Bang!

On 06 Dec 201906 Dec 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, VideoLeave a comment

Sorry – it’s hardly original. The eagle-eyed will have spotted one or two not-very-cryptic photo captions relating to Ironbridge power station, which operated for the last time just over four years ago. Since then, it has been decommissioned, and now is undergoing demolition. So far, such work has not been obvious, but this morning, at 11am, the towers came down. They were so big that they always seemed to be nearer than they were – the closest was about 2/3 of a mile away from our vantage point, the furthest not far short of a mile. Just before 11, we heard warning sirens – and then the towers began to fall. The boom of the explosive charges, like the crack of thunder following a nearby bolt of lightning, came when the towers were well on their way down. Yes, we know why, but the laws of physics can easily be forgotten in a moment of excitement.

Now they’re history. The intentionally salmon-pink towers were quite an icon in this part of the world, and it was a sad sight to see them being reduced to rubble (and an awful lot of dust!). However, the Severn Gorge already looks more rural, like it did in the early 60s, and when the chimney and turbine halls have gone, the riverside here will look completely different, in closer accord with a greener future.

To the Wrekin!

On 03 Dec 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

For complex (and mildly embarrassing*) reasons, a walk on the Long Mynd became a walk up the Wrekin. The hill is lower and the walk shorter, but it’s not an inferior substitute – it provides us with a very enjoyable leg stretch and a good place to sit and enjoy our sandwiches. Afterwards, tea and cake in Much Wenlock replace the intended refreshments in the Carding Mill pavilion – similarly, not at all inferior. A most enjoyable little outing!

*I forgot my boots!

View OS map on Streetmap https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=363280&Y=308451&A=Y&Z=120

December days

On 01 Dec 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

First day of December – and first day of (meteorological) winter. They’re short, but when they’re dry and sunny, it’s good to be out. It’s a familiar route for us – out past Hurst Farm pools, down through the field (a significant part of which came home on our boots) to Shore Pool, and back up the estate road past Aldenham Park. Most enjoyable!

View OS map on Streetmap https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366995&Y=295721&A=Y&Z=120

There’s no-one here!

On 26 Nov 201926 Nov 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

We’ve had lunch, the rain has stopped and the sky has cleared, so we’re taking a stroll from Ironbridge to the top of Coalbrookdale and back. It’s a pleasant afternoon – mild, bright and mostly dry (it’s trying to rain when we get back to the car). But where are all the people? There’s no-one else on the bridge, the Wharfage is deserted, Coalbrookdale’s quiet. Most unusual!

View OS map on Streetmap https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366895&Y=304151&A=Y&Z=120

It’s foggy!

On 24 Nov 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

There’s not much of a view today, from these uplands a couple of miles west of Bridgnorth. Nevertheless, we’re enjoying a pleasant, if somewhat other-worldly walk. The fog muffles sounds as well as vision – the world outside may no longer exist, for all we know.

View OS map on Streetmap https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367730&Y=292221&A=Y&Z=120

November in Comer Wood

On 03 Nov 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

We’re enjoying a pleasant afternoon in the woods on the Dudmaston Estate, making the most of a dry spell (it’ll rain later). The autumn colours are splendid here, especially the sweet chestnut, and the beech down by the pools.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=374805&Y=289836&A=Y&Z=120

Stiperstones strolling

On 30 Oct 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

It has to be a stroll – the path along the ridge is far too rough for any speed. Slow progress is essential if the view is to be appreciated without broken bones… The distant views are wonderful, in all directions; closer, there are other items of interest – a red kite, toadstools (just a few), a fine hairy coo – and the alpacas… It’s a great day to be up here – fine and clear, bright and cool (and breezy). Nevertheless, it’s good to get back to the Bog too – the cakes are splendid. What an enjoyable day!