Well, how time flies as they say!  Its been over a month since my last blog and so much has happened.

For a start I’ve been to Bahrain, Shanghai, Baku and Barcelona covering the Formula 1 Grand Prix as well as taking in the sites of these wonderful destinations.

I’ve also spent a week on a canal boat enjoying the Ashby Canal to recharge my batteries before preparing to go to Monaco tomorrow to cover the blue riband event of the Formula 1 calendar which is of course the Monaco Grand Prix. 

After the trip down under which I wrote about in my last blog, I have visited four destinations covering the Formula 1 events.  The first was Bahrain which to be honest is a bit of a labour of love as not much really happens out in the desert although the race makes for dramatic imagery which you can view using the link below.

Next up was Shanghai which is another far away destination but a bit of a slog to be honest after flying all the way back from Oz and New Zealand the back to Bahrain to fly home to then fly back to Shanghai the next day!  Bonkers really but hey ho.

The city of Shanghai is one of the proper destinations we visit though.  With so much history there is an awful lot to see but as usual never enough time to see it all.  The fact that the practice starts at 10am in the mornings with an hour journey to the circuit makes for early starts, which in turn makes for early nights otherwise you are just exhausted as the jetlag really whacks you with the 8 hour time difference.

This year I had booked my return flight home on the Tuesday morning after the race as I wanted to visit the famous Bund and take in the dramatic skyline that you can see across in Pudong. 

It was unfortunately a rather dull day weather wise and rather chilly so I didn’t get the chance to hang around and laze in the sun but had to keep walking to keep warm. This actually proved a blessing as it allowed me to wander around and take in some of the wonderful Art Deco architecture in and around The Bund.

I was gifted with late afternoon sun though, which was perfect timing to start my two hour vigil of rooted to the spot as I captured the dull concrete buildings of Pudong transform into a spectacular display of neon opulence.  Well worth the wait I can tell you if a tad chilly!

Next up was Baku which is the capital of Azerbaijan right down near the Caspian Sea and one of Formula 1’s more exotic locations with it being a street circuit around not just the modern oil financed glass skyscrapers, but the beautiful old town that is around 1000 years old.

Photographing from the old town is quite a challenge as the streets are so very narrow so getting a vantage point requires a bit of climbing.  I ended up in one of the 1000 year old city ramparts for one of the practice sessions which was a first for me and made for some lovely imagery.

The juxtaposition of the two sides to the city make for spectacular backdrops for photographers and one you can enjoy using the links below.

After Baku I had the wonderful experience of attending my daughter’s leavers assembly before she starts her GCSE’s.

I still can’t believe it’s 12 years ago I was taking her to school for the first time!  Again, how time flies…

Next up was Barcelona although I missed the first two days being at my daughter’s leavers assembly so it was literally a splash and dash visit.

Upon returning from Barcelona I was off up to the Ashby Canal for four days with my mother as I had promised to take her as one of the last things she wants to do on her bucket list. With her lovely husband now gone it was up to me to fulfil this wish which I dutifully did. 

It was a lovely few days blessed with warming spring sunshine.

Right, go to go as I’m packing for Monaco today ready for an early start tomorrow and a very busy week!

To view my images from the Bahrain Grand Prix please use the link below
Click Here

To view my images from the Chinese Grand Prix please use the link below
Click Here

To view my images from the Baku Grand Prix please use the link below
Click Here

To view my images from the Catalunya Grand Prix please use the link below
Click Here

After a Winter of relaxing and recharging my batteries, the new F1 season has begun. With the long flight down to Australia it seemed a shame not to fly an extra 4 hours south and visit New Zealand.

A friend of mine has recently moved down to Auckland with his family so it was a good excuse to make the trip.

After a couple of days in Auckland relaxing and recovering from the jetlag, I hired a motorcycle and spent the next four days on a road trip around the North Island.

Starting from Auckland and heading East around the Coromandel Peninsular I spent the next 3 days enjoying a short but beautiful ride down to Whangamata and its beautiful beaches where I spent the night.

The next day was onto Gisbourne passing through the stunning Waioeka Gorge and the surrounding countryside and its deserted roads, bliss on a motorcycle.

After Gisbourne, it was up to Lake Taupo, a beautifully tranquil lake formed in a Caldera which is heated by the geothermal activity beneath it.  After a long day in the saddle, relaxing on the lakes shores is a wonderful way to unwind before enjoying some fine food and the odd glass of excellent Kiwi wine.

I was hoping for a clear morning so woke early to capture what I hoped to be a very peaceful scene with the lake as still as glass and that beautiful hue of morning shimmering on its surface.

I wasn’t disappointed. An hour enjoying the lake waking up was lovely and set me up for the last leg of the journey back to Auckland.

One last night in Auckland before heading off to Melbourne and the first race of the season.

To view my images from the Australian F1 Grand Prix please use the link below

Click here

Please enjoy my videos and photos below.

I’ve always had a fascination with the natural world and our relationship with it.  The way we can adapt to our environment and overcome the unbelievable hardships mother nature can throw at us has always interested me.

The Victorians were the masters of this with their engineering prowess especially when it comes to the railway network they created over 200 years ago.

I’ve wanted to visit one of the engineering masterpieces of this era for many years so when my stepfather was dying he asked me to make sure his ashes were scattered from the Ribblehead Viaduct from a steam train.

My mother has never visited it before and with her wanting her ashes scattered with her beloved Chris I decided it was the time to visit.

The Ribblehead Viaduct or Batty Moss Viaduct carries the Settle–Carlisle Railway across Batty Moss in the beautiful valley of the River Ribble at Ribblehead, in North Yorkshire.  The first stone was laid on 12 October 1870 and the last in 1874.  It was built by over 1000 navvies who set up shanty towns around it whilst it was being built.

Driving though the Yorkshire Dales in winter with snow all around just adds to the magic and as the viaduct comes into view, you are suddenly aware of the isolation and extremities these navvies must have endured to create this masterpiece.

Safe to say after a few hours exploring my mother was well and truly wrapped up next to an open fire whilst I returned to enjoy the last of the winter sun and experience the beauty of this piece of railway history.

With most Formula 1 races I travel by air for obvious reasons which means I miss out on so much of the journey and as we know it’s not all about where we go but how we get there.

I have a love of motorcycling so try and fit in as many road trips as I can during the year.

One of my favourites is combining the Belgium and Italian races into a road trip across the Alps which is just stunning.

From my base in Brighton I travel for two weeks through France, Belgium and Switzerland up into the Alps and down again into Italy and back again.  

Riding the famous passes of the Alps including The Furka, Grimsel and Susten all in one day are a mecca for any motorcyclist and one to be savoured.  With tremendous views and wonderfully fast roads winding their way through the mountains, one literally feels on top of the world, brilliant fun.

The journey home back over the Alps and into Montreux and Lake Geneva is a lovely way to end the mountain route.  I usually spend the night here to enjoy the beautiful sunset and catch a bit o jazz before the journey back through France.

Enjoy the journey…

Circumnavigating the world covering Formula 1 can be an exhausting experience.  What with all the travelling and time zones you can really get quite worn out.

One of the ways I like to chill out and relax is to take a trip for a week on a canal boat and totally switch off from the frenetic world I inhabit for most of the year.  

Before the start of the 2018 season I decided to take a trip on the Ashby Canal up in the Midlands and enjoy some down time.  It was also a good excuse to go and visit the Triumph Factory in Hinkley and spoil myself with some new bike gear and check out the latest models and take in a factory tour of the production line which was fascinating.

To see the bikes from the first bolt all the way through to rolling off the production line really gave the bikes a soul and has given my own bike a real personality.

There is also an excellent museum with the history of Triumph bikes for one to enjoy and is a real must for any bike fan.

Here are a few videos and pics from the trip.