Alpines

Just a simple blog post today- some more close-up shots of the flora in the garden, by Amy.

 

Welsh Highland Heritage

The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway is a new one for us, despite holidaying in Porthmadog since we were both kids.  We've used the gift shop a lot the last few years (and their book section is dangerously tempting), just never got around to riding the trains.  With very little else open post-Lockdown easing in August, we thought we'd give it a go.

Ah, the joys of insomnia...  Up early to see the dawn.

These shots give a very skewed impression on the day; there was a yellow weather warning out for winds and storms, and we had some concerns the trains might be cancelled.

The train for the day was in the hands of "Glaslyn", seen here running around at the terminus.

It's a very short line, running from the mainline station to the outskirts of Porthmadog, but you get a trip around the museum and engine sheds and a ride on the miniature railway that's on site too, and the vols are friendly and welcoming.

The miniature line; seriously stirring up thoughts of installing something from the front of our house to the back with such a short loco...

...although this one, in the museum, is more to my taste.  It's only a push-along ride on one for the kids, but I'd happily have one of these at the house.

Back on the train and back to Porthmadog.

We'd arrived early and managed to bag this carriage to ourselves- a lovely little vehicle that I'll be trying to do a model of on the laser cutter soon.

Overall it was a nice little ride on the train for a morning, the museum was interesting, and it would be nice to go back when they're having an event, when something approaching normality returns. 

Bolton Abbey with (no) Social Distancing

Looking for something to do back in the summer hols, we headed out to Bolton Abbey, near Skipton.  As with everywhere these days, you need to book in advance of course, but it seemed like being a nice day weather-wise, and we thought we could do a bit of a walk and a picnic.

Rather than the Abbey ruins themselves, we headed for the walk up the river- the paths are marked one-way for the most part, up the western bank of the river...

to the aqueduct then back down the eastern bank of the river.

Alarm bells were ringing when we arrived though, and the Disney-style looped queuing system for the toilets, that a fair few people were ignoring.

Without wishing to sound too negative or end on a bad note, it stopped being a pleasant experience about mid-morning.  We'd booked to go early and it wasn't too bad when it was fairly quiet.  But by about 11am, it was more crowded.  This wouldn't be an issue were people following the rules for the paths, but when families and couples with massive dogs (off the lead of course) are charging at you, ignoring the one-way signs, then getting angry you're in their way, it stops being fun.  Especially on the narrow paths with the steep drops off the side, that was terrific.

By the time we reached the bridge near the loos, Social Distancing was itself a distant memory.  Just try to suggest someone was about to be a rude arse and force you into a river to get out of their way, or be told you were a Sheeple for wanting people to stand away from you in the loo queue... I don't know if it was something about the visiting demographic by the middle of the day, but I hadn't heard so many conspiracy theories about the virus in one place before.  We gave up on the Abbey and went home, and haven't been back since.  It was much nicer in Wales... 

 

On safari for a Welsh Pony

Much to our surprise, we managed two escapes to Wales this year; it looked like the Welsh were going to keep the border closed altogether for the whole duration.  Anyway, amongst the many things on the to-do list was for me (Ben) to try and get some pictures of "Welsh Pony".  This loco is probably my favourite engine full stop, having spent a lot of time during holiday visits to Porthmadog in the 1980's and 1990's scrambling all over it whilst it was plinthed outside the station.

Despite it being pretty much knackered (after being run mechanically into the ground in the 1940's, then exposed to sea air for the next several decades) the surprise decision was taken to restore it to traffic.  It didn't look like it would be all that useful being a smaller locomotive compared to much of the fleet, but then the Coronavirus Crisis hit, and the loco went from being tested to an essential working loco pretty much overnight.  Short trains of vintage stock running regularly from Porthmadog to Tanybwlch and back are the order of the post-Covid day, and "Welsh Pony" (running as plain old no.5 in a plain old livery, until a 'formal' naming event in the Autumn) became something I really wanted to photograph. 

With the loco running twice a day, nearly every day, there were plenty of opportunities to see the loco but the weather was the complicating factor.  Photographing a dark-coloured steam loco in a forest in dull light isn't easy.

A lot of logging has been taking place since the last time we were up around Tanybwlch, which has somwhat spoilt some of my regular locations up here.  Still, with the station cafe open it makes for some nice walks in the woods, and somewhere to go for a brew afterwards.

We took a ride on the train whilst we were up in Wales too- I like to try and support the railways I photograph wherever possible, particularly in these difficult times, even if it's just buying lunch from the cafe or trips to the gift shop.

"Linda" running-round at Tanybwlch, one of the most scenic stations on any preserved line.

Up in the hills again, and some nice colours in amongst the greenery.

"Prince" in a rare patch of sun.  Well I say rare; it was quite sunny on the second visit to Wales, but when you've been cooped up in the house for 5 months, and there's a choice between a walk in the woods on a sunny day or a trip to the beach, you go to the beach...

Platform shelter at Minfford; might make a nice prototype to try doing on the laser cutter at some point.

"Welsh Pony" itself, approaching Tanybwlch .  Nice to be able to see the loco, shame about the dull weather.

And the last train picture I took during the holiday, "Welsh Pony" at Penrhyndeudraeth.

The last photo I took on the first visit, and a rare patch of sun and nice weather.  This is the bridge over the road near Tanybwlch, and a shot I've wanted to take for years.  We'd been hoping, lockdown permitting, that we could get back up to the railway for the weekend when the loco is formally launched back into traffic.  That looks bloody unlikely now, so a goal for next year perhaps...

Plas Newydd

Back in August... we were running out of places to go whilst we were in Wales given a lot of stuff hadn't opened up post-Lockdown, but we had managed to book some tickets for the National Trust gardens at Plas Newwydd on Anglesey.

We arrived early, so drove down the estuary a bit to have a drink and some choccy overlooking the Menai Strait.

Back up to the Gardens (the house was shut) for opening time, and a stroll around.

It was very odd lighting- nice blue sky, but little sun.

Playing around a bit with zooms and long exposures.

Rather taken with these steps, shame we have such a small, flat garden back home.

Shame we also don't have anywhere with a tree that could justify one of these.

Another nice morning out, though we look forward to being able to do the house and the second-hand bookshop.  Maybe next year.