Saturday 6 June 2020

Tunnel Forking

 Just over a month ago, dear Mago rather bluntly asked if I had ever penetrated a tunnel.  Once I'd gotten over the shock of such an indelicate question, I cast my mind back and did actually remember a foray into a rather overgrown and skewed underpass...

 On a day drift back in April 2016 I found myself at the easternmost of Overstrand's two remaining whole railway bridges (there are at least two more topless bridges further west).  I made some half-arsed comment about posting photos of this bridge at a later date, but never did.  Until now.  Aren't you lucky?!

Overstrand skewed railway bridge, Norfolk
Here we have the aforementioned overgrown bridge at OS grid ref TG 25300 40144 
(or thereabouts)

Overstrand skewed railway bridge, Norfolk
The bridge's lower portions as seen from the coast side (complete with graffiti)

Overstrand skewed railway bridge, Norfolk
And the upper portions in which one can make out the bridge's skewed nature

~o~

EDIT 07/06/2020 14:45 - The rain finally stopped, so I went for a quick drift up to the bridge.  Here it is, from North face around to the South face:





~o~

 Anyway, back to the present (or at least the very recent past) with some photos from my blog-absence.

 First up, from 17th May, a portion of Hexenhäusli Device's grounds which includes the now flowering Echium that I grew from a seed that I obtained from those growing in Cromer's churchyard back in May 2017 (yes, it's taken three years to flower).  It's in completely the wrong spot here as this is a shady woodland garden, whereas Echium seems to prefer full sun throughout the day, so I'm lucky it flowered at all.


 And remember, The House of Infomaniac's 10th Anniversary Garden Photos Event is being held here-
Because The Very Mistress can't be bothered to get off her quince to-
 Yes.  Thank you.  We all know the whys and wherefores...
 Oh, another reminder in case you didn't click the link: There'll be a Terrifying Triffidery section to this years Garden Photos Event, so be sure to take some drunken photos from odd angles to show off your monstrous undergrowth!

::

 Now, from 21st May a drift west along the old railway line that skirts Smallhopes Hill on the Overstrand/Cromer border (Hound, you may be interested to know that the rise opposite Smallhopes Hill is named Dick's Close Hill...):

Smallhopes Hill Cromer/Overstrand
On the right are the remnants of another railway bridge
(this is one of those topless ones) at OS grid ref TG 23419 40969

Oak tree on Smallhopes Hill Cromer/Overstrand
A spreading oak tree on Smallhopes Hill

Bracket fungus

Close up of the bracket fungus

Who knows how long this handle-less garden fork has been here?

::

 And finally, from 30th May, a broad-bodied darter/chaser dragonfly (Libellula depressa) at the pond near Inexcuseable's new home (which is one of the reasons that I haven't been around much - I've been helping her move house).

Broad-bodied darter/chaser dragonfly at Hanworth, Norfolk

Broad-bodied darter/chaser dragonfly at Hanworth, Norfolk

~o~

 Another reason that I haven't been around much lately is that I've been otherwise engaged with a future incarnation of HMY Britannia.  I'll share all in my next post (I'm sure you'll be thrilled to know that it's Star Trek related!).

18 comments:

  1. You don't want to see my monstrous undergrowth.

    Since we spoke my flying squirrel now named Rocky has been back almost every night partaking of seeds and dried fruit. She is actually quite cute.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a pair of shears...

      (For your undergrowth. Not poor Rocky...)

      Delete
  2. Good heaven, I was only discussing the Broad-Bodief Chaser with a friend the other week! I had an encounter with an insect and the Chaser was the closest to what it looked like. Though my creature had butterfly black wings and an orange body.
    Anyhow, I wonder what the broken fork was digging for? Was it a bottle of something, I wonder?
    Sx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Dierdre Chambers! What a coincidence!"
      Perhaps the one you saw was a juvenile male, or a female? Although, Wikipedia doesn't say they have all-black wings (only the bits nearest the body)... Or it could have been an actual exotic butterfly blown in ahead of the storm?

      Delete
    2. Also: Gasp! Do you think there could be an errant bottle on Smallhopes Hill??

      Delete
  3. Ha, you tell I'm using my phone by the typos!
    Sx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hah hah haa haaa! "On my fourth glass of whisky" has come out as "using my phone"!

      Delete
    2. Jots down witty exchange for future theft/borrowing...

      Delete
  4. Always lovely to see photos of your hoary overgrown "secret bits"! That tunnel certainly looks well-visited.

    Your garden's coming along nicely. I love, love, LOVE Echiums! We daren't try and plant them as - like other favourites such as Delphiniums and giant Cosmos - they would be impossible to maintain in pots (which, as you know, is mainly all we have to grow in, the extensive gardens being paved and all...). Just too tall.

    We've got plenty of plants to look after without adding any new ones, anyhow - I can't wait for the garden photos event!

    Jx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Echiums really are quite magnificent, aren't they. The other reason mine only got to 2m tall is that it was confined to a pot for too long (from sown seed in July 2017 until the garden here was ready to plant it this time last year - poor thing). Pots and shade - not a good combination.

      Delete
  5. Echium love San Francisco and will self seed here willy nilly. I planted two when I first got my garden and over the years had to go up occasionally to hack down the enormous, rank growth of them that had sprung up. Hardly even slowed them down. They were so promiscuous, I wound up with all kinds of different blooms among them.

    One thing I did notice, they're biennial; they come up one year and bloom the next. And then go on blooming madly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember the enormous Echiums in your previous garden - I was more than a little envious of them.
      I have one seedling from a handful of seeds I nabbed from the Old Vicarage Gardens in East Ruston last autumn. I'm going to plant it up the allotment near the shed where it's hot, sunny, and well drained (the other one I had here rotted away when it got too moist).

      Delete
  6. Are you angling at getting a photo of my quince?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tunnels and seed, the ways of the country are so... Vital, aren't they.
    Is your number in amongst the graffiti?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it's on the right there: 333 - Aparently 666 was already taken...

      Delete
  8. I do like your echium.Well, echiums in general.
    As to having my jungle-y bits tidy in time for garden pics...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've realised that most of my garden is not suitable for echiums, so I shall be growing them up at the allotment instead from now on. (I've got a couple of seedlings on the go, and will try for more from the seeds of the one in the photos - which is now dead)

      Your riotous jungle-y bits (without tidying) would probably be the star of the Terrifying Triffidery section!

      Delete

Tickle my fancy, why don't you?