Photographers – Think Differently..
This shot was taken in Porthmadog, North Wales a couple of years ago. It’s one of the engines used on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway.
We traveled up to the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog which once was the slate capital of Wales. The slate quarried here has roofed buildings all over the world.
Photo details: Camera Nikon D7200 with a Sigma 17-70 mm lens.
f/5 @ 1/160 sec, ISO 100 Lens focal length 28 mm.
Thank you,
George.
My shot this week is from a short tour of North Wales. This signal box was shot in the setting sun at Porthmadog. The light reflecting off the track leads the eye into the shot.
Thank you for visiting and feel free to comment, what you like or dislike.
George.
So after leaving Wales I headed over to the Peak District in mid England.
The ride across to the Peak District was an enjoyable ride with a few detours due to road works. When time is not a problem I love detours, on the motorcycle I just take any road and see where it takes me. Sometimes I do this just for fun. I have seen great little gem’s of the country side by doing this or ended up in dead end’s or farm yards. It’s still great to explore to little roads.
So my destination was The Royal Oak in Hurdlow, Nr Buxton, SK17 9QJ,
This was home for two nights staying in the Bunk Barn.
The bunk rooms are up the stairs, they are clean and also have a small shared Kitchen area if you wish to cook or just make coffee, tea etc. Toilets and Showers below them has seen in the photo. Because the barn is built into a slope the bunk rooms are at ground level on the other side of the barn.
Last year I camped here before going up to tour Scotland, saying it rained is an under statement. I never seen any of the Peak district. This year the ground was burnt with no rain for a couple of months. 
Where most of my meals where had and a few pints of ale enjoyed. There was a large music festival due to start a few miles down the road. So it was busy and no shortage of people to chat to, it’s the thing I love when touring alone. The people I meet, local and others travelling. Some great true stories, and others boasted by too much ale. You have got to love it.
An old Ford Transit motor home owned by a family of festival goers.
Red tailed bee and a few shots around the Peak district.
The Royal Oak sits on part of the National cycling network route. I walked around 10 mile of it in the evenings. With it being based on old disused railway lines in this area, it was enjoyable to walk and not have any traffic. While walking I left the camera, just enjoying the walk for what it is. Before leaving the Royal Oak I would like to say, Having stayed here twice I would highly recommend this place, staff and service is great and the ale worth trying.
My next stop is in North Yorkshire in the Market town of Skipton. It’s here I have to apologize for no photographs from this part of the trip. When replacing the SD card in the camera, I didn’t push it fully home and it was not till I was in Skipton I discovered it. So a full days photos in some scenic parts where lost, plus photos of a place I want to see for years. the town of Holmfirth in Yorkshire. Where the longest running British television sitcom was filmed. ‘Last of the summer wine’ the series run from 1973 to 2010. I always want to get a cup of tea in Sid’s cafe, a place in the sitcom. So I made it there and got my tea and thought I had my photographs, So it will be another trip back to see Holmfirth and another cuppa.
Skipton in Yorkshire is a place I have been to a lot, I was going to visit friends there for the weekend and do some walking but the weather there was thunder and lighting storms so with the bike parked for the weekend we went to Salts Mill a few mile from Bradford. About Salts Mill
The Church where a wedding was taking place.
Something different from the wedding cars you normally see.
The sign at the old police station.
Hockney 1853 gallery , Some views of the work on display in the David Hockney gallery. Here’s Andy adding scale to the famous Hockney chair.
In a gallery being artistic with slow shutter speed.
Heavy weight reading here in the book shop, detail from the slinging hook used in the old mill. It was nice to see how a lot of the old mill has been restored or just used has it was, like the old stone flooring and other features like the windows and doors.
A coffee in one of the coffee shops and it was out into the sunshine.
The mill chimney from different views.
Beside the mill runs the canal where we where going to walk but just has these photos below where taken the storms moved in.
some off the local wildfowl coming to greet me.
then ignore me.
Others check the camera out.
Looking across the River Aire beside the Canal.
It was a drive back to Skipton and enjoy the rest on the weekend with dear friends who always look after me with five star treatment, love you both. I left Skipton with heavy storms looming has I set off for Scotland to catch the ferry back to Belfast. Just made the ferry with minutes to spare, like the last one on board. Supper on the ferry and a mild crossing I rode into Belfast around 11pm and another half hour till home.
Hope you enjoyed the end to my trip ‘Short tour of Wales’ It was a good trip with kind weather and good friends, old and new. Remember a adventure does not mean travelling around the world or cost thousands. It can be a few mile away and with planning, cost’s can be kept down. So what ever you are into get out there and explore, meet new people and the most important thing enjoy life.
Thank you,
George.
So this the last post on my recent tour around North Wales. Today we’re of to Harlech Castle or Castell Harlech in the native Wlesh language. This is Wales most famous castle and also a world heritage site.
First a few links for those that are interested in a little history.
Men of Harlech A version of this tune was us in the movie “Zulu” (1964)
Lyrics Various version’s of the above song.
Has can be seen it was a warm day but great for biking, so arriving at the car park has usual there is no motorcycle parking provided. So a no parking area was used and it frees up a couple of car parking places. Just has we parked up another couple from Germany pulled in along side us.
Cable locks secure the helmets to the bikes and with my panniers empty I store my riding gear in them making it more comfortable to walk around in the heat. Into the castle entrance which can be seen in the above photo. With our wallets a little lighter it was across the foot bridge into the castle.
Will leave the photos to tell the story.
A sample of the photo’s taken and photo’s of the two friends I was touring with.
After four days in Wales it way time to go our own ways, With me going to the Peak District in England, another going to the south of England and one back home to Ireland. So a final breakfast and with the bike packed it was back on the road alone.
a few photographs has I made my way across Wales and below is my final photo and what part of motorcycling is all about.
The roads.
There is going to be another part of the trip through the Peak District and up into the Yorkshire Dales but that is another post.
Hope you enjoyed the trip in Wales, it’s a beautiful country with unpronounceable place names and the people warm and friendly. That’s my third time staying in Wales and not my last. If you ever get the chance come and see Wales you will not be disappointed.
Thank you for joining me on this short tour and I happy to bring you along.
George.
The plan for today was a short motorcycle ride out and after lunch a trip on the steam train to Blaenau Ffestiniog. It was a slate mining town in the mountains of the Snowdonia national park. So has it turned out the morning was wet and dull with low cloud covering the hills. Motorcycling was cancelled and a walk and a few coffee’s in the town of Porthmadog was the order of the day.
This bookshop caught my eye, good job it was closed or i might still be there.
A view of the harbour.
This was taken in the evening when we returned from Blaenau Ffestiniog.
We were to travel on the steam train on a return journey but it broke down and we had a diesel engine on the outward bound leg of the trip.
There’s the yellow diesel getting fuel.
Our restored third class carriage ready to leave the station.
For a bit of scale can you see the red motor car bottom centre of the photo.
A few shots taken from the train.
this is our diesel engine which is rare to see pulling this train.
Move views when i can see pass the trees and a reflection shot in the carriage.
Blaenau Ffestiniog station.
The engine from our trip and I grab this shot of another carriage. Not much comfort here and I believe the bench seats would have been just wood in there day.
These pillars are made from slate tiles has seen in the first shot.
Slate art in memory of the men who worked and died in mining and an engine and carriages that transported the stone.
A short video shot on my phone, not great quality but gives a feel for the journey. Also you will see us cross above the line we are on. It’s the only spiral loop railway line in the UK.
Back into Porthmadog and the sun has returned to end our trip today. 
A few shots of the engine before it left to go to where ever they park up for the night and we head to the station where there is a pint of real ale and a dinner with my name on it. I will leave you with some shots taken close to the station.
Hope you enjoyed your trip on the train with me, enjoyed taking you all there. Back soon with the final post from my Wales trip.
Thank you,
George.
This is the first post in a short series on my motorcycle tour of North Wales. I include a couple of links on the history of Portmeirion and the filming of the Prisoner, a cult 1960’s television series filmed there.
My Photo essay a walk through Portmeirion.
Parking the motorcycle in the car park and entering a place I recall from television. It was a little overcast but warm has I start my photo essay.
Lets enter, notice the painted ceiling in the archway.
One of the bikers I was travelling with.
Tides out, the following photos off a young blackbird are taken at the railings on top of the round platform in the photograph.
Moving on.
Up into the village.
Through the archway and into the gardens.
I liked the scale this child gives to the chest pieces.
A short climb back up into the village.
A short stop to play my respects to the Buddha.
He had a great view across the gardens from his lofty perch.
some little teasers of the garden has I make my way around the village.
The garden from another view.
It ‘s down hill from here, with a steep decline to the shore.
Things aren’t always what they seem.
With the last shot looking at the climb back up to the motorcycle, but not before a coffee and a short chat with other visitors.
Thank you for company on the walk around Portmeirion, Hope you enjoyed it and I’ll spare you the walk back up that hill. There are some longer walk in the grounds around Portmeirion, but walking in motorcycle gear is not recommended. Well that’s my excuse…
Feel free to comment, good or bad let me know, have a good weekend.
George.
George McNeill Photography 
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