Midwinter on Brown Clee

Carpe diem: this kind of midwinter weather is great – dry, bright, mild (with a cool breeze, it has to be said) – a day that must be seized. It’s quiet on the eastern side, as we ascend slowly towards Boyne Water; the breeze is stiffer to the west, but the views are much better and we’re well warmed-up. From time to time the sun shines strongly through gaps in the cloud – these are truly “photoflood days”. It’s too good to come down again, but the cloud’s building and the day is fading – we’d better head back.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=359760&Y=285676&A=Y&Z=120

Benthall and the bridge

It’s back! The bridge (at Ironbridge – yes, that one) has been wrapped up all year. The major refurbishment is almost complete, and apart from one small area just above the water-line, the wraps are off.
I’m taking a round-about route past Benthall Hall, walking down to the bridge from where, if I time it nicely, I’ll be getting a lift back…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366610&Y=302296&A=Y&Z=120

Britannia – main line steam

We saw no 70000 “Britannia” on test in October. Today (a gloomy and intermittently wet one) she was in revenue-earning service – on the “Welsh Borders Explorer”, the circular route from Crewe, via Chester, Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton. We’re at Preston Boats, not far out of Shrewsbury, and she’s going well – we could hear the exhaust when the train was leaving Shrewsbury, more than a mile away and out of sight.

Fishpools and toadstools

A very short walk for some fresh air, after a spell of rain and strong winds. The sky was blue when we ate our lunch, but more clouds gathered as we walked – the few spots of light rain made straight for the camera lens. The splendid crop of toadstools on a fallen tree was a bonus (I’ve no idea what they were).

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366785&Y=296346&A=Y&Z=120