a very wet Bolton

Bolton, still very wet.

Sheltering from the rain and having a coffee in the Odessa Cafe.

After yesterday’s slip on Harter Fell above Middleton-in-Teesdale, Co Durham my right ankle had swollen to an even larger size. It was still very sore so I thought it would be sensible to have it checked out in Hospital. I used the bus to get there and was through the accident section fairly quickly. I was sent for an x-ray which was an interesting experience. Although a cassette is placed below the ankle for an exposure to be made it is a digital tablet and no longer film. The x-ray results were available immediately on screen. After the 2 technicians reviewed the several images made I was allowed to have a look at them.

A lot of painful swelling of my right ankle.

the x-ray shows no bones broken.

I called in to the Reference section of Chorley Library to see the Clayton Reservoir display. While there I noticed a couple of students from Preston who were photographing the index books. The surprising thing was they were using a 5*4 monorail camera using colour negative sheet film. Preston college runs a course to keep film photography alive.

The Clayton Reservoir display and reference section at Chorley Library

While on my way home I noticed that work was underway to put a roof on the old WAP house at Whittle Springs on Dark Lane.

I'd been camping on the fells above the Langdale Valley in Cumbria. The weather conditions were fairly grim with thick mist for days and a large dump of overnight snow. The picture of the nice path through the woods on the outskirts of Coniston contrasted interestingly with a photo below of my tent just a few hours earlier before I had to dig it out of the snow.

This evening I called as a visitor to Grange and District Photographic Society, Cumbria. The speaker was Colin Balls who used to be a member of Chorley Photographic Society at the time I joined in the early 70s. It was interesting to see him show some digital projected sequences that he'd converted from the original 35mm slide presentations. Two of note were 'Theme on Runshaw Lane' from 1971 and 'Polkemmet' from 1978. The quality was excellent and you wouldn't know they were from 35mm slides from almost 40 years ago.

Colin's home made Royale projection system.

Colin (left) answers questions.

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While walking home this morning I came across this example of thoughtless parking. Anyone with a pram or wheelchair would have to pass by going into the busy main road. Even more annoying is that two branch roads with lots of parking are just a 15 second walk away.

After driving to Port Mary near Dundrennan, Galloway, Scotland with Barbara and Amanda we tried to get a look at the point by the sea where Mary Queen of Scots left the Scottish coast for the last time in 1568. They stayed on a wet access track while I wandered along the drive to Port Mary House where I managed to get a view down to the sea. There wasn’t much to see. Then we drove along the A710 coast road to the village of New Abbey and the ruin of Sweetheart Abbey. It was generally a rainy day with lots of Scots mist but we managed to look at the ruins between rain showers.

Port Mary

Dundrennan Abbey founded 1142
the last calling place of Mary Queen of Scots in Scotland.

Sweetheart Abbey founded 1273

Dervorguilla of Galloway (c 1210 – 1290)

New Abbey and the A710

Dervorguilla founded a Cistercian Abbey 7 miles south of Dumfries in South West Scotland, in April 1273. It still stands as a picturesque ruin of red sandstone. When her husband Sir John died in 1269, Dervorguilla had his heart embalmed and kept in a casket of ivory bound with silver. The casket (her "sweet, silent, companion") travelled with her for the rest of her life. Dervorguilla was buried beside her husband at New Abbey with the casket "clasped to her bosom". The abbey was christened 'Sweetheart Abbey', the name which it retains to this day.
 

someone else who enjoyed the cafe,
but not while we were there.

Time for a hot drink in the cosy Abbey Cafe and  shop

Mid day we drove with Steve to Startifants Lane near Chipping at base of Parlick. Walked via Higher Brock Mill to Bleasdale Circle where we stopped for a late lunch of sandwiches. Then via Higher Fair Snape Farm and up to summit of Fair Snape Fell. The conditions must have been good for hang gliders as there were a lot around. At one point I counted 16 in the air.

Steve on the climb up Fair Snape Fell

A hang glider taken from Fair Snape Fell

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The rain eventually stopped in the afternoon so I made a quick dash out to go for a cycle ride. I’d just got half way up the hill after the Waterman’s Cottage near White Cottage when I had a rear wheel puncture. After replacing the inner tube I had another. After my second repair I continued and got as far as Alance Bridge before getting a front wheel puncture. With no more inner tubes I made a repair using the old fashioned glue and patch method. I’d only done 5 miles but decided that heading home would be the safest option.

My bike after repairing the third puncture.

Greenodd sunrise

This morning called in to the Clayton Green Library to have a look at the display that Rosemary Boyd has put up to make people aware of the Clayton Old Reservoir project. The owners, United Utilities and Chorley Council want to demolish it and build houses in its place. The more people that know about the wonderful Victorian construction below their feet the better the chance of changing the decision.

Clayton Green Library on a
wet Saturday morning.

The mobile display put up by Rosemary.

Clayton Green Library interior.

The project has been been picked up in the 4 Feb 2011
Private Eye issue no 1281 page 14

Walking along a lovely green track near Broughton Mills, Cumbria I came across this fairly inconspicuous barn. It is Stickle House Barn and I’ve visited it before but this time I had my node bracket for my tripod so was able to take a multishot panorama of the interior. Inside reveals an excellent example of 17th century Cruck-framed construction. It has 2 full cruck trusses on stone bases, with tie beams. Fortunately it is a grade 2 listed building. The OS grid co-ordinates are SD 21370 91119 if you want to have a closer look.

Stickle House Barn.

Stickle House Barn interior showing the cruck-framed construction.