We leave 5th June.
Monday 1 May 2017
Tuesday 17 May 2016
Mini Tour to Brecon
As our old blog site is proving problematic, we are experimenting with a new one which is available at:
https://steller.co/lifecyclist
https://steller.co/lifecyclist
Location:Exeter
Monday 25 January 2016
Art Deco....
Miami Beach's Art Deco District is on the National Register of Historic Places, with 800 structures of historical significance, most built between 1923 and 1943. The fanciful pastel buildings, with porthole windows, ship-like railings, sleek curves, glass blocks, shiny chrome, gleaming terrazzo floors and, best of all at night, the neon signs.
Park Central, built in 1937 was the first hotel to be returned to its original splendor. The hotel was a hangout for Hollywood stars, such as Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, and Rita Hayworth. Our favourite, "Haddon Hall", with pink strip lights. Some are sophisticated quiet hotels, whilst at others the revellers are spilling on to the street as very loud Hispanic music blares. A big police presence keeps control, without spoiling the fun.
Tomorrow is our final day here so staying near the pool and Harriet taking us to the airport for the red-eye flight to Heathrow. Should be home Tuesday afternoon.
Park Central, built in 1937 was the first hotel to be returned to its original splendor. The hotel was a hangout for Hollywood stars, such as Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, and Rita Hayworth. Our favourite, "Haddon Hall", with pink strip lights. Some are sophisticated quiet hotels, whilst at others the revellers are spilling on to the street as very loud Hispanic music blares. A big police presence keeps control, without spoiling the fun.
Tomorrow is our final day here so staying near the pool and Harriet taking us to the airport for the red-eye flight to Heathrow. Should be home Tuesday afternoon.
Location:Miami Beach
Sunday 24 January 2016
Weather....
We wake early and catch the sun rising over the beach from our hotel balcony.
CNN TV reports 40 ins (!!!) of snow in Virginia. All traffic has been banned on the roads of New York (a record breaking 25 ins so far, and still snowing). It is the Miami marathon today, and many participants are missing as snow-bound airports in central USA are shut and folks can't get here. On her way to work, Harriet spots the runners passing Port Miami, with the start just before dawn to avoid the day's heat.
After breakfast we swim a few lengths of the outdoor pool before anyone else thinks of it, then pedal down the beach to watch the surfers. Along the wide estuary path we share with a few other bikes, skate boarders and a very unsteady hover-boarder.
A couple of blocks away is the Holocaust memorial. An uncountable number of victims names, representing so many, many, more, are etched in black marble panels which reflect in the still lily pond.
Harriet is out tonight with work colleagues, to see Madonna on her "Rebel" tour, performing at the BasketBall stadium. She has a VIP ticket, so we are hoping for selfies with celebs!
CNN TV reports 40 ins (!!!) of snow in Virginia. All traffic has been banned on the roads of New York (a record breaking 25 ins so far, and still snowing). It is the Miami marathon today, and many participants are missing as snow-bound airports in central USA are shut and folks can't get here. On her way to work, Harriet spots the runners passing Port Miami, with the start just before dawn to avoid the day's heat.
After breakfast we swim a few lengths of the outdoor pool before anyone else thinks of it, then pedal down the beach to watch the surfers. Along the wide estuary path we share with a few other bikes, skate boarders and a very unsteady hover-boarder.
A couple of blocks away is the Holocaust memorial. An uncountable number of victims names, representing so many, many, more, are etched in black marble panels which reflect in the still lily pond.
Harriet is out tonight with work colleagues, to see Madonna on her "Rebel" tour, performing at the BasketBall stadium. She has a VIP ticket, so we are hoping for selfies with celebs!
Saturday 23 January 2016
Sand and Art....
Friday morning, and our last visit to the gym at Harriet's apartment block, where I tackle the on-road Marin County route, on the screen in front of the recumbent bike, whilst Mike samples an off-road, lake route on his bike. We say goodbye to the pussy cats, and pedal the 7 miles, over two bridges, to the Ritz Carlton Hotel on Miami Beach. Harriet ferried our luggage over when she drove to work at 7am, so everything is waiting for us in our room.
Saturday morning 6:30, and already one guest is doing lengths in the outdoor pool 10 storeys below our balcony. Joggers are running up and down the beach and boardwalk.
We stroll along the wide, white beach, photographing the colourful wooden Life Guard stations every 100 yds, and birdspotting. Police drive quad bikes, patrolling on the sand.
At Harriet's suggestion we visit two new stunning beach hotels, No1 has gorgeous tropical plants hanging from the ceilings and walls and drift wood sculptures, Hotel W shows off enormous Andy Warhol pictures throughout the marbled public areas - all incredibly opulent.
A Bentley, a Rolls Royce and a Bugatti are being valet parked as their owners hop out to enter the foyer.
Saturday morning 6:30, and already one guest is doing lengths in the outdoor pool 10 storeys below our balcony. Joggers are running up and down the beach and boardwalk.
We stroll along the wide, white beach, photographing the colourful wooden Life Guard stations every 100 yds, and birdspotting. Police drive quad bikes, patrolling on the sand.
At Harriet's suggestion we visit two new stunning beach hotels, No1 has gorgeous tropical plants hanging from the ceilings and walls and drift wood sculptures, Hotel W shows off enormous Andy Warhol pictures throughout the marbled public areas - all incredibly opulent.
A Bentley, a Rolls Royce and a Bugatti are being valet parked as their owners hop out to enter the foyer.
Location:Miami Beach
Fisherfolk....
We take the folding bikes in Harriet's car 100 miles north, first up the 12 laned concrete US Highway 1, then 10 miles west through state nature parks, and past sugar cane farms. Hundreds of vultures follow the machines bringing in the crop.
Lake Okeechobee is the biggest in Florida (110 mile circumference) - so it looks more like a sea. There is a dedicated cycle path along the top of the wide dyke. We meet a couple of other cyclists, and flocks of Cattle Egret. There is water on the other side too as we are beside a wide channel. Every 5 miles or so there is a tunnel under the dyke and a manned (or actually womaned) lock to let small fishing boats pass from the channel into the lake.
At a small bridge we cross to a trailer park, where a very friendly Fishermans bar is run from a wooden shed. A staggeringly drunk couple leave as we enter, and are very interested in us, chatting amiably. Then they support each other to their Utility vehicle and drive off!!! We are glad we are not joining them on the road. It looks like they are following the advice we see in the bar.
The barmaid tells us there are alligators to be seen on the shores, but we don't spot them on our 8 mile return to the car.
Lake Okeechobee is the biggest in Florida (110 mile circumference) - so it looks more like a sea. There is a dedicated cycle path along the top of the wide dyke. We meet a couple of other cyclists, and flocks of Cattle Egret. There is water on the other side too as we are beside a wide channel. Every 5 miles or so there is a tunnel under the dyke and a manned (or actually womaned) lock to let small fishing boats pass from the channel into the lake.
At a small bridge we cross to a trailer park, where a very friendly Fishermans bar is run from a wooden shed. A staggeringly drunk couple leave as we enter, and are very interested in us, chatting amiably. Then they support each other to their Utility vehicle and drive off!!! We are glad we are not joining them on the road. It looks like they are following the advice we see in the bar.
The barmaid tells us there are alligators to be seen on the shores, but we don't spot them on our 8 mile return to the car.
Location:Lake Okeechobee
Tuesday 19 January 2016
Robot, Metromover & Basketball....
At Breakfast we keep an eye on the robot vacuum cleaner as it sweeps around us and the cats!
Then a wander through Downtown, and back on the free Metrorail.
This is an unmanned elevated train system that is about 3 storeys above ground, but sometimes sweeping higher, so great views of the city and waterfront, or in the windows of people's apartments!
We are out this evening to watch a basketball match at the nearby enormous American Airlines Arena. The local Miami Heat team are playing the Milwaukee Bucks. Amid the busy evening traffic, we "Uber" our way to the game. Unfortunately, we lose 79 to 91, but we enjoy the cold beer, giant pretzels and all the razzmatazz (including the dancing girls, and "Burnie", the Heat's mascot, who spent all evening either energetically acrobatic or hover-boarding across the pitch!)
Then a wander through Downtown, and back on the free Metrorail.
This is an unmanned elevated train system that is about 3 storeys above ground, but sometimes sweeping higher, so great views of the city and waterfront, or in the windows of people's apartments!
We are out this evening to watch a basketball match at the nearby enormous American Airlines Arena. The local Miami Heat team are playing the Milwaukee Bucks. Amid the busy evening traffic, we "Uber" our way to the game. Unfortunately, we lose 79 to 91, but we enjoy the cold beer, giant pretzels and all the razzmatazz (including the dancing girls, and "Burnie", the Heat's mascot, who spent all evening either energetically acrobatic or hover-boarding across the pitch!)
Location:Downtown Miami
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