Rowing

 

As you may know, Eve and I have a done a little rowing with the local St Ayles skiff team but one thing and another we don't go now. Some years back while visiting Fleur and Gren in Ham, Londinium we happened upon the Great River race. Oh, the people of London know / knew how to put on an event as craft from all over the shoppe to part in this 26 miles race.

We celebrated.

Devon

 

I like to think I  can imagine James Ravilious walking down this road, Leica in hand as he searched out something wonderful in the locality. Only Jame's image would be full of life and light - and possibly coows as well.

This was from a passing visit some years back paying homage to the late great man. I don't have a Leica so I used  a Voigtlander Perkeo.

This time

 

Kew gardens and everything. Tis years since we have visited but it is lovely. So lovely i must go again one day.

The plants here are rather limited what with the acid soil, the cool strong winds and the salty seas. Eve's trying to do here bit to recreate a place she loves with the aid of the new potting bunker.

I shall be posting on alternate days till 1] i get a new keyboard after dropping a beer on it 2] the TDF finishes. It's my thing etc.

Hope you don't mind.

alternate days

 

Near neighbours in the village here, Rachael and Andy are planning on leaving the island with their family, which is a great pity. I hear Andy's thump thump of his bike as he thunders past our bicycles with a cheery wave. I should have taken a better picture and I will try to do that before they leave.

See, I did stuff

Another new but less than brilliantly successful print from an old neg. Part of my "whatever it is, it's overrated" series - ongoing. 

This cycling lark I have re-started after years of less than healthy body stuff dictated I stop, is as I remember from before, tiring. 

I write this on a day off  from bicycle related movement as Eve paints the new Potting Bunker already part filled with 'stuff' pertaining to plants and the like.

An old neg printed

It may look a tad brown but that was lights in the warming room where I took the phone snap of the Kentmere RC print. It is lightly sepia toned. 

If you haven't read early posts on this blog, shame on you. The snap was taken using a aux slot shutter in front of lens influenced by the fab Latigue. 

I was on a roll.

Now I just look like a roll.

I was on it

 

I rather liked this series of snaps of Walter at the QiGong class. I mean, I thought I had something, was making art and everything.

Not sure why I don't seem to be inspired in the same way these days. Maybe it will return.

Did i tell you that Eve, my wonderful partner got me a fine book from Olga Karlovac not too long ago. well worth a look.

that

 

Hebridean fences. Don't you just love em.

not this year

 

A snap from yesteryear at the North Harris show. 

It rained. 

On the other hand yesterday we had a fine and sunny day visiting William in South Lochs. How lovely was that? Very.

Lunch Box

 

Eve prepares for yet ANOTHER bike ride in the spell of good weather outside the new Bike Pod, actually an extension of the darkroom to take a few bikes in storage.

Meanwhile, round the corner Mike the man who does is putting the finishing touches to the hurricane-proof Lunch Box, soon after to be called the Potting Bunker.

Just lovin this

 

Ooof, Just loving this snap of Vidal with Lucrecia's doggy Figgy.

They came to island for a visit and were staying in their camper van. Such lovely people.

Mr Windy

 Mr & Mrs Windy are doing just fine on the mainland rebuilding a house and suchlike. Mr Windy getting a few miles in too. We miss them.

No Shows

 

I miss the village shows, the galas and the Agricultural shows. They have been getting fewer over the years but none this year as far as I know. There's usually some Highland dancing, some baking and veg showing  and perhaps some animals. Then there may be sport - like the all-comers high-jump they used to have here.

Took this on the Box Brownie camera at Carloway Show. It rained.

Eel Pie

Have not been taking too many images of late. Busy with life and related issues. So I have for you an image from a year or several back at Eel Pie Island in Londinium.

I thankyou.

What is that? Am I supposed to like it or something?

 

look, it's another underexposed and saved on the pooter shot for the roll of Kodak Fine grain positive i mentioned yesterday. I am pleased with myself. Overcome with smugness probably so you'll like this whether you do or not.

late again

 

I took this snap on Kodak 5302 Fine Grain positive film - asa 5. Developed in PQ paper developer.

biking

 

So, the weather has been kind, the midges too in the main so we have taken to our bikes. I mean, regularly taken to our bikes going here and there all over the shop. To a point. The point being when the ebike I have been using runs out of power or my legs do - whichever is the former.

The road down past Uig to the end of the road is just superb on a bike - if one discounts the wind blowing in ones face one way - and the hills. Who put them there? Last time we were down that way in the horseless carriage it didn't seem that hilly. Came back on my knees pretty well and at one point even Eve took to her feet to get up one - so you can imagine how steep it was.

it's busy here

 Tourists have arrived so keeping off the popular beaches and the like. The bike is the best bet to take some air on the quiet roads.

let's go

I know, you are sick of these snaps. Well, that's a pity because I like them.

 

Gate in a nice place

I love a nice gate especially in a lovely place like this one.

The other day

There we were, here and everything. looking and wondering why we both hadn't brought the bikes. It was cool and damp that's why and we wanted to look at the lovely machair. Never the less, Eve rode all the way home and took a few snap like this one of Cliff.

that day

I celebrated the year of my birth for the 65th time yesterday. How did that happen? I thought I'd only just got started.

Anyway, had a fine day sliding down my pal's muddy croft with a camera in hand as the heavens opened.

I then went home, received a lovely masked visitor and had a fine dinner put together by dearest darling Eve. A lovely day all in all thank you.

A new one

On Kentmere select vc.

Ok, I admit, it was hot!

A lovely vintage OLMO bike for sale in Gaoli, Tuscany. 9 years past.

Deanne distracting the riders

Eve, trying to keep cool the day before the ride.

Riders had finished the ride and were taking a cool beir in the shade.

Did I tell you it was hot and we had a fab time?

Nine years past

Nine years ago - was it really that long ago - we were in Tuscany. In October. for the Eroica which is a mass participation ride on bicycles older than 1985 on a similar route to that of yesterday's Strade Bianchi pro race. Oh, and it was hot. About 40c I seem to recall. I mean, very hot. I even went in the pool at the Villa we stayed in. It was that hot.

Oh yes, it was a lovely event with proper feed/drink stops where Deanne [in dress] and I met up with Ian and Eve  as they made their way round the 90 miles.

What a lovely week we had.

Please don't bother me today

I shall be watching the Strade Bianchi bike race in Tuscany. On the pooter of course.

We did venture over there once for the amateur leisure version. Twas brilliant but 40c a bit too warm for Eve riding the thing with Ian Gilbert.

This snap is of the strade bianchi- white roads - of Tolsta.