Posts Tagged ‘airplane’

England & Isle of Man adventure – part 2

On Tuesday, we flew an impossibly small turbo-prop plane from Leeds to Douglas on the Isle of Man. Our hostess, Geraldine, picked us up from the airport and gave us a grand tour of the island and race course, so we could get our bearings and figure out where we’d like to watch the races.

Isle of Man - part 1

[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030648-edit.jpg]St. Patrick's Church in Jurby
This church is in the middle of nowhere. It's hard to imagine exactly why it was built here 150 years ago. There is nothing for miles around, so people would have had to have walked a long way to get there. It's future is somewhat in question because worshipers rarely exceed 10 people and it is 30,000 pounds behind with its Diocesan quota payments.
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1020029-edit.jpg]Jurby church's semetary
Jerby church is perched on these amazing seaside cliffs. I imagine all the people who have been buried here must really enjoy the view.
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030650-edit.jpg]More bikes than cars
Something like 10,000 people arrive on bikes to watch the Tourist Trophy. It makes for a somewhat surreal driving experience.
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030652-edit.jpg]Lifeboat in Ramsey
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030660-edit.jpg]Port entrance and fishing pier in Ramsey
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030659-edit.jpg]
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030663-edit.jpg]Ramsey's waterfront
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030669-edit.jpg]Blackie watches the airshow by the Red Arrows
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1020051-edit.jpg]Further down Ramsey's promenade, a crowd gathers
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1020057-edit.jpg]Why are all these bikes lined up?
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1020060-edit.jpg]Blackie takes a peek
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1020054-edit.jpg]Street sprints
Hundreds of bikes were given the opportunity to test their speed off the line during the Ramsey street sprints
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1020055-edit.jpg]Warming up the tires
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030677-edit.jpg]The course was maybe 100 yards long
Long enough to get up to about 90 mph, but not much faster.
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/isle-of-man-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1020068-edit.jpg]One-way traffic over the mountain passes back toward Douglas
We drove slowly in our car, but the bikes took full advantage of the one-way traffic to dial up the speed and exercise their courage.

14

08 2011

England & Isle of Man adventure – part 1

In June, Nick and I took a two week vacation to the Isle of Man for the annual Tourist Trophy and to England to visit relatives and hike Hadrian’s Wall. I’m finally getting around to editing the pictures, which I’ll post in batches over the next few days.

The first few days, we took time to visit with the Roberts family in Leeds and honor Great Aunt Barbara, who sadly passed away last year.

England - part 1

[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030637-edit_1.jpg]A pint with the Roberts family
L to R: Chris, Andrew, Linda, Nick, me
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030609-edit_1.jpg]Great Aunt Barbara's grave
Barbara was buried in the family plot in West Tanfield. The headstone obviously hasn't been updated yet, but will be soon.
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030610-edit_1.jpg]Approaching Marmion Tower
We like to visit this tower on the way to or from visiting Barbara. It's a cool old building that you can climb into and explore.
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1020002-edit_1.jpg]Narrow staircase
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030611-edit_1.jpg]
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1020005-edit_1.jpg]
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030617-edit_1.jpg]Looking out the window of Marmion Tower toward the church
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1020014-edit_1.jpg]
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030620-edit_1.jpg]Old city wall
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030622-edit_1.jpg]Black sheep brewery
We've eaten and drank at the Black Sheep Brewery many times. This was the first time, however, that we had the time for a brewery tour.
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030627-edit_1.jpg]Meet Blackie
Every good trip needs a mascot; Blackie came from the gift shop at the Black Sheep Brewery.
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030636-edit_1.jpg]Brown's House
It take ages and some courage to find the old Brown family home, but it was worth a trip. You can now rent it as a vacation home.
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030635-edit_1.jpg]Classic English countryside
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030632-edit_1.jpg]
[img src=http://nwoutdoorgrrl.com/wp-content/flagallery/england-part-1/thumbs/thumbs_p1030631-edit_1.jpg]

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13

08 2011

Boxing Day at the Museum of Flight

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26

12 2010