A Bridgnorth Weeknd, Shropshire Mar 2015

Last weekend we made the short journey southwards to just beyond Bridgnorth. The occasion was the social weekend for the Audlem Ramblers - many staying in the Pub and just two of us on the adjacent campsite.

We tried out our 'new' (2001) motorvan, having sold the bigger coach built Roller Team to get a 'slimmer' Fiat Panel Van.



Our previous motorhome

Our 'new' Fiat Ducato MWB - Murvi Van

 

Chris enjoying her craft activities whilst I went walking!

 

Walking with the Audlem Village Ramblers - here on top of Brown Clee Hill,

the highest top in Shropshire at 540m (1770ft)

It was very cold with a strong wind!

Good views though, back to the Wrekin and across west to the Wenlock Edge and the Mynd

Descending the open moor westwards - we covered 10.4 miles and climbed 1883 ft

A big thank you to Peter for leading us! 

Lunch stop at the delightful Anglican Norman Chapel in Heath near Bouldon, Shropshire

Built in the middle of the 12th Century, there are some medieval coloured wall paintings that are to be renovated

 

Note the distinctive Norman arch over the main door and arrow slit windows

 



After the most enjoyable Saturday Night Ramblers Meal in the Pub, we awoke to a wet Sunday!

Seemed the ideal day to call in on the way home at the Severn Valley Railway at Bridgnorth!

Always a delight, here are some pics taken at the Bridgnorth Station and Engine Shed

 

 

'Sir Keith Park' on Shed. A modified 'Battle of Britain' Class Southern Railway Pacific.

Built in Brighton Works in 1947 to the Bulleid design and later modified in 1958.

This loco was named after the New Zealand RAF WWII Commander

Here the Great Western Region 2-8-0 2857 hauls the afternoon train

Build by Churchwood in 1905, it was rescued from the Woodham's Scrap Yard and restored to running order in 1975

Next in was Ivatt Class 4 2-6-0 43106, pulling the Dining Train

Here seen running around to the shed for re-coaling and water

This is the only surviving loco of the 162 that were built between 1947 and 1952

Taking on water and coal before the run back to Kidderminster

Getting ready to set off, tender first, on the return trip

We will be returning in September for the Autumn Gala!

A great finish to a great weekend!



 

London - Opera at the Coliseum Mar 2015

Last week we travelled down to London.
The purpose was to get to see/hear English National Opera perform their new production of Wagner's Mastersinger's of Nuremburg.

In the centre of London - St.Martin's in the Field

Visitors from the North - Are we?

Lord Horatio Nelson looks down on Trafalgar Square 

 

Opera goers relax before the late afternoon performance starts.

Apologies to George Washington

 

A fine statue of the first President of the United States of America 1789

See this link to learn more about the statue and George Washington

South Africa House (opened in 1933) in Trafalgar Square -

the Flag of South Africa (adopted in 1994 at their general election as a democracy)

 

This photo shows the Tower and Globe of the London Coliseum Theatre, built in 1904

Our venue for ENO's wonderful performance of The Mastersingers

The opera had not been sung by the Company for over 30 years!

Chris and I came here to see it when we got engaged way back in 1971!!

 

Rode Hall Silver Band Success! - NW Area Champs Mar 2015

Each year, our brass band prepares for the challenge of the NW Area Championships held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
I missed last year so was eager to contribute this year and more so as the 4th Section Test piece of music was very enjoyable to play - which is just as well given the number of rehearsals we put in to 'perfect' it!
This year, I was asked to play the 2nd Cornet part which had the added bonus of me playing in a quartet movement allowing the challenge of some exposed playing!

The atmosphere is great in the Band at the moment and everybody has been working hard to bring this Test music up to a high standard.
Under our Musical Director, Nigel, we went to the Brass at the Guild Contest at Preston and came away with a very creditable 4th place.

Nigel stepped aside due to family priorities and our new Conductor, Aiden, took us for the last month in preparation for Sunday's Contest.
It has been a big commitment, hard work and lots of fun - so arriving at Blackpool, we were excited and confident we could do well.

Morning rehearsal at the Duke of York Pub in Blackpool

 

Last 'tricky' bits rehearsed

Laughter - relaxing us!

Great fun playing alongside the emerging talent on the Back Row

 

Last Band 'motivational' from Aiden, our Conductor 

 

Rode Hall sticks together in the Winter Gardens, before going into the Preparation Room

 

The view that greeted us as we took our seats in the very impressive Emperor's Ballroom

 

We played really well, considering the challenges, and had great, immediate comments from 4BarsRest. Then the wait!

 

And yes - we were placed 6th in the very competitive NW 4th Section!

An excellent result - so a big thank you to fellow band members and our MD, Nigel and Aiden, who prepared us over the last few weeks and encouraged the best performance result by Rode Hall Silver Band.

See this Rode Hall Silver Band Link.



 

Walking with the Ramblers - Feb 2015

Walking with the Ramblers - Feb 2015

I regularly walk with a number of Rambling Groups - and have regained much of my fitness since the years of inactivity in my late 50's whilst working.

The Ramblers also give me the opportunity to walk with a group of like-minded people, midweek so as to leave the weekends free for other things.

This last week, I got out with the East Cheshire group to do a loop of the summits east of Macclesfield - taking in Three Shires Head, Danebower Quarry, Whetstone Ridge, Shining Tor and Shutlingsloe. The weather was extremely windy and then more so!!

On the bridge at Three Shires Head - plenty of water flowing down

Crossing the River Dane at Danebower Quarry - the river was well over the stepping stones!

 

The view north from Whetstone Ridge, near the Cat and Fiddle, at 547m (1794ft) it is the second highest summit in Cheshire

Next was the highest summit in Cheshire of Shining Tor at 559m (1834ft) - and it was blowing a gale !

You can just see Shutlingsloe in the distance on the left - where we are heading ...

We used the permissive path down through Chest Hollow off the Buxton Road to gain Wildboarclough and the ascent up through Macclesfield Forest.

The photo is of the top of Shutlingsloe, third highest summit in Cheshire at 506m (1660ft)

 



This was a 'hard' walk made much harder by the cold, gale force winds.

We covered 12.6 miles and climbed 2520 feet.

 

A few days later, I made the car drive over to Grindon in the Staffordshire White Peak to join the walk of the North and Mid Cheshire Ramblers. The weather was wet - very wet and the ground absolutely sodden, and muddy, and slippy!!

This is an area I don't know, so the route was of much interest to me.

 

Ready to set off at 9.45am - and it's belting with rain!

 

Taken at the top of Ecton Hill 369m (1211ft)

 

Looking at the descent of Ecton Hill - a significant industrial location for copper and lead mining. Owned by the Duke of Devonshire - the mine was the richest in the country in the late 18th Century - the profits said to have paid for the building of the Crescent in Buxton!

 

 

 

Crossing a fast flowing stream - with wobbly stepping stones!

 

Our leader for the day adapted the route to avoid deep mud in low fields and an impassable stream! We walked about 9.5 miles (which is modest by this group's standards) and climbed 2076 ft. However, it felt much harder given the slippery and heavy underfoot conditions!

 

 

 



 

 



 

 

 

New Berth at Overwater Feb 2015

New Berth at Overwater Feb 2015

We've been based at the Overwater Marina, near Audlem on the Shropshire Union Canal for the last four winters and full-time since Spring 2013.

Having been on the list for an 'end mooring', we were offered the opportunity to move to a new berth with the pontoon on the better side - this giving an open, south facing and sunny aspect. It's a tad windier as there is no shelter form the southerly's though the openness will more than make up for this.

A much better mooring berth!

We plan to hang a bird feeder onto the tree

 

Also, just recently, the wide beam boat that has been on static sale is moving onto London, via Oxford. Apparently, it has been bought as living accommodation for a young man to have a base in London.

Here are some pictures of the contractors loading it up!



January Snow Walks 2015

Walking in the Snow - January 2015

The cold and snowy weather has given us walkers an opportunity to get up above the snowline and brave the icy cold winds and snow.

Featured here are a walk with the Audlem Village Ramblers to the area east of Church Stretton in Shropshire. In mid January I led a 10.9 mile route from the village of Cardington climbing the ridges of The Lawley, Caer Caradoc and the Willston Rocks, ascending a total of 2870ft.

Climbing The Lawley with the Wrekin in the distance

On top of The Lawley

 

A view south from The Lawley to Caer Caradoc

 

At the Hill Fort moat on Caer Caradoc

At the aptly named 3-Finger Rock

 

Later in the month, I led a hardy group from the North and Mid Cheshire Ramblers up through Langley, near Macclesfield through the Macclesfield Forest onto Shutlingsloe.

It had snowed heavily the day before and we had the paths and snow to ourselves - and the blizzards.

We covered 12 miles and climbed 2750 feet - quite tough going given the conditions - getting back to enjoy a real ale and coal fire in the welcoming Church House Inn at Sutton Lane Ends.

Walking up the green lanes

 

Magical Macclesfield Forest

 

Climbing up Shutlingsloe

 

Nearing the top

 

At the top - the Trig Point at 1660ft

In a blizzard on Piggford Moor 

 

An atmospheric view of Shutlingsloe from Piggford Moor