Nicola, Author at Nicola Ann Art

Mar 01

by Nicola in Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Adventure, Greece, Sailing

Sailing Today: Peace in Greece

Jun 12

by Nicola in Sailing, Travel 0 comments tags: D-Marine, Greece, Greek Islands, Lefkas

greek odyssey: LEFKAS, GREECE

FIRST SAIL OF THE SEASON We spent 4 days eagerly getting Bella Rose ready for her first sail of the season. I wanted a break from boat-stuff and explored more of Lefkas town that I missed out on exploring the previous year. TOURISTS MISSING Because of coronavirus, Lefkas was devoid of tourists. The locals were very conscious of social distancing by keeping their space in queues and wearing masks at all times, even out on the streets. Even though it was approaching mid-season, very few charter boats were out and so the waterfront and marina remained restful. BEAUTY AMIDST THE BEASTLY In Lefkas, buildings were crumbling, yet people made it welcoming with pink bougainvillaea and lemon trees. A carpet of lemons remained discarded along the pavements. Smells of jasmine and magnolia sweetened the rotting aroma emanating from the rubbish bins and drains. Many houses were made of rusting corrugated iron. Even some contemporary homes designed by top architects were built with corrugated iron and freshly painted with magnolia. Mosquitoes turned hungrier at night and were undeterred by the citronella candle.

Jun 01

by Nicola in Adventure, Cycling, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Bedgebury Pinetum Forestry, EMTB, New Forest, Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Ann Beykirch, Surrey Hlls, The Devil's Punch Bowl

Electric Mountain Biking is a New Addiction

NEW FOREST, LYNDHURST Oh, the thousands of wild ponies scattered throughout the New Forest. Seeking them out while exploring on an electric mountain bike (EMTB). A first EMTB experience. Almost fifty kilometres, and so much breath left; I could have gone on and on and on… I had ridden mountain bikes throughout South Africa and had developed my skills when riding with Ama Angles “single track minded” – at Holla Trails in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal – a few years ago, when I came close to living back home indefinitely. “Wild horses Couldn’t drag me away Wild, wild horses We’ll ride them some day…” Lyrics by The Rolling Stones SURREY HILLS AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY We experienced so much fun EMTB the weekend before, we had to do it again. This time through the hills of Surrey and its outstanding beauty. Five out of five for the diverse terrain and technical challenges overlooking The Devil’s Punchbowl. We hired The CUBE REACTION HYBRID Pro 500 from Surrey Hills Cycle Hire at the village of Hambledon. BEDGEBURY PINETUM FORESTRY, KENT & SUSSEX Resistance was futile… EMTB for a third weekend in a row. This time whizzing along graded trails in Bedgebury Pinetum […]

May 06

by Nicola in London, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Bluebells, Hampstead, Hampstead Heath, London, Spring

Late bluebell bloomers in hampstead heath

I captured the bluebells too early this season. Because of the cooler spring this year, they bloomed later than usual and didn’t appear as prolific throughout Hampstead Heath. DID YOU KNOW? The United Kingdom has more than half of the word’s bluebells. IN THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS The bluebell is a symbol of humility, constancy, gratitude and everlasting love. It is said that if you turn a bluebell flower inside-out without tearing it, you will win the one you love, and if you wear a wreath of bluebells you will only be able to speak the truth. Read more at the Woodland Trust: here.

Apr 04

by Nicola in Beach, Black & White, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Broadstairs, Joss Bay, Kent, Margate

To The Sea… Broadstairs, Kent

‘Fancy doing anything special, as special as possible, this coming weekend while still in lockdown?’ ‘I know…’ I said, and then broke out in song… …We’ve got to get to the seaDon’t you touch the waterDon’t you barely breathe And if you see yourselfLooking back at youYou’re gonna have to leaveYou’re gona have to leave I don’t want you to goBut you’ve got to leaveDreams to drainPut them in a cage… Jack Johnson (lyrics) An easy day trip from London, we headed to Kent, the south-eastern county stippled with medieval towns, diverse countryside and interesting beaches with its chalk cliffs. From Joss Bay, Broadstairs to Margate and Sandwich. A pity about the biting wind…

Feb 20

by Nicola in Cities, Cycling, London, The United Kingdom, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Battersea, Camden, Electric cycling, Hampstead, Houses of Parliament, Leave the Herd Behind, Lime, London

Electric Cycling in lockdown

‘What’s different to do in Lockdown? Other than varying our walks through Hampstead and its surroundings.’ ‘I know, let’s try out electric cycling? An Uber JUMP bike, is it?’ ‘Hey, there’s two right there…’ Such exhilarating fun! We had to do it again a few weeks later.

Feb 10

by Nicola in London, Nature 0 comments tags: Hampstead, Hampstead Heath, London, snow

Snowy Hampstead Heath

Sun, snow, blue sky and running free in Hampstead Heath. Photographs captured by iPhone 8 whilst in Lockdown.

Jan 16

by Nicola in Beach, Cities, London 0 comments tags: Bermondsey, London, Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Beykirch, River Thames, Tower Bridge

London’s “Riviera”

Mind the hissing swans at Tower Beach… Photographs captured by iPhone 8 whilst in Lockdown.

Jan 07

by Nicola in Hiking, Nature, The United Kingdom, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Country, countryside, England, Hiking, Wiltshire

Escape to the Wiltshire countryside

I felt grateful being in a position to return to live and breathe Wiltshire's special countryside over December 2020 and beginning of January 2021.

Oct 23

by Nicola in London, Nature 0 comments tags: Autumn, Autumnal Colours, Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath in Autumnal Fire

Autumnal leaves on my doorstep, something I’ve come to appreciate more and more as the seasons change year after year. Having lived most of my life in Durban, South Africa, I realised I never did get to relish the changing of the seasons. It was either hot, humid and hot, wet and hot or mild. Don’t get me wrong, I had never wanted for anything different. I didn’t know different. I’d have to travel a few hundred kilometres to the Drakensberg mountains to experience the changing of the leaves. This autumn, I found the leaves to be especially striking. Perhaps I’ve learned to appreciate nature more, feel more of a connection because of the crisis this world is in. Autumn’s falling leaves teaches how to let go, a natural process of Life. “Change is the only constant in life,” Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher once stated.

Aug 13

by Nicola in Nature, Sailing, Travel 0 comments tags: Adriatic Alternatives, Albania, Montenegro, Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Beykirch, Published article, Sailing Today, Sailing Today Magazine

‘Adriatic alternatives’ ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY SAILING TODAY MAGAZINE

ADRIACTIC ALTERNATIVES Nicola Beykirch works her way north from the Ionian Islands to explore Albania and Montenegro – two Balkan nations of contrasting allure Words & Photography By NICOLA BEYKIRCH Published By SAILING TODAY September 2020 Edition Regular readers of “Sailing Today” may recall from the April edition that Captain Barry and I had spent a couple of weeks exploring Greece’s Ionian Islands on “Bella Rose“, our Oyster 545. After that we decided to challenge ourselves by sailing up the Adriatic to Albania before concluding our latest voyage in Montenegro. Albania conjured up thoughts of isolation and mystery and appeared a bold place to visit, let alone sail. We relished the challenge, and so one August dawn we found ourselves setting sail from Erikoussa Island, northwest of Corfu, to commence our adventure. A sloppy sea and erratic winds over 50 miles transported us to Vlorë Habour, the only harbour in Albania that permitted foreign boats to check-in. We arranged a clearing agent who assisted us in tying up. He then grabbed our documents, hopped on his bicycle and sorted out the paperwork at the harbour office. We then sailed 6.5 miles to Marina Orikum, the only marina in Albania, where […]

Aug 11

by Nicola in Adventure, Nature, Sailing, Sunset 0 comments tags: Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Ann Beykirch, Nicola Beykirch, Oyster 545

Sailing from venice to croatia on Bella Rose, our oyster 545 yacht

Once Bella Rose, our Oyster 545 yacht, was fit for sail, after spending a week in Venice that included an exploration of the Dolomites and Lake Garda, we were finally free to hit the open sea. WELCOME BACK, SEA LEGS Upon completing the final checks, packing everything away and checking out of the marina office, we left Certosa Marina just before 11am on Monday morning. MAYDAY-MAYDAY! At the risk of repeating myself, if you value your boat, do not leave it for any length of time at Certosa Marina. We were not the only yacht owners that experienced heart-ship. Another avid reader of Sailing Today contacted me via my website after reading about our troubles in an article published by the magazine to empathise with our very long, agonising story. Please do contact me directly if you are considering berthing at the marina, and I will provide additional details about our ordeal. COULD I WANT FOR ANYTHING MORE? The moment we left Venice in our wake and only the sea greeted us from every direction, I felt an invigorating peace wash over me from head to toe. With the wind through my hair, sun warming my skin and water lapping at […]

Aug 10

by Nicola in Adventure, Cities, Nature, Travel 0 comments tags: MARINA CERTOSA, Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Beykirch, Social Distancing, The Dolomites, The Great Dolomites Road, Venice

LOST IN ITALY… VENICE, DOLOMITES & Lake Garda

Sadly, with the world in crisis, this year’s adventures didn’t go according to plan. After months of lockdown, and still feeling the sleepiness of the pandemic, we felt humbled being able to return to Venice, to sail Bella Rose to bluer waters. TO THE RESCUE, HERE I AM We’d left Bella Rose, our Oyster 545, at Marina Certosa in Venice for the winter. After experiencing endless issues and lack of action during her berth, we were desperate to return to the yacht, sort out as much as possible and leave soonest. Approaching the jetty at Certosa, a new restaurant loomed ahead. The owner had a Michelin Star restaurant on the mainland. It reminded me of a mini Ibiza, seating on the deck alongside the sea, bean bags and club music reverberated the moment we set foot onto the jetty. At night it turned into a sophisticated diner, music turned down and served simply delicious food, without any pretentious fuss. The best pizza had to be from Verde Pistacchio Pizzeria Sicilian, the tiny-mini-van at the far end of Certosa island. He did the perfect vegetarian without cheese, for us vegans and then we took our own ‘cheese’ the next few days, laughing at […]

Jul 20

by Nicola in Beach, Hiking, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Black Mountains, Brecon Beacons National Park, Cardigan Bay, Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Beykirch, Poppit Sands, The Cliff Hotel & Spa, The United Kingdom, Wales

Poppit Sands Beach, Cardigan bay and Brecon Beacons wales

While waiting for international borders to open, to be able to return to Venice to save Bella Rose, we embarked on a road trip to the recently opened Wales. As they say at home, “Local is Lekker!” From North London, we meandered through the Cotswolds, stopped for a picnic at Ross-on-Wye and then endured a stroll in bitterly cold rain along an almost deserted Poppit Sands, the highlight of our getaway. TOO COLD FOR A DIP Another blue flag bathing beach, Poppit Sands is a sandy beach on the west coast of Wales, dominated by sand dunes at the mouth of the Teifi Estuary. A couple of surfers braved the cold temperature and less than idyllic surf conditions. I didn’t dare stick my toe in the uninviting water. Nor did I take out my DSLR to capture the memories and only used my phone’s camera. Stopping off for hot chips, at a nearby chippie, provided the much-needed warmth. FIRST NIGHT OUT SINCE LOCKDOWN The Cliff Hotel & Spa is located on the coast of Cardigan Bay overlooking Poppit Sands and Cardigan Island. Due to COVID, the restaurant was closed and dinner was served inside the room. It felt as though […]

Jun 28

by Nicola in Beach, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Blue Flag Beach, Brightlingsea, Essex Sunshine Coast, Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Beykirch

Brightlingsea, Essex Sunshine Coast

We happened to be in Suffolk and decided at the last minute to venture to the sea. Brightlingsea happened to be the closest to where we were visiting. Situated between Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea, at the mouth of the River Colne, Brightlingsea is a coastal town in the Tendring district of Essex. COLOURFUL BEACH HUTS Its sandy beach runs along the Western Promenade next to Batemans Tower. Brightly painted beach huts border the promenade, providing an intimate walk close to the sea. Mind the sea spray when the weather turns vocal. Oh boy was it vocal! BLUE FLAG BEACH I’d never have guessed the beach is of Blue Flag status. Together with Dovercourt Bay, also a Blue Flag beach, and Brightlingsea are the two largest contributors to the tourist economy, which is worth, ‘£365 million a year to Tendring – £1 million per day – and this figure is on the rise from the previous year,’ stated Nigel Brown, Tendring District Council’s Communications Manager in 2018. IDYLIC RAMBLING Just beyond the beach, the seawall leads to picturesque walks amidst diverse flora and fauna, with plentiful birdlife, that flourish around this interesting corner of the Essex Sunshine Coast. Oh, and Winkies, around […]