The reservoir

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

It’s only a little one! We’re in Church Stretton for essential edibles (‘Entertaining Elephants’. It’s a shop!); afterwards there’s time for a short leg stretch – Carding Mill Valley, and a walk up to the reservoir. Bright sunshine, blue sky (with fluffy white clouds) and autumn colours – wonderful! It’s busy in the valley, but walk for just ten minute and they all vanish!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=344085&Y=294492&A=Y&Z=115

Keep still!

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

The breeze picks up whenever I point the camera at anything flighty (leaves and the like). Fortunately the fungi (it’s their season now!) are much more down-to-earth, and pose properly. The only problem for me is getting down to their level. It’s a fine afternoon, and it was supposed to be sunny. It was sunny just a little further west – clear blue sky was tantalisingly close, but the cloud never cleared above Cound. Can’t win every time.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=355695&Y=304040&A=Y&Z=120

Clouds, kites and puffballs

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

A couple of sunny hours on an otherwise cloudy day. Like yesterday, the air is clear and cold – the sunshine makes a world of difference. The clouds seem particularly clear-cut against the sky, there’s a kite wheeling just above and there are some interesting fungi here and there. Parasols are supposedly good to eat, and giant puffballs (which can only be mistaken for footballs, apparently*) likewise. I’d rather just photograph them and leave them to grow.

*https://www.wildfooduk.com/mushroom-guide/giant-puffball/

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=354860&Y=298485&A=Y&Z=120

Dudmaston in October

On By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Geese and toadstools! A wander around the estate from the sawmill car park – down to the pools (Wall, Seggy and Brim), through the asparagus farm, down to the big pool and back past the house, pausing at the bookshop and the cafe. (I’m not sure we’d earned the cake, but we enjoyed it…)

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=374837&Y=288945&A=Y&Z=120

Highgate Common

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, WalksLeave a comment

Saturday 5 October: A new one for the blog – we’ve been here before, but not for many years (the trees have grown considerably, I’m certain, since our last visit). It’s not a huge area, but it’s popular and has its attractions, especially if you like trees, or have dogs to exercise. We passed dozens of dog walkers, a few who were exercising children (and dogs, in some cases), and possibly only one other dog- and child-free couple. We were starting to feel conspicuous until we met the latter. As well as trees, there are some clear grassy areas, and from the far south-eastern corner, an extensive view towards the Black Country (which feels sufficiently distant), complete with a chocolate seat. Admittedly, it faces the other way, into the woods.  Perhaps that’s intentional?

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=383920&Y=290100&A=Y&Z=120

Headbolt Lane

On By geoffspagesIn UncategorizedLeave a comment
777 152 at Headbolt Lane, Friday 4 October
777 152 at Headbolt Lane, Friday 4 October

Friday 4 October: new technology on the railway. The recently-opened station at Headbolt Lane, near Kirkby, Liverpool, forms a short extension of Merseyrail. It’s a 3rd-rail electric network, but the third rail has not been extended beyond Kirkby. Instead, as well as pick-up shoes for the 3rd rail, some of the brand-new class 777 EMUs have been built with traction batteries. (Seems a lot of trouble just to avoid extending the 3rd rail by less than a mile. I’m sure there was a good reason for it…). Anyway, we had a ride on battery power during our day out yesterday: a full account will appear on Geoff’s Rail Diaries in a day or two, meanwhile here’s a taster.