Category Archives: Landscape

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

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

Canadian Rockies: icy river, twitching senses

Posted on February 9, 2014 by BarryH

Apropos nothing in particular, but just a piece of trivia, geographical nomenclature, which weevilled its way into my brain, I don’t know why it is that in the UK the convention for naming rivers is to call them “River Something” … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Wildlife, Winter | Tagged banff canada, Bow Falls, Bow River, geographical nomenclature, ice, Spray River, Three Toed Woodpecker, woodpecker | 2 Comments

Canadian Rockies: sundog days

Posted on February 5, 2014 by BarryH

I spend long periods in the summer in Greece, walking in the mountains. Preparations for the day typically consists of donning a pair of walking sandals (hence my avatar), lightweight shorts and a relatively fresh T-shirt. Dehydration is the main … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Wildlife, Winter | Tagged American Dipper, banff canada, Dog Days, freezing temperatures, Greece, ski wear, Sundog, trekking, walks | Leave a comment

Canadian Rockies: the icy expanse of Vermilion Lakes

Posted on February 4, 2014 by BarryH

Come Saturday and after 5 days of skiing, thigh muscles starting to rebel, I was ready for a break. So after an annual ritual of a large celebratory Melissa’s Breakfast with my daughter and her husband and waving them goodbye … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Hiking, Landscape, Wildlife, Winter | Tagged banff canada, birds, canadian rockies, ice, Mount Rundle, reflections, snow, Vermilion Lakes, Vermilion Lakes Scenic Drive | 1 Comment