Do Not Cross the Line: Wythall to the Lakes

I arrived at Wythall station south of Birmingham, having made an absurd journey since leaving home a week ago – like Geoff Mack’s ‘I’ve been everywhere’ a work trip had taken me to Gatwick, Reading, Sarasota, Orlando, Boston, Heathrow, Birmingham and now here. Feeling dazed and muted I wander back to the end point of [...]

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Suburb of Universal: Portofino

It is time to ‘Experience the sights and sounds of the Italian Riviera at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando®’ – a place beyond satire, almost beyond description. The buildings, which appear separate but are mostly part of one large joined-up complex, are painted with trompe l’oeil effects – pretend windows painted next to [...]

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Blazing causeway: Gatwick to Sarasota

I left the Holiday Inn with a slight pang of regret, as I had liked it more than I expected. A visit to a nearby pub had been nice – the experience of a 700-year old oak beamed, low-ceilinged inn (which according to CAMRA ‘rests on wooden piles, some of which date from [...]

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Falling pixels: Edinburgh to Gatwick

Normally my journeys to the start of walks involve getting the first train from Ormskirk, changing at Liverpool and heading south. This time, as I try to get back to Wythall to continue onwards, the route will be a bit lengthier. I intend to get there directly following a work-related to trip to the US, [...]

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The Map is Not the Territory: live and unplugged

A couple of posts ago, I mentioned, in a roundabout way, a course that Jennie and I are delivering next year. The Solitary Walker suggested I should plug the course and ‘not be so shy and retiring’, so (allowing my finely-honed marketing reflexes to prevail over my introverted diffidence) here goes…
It’s called ‘The Map is [...]

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