Sochi

Sochi

The first stop was not in Sochi but 68 kilometres up into the mountains to Krasnaya Pollyanna. There were just a few houses here until Sochi won the bid to hold the winter Olympics and a new ski resort plus new road and trail connections were built. The town hall.

A view down the river that runs through the centre with a series of buildings, mainly hotels and apartments to rent.

Then up a ski lift to a midway station but very different from when it is covered in snow. I went on to the top at over 2,300 metres but the low cloud obscured the view and there was nothing to see.

A lunch time stop at an Armenian style restaurant with function rooms and a museum.

A detail of stairs leading up to the restaurant.

The museum and gift shop next door which were both closed.

Katchapuri, a pitta style diamond of dough with cheese in the middle, baked in the oven and served with a freshly cracked egg in the middle plus salad.

The local fish farm where my main course had been raised.

Another shot to give an idea of size. These are Golden Rainbow Trout.

Then it was a list to the Olympic village on the edge of Sochi complete with a funfair and rollercoaster.

One of the many stadiums on site.

And another.

Another side view of the stadium.

And a Formula One race track has been built around and in between some of the buildings on site and this is the main grandstand.

 And a view of the main grandstand from one end.

 The Olympic Torch in the centre of the Medal Square.

The monument to the winners of gold, silver and bronze medals...

 ...a close up of the central globe...

 ...and some of the names of winners.

Condors over Chile

Condors over Chile. Another book release! Sounds familiar? That's because it is my third book release in as many months.

The first book this year was Across the Caspian, a story about crossing the Caspian Sea, Europe's lowest point at 28 metres (that is 92 feet below sea level), exploring through the Caucasus and finally an attempt to reach the summit of Mount Elbrus, Europe's tallest mountain at  5,642 metres  (or 18,510 feet for those who have not yet embraced the metric system). Did I get to the top? I obviously survived but did I reach the top?

The second book was Gold, Ivory and Slaves, a story of the history of gold, the hunting of elephants for ivory and trading slaves in West Africa and across the Atlantic. And a peep into the history of colonialism and exploitation by European nations. And then when the former colonies gained gained independence in the decades after the Second World War, the native population were exploited by their own native born leaders and is it any better today?

Condors over Chile is a journey down the length of the Andes looking for Condors, the second largest bird in the world (after the Albatross) and the interaction with the local populations and ancient civilisations that existed a long time before the Spanish conquistadors colonised most of the continent and the history of the oppressive exploitation of the local population. And of course a little interaction with gold, my favourite mineral of which I can not get enough!

An as an encouragement, for the writers of the first five reviews of the above three titles on Amazon, irrespective of the star rating, I am offering a signed copy of their choice of any of my other titles.

NCR21

A cycle ride from the Cutty Sark down National Cycle Route 21 to Crawley. I took the bike by train to London Bridge and cycled the four miles from the recently rebuilt London Bridge station to the Cutty Sark where NCR 21 starts.

The Cutty Sark was a tea clipper built on the Clyde in Scotland in 1869 and was the fastest tea clipper ever built. She only carried tea for a few years before the opening of the Suez Canal in the same year shortening the route and steam ship technology improved and made sailing ships redundant. She carried wool from Australia to UK and was the fastest wool ship for ten years. She became a training ship but outlived that role and she was transferred to permanent dry dock here in Greenwich in 1954.

A detail of her masts and string of flags.

 The full view of the ship.

 A detail of her name on the aft of the ship.

 Looking up River Thames is Europe's tallest building, seen in the distance, The Shard.

 And after the Cutty Sark it was a quiet ride along minor roads, cycle tracks, through parks and along river banks as the well marked cycle route weaves its way through the London suburbs.

 The lunch stop was at The White Bear in Fickleshole just seven miles from central Croydon, a charming pub known for its real ales and excellent food set in country surroundings. It is not far from Biggin Hill airport and plane spotters can watch planes fly over head whilst sitting in the garden.

 Then it was a leg aching lung bursting climb up and over the North Downs and despite having a low geared mountain bike, I have to admit to getting off and pushing the bike up the steepest section. But the view from the top is stunning with Redhill off to the right, Gatwick Airport in the centre and Pease Pottage on the ridge on the horizon.

 And some industrial blight on the otherwise pleasant countryside in the Weald just below the North Downs, a sand conveyor belt linking the quarry and the processing plant next to the railway.

 And view from the top of the conveyor as it leaves the quarry.

And then after taking a leisure ride for 46 miles I reached Crawley. The route continues east to Groombridge and then south to Eastbourne and another loop to reach the end of the cycle route at Pevensey, near Hastings where William the Conqueror built a castle after the Battle of HAstings in 1066 although I had finished following NCR 21 and headed west for another 10 miles to reach Horsham. 

Gold, Ivory and Slaves

Gold Ivory and Slaves new book release

My next book had been published. It is available in 'e' format to download to your Kindle or in paperback version. Support your local bookshop and order from them or Amazon or direct from the publishers, Novum Publishing.

Across the Caspian

Across the Caspian new book release

My latest book is now available in paperback or 'e' version from the publishers, Austin Macauley, from Amazon or order from your local book shop.

Cartagena to Panama City

Sailing in the Caribbean from Cartagena to Panama City

This was to be my home for the next six days, a 43 foot mono hull sailing boat.

And for the boat enthusiasts, this is an aft view of the lady who would be carrying me across the Caribbean.

And therefore I have to show a full frontal or bow view.

And of course me aa a figure head.

But we had been delayed for a day due to bad weather and then again for 12 hours whilst someone had to go up to the top of the mast to make some adjustments before we were seaworthy and able to set out to sea. And due to the height it was never going to be me volunteering!

Then we passed some of the old defences that the English had to overcome to lay siege to Cartagena during the War of Jenkin's Ear in the first six months of 1742.

A bartizan.

The defences on the island opposite the previous fort.

Some of the cannon positions overlooking the approaches to the outer harbour.

And then it was a two day ocean crossing out of sight of land but there was a spectacular sunset.

But there were still things to see and we were shadowed by a pod of dolphins for half an hour and we saw lots of them and some of them did amazing twists and flips but it was difficult to get a photo.

                                          














And there were some beautiful sunsets and sun rises to be seen. How about this one which is so similar to Babe Ruth's video to accompany their 'We are holding on' song.

All good things have to end and after spending a day snorkelling around the island, we had to leave to reach our next island.

 And there were loads of islands to pass, sometimes as many as 20 between us and the horizon for hour after hour.

 Another island.

 Another sailing boat passing yet another island.

 Some islands are uninhabited and some have up market exclusive resorts on them but any boat can moor nearby so don't expect to book a desert island hide away and be alone.

 A small island with a couple of local fishermen's huts.

 A very small island resort for just a couple who have a boat available to get them to the next island for meals.

 And there are so so many stories to tell, such as how this ship came to be here, but then you will have to read the book for the full story!