Driving. Rain. Driving rain. Driving in the rain. Driving in the driving rain. Guess what I did this morning...

First, I Visited Helmsley Castle, where it was so wet I took the still camera out for only a few snaps. Then on to Riveaux Abbey, where it was a little drier, but not enough for panos. After that, Fountains Abbey, which is a huge place. I saw only some of it, because I wanted to give priority to getting back to town to buy some Moniack Mead to bring home. The shop wasn't open by 9:00, and I didn't want to wait around another hour. I've definitely got to get back to Fountains, preferrably with spouse in hand.

After obtaining the mead, the sky had turned not only dry, but gorgeous with stacked dramatic clouds around the entire area. Therefore, why not visit Wharram Percy, the most famouse DMV (deserted medieval village) in the country? So I did, driving out some 25 miles, and hiking a round trip of about 1.5 miles to see it. Got some good panos there, but they have to wait for uploading.

Over the last two days I've shot a ton of stills, but alas, not enough time tonight to get any of them uploaded. I just back about 8:30 pm and have been packing vigourously since then. Perhaps I will get the images in uploadable format while on the train tomorrow and then find a 'net connection in Rome to get them online.

Oh yeah. Apparently there was a Tube walk-out strike today, timed to last just 24 hours. Had that happened tomorrow, I cannot see how I would have made my flight. Likewise, some sort of rail strike up here was averted this week. That also could have been bad.

Well, if all goes according to plan, I'll be on the 7:00 am train to Heathrow in the morning and catch a flight to Rome. I hope to find an Internet cafe there, but we'll see. After going out to Borgorose, I doubt any 'net connections will be available.

On Friday I'm scheduled to shoot panos in the Temple of the Vestals. As far as I know, Saturday is free. Sunday we go out to the site, which I've found on a map is directly inland from Rome, a bit northwest, about 50 miles.

In anyone needs to contact me in an emergency, please call Bernie Frischer's cell phone at 328 8520 193.

I like York a lot and wouldn't mind living here for a year or so. The air is so clean, you can see for miles. Tonight I could see the Minster from about 15 miles out. In the San Fernando Valley, we're lucky to see a couple of blocks.

Now the adventure begins. Ciao.