tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49420779734537853192024-03-02T07:00:48.287+00:00J_on_tourJ_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-34769082403275675402020-12-11T14:08:00.004+00:002021-01-13T12:57:52.744+00:00Happy Christmas 2020 ... if that's possible !!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzLRYeBLk8GIWn4X2lGBqLUhd4Zonl8gegsJhnMwBrrgN-ae8aPlIqBsvAqq7Pr43tN6LfaXXfWVaBZIu61BCFU0BBYJlFTuTJuL3zYcWPTxLmIDyc2HJLdUn4Vt0IlW-DA1aKBBuc_4/s2048/GJC_IMG_9343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="2048" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzLRYeBLk8GIWn4X2lGBqLUhd4Zonl8gegsJhnMwBrrgN-ae8aPlIqBsvAqq7Pr43tN6LfaXXfWVaBZIu61BCFU0BBYJlFTuTJuL3zYcWPTxLmIDyc2HJLdUn4Vt0IlW-DA1aKBBuc_4/w640-h472/GJC_IMG_9343.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>Well Hello, just wanted to wish anyone reading this a Happy Christmas with a scene from my local village in the Derwent Valley North East. I'm not sure how many people read this but I've been busy sharing my work on Instagram. Well 2020 was some year, a one we haven't seen the like off before in our lifetime anyway. I'm not sure that 2021 will start off any better although we are promised some hope that things may look better after Easter. We'll see. </p><p>It was the year of keeping safe and the cancelled or postponed holidays / events. The Spring / Summer Lockdown was a time when people went about their business as key workers or indulged in home hobbies. This year we lost my Mother in law with her funeral being on the day of Lockdown. </p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCosGHQJgkLVCZ1WU9Qg_mUqSazR7QgOYV_nk96RN6cI-6BlK9CUY-Z9DqC30j5m_4MOEX99ffIVaisEVXdOFE7Q1MHd87xkKpMUoJ78_63XWPtEQdIqnaPRXwNxM78iLHd2aVno2i_Xg/s2048/GJC_IMG_7005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCosGHQJgkLVCZ1WU9Qg_mUqSazR7QgOYV_nk96RN6cI-6BlK9CUY-Z9DqC30j5m_4MOEX99ffIVaisEVXdOFE7Q1MHd87xkKpMUoJ78_63XWPtEQdIqnaPRXwNxM78iLHd2aVno2i_Xg/w300-h400/GJC_IMG_7005.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p>My project for 2020 was to clear and renovate her house for rental purposes as she had accrued six months debt with care home fees. There was a tight schedule after lockdown to dovetail all the tradesmen (plumber, electrician and carpet fitter) to complete the work before the tenant moved in during late August. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGZeAOXrKBppzfB3BIW0YnshQI3Wza5TBX7sJ9r9EB4QHYmKAiMDK04whNfS531MZtPrBHIesl2wEv-OrwrViBDF8u3VcNDjSpYT7cOeD3hVgfmGB7ilwWNd-cm6YEZjINdTXDbaOSn8/s2048/GJC_IMG_8298.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGZeAOXrKBppzfB3BIW0YnshQI3Wza5TBX7sJ9r9EB4QHYmKAiMDK04whNfS531MZtPrBHIesl2wEv-OrwrViBDF8u3VcNDjSpYT7cOeD3hVgfmGB7ilwWNd-cm6YEZjINdTXDbaOSn8/w640-h480/GJC_IMG_8298.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>As we weren't meant to travel in the six weeks of lockdown, I managed to just about exhaust all the dog walking routes in the local woods. When we could travel again for exercise, I decided to cover more footpaths in The Derwent Valley. The image above depicts an example of my regular late afternoon walk at Derwent Reservoir as a token of this project. Each Monday to Friday I choose a route from an area in a clockwise direction incorporating something from Blanchland down to The River Tyne.</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGUT0Hu_-Vqspr59HCUB_5MWJx9ipzDjEUB01mA4pZMRdzhWD7DuELd6Og5o1jZH_C9SnreTglkEetsE-SiBtQTJj0GiLYNdaNShwa3lTDC_5TU9R2PuyZ0_KjmHnuxRAy9qjASKPQWU/s2048/GJC_IMG_5220.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGUT0Hu_-Vqspr59HCUB_5MWJx9ipzDjEUB01mA4pZMRdzhWD7DuELd6Og5o1jZH_C9SnreTglkEetsE-SiBtQTJj0GiLYNdaNShwa3lTDC_5TU9R2PuyZ0_KjmHnuxRAy9qjASKPQWU/w512-h640/GJC_IMG_5220.jpg" width="512" /></a></p><p>In the week when travel was allowed for exercise, we decided on a birthday treat of a drive to Whitby. This was an interesting day out as the only place open was an ice cream shop and essential food retailers. We took a picnic and enjoyed a quiet view on the seats near the Whalebones. The problem was that there were no toilets open so it was essentially a lovely drive over the moors and a two hour visit.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02_FS6QjCiTI0nUKZgRb-oaF2RZJGZ_ioux8NuMB5v5viSeQpF6-ntfShXvTeddnBcPssUvgoUhBmDtVEcnf1yXjDXObL2_zHcNjT-L6a8Chwtd6jNKQqy44OX7dwTvvkHgdy7wDm0TE/s2048/GJC_IMG_5221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02_FS6QjCiTI0nUKZgRb-oaF2RZJGZ_ioux8NuMB5v5viSeQpF6-ntfShXvTeddnBcPssUvgoUhBmDtVEcnf1yXjDXObL2_zHcNjT-L6a8Chwtd6jNKQqy44OX7dwTvvkHgdy7wDm0TE/w640-h480/GJC_IMG_5221.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>Never before have I seen Whitby streets so empty although there were local people exercising on the West Cliff promenade.</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNdwkn3KGZAc0gMnZvLt28iECE117W764srU-WqkfCqG3oXn-uD1b8hQfi5DQaX1WnPHjt6xYfvKvQD32dmQvBbWv4DecayWYSP9Pc82L-XGr7abeMPKENOfBttp4MdQQ0EHukuHeFXk/s2048/GJC_IMG_6462.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNdwkn3KGZAc0gMnZvLt28iECE117W764srU-WqkfCqG3oXn-uD1b8hQfi5DQaX1WnPHjt6xYfvKvQD32dmQvBbWv4DecayWYSP9Pc82L-XGr7abeMPKENOfBttp4MdQQ0EHukuHeFXk/w480-h640/GJC_IMG_6462.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p>Holidays, mini breaks, rail tours weekends away were for the most part cancelled although we did manage a few breaks such as a two night gift stay to a Shepherds hut near Thirsk. The break included a trip to Helmsley</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutgoXveUsObOXEdRhlTC_F-Jq7KFXxNm3_bFqT6JpqHPMGaNTEFNozW7ZQxj2OZYil9A7uE3d-55R4Llp97BE_aXLFwkuMM_sYj7Alk2q32n06mGbfAYjpe528q_9abS-wnJLJzeHvPE/s1600/GJC_IMG_6553.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutgoXveUsObOXEdRhlTC_F-Jq7KFXxNm3_bFqT6JpqHPMGaNTEFNozW7ZQxj2OZYil9A7uE3d-55R4Llp97BE_aXLFwkuMM_sYj7Alk2q32n06mGbfAYjpe528q_9abS-wnJLJzeHvPE/w640-h480/GJC_IMG_6553.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">...and a first visit for me to Thorp Perrow Arboretum on the way back home.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4tqOAFPYK-kCMuw9uEYs6tcNvMX7Wp9Rn1siU-Ne4_2HgCeCZdb32pIM6DJWb7XVG79FRFELKNBCE6yeI2qEExrV8EoFPqOKm7BXNK9wQOLAMX5TfYW38pubOD7QugaTaK49vOQnPds/s2048/GJC_IMG_7271.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1608" data-original-width="2048" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4tqOAFPYK-kCMuw9uEYs6tcNvMX7Wp9Rn1siU-Ne4_2HgCeCZdb32pIM6DJWb7XVG79FRFELKNBCE6yeI2qEExrV8EoFPqOKm7BXNK9wQOLAMX5TfYW38pubOD7QugaTaK49vOQnPds/w640-h502/GJC_IMG_7271.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>The annual trip to Kent in May wasn't possible but we were able to delay it until September and catch up socially distanced with relatives in both private and beer gardens. This was a moment enjoying a Sunday afternoon take away cup of tea on a seat at Aylesford.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8f-rym_5TSF_PFHwbqGsZNjVPVtsuEm2HrfeSxccE1b3K5s-O0uUZnud4Ycfo5xf_P_1NUlsBTPkrMLvzEF9P7CQCDpNctQexFDLbeHQYwlWNXHnbzPA8RwHUNtdceO42Krpwe6J9YI/s1024/GJC_IMG_7354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8f-rym_5TSF_PFHwbqGsZNjVPVtsuEm2HrfeSxccE1b3K5s-O0uUZnud4Ycfo5xf_P_1NUlsBTPkrMLvzEF9P7CQCDpNctQexFDLbeHQYwlWNXHnbzPA8RwHUNtdceO42Krpwe6J9YI/w640-h480/GJC_IMG_7354.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>A stop off at Westerham one day on the way to see a relative. Westerham is famous for residences of Sir Winston Churchill and this statue of Major James Wolfe. What was more memorable for me about the visit was that we managed to get an amazing no hide dog chew for Molly to peruse over in the relatives garden !!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RyLcWF8MzMx3qlUGA-vo8kMTONV238Q8klO06SQQSbbBydxzzViSToQHR35cp6IucY46mp00ng9aXTuzZ5KnMVvg6spMW3lrq88Zj3kT6Va3VJE8eGTcTOIV05qvu_qTQgN5V4cyMt0/s2048/GJC_IMG_7546.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RyLcWF8MzMx3qlUGA-vo8kMTONV238Q8klO06SQQSbbBydxzzViSToQHR35cp6IucY46mp00ng9aXTuzZ5KnMVvg6spMW3lrq88Zj3kT6Va3VJE8eGTcTOIV05qvu_qTQgN5V4cyMt0/w640-h480/GJC_IMG_7546.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>Normally we meet most of the relatives all at the same time in someones conservatory but this covid year that wasn't possible, so a late afternoon catch up with another was preceded by morning over the Sussex county boundary to Bexhill, a quick snap of Eastbourne Pier, returning via their house in Hailsham.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgwApmCvXJIswz8naNgxOCQqioEsyApSCvzvAMWbA0Os5HeGkUDrOAoHd0rd6QNp7O3eMjsLNymoFQXTS_EYye31QZj1A9pYQ63yAuROHbdun5PQT-rSH9MOhhCpkrOLajEDcCH4ooSU/s2048/GJC_IMG_7399.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1519" data-original-width="2048" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgwApmCvXJIswz8naNgxOCQqioEsyApSCvzvAMWbA0Os5HeGkUDrOAoHd0rd6QNp7O3eMjsLNymoFQXTS_EYye31QZj1A9pYQ63yAuROHbdun5PQT-rSH9MOhhCpkrOLajEDcCH4ooSU/w640-h474/GJC_IMG_7399.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>After visiting Dungeness last year for the first time in the car, it was a good idea to return this year on a fine day via the narrow gauge railway. All the carriages had perspex screens to compartment them into family groups. This is the old 1904 lighthouse mothballed as a museum which as you can imagine was closed due to the inability to socially distance.</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZS3P5h564nPChfws_1brmsnNjuAaxBqYR1zrfgcE_UnC9xisSb-emi-IX4j5w6YYAvTPMoHsZcJQjPQeuaUN6OLqboQItDhD8__TojLrnhHScXM-aRBvw7Qbt6eLpzh8d2-f7VWnIHc/s2048/GJC_IMG_7568.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1639" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZS3P5h564nPChfws_1brmsnNjuAaxBqYR1zrfgcE_UnC9xisSb-emi-IX4j5w6YYAvTPMoHsZcJQjPQeuaUN6OLqboQItDhD8__TojLrnhHScXM-aRBvw7Qbt6eLpzh8d2-f7VWnIHc/w512-h640/GJC_IMG_7568.jpg" width="512" /></a></p><p>On the last day it was an East Kent car tour mainly to give Molly a run out on one of the few Kent dog friendly beaches near Deal. It turns out that the location was next to the car park of Walmer Castle. Being a member of The English Heritage this year after receiving it as a Christmas gift, it would be rude not to pay Henry VIII's place a quick visit, even if it just was into the garden. However it wasn't that easy doing a 2020 prebook and waiting for the e-mail to come through with my acceptance ticket.</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLTI_taq6qOGWFRsDpZtegS1R33vgH21b5bOdm4ar1yYnYDtHdN1O1msvgoGPVHi8NNqTdWPrWHiwY9RaTcG9E_1kVTzuu0neEU5TgZWMcUGQP3wrR60OGB1GapKr2Fzs_i8N8UZyEZg/s2048/GJC_IMG_7619.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLTI_taq6qOGWFRsDpZtegS1R33vgH21b5bOdm4ar1yYnYDtHdN1O1msvgoGPVHi8NNqTdWPrWHiwY9RaTcG9E_1kVTzuu0neEU5TgZWMcUGQP3wrR60OGB1GapKr2Fzs_i8N8UZyEZg/w480-h640/GJC_IMG_7619.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p>After an afternoon in Deal, Sandwich seemed like a good place to stop on the way back. This was a first visit for me and despite being near closing time, it was good to wander the empty streets with the camera. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPaosAY5tlSYlBo8wRy1LPt_FvYxZ2ShC2v8LlBudeUCf2woIvC4s9fQt3V_eStREIcfp62amv7TlcQBhfJeMuFdFoMret1hCKsB18HGVhb2puk7jtb65twpESN2N05K7-MlFoVZ8aTw/s1016/GJC_IMG_6259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1016" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPaosAY5tlSYlBo8wRy1LPt_FvYxZ2ShC2v8LlBudeUCf2woIvC4s9fQt3V_eStREIcfp62amv7TlcQBhfJeMuFdFoMret1hCKsB18HGVhb2puk7jtb65twpESN2N05K7-MlFoVZ8aTw/w640-h488/GJC_IMG_6259.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>In an effort to avoid the crowds at weekends in between the two Lockdowns, the less frequented places seemed like a better option like St Mary's Lighthouse at Whitley Bay.</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Lp5PGEyj9cZDdu7wNTn0fNpQGxW_NckbGHCD34il1iDS4X0sqmMiSN2iCGsMlaIOij56rr9Hgfvdw1QwiIyQpi4GlsTfuA_ES-aCYjCltjR-1pQdCoSZ5OnWFKD5lHnIoxZopwgbQWk/s2048/GJC_IMG_8554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Lp5PGEyj9cZDdu7wNTn0fNpQGxW_NckbGHCD34il1iDS4X0sqmMiSN2iCGsMlaIOij56rr9Hgfvdw1QwiIyQpi4GlsTfuA_ES-aCYjCltjR-1pQdCoSZ5OnWFKD5lHnIoxZopwgbQWk/w512-h640/GJC_IMG_8554.jpg" width="512" /></a></p><p>Having a members card for both National Trust and English Heritage this year, I found the availability this Autumn easier with the English Heritage and visited a few sites. The last time I visited Warkworth Castle was on a school trip many years ago. </p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQq6MEJB_K9CTwL-4vln5gELvnYBLjeY9fd9UnvLRgzaSSMolJCdZYxnulAZQ-eyfltuuA2iVZV4wUHoynlxlyT07NvT4wZ7qlfcPUlroRttx7oyOf60vZXGxmj-EnfhgRg7yaEFgNgI/s2048/GJC_IMG_7947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQq6MEJB_K9CTwL-4vln5gELvnYBLjeY9fd9UnvLRgzaSSMolJCdZYxnulAZQ-eyfltuuA2iVZV4wUHoynlxlyT07NvT4wZ7qlfcPUlroRttx7oyOf60vZXGxmj-EnfhgRg7yaEFgNgI/w512-h640/GJC_IMG_7947.jpg" width="512" /></a></p><p>Richmond Castle was another English Heritage location on the Autumn tour and one I hadn't visited before. Unfortunately the tower was closed for socially distancing reasons and the glorious view is to be witnessed would have to wait until another year.</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPHdGqhmVNFq_qJcS_ZD0V8bgY5Nvb9ffnUwhes9nssjoLr2rSQHWOIOAP6RB2tSIw68mFay_7JrCVtozWx9Hte_D7RfiuoqMROxXHIIav9CTbmDMb8NcrOUf29eyVEDBvqmF8bMJV6w/s2048/GJC_IMG_7949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPHdGqhmVNFq_qJcS_ZD0V8bgY5Nvb9ffnUwhes9nssjoLr2rSQHWOIOAP6RB2tSIw68mFay_7JrCVtozWx9Hte_D7RfiuoqMROxXHIIav9CTbmDMb8NcrOUf29eyVEDBvqmF8bMJV6w/w480-h640/GJC_IMG_7949.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p>Grassington was the next stop on an enjoyable circular drive through The Yorkshire Dales. I colour popped this one for two reasons, one to accentuate and highlight the changing colour of the leaves and another to dampen the blue foreground covid signs !!</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7d-0-Szfg6RJZnZN0A2t-fxmf4XOsoLKuMiYdBzyr0TxhxDGIuuyqJzE8dEVH5NiYvZWNDDOWNhyAwuhtTswd7uTpTL5wKVWvgqLPkABTEVvab63alZ_LpFfwttoN7H5aV5bLm0cXMms/s2048/GJC_IMG_8732.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7d-0-Szfg6RJZnZN0A2t-fxmf4XOsoLKuMiYdBzyr0TxhxDGIuuyqJzE8dEVH5NiYvZWNDDOWNhyAwuhtTswd7uTpTL5wKVWvgqLPkABTEVvab63alZ_LpFfwttoN7H5aV5bLm0cXMms/w480-h640/GJC_IMG_8732.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p>This time I had a proper Autumn scene at another EH location Belsay Castle in Northumberland. As a post script to the previous image, I edited out a rubbish bin and social distancing signs on the fence.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8oW4LUnptVWUrH_hGjoQW9xz4OPNK8W-rdN3EjvBYfW5IdGMOU6cUJJ-7lGFP77l_4jG2kLYx5cjrOYSbYFhRuSvhwa_Ob3Oc-sCj7kXbWOd0-MHnmIKcnf98m6rwmjTyLGYYR2BfO0/s2048/GJC_IMG_8568.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8oW4LUnptVWUrH_hGjoQW9xz4OPNK8W-rdN3EjvBYfW5IdGMOU6cUJJ-7lGFP77l_4jG2kLYx5cjrOYSbYFhRuSvhwa_Ob3Oc-sCj7kXbWOd0-MHnmIKcnf98m6rwmjTyLGYYR2BfO0/w640-h480/GJC_IMG_8568.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Gibside Chapel is my local National trust site and pre-booking has to be done when the weekly slots come out. The sun wasn't kind to me on the time slot I was given !!</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncr4EALYwxjl9ZQeMUDKsCrYOXnp6QD8eeujZAa8qmVv2i64MClsdaQIprzfPra1Q5WHFU3vGIlLlz5mkOdKsXUjVxhZEDpeOSr7wsleMd_7W9fBWgpUTDecOcI1rj5zIv06z7jqpin0/s2048/GJC_IMG_5692.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncr4EALYwxjl9ZQeMUDKsCrYOXnp6QD8eeujZAa8qmVv2i64MClsdaQIprzfPra1Q5WHFU3vGIlLlz5mkOdKsXUjVxhZEDpeOSr7wsleMd_7W9fBWgpUTDecOcI1rj5zIv06z7jqpin0/w512-h640/GJC_IMG_5692.jpg" width="512" /></a></p><p>Durham is a place that I have frequented most this year to fulfil appointments. This shot is virtually impossible people free and was taken the first Saturday after Lockdown 1 ended. On one of the occasions the wife of the proprietor came into the property for something. She had two well behaved Mother and Daughter Golden Doodles. It turns out that she was a dog breeder and we inadvertently put our name on the waiting list for the next litter which arrived on September 26th. We now have Daisy, a sister to Molly who keeps me in at the moment to Puppy sit.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Last week the Christmas tree went up and you'll be pleased to know that it is still up thanks to the Christmas Lounge Policeman !! Hope you enjoyed my update and selection of varied images for the year Happy Christmas.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDe8OklNry2kzYs-uM7D_nROSh9XRQGgnjlugvqL1TDwB1KbEK5exboLBKyC2l7mbESnCF48ohVNXWU9Rk8cWQUkEcGshuSVRNAK9_zogwGJeh4LnesBXcNIzcXbMd0NWqDcGcz2wGb4Q/s2048/GJC_IMG_9269.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDe8OklNry2kzYs-uM7D_nROSh9XRQGgnjlugvqL1TDwB1KbEK5exboLBKyC2l7mbESnCF48ohVNXWU9Rk8cWQUkEcGshuSVRNAK9_zogwGJeh4LnesBXcNIzcXbMd0NWqDcGcz2wGb4Q/w468-h640/GJC_IMG_9269.jpg" width="468" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Partners in Crime !</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p>J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-46409533963513163752019-12-30T10:48:00.002+00:002021-01-13T13:02:15.281+00:00Happy New Year 2019 / 20<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well hello from my local village green in between Christmas and New Year. I'm still active on here although only just and wondering how many other people are still in the blogosphere. I thought I'd try and squeeze one post in for 2019 and a give a very brief resume of the year !!<br />
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It's been a hectic one with lots of things that seem to take up more of my time. In the meantime, you can probably notice from the sidebar widget at the top that I've been using Instagram to keep my photo interest going.<br />
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For most of the year I have been annoyingly trying to sort out my on line photo storage as I lost some albums accidentally from Google whilst trying to systematically watermark everything from the beginning of this blog experience. Despite playing around with Flickr and pasting the images onto these pages, they changed their pricing rules and rather than pay for two systems, I simplified my storage. It's probably taken about six months on and off to do that, so I am serious about continuing.<br />
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The big news of the year was I gave up working for the NHS at the end of November after 38 years due to an imminent transfer into a pension scheme that wasn't as good for me. I was hoping to leave in the next year or two but the pension pot would only be better after about five years or so. Someone took this photo of me with laser glasses on and I had no idea that it was going to be used for the cover of a memory book that was given to me during my last week of work.<br />
I have lots of things to get my teeth into including preparing a relatives house for rent and subsequent management to pay for her care home fees.<br />
I also intend to have an activity day doing either walking, cycling or golf once the house is out to rent. It may be at that point, I'll do some more posting on here.<br />
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The Mighty Oaks Gateshead Charity coffee van that I told you about last year now takes on average about 1 day a week although not all in the same day. We have had some sadness by losing a volunteer to serious illness but gained another along the way. The above photo was taken prior to one of our most busiest events of the year in the middle of Gateshead Town Centre.<br />
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The annual trip to see relatives in Kent during May was a scorcher with some of the best weather of the Year. On arriving at Folkstone for the day, this was the view on closing the car door at the seafront.<br />
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On a different day, the colourful beach huts on the North Kent coast near Whitstable.</div>
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A large family holiday was arranged on the border of South Cumbria / North Lancashire and this was Eric Morecambe "bringing me sunshine" at his adopted namesake town.<br />
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There were several trips up to the Lake District and a first visit for me to Wray Castle on the shores of North West Windermere. A National Trust property with a varied background still in the process of evolving with its use.<br />
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We always look forward to our September break and this year we decided to do some boat trips with Molly around the coast of Kintyre in South West Scotland. The impressive ferry MV Finlaggan took us to The Isle of Islay.<br />
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On another occasion there was an opportunity to sail on the oldest Calmac ferry across Loch Fyne and then a drive all the way around the Loch.<br />
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As the weather was disappointing on the day of the previous photo, we returned to Tarbert in better weather later in the week. This building used to be a weigh house and has now been converted into a shop.<br />
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As is customary now with this annual post, I thought I would share my rail extravaganza trips this year behind class 37 diesels. There were only three I could do this year, the first being a poor weather day from Carlisle to Gourock (at Gourock on the River Clyde),<br />
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The second trip during May was a nostalgic trip from Newcastle to Oban. This particular locomotive seen here running around at Oban last worked regular passenger services from here between 1985 and 1989.<br />
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Lastly, a trip from Crewe to Portsmouth outward via Northampton and the outskirts of West London, returning via Guidford and Oxford. The Charter company raised over £10,000 for the work of the RNLI on a series of trips that weekend. This scene is a very early morning start from Crewe.<br />
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Here's a few more local photos with a colour splash / pop theme, one for Armistace day....</div>
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.... and the other on a routine dog walk. Molly doesn't have the patience to wait for the photographer in me !!! Strangely enough the owner of this former school house painted the door red the following week in preparation for putting up their Christmas Wreath.<br />
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Lastly I wish you a Happy New Year with a scene from Loch Venachar in the Trossachs taken back in late March. I hope there are some good things in store for you all in 2020.<br />
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<br />J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-25245434156964908392018-12-20T13:43:00.001+00:002021-01-13T13:01:26.370+00:002018 ...and Happy Christmas !<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well Hello. It's been a year since I posted on here and what a busy year it's been. I"m still trying to keep this page active although there have been some difficulties in doing it. On a side note, the e-mail address I originally signed up with on here is no longer valid due to other problem issues so I'm using recovery addresses. It's difficult to know which system I'm on for comments and old images. I'll get around to commenting in the next week or so and it'll be interesting to see who's still blogging. I've essentially had a year out on Instagram.<br />
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The most relaxing part of the year was a week away to a cottage on the shores of Loch Long in Scotland during September.<br />
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One of the things I mentioned in the last blog post was the distractions of real life and the inability to purchase a new computer to replace the old one. The white one on the right lasted a bit longer than the staff at the apple shop thought it would. Although it was purchased in early 2010 and had several upgrades including a non standard device with holding 650GB, one of the staff commented at a maintenance session that it was "vintage" !!! As you can see it is not working with the current operating system and is now two systems behind, consequently it is very slow and crashed my 2016 images file which I had to unfortunately reload unedited. It was recommended because of it's age and obsolete battery that I didn't upgrade it as they couldn't guarantee it would work in the way I wished it to. It now has to work only with the mains lead and the battery level in more recent weeks reads consistently 0%.<br />
Last year I sought advice on which one I should purchase to replace it but only got around to doing that in August this year. Back ups had to be transferred manually as my external drive had too much content on it. Thankfully I stored photos and important files on another external drive in a way I could find them from folders. After transferring my documents, folders and 82GB of iTunes, I had an e-mail to say that there was a re-call on all laptops of that model built between June 2017 and June 2018. Some had a problem linking the hardware and software and it turned out at the subsequent service in November that mine was one of them. I was asked to back up all the data on it prior to this visit and when I got home I had to start again as it was like a brand new laptop with everything wiped from it.<br />
I decided a few years ago to give a Flickr a try as the website delivered good quality images and 1 TB away free for storage. It seems according to a recent e-mail, they've changed their mind and want all those people like me to subscribe. Not sure what to do about that yet as Ive converted 75% of my blog images onto Flickr which would mean them dropping off the old blog posts. Is nothing ever simple with computers ?? !! Not sure where to go with this yet.<br />
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After the installation of the new kitchen in November last year, the other end of the kitchen diner was extended in the early part of this year. this is the completed unpainted version showing the length from the ceiling join. I have just finished the room today in time for the family coming for Christmas.<br />
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For some time I have been involved with an organisation loosely linked to as group of churches called Mighty Oaks giving out free quality hot drinks to those worse for wear or otherwise late on a Friday night (A kind of street pastors role but more about the coffee and if anyone wants to chat about anything at all). It is a commitment that can be time consuming, cold but very rewarding. We have been borrowing a trailer cart from Morpeth for two years who do their work on a Saturday night. Unfortunately the cart that had to be towed was not as young and reliable as it used to be so we spent a lot of time sourcing a vehicle for our own purposes.<br />
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Our discussions with the local coffee van conversion (Coffee Latino) firm took my wife and myself to a 2nd hand garage near Saltaire to test drive a van at the end of April.<br />
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The DFSK pick-up seemed suitable and potentially affordable but there were lots of administration issues to sort out such as fund raising, Van Insurance, Public liability insurance, where the van was going to be stored and the current ongoing Charity status application. This last point seems to be taking forever after the first application submitted wasn't good enough and they wanted a safeguarding policy, DBS checks etc etc.<br />
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In the meantime we carry on in a part of Gateshead where we make all kinds of quality coffee, hot chocolate, tea and have supplies on board of bottled water, flip flops for post party goers, dog biscuits and umbrellas.<br />
My wife sorts out the rota out and we seem to do 1 in 2 or 1 in 3 Friday nights.<br />
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In addition to the holiday mentioned in the first image, we took a much needed short notice week away to the village of Ashford Bowdler on the outskirts of Ludlow in July, it was an opportunity to explore Shropshire, North Herefordshire and the Welsh Border. This was all new territory for me. The collage of images above is Ashford Bowdler and the pictures were taken on my daily morning dog walks.<br />
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We visited relatives in Kent during May and saw new places such as Ramsgate.</div>
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We always try to fit in a short break or two to Keswick or the Lake District. This was the view from near the hotel looking north over Derwentwater.<br />
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Molly usually comes with us and as you can see is now becoming a well travelled dog ... Speaking of trains ... apologies for four 2018 images here but just in case I use Flickr for the class 37 fans ....<br />
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I did four extensive class 37 diesel rail tours this year, Crewe to Carlisle, Crewe to Bognor, a Routes and Branches tour of Central Scotland and a Shrewsbury to Penzance trip. The four locations depicted are Hellifield, Guildford, Helensburgh Central and Plymouth.<br />
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We had new births this year out in the back field behind the garden fence and also a new arrival in the family that has enjoyably taken a bit of time up.<br />
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This year I decided to print some Christmas cards using one of last years photos. Optimal Print did a great job and printed 60 of these, that leaves me to say Happy Christmas to you all and I'll see if I can do better next year ....<br />
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<br />J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-1928827227997746592017-12-18T23:56:00.002+00:002021-01-13T13:02:47.237+00:00Happy New Year ... Happy Christmas 2017 !!<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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It seems a surreal and an unfamiliar experience to be publishing a post after a break of about 18 months. It's been a busy period due to getting married, selling two houses and moving to the countryside.<br />
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More recently I have had to empty and return a rented garage back to the local council as I had no further use for it near where my Mother used to live. It has been a monumental task trying to downsize and although I'm not quite there yet, (1/2 a room to sort) it seems within touching distance. I was incapacitated for a while when I broke a bone in my foot and was off work for six weeks in the middle of the year.<br />
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I had planned to get a new laptop in the autumn but that still hasn't happened do to distractions of a new kitchen and annoying maintenance and repairs to brand new and old large household appliances. thought you may like to see some very local scenes. I was encouraged by a follower (Cranberry Morning) to join Instagram a while back so have been active on there to keep myself operational !! I also had to apply comment moderation to this blog a few months ago due to spam.<br />
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There is a bakery just opened up in the village and it serves a variety of savoury and sweet treats to eat inside or takeaway. Whilst waiting for a breakfast, I caught up with the weekend sports news with a sourdough bread to take home afterwards.<br />
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The view from the other side of the table on an earlier occasion looking out on the snow.</div>
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Hello to whoever is still following me and I thought I'd squeeze in a solitary 2017 post<br />
and wish you all a Happy Christmas from the local village green, Hopefully I should be back at some point in early in 2018.<br />
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J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-87209154186125142972016-06-30T23:53:00.005+01:002021-01-15T09:28:16.711+00:00Stratford upon Avon, North East Railtours<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Following on from my previous North East rail tours excursion to Fort William post, I was able to follow this up with a trip to Stratford upon Avon, a place I had been wanting to photograph for many a year. From my home location a road trip was never an option so this provided the ideal opportunity to visit. The title image depicts the train arriving in Newcastle upon Tyne at the start of the day.<br />
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It is thought that William Shakespeare was born in the above house in Henley Street during 1864 and that he spent a good number of his childhood years there. Very little is known about his early life but he went on to become one of the worlds most famous playwrights, writing at least 37 plays between 1590 and 1613.<br />
His birthplace is now a small museum which is run by The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and attracts many visitors over the course of the year. The Trust have restored this 16th century half timbered house, which at the time that Shakespeare lived in it would not have been thought of as modest. It was built from local oak taken from the Forest of Arden and Blue Grey stone from Wilmcote and features the traditional wattle and daub of the time. The property had an interesting history being passed down through the family line for some years but regrettably fell into a state of disrepair until it was purchased for the sum of £3000 by the Shakespeare Birthday Committee (which became the Shakespeare Birthplace trust) in 1847.<br />
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The Jester touchstone who was in the Shakespeare play "As you Like it".<br />
It stands on a plinth and is made of bronze with the inscription "O noble fool, a worthy fool - The fool doth think he is wise but a wise man knows himself to be a fool"<br />
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The Shrieve's barn and house is the oldest lived in dwelling in Stratford with the first house being built on this site in 1196. During the 16th century the building was used as an Inn with the landlord becoming the influence for Shakespeare to develop the character of Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor.<br />
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It was later the residence of the first mayor of Stratford and also Edward Gibbs who was the person responsible for renovating Shakespeare's birthplace from an Inn to a museum.<br />
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The White Swan Hotel built in 1450 and renovated in 2012</div>
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The Garrick Inn is a timber building that dates back to the 15th century and is accompanied by a rich tapestry of stories including fatal fires, the plague and priest holes. It is still believed to be haunted and has the reputation of being the oldest pub in the city.<br />
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The mosaic portrait of William Shakespeare is Venetian in style with the design being based on Shakespeare's monument in the city's Holy Trinity church. It was created by Antonio Salviati who famously installed venetian mosaics in more than fifty English churches.<br />
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A tudor style door and window adjacent to The Guild Chapel </div>
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Hall's Croft was owned by William Shakespeare's daughter Susanna Hall and her husband Dr John Hall (married in 1607). Interestingly the property boasts a walled garden at the rear which contains a collection of plants that may well have been used by Susanna's husband in his role as a doctor.<br />
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Nowadays the building hosts paintings and furniture from the 16th and 17th centuries.</div>
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The Royal Shakespeare Theatre was built in 1932 and re-opened in 2010 following an extensive renovation project that it was part of costing £112.8 million. The aim throughout has been to create an authentic / traditional Shakespearean "one room" theatre experience. It seats over 1040 and stands adjacent to the site of the original theatre which opened in 1879 and was destroyed by fire in 1926.<br />
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The Stratford upon Avon canal was built during the time of The Industrial revolution between 1793 and 1816 and runs for over 25 miles. The canal became unnavigable in the mid 20th century and was later used in modern times for pleasure trips and cruises.<br />
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Time to return for the train at the railway station ... still thinking about what a canal side Shakespearian Ice Cream tastes like. It looks like he enjoyed it anyway !!<br />
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J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300063067751636011noreply@blogger.com12Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37, UK52.193403151104391 -1.7111206054687552.183668651104391 -1.73129060546875 52.203137651104392 -1.69095060546875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-2441673846727477252016-05-30T22:02:00.003+01:002021-01-13T13:41:17.610+00:00Fort William, Scotland, North East Railtours.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a while since I posted due to life and further adventures in Scotland and as I have been majoring on these parts for some time, some readers will be pleased to know that I will be posting from south of the border from the next blog onwards. If anyone wants to see anything in particular please feel to comment.<br />
North East Railtours (formerly Whitley Bay Horticultural Society) have been running day charter rail tours around the UK for as long as I can remember from railway stations in the North East of England. Charter (or special) trains need to fit in around the timetabled services with the routes and timings having to be painstakingly worked out, particularly on scenic remote lines such as The West Highland Line (shown above). Many of the outpost or picturesque lines are made up of single track and passing places where if a locomotive fails, most of the services on that day suffer passenger delays.<br />
As a background to this post, there have been issues with The West Coast Railway Company (WCRC) that own the railway engines used for these trains. A driver of a WCRC steam train failed to stop at a warning signal in Wootten Bassett, Wiltshire last year and as a result the licence to operate was withdrawn from the company. It was the intention of Network Rail who withdrew the licence, to ensure the safe operation of future outings with a view to renewing it as soon as feasibly possible. As a result, the proposed tour in May 2015 was cancelled at short notice and the renewal of the license earlier in 2016 did not allow enough marketing time to repeat the trip this year. Provisional timings that the operator received for this outing were ridiculously early in the morning and with the lack of uncharted territory generally elsewhere, it was decided to combine their efforts alongside the Scottish Railway Preservation society (SRPS) in fewer outings mainly to English destinations.<br />
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As the SRPS already run numerous tours from various starting points in Scotland, it seems unlikely that this day trip will ever run again. This set of photos is a nostalgic look back at the May 2013 event. Unfortunately the weather wasn't great and as a result the image quality suffers too, apologies for that as I have so many great images taken from the train window on previous occasions.<br />
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The day began very early in the morning with the sun rising over the Northumbrian coastal town of Alnmouth.<br />
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Breakfast is a sterling effort cooked on the train and served in mass catering style near Edinburgh.<br />
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On passing Glasgow the train follows the north side of the River Clyde and on reaching Helensburgh, the railway line is known as The West Highland Line.<br />
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The stations have a country feel with unique West Highland Line architecture.</div>
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The landscape becomes more scenic eventually turning to remote and desolate moorland. It is usually uncommon but always advisable to watch for wildlife such as deer.<br />
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On arrival in Fort William, the clouds were very low as seen behind Duncansburgh Mackintosh Parish church.<br />
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Even the Crannog fish restaurant at the loch shore couldn't provide the colour to brighten the day !!<br />
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I did come across a bizarre sculpture near to the waters edge of Loch Linnhe. To me it looked like a celebration to water skiing but further investigation revealed it was made of old mountain equipment to honour the local mountain festival.<br />
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There are not a lot of shops in Fort William but most seem to represent a mix of clothing and tartan tourist stores. This one gives the more interesting variety of the British weather depicting the sale of both Umbrellas and Ice Cream. There wasn't a lot sold of the latter on this day.<br />
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Lastly, due to the long train journey, the time allocated at Fort William was about 2 hours giving enough time to walk up and down the main street and visit the favourite shops. The larger woollen mill at the far end of the street is usually a step too far as my dabbling with sign alterations show ...<br />
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<br />J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com5Fort William, Highland, UK56.819108569881671 -5.107440948486328156.81476356988167 -5.1175259484863282 56.823453569881671 -5.097355948486328tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-89454101820027844682016-04-16T23:08:00.006+01:002021-01-13T13:41:35.761+00:00Wemyss Bay railway station, Inverclyde.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You'll all be pleased to know (including myself !! ) that this is the last post in the South West Scotland series. There's no need for me to remind anyone that it has taken me over 1 year to post about 1 weeks travel.<br />
It may seem a bit unusual to talk about a railway station but this is one of my favourites. In the past I have only visited the station by special charter trains but there were too many people about to capture the place properly. Having arrived by car, visited Rothesay and Mount Stuart by the ferry, it seemed an ideal opportunity to photograph it late in the day between the ferry arrival / departure times.<br />
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Wemyss Bay railway station first opened in 1865 with the extension incorporating the pier being designed by Glasgow Architect James Miller and completed in 1903.<br />
The 19th century Industrialists of Glasgow opted to escape the city by living to the west of the conurbation and along the Clyde coast. With the rich history of shipbuilding in Glasgow, Clyde steamers provided the means of reaching the new found holiday destinations of Dunoon and Rothesay.<br />
The Steamers initially sailed directly from Glasgow to Rothesay with options of Dunoon and Largs. In 1841 a rail route was opened from Glasgow to Greenock that reduced the journey times significantly by an hour to the destinations of Largs and Rothesay. The ferry service from Glasgow still ran many years later, but due to river pollution, only the poor used it with economy fares. On a similar theme, there were concerns about the wealthy having to pass through the poorest part of town from Greenock railway station to the dockside.<br />
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There were operational difficulties between rival railway companies who owned the boats and large financial losses resulted. It was necessary to have a dedicated railway station / pier terminal to improve the situation and an extension to Weymss Bay (for Rothesay) was built in the late 19th century.<br />
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The 10 mile branch to Wemyss Bay that opened to passengers on 15th May 1865 was most unusual in that it was designed to carry passengers first and not freight.<br />
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The formative years were not easy due to all the different rail and ferry companies not agreeing on a variety of operational issues.<br />
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Steamers ran complex routes and were often late causing trains to miss their paths on a single railway line network. Competition from the later Gourock extension and pier caused some disagreement due to platform rights at the brand new Glasgow Central station.<br />
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The enlarged and updated Wemyss Bay station created a statement of railway grandeur that defied other terminus rivals on the Clyde coast.<br />
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The station underwent a major restoration programme and was completed in 1994.</div>
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Time to allow the sun to set on my South West Scotland travels ...<br />
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<br />J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com6Wemyss Bay, Inverclyde, UK55.876177537764683 -4.888143539428710955.87172353776468 -4.8982285394287111 55.880631537764685 -4.8780585394287108tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-37037388954128343202016-03-13T22:10:00.004+00:002021-01-13T13:31:36.107+00:00Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Having visited The Isle of Bute on several occasions previously on charter boats and long distance rail day trips, there was never enough time to visit both the town of Rothesay and Mount Stuart house. However on this occasion as I was based in Ayrshire, the opportunity presented itself to do both, using the regular ferry service from the mainland.<br />
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The Bute family have lived on the island for many centuries and descended from the kings of Scotland. You may remember from the previous post (<a href="http://jayzspaze.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/rothesay-isle-of-bute_7.html">Rothesay</a>) how the ancient family lived at the Castle in town but due to successive raids from invaders, they chose the peace of The Old Mansion House across the street.<br />
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This change proved unsuccessful to one of the successive residents and the more roomy grounds of Mount Stuart was chosen as the new permanent home.<br />
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The Original Mount Stuart was built in 1716 and has allowed four generations of the Bute family to live here before an accidental fire destroyed the central part of the house in 1877.<br />
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The rebuilding programme of the Gothic revivalist structure by the third Marquis of Bute began in 1880 using his family inheritance from South Wales coal money. Work continued for many years and remained incomplete at the time of his death in 1900. Finance of buildings like this in the twentieth century took a hit as the world moved on in many ways but the 6th Marquis of Bute began a programme to complete the building in the 1980's.<br />
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Unfortunately he wasn't able to enjoy the finished product as he passed away before completion. It is believed that the house was the first home in the world to have a heated indoor swimming pool and the first in Scotland to have central heating, electric lights, passenger lift and a telephone. Due to the enormity of the task, a temporary railway had to be constructed from Kerrycroy village to the house to transport all the necessary building materials.<br />
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On a personal note, some of the internal decor was the most amazing I had ever seen. The standout features were the Gothic church and the main marble hall reaching to the sky or rather 80 ft over several levels. The tower window including studded diamonds reflected light and various colours onto the walls beneath.<br />
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The marble hall was constructed from a variety of Sicilian and Italian marble along with Granite and Sandstone, drawing its inspiration from History, Astrology, Art and Mythology It was a little unfortunate that photography was prohibited but I have copied a link here to give you a flavour as Google image stills don't do it justice.<br />
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Whilst the house itself is stunning, so too is much of the 300 acres of grounds in which it sits.</div>
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There are many walk ways and avenues throughout the grounds that connect the key features of the site. The Augusta Column in one of the avenues was built in honour Augusta Dowager Princess of Wales in 1772 by The 3rd Earl.<br />
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There are three gardens of note namely the Rock Garden, The Wee (small) Garden and The Kitchen Garden, each exhibiting their own unique features.<br />
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The Rock Garden behind the house could also be classed as a water garden due to the stream running through it creating a series of ponds.<br />
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The designer of the 2 acre Rock Garden, Thomas Mawson, also created a dramatic "Stations of the Cross" garden walk, part of which featured a statue of Christ as a centre piece, which was later removed to the family chapel by the shore.<br />
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The Pavilion in The Kitchen Garden was bought by the 6th Marquess of Bute following its exhibition at the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival and then moved to Mount Stuart. It contains plants from around the world.<br />
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The 5 acre Kitchen Garden is unique in its design having only one wall, the other three having been replaced by shelter providing trees. Until very recently it was a traditional Kitchen garden providing fruit and vegetables, but now it is mainly used for decorative purposes with hedges that are used to divide it into further sections.<br />
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It was time to return home and back to the 21st century of the exit via the newly built visitor centre. This in itself provided a spectacular photographic moment although not quite a Gothic Revivalist structure externally that you could be thinking of ....<br />
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J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com10Argyll and Bute, UK55.792596367910356 -5.01937866210937555.783669367910356 -5.0395486621093752 55.801523367910356 -4.9992086621093748tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-48067142912831557062016-02-07T22:49:00.002+00:002021-01-13T13:09:57.975+00:00Rothesay, Isle of Bute.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Rothesay is the main town on the Isle of Bute located to the west of the Firth Clyde. It is easily accessible by regular ferries from Wemyss Bay on the south west coast of Scotland.<br />
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The town of Rothesay itself sits on a north facing bay sheltered by low hills, it has been visited by an eclectic mix of people groups down through the centuries.<br />
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Historically the employment of the town centred around the large cotton mills during the late 18th century, but their final demise came in the 1880s as a result of continuing external competition from the mainland. Conversely at the same time, the herring fishing industry was beginning to thrive.<br />
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The close proximity of Bute to the seafaring route from Ireland to Scotland provided a gateway for the early Christian missionaries in the 6th century. St Blanes church and other historic sites are testament to that fact found in the southern half of the island.<br />
By the 8th century, the invaders were Vikings from Norway who weren't so peaceful or amenable and kept returning at various times over a 500 year period.<br />
An early simple fort was built by Magnus Barford in 1098 but his stay was short lived due to its destruction by the locals.<br />
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Later in the 13th century a stone circular castle and moat was built by The Stewart family which eventually became a royal residence.<br />
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The castle saw more Norse battle action, firstly in 1230 and then later in 1263, but despite initially losing the castle in the battles it was later reclaimed after the demise of King Hakon. The invader finally admitted defeat in the nearby Battle of Largs (1263).<br />
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The English temporarily took control of Rothesay Castle from 1297 - 1311 during the wars of Independence until Robert The Bruce finally took it back into Scottish hands.<br />
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Steps were taken to repair and improve the defences with four towers being added in the 16th century followed by a gatehouse and despite skirmishes with the English (Cromwell's Army 1659) and The Duke of Argyll in 1685, it was never tested again in battle.<br />
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Around this time, the Stewart family moved into the more comfortable Old Mansion House across the street. This building is currently being renovated as an educational facility looking at the history of the island.<br />
The second Earl of Bute decided to move the family home again to the out of town and more opulent Mount Stuart in the east of the island leaving the castle derelict for many years.<br />
The Crichton Stewarts restored the castle during the 19th century before being handed over for preservation, overseen and cared for by the organisation Historic Scotland.<br />
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Like many other resorts in the 19th century, it became a fashionable destination for those seeking to escape the progressive industrialisation for a weeks holiday, assisted by improved transport arrangements.<br />
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Many believed that Hydrotherapy could provide healing properties for body ailments ...</div>
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... and Rothesay was keen to replicate the success and marketing of other Spa towns in the UK as a fashionable holiday destination.<br />
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Alexander Bannantyne Stewart was a merchant from Glasgow who had an interest in fine arts, sailing and horticulture. Due to his earlier family connections with Rothesay and his later influence as convener of County of Bute, he gave many benefits to the local people including a swimming pool.<br />
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The Winter Gardens were built as a result of the thriving music and entertainment business of the resort which had outgrown the bandstand built about 50 years previously. The attraction opened in 1924 at a cost of £7,000 with parts being shipped from Glasgow.<br />
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The venue served as a magnet for show business names of the day, many of whom went on to become famous.<br />
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Things remained much the same until the 1960's when the cheap European package holiday became more accessible resulting in a decline of the resort.<br />
The Winter Gardens closed and threats of demolition became real in 1982, remaining derelict for some considerable time.<br />
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The building was revamped as an exhibition and tourist information centre in 2000.</div>
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Whilst Rothesay is synonymous with maritime history, interestingly enough during World War II, many navy personnel were given training on submarines in the bay. <br />
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In addition to the newly styled Winter Gardens, the authorities in the town have shown much tenacity in recouping the tourism business by various measures including the upgrade of the pier.<br />
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From the archives ... Shipbuilding on The River Clyde provided the constructed Paddle steamers that transported workers for their holidays from Glasgow "Doon The Watter".<br />
Note the hotel transfers 19th century style !!<br />
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Hopefully with the amount of shipping transport in those days they didn't have to wait too long ....<br />
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And finally there were thankfully no earthquakes today ....<br />
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J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com6Rothesay, Argyll and Bute, UK55.837723110225646 -5.05416154861450255.836608610225646 -5.0566830486145022 55.838837610225646 -5.0516400486145017tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-7116828212080488062016-01-25T21:51:00.003+00:002021-01-13T13:22:59.228+00:00Ferries to Rothesay<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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As a young teenager, I was taken for five summer holidays by my parents to a location on The Firth of Clyde.<br />
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It influenced my love of boats, the west coast of Scotland and inspired my sense of adventure to travel further north in later years.<br />
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One of the sights that became very familiar to me during those times were the classic shapes of three Caledonian MacBrayne ferries travelling between Gourock, Dunoon and Rothesay. These boats represented an advancement in travel back in the mid 1970's with significant improvement to travel and turnaround times. For that reason, the MV Jupiter, Juno and Saturn were known as The Clyde Streakers and because of their longevity by Calmac standards had something of a cult following. Generally the Jupiter and Juno worked the Gourock to Dunoon route with the Saturn covering the Wemyss Bay to Rothesay route. The former two would cover additional relief duties during the summer until the introduction of The MV Bute and MV Argyle. Unfortunately, a series of political measures that included the cost to maintain Dunoon Pier meant that all three were retired from service by 2011. The Jupiter and Juno were scrapped in Denmark and Rosneath (Gare Loch) while the Saturn was given a new lease of life named as MV Orcadia with Pentland Ferries off the North coast of Scotland.<br />
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The MV Bute and MV Argyle were built in Gdansk, Poland at a cost of £8.5 million and £9 million respectively.<br />
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These vessels were specifically ordered to run on the Wemyss Bay to Rothesay route.</div>
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MV Bute commenced service in August 2005 about a month after arriving in The Firth of Clyde.</div>
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The MV Argyle was launched in September 2006 and later commenced service in May 2007 as a result of modifications carried out based on the experiences with MV Bute.<br />
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Technical data of both ferries ...<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">2612 tonnes</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">72 m length x 15.3 m width</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">speed 14 knots</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">450 passengers</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">60 cars capacity</li>
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Seat Shadows</div>
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It was interesting to note that due to the design of the propellers on both ferries it was harder to dock at piers and caused delays in the first season of service. It was ironic that the predecessors and more manoeuvrable MV Juno and Saturn were brought back to maintain the service in 2007, during modifications to Rothesay Pier.<br />
However the MV Argyle had modifications to the vehicle ramp as a result of lessons learnt from the MV Bute.<br />
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Other differences between the two sister ferries include a second lift from the car deck and a larger passenger lounge on the later ship.<br />
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Arriving and departing from Wemyss Bay</div>
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Rothesay Bay from a lounge window.</div>
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Passing ships</div>
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On board shop</div>
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And finally, an ambulance hopefully not in an emergency during the 35 minute crossing time ...</div>
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J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-27048733022490961332015-12-21T00:21:00.001+00:002021-01-13T13:24:10.886+00:00Corbridge, Northumberland.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The town of Corbridge in the Tyne valley grew from one of the most northerly settlements in the Roman Empire called Corstopitum. Variations of the name were prevalent throughout history with Coria becoming a popular name of the town just to the north of the River Tyne.<br />
It was a place of strategic importance that intersected the north / south Dere street with the east / west Stanegate road as it supplied the troops on Hadrian's Wall.<br />
I'll leave you to decide why it became Corbridge at a later date.<br />
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Following the departure of the Roman soldiers in the early 5th century, much of the stone was taken from nearby Hadrian's wall and the Corbridge Roman fort (half a mile to the west) to construct earlier parts of the town.<br />
Village life evolved around St Andrews church, originally built in the 7th century by St Wilfred and his monks.<br />
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During the following centuries there were structural and decor changes with influences from the Vikings and The Normans. The church was later upgraded in the 13th century.<br />
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One of the lesser photographed stained glass windows portraying the washing of the disciples feet by Jesus.<br />
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The Kings Oven was a communal oven on the side of the church used by villagers for the baking of their bread and meat. It's first recorded use was in the Royal Borough of Corbridge in 1310 and it was last used in the 19th century.<br />
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The fortified rectangular Vicar's Pele tower with one room to each story was built within the perimeter wall of the church yard in 1318. This was used as an early vicarage. (seen above to the right)<br />
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It was a built as a stronghold to protect against the invading Scots raids which began from 1296. The building is three storeys high, has a parapet walk on the top level and was later abandoned, remaining ruined until 1910. After this point in time the Duke of Northumberland restored and re-roofed the tower.<br />
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The ground floor is a barrel vaulted chamber with a drawbar tunnel entrance which on this occasion of visiting was open for the sale of antiques. In all my years of visiting Corbridge, this was the first time I saw inside the interior of the tower.<br />
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As a variation on a theme, my mother always used to tell me that it's good to have some red in a photo !!<br />
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The market square is adjacent to the entrance of the churchyard with a lane that runs alongside Vicar's Pele Tower ...<br />
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The Pant in the market place was a drinking fountain erected by Hugh Percy Duke of Northumberland in 1815 building on previous supplies dating back to the 13th century. The fountain was discontinued in 1973.<br />
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Over the years Corbridge has developed a range of shops with character and individuality that attract tourists throughout the year.<br />
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In more recent years the town has initiated a Christmas shopping night where all the traders enter the festive spirit by decorating the shop windows. These come alive at night to enhance the event and the season.<br />
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The Corbridge Cookshop (parent company JF Walton and son) is one of the modern day attractions for the visitor who loves the finer kitchen utensils. It also has an extensive range of household hardware and garden accessories around surprising corners.<br />
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The festive goodwill is also extended to the market place<br />
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.... and main street which are transformed in preparation for the shopping night.</div>
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On the outskirts of Corbridge on the modern Stanegate road (aka The A69), visitors can enjoy the pleaures of picking a variety of fruit including Strawberries, Raspberries and Gooseberries at Brockbushes... <a href="http://www.brocksbushes.co.uk/">http://www.brocksbushes.co.uk</a><br />
This farm has taken off in recent years with more luxury food produce and has gained recognition throughout the area.<br />
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This year I visited the Christmas market for the first time and was particularly impressed by the quality of the traders' goods.<br />
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Lastly there were also some imaginative and well thought out stalls ...</div>
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... that showed the meaning of Christmas with the "Three Wee Kings" ...</div>
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Wishing you all a Happy Christmas.</div>
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<br />J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-45632526186963160372015-11-15T17:02:00.006+00:002021-01-13T13:23:37.870+00:00Brodick, Isle of Arran<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Following on from the previous post of a boat trip on The MV Caledonian Isles, I arrived at the small village of Brodick on The Isle of Arran.<br />
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It was a place that I had only visited once before back in 1988 albeit for a day trip that involved several modes of transport. That particular day out included a very long train journey, The Waverley Paddle Steamer from Troon Docks and the largest fleet of double decker buses I have ever seen to transport the passengers from Troon railway station to the docks. Suffice to say that on arrival there was only a short period of time time to see Brodick.<br />
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However on a similar vane there were so many offshore Ayrshire locations I chose to visit this week that there still wasn't enough time to see them all properly. Travel connections proved challenging having to connect with a ferry from a regional car drive from Irvine with usually a bus on an island.<br />
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One of the objectives for the day was to visit the National Trust for Scotland location of Brodick Castle. For a sparsely populated island, the bus service link passing the castle gate entrance was acceptable, although as a result I had to curtail my castle visit to two hours in order to additionally explore and photograph Brodick before catching the ferry back to the mainland with evening meal in Saltcoats.<br />
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It's becoming quite a challenge at the entrances of National Trust locations to avoid being press ganged by the volunteers into paying the annual subscription fee. Much as I'd like to have the freedom to show a pass at these places and the opportunity to visit them on a more frequent basis, I would never get my use out of an annual ticket due to other travel ideas and additional time pressures that make up the year. I have given myself to carefully work out in my head the amount of money spent on NT properties over the previous year and on this occasion, the total spend was £7:50 on Lindisfarne Castle, £5 special ticket for a food festival at Wallington Hall (with free house entry) and £12:50 for Brodick Castle. The National Trust for Scotland ticket is just under £40 ... I'll let you do the Maths.<br />
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Brodick Castle was built on a south east facing slope in front of Goatfell on the north side of Brodick bay. In the past, The Isle of Arran and Brodick Castle have both been of strategic importance due to the islands size and its location in The Firth of Clyde.<br />
Invasions and a stronghold of some sort has been present since the 5th century with The Gaelic invaders from Ireland to the subsequent invasion of The Vikings in 800 AD. After their defeat at The Battle of Largs in 1263, the simplistic version in history is that the Vikings seemed to throw in the towel as The King of Norway sold The Isle of Arran back to Scotland three years later. An internal power struggle developed between England and Scotland over a few issues resulting in The English king overreacting and invading Scotland. The English troops based in Brodick were forced later to retreat by Robert the Bruce in 1307. The castle was later damaged by two further attacks and the Scottish King (James lll) decided to transfer it to his Brother in law, James Hamilton (1st Lord Hamilton). It was was left to his son, who was given the title Earl of Hamilton, to renovate and rebuild the castle into a tower house in 1510.<br />
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The next period of history saw the castle survive attacks from fellow Scottish clans and a variety of other religious reasons. The 2nd Earl was seen to be in league with Mary Queen of Scots and had to deal with an army sent by Henry VIII. The 3rd Earl lost the castle as a result of not agreeing with the Presbyterian views of the ruler of Scotland and had his title converted to Duke. However he managed to regain the castle soon after at the outbreak of the Scottish civil war only to lose it again to the clan Campbells.<br />
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The Duke became embroiled and suffered in the English civil war and left Brodick castle to his daughter Anne. At the time though, Oliver Cromwell's army acquired the castle and extended it as a temporary barracks to defend the Firth of Clyde.<br />
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It seemed that Duchess Anne didn't like the traumas that affected Brodick castle and returned to the estates she had in Lothian and Lanark for good. She married the Earl of Selkirk who became Duke of Hamilton and used the castle for sporting and hunting activities. After a long period of time and as a result of family money from his mother, the 11th Duke decided to live there and took on a large building project to extend it further in 1844. It was unfortunate for the family name that his son had no heirs and the castle and titles were passed to distant cousins that had a female daughter.<br />
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On marrying the 6th Duke of Montrose in 1906 the castle left the Hamilton family after 500 years but he was credited with significantly improving the interior decor the castle.<br />
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As a result of taxes on death duties The castle became the property of the National Trust for Scotland in 1958 as a result of taxes on death duties in the family.<br />
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Although the gardens date back to 1710 with additional work done in 1814, the extensions of the building in 1844 incorporated a significant amount of garden work to transfer the property from Castle to Stately home.<br />
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It became one of the passions for the family with the Duchess of Montrose being more prominent in that role.<br />
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There was just enough time to check out the summer house before returning for the bus to Brodick and even thought the light didn't lend itself for a photo, the internal roof structure was unique in it's design.<br />
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A last thought on the way out was the inscription on the gate ... "May he be shamed who thinks badly of it".<br />
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The highest point on The Isle of Arran is the distinctive peak of Goat Fell visible from the shoreline at Brodick. It stands at 2867 ft (874m) in height and is a magnet for hillwalkers of a more than average ability due to its ridges and scrambling routes.<br />
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Brodick like so many other local place names in the area originates from a Scandinavian Viking word meaning Broad Bay.<br />
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There wasn't a lot to photograph from the street of shops overlooking the bay ...</div>
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... but there was an international trading company that did capture the imagination and humour !<br />
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The last 15 minutes on the island were spent looking for boat art moments.</div>
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Some seemed to work and others didn't in more ways than one ...</div>
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The ferry back to the mainland was a different vessel to the one I arrived in as it was an additional relief service.<br />
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The MV Isle of Arran was built in 1983 and operated on the Ardrossan - Brodick route for the first 10 years of it's life before a larger ferry was required. After a long stint in Kennacraig, it has been operating additional services at peak times on it's original stomping ground since 2012.<br />
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Classic mix of Brodick Pier, MV Isle of Arran and Goatfell.</div>
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After a lifetime of 32 years, the news in 2015 was that the ship will be replaced in 2018.</div>
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Time for the relief vessel to enjoy semi retirement while it lasts .... !!</div>
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<br />J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-89289729579352684892015-10-06T00:33:00.004+01:002021-01-13T13:13:36.441+00:00M.V. Caledonian Isles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The MV Caledonian Isles is one of the larger Calmac ships in the fleet and operates in The Firth of Clyde out of Ardrossan Harbour. The vessel plies its trade on the route to Brodick on The Isle of Arran and is capable of carrying 1000 passengers and 110 cars and has a crossing time of 55 minutes. Ardrossan Harbour is served by an hourly rail connection from Glasgow Central with a travelling time of approximately 45 minutes.<br />
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It was launched on 25th May 1993 by The Princess Royal and generally sails 5 times a day in each direction.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brodick Pier</td></tr>
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The MV Caledonian Isles was built and completed earlier in the same year by Richards Shipbuilders of Lowestoft, Suffolk. It measures 94 m long and weighs 5200 tons.<br />
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The route is so busy in the summer season that it has to supplemented by a second older ferry aptly named MV Isle of Arran.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing ships !</td></tr>
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Photographed later in the day on the return sailing from the MV Isle of Arran.</div>
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Time for a quick tour of the ferry ...</div>
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To say that this trip was the high point of my Ayrshire week was an understatement.<br />
Unfortunately as I had to save the best weather day for the Millport bike ride and I had to accept a weather forecast that only improved after lunch.<br />
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Needless to say that they weren't many travelling companions joining me outside on a slightly colder day.<br />
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Not that there were many more people sitting in the warmer indoor seats on this midweek excursion.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Re- painting in Calmac Red haha</td></tr>
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Outdoor seating accommodation ... well almost ... when the plastic seats dries out !!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black and White Bar area !</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Extended Dining Room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Child's play</td></tr>
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I don't ever recall seeing a dedicated children's play room on a Calmac ship before but it was a great idea for them to get into the spirit of adventure.<br />
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They can start early to train as a captain by the tutoring templates on steering the course of the ship !!<br />
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Further practical education can be gained by purchasing a not quite so near inflatable replica for follow up training in the bath .... !!<br />
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<br />J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-47818526986378663792015-09-24T17:47:00.002+01:002021-01-13T13:42:11.492+00:00Glasgow Transport Museums (old and new)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Riverside Museum is situated on the north bank of the River Clyde to the west of the city centre. The European Museum of the year 2013 stands in an area of regeneration across the river from what was the site of The 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival. Interestingly enough, this is probably where the regeneration of Glasgow began.<br />
The £74 million pound museum was somewhere that I had on my list of things to do for some time but the experience didn't quite match my expectations. More of that it a moment.<br />
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( Personal note: It has been over three months since I last posted and even though it seemed that I had forsaken this blog, I hadn't abandoned it. The Spring and Summer have been a mixture of sad and happy times giving me some severe time problems of blogging availability. Thankfully the balance of life is now leaning towards the happy times. Additionally I didn't feel too inspired about this post in the series due to the repetitive nature of the indoor images and my search for the older material. I haven't got a set blogging night anymore so I'll have to see what I can do when time allows in each week.)<br />
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After a period of 23 years in an old tram shed on the outskirts of the city centre, The Glasgow Museum of Transport was relocated to a new site behind the Kelvin Hall in 1987. The exhibits grew from initially the disused and preserved trams from the depot into an eclectic collection of moving vehicles.<br />
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The Kelvin Hall location closed on 18th April 2010 ironically just six days after my visit here so I was quite pleased to document some of these images. It was another year before the new building was completed and opened on 21st June 2011.<br />
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In the old building, the Scottish based car dealer Arnold Clark sponsored a display of classic cars in the style of a sales showroom.<br />
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It was an unbelievable chance to get up close with some routine and classic cars of yesteryear.</div>
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The Ford Anglia was the first car I had the chance to have a ride in as a young boy. The car belonged to my step brother in law who worked for Ford influencing my choice of car in later years. As a tribute following his passing away earlier this year, I would like to say that other than my parents holiday snaps, he was my first real photographic influence and an early motoring travel inspiration.<br />
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Don't ask me why, but when I was at school my dream car was a Ford Capri. In later years I once saw a Classic car Capri owner struggle to parallel park it due to the long body nose of the engine.<br />
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The Mini Metro made by Austin was a popular car in its day. Even though I wasn't a fan of it, it has some meaningful nostalgia to me as it was the car I learned to drive and pass my test in. In its favour the rear view was excellent for visibility and reversing manoeuvres.<br />
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My Dad owned a Mini for 11 years and it was the only car he ever owned in my lifetime. The car was driven everywhere in the North of England, Scottish Borders, Firth of Clyde, Lancashire and Yorkshire Coastline, Somerset and London.<br />
My Dad tried to do a lot of the repairs himself with partial assistance from my step Brother in law and with exception of the windows and the roof, most things were replaced two or three times. I remember the saturday mornings as a young teenager when we didn't go out for the day having to help with the maintenance by holding / passing tools and spare parts.<br />
The experience wasn't a good one as the Mini engine was so compact and difficult to gain access. One day my Dad burst a new radiator trying to squeeze it into the correct space and it was just one of the things that put me off car maintenance for life ... haha.<br />
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One of the more unusual elements about the 1987 - 2010 Museum of Transport was the recreation of a 1930's Glasgow road called Kelvin Street.<br />
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The Regal Cinema entrance seemed authentic enough and played Scottish transport related documentaries.<br />
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A few reconstructed shops gave the street display in the museum some realism and atmosphere.</div>
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The Glasgow Subway system was built in 1896 and is the third oldest in the world. Following cracks in a roof at one of the stations and numerous other outdated equipment and practices, the system was closed down for major renovation and modernisation in the 1970's. A tube train and a replica of a pre 1977 Glasgow subway station was preserved and recreated respectively.<br />
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Updating and Modernisation comes to us all as we move on and into the 2011 built Riverside Museum.<br />
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Unfortunately the Arnold Clark Garage is converted from an accessible showroom to just a wall ...</div>
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... such a pity that you can't look inside these vehicles anymore.</div>
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Many years later after my dream, the Ford Capri is still out of my reach for another visual reason !<br />
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In one way I was pleased with some of the images I captured on my second visit but it seems to me that the love of transport has been compromised for the love of art in this building. Many new visitors may see the museum as a radical building, some as a piece of Scottish Heritage, another just as a rainy day activity. For me its all about the building now and less about specific machinery ... shame.<br />
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One of the scary and yet radical sights of the day was a historic railway engine poking its nose out from an upper floor alcove.<br />
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In a sense the museum stays close to the historic roots it once had with the original Glasgow Tram collection.<br />
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... as the visitor can still get up close and personal with these artefacts. </div>
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The re-created street is a little different these days<br />
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... However the subway station is still here ...</div>
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as is the tube train on the platform ...</div>
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... and the ghosts from the past .... !!<br />
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J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-12222423316158000372015-06-05T09:25:00.002+01:002021-01-13T13:32:17.310+00:00Transport and motion Graffiti in a south west Glasgow underpass<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWO8njhLJq1y1prGw3cc-l58GZMgOLxPcitHO6wSFN3UO3xdB4vkFeajlzZ2XKLosJneW9Car_Sz67jDjyxxNcmZo2HKqGiQgb-1MYTEj881cIlDfv7Wzm9e21G37NcNSAjKHfsCaMKsA/s1600/GJC_016960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWO8njhLJq1y1prGw3cc-l58GZMgOLxPcitHO6wSFN3UO3xdB4vkFeajlzZ2XKLosJneW9Car_Sz67jDjyxxNcmZo2HKqGiQgb-1MYTEj881cIlDfv7Wzm9e21G37NcNSAjKHfsCaMKsA/s640/GJC_016960.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Just thought I'd squeeze in a quick photographic set that is more of a prelude to the next post.</div>
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The signposted route from the Kelvin Hall to the River Clyde isn't the most scenic of walks as it took me through some industrial deprivation ...<br />
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... across a busy dual carriageway road and then into this road underpass. I never thought at the time that they would end up in a blog post far less here in their own right.<br />
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(Time for me at the moment is precious and my sunday night blog & editing time has now disappeared. I'll have to grab moments while I can such as my day off work today as I am working saturday this week. As a post script ... it was exactly 5 years to the day that I was introduced to the blogging world by a work colleague with my first embarrassing post being published the following day on the 6th June 2010)<br />
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Although this route has become a major path to a new tourist destination, the underpass felt at times like I could have been in a scene from the Glasgow TV detective show Taggart !!<br />
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An exceptional portrayal of the Glasgow based Paddle Steamer P.S.S. Waverley amongst the history of shipbuilding on the River Clyde.<br />
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In the days when there wasn't much else travelling around the streets or countryside</div>
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Other than depicting the local community, I'm not sure what the significance of this unidentifiable local church is, however in contrast the unusual building in the last image is transport related and the subject of the next post ...<br />
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<br />J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-12088237415017521262015-05-19T16:37:00.002+01:002021-01-13T13:32:43.654+00:00Sampling Art and Architecture in Glasgow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum</td></tr>
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With so many beautiful places to see in Ayrshire, it may be a mystery to some as to why I went to Glasgow for the day on the train. Taking a break for a week in the UK to a lesser known tourist region can be interesting in the planning, but it could all fall apart with the British weather. Irvine wasn't the most obvious choice for accommodation but it was quite central for me with a 30 - 40 minute railway journey into Glasgow from the nearby railway station. As you can probably guess from this set, it didn't rain that week and this was just one of the more threatening cloudy days. Apologies to anyone reading this who remembered my overlapping 2010 post.<br />
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(Just spent a week in Oban where the weather was very mixed. I was hoping to get this post published last week but life and travel always seem to get in the way of this blog. I'm not taking any breaks from here but at the moment it seems that life events have taken over.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princes Square, Glasgow</td></tr>
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Without research, the visitor to Glasgow can usually step off the train and find themselves on a shopping trip as I did on the first occasion. It's good to get bearings and find out where you are but Glasgow is so much more than that. I mentioned before the rivalry between Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland which in a sense additionally extends to visitors preferring one to the other. Edinburgh gets all the adulation as most sights are visible and in a certain area, but a lot of people I talk to, have either never been to Glasgow or haven't got past the first experience I had.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow</td></tr>
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One of the most accessible sights is The Gallery of Modern Art that seems to grab peoples attention from the outside at least. I'm sitting thinking here that I've never been in the building so it would be unfair for me to comment further. This 18th century Neo classical structure was built in 1778 as a townhouse for a local Tobacco Lord and was sold to the Royal Bank of Scotland after only 40 years of use. The building was later modified with the additional external pillars and used as a business and trading exchange for 100 years. The idea of exchange continued with the conversion into a Library in 1954 and a Contemporary At Gallery in 1996.<br />
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It was time to take the Glasgow subway affectionately known as the Clockwork Orange (A circular tube line running in each direction within Orange trains) from Buchanan Street to Hillhead.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles Rennie Mackintosh house</td></tr>
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The designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret MacDonald, who I have covered before, lived in Glasgow from 1906 - 1914. Unfortunately the building they lived in at the end of a terrace block was demolished in the 1960s to make way for extensions to Glasgow University. The Mackintosh House as we see it today was constructed 100 metres away as part of The Huntarian Art Gallery within the University campus. It is an exact representation including the height it was built at to reflect the light coming accurately to each of the sun facing rooms. The interior is decorated entirely with Mackintosh furniture and I was not allowed to photograph any of the rooms due a recent theft. I arrived on site and just missed the 12:30 tour and it looked like I was going to be the only person on the 13:00 tour. Thankfully a female University Lecturer joined me in her lunch break for her first ever visit to the building, it was my third time and she was surprised that I travelled from Ayrshire to see it ... She asked if I was a fan of his ! Mackintosh was a lover of innovative design and despite attempts to highlight that in the 1960's, I'm not sure what he would think about the concrete these days.<br />
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Just in case you're wondering if I brought a ladder with me, that'll be a no as the entrance is accessed from a side door from the adjacent Art Gallery...<br />
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The University was founded in 1451 and is the fourth oldest in the UK, a wide variety of previous students have included John Logie Baird (the inventor of television) and Stephen Moffat (Writer and Producer of TV series Dr Who). I took a short cut through the grounds to my onward destination hoping to catch sight of the Undercroft Bute Hall.<br />
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Not wanting to feel like an intruder, I'll take a different route next time.</div>
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I didn't plan on visiting The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum as I had written some text about it to go with photos I posted back in 2010...<br />
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However due to it's close proximity to the University and my next location, I thought it may be worthwhile paying it another visit.<br />
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It's always good to try and improve on photographic material taken almost five years ago and with hindsight I was pleased I returned.<br />
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Just to re-cap, the museum was opened in 1901 and in order to make it more user friendly and relevant, the council closed it for three years refurbishment in 2003 at a cost of £28 million pounds.<br />
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Lastly I jump (pardon the pun) towards the end of the day and a different kind of art on the end of a terrace block of houses<br />
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I had to catch the subway from Partick and there were some celebratory murals commemorating the Glasgow Commonwealth games in 2014.<br />
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And lastly a scene from the beginning of the day for those unappreciative of modern art. The Duke of Wellington statue stands outside the Gallery of Modern Art creating a little more interest to the novice in the street ...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Modern Art !!</span></td></tr>
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J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-32870166192926395102015-04-19T22:11:00.002+01:002021-01-13T13:25:34.157+00:00Sunset at Troon, South Ayrshire
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I decided to unofficially call this lazy post ... "The sun, two islands, two seats, an anchor and ... a bin" !<br />
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I was going to move on to the following day of the trip which I'm having difficulty editing and finding a title, but I almost forgot about the evening set and fourth post from one day.<br />
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After a busy day looking around Largs, Millport / bike ride of Cumbrae and a late afternoon look into the grounds of Kelburn Castle, I wanted to improve on my previous evenings sunset shots from Irvine.<br />
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One of the things about staying on the west coast of Scotland is the opportunity to photograph sunsets using a variety of Islands as a backdrop. Some of last years material from Oban was the inspiration for this.<br />
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The Isle of Arran seemed the obvious choice on the map for Ayrshire but one of the shots in the Irvine set where I was staying proved that it was not the ideal location. I opted to move down the coast a little to the town of Troon, famous for The Royal Troon golf course and a ferry port for Northern Ireland. It is less well known these days for the former shipbuilding of Paddle steamers, small naval vessels and Caledonian MacBrayne ferries. The company Ailsa Shipbuilding operated from 1885 to 2000. It is also less well known again that it was somewhere different for me to eat early evening dinner on this trip !!<br />
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Just to add a little detail here in case anyone wonders about two of the later images. All but two (image 2 & 3) of this set were photographed from Ballast Bank behind the harbour to the south. Although I have no specific information about the anchor, the bank was created from dumped ballast from incoming ships to protect the rather exposed Troon harbour in 1840 owned at the time by The Duke of Portland. The area in the past was notorious for shipwrecks and possibly the unknown anchor signifies that point. These days Ballast Bank seems to be a picnic park, late night romancing spot !! and provides a slightly elevated view towards the Isle of Arran.<br />
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An interesting park bench with ships wheel nodding more appropriately in the direction of the harbour rather than Arran.<br />
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As you can see Ballast Bank is a popular destination for car drivers to eat takeaway Fish and Chips.<br />
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It not only provides a view to the more obvious Isle of Arran but to the unique and distant smaller uninhabited granite rock bird sanctuary of Ailsa Craig.<br />
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<br />J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-35778330075303481332015-04-10T21:23:00.003+01:002021-01-13T13:33:06.091+00:00Kelburn Castle and Country Estate, Largs, North Ayrshire.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a difficult time and busy few weeks for me this last month so I've had to miss a week or two on blogger by taking an enforced short break, maybe more on that another time but similarly I return here with a post on what I see as a difficult location and less than inspiring photographically. Although this is the next post in the series, it's probably the first one in many a year that I lack the passion in wanting to display. More of that later in the post.<br />
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(The blog highlight of the last month was an unusual first for me with the reality of meeting two fellow bloggers in Durham Cathedral at the suggestion of <a href="http://cranberrymorning.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/durham-cathedral-part-anglophile-friday.html">Cranberry Morning</a> on vacation. Mike @ <a href="http://bitaboutbritain.blogspot.co.uk/">A bit about Britain</a> was also invited and enjoyed his day out. It was additionally good to meet Mr C and Mrs B !! )<br />
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After arriving back on the mainland from my afternoon visit to Millport and The island of Great Cumbrae, I wanted to catch a little bit closer the strange sight of Kelburn Castle on the southern outskirts of Largs. The colourful sight was just visible on the hillside and also in the distance from a variety of points during the afternoon.<br />
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Kelburn Castle is thought to be arguably the oldest castle in Scotland built around 1200 AD with additional structural work of fusing an old and new castle together in The Middle Ages. Adjacent rooms were added later in 1700 followed by a Victorian Wing in 1880.<br />
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I had originally considered posting the first two images of The Earl of Glasgow's home with the Largs set recently, but it didn't seem to sit well and it's a little out of town anyway.<br />
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I remember visiting Kelburn back in 1992 when it was just a drab brown spectacle although I saw so many Castles and Country Parks that week that they all seemed to merge in my brain. It's position overlooking a gorge is quite dramatic and I had forgotten that although visitors are allowed to roam the estate, they are not entitled to go through the gate that I was resting on to photograph the above image. Pre booked castle tours are relatively new and are available during summer afternoons.<br />
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Essentially the Castle needed temporary rendering and the idea was inspired by one of his children to display some graffiti for extra interest and no doubt potential revenue. The style chosen was urban Brazilian art from artists who were given the chance to stay here whilst working on the project for a month during 2007. As you can imagine, the result created huge media attention contrasting urban style with conservative architecture.<br />
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The conservation organisation, Historic Scotland, initially agreed to the graffiti on the basis that it would be removed at the the next natural external rendered painting. However the Earl seems to be in dispute with them in more recent years, as he wanted the artwork kept permanent.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18571937">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18571937 ... Kelburn Castle's Graffiti to be removed</a><br />
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Work to remove the graffiti is expected to start sometime soon although the argument of how soon will no doubt run and run.<br />
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A large wooden fort and a secret forest were added later to provide all round family entertainment and much needed additional revenue for the cash strapped venue. The Secret Forest was a mix of wooden buildings that were inspired by both nursery rhymes and foreign architecture. Personally as I was entering the site late in the day, midweek and out of season, I found the forest eerily quiet with sinister graphics that seemed to reflect either Middle Earth or Pagan elements. On talking to a Scottish relative last month, their grandchildren of a certain age were frightened by the experience and were more comfortable playing in the large full size wooden fort.<br />
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The other buildings on the site were originally built in 1700 as a farm and accommodation for estate workers.<br />
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In 1977 when the grounds were first opened to the public, these were converted to more contemporary productive use, such as a cafe, information office, shop and exhibition display.<br />
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The stables doubling as a cafe.. A new meaning to diners eating at the trough !</div>
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The nearby exhibition room depicts a series of cartoon paintings that depicts the history of the estate.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeH73UVcFfNti2Vn463HguNfBXXJQiJlI_D7id7kBPA4m-EFWMFy-lgIwQOLQi63Z3EzDe-oMfeJgCBY-h4GL8Aw-KKmwYZuRAtWxfq8LQn3s03uakVgbck2GV3ih0pObLf6Uq8YN5e8/s1600/GJC_016757_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeH73UVcFfNti2Vn463HguNfBXXJQiJlI_D7id7kBPA4m-EFWMFy-lgIwQOLQi63Z3EzDe-oMfeJgCBY-h4GL8Aw-KKmwYZuRAtWxfq8LQn3s03uakVgbck2GV3ih0pObLf6Uq8YN5e8/s640/GJC_016757_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here are a few examples. Some parts of the exhibition room were badly lit so apologies for the subsequent badly focused examples or incomplete set.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4rGxl2-Qfvn7BZ_YVcH-MUm8d61jvCBd5kPz4Sz18JMfEkrWWTp0OCW6c1C4OL7AyRK0GJgW3gW1Qjss-FCOiq6P7tFvinj88tMG_PikJqM9QoJHfTDobdoiLMV3pOZ90yvwHPyYBa4/s1600/GJC_016758_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4rGxl2-Qfvn7BZ_YVcH-MUm8d61jvCBd5kPz4Sz18JMfEkrWWTp0OCW6c1C4OL7AyRK0GJgW3gW1Qjss-FCOiq6P7tFvinj88tMG_PikJqM9QoJHfTDobdoiLMV3pOZ90yvwHPyYBa4/s640/GJC_016758_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Essentially it is the story of so many Castles and Historic houses down through centuries.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZacbtDh13W7IKn4f11XphFnQ3bHDJja7DY9D5-zfWKAKuMlED-wgN13oJZNfxyD3lMlWg9EPV63ACkqxdbHHQ3-Odrqd3aTihie2oTtTnSzOfTcpwj7KOZbClcZ-aIVP77DQsCXVWiVA/s1600/GJC_016759_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZacbtDh13W7IKn4f11XphFnQ3bHDJja7DY9D5-zfWKAKuMlED-wgN13oJZNfxyD3lMlWg9EPV63ACkqxdbHHQ3-Odrqd3aTihie2oTtTnSzOfTcpwj7KOZbClcZ-aIVP77DQsCXVWiVA/s640/GJC_016759_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6nrIQ99VEg7ntpA2jJbY2Wz-rsScqLfm4l31LtFK7D9X53V4AO4H8qN5fVsD524FXnE-Mx0dlqaDI41bW0qyRK0Yq2XjU2yF10hJKVU_UCnzB6uu8Po-QPjYOZl7wNryF73zQaXJJDU/s1600/GJC_016760_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6nrIQ99VEg7ntpA2jJbY2Wz-rsScqLfm4l31LtFK7D9X53V4AO4H8qN5fVsD524FXnE-Mx0dlqaDI41bW0qyRK0Yq2XjU2yF10hJKVU_UCnzB6uu8Po-QPjYOZl7wNryF73zQaXJJDU/s640/GJC_016760_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lastly with the eerie and disturbing late afternoon coming to an end, I thought it wise to make my escape quickly as I would be unsure of my fate if I hung around too long.<br />
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<br />J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-30461812770984182742015-03-09T00:42:00.002+00:002021-01-13T13:26:05.394+00:00Millport, Island of Great Cumbrae, North Ayrshire.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmbohXuuRA_E1j99ZJC46WrznY3f6pEVGtWiIIXdy64DW9cYvndRO5fYo-jJj3JvnQN8mRJBbP3HGMH9EUDZHyGAh7kUFLQiD77kcP-_0xSGnLT6GxfSY-tSXKQzhhpzifN5kXYebtVE/s1600/GJC_016522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmbohXuuRA_E1j99ZJC46WrznY3f6pEVGtWiIIXdy64DW9cYvndRO5fYo-jJj3JvnQN8mRJBbP3HGMH9EUDZHyGAh7kUFLQiD77kcP-_0xSGnLT6GxfSY-tSXKQzhhpzifN5kXYebtVE/s640/GJC_016522.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Millport Harbour</td></tr>
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The Island of Great Cumbrae in the middle of The Firth of Clyde near Largs is about 4 - 5 miles long. Historically and Geographically, it's prominence in this important navigable waterway made it a hub for Customs and Excise checking on Smuggling and contraband.<br />
The only town on the island is Millport located in a large sweeping bay at the south end which has served Glasgow holiday makers in the past and day-trippers in more recent times.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garrison House, Millport</td></tr>
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One of the oldest buildings in Millport is the 1745 Garrison House used as barracks for the army.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupU03hoiQi0DRH6AdbrvZJe9xb81zYbgjREKpYeCbYdZ8P4Zou5lFMNRy3OOcHtpJzt0NhPircF0-46WDjdK6_x_smUnaD9ctcutQ_LP_VrjHe632W7MdNXCSuNIxxEOuEgF9mykWRmQ/s1600/GJC_016590_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupU03hoiQi0DRH6AdbrvZJe9xb81zYbgjREKpYeCbYdZ8P4Zou5lFMNRy3OOcHtpJzt0NhPircF0-46WDjdK6_x_smUnaD9ctcutQ_LP_VrjHe632W7MdNXCSuNIxxEOuEgF9mykWRmQ/s640/GJC_016590_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garrison House, Millport</td></tr>
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The building has seen a busy life during the early 21st century as it was damaged by arson, achieved funding from the National Lottery and now houses essential services and community projects.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZfgZkV6kR58ChsWuFp-j-TZjOBnJX1CccmuX9IEAPiMAy2gIMdCwr78aShC22GyQaJB2yoMWvMhC_gfuB-fU2Z_cTdrqDbijH-_acPb6jg6WEXUZuDj0LFCgl64IFgsjt_98ScxKU6I/s1600/GJC_016543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZfgZkV6kR58ChsWuFp-j-TZjOBnJX1CccmuX9IEAPiMAy2gIMdCwr78aShC22GyQaJB2yoMWvMhC_gfuB-fU2Z_cTdrqDbijH-_acPb6jg6WEXUZuDj0LFCgl64IFgsjt_98ScxKU6I/s640/GJC_016543.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MV Loch Shira, Cumbrae Slip</td></tr>
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Picking up from where I left off in the last post of <a href="http://jayzspaze.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/largs-and-mv-shira-north-ayrshire.html">Largs and MV Loch Shira</a>, I arrived by ferry on the north east side of Great Cumbrae. There was a frequent bus service that linked the ferry terminal with Millport in the south.<br />
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As a result of this outing today, I realised that the town was more accessible that I first thought. The bus service was difficult to find at first on the internet and seemed complex with the winter / summer / off peak services. However my experiences today were if there's a boat, there's a bus. It was a bit weird at the end of the day travelling north, with traffic light controlled roadworks on the way, seeing the ferry crossing the Firth of Clyde nearing towards the island. I needn't have worried because they both arrive and depart at about the same time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxpZIz-0DAIkNIp0Ut2fYxjkLIaIoYGP5bp-NM5Ybg8UkVOsBocIV3_puOK1YmHNjaR1KvnERXhImH7gKtQ7sKmcsmqgJtaGZ6LEnCYrnYaYTp355BoA0AuCzyqvlcb7iNjJE7n1KoOc/s1600/GJC_016520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxpZIz-0DAIkNIp0Ut2fYxjkLIaIoYGP5bp-NM5Ybg8UkVOsBocIV3_puOK1YmHNjaR1KvnERXhImH7gKtQ7sKmcsmqgJtaGZ6LEnCYrnYaYTp355BoA0AuCzyqvlcb7iNjJE7n1KoOc/s640/GJC_016520.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Your Bike, Millport</td></tr>
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Cycling is the main activity of Millport where most people want to cycle around the island on the perimeter road. Bike hire is available at a reasonable cost from a few shops for the 10.25 mile circuit. Many novice cyclists would claim the rounded up distance of 11 miles depending on which guide, book or site they have read !!<br />
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I chose the shop with a snappy title of "On your Bike".</div>
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After a small exchange of money and a quick chat with the staff, I took a hurried photograph which they wanted to know what it was going to be used for. They were keen for me to advertise their shop and mentioned that not only do they do bike hire but also kayaks as well.<br />
I promised them an advert here ... <a href="http://www.onyourbikemillport.com/">http://www.onyourbikemillport.com</a><br />
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I remember visiting lots of places in the UK as a child with my parents and somehow for either nostalgia purposes, photography or otherwise, I seem to return to them all. Millport and The Isle Of Cumbrae however had to wait until today from as long ago as 1975. As I was going to be sampling the outdoors, I had to choose the best weather day in the week.<br />
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Back in 1975, the island or rather the cycle ride seemed a lot longer but this was pleasure and something I had been looking forward to since I planned the trip.<br />
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I wasn't in a "race" this time so it was nice to enjoy the beaches on the west side as I headed north from Millport.<br />
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All too soon I reached the northerly side of the island at the figurative half way point. Tolmont End Monument commemorates two seaman who lost their lives from HMS Shearwater back in 1844. With a view across the Firth of Clyde to Largs including the frequent ferry sailings, it seems to be the place chosen by many amateur and rookie cyclists as a half way point for a break.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSW0w1z6PZ45bJPiGi2NwjhaUTUmdF9LQKqQZZ9pHQopFEd9pw0wrb-VyixfE04S5qJT5UZ5S8fgzw2PZyZuN1dZmgeMJJoioR0GcHQbd3ZsYlanneGzYheBZAp50yde1_F-AVeYpQp0/s1600/GJC_016547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSW0w1z6PZ45bJPiGi2NwjhaUTUmdF9LQKqQZZ9pHQopFEd9pw0wrb-VyixfE04S5qJT5UZ5S8fgzw2PZyZuN1dZmgeMJJoioR0GcHQbd3ZsYlanneGzYheBZAp50yde1_F-AVeYpQp0/s640/GJC_016547.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MV Loch Shira, Cumbrae Slip</td></tr>
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I had a better plan up my sleeve for a more photographic location a little further on, not so much entitled "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" but more the ones they left out ... "Boats and Bikes" !!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8WLm9pplABbsH8OAHABLaYjLEvnEvQFhZt5XtSH4tRJy-AIWZ5yLd3Yt-_0cG1tRyjKD3RDThCKh-F8dk2wmdBTh2V8D5V7ftB8mf-KgN3Vtujoh8KWklM1hA8aEFvTCoJ90S0uRC_U/s1600/GJC_016550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8WLm9pplABbsH8OAHABLaYjLEvnEvQFhZt5XtSH4tRJy-AIWZ5yLd3Yt-_0cG1tRyjKD3RDThCKh-F8dk2wmdBTh2V8D5V7ftB8mf-KgN3Vtujoh8KWklM1hA8aEFvTCoJ90S0uRC_U/s640/GJC_016550.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MV Loch Shira</td></tr>
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I had plenty of time over lunch to be distracted watching the frequent ferry arriving and departing. Too many photographs, I had to give myself a quick self indulgent photo processing moment !!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS5y1g1Wo7PqXP7rD7_1LZdN-EyuB_hBEnytKk7m91nL-3-mdW2eD5UFjgpAlks4TUYY702-plGDS-RiL5FvfmJeS_WvjfLv1aU1sQJhsCs7O8pQ9pCYz7qO4DLTOEqZH4RV2kRg88zQ/s1600/GJC_016564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS5y1g1Wo7PqXP7rD7_1LZdN-EyuB_hBEnytKk7m91nL-3-mdW2eD5UFjgpAlks4TUYY702-plGDS-RiL5FvfmJeS_WvjfLv1aU1sQJhsCs7O8pQ9pCYz7qO4DLTOEqZH4RV2kRg88zQ/s640/GJC_016564.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Millport</td></tr>
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After lunch and a few more southerly miles into the sun, I turned the corner into the sweeping concave bay of the more residential eastern end of Millport....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgvPMEp93iaZXKxBoPsimhJF1htq6oCPxV9O5g4vJtVbOP-Cpb8_uGfdjpWOS97zR_n-lymDoBrNbnIsSQwD5f9C9IdYePKac9KTn5MINNmARBGoQblxuAKL14wU2rorWXmtaVL8wUwg/s1600/GJC_016571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgvPMEp93iaZXKxBoPsimhJF1htq6oCPxV9O5g4vJtVbOP-Cpb8_uGfdjpWOS97zR_n-lymDoBrNbnIsSQwD5f9C9IdYePKac9KTn5MINNmARBGoQblxuAKL14wU2rorWXmtaVL8wUwg/s640/GJC_016571.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Isle of Arran from Millport</td></tr>
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... and my progress along the seafront at the resort was a lot slower as I took in scenes and seascapes to the south ...<br />
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The tropical feel of the gulf stream and the reason why Millport has been popular for many a year.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Croc Rock, Millport</td></tr>
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The Crocodile rock is a natural rock feature that was painted over a century ago and is the great seafront attraction of Millport. It is unknown when artist Robert Brown painted the rock, but we do know that he was thanked for his efforts in the summer of 1913. You may think that it looks like something from the circus here at low tide, but images at high tide give the croc rock a bit more realism even if captured on a still photograph. The Local Burns club opted to look after it in more recent years and use the skills of a local painter every few years to keep the croc smiling :-)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Millport Beach</td></tr>
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The beaches are prepared nicely and await the day tripper and holidaymaker for the forthcoming summer season.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPP47858_vuMLhqsJm0RAPZ7nbXy4IUBBxGK8-K9MSheWYtxIeWFPUo9Sr8QbOmGHdFgYxu8m_QHkVzv-uXsF5m3rB5dY3SvL-tDk5J_CKgad5ORiQCa8TAO-1Bheu2NtXSRNlTo7n4A/s1600/GJC_016603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPP47858_vuMLhqsJm0RAPZ7nbXy4IUBBxGK8-K9MSheWYtxIeWFPUo9Sr8QbOmGHdFgYxu8m_QHkVzv-uXsF5m3rB5dY3SvL-tDk5J_CKgad5ORiQCa8TAO-1Bheu2NtXSRNlTo7n4A/s640/GJC_016603.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ritz cafe, Millport</td></tr>
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Usually in most Cities and towns, renovations and building makeovers are relentlessly keeping up to date with the times. As a child I remember vividly the sea front and one of the things I noticed arriving in Millport 40 years later was that nothing had changed much at all.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4uCHAlfm9z0RQZKtonNSEg6PS3b8WQxjVx8wkC3GF4lNnJp8WvxwyuwqexwfdSYzq9n1VE6p7WwUhserLjAZYk0lVLrYG5kreJ8K4CxH8eJZpCwaXAqUkTxTnLH9eTytoBMd6osgXAA/s1600/GJC_016608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4uCHAlfm9z0RQZKtonNSEg6PS3b8WQxjVx8wkC3GF4lNnJp8WvxwyuwqexwfdSYzq9n1VE6p7WwUhserLjAZYk0lVLrYG5kreJ8K4CxH8eJZpCwaXAqUkTxTnLH9eTytoBMd6osgXAA/s640/GJC_016608.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MV Loch Shira, Cumbrae Slip</td></tr>
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Finally, as with all islands, it's nice for the locals to welcome and enjoy the trade of the traveller but there a comes a time to leave and return to the mainland. Not all of the visitors seem to be welcome and they don't take the ferry back either ...<br />
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<br />J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-46206906775051428672015-02-22T16:31:00.001+00:002021-01-13T13:19:52.164+00:00Largs and M.V. Loch Shira, North Ayrshire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Largs</td></tr>
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On day 2 of my North Ayrshire based trip, the weather looked favourable to pursue an outdoor activity highlighted in the next post, so Largs became the primary destination for this day out.<br />
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Largs is situated downstream on the Firth of Clyde about 33 miles from Glasgow.</div>
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The town has historic Viking links as a result of The Battle of Largs in 1263 when the Norwegian invaders failed in their campaign.<br />
(On a side note I've had spam invaders to my blog recently and even though I may have fought them off, sorry to any commenters from the last post that have got infected with them. I'm considering comment moderation rather than just Google users or followers of this blog. Any thoughts? )<br />
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In more recent military times, it was the scene of a conference that planned the successful Normandy Invasion of World War II.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M.V. Loch Striven</td></tr>
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From small beginnings, Largs became a fashionable seaside resort during the mid nineteenth century with the construction of hotels and a Pier to import the rich and famous on the Victorian Grand tour.<br />
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With the passage of time, Largs is a much sought after place to live thanks to the later arrival of the railway and reasonable commuter times into Glasgow.<br />
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My experiences of Largs as a child weren't much and I didn't know what to expect today. Unfortunately the classical railway station no longer survives and the busy street going down to the ferry terminal didn't really lend itself to photography thanks to the human footprint :-)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nardini's Largs</td></tr>
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For the British tourist, Largs isn't thought of much as a destination or an accessible town in Scotland when I tell you you that it's been 28 years since I last visited it albeit briefly. Many resorts around Great Britain suffered in the latter part of the 20th century due to erratic weather and cheap Mediterranean flights with most having some weapon to fight back in the 21st century.<br />
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The fighting spirit that conquered the Vikings continues in the town with an unlikely weapon of an Ice Cream shop.<br />
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Nardini's Ice Cream parlour originally opened in 1935 as the largest restaurant in Great Britain.</div>
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The Art Deco building was refurbished and re- opened in 2008 under new management after a four year closure and a long running family business feud.<br />
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The Restaurant gets mixed reviews on Trip Advisor for several reasons but if it's just an Ice Cream in a cone you want to take out of the shop, I'd certainly travel an hour to sample it again.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M.V. Loch Shira</td></tr>
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As I mentioned earlier, it has been some considerable time since my last visit here, so I shouldn't have been surprised to see the earlier depicted M.V Loch Striven supplemented by a newer ferry.<br />
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Although maybe not as aesthetically pleasing to the eye, M.V. Loch Shira seems to be a lot more substantial.<br />
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It was built by the nearby Clyde shipbuilders Ferguson at a cost of £ 5.8 million and launched in December 2006. Unlike many other smaller vessels in the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet, M.V. Loch Shira has plyed it's trade solidly on a single route, Largs to Great Cumbrae (No prizes for guessing where the next post will be from !)<br />
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With a speed of 10 knots, the 54 metre long ferry can carry 36 cars and 250 passengers but congestion issues on a busy road may have curtailed this figure to a much more practical 24.<br />
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First on board with a welcome from the crew and off to the next destination, leaving me strange questions about Largs in my head ...<br />
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Do people travel from all over the world .. and Universe to sample the Largs Fish and Chip shops ?!</div>
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<br />J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-55958396031590920972015-02-08T16:32:00.002+00:002021-01-13T13:20:59.536+00:00A late afternoon in Ayr, South Ayrshire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ayr Town Hall.</td></tr>
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At the end of a busy day (The Maritime Museum in Irvine during the morning and Alloway Burns sites in the early afternoon), I just had time for a few classic building shots back in Ayr before going on the hunt for some kind of Happy Hour evening meal and a drive back to Irvine.<br />
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There are so many great shots that can be taken from the river of the title image of Ayr Town Hall but the sun, clouds and photographic light can be both a friend and enemy as you can't be everywhere at the same time. Those wanting the definitive photographic guide of the town centre may be disappointed as I only had a few hours here.<br />
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The 1820's Town Hall dominates the skyline with the steeple reaching a height of 225 ft, the historic building is mainly used as a concert venue.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">water fountain and Ayr Pavilion (Pirate Petes)</td></tr>
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Always on the look out for something a little different, it may come as a surprise to you that one of the quirky buildings that has always photographically fascinated me ever since I first saw it back in 1992 is The Ayr Pavillion. Situated next to the sea, the building was designed as a seaside entertainment venue in 1911 no doubt playing host to a generation of early 20th century Glasgow holiday makers. Times change and yet the building has been utilised in a similar fashion since 2004 by the current owners Pirate Pete's Family Entertainment centre. Activities include adventure play area, a Golf putting course (An Ayrshire tradition)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pirate Pete's , Ayr</td></tr>
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... and an outdoor play park that gives a feel of being the little brother !!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbS0EU25KuDZn-UYuMdrtOrLdOqfZOZuH86_sEoe2E0HZOQolfRolHy6ljEjEnP2tXp_VkqzhXUq9I2vXGkqP9Rdwyt3p41sn4MtwKIkQDQ6XFTpyUcshp-Kojdj8rDk_9OnwnsQTyUY/s1600/GJC_016365_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbS0EU25KuDZn-UYuMdrtOrLdOqfZOZuH86_sEoe2E0HZOQolfRolHy6ljEjEnP2tXp_VkqzhXUq9I2vXGkqP9Rdwyt3p41sn4MtwKIkQDQ6XFTpyUcshp-Kojdj8rDk_9OnwnsQTyUY/s640/GJC_016365_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ayr Pavilion</td></tr>
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I was severely reminded of the North Ayrshire weather I left behind in the morning,</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6XMXb7aLYDvYOKayKGWDVnxENbdfKBL1-vn2tTCGHAbHoVCF_qL6Vd4pLEW1nT3Luk-QRjgDY4SVNRZfez4M7PK0-z87NVQ_wuAjfaJZaF00gQh8sqB1TzmRtKDEaNQGdOh7HjCtfWg/s1600/GJC_016358_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6XMXb7aLYDvYOKayKGWDVnxENbdfKBL1-vn2tTCGHAbHoVCF_qL6Vd4pLEW1nT3Luk-QRjgDY4SVNRZfez4M7PK0-z87NVQ_wuAjfaJZaF00gQh8sqB1TzmRtKDEaNQGdOh7HjCtfWg/s640/GJC_016358_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cloud trail, Ayr Pavilion.</td></tr>
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but the cloud formations in the vast open spaces near the sea front gave me plenty of photographic scope ...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi48quRllE6B2N5NH0Ieg-KSMDvPX5gMi6rqMtsoKjFxFTxKJZfFEL86mT-Dk1F2qsBMSN1PrGEfBKII_71tj20nZB-9VxoUp8KsPQ64OFKhTLZpQ3uYqq9OhrEy215V_YN78x5PU696Q/s1600/GJC_016366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi48quRllE6B2N5NH0Ieg-KSMDvPX5gMi6rqMtsoKjFxFTxKJZfFEL86mT-Dk1F2qsBMSN1PrGEfBKII_71tj20nZB-9VxoUp8KsPQ64OFKhTLZpQ3uYqq9OhrEy215V_YN78x5PU696Q/s640/GJC_016366.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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... and an excuse to wait a little longer to enjoy the ... err ... sunshine and other things.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZWcFdFwtLtOme4ESCdVQ9mMdaVo7Q6Q5DIahZIGshlmRbec5lOmEOdQSdZjlZJb7MNR1qGhJGymWD2w-uVTnH2SWmeAQoqcgitVnsMWiXYlY1EaamZBVu4-opsLRZfijluEAz0JTXiA/s1600/GJC_016376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZWcFdFwtLtOme4ESCdVQ9mMdaVo7Q6Q5DIahZIGshlmRbec5lOmEOdQSdZjlZJb7MNR1qGhJGymWD2w-uVTnH2SWmeAQoqcgitVnsMWiXYlY1EaamZBVu4-opsLRZfijluEAz0JTXiA/s640/GJC_016376.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firth of Clyde Ice Cream</td></tr>
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Back in the early 1800's, the glorious beaches helped Ayr become the resort it is today, firstly helped by The River Clyde steamer boat services and ...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QPAS7AzF8tWIs-wKs1bYpxUlxbLLEOtmwhU3SOqx4zOgpMCUv7CcTwHyfG3KG6GKfErtf1TYu9PCokoL-qYdprFHMqD2b0wE5jTS2ZixM5DK1qQHe4DtY5qkmFfrX7t-eXTYpiJ6UOY/s1600/GJC_019671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QPAS7AzF8tWIs-wKs1bYpxUlxbLLEOtmwhU3SOqx4zOgpMCUv7CcTwHyfG3KG6GKfErtf1TYu9PCokoL-qYdprFHMqD2b0wE5jTS2ZixM5DK1qQHe4DtY5qkmFfrX7t-eXTYpiJ6UOY/s640/GJC_019671.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">37518 Ayr (NER / SRPS railtours) 27.09.2014</td></tr>
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... the later arrival of the Glasgow to Stranraer railway line in the 1840's.</div>
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(Just to add that I returned here for an enforced one hour break later in 2014 on a Scottish Railway Preservation Society / North East Railtours charter trip to Stranraer.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt-WgjpLBNVNcJXa9wov8mHlfwo6rBn0vl-MqHh9pPsmtrRBeB2wiNqznjEH4Y7_Ibnw9hZeKGzmz2a3iSyjIMOeTj-FnTQUA_xqKXdcrsgajSwY6iwIz6oBHZYtyK4NzGcZ4F23ENXQ/s1600/GJC_016371_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1593" data-original-width="1062" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt-WgjpLBNVNcJXa9wov8mHlfwo6rBn0vl-MqHh9pPsmtrRBeB2wiNqznjEH4Y7_Ibnw9hZeKGzmz2a3iSyjIMOeTj-FnTQUA_xqKXdcrsgajSwY6iwIz6oBHZYtyK4NzGcZ4F23ENXQ/s640/GJC_016371_edited-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lang Scots mile, Ayr</td></tr>
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With regards to the ornate signs that I mentioned in the previous Alloway post, this is the sea front effort that that the local authorities have created !!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnUT4NnUjgnst_Mw1zEE03s4cVK69C7zmUGaHy-mWH8xI0GxkAyMFjPO8CZfwAkQXRBi1vuqCx4CG_GCBsFCYPgM8cKXOpUVyoD9cstmyjBzF7E3K2FcTpStklpgop-BhOEW26pfzBTQ/s1600/GJC_016382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnUT4NnUjgnst_Mw1zEE03s4cVK69C7zmUGaHy-mWH8xI0GxkAyMFjPO8CZfwAkQXRBi1vuqCx4CG_GCBsFCYPgM8cKXOpUVyoD9cstmyjBzF7E3K2FcTpStklpgop-BhOEW26pfzBTQ/s640/GJC_016382.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">County Buildings and Courthouse, Ayr</td></tr>
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Speaking of which, the 1822 County buildings and Courthouse sits alongside Pirate Pete's Empire on the sea front.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYg_f7zNzUDEAYxNrw2VbgHWSYUWdsX0JjA-txsGFYtACl7c-GTemxVnRghmEmmjcn6WaZTUGbs-SOjKjtUKhKaEw99zOmm4KPl0fj7SSRD5_atqf2hLethcbLu0bf7s8XqgxMDbb2fVs/s1600/GJC_016386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYg_f7zNzUDEAYxNrw2VbgHWSYUWdsX0JjA-txsGFYtACl7c-GTemxVnRghmEmmjcn6WaZTUGbs-SOjKjtUKhKaEw99zOmm4KPl0fj7SSRD5_atqf2hLethcbLu0bf7s8XqgxMDbb2fVs/s640/GJC_016386.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">World War II War Memorial, Ayr</td></tr>
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... with a small war memorial in front representing mainly World War II demonstrating the appropriate military attire.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3muvlBdV42TeBHd5j_DVNovaTKl29RJJhqb5aYNweFprc3Kl5cz4LwdkCDgmeoFv3uqRxtkah-q7l5AYXseL2rTPpPrAh-hGX0Xd74HlZfSdARAhVhh1_yiHEsJ8tzXi68th4_olJXrk/s1600/GJC_016401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3muvlBdV42TeBHd5j_DVNovaTKl29RJJhqb5aYNweFprc3Kl5cz4LwdkCDgmeoFv3uqRxtkah-q7l5AYXseL2rTPpPrAh-hGX0Xd74HlZfSdARAhVhh1_yiHEsJ8tzXi68th4_olJXrk/s640/GJC_016401.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">County Court Green, Ayr</td></tr>
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The main War Memorial is in a park to the rear of the County buildings. This view was taken from the edge of the town centre depicting the proximity to the architectural seafront sites.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLokFb1uilYagEX5rx9u0yDVRJ4kswdwWWerStjHO1Su0pCufNcnymNvJiW1PvmvHXkps944LPgB3WchjcWC5Mb7hocycJM1FusgYY15dYUOWFJoCy2GJVfhHTiqvfJyzOCNw6FbaFvqg/s1600/GJC_019677_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLokFb1uilYagEX5rx9u0yDVRJ4kswdwWWerStjHO1Su0pCufNcnymNvJiW1PvmvHXkps944LPgB3WchjcWC5Mb7hocycJM1FusgYY15dYUOWFJoCy2GJVfhHTiqvfJyzOCNw6FbaFvqg/s640/GJC_019677_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tam O' Shanter pub, Ayr</td></tr>
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The Tam O' Shanter pub that sits in the High street was originally a brewery / public house and later a Museum dedicated to the local poet Robert Burns. There is some doubt over the conception and accuracy of the Tam O'Shanter poem but this was the inspirational intoxication location often frequented by Burns, Tam O'Shanter and Souter Johnny.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSF9gEavlMp-GNfd9S6RIEMXrizhxUMLVDuJGLm4Q33e25IUvtzvWD5uoCG3WDPuLC6m7JAbl9mK_C44MxI5ywusH6gA0BuP1y7gynfTjiJIDensrDaH1cJkVYfa-Dy6E03uee7JMfBc/s1600/GJC_016443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSF9gEavlMp-GNfd9S6RIEMXrizhxUMLVDuJGLm4Q33e25IUvtzvWD5uoCG3WDPuLC6m7JAbl9mK_C44MxI5ywusH6gA0BuP1y7gynfTjiJIDensrDaH1cJkVYfa-Dy6E03uee7JMfBc/s640/GJC_016443.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Auld Brig, Ayr</td></tr>
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The Auld Brig was built between 1470 and 1525 with major repairs in 1910 and has survived testing floods where other bridges failed. It is now used as a walk way across the river into the town from the north. Originally the River Ayr was crossed by a Ford slightly downstream before a 1215 wooden structure which pre - dates the scene of the current Auld Brig. As you've guessed, The New Bridge on the site of the old Ford crossing was washing away by floods approximately 90 years after it was built in 1788. It took less than 10 years for the new bridge to be built in 1878 to carry all the traffic into town from the north to this day.<br />
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The History of Ayr is a bit vague but it appears to have been well established with the oldest borough charter in 1205 before the Magna Carta. The Castle built in 1197 by William I was replaced by a Citadel built by Oliver Cromwell in 1654. The first Scottish Parliament was held in St John's Tower with Robert The Bruce in 1315 before he became king with later Governments of Cromwell controlling Scotland from governing Scotland from his Citadel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_fNKXiNyvFfTO2iaqQW7a3HwDIuNhh5NExCIk06SbE3oUtZEJVaI0DsN_24hVfxNx8FZF0Vo1eVzPHPk7jSr68oN3syLcfxh3XncyFaUIZvAMBLefsXI5p6ssBvhGCoXcrqMvsEGtCM/s1600/GJC_016439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="852" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_fNKXiNyvFfTO2iaqQW7a3HwDIuNhh5NExCIk06SbE3oUtZEJVaI0DsN_24hVfxNx8FZF0Vo1eVzPHPk7jSr68oN3syLcfxh3XncyFaUIZvAMBLefsXI5p6ssBvhGCoXcrqMvsEGtCM/s640/GJC_016439.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Ayr was important as a main south west Scottish coastal port in The Firth of Clyde long before it relinquished that title to Glasgow. In the late 1770's it was thought that 300 ships were exporting and importing slate, bottles, tobacco and salt to all parts of the Globe.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kHbP22pyAdpc6Oe_679rGcFUb7v1QV_mjPXHanWF6qOPCQ7DTHQPN5sG9XUbo4l8QFAFs5tYks9wvKWttaF2Q792qp1vW86vKqI7q0AV7NevxmFTp69rmAz2nq8PI0T-u3cXuPUsAaM/s1600/GJC_016428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kHbP22pyAdpc6Oe_679rGcFUb7v1QV_mjPXHanWF6qOPCQ7DTHQPN5sG9XUbo4l8QFAFs5tYks9wvKWttaF2Q792qp1vW86vKqI7q0AV7NevxmFTp69rmAz2nq8PI0T-u3cXuPUsAaM/s640/GJC_016428.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arran Mall, Ayr</td></tr>
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Late in the afternoon, the long shadows and pedestrian shoppers made photography difficult in the town centre so I thought it best to concentrate on photographic strengths in peripheral shopping centre walkways.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15Hj_apxRHiJUG8QYBoJOMeqxtE51QKiX_EMvbtpbPMH7xHE4e1tk-VNCddh1aIVHBD7tteFRjdL9V3zflZkNOqpeRnnjM6VE3_Y0wQ9w6Sry3InqSycwcMBrZt5gJ7iUm_d-QaOw_f8/s1600/GJC_019674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15Hj_apxRHiJUG8QYBoJOMeqxtE51QKiX_EMvbtpbPMH7xHE4e1tk-VNCddh1aIVHBD7tteFRjdL9V3zflZkNOqpeRnnjM6VE3_Y0wQ9w6Sry3InqSycwcMBrZt5gJ7iUm_d-QaOw_f8/s640/GJC_019674.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L.G. Nails Ayr</td></tr>
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Getting ideas about being spruced up for a night out on the town :-)</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIiZG1UwM7VKzZTEQGNmT6PB4qu5jQlEiRxITeJ3JjBKVN_JpH0-9Qy60LbP06s9DmEfp8YxuCgbSUcjrZ5CVWwsa7cgb1hCp-wi3SceygrwbDq3_BHl3C6-eG7v5YmdSjnyvDOOfwb8/s1600/GJC_019678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIiZG1UwM7VKzZTEQGNmT6PB4qu5jQlEiRxITeJ3JjBKVN_JpH0-9Qy60LbP06s9DmEfp8YxuCgbSUcjrZ5CVWwsa7cgb1hCp-wi3SceygrwbDq3_BHl3C6-eG7v5YmdSjnyvDOOfwb8/s640/GJC_019678.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Souter Johnny on Tam O' Shanter pub, Ayr</td></tr>
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Souter Johnny spruced up on the exterior wall of the Tam O'Shanter pub. Immortalised in stone after several drinks too many.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYC9KF562zZpZs4HMmGv3WyXN3oLlrop4nSabpPaIriRmEky9SOqP7QaASzNyKV-PKQGVMCls6EA0-of6agit1OkyI5B6_d69MJhyphenhyphenhYu9M4gO5b6w0eJXr0zZJrS-EcR6L7Jmw5Wh63g/s1600/GJC_016455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYC9KF562zZpZs4HMmGv3WyXN3oLlrop4nSabpPaIriRmEky9SOqP7QaASzNyKV-PKQGVMCls6EA0-of6agit1OkyI5B6_d69MJhyphenhyphenhYu9M4gO5b6w0eJXr0zZJrS-EcR6L7Jmw5Wh63g/s640/GJC_016455.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ayr India</td></tr>
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Time for that evening meal and this caught my attention. Not so much a travel company but more an Indian restaurant about to take off.<br />
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Thought I'd opt to eat inside as the customary seaside bag of Fish and Chips in a courtyard seemed a little more dangerous .... :-)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You're on my patch so ... if you eat here ... beware !<br />
(I bide my time, Ayr)</td></tr>
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J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-25960866503643821672015-01-25T14:25:00.004+00:002021-01-13T13:21:40.312+00:00Alloway, Ayrshire (Burns Country).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burns Cottage, Alloway</td></tr>
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It is coincidental, unbelievable and yet poignant on this day (Burns night) that the next stage of my journey should be from the heart of Burns country. Despite images taken over several days from the previous (<a href="http://jayzspaze.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/irvine-north-ayrshire.html">Irvine</a>) post, you may re-call me telling you that the weather wasn't good and the forecast was worse for the afternoon.<br />
I hadn't travelled far from the hotel to The Scottish Maritime museum on my first day and didn't intend to hang around looking in a shopping centre or getting wet, so the world (or rather Ayrshire) was my oyster. When I looked up into the sky, it was a no brainer to choose somewhere in the south of the region as there was glorious sunshine in that direction. From the few options available, Alloway and Ayr seemed the least expensive as an afternoon filler with plenty of variety. I had been to these places a few times before, usually on a North East Railtours day out from home and on one other occasion when I stayed in Ayr for a week many years ago.<br />
Having not been here in digital imagery before, it was a great opportunity to experiment and display some of the most photographed scenes in South West Scotland that viewers will either recognise or want to see, hopefully with my take on it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PO28VYZHskGECPVR-Wv7AaUQ9mJGSxs0KDbo0EFZ572LISBQUzbfbVXh3z181Rv97xOVzHFV_f4Zlzd0SOr7u1JNBGzVrRsPS2sRI687iUFJ_alWsLHh5vjJIquE-gq_0VRRVPM_xEs/s1600/GJC_016271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PO28VYZHskGECPVR-Wv7AaUQ9mJGSxs0KDbo0EFZ572LISBQUzbfbVXh3z181Rv97xOVzHFV_f4Zlzd0SOr7u1JNBGzVrRsPS2sRI687iUFJ_alWsLHh5vjJIquE-gq_0VRRVPM_xEs/s640/GJC_016271.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alloway Post Office (image 1)</td></tr>
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I'll start off with a photographers technical moment for those who like that sort of thing also because the only image I captured of Robert Burns was in one of the few shops in Alloway, the Post Office and village store window.<br />
This is the scene across the road from the famous title image of Burns Cottage. I don't usually do a lot with extreme editing but for those that know me on here, I played about with this one in Photoshop and Aperture for a couple of reasons.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alloway Post Office (image 2)</td></tr>
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Originally shot in 18mm (image 1) due to the obtrusive parked cars including my own in a 30 minute free car parking space, the first image had distortion removed with the perimeter lines much straighter and cleaner particularly noticeable in the roof and the steps.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alloway Post Office (image 3)</td></tr>
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Some readers may remember from my <a href="http://jayzspaze.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/wetherby-yorkshire.html">Wetherby</a> post that one of my things is to tidy up the image by removing the bin. Bins are good but not in a photo :-)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alloway Post Office (image 4)</td></tr>
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I'm a glutton for punishment when it comes to red subjects and the resultant colour popping, so I opted for the Postbox and sign. Then again one of the things that attracted me to the scene in the first place was the colour and flower basket display, so I added that back in. Photography or rather photo editing can be so confusing to the mind at times with the final image not the dramatic result I thought it would be, consequently I prefer the third one from these four.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burns Cottage profile, Alloway</td></tr>
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Robbie (Robert or Rabbie) Burns was born in this cottage in 1759, two years after it was built by his father. The family lived here for another seven years before his Father sold the property to become a farmer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00PyhYSVzxofmm5SBEN8pXtPgwpWlcMLZ93W4UgapVRDDDc4GhsWKKf_WS6yXdjDDatOrcvCeurwrr8pzc2LfrxKX9rJAY-7Tm6BwtCV4XG8o2w6zgE_yh6JBeZ3VNIBViogCwJ1Mfug/s1600/GJC_016269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00PyhYSVzxofmm5SBEN8pXtPgwpWlcMLZ93W4UgapVRDDDc4GhsWKKf_WS6yXdjDDatOrcvCeurwrr8pzc2LfrxKX9rJAY-7Tm6BwtCV4XG8o2w6zgE_yh6JBeZ3VNIBViogCwJ1Mfug/s640/GJC_016269.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thatch, Burns Cottage, Alloway</td></tr>
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The restored two roomed thatched cottage is now part of the Burns museum collection and an integral part of the village of Alloway and possibly one of the most visited sites in south west Scotland. Back in the day after Burns had gone, an entrepreneur ran a public house from the premises, no doubt attracting additional tourist trade and subsequently with the building growing with importance, the Suffragettes attempted to set fire to it to promote their case. The English Poet John Keats visited the property in 1818 and waxed lyrical about the building concentrating more on it's romance and beauty rather than the hardship that was suffered within.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoNTo78hIDbj-d_JbWA8ekyypgwjg4SurwjDCHFeFaGJBWoK-66L3aq6dEaN1ovj2Z8qQTJ_WXK9ygcJsW9pRfSUbKrHCVbI2fwK5fo9SfZyCh7bvOklFjqelUPbK0-DwbYX2FdpefdY/s1600/GJC_016265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoNTo78hIDbj-d_JbWA8ekyypgwjg4SurwjDCHFeFaGJBWoK-66L3aq6dEaN1ovj2Z8qQTJ_WXK9ygcJsW9pRfSUbKrHCVbI2fwK5fo9SfZyCh7bvOklFjqelUPbK0-DwbYX2FdpefdY/s640/GJC_016265.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tam O' Shanter plant pot !!</td></tr>
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Burns was a colourful and controversial character in his day, eventually became the National poet of Scotland inspiring those in art and politics to discover The Romantic movement, Liberalism and Socialism. His most famous song sung on New Years Eve is "Auld Lang Syne" while a sample of other poems include "To a Mouse", "Tam O Shanter" and "Address to a Haggis". The latter was an appreciation of the Scottish delicacy but with the passage of time, the celebration on 25th January to the life of Burns has almost become a religious ceremony !! Despite thinking that it is only Scottish people who celebrate the event, it seems that any Sassenach or colonial cousin who has a second Scottish cousin, a piece of tartan on their wall, likes a Scottish sports team or wants to see what this Haggis thing tastes like are all eligible to attend :-)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Auld Kirk sign, Alloway</td></tr>
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Moving a very short journey south in the car to the outskirts of Alloway, not only did I arrive at the capital of Burns Tourism but the capital of signs as well ! The signs that marked the different sites were impressive, although I didn't have enough time to wait for the pure blue skies as a backdrop.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Auld Kirk Alloway and William Burns grave.</td></tr>
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By special request as a result of a comment from Cranberry Morning below, I inserted a late image of The Auld Kirk, quite a difficult thing to photograph as a result of the gravestones. There were a couple of reasons why I wasn't happy with this image and consequently left it out of the original post. As you can guess from the sign above, the end of the building is the most prominent and photogenic. Robert Burns father was buried here at the entrance of the grounds. The now roofless 16th century ruin is another setting for a poem mentioned below about Tam O'Shanter.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brig O' Doon, Alloway</td></tr>
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The 15th century Brig O' Doon features in a verse to his drinking friend "Tam O Shanter" ...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TkbZxnwrtLmsBRD-euqzBQnweoDmvyuNI0obKfE4JfivtPVIBJ3FlpssvcPbe2omvk_gvQr6mIJzfeti_MQjHL7qix_4DkhyngWgl8L6bVzf6NV9B28062eUL6loAHqJu7gmVMsQtGA/s1600/GJC_016283_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="560" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TkbZxnwrtLmsBRD-euqzBQnweoDmvyuNI0obKfE4JfivtPVIBJ3FlpssvcPbe2omvk_gvQr6mIJzfeti_MQjHL7qix_4DkhyngWgl8L6bVzf6NV9B28062eUL6loAHqJu7gmVMsQtGA/s640/GJC_016283_edited-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brig O' Doon sign</td></tr>
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.... who crossed the bridge to safety on horseback whilst being chased by a witch.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg296VR2DE-yQkg0zNYbRbWz9PUyuEfyE0p0-4iotInq5IKoK1PT8vg-Kf1giLRzkNeDkRMyz7rpiNVwcykfzw8wI4nFY0W2otg5xhx5Ou2GeVZR99-ngigqs3OVCryx42o0bajPdvi8K0/s1600/GJC_016286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg296VR2DE-yQkg0zNYbRbWz9PUyuEfyE0p0-4iotInq5IKoK1PT8vg-Kf1giLRzkNeDkRMyz7rpiNVwcykfzw8wI4nFY0W2otg5xhx5Ou2GeVZR99-ngigqs3OVCryx42o0bajPdvi8K0/s640/GJC_016286.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brig O' Doon Stones</td></tr>
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Folklore suggests that the witches were fearful of the cobbled pattern of stones and refused to cross the bridge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggIhZ4iNle5pqlntGzlj4QykfxwVYmBxdwPDS_ip0NQYQP34WNo-zRwRsOUTy78IbnRuqeksGA2m2sAIh-bh_0NYidiX8ymGoPTmKzpXpveoT6nbiIC0IyL_ROXJYGGdOVrMAy6llXSI/s1600/GJC_016317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggIhZ4iNle5pqlntGzlj4QykfxwVYmBxdwPDS_ip0NQYQP34WNo-zRwRsOUTy78IbnRuqeksGA2m2sAIh-bh_0NYidiX8ymGoPTmKzpXpveoT6nbiIC0IyL_ROXJYGGdOVrMAy6llXSI/s640/GJC_016317.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brig O' Doon gardens</td></tr>
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Brig O' Doon was immortalised in a the Broadway and West End musical called Brigadoon where a fictitious Scottish village appears every so often. No doubt a little confusing to those trying to grasp what the real Brig O' Doon or Burns poem is all about.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9aTKGtKmk9OebY3SDCeJMk9-BRlMmYkcf40s705ArNm8B2yxTcNmPEoqdAId2INiPU5xXbethRzFMR8sseFkL1Fwr6ZyIgR1MOhij7P7F6HAVMqHkcUvJ1hnLhyphenhyphenIf5Q1qM13FrW4-aY/s1600/GJC_016284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9aTKGtKmk9OebY3SDCeJMk9-BRlMmYkcf40s705ArNm8B2yxTcNmPEoqdAId2INiPU5xXbethRzFMR8sseFkL1Fwr6ZyIgR1MOhij7P7F6HAVMqHkcUvJ1hnLhyphenhyphenIf5Q1qM13FrW4-aY/s640/GJC_016284.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brig O' Doon View</td></tr>
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I'll not go into personal preferences but this wasn't on my original list of things to see this week and it's strange that the weather forced me into capturing a view that only appears every so often to me !! Now that has you confused :-)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnOWFftb7O4DG8aBDqUMT161zH3SeVCT2_ojV7x4dxK9ddsWWMLP5w8BvDMEXaBgqByFO0qUJLgBH3TM3OeYEfj4nZvTxEEP_hRsqd9S8qjn_WLuc4aQmpG16O5exrnIn7abu9DfvP2k/s1600/GJC_016333_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="651" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnOWFftb7O4DG8aBDqUMT161zH3SeVCT2_ojV7x4dxK9ddsWWMLP5w8BvDMEXaBgqByFO0qUJLgBH3TM3OeYEfj4nZvTxEEP_hRsqd9S8qjn_WLuc4aQmpG16O5exrnIn7abu9DfvP2k/s640/GJC_016333_edited-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burns Monument</td></tr>
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There was inspiration and a competition to design a build several monuments to Burns around Scotland following the construction of a Mausoleum at the Dumfries grave site in 1815. Gothic designer Thomas Hamilton won the competition and this monument was completed in 1828.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9s5QJCWeMBfirbOhzXMoi4Jin54cVt30FmXFReHGKabgYl89VOzNPQtNrEKxI4VKpqxa-eay-KMveL9cbKq7VZ3VKIpannZghEXNZIuvFuVREsnDR4nFpX_L04RS9XbTtvVkkQO7uwvI/s1600/GJC_016296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9s5QJCWeMBfirbOhzXMoi4Jin54cVt30FmXFReHGKabgYl89VOzNPQtNrEKxI4VKpqxa-eay-KMveL9cbKq7VZ3VKIpannZghEXNZIuvFuVREsnDR4nFpX_L04RS9XbTtvVkkQO7uwvI/s640/GJC_016296.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burns Monument and garden</td></tr>
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I wonder if you would believe me if I said I was lying flat out on a stony path with the camera pointing upwards through a hole in the base of the fence. I could only see half the scene in the viewfinder ... the lengths people go to for framing composition :-)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvvuiEKQDiVP3FYEdZmYChUH5ylo53g5BZcp3puO7QrNf6b-kUolliu-23Pb35v2s2N9W88RqBeCTe7tvMIfYOiZRVM16TouxnzaMVFkJm2QKUXr9oiqeqQBc34wB0SYajcnRibZtlfY/s1600/GJC_016336+-+Version+2_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="397" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvvuiEKQDiVP3FYEdZmYChUH5ylo53g5BZcp3puO7QrNf6b-kUolliu-23Pb35v2s2N9W88RqBeCTe7tvMIfYOiZRVM16TouxnzaMVFkJm2QKUXr9oiqeqQBc34wB0SYajcnRibZtlfY/s640/GJC_016336+-+Version+2_edited-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burns monument sign</td></tr>
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It was time to head back to the car for an evening meal in Ayr with some cloudscapes and an unusual favourite building (next post). I was wanting to combine the post and conclude with a more humorous sign in Ayr but best not to bore the reader, I know that my posts are far too long anyway !<br />
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Finally ...</div>
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As an amateur cyclist who has to dismount at Pelican and Zebra crossings, I waited for the traffic lights to change in order to witness this unusual and incredible road spectacle. This King of the road in Alloway people mover was off to collect the tourists from The Burns museum (didn't photograph it) and take them to the car park. I was left wondering are pedestrians forbidden to cross here for safety reasons.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_RZ2sXWjYhWvSHjFawhXl-PDdZyzhcWoZJBsdyGdT0jvQQKwUC5VyVZxk_UXrFagGcgnh1bEsbvmNaFIIVqtwRwIUJPZtFWtP5McsYdasGMULDra7mf61BYTAtZ8ED-XirRsRWaPPC0/s1600/GJC_016348+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1587" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_RZ2sXWjYhWvSHjFawhXl-PDdZyzhcWoZJBsdyGdT0jvQQKwUC5VyVZxk_UXrFagGcgnh1bEsbvmNaFIIVqtwRwIUJPZtFWtP5McsYdasGMULDra7mf61BYTAtZ8ED-XirRsRWaPPC0/s640/GJC_016348+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pedestrian Crossing, Alloway</td></tr>
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J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-17055847393551763482015-01-11T22:50:00.003+00:002021-01-13T13:26:49.419+00:00Irvine, North Ayrshire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-yM95TScD3FxQBECoivK7iHEp_Lj28qYvHwE8hGrtgk4sagpAq_rxpM_PmPAQaURwTneQNnhorSxIJG3FfupoC4SRNrwUVgm4roe_zXZKDBtAmipvIG6OcIh_cz12fFi8RhLxJ_oB2s/s1600/GJC_016102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-yM95TScD3FxQBECoivK7iHEp_Lj28qYvHwE8hGrtgk4sagpAq_rxpM_PmPAQaURwTneQNnhorSxIJG3FfupoC4SRNrwUVgm4roe_zXZKDBtAmipvIG6OcIh_cz12fFi8RhLxJ_oB2s/s640/GJC_016102.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's that time of year again when people think about where they're going for summer holidays or weekend breaks. I usually have a week off work in May for just me and the camera exploring unusual or unique places either new or nostalgic. You may remember my series from Oban that included planes, boats, bikes, seals and puffins. I was hoping to replicate some of this a bit further north in Mallaig but accommodation was impossible at such short notice, one guest house owner offered me a week later in the year which I accepted.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhYvtWUjRYKzP9WFjdwXPRiptDXg49DB3P5oeUIPatgjciMW-UYfpEDaMIqZID3bwHBe5fXiyFUTjFxYHYSTUIWeA4bH5OfVMcfC-OUvAJ4w0xtXFd7EIgnbwfoTmXPQeBgiTs9TwCjs/s1600/GJC_016105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhYvtWUjRYKzP9WFjdwXPRiptDXg49DB3P5oeUIPatgjciMW-UYfpEDaMIqZID3bwHBe5fXiyFUTjFxYHYSTUIWeA4bH5OfVMcfC-OUvAJ4w0xtXFd7EIgnbwfoTmXPQeBgiTs9TwCjs/s640/GJC_016105.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Irvine sunset</td></tr>
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Finding something interesting to do this week was difficult without having to repeatedly cover the same motorway stretch to Manchester and beyond to Wales for other reasons. The Nostalgic strings of my youth kept pulling at me with some Firth of Clyde boat trips. The plan in my head of how the week was going to shape up seemed quite easy in reality as there would be three boat trips, maybe a train trip if it was wet and a day tying up some other loose ends on the mainland. The worst thing about this week was trying to find central accommodation as the main hotel and guest house town (Ayr) was in the south, meaning I would have to travel north every day. In fact the accommodation was so difficult to find that I ended up using Booking.com and the chosen destination was Kidron House on the outskirts and in a suburb of Irvine. Just to highlight what kind of clientele stayed here, I had an interesting, awkward and yet funny conversation with one of the friendly indian waiters. He didn't understand why I was staying there as I wasn't on business, didn't have my golf clubs and I wasn't American ! I would be quite prepared to stay there again even if it was to break his stereotypical attitude. One thing he and his colleagues didn't like about me was that I was never in the hotel bar to tip them because as this post shows, I was always out at night, getting back late. Kidron House Hotel did me well though and here is the trip advisor link of the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186560-d1023395-Reviews-Kidron_House_Hotel-Irvine_North_Ayrshire_Ayrshire_Scotland.html">Hotel</a> and the best place for local food for my budget was <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186560-d1423441-Reviews-The_Ship_Inn-Irvine_North_Ayrshire_Ayrshire_Scotland.html">The_Ship_Inn</a>. Unfortunately I was only in Irvine for two of the five evening meals and this occasion was later in the week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYv3CSXLnKzuB4LBR0cxuQlOUuUS8yK-wuSxXM88bsA5rCXHS7olEDCTPq_O734IAFPgL17ePnngTfr9AbaDnZqo4EsQA-cx-iCtKzrXUCzPfLsfCz0tDXpXXwKhAowUdG94GHzTox7c/s1600/GJC_016104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYv3CSXLnKzuB4LBR0cxuQlOUuUS8yK-wuSxXM88bsA5rCXHS7olEDCTPq_O734IAFPgL17ePnngTfr9AbaDnZqo4EsQA-cx-iCtKzrXUCzPfLsfCz0tDXpXXwKhAowUdG94GHzTox7c/s640/GJC_016104.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harbourside and Scottish Maritime Museum cafe.</td></tr>
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In what I thought was going to be an introductory filler post of a few photos of boats, an old street and some sunsets has turned into a major post as I've had to constantly add photographic material to support the text.<br />
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Irvine is 26 miles south west of Glasgow and probably developed as a result of the adjacent River Irvine that meanders near the entrance to the Firth of Clyde. The history seems to date back to 1140 when it received Burgh status and development later with coal mining and the subsequent export from the great river links. Given it's history, there was a strange move to give Irvine a New Town status but employment was dealt a great blow in the 1980's with the closure of the coal mines. A short time later the area saw growth in the the construction of industrial, coaching and commercial vehicles to utilise some of the redundant workforce, with Irvine sharing these opportunities until further closure in 1999. The UK's largest paper mill was opened nearby in 1989 by a Finnish company.<br />
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I sometimes surprise myself with the locations I post from but I do like a challenge of finding a set of images from a unheard of town. Irvine is usually a place that people, including myself, bypass on the A78 road and the Ayr to Glasgow railway line, although I did once call in to see its most famous attraction late in an afternoon back in 1992.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGL12eABLdDUrxpgB1OPWp6ZlUoaFOZy1t7gTorvDhxDjL3GmwIG5Pjt4htR-nfKLMHbAMInwiwC51qk_bYP6_7k9cQUbeaC8R2_y8v__gJkJ3vJ3jFdzZE0f2IncJkSsEvFgCrzAXw-Q/s1600/GJC_016157_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGL12eABLdDUrxpgB1OPWp6ZlUoaFOZy1t7gTorvDhxDjL3GmwIG5Pjt4htR-nfKLMHbAMInwiwC51qk_bYP6_7k9cQUbeaC8R2_y8v__gJkJ3vJ3jFdzZE0f2IncJkSsEvFgCrzAXw-Q/s640/GJC_016157_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scottish Maritime Museum gate</td></tr>
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Unfortunately The Scottish Maritime Museum had already closed for the day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_E8vGu6BAi_ya895Evw5b7z-LEFgmqNojtXBWp9up_AaeLnRYKiOp8hf845JKox0RTFwCf8iJNHjoVdPt9g_sNMjazhoVnFR-c1joSg19Z6CrqktM6r3tXXHiW-JLH5vxcziRnokCyEA/s1600/GJC_016159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_E8vGu6BAi_ya895Evw5b7z-LEFgmqNojtXBWp9up_AaeLnRYKiOp8hf845JKox0RTFwCf8iJNHjoVdPt9g_sNMjazhoVnFR-c1joSg19Z6CrqktM6r3tXXHiW-JLH5vxcziRnokCyEA/s640/GJC_016159.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On this current visit, the weather on my first day was miserable and this seemed like the best indoor option and introduction to all that shipping in The Firth of Clyde could offer me this week. Hoping to find some interest and colour !!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56uC7Z1pP29_MCFdae-xxqTfa-wjBIc-CHjm8iIeSz2feA-ocpWBEn7s11vXfjaXfEsyU3OzxBDEcm-fBWKeG_8vuSsGPfocATVMsZPnYuGiFlcvZu54mzyUrKkK6lVZU9s4qi29y_jo/s1600/GJC_016228_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56uC7Z1pP29_MCFdae-xxqTfa-wjBIc-CHjm8iIeSz2feA-ocpWBEn7s11vXfjaXfEsyU3OzxBDEcm-fBWKeG_8vuSsGPfocATVMsZPnYuGiFlcvZu54mzyUrKkK6lVZU9s4qi29y_jo/s640/GJC_016228_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scottish Maritime museum architecture</td></tr>
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In addition to the main building, the museum also owns other exhibits in the vicinity nearby ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbfB3_KU2vPnQoNuPGAWtEiMAQRBRYJyPkuDzkNSZ8HCa6OJtkyR0pcfBR1vkyFeV9ibVRjKbPrsc48E_t5V6R0kQvViHpZg_5nVhfEx0k-NvnwCbUCsNPvMtdF6_ySjui1rByaK8GJU/s1600/GJC_016167_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbfB3_KU2vPnQoNuPGAWtEiMAQRBRYJyPkuDzkNSZ8HCa6OJtkyR0pcfBR1vkyFeV9ibVRjKbPrsc48E_t5V6R0kQvViHpZg_5nVhfEx0k-NvnwCbUCsNPvMtdF6_ySjui1rByaK8GJU/s640/GJC_016167_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Shipyard worker's Flat, Irvine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnvreRsdr6t7Y_fEfoYWaJTDbxeUzC-iFug9eNQ0-C8h4fTT3QgNSFUlpNQ5G4wtizId3Ws9T2FPkmNtJmSLIW3AFvEgTgDZkTMwe6mPegkIrKPRbAPVhxNqYd9mj1sMQalFL9CYeb1c/s1600/GJC_016129+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnvreRsdr6t7Y_fEfoYWaJTDbxeUzC-iFug9eNQ0-C8h4fTT3QgNSFUlpNQ5G4wtizId3Ws9T2FPkmNtJmSLIW3AFvEgTgDZkTMwe6mPegkIrKPRbAPVhxNqYd9mj1sMQalFL9CYeb1c/s640/GJC_016129+%25281%2529.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M.V Kyles (rear) boat, Irvine Harbourside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpzHZiGfUf4nO7ERjv15e3IyIkelt7t4jlLMWBOm76VELAr22Wp5OtlOSjX7tEZu41ubf23oNQL8ywoHV_GPH1vTwHjiFmjEJA8titvTC-XdT8ruZM7lJWS2Y4Dsw58DJFPjTwuK7kTs/s1600/GJC_016130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpzHZiGfUf4nO7ERjv15e3IyIkelt7t4jlLMWBOm76VELAr22Wp5OtlOSjX7tEZu41ubf23oNQL8ywoHV_GPH1vTwHjiFmjEJA8titvTC-XdT8ruZM7lJWS2Y4Dsw58DJFPjTwuK7kTs/s640/GJC_016130.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irvine Harbourside Sunset</td></tr>
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Both sites were accessed by means of a very good guided walking tour from the museum at no extra charge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniSIFCGX240tEzYHkLcos9uL2hdabkIU1AUP4gN9V7XpjhIy_rA5NLUt7Lg_hBvv1vDWuj2oX5nc9X6WaOPA2mjak4yY-KCyL7adkJwRluiPytHORVs_JNWe0e3wG-NXKbBA5dmwb7Pk/s1600/GJC_016219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniSIFCGX240tEzYHkLcos9uL2hdabkIU1AUP4gN9V7XpjhIy_rA5NLUt7Lg_hBvv1vDWuj2oX5nc9X6WaOPA2mjak4yY-KCyL7adkJwRluiPytHORVs_JNWe0e3wG-NXKbBA5dmwb7Pk/s640/GJC_016219.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinghy Challenge, Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine</td></tr>
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By far the best entertainment of the day was the Dinghy challenge. As you can see from an earlier image, the museum was a bit desolate on a cold rainy day in May so there were no prying eyes of children watching an adult have some fun !! With the exception of the green and red emergency buttons, there were only two controls of the yacht rigging for the sail on the left and the steering wheel.. The slalom course that appeared on the screen consisted of a harbour and a series of posts to manoeuvre around roughly in a circle and back into port. On my first go I just steered the wheel, realised that there was a time limit 2/3 the way through and subsequently ran out of time. I discovered the rigging wheel to the left and how it worked during my second experimental experience. On the third attempt I managed to beat the clock, but not before becoming exhausted in my efforts ... almost like the real thing without the wind and rain outside !!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLcDOwJPHMsv3L_TRal6bsiPQwX0lqF7RcGd2pQim4ALgnw7qPnEVVN7kKASl9_3ipArZIC9u6NRT0x-SZjQ57Mh9OSG0bKVC-GytbKHHQChKCAMcff3cRM9UmK8-6oFCvWcWd4bEOIs/s1600/GJC_016237_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLcDOwJPHMsv3L_TRal6bsiPQwX0lqF7RcGd2pQim4ALgnw7qPnEVVN7kKASl9_3ipArZIC9u6NRT0x-SZjQ57Mh9OSG0bKVC-GytbKHHQChKCAMcff3cRM9UmK8-6oFCvWcWd4bEOIs/s640/GJC_016237_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linthouse Vennel, Irvine Harbour</td></tr>
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The surrounding streets of the museum in the Harbourside area were a mixture of historic and photogenic residential housing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT9lI_sEvO1ZMBFqv57cGJA5tqgAIaj6Rm_Zxtr-kF53aE8LgUoMF0BF_YgkUtyZpLMgjPpTfZ38ytBFM2Bn7g2Pkvh44ZRjuvl1HNWYgpLImTSecJR5dXp1iFUEqGhwTTDqv2ICYaVY/s1600/GJC_016248_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT9lI_sEvO1ZMBFqv57cGJA5tqgAIaj6Rm_Zxtr-kF53aE8LgUoMF0BF_YgkUtyZpLMgjPpTfZ38ytBFM2Bn7g2Pkvh44ZRjuvl1HNWYgpLImTSecJR5dXp1iFUEqGhwTTDqv2ICYaVY/s640/GJC_016248_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gottries Road, , Irvine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkCCGmEx8u_pV4DBoaCypYARyIDqW5LllZhe9_aXir6Q7k23eF-P94VGa4FV_tUQ3ntCxhMw22cKdRHs3B9HzNFDWSkF8kV40Wax5UBV3KxBbwXUrLXB1eEWNhifVD2hpEinOACgG8f8/s1600/GJC_016249_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkCCGmEx8u_pV4DBoaCypYARyIDqW5LllZhe9_aXir6Q7k23eF-P94VGa4FV_tUQ3ntCxhMw22cKdRHs3B9HzNFDWSkF8kV40Wax5UBV3KxBbwXUrLXB1eEWNhifVD2hpEinOACgG8f8/s640/GJC_016249_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gottries Road, Irvine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_nfMAa_ScG7byrE4H8UJzhax3cLHVF4vZstvW8BHVDNp49Von8LAoiGxhaTcUKDcirhgNwmWW9rcbz_xJAyLosUV7eAvWuTF64qR_i0kD4fZBirFYin_eMDfebPrenE1Ng-drJNfeyQ/s1600/GJC_016247_edited-2+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_nfMAa_ScG7byrE4H8UJzhax3cLHVF4vZstvW8BHVDNp49Von8LAoiGxhaTcUKDcirhgNwmWW9rcbz_xJAyLosUV7eAvWuTF64qR_i0kD4fZBirFYin_eMDfebPrenE1Ng-drJNfeyQ/s640/GJC_016247_edited-2+%25281%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gottries Road, Irvine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWnfVFRyE9fK20dmDQe8JHtt0T0eRaYzL7PpLUzHtRX7lgHmUijbCiroKQ3T0JmuX1CrK9660SywaHo67mOs09UASGgdzm0Tl8NVSMquZVuwh3xs14vfPc0BwHc3rJYKCMtJvvSNbqWY/s1600/GJC_016147_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWnfVFRyE9fK20dmDQe8JHtt0T0eRaYzL7PpLUzHtRX7lgHmUijbCiroKQ3T0JmuX1CrK9660SywaHo67mOs09UASGgdzm0Tl8NVSMquZVuwh3xs14vfPc0BwHc3rJYKCMtJvvSNbqWY/s640/GJC_016147_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gottries Road, Irvine</td></tr>
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Buildings no doubt with some maritime history although I'll have to leave you guessing with their former use or authenticity !!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7buXNscGJK6xexpOR3mU6c6ikUTvsYkWmpCu3n1XSszG0SdKbnS7UHFM1mh6VsLQ3hbbW829o5oJiP8rqfNk0OWmJf48i1UTJXqGrTzpXJX95iNnGCnRoiJCB5L2_-eBZ4yEu7tyDurU/s1600/GJC_016124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7buXNscGJK6xexpOR3mU6c6ikUTvsYkWmpCu3n1XSszG0SdKbnS7UHFM1mh6VsLQ3hbbW829o5oJiP8rqfNk0OWmJf48i1UTJXqGrTzpXJX95iNnGCnRoiJCB5L2_-eBZ4yEu7tyDurU/s640/GJC_016124.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Big Idea, Irvine</td></tr>
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Despite the main attraction of Irvine being the Scottish Maritime Museum, the town tried to push the tourism boat out a little further with a Millennium Project called The Big Idea. Scottish inventors were celebrated attracting 120,000 people in the first year 2000. Unfortunately interest was not sustained and visitor numbers fell by less than half the following year before finally closing the door and walkway in 2003.<br />
This most unusual and difficult to understand location was explained to me by a local man out for an evening walk with his dog. As the grass covered roofed building seemed partially hidden from public view, it seemed natural that it was left to sit for 11 years with no final decision on it's future. In a sense The Big Idea seemed like a good idea at the time but remained just a big idea, Shame.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj75b_y4jFMo01vdqvdhSmxxFWc_DRnpkECc8TcNFvluokwbwktRZobch0xOEouR7q7bk6jDqqgxOQ-rM3b_MDm-wu_Ji-1mt79JxJVFu2oUrjRSIdiRBBGiCQqUUocbQWB_gusWMg1pU/s1600/GJC_016854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj75b_y4jFMo01vdqvdhSmxxFWc_DRnpkECc8TcNFvluokwbwktRZobch0xOEouR7q7bk6jDqqgxOQ-rM3b_MDm-wu_Ji-1mt79JxJVFu2oUrjRSIdiRBBGiCQqUUocbQWB_gusWMg1pU/s640/GJC_016854.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carter and his Horse by David Annand</td></tr>
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Just across the road from The Ship Inn and Marina Inn on the Harbourside is the sculpture of Carter and his Horse representing the transporting of ships cargo. It was difficult to get a decent shot of this during the course of the week as it was raining on the first day and always dark when I arrived later at the scene following a day out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrpNrxUfYLexV3K0attkgDHKP1xGj_ehUFhXXzf8vgOcKbDPt3HIMvNpwQ-JBWOFM6Kklheg56Y7PcLV4icF6zbLyWfy6t-e8g5YI65x1ZdrJhenmlEV7hPccpyT9gdTTYSyGPS9QySo/s1600/GJC_016096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrpNrxUfYLexV3K0attkgDHKP1xGj_ehUFhXXzf8vgOcKbDPt3HIMvNpwQ-JBWOFM6Kklheg56Y7PcLV4icF6zbLyWfy6t-e8g5YI65x1ZdrJhenmlEV7hPccpyT9gdTTYSyGPS9QySo/s640/GJC_016096.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rivergate Shopping Centre, Irvine</td></tr>
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It might seem unusual to insert an image of a modern shopping centre here but I saw this building as a key to keeping the town alive. Not that I'm suggesting it's through retail sales alone but somehow linking sections of the town together as a result of topography and transport routes.<br />
My first late night exploration of the town involved the thought process and a journey of discovery in how I could walk from the main street bus stop to the railway station for a potential car free day out. Irvine wasn't the easiest place to negotiate around by car thanks to a bus only main street and curving roads that easily lost my normally good sense of direction. Thankfully the shopping Mall although very long and eerie stayed open to act as a useful bridge to cross over a main road, river and then descend to ground level nearer the coast and the railway station.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeaF_AtSycyBqGOi_yL3M6CO9QNZMpztnTzU_teaA8XmPDJ7tKirhnYQ-cXU0gT7Zjrn132n0fDIMuX5hGXVgDvkHrce_wbRMDLPEKmS4Dpdj_BfTJ8DDsCgaEnw4Sd5UOmopyvcqHLM/s1600/GJC_016099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeaF_AtSycyBqGOi_yL3M6CO9QNZMpztnTzU_teaA8XmPDJ7tKirhnYQ-cXU0gT7Zjrn132n0fDIMuX5hGXVgDvkHrce_wbRMDLPEKmS4Dpdj_BfTJ8DDsCgaEnw4Sd5UOmopyvcqHLM/s640/GJC_016099.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Too often in Cities and Towns, the retail chain stores are attracted to move premises into a newly created shopping centre leaving the High Street to struggle on with second rate shops, businesses that can't relocate and those that suffer lack of investment. I'm not saying the above image has anything to do with that as they might be in the process of renovation, but hey, I couldn't resist as it makes a great comedy shot !<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDC-nOmJn1WT5IC5_R64Gem-eJ-K7Tf-m9CNjcM-DfgPhx5KEKJf7iVhII8I20q86lcxadtsNRkN79NbpG4ens5niWc2Da2bY4yrX8gmTeXIICRRRvVlVecha4eVgbFKDdKYUsb0CLpQ/s1600/GJC_016095_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDC-nOmJn1WT5IC5_R64Gem-eJ-K7Tf-m9CNjcM-DfgPhx5KEKJf7iVhII8I20q86lcxadtsNRkN79NbpG4ens5niWc2Da2bY4yrX8gmTeXIICRRRvVlVecha4eVgbFKDdKYUsb0CLpQ/s640/GJC_016095_edited-1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trinity Mirror</td></tr>
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In my mind and having confirmed it with a bit of research, it seems that Trinity Church and Trinity Mirror are at the centre and fulcrum of the the town. After falling into a severe state of disrepair, the church was refurbished over a 42 week period from November 2012 for some community use to regenerate the town and link the main street with The Rivergate Shopping Centre. The foreground polished stainless steel monument grabbed my attention with reversed deep thinking words and phrases on the base relating to the geography, history and poetic thoughts of the River Irvine. The text can only be read using the vertical columned reflection and the £90,000 structure that is proportional sizing to the church steeple divides opinion of the local residents.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRZbVJjo5cABG41kWaYNr-JMAqwu-uUIERFoROWj4a1guVzu2WhhGkVkLPhwmeG99P8iax_SGv7pzjGowa6P3YkMHSv0KCRH96EAK6DBqAHI5aihEsBzRFYToPxDmRUsUj7AL-PJk9aQ/s1600/GJC_016087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRZbVJjo5cABG41kWaYNr-JMAqwu-uUIERFoROWj4a1guVzu2WhhGkVkLPhwmeG99P8iax_SGv7pzjGowa6P3YkMHSv0KCRH96EAK6DBqAHI5aihEsBzRFYToPxDmRUsUj7AL-PJk9aQ/s640/GJC_016087.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hill Street, Irvine</td></tr>
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With a mixture of getting my bearings and looking for somewhere to eat later in the day, I stumbled on a couple of historical streets,<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichbH-xnp-mziqOA8jQdYZUgnwQd5-62BDSUyaYTIX4wxHbiGgE6-tSWeA8AofHyqm3pPRQVTahBTjTLN72oZ4OuiMSlvytsWWPo-L36GNnOMts4LX-LYQSHNQERLjq_Rww_txaeQpaQA/s1600/GJC_017051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichbH-xnp-mziqOA8jQdYZUgnwQd5-62BDSUyaYTIX4wxHbiGgE6-tSWeA8AofHyqm3pPRQVTahBTjTLN72oZ4OuiMSlvytsWWPo-L36GNnOMts4LX-LYQSHNQERLjq_Rww_txaeQpaQA/s640/GJC_017051.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glasgow Vennel, Irvine</td></tr>
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the second of which was where the local Robert Burns the poet lodged for a year in 1781.</div>
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Despite staying here for a week, I was disappointed that I didn't get better lit or car free images of The Town House on the High Street.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc13YPLvk65yx8cIpTtcA718EE1-NmsdfKZ9pDnBqhHzIOBGjCIlfWGhG2TBRA9zOBG87uEsa_2UtiXH4R2NgqpU390gRb4iAYIW1fcWHUECv3ewXmoIoFN3gUoFt9ZVggrd6ljYIXZtk/s1600/GJC_016121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc13YPLvk65yx8cIpTtcA718EE1-NmsdfKZ9pDnBqhHzIOBGjCIlfWGhG2TBRA9zOBG87uEsa_2UtiXH4R2NgqpU390gRb4iAYIW1fcWHUECv3ewXmoIoFN3gUoFt9ZVggrd6ljYIXZtk/s640/GJC_016121.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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After my trip to the west coast of Scotland the previous year to Oban I was hoping to re-create some magical sunsets this time across the Firth of Clyde to The Isle of Arran. Unfortunately it didn't quite work on this occasion but inserted it to give you a reason why I found accommodation near the coast. Used wide angle to give more foreground and cloud perspective on this occasion. I'll re-visit the sunset theme from a different evening location later in the series.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbqhNndH29K7YM5MHzQQwWehsxcL41QYeDSnRzVqQapPasjm82QP-U6hS_wBY0J3GkxEHk4ueH_psx6xG6HEr6VUeoiJjVYWcD6A0vd1Vr1TPzfOoJNTtqu42awJ1fMkbsLa28mgsfO0/s1600/GJC_016850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbqhNndH29K7YM5MHzQQwWehsxcL41QYeDSnRzVqQapPasjm82QP-U6hS_wBY0J3GkxEHk4ueH_psx6xG6HEr6VUeoiJjVYWcD6A0vd1Vr1TPzfOoJNTtqu42awJ1fMkbsLa28mgsfO0/s640/GJC_016850.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irvine Bay sign</td></tr>
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Irvine Bay Regeneration company has a symbol that seems to represent drops or splashes of water, it certainly has potential as a great silhouette.<br />
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On the afternoon of my first day, the weather turned grey and rainy LOL, so I decided head south for the afternoon into some sunshine (next post)<br />
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... always best to escape being eaten by a crocodile crowd, poor boat !! ...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crocodile Cloud !!</td></tr>
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J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-37568818816006856812015-01-02T00:18:00.001+00:002021-01-13T13:27:21.085+00:00Walla Crag walk, Derwentwater, Cumbria<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">Walla Crag cairn</td></tr>
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I'll start by wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year. I'd thought I'd make an early start on the blog this year to ... try and squeeze an extra post in :-)<br />
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There's nothing better on occasions to go for a winter walk to escape Christmas food indulgence, lethargy and shopping. Today however was different as it was too windy and this virtual walk will have to do as a reserve.<br />
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It seems to me that I now post in Time Tunnels or a Time Hop with consecutive themes either being from last week, last year or maybe 2011. I haven't covered much of what I got up to in the not so happy year of 2012 on this blog but it was a great period of change, un-needful stress and lots of excessive travel on the road (usually in the dark) to South Yorkshire. All of this had to come to a sudden end in late January 2013 when the need to renovate and clear out my Mother's house for rental (nursing care home fees) purposes. Both February and March of that year were tough accepting the change whist constantly working on the house at weekends, late at night after work and then after visiting my Mother.<br />
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The day finally arrived when I handed in the house keys to the Estate agent to pass on to the new tenant. As I hadn't been anywhere for months and needed a break, the following saturday I checked and opted for the best available weather conditions in a radius of a two hour drive. This particular day out on 6th April 2013 was momentous in many ways as it was the beginning of a new chapter in my life although I wasn't quite sure what kind of chapter at the time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdGQNdb0QBNjw_cJFSpYx5QNKpPBFCNu76EM7BA_7WFAR3a7wShGvmsUkMvQ5R2y3nsctWbctx3r1gQe4YNH0YIm40tkXerCEtlv3C4LcFvm9y1RhVsOz61gMNN_Ut3dyVvSJud9ddDU/s1600/GJC_011280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdGQNdb0QBNjw_cJFSpYx5QNKpPBFCNu76EM7BA_7WFAR3a7wShGvmsUkMvQ5R2y3nsctWbctx3r1gQe4YNH0YIm40tkXerCEtlv3C4LcFvm9y1RhVsOz61gMNN_Ut3dyVvSJud9ddDU/s640/GJC_011280.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing up to Walla Crag</td></tr>
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I drove to Keswick in Cumbria and opted to do my favourite walk, details and map are here ...<br />
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<a href="http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/171791/kw-nu_walla_crag_walk_4a-2-10.pdf">The Walla Crag / Ashness Bridge circular walk</a><br />
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... heading south on the east side of Derwentwater. This is the walk that I always recommend to any friends who are new to hillwalking in Cumbria / The English Lake District as it is so varied and inspiring.<br />
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In fact I get so enthused about it that I am pleased that you are about to join me on this visual feast of walking.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1URT1mVdqSbpavUg6iWHQweRGsnvSHHPHflMksW9jS7JiCcUs8tmSUiIyfz6I3d_WKofHVCL6RSiknL_OOkCMNugmf0rRHAnKK2q3MbpWMkyaIgbpo4cVriQEevFgAStPw16oLvA43lQ/s1600/GJC_011279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1URT1mVdqSbpavUg6iWHQweRGsnvSHHPHflMksW9jS7JiCcUs8tmSUiIyfz6I3d_WKofHVCL6RSiknL_OOkCMNugmf0rRHAnKK2q3MbpWMkyaIgbpo4cVriQEevFgAStPw16oLvA43lQ/s640/GJC_011279.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derwentwater and Catbells</td></tr>
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The view starts to open out a bit once the path hits the edge of the woods above Keswick. (above two images)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake from Walla Crag</td></tr>
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On leaving the trees behind, there is a bit of ascent pain that average walkers manage to deal with for a short time but as they say "No pain. no gain" and the views from the top are spectacular.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmw76CgI1fFE6SCosJjWLmNsln0E4MuqVrjGCPxdSFGuQup3QUBIru5IemoGlhx3u3p5mlnTG-At5fB1Gx6O-Ba6Y-YDowxRtvpkdUJ6ucSE5g6rpA9LSiS4D2qjbc6EITg7G178lSNo/s1600/GJC_011316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmw76CgI1fFE6SCosJjWLmNsln0E4MuqVrjGCPxdSFGuQup3QUBIru5IemoGlhx3u3p5mlnTG-At5fB1Gx6O-Ba6Y-YDowxRtvpkdUJ6ucSE5g6rpA9LSiS4D2qjbc6EITg7G178lSNo/s640/GJC_011316.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derwentwater and Keswick from Walla Crag</td></tr>
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I'm sure you can understand why I am a fair weather walker to capture photographic views like this and share them with you. For those walkers like myself who have followed in the footsteps of Alfred Wainwright will know that the imperial height measurement in feet was easy to remember at 1234 ft, but Ordnance survey seem to have upgraded it in more recent years to 1243 ft (379 metres)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3djse4hi4ROs4mrPseDjEst9O5pBYnsQFkiZJcVmV476_Z3KCR9VHsewu327frhZNmz7kV4b_txdE-htI4PVBKmfyLcvCD6wtpA-n-7h0Ot3e2b8_a-JhhA77vK2jETO77Z_p_2VLU4/s1600/GJC_011313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3djse4hi4ROs4mrPseDjEst9O5pBYnsQFkiZJcVmV476_Z3KCR9VHsewu327frhZNmz7kV4b_txdE-htI4PVBKmfyLcvCD6wtpA-n-7h0Ot3e2b8_a-JhhA77vK2jETO77Z_p_2VLU4/s640/GJC_011313.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing Ships, Keswick Launch, Derwentwater</td></tr>
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The Keswick Launch is a ferry company that runs a simultaneous clockwise and anticlockwise service around Derwentwater calling at numerous landing stages on the lakeshore.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeppa-xeUXhQiM5W_hDqwTuiUsuub5lZSwprq7wcudUYXjZm4jOCNEDKJ0O3OqC2hsGG1JkOAkdxmqw0U85WtdZ4uR2zocYLlTZYmnj1v9D84s5GTZgAXPf56_PsOnZWThT3xp14MZFs/s1600/GJC_011322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeppa-xeUXhQiM5W_hDqwTuiUsuub5lZSwprq7wcudUYXjZm4jOCNEDKJ0O3OqC2hsGG1JkOAkdxmqw0U85WtdZ4uR2zocYLlTZYmnj1v9D84s5GTZgAXPf56_PsOnZWThT3xp14MZFs/s640/GJC_011322.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bleaberry Fell</td></tr>
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Not being one to conform to tradition, I decided to add an extra dog leg into the the walk by covering the higher and more exciting looking wintery Bleaberry Fell at 1936 feet (590 m)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJMlaQnEO5MzSxxQsvhCPRWu6mrLWcD5VME5k6OFnTe77KtbepLp4y2nUH1eU21Wv0sgCAK6ypHwXKXIvevN6MlutH0KMoZ0c-NUUJ4uH6BATh3B2DDZZK6QmzjNpc__hYj7qH4Dx4V4/s1600/GJC_011325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJMlaQnEO5MzSxxQsvhCPRWu6mrLWcD5VME5k6OFnTe77KtbepLp4y2nUH1eU21Wv0sgCAK6ypHwXKXIvevN6MlutH0KMoZ0c-NUUJ4uH6BATh3B2DDZZK6QmzjNpc__hYj7qH4Dx4V4/s640/GJC_011325.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bleaberry Fell path</td></tr>
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The path seemed pretty much straightforward to start with so I'd thought I'd give it a go, however ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCvRmNUSsd7iyk4XdFxKPOQusCbx6rlPoLAWwozOjytlMnGyc6lN_6QR9rPRvc3i9yS3tqiOOyuf3fl3-UNhBe7kMzHu1BmDBFnHR4oU5tp8gSzBGdIdU1vGtytdIBUaCMedoWG56OgQ/s1600/GJC_011350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCvRmNUSsd7iyk4XdFxKPOQusCbx6rlPoLAWwozOjytlMnGyc6lN_6QR9rPRvc3i9yS3tqiOOyuf3fl3-UNhBe7kMzHu1BmDBFnHR4oU5tp8gSzBGdIdU1vGtytdIBUaCMedoWG56OgQ/s640/GJC_011350.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bleaberry Fell ascent</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The extra dog leg walk was a bit more tricky at one point of ascent as four dog legs found it far easier than the human's two :-)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJq7rWbFo9WtLJ4w67v83aT0Keu7Xnr59QyYcLM5it0l9OePlP32PZZ6_JC2pDR1fnh-fWUqA3KF-SPA6VGxTqhVhbvp__9RQlXUBnGl99bXF4OOmwrCMw5NxVi93vsw6De1zDmu8B6zE/s1600/GJC_011349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJq7rWbFo9WtLJ4w67v83aT0Keu7Xnr59QyYcLM5it0l9OePlP32PZZ6_JC2pDR1fnh-fWUqA3KF-SPA6VGxTqhVhbvp__9RQlXUBnGl99bXF4OOmwrCMw5NxVi93vsw6De1zDmu8B6zE/s640/GJC_011349.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skiddaw from Bleaberry Fell</td></tr>
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From experience and what you can observe in this post is that the greatest ascent doesn't usually produce the better views as their is always some undulating crag or mound in the way, but it certainly opens up a different world. Skiddaw in the background being the fourth highest mountain in England at 3054 ft (931 m) ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1ra-crP-oKVZHljRibv4Qk_kMJ59fyJFsbX-E8BCUZk6V4RczOCdi4VB4INdkdIkIsSS3LkhF-ffVlIhbeGOd452sf6IU6a2_8PSzD29_f5I9dZbCmf8QHtED1G0rMrhIKaqDSPgiG8/s1600/GJC_011347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1ra-crP-oKVZHljRibv4Qk_kMJ59fyJFsbX-E8BCUZk6V4RczOCdi4VB4INdkdIkIsSS3LkhF-ffVlIhbeGOd452sf6IU6a2_8PSzD29_f5I9dZbCmf8QHtED1G0rMrhIKaqDSPgiG8/s640/GJC_011347.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helvellyn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
...and then swinging panoramically to the south east, Helvellyn being the third highest at 3118 ft (950m). Brrr, too cold to hang about here, so time to re-join the main path again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Kc0SI8i-Mnb3z_sgPSmg6O3DOKPlAyEMcpBLzkNOznZKhdOl8E30eupayDj2pLjuMDj2wF8OgPJt4wvOuWH4ECG-7gQ2gDoXh7q0hQmw3Z0qSQI3J9_2JvxJFup8N2axad85K-nArKM/s1600/GJC_011359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Kc0SI8i-Mnb3z_sgPSmg6O3DOKPlAyEMcpBLzkNOznZKhdOl8E30eupayDj2pLjuMDj2wF8OgPJt4wvOuWH4ECG-7gQ2gDoXh7q0hQmw3Z0qSQI3J9_2JvxJFup8N2axad85K-nArKM/s640/GJC_011359.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashness Bridge</td></tr>
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The path southwards from Walla Crag defends the gradually down the hill until the World Famous Ashness Bridge is reached.<br />
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Although Ashness bridge bears a single track road serving the remote and hamlet of Watendlath, it became famous in Victorian times on The Grand Tour as many artists travelled to the area to replicate the scene. <a href="http://www.bridgemanimages.com/en-GB/asset/13770/linton-william-1791-1876/derwent-water-with-ashness-bridge?context=%7B%22sourceUrl%22%3A%22http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.bridgemanimages.com%5C%2Fen-GB%5C%2Fsearch%5C%2Fassets%5C%2F%25start%25%5C%2F%25limit%25%5C%2F%257B%2522filter%2522%3A%257B%2522filter_bw%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_colour%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_creator_id%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_footage%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_group%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_horizontal%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_image%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_illustration%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_location_id%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_object%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_orientation%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_photograph%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_square%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_supplier_prefix%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_text%2522%3A%2522kw%3A%255C%2522lake%2520district%255C%2522%2522%2C%2522filter_text_within_new%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_text_within_queue%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_vertical%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_web_category_id%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_asset_title%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_asset_med%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_creator_name%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_asset_location%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_year%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_year_to%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_century%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_century_to%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_year_adbc%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_year_to_adbc%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_century_adbc%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_century_to_adbc%2522%3Anull%2C%2522filter_lightbox_id%2522%3Anull%2C%2522original_filter_text%2522%3A%2522kw%3A%255C%2522lake%2520district%255C%2522%2522%2C%2522filter_searchoption_id%2522%3A%25222%2522%257D%2C%2522include_withdrawn%2522%3Afalse%2C%2522on_web_only%2522%3Afalse%2C%2522query_clause%2522%3A%2522%2522%2C%2522sort_order%2522%3A%2522best_relevance%2522%257D%5C%2Flist%22%2C%22number%22%3A17%2C%22max%22%3A1246%2C%22min%22%3A1%2C%22hash%22%3A%224a44a37a2404e77ebf6e25070ce466e8%22%7D">A William Linton (1791-1876) example</a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><br />
Comparing the Victorian scene with the 21st century image, it is unfortunate that the trees are starting to obscure Derwentwater with the Bridge gradually becoming more prominent in it's own right with each passing decade.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQ-myF0OXTC8pk-K9CKFAKIpuEvpSRD4p6mAC4gvXcT2PV0mcYp0eA_ID53JZnp3OZXAqouo68n_SDWYzPim1RQ8QDLq5okqTK530KIlk7HB9vsoxWhEYDvqB9cfPBU4hHmVuewaSiq4/s1600/GJC_011362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQ-myF0OXTC8pk-K9CKFAKIpuEvpSRD4p6mAC4gvXcT2PV0mcYp0eA_ID53JZnp3OZXAqouo68n_SDWYzPim1RQ8QDLq5okqTK530KIlk7HB9vsoxWhEYDvqB9cfPBU4hHmVuewaSiq4/s640/GJC_011362.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derwentwater Lakeshore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The best way to see the lake of course is to continue with the walk down the road to the lakeshore.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-HaJPpBP03sAyDa3N84-raq_1oY2uA06d0z7Bklk1VZVRxWBIy1iVYE5DNASnjBJyEfY14B-eC0r9vCoHGC9w90f82Di51vC_t8Clj5h3eWY8V8Jlv7jhg8gDrkzgoE3jGWAvNbYl6I/s1600/GJC_011365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-HaJPpBP03sAyDa3N84-raq_1oY2uA06d0z7Bklk1VZVRxWBIy1iVYE5DNASnjBJyEfY14B-eC0r9vCoHGC9w90f82Di51vC_t8Clj5h3eWY8V8Jlv7jhg8gDrkzgoE3jGWAvNbYl6I/s640/GJC_011365.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skiddaw and Derwentwater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
and a beautiful and easy stroll back northwards to Keswick with views of the mountain Skiddaw<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvT9ArjsQU9udlxqL6DaWkV7-VoVmr8X3HKnxtxWcKfyGaIs75p_htYzCIELNQxN1wPpRU3rLEDGqVq8FAf0fOdWHIweLSf8UiuKsLntqoqDwc4AV7d_4yY6dmRM86Vus5P_m4pBDE9Y/s1600/GJC_011384+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvT9ArjsQU9udlxqL6DaWkV7-VoVmr8X3HKnxtxWcKfyGaIs75p_htYzCIELNQxN1wPpRU3rLEDGqVq8FAf0fOdWHIweLSf8UiuKsLntqoqDwc4AV7d_4yY6dmRM86Vus5P_m4pBDE9Y/s640/GJC_011384+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friar's Crag</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of the most famous locations on the shores of Derwentwater is Friar's Crag. It seemed to get it's name from the peninsula that was used to moor boats and transport monks to the nearby St Herbert's Island for a pilgrimage.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhValssIFuJW6oN_Ttkr1mFQAlG33XAhhng7Thq6JNWJtrLw__DQcli-RjpkMlOvocjvO8_H58eypz4VradOjwtVvN75FkdQw6Puyv_tzXrkFN1zEWcfLP9RMtNP2PKEaGUQ5jjGY8d0sY/s1600/GJC_011390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhValssIFuJW6oN_Ttkr1mFQAlG33XAhhng7Thq6JNWJtrLw__DQcli-RjpkMlOvocjvO8_H58eypz4VradOjwtVvN75FkdQw6Puyv_tzXrkFN1zEWcfLP9RMtNP2PKEaGUQ5jjGY8d0sY/s640/GJC_011390.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walla Crag from Friar's crag</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Had this been a summer post, I would have chosen the above image as the title shot, but instead I've just highlighted it from obscurity !!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzeHwqsycXTLX5PCx7ilmywkfMHq7hQe71_BSZDIjDAXG8vDyEPvd9Ooq2c_W0YchNOXxUFLRk2UaznQoCJhEKYjo1amJjEW1wgjPfH7ieJBh8FyW2iSztq99g2ExGWJ3rXgJzQRBYgg/s1600/GJC_011392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzeHwqsycXTLX5PCx7ilmywkfMHq7hQe71_BSZDIjDAXG8vDyEPvd9Ooq2c_W0YchNOXxUFLRk2UaznQoCJhEKYjo1amJjEW1wgjPfH7ieJBh8FyW2iSztq99g2ExGWJ3rXgJzQRBYgg/s640/GJC_011392.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friar's Crag view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not only did the view south from Friar's Crag attract the monks for their onward journey but the tourists came later, although maybe not before Canon Rawnsley set the scene as a founding member of The National Trust. The Canon was influential as vicar of Crosthwaite in preserving large areas of Borrowdale from the developers. Brandlehow Woods was the first on the far side of the lake towards the right of the image.<br />
Friar's Crag was handed over to the National Trust in 1920 following Rawnsley's death.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNo9KPg_Dw4r2RO5DPdQrew10ncIAMJP35ua4jFKEzFuIrM7lLIJznBqPlHThZMTOo2qK3j8XEJfsSpNwLwGOxK-0Yafh_SmYvERwi5rh1MrJcbpmVNLBcKKn1foUAHQj14ODkE3FkVcE/s1600/GJC_011395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNo9KPg_Dw4r2RO5DPdQrew10ncIAMJP35ua4jFKEzFuIrM7lLIJznBqPlHThZMTOo2qK3j8XEJfsSpNwLwGOxK-0Yafh_SmYvERwi5rh1MrJcbpmVNLBcKKn1foUAHQj14ODkE3FkVcE/s640/GJC_011395.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keswick Launch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It might be romance and speculation to suggest that the Monks inspired boat travel on Derwentwater but boat owners didn't miss a trick and hired out their craft for pleasure use on the lake. That was all blown out of the water by the arrival of a super ferry of it's day called The May Queen. Everyone wanted to travel on it and a lot of surrounding business was lost. The Keswick Launch company commenced operations around the same time in 1935 with big plans for the imminent launch of a second boat.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vhyphenhyphenecIx8QUXFbmOk61OM7j8v5P5N4-7_hNXRu18bXlegmP2oLKNP1WobEPimgyfHDSEY89h_kMCGk8TUc_GS7crO0WnxDrAagnBXS3csvyBHWPLk16MTka1pML99lCkB1-_wGDEhQAk/s1600/GJC_011397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vhyphenhyphenecIx8QUXFbmOk61OM7j8v5P5N4-7_hNXRu18bXlegmP2oLKNP1WobEPimgyfHDSEY89h_kMCGk8TUc_GS7crO0WnxDrAagnBXS3csvyBHWPLk16MTka1pML99lCkB1-_wGDEhQAk/s640/GJC_011397.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annie Mellor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was much controversy in the town of Keswick as many locals didn't think that there would be enough business for the Annie Mellor. As you can see, it is still operational today along with other classical vessels in the fleet. Unfortunately due to regulation changes as a result of a fire on a boat in The River Thames (Marchioness Disaster 1989), two of the fleet including The May Queen that were taken out of service were beyond repair and broken up. The vessels that survived and were rebuilt to the new required standards were Annie Mellor, Princess Margaret Rose, Lady Derwentwater and Iris.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEv8TrHn1RkWasWjeMoVd6WbxSzA1kBcSZ8uBbnwYkQX5Ki-QMTWu8wg6D00d0Q7o48tdPAkOY7FlthhMin4zEepNg6nK5H2D92aCey1g0_Ab3IawZY8f1uQqKKRAmuMiPZ-4DWN2Bbo/s1600/GJC_011402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEv8TrHn1RkWasWjeMoVd6WbxSzA1kBcSZ8uBbnwYkQX5Ki-QMTWu8wg6D00d0Q7o48tdPAkOY7FlthhMin4zEepNg6nK5H2D92aCey1g0_Ab3IawZY8f1uQqKKRAmuMiPZ-4DWN2Bbo/s640/GJC_011402.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boats for Hire Derwentwater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Just to complete the story ... It's nice to know that some of the classical smaller boats are still available for hire.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSmQfrU5mrObyDAaB6NjOZYtm7GPQh_E0lbNptYzPVS-o4iTxeKnbheENl14IRi3WUiTV0SJFJErLJMPm_givMFuS0NRYlpEGK2RptYMAyyQUkP1Jfo5dPL9-P-X8lVLX-sNtGDyoF0Q/s1600/GJC_011405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSmQfrU5mrObyDAaB6NjOZYtm7GPQh_E0lbNptYzPVS-o4iTxeKnbheENl14IRi3WUiTV0SJFJErLJMPm_givMFuS0NRYlpEGK2RptYMAyyQUkP1Jfo5dPL9-P-X8lVLX-sNtGDyoF0Q/s640/GJC_011405.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Heads, Keswick</td></tr>
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The walk back into Keswick passes the unusual street name where the Victorians first built their hotels that overlooked the lake and some of the scenes depicted above. The mountain backdrop is Skiddaw to the north once again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zZSgaX1ZpAuMo1WpdO4FaMBadr-c04O6WyyIwKSKxJtvYh7gBrSkp8oyjnKZliMscfJwOHQgiiNegwUB1ja_25HETrPrrTlMn0IZG_PmaOxFuLzRB2b3mdlfoz0xcPgS5-vCm5krS6U/s1600/GJC_011267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zZSgaX1ZpAuMo1WpdO4FaMBadr-c04O6WyyIwKSKxJtvYh7gBrSkp8oyjnKZliMscfJwOHQgiiNegwUB1ja_25HETrPrrTlMn0IZG_PmaOxFuLzRB2b3mdlfoz0xcPgS5-vCm5krS6U/s640/GJC_011267.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi... Robin, Keswick</td></tr>
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Lastly there were no comedy shots today but a bird bonus at the both the start and end of the walk as I changed in and out of my walking boots in the passenger seat of my car. Those that know Keswick and The Lake District will understand that car parking fees can be expensive as the authorities seek to encourage longer stay visitors and the use of public transport such as the one I have hinted at in this post. However as a long stay day visitor, I have a secret parking location in Keswick and with a visual treat like this, I'll be returning there again !! It was good he came back to see me at the end of the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawime-KHROLx9VUi5RQJpey3yP05S1RSztG9ogwtFY-suilmOmo4CePvS94UMw7eNTBuBraEIWGKi3YGeV0BvBvCXO2fYyzYOsk2jXfiZNS2bITQ6-NxPmfuTPm0OenpIVhBllx2WJ8M/s1600/GJC_011273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawime-KHROLx9VUi5RQJpey3yP05S1RSztG9ogwtFY-suilmOmo4CePvS94UMw7eNTBuBraEIWGKi3YGeV0BvBvCXO2fYyzYOsk2jXfiZNS2bITQ6-NxPmfuTPm0OenpIVhBllx2WJ8M/s640/GJC_011273.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robin, Keswick</td></tr>
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J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942077973453785319.post-63424475745248250392014-12-23T22:35:00.001+00:002021-01-13T13:27:49.379+00:00December observations at home ... and DSLR discrimination !<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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December is always a busy month for obvious reasons and is made up by a series of deadlines, which is why I haven't caught up with other peoples blogs yet ... boxing day onwards ! I hope you are not expecting wonderful images throughout here as the quality is not consistent using material from three different sources ... the clue is in the title, more about that in a moment.<br />
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I had a week off work in late November to make a start on the Christmas letter to my Mothers friends and my own. Unfortunately the dangling carrot of a few days away in that period with a friend was too much and it meant I only had two days at home. These days turned out to be getting ready and packing for the 5 day break (an adventure in itself worthy of a future set of posts). As I hadn't planned to visit any Christmas markets and had to work a weekend at short notice, time slipped by so I opted to photograph local scenes in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne instead.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEqWf8-igHWO5363snSBhyphenhyphenmfuhFSQ4XY4lgOwNW2u6E83PGiDE_2-ubi3CmqMRQnfe1zUct0PCCFHl57wxCDNOllPvQfgORR_LDWtAeoV0F_GCe8G8X0_y1R43OMKmxVCSkItQXViS24/s1600/GJC_020372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEqWf8-igHWO5363snSBhyphenhyphenmfuhFSQ4XY4lgOwNW2u6E83PGiDE_2-ubi3CmqMRQnfe1zUct0PCCFHl57wxCDNOllPvQfgORR_LDWtAeoV0F_GCe8G8X0_y1R43OMKmxVCSkItQXViS24/s640/GJC_020372.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Those following this blog for a while may remember that I did a similar post four years ago covering Fenwick's window on Santa's toy factory (here's the link for some background ... <a href="http://jayzspaze.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/fenwicks-window-newcastle.html">Fenwick's window newcastle 2010</a>), so I thought it was about time I revisited it on these pages.<br />
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Fenwick's Christmas window provides great interest every year as the shop decorates all eight of them in a systematic seasonal or children's story with moving parts and music, this year it was Alice in Wonderland.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLtdSzvy0siV5E4QDu9l8liDL7x0yj38BuSxR6967ZYfaUy86A4ZbrkBOi6YvS0mYf_TJt9cbyXA8KgFURrgOkK35atyPh80_bRWj_s9n4iLbscg-Y1tQyGg951U7IQak3BJy1dQ_uec/s1600/GJC_020544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLtdSzvy0siV5E4QDu9l8liDL7x0yj38BuSxR6967ZYfaUy86A4ZbrkBOi6YvS0mYf_TJt9cbyXA8KgFURrgOkK35atyPh80_bRWj_s9n4iLbscg-Y1tQyGg951U7IQak3BJy1dQ_uec/s640/GJC_020544.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It is not the easiest of locations to photograph on several fronts, firstly the reflections of the sky in daylight and neon signs across the street at night. I opted to leave in the Newcastle based "Greggs the bakers" sign as it is my take on a local The Mad Hatters tea party.<br />
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Secondly and unfortunately as a result of what happened, I wasn't happy at the end of the Window evening so I wanted to cheer myself up a bit by covering other topics of December later in the month and the post.<br />
I have known for some time but it was confirmed to me clearly on this occasion that DSLR users are discriminated against as they are viewed with suspicion in public places particularly in the vicinity of children. It seems that as a result of my activities outside Fenwick's window, I was reported to the police.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3K2uW68EszzRtWB4wHbb3yPrrBMujfpOtooo4T_iRJvamFGK8W2JhEMpuByE1QiTQ9aUmdBn6wgnqwMMisiT4nwG03TLh_nWklIRzUiBiI5TEAECLecXbk2SBuORrM0pHoeztJUHxv8/s1600/GJC_020562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3K2uW68EszzRtWB4wHbb3yPrrBMujfpOtooo4T_iRJvamFGK8W2JhEMpuByE1QiTQ9aUmdBn6wgnqwMMisiT4nwG03TLh_nWklIRzUiBiI5TEAECLecXbk2SBuORrM0pHoeztJUHxv8/s640/GJC_020562.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Obviously I knew nothing of this until I was approached by two of them later in a large bus station. To my shock and on my questioning, it turns out that I was followed for a considerable distance on overhead close circuit TV monitors. As I wasn't using my own transport (no need to carry a driving license) and wasn't previously known to the police, I had my bank details and account number scrutinised as the next best form of I.D. along with all my images on camera and phone (which I never even used). It would of course be nice for the person reporting me to the police view this post and check out how I have compromised peoples privacy here in relation to what I suffered on that night. It may be a minor detail to some, but I gave up in daylight hours as there were too many people about and was reprimanded by a Father for not joining the queue like everyone else. I returned on another occasion later in the day and the month, hoping for less people. Personally I thought that small children should be at home at that time and not seeing potential December evening misbehaviour in a city centre. As I didn't have children with me, it was awkward standing in the queue awaiting my turn and I'd be reluctant to cover the window again.<br />
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Maybe the stereotypical person in life should watch 2 hours of TV per night including a soap opera, have an interest in alcohol, shopping or sport, never travel outside your home county unless in an aeroplane to a sunny destination .... and only take pictures on a mobile phone :-)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Borrowed this ... :-)</td></tr>
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As a result I decided for this post to vary my hardware and use the more damaging mobile phone as well ... as no-one questions the use of that in public places. There's more use and upset on social media with the mobile phone than what there ever will be with a DSLR.<br />
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On the other side of the coin, I came across an article in a national newspaper this month that suggested people want to eat their cake and have it as there were issues with a parent wanting to share their child's Nativity play on Facebook ...<br />
<a href="http://metro.co.uk/2014/12/18/school-orders-parents-to-take-down-nativity-video-from-facebook-4992690/">Metro newspaper article</a><br />
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Newcastle upon Tyne always has a small Christmas market in the city centre during late November / December.<br />
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Two weeks are normally dedicated to hot continental food and another set of traders use the same stalls to sell Christmas and Winter wares during a subsequent fortnight.<br />
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It's a bit unusual to see the combination of the best of Dutch food sitting in front the quintessential Englishness of Earl Grey, I wonder what he thinks about all this continental food as he looks down from his monument !<br />
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Not being one to miss out on a taster, I got to try some lovely Chorizo potatoes from Barcelona and special thanks to the chef for taking the time to pose just before serving my dish. It was wonderful.<br />
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Santa was here too for the day and he had some helpers who were supporting a well known local charity .... <a href="http://www.stoswaldsuk.org/">http://www.stoswaldsuk.org</a><br />
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The nearby out of town Gateshead Metro Centre is a Christmas rival to Newcastle and has it's displays on a different scale.<br />
However it was nice to see that they had space for a large nativity scene which I took with my mobile phone ...<br />
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... oops did I catch a child in the corner, like I said, mobiles are more dangerous than DSLR's !! ... even if the image quality is poor !<br />
Other than Primary school plays, many people forget about the Nativity in favour of family and / or indulgence. Some may argue several points of view from religious history but it's important to remember that the overview of life is all about what we did with the Saviour of the World and how he can change our lives and destiny.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCF980Gqf8X_LjjcKyWVKJ_N11ueM0fKZoVjANPreXzDhXf1-T2rjjwvF0A6w5l8joO04-Jw-fnrUoyoAprpXHmvNerAutW5BncV7IHQXnkqQXoJ_c3-PGTc8dAbyEo1xoqd2j6ptq6w/s1600/10868236_822775601101750_3675759264689671298_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCF980Gqf8X_LjjcKyWVKJ_N11ueM0fKZoVjANPreXzDhXf1-T2rjjwvF0A6w5l8joO04-Jw-fnrUoyoAprpXHmvNerAutW5BncV7IHQXnkqQXoJ_c3-PGTc8dAbyEo1xoqd2j6ptq6w/s640/10868236_822775601101750_3675759264689671298_n.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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I have had a busy week preparing and taking part in a Carol service that far exceeded anything that we have done before in a much larger hall.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvWPgN3o4aTLR91ZjOwiYk9ivhbxPFaWCYl6fHomXx06jtf5sjqJMagG5dchWSNvc5nOF6R2uoa0ESDxLAx51RTWjeKB1dGtS5mafvGoZP13k8DkbTPba3TCNDu7LincPNmvzPuMB5FY/s1600/10882088_822775527768424_1410240976290682238_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="466" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvWPgN3o4aTLR91ZjOwiYk9ivhbxPFaWCYl6fHomXx06jtf5sjqJMagG5dchWSNvc5nOF6R2uoa0ESDxLAx51RTWjeKB1dGtS5mafvGoZP13k8DkbTPba3TCNDu7LincPNmvzPuMB5FY/s400/10882088_822775527768424_1410240976290682238_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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There were some festive treats afterwards and has set a model in all of our hearts to raise the bar of faith for this being the norm in future. As you can guess I had other things on my mind and shoulders to worry about without taking my DSLR along as well. A challenging and failed image on my camera phone trying to work out exposure and focusing on a massive depth of field. I have to say at this point that when I loaded the images onto here, the camera phone images loaded straight away with minimal KB whilst the others in MB took a while. I can't fool you into thinking that the above image is a good one or fool myself into thinking that the mobile is a s good as other cameras. Unfortunately, many people seem to think so.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZOy5iPs83itHjLo2dJ3qzPYzwAA4rZfxdlJpEqMS6_L6KaEOHFotpIshRSrcy68HplQcknE0gFTGJykMu0pQQUBxymExUUlwoYNFFJSI4uGwO998j39Bzdstkt1ZqXbmxoQ4NQiv8cQ/s1600/10868227_822776794434964_1380215292077138189_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="960" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZOy5iPs83itHjLo2dJ3qzPYzwAA4rZfxdlJpEqMS6_L6KaEOHFotpIshRSrcy68HplQcknE0gFTGJykMu0pQQUBxymExUUlwoYNFFJSI4uGwO998j39Bzdstkt1ZqXbmxoQ4NQiv8cQ/s640/10868227_822776794434964_1380215292077138189_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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My Boss gives all the staff a small gift at Christmas, this was my local dialect seasonal offering.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3fgqJnSCEAVrxsS8DyvoMXl_mQ_BPAySVI3u7_EUepCKaWoz5fnrUStC5oZ0Z0wKqAyLm2TOcO1QikyDmeYTZGdK2J9zy1pk0mMAqLB5u4FZq9mVGFg5fp2BNF0qxqQKUWcN9_NFciU/s1600/the-nativity-scene-was-a-sausage-fest-5082-1291411653-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="443" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3fgqJnSCEAVrxsS8DyvoMXl_mQ_BPAySVI3u7_EUepCKaWoz5fnrUStC5oZ0Z0wKqAyLm2TOcO1QikyDmeYTZGdK2J9zy1pk0mMAqLB5u4FZq9mVGFg5fp2BNF0qxqQKUWcN9_NFciU/s640/the-nativity-scene-was-a-sausage-fest-5082-1291411653-28.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Borrowed this too !!</td></tr>
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Lastly I came across this sausage and bacon Nativity image on social media which may encourage more men to come to interactive Carol services !<br />
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... and on the other foot ...</div>
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Reindeers are hoping that Jamie continues with a traditional Christmas menu ! ... :-)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMa6HKiol5q_NKvC0DUCgf9Dbd4qYQUJaSRHVWEM3-W-k0KW_hCSO65XMKCuWPLyR63NGjpnak2l_dXZ-zrOsiDGM2lk_vgvlDZpi2g7AYMwhFGFTZmrMawInOko2nArlu0RZfOl1HVY/s1600/10384359_806184426094201_1265498890426774872_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMa6HKiol5q_NKvC0DUCgf9Dbd4qYQUJaSRHVWEM3-W-k0KW_hCSO65XMKCuWPLyR63NGjpnak2l_dXZ-zrOsiDGM2lk_vgvlDZpi2g7AYMwhFGFTZmrMawInOko2nArlu0RZfOl1HVY/s640/10384359_806184426094201_1265498890426774872_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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Wishing you all a Happy Christmas<br />
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J_on_tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469200077815953611noreply@blogger.com20