Sunday Scans

An entry to Sunday Scans, a "weekly meme dedicated to scanned pictures, anything scanned welcome".  

I've gone way back in time for this photo, my teenage self has written on this slide "how many people can you get on a trig point?".  The answer is in this case four, which I think is very impressive. I have no idea which high point this triangulation point is located except that it is somewhere on the Isle of Arran in Scotland.

I only took two photos on this day (so unlike my digitally equipped self) and this is the other one, on which I have helpfully written," Looking towards the hills, Sunday Walk", so no clues there.  My friends and I spent two weeks on Arran in August '69, which I remember as being wall to wall sunshine. If you are wondering whether we could have squeezed another person on the top of the trig point perhaps I'll show you the size and type of all Ordnance Survey triangulation points.

 I'll confess this one is a digital photo, and it is in my home county, not Scotland, but I don't think I have delved far enough down in my old slides and photos to find anything else. 

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ABC Wednesday - E

E is for Excitement

My fellow fans at the Northern Rail Cup in July which was played in Blackpool. This was the first final Barrow Raiders had got to since October 1st 1983, back in the days when clubs had straightforward, no nonsense names, such as Barrow Rugby League club. By the fickle finger of fate we were playing the same opponents in July as we had in 1983 when we won the Lancashire Cup. You can see everyone is making the most of the day, especially the supermen. This is before the match started so the enthusiasm, exhilaration and enjoyment were only just starting however things did not end well and Widnes were the eventual winners. Guess we will have to wait until next time, I hope it is not another 26 years.

The day was a blustery and warm, people were enjoying the waves by the south pier although
there did not seem to be many on the big wheel maybe it was too exposed or everyone
was at on the Pleasure Beach perhaps having more Excitement riding the Pepsi Max Big One




But wouldn't it be more exciting if we saw Elvis, doesn't the National Enquirer keep spotting him in supermarkets. Here fans have Embellished their beach hut with an image of him at his prime.
Other beach huts are a little more Elaborate
These huts were near Hopeman in north east Scotland where one of the most exposed links golf course nestles next on the sea cliffs. The green on Clashash Cove is 150 feet below the 12th tee. It may be advisable to have to keep your wits about you when walking by this cove, a golf ball might be flying in your direction, and perhaps embedding itself in your skull, which would be extremely uncomfortable.

For an eclectic mix of the letter E exit to the ABC Wednesday meme

ABC Wednesday - P

Blencathra

P is for Path

They can show you a way down a ridge or take you to a view. Give you a choice of straight up a hill or winding round. You can see that numerous footsteps in the following photo have probably preferred the straight up option as that is the wider path on Ben Rinnes, maybe it keeps the gasping for breath to a minimum.

They can take you through fields of summer grain

or past May blossom
Or take you to visit curious stones



Lead you down wide hills to forests

and into dappled shade
Of course paths in woods are mysterious things who may have a mind of their own. Sometimes they are wide and sure, sometimes they appear and disappear and sometimes there are too many; which one to choose?

Perhaps follow a path by a stream, I seem to remember that is a survival tip if you get lost.


Now we come to the end of my paths for today and what is nicer than walking on a warm sunny day with the miles behind you as you come down to the end
and knowing there is a cold drink waiting for you in the Pub
For more Ps pop over to Mrs Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday

ABC Wednesday - L

L is for Lighthouse

To start with the youngest of our trio above is the Tynemouth lighthouse and pier built in 1903. The ferries pass here on their way to Scandinavia and continental Europe. Tynemouth is a historic town and resort at the mouth of the River Tyne. The pier is closed in stormy weather

Next comes the Chanory Point lighthouse (the white building in the distance built in 1846) on the Black Isle in Scotland. This is on a narrow spit on the Morray Firth where the tide sluices through the narrows. The point is a popular place for dolphin watchers and the colony of bottle-nose dolphins are the most northerly in Europe. It is also a good spot to watch porpoises and seals.

Now you may think that lighthouses mark dangerous places and hazards but here is one (just to the left of the cherry trees) that is well inland and has never flashed a light although it is lit up at night with spotlights.
This is the Sir John Barrow monument built in 1850 to commemorate Ulverston's famous son who was the 2nd secretary to the Admiralty. It is based on the John Smeaton designed Eddystone Lighthouse of 1759.
The hill is called Hoad (436 ft) so it is generally known as the Hoad Monument or the 'pepper pot'. The monument is 100 foot high and there are is a 112 step spiral staircase inside leading to magnificent views at the top to the sea and mountains.
Unfortunately it is no longer open as it is in need of repair (see the cracks below) however money is being raised to bring it back to its original state.
Hoad Hill is a popular walk but it will be busy this Easter week-end because this is where the children will be rolling their Pasch Eggs on Easter Monday. These are eggs hard boiled with onions skins and various other things to colour them although sometimes today they are painted. The aim is to roll yours the furthest without cracking it. The dialect word is Pace Eggs which is which is derived from Pasch meaning easter or passover and is supposed to symbolise the stone being rolled from Jesus's tomb although it may come from an earlier Celtic tradition.

There is an old Lancashire superstition that the empty pace eggs must be crushed because they can be used by witches as boats! Well it must be boring always being on broomsticks.

For Lots more Ls go to Mrs Nesbitts ABC Wednesday