52 Walks in 2010 - Walk 31 - Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire (30th August 2010)

This afternoon we went for a walk around Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire.

Grafham Water is a reservoir with a circumference of about 10 miles. The lake was created by filling a valley full of water which is retained by an earth and a concrete dam built in 1965. The reservoir was immediately colonised by wildlife and a nature reserve surrounding the western side of the reservoir was soon created. Grafham Water, now owned and managed by Anglian Water, is popular for a range of leisure activities including boating,fly fishing and cycling.

We only walked a very short part of the 10miles - from Plummer Park to the Marlow Park and back again

About half way we came to the Valve Tower which is accessed via a long access bridge.

At several places along the edge of the dam these signs were displayed. We needn't have worried though because there were no fishermen on the dam.

We did spot this chap in the water though just after the dam.

There were quite a few blackberries on bushes starting to ripen.

52 Walks in 2010 - Walk 30 - Weymouth Sea Life Centre (19th August 2010)

The last walk of our holiday was a walk around Weymouth Sea Life Park. The weather wasn't very good so we weren't there very long and because of the weather the photo opportunities were few.

The penguins didn't seem to mind the damp weather though and were happy to pose for a few photos.

Lara was able to touch a star fish in the Rock pool Experience but wasn't too keen when given the chance to hold a spider crab.

These turtles were enjoying getting warm under a lamp.

And when the sun came out I was able to quickly snap a butterfly on the Buddleia.

52 Walks in 2010 - Walk 29 - Weymouth Carnival (18th August 2010)

Walk no 28 wasn't exactly a walk! It was more a stand still whilst 100s of other people walked by.

We went to Weymouth Carnival on 18th August but before the carnival began, as we were getting out of the car, the Red Arrows were giving a display. We were at the top of the multi-storey car park so got a great view of the action. This first photo was straight of the the camera - no editing - no cropping - a complete fluke!



After the display and a short walk to the Esplanade, the carnival began.

There were marching bands including the Medina Marching Band from the Isle of Wight .....

........... and the Bournemouth Carnival Band.

There were people in various costumes, like this chap from the RNLI ......

..... this blue, snappy cutie ..........

and this octopus/squid.

There were amazing dresses .....

and storm troopers!

There were tiny floats like this pirate ship .........

.... and huge ones like this dinosaur.

There were people who were imitating TV adverts (Go Compare, Go Compare) .......

..... people who had got married just before the carnival began (honest) .....

.... and loads more.

52 Walks in 2010 - Walk 28 - Weymouth (2) (18th August 2010)

Todays walk took us along the south side of the harbour at Weymouth unlike walk 18 which took us along the north side.

On both sides of the water there are pubs, restaurants and shops and the area was especially busy today as it was Carnival Day.







Many of the harbour side shops were painted in bright colours.



Condor Ferries operate from Weymouth taking passengers to Guernsey, Jersey and St. Malo, Brittany. Today one of the the fast car ferries was in dock waiting to go out.



Lots of the hotels had bunting decorating them.



Just off the harbour is 'Brewers Quay'. The Victorian brewery building has been redeveloped to house a Shopping Village with over 20 specialist shops, the Weymouth Museum, Timewalk Heritage Tour and Science Discovery Centre.

52 Walks in 2010 - Walk 27 - Sutton Poyntz (18th August 2010)

Whilst in Dorset we stayed in Sutton Poyntz, a wonderful picturesque 17th Century village with a famous millpond and small stream. We stayed in 'The Court House'



We came to the conclusion that it wasn't the original Court House but probably more likely built on the site of the Court House.





Opposite The Court House was 'Sutton Mill' which dates from about 1820. Sutton Poyntz was the 'Overcombe' of Thomas Hardy's novel 'The Trumpet Major', with the mill and mill house as the main setting.

The village pub - The Springhead.

This house caught my attention. I love the windows at street level.

There were lots of very quaint houses around the village.

These cottages were in a prime spot overlooking the village pond.

We stopped to feed the ducks.