Flying the Flag

This elegant crescent was owned by York Council until recently although I think it is destined to become a hotel. This week it is flying the French flag as The Tour will ride down here shortly. The building on the left is the Theatre Royal, come back later in the week to see what has landed on the roof.

Boulevard

The street signs are turning French! The Tour must be getting closer!!

Countdown

As you can see we have been celebrating Le Tour in York for some time now, since March in fact. Goodness look at that dark cloud, better hop on my bike and try to get home before the rain begins......

Fine Fern Friday

The new planting done over the last few years in the Museum Gardens is really starting to look effective. This shady corner is ideal for ferns.

St Helen's Square

St Helen's Square and the Mansion House decorated ready for The Tour.

York Station

York station complete with more yellow bikes and what looks like a 'stag' party in the background. York is a popular destination for 'stag' and 'hen' parties due to the large choice of hotels pubs and bars. Looks like the bridegroom is finding it all a bit of a drag....

Yellow

Lots of yellow bikes are appearing around the city this month, what can it all mean?

Strawberries

Wimbledon starts this week, I doubt strawberries in London will be £1.99 a punnet as they were on York market this weekend!

Halfpenny House

Whenever I walk past I wonder where Halfpenny House got it's name from. If it were for sale today I doubt there would be much change from £500,000.

Market Stall

Lots of colourful carved wood to choose from on this market stall.

Goslings

Suspect there may have been more goslings originally. Let's hope these three keep close to Mum and Dad and stay safe.

Poppies

Lots of summer colour about at the moment, these poppies cannot quite decide which side of the railings they belong.

Red Boats

The hot weather recently makes a trip along the river sound like a good idea.

Door detail

This townhouse has a rather fine looking gentleman located above the door.

Stable Cottage

A different type of house power is kept near stable cottage these days.

Sunny day

Another view of the Red Tower as it joins the city walls.

Pump #2

As well as a nicely tiled mosaic floor and seating, plus shelter from the rain (or sun), and water to drink, visitors to this rest stop are treated to a set of instructions around the top. These include Weary, Rest, Thirsty, Drink, the year 1908 and the initials of the benefactor WF Wailes-Fairbairn who owned nearby Askham Grange.

Pump #1

This little shelter contains the pump on the village green at Askham Richard. Come back tomorrow to see what else is inside.

Leethams Mill

A view of the river Foss with Leethams Mill in the background.

Green Ginnel

Looks like the ivy will take over this ginnel soon.

Fisher of Dreams

This sculpture is sited along one of the city cycle tracks and is titled The Fisher of Dreams. The project was funded by a millennium community art scheme and the design chosen by local people. A nearby plaque notes:
The tranquil fisher, deliberately neither male nor female, dreams his (or her) dreams by the river bank, of a time when the 'Flying Scotsman' still steamed over this bridge. Everything seems idyllic - but just remember it is when all seems right with the world, that there is a dog behind you, peeing on your bike!

The Gap

A last view of St Kilda for a while, this is the village looking towards The Gap with Conachair on the left and Oiseval on the right. We walked up to the summit of Mullach Mor, along the top of Conachair, and across the ridge at the back of this view. Over that ridge the highest sea cliffs in the UK plunge 1400ft down to the sea below. A stunningly beautiful walk.

Village Street

View along the Village street on St Kilda. The closest stones are the remains of a Black House where humans and animals lived together, next to that is a restored 1860 house.

Village Bay

Our first view of Village Bay on Hirta the largest island of the St Kilda group. The white buildings on the right are the restored Manse, Church and Schoolhouse. The modern building are what remain of the military presence, and behind them the restored 1860 houses are mixed in with the ruins of the old black houses. Spreading up the hills behind are the ever present stone storage huts known as cleits, over 1000 of them, dotted around the island.

Islands on the Edge of the World

GG&G has been travelling to one of the remotest parts of the United Kingdom. This was the final approach to our mist shrouded destination after many hours at sea, any suggestions?

Zest!

Bright colours and a slightly eccentric choice of racing cycle....... See more examples of zest here