A Day in Lincoln

 A train ride to Lincoln then, for my sister to retrieve her bag from a nightclub, and then for a spot of lunch and a mooch around. 

Bag rescued, we headed to the Arboretum, where a community cafe staffed by trainees served up some excellent food for a mere fiver while we enjoyed looking at their extensive painted rock collection, before we walked round the park itself. 

I've been before, but on a dull September day when there wasn't much life around, but on this visit, the spurge plants were alive with various bee species, a pond had ducklings on it, and a fountain water feature was full of tadpoles. An overlooking song thrush sang its repetitive song for us while we poked around in the plants. 

Well I did, my sister has more dignity than that. I on the other hand, probably spend a lot of time looking strange to other people while I'm staring at dandelions.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 18.04.24

Boultham Park Lincoln Trip

 Tired of being stuck in this town, I decided to risk the anxiety of using public transport for the first time since the pandemic started. 

My goal was Boultham Park in Lincoln, a half hour or so walk from the railway station down the Sustrans Route 92 that runs alongside the River Witham. I soon wished I'd had a bike with me, as the route would have taken me 7 miles out to the Whisby Park nature reserve. 

"Get a folding bike, idiot!" I told myself as I walked along the not massively scenic path by the river, although the presence of dragonflies, including a first for me in the form of a black darter checking me out, livend things up as did the sighting of a kingfisher on the way back. 

Why visit a public park in another city? Well, long time readers will know that I am fascinated with the public use of open space, and what goes on there, and I'd seen that this park was an important community space for activities. 

Certainly when I arrived there after leaving the main path to head through some woodland, you could see what the main focus had been in the last few days - the bandstand was covered in flowers in tribute to the Queen, and a few children's drawings of her, and also Paddington Bear, who seems to have become enshrined in this event. But there wasn't a lot going on on a week day.

The lake was rather disappointing, not much of interest to see there, although the metal sculptures around it were really attractive. For some reason I was expecting there to be more planted areas with wildflowers; I know its late in the season but there just wasn't anything; one rather sad rock garden, and a fountain garden with no plants in it. 

The cafe was a friendly little space though, well used by the local community; lots of elderly folk having a spot of lunch and the staff and students of what I think must be a small school for adults with learning disabilities next door. 

Cake selection looked excellent too, both normal and vegan, too bad I feel fat as soon as I even look at a piece of cake.

So that was very nice. Journey back was horrendous though, train replaced by a bus crammed full of college kids; incredibly uncomfortable and the cause of rocketing covid anxiety. 

Yes, I am still that person.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 14.09.22

The Owls of Lincoln

I thought I'd out these feathery fellows in a separate post. Not sure who looks after them, they are not Kilton Raptor Rescue Birds. I think there may be a Lincoln Owl Rescue centre somewhere.

Today, I got in a decent 7km run despite feeling a bit grotty all day. The rain relented to leave a lovely sunset, and I have been watching RPGs this evening while experimenting with microwaving bacon because I hate the mess of frying.

It seemed to work.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 13.10.19

A Rapid Raid on Lincoln

I have a little birthday money to spend thanks to my parents, and this being Newark I've found it impossible to find anything good to spend it on.

So today I thought I'd head for Lincoln and see if there was anything worth getting, and I've ended up with a waistcoat and an Atari Asteroids T-Shirt, my attempts to descend into full on geekdom slightly satisfied. I didn't feel too amazing in the city today, so didn't spend enough time up there to see all I wanted to.

I did have a visit to the museum, which given a better day I would have spent more time in, espeically as it offered the chance to be guided by an actual goggle eyed robot seemingly called "Lindsey", who rolled around looking for punters and not wanting to have a selfie taken with me.

Sensible bot!

Lincoln of course was a major Roman settlement, located at one end of the Fosseway, and the museum concentrates on this aspect of the local history. The coins were amazing, the gold soldati from the late Empire period shining like they were minted only yesterday. Worth a lot of money back then, even more now.

The mod cafe has closed down - sad!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 12.10.19

Return to the Lincoln Grand Prix

The Lincoln Grand Prix is the greatest cycle race on the British domestic scene, contested every year by the best pro, semi pro and amateur riders in the country. You have to be the best, 13 13km circuits including the cobbled climb of Michaelgate that most people can barely walk up, is not for the ordinary.

It's been a few years since I've been, with work and cricket commitments getting in the way, but with the sun in the sky and milder temperatures, it was insane not to go when I had the chance.

I was there for virtually the whole thing, and it was probably the most open and exciting race I've been to, with no breakaway of riders ever really being allowed to get too far away, and the group more or less altogether at the base of the final climb.

It was Tom Stewart of the Canyon DHB team that won, followed by young star in the making Tom Pidcock of Team Wiggins and another Canyon Rider, Andy Tennant, in third, after just under 4 hours of gruelling racing.

Rather randomy, a rider's girfriend messaged me on Instagram out of the blue and asked me how he was getting on, having seen the videos on my IG feed. Another pro-rider, Rory Townsend, liked a few of my photos too, an excellent achievement given he was in the bike race at the time.

Long day for me, 7 hours out of town and I didn't eat a thing!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 12.05.19

Up to Lincoln Arboreturn

Or rather "Up up up up, and then down a bit."

Lincoln is very very hilly. Anyone who has ever visited it will know that as well as being full of Steampunks, it is also full of hills, especially the very steep one upon which the cathedral sits, hence having the name of "Steep Hill."

Normally I only go to Lincoln for the cycle Grand Prix every May, but today, I just needed to visit, intrigued by the idea of visiting bits of it I'd never gone to before, particularly the big Arboretum park just down from the Cathedral.

So up I went, up busy cobbled streets, promising to ignore any shops or cafes I wanted to visit, up into the sky, Steep Rill rising before me like a ladder, past the bookshops, past the vintage shops, past the strange shop that sells aircraft altimeters, and thence finally with even my mighty legs achey, up to the top.

I then of course found I had to go back down a way to get the to Arboretum, going through some of the ancient arches that define this historic city.

I love urban open spaces. I always have. But for some reason, I found the Arboretum sterile, despite the blossom and birdson and mating mallards. THe maze was dull, the statues dull, the bandstand dull, and the ponds as so many are in ornamental gardens totally devoid of subsurface life.

There was no cafe either.

I just find well kept spaces totally unappealling. You've got to let them go a bit wild! I was just having no reaction to the space at all. Hear that Lincoln. Let your parks go wild!!!

I think I was having a bad day in my head as well, to be fair. Feeling a bit numb.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 11.03.17