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Photo of Mount Sefrit, elevation 7,191 feet above sea-level, captured near the Mount Baker White Salmon Lodge and alongside State Route 542, the Mount Baker Highway, via Minolta MD Tele Rokkor-X 135mm F/2.8 Lens. Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. North Cascades Region of the Cascades Range. Whatcom County, Washington. Late October 2016.

 

Exposure Time: 0.5 sec. * ISO Speed: ISO-100 * Aperture: F/22 * Bracketing: None

Expect more of these [Backlog] shots for the -hopefully- incredibly short period of time my camera will be out of service for, as I realised how much I love doing the post-processing.

 

This does not count as one of my dreaded pet photos, this is the balcony of one of my neighbours on the 23rd floor. The cat was meaowing (yes, I made that into a verb) and called my attention. Sort of liked how it looked overall.

 

Please don't leave badges, group images or invitations on my photos.

This series, which I expect to continue for a while, is taken at Jordan Lake. It is a man made "Recreational" area that was created in the late 60's or early 70's. Although it is located just about 20 miles from my home in North Carolina, I have never explored it in the 6 years I have lived here. In fact, I have avoided it like the plague because, from early spring until late fall it is packed with people like so ; www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/jord/main.php Not my kind of place at all!

 

But, recently I visited it on a cold and cloudy winter day and it was deserted; another place entirely.. I saw some possibilities for photographs. It's a rather large lake with lots of places to explore so I will...until the crowds return.

I was not expecting to see this parked outside a really posh Hotel. But anyways, iv'e been wanting to see a MK1 Punto for several years, and genuinely i have not seen one either parked or driving on the road since about 2014! And the amount that has decreased in the past years is shocking. They were soo common in the 00's and are now very rare, even the late ones, from 1999! I never have much luck with old Fiats, cause they have all disappeared for some reason? But i really got exited with this spot, as i do really like these, and its probably my favourite Fiat.

It was supplied by Grays Dealership in Warwick. Most of the older Fiats i spot are from this dealership, as its local, and still open today!

This Punto is an amazing survivor, and apart from missing nearside front indicator glass and some faded and peeled paint on the bonnet, it looks in great condition. MOT history looks in fair condition and having done 70k miles and around 5k a year, i think that its still got lots of life left.

"if you expect nothing from anybody, you're never disappointed." -Sylvia Plath ("The Bell Jar")

 

You know, maybe having an overactive mind isn't a bad thing, seeing things the way others don't. I was playing around with lights in my room and trying to see things from a new angle. I think it worked

 

Single SB-800 to camera left, directly to the side of the model (my wife), diffuser on

White holes being still on the outskirts of a serious science expected to deliver more groundbreaking findings soon.

Snow White: Well, it has started, hasn't it?

 

Knight Lillian: All expected, Vice Regent.

 

Snow White: No one has to tell you two to stay close to the Queen but I need you to remain extra close. She likes to send you both out on errands but try and change her mind in such circumstances. Feel free to involve me. I can often make suggestions to assist her. Queen Alice is untouchable but... I always fear there is a weakness in that.

 

Knight Lillian: The war has returned, Vice Regent. It is natural to be concerned. My sister and I will bring the utmost focus to bear.

 

Knight Amelia: Do not look at all of this as a threat, Vice Regent. Look at it as a blessed opportunity for Unger to come within our reach again.

 

A small sample of todays shots!

The jumping guys moved to a sign to jump from [I didn't see any wires] - South Bank - London

  

Expecting a busy day all dressed up.

This mama is clearly ready to give birth at any moment.

expect to feel everything

 

pentax67ii | tri-x 400

  

Angle was odd, so this is actually a 9-shot handheld stitch which turned out better than expected.

 

Photo from the Cocha Cashu Biological Research Station, Manu NP, Peru.

His life, his being, his soul.... is greatness.

He is my air and God's gift to me. He is my Satire.

Wasn't expecting to catch anything passing by the Northshore Mining bridge at MP 23 with reports that the 11a train no longer runs because of production cutbacks in 2013. Even if the 11a train was running on this cold day it would have to be an hour late to be here at the railfan overpass.

 

But, when I passed over the bridge I could see the tail of an empty waiting to get on the single track to head west to Babbitt. By the time I turned around and parked the car, the 653 and trio of SD40-2s was in view with loads to Silver Bay.

 

The very clean NSM SD40-2 653 was leading the NSM 660 and 655 on Feb. 20, 2013.

  

I had a tip from a friend that CP 234 had a pumpkin on it, so out I went. I wasn't expecting to see 6 engines come in to the viewfinder. CP 8127, CP 8903, CP 8501, CP 8037, BNSF 5462 and BNSF 7416 make up the power for almost 9800 feet of train. This is a great place to shoot east bounds but boy, the 60 mph that they come at you is amazing!

The Ribblehead Viaduct or Batty Moss Viaduct carries the Settle–Carlisle railway across Batty Moss in the Ribble Valley at Ribblehead, in North Yorkshire, England. The viaduct, built by the Midland Railway, is 28 miles (45 km) north-west of Skipton and 26 miles (42 km) south-east of Kendal. It is a Grade II* listed structure. Ribblehead Viaduct is the longest and the third tallest structure on the Settle–Carlisle line.

 

The viaduct was designed by John Sydney Crossley, chief engineer of the Midland Railway, who was responsible for the design and construction of all major structures along the line. The viaduct was necessitated by the challenging terrain of the route. Construction began in late 1869. It necessitated a large workforce, up to 2,300 men, most of whom lived in shanty towns set up near its base. Over 100 men lost their lives during its construction. The Settle to Carlisle line was the last main railway in Britain to be constructed primarily with manual labour.

 

By the end of 1874, the last stone of the structure had been laid; on 1 May 1876, the Settle–Carlisle line was opened for passenger services. During the 1980s, British Rail proposed closing the line. In 1989, after lobbying by the public against closure, it was announced that the line would be retained. Since the 1980s, the viaduct has had multiple repairs and restorations and the lines relaid as a single track. The land underneath and around the viaduct is a scheduled ancient monument; the remains of the construction camp and navvy settlements (Batty Wife Hole, Sebastopol, and Belgravia) are located there.

 

In the 1860s, the Midland Railway, keen to capitalise on the growth in rail traffic between England and Scotland, proposed building a line between Settle and Carlisle. The line was intended to join the Midland line between Skipton and Carnforth to the city of Carlisle. On 16 July 1866, the Midland Railway (Settle to Carlisle) Act was passed by Parliament, authorising the company "to construct Railways from Settle to Hawes, Appleby, and Carlisle; and for other Purposes".

 

After the Act passed, the Midland Railway came to an agreement with the London & North Western Railway, to run services on the LNWR line via Shap. The company applied for a bill of abandonment for its original plan but Parliament rejected the bill on 16 April 1869 and the Midland Railway was compelled to build the Settle to Carlisle line.

 

The line passed through difficult terrain that necessitated building several substantial structures. The company's chief engineer, John Sydney Crossley and its general manager, James Joseph Allport, surveyed the line. Crossley was responsible for the design and construction of the major works, including Ribblehead Viaduct.

 

On 6 November 1869, a contract to construct the Settle Junction (SD813606) to Dent Head Viaduct section including Ribblehead Viaduct was awarded to contractor John Ashwell. The estimated cost was £343,318 and completion was expected by May 1873. Work commenced at the southern end of the 72-mile (116 km) line.

 

By July 1870, work had started on the foundations for Ribblehead Viaduct. On 12 October 1870, contractor's agent William Henry Ashwell laid the first stone. Financial difficulties came to greatly trouble John Ashwell; on 26 October 1871, his contract was cancelled by mutual agreement. From this date, the viaduct was constructed by the Midland Railway who worked on a semi-contractual basis overseen by William Ashwell.

 

The viaduct was built by a workforce of up to 2,300 men. They lived, often with their families, in temporary camps, named Batty Wife Hole, Sebastopol, and Belgravia on adjacent land. More than a hundred workers lost their lives in construction-related accidents, fighting, or from outbreaks of smallpox. According to Church of England records, there are around 200 burials of men, women, and children in the graveyard at Chapel-le-Dale and the church has a memorial to the railway workers.

 

In December 1872, the design for Ribblehead Viaduct was changed from 18 arches to 24, each spanning 45 feet (13.7 m). By August 1874, the arches had been keyed and the last stone was laid by the end of the year. A single track was laid over the viaduct and on 6 September 1874 the first train carrying passengers was hauled across by the locomotive Diamond. On 3 August 1875, the viaduct was opened for freight traffic and on 1 May 1876, the whole line opened for passenger services, following approval by Colonel F. H. Rich from the Board of Trade.

 

Ribblehead Viaduct is 440 yards (400 m) long, and 104 feet (32 m) above the valley floor at its highest point, it was designed to carry a pair of tracks aligned over the sleeper walls. The viaduct has 24 arches of 45 feet (14 m) span, the foundations of which are 25 feet (7.6 m) deep. The piers are tapered, roughly 13 feet (4 m) across at the base and 5 feet 11 inches (1.8 m) thick near the arches and have loosely-packed rubble-filled cores. Every sixth pier is 50 per cent thicker, a mitigating measure against collapse should any of the piers fail. The north end is 13 feet (4 m) higher in elevation than the south, a gradient of 1:100.

 

The viaduct is faced with limestone masonry set in hydraulic lime mortar and the near-semicircular arches are red brick, constructed in five separate rings, with stone voussoirs. Sleeper walls rise from the arches to support the stone slabs of the viaduct's deck and hollow spandrels support plain solid parapet walls. In total, 1.5 million bricks were used; some of the limestone blocks weigh eight tons.

 

Ribblehead Viaduct is 980 feet (300 m) above sea level on moorland exposed to the prevailing westerly wind. Its height, from foundation to rails is 55 yards (50.3 m). It is 442.7 yards (404.8 m) long on a lateral curve with a radius of 0.85 miles (1.37 km).

 

The viaduct is the longest structure on the Settle–Carlisle Railway which has two taller viaducts, Smardale Viaduct at 131 feet (40 m) near Crosby Garrett, and Arten Gill at 117 feet (36 m). Ribblehead railway station is less than half a mile to the south and to the north is Blea Moor Tunnel, the longest on the line, near the foot of Whernside.

 

During 1964, several Humber cars were blown off their wagons while being carried over the viaduct on a freight train.

 

By 1980, the viaduct was in disrepair and many of its piers had been weakened by water ingress. Between 1981 and 1984, repairs were undertaken as a cost of roughly £100,000. Repairs included strengthening the piers by the addition of steel rails and concrete cladding. For safety reasons, the line was reduced to single track across the viaduct to avoid the simultaneous loading from two trains crossing and a 20mph speed limit was imposed. During 1988, minor repairs were carried out and trial bores were made into several piers. In 1989, a waterproof membrane was installed.

 

In the 1980s, British Rail proposed closing the line, citing the high cost of repairs to its major structures. Vigorous campaigning by the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line, formed during 1981, garnered and mobilised public support against the plan. In 1989, the line was saved from closure. According to Michael Portillo, who took the decision in his capacity as Minister of State for Transport, the economic arguments for closing it had been weakened by a spike in passenger numbers, and further studies by engineers had determined that restoration work would not be nearly as costly as estimated.

 

In November 1988, Ribblehead Viaduct was Grade II* listed. The surrounding land where the remains of its construction camps are located has been recognised as a scheduled monument.

 

Between 1990 and 1992, Ribblehead Viaduct underwent major restoration. Between September 1999 and March 2001, a programme of improvements was implemented involving renewal of track, replacement of ballast and the installation of new drainage. Restoration has allowed for increased levels of freight traffic assuring the line's viability.

 

The Settle–Carlisle Line is one of three north–south main lines, along with the West Coast Main Line through Penrith and the East Coast Main Line via Newcastle. During 2016, the line carried seven passenger trains from Leeds to Carlisle per day in each direction, and long-distance excursions, many hauled by preserved steam locomotives.

 

Regular heavy freight trains use the route avoiding congestion on the West Coast Main Line. Timber trains, and stone from Ingleton quarry, pass over the viaduct when they depart from the yard opposite Ribblehead railway station. The stone from Ingleton is ferried to the terminal at Ribblehead by road. Limestone aggregate trains from Arcow quarry sidings (near Horton-in-Ribblesdale) run to various stone terminals in the Leeds and Manchester areas on different days – these trains reverse in the goods loop at Blea Moor signal box because the connection from the quarry sidings faces north.

 

Major restoration work started in November 2020 as a £2.1 million project to re-point mortar joints and replace broken stones got underway. Network Rail released a timelapse video of the works in June 2021.

 

Building the viaduct was the inspiration behind the ITV period drama series Jericho. The viaduct appears in the 1970 film No Blade of Grass and also in the 2012 film Sightseers. A number of other films and television programmes have also included the viaduct.

 

North Yorkshire is a ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber and North East regions of England. It borders County Durham to the north, the North Sea to the east, the East Riding of Yorkshire to the south-east, South Yorkshire to the south, West Yorkshire to the south-west, and Cumbria and Lancashire to the west. Northallerton is the county town.

 

The county is the largest in England by land area, at 9,020 km2 (3,480 sq mi), and has a population of 1,158,816. The largest settlements are Middlesbrough (174,700) in the north-east and the city of York (152,841) in the south. Middlesbrough is part of the Teesside built-up area, which extends into County Durham and has a total population of 376,663. The remainder of the county is rural, and the largest towns are Harrogate (73,576) and Scarborough (61,749). For local government purposes the county comprises four unitary authority areas — York, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and North Yorkshire — and part of a fifth, Stockton-on-Tees.

 

The centre of the county contains a wide plain, called the Vale of Mowbray in the north and Vale of York in the south. The North York Moors lie to the east, and south of them the Vale of Pickering is separated from the main plain by the Howardian Hills. The west of the county contains the Yorkshire Dales, an extensive upland area which contains the source of the River Ouse/Ure and many of its tributaries, which together drain most of the county. The Dales also contain the county's highest point, Whernside, at 2,415 feet (736 m).

 

North Yorkshire non-metropolitan and ceremonial county was formed on 1 April 1974 as a result of the Local Government Act 1972. It covered most of the North Riding of Yorkshire, as well as northern parts of the West Riding of Yorkshire, northern and eastern East Riding of Yorkshire and the former county borough of York. Northallerton, as the former county town for the North Riding, became North Yorkshire's county town. In 1993 the county was placed wholly within the Yorkshire and the Humber region.

 

Some areas which were part of the former North Riding were in the county of Cleveland for twenty-two years (from 1974 to 1996) and were placed in the North East region from 1993. On 1 April 1996, these areas (Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton borough south of the River Tees) became part of the ceremonial county as separate unitary authorities. These areas remain within the North East England region.

 

Also on 1 April 1996, the City of York non-metropolitan district and parts of the non-metropolitan county (Haxby and nearby rural areas) became the City of York unitary authority.

 

On 1 April 2023, the non-metropolitan county became a unitary authority. This abolished eight councils and extended the powers of the county council to act as a district council.

 

The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority held its first meeting on 22 January 2024, assumed its powers on 1 February 2024 and the first mayor is to be elected in May 2024.

 

The geology of North Yorkshire is closely reflected in its landscape. Within the county are the North York Moors and most of the Yorkshire Dales, two of eleven areas in England and Wales to be designated national parks. Between the North York Moors in the east and the Pennine Hills. The highest point is Whernside, on the Cumbrian border, at 2,415 feet (736 m). A distinctive hill to the far north east of the county is Roseberry Topping.

 

North Yorkshire contains several major rivers. The River Tees is the most northerly, forming part of the border between North Yorkshire and County Durham in its lower reaches and flowing east through Teesdale before reaching the North Sea near Redcar. The Yorkshire Dales are the source of many of the county's major rivers, including the Aire, Lune, Ribble, Swale, Ure, and Wharfe.[10] The Aire, Swale, and Wharfe are tributaries of the Ure/Ouse, which at 208 km (129 mi) long is the sixth-longest river in the United Kingdom. The river is called the Ure until it meets Ouse Gill beck just below the village of Great Ouseburn, where it becomes the Ouse and flows south before exiting the county near Goole and entering the Humber estuary. The North York Moors are the catchment for a number of rivers: the Leven which flows north into the Tees between Yarm and Ingleby Barwick; the Esk flows east directly into the North Sea at Whitby as well as the Rye (which later becomes the Derwent at Malton) flows south into the River Ouse at Goole.

 

North Yorkshire contains a small section of green belt in the south of the county, which surrounds the neighbouring metropolitan area of Leeds along the North and West Yorkshire borders. It extends to the east to cover small communities such as Huby, Kirkby Overblow, and Follifoot before covering the gap between the towns of Harrogate and Knaresborough, helping to keep those towns separate.

 

The belt adjoins the southernmost part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and the Nidderdale AONB. It extends into the western area of Selby district, reaching as far as Tadcaster and Balne. The belt was first drawn up from the 1950s.

 

The city of York has an independent surrounding belt area affording protections to several outlying settlements such as Haxby and Dunnington, and it too extends into the surrounding districts.

 

North Yorkshire has a temperate oceanic climate, like most of the UK. There are large climate variations within the county. The upper Pennines border on a Subarctic climate. The Vale of Mowbray has an almost Semi-arid climate. Overall, with the county being situated in the east, it receives below-average rainfall for the UK. Inside North Yorkshire, the upper Dales of the Pennines are one of the wettest parts of England, where in contrast the driest parts of the Vale of Mowbray are some of the driest areas in the UK.

 

Summer temperatures are above average, at 22 °C. Highs can regularly reach up to 28 °C, with over 30 °C reached in heat waves. Winter temperatures are below average, with average lows of 1 °C. Snow and Fog can be expected depending on location. The North York Moors and Pennines have snow lying for an average of between 45 and 75 days per year. Sunshine is most plentiful on the coast, receiving an average of 1,650 hours a year. It reduces further west in the county, with the Pennines receiving 1,250 hours a year.

 

The county borders multiple counties and districts:

County Durham's County Durham, Darlington, Stockton (north Tees) and Hartlepool;

East Riding of Yorkshire's East Riding of Yorkshire;

South Yorkshire's City of Doncaster;

West Yorkshire's City of Wakefield, City of Leeds and City of Bradford;

Lancashire's City of Lancaster, Ribble Valley and Pendle

Cumbria's Westmorland and Furness.

 

The City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council formed the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority in February 2024. The elections for the first directly-elected mayor will take place in May 2024. Both North Yorkshire Council and the combined authority are governed from County Hall, Northallerton.

 

The Tees Valley Combined Authority was formed in 2016 by five unitary authorities; Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland Borough both of North Yorkshire, Stockton-on-Tees Borough (Uniquely for England, split between North Yorkshire and County Durham), Hartlepool Borough and Darlington Borough of County Durham.

 

In large areas of North Yorkshire, agriculture is the primary source of employment. Approximately 85% of the county is considered to be "rural or super sparse".

 

Other sectors in 2019 included some manufacturing, the provision of accommodation and meals (primarily for tourists) which accounted for 19 per cent of all jobs. Food manufacturing employed 11 per cent of workers. A few people are involved in forestry and fishing in 2019. The average weekly earnings in 2018 were £531. Some 15% of workers declared themselves as self-employed. One report in late 2020 stated that "North Yorkshire has a relatively healthy and diverse economy which largely mirrors the national picture in terms of productivity and jobs.

 

Mineral extraction and power generation are also sectors of the economy, as is high technology.

 

Tourism is a significant contributor to the economy. A study of visitors between 2013 and 2015 indicated that the Borough of Scarborough, including Filey, Whitby and parts of the North York Moors National Park, received 1.4m trips per year on average. A 2016 report by the National Park, states the park area gets 7.93 million visitors annually, generating £647 million and supporting 10,900 full-time equivalent jobs.

 

The Yorkshire Dales have also attracted many visitors. In 2016, there were 3.8 million visits to the National Park including 0.48 million who stayed at least one night. The parks service estimates that this contributed £252 million to the economy and provided 3,583 full-time equivalent jobs. The wider Yorkshire Dales area received 9.7 million visitors who contributed £644 million to the economy. The North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales are among England's best known destinations.

 

York is a popular tourist destination. A 2014 report, based on 2012 data, stated that York alone receives 6.9 million visitors annually; they contribute £564 million to the economy and support over 19,000 jobs. In the 2017 Condé Nast Traveller survey of readers, York rated 12th among The 15 Best Cities in the UK for visitors. In a 2020 Condé Nast Traveller report, York rated as the sixth best among ten "urban destinations [in the UK] that scored the highest marks when it comes to ... nightlife, restaurants and friendliness".

 

During February 2020 to January 2021, the average property in North Yorkshire county sold for £240,000, up by £8100 over the previous 12 months. By comparison, the average for England and Wales was £314,000. In certain communities of North Yorkshire, however, house prices were higher than average for the county, as of early 2021: Harrogate (average value: £376,195), Knaresborough (£375,625), Tadcaster (£314,278), Leyburn (£309,165) and Ripon (£299,998), for example.

 

This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added for North Yorkshire at current basic prices with figures in millions of British pounds sterling.

 

Unemployment in the county was traditionally low in recent years, but the lockdowns and travel restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on the economy during much of 2020 and into 2021. The UK government said in early February 2021 that it was planning "unprecedented levels of support to help businesses [in the UK] survive the crisis". A report published on 1 March 2021 stated that the unemployment rate in North Yorkshire had "risen to the highest level in nearly 5 years – with under 25s often bearing the worst of job losses".

 

York experienced high unemployment during lockdown periods. One analysis (by the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership) predicted in August 2020 that "as many as 13,835 jobs in York will be lost in the scenario considered most likely, taking the city's unemployment rate to 14.5%". Some critics claimed that part of the problem was caused by "over-reliance on the booming tourism industry at the expense of a long-term economic plan". A report in mid June 2020 stated that unemployment had risen 114 per cent over the previous year because of restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic.

 

Tourism in the county was expected to increase after the restrictions imposed due the pandemic are relaxed. One reason for the expected increase is the airing of All Creatures Great and Small, a TV series about the vet James Herriot, based on a successful series of books; it was largely filmed within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The show aired in the UK in September 2020 and in the US in early 2021. One source stated that visits to Yorkshire websites had increased significantly by late September 2020.

 

The East Coast Main Line (ECML) bisects the county stopping at Northallerton,Thirsk and York. Passenger service companies in the area are London North Eastern Railway, Northern Rail, TransPennine Express and Grand Central.

 

LNER and Grand Central operate services to the capital on the ECML, Leeds Branch Line and the Northallerton–Eaglescliffe Line. LNER stop at York, Northallerton and on to County Durham or spur over to the Tees Valley Line for Thornaby and Middlesbrough. The operator also branch before the county for Leeds and run to Harrogate and Skipton. Grand Central stop at York, Thirsk Northallerton and Eaglescliffe then over to the Durham Coast Line in County Durham.

 

Northern operates the remaining lines in the county, including commuter services on the Harrogate Line, Airedale Line and York & Selby Lines, of which the former two are covered by the Metro ticketing area. Remaining branch lines operated by Northern include the Yorkshire Coast Line from Scarborough to Hull, York–Scarborough line via Malton, the Hull to York Line via Selby, the Tees Valley Line from Darlington to Saltburn via Middlesbrough and the Esk Valley Line from Middlesbrough to Whitby. Last but certainly not least, the Settle-Carlisle Line runs through the west of the county, with services again operated by Northern.

 

The county suffered badly under the Beeching cuts of the 1960s. Places such as Richmond, Ripon, Tadcaster, Helmsley, Pickering and the Wensleydale communities lost their passenger services. Notable lines closed were the Scarborough and Whitby Railway, Malton and Driffield Railway and the secondary main line between Northallerton and Harrogate via Ripon.

 

Heritage railways within North Yorkshire include: the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, between Pickering and Grosmont, which opened in 1973; the Derwent Valley Light Railway near York; and the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway. The Wensleydale Railway, which started operating in 2003, runs services between Leeming Bar and Redmire along a former freight-only line. The medium-term aim is to operate into Northallerton station on the ECML, once an agreement can be reached with Network Rail. In the longer term, the aim is to reinstate the full line west via Hawes to Garsdale on the Settle-Carlisle line.

 

York railway station is the largest station in the county, with 11 platforms and is a major tourist attraction in its own right. The station is immediately adjacent to the National Railway Museum.

 

The main road through the county is the north–south A1(M), which has gradually been upgraded in sections to motorway status since the early 1990s. The only other motorways within the county are the short A66(M) near Darlington and a small stretch of the M62 motorway close to Eggborough. The other nationally maintained trunk routes are the A168/A19, A64, A66 and A174.

 

Long-distance coach services are operated by National Express and Megabus. Local bus service operators include Arriva Yorkshire, Stagecoach, Harrogate Bus Company, The Keighley Bus Company, Scarborough & District (East Yorkshire), Yorkshire Coastliner, First York and the local Dales & District.

 

There are no major airports in the county itself, but nearby airports include Teesside International (Darlington), Newcastle and Leeds Bradford.

 

The main campus of Teesside University is in Middlesbrough, while York contains the main campuses of the University of York and York St John University. There are also two secondary campuses in the county: CU Scarborough, a campus of Coventry University, and Queen's Campus, Durham University in Thornaby-on-Tees.

 

Colleges

Middlesbrough College's sixth-form

Askham Bryan College of agriculture, Askham Bryan and Middlesbrough

Craven College, Skipton

Middlesbrough College

The Northern School of Art, Middlesbrough

Prior Pursglove College

Redcar & Cleveland College

Scarborough Sixth Form College

Scarborough TEC

Selby College

Stockton Riverside College, Thornaby

York College

 

Places of interest

Ampleforth College

Beningbrough Hall –

Black Sheep Brewery

Bolton Castle –

Brimham Rocks –

Castle Howard and the Howardian Hills –

Catterick Garrison

Cleveland Hills

Drax Power Station

Duncombe Park – stately home

Eden Camp Museum –

Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway –

Eston Nab

Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo –

Helmsley Castle –

Ingleborough Cave – show cave

John Smith's Brewery

Jorvik Viking Centre –

Lightwater Valley –

Lund's Tower

Malham Cove

Middleham Castle –

Mother Shipton's Cave –

National Railway Museum –

North Yorkshire Moors Railway –

Ormesby Hall – Palladian Mansion

Richmond Castle –

Ripley Castle – Stately home and historic village

Riverside Stadium

Samuel Smith's Brewery

Shandy Hall – stately home

Skipton Castle –

Stanwick Iron Age Fortifications –

Studley Royal Park –

Stump Cross Caverns – show cave

Tees Transporter Bridge

Theakston Brewery

Thornborough Henges

Wainman's Pinnacle

Wharram Percy

York Castle Museum –

Yorkshire Air Museum –

The Yorkshire Arboretum

I wasn't expecting or intending this result at all. But when I batch processed my HDR folder of this skiing day the result was this image.

I kind of like this shot due to it's unusual mood (very especially for me...as I always tend to saturate +500 :D )

 

Hope you all had a wonderful week-end!

 

I will be pretty busy next week so forgive me if I do not visit your streams as often as I usually do :-)

 

bigger, better, darker

 

Music: ich & ich - so soll es sein

 

Shot:

Pentax K200D, Tamron 18-250, 93mm (35mm equivalent: 139mm), 3 Shots -2EV; 0EV +2EV, hand-held

 

Software used for this image:

Photomatix Pro 3 (Details Enhancer), Adobe Photoshop CS3

 

Criticism is welcome and appreciated!

Expect to see pine warblers (Setophaga pinus) in their namesake trees, especially in spring. Photo by Mellissa McMasters.

Bluebird Buses Ltd trading these days as Stagecoach North Scotland along with the Highland operation is expected to report its financial postion later this month but is poised to post higher profits than First Aberdeen. Its main challenge has been engineering, the ability to keep its fleet of buses on the road with high number of service cancellations due to break downs across the network. The hydrogen fleet have paid there part in this and are likely to exit the fleet in 2019. The unreliable Profile fleet has taken a further cut in size during 2018 although the decker fleet has gained older Tridents to allow young Enviro400 vehicles to move north.

 

Aberdeenshire funding cuts have hit the company in the shire but have been offset by increased funding from Aberdeen City Council with Stagecoach successful in picking up the new 14 service that replaced the First X40 service and taking the 15A and 94 from First and Central respectively.

  

The AWPR finally, almost, opening at the end of 2018 will benefit the company in 2019 as building works has cost the company in recent years delaying most of its services coming into the city and the reduced traffic congestion will allow faster journey times and perhaps even reduced PVR on some routes or the opportunity to increase frequencies once traffic movement settles although the new Haudagain remodel will hit the 727 and Inverurie and Oldmeldrum services as work begins on that corridor. The new 747 and 757 routes that start later this month represent a fresh opportunity for the company and the new TECA events arena opens in 2019 that should benefit the 727 after First pulled out of the area although it may be tempted to extend the 17B in the complex which has a dedicated bus entrance. Whilst First has been unable to follow through with plans to expand to Portlethen due to its driver challenges it has fiercely protected the 17 corridor flooding with low fares and the new 17B service.

 

With First Aberdeen not investing in new buses, Stagecoach has felt no pressure to upgrade its Aberdeen fleet with investment instead targeted at its Moray operations. It does need to face in to its maintenance challenges in 2019 having lost school contracts in 2018 due the unreliability of its fleet. Stagecoach will be hoping the remainder of winter is kind to its Aberdeenshire operations in keeping buses on the road.

 

A selection of buses at Tullos on New Years day representing the current feet, the Profile much less evident with 53316 skulking in the background of this shot.

CN L516 rolls through Griffith, Indiana with a surprise lash up of classic EMD power, with an ex-MoPac SD40-2 in charge.

The "golden" mountain of Drápuhlíð in Snæfellsnes is covered with ice but rain is coming from the south and the clouds are piling up on the Snæfellsnes ridge

Mike and Kristi are expecting their first child any day now. This is one of my favorites from their maternity shoot on March 21, 2009. See baby photo of "Little Sayler Mae" a few days later!

 

EXPLORED 03/22/09

Highest position #16 on 03/27/09

 

Lighting:

Interfit 150MKII starter set

- one at about 1/2 power slight camera right, about 6 ft in the air, 45 degree angled down and 4' from couple in a 60" Photek Softlighter II with diffuser.

- other one behind couple at right, high and about 3 ft away with the 24" softbox the kit comes with.

- reflector just to camera left

 

Did not expect to see an MPD still operational under the Arriva Buses Wales books. The first examples were introduced to Llandudno Junction depot in June 1999 and, well, might as well eke another six months out of LJ51 DDF (921) so the once perennial staples of the North Walian roads can celebrate a 20 year association with the welsh based chapter of the Arriva corporation. Pertaining to Bangor specifically, I think the year 2000 was when an MPD trod its wheels for the first time around the bustling 'Cloc' terminus and 18 years into the future, 921 was caught in the subsiding rainfall on a wholly miserable day. The service is the Bangor circular, taking in the Maesgeirchen estate and Tesco in the industrial park.

 

19th December 2018.

My beautiful wife expecting our baby boy! <3

Canon EOS 350D

Isco-Gottingen Berolina Westromat 135mm f:3.5

Narrow, but less scary than expected.

Rain Expected on Waterloo Bridge.

"A frigid winter is expected across Alberta, especially during January and February. While a few periods of milder weather are expected, we have a heightened risk for extended periods of severe cold, as well as for blizzard conditions as Arctic air plunges south across the region. A snowy winter is expected across the southern half of the province, including Calgary. Near normal snowfall is expected elsewhere, including Edmonton." I have just read the Weather Network's forecast for Alberta. Almost wish I hadn't, ha.

 

Another five photos from my archives this evening. I am adding the description that I wrote under a different image taken on the same outing.

 

After endless emails and phone calls, the work on my car is finally about to start, four and a half weeks after I dropped it off at the dealership. It has now been decided that both the slight hail damage and the peeling paint repair will be done at one location, not two different ones. The hail damage repair should be starting straight away. It could still be maybe two or two and a half weeks (or more) before all the work is completed. Will it be done before Christmas? Later: hail damage repair has been completed. Now I have to wait for an empty booth so that the peeling paint damage can be fixed and basically the whole car will have to be repainted.

 

Update on car situation, 9 December 2021. Just heard that the repainting of my whole car might be finished somewhere around 21 December. However, the whole car then has to be put back together - and, guess what, the person who would be doing this is going to be away over Christmas, meaning that I won't be getting it back till AFTER Christmas!!! Wish I had never pointed out the 3"x 1" patch of peeling paint in the first place, when I took my car for a routine service. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined all that is going on. Sigh.

 

"On 12 August 2016, friend Dorothy phoned and asked if I'd like to go with them to Kananaskis for the day. A last minute decision - and of course I said yes! What a great day we had in the mountains, with perfect weather and so many mushrooms to keep all three of us happy. The highlight for me was when we saw Strawberries and Cream fungi / Hynellum peckii, my favourite fungus. Quite a few of them, too, which was a real treat, as we don't usually come across them.

 

When I think how many endless rainy days we had been having the previous few weeks, we were so lucky that the sun shone, the temperature was pleasant, and a slight breeze kept comfort levels just right.

 

Our first brief stop was at a pond on the way to Bragg Creek, where a mutual friend had been seeing a Common Loon, but there was no sign of it when we were there. From there, once we eventually reached the mountains, we stopped at a large pond to check for birds and kept our eyes open for any mushrooms. The ground seemed too dry here, for any fungi to be growing. However, we were treated to wonderful views of a beautiful Osprey perched on top of a tall coniferous tree further down the path. It flew to a few different trees and then finally made the plunge for a fish, with success. What a splash it made! Once caught, the Osprey flew out of sight - maybe it had a nest somewhere with young ones to feed.

 

Our next stop was further into the mountains and we found that the ground was damper and more conducive to the growth of mushrooms. I suspect that after all the rain we had last summer, one could find mushrooms growing almost anywhere. We were certainly lucky at this location, finding various species. One of the highlights of the day for me was seeing one of my favourite fungi, Strawberries and Cream fungus / Hydnellum peckii. The individuals we saw were not hugely photogenic, but wonderful to see, both at this location and our next stop, at Kananaskis Lakes. This species has "teeth", not gills underneath.

 

"Hydnellum peckii is an inedible (though not toxic) fungus, and a member of the genus Hydnellum of the family Bankeraceae. It is a hydnoid species, producing spores on the surface of vertical spines or tooth-like projections that hang from the undersurface of the fruit bodies. It is found in North America, Europe, and was recently discovered in Iran (2008) and Korea (2010). Hydnellum peckii is a mycorrhizal species, and forms mutually beneficial relationships with a variety of coniferous trees, growing on the ground singly, scattered, or in fused masses.

 

The fruit bodies typically have a funnel-shaped cap with a white edge, although the shape can be highly variable. Young, moist fruit bodies can "bleed" a bright red fluid that contains a pigment known to have anticoagulant properties similar to heparin. The unusual appearance of the young fruit bodies has earned the species several descriptive common names, including strawberries and cream, the bleeding Hydnellum, the bleeding tooth fungus, the red-juice tooth, and the Devil's tooth. Although Hydnellum peckii fruit bodies are readily identifiable when young, they become brown and nondescript when they age." From Wikipedia.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydnellum_peckii

 

Lunch was eaten at a convenient picnic table right by a large creek after this first mushroom walk. While we were sitting there, a cute little Chipmunk (Least Chipmunk?) stopped long enough to take a quick peek at us through the tall grass blades. I suspect it thought it was well hidden.

 

After our lunch, we drove to Kananaskis Lakes and went for a most enjoyable hike - a very slow one, as there were mushrooms everywhere! We had been along this trail in previous years and had found a good variety of fungi. There were so many people on the trail! Good to see everyone out enjoying the good weather, fresh mountain air, and beautiful scenery. My friends returned to the same areas two days later and found about two-thirds less the number of mushrooms..

 

Thanks so much, Dorothy and Stephen, not just for this great day out, but for also helping to make my wait for my new car to arrive, easier! Greatly appreciated."

I would most likely expect such a view from somewhere in America. But this gorge is just about 2 hours from Zürich.

 

Also here, you see a friend walking up the gorge to explore a bit more.

This and probably one more after this and I'll be done for a while with the Kite's. This guy was coming in so fast and never expected him to make the landing in time until i saw how those talons latched on to that branch, his body and branch went forward and had to wait until they both recovered to shoot, this it's the result.

I wasn't expecting it to have rained overnight but as it hadn't done for quite a while I knew the mixture of warmth, humid air and rain would send my garden into overdrive and mother nature too.

 

Went thorn hunting in the park again and already it was full up with dog walkers, push chairs and expectant wedding guests at the Ashton memorial.

 

Whilst heading towards the giant chamelia we found a couple more laurel bushes so I took a twig in case I decided to repeat the theme of yesterday, in anticipation of that company I mentioned yesterday wanting some images.

 

While we were there two boys came over to us, they were probably 8 or so, and said "there's a dead bird over there."

 

They looked worried.

 

"Is it a blackbird?" I said.

 

"It's black and white" they replied.

 

I wandered over to have a look at it was a juvenile magpie and it had probably been there a while. I told them that and then said that a fox will probably scavenge it and they shouldn't worry.

 

"A fox in here?" one of the exclaimed.

 

"There's only one thing for it" he shouted "run!"

 

And off they went making a very loud aeroplane noises.

 

I felt as excitable as they did as the maples had started to reveal new leaves and soon the pallete available to me would be huge.

 

We went back home and then onto the University campus as I wanted a good stretch of water to experiment with reflections.

 

Down by the lake a lot of work had been done: the lake had been extended, a station for barbecues replete with hobs, taps and bins has been set up, it looked an effort to reduce the burnt patches on the grass, the scattered beer cans, disposable barbecues and general waste. This intention had only been partially successful and the rubbish was now festooned around the barbecue station. overflowing out of the bins, in the lake and all around that area. The amount of rubbish in and around the lake was a real shocker and I tempted to go down there and clean it up myself but I am sure 20,000 students should be able to organise something! Or perhaps not.

 

Two groups of ducklings were present, one lot older and twice the size of the other. The youngest group numbered fifteen ducklings and they were the cutest of the cute. Like little motorboats zooming over the water and everytime they went on a excursion the big daddy goose ensured they were protected which was quite interesting to see. Obviously he was not their father but he guarded them wherever they went.

 

Later a white duck was desperately trying to get its end away with the mallard mother of the older ducklings. He was extremely rampant in his advances and the poor female was extremely distressed. Soon 10 or so mallard males joined in and tried to attack the white male, whilst the ducklings scattered. I could see why the big daddy goose wanted to protect them, they are some unruly characters amongst the coots, chickens, geese and ducks that live on that pond.

 

Three young lads were checking out the bird life and the eldest threw stones at the ducklings and got a ticking off from me. So he then started throwing them at the three territorial geese that had chased and hissed at me when I arrived (to everyone's amusement), so I thought twice before ticking him off again but of course I did anyway!

 

They came over to me and asked what I was doing, "making a sculpture" I said.

 

"What's a sculpture?"

 

"It is art made out of something like wood or stone or plasticine"

 

This piece of information was met with more aeroplane noises and running away. I have that effect on most people.

 

After we had been there a while several more barbecues had been lit, not one of them at the barbecue station and all around the field smoke billowed and individual piles of rubbish grew. But of course as we all know fairies/goblins/imaginary friends etc pick up litter so it is fine to chuck whatever you have wherever you want.

 

No-one except the aeroplane boys came to see what we were doing, the only visitors were an endless supply of pond scum, lily pads, weed and catkins all of which I didn't want in my shot. Each time I waded back into the water I sunk a little lower into the mud and the water nearly reached the top of my wellies.

 

But the more I do this, make sculptures and photograph them somewhere especially in public, the more I don't care what people think. That oft quoted Andy Goldsworthy line (that he said when handling ice in sub zero temps) "good art keeps you warm" isn't apt on a warm spring day. I prefer "my art means I don't care whether you think I am a weirdo."

 

This attitude comes in very handy standing in ponds, retrieving thorns from the middle of bushes and going everywhere with a plastic bag of leaves.

 

What won't be evident to you in these pictures is what I experienced with reflections. Through photography you pick out a moment in time, captured in an image. That snapshot can be a millisecond or several minutes. The ripples and reflections of the water left me mesmerised, each moment captured within my camera. I've decided to purchase a pair of waders and I think I will spend a lot more time standing in water, fighting off geese and being mesmerised by the water's surface all around me. Now is that weird?!

 

It wasn't over yet, there was more thing thign of weirdness to encounter. 'The tale of the bumless chicken.'

 

Whether he had had an accident or was born like I don't know but despite my amusement he wasn't so amused at my attempts to get a blurry shot of his missing bottom! It isn't nice to mock (or photograph) the afflicted! So I left him alone and went home.

  

In the hour before sunset Sri Lankan beaches get alive in a wonderful way. People, young and elder, are active and friendly. It's a lovely experience.

Merry Christmas to you all that I met at Negombo beach, as well as other beaches and places around the island!

Time for another much anticipated Movie Night, and as expected, Stormtrooper Bruce is still watching the P’s nephew while his parents are away; and keeping things fun and interesting is still a challenge. But now STB, the guys and even said nephew can relax, unwind and have a bit of fun.

 

TK-432: So glad we could make it, it’s been a long month this week! And I see you still have a little guest. So, hello little dude, what’s your name tonight?

 

PP: Hello again! It's so nice to see you two! I’m still practicing my manners when I can. I was hoping you would show up tonight accause I have gifts for you two! You’re so funny, I just got your joke. Oh, and tonight my name is Ping Pong!

 

TK-1110: Hello, Ping Pong! What a fun name. You have a gift for us? What a coincidence, since we brought you a gift for your Christmas in July, but you have to wait to open it.

 

STB: Well this IS a coincidence, since I sneaked a gift under the tree for Ping Pong this morning – for later, too. However, his gifts are for now. Ping Pong, I think it’s time for Show and Tell.

 

PP: Okie Dokie Unka Dude. I’ve been practicing what to say accause I get nervous making public speeches, but here goes. When we had our Drive-In you mentioned how uncomfortable it was sitting on those car seats. Well, this week, Unka Dude has been teaching me Arts & Crafts, so I cided to make us all cushions to sit on. No more ouchy cabooses!

 

TK-432: Well, this is an unexpected surprise. I, for one, love the idea. My very own cushion? Why, thank you Ping Pong!

 

STB: And – being the master of survival skills that I am, I deduced how Troopers with cushions on transports could be um, unsafe. So, I’ll store them here, so they won’t get “lost.” And, you can enjoy them for ever and ever.

 

TK-1110: Dude, I find your ability to foresee the future impressive. If the other Troopers saw us carrying these they’d …, we’d ..., well, never mind. And thank you Ping Pong for this most unexpected gift. You did a great job!

 

STB: Yes, well, let’s just say what happens in my quarters stays in my quarters. And having said that, lets get this Movie Night started. We’re going to have a great week tonight!

 

Ping Pong: Wowzer Unka Dude! Gifts, grub and movies, I never spected the unexpected could be so fun! Where’s my camera?

 

________________________________________

Viewing Large is always fu. Just click on the image.

When you have to be somewhere in a matter of minutes, there's no time for setbacks. There's no time to fire up the ol' forklift and load the barricades into the box truck. So, save your self in the long run, and do it now. Saves time, and maybe even lives...

Bradford, PA. September 2020.

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If you would like to use THIS picture in any sort of media elsewhere (such as newspaper or article), please send me a Flickrmail or send me an email at natehenderson6@gmail.com

Definitely something I was expecting to see on my way to my internship. This is the first time I've ever seen a German moped plate outside D. Even though Germany is 20 minutes away from downtown Lux, the owner had to take secondary roads, as these Aixams aren't allowed on motorways.

best on black - thanks for looking - hope you have a wonderful week

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