Of ALL THE TREES on all the hills - you had to walk into mine...

TREES are beautiful creations found all over the world. They help give life 'to us' and just like us, can be found in groups or as intrepid individuals, battling against the elements in the most inhospitable places. A beautiful tree never fails to make me smile. I'm not talking about a perfect, symmetrical tree with even branches and colourings. Quite the contrary, the most beautiful are those that stand out from the crowd for their individuality, strength and character.
Some may have heard of the sturdy 'Joshua Tree.' I was lucky enough to 'find' this Jessica Tree standing proud against all that Mother Nature could throw at her. And what's more, she looked much more magnificent and beautiful because of it. Because Nature had carved her character out of the winds, rain and snows that had been thrown at her, and she was all the stronger and beautiful for it.
High above the magical Dent Dale, you will find this mystical tree, hanging tough onto the little soil and rock she can wrap her roots around, and yes, I'm a tree hugger! (well I was high above the valley on the highland fells that day).
My homage to the humble tree.

Postcard from the Mountains & Dales of Yorks & Cumbria.

Recently returned (and sunburnt) from the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park area in England. This area covers a few countys such as North and West Yorkshire and Cumbria. Much of it (where I venture) is unchanged over the centuries and quite unknown outside of the area. That's the way I like it - having those beautiful hills, mountains, dales, valleys and glistening rivers all to myself. Equipped with one tent, two Miniature German Schnauzers, one Deco Italian espresso coffee maker and a pack full of outdoor kit - I headed for the hills (and quite surprisingly, sunshine too!).
It's been too long since I've been to this area and it really was a journey of nostalgia. I first ventured there 'in uniform' in the early 80's as there are huge military training ranges amongst all this wild beauty. Little did the powers that be realise 'then' that within two years Britain would be fighting in the South Atlantic over a small rock leftover from our days of Empire, which closely resembled much of this landscape.
I camped at one of my favourite, and again 'little known' campsites beside an 18th Century farm-stead. The owners are good friends of mine, and they now run a vintage bus company and have recently acquired a 1930's Rover in pristine condition that they had shipped over from New Zealand! it truely is a beautiful specimen and I've been promised a jaunt over the fells in this little beauty, next time I've down there! so out with the CC41 suit, me thinks!
I've 'never' had Harry & Ross (the terrible twins) camping before, so I 'knew' it would be an adventure. Poor things, little did any of us know just how much the temps would plummet during the evenings and it was like being at Scott's Base Camp where we were snuggled into each other trying to grab the faintest piece of warmth!! but the warm days on the hills made up for it.
We climbed peaks with names straight out of a Bronte novel, such as WILD BOAR FELL. But there was no Mr Darcy at the top, just 'me' in my lycra'ish navy-blue breaches and the boy in their wooley-grey breaches!!
After a hard day 'up mountain and down dale' we relaxed under the setting sun beside the tent as I indulged in a fine cigar and glass of Pinot Grigio. Looking at the boys tired from exercise and fresh air, but feeling satisfied, well...some moments you just capture in your mind like a photograph 'still,' and you 'try' to hold 'that moment' for as long as you can. That was one of those moments. Another was coming down off WBF (which took about four hours of ascent, from 9am in the morning). The boys were feeling the pace, the sun was high in the sky and we came across a babbling brook winding its' way lazily across the mountain. It seemed 'right' to have a rest, and we all just dropped our kit (well I did!), had a drink of water and just melted onto the grass, feeling the sun on our bodies and the sound of the stream in our ears. An hour passed when I woke up! I turned over, looked at the boys content in their momentary slumber, and just knew I was watching something very special and personal *to me.* I tried to hold that living image for as long as I could, because I knew that once the spell was broken it would 'never' be repeated in that exact way - ever again. Some moments, you 'know' when they are happening, and you know you have to try and savour and photograph them into your memory.
Without further ado, a quick flavour through a selection of my photographs from my few days away in the hills. May it be the beginning of many more this year!

Spring - springs me into ACTION on the bike..!

New born lambs, daffodils waving their neon yellow heads in the breeze, swans courting in the reed beds, rooks picking up sticks to build their skyscraping Penthouses high above the ground - YES...Spring has sprung, and these are just 'some' of the things I've been witnessing on my daily cycle rides around the countryside.
Still, the snows could still come (In like Lion - out like a Lamb, as the oldtimers used to say), so I'm just making the most of this wonderful weather whilst it lasts :)
Here are a few photos I've taken over the past day or two. Sadly, nothing 'vintage' about them, as it's hard to beat the practicality of modern cycling kit - so I'm being very 'practical' when I'm out on the saddle!!

Pad is Mad (as a Hatter!)

I'VE been lucky enough to stock up on my collection of Gentlemen's vintage hats from the 1930's to 40's. Hat wear just lifts the bar somewhat, from the run-of-the-mill current trend of baseball hats that fill the high streets of Britain (and other parts of the world). And what is postive to see, is that there is a gradual renaissance and move 'back' towards the gentleman's hat (Fedora/Trilby), after individual's in the public eye who are seen as celebrities by the young masses (pop stars, movie stars..etc), decide to sport one. So far, it tends to be the cheaper end stingy brims and pork pies, but it's a seed :) Plus the High Street stores are catching onto this and retailing them! I'll not hold my breath that we return to the Hat Glory Days of the early to mid 20th Century, but I'll certainly watch the space (or heads) with interest.

Just come off the hills from a wonderful day's hike.

In about an hour ago having been out on the hills with work (but this makes work a real pleasure). I also packed away two stowaways (Ross and Harry) for the day's adventure firstly hiking through snow and forest and then up onto the higher ground where, once away from the protection of the treeline, was actually quite blustery and lowered the body temp if you stayed still for too long.
Harry was in his element (he's such a natural little hunter and investigator) and came bounding up to me with a Deer vertabra and hind quarter in his mouth - it was bigger than HIM!! Mmmm, who's going to be a smelly young man later on, me thinks. The joys of dog ownership :)
A good day to be alive folks!!

Sunset Treks in the Snow...

These were photos of the sunset yesterday as I trekked the 8 mile round trip to work and back. The photos are lovely but don't convey just 'how cold' it was as soon as I stopped moving. With the sun reflecting on the snow, the landscape took on a pink hue and the sky was streaked by swaithes of duck egg blues, oranges and reds! just a great day to be alive and made for a memorable Christmas Eve this year!
Judging by the weatherforecast, this is just the 'start' of the winter 'cold snap' hitting the UK.