Rosie Niven
@rosieniven
Originally from north east England, now in north east London. Work in comms when not retracing lost ferry routes. Previously a journalist for digital, print & broadcast media. Views all my own. Work: UCL | Ferry project: www.rosieniven.com
I've walked about 35km of the Thames Path over the past two days finishing at Lechlade in Gloucestershire. Today, there was much more actual river to see and we ended the walk at a section of the Thames that was navigable by boat. Just a few miles back only paddle boards could pass.
The River Thames last May in Ashton Keynes. Today this section of the river has green and pink algae!
Spent the day walking the Thames path from the source to Cricklade. Well, actually we decided to sack off the bit from Kemble station to the source and back and was very glad we did. This was what the river was like today.
Isn't it! I think this photo was taken on that stretch. I remember coming into Stavanger in the morning and it was looking so beautiful. I wanted to get off there. However, we carried on to Bergen, which was spectacular.
The building behind Micah Richards looks like Wood Green shopping centre from the East Coast Mainline.
Continuing the marathon clearout of my parents house. Came across this interesting cutting from a 1993 edition of the Radio Times about a programme called Two Seconds to Midnight. It predicts that in 2043 electricity will be generated by renewables and that we will use TVs for our shopping.
Having a trip down memory lane looking at some photos from a family holiday to Norway. The one on the left is my favourite. It was taken by my sister who would have just turned 10 at the time. The one on the right is me wearing the "Norway Line" sailor's hat they were selling on board the ferry
Glad to be here for a few days. It's still sunny (for now) but the temperature is bearable.
Not sure but I can't recommend the "Emerald Isle" breakfast at Belfast YHA. It was the blandest ever avocado on toast on the cheapest white sliced bread. On a positive note, it's the only YHA dining hall that has a pick and mix in. Was so dissatisfied with breakfast I was tempted to buy Taytos.
There is still an ECCo Pizza company on Strutton Ground, Westminster. I remember saying there was on here once when the Fitzrovia branch was recommended but no one believed me.
Have spent the last week staying at a sheep farm in the Staffordshire Peak District. It's a gorgeous part of the world that I was unfamiliar with until now. I also know a lot more about sheep and what they like to eat. They love digestive biscuits but buttercups are poisonous!
On holiday and every morning I wake up to see these guys staring at me.
Bush Hall is a stunning and intimate venue too. Enjoyed hearing Dance the Pain Away live.
Haute and Freddy's first UK gig at Bush Hall was amazing. They are true performers and there was lots of audience participation. If you have tickets for their second London or Brighton shows you are in for a treat.
I heard a weird noise this morning and went to investigate. Found this Crow dancing on our skylight.
3. Belfast was a wonderful place to spend an evening. I wish I had been able to stay longer. At least I got to see the City Hall. Next time I will take a taxi tour, maybe even by Jim or Jamie, the Celtic fans I spoke to on the boat. I want to stay at the Europa which I wrote about when a journo
I ended the day with a walk through town to get some sunset views of Loch Ryan. I didn't want to pass up the rare opportunity to see the sunset over the sea. On a sadder note, I found the memorial to the 135 victims of one of the UK’s worst maritime tragedies, which struck the MV Princess Victoria.
Stranraer town centre was surprisingly busy. "It's a nice day, isn't it," explained a woman working in the cafe Dnisi. She said her customers were a mix of ferry passengers, tourists from the caravan park and her regulars.
Heidi showed me some pictures of the terminal in its heyday to work out the location of everything. This structure was close to the quay so could be part of the ramp. It's a good 10-15 minute walk back into town from the station which was located here to serve ferry passengers.
In the station, I found Heidi on the ticket desk whose father worked in the ferry here and now Stranraer. She has happy memories of family days for employees where they could travel to Belfast in the 1990s. Now the station is much quieter with only a few trains per day.
I arrived in Stranraer at around 14:50pm. I was dropped off right next to the old ferry terminal with it's still-active railway. I strolled down to take a look at what's there now. Spot the Stena ferry on the left, and the P&O on the right on Loch Ryan in the background.
Morning! It's the second and final day of the first stage of this project / challenge. I'm at the Stena Line terminal waiting for the ferry to Cairnryan. Slightly easier schedule today, this afternoon I am going to explore Stranraer where Northern Ireland ferries used to depart from back in the day.
Arrived at Larne at 18.01. It's taken me seven hours to get here, not counting stops in Ardrossan to chat and take pix. More adventures tomorrow. Now going to relax and catch up with election stuff. Just heard my local authority is changing hands.
Ardrossan Southbeach is stunning! Train connections have all gone to plan and I am now on a bus from Ayr heading to Cairnryan. I have just discovered from another passenger that it's a mile from the bus terminus to the Larne ferry.
Had an interesting morning exploring Ardrossan. Arrived just in time for the morning ferry to Arran (didn't get on it). Took some pix of the now abandoned"Irish Quay".