tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24330560244897330172024-03-14T09:27:59.794+00:00TravelogueRay Wise - Photographer, Traveller, Runner, Walker, Cyclist and general purveyor of outdoor life!Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-87459685038638557752023-11-03T11:23:00.010+00:002023-11-03T16:54:10.801+00:00Istria 100 by UTMB - my 2023 experience.A quick introduction then before I get into the race. I did not start running until I was 40 – having asthma all my life, this put me off strenuous exercise. However, a friend and I entered the London Marathon on a whim, and I was on the slippery slope from then on. After a few weeks training my chest improved and the asthma issue went away 😊 . My first competitive Ultra- Marathon was the Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0Umag, Croatia45.4372062 13.525720520.786665580561323 -21.6305295 70.087746819438678 48.6819705tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-84982964921643336972020-08-09T15:16:00.001+01:002020-08-09T15:16:21.413+01:00Parkland Walk including Finsbury Park, Queens Wood, Highgate Wood and Alexandra Palace This point to point walk is about 5 miles in length and not suitable for wheelchair users. There are no restrictions for dog walkers on this walk as far as I am aware. My recording starts you off at Finsbury Park station and ends up at Alexandra Park station. This walk is all uphill but is slow to climb, however, if you do it in reverse you will start with a steep uphill challenge.Route - Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0Parkland Walk, Florence Road, London N4 3EY, UK51.5745897 -0.130769323.264355863821152 -35.2870193 79.884823536178843 35.0254807tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-90075952176066741282020-08-04T20:30:00.004+01:002020-08-08T22:25:47.431+01:00London Hikes - Walthamstow Wetlands LoopIt's important to check the opening times of the wetlands before planning this hike. However, there are many other options in the area, should the park be closed. Here's a link to the Walthamstow Wetlands website - https://walthamstowwetlands.com/ . Here's a link to the route which is viewable on the Garmin Connect website - https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/39066733.Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0Walthamstow Wetlands, 2 Forest Rd, London N17 9NH, UK51.585471800000008 -0.054182323.275237963821162 -35.2104323 79.89570563617886 35.1020677tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-79512789955773746062020-07-03T10:44:00.002+01:002020-07-05T07:52:48.803+01:00London Hikes - Bishop's Stortford to SawbridgeworthThis beautiful walk is along the banks of the River Stort in Hertfordshire just north of London. According to my notes, the trails is 8.64 km long which is just over 5 miles. The ground is flat but not paved and may not be suitable for regular wheelchairs. See my record of the walk here > https://www.strava.com/activities/3701844920 .Take the train to Bishop's Stortford Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0Bishop's Stortford CM23, UK51.8721635 0.153650223.561929663821154 -35.0025998 80.182397336178838 35.3099002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-86728557578639239422017-06-19T17:34:00.003+01:002020-09-28T07:57:28.201+01:00London Hikes - Amersham Loop
A view of Amersham town at the start of the walk.
This beautiful hilly walk takes you around the south and west of Amersham and then back. I measured it at 19.3 km or about 12 miles in old money.
There are a few ups and downs (300m) so given that and the length you are expected to be pretty fit to take this walk on. Details are on my Strava account and the link to the page is HERE.
The Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0Amersham, UK51.6755179 -0.6072409999999999223.365284063821157 -35.763491 79.985751736178855 34.549009tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-50689720149734979232017-06-15T19:45:00.001+01:002020-09-28T07:57:04.823+01:00London Hikes - Putney to Richmond
3 hikers making their way through Richmond Park
This fantastic rural walk gives you plenty of scope to explore and makes its way through 3 areas of beauty in south west London. The walks starts at the Green Man in Putney - there are a number of bus stops here - 14, 37, 85, 493, 639, 670 and the one I caught from Victoria - the 170. Putney rail station is approximately half a mile away asRay Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0Green Man, Wildcroft Rd, Putney, London SW15 3NG, UK51.4534488 -0.22162639999999131.022620299999996 -41.53022039999999 71.8842773 41.086967600000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-34447142437723403132017-06-10T20:06:00.001+01:002020-09-28T07:55:59.767+01:00London Hikes - Oak Trail Theydon Bois
This walk is a nice and easy loop although some navigation skills could be required if you follow my trail to the letter. However, there are main paths to stick to which get you round but without some great views which I will take you through now.
Firstly I'd recommend wearing boots on this walk - you are mostly walking on trails which can get muddy. Secondly please see my map and Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0Theydon Bois, UK51.671345921486271 0.1027633902740490251.670730421486269 0.10150289027404902 51.671961421486273 0.10402389027404901tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-73045571495495704942017-05-28T07:13:00.001+01:002020-09-28T07:56:21.666+01:00London Hikes - Chess Valley
As you can see from the route (above) the route of this walk runs from Chesham to Rickmansworth. Obviously you can do this in either direction - I hiked from Chesham - however, I would say starting from Rickmansworth is the better option.
Both points are on the Metropolitan Line meaning easy access to start and finish - it also goes past Chorleywood giving you a get out early clause. My routeRay Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-754827949981059332017-05-25T21:04:00.001+01:002020-09-28T07:57:56.613+01:00Dover for the weekend..
Jamie looks for France and we saw it too.
So I had my teenage nephew (Jamie) to look after for the weekend - he likes walking (thankfully) so I decided on Dover. It has the cliffs - obviously, and a castle too. I've never been to Dover apart from on a school trip to France so the experience would be new to both of us. We have no car so to the train station...
Now Victoria is cheap but Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com1Dover, UK51.1278758 1.313402699999983351.0481513 1.1520411999999833 51.207600299999996 1.4747641999999832tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-60506985212351112702017-05-17T20:01:00.001+01:002017-06-06T08:25:10.837+01:00Italy part 7last stop Turin..
Pic - sunset over Bobbio
Well I have had a great time and some wonderful memories to take back with me to the UK. Let me go over the last few days since my last update. I reached Bobbio after a 5 hours drive through the mountains - I must admit I was surprised how few stops I made to take photos - on top of that it rained just after my arrival
- I only had an hour to glanceRay Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0Turin, Italy45.070312 7.686856499999976244.8908855 7.3641329999999758 45.2497385 8.0095799999999766tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-47748233595316464202017-05-14T06:50:00.000+01:002017-06-06T08:24:35.903+01:00Italy part 6
Pic - viewing Florence from Michelangelo Square
Into the mountains!
Hi - it's May 14 now so let me backtrack a bit and go over the few days since my last update. Florence was a pretty amazing place - I'm not really into city's as I have told you but this had it all and was able to be done in a day.
The river running through it is the Arno and has two last weirs on it which you can get up Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com055032 Castelnuovo di Garfagnana LU, Italy44.1094753 10.41354649999993944.0638748 10.332865499999938 44.1550758 10.494227499999939tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-78385668263043030922017-05-11T18:17:00.001+01:002017-06-06T08:24:02.122+01:00Italy part 5
Pic - inside Duomo di Siena
May 9. I'm currently in Sienna, and I have been here for 2 days.. Tuscany is everything I expected, beautiful rolling hills and ornate trees lining roads - almost every house is worth photographing. There are olive groves and vineyards, farm lands and just everything fits like it had been placed there.
As a photographer its a bit of a dreamland. Yesterday I Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-35036551130137622652017-05-08T18:14:00.001+01:002017-06-06T08:23:22.561+01:00Italy part 4
When in Rome...
Pic - tourist taking a photo of St Peter's Basilica from a bridge on the Tiber.
It's my last evening in Rome - tired legs and feet - I'm having a rest, and it's well earned. I've been busy for the last two days and I've given the car some well earned rest. In Rome they have the Metro which is an underground train that takes you around the city - only two lines though. Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0Rome, Italy41.9027835 12.49636550000002441.524646 11.850918500000024 42.280921 13.141812500000025tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-36130187208341722582017-05-06T17:51:00.000+01:002017-06-06T08:22:14.936+01:00Italy part 3
A couple of days have passed so I thought I'd write down some notes. Firstly Naples or Napoli - I decided it best to get the train in from my hotel in Caserta and see the city from my feet. I finally got to Central Station because the first time of asking I missed the stop! So here's the news, its called Piazza Garibaldi for my train - Central Station is the level above - noted!
Pic -&Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0Rome, Italy41.9027835 12.49636550000002441.524646 11.850918500000024 42.280921 13.141812500000025tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-1894104402224072342017-05-05T18:46:00.000+01:002017-06-06T08:21:28.066+01:00Italy - Driving
Ok so I've decided it best I dedicate a post to driving in Italy. Now to be honest I'm a fairly aggressive driver anyway - this means I go for it rather than dither - not full of road rage! So I picked up my car at the airport in Catania - it was late and dark so I'm losing the game already..
However, the sat nav on my phone helps and it gets me close to my accommodation - I'm already part Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com3Viale Paul Harris, 81100 Caserta CE, Italy41.0567895 14.34225230000004116.7654935 -26.966341699999958 65.3480855 55.65084630000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-79350262839669552922017-05-04T20:14:00.000+01:002017-06-06T08:20:32.776+01:00Italy part 2
Pic - Corigliano Calabro
Moving on then I'm in my room in a place called Rossano - It's basically perched on a hill as are many of the towns / villages in these parts. Finding your way around in a car is not easy - narrow streets and mostly one way. Still i'm here now.
I have to mention La Marigold which I stayed at last night - the mostly beautiful B&B I think I have stayed Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0Viale Paul Harris, 81100 Caserta CE, Italy41.0567895 14.34225230000004116.764747500000002 -26.966341699999958 65.3488315 55.65084630000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-17775814846657044932017-05-02T18:49:00.000+01:002017-06-06T08:18:48.719+01:00Italy part 1Catania is a beautiful city and is seen well from the top as well as below at ground level..
Pic - Catania at sunset
Part one of Italy is complete, I'm now waiting on a ferry to the Italian mainland. This is a beautiful place but spoiled by the rubbish, it's everywhere! Today I hiked Mount Etna and there was lots of roadside rubbish on route.. Dumped stuff, it's a shame and hopefully the rest Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com189015 Palmi, Province of Reggio Calabria, Italy38.3853062 15.88774939999996138.285723700000005 15.726387899999962 38.4848887 16.049110899999963tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-25004490130411127632017-03-05T10:37:00.000+00:002017-06-02T10:38:22.203+01:00London Hikes - Epping Forest (south)
This is a relatively short walk (8km / 5 miles) through the lower half of Epping Forest. To get to the start you will need to take the 123 Bus and get off at Beacontree Ave going north or Hillcrest Rd going south. The 123 is accessed from many Tube stops for example - Tottenham Hale, Turnpike Lane and Wood Green.
You can look at my route on Strava HERE and download the GPX file if you wish. Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0Walthamstow, London, UK51.593482328582063 0.0061776484130859951.591016328582064 0.0011351484130859898 51.595948328582061 0.01122014841308599tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-18824014484794259402016-05-14T00:10:00.002+01:002020-09-28T07:58:22.327+01:00London Hikes - Dollis Valley
My Dollis Valley hike starts at West Finchley Tube, however when I walked it, the Tube was not working and I got a bus. Online you will find references to the Dollis Valley Greenland walk - this is part of my trail but starts over near the M1. All my route is recorded by GPS and saved on Strava HERE. This trail is about 10 miles long.
From the station find your way to Dollis Brook - Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0West Finchley Station, Nether St, London, Barnet N3 1NT, UK51.6095705 -0.1884552000000212531.181699 -41.497049200000021 72.037442 41.120138799999978tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-72969430131127351982016-01-29T17:01:00.000+00:002017-06-01T17:06:49.585+01:00Charity Shoot at St Paul's Cathedral
My friend Annah got in touch to do a charity shoot to raise money for not one but three charity's - Great Ormand St, Sands and Sport Relief. She got the idea when she met Dermot O'Leary while he was raising money by dancing for 24 hours - how do you beat that I asked??
"Well, I'm going to run 13 half marathons in 13 weeks - for an added bonus I'm doing a full marathon to finish up." When Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0St. Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD, UK51.5138453 -0.098350600000003431.0889478 -41.4069446 71.9387428 41.210243399999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-32159174738498956832015-10-28T15:20:00.003+00:002017-06-02T08:21:00.308+01:00River Thames at Low Tide - a view from the foreshore.
One of my favourite places to get original images in London is the River Thames at low tide. It's a dirty, dangerous but amazing and I have been doing shoots there for quite a few years now... You certainly get a different perspective of the city from down on the foreshore. So I thought I would give a little foresight as to what makes shots like the following possible...
(function(d, s, Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-22503677745848528282015-05-23T18:00:00.002+01:002020-09-28T07:59:02.163+01:00Hadrian's Wall Walk
I've left kings cross and am heading north, as leave London behind me fields of rapeseed replace the city towers. It's a blue sky and fluffy cloud morning, I know the weather won't be the same on my walk but the sight of it is boosting my moral.
My thoughts are on my backpack, am I taking too much? Have I enough?? Last minute nerves I'm sure. 2 hours until Newcastle now, watching the Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-62568149944397267422015-05-16T21:51:00.002+01:002017-06-01T15:33:37.926+01:00Hadrian's Wall - attack plan!
Monday 18th (May 2015) is the big day... Sunday I'm travelling up to Carlisle via Newcastle. I'll be staying in Carlisle and getting a bus to the start point first thing in the morning - the start point is Bowness-on-Solway. From there I'll be following the Hadrian's Wall National Trial back down through Carlisle and out again towards Walton which is approximately where I will spendRay Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-15639570182258543412015-03-02T21:19:00.001+00:002017-06-01T16:46:50.790+01:00Hadrian's Wall Challenge 2015
So another year another challenge - however this year has a particular ring to it as I will be 50 years old in March.. Yes - you can't beat time and there is certainly no slowing it down so you have to glide along with it enjoying its ups and riding the downs.. Which is pretty much like the challenge I have set myself here..
A walk along Hadrian's Wall which is 84 miles long and pretty Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2433056024489733017.post-20060101910864252022014-12-02T19:20:00.000+00:002017-06-01T15:33:49.981+01:00Enterprise - Car Hire, Are you insured?
When you hire a car - you are insured.. right? Well with Enterprise you appear not to be... How do I know - well they are taking me to court for the cost of a car which I apparently caused. So to be clearer I must give you a bit more information....
This year in March I went to Cumbria on holiday and hired a car from Enterprise. The day I was to take it back it broke down - I had it Ray Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12439430279112147915noreply@blogger.com2