I know it's a poor picture, but...

The sky this morning is amazing and yes, that is just how bright it was. I took it through two layers of glass - my bedroom window.

Within about 5 minutes it had started to take on a golden glow which was also amazing. I couldn't see the sun however, as it was hidden by the house on the right.

A free day so we all went to Herm

A little piece of paradise off the French coast called GB. With blue seas and Mediterranean plants its hard to imagine we're only 55mins flight from Gatwick.

Herm is beautiful. One side is low lying and covered in sand dunes, the other high clifftops with goat-like tracks. 

Two very contrasting vista's, both of are which marvellous to walk. 

The cliff edge walk did get hairy from time to time and required all our focus to stay on the path and not fall over the edge. Rough rock out cropped along the way making walking hazardous; inclines were narrow, steep and very uneven, steps treacherous but we made it.

The views were well worth it though.

How's this for a jail?

Yep, a jail for one! We all pondered as to what crime one had to commit to get in there. Murder? Not really enough people. Theft? Only one house and how would you get the stuff off the island anyway. Poaching? For what? Rabbits? 

Pass. None of us could better drunken disorderly and afraid of facing the wife!

The plant life was exotic as expected. 

It was clear the temperature had a controlled window with maximums of low 30°C to never below 0°C. All of what is shown here just grows in borders. At home, I would be putting all this into the greenhouse and when really cold, the livingroom!

Yep, a great day but now happy to have my feet up back at the hotel. A long soak in a bath awaits. Now that is bliss. 

A wobbly beginning but improved with paracetamol

Today we had a trip around the island stopping off at various locations. Our driver was excellent and gave us a wonderful commentary about all the island's history etc.

Our first stop was at a tiny chapel out in the middle of nowhere. It was built by an order of Brothers. There's a long story behind it which was fascinating. Too long for here but well worth the listen.

The brother in charge of building it was a good business man and got all the materials for free. The staircase up to the chapel was donated by Wedgwood! On the riser of one of the steps was the Wedgwood name; a clever piece of advertising there.

German fortifications are everywhere. In fact the islands bristled with lookout posts, gun emplacement and search light posts. Most were old Marcello towers taken over by concrete additions.

The north of the island is very different from the south, one on high cliff tops the other, low lying fields. Around one bay alone there were 5 gun emplacements.

It was a lovely morning and getting back I hightailed it up to M+S to grab some lunch.

I sat watching the long queue of people attempting to return to the 4000 strong MSC cruise ship lying out in the bay. Not only did they have to face customs check but quite a healthy tender to get back on board.

I sat and leisurely ate a late lunch of sushi. Lovely.

Yesterday? Oh not again!

I'm not quite sure when the migraine began but the previous evening I began to hallucinate by 9pm.

Retiring to bed I remember little until the early hours of the morning when I opened my door and slipped the "Do Not Disturb" sign over the handle.

Sickness and head pain took off onto another level and I remember little of yesterday at all.

Today?

Shakey but up, dressed and had some breakfast. I will go on the island bus tour. If I fall asleep, well......

 

And we're off

Today I'm off for a short jaunt over to Guernsey. I'm going with Saga but it has been taken on by their sister company, Titan.

There are 13 of us and most are in their 80s ranging from wheelchair bound to, well let's say frail.

I'm probably the youngest by far. 

The person in charge and acting as our guide is also in her late 70s. I think this might be a bit too slow for me but we'll see what unfolds.

To be honest I've come for one outing more than any other and that's over to Sark.

The journey to the airport was easy until we reached the junction 9 turn off. 

Grid lock. 

A combination of a broken down van on the slip road and the rail strike; the queues were lengthy and slow.

We finally reached the traffic lights at the top of the off ramp only to be sent back down again onto the motorway. 

To cut a long story short we eventually reached a drop off point and leaping out the car I high tailed it up the ramp to Departures.

From then on it was easy. The flight was less than an hour, I managed to get some tea on board and we cruised at 15 000 feet so little ear popping.

The plane was one of those small ones, twin props with no more than 50 seats.

Guernsey airport is sweet and easy to navigate and before I realised, we were at the Best Western hotel.

I've been out walking and wandered up to the other end of the bay.

I've found important things like food stops, tea wagons and the harbour walks and ate at one of the small independent places along the coast. 

We are to meet up at 6.30pm to discuss the itinerary and then have dinner. 

Jury is out atm but let's see. Oh yes, Guernsey maybe part of UK but it's deemed abroad by EE so no internet. Oh well.

Time is looming for a short break

Time has slowly rolled round and this coming Saturday sees me taking the plane this time, to Guernsey for a week.

When I come back it'll only be 5 weeks until my repeat voyage, cruising down to Cape Verde and back.

House is ready for the house sitter, packing my case tomorrow and being collected at 9am for a Gatwick flight at 11:55am on Saturday.

Be good to get away after what seems such a very long time.

A wander along the Medway

Parking the car, as usual, in Allington, I walked down toward the locks where fresh and tidal are separated by active gates

It's an area of great activity with boats coming and going, stopping either at open moorings by the lock or pulling up by the Lock Café situated in the central grassy section of the lock complex itself. Open most days, I can recommend the teas, coffees and speciality teas on offer. They also do snacks. I think in winter they do hot stuff too but not sure about that.

Crossing the high bridge I looked downstream.

The towpath continues to Aylesford and it should be a lovely walk. Unfortunately, last winter saw bank collapse taking a section of towpath with it. Now, to continue, one has to cross a very busy dual carriageway with cars just off the M20; they take few prisoners. 

Passing the large boat yard many moorings are permanent with extra large 'cargo' vessels which once carried grain, cattle and coal around our shores and waterways nestle against small gardens and deep pilings driven deep into the mud.

One ex cargo boat is fully restored and makes a home which is much larger than a four bedroom apartment! Its massive and took more than a blink of the eye to walk past. The rigging, mast, anchor and running gear look as though it docked only hours before.

Fabulous. 

Like many rivers there has to be a castle tucked away somewhere. This one is Allington Castle, medieval in age and privately owned. It's used for functions, weddings etc and I suspect available for film backdrops; the images on the net are beautiful.

Some people seem to opt for the good life both ways with a small house plus their own moorings and boat. Nice way to do it if you can.

The path continues and takes you between what look like water meadows to your left and the river to your right. Some alleyways run up to villages which offer future exploration. 

All too quickly,the peace gave way to traffic noise, people shouting in the football stadium and building construction. 

Litter replaced blackberries and the noise of a growing development replaced the ducks.

To this point, the walk had been glorious but approaching the town itself made me realise just how much continuous noise we coped with each day.

I created the pink line.