Tomorrow I am setting off on the drive south to Middlesbrough. It’s a good four hour run but an interesting one hundred and eighty miles down the A68.
I anticipate staying for a couple of weeks or so and will split my time between the North East and York. Then I’ll wander back via the Lake district and the Borders before setting off to the Highlands for winter. I’m hoping for a magical snowy season with plenty of hoar frost. I suspect the reality will be gales and rain but there is nothing wrong with a dream.
I haven’t taken any pictures today but yesterday I found this splendid fungus.
That’s all for today.
How warm is the van in a Northern Winter Adrian?
ReplyDeleteCarol it is well insulated. The coldest I've had was -16C over several days. I have two heating systems so it can be as warm as I like. It's double glazed and has blinds so is really quite snug.
DeleteHave a safe journey Adrian.
ReplyDeleteThanks John. I may break the journey. There is no rush.
DeleteLovely little Fungus Adrian, and a change to find one that the slugs didn't find first!...perhaps they don't like the taste?
ReplyDeleteMy book has it as... Petticoat Mottlegill - Panaeolus papilionaceus (re-classified from
P. sphinctrinus)
Have a good trip and a safe journey back to the motherland...[;o)
Cheers Trevor, there are so many little fungi that live on ground where sheep and horses have crapped. There are hundreds of tiny Psilocybe here but all are tan coloured.
DeleteI am getting closer with IDs but then the posh folk change the names of them.
Ta I will drive carefully.
Trevor, I read in the paper that they are doing away with Latin names. I am not elitist but to me they make sense. Two words sort the job, we will end up with a word for an insect, flower or fungus a paragraph long like the Germans do for normal words.
DeleteI really enjoy taking a picture of a Fringed Hay-cap then guessing the exact one. The more I look, smell, taste and break a bit off and look again for discolouration then the nearer I get. Then I read that spores are the same colour but the difference is that some spores are spherical and some are ovate. I AM NOT GETTING A MICROSCOPE!!!!! I have enough silly things.
A little bit further (well, a few hundred miles) and you could come to Devizes. I'll buy you a pint.
ReplyDeleteFrances much as I'd love to meet you it is just too far. My aunt lives in Devon so if she gets ill then it isn't such a big detour. I'll just have to be patient.
DeleteThe A68 is the best route in my book for the southerly drive over the border. Try and keep away from the northern A1, traffic is awful at the moment and will be for some considerable time on several lengthy stretches, 3 lane upgrading money has now been approved.
ReplyDeleteJay if you are limited to 60mph then the A68 is a much more interesting road,
DeleteIrrespective of speed, I prefer the A68 due to the ever changing scenery & variety.
DeleteI only like using the M74 in the northbound direction as it has strong childhood nostalgic memories and a feeling of entering Scotland (Moffat - Abingdon section).
Although there are great sections of it, I might be a bit unkind by saying that I find the A697 a bit dull and it joins the A68 anyway which makes it feel like it's inferior. The northern A1 for me is an access route to get to the Northumberland coast, followed by incessant roundabouts and the feeling of ... the only place I'm ever going to get to and see at some point in thew next week is ... Edinburgh ... How sad and disappointing :-) I'd rather "boil ma heid" !!
Jay, I came ashore in the nineties and commuted once a week from Derbyshire to Lanark. The M74 was being created. What fun. I had barely got home when it was time to set off back again.
DeleteI really love Leadhills and must revisit.
Safe trip, should get snow if you're heading for Aviemore this winter.
ReplyDeleteDouglas, I'm hoping Loch Morlich will be frozen solid.
DeleteVery cool 'shroom. Safe travels, Adrian.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilary.
DeleteLovely mushroom, and its height, excellent.
ReplyDeleteBob, they are common on unploughed pasture that has sheep or horse crap on. I have never seen one even half this size before. Most of the horses here are separated with electric tape to stop them playing. Ally who lives in this field thought I was pinching his grass... daft bugger was a real pain snuffling, snorting and pawing at me whilst I took this. The groom said it's my own fault for giving them apples. She is probably correct. The buggers will turn you inside out for an apple or a polo mint.
DeleteOn the move! That means I have to look at the map again and add to my geographical knowledge.
ReplyDeleteRed, if you use Google maps the post code is TS18 2QW.
DeleteHI Adrian How dainty and beautiful this Fungus is. Be safe on your journey. I am home again after 6 weeks away.
ReplyDeleteGlad you made it back in one piece.
Deletevery beautiful :)) Safe travels Adrian!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ruby.
DeleteYou will certainly have plenty of contrast in the scenery on your travels. Have a good trip and if you go to Lindisfarne, there are some wonderful photo opportunities there.
ReplyDeleteCath, I've been and didn't like it. I'll head to Derwentwater for the autumn colour.
DeleteSome of the most evocative photos I've take were in Borrowdale in Autumn/Winter. I used to spend a lot of time there in my younger days. I wish you safe travels.
ReplyDeleteGraham, I'm going to spend a week or so at Low Manesty. I'm hoping for some serios colour and an inversion or two.
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