Category Archives: Celtic Nations

Still Square Wheeled and Decision Time!

Posted on by
6

Sadly, despite having made quite significant progress recuperating from my leg injury, I haven’t yet been able to ride a motorcycle; the old leg just hasn’t got strong enough.

“Annoyed ” is not a strong enough word for it!

The medical support that I have received this year has been superb, though I feel that I have seen the inside of far too many hospital facilities, it’s just a shame that my body hasn’t been able to play the recovery game as quickly as I would like. It’s an age thing I guess!

Equally frustrating, when I look out of the kitchen window at Dookes H.Q. I enjoy a wide vista that includes the mountains of Scaraben and Morven…I so want to get out onto those slopes, but I don’t fancy becoming a “Mountain Rescue” statistic. Back when I was in my teens, my Mountain Leadership training placed great emphasis on knowing ones own capabilities and at the present time mine do not include being safe on those peaks.

Looking ahead, I had contemplated taking one last motorcycle trip to the Alps next year. It is a long way from the Far North of Scotland, 700 miles just to get to the ferry port to France. In the past I wouldn’t have thought twice about that, nor the 600 miles to Jausiers once I had landed on the Continent, but this is now, the new reality. I have cast around a few of my pals to see if anyone fancied a road trip and whilst a few were interested, they either have health issues too, family commitments or worst of all, have sold their motorcycles!!!!

Sadly then the Alps ain’t gonna happen; I’m just going to have to console myself with memories and photos of my days on the high alpine roads.

All is not lost though, I still have Scotland, my “new” country, to explore!

I have though, made a decision about going forward and that is next year I will be ending this blog.

It has been over 12 years since I started on this blogging journey. In the beginning the blog was only supposed to be about my travels on my Harleys and whilst that core remains broadly true, it is fair to say that I have on occasion wandered around a bit! Looking back and reading some of my older posts it is amazing how easily the emotion of the moment often returns to me.
I will sporadically post some more stuff over the next few months, it will be June when the blog ends, so time enough to wrap things up gracefully.

The Winter Solstice arrives on Saturday, marking the turning of the year, I’m feeling happy. Content that the days will soon be growing longer and that the natural order of things still runs true.

It’s probably fair to say that that the Winter Solstice has become my favourite day of the whole year.

In our Northern Hemisphere it is the shortest day.
Here in Caithness the Sun barely shows itself above the horizon and then for the briefest possible time.
Solstice Sunrise for us will be at 09:03, Sunset 15:21hrs, maximum sun elevation at Noon is a mere 8º!

I have written before how the relevance of this turning point has become stronger for me as I grow older; I understand the ancient people who venerated the turning seasons and the Celestial Calendar, I celebrate their wisdom and align myself to their beliefs.

It appears that since the dawn of time our forbears have found reason to celebrate a festival of light in the depths of the darkest day of the year. So why not have a party to celebrate the ending of one celestial year and the beginning of a new one?

Sounds good to me, but then I am a Welsh Wizard/Dewin Cymreig!

On the day before the Solstice I will be out gathering evergreens to decorate Dookes H.Q. Many Pagan religions held tradition where it was customary to place holly leaves and evergreen branches in and around dwellings during winter. It was believed that the good spirits who inhabited forests could come into their homes and use the holly as shelter against the cold; whilst at the same time malevolent forces and spells would be repelled. The added advantage is that the house smells wonderful as a result!

Norway fir.

“Now is the Solstice of the year.
Winter is the glad song that you hear.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.”

Happy Solstice and Yuletide Greetings!

Catch you soon,
Dookes

On The Border

Posted on by
2

After the relentless rain in Lancashire yesterday afternoon, it was a relief to wake to almost dry skies.

Harls and I hit the road bang on nine o’clock and headed North, through Gisburn and then to Settle, which is at the South end of the famous Settle and Carlisle Railway.

The fells looked fabulous, but I wanted to push on and get a sixty mile section of the M6 Motorway out of the way.
I generally dislike riding on Motorways, not just because they are boring, but mostly they can be dangerous for motorcyclists. Dangerous through poor lane discipline and bad driving habbits of many other road users and wow were those on full display today!

Because the weather was so nice when we got on the motorway, I was planning to stop at Shap and maybe watch a few trains pass on the famous climb from Tebay; a gradient that used to severely tax the old steam locomotives and even makes modern traction cough a bit!

In my railway career days, I’ve driven trains over it and I know how it can catch out the unwary. It’s a stunning location, but is mountainous country and the weather can change in an instant…. just like today.
We were happily travelling up the sunny Lune Gorge just South of Shap, up ahead I could see ominous black clouds and mist, this was going to be interesting! True to form, we rapidly moved into reduced visibility, biblical rain and gale force winds; I do like a challenge, but the Shap stop was scrubbed!

The Fells though, have a habit of changing their mind fairly quickly and by Carlisle we got back into sunshine and swung off the dreadful motorway and onto the A7 road through the Scottish Borders.

The A7, my kind of road!

This road has long been on my UK bucket list and I wasn’t disappointed. It starts of innocuously enough, then sort of develops into a lovely scenic twisty indulgent asphalt ribbon of happiness.
It has enough jeopardy at times to keep a motorcyclist alert without being dangerous and some glorious straight bits where you can soak in the views or burn up the fuel a bit quicker.

I’m afraid that on the best bit, between Langholm and Hawick, I didn’t stop to take photos, I was too busy enjoying myself!
North of Galashiels though I grabbed a few pictures, it’s not bad, eh?

Tonight we are in the Royal Burgh of Lauder, a delightful small town about 30 miles South of Edinburgh. 

Tomorrow, it’s a big push of 300 miles back home to Caithness, with a brief stop at Edinburgh Harley Davidson to discuss service plans; yes they really are my “local” Harley Davidson Dealership and service workshop!

We will be traversing the Queensferry Crossing over the Firth of Forth adjacent to the famous Forth Bridge built to carry the North British Railway’s line from Edinburgh to Aberdeen in 1890.

Then its off to Perth and the Highlands, following the A9 just about all the way home…

The Highlands are calling me …..

Are you coming along for the ride?
Good, stands up at 09:00; Screw it, Let’s ride!

“On the border 
Leave me be , I’m just walkin’ this line 
On the border” 

Catch you soon,
Dookes

Starting To Know Caithness

Posted on by
3

Well, the Solstice came and passed, we celebrated in a wonderfully pagan way!
Christmas and New Year also ticked by.
In the meantime, Mrs Dookes and I have begun to explore our new home county and enjoy the variety it offers.

Sadly, it is not the best of seasons to ride motorcycles; so until the weather warms up and our local highways gangs stop spreading salt on the roads our exploration will not be on two wheels!

To give a taster of Caithness, I thought that I’d first better show exactly where the county is.

This a map of Scotland and that’s Caithness in red, right at the very top, so now you know!

I have a bit of a problem though in trying to introduce you to Caithness, where do I start?
This place is rich in diversity and variety, from rugged coasts and brave fishing villages to wide landscapes of mountains and precious wetlands.
I’ll let some pictures show what I mean, click on them to see a bigger image.

Westerdale Mill on Thurso River
Scaraben from Loch More
The wide open Flow Country.
Lybster Harbour
Lybster Harbour
Sunset at Dunnet Head

All of these photographs were taken within 20 minutes of Dookes H.Q.
We are so lucky!
This week things have taken a slightly more wintery feel…

A wintery snowscape from Dookes H.Q.
“Hazy Shade of Winter”

We’ve had about 12 inches (300mm) of snow in the last 48 hours.
It’s time to keep warm and snug especially as more is expected!

Once I can dig ourselves out of the house, I look forward to more exploring and posting more pictures!!

Catch you soon,
Dookes

Moving Home – Dookes HQ Relocated – Here Comes The Solstice!

Posted on by
10

I’ve been quiet for a long time, off air and our of contact!
Life has been hectic for the past few months as Mrs Dookes and I have been in the process of moving home.

In the usual Dookes way this hasn’t been a minor undertaking. In our world it always seems that if something is going to happen it’s going to be pretty major and totally worth doing! This also hasn’t been a simple matter of popping just a few miles down the road or into the next county; oh no, we have moved from one end of the United Kingdom to the other!

Previously we were in Cornwall, in the far South West. Now we are in Caithness, thats about as far to the North East as we can go without dropping into the sea! Not only have we travelled 750 miles North, we have also changed countries and are now in Scotland.

Additionally, we are very, very, happy with our decision!

It is beautiful here , the people are great and I am looking forward to blogging furiously about the place once I get out and explore more on two wheels, but for now I give you a couple of taster pictures

Not a bad view from the back door of Dookes H.Q.!

Thursday is the Winter Solstice and I’m very happy in a Druid-like way. I said before, it’s probably my favourite day of the year.

In our Northern Hemisphere it is the shortest day, when the Sun barely shows itself above the horizon and then for the briefest possible time! Here in Caithness the daylight hours are particularly short. Sunrise on the Solstice will be at 09:02 and Sunset is at 15:20.

Caithness Sunrises are very special!

I have said previously how the relevance of this turning point has become stronger for me as I have grown older; I understand the ancient people who venerated the turning seasons and the Celestial Calendar, I celebrate their wisdom and align myself to their beliefs.

It appears that since the dawn of time our forbears have found reason to celebrate a festival of light in the depths of the darkest day of the year. So why not have a party to celebrate the ending of one celestial year and the beginning of a new one?

Sounds good to me, but then I am a Welsh Wizard/Dewin Cymreig!

Stennes Sones Orkney

Have a great Solstice everyone.
Catch you soon,
Dookes

“Now is the Solstice of the year.
Winter is the glad song that you hear.”

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus, Happy St David’s Day

Posted on by
2

Y Ddraig Goch, The Red Dragon

Bore da pawb. Heddiw yw Dydd Gŵyl Dewi, y Diwrnod Cenedlaethol Cymru.
Dymuniadau gorau i chi i gyd!

Good morning everyone. Today is Saint David’s Day, the National Day of Wales.
Best wishes to you all, from a rather dreary Cornwall!

All is not gloomy however, despite the dreadful events unfolding in Ukraine, daffodils, the national flower of Wales, are in bloom and with a freshly picked bunch on the table next to me, its like the sun has come into the house as well.

The world is a sombre place just at the moment, so it’s nice to have something to cheer me up!

OK, brief history lesson then:
Dewi Sant/St David was born towards the end of the 5th Century in the region of West Wales known as Ceredigion. Whilst alive he built a reputation for his preaching, teaching and simple living amongst the Celtic people. He founded a monastery at Glyn Rhosin, which became an important early Christian centre. Dewi died on 1st March 589 and was buried in what is now known as St David’s Cathedral in Pembrokeshire where his shrine became a popular place of pilgrimage.

For centuries 1st March has been a national festival in Wales with parades, concerts, poetry readings and of course traditional food all being enjoyed. Around the country not only will you see the flag of Wales, Y Ddraig Goch (the Red Dragon) being flown, but also the flag of St David, a simple yellow cross on a black field.P1030045

Today is also the time when Welsh exiles around the world remember ‘The Land of My Fathers’ and try to ease the sense of “Hiraeth” that yearning homesickness tinged with grief, nostalgia, wistfulness and pride in our identity that we often feel.

I imagine that many Ukrainians are feeling something very similar today too…

In these increasingly dangerous times, as if the world hasn’t gone through enough in the last few years, have a lovely day and in the words of St David:

“Gwnewch y pethau bychain mean bywyd.” “Do ye the little things in life.”
(And maybe offer up a little prayer for peace too!)

Hwyl fawr!
Dookes

Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol wyf i’m Gwlad.

High Places

Posted on by
2

Regular visitors to this site, my Blogonaughts, will know that every now and then Dookes gets an urge to stand on top of a mountain or a hill, safe in the knowledge that the only thing above is the vast expanse of the heavens.

I’m not sure exactly when this feeling, call it a habit if you like, began. What I can report though is that when the feeling creeps up on me it can be all consuming and totally irresistible.

Which is what happened earlier this week.

We were just preparing our evening meal at Dookes H.Q. when I received a message from nephew Darrell, “Would you like to go up on the Moors tomorrow with the dogs?”

Diddy in her element.

Now apart from it being really nice that my nephew and I enjoy time in each other’s company, it didn’t take a second to say, “Yes, yes, yes and let’s go to the highest point….!”

I’ve written before about Bodmin Moor, it’s one of Cornwall’s designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The two highest peaks in Cornwall Rough Tor and Brown Willy, 420 metres (1,377 ft) above sea level, dominate the landscape to the North. The landscape here is testimony to thousands of years of human occupation, with the remains of Bronze Age hut circles, Neolithic enclosures and mysterious stone circles.

Brown Willy

The Moor is a remote, bleak, grass and heather covered upland with an underlying geology of hard granite. It’s hard country, not as high as my beloved Welsh Mountains or the Alps, but you don’t want to be caught out here in bad weather or with the wrong gear, the Moors can be brutally unforgiving.

Showery Tor

I love the place
I love the way the wind sweeps in unchecked from the Atlantic.
I love the hard ancient rocks that stand witness to the passing seasons of man.
I love the smells of peat and heather.
I love its babbling water and clear open skies.
I love its stark brutal beauty.

I love how I feel my spirits lifted after a day in it’s sanctuary

The Wild Atlantic

Catch you soon,
Dookes

PS Thanks Darrell for a great idea!

Ring Out Solstice Bells 2021

Posted on by
6

Best wishes to you all on this Winter Solstice Day!

At exactly 15:59 GMT today the polar axis of our Planet Earth will have be tilted at its farthest away from the Sun in the Northern Hemisphere, giving us our shortest day of the year and marking the beginning of astronomical winter. This makes me a very happy Dookes, for though the days will be colder, they will also start to get longer!

Of course if you live South of the equator the reverse applies.

For my previous posts about the Dookes take on the Solstice please click here.

This year we have been doubly treated as there was a full “Winter Moon” last weekend.
For us Celts, with a feeling for the natural cycle of life, it doesn’t get much better than that!

The Winter Moon rising over a cold Cornish landscape.

In accordance with the old ways and as a Druid, I’m off to garland Dookes H.Q. now…and raise a glass to the setting sun.

In the meantime, however and whatever you are celebrating have a really good one!

“Ring out these bells,
Ring out,
Ring solstice bells”

Catch you soon,
Dookes