After 3 days of continuous rain in Cumbria it was nice to have some views from Codale Head as I descended to Grasmere to catch the bus home. There was quite a wait at the bus stop so I popped into a nearby bookshop for something to read. On a shelf was the book about Millican Dalton. I'd bought a copy some years ago and lent it out, never to be returned. I was happy to buy it a start to re-read it. Millican Dalton (1867-1947) was a self-styled "Professor of Adventure" who lived for many years in a cave in Borrowdale, Cumbria.

Millican Dalton in Keswick

early morning view from Codale Head.

Millican Dalton above The Lodor with Derwentwater in the background.

Richard on Lining Crag.
Sorry I didn't ask permission to use
the photo but I don't know where you live.

Lining Crag, the same location and viewpoint.

A new exhibition was opened at Astley Hall by Dianne Owen. The title is Creative Consciousness (sic) and is very imaginative derivative photography which sometimes has the appearance of paintings.

Dianne Owen

Bought a Chorley - Kirkby Stephen return rail ticket and used it to enjoy a ride from Leeds to Carlisle along the spectacular Settle - Carlisle route.

For anyone with a sweet tooth

A paella on the simmer

Travelled with Charlie in the tube to Estorick Collection Of Modern Italian Art, 39a Canonbury Square, London. to see Photographic exhibition of Vittora Sella.

Estorick Collection Of Modern Italian Art,
39a Canonbury Square, London.

'Frozen in Time' mountain photos of Vittoria Sella
(1859 – 1943) at the Estorick Gallery

the work of Vittoria Sella.

One of the art galleries

Travelled on park &ride bus to the Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum to see the exhibitions "Pedals to Petrol: the evolution of the motorcycle, 1900-1930' and ‘The Motorcycle Photographed 1946 – 1960’, Some old machines on display and some great photographic prints by Bill Cole. Then went to see the memorial statue to Gustav Holst (1874 – 1934) He was born in Cheltenham at 4 Clarence Road.

The exhibition celebrates the career of Bill Cole, a local photographer whose passion for motorcycles resonates throughout his work.
He lived in the village of Staunton between Gloucester and Ledbury and worked for the Gloster Aircraft Company.
In 1946 he bought an early 35mm Leica camera and used this for all his photography, including weddings, social events and anything local that caught his eye. In the days of rations and shortages photographic materials were not readily available and Bill had to mix his own chemicals. Before he could do this, he had to build his own scales to weigh precisely the very small quantities involved.
He produced all his own prints, and stored the negatives very carefully and suitably labelled. The oldest are over sixty years old and still as bright and clean as the day they were filed away. When writer/photographer Bob Light met Bill in 1997 it was his first enquiry about motorcycle photographs for over 30 years.

This evening I joined several members of Chorley Photographic Society on a visit to the Rivington Park Galleries at Spring Cottage, Rivington Lane, Rivington. The proprietors are David and Margaret Ruaux. I knew David many years ago when he was co-owner of Studio Twelve Photography.

Drove via Settle, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Dent to Farfield Mill, an old weaving mill. It’s a sort of art centre where artists work in their own areas and the results are available for purchase. Some old looms are on display in the basement area and of course there’s the statutory café.

Farfield workers in 1909

Attended the Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society 4th annual ‘Celebration of Family History’ at Astley Hall, Chorley. It was a wonderful sunny day and in spite of that over 400 people visited the Hall and its dark interiors. Hopefully most were there to see the displays by the many groups who'd set up displays. There is a ban on taking pictures inside the hall. The usual mealy-mouthed reason given is ‘security’. The hall is funded by Chorley Council and I am a ratepayer so don't understand why I can't photograph what I've paid for.

Astley Hall, Chorley, Lancs.

The drawing room in Astley Hall.

One of the paintings in the hall.

Solar eclipse at 10:49am BST 1 Aug 2008
from Lancashire.