BOB'S BACK!!...

Well, because of the recent drought, we were all very concerned for Bobs well being. He hadn't been seen since that Saturday night when he dared to cross the 'great path'. The lure of tasty discarded takeaway cartons had encouraged him to be reckless! The dry spell forced me to turn on the garden sprinkler, and Bob has grasped this window of opportunity to make the arduous trip home. He's back as if nothing has happened, settled down in his usual spot next to Zip. The only give away to his recent adventures is the slightly yellow staining of his former crisp white lettering, what has he been up to?!

Zip has been doing really well. Staying in his safety zone, and not straying too far he's had not even a bite of the foxgloves. They haven't come into flower yet so we will have to see if his resolve can last. Lets hope that Bob doesn't lead him astray...

This is Zips hangout, under the bay window next to the tree stump. Nice spot!

Bob, is not far away, but prefers to hang perilously from the vertical stonework. As you know he's got a wild side, a risk taker!

To be fair, Flash is a right lazy bugger! Barely moving from the corner of the garage and feasting nightly on MY chive and garlic plants. It's no wonder he's got so big.

He's even managed to find himself a luxury bachelor pad. Each time I lift it up to check on him, he's shacked up with some other younger snail! And he's probably taking them out to dine on MY herb garden. Cheek!!

Spot used to live in the same corner as Flash but seems to have become fed up with his behaviour and moved further up the border. Leaving a nomadic existence, I'm not sure that Spot is truly 'happy'. Don't worry, I'll keep a special eye on him...

As for Speedy, well, he is in here somewhere. He likes a varied diet and this takes him far and wide.

He is not in my good books at the moment. Thousands of plants and weeds to choose from, but no, go and eat my asparagus would you?!

Yes, I know it's you. I was really looking forward to that as well. How greedy are you? One and a half fully grown shoots in two days! I'm watching you...

It'll soon be time to have the first round up of the points tallied so far. The scoring system is complicated so it is not always clear who is in the lead. So we will just have to wait and see...

The 'lost' channels of Armitage...

I love 'mooching' over old maps, finding old buildings and long lost roads. My search on the ground for these have led me on many an adventure. On an older map of Mavesyn Ridware and surrounding area I noticed some intriguing waterways leading from the R. Trent into the grounds of the newly built power station at Armitage, but on this later map they've all but disappeared. Were they still there, I thought?
The ariel shots on Google Earth were no help, as this area fell in the 'blurry' zone and it just wasn't quite clear enough to see. I would have to go and investigate, and this was kayak territory...

It wasn't going to be simple because there isn't easy access to the river here. Although a main road crosses the river at 'High Bridge' it is to my surprise, rather high! The route would have to be a little more convoluted. So, we ('we' being me and Jenny, she's a good sport and up for any expedition) launched our kayaks at the canal near Handsacre. Three quarters of a mile further west we had to portage the kayaks through this narrow tunnel under the railway, along the footbridge over the river, and then part way down the field. A 22kg boat starts to feel a bit heavy at this point, and now I've got to go back and fetch Jennys!

Now on the R.Trent, we paddled upstream, under the footbridge and it wasn't long before I spotted a gap in the bank on my left. It wasn't far enough up to be anything to do with the power station, but needed to be checked out. Pushing through the reeds, a pleasant channel of water presented itself. This was fun. A short paddle later and...Ooh! Tunnels. Decision time. 1.) Do I go in? 2.)Left or right. Sticking the nose of the kayak in, I soon realised that the water level in the tunnel wasn't deep enough, and I couldn't get out and explore by foot because although the water was shallow, prodding with a paddle revealed nearly 5 foot of silt. Duly marked on my Gps, I retreated.

Half a miles hard paddling against the current, the railway crosses the river. There used to be a weir here but has long ago disintegrated, leaving the fast flowing water strewn with boulders and stonework. Impossible to get a clean stroke for all the debris, we were forced to get out and 'line' the kayaks through here. Thankfully the water was low, but this stretch is treacherous after heavy rain as you can see from the height and amount of rubbish/trees wedged against the bridge footings!

The river widened out, and it was not long before we came to the first channel. We were out of luck. It was narrow, fast flowing and interrupted by lots of little weirs. It was an outlet from the power station. What we needed to find was the inlet...

A good three quarters of a mile further on we came across one. Oh no! It was gated off, all this way for nothing.

Perseverance pays. Higher up, in the shadow of the cooling towers, was another channel. Someone has foolishly left the door open...

What a beautiful bit of waterway. High banks, clothed with reeds and flowers and spanned periodically by little access bridges. I was quite hopeful that we would be able to get right under the cooling towers..got my camera ready!

Foiled at the last hour!! A gate, and locked! Beyond, an inviting body of water and the continuance of the channel. I would never know where it went...

Heading for home, I was glad it was downstream. My arms were getting tired, a coffee break was needed. We found this welcoming gravel bank which made the perfect picnic spot. Well, right up to the point, after discussing "that odd smell", we noticed the bloated sheep corpse!...Hometime!!

The welcome relief of the footbridge looming into sight was short lived, as I remembered I still had to carry those heavy kayaks uphill to the canal! But I was soon enough, back at the car, and loaded up. Sinking into a soft car seat can be the best feeling sometimes...

"Lets go fly a kite..."

There is a brisk NE wind today. Perfect for kite flying, but no one seems keen to go. Maybe it has something to do with the injuries incurred last time! My arms are much better (I can get my hands up to comb my hair and everything), and my brothers back improved after a month or so! Never mind I'll go by myself....

I pack this away meticulously every time and yet it always re-emerges as if I'd just stuffed it in there!

That's better. Now it looks like a kite.....
...well, sort of a kite.

Okay, so maybe I didn't mention that it's a parachute.

When flying your parachute it is always wise to have an anchor. This may seem to be sufficient, but it isn't! When eventually it pulls free, it comes at your head like a guided missile (RUN!).

This is what you need! (Or possibly something even heavier!) Oh, and put it in gear and make sure the handbrake works, or you'll lose it.

Right, got everything you need? Big kite, lots of strong rope, carabiners, heavy object, spare pants. Off to the park then...




AT THE PARK...

Always check for low flying planes, we don't want another 'incident' do we?

These pictures are from the 'good old days' when people were happy to get their arms ripped off by powerful kites.

See, with lots of you it's up in no time (and you don't have to get dragged along by your foot either).

It's up! Going well, the car is jiggling about a bit, it's pulled a little toward the ditch, but I think we're okay...

Brother gets 'carried' away. It may have been at this point that his back problems started. No, look he's having fun...I think.

Is he laughing or crying?







Oh wow! This is fun, I'm flying..

Now not as much fun. My arms are coming off and it's getting higher." At what point do you let go?", "If I get too high I won't be able to let go!". Damn I should have thought all this through several seconds ago...

Pull the canopy collapse line...OW!

If my hand w

asn't caught up I'd have let go by now. Would have saved me being dragged all over the field. Those 'skid' marks are going to take some washing out! (from the grass, really your 'mucky' mind!)

ZZzzooOW!... The rope snaps and whistles past our heads. Just as well I wasn't still up in the air, or next s

top would have been 'Grimsby'!

The parachute makes a brief break for freedom but gently flutters down beside a rather surprised grazing cow!

Tired and slightly taller we head for home.

..

Winter's over!...

I know it's been warm for ages, I know it hasn't rained for a month, but there was always that uncertain feeling that winter could suddenly return.
Today it felt that winter was gone, banished. No more late frosts, no sudden cold snaps, biting winds etc.
The leaves are truly out on the trees.
Here on the lakes near Fisherwick, some of the Coots have almost fully grown chicks!


In the 'estate' woods of Fisherwick hall the bluebells are well on their way.

Baby rabbits everywhere! Almost stepped on one while trying to take this photo! (thought it was a rock).

The sun has returned to it's former strength, not that weak yellow affair that I've become used to over winter.

Many of the fields are patchwork yellow with rapeseed flower.

The badgers are spring cleaning their sets. This spoil heap is over 5 feet tall!

Took the Vittesse out today. The vigours of spring make me want to drive that little bit too fast! The 'loud' pedal was very inviting, although getting on a bit (the car, not me) this chap still goes like "shit off a shovel"!

Not so 'secret' bunkers!....

Years ago I used to drive regularly to Admaston Hall where one of my clients lived. On the way I would pass through Fisherwick. It was a difficult lane to drive along, not particularly wide, people would drive a little too fast (not me of course), and on the one side was a foreboding brick wall scarred and holed by numerous accidents.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see these huge mounds, grassed over and with really tall telegraph pole style lightning conductors on top. What the hell were they? Curiosity got the better of me!

This was 4 years ago. A ten year old map showed nothing but fields, strange. On a much later map it suddenly appeared, 'storage depot'.

With the arrival of Google Earth this anomaly could no longer hide!

Secret bunkers have lost their 'mystic' since the freedom of information act!


I decided to have a drive round one evening and see what I could see. Approaching via a long dark lane on the Fisherwick hall side, I came across a track. The spotlights illuminated a sign. I didn't know what 'E.A NIGHT PATROLS' meant but I was pretty sure it was time to go home!

Next day I decided to have a look in daylight. There was a footpath marked on the map nearby and this seemed my best bet.

Of course I checked for any warning signs beforehand. Didn't want to be shot for being on MOD land or anything!!

No, everything seems fine, after all it's a camcorder not a camera.

I was a little nervous about filming here. I don't like confrontation and didn't want an angry exchange with a disgruntled land/bunker owner.

Tentatively I ventured into 'Morlock' territory.

'Accidentally' straying from the footpath I could see the access roads and regularly mown mounds.

Closer up, the lift entrances were clearly visible.

What was stored here? The only vehicles I've seen going in or out are lorries marked 'Skipper Produce' with a picture of a big dog face on the side! I cannot find any trace of this company!

Okay, with a bit more digging about and the help of the freedom of information act I finally, after many years got to the bottom of this.

It is an explosive store, built in 1954, supplying local mines and quarries.

The 'dog' lorries I can't explain other than it's probably not wise from a security point of view to have 'Explosives R Us' printed on the side!






Sometimes it's no fun finding out the truth. It was so much more exciting wondering about the 'bunkers in the fields'!

While I was finding the old video footage for this post, I came across some other film.

In the woods near Kinver, I came across this very overgrown strange road/ track. It led downhill, into a rocky gorge.

There up ahead, was a doorway!

A closer look left me even more intrigued.

I later found out that this is one of many 'back doors' to a huge ww2 underground factory!

Fully equipped with a pub, living accommodation, shop, hospital, this factory was kept in reserve in order to take over aircraft engine manufacturer should the more 'public' factories be bombed.

The door was securely welded shut.

I so wanted to look inside....

...but this dark foreboding, apparently bottomless hole seemed to be the only option! No way am I going in there!!!

I'll just have to keep looking for another 'front door at the back'!