Accolon

I went into Bath last Tuesday afternoon with three missions to accomplish. I wanted to walk in along the canal from Sydney Gardens, buy a copy of the new Wire magazine with Wire Tapper 29 on the cover and visit Apple to ask the staff about iPads.

Last July I accomplished a similar mission but now the two-hour parking restrictions extend to 1900 hr, so it is no longer possible to park at 1600 hr and take one's time, while parking at 1700 hr instead means everything is closing for the day before one gets there. Consequently I didn't get to the Apple store but as a result got back to the car long before I needed to.

On the way I had stopped at The Courts NT in Holt for a 35-minute ramble around their gardens, and having parked near Sydney Gardens I did manage my walk in along the Kennet and Avon, now full of boats and people lazing beside the locks or walking along the towpath.

Sir Accolon originally represented the Celtic Cult of the Dog (associated with Llud, after whom London was named), but by the Middle Ages had become a Christian metaphor for the hubris and arrogance of the nobility and wealthy. In the Arthurian legend Sir Accolon of Gaul was a good knight that allowed the love of a woman and his own ambitions to lead him to betray his own lord.

Sir, said Merlin, look ye keep well the scabbard of Excalibur, for ye shall lose no blood while ye have the scabbard upon you, though ye have as many wounds upon you as ye may have.  So after, for great trust, Arthur betook the scabbard to Morgan le Fay his sister, and she loved another knight better than her husband King Uriens or King Arthur, and she would have had Arthur her brother slain, and therefore she let make another scabbard like it by enchantment, and gave the scabbard Excalibur to her love; and the knight's name was called Accolon, that after had near slain King Arthur... (Le morte d'Arthur, Malory, v.1, 1908)

However, Nimue, the Lady of the Lake appeared and magically caused the real Excalibur to change hands. Arthur then wrestled the scabbard back and dealt Accolon a mortal wound. Accalon died four days after receiving this battle wound.

In other news, today my view count passed the 100,000 mark, so thanks to everyone that has passed by.

L.
24.6.2012

Wessex Accolon

Blip #743
Consecutive Blip #000
Day #817

Alternatives:
Papaver Turkenlouis, The Courts NT
Water Lilies, The Courts NT
Snowy Owl, Kennet & Avon
Mute Swan Cygnet On The Avon
Great Pulteney Street, Bath

Lenses: Pentax 17-70mm, Sigma 70-300mm

Bath series
Kennet And Avon Canal series

The Courts, 19 June 2012 (Flickr album of 33 images)
A Trip To Bath, 19 June 2012 (Flickr album of 33 images)


Just completed:
Bristol Zoo, 29 May 2012 (Flickr set)

One year ago: Father's Day