Tag Archives: water

Trip to Europe part 5: Homebound

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On our last day in Europe we got up, packed and loaded the car. Then we spent the morning in Brussels city centre. We looked around some more shops, picked up a few last souvenirs, had lunch and then headed towards Calais to catch the ferry.

It was dusk as we headed across the English Channel and home bound. The sunset from the viewpoint on the ferry was beautiful and the water crashed again the sides creating artistic foamy waves. The great White Cliffs of Dover were a welcome sight. I really enjoyed my trip to the various countries in Europe, saw and experienced lots, but there’s nothing quite like home is there.

Sea and sea foam on the waves

Sunset on the English Channel

White cliffs of Dover at dusk

Trip to Europe part 4: Amsterdam

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On our last full day of our Europe trip we decided to visit Amsterdam. It’s about 2 and a half hours from Brussels, so again not too far to drive which was great.

We first went to the area where the museums were, we sadly missed out on getting tickets to the Van Gogh museum, so we went in to the Stedelijk museum instead, which turned out to be a poor substitute. We then went to get some lunch and after turned towards the famous canals.

We visited Anne Frank’s house which is now a museum, We didn’t go inside but just paused to reflect. We then walked around the main streets, passing shops and restaurants. After stopping for ice cream we decided the best way to see the canals was via a boat ride. Out guide pointed out one resident and his pet egret on a canal boat who never flew away.

We passed the well known Seven Bridges canal passing under all of them.

Seven Bridges canal with bicycle

We then headed out towards the IJ waterway, known for being Amsterdam’s waterfront, where the Nemo Science and the National Maritime museums were located. I thought the Replica of the Dutch East Indiaman ship Amsterdam docked nearby was pretty cool. The guide said it had been used in the Pirates of the Caribbean films. There were also swimming areas here which was very busy on what was a very hot day.

After our canal ride we visited some shops to get some souvenirs and then headed home. On the way back we spotted a few windmills which I loved seeing. I managed to get a slightly closer look at this one. A nice way to end our trip, I thought.

Windmill at dusk

Ladybower Reservoir

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I spent a day at the Peak District National park at the weekend and decided to visit the Ladybower Reservoir. I specifically wanted to see the ‘plugholes’ that are part of it. These plugholes are spillways that allow overflow of water to drain away to the River Derwent.

There hasn’t been a lot of rain lately so the reservoir water levels were below the edge of the plugholes. It was still quit cool to have a look down them though.

I also spent a bit of time walking around the reservoir on what was a bright sunny day. The entire walk takes 2 hours so I just walked around part of it and back.

It was an interesting trip and great to see something different in a beautiful natural setting.

Southend trip

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It’s been incredibly and unusually hot this summer so with a week off work I decided to take a trip down to the coast, the nearest being Southend on Sea. It was a humid and overcast day but I decided to make the most of my time. Here are a few pictures I took.

I walked along the longest pleasure pier in the world which is always a must for me. I enjoyed the stronger breeze as I reached the end which was a bonus. Walking back to shore I then walked along the beach and enjoyed the cold water, helping me to cool down.

There was some cool artwork around, I loved how they made the bollards next to the roads more creative and colourful.

I think my favourite were these umbrellas hanging inside the nearby shopping mall

I had a relaxing and cool visit and as the sun became lower in the sky I made my way home.

Visit to Maldon

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I went to Maldon recently with family as the weather was nice. We headed to Maldon with Hythe Quay nearby. There were lots of sailing boats, the masts and sails high above our heads. I love the colours and details of the embellishments of the boats.

There were boat trips being taken down Blackwater river, which looked quite fun.

We opted just to sit and watch, enjoy our picnic and the cool breeze.

We didn’t spend too long here as there wasn’t much to do, so having rested we made our way back to the car. It was nice to see the calming blues of the water even for just a short while.

A Dusting of Snow

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We’ve had a dusting of snow here in London recently. The excitement of snow was a nice opportunity to take a few pictures but I didn’t venture too far.

These first couple of photos are from my garden when the snow had freshly fallen

A few days later I did venture to one of the local parks. The temperature was still so low the lake was still partially frozen. The smooth ice in the centre looked like a lake within a lake.

Where the lake ran off in smaller streams the water was still completely frozen over. The poor birds just walking on the ice looked odd. On my way back I did pass a scenic looking church, making me think of those classic Christmas cards.

I didn’t stay out too long as it was so cold. It took me the rest of the day to feel like I had warmed up again properly. The snow and ice were an interesting and quite beautiful addition to Winter but I’m glad they didn’t stay around for too long.

Lake District

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On our drive back to London from Scotland we decided to make a stop at the Lake District. I’ve wanted to go to the Lakes for years so I was really looking forward to it. We were lucky with the weather too, as it was bright, sunny and a complete contrast to the day before at Loch Lomond.

We drove to one part of the area called Ullswater and got out to have a look around. Here there was a pier and a gift shop alongside a brilliant blue lake. Walking around the lake the scenery was just beautiful with vibrant blues and greens everywhere you looked.

Having walked for a while the kids were getting tired and the older ones getting bored (teenagers eh!) so we headed back to the car. We next drove to another part of the Lakes and this time leaving the grumpy teenagers behind with their gadgets we went for another walk.
We came across a couple of families that were getting their boats into the water at a part of the lake that was low enough to do so. We watched for a while intrigued to see that people did this.

After some time we continued down a road and then some smaller paths. It was quieter and less busy, and anyone we did pass said hello which we thought was very friendly. There were also people swimming in this part of the lake as it was less deep. My niece found some blackberries which I helped her pick and we also came across some strange rock formations. No idea what these were for.

We eventually went back to the car to check up on the teenagers and then we drove to our final spot in the Lakes. We drove uphill to a small church that was tucked away in the hills. From there we were able to hike up to the top of steep hillsides.

The climb was easy because the earth and grass were soft and it wasn’t slippery but it was difficult because of just how steep it was. After walking uphill for about 10 minutes I found myself breathing harder than I expected! It was well worth it though. As we climbed higher and higher the view became more and more breathtaking.

When we finally reached as far as we could due to time restraints we stopped and just took in the view. The landscape was stunning, and the sun bursting through the clouds casting light spots and shadows across the hills was just wonderful. It really was soul food to just look around and see how beautiful this world can be.

We soaked in the view for a while and then carefully and steadily made our way back to the church where the car was, passing lots of friendly smiley people along the way. We were a bit disappointed to not have been able to make it to the top so my brother in law took a short cut and drove up to a high point. From here you could see the hills, the lake glittering in the sun and the tiny sailboats on the water. It was an amazing view.

We finally started making the long journey back home, hoping to beat traffic and arrive early evening. It was a great summer break, visiting the Peak District, Scotland and the Lake District. I’m so pleased to be able to tick off a few places off my bucket list and it was a nice reprieve from the city and the tough year that 2020 has unexpectedly been.

Scotland Trip – part 3

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After having spent the morning at a market and a museum we decided to spend the rest of the day at Loch Lomond, which is a well known beauty spot in Scotland. One little village which sits on the loch is Luss so we started there.

It was a grey, overcast day but we decided to make the most of it. Due to the mishaps of the morning we arrived a at Luss in the late afternoon so we decided to go into the shops first as they would close soon. They had a strange but interesting fairy house and a giant toadstool nearby.

As we arrived so late we missed the chance to take a ride on a speed boat.

We instead decided to take out a pedal boat which were still available to hire. It was harder than it looked but the slower pace allowed us to take in the scenery around us. The lake was huge and the distant hills seemed to go on for miles.

After the boat trip we decided to go to some other notable points around the lake. One tucked away spot was where there was a waterfall. We took a beaten down path through the woodland and followed the sound of roaring water.

The waterfall looked amazing, but I didn’t get a chance to try any fancy photography tricks as the air was filled with tiny little midges which were flying into our faces! There was also an iron tunnel nearby which led to a closer view of the waterfall.

Having spent a while exploring the area and getting tired of waving our hands around our faces we moved onto the next, hopefully midge free spot. Driving further around the loch we found a walkway that stretched out over the water which was very peaceful.

This last stop we made was to a viewing tower over looking the loch. There were also benches to sit on and lots of wildflowers around to admire.

Climbing to the top it was now dusk. If the weather had been clear we would have a seen a beautiful sunset over the lake. I was a bit disappointed but not too much as the view was still pretty amazing.

After spending some time at the top and taking in the view and the quiet we decided to start the long journey back to the hotel, along dark, winding, narrow roads to get some rest and some food. Although the day didn’t quite go as planned we still enjoyed it and managed to explore some of what Scotland has to offer.

Southend

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We’ve had some unexpected warmer weather recently so to make the most of it I made a trip to the nearest coast; Southend. My last visit was a few years ago so I was keen to see what had changed. I love being by the sea, I find it so calming and it’s always a welcome change of scenery.

When I arrived it was still a little hazy and misty so the sea wasn’t quite as clear as I expected. Looking across the fairground rides the sea looked welcoming. Walking down to sea level, the first thing I did was head towards the longest pleasure pier in the world at 1.34 miles long. Walking along the pier is a must for me and I wanted to do this before it got busy.

Walking along the pier there were benches where you could rest. I loved that each one I came across had a pretty seaside themed silhouette scene on the backrest.

Eventually I reached the top of the pier where there surprisingly, some colourfully decorated beach huts. I thought they looked great, especially as the sun had now come out through the clouds and made the colours pop. I think my favourite was the rainbow one with the giant silver ball on the roof.

There was also a restaurant and a RNLI Lifeboat base and giftshop, so I bought a few souvenirs for my sisters.

After taking in the view and soaking in the warm, bright sun at the top of the pier I decided I should head back to the coast and get some lunch. There’s a train that runs along the pier too but I decided to walk back as I was in no rush.

Having had lunch I decided to take a walk along the beach and take in the view from the coast end to the pier. The beach is a pebbly one and there were lots of seashells and oyster shells scattered throughout. I picked a few up before finding a spot to rest. By late afternoon the wind was feeling cooler so I headed back to the station. On my way back I found some really cool street art, which I stopped to look at and admire.

The train home was quick and easy and I left Southend feeling refreshed. I hope to visit again soon and would definitely recommend a visit.

St Katherine Docks

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I passed through St Katherine Docks a few weeks ago. The docks are tucked away near Tower Bridge and hold lots of different types of boats, from modern yachts to boats of a more older style.

There was also a nice surprise of seeing the Queen’s royal barge Gloriana situated in the marina.

There’s lots to take in as you stroll across the bridges and sidewalks, including some panels of vibrant colours and prints along one wall. I personally always love to take in the details of the older boats; the way the ropes have become frayed after years of use, the rusty anchor and chains and the pretty lettering of the names of the boats.

St Katherine Docks is a calm space in a bustling part of London and it’s a great spot to take a stroll through or to stop and have a drink or a meal and admire the view.