDaOradODAeAxjJyv28SmXqlBTpr0qOp63yOpIdAzLVIL531jpGDrNAODxg03em_1_oacVGUKJYsRkorJ/s640/mezzaluna+002e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>My very own mezzaluna and mezzaluna board</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>direct from Nigella's kitchen (it says so on the box).</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now I shall cook like Nigella.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxv-MP4TC96gAsb9ca5TG7shql8SNwzl7VNap3gQBHt3cx05ePiMZU-sP5tfApjPbWgdk4PaYl-ya4WIEObVUGxQx0BALWOe0bNiSaLIKC-7_qV8ps6BSMHwEO66kHbu-70VdVVIlqCvH/s1600/NigellaLawson_468x623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxv-MP4TC96gAsb9ca5TG7shql8SNwzl7VNap3gQBHt3cx05ePiMZU-sP5tfApjPbWgdk4PaYl-ya4WIEObVUGxQx0BALWOe0bNiSaLIKC-7_qV8ps6BSMHwEO66kHbu-70VdVVIlqCvH/s400/NigellaLawson_468x623.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nigella Lawson pours herself a drink...</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJs73yUKP0pcmWi9oS0AKyMvcrNHKL8jt6x_bjYmM-KtsOvjFq41V9oK4_9-c1mcoBdYZdMwfa29Mud2KVhfG9W33VLqmo1rrFMKWPb5TdKih_L4sS4sp4WUUoUoENmLlLeoCErYncKzLf/s1600/nigella1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJs73yUKP0pcmWi9oS0AKyMvcrNHKL8jt6x_bjYmM-KtsOvjFq41V9oK4_9-c1mcoBdYZdMwfa29Mud2KVhfG9W33VLqmo1rrFMKWPb5TdKih_L4sS4sp4WUUoUoENmLlLeoCErYncKzLf/s400/nigella1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...before taking a well-earned break</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">after slaving over a hot stove all day</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>(Pictures of <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&source=imghp&biw=1280&bih=606&q=Nigella+lawson&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=">Nigella Lawson</a> in this post are from the internet)</b></span></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="color: lime; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There is a demonstration (not by Nigella) </b><br />
<b style="color: lime; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">of how to use a mezzaluna in the clip below</b></div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sR6GyXndywg" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-15448263802569649502011-02-13T03:02:00.000-08:002011-02-13T03:31:39.770-08:00Thirlmere<div style="text-align: justify;">Thirlmere is a reservoir that was <a href="http://www.visitcumbria.com/kes/thirlmere.htm">created in 1889</a> by flooding a valley to merge two smaller lakes into one in order to supply drinking water to Manchester. Two villages were "drowned" in the process. I decided to explore the lake by kayak on a mild, calm, February day.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5zyP8fBQftOOknQVOneBpky9GYWVU8IJx5IZf9qv-8C73MXMmBTysbWzm7f3jvnAQKLfukc7I153KxO36cSM_QR2BwKzt_YcG-CrbK5MWrwpoW2kk5leJz5wY0S0S4UVOWc9ARnatfWK/s1600/thirlmere-41117i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5zyP8fBQftOOknQVOneBpky9GYWVU8IJx5IZf9qv-8C73MXMmBTysbWzm7f3jvnAQKLfukc7I153KxO36cSM_QR2BwKzt_YcG-CrbK5MWrwpoW2kk5leJz5wY0S0S4UVOWc9ARnatfWK/s400/thirlmere-41117i.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Thirlmere is 3.5 miles long. </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>I launched some somewhere below the bush in the foreground </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>and paddled to the far end of the lake, passing the small islands.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For internet picture source click <a href="http://www.visitcumbria.com/kes/thirlmere.htm">here</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIa_c4EVRudTjsQvtOzdIw2Ac1sPvSRHSXBbOguHMAIJcyQDE4cW6RSWsIJhGcMjZ1vwhu16tGPp-DkQzspv3WRTHfKNZ-2n4DCS1DGeT3Dlmi4loZ30SzKPWieobZc6rkauzjaLeOOMNH/s1600/Thirlmere+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIa_c4EVRudTjsQvtOzdIw2Ac1sPvSRHSXBbOguHMAIJcyQDE4cW6RSWsIJhGcMjZ1vwhu16tGPp-DkQzspv3WRTHfKNZ-2n4DCS1DGeT3Dlmi4loZ30SzKPWieobZc6rkauzjaLeOOMNH/s640/Thirlmere+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I launch at dawn while patchy fog-banks </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">still enshroud parts of the lake</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuI8iYbjni0ZBPnL1Zxkc80lLqx1EADac6LxLlvj6ZnsExhlOJL2fdfGHJpz_UNaIqZ4tkMqq2fbYn6WCNV7KBCx7uuv1nr5_RSyggdiZLW9JZ9251grBLsAqqSv7DQkwPTy8hKsnk6d8x/s1600/Thirlmere+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuI8iYbjni0ZBPnL1Zxkc80lLqx1EADac6LxLlvj6ZnsExhlOJL2fdfGHJpz_UNaIqZ4tkMqq2fbYn6WCNV7KBCx7uuv1nr5_RSyggdiZLW9JZ9251grBLsAqqSv7DQkwPTy8hKsnk6d8x/s640/Thirlmere+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>The fog-banks give a mysterious look to the lake...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNytirosy6FprgS_UhYMyTHovd8t7yQztX-BF_W8NTMV7qtJYyIPzXbk4Q30gfjCULRTmz147esxE2ke-2jvGDVkCZ6VNuuVQaimdESLLcYKiEUHCX4K-zSAFEaYn6y3hvPgnMcMgO2Qtf/s1600/Thirlmere+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNytirosy6FprgS_UhYMyTHovd8t7yQztX-BF_W8NTMV7qtJYyIPzXbk4Q30gfjCULRTmz147esxE2ke-2jvGDVkCZ6VNuuVQaimdESLLcYKiEUHCX4K-zSAFEaYn6y3hvPgnMcMgO2Qtf/s640/Thirlmere+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...and some ethereal scenes.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzL18j6QT4b_18f5FDnNylnpvVfBGLTvwB7pcsikM1KK7hP7ySVP1frIIe_CFzWX6BMLFfctsBeOafH_pOuKVADXTfPJKUQsQhey9gselcPud-sDfAQbwzqXGuGd0AVV5ksajbQNGOwlGK/s1600/Thirlmere+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzL18j6QT4b_18f5FDnNylnpvVfBGLTvwB7pcsikM1KK7hP7ySVP1frIIe_CFzWX6BMLFfctsBeOafH_pOuKVADXTfPJKUQsQhey9gselcPud-sDfAQbwzqXGuGd0AVV5ksajbQNGOwlGK/s640/Thirlmere+6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A swollen beck pours from the fell into Thirlmere</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVkB_C7bDbQ5MW5yQGkSFXqzfrj1BMAJ3XCOxgU2EXVwDEn3VavYzpvMGcZ4oW7E4SGb6ggKePQrZmkIg7zId8_p4lMW3pSIkjmpYcwP6BR46Mnem5Sj_ErMl40MA17Oh8M5pEKdtPsz_/s1600/Thirlmere+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVkB_C7bDbQ5MW5yQGkSFXqzfrj1BMAJ3XCOxgU2EXVwDEn3VavYzpvMGcZ4oW7E4SGb6ggKePQrZmkIg7zId8_p4lMW3pSIkjmpYcwP6BR46Mnem5Sj_ErMl40MA17Oh8M5pEKdtPsz_/s400/Thirlmere+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Reaching the head of Thirlmere</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>I pull ashore for a snack </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">before the 3-mile paddle back</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAY1xDRUS2TY4PXs7NiIUNU9SBafUUolSxCPNmp1H7X8ckdIVLXqw2kshufHz1J3pAfcizQpnQEeJ2_s-OmjDY-aHvGDAIsp_VTvEq6F_3MX14ezcc68EtuxG20rqumVZLYkSp9gM0aI8/s1600/Helvellyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAY1xDRUS2TY4PXs7NiIUNU9SBafUUolSxCPNmp1H7X8ckdIVLXqw2kshufHz1J3pAfcizQpnQEeJ2_s-OmjDY-aHvGDAIsp_VTvEq6F_3MX14ezcc68EtuxG20rqumVZLYkSp9gM0aI8/s640/Helvellyn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>After lunch the fog has lifted enough </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>to reveal the summit of Helvellyn,</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">England's second highest mountain</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphPVlgUqT5KdgaEy1LSjKbiR2L7SwFirbl8MQ3dh4CV_sgDhgBrO_6T4BePokRLPjx-dBwj5VjgsOksJueiKjWcv_hFxpHwys2qIRyXXlStKgRrzrrYPpBSITPt67l6eh-7uah4Stq80P/s1600/Thirlmere+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphPVlgUqT5KdgaEy1LSjKbiR2L7SwFirbl8MQ3dh4CV_sgDhgBrO_6T4BePokRLPjx-dBwj5VjgsOksJueiKjWcv_hFxpHwys2qIRyXXlStKgRrzrrYPpBSITPt67l6eh-7uah4Stq80P/s640/Thirlmere+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>By mid-afternoon the fog has gone and </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>sunshine through the cumulus clouds</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">illuminates the surrounding mountains</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>You can read more about Thirlmere <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirlmere">here</a></b></i></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-51501465325793426662011-02-10T12:39:00.000-08:002011-02-10T12:39:20.594-08:00Catkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaR4kTIxHBndziBGpSZ4RLpKZNhkbQVsfcWwALuhJJsE7r9aIh-lJSRCH9K-MaADdtCGq2uJI0YXqycSW2WrzKaXbgP0tXvex_g_RL_JpxTcMiWq0CwEBewI3mVLBxdO8hyphenhyphendtwGrlsBDJo/s1600/Catkins+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaR4kTIxHBndziBGpSZ4RLpKZNhkbQVsfcWwALuhJJsE7r9aIh-lJSRCH9K-MaADdtCGq2uJI0YXqycSW2WrzKaXbgP0tXvex_g_RL_JpxTcMiWq0CwEBewI3mVLBxdO8hyphenhyphendtwGrlsBDJo/s640/Catkins+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Hazel catkins in late winter sunshine</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">at Roudsea Woods and Mosses National Nature Reserve</b></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-30383433407331498542011-01-31T11:14:00.000-08:002011-01-31T11:14:16.435-08:00Imbolc, Askam and Badger<div style="text-align: justify;">Imbolc is the festival that falls half-way between the Winter Solstice (Yule) and the Spring Equinox (Ostara). Imbolc has existed for centuries until it was renamed Candlemas by the Christians. Traditionally it is celebrated on 1-2 February but, as usual with these festivals, nobody minds if the celebrations are extended a few days on either side.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjt_Uwq5EdhjZDP4x-bX0Mm19jrWnAxWEILHUghLmm-0uUm7ZgIahdO2UmC90kzh9_7Fz_PbtJTkZYKHwwqSn8Xrz3s1hmDcjTAbz8FkaJ29MZWm-bMtbiYMFnJErhTboImOBSGnwLZEI/s1600/Embfivefold-Lrg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjt_Uwq5EdhjZDP4x-bX0Mm19jrWnAxWEILHUghLmm-0uUm7ZgIahdO2UmC90kzh9_7Fz_PbtJTkZYKHwwqSn8Xrz3s1hmDcjTAbz8FkaJ29MZWm-bMtbiYMFnJErhTboImOBSGnwLZEI/s1600/Embfivefold-Lrg.gif" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Imbolc is not Spring, but it may be the <i>herald </i>of Spring. We may expect to see the first catkins dangling in thin sunshine, and the first snowdrops in bloom. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Above all, it marks a noticeable lengthening of the daylight, the time when thoughts turn to cleaning agricultural tools, sewing early seeds and checking if the pregnant ewes are safely through the worst of winter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMgSo8mL91lkmj50oxoxllOFMrl3yFwfMVzi0iHnI6wYx8ozxuDGfKE6lV0aZMP1anSITGXJP4Bo6LIyKq58KZ1UXrlpfUaM3dK5Ch_oW6k5q3NQZ0XW8fIu73KfmIa-TK_kYSaC_Lg9Z/s1600/Embthreeray-Lrg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMgSo8mL91lkmj50oxoxllOFMrl3yFwfMVzi0iHnI6wYx8ozxuDGfKE6lV0aZMP1anSITGXJP4Bo6LIyKq58KZ1UXrlpfUaM3dK5Ch_oW6k5q3NQZ0XW8fIu73KfmIa-TK_kYSaC_Lg9Z/s1600/Embthreeray-Lrg.gif" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>This year I was honoured to have my Australian </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>friend and fellow blogger <i>Badger*</i>, </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>(who presently lives in Vienna)</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>visit me in Maalie Court, Askam-in-Furness,</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>to share the Imbolc Festivities.</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcDPXicGrXKvuahjOCjS6amO4XL-9652kXKp3_dyOQhrvoKzUAYJt6jL77Llc-8F90CmBesqQI4IhR0sL-ixS8nL_ILe7kYWR2SZ7q2tpPNRob_xsn8-2_n7cDD4fF_2Uuvn8Han9g7HZ/s1600/Badger%2527s+visit+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcDPXicGrXKvuahjOCjS6amO4XL-9652kXKp3_dyOQhrvoKzUAYJt6jL77Llc-8F90CmBesqQI4IhR0sL-ixS8nL_ILe7kYWR2SZ7q2tpPNRob_xsn8-2_n7cDD4fF_2Uuvn8Han9g7HZ/s400/Badger%2527s+visit+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>One of our Imbolc celebratory suppers.</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Badger is speechless with amazement that an Englishman</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">can cook such an appetising looking pike pie</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehfW5aDdkBVfdEe93Tg5bBBjZ7Sd0xBsqmNF4n6bbC4nDceLBMU251roAe0w14lMO5MU24gsXojsV8r-AIGpGFdwF4lrErnEvSc97KL8dTCzD7mVhZa4y_fbIansOk2W1EXmiQgKq3q5p/s1600/Badger%2527s+visit+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehfW5aDdkBVfdEe93Tg5bBBjZ7Sd0xBsqmNF4n6bbC4nDceLBMU251roAe0w14lMO5MU24gsXojsV8r-AIGpGFdwF4lrErnEvSc97KL8dTCzD7mVhZa4y_fbIansOk2W1EXmiQgKq3q5p/s640/Badger%2527s+visit+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehfW5aDdkBVfdEe93Tg5bBBjZ7Sd0xBsqmNF4n6bbC4nDceLBMU251roAe0w14lMO5MU24gsXojsV8r-AIGpGFdwF4lrErnEvSc97KL8dTCzD7mVhZa4y_fbIansOk2W1EXmiQgKq3q5p/s1600/Badger%2527s+visit+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The foreshore of Askam-in-Furness is dominated by</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>salt marsh, where boats are hauled up </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>into the creeks for the winter;</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Or simply left to die. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43C2a1jUTh5FdxeR7GfNyGbMV4u6QHyMlIKhgeI1IDOOqJibYkuRTlhlKUuBkQ4n9ENa5gedOo_QooNqBOl2C1UumGD_rXNJVEUAOSTWtBOgEOqRkT1LVP6RPEXCPUS04urg9uGijwvzF/s1600/Badger%2527s+visit+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43C2a1jUTh5FdxeR7GfNyGbMV4u6QHyMlIKhgeI1IDOOqJibYkuRTlhlKUuBkQ4n9ENa5gedOo_QooNqBOl2C1UumGD_rXNJVEUAOSTWtBOgEOqRkT1LVP6RPEXCPUS04urg9uGijwvzF/s640/Badger%2527s+visit+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Badger takes a stroll around the salt-marsh</b>...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqZUuaZfnRIZ_X0XFTp2-09gOMHMzqbfyEjj0psfi5ZQwMdeJ9b5ajVaiz1BRqpjEZRG1feE_HXky-uskpoaLLdLoy3S6J4eCA6oWQEEvjtRdn5W53w7RVVb6A98E-ucRthnf8O3acjtQ/s1600/Badger%2527s+visit+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqZUuaZfnRIZ_X0XFTp2-09gOMHMzqbfyEjj0psfi5ZQwMdeJ9b5ajVaiz1BRqpjEZRG1feE_HXky-uskpoaLLdLoy3S6J4eCA6oWQEEvjtRdn5W53w7RVVb6A98E-ucRthnf8O3acjtQ/s400/Badger%2527s+visit+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b> ...and takes some 'arty-farty' pictures</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>of decaying boats </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNhuNDA5cVkaLmmRT5X-MN9p3yKiWv_KDzRr1WZoAg76ePzxs4DWl6611mrosZrI4hwZw1C5bbIBnYkC5tgt-1OtwwKA4iGmCcn7HMVb1hbcobXviA_Fo-MbIR7UV3ifgD8D6fqPQv53f/s1600/Badger%2527s+visit+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNhuNDA5cVkaLmmRT5X-MN9p3yKiWv_KDzRr1WZoAg76ePzxs4DWl6611mrosZrI4hwZw1C5bbIBnYkC5tgt-1OtwwKA4iGmCcn7HMVb1hbcobXviA_Fo-MbIR7UV3ifgD8D6fqPQv53f/s400/Badger%2527s+visit+5.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b> Badger steers us into the Queens Arms pub</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>for an Imbolc pint of Cumbria Ale.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Or was it two? </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuLkiEulHiJ08FtoX8I8wKnLyJV8u81Ghiwqtbguaw-qDa6YpmMBMFPIN3pt8MyKGw1__4oJa4PqvvYT_scdpoAdfqffaF1767Z6vuWbMitCdOEd1RBcOcRzMvVOcIW0dzmV3IRH86Nym/s1600/Badger%2527s+visit+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuLkiEulHiJ08FtoX8I8wKnLyJV8u81Ghiwqtbguaw-qDa6YpmMBMFPIN3pt8MyKGw1__4oJa4PqvvYT_scdpoAdfqffaF1767Z6vuWbMitCdOEd1RBcOcRzMvVOcIW0dzmV3IRH86Nym/s400/Badger%2527s+visit+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>I find the first Snowdrops of the year in to time</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">to mark the Festival of Imbolc</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Very Happy Imbolc</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">to all my Readers</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">You may light any candle stubs left over from Yuletide </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">to keep the Ghosties away </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*You may discover more about Badger and his blog </span><a href="http://phillipprideaux.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">here</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-23600094335439711632011-01-21T13:55:00.000-08:002011-01-22T04:36:14.695-08:00The Piel Triangle<div style="text-align: justify;">The stretch of water between Walney Island and the Furness Peninsula of the Cumbria Mainland is subject to fast-flowing tidal currents as the huge volume of water from Morecambe Bay surges through it during the flood and ebb tides. There is one particular area at the mouth of the channel, known as the Piel Triangle, where the currents and tide rips can be particularly ferocious during the highest tides and is referred to by some locals as the Devil's Cauldron.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSNIR4h42TOlQZoJMEnx6Itk2moOFpj0kfTOS43Dcm2kKYJZxgFxebLKdD5zuYLaUlpjvHub15l_91Az8Z_LdfLVtgVvT9RH3ytBQrqX5cXbiLdr73CfBkyLvmJ9f7ZD5ZDK5L9fhTQ5d/s1600/Morecambe+Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSNIR4h42TOlQZoJMEnx6Itk2moOFpj0kfTOS43Dcm2kKYJZxgFxebLKdD5zuYLaUlpjvHub15l_91Az8Z_LdfLVtgVvT9RH3ytBQrqX5cXbiLdr73CfBkyLvmJ9f7ZD5ZDK5L9fhTQ5d/s640/Morecambe+Bay.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Morecambe bay and the Furness Peninsula showing the location of the </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Piel Triangle</span> </b><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">at the mouth of the Walney Channel</b><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarBFwzl_i2PEEEQGgcAAPeJuUBJgKLdgGLwzBZRpSQiA6LKx5NJ-0v8D_Wa2PH0KbVWZ0I7JtXldACALz1KdBZ73YTTVuMfsR40oUEbSvjyxd3HlRSMkDyk8UwHhor8gSiQ-kfpm2_zyT/s1600/Piel-Trianglee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarBFwzl_i2PEEEQGgcAAPeJuUBJgKLdgGLwzBZRpSQiA6LKx5NJ-0v8D_Wa2PH0KbVWZ0I7JtXldACALz1KdBZ73YTTVuMfsR40oUEbSvjyxd3HlRSMkDyk8UwHhor8gSiQ-kfpm2_zyT/s400/Piel-Trianglee.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEDRhi6oj7hsxoaSgV75H4Do_JKsTmQl2hytWHdtCeMDG64ON2FkEAeFOZXBeYGTubCeSdN383ptbKDwF1A5E-k6v9PXJdX3PW7jK54gQzpHR41lJxkAVBv6iXgzu2kTGKCU-VTMmu-Fm/s1600/Piel+Triangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>The dreaded Piel Triangle lies at the mouth of the Walney Channel </b><br />
<b>and encloses the water between three islands. </b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-JNr6t1m5KStXKwoHh47OGonfLrixcnj-E7LZYGKtZ39kvDy-sPb6mQPjJfMgQjHKC0PJXFGjNZJIioaYrsx1HrO8MEIKs-CSDalktoYUDTpNetn71xcnlISLG5zyzNdLsffaLoOYb-0/s1600/Piel+Island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-JNr6t1m5KStXKwoHh47OGonfLrixcnj-E7LZYGKtZ39kvDy-sPb6mQPjJfMgQjHKC0PJXFGjNZJIioaYrsx1HrO8MEIKs-CSDalktoYUDTpNetn71xcnlISLG5zyzNdLsffaLoOYb-0/s640/Piel+Island.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><i> </i>Piel Island from Foulney Island. </b><br />
<b>The channel looks benign enough at low tide. </b><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piel_Castle">Piel Castle</a> (at the left end) was built in 1212 when King John allowed </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>the monks to store provisions there (including gunpowder, it is said).</b></span></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtKMCyKc_pne6dHvjZMIlJZ_PLXJ977srDoE2AFEKTNqVaLHdUU7DSGh_8QhSd9AR2KrNkiknSHKf0HTKvdwhgSgBev5-Ncahd4cqyNawUq_aEeMg8hmnuM3zGOrLPqYVnUv-sF1Yrw5M/s1600/Roa+Isle+048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtKMCyKc_pne6dHvjZMIlJZ_PLXJ977srDoE2AFEKTNqVaLHdUU7DSGh_8QhSd9AR2KrNkiknSHKf0HTKvdwhgSgBev5-Ncahd4cqyNawUq_aEeMg8hmnuM3zGOrLPqYVnUv-sF1Yrw5M/s400/Roa+Isle+048.jpg" width="400" /> </a><br />
<b>Roa Island from Foulney Island. </b><br />
<b>The lifeboat station is testimony to the </b><br />
<b>reputation of the Piel Triangle. </b><br />
<b>Coastguard cottages catch the afternoon winter sunlight. </b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">During a fine settled (though cold) period of weather I</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> was tempted to paddle out into the Piel Triangle in my <i>FeelFree Nomad</i> Kayak </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and pit my skills against whatever the dreaded Cauldron could throw at me.</span></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoCAob_6AktjkpECsXw1Hb4f9N1YVR9iLCbQzJ76EV_ygvm4tbg8UlzzS7sdodMvO9CeFQsvr9hrWrcYQ-NTIVN7Q9cvbz5lohMzRNU7jnV-b8frjSLdT1ctx_zUigXYPrpv313WBquzE/s1600/Roa+1e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoCAob_6AktjkpECsXw1Hb4f9N1YVR9iLCbQzJ76EV_ygvm4tbg8UlzzS7sdodMvO9CeFQsvr9hrWrcYQ-NTIVN7Q9cvbz5lohMzRNU7jnV-b8frjSLdT1ctx_zUigXYPrpv313WBquzE/s400/Roa+1e.jpg" width="400" /></a><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ready to launch from the slipway on Roa Island</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbEl1xmBGAl4Su2JjichN0gY2JHE_Kj4Y1WS_ILWN6bfRwZXZjBz9HnN8cDTrkEDR084Pcmb19E_GrYKz8Syo_TjKWYQotXPLU0AtbpicJCnxTmko-3jtfd9KHUfl33S0bXY_CMPEza0L/s1600/Piel+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbEl1xmBGAl4Su2JjichN0gY2JHE_Kj4Y1WS_ILWN6bfRwZXZjBz9HnN8cDTrkEDR084Pcmb19E_GrYKz8Syo_TjKWYQotXPLU0AtbpicJCnxTmko-3jtfd9KHUfl33S0bXY_CMPEza0L/s400/Piel+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Venturing out into the centre of the Piel Triangle, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the sea seems calm enough during slack water at high tide.</b></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XZqUb8epgbwcwnT3ARJ8v0I33_fyPra2ZchEiKFFnaDxWb4WB5JuRMQnajyxCkfiLd2BoqORiL-8lPA8Q3LJZteA4ImV6zTMof5gmbNNr1y6HiAV5jK8XMHb9H4sOCD2CMqWElORksth/s1600/Piel+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XZqUb8epgbwcwnT3ARJ8v0I33_fyPra2ZchEiKFFnaDxWb4WB5JuRMQnajyxCkfiLd2BoqORiL-8lPA8Q3LJZteA4ImV6zTMof5gmbNNr1y6HiAV5jK8XMHb9H4sOCD2CMqWElORksth/s400/Piel+1.jpg" width="400" /></a><b></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Nudging closer to a channel marker buoy, </b><br />
<b>with Piel Castle in the background, </b><br />
<b>the ebb flow started almost without warning.</b><br />
<b> I found myself having to paddle vigorously to make small headway</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim63-61LjZMS2TLsp1D-Hh0s1tHdC7mHxUfCdOHNYN0KPHbpcnsJEeipqdhDdANdgz_GZ_twjC4QJ88UPGr4LCGF2OtVoR8u_auV6k3htjV_zYFn1wu0egkBpwnSLX4wh4Mc6yiJTkLkUQ/s1600/Roa+Island.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim63-61LjZMS2TLsp1D-Hh0s1tHdC7mHxUfCdOHNYN0KPHbpcnsJEeipqdhDdANdgz_GZ_twjC4QJ88UPGr4LCGF2OtVoR8u_auV6k3htjV_zYFn1wu0egkBpwnSLX4wh4Mc6yiJTkLkUQ/s640/Roa+Island.jpg" width="640" /></a><b>Eventually I found refuge in the stiller backwater </b><br />
<b>towards the old coastguard station </b><br />
<b>and coastguard cottages on Roa island</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b><br />
</b></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-60087958150098857792011-01-19T02:57:00.000-08:002011-01-19T05:58:43.971-08:00Vaga Luna - Lovely Moon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusGYm9AOjODtL4tTO5JDFgpIuXzsd5GyUcJfSHkknxac3oME7q154dTUSS9SaPh5gdtwYkkVM74dzilbld8qJfwZvtFbCYhY2ZHxfHzs7jTZeHM3HGhyphenhyphenuNIUSTIRpHKhimlRul1-34kEo/s1600/Collared+Dove+1e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="465" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusGYm9AOjODtL4tTO5JDFgpIuXzsd5GyUcJfSHkknxac3oME7q154dTUSS9SaPh5gdtwYkkVM74dzilbld8qJfwZvtFbCYhY2ZHxfHzs7jTZeHM3HGhyphenhyphenuNIUSTIRpHKhimlRul1-34kEo/s640/Collared+Dove+1e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Collared Dove <i>Streptopelia decaocto</i> and moon</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Illmitz, Burgenland</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>At the Summer Solstice 2010</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AwA7PVc3sBE?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AwA7PVc3sBE?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Click on the arrow to hear <a href="http://www.ceciliabartolionline.com/cms/homepage.html">Cecilia Bartoli</a> singing <i>Vaga Luna</i> by Bellini</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><pre><i>Vaga luna, che inargenti
queste rive e questi fiori
ed inspiri agli elementi
il linguaggio dell'amor;
testimonio or sei tu sola
del mio fervido desir,
ed a lei che m'innamora
conta i palpiti e i sospir.</i></pre></div><pre> </pre><div style="text-align: center;"><pre>Lovely moon, you who shed silver light
On these shores and on these flowers
And breathe the language
Of love to the elements,
You are now the sole witness
Of my ardent longing,
And can recount my throbs and sighs
To her who fills me with love.</pre></div><pre></pre>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-44482421071044400972011-01-02T02:44:00.000-08:002011-01-02T05:25:44.267-08:00Mereside Chronicle<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A tribute to Charles F Tunnicliffe (1901 - 1979)</span></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I was a very small Maalie, my sister gave me a book that had a life-changing influence on me: <i>Mereside Chronicle</i> by </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Tunnicliffe" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">C F Tunnicliffe</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, naturalist and artist. His book records his observations and sketches through the year at various meres and water bodies around his home near Macclesfield, Cheshire.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even at the tender age at which I read the book, its impact was to impress on me the discipline of making regular observations, and recording them. The book was published in 1948 and therefore the pictures show scenes as they existed at least 63 years ago. My aim on this rather misty-murky New Year's Eve was to try to locate and photograph some of the scenes depicted by Tunnicliffe.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">Capesthorne Pools </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Capethorne Pools are old fish ponds associated with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capesthorne_Hall">Capesthorne Hall</a></span></span></span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrF2pyltvkX7woTw_jcur_y6h3FH0gjY_JgrWthtSob3zvOOtm6M_WBh5xPlyRPvplyh-ddjov2N5_1kS7B_IViHnfrPKIVc-hyQdh9dbGu79gzByRJMv5V1gxzsMnLl_7X0c_wrj_6OL/s1600/Capestthorne+CFT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrF2pyltvkX7woTw_jcur_y6h3FH0gjY_JgrWthtSob3zvOOtm6M_WBh5xPlyRPvplyh-ddjov2N5_1kS7B_IViHnfrPKIVc-hyQdh9dbGu79gzByRJMv5V1gxzsMnLl_7X0c_wrj_6OL/s640/Capestthorne+CFT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86GVAMpx6-xlIABHCx4tiV2rmB-28oMWN2jXHaK9AENmcKsVBvQP-yNmTQhXT6s644hxicszU-e4_DDZdUZEd_SzMO3oouSlY2tjF4eDZlc1Mtp9dzoQP3XPp3r4jBEULo081UNW1HbRO/s1600/Capesthorne+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86GVAMpx6-xlIABHCx4tiV2rmB-28oMWN2jXHaK9AENmcKsVBvQP-yNmTQhXT6s644hxicszU-e4_DDZdUZEd_SzMO3oouSlY2tjF4eDZlc1Mtp9dzoQP3XPp3r4jBEULo081UNW1HbRO/s400/Capesthorne+4.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>There can be no doubt about which tree Tunnicliffe was depicting in his drawing (above): although the tree has grown thicker in the ensuing 65 years, the individual branches can be recognised. </b></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSm9Ec3tH3dxNnybi_bg30Uz0l2wRE2q-7gCkKEqq79MsPatTSDkjucN7jqPfiTIfWofUg9wuVrtFUlSpkLx60Y8_y_d6vIuRA1N6e-J25MQ4Pzvs_YuU8rq8Ef0XOGgygK0JUFwnJvPq/s1600/Capesthorne+Pools+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSm9Ec3tH3dxNnybi_bg30Uz0l2wRE2q-7gCkKEqq79MsPatTSDkjucN7jqPfiTIfWofUg9wuVrtFUlSpkLx60Y8_y_d6vIuRA1N6e-J25MQ4Pzvs_YuU8rq8Ef0XOGgygK0JUFwnJvPq/s400/Capesthorne+Pools+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The arches of the bridge across these old fish ponds appear through the fog</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86GVAMpx6-xlIABHCx4tiV2rmB-28oMWN2jXHaK9AENmcKsVBvQP-yNmTQhXT6s644hxicszU-e4_DDZdUZEd_SzMO3oouSlY2tjF4eDZlc1Mtp9dzoQP3XPp3r4jBEULo081UNW1HbRO/s1600/Capesthorne+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYAmfKvL4Sw2fwiiH51zG1DDnNrWj1X8tS1VLTE_r9Gg-B8mQmV8F_oekMp5L6H1GyeK8uFUW0GDVdj-4M-9oO3zSlkxHE8HVb06AoO9TuQI3Ww7nGOK4_diSArbxOyWdRSmgsvkkKtmd/s1600/Capesthorne+Pool+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYAmfKvL4Sw2fwiiH51zG1DDnNrWj1X8tS1VLTE_r9Gg-B8mQmV8F_oekMp5L6H1GyeK8uFUW0GDVdj-4M-9oO3zSlkxHE8HVb06AoO9TuQI3Ww7nGOK4_diSArbxOyWdRSmgsvkkKtmd/s320/Capesthorne+Pool+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My sister Jill sits on the parapet of the bridge </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">once again holding the book she gave me so many years ago</span></b></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Redesmere</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Redesmere is a reservoir that was clearly one of Tunnicliffe's favourite places. Unfortunately the foggy whether did not permit some of the scenic views but nevertheless some features were clearly recognisable</span>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBiwMVHa2woeK4TPuekGMVYFJsMsh1PfI0E-HzNLM9-Oqb61oAB4fGjw__jv4D-HXNgNwBvFD-RV8BGfOAn75OlFnZMAJVEqBAU82j36TpCMTjLnid8Y6X3pSBpjQNoZIjvTil3870ahf/s1600/Redesmere+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBiwMVHa2woeK4TPuekGMVYFJsMsh1PfI0E-HzNLM9-Oqb61oAB4fGjw__jv4D-HXNgNwBvFD-RV8BGfOAn75OlFnZMAJVEqBAU82j36TpCMTjLnid8Y6X3pSBpjQNoZIjvTil3870ahf/s640/Redesmere+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdc8cD72tKphwcBxCJELI7NOnZ28kHIhkKg4F81cDR897E_k41UgoOJBEf1nv_Dttv4Qgp0QL8FXlSSEPYfroQsTsbgcK8SFoMgy1IsnYfFykQxzg8HRJEuyIOSnC3ssLtgBLkyxvAOu-/s1600/Redesmere+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdc8cD72tKphwcBxCJELI7NOnZ28kHIhkKg4F81cDR897E_k41UgoOJBEf1nv_Dttv4Qgp0QL8FXlSSEPYfroQsTsbgcK8SFoMgy1IsnYfFykQxzg8HRJEuyIOSnC3ssLtgBLkyxvAOu-/s400/Redesmere+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The road has been widened and a car park constructed, but the Henbury Road leading down to Redesmere </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">can be recognised from Tunnicliffe's drawing</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzutpm2g5fdyNsgrpFp5wSCiUj469bHpYglAocTarNQPtBD1706ZvCIgWr5Y0CnK3IEzpgCocPOm8zHQhafAmwpUD72NDeubCnaKsmrrmwxVs9wkciSWLoo4xnwOmKNH72KqbsCk4T7Hz/s1600/Redesmere+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzutpm2g5fdyNsgrpFp5wSCiUj469bHpYglAocTarNQPtBD1706ZvCIgWr5Y0CnK3IEzpgCocPOm8zHQhafAmwpUD72NDeubCnaKsmrrmwxVs9wkciSWLoo4xnwOmKNH72KqbsCk4T7Hz/s400/Redesmere+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZTjhu5CkSxQPsB90joOJ8cP9hLjB6FxtqMeczzMc6wqWShv50Wlw2Y-AlY3fy4ucdh-kCY1xDm4-l3yFu2b9y-qsRbtuqISwUOmt4HFEfH5xT-khSbLj3HNeXiIR-wM-ptu_0nKucEjF/s1600/Redesmere+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZTjhu5CkSxQPsB90joOJ8cP9hLjB6FxtqMeczzMc6wqWShv50Wlw2Y-AlY3fy4ucdh-kCY1xDm4-l3yFu2b9y-qsRbtuqISwUOmt4HFEfH5xT-khSbLj3HNeXiIR-wM-ptu_0nKucEjF/s400/Redesmere+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Despite the fog concealing the mere, Tunnicliffe's white railings remain.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">However the un-eroded state of the concrete posts </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">suggest the fence has been replaced</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNUUKEMShyphenhyphenu974iv-Zkmkwg4FEP3r21JwPPEY5F4a1nm2AJ3UjCyRmBTXwMUxSLWCzQZaWHgLp4jUkYbBOt2KF4IHAsB9GNA4sllWCW5B_l-VsA9UW1lmPQ57f8-HPTAf4Xn91jp68IQG/s1600/Redesmere+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNUUKEMShyphenhyphenu974iv-Zkmkwg4FEP3r21JwPPEY5F4a1nm2AJ3UjCyRmBTXwMUxSLWCzQZaWHgLp4jUkYbBOt2KF4IHAsB9GNA4sllWCW5B_l-VsA9UW1lmPQ57f8-HPTAf4Xn91jp68IQG/s320/Redesmere+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b> Further along we find an old dilapidated, eroded section of fence </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>which no doubt dates back to Tunnicliffe's era</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b> </b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">Gawsworth Pools</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Gawsworth Pools are old fish ponds associated with </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gawsworth_Old_Hall" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gawsworth Hall</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. With the church and buildings still present, it was easy to relocate the scenes of Tunnicliffe's sketches</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_w83ddlUWUP_AbF0U54UP2OLRS7_iTw1e09BGxpoTbRfsDLvZ7Q19k8irPX9D1om9m09vjNM_VrY2cexchehDD9ZSQik5b7Q2VCugIA9sxgXNoSAvGWR_O4Aw_36VP5wc2_CLH2CbeZ5/s1600/Gawsworth+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_w83ddlUWUP_AbF0U54UP2OLRS7_iTw1e09BGxpoTbRfsDLvZ7Q19k8irPX9D1om9m09vjNM_VrY2cexchehDD9ZSQik5b7Q2VCugIA9sxgXNoSAvGWR_O4Aw_36VP5wc2_CLH2CbeZ5/s640/Gawsworth+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPCAkeRzZH28dDsWKP91IC06TWeGZ47n0pWqPkHR-SU0DP90TncAYhds2B5NmsUF4kRCdIg-17NSyBvBLWRb-HCE0aUTnZ8s-X5hLP5ZdNktMUvxMxGF6b3ruWhj0_9MKiq4ApCeYlfpd/s1600/Gawsworth+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPCAkeRzZH28dDsWKP91IC06TWeGZ47n0pWqPkHR-SU0DP90TncAYhds2B5NmsUF4kRCdIg-17NSyBvBLWRb-HCE0aUTnZ8s-X5hLP5ZdNktMUvxMxGF6b3ruWhj0_9MKiq4ApCeYlfpd/s640/Gawsworth+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The growth of vegetation around the church has changed, but the view is clear</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBJF3pXgMqawM4I-8-v57K09no5F8mnML4vAxKNPIOTsEhIWs-mHVr1gvz5Zm0aLwUK2Rwgg8lKKCb62ALunokF5Ue5laIBN8cQfKeqz8e9D8M_Wjge5qyWwwh21rmLdj_rt7Hyt_yc3b/s1600/Gawsworth+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBJF3pXgMqawM4I-8-v57K09no5F8mnML4vAxKNPIOTsEhIWs-mHVr1gvz5Zm0aLwUK2Rwgg8lKKCb62ALunokF5Ue5laIBN8cQfKeqz8e9D8M_Wjge5qyWwwh21rmLdj_rt7Hyt_yc3b/s400/Gawsworth+4.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDdwZO_VQ7IxAB3bdOiJxre0Lw7Dyx-rDSFySr0KshThY41G4JfVZGE3SyjpLCcwLxOKX5hFVF5yMHXkkyar4z1EFa21WR1cYGmalSk3C0wUBQjphOG9fb7S387g9f_l_fZnwvbu2V7p5/s1600/Gawsworth+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDdwZO_VQ7IxAB3bdOiJxre0Lw7Dyx-rDSFySr0KshThY41G4JfVZGE3SyjpLCcwLxOKX5hFVF5yMHXkkyar4z1EFa21WR1cYGmalSk3C0wUBQjphOG9fb7S387g9f_l_fZnwvbu2V7p5/s400/Gawsworth+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> At the Upper Pool the sign has changed and the square building has an extension</span></b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">North Rode Pool</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1rVAoE3Ic1g0SuuwP55sk1K9YXtePmyjAkubd9vZhbckfREsTRmnNl-vWoN4PP41gSNmK8t_AaQHpHMNMNkRWa5wlJ6a3xiThvGCwwByDOzVSBBsNe7MzoXWXv8C14mZZ6yILtHi2_0z/s1600/North+Rode+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1rVAoE3Ic1g0SuuwP55sk1K9YXtePmyjAkubd9vZhbckfREsTRmnNl-vWoN4PP41gSNmK8t_AaQHpHMNMNkRWa5wlJ6a3xiThvGCwwByDOzVSBBsNe7MzoXWXv8C14mZZ6yILtHi2_0z/s640/North+Rode+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMObrchgJpmP-3R_jlhyphenhyphenWIiv4ckeJaiNONVFUKd55JvCRsrM_PNVEQB8kES3BFNrj5kcv7TOsYbwK__Xt-l2IWNYrlYyBZ05NK1Jrfu_bDA_cq2HO8f28LkVO3a897a4WFegGx8hJppAQ7/s1600/Poynton-LM+Dec+2010+096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMObrchgJpmP-3R_jlhyphenhyphenWIiv4ckeJaiNONVFUKd55JvCRsrM_PNVEQB8kES3BFNrj5kcv7TOsYbwK__Xt-l2IWNYrlYyBZ05NK1Jrfu_bDA_cq2HO8f28LkVO3a897a4WFegGx8hJppAQ7/s640/Poynton-LM+Dec+2010+096.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b> North Rode Pool seems to have changed very little since Tunnicliffe's day.</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>The outlet shaft and white house at the far end of the pool are still present</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> To find out more about the life and work of this remarkable birdwatcher and artist, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">you can visit the <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">website of the </span><a href="http://www.thecharlestunnicliffesociety.co.uk/" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Charles Tunnicliffe Society</a></span></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-86843477718998293452010-12-25T04:33:00.000-08:002010-12-25T04:52:09.490-08:00A Merry kayaking Christmas!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Christmas Eve in Cumbria was so fine and sunny I launched my kayak near Bootle on the west coast of Cumbria. With a light northerly and gentle swell, launching from the stony beach was not difficult.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iahYUyB5CGdzm2TX1gz9URcfk-uYo2mb5BPsOGm2z8vPFTXynI0jNPv34De2He-7A0zvOdBs9E6z3VXUlR4oe_Zsnsc8awIt8STYmvdTNSWGK0zKV3469svBLGqa8XWhRK4K8QeyGwgx/s1600/Bootle+2ee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iahYUyB5CGdzm2TX1gz9URcfk-uYo2mb5BPsOGm2z8vPFTXynI0jNPv34De2He-7A0zvOdBs9E6z3VXUlR4oe_Zsnsc8awIt8STYmvdTNSWGK0zKV3469svBLGqa8XWhRK4K8QeyGwgx/s400/Bootle+2ee.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>I paddled out to the pole mark you can see near the horizon </b><br />
<b>and moored there for a while fishing. No luck though.</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXw6t8ukrQYn99MM2G5nJU2x-xsfhZPzhyRYmj8T5FO0GR4likXYe1dFjzDbM252XFFSQ4G8lGOse0qdwyLkl4ZRrYEeDnTw-Yeaa3rI01XGCwoCASm8tcrdJG1YPM3daBlCUSsbKSl6sK/s1600/Bootle+1e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXw6t8ukrQYn99MM2G5nJU2x-xsfhZPzhyRYmj8T5FO0GR4likXYe1dFjzDbM252XFFSQ4G8lGOse0qdwyLkl4ZRrYEeDnTw-Yeaa3rI01XGCwoCASm8tcrdJG1YPM3daBlCUSsbKSl6sK/s320/Bootle+1e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>With the midday sunshine shining brightly it was almost warm! </b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Black Combe has a snowy mantle.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sorry about the wonky horizon, the boat was actually tossing around in the swell</span></b></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">On Christmas morning, some clouds had rolled in and the temperature was -10.5 C. I was on Coniston Water by 8.00am, with Venus still shining brightly!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzOBpMPOKlQxVCLOEG871acOiuaEdn9uIdXVilgyDb-exAFAn10DdfZLNWeQhQ4fhyphenhypheni6aTknDWTPk5dH6xHTXFZB8KyfvgrXmyflhyphenhyphen-mI3CIKyTgSCkpj0c5YzNbDQbqH_dJHa2-G5AdK/s1600/Conoiston+mist+2010+003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzOBpMPOKlQxVCLOEG871acOiuaEdn9uIdXVilgyDb-exAFAn10DdfZLNWeQhQ4fhyphenhypheni6aTknDWTPk5dH6xHTXFZB8KyfvgrXmyflhyphenhyphen-mI3CIKyTgSCkpj0c5YzNbDQbqH_dJHa2-G5AdK/s400/Conoiston+mist+2010+003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Boats moored on Coniston Water emerge eerily from the dawn mist </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">on Christmas morning</span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiUzk8mPnLPKBQDO3ZnMEIP9SRCsxnY4YU73KVp-REXeB0MDr1Uq5WYdsRV3lZJpUkqMkQ_s0oWV7a4jFTKImkEYhL8yKsm_xsatdBILBDthcrIXbxnDF7PkZcrTiu7hM-DLj8pJuv81Y/s1600/Conoiston+dawn+2010+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiUzk8mPnLPKBQDO3ZnMEIP9SRCsxnY4YU73KVp-REXeB0MDr1Uq5WYdsRV3lZJpUkqMkQ_s0oWV7a4jFTKImkEYhL8yKsm_xsatdBILBDthcrIXbxnDF7PkZcrTiu7hM-DLj8pJuv81Y/s640/Conoiston+dawn+2010+014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The sun rises behind the mountains and drives off the mist </span></b></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznoVMolglULHPBFGU5NyonBQaUZluiGkmoOStY30toAfvKrEgY7SGQGfd3z32oXA2yCBOMh9a0Jdm9mulexJjGOZOirNMmdEMAJoWsc5t0M4f0cM-HaaHWhgIR3nFsR0iMcuJQBwsKCKt/s1600/Conoiston+ice+2010+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznoVMolglULHPBFGU5NyonBQaUZluiGkmoOStY30toAfvKrEgY7SGQGfd3z32oXA2yCBOMh9a0Jdm9mulexJjGOZOirNMmdEMAJoWsc5t0M4f0cM-HaaHWhgIR3nFsR0iMcuJQBwsKCKt/s400/Conoiston+ice+2010+020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b> Like an explorer sailing towards the Pole, I eventually encounter the pack ice. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Without a strengthened hull I was reluctant to penetrate the ice - </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I did not want to risk becoming a "Coniston Shackleton" </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and become ice-bound for the rest of the winter!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzOBpMPOKlQxVCLOEG871acOiuaEdn9uIdXVilgyDb-exAFAn10DdfZLNWeQhQ4fhyphenhypheni6aTknDWTPk5dH6xHTXFZB8KyfvgrXmyflhyphenhyphen-mI3CIKyTgSCkpj0c5YzNbDQbqH_dJHa2-G5AdK/s1600/Conoiston+mist+2010+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfoDiyvEAFCgCulB9K8uf1o_9zNKZh3yaciTazp4Q3fhiKjqGwpBcg87ixKPtv1tc8X-PD6jbBssJvF40QSbX7MV9EG6eWo_F0dN22w7faEBJ1yw3s6iw6IAvYO9-PYzwmAnrU6daKQb7/s1600/Conoiston+Old+Man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfoDiyvEAFCgCulB9K8uf1o_9zNKZh3yaciTazp4Q3fhiKjqGwpBcg87ixKPtv1tc8X-PD6jbBssJvF40QSbX7MV9EG6eWo_F0dN22w7faEBJ1yw3s6iw6IAvYO9-PYzwmAnrU6daKQb7/s640/Conoiston+Old+Man.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The rising sun illuminates the slopes of the Old Man of Coniston</span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0e5MOprGGCtMciANZvH5QStgCii58VA1rnaBl89t_0pNmNfwNk4OE5C1Z3TFGeZMl23De_9FrPJ0aqjadZ_hhQ5mnOuY2q9Yf65MaIaADxa5EyxxBpXjae-cQvk0LMtr095_D6TXDclt/s1600/Conoiston+Christmas+2010+029e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0e5MOprGGCtMciANZvH5QStgCii58VA1rnaBl89t_0pNmNfwNk4OE5C1Z3TFGeZMl23De_9FrPJ0aqjadZ_hhQ5mnOuY2q9Yf65MaIaADxa5EyxxBpXjae-cQvk0LMtr095_D6TXDclt/s640/Conoiston+Christmas+2010+029e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> With my fishing rod already iced up, and my toesies freezled, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I pull ashore for my Christmas breakfast.</span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FHRtGev6NUL7X5i7KIgdupHRLm47kix67QvlVOaAACt3m8Pqs9MYj51_4STxaJpgEUjDnldqCgyFOcGS3Jm1WE6H7RFY71c3hxNTzgNRdPib745ZrVfcaaSFJbjy0HgVptHp-49KyN9y/s1600/Conoiston+breakfast2010+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FHRtGev6NUL7X5i7KIgdupHRLm47kix67QvlVOaAACt3m8Pqs9MYj51_4STxaJpgEUjDnldqCgyFOcGS3Jm1WE6H7RFY71c3hxNTzgNRdPib745ZrVfcaaSFJbjy0HgVptHp-49KyN9y/s400/Conoiston+breakfast2010+027.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And I assure you there is something a little more appropriate </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">than tea in the glog mug ;-)</span></b></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-41010981837949350992010-12-20T08:28:00.000-08:002010-12-21T01:33:27.548-08:00Solstice eclipse and Arctic birds<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A very Happy Winter Solstice to all my readers!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In Britain we are experiencing a particularly cold period with day-time temperatures staying well below zero. The cold weather is pushing a number of Arctic migrant birds south and west into Europe and for the first time in 400 years there is a Solstice total eclipse of the moon in Britain.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgSXFQvl4uv7JP34Qgdz36RXcmCDZ0iprhh5ZgyLqA25tNMvCr_5_hE9ibsOLmBEMNK2VDfiXf31FCKcNraxPkXtAP7ixSK8rwAPRPZCNy2usUP3xLfmCKBDMDUgMm7e1iyw8Ga2RFDsb/s1600/Askam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgSXFQvl4uv7JP34Qgdz36RXcmCDZ0iprhh5ZgyLqA25tNMvCr_5_hE9ibsOLmBEMNK2VDfiXf31FCKcNraxPkXtAP7ixSK8rwAPRPZCNy2usUP3xLfmCKBDMDUgMm7e1iyw8Ga2RFDsb/s640/Askam.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> I am up and out in time to greet the Solstice dawn over my village</b></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBIBcbekzVzTGQf6zAMlnBVxAjLilgU_RoV9N5ZucK1mX4MTNku9MHtN-AvX3FSHuT2269AwPemOwC_e5sXWTCwg1ceX98m6b9kgf2mPq9peV7chl0Rnxw2vwvErhDDBD-UGuplXgAnCX/s1600/Eclipse+Dec+2010+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBIBcbekzVzTGQf6zAMlnBVxAjLilgU_RoV9N5ZucK1mX4MTNku9MHtN-AvX3FSHuT2269AwPemOwC_e5sXWTCwg1ceX98m6b9kgf2mPq9peV7chl0Rnxw2vwvErhDDBD-UGuplXgAnCX/s320/Eclipse+Dec+2010+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>For the first time in 400 years, the Winter Solstice sees a total eclipse of the moon </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>in Britain. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Earth's shadow is crossing the moon prior to totality, just before sunrise</span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJevPhlGgYchvLGvaN8JF2TkIbOpehXgIHD1LQDpPM7dOLzlGqQjzPiQz_xP5NVk9lzjIKXVTvcBe5GQaaFNcIQGJb2lXdYcyb8QYUq0ACjYzu-3hRLJwY3BzY1bdGhUOqxl_XdEutWSC1/s1600/Eclipse+Dec+2010+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJevPhlGgYchvLGvaN8JF2TkIbOpehXgIHD1LQDpPM7dOLzlGqQjzPiQz_xP5NVk9lzjIKXVTvcBe5GQaaFNcIQGJb2lXdYcyb8QYUq0ACjYzu-3hRLJwY3BzY1bdGhUOqxl_XdEutWSC1/s200/Eclipse+Dec+2010+036.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> At total eclipse the moon takes on a coppery hue, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>but is already setting in the haze of the horizon</b></span></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYco8_JJXWF9ogz60TS3BUuRxTyVPlaK0nq3wENWnNMKM6WACYAQfS-4s8QYitw5KD8mK3pOUgdXsSh5T8TOiSw6FpFyk5QsZfuxUp8Lz4XRHleAg-sR45wAZ_jd8LXR0z4qqQWvBLAm2_/s1600/Ulverston+Dec+2010+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYco8_JJXWF9ogz60TS3BUuRxTyVPlaK0nq3wENWnNMKM6WACYAQfS-4s8QYitw5KD8mK3pOUgdXsSh5T8TOiSw6FpFyk5QsZfuxUp8Lz4XRHleAg-sR45wAZ_jd8LXR0z4qqQWvBLAm2_/s640/Ulverston+Dec+2010+003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Ice floes on the River Leven estuary - the first time I have seen </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the sea freeze over since I have been living in Cumbria</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspo_slStD0jgWUOckk9bvgP7d12YD3yKef6wTzyJlVD4-F3GpzP81WAMF5qlXhRTAUyEW5qns5E_r7fyP4_KDbMlrhvZj-CD-K0rGs_R4QnpdceneVCByow1NMY9VqOZzYISf1Q8H5QbF/s1600/Redwing+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspo_slStD0jgWUOckk9bvgP7d12YD3yKef6wTzyJlVD4-F3GpzP81WAMF5qlXhRTAUyEW5qns5E_r7fyP4_KDbMlrhvZj-CD-K0rGs_R4QnpdceneVCByow1NMY9VqOZzYISf1Q8H5QbF/s320/Redwing+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>A Redwing seeks out the few remaining haw-berries</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(The bold eye-stripe distinguishes it from other thrush species)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBHt0HD6cSWkmpjr9RzLKwPW2dHSR2NuaIeDQC1j2hzw3PEwUxUN-3XE8dtj-r5ckC4gA4B8kMUdZ5YJfi0rnQmUvaedG1XApPXBwb3vRr76mYJ1PDKtsJv40rFHFLdS8pWHdcyFqwHL-/s1600/Fieldfare+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBHt0HD6cSWkmpjr9RzLKwPW2dHSR2NuaIeDQC1j2hzw3PEwUxUN-3XE8dtj-r5ckC4gA4B8kMUdZ5YJfi0rnQmUvaedG1XApPXBwb3vRr76mYJ1PDKtsJv40rFHFLdS8pWHdcyFqwHL-/s400/Fieldfare+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Fieldfare, possibly south from Lapland</span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvfwyD-SM8YT4Mv2gdyopIc_pVU9AXvHEhsT4R5iEVvyemH6_ODT8twTUW14Ud32aVJrpMkQZhe0TJruwZen-QQ6JcJZrn2s24dSfLTew436unypgIEdRR2mb9O3LJJDHhxs3SDAyeNUD/s1600/Fieldfare+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvfwyD-SM8YT4Mv2gdyopIc_pVU9AXvHEhsT4R5iEVvyemH6_ODT8twTUW14Ud32aVJrpMkQZhe0TJruwZen-QQ6JcJZrn2s24dSfLTew436unypgIEdRR2mb9O3LJJDHhxs3SDAyeNUD/s640/Fieldfare+2.jpg" width="518" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A pair of Fieldfares seek warmth in the weak Solstice sunshine</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspo_slStD0jgWUOckk9bvgP7d12YD3yKef6wTzyJlVD4-F3GpzP81WAMF5qlXhRTAUyEW5qns5E_r7fyP4_KDbMlrhvZj-CD-K0rGs_R4QnpdceneVCByow1NMY9VqOZzYISf1Q8H5QbF/s1600/Redwing+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpvgSZrkN_2WP_VVaSfSN5Zl-u55Oxc5smX5WAg3CVDD35h00JQfau6M0HWo_4AVfRLSPfE8h3GpgCYsNDIenDY7ThnsJX4Udkw_CwXteBXCt4sFnWbRNnJ-rzmrX8NSekqYl2n1eb8l-/s1600/Waxwing+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpvgSZrkN_2WP_VVaSfSN5Zl-u55Oxc5smX5WAg3CVDD35h00JQfau6M0HWo_4AVfRLSPfE8h3GpgCYsNDIenDY7ThnsJX4Udkw_CwXteBXCt4sFnWbRNnJ-rzmrX8NSekqYl2n1eb8l-/s640/Waxwing+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>A Waxwing from Bohemia (or further north and east) </b></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWOjZVkOplvBgOF0RGXeCleutxYdyQRpsmmRHyLTIRTUWGgAU73JsfwypRQR0sGEEJ4uDgjpzUYxEmxSHTNe_nRKnIUtcMoyV40yreLcTB_fZxnhQrFQiMz8Rs_1-bgqaHuZKzy7ulDWa/s1600/Waxwing+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWOjZVkOplvBgOF0RGXeCleutxYdyQRpsmmRHyLTIRTUWGgAU73JsfwypRQR0sGEEJ4uDgjpzUYxEmxSHTNe_nRKnIUtcMoyV40yreLcTB_fZxnhQrFQiMz8Rs_1-bgqaHuZKzy7ulDWa/s400/Waxwing+2.jpg" width="300" /> </a><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Waxwing secures a nutritious haw-berry in its bill</b><br />
<div style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">From today, the sun commences its sojourn back to the Northern Hemisphere. </span></b></div><b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wish you joy in anticipation of warmer, brighter days to come.</span></span></b></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-81971144489386203112010-12-18T08:47:00.000-08:002010-12-18T08:58:08.189-08:00Seewinkel in Winter's icy grip<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think it is very likely that I was the only person counting birds in the frozen </span><a href="http://www.nationalpark-neusiedlersee-seewinkel.at/en/" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Seewinkel National Park</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> on the Austria-Hungary border on a weekday, just four days before the Winter Solstice! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The bird species diversity there in winter is a tiny fraction of that in summer; however, every biological record is valuable, and there are always exciting things to see. I could certainly not have watched three See Eagles feasting on a dead swan if I had stayed at home!</span></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZj_6k2Qnyvr-zLBf9b_j6RE79GgfNS11hc4MKAptU0qFWBMyKtF2WuuDb-LkHJ55j5OCYfF51ih7D2wauCSYWSh3fpDGtxQoHUedKfQy_4eGHQycKd1dXZPMG8zMOQZjjp4_jr8Dxr3N/s1600/Andau+Bridge+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZj_6k2Qnyvr-zLBf9b_j6RE79GgfNS11hc4MKAptU0qFWBMyKtF2WuuDb-LkHJ55j5OCYfF51ih7D2wauCSYWSh3fpDGtxQoHUedKfQy_4eGHQycKd1dXZPMG8zMOQZjjp4_jr8Dxr3N/s640/Andau+Bridge+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Balls of mistletoe are starkly visible on the denuded deciduous trees</span></b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPNrexR8fd4uu46dmJ6UEYtnzyPXo_s4ly66OJrkvJqMKE9lVOLK2x0SNIwAdyAfnSlVK0uX1M3tei8cbirBREm9Q2h89VAOHP3BjZsffbX0Q1MbGCjplN9QZczr02MxzHmpjS41AeeH0/s1600/Andau+Bridge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPNrexR8fd4uu46dmJ6UEYtnzyPXo_s4ly66OJrkvJqMKE9lVOLK2x0SNIwAdyAfnSlVK0uX1M3tei8cbirBREm9Q2h89VAOHP3BjZsffbX0Q1MbGCjplN9QZczr02MxzHmpjS41AeeH0/s400/Andau+Bridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even the Einserkanal starts to freeze over and the Andau Bridge </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">looks very different now to how it did during my <a href="http://maalie1.blogspot.com/2010/11/bridge-to-freedom.html">last visit</a></span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTeb_879V-oHK0nqsUCfuUuP75iaN8_O9mhRrs9BhNBDWkpN0jpx0Q1Z9zgQQk98220dhwP_b_T4GmSFzI5hqS56bS1B-rUzkvDfMRwczhI6LVE_gLEzLRKcyQ-KUQ5g0Ok5_lyjYLik5/s1600/Seewinkel+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTeb_879V-oHK0nqsUCfuUuP75iaN8_O9mhRrs9BhNBDWkpN0jpx0Q1Z9zgQQk98220dhwP_b_T4GmSFzI5hqS56bS1B-rUzkvDfMRwczhI6LVE_gLEzLRKcyQ-KUQ5g0Ok5_lyjYLik5/s400/Seewinkel+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lake Neusiedl is frozen over...</span></b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXBzEOojJF0Ah85izZ69H5VlATArQPrSbub8-RtfiBwHuqw_nsSkf0XjEk8xqmC8E4B4EUmbGeS7fQISONIjFLCvIwuGCC1N3kEj-mKFNC6rJTMqM84vvR9whoXP_7UEpo3KPmHL2M21f/s1600/Sandeck+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXBzEOojJF0Ah85izZ69H5VlATArQPrSbub8-RtfiBwHuqw_nsSkf0XjEk8xqmC8E4B4EUmbGeS7fQISONIjFLCvIwuGCC1N3kEj-mKFNC6rJTMqM84vvR9whoXP_7UEpo3KPmHL2M21f/s640/Sandeck+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...while the cycle track at Sandeck is more like a skating rink!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The watchtower is a relic of the Cold war</span> </span></b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DaNsItE-9sO4QVogbskdwh_4z2zXecJ8piafHvU0QDv31sxiBsPy3MU85JFJGzTYeWFw4nNjySFjkADjZ9vSLwZY_Ju4ggd6xqLZnkWOnaBUp9Dh7ynJL-ZSpk70odJjEu3-cV6VDvW4/s1600/Hooded+Crows+1e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DaNsItE-9sO4QVogbskdwh_4z2zXecJ8piafHvU0QDv31sxiBsPy3MU85JFJGzTYeWFw4nNjySFjkADjZ9vSLwZY_Ju4ggd6xqLZnkWOnaBUp9Dh7ynJL-ZSpk70odJjEu3-cV6VDvW4/s400/Hooded+Crows+1e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A pair of Hooded crows find something to eat during a snow flurry...</span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskJlWEnorrSky-TbiwROTKDF6FvMBtVP_e9uCTHMRymB_mkE5aSAuuSqVxR1ygv-lcPT6bLf_Zh69KZtAdCr_RME3B17rnmBH3oeq-k3o8237X_irFzVSqtkw6biw0ZQ9fIdub2VWY5hyphenhyphen/s1600/Alte+Donau+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskJlWEnorrSky-TbiwROTKDF6FvMBtVP_e9uCTHMRymB_mkE5aSAuuSqVxR1ygv-lcPT6bLf_Zh69KZtAdCr_RME3B17rnmBH3oeq-k3o8237X_irFzVSqtkw6biw0ZQ9fIdub2VWY5hyphenhyphen/s400/Alte+Donau+1.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...but the sun is trying hard to show itself through the snow clouds</span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uJaC42jWytcI-xjXuIEYC2dsTPSqnSW756TKp6GNHQpLuEnMtUSI1kzqnG7VdiJqzSE5bysZzqf-XRaGEbZgcurVnxgdm6Kot7JvYsUSG15CaH1QwqHD9sECaTYT3FT-G5pSCe6riE2X/s1600/Reeds+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uJaC42jWytcI-xjXuIEYC2dsTPSqnSW756TKp6GNHQpLuEnMtUSI1kzqnG7VdiJqzSE5bysZzqf-XRaGEbZgcurVnxgdm6Kot7JvYsUSG15CaH1QwqHD9sECaTYT3FT-G5pSCe6riE2X/s640/Reeds+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>On a winter afternoon the setting sun illuminates the inflorescences </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">of reeds in the Seewinkel National Park</span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXBzEOojJF0Ah85izZ69H5VlATArQPrSbub8-RtfiBwHuqw_nsSkf0XjEk8xqmC8E4B4EUmbGeS7fQISONIjFLCvIwuGCC1N3kEj-mKFNC6rJTMqM84vvR9whoXP_7UEpo3KPmHL2M21f/s1600/Sandeck+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397855773916693262.post-13525666663428679292010-12-11T02:59:00.000-08:002010-12-11T02:59:00.044-08:00HMS Victory<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">During a recent visit to my elder son's family near the naval town of Portsmouth, we took an opportunity to visit with friends the Christmas Market in the historical dockyards, open to the public that weekend. For me it was an opportunity to see again my favourite ship <a href="http://www.hms-victory.com/">HMS Victory</a>, Admiral Lord <span lang="EN-GB"> Nelson’s flagship. HMS Victory is best known for her role in the Battle of Trafalgar, and The Victory currently serves both as the flagship of the Commander-in-Chief of Naval Home Command and as a living museum.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScAg1q8WOFTWgUHNkb9N7Yd15pl3fRzpA0nWxLYUt8gcSWJMPDHrZ0yAa0xSZ44RN5KTXHKWjYbVpwPMoySHmaFUfRR19N74Xd15C8gmoebPy5W9m6-7O85VwJZtprz-9jO0t9XrEUpyj/s1600/HMS+Victory+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScAg1q8WOFTWgUHNkb9N7Yd15pl3fRzpA0nWxLYUt8gcSWJMPDHrZ0yAa0xSZ44RN5KTXHKWjYbVpwPMoySHmaFUfRR19N74Xd15C8gmoebPy5W9m6-7O85VwJZtprz-9jO0t9XrEUpyj/s320/HMS+Victory+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><b>The children arrive at Portsmouth Docks railway station</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6IIp7rgIUjkW5hyhh838_JKytX2PwKQH3fCbKAFIAQ6SzG1LPluqVSOzMfb9Sg7ec4DTfnwX_7hBU8VHAYh6e7WSMNyOZWMPobnNU14majFhwNCGa2LdkpIbGo7RGiaVlBKENOS3I3iR/s1600/Portsmouth+Nov+2010+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6IIp7rgIUjkW5hyhh838_JKytX2PwKQH3fCbKAFIAQ6SzG1LPluqVSOzMfb9Sg7ec4DTfnwX_7hBU8VHAYh6e7WSMNyOZWMPobnNU14majFhwNCGa2LdkpIbGo7RGiaVlBKENOS3I3iR/s400/Portsmouth+Nov+2010+010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even the carousel has a nautical theme with the figure-head of an old sailing ship</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScAg1q8WOFTWgUHNkb9N7Yd15pl3fRzpA0nWxLYUt8gcSWJMPDHrZ0yAa0xSZ44RN5KTXHKWjYbVpwPMoySHmaFUfRR19N74Xd15C8gmoebPy5W9m6-7O85VwJZtprz-9jO0t9XrEUpyj/s1600/HMS+Victory+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIO0H4dM4LHDl5aAmVJynlp2TwMmRnNQ0MmWpFRLmv5e9Yh0OyS-04_wve10My_W8ZrTNPJwhYo2GJ9bBSVHZMSDN9M3ft1HseBGSwowkEGbg9iH9J0741MIaLyg5pVVJ-FKrFWeKAd6ja/s1600/HMS+Victory+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIO0H4dM4LHDl5aAmVJynlp2TwMmRnNQ0MmWpFRLmv5e9Yh0OyS-04_wve10My_W8ZrTNPJwhYo2GJ9bBSVHZMSDN9M3ft1HseBGSwowkEGbg9iH9J0741MIaLyg5pVVJ-FKrFWeKAd6ja/s640/HMS+Victory+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>HMS Victory - <span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">flagship of the Commander-in-Chief of </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Naval Home Command and a living museum</span></span></b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoKQRUTCkTcYW36ZDK6Q9Mo-LLrxEG6wv8k-1vnA23IXAXVwubEo7H5P6IAovtgrrb5G_PuwYm5bymVF1fhHO0Sy99MinzeAzrxrPt4zR8QuDdsqoSevon8hlRxlBtOBGSQ4NzV0qiXO3/s1600/HMS+Victory.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoKQRUTCkTcYW36ZDK6Q9Mo-LLrxEG6wv8k-1vnA23IXAXVwubEo7H5P6IAovtgrrb5G_PuwYm5bymVF1fhHO0Sy99MinzeAzrxrPt4zR8QuDdsqoSevon8hlRxlBtOBGSQ4NzV0qiXO3/s400/HMS+Victory.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The stern view, with the windows of Admiral Lord Nelson's cabin</span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHV0iWqlF11i5xcvj3DC2EhjqCdpPX5Kyk8a0uUhhW4nNpC1R05R3r6EcvQDnckA5ar7QHTuWu75mY7_8Sblo2sQJxjI4RTkvvJd0gAPiAP1HZIHMbWMLWKltT-tv1ofR-2aCqC2FWc0kr/s1600/HMS+Victory+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHV0iWqlF11i5xcvj3DC2EhjqCdpPX5Kyk8a0uUhhW4nNpC1R05R3r6EcvQDnckA5ar7QHTuWu75mY7_8Sblo2sQJxjI4RTkvvJd0gAPiAP1HZIHMbWMLWKltT-tv1ofR-2aCqC2FWc0kr/s640/HMS+Victory+4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>The bow view, and the maintenance of all that rigging, </b><br />
<b>especially in heavy seas, defies the imagination! </b></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is an account of my previous visit to </span><a href="http://maalie.blogspot.com/2009/01/hms-victory.html" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">HMS Victory</a></b></div>Maaliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576491677537070551noreply@blogger.com5