The shape of The Shale Basin, soon to be wintered, shading the bed of the Puget Sound, etching, at anchor, an orbit in the near-frozen water, caught between kelp and canopy of cloud. Low, early December sunlight casting long shadows, shafting the surface; an ever-complicated dance. Slow repetition, return and feign of … Continue reading The Shale Basin.
There aren't so many pirates at the pirate party. Mostly, it's just people at a party. Wayne, though, who I haven't seen since Tommy, me and him spent that week in Cornwall, is stood at the window, staring at the sea. He has a blackjoke, plastic pirate patch over one eye. It has a skull … Continue reading The Pirate Party.
Grid Reference: NT977272 The ascent of Humbleton to the Iron Age hillfort. The Battle of Humbleton September 14 1420. The sky is bigger, better, here. It settles in the treetops - sketches distant pencil lines from left to right. Such detail. Black-face sheep, blue numbered, vast & herded. Sheets of … Continue reading Five Miles of Wooler Common.
24/10/18 OS grid ref: NY 7083 6412 Haltwhistle is a small town and parish in northwest Northumberland. It lies 10 miles east of Brampton and has a population of 3,800. Early forms of the name are Hautwesel (1240), Hautwysel (1254), Hawtewysill (1279), Hautwysell (1381), Haltwesell (Speede/ 1610). The second part '-twistle' relates to two streams … Continue reading Five Miles of Haltwhistle.
'An easy to moderate climb', the guidebook promises. But, halfway up Catbells' spine, she turns to me and says, "I can't carry on anymore." We had followed in footprints of dead Roman legions. I'd even seen her walking on her hands on Tynemouth beaches. But, she can't carry on anymore. We covered … Continue reading An Easy To Moderate Climb.
The Woden Walks: Five miles of Rothbury. 22/08/18 NE65. OS Grid Ref: 056017 (13 miles north-west of Morpeth. 26 miles north north-west of Newcastle. 33 miles north west of Whitley Bay) The public lavatories, just over the bridge from the car park, are closed. They are padlocked. By order of the council. No one … Continue reading Five Miles of Rothbury (22/08/18)
