LAST DAYS IN LONDON

We spent the last week of our holidays with Rachel and Adrian, Jamie and Hannah in London.
We spent one day at the zoo and enjoyed the adventure playground and the rides as much as the animals - including the giraffes, lions, tigers, gorillas, etc

Jamie's new bike and helmet

Jamie in front of his favorite show - pat the postman

Jamie at Arsenal football training

A contented Hannah

Farewells at the Airport

VISIT TO THE WEST COUNTRY

Chris and I had two nights at a B & B at Stratford on our way to Birmingham and spent a day at Warwick Castle.

Chris with the boys

We enjoyed two Falconary shows - this was a 16lb sea eagle from central Europe.

We met up with Judy and Barry in Birmingham, and had lunch and then went to the Bourneville area to scatter Hylda's ashes.

This was the park where Chris scattered the ashes and it was just down the hill from Thorn Road where Hylda lived as a child.

At the Cider Museum

Cousins in front of the Wisteria - a rare moment of silence.

Cousins with the jolly man at Lechlade on the Thames on the journey back to London.

ICELAND April 09

Chris and Bob spent the 25th to 30th April in IcelandWe stayed in the centre of Reykjavik at the Centrum, which was build on top of a 10th century longhouse what has been excavated in the basement of the hotel.

Rugged up during a walk around the port area

The first tour on Monday was of the southern coastal region where the majority of the agriculture is carried out. There are plenty of waterfalls on rivers draining off the glaciers.

We visited a local museum where they explained to us the rigors of life (survival) in medieval Iceland

Early settlement was hampered by the lack of timber both for construction and heating and this is an early dwelling constructed from local rock and driftwood.

On tuesday we visited the Blue Lagoon a hot spring area close to the International airport and 45km south of Reykjavik

Hot springs outside the Blue Lagoon complex

A view of the Blue Lagoons Hot Springs pool from the second floor of the complex

The weather during our visit was squally rain showers and it was pleasant to relax in the cafetaria after our dip.

On the wednesday we spend the full day doing the grand circle tour with Nature Explorer. As we started the tour the weather was overcast with some rain but as we travelled inland the weather improved. We were the only people on the tour and had two guides. The tour was described as....

Experience many of Iceland´s natural gems in a magnificient day tour – and do it in style and comfort of our Super Jeeps. Departure from Reykjavik to volcano Hengill and Nesjavellir where we can learn about how the enourmous geothermal power is harnessed to provide Reykjavik with both hot water and electricity without polluting. From there it´s only a short drive to Thingvellir where the oldest parliament in world was founded and you can see the tectonical plates boundaries. After Thingvellir we cross the mountain road of Lyngdalsheidi towards Geysir and Gullfoss where we stop for lunch. Seeing the geyser Strokkur spout boiling water 25-30 m high in the air is fantastic nature experience and the Geysir area has numerous other hot springs. After seeing Iceland’s most famous waterfall, Gullfoss up close and listening to it´s roaring thunder as it cascades 32 metres down the mighty glacial river Hvíta we drive a mountain track to Iceland´s second largest glacier, Langjokull where you have the option of renting a snowmobile and blaze across the white plains of the glacier. If you decide not to go snowmobiling, driving on the snow and seeing the glacier and the barren landscape is still big fun and extraordinary. On the way back to Reykavik we make a short photo stop at the crater lake Kerið. Once in Reykjavik we will drop you off at your hotel or a restaurant of your choice.Experience many of Iceland´s natural gems in a magnificient day tour – and do it in style and comfort of our Super Jeeps.

Thingvellir at the plate boundary

Gullfoss

At the top of the Langjokull glacier with the glass of celebratory bubbly

Geyser is one of the two words in the English language that come from Icelandic. The term comes from this area where the first Geyser was seen in the 12th century. Unfortunately the main geyser is very unpredictable now although there is a smaller geyser which blows ever 10min or so.

HONG KONG - UK APRIL 09

Chris and Bob have just spent Easter in Hong Kong on the way to visit Rachel, Adrian, Jamie and Hannah in the UK.

At the nighly light show on the harbour

Chris at the tram terminus on the way to the Peak.

At the Peak overlooking Hong Kong and Kowloon

Arriving on the ferry at Lamma Island for Easter Sunday lunch

Easter Sunday Lunch


Left Hong Kong on Easter Monday and were upgraded to the pointy end.

Chris waking up in the pointy end.

Remote sensing the Ural Mountains in Russia.

Arrived in the UK on Easter monday and staying with Rachel and Adrian

Jamie and Hannah relaxing on Mrs Koala

Celebrations down the local with Rachel's parents

Chris and Bob are off to Iceland on Saturday 25th and back on Thursday 30th