Up on Dunstable Downs.

Robyn took me in hand today, I didn't want to go out but she forced me to drive for miles along a jammed up M25 on a Bank Holiday weekend.

And we saw this;

We went to the Downs at Dunstable and this is an air vent for the visitors centre which is about 100 yards away. It takes in air from the strong winds at the top of The Downs which then rushes along a tube to the centre and also provides oxygen for the woodchip boiler.

It also looks good.

We walked all the way along to the end!

   

 

 You can see for miles; 

 





All the way along the chalk escarpment;

Dozens of people were there to fly their kites (should have brought mine) while down below was a glider club.

Here's a plane taking off, dragging up a glider on its wire;

Looks like a lot of fun;

A whole lot of fun!

Although at times there seemed quite a few gliders up there.

While it was fairly cold out of the sun and there was a good wind blowing, they were finding it hard to stay up in the clouds for long.

There were some paragliders too;

But there really wasn't enough wind;

One had a go but couldn't get the updraft;

So we walked back to the car and had a very large ice cream.

And I had to admit that Robyn was right.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

What we did before plastic.

I've not been having the best of times and I'm still debating whether I can tell you about it. Actually I will but it's a question of timing and I'm now due back at hospital which is never a happy experience.

Anyway we just had the remnants of hurricane Bertha - just winds and rain not a real hurricane. But ideal weather to fly a kite - which is what I did on Sunday.

High winds, great gusts and with my kite kept deliberately unstable it was fun. Until a huge gust sent it into a suicidal dive which shattered one of the poles.

So I found an old bamboo cane, split it in half, then in half again. Threw away the pieces that were rough or irregular and smoothed off the best quarter. Cut it to size and I'm back in action on Monday as you can see here;

Which is fairly neat, I think you will agree.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com