I’ve Been a Day Rover for many a year…..

Well the title isn’t quite true as I was a Day Rover for only a day but hey was a pleasant day out. As far as my Blogs go I’m still back in the summer holidays this particular day I thought I’d get a day rover ticket from the post office go to Leeds and then get the first local train from the station. The ticket is good value £6.50 and is valid for trains or buses in Metro area.

If I had thought earlier I would have got my ticket the day before as I meant I had to get a later bus into Leeds than I wanted. Got the bus that went the long way round but didn't mind as I enjoyed the ride looking at the scenery and listening to an audio book. The main problem I have is been attracted to Junk food on these trips, it was near dinner time when I arrived so ended up in MacDonald's.

Its surprising what you find down side streets, this time it was a large glass fronted building.

The first train in was going to Bradford so got on that planning to go to the Photography Museum.

It had been years since I was in Bradford and was pleasantly surprised seemed to have cleaned and continuing to clean up the place.

 

Although some buildings have seen better days a shame really. Think it may be the New Victoria theatre although it doesn’t look very new now.

Near by is the Alhambra Theater

The new and the old.

Very close by is the National Media Museum. This is another of these places I hadn’t visited for years, well before my kids were born. My main memory of the visit was seeing a life-sized hologram (well I thought it was a hologram) of Lord Litchfield or was it David Bailey. Been trying to look it up but can’t find a mention of it on the internet, so may be a figment of my imagination. I was a little disappointed with the Museum bit of the place as not as much there as I remembered but there again I may have missed big chunks of it, found it hard to navigate. The main reason for going was to see an exhibition called “The Lives of Great Photographers”. That didn't disappoint. Images from all the expected people such as Daguerre and Talbot to people like Bill Brandt and Tony Ray-Jones.

http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/PlanAVisit/Exhibitions/LivesOfGreatPhotographers/Gallery.aspx

The link above has a selection of the images that were there.

In future I will have to write my blogs while the exhibitions are still on that is if I ever catch myself up.

On my way back to the station I called in at another gallery  advertising a photo exhibition. The most memorable bit of this visit was the chewing gum I has stood on sticking to the highly polished wood floor and making a loud squelching/squeaking/sucking sound every time I lifted my foot.

The Photo’s themselves were odd, well in my opinion, they were all to do with people who want and have been frozen so they can be brought back in the future. There were some of the containers that are used for the process. I found the whole thing macabre especially the portraits of the future users of this process. I didn’t look too long as I found it a bit disturbing but I got the impression these people were going to end their lives in a controlled  way so they could be frozen. Although I don’t disagree with assisted suicide, this some how seemed different and to an extent sinister. Perhaps that’s my lack of understanding. Any way I didn’t think the photo’s were very good.

It was still only mid afternoon and it was a lovely day when I got on the train. So rather than go home I decided to get another bus and go to Kirkstall Abbey.

Across the road from the Abbey is the Kirkstall Museum, in the past I had been there a few times its like a condensed “Castle Museum” in York. Across the road lay the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey. From the road the ruins look impressive but as it’s in an urban area and I had only seen from the road before had somehow believed the ruins were small. Yet again I was proved wrong. The size soon became apparent and I saw lots of it was in pretty good nick too.

I had about an hour before it closed so I did feel a bit rushed but its free to get in so another trip could well occur. There is a public park area close by and perhaps by walking a bit further from the ruins in that direction I could get some good shots. This trip I had to make do with around the abbey instead.

 

So here ends another enjoyable day out.

All the photos can be seen Here

Painter of Moonlight and a walk by the river.

Another day I had free I thought I would go to the Mercier Gallery in Harrogate to see an exhibition by Atkinson Grimshaw. He was a Victorian painter born I believe in Leeds. He is a painter I hadn’t heard of before but having looked him up on the internet thought he would be well worth a visit.

This day it was raining so seemed the ideal day to go to a gallery. To get there I had to go to an area of Harrogate I hadn't been to for years, around the pump rooms and the valley gardens.

 

All seemed even posher than I remembered and if it hadn't been for the rain could have been some where much warmer sitting out eating yer tea.

The exhibition itself was incredible the feeling of light in his paintings smacked you in the face. The pictures I had seen on internet just didn’t do them justice. There was also an exhibition of photo’s by Liza Dracup called Chasing the Gloaming, which are images made in response to Grimshaws. I enjoyed both these exhibitions immensely.

old hall under moonlight Atkinson Grimshaw

It was still raining when I left the gallery so on my way back to the car I found myself in various shops, so had to do some shopping cos it would be rude not too.

Not so long before I had been for a short walk by the river and saw there were some impressive reflections and had thought they could make some nice photos. That evening the rain had stopped so decided to return there with a camera this time instead of the battery guzzling excuse of a compact. I also took a tripod as well but found there was a light breeze. Not much but enough to cause ripples and the grass and wild flowers to move. All though I could get what I was after still took some photos. 

To take photos I have to take off my glasses this time I put them in my camera bag which I left open each time I moved further along the bank. I finished and put my camera away and walked carrying my semi folded tripod to the car park. I dumped the gear in the boot then realised my glasses were in the bag. Nooooo they had fallen out so had to back track along the river bank and was very lucky to find them in the long grass. This was the first stage of me taking on the role of Granny. I decided to buy a cord to hang my glasses around my neck.

More What I did on my Holidays, Skipton Castle and Embsay

Skipton was a place that when I was younger had been to a few times mostly at night to pubs for the odd folk night. Was never really impressed and in my memory at least the pub landlords were never that receptive to the music. On these visits I had seen signs to and walked past the castle but had some how got the impression there wasn’t much of it there. However something clicked when I was in the Dales shortly before reading leaflets in the pub, the Castle turns out to be one of the best preserved in Britain and nearly 900 years old. Was last modernised 300 years ago. Lady Anne Clifford carried out extensive restoration, after it was damaged during the Civil War.

This spurred me on to visit, and I wasn’t disappointed. On arriving in Skipton I parked the car up and decided to walk along the canal to the road near the Castle. This was perhaps a mistake as I have a fear of deep water and stayed as far from the water as possible on the tow path. But then had to go under a bridge only enough room(or so I thought) to just pass someone. So this evolved me standing pressed up against the bridge wall as people came passed I couldn’t bring myself to set off until everyone had passed. Finally I set off and half ran to get to the other side. Anyone who knows me will know I’m fairly fat and built for comfort not speed and will realise I must have looked a sight.

 

The offending bridge yes I know there is a fence. But I was still way too near the water.

On entering the castle I was very impressed with what I could see and the further in I went it was still impressive. There was still a roof and everywhere just looked as if people had just moved out.

Arched doorway to the courtyard.

The Courtyard with the 300 year old Yew tree

Kitchen roof

View down the toilet.

The great Hall

various rooms windows and drainpipes.

After a walk around went back outside and had a coffee sat out in the sunshine and then set off to go home stopping again near the canal where there is a statue to the great Yorkshire bowler Freddie Truman.

There was still some afternoon left so stopped on the way back at Embsay Station bought a platform ticket and found there was a train coming in shortly. I know nothing about trains and was a little disappointed when the train arrived and the engine was coming in backwards. This was the last train of the day and I very nearly got on it for a ride to Bolton Abbey and back again. I decided it would then make it too late for me getting home.

This is somewhere I intend to visit again when I have more time.

To end the day I had another hiccup in my navigation skills and drove home nearly getting lost after taking a wrong turning was too busy singing along to Bob Dylan. Wasn’t really lost but had a bit of a detour before I got back to more familiar roads.

See all photos here.

There and back again………and we finally got there.

On the day before I went to collect my Mum from respite I woke early for some reason. My two daughters had said they were going to come over that afternoon and we would go out. I lay in bed and was thinking I had while until they came around and in a moment of madness decided to drive out to West Burton and back. When I had been up there earlier in the week the photos I took weren’t very good so had another go. Didn’t work that well this time either but a bit better. No matter though I enjoyed the ride out and the messing about with my camera.

 

Got back home again well before dinner time. Had arranged with my two daughters an afternoon out and perhaps a picnic. Got a few butties made and Lois and Kat arrived, we had decided to go to Brimham Rocks a place we would go occasionally when they were kids. Unfortunately I think I had warn out my internal navigation system with the 96 mile round trip I did in the morning. Lois drove and I navigated from the back seat. For some reason I went totally the wrong way and it was only as I realised we were getting near Bolton Abbey that the penny dropped, we were miles away. No problem I thought we would back track and turn off again towards Patley back up the road. Still wasn’t 100% sure of directions despite comments from Kat, saying we most be it right area as we were driving through countryside.  Well we saw lots more “countryside” before we got there. The countryside there is beautiful and so in my opinion was worth the extra hours driving through it. Well that’s my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

 

Brimham Rocks is an area of weird and wonderful rock formations,the area is managed by the National trust who look after the car park and paths. We only managed a short time there as we had arrived rather late eating our picnic in the car and a rushed walk around. All in all was a good day.

All photos can be seen here

What I did on my holidays 2011 Whitby.

My future son in-law works in Whitby and my daughter had suggested that one day I could get a lift with him to Whitby and then get a train back. So on the Thursday evening I went over there and stayed over  night so I was up the same time as them. 

Our first stop was dropping Kat of at work and then we went to Costa coffee and Steve bought me a coffee. This was to kill a little time as Steve had to call at a wholesalers on the way this morning.

Had a very pleasant journey over there, stopping once at a view point. I did take some photos but none I liked, its a breath taking view but hard to get a photo that expresses it. A panorama might have worked but I didn’t pull it off.

Steve is the manager at Graverley’s  fish restaurant in Whitby so that's were my day started from along with a coffee I admired the incredible views. Must have have the some of the best views in Whitby. The headland here looks especially when the sun is rising or setting.

After my coffee I set off for a walk around after been told to ring if I wanted some lunch. First off I went upwards up the Khyber Pass and up the steps so I was virtually above the restaurant.

 

Again great views. Some young sea gulls been fed too total oblivious to all the humans around them.

Down again and a walk along the pier. As I have a fear of deep water I stayed close to the centre of the pier when there was water close and didn't even attempt to go to the end. Not many people about here just yet and most people that did come were a lot braver than me and went further along than I did.

Time now to gird my loins and tackle the 199 steps up to the Abbey over in the old town at the other side of the harbour. There is the choice of the steps or the Donkey Slope up to the top.

Its well worth the climb up there. First arriving at the Saxon Church of St Mary.

Instead of carrying on to the Abbey I wandered around the other side of the church to the cliff top a cracking view from there too.

The views from the cliffs

Next I went to have a look around the Abbey this is now an English Heritage site. I do realise these ruins do take a lot of maintenance but I did think it was expensive for what is there. Still an interesting place lots of atmosphere.

 

Set of back down to the old town

great views out to sea.

One of the many ginnels.

By this time I was getting hungry and rang Steve to tell him I was going to go for lunch. When I arrived I was made very welcome and seated at a table looking out at the harbour and was soon tucking into a fabulous meal. I have no idea what it was called but it looked fantastic, my only regret was that I didn't take a photo of it. The whole thing was served on a grey slate. A selection of various fish and seafood. I don't know much about fish and its a few weeks ago now so I hope Steve will forgive me if I get the types of fish wrong. There was Halibut some cod I think, scallops, Big prawns and deep fried battered whitebait, this was served in a miniature deep fryer basket. I really enjoyed the whole meal. After that I had a black forest cheesecake which was also delicious.  The waiting staff were excellent too and very friendly. I would recommend Graveley’s any time and not just because of family connections. Thanks Steve for one of the best meals I have had in a long time. While eating I was able to watch the tide come in.

on the way to the Station

By this time it was time to set off to the station. The quickest way I think would have been a bus to Scarborough then train to York. But I decided on the more picturesque route and took a train across country to Middlesbrough then on to York. Part of this journey is part of the north yorks moors railway when the steam trains run to Whitby but if you get off at Grosmont to get steam train to Pickering. I love train journeys as its easy to relax perhaps  listen to music and look at the scenery. All in all another good day out.

See all photos from this Album here