Author: Jonathan Biddle

  • Sutro Tower

    Sutro Tower

    With the Indian Summer drawing to a close, Allegra and I opted to strap on our hiking boots / flip-flops, walk out the back door, and head for the summit of Twin Peaks. One of those little to-dos that has been on my list since I arrived, we could have not have chosen a better day to do it – music from the Bluegrass festival floating up through the trees and the golden light flirting with us through the trees of Mt Sutro Open Space Preserve … a place that you can actually mountain bike inside the city limits!

    Sutro_2
    Sutro Tower basks in the sunshine (for once)
    Sutro_3
    The view down to downtown
    Sutro catches the last of the rays
    Sutro catches the last of the rays

     

  • The Dipsea Trail

    The Dipsea Trail

    Dipsea_Trail_1
    The view from the Dipsea trail down to the ocean
    Dipsea_Trail_2
    Allegra keeping up a good pace
    Dipsea_Trail_3
    The trees aglow in the sunlight
    Dipsea_Trail_5
    New shoes!
    Dipsea_Trail_4
    Fetching colour schemes
    Dipsea_Trail_6
    … and alas another farewell to Abe!

     

     

  • Alamere Falling

    Alamere Falling

    A third hike to Alamere Falls, and still worth it. A lovely little hop from the city, and you find yourself walking along the coast with views as far as the city and Point Reyes. Naturally, the jewel in the crown are the falls that cascade down to the beach; the weather has been a bit dry of late so they were not quite as plump as they have been – but still a nice treat from a busy week.

    No filter or editing at all.
    No filter or editing at all, honest.
    Pleasing organisation. Todd on the left, Jos in the middle, and Allegra on the right.
    Pleasing organisation. Todd on the left, Jos in the middle, and Allegra on the right.
    Allegra gives Jos a friendly scratch on the back of the head.
    Allegra gives Jos a friendly scratch on the back of the head.
    The drive home.
    The drive home.
  • Marin Century

    Marin Century

    I haven’t ever managed to ride 100 miles in a single day, so the prospect of ticking off this little challenge with the support crews, burritos and ice cream that the Marin Century offers was not a prospect that I could turn down. While the Tour de Cure was significantly shorter, I argue it was actually the harder ride, with much steeper and more sustained climbing and a wider variety of terrain. Still, a lovely chance to blast up and down the coast and reconnoitre some new roads!

    Amazing range of scenery, but perhaps not as broad as the Tour de Cure ... which I believe that, while significantly shorter, is a harder ride.
    I never take anywhere near enough photos.
    Just before the halfway point.
    Just before the halfway point.
    The finish line!
    The finish line!

  • Portraits of Point Reyes

    Portraits of Point Reyes

    Point Reyes has the strange ability to make me feel like I am ‘home’ – there is something deeply primal about it, and in a vaguely spiritual way reminds me of the East Angle coast, Wales and Scotland. It’s a little gem of solitude, just an hour north of the city, and here are a few portraits of it while it’s in a mildly grumpy mood.

    Point_Reyes_1

    Point_Reyes_2

    Point_Reyes_3

    Point_Reyes_4

    Point_Reyes_5

    Point_Reyes_6

  • Protected: UK – Flying Visit

    Protected: UK – Flying Visit

    This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

  • Nanxun – Water Town

    Nanxun – Water Town

    Reflections
    Reflections

    After spending Saturday in the factory, I was keen to get out of Shanghai and see some sights. Initially thinking of heading to Suzhou or Wuxi, I came across this article on water towns, and opted instead to tick another one off the list; especially since I enjoyed visiting Tongli and Zhouzhuang so much. Nanxun, which I hadn’t heard of before, topped the list.

    Enlisting a newly moved-to-Shanghai Drew, we headed West. Two or so hours from Shanghai by car (yes we were lazy), it’s a place that must surely arrive soon on the Chinese tourist map – the new motorway heading out in that direction guarantees it. However, for now, it seems that the crowds have not yet arrived, and we were pleasantly surprised by how quiet the place was.

    Pleasant surprise soon gave way to broad grins, however. The state of preservation felt like it could have been a real live water town just weeks before, boats carrying silk yarn merely taking their Sunday rest. The people were warm and friendly, the scenery preposterously beautiful, and by the end we simply felt lucky to have been able to visit such an historic town that still housed a real community of people. Unfortunately, I am sure the youth will not want to return and it’s likely that if I ever return tourist shops will have replaced the townhouses by the river.

    But how about a Bali-style retreat of river-side escapes, two hours from the city? I can see it now.

    What's for dinner?
    What’s for dinner? – Visiting the library
    Two lovely ladies that virtually chewed our ears off upon discovery that we spoke Chinese. Charming!
    Two lovely ladies that virtually chewed our ears off upon discovery that we spoke Chinese. Charming!
    Sucker for patinas of use.
    Sucker for patinas of use.
    Sartorial man with cell phone
    Stylish man with cell phone
    View up the first of the side-canals. We meant to catch a boat at some point, but in the end the guys on bikes won out!
    View up the first of the side-canals. We meant to catch a boat at some point, but in the end the guys on bikes won out!
    Can't resist peeking into the side streets
    Can’t resist peeking into the side streets
    Handsome hat seller
    Handsome hat seller
    Red lanterns, reflected
    Red lanterns, reflected
    Textures
    Textures
    This guy ... how sartorial!
    This guy … how sartorial!
    I mean really
    I mean really
    He kept on appearing in photos, as if someone was paying him to walk by.
    He kept on appearing in photos, as if someone was paying him to walk by.
    The mop project continues
    The mop project continues
    There he is again
    There he is again
    No matter where I go in the world, there are always groups of old men hanging out, drinking, playing games, riding motorbikes, gambling ... I am sure I will be the same some day.
    No matter where I go in the world, there are always groups of old men hanging out, drinking, playing games, riding motorbikes, gambling … I am sure I will be the same some day.
    Pixelated
    Pixelated … a designer definitely sweated the details on that top rivet
    View up the main section of the river
    View up the main section of the river
    Watching the world go by
    Watching the world go by
    Pleasing mixtures of colours
    Pleasing mixtures of colours
    'Jonny, you arrange your images into graphic design layouts' - according to Drew ... he is absolutely right. I do - that's what happens when you have a graphics designer for a Mum.
    ‘Jonny, you arrange your images into graphic design layouts’ – according to Drew … he is absolutely right. I do – that’s what happens when you have a graphics designer for a Mum.
    At first, we thought this guy was going to be your normal tourist trap pusher, but he turned out to have a real sense of humour and amazing idea of the photos that we wanted to take. I suppose with all the visitors, you get photographic training for free!
    At first, we thought this guy was going to be your normal tourist trap pusher, but he turned out to have a real sense of humour and amazing idea of the photos that we wanted to take. I suppose with all the visitors, you get photographic training for free!
    Resting, away from the rain.
    Resting, away from the rain.
    I always enjoy it when it rains in a new place ... interesting to see how people react.
    I always enjoy it when it rains in a new place … interesting to see how people react.
    Gone Fishin'
    Gone Fishin’
    Lots of people peeking out to catch a glimpse of the funny foreigners ... not sure how much longer these guys will be here. I imagine it will all be tourist shops if I ever come back.
    Lots of people peeking out to catch a glimpse of the funny foreigners … not sure how much longer these guys will be here. I imagine it will all be tourist shops if I ever come back.
    Pointing out the birds nest above our heads.
    Pointing out the birds nest above our heads.
    Across the river
    Across the river
    Drew and I could not believe our luck at being here - truly a great experience.
    Drew and I could not believe our luck at being here – truly a great experience.
    Like a scene from a movie
    Like a scene from a movie
    Checking to see if the rain has stopped
    Checking to see if the rain has stopped
    Red shorts
    Red shorts
    Neighbours
    Neighbours
    My best mop image to date
    My best mop image to date
    This character had me giggling - doing his afternoon exercises while the rain had paused.
    This character had me giggling – doing his afternoon exercises while the rain had paused.
    One of the pleasingly semi-circular bridges
    One of the pleasingly semi-circular bridges
    Rain adding a certain something to the wet roofs.
    Rain adding a certain something to the wet roofs.
    Our guy, very pleased with a highly-inflated tip!
    Our guy, very pleased with a highly-inflated tip!
  • Back in the Saddle

    Back in the Saddle

    After 18 months away from Asia, I finally headed back. Back in the saddle!

    Blurry trip from the airport
    Blurry trip from the airport
    Up at the crack of dawn the next morning ... I was so used to living on the 'other' side of the world and travelling East to reach Asia that I often felt quite disorientated with time.
    Up at the crack of dawn the next morning … I was so used to living on the ‘other’ side of the world and travelling East to reach Asia that I often felt quite disorientated with time.
    The Bund, Shanghai
    The Bund, Shanghai
    Morning boats
    Morning boats
    Hiking Hong Kong
    Hiking Hong Kong
    High-rise living
    High-rise living
    Tanja & Edgar!
    Tanja & Edgar!
    Reminders of the little nooks and crannies that Taiwanese people would take over ... lovely to see the same thing in Hong Kong.
    Reminders of the little nooks and crannies that Taiwanese people would take over … lovely to see the same thing in Hong Kong.
    Play time
    Play time
    Good times ... all rather different now with a car ... and a walking talking addition to the family!
    Good times … all rather different now with a car … and a walking talking addition to the family!
    Panorama
    Panorama
    Views out to the island
    Views out to the island
    Great to have access from their back door
    Great to have access from their back door
    Urban vertical sprawl
    Urban vertical sprawl
    Down into Mongkok and Kowloon
    Down into Mongkok and Kowloon
    Ello Dad
    Ello Dad
    Out at Discovery Bay ... kind of like Disneyland, but you live there.
    Out at Discovery Bay … kind of like Disneyland, but you live there.
    Water world
    Water world
    Couldn't believe I caught this one - a guy was carrying a dragon's mask and some shopping as I was waiting for a taxi in Shenzhen
    Couldn’t believe I caught this one – a guy was carrying a dragon’s mask and some shopping as I was waiting for a taxi in Shenzhen
    View up the street in Shanghai
    View up the street in Shanghai
    Some random digging
    Some random digging
    Young chefs
    Young chefs
  • Some Hikes in the Mud

    Some Hikes in the Mud

    Mum & no. 1 son hiking near the house
    Mum & no. 1 son hiking near the house

    No holiday back to the UK would be complete without some nice walks through some mud, on the way to some well-earned pints and packets of crisps. It’s one thing I really do miss in the USA; the hiking here is amazing, obviously, but it lacks the wander-off-on-you-own freedom of just sauntering across the fields in search of a destination. Here, it’s strap the backpack on and prepare for a couple of days in stunning, un-touched wilderness.

    Anyway, we had some great little hikes off on the south coast, and around Cambridge – just what the doctor ordered.

    Mum catches up on our annual Boxing Day hike ... to the pub!
    Mum catches up on our annual Boxing Day hike … to the pub!
    Now to the South Coast: Various stiles and other gate mechanisms a continious source of geeky amusement for me and the family.
    Now to the South Coast: Various stiles and other gate mechanisms a continious source of geeky amusement for me and the family.
    Looking out down the coast
    Looking out down the coast
    Very windy!
    Very windy!
    Mum makes the climb
    Mum makes the climb
    Dad and I in conversation
    Dad and I in conversation
    Corfe Castle off in the distance, where we were staying for a couple of days.
    Corfe Castle off in the distance, where we were staying for a couple of days.
    Obligatory walls
    Obligatory walls
    To Anglesey Abbey - one of the local stately homes
    To Anglesey Abbey – one of the local stately homes
    ... and I was fascinated with this: it seems to fade in colour.
    … and I was fascinated with this: it seems to fade in colour.
    Interesting textures on some of the Winter Garden trees
    Interesting textures on some of the Winter Garden trees
    Fading to yellow
    Fading to yellow
    Reflections of winter
    Reflections of winter
  • Protected: Family Album 2012

    Protected: Family Album 2012

    This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: