Thursday, 7 March 2013

A Space In Time - Ten Years After

I feel fortunate that there isn't a lot brings me to tears, but do have to admit to something of a blub this morning when I received news from my dear friend Andy Lindsay that Alvin Lee had passed away. 'Front Man' for the seminal 60' blues band 'Ten Years After' for Lee the word LEGEND was not out of place. My first experience of him, along with the full line up of TYA,
Alvin Lee – guitar, vocals
Leo Lyons – bass
Chick Churchill – keyboards
Ric Lee – drums
was at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival where I also found out that he was a 'townie' of mine, having been born in Nottingham in 1944 just 18 months earlier than myself. Subsequently, I enjoyed a number of the bands gigs around the country, along with all their albums and along with everyone else will simply remember Alvin
 complete with signature 'Band the Bomb' guitar
strutting it with his mates
Ten Years After
After a lifetime of sensational Blues, for me his finest hour was in later life on the release of Pure Blues which brought to the masses the track - The Bluest Blues click the link for a real treat!
During my final couple of days in French Guyana the plan is to take it easy, give the readership a flavour of the capital Cayenne and consider any bird-life a bonus. I already know that didn't last for long - keep tuning in!
Having had my friend SOOTY STOCKLEY
to drive me from Kourou to Cayenne was a bonus,
'n if that ain't you John I'll have to ask for the taxi fare back.
Starting at the BOTANICAL GARDENS was thought best with 
maybe a chance of adding all 3 elements.
Unfortunately, apart from a few very interesting plants
the whole place was a little run down with only c6 birds recorded.
Ever onward to the center of town
which was in parts a little run-down, but in other fairly modern.
With a lifetime fascination of the subject the
FISH MARKET
was always going to be a winner.
The MULLET (silver) were of most interesting with
many estimated at being well over the 10lb mark.
That's a 'huge' Mullet by GB standards, the last time I looked the
British Rod Caught Record stood at 10lb 10oz.
Other species were of interest with a few 'small' Sharks.
and finally, a couple of interesting Links via the e-Mails, first from Steve Smith who like many of us is still determined to help 'Save the Planet'. To SIGN and Make a Difference will take a matter of seconds Cockatoos NOT Coal
News from Panama - Conclusive proof that once I leave a country things go to Rat S**t! Thanks to Janet Read                   

Wednesday, 6 March 2013

Race With The Devil - Judas Priest

The third and final Reason to be Cheerful in Kourou was a visit to Iles du Salut, including the infamous Devil's Island of Papillion fame. Unfortunately this wretched Google Blog Site is playing up yet again and there is neither the time or the will to sort out the jumble of today's photographs. It is after all more a pictorial than anything, just to give the reader the idea of what the day was all about.
Setting off from the mainland at sunrise
onboard the catermeran of the same name.
Looking down river.
The Lighthouse at the river mouth.
and the 3 Islands. ROYALE, SAINT JOSEPH and ILLE DE DIABLE
The views entering harbour.

ROYAL TERNs
 
Devil's Island
All 3 Islands were used as sites of imprisonment.
Time to look around.
Infants Grave Yard

Along the Coast
"The House of the Sad Arabs"
Arab Quarantine Area (above)




One for the 'Liftonhouse' People
Modern Technology, in more ways than one.

Turnstone
Catfish, one of 3 caught from the pier today.
Sea Loop

Squirrel Monkey
Not so 'wild', contented Pigs.
Short-tailed Swift

Pale-breasted Thrush
Wasp
male Wing-barred Seedeater
Agouti
Capuchin Sp
Lizard
Spotted Sandpiper
Several Iguanas on the coastal rocks.
Spotted Sandpiper in flight.

adult Laughing Gull (right)
Spotted Tody Flycatcher
Toad
The Fairway Buoy - Homeward Bound
Opposing Waves
It wasn't the Islands that were separating the waves here.
No, the rollers were coming in from great distance across both
Western Atlantic Ocean (right) and Caribbean Sea (left).