Boyd's photo diary. |
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Tue 29 Mar 2016
After a morning drive to the Spittal of Glenshee, Scotland I
had a short afternoon walk around the north end of the Glen |
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This stone circle is know as Diarmid's Grave (or the Grave of
Diarmid), legend has it that the mound became the last resting
place of the Gaelic hero after an unfortunate boar-hunting
accident.
In 1894 a shaft was sunk into the mound down to a
depth of 6.7m in order to ascertain its nature. It turned out
that the mound was actually the product of glaciation |
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Dramatic sky and ancient wall |
The Glenshee Hotel as it used to be |
The Hotel now after the fire |
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Sun 27 Mar 2016
Very sad to hear of the death of Judy Merry after a long
struggle with cancer.
She was a freelance broadcaster and
media trainer and did many interviews and broadcast for Radio 4
in particular. |
Judy's photo from her website |
This afternoon was the official Withnell Fold Millennium Green
Grand Opening. The opening was by the Rt Hon Lindsay Hoyle MP
and his wife Catherine but the weather had other ideas.
Just
as the opening was due at 2pm the heavens opened and huge
hailstones fell accompanied by thunder and lightning.
One
lightning flash was so close it hit a tree just by the green.
The event was soon adjourned to the nearby Withnell Fold Sports
Club. |
The new information board |
The weather sent us scurrying indoors to
the
Withnell Fold Sports and Social Club |
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Sat 26 Mar 2016
Today’s Chorley Grand Prix Cycle Race was a mix of weather.
Strong winds were joined by heavy rain and by the finish the
rain was torrential. The crowds still came to cheer the winner,
Edmund Bradbury, across the line. He’d pulled away from the
chase riders to win by 30 seconds. |
Cyclists on the starting line on
Park Road, Chorley |
While the Chorley Grand Prix
Cyclists are out on the route several riders are cycling indoors
at Hillside Chapel Hall, Brinscall. They will ride on rollers as
long as the main cyclists are out on the road. Donations are
towards a new Community Hall. |
Hillside Methodist Church Hall |
The riders pass Hillside Methodist
Church, School Ln., Brinscall |
The riders on the climb of Dole Lane out
of Abbey Village |
Edmund Bradbury wins the Chorley
Grand Prix 2016 |
The riders climb School Lane, Brinscall |
Winner Edmund Bradbury and a well earned Cola |
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There is a good report on the
britishcycling.org.uk website.Some of the text can be seen
click here. |
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Fri 25 Mar 2016
Today is Easter Good Friday.
I headed out for a bike ride
round the circuit of the Chorley Grand Prix Cycle Race which is
tomorrow. |
Southport Road, Chorley |
On the approach to Abbey Village |
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Tue 22 Mar 2016
A full day around Abisko |
Nic headed out to do some ice
climbing |
Nic on the ice
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The ice climbing area and man-made tunnel |
Short lived Power Plant (see below).
The power plant was
built in 1899-1900 to provide electricity for rock drilling of
the 875m Njulla railway tunnel. As the water froze too often it
was discontinued.
The man-made tunnel through the rock
was used to by-pass an earlier waterfall that would have needed
a railway bridge to cross it. |
Photo: Thorstein Broendmo |
Photo: Thorstein Broendmo |
Passenger train heading for Narvic
in Norway |
Iron Ore train heading for Narvic
in Norway |
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Mon 21 Mar 2016
Another full day at Alesaure cabins in fantastic weather |
Preparing breakfast and lunch |
Alesaure cabins |
Visiting the Sami settlement |
Alesaure |
Nic and Sara - Fallen Angels |
Sara collecting water though the
ice |
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Sun 20 Mar 2016
Our first full day at Alesaure cabins and a snowshoe
trek in perfect weather. |
Sara cutting wood for the fire |
A great day on the snow
with Alison, Nic and Sara |
Our cabin by moon light |
Cabin by moon light + fill in lamp |
Lovely views of the Northern
Lights |
Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) |
Aurora Borealis above the loo cabins |
During the night I hung my
temperature logger outside the cabin.
The lowest temperature
was -23.5degC |
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Sat 19 Mar 2016
After a morning excursion of snowshoe training I had a
look in the nearby Information Centre where there was a
wonderful exhibition of
photographs by Borg Mesch. Then it was a 35km journey
by snowmobile to Alesaure Mountain Cabins. |
Traditional Sami People tent |
Snowy landscape on our
snowshoe trek |
Nic and Sara shelter from the wind
and cold |
Maria Sunna and children, Aug 1908
Photographed by Borg Mesch |
Borg
Mesch (1869 - 1956) was a photographer who worked in Kiruna
during 1899-1956. He documented the Sami society and railroad
workers. He spent time in the U.S. and one of the first Swedish
alpinists. |
Borg Mesch - an amazing
photographer |
Boats on the lake by Borg Mesch
July 1913 |
In the hotel foyer is a photograph
of Dag Hammarskjöld (1905-1961)
He was a Swedish diplomat and
Secretary General of the United Nations. He was killed in a
plane crash in 1961.
He is featured on a Swedish banknote.
U.S. President John F. Kennedy called Hammarskjöld "the greatest
statesman of our century" |
Dag Hammarskjöld by Karsh |
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Snowy 35km snowbobile trip to
Alesaure cabins |
Hot drink at Alesaure cabin |
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Fri 18 Mar 2016
Heading for a few days snowshoe trekking in
northern Sweden. |
Landing at Kiruna. In the distance
is Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB (LKAB) Kiruna is the world's
largest, most modern underground iron ore mine. |
My first view of the Aurora
Northern Lights |
Abisko Mountain Station |
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Sun 13 Mar 2016
An interesting morning walk through Towneley Park,
Burnley |
 Foldys Cross restored by
Burnley Corporation. Text round trhe base reads "Pray for the
soul of John Foldys, Chaplain, who caused this cross to be made
in the year of our Lord 1520." |
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Sat 12 Mar 2016
The Last Post – End of an Era.
This morning is the last day
for Whittle-le-Woods Post Office on Waterhouse Green and the
last day for Val and Don Butterworth who have been running it
for the last 10 years.
A new Post Office will open on Monday
14 Mar 2016 at the Jubilee Service Station but it is almost a
mile away. |
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Val and Don behind the counter for the last time |
Don, Val and Cllr Eric Bell |
Don, Val and Cllr Eric Bell |
Val and Scales |
Don and Val |
The last stamp |
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Fri 11 Mar 2016
Left my car at Stocks Garage Wheelton for its
MOT test. Enjoyed and lovely walk home along the Leeds and
Liverpool Canal. |
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Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Wheelton Moorings |
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Thu 10 Mar 2016
Sycamore Gap on Hadrian's Wall. This location
has been in several films including Robin Hood Prince of
Thieves. |
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Sycamore Gap viewed from the north |
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Mon 07 Mar 2016
Afternoon walk along the Leeds and Liverpool
canal to Withnell Fold |
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The old Hygienic Laundry site is being rebuilt as small units |
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Sun 06 Mar 2016
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Today is Mother's Day so cycled to Withnell Fold for sandwiches
on Mum's memorial bench. Then to Pleasington Crematorium |
Withnell Fold memorial bench & mill chimney in the background |
Pleasington Crematorium |
On afternoon walk and Whittle-le-Woods
Village Hall |
Evening walk along Kem Mill Ln. |
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Dolphin Brow in the afternoon sunshine |
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Sat 05 Mar 2016
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Out for a cycle ride via Croston and West Lancs. A mix of sunny
and moody skies |
In Croston |
Leeds & Liverpool Canal - Rufford Branch (completed in 1781) |
River Douglas |
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Fri 04 Mar 2016
Quite a lot of snow this morning. |
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An interesting mix of weather this week |
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Thu 03 Mar 2016
Walking along part of Hardian's Wall in Cumbria. |
Wet fields along Hadrian's Wall |
I suspect
temporary = permanent |
Avro Vulcan B.2 XJ823
It was flown into Carlisle Airport in
January 1983 |
Avro Vulcan B.2 XJ823
built in 1961 |
Avro Vulcan B.2 XJ823 with aircrew and ground crew of No 35
Squadron at RAF Scampton in 1981. Thanks to the Gerry Frew
Collection for the photo |
Part of the walk took me past Carlisle Airport and
the
Solway Aviation Museum. There were some amazing aircraft to
see.
The
museum on Wikipedia. |
Solway Aviation Museum |
Solway Aviation Museum. |
Solway Aviation Museum |
Avro Vulcan B.2 XJ823 |
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Tue 01 Mar 2016
A new morning a new month and the rain is back |
Snowdrops in the rain |
Preston Road near the Clayton / Whittle-le-Woods border |
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