Author Archives: BarryH

Symi: to the other side of the island

Posted on April 15, 2014 by BarryH

It isn’t often that I contradict myself so quickly. Not that I’ve changed my mind, just that I’m putting a different slant on things. In the last blog I disparaged the old Taoist saying that “the journey is the reward”, … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains | Tagged Agios Vasilios, Greece, Oregano, Sage, Symi, Vasilios Gorge, Viewpoints | Leave a comment

Symi: en route and arriving

Posted on April 10, 2014 by BarryH

“It is better to travel hopefully than to arrive” is an axiom, often repeated but first penned by Robert Louis Stevenson, which has become a cliché. The thought echoes and old Taoist saying that “the journey is the reward”. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, History, Landscape, Reflections | Tagged Crusader city, Greece, plane travel, Rhodes, Rhodes harbour, Rhodes Old Town, sunrise, Symi, Symi harbour, travel | 6 Comments

Escape to the sun

Posted on April 5, 2014 by BarryH

Apart from putting forward the ridiculous hypothesis that Jesus once visited Britain, William Blake’s poetic reference to “England’s green and pleasant land”, with specific reference to “mountains green” and “pleasant pastures” , ignores the fact that it is only so … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Grey Britain, Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Reflections, Spring | Tagged Dragon Lily, escape, gardening, Greece, Grey Britain, poppies, potatoes, pub lunch, Sunshine, William Blake | 4 Comments

Spring in Wales and Greece

Posted on March 26, 2014 by BarryH

Sunday afternoon, 23 March and the sun was shining. The sun has only put in the occasional appearance recently. Heavy showers in the morning had cleared and blue sky beckoned. One of the great benefits of living at the edge … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Hiking, Landscape, Monmouthshire, Mountains, Nature, Pontypool, Spring, Wales, Winter | Tagged Abergavenny and Brecon Canal, brecon beacons national park, Greece, Hydra, Pontypool, Pontypool Folly Tower, Pontypool RFC, Saronics, snow, spring flowers, Symi, Wales | 5 Comments

Greece: preparations, stay cool

Posted on March 17, 2014 by BarryH

It is now only 3 weeks before I fly to Greece. Preparations have to be made for leaving behind house and garden, friends and family. With a sudden outbreak of dry if not reliably sunny weather I have been concentrating … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Health and humour, Hiking, Mountains | Tagged American Independence, bladder infection, foreign language, gardening, Greece, Greek medical services, growing vegetables, ill health, laying paths, medical services, Record weather, summer, Symi, thistles, Tilos, vegetable garden, wet winter | 1 Comment

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz ……!

Posted on March 10, 2014 by BarryH

The well-known poem*, often attributed to New York prolific writer of comic verse Ogden Nash but made famous, in the UK at least, by Spike Milligan when he wasn’t walking backwards to Christmas, reflects the lightness of mood when the … Continue reading →

Posted in Health and humour, Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Pontypool, Spring, Wales | Tagged aeoniums, catkins, daffodils, Ogden Nash, plants, poetry, Pontypool Folly Tower, ramsons, rhubarb, rugby, Spike Milligan, spring, Spring is sprung, spring weather, wild garlic | 4 Comments

Canadian Rockies: Winter trails around Banff.

Posted on March 3, 2014 by BarryH

Before I turn my attention to Greece, for those who may be interested in following them, below is a summary of some of the walks I did during my recent visit to Banff. They were tracked using the ‘Endomondo’ app … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Winter | Tagged banff canada, Bow Falls, Bow River, Cave and Basin, Edmondo, Snow and ice, Spray River, sulphur mountain, Sulphur Mountain Gondola, Sundance Canyon, Tunnel Mountain, Vermilion Lakes, winter trails | 2 Comments

From the Canadian Rockies to Greece: looking back, moving forward.

Posted on February 27, 2014 by BarryH

It’s tempting to keep looking back to good times but there comes a point when attention has to shift in order to move forward. I had a great time in the Rockies, skiing and walking some of the winter trails … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Canada, Greece, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Winter | Tagged banff canada, canadian rockies, dodecanese islands, Greece, hiking, ice sculpture, skiing, Symi, trekking, winter trails | 2 Comments

Canadian Rockies: Flashback in Sundance Canyon

Posted on February 21, 2014 by BarryH

The skiing and trekking in the Rockies are finished now and I’m back home. But there are still a couple of things to write about. Beginning with my jaunt to Sundance Canyon. I went there first in January 2011 after … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Reflections, Winter | Tagged banff canada, Bow River, Derbyshire Peak District, Mount Edith, Mount Rundle, narrow escapes, Sundance Canyon, Sundance Pass, thermal springs | 1 Comment

Canadian Rockies: to the top of Sulphur Mountain

Posted on February 18, 2014 by BarryH

During the last 10 days or so of my stay in the Canadian Rockies I decided to concentrate my efforts on trying to improve my skiing. With fresh falls of snow the conditions changed from the ‘hard-pack’ with which I … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Winter | Tagged banff canada, Banff Springs Hotel, Bow River, canadian rockies, faux-Gothic architecture, ice, Mount Rundle, skiing, snow, Spray River, sulphur mountain, Sulphur Mountain Gondola, Sulphur Mountain Meterological Observatory, Tunnel Mountain | 5 Comments