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Berners Roding Church (dedication unknown but believed to be All Saints) is situated within the small hamlet of Berners Roding approximately 6 miles NE of Chipping Ongar. The church is adjacent to Berners Hall and surrounded by arable fields to be east and north, Berners Hall farm to the west and is accessed via a narrow track leading from the road to the south.
Whilst the exact origins of the church are unknown, elements of the building appear to date from the 14th century. The nave and chancel are of an unknown date but the east and west walls are believed to be 16th century. The church once had a weather-boarded belfry that housed a single bell dated 1594 (cast by John Dyer – bell foundry Chelmsford). A survey of the church by Nikolaus Pevsner for his book “The Buildings of England – Essex” published in 1954 shows the belfry was present and it was therefore removed after this date. The whereabouts of the bell is unknown.
The church was deconsecrated in 1985 and is now in a very sorry state.
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Nikon D300s || 10-20mm @ 13mm || ISO 200 || f/11 || 1/8s
Plaza Mayor
Presidida por el edificio del ayuntamiento y abierta al castillo, se rodea por soportales en ambos lados. En estos soportales se ubican sendas prensas comunitarias en las que se realizaba la prensa de la uva.
La villa de Aínsa, capital del municipio de Aínsa-Sobrarbe, es un pueblo de la Provincia de Huesca, en la comarca de Sobrarbe, en la Comunidad Autónoma de Aragón (España).
Su núcleo original, que se emplaza en un promontorio sobre la confluencia de los ríos Cinca y Ara, está formado por dos calles casi paralelas, la calle Mayor y la de Arriba, y por la plaza Mayor que se sitúa a continuación del castillo y éste enfrente de la explanada donde la leyenda sitúa el milagro de la aparición de la cruz de fuego sobre una carrasca que dio la victoria a las tropas cristianas al mando del rey García Jiménez.
Con clara distribución medieval, el casco histórico de Aínsa está declarado Conjunto Histórico-Artístico desde 1965. Actualmente es un centro turístico de relevancia en toda España.
Historia
Aunque la leyenda sitúa el nacimiento de Aínsa en la conquista de la plaza por las tropas del rey García Ximénez en el año 724 gracias al milagro de la cruz de fuego (desde el siglo XVI hay una cruz en el lugar donde supuestamente ocurrieron los hechos) las fuentes históricas apuntan que los musulmanes no llegaron a establecerse en esta tierras.
Castillo
El castillo, que data del siglo XI, formó parte de la línea de defensa de los territorios cristianos (línea que se extendía hasta Abizanda), y se convirtió en el embrión de la villa, que en tiempos de la Edad Media fue amurallada, y se convirtió en la capital del condado de Sobrarbe que perteneció al reino de Nájera-Pamplona (antes de que éste diera lugar al Reino de Navarra) y luego se integrara en el reino de Aragón.
En 1124 el rey Alfonso I el batallador otorgó la Carta puebla por la que se beneficiaba a sus habitantes con el fuero de Jaca.
La importancia de la plaza llevó que la iglesia de Santa María fuera concebida también como defensa, tal y como atestiguan las saeteras de su torre.
Siglo XX
La pérdida de importancia de la comarca del Sobrarbe llevó a una relajación de la actividad de Aínsa que se mantuvo en un estado de subsistencia hasta principios del siglo XX cuando las actividades tradicionales se vieron perturbadas con los planes de construcción de diferentes presas, pantanos y otros sistemas hidráulicos, destinados a la producción de electricidad y al suministro de agua para la llanuras del Ebro.
Esta actividad llevó a la expropiación y pérdida de las mejores tierras de cultivo de los valles y a la emigración de sus gentes. Muchos de los pueblos vecinos vieron cómo desaparecían la totalidad de sus habitantes y en otros como éstos disminuían drásticamente. Esto llevó a que pasaran a depender del ayuntamiento de Aínsa.
La limitación de recursos de todo tipo que la baja densidad de población y la complicada orografía provocan llevaron a una crisis importante a mediados del siglo XX. Esta crisis fue superada mediante el recurso turístico y el florecimiento del turismo rural y natural.
La creación de varios parques naturales y naturales, primero el del Ordesa y Monte Perdido seguido de otros como el de la Sierra de Guara y la afición a la montaña y a los deportes de aventura se convirtieron en la actividad económica más relevante.
Maria Kemp, Paul Alice
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On a typically sunny San Diego day you might be drawn to the sights and the sounds of the Balboa Park Carousel. As you approach, you see the horses, frogs, dogs and pigs bobbing up and down on their brass poles.
Most of us who grew up in San Diego took a spin on it at one time or another. But for me, it had even more significance. You could say it was a member of the family.
Balboa Park: Heart Of San Diego
Special Feature Balboa Park: Heart Of San Diego
My grandfather started working there in 1925. My parents bought it in the '50s. I got to ride endlessly as a child in the 1960s, and I spent many days in the '70s sitting in that small white ticket box, selling tickets to help put me through college.
Bill Steen, the carousel's owner, told me that its history started five years before the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park — an event whose centennial is being celebrated this year.
“The carousel is a 1910 Herschell-Spillman menagerie carousel, and it was made in North Tonawanda, New York, and shipped to California,” Steen said.
It was initially sent to Los Angeles, then turned up at the resort called Tent City in Coronado in 1915. As Balboa Park grew into a popular spot, the original carousel owner decided to place it near where the Plaza de Balboa & Bea Evenson Fountain sits today on the eastern edge of the park.
The carousel "finally settled down in the park in about 1922,” Steen said.
It remained in that location until 1968 when it was moved to its current spot, he said, adjacent to the San Diego Zoo.
KPBS news ancher Sally Hixson takes a trip down memory lane by taking a ride on the Balboa Park Carousel, Jan. 19, 2015. Her family used to own the carousel.
By Roland Lizarondo
KPBS news ancher Sally Hixson takes a trip down memory lane by taking a ride on the Balboa Park Carousel, Jan. 19, 2015. Her family used to own the carousel.
For me, that move in 1968 stands out. The city asked my mom to move her carousel three blocks, near the zoo. It was done to make way for the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and the fountain.
Now 92, my mom, Virginia Long, owned the carousel for nearly 30 years. She still speaks with pride of its features, especially the craftsmanship on each animal.
“They’re hand carved. And I know the kind of wood — Lindenwood — from the Linden trees in London, England,” she told me.
Many of the horses have real horsetails, which raises an interesting story for both my mom and me: The story of where they came from.
“The zoo was very kind, and they kill horses when they’re old and feed the meat to the tigers and lions. And they would cut off the pretty tails,” Mom said.
Virginia Long, the former owner of the Balboa Park Carousel, sits near the center of the historic merry-go-round, Jan. 19, 2015.
Richard Klein
Virginia Long, the former owner of the Balboa Park Carousel, sits near the center of the historic merry-go-round, Jan. 19, 2015.
What my mom didn’t say is that she hated to see the bloody tails that had just been removed from the horses. So I would go with her, then take the tails to the tanner, where I watched them clean them up for the carousel. I was a kid and I didn’t care.
The carousel was a fount of stories for our family. Here’s one.
A standard rule is that only the employees can move about the carousel during a ride. As a kid, I remember hearing how actor Robert Preston — who played Professor Harold Hill in the movie “The Music Man” — rode the carousel and wouldn’t stay still. My father gave him several warnings, and finally he stopped the carousel and kicked Preston off.
As a kid, I couldn’t believe my father kicked a famous actor off our merry-go-round. Dad later told me Preston had too much to drink.
The merry-go-round had an added feature for kids, and this one that was special among carousels: the ring toss. A bunch of rings, loaded into a hollow stake, would be extended just within reach of carousel riders. The lucky rider who grabbed the brass ring would win a free ride.
“And I believe we’re the only active ring toss game west of the Mississippi,” said Steen, who now owns the carousel.
The Balboa Park Carousel, brought to the park in 1922, allows its riders to straddle anything from a horse to a tiger or a frog, Jan. 19, 2015.
By Roland Lizarondo
The Balboa Park Carousel, brought to the park in 1922, allows its riders to straddle anything from a horse to a tiger or a frog, Jan. 19, 2015.
Almost everything on the carousel is original, including the “band organ” and the hand-painted murals above the animals. The upkeep is extensive.
My mom calls owning it a year-round labor of love.
“It’s a well-loved merry-go-round,” she said, “and I’m so glad’s there’s a variety of animals: tigers and lions and pigs and cats. I painted the animals, and if they were all horses I would’ve been very bored!”
Steen sees it the same way.
“It’s been 35 years of loving care, carrying on the fine traditions that Virginia and (her dad) Clarence Wilcken set up for the merry-go-round. So little has changed over these, gosh, 90 years that the two families have owned or operated the merry-go-round,” Steen said.
So as you head to Balboa Park to celebrate its history, take a spin on the carousel, which truly can take you back in time.
P9190218. Photo: Crow Butte State Park, WA
A Bike tour From Portland (Troutdale) to Bonner's Ferry, Idaho. Eleven days of riding 530 miles (plus 40 miles of hitching). The return was made on the Empire Builder Amtrak train at Sandpoint, ID.
For the tour Matt and Carye bought new custom built Bike Friday (www.bikefriday.com) folding bikes that are made in Eugene, Oregon. Neither Carye or Matt own cars, so investing in a reliable, flexible bike for travel was important. However the bikes arrived two days before leaving, so getting used to new bikes while on the road, was literally a pain in the butt! By the end of the trip, gears, seat and handle bar placement, and proper riding shoes were figured out. Everyday of the ride had awesome weather (not too hot, not rainy), and Carye and Matt met many friendly people, ate as much pizza and icecream as desired, and enjoyed some beautiful scenery (though Washington wheat fields get dull to the eyes after 20 miles). The fourth day brought bad luck - 4 flats (at once!) caused by Goathead thorns, and wind in the face most the day. Also a family of earwigs hitched a ride in C & M's camping gear, and it took about a week to finally see the last one. Idaho is a cyclist paradise (what a secret). From The State Border near Coere D'Alene to just before Bonner's Ferry, there were many bike paths, nice scenery, and most flat routes.
Day 1:Troutdale to Hood River (55.6 miles)
Highlights: Gorgeous Columbia River (Get the bike map from ODOT). Ride to Council Crest, Ride by Falls, bike-ped paths on the old historic highway.
The campground listed on the bike map for Hood River was not there. We decided to treat ourselves and stayed at the Hood River downtown hotel. Hood River is a super nice town - though sad the Carousel Art Museum is closed and moving elsewhere. Also on this route, between Cascade Locks and Wyeth, do not take the Wyeth Bench Rd (aka Herman Creek Rd), it is a horrible grade hill, and you are better off taking the I-84. Note about I-84, it's not the most pleasant experience, but it's not bad, In order to bike to Hood River, you will need to get on I-84 at several points - The shoulder is pretty wide at most places, and it's a good idea to wear some bright orange!
Day 2: Hood River to Maryhill, WA (52.5 miles)
Highlights: The old historic highway section is really neat: it goes through the Mosier Tunnels (now just for ped/bike), The section through Mosier town, and to Rowena's Crest was on low traffic streets. No need to get on I-84 at all all the way to the Dalles.
The crossing over to Washington on the bridge in the Dalles was difficult. It was so windy and the sidewalk so narrow we had to walk. Biking to hwy 14 across the wind was also difficult. But once on hwy 14 heading East, the wind was at our bikes, and we cruised past the Maryhill Museum (Too late in the day to stop!) and stayed at the Maryhill State Park (back down by the river).
Day 3: Maryhill to Crow Butte (58.2 miles)
Highlights: Cruising sometimes 20 miles an hour easily with the wind at our back on Hwy 14. Lovely more deserty scenery, waving to trains. A Stop at Stonehenge.
From the campground, we hitched a ride in a pickup back up the top of the hill to hwy 14. The road was a major truck route, and the shoulder was pretty much missing for the first section of the hill, we decided htiching was the safest option. We enjoyed stopping at America's Stonehenge. I had been there before, but never thought I'd bike all the way! Crow Butte park was father than we thought. We could see it, but then had to ride about 4 miles all the way around and out to it. The RV park was expensive, and did not offer "primitive camper" sites.
Day 4: Crow Butte, WA to Hat Rock Park, OR
Highlights: Early morning hike past deer to the top of Crow Butte. Discovering the way over the I-82 - there is a bike route, but you need to go on the may freeway before the bike route appears, then you exit, cross under and go over on the otherside. Umatilla was nice little town to check out. At first we were excited about the Lewis & Clark Bike/Ped Bath, but it turned into a bad situation.
The wind in the gorge changed from E to W today, so we had to push hard for 20 miles, going about 5-8 miles an hour. Very hard reality after the day before. The road moved away from the Gorge and was now less interesting. Onion (Walla Walla) trucks passed us all day, leaving onion skin trails. We crossed back to Oregon, and instead of the main road decided to follow the Lewis & Clark trail to Hat Rock State Park. Unfortunately it turned into a bad idea. The path was badly marked and kept changing from paved to shared road, to bark-dirt to gravel. After a gravel section we discovered that we had rode through thorns and had 4 flats at once. We pulled out 15-30 thorns and only had two new tubes, One tube needed to be patched 7 times. We were able to ride out to the main road and hitched a ride with a priest. The State park had a commercial RV park that we stayed at.
Day 5: Hat Rock to Walla Walla, WA (25 miles + 23 miles hitched
Highlights: Bicycle Barn in Walla Walla was awesome, they took care of us and our flat saga - and would not charge for labor because we were traveling. Thank you Reggie!! Walla Walla is a lovely town. We also had other nice folks give us lifts throughout the day.
Carye's bike had another flat in the morning. We were able to ride to the turnoff to Walla Walla where we hitched a ride, rode a little, got another flat, then got another ride. Outside Walla Walla we enjoyed an old style soda fountain/gift shop. After the afternoon in the Bike Barn - with goo in the tires to prevent anymore more thorn flats, C & M were good to go, and eager to eat an entire pizza in town. There was on camping nearby, so the Travelodge motel allowed some "free" hot showers.
Day 6: Walla Walla to Central Ferry, WA (57 miles + 10 hitched)
Highlights: Nice Campfire at a nice state park (Central Ferry)
The ride today was tough, Carye's body was tired of the bike and wanted a rest, The first part of the day was okay, but after Dalton, the ride was never ending (according to Carye) At Dodge, it was getting dark within 45 min, and with 10 miles to go, C & M hitched the rest of the way to the park.
Day 7: Central Ferry to Colfax (36.6 miles - lots of hills)
Highlights: Arriving at our destination in the early afternoon, Staying on Lisa and Mike's lawn, Top Notch eatery.
While a short day mile-wise, the wheat country hills were never ending. We started the day with 7 miles going uphill. In Dixie we stopped at garage sales. In Waitsburg (cutest town ever) we had icecream shakes and got free cucumbers from the antique shop. We were going to stay at a motel in Colfax (at first look , doesn't seem like a nice town, but it grows on you!), but before we did, we met Lisa and Mike outside the city park, and they invited us to camp on their lawn. Lake Oswego transplants with two small children they loved meeting Portland travelers. They knew about Bike Friday, and Mike does a lot of long distance biking as well. For dinner we highly entertained at the Top Notch Diner, where the 17 year-old host/waiter was hilarious, and amused us. We had more icecream!
Day 8: Colfax to Spokane (61.3 miles)
Highlight: Knowing that the next day we would have a day off (finally!)
This was a long hard day as well. Everyone we talked to said said the drive was pretty with rolling farmland hills. Yeah - if you are in a car. The hills were long, and not rolling, and the scenery was yellow wheat fields. Though we did enjoy watching a fox running around. Carye's cousins live in Spokane - at the top of the hill of course. Washing laundry, showers, and hanging with family was fabulous. Also was glad to not hitch finally.
Day 9: Spokane - No bikes whatso ever
Day 10: Spokane to Coure D'Alene Idaho (52. 1 miles)
Highlights: Ride down the hill to the giant Red Wagon slide in Downtown Spokane. Bike paths all the way baby! Riding 10 miles with a German-american recreational cyclist.
Today we travelled via the Centennial Bike Path (40 miles from Spokane toC D'A Idaho). However the path on the Washington side is badly marked, and we travelled 6 miles out our way since the first section is on the road with little signage. If anyone is taking this trail please inquire on how NOT to miss your turn - it's really not obvious. After we got back on again we enjoyed riding along with a nice German-american woman to the Idaho State visitor center. At lunch at the center Carye had a freak bee sting on her cheek. The bike path continuing into Idaho was very well signed and marked and paved. Coeur D' Alene was a nice town - with a boring shopping street (Sherman Ave). We stayed at the Tamarack RV park, that literally is a mini forest now surrounded by bigbox stores. The RV park is more of a monthly rental kind of place, with no real camping. There was one tiny patch of grass next to the dumpster that we rented for the night for a mere $25!
Day 11: Coeur D' Alene to Round Lake State Park, ID ( 37.1 miles)
Highlights: Bike Path along US 95 for part of the way out of town, and an early arrival to a really nice, real forest campground for only $12 a night with FREE warm showers.
We had a short set back in the AM, Matt biked over a screw, so we had to stop to fix the flat. Wonderful nice flat bike ride all day. Arrived early enough at the campsite that we could take a hike around the lake, and make food not in the dark. We were one of three others camping in the park, unfortunately one guy was a little creepy, and scared the crap out of Carye. The quiet and solitude did not help.
Day 12: Round Lake Park to Bonner's Ferry, ID
Highlights: Another bike path from where we camped to Sandpoint, ID. We finished our journey all in one piece!!
The old bridge into Sandpoint has been turned into a bike/ped path. I was so wide! We stopped in Sandpoint to check out the amtrak train station, (on a dirt road on th outskirts - strange!) and bought Idaho souvenirs. The ride to Bonner's Ferry was also easy and Flat except for one long hill at the end. We met another long distance traveller heading West from Fargo, ND. We had pizza for lunch AND for dinner on our celebratory day. In Bonner's Ferry our Idaho hosts Linda and Ben picked us to take us to Moyie Valley Ranch, 8 miles from the Canadian Border.
We spent 5 days on the ranch, and it rained pretty much the whole time, so we never did bike over the Canadian Border! Shoot! But we made friends with the Cows, Sheep, and Horses, and started a Cob Oven project (although only the foundation got finished) and experienced a highschool reunion party for Ben and Linda's eldest daughter.
On our final day of our trip We folded our bikes into our canvas bags, and took the train from SandPoint (leaving at midnight) all the way back to Portland, in one day!
A Bike tour From Portland (Troutdale) to Bonner's Ferry, Idaho. Eleven days of riding 530 miles (plus 40 miles of hitching). The return was made on the Empire Builder Amtrak train at Sandpoint, ID.
For the tour Matt and Carye bought new custom built Bike Friday (www.bikefriday.com) folding bikes that are made in Eugene, Oregon. Neither Carye or Matt own cars, so investing in a reliable, flexible bike for travel was important. However the bikes arrived two days before leaving, so getting used to new bikes while on the road, was literally a pain in the butt! By the end of the trip, gears, seat and handle bar placement, and proper riding shoes were figured out. Everyday of the ride had awesome weather (not too hot, not rainy), and Carye and Matt met many friendly people, ate as much pizza and icecream as desired, and enjoyed some beautiful scenery (though Washington wheat fields get dull to the eyes after 20 miles). The fourth day brought bad luck - 4 flats (at once!) caused by Goathead thorns, and wind in the face most the day. Also a family of earwigs hitched a ride in C & M's camping gear, and it took about a week to finally see the last one. Idaho is a cyclist paradise (what a secret). From The State Border near Coere D'Alene to just before Bonner's Ferry, there were many bike paths, nice scenery, and most flat routes.
Day 1:Troutdale to Hood River (55.6 miles)
Highlights: Gorgeous Columbia River (Get the bike map from ODOT). Ride to Council Crest, Ride by Falls, bike-ped paths on the old historic highway.
The campground listed on the bike map for Hood River was not there. We decided to treat ourselves and stayed at the Hood River downtown hotel. Hood River is a super nice town - though sad the Carousel Art Museum is closed and moving elsewhere. Also on this route, between Cascade Locks and Wyeth, do not take the Wyeth Bench Rd (aka Herman Creek Rd), it is a horrible grade hill, and you are better off taking the I-84. Note about I-84, it's not the most pleasant experience, but it's not bad, In order to bike to Hood River, you will need to get on I-84 at several points - The shoulder is pretty wide at most places, and it's a good idea to wear some bright orange!
Day 2: Hood River to Maryhill, WA (52.5 miles)
Highlights: The old historic highway section is really neat: it goes through the Mosier Tunnels (now just for ped/bike), The section through Mosier town, and to Rowena's Crest was on low traffic streets. No need to get on I-84 at all all the way to the Dalles.
The crossing over to Washington on the bridge in the Dalles was difficult. It was so windy and the sidewalk so narrow we had to walk. Biking to hwy 14 across the wind was also difficult. But once on hwy 14 heading East, the wind was at our bikes, and we cruised past the Maryhill Museum (Too late in the day to stop!) and stayed at the Maryhill State Park (back down by the river).
Day 3: Maryhill to Crow Butte (58.2 miles)
Highlights: Cruising sometimes 20 miles an hour easily with the wind at our back on Hwy 14. Lovely more deserty scenery, waving to trains. A Stop at Stonehenge.
From the campground, we hitched a ride in a pickup back up the top of the hill to hwy 14. The road was a major truck route, and the shoulder was pretty much missing for the first section of the hill, we decided htiching was the safest option. We enjoyed stopping at America's Stonehenge. I had been there before, but never thought I'd bike all the way! Crow Butte park was father than we thought. We could see it, but then had to ride about 4 miles all the way around and out to it. The RV park was expensive, and did not offer "primitive camper" sites.
Day 4: Crow Butte, WA to Hat Rock Park, OR
Highlights: Early morning hike past deer to the top of Crow Butte. Discovering the way over the I-82 - there is a bike route, but you need to go on the may freeway before the bike route appears, then you exit, cross under and go over on the otherside. Umatilla was nice little town to check out. At first we were excited about the Lewis & Clark Bike/Ped Bath, but it turned into a bad situation.
The wind in the gorge changed from E to W today, so we had to push hard for 20 miles, going about 5-8 miles an hour. Very hard reality after the day before. The road moved away from the Gorge and was now less interesting. Onion (Walla Walla) trucks passed us all day, leaving onion skin trails. We crossed back to Oregon, and instead of the main road decided to follow the Lewis & Clark trail to Hat Rock State Park. Unfortunately it turned into a bad idea. The path was badly marked and kept changing from paved to shared road, to bark-dirt to gravel. After a gravel section we discovered that we had rode through thorns and had 4 flats at once. We pulled out 15-30 thorns and only had two new tubes, One tube needed to be patched 7 times. We were able to ride out to the main road and hitched a ride with a priest. The State park had a commercial RV park that we stayed at.
Day 5: Hat Rock to Walla Walla, WA (25 miles + 23 miles hitched
Highlights: Bicycle Barn in Walla Walla was awesome, they took care of us and our flat saga - and would not charge for labor because we were traveling. Thank you Reggie!! Walla Walla is a lovely town. We also had other nice folks give us lifts throughout the day.
Carye's bike had another flat in the morning. We were able to ride to the turnoff to Walla Walla where we hitched a ride, rode a little, got another flat, then got another ride. Outside Walla Walla we enjoyed an old style soda fountain/gift shop. After the afternoon in the Bike Barn - with goo in the tires to prevent anymore more thorn flats, C & M were good to go, and eager to eat an entire pizza in town. There was on camping nearby, so the Travelodge motel allowed some "free" hot showers.
Day 6: Walla Walla to Central Ferry, WA (57 miles + 10 hitched)
Highlights: Nice Campfire at a nice state park (Central Ferry)
The ride today was tough, Carye's body was tired of the bike and wanted a rest, The first part of the day was okay, but after Dalton, the ride was never ending (according to Carye) At Dodge, it was getting dark within 45 min, and with 10 miles to go, C & M hitched the rest of the way to the park.
Day 7: Central Ferry to Colfax (36.6 miles - lots of hills)
Highlights: Arriving at our destination in the early afternoon, Staying on Lisa and Mike's lawn, Top Notch eatery.
While a short day mile-wise, the wheat country hills were never ending. We started the day with 7 miles going uphill. In Dixie we stopped at garage sales. In Waitsburg (cutest town ever) we had icecream shakes and got free cucumbers from the antique shop. We were going to stay at a motel in Colfax (at first look , doesn't seem like a nice town, but it grows on you!), but before we did, we met Lisa and Mike outside the city park, and they invited us to camp on their lawn. Lake Oswego transplants with two small children they loved meeting Portland travelers. They knew about Bike Friday, and Mike does a lot of long distance biking as well. For dinner we highly entertained at the Top Notch Diner, where the 17 year-old host/waiter was hilarious, and amused us. We had more icecream!
Day 8: Colfax to Spokane (61.3 miles)
Highlight: Knowing that the next day we would have a day off (finally!)
This was a long hard day as well. Everyone we talked to said said the drive was pretty with rolling farmland hills. Yeah - if you are in a car. The hills were long, and not rolling, and the scenery was yellow wheat fields. Though we did enjoy watching a fox running around. Carye's cousins live in Spokane - at the top of the hill of course. Washing laundry, showers, and hanging with family was fabulous. Also was glad to not hitch finally.
Day 9: Spokane - No bikes whatso ever
Day 10: Spokane to Coure D'Alene Idaho (52. 1 miles)
Highlights: Ride down the hill to the giant Red Wagon slide in Downtown Spokane. Bike paths all the way baby! Riding 10 miles with a German-american recreational cyclist.
Today we travelled via the Centennial Bike Path (40 miles from Spokane toC D'A Idaho). However the path on the Washington side is badly marked, and we travelled 6 miles out our way since the first section is on the road with little signage. If anyone is taking this trail please inquire on how NOT to miss your turn - it's really not obvious. After we got back on again we enjoyed riding along with a nice German-american woman to the Idaho State visitor center. At lunch at the center Carye had a freak bee sting on her cheek. The bike path continuing into Idaho was very well signed and marked and paved. Coeur D' Alene was a nice town - with a boring shopping street (Sherman Ave). We stayed at the Tamarack RV park, that literally is a mini forest now surrounded by bigbox stores. The RV park is more of a monthly rental kind of place, with no real camping. There was one tiny patch of grass next to the dumpster that we rented for the night for a mere $25!
Day 11: Coeur D' Alene to Round Lake State Park, ID ( 37.1 miles)
Highlights: Bike Path along US 95 for part of the way out of town, and an early arrival to a really nice, real forest campground for only $12 a night with FREE warm showers.
We had a short set back in the AM, Matt biked over a screw, so we had to stop to fix the flat. Wonderful nice flat bike ride all day. Arrived early enough at the campsite that we could take a hike around the lake, and make food not in the dark. We were one of three others camping in the park, unfortunately one guy was a little creepy, and scared the crap out of Carye. The quiet and solitude did not help.
Day 12: Round Lake Park to Bonner's Ferry, ID
Highlights: Another bike path from where we camped to Sandpoint, ID. We finished our journey all in one piece!!
The old bridge into Sandpoint has been turned into a bike/ped path. I was so wide! We stopped in Sandpoint to check out the amtrak train station, (on a dirt road on th outskirts - strange!) and bought Idaho souvenirs. The ride to Bonner's Ferry was also easy and Flat except for one long hill at the end. We met another long distance traveller heading West from Fargo, ND. We had pizza for lunch AND for dinner on our celebratory day. In Bonner's Ferry our Idaho hosts Linda and Ben picked us to take us to Moyie Valley Ranch, 8 miles from the Canadian Border.
We spent 5 days on the ranch, and it rained pretty much the whole time, so we never did bike over the Canadian Border! Shoot! But we made friends with the Cows, Sheep, and Horses, and started a Cob Oven project (although only the foundation got finished) and experienced a highschool reunion party for Ben and Linda's eldest daughter.
On our final day of our trip We folded our bikes into our canvas bags, and took the train from SandPoint (leaving at midnight) all the way back to Portland, in one day!
natuurgebied Gelderse Poort, Gendt, Gelderland - in a nature area near the river, Holland
by courtesy of Martine Kersten
Om tegemoet te komen aan de eisen van de Nederlandse beheerders van natuurgebieden in zelfredzaamheid van runderen, heeft de Stichting Ark-natuurontwikkeling een nieuwe kruising ontwikkeld, de Rode Geus. Brandrode runderen worden daarbij gemengd met het Franse Salers vee uit het Centraal Massief van Frankrijk. De Salers is éénkleurig rood, heeft grotere hoorns en een krullende vacht. Het resultaat, de Rode Geus, is een vriendelijk, zelfredzaam dier.
In order to meet the requirement of the Dutch authorities in nature regarding self-reliance of cattle, the Ark Nature Development Foundation has developed a new crossbreed, the Rode Geus. To create them, Brandrood cattle are mixed with the French Salers cattle from the Massif Central of France. The Salers is unicoloured red, has larger horns and a curly coat. The result, the Rode Geus, is a friendly, self-reliant animal
Das Kalksandsteinwerk am Rodinger Bahnhof produzierte schon vor dem Ersten Weltkrieg. Im Jahr 2000 wurde der Betrieb endgültig eingestellt.
This standing stone lies to the NE of St Botolph's church, and was probably there before the church was built. Sometimes, as at Wicken Bonhunt, these stones were built into the walls of Christian churches, either for want of good building stone, or to Christianise pagan sites.
The Beauchamp Roding stone may have been a boundary marker, or a survival of a pre-christian place of worship. The "high places" so roundly condemned in the Old Testament also had standing stones, and for a time the Israelites worshipped both there and at the Temple.
St Botolph, Beauchamp Roding, Essex
Open. This is a dramatic sight about a quarter of a mile above the Dunmow to Ongar road. A sandy track climbs up to it. Kentish ragstone and crumbling cement make it seem a very dour place - it is obviously still in use and loved, but in dreadful condition with missing roof tiles and a few broken panes. The setting makes it seem much more remote than it actually is.
Inside is like a time capsule of the 1870s, everything just as it was. The church is obviously open 24 hours a day. To the south of the church is an enormous badgers sett - the dead aren't going to get much rest around there.
The Church of St Lawrence dates from the late 14th and early 15th century. It was restored in 1874 by C. E. Davis and is a Grade I listed building.
It is likely that there was a previous church on the same site, and some fragments of a Norman doorway survive.
The church underwent significant work, initially to the pulpit gallery and bells in 1774, and Victorian restoration between 1873 and 1874.
The tower has contained bells since the 16th century, however in 1753 Thomas Bilbie of the Bilbie family of Chew Stoke cast a new peel of six bells. One was recast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1817. These hung in the tower into the 20th century but were not used because of safety concerns. The wooden frame was replaced by one made of steel between 2003 and 2006 when the bells were rededicated and could be rung again.
I had visited St.Botolph's at Beauchamp Roding, Essex, before but I did not spend much time there previously. Today was the first glorious day we've really had in 2007 so I took a trip out again and made the most of the late afternoon sun.
www.flickr.com/photos/barryslemmings/sets/72157594490925436/ to see full set.
Known locally as the 'church in the fields', St.Botolph's is still in use although some of the stained glass has been broken since my first visit and there are no residential buildings within a good half a mile. The church stands on rising ground and the Saxon name suggests a pre-Norman Conquest church existed here. It is reached by driving up a muddy track from the main road north of Fyfield.
The nave is built on an 11th or 12th century ground plan but the present building is probably 14th century. The piscina in the chancel might be 13th century and may have been taken from an earlier building on this site. The church was enlarged and altered in the 15th century when the chancel was probably rebuilt and the tower added.
The interior was restored in 1870 and the exterior restored in 1893. The porch is Victorian and dates to the 1870 restoration. The tower and some other parts of the church suffered damage in WW2. £1,300 was spent to repair this in 1951.
Today the church appears to be in some neglect. Despite no homes nearby the church is unlocked and accessible at most times but the interior is rather cold, drab and unwelcoming. One gets the sense that the church is maintained out of obligation and not love. A few of the stained glass windows are broken and there is ivy growing inside the church at the junction next to the chancel arch. It's a lovely building but it could do with a loving touch.
The few graves in the churchyard are well tended. The presence of a large glacial erratic in the churchyard, known as the Beauchamp Roding Puddingstone, seems to get the New Age people interested. The local tradition [or Victorian fanciful tale] is that the stone was moved three times to where the church was originally going to be built but it used to return to this position every night. Homing stones, there's a new one! After it was moved three times the church was eventually built here instead.
There is a suggestion that this stone might be megalithic - the hill position and the dedication to a Saxon Abbot might lend some credence to this as early Christians tended to re-use pagan sites. Similar large stones near church sites occur elsewhere in Essex. At Ingatestone two of the stones are imbedded in the high street pavement.
Rode hall near Congleton. Went with some NT friends, we where given a fantastic guided tour then had a light lunch of home made quiche and salad then a tour of the gardens. Fantastic day and well worth a visit.
Berners Roding Church (dedication unknown but believed to be All Saints) is situated within the small hamlet of Berners Roding approximately 6 miles NE of Chipping Ongar. The church is adjacent to Berners Hall and surrounded by arable fields to be east and north, Berners Hall farm to the west and is accessed via a narrow track leading from the road to the south.
Whilst the exact origins of the church are unknown, elements of the building appear to date from the 14th century. The nave and chancel are of an unknown date but the east and west walls are believed to be 16th century. The church once had a weather-boarded belfry that housed a single bell dated 1594 (cast by John Dyer – bell foundry Chelmsford). A survey of the church by Nikolaus Pevsner for his book “The Buildings of England – Essex” published in 1954 shows the belfry was present and it was therefore removed after this date. The whereabouts of the bell is unknown.
The church was deconsecrated in 1985 and is now in a very sorry state.
Please visit www.flickr.com/photos/birchphotography/sets/7215762597178... for more photo's.
Nikon D300s || 35mm || ISO 200 || f/2 || 1/125s