2014.04.05 Great Wester Main Line Lower Basildon - Goring - Cholsey

I had opportunity to have most of the day all for myself, so I grabbed the camera and went for a quest for good spots at the far east of Oxfordshire. Probably those places are well known, as there is very limited number of bridges along the line, however to know the location is only part of success: convenient parking space, time to get from a car to the place as well as options of framing can give (or take) extra points. That is also part of a plan to combine these findings into decent guide (which I kind of started long time ago with Denchworth and Kennington Junction ). Thus disclaimer: these photos are only to provide reference for location and possibilities - you need better weather, time and subject to make the most. However poor they may be though, this is the last season when these places look in that way, as the electrification works has seriously started and soon on that stretch of the line a new element - catenary - will appear, with all the consequences.

Lower Basildon - technically outside Oxfordshire borders, however trying to find
a decent place to capture bridge on Thames at Goring this meadow was too tempting.

 

165105+165103 1D27 London Paddington - Oxford see from bridge on the road leading to The Leatherne Bottel

South Stoke Ferry Road

South Stoke South Bank - unusual sight of Class 150

Reading Road at Cholsey - view on both sides from the road bridge.

Thames at Cholsey

Cholsey Cutting. It takes 10 minutes walk to get here but is well worth it.
There is a fence added to the bricked barriers , but it was modified by some spotters by adding extra openings.

2014.03.30 Brecon Beacons

After first visit to the sea this season, now there was a time for the first visit to the mountains.
We actually were in that area in 2008, and last year had similar round walk nearby.
I have to admit I was overly optimistic, as even in relatively not challenging mountains 5 miles is not the same as on flat. Incline along Upper Neuadd Reservoir easy, if not boring, but climb on Craig Cwmoergwm seriously increased heart rate. The worst was the return back to the car park at waterfalls: the path was generally flooded, so avoiding wet shoes caused us to zig-zac and made the distance much longer, and then final descent from Craig y Fan Ddu killed our thighs. We were pretty lucky with the weather, as all the way to the destination there was strong haze, but when we climbed just to the car park level, it cleared.

When we set off we didn't know that in a couple of hours we would have to roll down that moutain...

I was surprised to find railway track in that area, it appeared we were there just 2 days
before Torpantau station of Brecon Mountain Railway opened after 50 years

Tho whole area was affected by strong winds - here example of trees in different positions.

For the first time I tried panoramas and the result is not bad at all

 

GPX track of our walk is here and KMZ file with map underlay (courtesy of Bing maps) here

2014.03.23 Motocross Culham

MX Nationals Round 1 at Culham circuit was annonced all over Abingdon, so as the morning seemed to start a nice day, we went to see the place I visited last year.

Unfortunately the moment we arrived, so did a big cloud, and for the rest of time there it was wet and chilly, with only couple of bright spells. The riders, protected against anything, kept flying...

2014.03.16 Boscombe

Last year we ended exploration of Dorset coastline at Christchurch, last weekend we resumed paying visit to Boscombe beach. It is sandy, wide, there is enough pebbles to keep the boy uccupied and enough shells (actually awfully lot) to entertain the woman. Along the road on top of the cliff there are free parking spaces. There is wide tarmac pavement along the beach, it is very popular with cyclists. But fear not, there is riding ban over summer months, although I suspect trying to cycle at that time would be impossible anyway: good access to so nice beach means in must be packed, actually when we were leaving there was no free parking space left, and the beach was nearly empty! I also don't think there are enough of facilities like toilets to serve the crowd. We visited the pier and although from otside not as exceptional as the one in Clevedon, nevertheless nice to walk along. I liked the exhibition shwing facts from its history very much.
On the way back we drove through Bournemouth and had a look at the main beach: few (and paid) parking spaces, funfair at the entrance to the pier, and presumably even more packed. So we will skip that for the next visit to that area. For now some memories from Boscombe:

2014.03.12-13 DB

Of course it is hard not to find a train in Germany, but frankly this time I travelled on board more than I watched them. Ubiquitous S-Bahn is easily the best form of transport in busy Munich metropolis.
It was kind of unfortunate that the trains were so long it was hard to find some decent angle to fit them in the frame. Honestly it is pleasure to see so much interest in that form of transport from passengers and so generous offer by the responsible for transport. I fell in love with 'Talent'  BR442, tripple sets of which head south towards Alps.

BR423 Starnberg

BR442 Starnberg

Starnberg

BR423 + BR442 Starnberg Nord

Münich Hbf.

 

2014.03.12-13 Bayern

Some snapshots from Bavaria - not many unfortunately (good weather wasted at training room) and not many words to write about them - they speak for themselves.

Traditional bavarian dresses

Starnberg maypole

Munich Marienplatz

Munich airport Audi Quattro display

2014.03.09 Streatley

The sightseeing season has started! Even though I had to scrape the windows of the car mid-week, on sunny Sunday temperature reached 17C, and with cloud free sky there was no way we could waste it at home. As a warm up we chose not very distant and pretty short walk near Streatley (Berkshire). With hills, forest and meadows it was pleasant, although I hoped for better views of Thames valley.

Apart from the ferns I did not see anything particularly catching in that view,
but clearly for somebody it was sentimental enough to place a bench

Bumpy meadow

Talking about Thames valley I meant railway line of course, and that was the only spot.
Here Class 43 on its way to London

And stopping service going West.

There was strong haze, but generally air was clean, it this case so much there is no contrail left by this BA plane!

There were many red kites gliding over our heads

Well deserved lunch ;) The Bull at Streatley
Sunday roast wasn't something to write about, but it felt better in the garden.

GPX track of our walk is here and KMZ file with map underlay (courtesy of Bing maps) here