tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25451067545966089402024-02-19T16:26:28.845+00:00Glowworm goes travellingglowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-33208009101901272462011-08-18T16:33:00.001+01:002011-08-18T16:33:02.477+01:00Sister BlogMy birthday treat in 2011 has been bringing my blogging up to date. I now have another blog for my poetry and yarn crafts, Glowworm Creative: new entries unrelated to travel will be found there, plus lots of other stuff for you to follow …. looking forward to seeing you there glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-18499807219999334112010-11-03T21:10:00.001+00:002010-11-03T21:10:16.612+00:00Greenwich to the Tower: TP walk twoOur second Thames Path walk took us through Greenwich, Deptford, Rotherhithe and finally, into Southwark. London places with public art, history and river views on offer, including a statue of St Peter, South Docks farm, a curlicue …     Walking on with quiet residential mews on our left and an equally quiet river with the Isle of Dogs in the background on our right we glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-75886416740735395222010-10-30T20:04:00.002+01:002010-10-30T20:05:13.667+01:00Climbing Leith HillWonderful walk today from Holmwood to Forest Green, returning via Leith Hill and Coldharbour. Eleven miles, autumn colours and houses belonging to famous Surrey residents like Ralph Vaughn-Williams & Charles Darwin  -visiting his sister who married a Wedgewood- in every direction.  Full marks to the staff at The Parrot for good soup served so quickly even though the pub was brimmingglowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-63286835373687145162010-10-13T18:45:00.001+01:002010-10-13T18:45:19.211+01:00The Thames Path –walk oneArranging a date for the first walk of our Thames Path Journey was a challenge given the diaries of those of us who have decided to make it one of those things we do (or rather, we start) this year! So it was great to start and walking the first 4.5 miles from the Thames Barrier to Greenwich was a real pleasure on Tuesday (11 10 2010). It was slightly cool in the wind as we made our way from glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-91402794387794126652010-06-29T21:57:00.002+01:002010-06-29T21:57:38.860+01:00Mole Valley Poets : a reading at the libraryJust back from an enjoyable evening of poetry at the local library. Poetry readings from the Mole Valley Poets Anthology, Celebrating Surrey poems and some fun with everyone trying their hand at a list poem.glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-60095032778549030082010-06-01T15:26:00.001+01:002010-06-01T15:26:06.901+01:00A very wet walk …Nine miles from Witley to Chiddingfold and return –why was I walking in the rain I asked myself several times on Saturday. We walked at a lively pace, all the more to reach the pub and be out of the wet for a while. Yes, the Surrey countryside was at its best but between the raindrops and steam on my glasses I saw  very little.  The highlight was in the variety of terrain –meadows, glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-7458326523146392122010-05-29T14:57:00.001+01:002010-06-01T18:00:09.160+01:00Quilts at the V&AFriday 28 June 2010 –a planned visit to Quilts 1700-2010 at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, www.vam.ac.uk/collections/textiles/quilts-1700-2010 , very well curated by Sue Pritchard. We checked in ticket-wise, hired an i-touch to take advantage of the expert commentary and get some close up pictures of the quilts, and had coffee in a spectacular room that’s now part of the V&A’s cafe. glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-13228216847145511922010-05-20T13:03:00.000+01:002010-06-01T13:47:21.751+01:00England in May –a bright welcome homeWhat a wonderful way to wake up –warm croissants, fresh fruit, fragrant coffee and according to the pilot, a hot and sunny day is forecast for England. Soon I can see those unmistakable London landmarks: Big Ben, the London Eye, St Pauls, Charing Cross station or is Waterloo and the Thames bending its way through the urban sprawl. A smooth landing, my looking-rather-worse-for-wear suitcase withglowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-56445218534320627692010-05-18T17:52:00.001+01:002010-05-18T17:52:24.476+01:00Blogging in transitTwo good flights to Bangkok and reports say that southerly winds over Europe are keeping the ash cloud away. My little hub seat on the upper deck was comfy enough for a nice sleep and then I watched A Single Man. I’m reading The Little Stranger by Sarah Walters –the last few pages will fill take off time from here … then I can go back to Wolf Hall which is harder work even though I find the glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-40940168192568272732010-05-18T01:26:00.001+01:002010-05-18T01:26:20.260+01:00A very quiet international airport …Its very quiet here at Christchurch airport … Heathrow will come as a shock. I’m blogging from the lounge, reflecting on a wonderful few weeks, all the new and not so new places I’ve visited and, most importantly, all the friendly people I’ve met. Its a cliché but travel does broaden the mind. we all have so much in common, the small things differ … Light switches in NZ flick up for on, down glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-14891148979713305742010-05-18T00:57:00.001+01:002010-05-18T00:57:22.365+01:00The last day …Christchurch in the rain: willows that weep in more ways than one, splashes from the tram tracks and people shivering because its 10C. Given that I have been travelling in the southern hemispheres autumn/winter months most times the weather has been very kind. My waterproofs and umbrella made it out of the suitcase today and I soon acclimatised. With my first task of rebooking my flight from glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-86829092512599978102010-05-18T00:56:00.001+01:002010-05-18T00:56:05.335+01:00Change of plansSunday16th 8am -I've cancelled my Bangkok hotel reservation –hard decision but the unrest seems to be worsening. UK foreign office advice is not to travel which invalidates my insurance and other websites are telling people already there to stay indoors. There seems little point in being there if I can’t go anywhere. I seem to remember that last time the political situation was very bad the glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-14715864774481899722010-05-17T23:18:00.000+01:002010-05-17T23:18:27.293+01:00Watching the ash cloudJust about to leave for Christchurch airport, a very long journey and maybe an interruption to my travels by the ash cloud, and I thought the UK and Holland had been asking for cash, not ash, from Iceland. Snow is predicted for Canterbury by the end of this week and I had that in Denver so its time to end this wonderful adventure.
I've enough reading on the e-reader to last several flight glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-40228501670094671202010-05-16T09:57:00.000+01:002010-05-16T09:57:39.374+01:00Enjoying a wet Sunday in Ch-ChQuick entry on B&B computer so no pictures but today was not the day for photography -wet, warm and lots of low cloud. Spent the morning at the Art Gallery - thought provoking installations and a great exhibition based on the colour blue, meant for the kids but many big kids like me were enjoying it. The outdoor market was minimal given the weather but with some interesting local glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-87512570027078663162010-05-14T10:33:00.001+01:002010-05-14T10:33:22.548+01:00Tasman Sea to Pacific OceanI left Hokitika just after eight and soon said goodbye to the Tasman Sea. It was angry today, with waves throwing spray out any which way. I’m so glad I was also on the West Coast when it was in a good mood. The left turn to the trans-island highway through Arthur's Pass meant steep gradients, more hairpins and very soon a different landscape. Death’s corner is now a scenic lookout point and hasglowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-37063608074815079672010-05-14T10:32:00.001+01:002010-05-14T10:32:26.367+01:00North to HokitikaBaby Cow was enjoying the rain soaked meadow as I left Fox for Hokitika and, this time, an unplanned B&B stop organised by Karen. Franz Josef was deserted so my errands at the stationers, post shop and garage were soon done. The route took me past the turn for Okarito where the weather changed for the better and, although there was the occasional heavy shower, most of my journey was in glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-48439440923021039202010-05-12T22:30:00.001+01:002010-05-12T22:30:35.276+01:00West coast stormsThe glow–worms were right –rain was on its way. Storms hit the West Coast last evening, first heavy rain,then very windy so no power this morning. The stunning mountains are well hidden and Mrs Cow and her baby look very wet. And, of course, its not a worm but the larva of a gnat that generates light to attract flying insects into its threads to feed on.  It spends 2 months suspended, glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-91787784777553418032010-05-12T10:51:00.000+01:002010-05-12T10:51:26.930+01:00Glaciers, lagoon and rainforestglowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-91591196287393712802010-05-12T10:18:00.001+01:002010-05-12T10:18:22.853+01:00A walk to the glacier terminalWith heavy rain forecast for tomorrow I decided not to miss the opportunity to see the glacier terminal in the dry even if it was cloudy. My first stop was Sentinel Rock with great views of the Franz Josef glacier and the path all the way to the present end of this mighty structure. It was busy but hardly crowded, lots of people returning from guided climbs, of all nationalities and one or glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-28014571793024796612010-05-12T09:55:00.001+01:002010-05-12T09:55:09.220+01:00Okarito lagoonSwade pushed out from the landing stage, read me the safety instructions –the lifejacket was a good windshield, and my personal guided tour began.   There are a few white herons resident here throughout the winter and several of these fairly rare birds were out fishing today, as well as white faced herons, black shags, pied shags, black and white fronted terns, black-billed gulls, royal glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-42420921043905362332010-05-12T09:21:00.001+01:002010-05-12T09:21:28.281+01:00Glaciers and rain forestBreakfast at 8 am, a call from Franz Joseph Glacier Flights to say they were flying but the weather could close in and ground them by midday so I headed north to FJ for a two glacier flight. Sadly no-one was doing the heli-hike but at least there were others like me wanting to fly –the minimum they take is 2 so I needed those 4 other tourists. I sat next to the pilot with a perfect view ofglowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-49877285665367650182010-05-12T08:28:00.001+01:002010-05-12T08:28:49.082+01:00To Fox… part twoOne or two more stopping places en route to Fox. First Whataroa with its wonderful Maori art gallery -some historic pieces and lots of carvings for sale (too big and too heavy) and then Okarito where The Piano was filmed (I think) and Keri Hulme, author of The Bone People, lives. So peaceful by the estuary …    By now the journey to Fox was taking me rather longer then plannedglowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-50090684728053373282010-05-12T08:25:00.001+01:002010-05-12T08:25:43.893+01:00Greymouth to Fox –part oneAfter lots of tips from Jan about where to stop and what to see I set of south this morning. Breakers B&B is certainly the place for a relaxing stay in this part of the West Coast …   Spotting a quilt shop was an unexpected treat just after Greymouth –my fabric purchase was well within my rules being light, flat, local and a useful addition to my stash. With more time I might have glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-12076743939563962462010-05-10T09:54:00.001+01:002010-05-10T09:54:45.570+01:00May 10th continuedI ended a wonderful day walking along the beach below the B&B, accessed via the garden, creating some beach art for the seagulls and then watching the best sunset I can ever remember seeing.                       One more night in this very comfy place with the Tasman sea as lullaby. I wish I could capture that sound glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2545106754596608940.post-21485810054945460422010-05-10T09:49:00.001+01:002010-05-10T09:49:14.152+01:00Slow day, sea and sunsetToday was a rest day from driving –I went a few kms north to Punakaiki and just beyond, driving one of the best coast roads in the world. The 3 blow holes were relatively calm. Patience was needed (that’s shadowy me waiting) to see the spray that bursts forth when the crashing waves hit the pillars of limestone pancakes that formed 24 million years ago. Unsurprisingly I encountered glowwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18036556099356889648noreply@blogger.com0