ESCAPE FROM WASHINGTON tomorrow

I have finally devised a route and scheme for this expedition. It has taken 8 days of mooching and research. I will escape Washington by taking a train to a place called 'Point of Rocks' in Virginia. It should get me into the sticks and on route to the holy grail of Gettysburg. I feel at last I have found my feet. I just have to do a bit more adjusting to the bright hot weather. After Point of Rocks I go to Harpers Ferry then Antietam then Gettysburg before pushing south for reach and inviting objectives. :-))

WASHINGTON YH

Am still in Washington with its humidity. Yesterday I made the long hike to Arlington cemetery. Also visited Fords Theatre where Lincoln was shot. They have the actual gun used on display at the Theatre museum.

Everything here is a little more pricey than I had expected. Yeserday I survived on the hostel breakfast and a couple of hotdogs.

Today the Capitol and the Smithsonian Air & Space museum. 24th June 2011

IN HUMID WASHINGTON

I am staying at the International Youth Hostel in central Washington. It is the most expensive hostel I have ever used at $40 per night. I will be staying 3 nights before attempting to escape the city. I may have to use a train to clear all the mad traffic and freeways which surround this city.

Today is a walking day, to do some sightseeing.

Thanks for the greetings Dougal, hope you are well.

AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT

Cycled through the night from home to the airport. It was not a good idea, I should have taken the train and slept at the airport. I have a middle seat on the flight Heathrow to Washington..not the best. Will just muddle along. Best wishes and love to all my friends 22/06/11

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELDS TOUR !

'The American Civil War Battle Fields Tour' has been on the table for most a year untill here it is. I booked a flight from Manchester via Heathrow to Washington gateway to the battlefields and sites in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, South & North Carolina and Georgia. As well as the sites there the Apallation Mountains which entice a visit. Washington itself is worth some days with Congress, Smithsonian, Fords Theatre, Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Cemetry.
I am well packed, my carriage is the Dawes Karakum bicycle so eminently suitable to last years JOG-LE.
The big factor I dont know about is the traffic conditions and my ability to get about without too much hassle or cycling on freeways.
I am flying in the lap of British Airways luxury. Plan is to get to Washington Youth Hostel on the night of the 22nd and find a space waiting for me. May God help me.

A few photos of Cambridge on a warm April day - 10th April

Reached Nottinghamshire - 9th April

The river at Bakewell. Daffodils in the village of Baslow, Derbyshire. I stopped for a scone at a tea shop here.

Last nights camp near Mansfield.

I am not so fit and the cycling is slow going, but I will push on.

Reached Bakewell after a 10 mile ride from camp-8th April

The Cheshire plain on the horizon.

Highest pub in England at 1690 feet above sea level.

Crossing the moors.

Packing up at my camp site outside Buxton, not a great camp.

Ashton by the water

Ashton by the water.

The famous original Bakewell pudding shop.

Trip is going well. Last night I was camped by the road just outside Buxton on a piece of rough ground. It was spongy. Am here the library in beautiful Bakewell anticipating my breakfast in a cafe. Will push on later in the direction of Chesterfield.

Start of trip to Belgium 6th April.

Yesterday, 6th April, I set out on this trip to Belgium to visit friends in Brugge and Mechellen and the First War battlefield sites.

Last night I wild camped in a field at Toft near Knutsford. It was a splendid camp, the weather was fine and I had my radio for company..Chelsea v Man Utd. This morning cycled the 10 miles into Macclesfield, gateway to the Peak District. I was expecting good weather but it has become drizzly and damp.

NORTH WEST SCOTLAND photos - July 1991

These are some haphazard photos of a trip to north west Scotland. I cant recall too many details about the trip. I set off for Scotland just a few days after returning from a trip to Austria.

Cape Wrath lighthouse.

ANGLEZARK AMBLE Photos - 12th February 2011

The Anglezark Amble is an annual long distance challenge walk organised by the West Lancashire LDWA group. It attracts about 300 entries. Last saturday I took part in my 5th or 6th AA, my walk number was 8. I limited myself to the short route of 16 miles, normally I have completed the full route of 24 miles...but I am not so fit. 16 miles was enough. The day began with a grey mist but it turned sunny later. At stages it was a bit muddy underfoot.
The photos are haphazard and taken on the move or in a rush and so they are not of a great quality. Hopefully they convey alittle of what it was like on the walk.

Certificate of achievement.
My rucksack and kit for the day.

Walk HQ in the small village of Rivington.

Check-in at the start.

Tea and toast counter at the walk HQ.

Gathering at the start.

On the move.

Early morning misty conditions.

Check point / feeding station.

The route crossed some wild moorland tracks.

White Coppice cricket pavillion checkpoint...about 3 miles before the finish.

It is generally so on LDWA challenge walks at the end that a small meal is provided at the walk HQ. Today it was hotpot with red cabbage.

LAKE ONTARIO Circuit cycle photos - 2005

This trip in the early summer of 2005 was made possible by a plane ticket to Toronto with the budget airline 'Zoom', and the splendid hospitality of my good friend Wai Sing of Toronto and laterly Singapore. I decided to cycle a circuit of Lake Ontario. The circuit took 10 days and covered about 500 miles.

CN Tower, Toronto.

Street scene in Toronto.

CN Tower in the distance and mist.

AW at Wai Sing's place.

Wai Sing's bicycle, pre-Singapore and Bike Friday.

Wild camp by Lake Ontario.

AW at Niagara Falls.

Cycling in the USA on the south side of Lake Ontario.

Larry & Nancy + young Holly

Wild camp

Wai Sing

Baseball match. Toronto Blue Jays vs Baltimore.

The lobby of the Royal York hotel in Toronto where I spent an amount of time on the sport of people watching.

Baseball ticket.