New Years Eve

Lots of rain so the Taf levels are high.  This is at Radyr Weir.




Llandaf Rowing Club - only being used by the gulls today, presumably the river is running too fast for rowers.
 

Good old Bute Park, the green lung in the heart of the City

 

and Blackweir.
 

Cardiff Library.................What a novel !!! use for old books.  

 

and all the best to everyone for  a happy 2014.

 

Something to think about......................

Bristol, Brunel and Banksy

A few days in Bristol, to do some shopping, to celebrate the soltice, and it will be the last trip in the van this year.

The campsite is right by the docks, literally a stones throw away, and by one of Bristol's major attraction, the SS Great Britain.  This ship was once the biggest and fastest in the world when she was first built.

 

 

 



The other famous Bristolian is Banksy.  Here's one his , but unfortunately it's been vandalised
 

 

 

A stormy night

 

A really stormy night with lashing rain and howling winds.

The Zig Zag path.

The Zig Zag path is part of the footpath that crosses the River Taf and connects the villages of Taffs Well and Gwaelod Y Garth.

It was probably originally used by the miners going to work in either the now disused Llan coal mine in Gwaelod or the iron ore mines of Pentyrch. 

 

During the recent storms about 6 weeks ago, a tree blew down and the path was temporarily closed.  

 

 

 

 

Old pictures

These were taken from old stereoscope pictures.  The original picture contained two images that when looked at through the viewer give the perception of a 3 D  effect.  We have lots of these prints and together they are a "world" tour at the beginning of the 20th Century. 

I have scanned them and then played around with them in Photoshop.


Incline to the copper mine in Metcalf, Arizona 1903


 

Yosemite 1902


 

Klimkwan, Alaska. 1902

Winchester

 Winchester Christmas fair is held in the cathedral grounds.  The evening weather  was cold and dry,  so that added to the occasion, and together with  a mulled wine as you're walking around all the stalls, makes a good evening.

All the stalls at all these fairs tend to be similar but its the atmosphere that makes it.





 

 

 

 

 

 

Be careful when taking pictures...........

Ludlow Medieval Fayre

A cold weekend at Ludlow with temps below freezing.



Early morning on the campsite, cold and frosty!









The campsite is about 2 miles from Ludlow and an easy walk into the town, passing through the older parts, before you get to the castle.

The Fayre is held in the castle ruins and also in the town.  Everyone enters into the spirit of it with shopkeepers dressed in medieval costume. Its a big attraction and a good money spinner for the town as it brings in many people from all over.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cardiff Bay

 

A beautiful sunny day for our ride from Tongwynlais over to Penarth and returning via the barrage.

 

As the yachts were coming into the marina, the locks were open and the road bridge raised. 

The bottom pic shows the Water Bus arriving in Penarth.

Crazy cycling

 

 Not everyone rides likes this.................

A cycle ride to Rhymney

Since I've not posted for a while I thought I'd better do something, so here's a series of pictures taken on a bike ride from Taffs Well to Rhymney.

Its mostly trail riding with a few strtetches of road connecting the various trails and all in all its about 35 miles.

The route is mainly along the Taf Trail and Sustrans routes 468.



 

 

 

Its a mostly well signposted route.

A mixture of roads and trails

This route marker is made out old chains which were once made around Pontypridd .

The trail is well used by walkersas well, with off shoots to explore.

I had to stop off here and buy some of Wendy's blackberry and raspberry jam.   What a bargain!

 

 

Fish ladders as well.

 

This is the famous Handball court in Nelson.  One of the few in the country.

Lots of bridges too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and at the end of the ride you can cheat and take the train back!!!