Coffee by Ullswater - Lake District National Park
Riding a loop from Keswick to see the autumn colours, including the biker favourite road from Patterdale to Pooley Bridge in both directions. The lakeside road was dry and mostly clear of leaves, but not the day to wring the neck of my Ninja Z250SL. Pause for a lakeside coffee from my flask; then back via the old roads around Stainton, Newbiggin, Penruddock and the flanks of Blencathra.
The autumn colours were spectacular and the air warm enough in the sunny intervals. Happy to have seized the moment for a ride before the winter chill arrives.
More photos: Coffee by Ullswater - Lake District National Park
Citrus grove, Hammersmith
Autumn sunshine but past the equinox so time for pruning the Wisteria on my London patio garden. It’s been growing here since the Sixties at least, so deserves to be treated with care and respect; nonetheless it needs pruning hard to control its spread and keep it flowering. Then chopping up and bagging the trimmings.
Classic Provence: Lubéron & the Plateau d'Albion
Great light for photography, open roads and with the colours of autumn developing almost before my eyes. So an inspiring background for a bike ride in classic Provence in the Lubéron and around Ventoux.
Roads I’ve ridden many times since the GLME Summercamp of 1998 enthralled me with riding in Provence. Some villages remain much as they were despite nearly thirty years of “progress”. The road through the Combe de Lourmarin road remains “unimproved” but Apt in the Lubéron is now served by a highway and the railway is now a cycle track.
More photos: Classic Provence: Lubéron & the Plateau d'Albion
Marseille Beach ride
Sunday afternoon ride on my hardtail bike to the Marseille beaches. Busy in the October sunshine. Far too much competition to have a go on the Bowl du Prado BMX and skateboard facility.
Les Monts de l’Ardèche
Mazan-l'Abbaye
Corniche of the Cévennes on the horizon
Riding.lesser-known roads in the Ardèche mountains to the west of the famous gorge and north of the Cévennes. Riding with a group of the French club AMA and guided by a local rider, this was a loop taking in many rider challenges as well as scenic distractions. Valleys and ridges, hairpins and straights; red pines and colourful chestnuts, villages and forests etc. Quite a sporting challenge too on my CBR600RR to ride with the mostly litre bikes in the group.
Casher - AOG Zenata
Casher - AOG Zenata - MD Excellence - Domaine des Ouled Thaleb, Benslimane, Morocco
Ouled Thaleb is one of the oldest Moroccan domaines, the vineyards are on the Atlantic coast about 50 km north-east of Casablanca. Ouled Thaleb features a catalogue of wines built around a solid reputation over more than a century. The Casher wine is an assemblage of 40% Cabernet Franc, 30% Syrah, 30% Arinarnoa. It poured as a dark and graceful deep red in the glass. An elegant taste, balanced tannins (lightly oaked) and pleasantly long after the swig.
An exotic send-off from Marseille-Provence airport’s relaunched lounge, Salon Cézanne. The lounge now has more space and a sparse menu of hot food, but has the unfortunate design air of the staff canteen at Alcatraz, due to the control tower and razor wire immediately outside. The Moroccan wine’s good though: enjoy your flight!
Postcard and photoset from Menton
Postcard from Menton in the French style to introduce my set of photos of Menton, the “Pearl of the Rivera”. Menton is a Mediterranean town both French and Italian, a favourite of the British for many years. Fantastic light, fabulous gardens and free beaches.
Running the border
Back running for fun, fitness and to keep in small size shorts. I’ve always enjoyed running, it was my sport in my teeens and twenties, so I’m happy I can still do a short run that doesn’t upset my joints if I’m careful. The warm weather helps. Two runs from where we’re staying in Menton on the French Riviera: to the border with Italy or to the lighthouse at the end of the harbour wall, each about 25 minutes there and back.
Paradis des Praz - Chamonix-Mont Blanc
Wonderful woodland walk up the gorge of the River Arve, route known as Le Paradis des Praz. Calm and mysterious, away from the bustle of Chamonix and unaware of the Alpine granite giants in the clouds above. Fragrant and cool, always walking with the roar of the torrent alongside. We walked up the footpath from Chamonix-Mont Blanc (1038 m.) to Argentière (1250 m.) and returned on a narrow gauge (1.000 m.) train of the Mont-Blanc Express railway.
‘The Marriage of Figaro’ from Glyndebourne at the Proms 2025
A lively, modern performance of W.A. Mozart’s classic comic opera at the Proms. Figaro harks back to an earlier and apparently simpler time, of servants and Countesses; nonetheless there is a war somewhere. But seeing “The Marriage of Figaro” in a semi-staged version of Glyndebourne’s new production is an escape from the realities of our era with some of W.A. Mozart’s most sublime music.
Read more: ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ from Glyndebourne at the Proms 2025
