A circular from the village of East Worldham, past King John’s Hill along the Hangers Way through park and woodland to Hartley Mauditt, then north to West Worldham and along Warners Hanger to the start.
Travel
Weekend Walk 20 – Pycombe to Woodingdean
Unlike the WNW-ESE direction of the previous South Downs Way walks, this one took a turn south half way through, roaming over the downs towards the ridge between Brighton and Lewes. The walk took in the Clayton Windmills, Ditchling Beacon, Black Cap hill, across the A27 and railway. I then cut west to get to Woodingdean where it was easy to get back to the car via Brighton.
Weekend Walk 18 – Steyning to Pyecombe
Deep into West Sussex, the 100 mile walk continued on Saturday. From Steyning, back west to pick up the trail then across the Adur valley to Truleigh Hill. Along the ridge past Fulking to Devil’s Dyke, major tourist attraction. Down to Saddlecombe and a last climb over New Timber Hill.
Weekend Walk 17 – Amberley to Steyning (South Downs Way)
The ninth stage of my South Downs Way adventure, picking it up after a break over summer. Up to the downs from Amberley, the half way point, with amazing views to the north and south, to Chanctonbury Ring and the town of Steyning. The path really opened up during this stage as we move past Littlehampton and Worthing, towards Brighton.
Uppark – South (78/365)
Today I went to Uppark in West Sussex. The house was built in around 1690. My full set of photos can be found here.
Top of the Rock
21 October 2009
Top of the Rock is simply stunning. Oh my gosh! Views in every direction and the Empire State building to the south. Rockefeller built his complex bang in the centre of the city. The sun is out and Central Park looks great in it’s autumnal shades, hazy buildings framing it. I was one of the first people to come up this morning – at 8 – whisked up 67 floors in 45 seconds. Then up to the 70th for the viewing platforms. A glorious sunny day in America’s biggest city. So many huge building rising up. How did this happen?
Two nights later I returned for the night view – amazing!
Later, I learnt that ‘skyscraper’ is a sailing term adopted by architects.
Here are some short videos I took from way up there:
Rockefeller Center, 7:30 a.m.
21 October 2009
Rockefeller Center at seven thirty in the morning.
Got up around five thirty, that being ten thirty my time. The day waking up, the Westside Highway never sleeping, a hum in my away from street room. Walked up to 14th St, along to 7th avenue, then took the subway up to the Rockefeller, an early tourist among those going to work.
Crowds gathering at NBC for the Today Show nearby my seat under this mighty GE Building. Was asked to move along by a policeman as I watched from the pavement.
The Jane Hotel, NYC
Located in the West Village, just south of Meatpacking, this is one of the cheapest hotels in Manhattan. And also one of the coolest. For $99 you get a small cabin room, restored in a colonial style with great attention to detail. Wood panels, wall mirror, cool wallpaper, clothes rails. Draws and space for a case are under the bed. The room had air conditioning and a wall fan, a flat screen TV, iPod dock, free bottled water.
The bathrooms are spacious, along the corridors and are pretty luxurious – black and white tiling and rainfall shower units. The whole hotel is decked out in a stylish retro fashion, with a cafe opening soon, if not already.
The beds are next to the door which is direct to the corridor so you will hear doors closing and people walking by. Ask for a quieter room at the back and you won’t hear the road.
Highly recommended if you are in NYC for a few nights.
Weekend Walk No. 4 – Manor Farm Country Park
Yesterday, Saturday, I took the Vespa down to near Bursledon to continue the walk along the river Hamble. Last time I’d left it at Bursledon, headed north. This took me to the Manor Farm Country Park, a wooded spot next to the river. It also has a working museum farm. The chapel was very sweet, and contained an old hearse. It was in such a quiet place, very peaceful, despite the bank holiday weekenders at the farm nearby. The Hamble was graceful and quiet too, with woods along its banks. Lots of people with dogs. Here’s the video.
Twenty reasons never to fly Ryanair
But their out-of-city airfield in Sweden is the only reason I use them – it’s very near to our destination, being an hour south of Stockholm.
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Twenty reasons never to fly Ryanair
You have to admire the audacity of everyone’s favourite love-to-hate chief executive Michael O’Leary.
His latest stunt, to cause outrage by suggesting that Ryanair might start charging holidaymakers “a pound to spend a penny” onboard, made it on to the cover of The Daily Express. In the process, one imagines, reminding several hundred thousand hard up Britons to take advantage of the airline’s spring seat sale.
This week The Sun reports: “A saucy stewardess is putting the thrills in no-frills airline Ryanair.”
The “34B Czech stunner” , it alleges, has been given her bosses’ blessing to moonlight as a porn star.
Depressingly, all publicity is good publicity when you are the world’s leading budget airline and Ryanair doesn’t give a damn whether you like it or not. O’Leary knows that when it comes to the crunch, especially this credit one, you will still turn to him for a cheap weekend jolly.
But while the airline can be cheap, the customer service truly sucks. So, here are 20 things to remember next time you are led into temptation by those 1p flights.
via Money Central – Times Online – WBLG: Twenty reasons never to fly Ryanair.
Maroc Surf Trip 2007
This is a video I edited from Derek’s and Francisco’s footage taken in Morocco in Feb. Features those two, plus Dougie and I, filmed around Taghazout.
28 Aug 1990 – To Portsmouth
The trains only go to Biarritz two times a week. Major change – decided to head home. But the train is couchette only and we can’t afford that. No seats left so the guards told us to get off at Djon at 0230. We’ll catch a later train to Paris, then it’s easy to get to the Portsmouth ferry. Glad to be going back – saw little point in going anywhere else. May as well save the money for CDs – BDP, MC Tunes, Stetsasonic. Don’t mind if there’s not much sleep tonight – it doesn’t matter anymore. Bought some new cokes you can’t get in the UK. It’s sweeter and smoother.
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I fell asleep and we stayed on the train to Amiens! We are now on a local train to Rouen and then Le Harve. We’ll stay in Portsmouth overnight.
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Now on the ferry for England. Rouen was nice, an old place. I walked around while Barry sulked at the station. He does a lot of that. He’s been OK but you can never tell what he’s thinking. Might have met more people if I’d gone with someone sociable. We are nearly back. It’s been quite an experience.
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In Portsmouth, finishing three weeks of travel. Went to the usual chippy – lovely cod in Portsmouth. Ferry across was monotonous, but a good shower. It was really good to see the funfair, pier and Southsea as we sailed by.
27 Aug 1990 – The best country in Europe
The Yugoslavs got off near the border and we had a good night’s sleep. Needed it. Zurich was very clean. Bought apples, huge bar of chocolate, bread, cheese, crisps, buscuits. Also had 2 cheeseburgers, fries, coke in McDonalds. Hunger over. We are now going through Switzerland to Geneva. I like Switzerland a lot – best country in Europe. Went to a pub in Geneva. Cans of McEwans!
26 August 1990 – Corridor sleeping
Help! I want to get off this train, it’s yucky. No room in the compartments. I went to the front of the train to go to sleep. Woke up at 3 and panicked that I was sepearated from the luggage. I was, but Barry was on the platform and we both got back onto the right part of the train. At 0500 I woke to find about 10 people stood around me, commuting to some factory. A horrible way to wake up, but I was sleeping on the floor of their commute. Now there’s no room at all. Sitting on our bags by the toilets with three others. Already 3 hours late. Have decided not to go to Romania as the trains are probably just the same. Instead we are getting off at Belgrade, then express to Zurich. No desire to sleep in a corridor again.
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Eventually got to Belgrade. Couldn’t cash any cheques so got on the train to Zurich. Very hungry. Plan to go to the French west coast to swim. Hassels with the conductor trying to charge us because the stamp part of our tickets were full. Barry had the cash stolen from his bag last night so couldn’t pay anyway. Long arguments via translators and eventually he made us get off. Got back on with extra page of tickets, just in time. Carriage is full of drunk Yugoslavs. Looks like a corridor again tonight.
25 Aug 1990 – To Belgrade
Some decision making today. We have 11 days left. Romania will take 3 days or more if we stop in Transylvania, which we’d like to. I need to stop. Last shower on way to Greece and last still sleep in Finland! We have decided to miss Morocco, Spain and Portugal. Probably go to Luxemburg, Belgium, maybe Legoland, then home. Spent all day travelling to Thessaloniki. Now on the train to Belgrade. Started to miss home. Well, to miss something but not exactly sure what.
24 Aug 1990 – Istanbul
In the night we stopped at the Turkish frontier and had our passports collected. Down the line we had to pay £5 for a visa – a new retaliation against the UK for saying the Turkish need visas. Didn’t have enough money so a guy, after a lot of arguing with a dodgy policeman, lent us the money. We met him at the station and waited for banks to open to pay him back. Walked around some mosques and got hassled by a Turkish youth. It was my fault really. I’d sat down to look at the map and he started putting whitener on my boots. He said no money, so reluctantly I let him. Then he demanded money and I didn’t want to give him my large note, so in the end after threats and stares I gave him about 80p in Greek money! Loads of people wanting to sell us things, and one bloke just wanted to practice his English. The Grand Bazaar was really fascinating with all the passages and identical shops. We are now in Asia. Had some Turkish coffee. It’s the same as European Istanbul.
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Stocked up on food, waiting on the train. Lots of Americans and Germans. Makes me want to go home when there’s nowhere to sleep. I’m not fussed about Morocco but Barry is keen on Romania so we’ll go.
23 Aug 1990 – Through Greece
Got back to the station via the British-designed tube in time for the 0630 train. A lovely blonde girl spoke to us in the carriage but some of the seats were reserved so we had to move. 22 hours left to Istanbul. It’s raining for the first time on the trip. Athens was all we saw of Greece. I’ll come back in the future, and to some of the Islands. May go into Asian Turkey but not sure if they are letting anyone in due to Iraq/Kuwait etc.
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A strange day, sleeping most of it. The sun hardly came out and lots of the countryside looked like Salisbury plain, but mountains again now.
22 August 1990 – Athens
Had a really good night’s sleep on the deck. A strong cool breeze but not at all cold. Slept till 0880 and felt a lot better and ready to go again. As soon as we got to Patras we bought crisps, biscuits, water, Smarties, then got straight on the Athens train. It’s narrow guage and dirty. Briefly spoke to some English girls. At midday it was so hot. Get to Athens at 1845 for evening sightseeing then plan an early morning train to Istanbul.
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I like Athens a lot. Loads of pushers for hotels on the train but we just used our map and left our packs in one. Walked up to the Acropolis and it looks brilliant lit up. Loads of other ancient buildings dotted around, including an amphitheatre with an orchestra. We looked down from the hill above it. Now sitting at a taverna with wine.
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Have now had most of the wine and am quite merry. Lots of grapes overhead, I tasted one but the waiter gave us a bunch of the nice ones. I gave some to a girl walking past. The waiter has been talking to us about AIDS, drugs, girls, Turkish gold, all sorts.
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We collected our bags and Barry went to sleep at the station. I spent the rest of the night walking around most of the impressive buildings of Athens. I enjoyed myself a lot and the exercise did me good. It was quite a scare walking alone at 0400. I took a small bread knife! The walking did something to my digestion and I had to have a crap in the trees below the Acropolis.
21 Aug 1990 – To Brindisi
The closing the curtains and lying down only works when the train isn’t full. This one is packed. Some German girls came in, then some young Italians who smoked a joint. Can’t sleep sitting up, so left at 2. Slept for a couple of hours in the corridor but woke and panicked I was in the wrong section of the train. Now sitting outside the crowded compartment. Only a few hours sleep in the last few nights.
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We are sitting at the port of Brindisi waiting to get on the boat to Greece. Our ticket is free for the deck only. I don’t mind – it’s warm enough. Bought bread, cheese, chocolate, crackers and have eaten most of it. Feel warn down and tired. Wouldn’t really mind going back to the UK now, but in the long term I’d be disappointed.
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On the ferry. Just had a shower and could feel a week’s grime just wash away. Feel really refreshed and have no desire to go back early anymore.
20 Aug 1990 – Naples, Rome
I am pretty pissed off. Got to sleep and an Italian woman & son came into the compartment and kept us awake till 2. Then slept too deeply. When I awoke we’d gone through Rome and my bag I’d left above my head was near the door. I thought nothing would be left but the only things gone are my cashpoint cards and about £5 cash. Camera, personal stereo, travellers cheques, passport still there! I should have put it all in my sleeping bag. So we went on to Naples. Cancelled the cards. I hate Naples – so dirty and hot and busy. We’ll just see Rome and then I’ll be glad to get out of Italy. Hope rest of the day is better.
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Rome was far too hot and busy. Colleseum didn’t look impressive. Saw St Peters, looking really good in the dusk. Walked to the Spanish Steps where we are now sitting. Lots of people here but mostly boys.
Falling Awake 