We could even see the Brush

Many thanks to last week's guest blogger! I do hope you enjoyed reading Ursula's post last week! I know I certainly appreciated being reminded of places I've been to often, but not been to recently because of staying at home. And it was perhaps these memories that prompted me to do something I've never done before ...

I was pretty sure I'd blogged here about visits to Beacon Hill, but last week, when I looked back, I couldn't find any mentions! So, I thought I'd put this right today, and share some photos I took from the top of Beacon Hill last night, 20th June, the Summer Solstice. We arrived just after 9pm and walked up to the top of the Beacon from Woodhouse Eaves. The ferns had grown enormously, and alpacas were hiding, but the sheep were out in force. On the horizon, as we walked up the path to the top, there was a lone, long-horned cow.  

Lush ferns

Sheep

Lone long-horned cow

I wasn't surprised to see quite a few people already up there, some making a shelter, others enjoying a picnic, and others clambering on the rocks, taking photos against the backdrop of the darkening sky. 

How lovely it was that last week's guest blogger was able to join us for this exciting event. Despite the breeze and the social distancing, we were still able to have a lovely chat!

Looking out over Loughborough and the surrounding area, there were a few landmarks that were easily spottable - like the M1, busy with cars, Towers, but more surprisingly we could see the lovely neon sign all the way down at the Brush!!! I am most definitely not the best photographer, so hopefully you can spot the Brush's pinkish sign!

The string of car lights on the M1

The Brush neon sign clearly visible

The Brush at night, taken from the railway station

Gradually, the sky began to redden, and the clouds began to make beautiful shapes in the sky.

Finally, the sun had set and it was time to go home. Other people clearly had the same idea.

Making our way back down the path, we passed some beautifully coloured sky sandwiched between the silhouetted trees. 

I've never been to Beacon Hill in the dark before, but it was definitely an experience that I'd repeat.

You are welcome to quote passages from any of my posts, with appropriate credit. The correct citation for this looks as follow:

Dyer, Lynne (2020). We could even see the Brush! Available from: https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2020/06/we-could-even-see-brush.html  [Accessed: 21 June 2020]

Take down policy:

I post no pictures that are not my own, unless I have express permission so to do. All text is my own, and not copied from any other information sources, printed or electronic, unless identified and credited as such. If you find I have posted something in contravention of these statements, or if there are photographs of you which you would prefer not to be here, please contact me at the address listed on the About Me page, and I will remove these.

If you wish to leave a comment, please do so in the comments box that appears below this blogpost. Alternatively, you can contact me via lynneaboutloughborough[at]gmail[dot]com.

Thank you for reading this blog. 

Lynne     

24 hours on the GCR

As you know, I spend a lot of time in Loughborough (when I'm not at work in Leicester!) and even when I'm not in Loughborough I spend most of my time exclaiming when I find anything even vaguely Loughborough-related!

So, in the last couple of weeks I've been lucky enough to be out and about in Loughborough, in Charnwood, and even in North West Leicestershire! Let's start closest to home ...

As a special birthday treat (no, not for me!) we took a ride on the Great Central Railway, but not just any ride!! The Murder Mystery train journey included a five-course dinner, and a chance to try out the little grey cells a la Poirot and Murder on the Orient Express! It was a cold, wet, dark evening as we walked up to the station on Great Central Road and we were shocked to find when we got there that Mr Wellington Boot had been murdered. We were even more shocked to find that the inspector of police, needed help from us to solve the case! It was all very exciting as he presented the information to us on the platform before we boarded the train. 

During the course of our meal - I had soup, Boeuf Bourgignon, creme brulee cheesecake (yes, you read that right!) cheese and biscuits, and finally tea - we discussed the case, interviewed the suspects, asked questions of the inspector, discussed the case again, alighted the train at Rothley for a spot of fresh air, re-embarked with fresh ideas, discussed the case again, interviewed the suspects again, and finally presented our verdict. Well, we were half right! What a fabulous evening! 

As if that weren't enough, as part of the evening meal we were given tickets to ride the Great Central the following day too, so, guess what? we did!! We caught the train at Loughborough, having spent a little while perusing the platform in the daylight, and maybe buying a book or two! Fabulous to see things along the journey that it had been too dark to see the night before, like Woodhouse Eaves up on the hill, like Swithland Reservoir, and the different stations along the route. We went all the way to Leicester North, and stayed on the train while the engine moved from one end of the train to the other, and then we alighted at Quorn, from where we walked home to Loughborough. And that's all I have time for this week! Charnwood and North West Leicestershire will have to wait until next week!!

You are welcome to quote passages from any of my posts, with appropriate credit. The correct citation for this looks as follow:

Dyer, Lynne (2019). 24 hours on the GCR. Available from: https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2019/10/24-hours-on-gcr.html  [Accessed 27 October 2019]

Take down policy:

 post no pictures that are not my own, unless I have express permission so to do. All text is my own, and not copied from any other information sources, printed or electronic, unless identified and credited as such. If you find I have posted something in contravention of these statements, or if there are photographs of you which you would prefer not to be here, please contact me at the address listed on the About Me page, and I will remove these.

Thank you for reading this blog. 

Lynne