Notice

I haven't walked past here since last year so it was a nice surprise to see this 'Open' notice with its promise of things like tea, cakes and pizza.  This was once the Hodbarrow Mines Offices (built in 1873) and it is the only building that remains of the enterprise.  In more recent times it was the Commodore Club (a bar and restaurant) which closed a long time ago and was eventually put up for sale.  We've noticed a lot of building work over the last couple of year and then managed to miss the actual opening of the Hotel and Bistro which I now discover was back in December.  

Its new name is Herdwicks (the name of the local breed of sheep) and their Facebook page says this door, kindly donated, is from the original Hodbarrow Mines offices, still with the 'Hodbarrow' lettering in place, although of course the paint is sparklingly new..  It always surprises me the amount of historical 'stuff' that people have squirreled away locally.  As it was late in the day we didn't go inside but anticipate it will be a nice end to our circular amble in future.

Here is the other side of the building as seen from the sea wall over Hodbarrow Lagoon.  I've had to dive into my archives for this photo which was taken in February 2016, a colder winter than this year's warm one when we have only had the occasional fine dusting of snow on the hills which soon melted away.  

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey through the alphabet, this week sojourning at N here 

       

Hodbarrow

Millom School's "Its your Tern Project" has certainly added a welcome splash of colour to the RSPB Hodbarrow hide whose solid dark concrete has a tendancy to look more like a nuclear bunker than a place to  watch birds.

Panels designed and painted by pupils at Millom School and installed in 2013, the colours are still vibrant.

Heron and Natterjack toad contemplating, detail from the middle panel.

Gorse Flowers

Gorse seems to be in flower much of the year hence the saying "when the gorse is in flower kissings in season"  but at this time of year it looks it dazzling best.  The colour is not one that would sit well in a garden but splashed across a hillside it is in its elemental best.   I read recently that you can make wine with the flowers, they are certainly plentiful, but think you would have to wear thick gloves and long sleeves to fend off the thorns.  I'll leave these flowers for the bees.

Hodbarrow by the lagoon looking towards the old (1866) lighthouse

ABC Wednesday - V

Oh look here is a sideways view of a V. Or perhaps it is a water skiing jump ramp, although best to veer away from it in this position by the banking, it is laid up for the season. In the summer it may be used by vacationing visitors when it will be at the other end of Hodbarrow Lagoon. At this time of year most of the visitors are wintering waterfowl and of course the locals stay year round

and are beautiful. It won't be long before this juvenile gets its white feathers When it was little mother would be very vexed if you came too near, now she lets them do their own thing. When tired of the lagoon walk over to
Hodbarrow Point, sit on the seat, perhaps have some victuals and enjoy the view across the Duddon Estuary.

Living on the coast and close to the Lake District means that water sports and messing about in boats are very popular pastimes. But sometimes you have to transport your equipment and may need some sort of vehicle
perhaps a van. What a fun paint job, notice the blue bars welded on the top. This was parked by a popular bay on the lake frequented by canoeists. It has a landing stage for larger boats although I have rarely seen one docked there and in the summer the main use is for children to run along it and jump off the end into the water. Bit too chilly at this time of year.
But now lets vacation or vacances in France. What a vivid blue sky and sign. You may be thinking to yourself. That's a bit of a boring picture. Well it serves two purposes, one by happy coincidence the bus stop is called Le Verger and two, I tend to take pictures of signs because being a procrastinator they act as a memory aid when I am vacillating and verify my volatile recall when I eventually label them.
Lastly, a photo taken because V is a tricky letter. I wonder who lives in a house like this?

Vault over to ABC Wednesday to view more interpretations of the letter V.

Sea Wall Lighthouses

A lovely day for a stroll on the Hodbarrow sea wall yesterday. Photo looking out to sea on the Duddon Estuary. Not on this picture, but to the north east of it. a shape was exciting a number of peoples attention, looking at first like a large ship but seen through binoculars it appeared to be a gas rig. There are large fields in the Morecambe Bay area so Centrica may be prospecting up here now.
But the title of this post is lighthouses so here is the first one, restored in recent times. The tilt is the lighthouses not mine, although I have taken a few unintentionally tilting objects in my time. The banking was built up to prevent further movement. I presume the lighthouse will be the same age as the sea wall (1905).
Walking up to the top of the sea wall to Hodbarrow Point and then turning to go along the old sea wall which is on the other side of the lagoon
and here is the old lighthouse. Not made of metal but
a sturdy brick build. This was constructed by the haematite mining company in 1866 to protect shipping in the estuary.

Black Combe Walk

After a week of rain Sunday arrived with clear blue skies. We toddled out to take a walk to the top of Black Combe. The bracken is now all golden brown
and Moorgill Beck bubbled and gurgled in the lower reaches. A couple of raptors glided in the sky while nervous stonechats called 'tscak tscak'.
There were lots of wax-caps at our feet. I think these yellow ones are the Golden Wax-cap
and this is the Slimy Wax-cap. These particular fungi are an indicator of ancient grasslands and like moss and short grass. The sheep have been on these uplands for many centuries keeping the grass nice and short.
The trig point on the top had been newly painted a brilliant white. The Remembrance Day crosses had been placed at the bottom and a couple of poppies on the top in memory of those who no longer walk the Lakeland hills.

The breeze on the top was chilly but the sea below was still and the views were clear. The mountain ranges to the north, the Isle of Man and the Calf of Man to the west and Blackpool tower to the south. Looking towards the tower with binoculars The Man Who Knows said he could see the Big Dipper as well. Perhaps he could.

Path down from Black Combe foreground; In the sea - Barrow and end of Walney Island, top, with Hodbarrow Lagoon, lower left.

Returning on the lane down towards Whicham church here on this November day was a Foxglove. The hedge and all around was bare but this was budding and flowering. The Autumn days have been warm, almost spring like, so perhaps this mysterious flower had been enticed into life by the temperature.
Further along the lane the hedge's tops had been cut but a few branches were budding and also appearing, new leaves.

So perhaps the end of Thomas Hood's poem 'No' is not quite true for this month.

"...No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds
November"