I’m putting this in the daytrippin category… every one said I was insane (but then again…that’s hardly news) but I simply had to get away. Even if it was just 43 hours. I needed it. Badly.

So I jumped onboard Easyjet flight to Stansted, transffered to Stansted Express train to Liverpool St. station, got on the Central Line to Holborn and a final transfer to Picaddily Line got me all the way to Picaddily Circus and the Picaddily Hostel (the one which everyone seems to know intimately) ;)

Woke up early next morning so I went for a walk along the Southbank from Waterloo station to Millenium Bridge. Along the way I took a peek at an exhibition at OXO gallery which was nice.

I didn’t go inside the Tate Modern although I’d love to someday.

Back at Waterloo st. I got on a train to Woking. Adrian was already waiting but it took me a while to realise that. He cut his hair (gone bald might be more accurate) ;) AND changed his car (that was more of a surprise than anything else) since we last met four years ago.

Banbury museum, about half way to Birmingham, was our destination for the day and the reason (or rather – the excuse) for my trip. You see… I desperately wanted to see a retrospective exhibition by Michael Kenna and it closed on that same weekend I was there. The trip was a last moment effort to see it.

Kenna is one of the best current photographers in my mind. His photos are captivating in their simplicity and minimalism to the point that they are the only photos I’d even consider buying! I guess the fact I went there (only) because of him says enough about my attitute towards his work.

I wish the prints displayed were bigger but my mind was sattisfied regardless. Even more so after browsing through some of his books.

After a quick lunch/snack along the canal in Banbury we continued north towards Stratford-upon-Avon. We didn’t stop since we got there right when it started to rain but you won’t see much of interest there anyway. Next stop was Warwick castle and I have to say it was a pleasant surprise, especially the peacock garden and lots of great trees to climb (if nobody’s watching) ;)

After sunset we set up gear at Kenilworth castle. I made a few shots without a tripod but I’m not really any good at such stuff so I mostly watched Adrian get into his rythm ;)

(Man of mistery himself)

Back in Woking we had a quick pint before I got back on a train to London and after another early wake up call I walked north through Regent’s park into Camden town and got on the Northern line and then on the Metropolitan line to Liverpool st. station. Stansted express didn’t run all the way to Stansted so we were transported by bus. I didn’t mind, some people did… for some reason.

That’s it. Photos in the gallery as usual.