Something for the weekend?
See, I can do stuff before the Moon makes an appearance! So here we go, another photo blog for you, this time its a 21km walk taking in a 'museum' railway and one of the oldest 'railways' in the world, the Dramway. I gave you a potted history of that on Wednesday, there are a few pics below, the scale of the bridges and tunnels is quite obviously smaller than those on the later rail line.
So my route took me, once again out through Hanham, past Hanham Court (the little church) before crossing the fields to Bitton. Then it was along past the Avon Valley Railway to Warmley before turning off the modern cycle path to pick up the Dramway before returning via Mangotsfield village. So look out for a variety of wildlife alongside the railwayana and industrial age archaeology, I hope you enjoy the mix of stuff that I saw along the way.
And here's your bonus! Yesterday (Thursday), with a favourable wind and fair weather I made the 100 mile round trip to Stonehenge! More on the ride on Sunday but for today, here are a few pictures of Stonehenge as normal visitors rarely get to see it these days, no crowds of grockles amid an almost surreal quiet. Okay, you couldn't go right around the monument as its closed to visitors under Covid restrictions but I think you'll like the images all the more for that.
Well that's all folks, as usual feel free to comment on, identify and discuss what has passed before my camera's lens.
Tschussie
Madeline Anafrid
Comments
Thanks for the photos.
You are really clocking the miles on two wheels and two feet.
I had to smile at the photo of the BR Diesel Loco. The "1A66" headcode on the class 31 was for a train that that loco could never have hauled... ie. a Mainline Express. Someone at the railway is being very optimistic...
The Covered Midland Railway wagon was, from memory used for the China Clay traffic from Cornwall.
I'd better put my railway geek back in its bottle for the time being.
Samantha
i hate
inactivity!
TBH its all part of a longer term plan that I started on when my grandson was born, I want to be around and able to do stuff with him for a while ahead and being fit now advances that. So being able to walk a good distance is useful, the running is to supplement the long saddle hours, exercising different muscle groups. As you know, I've had a few health issues over the last few years, being, if not race fit, at least in reasonable condition can only be a good thing, right? I'm not looking at racing again but being able to 'be up there' when I ride the sportives is nice!
Now if I can just get the rest of my life organised.......
Mads
Madeline Anafrid Bell
Stonehenge
The best view of Stonehenge is actually from the ridge just to the east on the main A303 road, not suitable for bikes!!
The other ancient monument worth seeing is the ring at Avebury.
Re D5518, it was the Royal engine about 50 years ago, so 'express' passenger, but not the fastest!
apart from
being a bit lumpy, whats wrong with the 303? I've previously ridden the stretch you refer to and yesterday I did a few miles towards Yeovil before taking the 36 northwards (found a handy tea wagon too!) There isn't actually a lot of choice in the matter given the lack of roads over Salisbury Plain, might not be so keen on a 'normal' summer weekend but a few trucks don't bother me half as much as rabid'd car drivers!
I was at Avebury in March, not for the first time of course, its a bit big to get your head around, I actually prefer Silbury Hill just down the lane. my degree is in archaeology so I've been to a fair number of sites in the UK and northern Europe but you don't want to be bored by me rambling on about piles of old rocks or lumps in the ground!
As for trains, I have hundreds of train pictures, again from all over but my interest pretty much ends at 'pretty picture', I have cousins who do that, have even written railway books but I know where to stop!
Mads
Madeline Anafrid Bell
The Tunnel
Thanks for the pictures.
Could you or someone tell me the purpose of the railway tunnel you photographed?
Eric
that tunnel
Is on the 'Dramway' and passes under the Bristol to Chippenham road. It's quite small as it was intended for horse drawn wagons on the tramway, it was built @ 1830.
Mads
Madeline Anafrid Bell