Another bridge photo today. I seem to have a small collection of images of bridges across the River Rother, more specifically: footbridges.
You can see the next couple of bridges downstream here and here.
Crossing a footbridge
The water flows slowly past
Beneath and onwards
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
The photo today is the view north from the bridge depicted in yesterday’s blog post. No trains were forthcoming (although I didn’t hang about to be fair).
Today I crossed a hurdle in my Couch to 5K running plan. After suffering my calf injury on my first attempt (on week 1, day 3) I rested the sore leg for a couple of weeks before starting afresh. My progress so far has been steady with no further injuries, and no failed attempts at any of the runs – I am running at an embarrassingly slow pace though!
This week say me reach week 5 of the plan, one which I had felt some apprehension about. Week 5 (as is week 6) is a transition week where you move from shorter runs interspersed with brisk walking, to longer runs, culminating in a full 20-minute run on the third day. A few short weeks ago the thought of running for twenty minutes straight seemed impossible – even running for 90 seconds felt like an achievement – but, gradually, as the weeks passed and my fitness and stamina improved, I began to feel more confident about it. The second run of this week was two 8-minute runs broken by a 5-minute brisk walk, so not too much of a difference, and I managed that session without any real difficulty.
So, late this morning, after my breakfast had had time to digest, I did my warm-up, got dressed in my running gear, and headed out. After the 5-minute warm-up walk I began to run at my usual slow pace, a podcast my companion for the duration. Every so often – at five, ten. fifteen and, finally, eighteen minute intervals, the Laura’s voice on the C25K app let me know my progress, finally declaring that I had finished and that I should be proud of the achievement!
And I am. I’m not quite there yet – the final goal is to be able to run for a full 30-minutes non-stop – but it feels within reach now. Just a few more weeks to go.
My legs are aching
But now it’s in a good way
Feeling fulfillment
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford Delta 400. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
Bridges are probably creeping up on power lines as one of my most oft photographed subjects I think. This one crossing the tracks not far from Renishaw golf course.
In other news, I have some time off work next week, so I’m looking forward to that – even though my ability to do stuff is still largely curtailed – and plan on a few long walks from home where I’ll hopefully find opportunities to make photos.
I also received a box full of old slides in the post yesterday and plan on scanning some of those. There are a variety of subjects but a considerable number of them look to be European holiday photos from the early 70s. The colours on the Kodachrome slides look loveley, and there are some nice looking Fujifilm slides in there too.
Across twin rail lines
Iron bridge. Steel and rivets
Carries me over
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford Delta 400. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
I was concentrating so much on getting the horse – which was moving around slowly – in sharp focus that I didn’t notice it was sticking it’s tongue out when I fired the shutter…
Standing in the snow
Making rude gestures to men
Making photographs
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
The two bridges shown here once spanned both railway and canal. They are both almost identical, functional, no-frills affairs. The railway lines have been lifted for almost forty years now and I’m unsure how long it has been since this stretch of the canal contained water. The bridges now span a path used by foot traffic (plus bicycles and – maybe – horses). The canal remains empty of water and canal-boats for the forseeable future – although many other stretches of the Chesterfield canal have been restored, so hopefully it may see use again in years to come.
Barges and bargees
Once floated by while nearby
Locomotives passed
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
The flooded field in the two images presented here today is where a footpath runs. It leads down from the Trans Pennine Trail towards Eckington and passes close to a copse of trees that I’ve photographed on a number of occasions (see here and here for instance). On the day I made these photos it was unpassable however. It probably wasn’t too deep, but likely deep enough to overflow my walking boots with frigid liquid, and I doubt the ice was thick enough to support me upon its surface. I knew I should have started that diet!
A thin crust of ice
The footpath submerged below
Waiting for the sun
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
This track runs parallel to the Trans Pennine Way for a while and the section depicted is open for public access. The remainder of the track leads up to the farm itself and has no further right of way. I know this because I once walked all the way to the end without realising. And then had to walk all the way back again.
I really like how this picture turned out. It looked nice in the viewfinder with all the leading lines, and the end result doesn’t disappoint me. Probably my favourite shot of the year so far.
Country road power
Leading the eye down the way
To places unseen
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
Killamarsh is a village in North-East Derbyshire with a population of around 10,000 so it seems hard to believe that, at one point, the place had three seperate railway stations serving it. To the east was Upperthorpe & Killamarsh station, the the west was Killamarsh West station, and between them the appropriately named Killamarsh central.
Only one active railway line remains – the line that served Killamarsh West, although there are no longer any stops and the station on that line has been long removed and, if there are any remains, they are out of bounds to the public. I’m uncertain if anything remains of the eastern station.
As for Killamarsh Central, there ramain the northbound platform and the pedestrian footbridge, both of wich can be seen in the two photos shared today. The first looking south towards Renishaw and Chesterfield, the second north towards Beighton.
The station originally opened in June 1892, remaining active for the next seventy-one years when it finally closed in the summer of 1963, although the line remained in use until 1983 when the track was lifted. The track bed now forms the route of the section of the Trans Pennine Way that runs between Beighton and Chesterfield.
Line for rail travel
Both for goods and passengers
Falls to memory
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
Winter sunlight casts the bark of this tree into wonderful relief.
Low winter sunshine
Special illumination
Such wonderful light
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 1 February 2021
The path beneath the bridge in the background of this photo leads to Rother Valley Country Park and the signs in the foreground identify the southern route along the Trans Pennine Trail. As the lockdown continues so I become ever more familiar with this area close to where I live. The next announcement about restrictions is scheduled for Monday when we may find out when some of them may start to be lifted. I’m not expecting a full return to freedom, or even an immediate losening of the rules, but it will be good to have more information at least.
Freedom to exercise
But no more than once a day
Like a gilded cage
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 8 February 2021
Steel City Snapper photography 