Carnival

Carnival

I have just agreed the cover proof for my next book titled 'Carnival' about an adventure up the east coast of South America from Ushuaia to the Mashamani in Georgetown in British Guyana due to be published this summer.

Storms Clara and Dennis

Storms Ciara and Dennis hit UK

More bad weather has been hitting UK including driving rain, flooding and damage caused by extreme weather events, I have posted photos of flooding before so this is a different viewpoint. The authorities are good at removing trees from blocking roads, cutting them up and leaving by the side of the road for collection later but there is still a lot of small debris left which makes cycling difficult and dangerous. After so much bad weather, I am surprised that there are still some trees that are weak enough to be blown down.

 It takes a little longer to clear debris from footpaths and bridle tracks but some are just an annoyance to mountain bikers but are easy to overcome.

Some trees present a little more agility to get past.

 Some obstacles can be bypassed.

 Some present dual opportunities depending on whether you prefer to duck or to climb over.

Some you have to duck under and push your way through brambles and ivy to get through.

And others are just a problem and a dangerous hazard. This tree had fallen but still wobbled as it had not stabilised and I didn't fancy ducking underneath just it case it collapsed and I would be crushed. I judged it best to climb the bank and go around it rather than duck under it.

Destinations

Destinations Travel Show

Just a fortnight after the Adventure Travel Show, I was once again back in London to exhibit at the Destinations Show at Kensington Olympa on the Karakoram Jeep Trek International stand. There are several conference centres on site and one of them has a marvellous Art Deco style facade.

But Destinations this year was being held in the main hall which stands high above its brick facade which faces the Underground station.

 Its a vast open space but light and airy with plenty of space. It looks empty as this was before opening time but between 11am and 3pm those aisles are choked with visitors squeezing past each other, visiting stands, collecting brochures and ideas for their next holiday.

Both shows are great places to meet up with friends and fellow travel providers and check out new travel plans. I booked at teh shows, taking advantage of show discounts so I plan over the next eighteen months to traval through northern Asia from London to Nepal via the Pamir Highway in Tadjikistan, visit Everest base camp and return via India, Pakistan and Iran. Also booked is a trip across the Saudi Peninsular from Jordan, through Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman, and further trips around both New Zealand and Australia...and after that? I don't know yet but I will break the return journey from Australia with a trip to somewhere!

Crawley

Crawley

I cycled around Crawley with my camera last weekend. It is a large commercial and industrial centre that services London Gatwick airport. It is a new town and a lot of it concrete and tarmac but there are a few historic parts. People are familiar with the old buildings in the high street whch can be seen on Google Streetview but here are a few other photos.

The windmill at Lowfield Heath, well preserved considering that it was built in 1737.

 The pedestrian footbridge going diagonally across the millpond at Ifield Mill.

 Brent Geese on the millpond.

 The mill seen from the side of the millpond. It is a 19th century construction replacing a 16th century mill on the same site which in turn replaced a forge that had worked at teh site since the 13th century.

 The overflow.

 The front of Ifield Mill.

 The mill wheel on one side of the mill which drove the machinery.

 The ground floor of the mill.

 One of many older buildings in and around Crawley.