Today, I set our for a short ride in the snow at 10:30am. Just a potter, things to do, you know how it is. I came back at 6pm. A nice 55 mile run through a chilly,lightly snow-dusted but sunny South Staffordshire. Plenty of stopping to nose around, investigate and take in the sights. This was my first long ride of the year, and the first since I’d been ill. I fell in love with the bike again. I fell in love with the countryside again. Every year, it gets me, spring unwinds it’s green tendrils to capture me, then seduces with warm sun on my back, fresh air in my lungs and energy in my legs. But it never felt as good as it did today. I feel better, really well. For the first time in ages. I make no apologies for posting so many pictures – it was glorious out there.
Spring? Bring it on.
Wyrley & Essington Canal, looking towards the former Smith's Mill, Catshill, Brownhills. 11:02am, Sunday, 19th February 2012.
Bullmoor Lane, Hilton, looking towards Wall. 11:58am, Sunday, 19th February 2012.
Freshley ploughed potato beds, Packington Moor, Near Weeford. 1:17pm, Sunday, 19th February 2012.
Croxall Hall and dovecote, taxed in the 16th century as having '16 hearths'. Real old England. 2:24pm, Sunday, 19th February 2012.
The remarkable church at Harlaston. Always loved this one. 2:56pm, Sunday, 19th February 2012.
Harlaston Royal Observer Core post. This is a small, derelict nuclear bunker, from the days of mutual assured destruction. Still sends me cold, but darkly fascinating. 3:15pm, Sunday, 19th February 2012.
Trees shivering in a naked row... as Joni Mitchell put it. Near Footherley. 5:04pm, Sunday, 19th February 2012.
The converted barn at Lower Stonnall still has no residents after three years. Sad. 5:11pm, Sunday, 19th February 2012.
It's a long, chilly climb out of Stonnall, and there's still snow on the rooftops here. 5:15pm, Sunday, 19th February 2012.
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Hi Bob
super photos…and good to know you are fully recovered.
cheers
David
Cheers, David. Thank you.
Best wishes
Bob
Glad that you are well.
Found this about Harlaston Royal Observer Core post (pic 6)
http://www.ukurbex.co.uk/archives/4517
Hi Facade66
Thanks for that. There used to be a huge amount of info about the ROC on Sub Brit’s RSG pages, but somebody smelled the money and took the pages down and converted them into a book.
This is quite good, though, and has pictures of the construction of a post:
http://www.roc-heritage.co.uk/roc-history.html
There’s some stuff on Harlaston Post on 28dayslater, too. Sadly, all the ephemera is long gone and the post is trashed.
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=22857
Some great general info here, and an interactive google map (link on right under ‘related information’)
http://www.thetimechamber.co.uk/Sites/ROC/ROC.php
And the Sub Brit one is here:
http://www.subbrit.org.uk/category/nuclear-monitoring-posts
For cold war enthusiasts, this is a chilling list of all known bunkers in the UK
http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/873564/posts
Best wishes
Bob
Where exactly in Harlaston is the ROC post, Bob?
Hi Richard
Soryy, I forgot. It’s at
OS NGR SK19640978
Or
52°41’7.32″N, 1°42’40.06″W
Cheers
Bob
Hi Bob!
Great photos as always and i know this is a little late but could you tell me where abouts the derelict nuclear bunker is as i live in stonnall and would live to ride up and take a look.
Thanks.