Herb Riddle's photos

Springtime in my local Alexandra Park just as the cherry blossoms start to create lovely photographic frames for us. A pity perhaps that the sun was not shining to create the shadows we so often crave for but sometimes we have to get on with our lives. Enjoy full screen. Have a great day.

Bluebells are a delightful little flower and when I see them in drifts in a blue haze they are stunning. Here is a close-up of a few of the flower heads after they have burst from their bell shape. These are in fact our garden 'Spanish Bluebells', a more hardy version than our native British ones. I liked this as they reminded me of dainty ballet dancers. Enjoy full screen.

As early summer starts to take a hold in our garden, the bees are out in force. Here we see a ‘Common carder bee’ with its all-brown colouring and no white tail, collecting nectar from our Azalea bush. See PiP for a White tailed bumblebee Enjoy full screen.

Another look at the high Healey Dell Viaduct but this time from the top, where a foot/cycle path runs. We are almost at the end here but the drop from the sides is still considerable at 105ft. PiPs (adjacent photo) for full story. Enjoy the weekend.

Join me by the River Spodden underneath this splendid viaduct. Situated in the scenic Healey Dell Nature reserve this old railway viaduct used to carry the ‘Rochdale to Bacup Railway Line’. It was built in 1867 to carry passengers and operated until the late 60s with coal trains only. It is only single track wide and is 105ft (32m) high above the river, with eight arches, each with a 30 ft (9.1m) span. A footpath now runs along the top. See PiP Enjoy full screen.

Springtime on the edge of the moors is always welcome. Here is a lamb and its mother on the Longdendale Trail in Derbyshire. Have a great day.

A trip to the local beauty spot of Healy Dell Nature Reserve in Rochdale brought us to this lone 340 year old bridge. This was one of a pair here called ‘The Thrutch Bridges’ but known locally as the Fairy bridges. The other was washed away in a severe storm in December 2015. The two bridges were never foot bridges at all though, but supported an external wall of the Fulling Mill built in 1676, long since gone. Enjoy full screen.

The last days of our South Wales week brought us to the small town of Abergaveny and its town centre castle. Here we are in the ruins of the great hall where many a banquet may have taken place. The castle dates from 1087 and was the site of a massacre of Welsh noblemen in 1175. Being attacked at least twice during the 15th & 16th centuries it was said that it was stained with the infamy of treachery more than any other castle in Wales. It lay in ruins by the late 18th century but its ‘picturesque’ views attracted many sightseers. PiP Enjoy full screen. Have a great day.

Its that time of year again when these wonderful small flowers come to greet us. I had not appreciated before how many where in our local Alexandra Park. Here is just a sample. See PiP Enjoy the day.

A look from the inside of this fabulous very imposing ruined priory brings me to this spot. On the left are the remains of the nave. See and follow PiP for more info. Essential full screen.

As the sun sinks down here near Clitheroe in Lancashire we are treated to a moment of silence. Enjoy the weekend

January 2017 brought us to Colón in Panama, South America to see the famous Gatum Atlantic locks. This is the gateway into the 82km waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. In this photo we see a ship being guided by the accompanying six locomotives, three on each side here. Each loco is exactly parallel to its twin on the other side of the ship with their lines to the ship being electronically monitored in order to retain an exact tension to keep the vessel in the middle of the canal. In some cases only centimetres remained on each side, stopping the ship from hitting the sides. The ships forward motion is brought about by the ship engines themselves. A continues shuttle of trains ran from the start to the end of these locks. The two pips: One shows the very first (or last) lock entrance to the canal & Atlantic. We can see the giant queue of ships waiting to enter from the Bay. Ships are entering from the Ocean on the left and exiting on the right. The other PiP shows a close-up of these very unique engines and its computerised pulley system to the ship. It runs along a cogged track in order to transit the steep slopes at the side of each new lock gate (see inset). These trains are known as Mules More info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal_locks From here, we were to travel to the Pacific side by way of the Panama Scenic railway that runs alongside the canal to Panama City. Enjoy full screen.

At Colón in Panama, South America. 2017 The left side is the entrance to the canal's first lock and the right side is the exit into The Atlantic (Caribbean Sea). Notice the queue of ships in the distance and follow the train tracks here, down the slope of the lock where other locomotives (Mules) await the next ship. When they have finished their tow at the end of these locks they return speedily along another parallel track to the beginning.

An old wall tries in vain to keep these fields apart but is failing miserably. HWW, have a great day.

Enjoy a scene from the very top of Britain. Only a few miles from Cape Wrath our most north westerly point on the British mainland. Taken on our our trip up here in 2014 and this scene captured at dusk. Nice full screen.

Take a walk with me along the Longdendale trail, but bring along your picnic and binoculars. Enjoy full screen. Have a great day.

Happy and Glorious. ~ A day to be proud of being British! As crowds gather on The Mall in London for todays investiture at 11am, many villages and communities will be celebrating with a street party later today. See PiPs Enjoy the weekend.

A trip to London in 2010 brings us to the London home of our Royal family. A drab day that does not bring out the best of the building. Behind it, is one of the nicest gardens in London. This weekend in May 2023, it is the scene of thousands of well-wishers as the pageantry of the Kings Coronation takes place with its marching bands and the royal family on the balcony too. Built as a large townhouse for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 and acquired by King George III in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte. It became known as The Queen's House. During the 19th century it was enlarged with the construction of three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace became the London residence of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. ~ Wiki