It’s been a good day today, warm and for the most part dry. The dogs and I have had three wanders down to the Tees Barrage looking for an Otter, a Kingfisher and Seals. As is the norm with me I failed to see the former, I saw the Kingfisher doing Mach1 and the seals were too far away. It was good watching them if not so good taking their pictures.
Here she is hunting for Sea Trout at the bottom of the fish ladder.
There is a magnificent white water course here. It has been in existence for donkeys years but was rebuilt completely for the Olympics. As far as I know it was never used then but is usually pretty busy now.
I haven’t got a full view of it as just took a long lens and some extension tubes with me. I do have pictures from a previous visit but can I find them…can I hell. When they were building it I thought that these Archimedes Screws were for generating electricity but they are pumping water up hill and consuming power.
The Tees is tidal up to the barrage so they can’t use the fresh water head from above the barrage at high water. They have to pump it. I do wonder if they run them in reverse at low water. I’ll go and ask a man tomorrow.
The white water course provided the entertainment that the Seals failed to do.
There was an expert in his GB kit.
A middling skilled one.
And a beginner doing his impression of how to drown. He didn’t right the canoe but nor did he drown so that was alright.
Then they do rafting for those that need a carer. I quite fancy a go. It looks a lot of fun no matter what your skill level. It’s a very posh set up they can alter how rough the water is by moving big plastic rocks about on tracks under the water. They even have a giant conveyor belt to carry you back to the start. Not all of the investment for the Olympics was in London and the Home Counties. Building a Mountain Bike course in Essex seems a bit daft when up here we have mountains by the dozen Essex has the odd twenty foot hill.
Enough; the North East got something for nowt. I’ll leave you with this…..
The towers of Middlesbrough Lifting Bridge. One of my favourite structures. It ranks for me with The Tamar Rail bridge and the Forth Rail Bridge. The Tees has a plethora of wonderful bridges. I have snapped most of them but can I remember where I stored them?
Have fun.
You have to do the white water Adrian, it is really fun, choose a warm'ish day mind.
ReplyDeleteI like the area in the foreground of the last image, it looks like somewhere I'd explore. Great shot of the seal.
Douglas, the area in the foreground is Portrack Marsh Nature Reserve. It has a good selection of birds, dragonflys and butterflys.
DeleteIt is almost impossible to get close to the water as no sooner do they build a hide the local scoats burn it down.
A sport I have not had the chance to see. It looks good from the photographer's aspect.
ReplyDeleteJohn, it passed a while on. Some of them are very good. They are not easy to film though.
DeleteAwesome photos Adrian. Hope all is well with you.
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos Adrian. Hope all is well with you.
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos Adrian. Hope all is well with you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shaun, all is very good at the moment.
DeleteI do read your posts but can't comment as I don't do Google+.
I especially love the first shot of the white waters. The colors of the rafts are quite attractive and are eye-catchers.
ReplyDeleteYes Norma, they are very bright and cheerful.
DeleteI especially like #4 and the last one. I imagine of the difficulties involved, getting the person(s) centered in the picture would be most difficult. It seems it would be for me and #4 you were spot on. Of course you know that, I'm just saying I noticed too. The last one...I can't say. The sky is really pretty but so is everything else about it. It looks like it might be about to rain.
ReplyDeleteDavid, rain is a fact of life here but that cloud didn't rain on me. the following one did. Sunlight behind me and a dark cloud for a backdrop usually add a bit of drama to an image.
DeleteThese images are cropped square on the x axis so that gives me a bit of leeway.
Modern DSLRs are generally very good at finding a target and locking onto it. It is not as hard as it used to be to get reasonable results.
Well, the white water facility is impressive. Here we only think of wild rivers but there are other ways of doing things. It's good that you explain how this thing works.
ReplyDeleteRed, I suspect that we also tend to use natural rivers. I don't know of another artificial course in the UK but there must be some.
DeleteI like the white water rafting. It's a good bilateral activity for the upper extremity and improves and maintains good coordination for the arms.
ReplyDeleteMaria, it does look fun. The kayaking is more physically demanding. Here they treat it as a jolly day out.
DeleteWhite water rafting is bloody scary ~ did it in NZ years ago and never been more petrified. It is a big thing for tourist to do up here in Cairns in the warmer waters of the Tully River, but I still haven't been inclined to try it again. Figured I got the T-Shirt already and don't need another one (like bungy jumping).
ReplyDeleteCarol, depending on the venue I can imagine it being terrifying. Bungy jumping something else I've never tried. Adrenalin is a great antidote for me when I feel depressed.
DeleteSome great action shots there Adrian and some excellent images of those magnificent engineering projects.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed that you seem to be developing a 'drowning' theme in your posts at the moment: first it's peppers, now it's people! what next?...[;o)
Info...For the Olympics, at a cost of £31 million, a new white water course was built at Broxbourne in the Lee Valley in Hertfordshire (about 9 miles North of the Olympic park and not too far from the Essex mountains!!)
Trevor, yes it is called themed posting.
Delete£31 million. This cost about a tenth of that. Broxbourne probably has heated and purified water. This one just uses what the Tees supplies, dead sheep, old tyres are included free.
Trevor, yes it is called themed posting.
Delete£31 million. This cost about a tenth of that. Broxbourne probably has heated and purified water. This one just uses what the Tees supplies, dead sheep, old tyres are included free.
The white water course looks lovely, for some, lol. And the Otter, it is superb, ta Adrian.
ReplyDeleteIt is grand Bob.
DeleteHello Adrian,
ReplyDeletefaszinating photographs - the water as element in all the forms in one moment as photo frozen!
regards Senna
Senna, water especially rough water does liven up a still image.
DeleteNice series of action photos :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Monica, they turned out alright for once.
DeleteWhat a coincidence! Kayaks! They are mentioned in my post for Monday, and all kayakers should take heed thereof.
ReplyDeleteI'm back down here in a week or ten days so will read it and post a copy on their notice board.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSorry ... I just removed that because I misspelled Middlesbrough, despite having spent two weeks there on a visit from Australia. I just want you to photograph Anish Kapoor's giant 'Tememos' in the docklands! Jean
DeleteJayview, It needs shooting in just the right light. It's not an area to be hanging around in with £10ks worth of gear. I am back there next week and will have a go at Tememos and the Infinity Bridge. I'll try and arrange for some serious muscle and a Gloch or two.
DeleteMost natives of Middlesbrough have trouble spelling their names some have trouble remembering their names. Only ten percent know where they are or can spell it.
Don't worry in future we know where you mean.
Oh, I withdraw my request. It sounds risky! I was there in late light with one husband and an old Canon 550D - probably had the luck of the stranger. Jean
DeleteLike Carol I did it in NZ back in 2005 and it was brilliant. I actually blogged about it here. I'm the chap seated at the front of the raft. I must have looked daft or summit 'cos it's the chap at the front who tips the raft over if he gets it wrong. The fall in the picture is the highest commercially run fall in the Southern Hemisphere.
ReplyDeleteGraham, I find it hard to believe you revoked it for Croquette. Putting the hoops in is my favorite post ever of yours. You have done some crackers in your time Shadow on Stornoway harbour was another stroke of genius.
DeleteIt is well known that Archimedes Screws but he'd rather keep this pleasurable pastime to himself instead of having it announced to all and sundry. As for white water sports in Middlesborough - more proof that our world is full of magical surprises. I thought their only sports were darts, dominoes and hare coursing.
ReplyDeleteYP, I'm was just describing one of his inventions. I suspect he did screw but who or what I dread to think. Didn't Adam an Eve invent screwing. I know Joseph and Mary didn't. You'll know....Be a good pub Quiz tie breaker.
DeleteNot your sort of Watersports. These are serious athletes. They are no worse than us and despite all their setbacks are generally friendly and humorous. I like it here. No Scottish Woollen Mill shops or folk trying to sell shortbread and fudge. It's normal.
Some of my work colleagues want to do a team building day here. Although the fees seem quite pricey, they can't decide whether or not they want to do the large raft or individual kayaks ... which is why my name hasn't been written on the wall list yet ! Fantastic shots by the way.
ReplyDelete