Diaries of a photographer (and a van)...Part 12

05/04/07 (End of the tax year!!!):

10:20 - I am on the beach! Tried to have a bit of a lye in this morning, but it didn't really happen. Had the murmerings of a headache so figured a beach side stroll would sort me right out as its lovely, a beautiful morning indeed. It also struck me that technically I am on Easter holidays so I will take it a bit easier today as can't afford to destroy myself! Plus, it is actually quite hard work believe it or not! Lots of driving each day and usually 7 hours of photographing - intently concetrating on one thing. Its fun work, just a bit exhausting.

It struck me as I strolled, sand under hoof this morning, what a lucky fuck I am! I am fully getting to do what I love at the same time as touring the UK (or partly at least). Ever since I went to Australia I decided I wanted to travel round my own country and this taster session just proves to me what a great place we live in and makes me determined to do it one day.

So yesterday went really well. After the chopper excitement I drove around finding vantage points for the Angel from the roadside etc. At about hald 4 I was worn out but realised I needed postcards so I braved central Gateshead. Meandered down to the new Quayside and its lovely! A great new theatre venue, a better Millenium bridge than London and the icing on the cake - the Baltic Centre. A tate modernesque art gallery that is lovely. Saw an instillation by Brian Eno - a soundtrack and randomly cahnging slides digitally shown in cross shaped screens. Apparantly it would take 11 million years to see the same thing twice, so each time is unique.

I need a new journal! Just ran out of pages, so speak more later!

06/04/07:

11:52 - I made it to Edinburgh, the furthest point of my trip and the final landmark to shoot. To be honest its more like a glorified, fortified house on a rock than a castle. Its cool and all, but I don't think it would make the top spot on my list.
It was a bit of an ordeal yesterday in spite of my optomistic start! Took a long time to drive here and then spent hours getting lost driving round the city and trying to find a suitable campsite that would tkae us! Got there in the end though and staying at Morden Hall, a few miles outside the city centre. Its nice toi have facilities at my disposale and to get washed!

When I was finally in and set up it was getting on for 5 and I decided to walk to the city. Its a good hours march, a nice walk but hard going at times. I then got lost and tramped the streets for ages, before working out where I was and deciding to walk back again as I had no idea where to get a bus from! Got back to the Guf at about 9 absolutely shattered, but it was quite a jolly experience.

This morning I got a bus!

I think today is going to be tough, I am tired and feel quite ill, so its a true test of stamina and determination! Not quite sure how to 'do' the castle either as there are many an angle, position and view. Much walking I think! Need to go in the castle too, but was scared off by the queues!

15:33 - Just scoffed some life giving food and coffee in a park like area. I'm really hanging now! Its been a long week and I would be happy never to see half these landmarks again!

Been round the castle...massive it was. Not all that either! Far, far too many people and no really inspiring shots I don't think. Struggling a bit to find an approach to how to do Edinburgh, especially in an original way to the conventional shots or from being too similar to my images of elsewhere.

I feel like a bit of a landmark myself. So many people were watching me and talking aboiut me it got tiring and made me rather self-conciious of what I was doing. Add to that the fect everyone in the campsite seems fascinated by me and the Guf and I feel like an exhibit!
Going to sit for a bit then find some distance shots of the castle, really want to stop now but figure I need to put in a few more hours to crack it. Looking forward to chilling in the van with a beer later I can tell thee.

07/04/07 -

12:36 - The long journey hoem has begun! Left the campsite at bout half 11 to embark on the epic journey of truth!
LKets have the first of the days services review shall we?
ABINGTON WELCOME BREAK - fairly ordinary really. A coffee Primo which is a bit gypo, quite a small services without much appeal. Toilets were quite rubbish, not enough dryers. Lots of Celtic fans, but a nice view and outside picnic area! Staff friendly. Overall 5 on 10.
So I have finished shooting. 10 of the UK's top landmarks visited at least once and many of them twice or more. Despite the odd set back and bad mood, its been amazing. I am so happy I choose this project as it let me see a fair bit of the country and many areas I had never visited before but always wanted to. its interesting as I have wanted to do a project on solitude for ages. Shutting myself up in the middle of nowhere, with no outside contact and seeing what happened! I think these trips have showed me I wouldn't like it! Its odd not to really talk to people or spend time with anyone for a week, it is lovely at times but can feel lonely and isolating. Especially when going to tourist attracftions or beautiful places without Hannah and everyone is walking round arm in arm it can be a bit sad! Still, I wouldn't have been able to do it as well if someone was with me, but it has been a bit grueling at times and I have certainly missed her companionship!

The cold is annoying today. The sore throat has passed, but I am blowing my nose faster than you can say tissue. In fact, my tissue sticks may not last...GASP! Next stop, I will tell you what happened yesterday evening. Exciting.

13:48 - WELCOME BREAK: GRETNA GREEN - Wasn't Gretna Green the site of a historic Scots v English battle where the Scottish won for the only ever time? Services ok, modern and roomy, which is a bonus. Again toilets quite poor and basic. Shops no good, but they did have a Scot Shop, selling fine Scottish merchandise. Lovely stuff. Coffee Primo again, which dissapoints - but they had an outside area for nice days like today, innovative for a services. Lots of very fat people. Overall 5 on 10.
So I am almost at Carlisle and out of Scotland which aint bad. Kind of level with Newcastle but the other side of the country. Not even gonna calculate how much I have done and goit to go as it maybe too depressing. Plenty of stops going on as feeling a bit off with this head cold!

So yesterday, after doing the castle things were not good! I was feeling grotty and the castle was a real challenge to shoot. Plus I had just had enough, wanted a day off and to not to have to photograph a busy tourist hot spot any more.
But as I say on my bench eating, I thought of all I had done and how good this whole experience has been and was buggered if my last day shooting would marr the whole project! So I strolled on and found some interesting shots (I think) of the castle from the streets of Edinburgh. As soon as I started making pictures again my mood lifted and I felt more positive. Then, dunno why, I figured I would walk back to the campsite again and low and behold it sorted me right out. Took a route over a huge hill with the Royal Observatory on it and what a good view of the city - even got some shots of the castle as a spec ikn the distance. It was a lovely walk, saw a froggy 3some and all!

When I got back it felt most satisfying and I sat in the Guf, drank a badger Tangle Foot ale, read and listened to the radio - it was really chilled. Then I took a gamble of walking to a nearby settlement and got a chineese only 10 mins walk away. Bonus. It was nice and I got left overs for lunch!

It was a really chilled Friday night and a good end to the trip. Felt nice and rested for today and reflected most positively on all my missions. This morning I slept till nearly 9 and had a slow sort out for the journey. Bonza.

16:38 - MOTO M&S - LANCASTER (FORTON): Well designed as all Moto services are, good toilets including a few flowers. M&S and WH Smiths shops, first class. Cafe Ritazza, the second best. Staff quite indifferent. Rather uneventful Car Park and too many betting machines/shop in the services. Overall 6.5 on 10.

I came off the motorway and went thought the Lake District for a bit, otherwise my whole journey would have been on motorways and it was doing my head in.
Foolishly, I didn;t stop for lunch at the lakes but waited until I got here! Why? A few reasons 1) I am a foolish boy 2) I wouldn't be able to review the services! 3) I really, really needed a piss and nowhere at the lakes had toilets!
It was a good alternative route though and I enjoyed the view (whilst trying to ignore my baldder!). Drove up a mountain pass and everything. However, the lakes were a bit too picturesque, a bit samey and far, far too over crowded. I think this project has put me off anywehere where lots of people go! It just looks nasty and uninviting.
Probably my last stop before getting to Lydbrook for an overnight stop before going on to Brighton. Doing the full journey in 1 day would be suicide!
My trip is almost done - 1024 .35 miles so far for this leg! Ouch.

18:52 - MOTO M&S - FRANKLY: Not much to look at BUT - an upper level with food and toilets. Toilets great as had a central fountain like pedestal of sinks! Spacious interior and staff with brummy accents, can't ask for more than that! 7 on 10.
Near Worcester now and so nearly at journeys end. 1151.2 miles now done this week. I know I lied about the last stop being my last but I'm flagging now!
Now for some travel related items of interest:

• My research indicates most petrol stations hold up to 38,000 litres of fuel per tank! Thats alot. It takes abiout 40 litres fo fill the Guf so thats about 1000 guf fulls of fuel. it raises 2 (two) important questions. 1) How oiften does the station re-fill and 2) do they hve one tanker per type of fuel or is each tanker got sections with unleaded and diesel in them etc
• Blue tooth headsets for phones look stupid - like Robocop or something. Why not just ignore the phone? Stupid yuppies ;) I only tolerate them for professional drivers!
• There are more lorries up North than down South
• Service stations in the South all have coulders at their approach road. Those in the Midlands and up north do not...why?
• When ever I stop driving, my nose runs more. Why? Fumes?
• Pheasants are the most common type of roadkill.
• Some people drive too quick
• Keep 2 chevrons apart