Category Archives: Hiking

Kalymnos: colour and signals in the crags

Posted on May 13, 2014 by BarryH

I’m back on Symi now, very busy trekking and photographing in the mountains with a friend. Some unusual shots to follow. A good number of ‘Wow!’ moments. But first, a brief snapshot of Kalymnos and more particularly of Emborios, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Spring, Wildlife | Tagged castles, climbing, crags, Flora, flowers, Greece, Hawk Moth, Kalymnos, Kastri, spiders, Symi, telecom, telecom problems, Telendos, WiFi, wildlife | Leave a comment

Symi: habitats and wildlife

Posted on May 2, 2014 by BarryH

I’m continuing to trek around the infrequently trodden parts of Symi and continuing to be surprised by the variety of colourful plant life. It’s not in great swathes like on other islands I have visited in Spring but the number … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Hiking, Mountains, Nature, Spring, Wildlife | Tagged Butterflies, dragonflies, dragonfly egg laying, Greece, Gria pond, lizards, Oregano, Symi, Testudo Graeca, tortoise | Leave a comment

Symi: walking through Spring colour

Posted on April 28, 2014 by BarryH

I have done a whole series of walks since I arrived on Symi more than two weeks ago. Some have been just a couple of hours and 3 or 4 miles, others longer. Most of them are through areas I … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Spring | Tagged cyclamen, Flora, flowers, Greece, orchids, poppies, spring, Symi | Leave a comment

Symi: funeral bells and the smell of death

Posted on April 22, 2014 by BarryH

In Greece Easter is a far more important celebration than Christmas. Theologically that is as it should be, the birth of Christ was only the necessary first step, the reason for His coming was His death and resurrection. Without Easter … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Spring, Wildlife | Tagged ANFO, Christmas, church bells, commercialisation of Christmas, crucifixion, Dracunculus vulgaris, Dragon Arum, Easter, explosions, explosives, Funeral bells, Greece, Greek Easter, Resurrection, smell of death, Symi | Leave a comment

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

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

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