The Ecrins Mountains

The Ecrins Mountains

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 Écrins National Park (French: Parc national des Écrins) is one of the ten French national parks. It is located in the south-eastern part of France and consists in a mountainous region of the Dauphiné Alps, south of Grenoble and north of Gap, shared between the départements of Isère and Hautes-Alpes.

The Journey Out.
Earlier this Summer we had had two weeks in our VW camper van to the Auverigne in the Massif Central and thus had a good idea what to expect however it never fails to completely poke me off after only 5 miles after leaving home and joining the M6 the UK motorway system is just one big car park. Why is it that government cannot do something about it. It amazes me we are told to work from home because everyone has the Internet yet the road system is gridlocked almost all the way to Dover nearly 300 miles. Junction 23-17, the Stafford junction is completely blocked, its blocked at Birmingham, its blocked on the M1, the M25, the M20 and so on, your glad to get to the ferry point to escape the shit whole this country has become too many people and too many cars yet they want to bring in more and more to do the work we are supposed not to want to do.
The ferry is booked for 10pm, you have to be in the cue 45 Min's before, we've been to a superb chippy near the co-op in Dover and thrown fish and chips down, its cheaper and better than the sugar filled crap on the ferry. Finally after customs, parking the van to close to what looks like a camp looking German from the 1980s we eventually make on deck, I skip the weak looking smooth flow and opt for the Kronenberg 1664 lager by now I could swim in a barrel full but settle fro two pints only.
The two hours on the ferry is the usual, people every where some sleeping eating, smoking, gambling and shopping. Kids are tired, shouting, screaming or throwing up after eating too much sugar filled crap. Finally where in Dunkirk but it take an age to manouvre the ship in ti rightful spot before dropping the bridge to allow vehicles of every kind off, initially there is confusion no one seems to know which way to go, we were heading back to the ferry terminal car park to bed down for a few hours before the route south.  Thermal blinds in place lights out were asleep within a few minutes.
To be continued.

Kettlewell Scarecrows

Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival 

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A pleasant couple of hours were spent in the Yorkshire Dales village of Kettlewell at their Scarecrow festival. I used my Canon 7d with a 24-105 coupled with my Canon ex 430 flash to fill in those shadowed areas.

Rain and More Rain

Monsoons in Dent 

 

We are sat in our little camper van in Dent on High Laning campsite, its belting it down, it hasn't really stopped all day. Earlier we stopped off in Lancaster to visit the castle and thd old prison, the guide an ex prison officer seemed to be incredibly informed and knowledgeable about the inmates, escapes and the history of building dating back 100s of years. Sadly we were not able to discover more about HMP Lancaster perhaps once the Duchy of Lancaster know the out come of its future we will revisit.

Some great real ales.

Of the three pubs I sometimes visit the "Old England" in the centre of St Helens has some fine real ales to choose from and very reasonably priced too. It ticks most of the boxes for me though at times the banter can be fourth right and perhaps not thought through, am sure it's often best not to get involved. I settled for the Lancaster Blonde and very palatable too.

Clitheroe Food Festival

Clitheroe Food Festival yesterday was the venue for this weekends street photography. Some great food was had from a variety of local producers. It looked as though many people enjoyed a great day out of food and drink though sometimes a little expensive Over £2.50 for a small Mexican style wrap was a bit steep, I reckoned the seller must have had a profitable day. The beers were lovely, I had a bottle of Irwell brewery from Rambottom plus the usual Thwaites "Wainwright" which though palatable failed to excite. I had hoped for some Caribbean food something Ive never tried on the way back to the car we got caught by Daisy a Colombian lady working in a Spanish restaurant who beckoned us in with two very small portions of meat balls and paella together with two bottles of San Miguel and a bill for £17. Oh well it was enjoyable and nice people.
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City Road St Helens

What were you doing?

It say's give way, the broken line means stop yet the woman driving the black VW Polo did not do either and ploughed straight into my wifes car. I have to ask the question why? What were you doing? Were you on a mobile phone? Or what?
It causes untold problems simply because you were not concentrating on the road in front. My wife now needs a medical she needs to see a solicitor she has had to take time off work and it has caused her additional stress at a time when she could do without it. Our car has been written off, the value she will be offered will probably not buy her another simialar car. It was a perfectly good car and had servered her well over the last few years there was nothing wrong with it. We will have to spend time seraching for a replacement car.
I went to the police station in St Helens to enquire what further action they were going to take, sadly the woman behind the plastic sheild in a pale blue uniform (cheap coppers comes to mind) whose attitude stank to high heaven, who had never attended a customer service course who needed further public relations training arrogantly said none and it was simply down to the insurance companies to sort out. If they felt further police action was required they would be informed. I asked if the police were to find out if they lady driving the VW Polo might have been on a mobile phone and could that be classed as dangerous driving and again she said they were not.
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My Wifes Car

The VW Polo