…while the sun shines. Not that there’s much hay to be made at the end of October. It’s very cold on the Hope Bowdler hills, but the light is lovely. Haven’t had time to play with the photos yet – tomorrow perhaps. Meanwhile here’s a taster.
No toadstools today
There used to be lots of interesting fungi at Arley arboretum, in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colours. There were practically none today, apart from some plastic ones. The Green Man was plastic too (perhaps that’s just as well) and the fairies are steel! It’s cold and breezy this afternoon, and not always as sunny as we’d hoped. We’re not hanging around, and a walk beside the Severn to the Victoria Bridge and back warms us up nicely before setting off home.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=376522&Y=279895&A=Y&Z=120
Britannia – on test
A test train for no. 70000 “Britannia” ran yesterday – I forgot about it! Another was scheduled for today, and I didn’t forget. I was on the platform at Oakengates station in plenty of time. Just as well – it passed through 12 minutes early. One presumes the test was successful…
The Munslows in October
Monday 22 October – a regular route, starting from Aston Munslow, across the fields to Munslow, then up a sunken lane to the ridge, which we’ll follow south-westwards as it drops gradually towards the Middlehope road, before crossing the fields and back to the start. Didn’t see anyone else until we’re back in Aston Munslow.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=351340&Y=287806&A=Y&Z=120
Blists Hill miscellanea
Sunday 21 October: a brief wander around Blists Hill on an afternoon that started sunny. If the sun had continued to shine, we’d have spent longer…
Kirkham Abbey
Saturday 20 October: we’re in Yorkshire, exploring after lunch. The ruinous remains of Kirkham Priory stand beside the river Derwent, between York and Malton, and are worth exploring. The York – Scarborough railway passes through the valley on the other side of the river, crossing the minor road by means of a level crossing. It’s controlled by a mechanical signal box, “Kirkham Abbey”: the crossing gates swing out across the road when a train is coming. Kirkham Abbey is a now-rare survivor of a once-common scene.
Photo note: today’s outing wasn’t expected to have photographic opportunities. I took the photos using the smartphone – not the best tool for the job, especially considering the railway is in deep shade, mid-afternoon in late October. We’ll have to revisit…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=473260&Y=465760&A=Y&Z=120
Toadstool Trail
Autumn on Cannock Chase, and the toadstools are in full bloom, so to speak. They’re all over the place – there’s a magnificent fairy ring in one spot, and there are fly agarics (“Flying Erics” – the red ones with white spots, and a little door for the gnomes) in profusion. Sadly, someone has a grudge against them, and many have been kicked to the ground (who would do such a thing?), but many more have come up to replace the fallen. It’s fun up here at this time of year!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=399490&Y=316371&A=Y&Z=120
Five miles on the Mynd
It was neither as clear or sunny as we’d hoped, but it was still very pleasant on the Long Mynd this afternoon, and we made it back to the Carding Mill in time for tea and cakes, which meets the criteria for “pretty good outing”, I reckon…
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All Nations
…is an old-fashioned little pub in Madeley. Just opposite the Blists Hill museum, it’s a bit of a time capsule in its own right, one of the last of the original home-brew pubs. Within walking distance too, not far off one of our regular routes. So instead of tea and cakes at Coalport, we’ll have lunch at the All Nations. Remarkably, it’s warm enough on this beautiful sunny day to sit outside (we’ll pay for it over the next few days…).
Suitably replete, we’ll follow a wonderful woodland way back to the “Free Bridge”, before rejoining our usual route homewards.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=369270&Y=301836&A=Y&Z=120
An Attingham autumn
Tuesday 9 October: an autumn wander around Attingham Park. The deer are busy with the rut (so we won’t disturb them), the leaves are turning nicely, and the squirrels are out in force making the most of the abundant nuts. There are some interesting fungi too (this is proving to be a recurring theme), though I’ve no idea what they are.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=355235&Y=309991&A=Y&Z=120
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