An odd gale

The weather has been full of gale warnings over the last little while. We expected heavy rain and wind, and planned to spend the day inside. The wind part came through all right. The cables for the radio tower have been singing periodically, but the rain has been patchy and sporadic at best. It took us a while to realize that was the case, as we slept in, then lazed around with coffee and breakfast.

Eventually we stirred ourselves to go out right after a little shower. Its sunny and warm enough not to need a jacket. We had a nice walk down the railway trail, where I had run the other day. It was still really windy, strong enough to push me around a bit, and make it tough to take photos. The ocean was amazing, with the waves pounding into the shore, sending salt spray up on the wind.

Here's some random photos, again, not processed in any way. In some the horizon is not level. That's me, not Bermuda. There is some video as well, but I'll do that another time, maybe when writers block hits or something.









I had not noticed these cactus plants before. Somehow it had not occurred to me they would grow here.


These moon gates show up everywhere; they are thought to bring good fortune. But this is the first one I've seen that has a gate mounted within it.


We almost missed this rainbow.


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A beautiful Bermuda day

The weather here changes almost as fast as in Calgary. It was cool and windy, then yesterday was nice, and today has been perfect. However, tonight a gale is blowing in. We don't expect to get outside much tomorrow. Today has been almost entirely outside.

I started with an early morning run down to the Martello fort just opposite the airport. It was a perfect temperature to run, and it warmed up a bit more. So nice to run in the warmth. There and back is about 9 k I'm guessing. I don't even know how long it took. Ran easy, enjoying the scenery. While I did a bunch of stretching yoga after, Linda went into town to pick up an anklet she had asked the artist to change slightly, and picked up supplies (wine) for tomorrow.

We hung out on the pool deck, chatting and enjoying the day, then wandered over for High Tea at the Bermuda Perfumery. Very nice! Here's a teaser for you.



From there we wandered through town towards Ft Catherine, and strolled this beach.


For the first time ever I saw someone relaxing there. It's a nice beach, just a bit isolated. Along the way we paused to enjoy this view. How could we not?



Once home again we relaxed some more. Here's Linda hard at it.


The wind has been gradually picking up, and as I write this it's getting strong enough that its not so nice to sit outside anymore. In a little while I'll go fire up the BBQ. Tomorrow is likely to be a day of writing, reading, playing with Snapseed, and stalking the intertubes.

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Warning, beach photos ahead

Today was supposed to be nice. We were a bit worried as rain pelted onto the bus windshield on the way to Gibbs Lighthouse, but it all turned out fine. Windy, but fine. It's a mid 19th century cast iron lighthouse, 185 steps to the best view in Bermuda. Like this.







After getting some lunch with, yes, a super yummy dessert, we wandered across and up the road a bit, then down a really narrow set of stairs.



There was a tiny cute beach we visited.




Then, the reason we came here, Horseshoe Bay. Wow! There is actually 4 beaches altogether, one big and the others smaller, 2 of which are very private. This is really the first time we've seen anyone else on the beach here. Not many tourists, and too cold for the locals. It starts like this, and I'll put a few more. None have been touched by Snapseed. I feel pretty happy with these, since I couldn't see the phone screen at all.



















I think we might just have to visit this beach again. Yeah, we know our buddies back home are hating us now.

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A slightly mistimed day for weather

This morning was sunny enough to sit outside, writing, and having a coffee. For a few minutes, then it rained. Then sunny again, outside again for more writing and coffee. More rain.

We left after breakfast anyway. Linda had been bouncing off the walls yesterday, as I quietly wrote, and she HAD to be out. We went out to Spanish Point. It looked like a nice park and some scenic views, plus seeing part of Bermuda we hadn't been to. The park is nice for a picnic, and isn't far from downtown, but the overall area is nothing to write home about. Unfortunately it was raining lightly when we got there, and slowly started raining harder. We made it back to the bus stop just before it started really coming down.
Here's some photos.













That photo above is a sunken dry dock. It would have been cool to snorkel it, but it was really windy with lots of waves.

Of course just as the bus came in, it stopped raining. The sun came out for a beautiful ride into Hamilton, and a bit of shopping. It was perfect for the entire bus ride home. It was perfect for a short meditative pose.



Then out for a nice 40 minute run, worrying about this.




That looked like it was going to arrive any second given the wind, but I made it back just before the real rain arrived. I ran through a part of St. George that I hadn't been in yet. There were a few little hills I pushed hard up, but mostly cruised along in sightseer mode. My knees felt fine. After a short bit of lashing windy rain, it cleared up enough to BBQ, and we had an amazing dessert. It's called Molly cake, and I've never heard of it.




Wine, of course. Blogging, with more writing later.

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A quiet day writing

We had a quiet day in today. It's raining out, off and on. That's much better than snow out the wazoo like in Calgary. I spent some time working on my novel. It's much harder to write on the iPad. My thoughts outstrip my ability to type.

As the sun set I got a couple of nice photos and dressed them up just a little tiny bit.





Here's a little snippet of today's writing. There is essentially no editing.

Den pushed the plate of reheated leftovers away. She couldn't face it. Standing up and stretching didn't help. She took her dishes over to the sink.

'I'm going for some fresh air, guys. I'll clean my dishes next coffee.'

After a quick stop in her locker room, she headed down into the tunnels. She didn't feel like a workout walk, but did want to stretch out her legs. Heading around the natural track she worked on her breathing, trying to get rid of the closed in feeling. Gradually she started feeling better, and headed down the tunnels to primary.

Dwen closed her eyes and walked along, right hand trailing on the wall to stay oriented. She took one more step after feeling air where there should be concrete, and turned to the right. She could smell food faintly, with a hint of air conditioning crossed by stale brick. Standing still, she remembered the brief visit down that unknown tunnel, reaching out with both hands.

She opened her eyes abruptly when someone took her hands and gently moved her back into her own tunnel. The monk she had walked with that evening smiled down at her. Several more stood behind him.

Dwen smiled back and bowed. 'Fancy meeting you here. I take it you are not about to give me a tour, or treat me to breakfast in the cafeteria,' she said, gesturing towards the tunnel.

'That wouldn't be the best idea in the world. May I ask how much you've explored?'

'Not much. Had a meal there, and walked down to the main cross tunnel, then came back. How about you?'

'Considerably more. Do you see this every time you pass?'

'No. Only once before. This is like what you said, not to try, isn't it?'

'Very much so.' He sighed, and the three monks exchanged looks. 'If you can see the walkway at all, it won't do much good to tell you not to explore. Eventually you will, even knowing there are dangerous places.'

'Does it matter how many times I haven't seen it?'

'Not at all.' By now he had looped Dwen's arm into his arm and started strolling toward their own hall.

Dwen glanced over her shoulder to see the regular concrete wall again. 'How do you do that?'

'We don't do it. You do, or don't.'

'So you could turn around and walk back down there, even if I was watching? What would I see?'

'Do you have time to have a cup of tea?' He opened the door and gestured inside. Dwen walked in. The head monk walked her into his office.

'Its my privilege to welcome you to a wider world. My obligation too, in some senses, though I'm not sure how best to proceed.' He took a sip of tea and looked at her for a moment. 'You don't really know what that place is, do you?'

'No. It fascinates and scares me all at once. I don't understand how it can be so real at one time, and not there at all another time.'

'Which is why parts of it are so dangerous, especially for you. That understanding doesn't come at all to most people, and only with training and practice for the rest. I'm not sure about you.'

Run, beach, sun

To be honest, we were a little disappointed in the Hamilton market. Then again, we are spoiled in Calgary. Really spoiled. The whale watching is signed up, though there were so many caveats we might not end up not going. We will check out a local market here tomorrow but are not expecting much.

Once back in town I got ready to run. It was cloudy and sort of warm, at least by my standards. Limbered up and headed toward town centre, then through, down towards Gates Point, then along the shore. I never get tired of the ocean blue, so many blues. Past the beach, around back to town again. I didn't go all the way to the point since I could hear the beach calling me.

Shoes off. Back and forth on the beach a few times. The sun came out, and it was actually warm. Nice. The water was warmer than any Calgary triathlon, so I was in the water. Not a real swim, just getting wet. Then the clouds rolled in again as I was brushing the sand off my feet.

Ran a little more and joined up with a guy doing hill repeats. I saw him on an earlier run so we chatted a bit going up, then I carried on. Walked a few minutes back to the house and stretched. The whole thing took 90 minutes, but I've no idea how far I went. My left knee was feeling a little cranky, so I didn't push it too hard. It took a while to get settled in.

Later on I bbq'd organic chicken, which was very yummy, and opened a bottle of wine. Now we are vegging out, doing the vacation thing, and loving it.

Here's some photos. This is a Snapseeded version of a wall. I liked the various textures of stone.




While we were waiting for the harbour tour yesterday I was looking into the water, and noticed what looked like streamers coming from my head.



Even though they've been trying to cull the feral chickens, there are still lots of them. I see them every run. This one is waiting for a bus, at the main bus terminal in Hamilton.



Last is a view of the harbour only slightly tweaked in Snapseed.



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The rum swizzles never hurt

Contrary to what most people that see my basement think, we are not big drinkers. In the last couple days I've had more mixed drinks than in the entire year previous. Those rum swizzles go down pretty good. There were more today on the cruise around the Hamilton Harbor today. Along the way we saw this really cute little beach. I strongly suspect that the sign says go away.



On the way back into town I got this shot of the Hamilton waterfront. No Snapseed, though I might play with it later. This place has so many amazing shades of blue.


Other than the free cruise around the harbour, complete with goodies,



we didn't do much other than sleep in, and stroll around Hamilton. We are scoping out what to do next. Whale watching is on the agenda, but we don't yet know which day it will be on. Vacation, you know.

I'm writing this in the darkness, sitting beside the pool. Looking up, I can see the stars. I don't recognize any of them of course. I'm not an astronomer, and this batch of them would typically be below the horizon. If the wind would stop it would be perfect to sit here drinking my wine. Life is good.

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