18 April 2019, and we’re still on Skye. We had a most enjoyable walk during the afternoon – see “To Rubha na h-Aiseig“. Now we’re watching the sun go down. I would say “behind Harris”, which is perfectly true, but it’s been too hazy to see the outer isles today.
Little in common, apart from their dates – 18 April, and they all involve buildings:
2003 – the splendid market hall at Questembert, Brittany
2004 – John Jacques’ wonderful little museum at Shackerstone station (Battlefield line)
2010 – Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire (NT)
It seems to have been a very productive day over the years:
2003: Malestroit, Brittany
2004: Knighton, Powis
2006: Weston Park – for the miniature railway and a commercial vehicle rally
More recent years have been blogged already, but a couple are worth revisiting:
2016: Wyre Forest, for a close encounter with a heron. See Forest Paths
2019: Staffin, Skye – a couple of old sea dogs at the slip. Staffin Strolling
16 April 2015: it’s one of our regular short routes, not far from home. It looks as though it was a hazy day…
16 April 2003: It’s a “Petite Cité de Caractère” in the south-east corner of Morbihan, Brittany – an interesting little place to explore, or to sit and enjoy a glass of French beer.
Lords and ladies? Cuckoo pint? Wild arum? It seems to have dozens of names. This one, spotted during today’s leg-stretch, looked to be a fine specimen – one to seek out later in the year when it’s covered in red berries
A bit of a miscellany – photos taken on 15 April:
2003 – arrival at dawn in St Malo, for a week in Brittany
2004 – a trip to Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire, for a ride on the little railway, a visit to Brindley’s water mill in Leek – and, of course, oatcakes
2009 – leaving Inveraray, crossing the Firth of Clyde from Dunoon and heading for home
2010 – remember Eyjafjallajökull? That’s the Icelandic volcano whose plume of ash distrupted air traffic for a time – and provided some unusual sunsets closer to home
Ten years ago… 14 April 2010: just the kind of thing we’d be doing today, if we could. The bridge was a different colour, and there were still cooling towers at the power station.
On this evening, a year ago, we arrived on Skye. Ten years earlier, on 14 April 2009, we left, for a leisurely drive home – taking the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig, then driving down as far as Inveraray for an overnight stay. Look what’s tied up at the pier – it’s the Vital Spark! Para Handy’s in town!
Got to keep the legs moving! We’re following one of our usual somewhat-limited routes, this time past the remains of ancient coal pits, which have been reduced over time to grassy humps in the fields. Spring continues to progress – new leaves, flowers and blossom everywhere. An early bluebell is coming into bloom, and the wild garlic flowers will soon be filling the air with their aroma. I haven’t brought a real camera with me – the phone will have to do…
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