Geograph BlogRecently updated Blog Entries on Geograph British Isles
http://www.geograph.ie/blog/
2024-03-19T09:22:46+00:00text/html2021-09-04T16:48:51+00:00David Howard52.898860387205 -1.86022098013652021 summary
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/326
As the season draws to an end here is my annual summary of my photographic activity. Lockdown held back my usual routine till the end of March, so again sent me in a small circle around home covering less-visited areas until I was set free again <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6789568" target="_blank" title="TQ2284 : Villiers Road, Willesden by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2284 : Villiers Road, Willesden by David Howard" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/78/95/6789568_f8aaeb14_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="77" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6786682" target="_blank" title="TQ2284 : Shops on Willesden High Road by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2284 : Shops on Willesden High Road by David Howard" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/78/66/6786682_3476dd11_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6784766" target="_blank" title="TQ2496 : Union Street at the junction of Barnet High Street by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2496 : Union Street at the junction of Barnet High Street by David Howard" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/78/47/6784766_e04a42a3_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="77" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6783895" target="_blank" title="TQ3294 : Firs Park Avenue, Winchmore Hill by David Howard"><img alt="TQ3294 : Firs Park Avenue, Winchmore Hill by David Howard" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/78/38/6783895_28bc6613_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>, plus our bagpipers who put on a performance for charity <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6793505" target="_blank" title="TQ2187 : Bagpipe players on Kinloch Drive, Kingsbury by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2187 : Bagpipe players on Kinloch Drive, Kingsbury by David Howard" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/79/35/6793505_a4a16f42_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>. Over the winter three pre-Worboys signs had turned up, so as soon as March ended I was off to get them all including one in Thetford <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6811033" target="_blank" title="TL8782 : Castle Park, Thetford by David Howard"><img alt="TL8782 : Castle Park, Thetford by David Howard" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/81/10/6811033_cb99e734_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="79" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6811187" target="_blank" title="TL8682 : The Chase pub, Thetford by David Howard"><img alt="TL8682 : The Chase pub, Thetford by David Howard" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/81/11/6811187_e35a1a5c_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="78" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6811234" target="_blank" title="TL8784 : Admirals Way, Thetford by David Howard"><img alt="TL8784 : Admirals Way, Thetford by David Howard" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/81/12/6811234_2408dcb3_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> which turned up here. As I already have a patch around there I took the opportunity to increase it, and used the map here to find two squares with only one image either side of a road, which needed GPS to locate as one was limited by hedges <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6813080" target="_blank" title="TL8880 : The A1088, Euston by David Howard"><img alt="TL8880 : The A1088, Euston by David Howard" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/81/30/6813080_2fd9f1df_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="79" /></a> and the other was in a field <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6810878" target="_blank" title="TL8981 : Field in Euston by David Howard"><img alt="TL8981 : Field in Euston by David Howard" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/81/08/6810878_6e976c4f_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="77" /></a>.<br />
<br />
Twyford <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6818151" target="_blank" title="SU4824 : Queen Street, Twyford by David Howard"><img alt="SU4824 : Queen Street, Twyford by David Howard" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/81/81/6818151_0457680e_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="77" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6819017" target="_blank" title="SU4824 : High Street Twyford at the end of Hazeley Road by David Howard"><img alt="SU4824 : High Street Twyford at the end of Hazeley Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/81/90/6819017_5ee1bb5b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="79" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6818146" target="_blank" title="SU4724 : Queen Street, Twyford by David Howard"><img alt="SU4724 : Queen Street, Twyford by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/81/81/6818146_8d61a58f_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="78" /></a> and Trumpington <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6791435" target="_blank" title="TL4454 : Bidwells offices in Trumpington by David Howard"><img alt="TL4454 : Bidwells offices in Trumpington by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/79/14/6791435_2a4e0be6_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="75" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6834445" target="_blank" title="TL4454 : Conifers by Hauxton Road, Trumpington by David Howard"><img alt="TL4454 : Conifers by Hauxton Road, Trumpington by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/83/44/6834445_3422e95f_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6795991" target="_blank" title="TL4555 : New flats by Long Road, Cambridge by David Howard"><img alt="TL4555 : New flats by Long Road, Cambridge by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/79/59/6795991_10ebbd6b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> were the other two, and once completed was free to roam wherever I wanted to. The only aim now is new territory, as it would need a tremendous effort to reach any further locations without a reluctant overnight stay. I may next year, as covid prevented it since 2019 so anything more ambitious was so hard as to be practically impossible, including the Eurotunnel to France. The routine this year turned out to be major A roads to their conclusions, the A10 to King's Lynn <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6825747" target="_blank" title="TF6424 : New house on Manor Road, North Wootton by David Howard"><img alt="TF6424 : New house on Manor Road, North Wootton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/82/57/6825747_80d03076_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6825767" target="_blank" title="TF6423 : Park by Nursery Lane, North Wootton by David Howard"><img alt="TF6423 : Park by Nursery Lane, North Wootton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/82/57/6825767_13f506bd_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6828347" target="_blank" title="TF6523 : Ling Common, South Wootton by David Howard"><img alt="TF6523 : Ling Common, South Wootton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/82/83/6828347_b3953585_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>, the A41 to Solihull <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6925008" target="_blank" title="SP1480 : Seven Star Road, Solihull by David Howard"><img alt="SP1480 : Seven Star Road, Solihull by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/92/50/6925008_d3da3222_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6919033" target="_blank" title="SP1580 : Lode Lane at the corner of Grove Road by David Howard"><img alt="SP1580 : Lode Lane at the corner of Grove Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/91/90/6919033_ede9a5ee_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="76" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6919015" target="_blank" title="SP1579 : Arbury House on School Lane, Solihull by David Howard"><img alt="SP1579 : Arbury House on School Lane, Solihull by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/91/90/6919015_1ba4d67c_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="76" /></a> and the A34 to Birmingham <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6926993" target="_blank" title="SP0281 : Iris Close, Weoley Castle by David Howard"><img alt="SP0281 : Iris Close, Weoley Castle by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/92/69/6926993_836ac77b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6927747" target="_blank" title="SP0179 : Northfield Leisure Centre by David Howard"><img alt="SP0179 : Northfield Leisure Centre by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/92/77/6927747_87573479_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="77" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6930877" target="_blank" title="SP0478 : Granshaw Close, Kings Norton by David Howard"><img alt="SP0478 : Granshaw Close, Kings Norton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/93/08/6930877_02135f08_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>, albeit with very few sections using the designations nowadays. I ended the serious journeys with Uttoxeter <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6939271" target="_blank" title="SK0934 : Starbucks off Derby Road, Uttoxeter by David Howard"><img alt="SK0934 : Starbucks off Derby Road, Uttoxeter by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/93/92/6939271_17c0dca7_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6934072" target="_blank" title="SK0933 : Domino's Pizza, Uttoxeter by David Howard"><img alt="SK0933 : Domino's Pizza, Uttoxeter by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/93/40/6934072_c5abf796_120x120.jpg" width="80" height="120" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6934073" target="_blank" title="SK0933 : Bull sculpture on Derby Road, Uttoxeter by David Howard"><img alt="SK0933 : Bull sculpture on Derby Road, Uttoxeter by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/93/40/6934073_4bc7bd98_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>, to fill in the yawning gaps in SK myriad, having attempted Nottingham earlier in the year and got so stuck in traffic I turned off and headed west instead <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6842635" target="_blank" title="SP4888 : House on Main Road, Claybrooke Magna by David Howard"><img alt="SP4888 : House on Main Road, Claybrooke Magna by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/84/26/6842635_2d1bfb6a_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="77" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6842604" target="_blank" title="SP5387 : Cauldwell Lane near Bitteswell by David Howard"><img alt="SP5387 : Cauldwell Lane near Bitteswell by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/84/26/6842604_2168a185_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6844001" target="_blank" title="SP5485 : Houses on Central Avenue, Lutterworth by David Howard"><img alt="SP5485 : Houses on Central Avenue, Lutterworth by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/84/40/6844001_11077f0d_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="77" /></a>.<br />
<br />
Locally I use my phone to keep track of wherever I am, and followed the progress of the wild flowers in my local parks where I go to run <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6942419" target="_blank" title="TQ2187 : Going to seed by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2187 : Going to seed by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/94/24/6942419_954c2d09_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6906896" target="_blank" title="TQ2187 : Brent Reservoir, Kingsbury by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2187 : Brent Reservoir, Kingsbury by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/90/68/6906896_f72e9bdd_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6937727" target="_blank" title="TQ2088 : Flowers in Roe Green Park, Kingsbury by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2088 : Flowers in Roe Green Park, Kingsbury by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/93/77/6937727_d79e82db_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6930170" target="_blank" title="TQ2088 : Marigolds on Church Lane Recreation Ground, Kingsbury by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2088 : Marigolds on Church Lane Recreation Ground, Kingsbury by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/93/01/6930170_4037d074_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>. There is also a series around Golders Green <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6945110" target="_blank" title="TQ2488 : Hallswelle House, Temple Fortune by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2488 : Hallswelle House, Temple Fortune by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/94/51/6945110_4da9a82a_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6935764" target="_blank" title="TQ2488 : Planter in front of Yew Tree Court, Temple Fortune by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2488 : Planter in front of Yew Tree Court, Temple Fortune by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/93/57/6935764_825cf147_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6936744" target="_blank" title="TQ2588 : Temple Fortune Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2588 : Temple Fortune Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/93/67/6936744_3cffeefb_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> and Hampstead Garden Suburb <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6874622" target="_blank" title="TQ2588 : Rosebed in Northway Gardens, Hampstead Garden Suburb by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2588 : Rosebed in Northway Gardens, Hampstead Garden Suburb by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/87/46/6874622_1237b251_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> where I do my mother's shopping. Otherwise the trips have been to green patches in between the red on my map, becoming further and further away after 15 years, and generally around Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6951228" target="_blank" title="SP9853 : Houses on Court Lane, Stevington by David Howard"><img alt="SP9853 : Houses on Court Lane, Stevington by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/95/12/6951228_0f9e7ff6_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6949694" target="_blank" title="TL1749 : Floral display on Market Square, Sandy by David Howard"><img alt="TL1749 : Floral display on Market Square, Sandy by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/94/96/6949694_9d09af35_120x120.jpg" width="77" height="120" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6947173" target="_blank" title="SP8638 : Marlborough Street, Milton Keynes by David Howard"><img alt="SP8638 : Marlborough Street, Milton Keynes by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/94/71/6947173_7a7749d1_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6947043" target="_blank" title="SP8438 : Shopping centre by Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes by David Howard"><img alt="SP8438 : Shopping centre by Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/94/70/6947043_0b66184c_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="75" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6944201" target="_blank" title="TL1407 : St Albans Museum and Gallery by David Howard"><img alt="TL1407 : St Albans Museum and Gallery by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/94/42/6944201_8c4195ce_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>. More pre-Worboys signs turned up on the east coast, meaning a first visit to Great Wakering <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6848217" target="_blank" title="TQ9487 : The Co-op, Great Wakering by David Howard"><img alt="TQ9487 : The Co-op, Great Wakering by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/84/82/6848217_36141a98_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6848304" target="_blank" title="TQ9486 : Electrical transformers at MoD Shoeburyness by David Howard"><img alt="TQ9486 : Electrical transformers at MoD Shoeburyness by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/84/83/6848304_41efd49e_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6849184" target="_blank" title="TQ9387 : Little Wakering Road, Great Wakering by David Howard"><img alt="TQ9387 : Little Wakering Road, Great Wakering by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/84/91/6849184_19563129_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="79" /></a> and a visit to Mersea Island <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6860200" target="_blank" title="TM0615 : Thatched cottage on East Road, East Mersea by David Howard"><img alt="TM0615 : Thatched cottage on East Road, East Mersea by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/86/02/6860200_0d489ca5_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6860064" target="_blank" title="TM0113 : Field by Colchester Road, West Mersea by David Howard"><img alt="TM0113 : Field by Colchester Road, West Mersea by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/86/00/6860064_eb97f664_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6860013" target="_blank" title="TM0115 : The Mersea Channel by David Howard"><img alt="TM0115 : The Mersea Channel by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/86/00/6860013_4d5a853f_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> for the first time in about 40 years. One memory is always revived now as my current road map was bought last year on a trip to Leicester <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6614987" target="_blank" title="SK6200 : Harborough Road, Oadby by David Howard"><img alt="SK6200 : Harborough Road, Oadby by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/61/49/6614987_e37b2687_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> as the last one was coming apart and is now indoors for reference. However it came back to life when I went to Birmingham <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6926991" target="_blank" title="SP0180 : St David's Church, Shenley Green by David Howard"><img alt="SP0180 : St David's Church, Shenley Green by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/92/69/6926991_829abefe_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> as it has a huge town plan which guaranteed I reached the exact spot I had to get a sign in.<br />
<br />
It was a slightly different year due to lockdown, but less than 2020 as the restrictions didn't last as long, but having three signs to get as quickly as possible (many are gone if you wait, as I've experienced too many times) used up any ambitions to bag a distant myriad this year, and plan a trip to Wales again next year for that purpose. My other trip planned is into the far side of Staffordshire, and everything else is flexible.text/html2020-09-26T00:32:51+00:00David Howard52.538606838242 -2.4216272301743Lockdown story
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/323
I usually make plans for each year for the photo season, roughly when the clocks go forward till when they go back, based on new map records and areas. The easiest new record was going to be my 20th myriad, SH in mid Wales. Then came the lockdown when we couldn't go out for more than about an hour, so on local duties. I covered every area I'd rarely visited <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6500397" target="_blank" title="TQ4187 : Wanstead Park by David Howard"><img alt="TQ4187 : Wanstead Park by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/50/03/6500397_65f51936_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6500403" target="_blank" title="TQ4189 : Lakeside Avenue, Redbridge by David Howard"><img alt="TQ4189 : Lakeside Avenue, Redbridge by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/50/04/6500403_0469a79c_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6527627" target="_blank" title="TQ1488 : Bradstowe House, Harrow by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1488 : Bradstowe House, Harrow by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/52/76/6527627_d511ed04_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="76" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6481326" target="_blank" title="TQ1288 : Lincoln Road, Harrow by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1288 : Lincoln Road, Harrow by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/48/13/6481326_b18ff7be_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6486815" target="_blank" title="TQ1288 : Willow tree by Yeading Walk by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1288 : Willow tree by Yeading Walk by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/48/68/6486815_775b7316_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>, and as a result of the added time managed a couple of POTY nominations <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6460896" target="_blank" title="TQ2885 : Sharps Fishing Tackle on Malden Road by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2885 : Sharps Fishing Tackle on Malden Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/46/08/6460896_9eca73e2_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6422697" target="_blank" title="TQ3585 : Derelict flats on Homerton High Street by David Howard"><img alt="TQ3585 : Derelict flats on Homerton High Street by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/42/26/6422697_ead851ab_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="73" /></a>. Then came the free travel, except to Wales. As a collector of pre-Worboys signs <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/1078804" target="_blank" title="TQ3197 : Pre-worboys sign Enfield by David Howard"><img alt="TQ3197 : Pre-worboys sign Enfield by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/07/88/1078804_5c89c53d_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, I decided instead to scour the country for them, first deciding Shropshire was a goldmine, where I'd never been at all, so went around Bridgnorth <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6497132" target="_blank" title="SO7193 : Bridgnorth Town Hall by David Howard"><img alt="SO7193 : Bridgnorth Town Hall by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/49/71/6497132_6b099b88_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6497135" target="_blank" title="SO7193 : Alley Katz Toy Shop, Bridgnorth by David Howard"><img alt="SO7193 : Alley Katz Toy Shop, Bridgnorth by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/49/71/6497135_19b622ac_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a><a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6492146" target="_blank" title="SO7192 : Underhill Street, Bridgnorth by David Howard"><img alt="SO7192 : Underhill Street, Bridgnorth by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/49/21/6492146_99dcc1ac_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="77" /></a> (one I knew of wasn't apparent till I spotted it on Google when checking the others), which added me quite a few I'd never even have considered getting before. Then I Streetviewed everywhere within around 100 miles, as a result picking up beauties in Blandford Forum <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6515589" target="_blank" title="ST8806 : Edward Street, Blandford Forum by David Howard"><img alt="ST8806 : Edward Street, Blandford Forum by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/51/55/6515589_7ff19d73_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6514334" target="_blank" title="ST8906 : Bayfran Way at the junction of St Leonard's Avenue by David Howard"><img alt="ST8906 : Bayfran Way at the junction of St Leonard's Avenue by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/51/43/6514334_7c5ebf97_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="78" /></a>, Daventry <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6583928" target="_blank" title="SP5662 : Cowper Road, Daventry by David Howard"><img alt="SP5662 : Cowper Road, Daventry by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/58/39/6583928_3f29cb78_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="77" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6557266" target="_blank" title="SP5762 : Tavern Lane looking towards High Street Daventry by David Howard"><img alt="SP5762 : Tavern Lane looking towards High Street Daventry by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/55/72/6557266_1ad411ad_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="74" /></a> and rural Northants <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6204498" target="_blank" title="SP7272 : Field by Station Road east of Cottesbrooke by David Howard"><img alt="SP7272 : Field by Station Road east of Cottesbrooke by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/20/44/6204498_6d7ad8fb_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6200514" target="_blank" title="SP7273 : Field by Station Road, Cottesbrooke by David Howard"><img alt="SP7273 : Field by Station Road, Cottesbrooke by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/20/05/6200514_b7f62745_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>I may not have thought of looking for before. None are here as there are no other pictures of them online and many vanish when locations are offered, but they are all on Flickr pre-Worboys group.<br />
<br />
Then I went back to filling space on my map, working round the compass points covering places like Rochford <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6551503" target="_blank" title="TQ8394 : Park homes at Hockley Park by David Howard"><img alt="TQ8394 : Park homes at Hockley Park by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/55/15/6551503_f1e053d5_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6551505" target="_blank" title="TQ8791 : Ashingdon Road, Rochford by David Howard"><img alt="TQ8791 : Ashingdon Road, Rochford by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/55/15/6551505_aa6d7702_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>, Spalding <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6571503" target="_blank" title="TF2419 : Field by Barrier Bank, Cowbit by David Howard"><img alt="TF2419 : Field by Barrier Bank, Cowbit by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/57/15/6571503_ed1f02b8_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6571495" target="_blank" title="TF2518 : Barrier Bank, Cowbit by David Howard"><img alt="TF2518 : Barrier Bank, Cowbit by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/57/14/6571495_ea48a787_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>, Kettering <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6602096" target="_blank" title="SP8778 : Unusual building on Montagu Street, Kettering by David Howard"><img alt="SP8778 : Unusual building on Montagu Street, Kettering by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/60/20/6602096_f599553b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="78" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6603477" target="_blank" title="SP8778 : Silver birch trees on St Mary's Road, Kettering by David Howard"><img alt="SP8778 : Silver birch trees on St Mary's Road, Kettering by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/60/34/6603477_acfa2ac5_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>, Dereham <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6542630" target="_blank" title="TF9912 : Roys on Yaxham Road, Dereham by David Howard"><img alt="TF9912 : Roys on Yaxham Road, Dereham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/54/26/6542630_c8337a7e_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="77" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6542628" target="_blank" title="TF9911 : Thurlow Nunn Vauxhall, Dereham by David Howard"><img alt="TF9911 : Thurlow Nunn Vauxhall, Dereham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/54/26/6542628_6a071f6a_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> and Leicester <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6610715" target="_blank" title="SK5804 : West Bridge, Leicester by David Howard"><img alt="SK5804 : West Bridge, Leicester by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/61/07/6610715_cce719bc_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="79" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6610609" target="_blank" title="SK5906 : Melton Road at the junction of Doncaster Road by David Howard"><img alt="SK5906 : Melton Road at the junction of Doncaster Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/61/06/6610609_315d94e7_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>, one of the only large towns in England I'd never been to before. I also moved up to 15th on the personal point leaderboard as a result, which took precisely 14 1/2 years of digital photography and getting on for 50,000 photos. But the map can never be finished, and with a reluctance to stay in strange places overnight nowadays my scope is also limited, although I had planned an overnight trip as well which also got postponed by 12 months. With the nights drawing in I have just started planning next year's trips, SH myriad of course, and other places in yawning gaps on the map mainly in the midlands. Also I may manage a second trip to the Channel Islands (after 57 years) which would begin a profile on another Geograph site if so. text/html2020-04-23T22:39:02+00:00David Howard51.573284366005 -0.2481720341525Half a season
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/315
My photo season begins in April and ends in October, when I can travel as far as possible in a day to make my map records and collect pre-Worboys signs. Luckily I did two such trips just before the clocks went forward, and means the road signs which I consider a priority as so many are gone if you wait a day too long, are up to date. Each year I list the next trips, using the map to see the next record I can get without being stranded in the middle of the night off the A1 in Lincs <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6232438" target="_blank" title="SK9232 : Great North Road, Little Ponton by David Howard"><img alt="SK9232 : Great North Road, Little Ponton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/23/24/6232438_e908a6e6_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>. 2020 had three such knowns, SH myriad in mid-Wales on a familiar route before turning off north, the Eurotunnel which won't contribute here except around the Folkestone terminal, <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4902189" target="_blank" title="TR2135 : The sea front at Folkestone by David Howard"><img alt="TR2135 : The sea front at Folkestone by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/90/21/4902189_75da8b94_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> and the final four pre-Worboys signs I missed north of Bristol <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6414136" target="_blank" title="ST6288 : Vattingstone Lane at the junction of Down Lane by David Howard"><img alt="ST6288 : Vattingstone Lane at the junction of Down Lane by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/41/41/6414136_3011fea0_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>. The reserve is my first ever myriad starting with an N in Darlington which requires up to an hour wait on a railway platform at each end as that is the frequency there. Instead come the end of March we all got locked down to our local areas. There's always something new to discover there but hardly difficult to access, even on the shortest day. So art again replaces geography, looking for new angles and views wherever I am, <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6445272" target="_blank" title="TQ2789 : Kitchener Road, East Finchley by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2789 : Kitchener Road, East Finchley by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/44/52/6445272_c353c08a_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> on my park walks every other day, buildings where I buy food, and people queuing for shops and going about their business. <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6445280" target="_blank" title="TQ2488 : Queuing outside Waitrose for coronavirus rules by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2488 : Queuing outside Waitrose for coronavirus rules by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/44/52/6445280_9225f97c_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6445276" target="_blank" title="TQ2387 : Stock delivery at Kay's on Hamilton Road by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2387 : Stock delivery at Kay's on Hamilton Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/44/52/6445276_66647be2_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a><br />
<br />
Currently we are approaching month 2 of lockdown. Two months to the longest day, with the current suggestion we won't be let free this year. The locations won't go away so would have to wait for all of us, and means my collection will return to the first two years when I had a digital camera and recorded all my favourite places with no restrictions for the first time. Like everyone else it also means I can check every single day of the past archive and upload all the hard to locate or similar photos I didn't have time to add at the time as it would have slowed me down. I'm also finally able to add my pre-2007 photos which aren't on my current computer, and can either access from CD or Flickr. <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6447067" target="_blank" title="TQ2589 : Alley behind the shops on Market Place by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2589 : Alley behind the shops on Market Place by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/44/70/6447067_740d178e_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6447120" target="_blank" title="TQ2688 : Bridge across Mutton Brook by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2688 : Bridge across Mutton Brook by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/44/71/6447120_ab8d9ca2_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6447355" target="_blank" title="TQ2187 : Yachting on the Welsh Harp Reservoir by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2187 : Yachting on the Welsh Harp Reservoir by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/44/73/6447355_af903d17_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> I have zero plans for the lockdown photos, as I think of where to go each day based on the weather and where I feel like going. Most are to the parks I am surrounded by here, and once a week or two to the parks a couple of miles away nearer where I grew up near Hampstead. <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6451474" target="_blank" title="TQ2687 : Hampstead Heath by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2687 : Hampstead Heath by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/45/14/6451474_4f575e2f_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> I actually have half the time I normally would as I am now looking after my mother who can't have anyone else working there, so I am definitely not running out of ideas. I expect soon I will choose a specific residential area to cover in depth for my exercise period and walk around nearby roads and look for the usual favourite features such as paths, streams (we have a lot here), railway lines and electricity substations which are always tucked between and behind houses. <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6447071" target="_blank" title="TQ2589 : Path from Market Place to Maurice Walk by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2589 : Path from Market Place to Maurice Walk by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/44/70/6447071_9e06da73_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6446986" target="_blank" title="TQ2087 : Alleyway off Kinloch Drive, Kingsbury by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2087 : Alleyway off Kinloch Drive, Kingsbury by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/44/69/6446986_59f2aa68_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6446999" target="_blank" title="TQ2788 : Highgate sidings by Wood Lane by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2788 : Highgate sidings by Wood Lane by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/44/69/6446999_9a4e9428_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a><br />
<br />
I am still straining at the leash to go to Wales. I know the road so well I can almost guarantee no hold ups, and pretty much time it in advance to make the best of the daylight. I missed France last summer, first as I was ill the day I was meant to go, and then the whole system crossing the channel was barely operating the rest of the season due to the heat, and the call centre recommended not going, and on their website. I remember the day I went north instead and hearing on the radio there was a three hour wait each end and was so relieved I didn't risk it. In about 1983 we went to Folkestone to get the hovercraft to Calais (as I would now if there was one, I won't use ships ever again), and there was a gale so we went on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway to and from Dungeness instead <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3955380" target="_blank" title="TR0916 : Dungeness power station and old lighthouse, 1982 by David Howard"><img alt="TR0916 : Dungeness power station and old lighthouse, 1982 by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/95/53/3955380_2ecc00c8_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="89" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4281769" target="_blank" title="TR0916 : The new Dungeness lighthouse, 1982 by David Howard"><img alt="TR0916 : The new Dungeness lighthouse, 1982 by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/28/17/4281769_2bf4b02d_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="85" /></a>. My father was happy to take the ferry as it could cope with the wind speed but not me. In the early 70s my mother was late home from work in court as the session finished late, and we turned up at Southend Airport only to be turned back as the plane had already boarded and had to go back the following day <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5508827" target="_blank" title="TQ8789 : Passengers at Southend Airport by David Howard archives"><img alt="TQ8789 : Passengers at Southend Airport by David Howard archives" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/50/88/5508827_681975e7_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="117" /></a>. Now we have this situation possibly for the entire year or longer, and we can only make the best of the tiny level of freedom we are allowed.<br />
text/html2019-12-15T20:14:42+00:00David Howard54.208121697113 -0.291927486936652019 summary
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/312
2019 was probably my busiest Geograph year. I reached 18th on personal points (I didn't aim to, I just went out most weeks), and went further in a day and back in Britain than I have in my whole life (although Brussels is the record). In fact it was because the Eurotunnel was on partial running through August as it was so hot and told passengers not to travel if possible I chose Yorkshire as an alternative. It was a good idea in principle, but I didn't allow long enough to get there as compared the A1 and routes through Lincs with motorways, but the A1 was jam packed until Peterborough <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6236713" target="_blank" title="TL1295 : Green on Oundle Road, Chesterton by David Howard"><img alt="TL1295 : Green on Oundle Road, Chesterton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/23/67/6236713_9af78f9b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="78" /></a>, losing well over an hour, and was almost dark when I got to Filey <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6231254" target="_blank" title="TA1080 : Muston Road, Filey by David Howard"><img alt="TA1080 : Muston Road, Filey by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/23/12/6231254_9cbb8721_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6231263" target="_blank" title="TA1080 : House on Muston Road, Filey by David Howard"><img alt="TA1080 : House on Muston Road, Filey by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/23/12/6231263_cdccc950_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>. I aimed for Scarborough but Filey was almost the same for the map coverage and too late to go beyond once I got there. Crossing the Humber Bridge was a real highlight as well <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6231818" target="_blank" title="TA0223 : Crossing the Humber Bridge by David Howard"><img alt="TA0223 : Crossing the Humber Bridge by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/23/18/6231818_0807966f_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="77" /></a>.<br />
<br />
Half the trips were for pre-Worboys signs, few are posted here but can all be seen on my Flickr account <span class="nowrap"><a title="www.flickr.com/photos/satguru" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/satguru">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="http://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> in their own album. I don't want the wrong people to know where they are and remove them. It meant my first visit to the Malvern Hills <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6227861" target="_blank" title="SO7845 : Barnard's Green Road, Malvern by David Howard"><img alt="SO7845 : Barnard's Green Road, Malvern by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/22/78/6227861_841e5868_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="72" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6236678" target="_blank" title="SO7845 : Court Road, Barnard's Green by David Howard"><img alt="SO7845 : Court Road, Barnard's Green by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/23/66/6236678_7903df0f_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="77" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6227862" target="_blank" title="SO7842 : The Malvern Hills from the corner of Blackmore Park Road by David Howard"><img alt="SO7842 : The Malvern Hills from the corner of Blackmore Park Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/22/78/6227862_98791216_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="77" /></a>, which I found even more scenic than mid-Wales <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6154492" target="_blank" title="SO1263 : The A44 looking towards Llandegley Rocks by David Howard"><img alt="SO1263 : The A44 looking towards Llandegley Rocks by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/15/44/6154492_786751ff_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6154497" target="_blank" title="SO1462 : Llandegley Rocks from the A44 by David Howard"><img alt="SO1462 : Llandegley Rocks from the A44 by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/15/44/6154497_e49e541a_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="77" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6148428" target="_blank" title="SO0167 : Access road to Great Castle by David Howard"><img alt="SO0167 : Access road to Great Castle by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/14/84/6148428_a3329c75_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="79" /></a> where I went to get into square SN <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6148093" target="_blank" title="SN9667 : Llew Williams, Rhayader by David Howard"><img alt="SN9667 : Llew Williams, Rhayader by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/14/80/6148093_0806050a_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6148365" target="_blank" title="SN9667 : Village sign for Cwmdauddwr by David Howard"><img alt="SN9667 : Village sign for Cwmdauddwr by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/14/83/6148365_9bcf8eb9_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6148381" target="_blank" title="SN9667 : Rapids on the River Wye, Rhayader by David Howard"><img alt="SN9667 : Rapids on the River Wye, Rhayader by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/14/83/6148381_a2b6eaf3_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="75" /></a>. Northants had a particularly rich set of old signs and I found more and more and went a few times <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6196750" target="_blank" title="SP8991 : ADM Flour Mill, Corby by David Howard"><img alt="SP8991 : ADM Flour Mill, Corby by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/19/67/6196750_f864ed38_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="78" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6195737" target="_blank" title="SP8490 : Cottingham village by David Howard"><img alt="SP8490 : Cottingham village by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/19/57/6195737_d2dd9fc6_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6196723" target="_blank" title="SP8490 : Corby Road, Cottingham by David Howard"><img alt="SP8490 : Corby Road, Cottingham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/19/67/6196723_2bffbf00_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>. I even found one in Walberswick <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6222312" target="_blank" title="TM4974 : Public toilets in Walberswick by David Howard"><img alt="TM4974 : Public toilets in Walberswick by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/22/23/6222312_a2dc7f35_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="78" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6222340" target="_blank" title="TM4974 : Ruins of St Andrews Church, Walberswick by David Howard"><img alt="TM4974 : Ruins of St Andrews Church, Walberswick by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/22/23/6222340_4a810eae_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="79" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6222341" target="_blank" title="TM4874 : St Andrew's Church, Walberswick by David Howard"><img alt="TM4874 : St Andrew's Church, Walberswick by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/22/23/6222341_989c3e8c_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="78" /></a> when I went for lunch and found one almost outside the shop. I then found one of the originally numerous bunch of unclaimed squares on the Dengie peninsula in Essex <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6339444" target="_blank" title="TL9501 : Foxhall Road north of Southminster by David Howard"><img alt="TL9501 : Foxhall Road north of Southminster by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/33/94/6339444_d0ff7213_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a>, which was then down to a single pair, included one which wasn't fenced off and only a quarter of a mile from the road. The only hurdle being waterlogged from the previous day, it took me ten minutes to reach, carrying my GPS waiting for the numbers to click over from TL9801 to 9800, and had double confirmation from the phone's geotag. As soon as I took the first photo I uploaded it to Geograph to guarantee it got there, and was actually registered as a first soon after I got back home <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6338424" target="_blank" title="TL9800 : Field in Asheldham by David Howard"><img alt="TL9800 : Field in Asheldham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/33/84/6338424_4389fb8d_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>. <br />
<br />
So it went far better than I expected, a couple of punctures from laybys with potholes and an island without any signage sticking out into the road, the only other hurdle being three weekends of solid rain, when I chose lack of traffic over being dry. Apart from Yorkshire I managed to avoid any other serious holdups, and never mind getting lost as if I keep taking photos they all add new squares and the GPS gets me back on track eventually.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6294925" target="_blank" title="SU1355 : High Street Upavon by David Howard"><img alt="SU1355 : High Street Upavon by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/29/49/6294925_280bc33a_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="79" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6307108" target="_blank" title="SU1382 : New roundabout on Peglars Way, Wichelstowe by David Howard"><img alt="SU1382 : New roundabout on Peglars Way, Wichelstowe by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/30/71/6307108_49e8bdce_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6313809" target="_blank" title="SP0524 : Roel Gate by David Howard"><img alt="SP0524 : Roel Gate by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/31/38/6313809_99c12afa_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6318554" target="_blank" title="SP3609 : Oxford Hill, Witney by David Howard"><img alt="SP3609 : Oxford Hill, Witney by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/31/85/6318554_03f7935b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="78" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6318513" target="_blank" title="SP3804 : Pull in on the A415, Brighthampton by David Howard"><img alt="SP3804 : Pull in on the A415, Brighthampton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/31/85/6318513_dee898e9_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6309450" target="_blank" title="SU4188 : Reading Road, Charlton by David Howard"><img alt="SU4188 : Reading Road, Charlton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/30/94/6309450_15bc7bd9_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6309427" target="_blank" title="SU3591 : Houses in Goosey by David Howard"><img alt="SU3591 : Houses in Goosey by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/30/94/6309427_c6197bea_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a><br />
<br />
My previous 2018 blog has plans for 2019, which were completed early and extended for the rest of the year. 2020 has fewer left, a probable sign in Derby and Wiltshire, another first geograph, and if I really feel like it another myriad in SS which I have been near to but couldn't make a detour after driving to Exeter already. Otherwise I will just keep getting new squares and look for more signs.text/html2019-08-01T00:31:50+00:00David Howard53.498390179643 -0.32058689093274Mission complete
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/308
My 13 year long Geograph mission was completed on the 24th of June 2019. It had stages, the first was compass records, going almost as far east as it's possible in Southwold <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5372756" target="_blank" title="TM5176 : Beach huts in Southwold by David Howard"><img alt="TM5176 : Beach huts in Southwold by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/37/27/5372756_b114323e_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, the south coast in various places <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3412860" target="_blank" title="SZ8897 : West Front Road, Pagham by David Howard"><img alt="SZ8897 : West Front Road, Pagham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/41/28/3412860_682b2372_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2597630" target="_blank" title="TV4798 : The Esplanade, Seaford by David Howard"><img alt="TV4798 : The Esplanade, Seaford by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/59/76/2597630_d4e1f600_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, north to Harrogate <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5748095" target="_blank" title="SE3055 : Harrogate War Memorial by David Howard"><img alt="SE3055 : Harrogate War Memorial by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/74/80/5748095_caeddf56_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> and west/southwest to Exeter <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5704239" target="_blank" title="SX9292 : Shops on South Street, Exeter by David Howard"><img alt="SX9292 : Shops on South Street, Exeter by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/70/42/5704239_7a6203af_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="88" /></a>. Exeter also completed the longest reasonable distance between two points, as living in a corner of the map in London can't equally travel north and south to get long spreads but east to west is all that's possible, with east being fixed as stated already.<br />
<br />
The next step was to get as many myriads as I could get without staying overnight, which I can't be bothered to do any more. Also most of my friends and family who used to share the driving to Lancashire which was the first destination, due to relatives living there, are no longer around and had to ask around online when I went to Harrogate <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5748098" target="_blank" title="SE3055 : Bettys Tea Rooms, Harrogate by David Howard"><img alt="SE3055 : Bettys Tea Rooms, Harrogate by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/74/80/5748098_90e8d0f6_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="88" /></a> last year. I picked up SN in Rhayader <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6148093" target="_blank" title="SN9667 : Llew Williams, Rhayader by David Howard"><img alt="SN9667 : Llew Williams, Rhayader by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/14/80/6148093_0806050a_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> and TA in Caistor <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6192197" target="_blank" title="TA1101 : Plough Hill, Caistor by David Howard"><img alt="TA1101 : Plough Hill, Caistor by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/19/21/6192197_4c901063_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="78" /></a> and now the only two I can do the day trip to without wearing myself out and spending most of the day stuck in a train are SS and SD which I may venture to next year if I feel like it.<br />
<br />
That means there are no more long distance journeys left on my list. I am now working through every pre-Worboys sign in the southern half of England, and started them since July with a few coming up next. It has included Walberswick <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6222342" target="_blank" title="TM4974 : Walberswick Green by David Howard"><img alt="TM4974 : Walberswick Green by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/22/23/6222342_1a3473fc_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> which rained solidly as soon as I got into Hertfordshire, where I had been right next to before I knew it had any (two, one turned up after I got there), and Weston by Welland <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6225007" target="_blank" title="SP7791 : Mickleborough Close, Weston by Welland by David Howard"><img alt="SP7791 : Mickleborough Close, Weston by Welland by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/22/50/6225007_a459b66c_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> where although I checked in advance going for the first direction sign found there was indeed one the other side of the same junction, so I returned there and skirted the edge of Leicestershire <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6224834" target="_blank" title="SP7692 : Slawston Road, Welham by David Howard"><img alt="SP7692 : Slawston Road, Welham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/22/48/6224834_c873847f_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="74" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6224802" target="_blank" title="SP7191 : Melton Road near East Langton by David Howard"><img alt="SP7191 : Melton Road near East Langton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/22/48/6224802_081d5fc6_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> to make the most of the new territory. I also spent most of an afternoon in Bristol where there were seven pre-Worboys signs, one was impossible as the city centre was coned off for road works but got the rest with little trouble, knowing every time I got lost I was picking up more squares. <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6170332" target="_blank" title="ST6173 : Whitehall Road, Upper Easton by David Howard"><img alt="ST6173 : Whitehall Road, Upper Easton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/17/03/6170332_1beb2db0_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6170898" target="_blank" title="ST5774 : Imperial Road, Woolcott Park by David Howard"><img alt="ST5774 : Imperial Road, Woolcott Park by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/17/08/6170898_534830e2_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="75" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6174998" target="_blank" title="ST5576 : Houses on Bell Barn Road, Stoke Bishop by David Howard"><img alt="ST5576 : Houses on Bell Barn Road, Stoke Bishop by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/17/49/6174998_51a3b571_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="73" /></a><br />
<br />
Otherwise I look for new squares wherever I feel like visiting, and try and take decent pictures locally in between. I can never run out of material so as long as I can leave the house I will continue taking photos. My next long visit is planned to France which will appear here as far as the tunnel.text/html2018-12-25T01:10:12+00:00David Howard53.994644078848 -1.53626446960052018 summary
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/295
2018 was the busiest photographic year of my life. A new car actually compatible with motorways <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5947295" target="_blank" title="SU7955 : The inside of Fleet Services by David Howard"><img alt="SU7955 : The inside of Fleet Services by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/94/72/5947295_61140edc_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> (it's only a 1200 but size isn't everything) started me off breaking new records from the beginning of the year onwards. First my north record in Lincolnshire <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5651292" target="_blank" title="SK9390 : Sign on the A631, Harpswell by David Howard"><img alt="SK9390 : Sign on the A631, Harpswell by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/65/12/5651292_651f3021_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="87" /></a> , followed by my map distance record a month later in Exeter <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5704239" target="_blank" title="SX9292 : Shops on South Street, Exeter by David Howard"><img alt="SX9292 : Shops on South Street, Exeter by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/70/42/5704239_7a6203af_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="88" /></a> . As I am in London <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5843461" target="_blank" title="TQ2287 : Roundabout at Staples Corner by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2287 : Roundabout at Staples Corner by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/84/34/5843461_3ac4de70_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> trying to beat that again north or west would require a lot further, towards the Lake District, as SW-NE is most of the width of Britain only stretched in the sea or Cornwall where I have never gone in one go. That done I went after new myriads, ie SE in Harrogate <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5748109" target="_blank" title="SE3055 : Harrogate old Station by David Howard"><img alt="SE3055 : Harrogate old Station by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/74/81/5748109_b83c1bfc_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> also taking the northern record, and SJ in Wolverhampton <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5795819" target="_blank" title="SJ9105 : Old Stafford Road, Cross Heath by David Howard"><img alt="SJ9105 : Old Stafford Road, Cross Heath by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/79/58/5795819_964893f9_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> . I have more planned for the spring in 2019.<br />
<br />
Once I'd got into a routine I changed the odd vehicle when mine was too frequently being repaired for the slings and arrows of living in London, and found a friend to go to Harrogate as I always used to on long trips to help with the driving. It was the third time I'd been there as my destinations were based on places I'd been to before but long before digital photography. The first time Betty's had a massive queue outside, I think we went somewhere else the second, and as it was 7pm this time it was actually quiet but we didn't bother to go in <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5751811" target="_blank" title="SE3055 : Bettys Tea Rooms, Harrogate by David Howard"><img alt="SE3055 : Bettys Tea Rooms, Harrogate by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/75/18/5751811_cd5b518c_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="86" /></a> mainly as the light was going so I wanted some time on the way back as well before it got dark passing into Notts <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5750449" target="_blank" title="SK7273 : McDonald's at Markham Moor Services, Retford by David Howard"><img alt="SK7273 : McDonald's at Markham Moor Services, Retford by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/75/04/5750449_55bdb123_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="88" /></a> .<br />
<br />
The other frequent trips were for pre-Worboys signs <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5750475" target="_blank" title="SE3651 : Weathered pre-Worboys sign in Spofforth by David Howard"><img alt="SE3651 : Weathered pre-Worboys sign in Spofforth by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/75/04/5750475_cf9d8f6b_120x120.jpg" width="90" height="120" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5764062" target="_blank" title="ST5425 : Pre-Worboys crossroads sign, Podimore by David Howard"><img alt="ST5425 : Pre-Worboys crossroads sign, Podimore by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/76/40/5764062_24afec8e_120x120.jpg" width="90" height="120" /></a> , rarely posted nowadays as it is like leaving your front door open to the public. Most were in the west country and two discovered after I'd got home so spent a long time back and forth on the A303 <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5952154" target="_blank" title="ST8633 : You shall not pass by David Howard"><img alt="ST8633 : You shall not pass by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/95/21/5952154_76c20ebb_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> . That added some nice shots of Stonehenge <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5763596" target="_blank" title="SU1242 : Stonehenge by David Howard"><img alt="SU1242 : Stonehenge by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/76/35/5763596_e435926b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> , and filled out ST nicely. I also added a number of new counties- Devon <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5704234" target="_blank" title="SX9490 : St Luke's Church Rooms, Countess Wear by David Howard"><img alt="SX9490 : St Luke's Church Rooms, Countess Wear by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/70/42/5704234_d244e9e0_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="87" /></a> , Notts <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5749386" target="_blank" title="SK7273 : Lorries parked at Markham Moor Services, Retford by David Howard"><img alt="SK7273 : Lorries parked at Markham Moor Services, Retford by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/74/93/5749386_1fb1d5c0_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="88" /></a> (five photos, all supplementals taken at dusk), Yorks <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5749396" target="_blank" title="SE4818 : Busy Bee's Diner, Darrington by David Howard"><img alt="SE4818 : Busy Bee's Diner, Darrington by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/74/93/5749396_2a94c189_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> , Staffordshire <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5799200" target="_blank" title="SJ9104 : Houses on Stafford Road, Coven Heath by David Howard"><img alt="SJ9104 : Houses on Stafford Road, Coven Heath by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/79/92/5799200_ce3369a7_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="87" /></a> and Worcs <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5800542" target="_blank" title="SO8893 : Roundabout on Stourbridge Road, Stirchley by David Howard"><img alt="SO8893 : Roundabout on Stourbridge Road, Stirchley by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/80/05/5800542_ee272a12_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="89" /></a> . In between I picked up so many local squares I went up to 22th of Geograph points, and half the year was spent living near Kingston <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5923921" target="_blank" title="TQ1771 : Riverside Drive, Ham by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1771 : Riverside Drive, Ham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/92/39/5923921_50c91668_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> as my house collapsed (with help from the builders) as it was damp and sinking, so filled in loads of TQ <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5823406" target="_blank" title="TQ0202 : Gas holder on Bridge Road, Littlehampton by David Howard"><img alt="TQ0202 : Gas holder on Bridge Road, Littlehampton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/82/34/5823406_7601a04d_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> and SU south of the Thames <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5877267" target="_blank" title="SU5426 : Pylon by Petersfield Road east of Winchester by David Howard"><img alt="SU5426 : Pylon by Petersfield Road east of Winchester by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/87/72/5877267_bac0f3f0_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> as well as ST <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5951772" target="_blank" title="ST6628 : Fields by Cattle Hill, Yarlington by David Howard"><img alt="ST6628 : Fields by Cattle Hill, Yarlington by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/95/17/5951772_c2a5e28c_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="80" /></a> . I finally returned home to a single room in the attic while the builders pop in occasionally (I am not exaggerating here) to do some work and make more rooms habitable.<br />
<br />
It is now just past the shortest day. I plan my trips by the available light so have a list ready for this week, next month, February and March when I can do my first long one hopefully to the Fens. As my maximum distance is now virtually impossible to beat unless I complete my other ambition to fly to Dublin I am happy to potter around on any new ground, and by no more than coincidence my 257 mile stretch created between Exeter <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5705227" target="_blank" title="SX9692 : Junction on Honiton Road, Exeter by David Howard"><img alt="SX9692 : Junction on Honiton Road, Exeter by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/70/52/5705227_5f4af001_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="88" /></a> and Cromer <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5411638" target="_blank" title="TG2142 : Cromer Pier from the putting green by David Howard"><img alt="TG2142 : Cromer Pier from the putting green by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/41/16/5411638_cb3a02a1_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> just beats four myriads in length but not visible as it crosses them all diagonally. My mind is set on facts and figures, and people either couldn't care less or see it as an irresistible challenge as I do.text/html2018-05-25T01:19:06+00:00David Howard54.003689300176 -1.5514206686259Long distance mission
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/286
2018 was planned to make my longest journeys and make inroads into the compass extremes and new myriads. It began with a January foray into Lincolnshire <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5655511" target="_blank" title="SK9488 : Coachroad Hill, Glentworth by David Howard"><img alt="SK9488 : Coachroad Hill, Glentworth by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/65/55/5655511_672be77d_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> , all fine besides it being dark on the return, but still gained a good range of spots in SK <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5652430" target="_blank" title="SK9686 : The entrance to Fillingham Castle on the A15 by David Howard"><img alt="SK9686 : The entrance to Fillingham Castle on the A15 by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/65/24/5652430_1917b106_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> and TF <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5651457" target="_blank" title="TF0919 : Church of St Peter and Paul, Bourne by David Howard"><img alt="TF0919 : Church of St Peter and Paul, Bourne by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/65/14/5651457_2ca3bcc8_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> myriads. Exeter <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5704241" target="_blank" title="SX9292 : Holloway Street, Exeter by David Howard"><img alt="SX9292 : Holloway Street, Exeter by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/70/42/5704241_0bb64adc_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="85" /></a> followed, longer and further and dark when I got there as it was also raining since Wiltshire <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5708407" target="_blank" title="SU0162 : Petrol station on the A361, Devizes by David Howard"><img alt="SU0162 : Petrol station on the A361, Devizes by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/70/84/5708407_f75f8271_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> which wrecked many of the photos with water damage on and around the lens. But a success as completed and got some usable photos in SX <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5705207" target="_blank" title="SX9793 : Junction on Honiton Road, Exeter by David Howard"><img alt="SX9793 : Junction on Honiton Road, Exeter by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/70/52/5705207_ec3af01a_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> as well as plenty there and back. The piece de resistance (for my map anyway) was a repeat of a journey made in 1992 (with no camera) to Harrogate in April <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5748095" target="_blank" title="SE3055 : Harrogate War Memorial by David Howard"><img alt="SE3055 : Harrogate War Memorial by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/74/80/5748095_caeddf56_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, straight up the usually unpopulated A1 via Wetherby <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5748633" target="_blank" title="SE4048 : St Joseph's Catholic Church, Wetherby by David Howard"><img alt="SE4048 : St Joseph's Catholic Church, Wetherby by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/74/86/5748633_d3786437_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> , which went extremely smoothly. After asking various people to share the workload I finally put a note on Facebook, and was responded to by someone I'd known for years but never met who also likes long day trips. He crossed London to get here and was a very entertaining partner and saved me driving back. Again by the time we left Yorkshire <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5748139" target="_blank" title="SE5209 : Barn on the Great North Road, Adwick-le-Street by David Howard"><img alt="SE5209 : Barn on the Great North Road, Adwick-le-Street by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/74/81/5748139_ea6dfe0d_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="87" /></a> it was beginning to get dark and struggled to get much usable to fill more of SK <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5749384" target="_blank" title="SK7273 : Markham Moor Services, Retford by David Howard"><img alt="SK7273 : Markham Moor Services, Retford by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/74/93/5749384_8495fd8b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="87" /></a> but that was only a secondary issue.<br />
<br />
The following trip was for the large number of pre-Worboys signs in the west country, four collected coming back from Exeter, but a loop from Podimore <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5763604" target="_blank" title="ST5425 : The Podymore Inn by David Howard"><img alt="ST5425 : The Podymore Inn by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/76/36/5763604_3391c930_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> to Devizes in May <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5765901" target="_blank" title="SU0060 : Potterne Road at the junction of Wick Lane by David Howard"><img alt="SU0060 : Potterne Road at the junction of Wick Lane by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/76/59/5765901_a037dc78_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> bagged nine signs and lots of new territory <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5768171" target="_blank" title="ST6127 : Cadbury Business Park, Sparkford by David Howard"><img alt="ST6127 : Cadbury Business Park, Sparkford by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/76/81/5768171_faf63b80_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="88" /></a>. Due to the sensitivity of advertising the locations of valuable artefacts I only add them now if they are here already, such as this one. <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5764062" target="_blank" title="ST5425 : Pre-Worboys crossroads sign, Podimore by David Howard"><img alt="ST5425 : Pre-Worboys crossroads sign, Podimore by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/76/40/5764062_24afec8e_120x120.jpg" width="90" height="120" /></a><br />
<br />
Now I can relax and cover new territory closer to home and places I haven't covered much, with just a planned trip to SJ ahead around Wolverhampton. But my main mission is now complete as all other journeys besides one which was more than one day to Morecambe from the 80s and 90s have now been revisited one way or another, besides an extremely dull one to West Wales door to door on the M4 I can manage without a repeat visit. If possible the next proper long journey will be made by plane but no more until the time.text/html2016-09-08T01:44:26+00:00David Howard51.316421361677 -2.209439989837Breaking records
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/248
Summer 2016 is almost over, and I got into a routine of regular Sunday trips covering as far as I could manage under the circumstances, the main one being the coast which has now been covered from the tip of Kent <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5064095" target="_blank" title="TR3965 : The promenade by Victoria Parade, Ramsgate by David Howard"><img alt="TR3965 : The promenade by Victoria Parade, Ramsgate by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/06/40/5064095_31f77205_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> to just short of Selsey Bill <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3414180" target="_blank" title="SZ8897 : West Front Road, Pagham by David Howard"><img alt="SZ8897 : West Front Road, Pagham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/41/41/3414180_1616198b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="85" /></a> . The bonus being some were guided by the known pre-Worboys signs <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4951696" target="_blank" title="TQ7551 : Pre-Worboys sign on High Banks, Loose by David Howard"><img alt="TQ7551 : Pre-Worboys sign on High Banks, Loose by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/95/16/4951696_6eea9ae9_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> and then got as far as I could afterwards. My primary aim is extending the distance between the two furthest points on the map. Living in London <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3758773" target="_blank" title="TQ2187 : Football match at Kingsbury Town FC by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2187 : Football match at Kingsbury Town FC by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/75/87/3758773_6a253300_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> this means all points south were covered fairly easily <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4892732" target="_blank" title="TV5695 : Sunday afternoon by Beachy Head by David Howard"><img alt="TV5695 : Sunday afternoon by Beachy Head by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/89/27/4892732_4b94a803_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> , as was due east <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3012593" target="_blank" title="TM0100 : Bridgewick Road by Brook farm by David Howard"><img alt="TM0100 : Bridgewick Road by Brook farm by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/01/25/3012593_7c41087d_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> , and then a question of how far I do in the opposite directions. The first extended my distance by seven miles in Dover <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4906876" target="_blank" title="TR3140 : The white cliffs of Dover by David Howard"><img alt="TR3140 : The white cliffs of Dover by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/90/68/4906876_ce603d6b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="89" /></a> , the possible extra mile or two more being prevented by a long queue to get to the port <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4902176" target="_blank" title="TR3241 : Lorry on Townwall Street, Dover by David Howard"><img alt="TR3241 : Lorry on Townwall Street, Dover by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/90/21/4902176_04d1c9c9_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="87" /></a> . Then it was a combination of new places <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5053092" target="_blank" title="TL0441 : All Saints Church, Houghton Conquest by David Howard"><img alt="TL0441 : All Saints Church, Houghton Conquest by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/05/30/5053092_c05016c4_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4443084" target="_blank" title="SP9319 : Chapel Lane, Horton by David Howard"><img alt="SP9319 : Chapel Lane, Horton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/44/30/4443084_f86579f2_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4871482" target="_blank" title="SP5821 : Shell Petrol Station on London Road, Bicester by David Howard"><img alt="SP5821 : Shell Petrol Station on London Road, Bicester by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/87/14/4871482_c7cc79f7_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> , pre-Worboys signs and the odd little record south and east until my second plan of adding a new myriad was completed going to Chippenham <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4921070" target="_blank" title="ST9273 : Market Place, Chippenham by David Howard"><img alt="ST9273 : Market Place, Chippenham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/92/10/4921070_05c45c04_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> adding ST and western extreme.<br />
<br />
Towards the end of the season (when it gets dark after 7 or so) I decided I may as well go to Ramsbury <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5084890" target="_blank" title="SU2771 : High Street, Ramsbury by David Howard"><img alt="SU2771 : High Street, Ramsbury by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/08/48/5084890_0ec457cc_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4921202" target="_blank" title="SU2771 : Pre-Worboys sign on Scholard's Lane, Ramsbury by David Howard"><img alt="SU2771 : Pre-Worboys sign on Scholard's Lane, Ramsbury by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/92/12/4921202_695bc90b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> as there was another pre-Worboys direction there I couldn't find the first time , and get some little visited squares afterwards. The first bonus was a mile east when I turned off the Swindon Road <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5084885" target="_blank" title="SU3369 : The B4192 north of Hungerford by David Howard"><img alt="SU3369 : The B4192 north of Hungerford by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/08/48/5084885_b46b42b0_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> I saw the back of a sign which looked old although the brackets were new. I looked in the mirror and saw a huge black direction sign with six different places on it which no one else had found as far as I know (location not public just in case). Had I got the other sign the first time I went I'd never have gone back or found the extra sign, so had already made a good profit. I then carried on west to the A4 at Marlborough <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5091479" target="_blank" title="SU1869 : High Street Marlborough by David Howard"><img alt="SU1869 : High Street Marlborough by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/09/14/5091479_3c8fe4b1_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> to decide where to go next, and looked at the map and thought it was a fairly easy run turning off on the road to <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4923607" target="_blank" title="SU0868 : Roundabout on Bath Road, Beckhampton by David Howard"><img alt="SU0868 : Roundabout on Bath Road, Beckhampton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/92/36/4923607_f8bdc4db_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="89" /></a> Devizes <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5083947" target="_blank" title="SU0061 : Estcourt Street, Devizes by David Howard"><img alt="SU0061 : Estcourt Street, Devizes by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/08/39/5083947_32570c14_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> . Luckily once you leave Newbury <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4922625" target="_blank" title="SU4666 : Shops on Bartholomew Street, Newbury by David Howard"><img alt="SU4666 : Shops on Bartholomew Street, Newbury by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/92/26/4922625_c1e5ea9e_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> the A4 <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4935464" target="_blank" title="SU4967 : London Road, Shaw by David Howard"><img alt="SU4967 : London Road, Shaw by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/93/54/4935464_1585fa08_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> turns from a suburban road with related speeds to a major A road at motorway speeds, meaning I could do the last 20 miles or so in the same time I'd done the last 40, and found myself in Trowbridge <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5083921" target="_blank" title="ST8557 : County Way, Trowbridge by David Howard"><img alt="ST8557 : County Way, Trowbridge by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/08/39/5083921_03a7080c_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> very quickly, through mist <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5090264" target="_blank" title="SU0365 : Fields by the A361, Bishop's Cannings by David Howard"><img alt="SU0365 : Fields by the A361, Bishop's Cannings by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/09/02/5090264_993ade5b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> and rain <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5087843" target="_blank" title="SU0264 : Muddy track off Devizes Road, Bishop's Cannings by David Howard"><img alt="SU0264 : Muddy track off Devizes Road, Bishop's Cannings by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/08/78/5087843_7da35d73_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> , and what was seven squares further west and three miles added to my maximum distance, now 157 miles to Ramsgate. <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5064092" target="_blank" title="TR3965 : The beach at Ramsgate by David Howard"><img alt="TR3965 : The beach at Ramsgate by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/06/40/5064092_8410ef57_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a><br />
<br />
The days were when I had a much bigger car, friends who drove all over the country and more energy and did 4-500 mile round trips in a day, now those friends have married, moved and have their own lives and due to the petrol prices I drive a car which can barely make 70 on the motorway unless it's downhill. Also with the digital camera I don't just start, go and stop as I did in the past but stop every half a mile or so in new territory otherwise I wouldn't be doing what I was there for. This means my 2016 mission is complete, and have a journey or two planned for when the new season starts in April. Meanwhile the local mission of taking new and interesting things continues, <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4997647" target="_blank" title="TQ2288 : Co-operative Food/Texaco petrol on Watford Way by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2288 : Co-operative Food/Texaco petrol on Watford Way by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/99/76/4997647_f554009e_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4997644" target="_blank" title="TQ2287 : The Midland Railway line between Edgware Road and the M1 by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2287 : The Midland Railway line between Edgware Road and the M1 by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/99/76/4997644_3dc6e8df_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4925577" target="_blank" title="TQ2289 : Delivery at The Claddagh Ring, Hendon by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2289 : Delivery at The Claddagh Ring, Hendon by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/92/55/4925577_91af5374_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="89" /></a> and with any luck some will get nominated for photo of the year. <br />
<br />
text/html2016-05-05T19:37:36+00:00David Howard51.451432522625 -2.1093217916001A life of collecting
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/247
I have been collecting all my life. Coins, rocks, collector's cards, model cars, train tickets and pre-Worboys sign photos. Geograph provided a new area to collect, which unlike the old train tickets would not suddenly come to an end in 1988 when they stopped printing them. I began as a viewer until I decided to have a go adding photos, made a mess of a few and gave up till Street View became available to confirm every location. Once my thousands of archives were up it formed my red patch on the personal map, and the new collection began. Myriads, compass point records and distance records. Circles were drawn on my map in pencil showing the locations which would add records and each year the list was updated to create the new goals.<br />
<br />
I am now a month off my ten year anniversary, and with nearly 25,000 photos added, all squares taken since I went digital since 2005 with older photos added once taken recently, and just added my 10th myriad <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4926876" target="_blank" title="ST9971 : Shops on Curzon Street, Calne by David Howard"><img alt="ST9971 : Shops on Curzon Street, Calne by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/92/68/4926876_6936618d_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>. The long term plan has been completed mainly because of the south and east coast, as once they have been reached every record can only be north or west. As my longest trips track is east <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4902146" target="_blank" title="TR3241 : Castle Street, Dover by David Howard"><img alt="TR3241 : Castle Street, Dover by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/90/21/4902146_8f435e41_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> to west <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4924460" target="_blank" title="ST9271 : Roundabout on Pewsham Way, Chippenham by David Howard"><img alt="ST9271 : Roundabout on Pewsham Way, Chippenham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/92/44/4924460_b7852af7_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> going north can't add any more total distance spread without going some way into Lincolnshire, which would gain so little it's not worth the effort to add a few extra miles. My latest diagram shows the closest spot to gain a decent profit is around Frome, so that's where the next extending trip will be this or next year. My focus now is looking for pre-Worboys signs <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4922474" target="_blank" title="SU4767 : Pre-Worboys sign on Mansion House Street, Newbury by David Howard"><img alt="SU4767 : Pre-Worboys sign on Mansion House Street, Newbury by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/92/24/4922474_de501107_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, having viewed most of London <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/1078783" target="_blank" title="TQ2895 : Bramley Road pre-Worboys sign by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2895 : Bramley Road pre-Worboys sign by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/07/87/1078783_9f40c918_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Surrey <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/1153944" target="_blank" title="TQ0354 : Pre Worboys sign Burntcommon by David Howard"><img alt="TQ0354 : Pre Worboys sign Burntcommon by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/15/39/1153944_9be53655_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> and Hertfordshire <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2273669" target="_blank" title="TL3314 : Pre-Worboys sign Ware Park by David Howard"><img alt="TL3314 : Pre-Worboys sign Ware Park by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/27/36/2273669_817e65bd_120x120.jpg" width="90" height="120" /></a> on Streetview recently began Berkshire, discovering my first last weekend in Henley on Thames. Kent will shortly be added as well. Each sign found generates a new journey designed to catch as many new red squares as possible, including the recent one across Dunstable Downs <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4915950" target="_blank" title="TL0019 : Dunstable Downs by David Howard"><img alt="TL0019 : Dunstable Downs by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/91/59/4915950_75548dac_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>.<br />
<br />
Given the offer or transport I can also fly or be driven somewhere further afield, something possible ahead, depending where I can get and return without waiting around for hours to get home. The last one was Belgium a long time ago when we took the Eurostar from Ashford <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4904279" target="_blank" title="TR0241 : The railway by Newtown Road, Willesborough by David Howard"><img alt="TR0241 : The railway by Newtown Road, Willesborough by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/90/42/4904279_1f703017_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, but of course the photos can't be added here. Otherwise I can relax, having first extended my map 32 squares into TR reaching Dover <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4906876" target="_blank" title="TR3140 : The white cliffs of Dover by David Howard"><img alt="TR3140 : The white cliffs of Dover by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/90/68/4906876_ce603d6b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="89" /></a>, the final couple of miles to the coast being prevented by lorries blocking the road to the ferryport <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4902176" target="_blank" title="TR3241 : Lorry on Townwall Street, Dover by David Howard"><img alt="TR3241 : Lorry on Townwall Street, Dover by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/90/21/4902176_04d1c9c9_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="87" /></a>, and second adding my 10th myriad ST <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4926875" target="_blank" title="ST9970 : Calne Library on New Road by David Howard"><img alt="ST9970 : Calne Library on New Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/92/68/4926875_f86f0f0f_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="89" /></a> in Chippenham <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4921070" target="_blank" title="ST9273 : Market Place, Chippenham by David Howard"><img alt="ST9273 : Market Place, Chippenham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/92/10/4921070_05c45c04_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>. Nowhere south or east left as the seaside <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4902085" target="_blank" title="TR2035 : The beach at Sandgate by David Howard"><img alt="TR2035 : The beach at Sandgate by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/90/20/4902085_cc2902a0_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="86" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2959883" target="_blank" title="TQ8685 : First sight of the sea, Shorefield Road by David Howard"><img alt="TQ8685 : First sight of the sea, Shorefield Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/95/98/2959883_8989e6e9_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> is well covered, but each time I cover new squares in TL <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2208806" target="_blank" title="TL2710 : View from Holwell Lane Hertford by David Howard"><img alt="TL2710 : View from Holwell Lane Hertford by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/20/88/2208806_a62a1c4b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> find plenty with a handful of previous photos, adding to the stock collection, and providing my sole first geograph (having not uploaded a few in time having taken them well before the one which was added as I didn't know the rules). My long trips can only happen when the clocks are forward, as stopping every mile or so makes a two hour plus journey a lot longer each way there and back and can't do much after sundown <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4835768" target="_blank" title="SU5998 : The B480/B4015 junction, Chiselhampton by David Howard"><img alt="SU5998 : The B480/B4015 junction, Chiselhampton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/83/57/4835768_16e40e62_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>.<br />
<br />
But every red spot on the map was down to me, just like my train tickets, as unless I went somewhere to get them they didn't count in my own collection and were logged separately. And as long as I can do it I can add new squares as and when I feel like it so a truly open ended collection.text/html2015-12-10T18:17:25+00:00David Howard51.26994912323 -0.41742164328739Silk purses from sow's ears
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/240
As the clocks went back my hobby had its wings clipped for another year, till March at least of 2016. But I don't stop taking photos, I just can't collect far-flung spots on my far-flung spot list, but now after filling little taken squares previously, am now taking places within them I haven't taken yet.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4758229" target="_blank" title="TQ2564 : Tower block by Collingwood Road, Sutton by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2564 : Tower block by Collingwood Road, Sutton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/75/82/4758229_a4440a27_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4757932" target="_blank" title="TQ1391 : 1972 Ford Transit on Rowlands Avenue, Hatch End by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1391 : 1972 Ford Transit on Rowlands Avenue, Hatch End by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/75/79/4757932_5e1e3bea_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4757505" target="_blank" title="TQ1090 : Parade of shops on Joel Street, Northwood Hills by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1090 : Parade of shops on Joel Street, Northwood Hills by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/75/75/4757505_947e6ab4_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4753487" target="_blank" title="TQ2564 : Tower block under renovation on Chaucer Road by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2564 : Tower block under renovation on Chaucer Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/75/34/4753487_745c68e7_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4753234" target="_blank" title="TQ2564 : Booze sale, Cornners shop, Sutton by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2564 : Booze sale, Cornners shop, Sutton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/75/32/4753234_97d0af41_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4751681" target="_blank" title="TQ1594 : Field by Elstree Road, Bushey Heath by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1594 : Field by Elstree Road, Bushey Heath by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/75/16/4751681_10603cfc_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a><br />
<br />
My memory tells me pretty well where I haven't been, so use the daylight hours (both of them in some cases...) to aim in any direction I haven't got a lot of an area in, wander round it and keep my momentum going till next year. And some people provide their own light for me. <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4759256" target="_blank" title="TQ1456 : Do they know it's Christmas? by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1456 : Do they know it's Christmas? by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/75/92/4759256_0fabd392_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4751707" target="_blank" title="TQ1692 : La Mirage laser hair removal, Stanmore Hill by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1692 : La Mirage laser hair removal, Stanmore Hill by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/75/17/4751707_56197a55_120x120.jpg" width="84" height="120" /></a><br />
<br />
New squares are harder to get of course as well, after just reaching my 10th anniversary of digital photography in November. But I spotted some gaps in Effingham at the weekend and used my Sunday to cover them while there is the minimum traffic to slow me down getting there. <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4758921" target="_blank" title="TQ1457 : The River Mole, Fetcham by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1457 : The River Mole, Fetcham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/75/89/4758921_5e4a5058_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> Of course if new pre-Worboys road signs turn up I can go at night, they look better using the flash anyway and have just found one 50 miles away I plan to get soon. I am also finally mastering the process of night photography so getting some reasonable geographs without worrying about losing the daylight. <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4761209" target="_blank" title="TQ2688 : Garage on Bute Mews, Hampstead Garden Suburb by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2688 : Garage on Bute Mews, Hampstead Garden Suburb by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/76/12/4761209_bbbf7955_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4760770" target="_blank" title="TQ2688 : Suit display in dry cleaner's shop, Market Place by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2688 : Suit display in dry cleaner's shop, Market Place by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/76/07/4760770_79b1ed7b_120x120.jpg" width="90" height="120" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4753478" target="_blank" title="TQ1969 : Norbiton Station at dusk by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1969 : Norbiton Station at dusk by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/75/34/4753478_dbce5c87_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4753477" target="_blank" title="TQ1969 : Tower blocks by Cambridge Road, Kingston by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1969 : Tower blocks by Cambridge Road, Kingston by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/75/34/4753477_4b8d391b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> I also get the odd confrontation, specifically being chased down a street after taking a picture of a garage, one already on the site. My native skills appear to have avoided any actual capture though.<br />
<br />
So besides the road sign I have no specific plans till my next big one, if I have a free day I will just look at the map and see which patches haven't been fully covered, and traffic permitting will go there and cover it. Just off the top of my head maybe Wood Green, Bounds Green, Cockfosters, Surbiton, and anywhere else I think of should carry me through to the new season. And you never know what will turn up when you get there. text/html2015-10-06T04:23:16+00:00David Howard51.432575042427 -1.5338779764505The end of the 2015 season
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/237
It won't be long now, another week or so, before my travels are curtailed when it gets too dark to get anywhere I need to. The year went totally the opposite to the plans, the primary being to break a record on my map. That would be increasing my maximum distance between two points, a new myriad or a compass point record. Due to various circumstances those didn't happen, although all required around an 80 mile plus trip each way. Various helpers became unable to help and no replacements could be found, so in the end it was just down to me and my own efforts. However, I got new squares at least once a week since about last summer, meaning a rise on the leaderboard from about 60th to 50th, although I had no plans to do so. But plans can often become undone by reality and replaced with alternatives.<br />
<br />
Instead of any planned records, apart from the usual supply of pre-Worboys signs which miraculously keep turning up seven years after I found my first one, I worked my way round the compass heading for new gaps in my coverage until the end of the season. Meanwhile every now and then I'd score a second Geograph, the best I could do as I didn't know what they were until I'd been adding photos for years so no adding photos in time for firsts. Once I knew it was over, either private land or high tide territory many miles away also requiring a chart, GPS and waiting till it became uncovered by sea. I did notice a few of the firsts where I had seconds weren't quite right, for various reasons which would now be classed supplementals, but discovered the rules were different then and they didn't classify them as such at the time. I returned to Hertfordshire, land of the second Geograph (I have well over a hundred there), and again found I'd added another where there was just one photo originally, and when I checked it was a building but placed in a field. I used satellite view as it wasn't on a road, and turned out to be not a supplemental but in the adjacent square, so I sent a message. This was confirmed, and I now have a first Geograph <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3209049" target="_blank" title="TL3014 : Bramfield Lane at the corner of Main Road, Waterford by David Howard"><img alt="TL3014 : Bramfield Lane at the corner of Main Road, Waterford by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/20/90/3209049_5510e302_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, one which had been sitting there for nearly three years ready to be reclassified. I'd had a few photos which would have qualified had I either uploaded them earlier or taken them slightly earlier, some for other squares which hadn't been green as they also reclassified earlier photos and someone spotted it very quickly and got it again. But the time had passed when they could have been done, and simply by virtue of going there and doing it meant something, just the one, had been taken in time without my knowing.<br />
<br />
The final long trip was simply to exploit the A4 west of Reading once I'd found a way round the constant gridlock in the centre. I aimed for Newbury <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4678011" target="_blank" title="SU4667 : Roundabout on Oxford Street, Speenhamland by David Howard"><img alt="SU4667 : Roundabout on Oxford Street, Speenhamland by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/67/80/4678011_70653e12_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> initially, and then saw it was only eight miles to Hungerford <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4677749" target="_blank" title="SU3368 : High Street Hungerford by David Howard"><img alt="SU3368 : High Street Hungerford by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/67/77/4677749_68cdcf37_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> on a 60mph road which was similar to when I went from Pampisford to Newmarket. Once I turned round and checked my map I saw a grey line which turned out to be the county border, and finally broke a record which wasn't even on my list (mainly as it can't be seen on the map here), getting into a new county of Wiltshire <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4677584" target="_blank" title="SU3270 : Entering Wiltshire on Leverton Lane by David Howard"><img alt="SU3270 : Entering Wiltshire on Leverton Lane by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/67/75/4677584_513af1d7_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>. That was good enough for me, it was only 60 miles or so and hope to break one of the others next year. I basically got everything else I hadn't planned and none I had, which in many ways reflects much of my life till now.<br />
<br />
Highlights include Andover <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4469771" target="_blank" title="SU3545 : Andover Station by David Howard"><img alt="SU3545 : Andover Station by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/46/97/4469771_db495b83_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, finding very old direction signs in Cranleigh <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4659709" target="_blank" title="TQ0639 : Cranleigh obelisk by David Howard"><img alt="TQ0639 : Cranleigh obelisk by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/65/97/4659709_aa5834bd_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, a very rare public toilet sign <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4450051" target="_blank" title="TQ3429 : Pre-Worboys sign in High Street Ardingly by David Howard"><img alt="TQ3429 : Pre-Worboys sign in High Street Ardingly by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/45/00/4450051_f7fe19fb_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Aylesbury (as I soldiered on despite the delays) <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4483052" target="_blank" title="SP8113 : Friarage Road, Aylesbury by David Howard"><img alt="SP8113 : Friarage Road, Aylesbury by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/48/30/4483052_b0475b86_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, and everything else that kept me busy in 2015. I am a born collector and had run out of collections until my new map here came along.text/html2015-05-13T20:08:26+00:00David Howard51.866253790451 -0.64348833683326The season begins
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/224
After getting new squares every week throughout the off season when it gets dark by 4 I was quite pleased with myself. Each year I have plans for a long journey or two, and each year they get longer simply as the closer ones get done. This year's list were all 80 miles minimum and include a new myriad, north record, distance record and anything else that comes to me on top. Unfortunately the exact moment the clocks went forward I was put on new tablets which had the primary effect of tiring me out, and although I carried on it cut down my scope by about 50%. They're gradually wearing off now and after half length trips to new territory so far have now done my first substantial journey to Andover <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4469615" target="_blank" title="SU3545 : Station Approach, Andover by David Howard"><img alt="SU3545 : Station Approach, Andover by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/46/96/4469615_c0f3fc60_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="92" /></a> and started the ball rolling. It's early days though with plenty of time to catch up and only one serious journey required for the quota, and always taking other places in between.<br />
<br />
So far this year I have covered some or plenty of Kent <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4428000" target="_blank" title="TQ5464 : Field by Bower Lane by David Howard"><img alt="TQ5464 : Field by Bower Lane by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/42/80/4428000_16c1f6d5_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Surrey <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4438518" target="_blank" title="SU9656 : Rough Road at the junction of Bagshot Road by David Howard"><img alt="SU9656 : Rough Road at the junction of Bagshot Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/43/85/4438518_684ecc22_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Hertfordshire <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4443124" target="_blank" title="TL0409 : Piccotts End Road looking north by David Howard"><img alt="TL0409 : Piccotts End Road looking north by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/44/31/4443124_ef6f4b15_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Oxfordshire <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4458766" target="_blank" title="SU6979 : The pond at Kidmore End by David Howard"><img alt="SU6979 : The pond at Kidmore End by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/45/87/4458766_ef6ee763_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Sussex <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4448657" target="_blank" title="TQ3032 : Field by Kings Farm, Balcombe by David Howard"><img alt="TQ3032 : Field by Kings Farm, Balcombe by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/44/86/4448657_298accdc_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Buckinghamshire <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4443168" target="_blank" title="SP9615 : View from Beacon Road, Ivinghoe by David Howard"><img alt="SP9615 : View from Beacon Road, Ivinghoe by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/44/31/4443168_09656edb_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Berkshire <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4340217" target="_blank" title="SU7273 : Office block on King's Road, Reading by David Howard"><img alt="SU7273 : Office block on King's Road, Reading by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/34/02/4340217_576cd5bf_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Hampshire <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4469771" target="_blank" title="SU3545 : Andover Station by David Howard"><img alt="SU3545 : Andover Station by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/46/97/4469771_db495b83_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> and a tiny edge of Befordshire I didn't take as I'd done it already. I also got to Ardingly for this probably now unique pre-Worboys sign <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4450051" target="_blank" title="TQ3429 : Pre-Worboys sign in High Street Ardingly by David Howard"><img alt="TQ3429 : Pre-Worboys sign in High Street Ardingly by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/45/00/4450051_f7fe19fb_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> which I'd completely forgotten about until I was looking at new photos and saw one there and reminded me. I also passed from the high 60s for total squares to a high of 58th last week, which is pretty good considering. November sees my ten years of digital photography, with every single square taken since then, with old ones only added once I've got them again otherwise the comparison of random film photos taken since 1968 and slews of digital with no limits would not be comparable. Ideally I wanted a second profile for the pre-2005 material but the system does not allow for it. And half my trips didn't even include the camera, and some which did only provided a few pictures as back then I mainly collected used train tickets and spent most of my effort going to stations and asking for them. Luckily my friend filmed a few trips to places including Birmingham and Yorkshire and I converted them to stills, thin and slightly vague but obviously photos. Otherwise they stretch from Plymouth to the Isle of Skye, with a main patch in Devon where I went every year from the late 60s to early 90s and a few other times, the Cotswolds where we went regularly and returned in 2013, Stratford on Avon, my first colour photo usage with the school trip in 1969, Oxford where I lived from 1988-9, and go to most years, with others randomly across Essex, Sussex, Kent, and a holiday in the Cotswolds in 1998 where I covered from Bath to Wootton Wawen in a few days but the camera let light in on some of them. There were also the remainder of Scotland, the first trip from Edinburgh to Skye in 1968 and the following in Melrose in 1969. I also usually make an annual trip to the seaside, <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2597630" target="_blank" title="TV4798 : The Esplanade, Seaford by David Howard"><img alt="TV4798 : The Esplanade, Seaford by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/59/76/2597630_d4e1f600_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> 2011, <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2959898" target="_blank" title="TQ8685 : Overlooking the sea (Thames estuary), Westcliff by David Howard"><img alt="TQ8685 : Overlooking the sea (Thames estuary), Westcliff by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/95/98/2959898_bddde304_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> 2012, <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3412825" target="_blank" title="SZ8997 : The beach at Pagham by David Howard"><img alt="SZ8997 : The beach at Pagham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/41/28/3412825_2312e102_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> 2013, <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3931416" target="_blank" title="TR0917 : Looking towards the sea by Dungeness Road by David Howard"><img alt="TR0917 : Looking towards the sea by Dungeness Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/93/14/3931416_acea4637_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> 2014. I am a lifetime collector and personal record breaker, so whatever I can add in any field is included, and my photo map is the second after my train ticket collecting which gets me out as far and wide as possible, although with a smaller car, fewer friends around to take me to places and less energy can no longer manage the 200 mile plus each way trips in a single day. Had digital photography been around in the 80s and 90s I would probably have done the same as now had this site and the internet also existed, and had one of the top maps on the site. But as I'm only ever competing with myself and not others will keep working at beating my own records, and try and add the odd picture of the week nomination wherever possible. I chose the photo and square based on the old Geograph principle of the middle of nowhere is wherever people haven't taken more than a handful of photos. The area just north of London is a fertile patch which is very useful for me. <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4443287" target="_blank" title="SP9319 : Chapel Lane by David Howard"><img alt="SP9319 : Chapel Lane by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/44/32/4443287_e6080602_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>text/html2014-12-22T22:56:49+00:00David Howard51.415970695142 -0.58495417263065December, the darkest month
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/219
A possible inspiration to others, I hadn't planned or expected to continue my trips to new places on the map over the winter months, as described in my previous entry, but each week I checked the map and timed the routes to see if I could get around it in time which I did each trip. Sundays were the usual method as there's far less traffic, although I have managed others as well. They have been to Datchet <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4229667" target="_blank" title="SU9976 : Mill Place, Datchet by David Howard"><img alt="SU9976 : Mill Place, Datchet by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/22/96/4229667_1f7be23f_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Croxley <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4275334" target="_blank" title="TQ0894 : Office block on Tolpits Lane, Holywell by David Howard"><img alt="TQ0894 : Office block on Tolpits Lane, Holywell by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/27/53/4275334_0c11e39b_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, including a square which only had one photo in it previously <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4275284" target="_blank" title="TQ0793 : Moor Lane, Batchworth by David Howard"><img alt="TQ0793 : Moor Lane, Batchworth by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/27/52/4275284_ecb536d2_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Mickleham <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4247375" target="_blank" title="TQ1654 : Bridge over the River Mole by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1654 : Bridge over the River Mole by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/24/73/4247375_bac8dddb_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Clandon <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4286010" target="_blank" title="TQ0453 : Field by Clandon Road by David Howard"><img alt="TQ0453 : Field by Clandon Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/28/60/4286010_33d3eca0_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Virginia Water <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4278711" target="_blank" title="SU9869 : Layby on the A30 at Englefield Green by David Howard"><img alt="SU9869 : Layby on the A30 at Englefield Green by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/27/87/4278711_e849132f_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> and a failed attempt to get what may have been a pre-Worboys sign in Uxbridge, illegible on Streetview and used as a reason to get myself out somewhere, with a single new square for the effort (it was a sign telling the story of a local bridge). <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4263157" target="_blank" title="TQ0583 : Fray's River, Uxbridge by David Howard"><img alt="TQ0583 : Fray's River, Uxbridge by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/26/31/4263157_2a4dd275_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> It also produced some nice views such as <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4278732" target="_blank" title="TQ0370 : Field behind Chertsey Lane, Egham by David Howard"><img alt="TQ0370 : Field behind Chertsey Lane, Egham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/27/87/4278732_5b7e4e57_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4272067" target="_blank" title="TQ2568 : Crown House on Crown Lane, Morden by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2568 : Crown House on Crown Lane, Morden by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/27/20/4272067_b6d284f5_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4270871" target="_blank" title="TQ1178 : The Grand Union Canal by The Common, Southall by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1178 : The Grand Union Canal by The Common, Southall by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/27/08/4270871_13c09e84_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4270607" target="_blank" title="TQ1079 : The Grand Union Canal Paddington Branch by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1079 : The Grand Union Canal Paddington Branch by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/27/06/4270607_7256a178_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <br />
<br />
Having expected to go in an ever decreasing spiral mopping up little taken squares to fill up with some more until March I surprised myself by keeping the momentum going right up to the shortest day, managing with the help of my trusty A-Z nine new squares in the area around the North Downs before sundown. <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4285383" target="_blank" title="TQ0851 : Car park in the woods, Sheepleas by David Howard"><img alt="TQ0851 : Car park in the woods, Sheepleas by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/28/53/4285383_73151215_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> It is only uphill (as in improving) from here as the days will be getting longer now, although it got dark almost half an hour earlier today than yesterday as it was so overcast. Had it not been sunny or partly cloudy each week I'd never have managed it as the light wouldn't have been anywhere near good enough. I am now planning ahead by the month, with February and March trips already mapped out I won't spoil by tempting fate and naming. I also have another ambition, the furthest I can get a couple of times before it gets dark in any reasonable direction until the clocks go forward and I can pick and choose. That could be off the A1 NE from Hatfield, the A24 south, and anywhere beyond Chesham I haven't done already. It was a great relief to keep going right through the off season as I'm an unreformed collector and always like adding something new to a collection or other, and as the pre-Worboys signs are getting rarer and rarer (but still turning a few up) new places can keep going as long as I can.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile after fiddling with the undocumented menus on the camera I discovered how it was meant to take night photos, so joined many others using the tripod although the exposures are so long (5-10 seconds in some cases) even a light wind will blur them while open. <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4268941" target="_blank" title="TQ2690 : Long Lane, Finchley by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2690 : Long Lane, Finchley by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/26/89/4268941_01aad7eb_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="86" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4267940" target="_blank" title="TQ1889 : Shops by Queensbury Station by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1889 : Shops by Queensbury Station by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/26/79/4267940_7276807c_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4266925" target="_blank" title="TQ1991 : Stonegrove, Edgware by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1991 : Stonegrove, Edgware by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/26/69/4266925_ec9f9e7a_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4283605" target="_blank" title="TQ2589 : Bus stop by East End Road, Finchley by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2589 : Bus stop by East End Road, Finchley by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/28/36/4283605_de628973_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>text/html2014-11-25T18:42:47+00:00David Howard51.747085979588 -0.45874658606011The end of the season
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/218
After the clocks went back I thought I didn't have much chance of getting anywhere new till the spring. I'd been Geographing a few years now for squares rather than just submitting random photos, and was running out of anywhere I could get to and wander around in time before it got dark. <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4256628" target="_blank" title="TQ1665 : Sunset over Stokes Field by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1665 : Sunset over Stokes Field by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/25/66/4256628_b04a2de9_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> However, referring to the previous blog entry then the extension I had was a whole month, with a plan being made for Sundays when I knew there'd be hardly any traffic so could add another hour's travel time as I could almost double the distance for the other days. I chose TL0606 <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4245122" target="_blank" title="TL0606 : Lime Walk at the junction of Sheephouse Road by David Howard"><img alt="TL0606 : Lime Walk at the junction of Sheephouse Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/24/51/4245122_d2d98ad0_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> as it wasn't a Sunday, and proved if it was sunny (almost half an hour more daylight) and the roads were clear I could do the same during the week, and although the route has a few bottlenecks I was very lucky none were present till one coming back when I'd already finished.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4245132" target="_blank" title="TL1504 : Path from Burydell Lane to Hedges Farm by David Howard"><img alt="TL1504 : Path from Burydell Lane to Hedges Farm by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/24/51/4245132_913752b4_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> This was a second chance for a square I missed last time as there were two paths, and the one I saw went west not east and thought this one was private so didn't realise it was the one I needed.<br />
<br />
I basically worked round the compass points on my map looking for the nearest green spaces and then mapping out a route using the A-Z and pencilling in the squares and writing arrows on the roads to almost (it's not a perfect system) guarantee I got everywhere. That followed the system which had to be perfect of filling hectads, and a few needed two trips as I missed some the first time as it wasn't <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3046267" target="_blank" title="TQ2897 : Trent Park wildlife shelter shop by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2897 : Trent Park wildlife shelter shop by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/04/62/3046267_41561a35_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> (which meant walking almost a mile in the pouring rain), especially in large fields <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3129506" target="_blank" title="TQ1293 : Merry Hill looking towards Carpenders Park by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1293 : Merry Hill looking towards Carpenders Park by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/12/95/3129506_7a6553ad_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> although having a map helps <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3129724" target="_blank" title="TQ1293 : You are here, Merry Hill by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1293 : You are here, Merry Hill by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/12/97/3129724_4f816d5f_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2730938" target="_blank" title="TQ2197 : You are here by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2197 : You are here by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/73/09/2730938_49d84581_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>. The 'off season' still found me getting as far as Datchet <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4229667" target="_blank" title="SU9976 : Mill Place, Datchet by David Howard"><img alt="SU9976 : Mill Place, Datchet by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/22/96/4229667_1f7be23f_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Hemel Hempstead <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4245563" target="_blank" title="TL0806 : Houses on Pancake Lane, Leverstock Green by David Howard"><img alt="TL0806 : Houses on Pancake Lane, Leverstock Green by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/24/55/4245563_4a50aa36_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="87" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4245538" target="_blank" title="TL0807 : Flats on Woolmer Drive, Leverstock Green by David Howard"><img alt="TL0807 : Flats on Woolmer Drive, Leverstock Green by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/24/55/4245538_1718b585_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, Mickleham <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4247703" target="_blank" title="TQ1853 : Cockshot Cottage on Headley Lane by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1853 : Cockshot Cottage on Headley Lane by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/24/77/4247703_d98ec548_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, and Kings Cross <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4226985" target="_blank" title="TQ3083 : View from Goods Way, Kings Cross by David Howard"><img alt="TQ3083 : View from Goods Way, Kings Cross by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/22/69/4226985_20915bf1_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4226938" target="_blank" title="TQ3083 : New offices on Goods Way, Kings Cross by David Howard"><img alt="TQ3083 : New offices on Goods Way, Kings Cross by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/22/69/4226938_b1c6a2e3_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>. That was due to the school holidays, making a normally dire journey into London into literally a holiday, sailing through Holloway as if it was the height of summer, and only stopped as the Congestion Charge prevents you crossing the Ring Road and had to cut back up Caledonian Road <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4226995" target="_blank" title="TQ3084 : Pentonville Prison on Caledonian Road by David Howard"><img alt="TQ3084 : Pentonville Prison on Caledonian Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/22/69/4226995_e7737ecb_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> although I'd rather have gone right into the City where I barely have anything.<br />
<br />
Using simple maths it's now a month to the shortest day and means a month or so after it (the start of February) will allow the same amount of time, and the new cameras I now have are able to take photos with any amount of light so add half an hour to the time I had with the original Olympus. I am now writing my routes for 2015, and happy to go into hibernation for a couple of months, as compared to the five I expected is pretty short really. And once I found an unmentioned button on the Lumix menu I could finally take passable night photos as well so if I find myself anywhere unusual at night I can get a red square there as well.<br />
<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4249399" target="_blank" title="TQ2078 : Bollo Lane, Chiswick by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2078 : Bollo Lane, Chiswick by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/24/93/4249399_7aaf7ea8_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="88" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4249260" target="_blank" title="TQ1768 : County Hall, Kingston by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1768 : County Hall, Kingston by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/24/92/4249260_8024f6b6_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4249400" target="_blank" title="TQ1986 : Asda Supermarket, Wembley Park by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1986 : Asda Supermarket, Wembley Park by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/24/94/4249400_31d76b1a_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="86" /></a>text/html2014-09-04T03:24:03+00:00David HowardThe 2014 season draws to a close
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/214
After my big start to the season (ie when the clocks go forward) in April the elastic which had been being pulled back throughout the winter months was allowed to shoot forward to Dungeness, and then relaxed back into stasis partly as I discovered it was no longer necessary to make a few of my next planned journeys, as plan A (getting as far as possible between my furthest two points) was no longer necessary as none would any longer increase it as they were in different directions and the only one which would add maybe 6-7 miles is about 90 miles. Plan B is new myriads, all well over 80 miles each now, and plan C is compass point records. West is pretty well sufficient, south would get me drowned if I went much further, and unless I went diagonally so will east. As the A12 has now become more like the A406 at least on the last visit when I had to turn off as I'd been in second gear maximum till Chelmsford, let alone the dire journey to reach it at Harold Wood, Colchester was now pretty much off my radar despite many previous visits in the past with no trouble. Things change. I did get to Swanscombe <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3961629" target="_blank" title="TQ6074 : Swanscombe station by David Howard"><img alt="TQ6074 : Swanscombe station by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/96/16/3961629_d3ba7942_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> after the big April burst, just getting into the new hectad TQ67.<br />
<br />
Soon afterwards I was laid low with a chest infection, coughing nearly every night for a month or so so back to local duties as I had little energy left for much else. As I recovered I started a new project, partly also based on the lack of need to beat my plan A record as without a different car or benefactor with their own wasn't minded to keep the efforts going which unlike in my 30s now tire me out. I bagged two more hectads, meaning it was now only possible to get new red squares by leaving a 12.5 X 25 mile rectangle which was completely covered already. I made a new list and instead of driving as far down a road as I could manage, I pencilled the map with the green squares and tried to get as many per visit as possible as I had with the hectads, but (unless another raises itself naturally) not going for any more as certainly the ones around the other side of the London border have a few unreachable squares in them, some on gated developments and others in the middle of reservoirs. I suspect TQ37 and 36 may end up next as I've covered so much already, assuming all of those are accessible as all within the suburbs.<br />
<br />
So the original lines have become loops and zigzags, and got to know a lot of back doubles and new parks and fields not that far from home, and am always surprised how many squares on the fringe of London only have one or two previous photos for first geographs and then nothing, eg <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4140467" target="_blank" title="TQ0288 : Over the Misbourne Road, Denham by David Howard"><img alt="TQ0288 : Over the Misbourne Road, Denham by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/14/04/4140467_f99ccb69_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, except on the south side which seems a magnet for photographers. It's been a fairly even sweep, from Kimpton in the north <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4082852" target="_blank" title="TL1618 : Field by Coopers Hill, Kimpton by David Howard"><img alt="TL1618 : Field by Coopers Hill, Kimpton by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/08/28/4082852_0ffffac0_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> Cudham in the south <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4102730" target="_blank" title="TQ4459 : The view from Berry's Hill by David Howard"><img alt="TQ4459 : The view from Berry's Hill by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/10/27/4102730_bbe79c0c_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> and Chalfont St Peter <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4139305" target="_blank" title="TQ0091 : The Warren, Chalfont St Peter by David Howard"><img alt="TQ0091 : The Warren, Chalfont St Peter by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/13/93/4139305_ea206261_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> and Chobham <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4124479" target="_blank" title="SU9763 : The entrance to Langshot Cottage on Gracious Pond Road by David Howard"><img alt="SU9763 : The entrance to Langshot Cottage on Gracious Pond Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/12/44/4124479_32792924_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> in the west. The good news was the pre-Worboys signs I collect kept coming in 2014 after a massive year in 2013 when a record number of new arrivals surfaced in and around Kent for a period of months. Unfortunately due to removal plans we no longer reveal the exact locations until the sad day one is removed, unless someone's already posted it here so won't make a difference adding one more <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3963652" target="_blank" title="TQ6074 : Pre-Worboys one way street sign on Alma Road by David Howard"><img alt="TQ6074 : Pre-Worboys one way street sign on Alma Road by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/96/36/3963652_9a24542c_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>so have had to stop posting them here until that happens as so many we posted on Flickr and Sabre didn't last very long afterwards. I am using the last month or so as much as I can, and spent the last three days managing at least two new squares a day, although due to a lack of pedestrian signage missed a final one yesterday as the actual boundary appeared to be on someone's property (on a little path just left of these) <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4148690" target="_blank" title="TL1504 : Cottages on Burydell Lane, Park Street by David Howard"><img alt="TL1504 : Cottages on Burydell Lane, Park Street by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/14/86/4148690_93f2a632_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> (regardless of the map) and there were three actual paths to choose from <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4148909" target="_blank" title="TL1404 : Burydell Lane, Park Street by David Howard"><img alt="TL1404 : Burydell Lane, Park Street by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/14/89/4148909_4e568ee9_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="88" /></a> (left, middle and right) with only one known to be public, which was the wrong side of the line. I ended up with a draw, ie a cross-grid supplemental as the houses I took were in the new square but I was standing next to them which was not. I'll manage, I pass that spot from time to time and will plan a trip for squares which passes it now. Compared to the 20 plus mile trip to Amersham for SP which I missed when I saw a nice view and turned left before I should, and went back the following day, and far worse the 70 or so mile trip to TM where the map didn't show the difference between the road into the marsh and the one right next to it into a farm which wasn't in TM, and had to do all over the following week. It did mean a nicer patch on Dengie Marsh and more squares in TR just next to it as it's a node, and was the first time in three visits where the A11 wasn't walking pace for half the journey.<br />
<br />
So although none have been very ambitious the steady addition of 10-15 squares a week by hook or by crook has returned me to 68th from 71st fairly quickly, although I don't aim for anything on the leaderboards besides hectads as they change daily. I crammed the last two weekdays before the schools went back by going through a uniquely deserted Brecknock Road <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4141703" target="_blank" title="TQ2985 : Shops on Brecknock Road, Tufnell Park by David Howard"><img alt="TQ2985 : Shops on Brecknock Road, Tufnell Park by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/14/17/4141703_eb81ed5d_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> for an isolated square in Islington <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4141638" target="_blank" title="TQ3183 : Liverpool Road, Islington by David Howard"><img alt="TQ3183 : Liverpool Road, Islington by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/14/16/4141638_7e8df681_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>, and then through Kingston and Surbiton to get to Bookham and Leatherhead <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4147770" target="_blank" title="TQ1256 : Path to Little Bookham Common by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1256 : Path to Little Bookham Common by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/14/77/4147770_b64bb8a8_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a> <a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/4147748" target="_blank" title="TQ1557 : Pachesham Farm, Leatherhead by David Howard"><img alt="TQ1557 : Pachesham Farm, Leatherhead by David Howard" loading="lazy" src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/14/77/4147748_2b3e27b2_120x120.jpg" width="120" height="90" /></a>. I'll try and knock a few more off my list before October and then get settled in for the close season and start watching more TV again for a while...text/html2014-05-01T21:24:10+00:00David Howard50.909936835865 0.97867390760011The 2014 season begins
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/204
After summarising my winter activities and spring plans, I can now update with the good news (for me anyway) after a couple of weeks of long days I took my first long trip, extending my gap between points by almost ten miles. I used a ruler on the map to measure where I could go, and at the time the shortest journey was to Kent as opposite Cheltenham, either Dover (the longest) or Dungeness, which was a lot easier. [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3929677">3929677</a>]] I plumped for the compromise, still adding more than the previous extensions, rather than endure the Ashford road again a year later with maybe 25 miles beyond and back. I knew the other route well as the family had a house in Rye in the 70s and is a slow but easy run, with the coast road to follow to Dungeness beyond. In fact the featured photo got 1000 views on Flickr within two days, by far a record many times higher than any other in the ten years I've been on it. I didn't pass the old place as there wasn't time, but saw the end of the road just to the right of here [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3929725">3929725</a>]]<br />
<br />
It also meant by pure luck I could get a pre-Worboys sign in Wadhurst [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3930723">3930723</a>]](I only add them now when they've been removed as it does tend to draw unwanted attention to them otherwise) which turned up in November when it was too dark to go (no street lights in Sussex) and another nearby I'd passed twice while it was obscured by scaffold. Having returned the following good news was all but one of the other planned journeys wouldn't increase my distance, and besides Dover or even Deal, which I won't be bothering to do, the only trip under 100 miles to stretch the gap was to Henley in Arden which I did about 15 years ago and is on the system if I feel like it. It meant the other one to Bournemouth was equalled in the opposite direction east, which saved me a job, and the other two planned are solely for new myriads, ST and TF when I get around to it. But my personal ambition is my map coverage and myriads are a nice extra but technically if you turn my red splodges round they'll still easily fit in four squares as unless they exceed 172 miles they always will, and I wasn't planning that as it would need to go somewhere like Somerset or Lincoln. When I had my old car it was a lot easier as nothing slowed it down on the motorway, but this one can't manage a slight incline without struggling towards 60mph and really not designed for them, and will investigate the trains to Peterborough in case that will cover TF plus a mile walk or so north.<br />
<br />
All I am doing now after what was an over six hour round trip to Kent is just finding anywhere I haven't been before and driving in a circle round the local roads to add as many new squares as possible. That has been Sundridge, [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3941287">3941287</a>]] Tring [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3948170">3948170</a>]] and Upton Park [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3952734">3952734</a>]] so far, as well as many more locally including plenty of plants and flowers [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3954262">3954262</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3954260">3954260</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3954884">3954884</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3954265">3954265</a>]] which isn't bad for a single month. But I can relax now knowing having waited almost six months to continue my project the largest part is completed, and now just going wherever I can for pleasure and won't feel guilty I haven't done one yet. That has taken over three years altogether since I began it bagging new myriads and compass point records, and any further will now be a bonus.text/html2014-02-14T17:11:07+00:00David Howard51.569122025754 0.011403546642023Looking ahead
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/201
I was delighted this week when it was as light at 5pm as it was at midday (OK, we all know it's really 1pm and 6pm, but this country has to be out of step with the rest of Europe), as after a couple of months hibernating and only able to do the odd trip south at weekends when there was little or no traffic slowing me down I could now start the first ventures beyond the main red blob on my map again. My Fuji compact, bought after the Olympus had finally stopped producing uncorrupted photos, had the added bonus of being able to take usable photos at night, so although I'd already replaced the Olympus with a Lumix bridge, it wasn't very good at night so only used it when I was somewhere anyway and took a chance a few would pass muster. That allowed me to venture along new roads at night as well as planned daytime excursions in better times, but no replacement for the real thing planning a route and getting it all done with time to spare.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3825687">3825687</a>]]<br />
<br />
So February kicked off with my trip east, following one the previous week for a road sign in South Tottenham, [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3838016">3838016</a>]] and found the traffic heading that way had improved since a few years ago when it became almost impossible to get through at any time of day. The simple reason for this was the river Lea divides what used to be Middlesex and Essex, and unlike the Thames only has a bridge every couple of miles or so, around five in total north of docklands where it originates plus a few near the mouth there. That funnels every single vehicle on either Lea Bridge Road (logical captain), Ferry Lane [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3846816">3846816</a>]] (a ferry today would be very useful as well as the bridge), The North Circular Road, [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2247067">2247067</a>]] and the final before reaching Hertfordshire/Essex (it still forms the border), the impassable Southbury Road in Enfield, where I have on a number of occasions had to turn back, and now use the next one up, besides the M25 and Waltham Abbey, in Broxbourne the most [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2794670">2794670</a>]] as however far out it is there is no traffic getting there as a rule and just use it to go further north into Essex rather than faff around in what are really the London suburbs to the south served by the Central Line.<br />
<br />
That gave me two options to kick off the new season heading east, as it has more green space due to the traffic issues, NE through Chingford and east through Walthamstow. Amazingly the traffic until West Green Road was fine, but made up for it there and although I made the right turn at Walthamstow where the green area began it was so busy from there onwards, mainly due to no road going anywhere in particular but winding at random, with junctions every few hundred yards with associated traffic lights, I ran out of steam at Leytonstone and headed north for the return leg rather than plough on east with the sun beginning to set. But I bagged nine new squares and proved it's still possible to head that way without a total gridlock. There is only a month now before it gets dark at 6pm, and have my 2014 photo list complete but happy if I just break one more distance record, as now I have to go 80 miles to do so, including another myriad. The first may be a pretty winding journey for a road sign discovered in November but on roads in Sussex without street lighting so not really a good idea to do them in the dark. Pre-Worboys signs have priority as they can vanish at any time while places are always there. I am checking the train timetables for journeys both north and south and will see if I can get where I want without more than one change at the most, and if so give that a go if possible. It takes longer to get to the terminals in the centre of London to get a fast train so have to use my local stations which of course aren't on the fast timetables very often and have to get off somewhere half way to pick up the train I would have got from the centre, but at least do not have to waste over an hour getting into Kings Cross or Victoria instead.<br />
<br />
Otherwise I have graded my trips by distance, with routes in all directions depending how long I have to do them. Each year of course mops up a good deal, leaving fewer and fewer I can reach in less than an hour nowadays, with the time gradually increasing as I do each one. Unlike holidays these trips have to factor in a stop per mile on average for a new square, or I'd just have a few freckles on the map rather than lines, which I much prefer as you don't often go the same way twice to do them another time. Over the years I have learnt every traffic jam point for miles around and either avoid them or if I really have to go through them say a prayer and hope, like Bishops Stortford [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2917599">2917599</a>]] which can be dreadful but opens up the whole of mid-Essex and Suffolk once you get beyond it. Hertford on the way is even worse, [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2323309">2323309</a>]] but again the alternatives barely exist. Going due south (besides when I find road signs there) cannot be extended as the coast begins 50 miles south so can't go any further, there's only the pointy bit of Kent in TR which has only just been scratched, [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3422632">3422632</a>]] but takes so long to get to (mainly since they charged to cross Waterloo Bridge and pick up the A2 or A20 beyond the Old Kent Road [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2617928">2617928</a>]] to whizz down towards Folkestone) I don't plan that again in a hurry. Finally my next plan is the Sunday one through SE London, the only day the roads there are passable, and intend to drive the entire length of the South Circular from Sheen to Woolwich, even beyond if it's still light. text/html2013-10-16T03:36:48+00:00David HowardKeeping the momentum
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/200
Following my last entry I had about six weeks before the clocks go back (less time now) and wasn't going to make a fool of myself trying to get anywhere really ambitious to get held up and it get dark before I made it there. As it happened I found a few old road signs in Henley on Thames after checking because there was one known there, none were new to me but better condition, plus one which may or may not be council issued which certainly was new to me, no way to river. In the end the one I wanted more had been removed (the post was still there), as it was the only other right one way street, mine being very worn as the paint needed redoing. But two nice no entries, very rare and one was in fairly good nick, and a left one way street (about my 7th, no idea why the unbalance as they simply depend which side of the road they were placed regardless). I refrain from adding them here as my little collectors group (226 members currently) all find when they give locations some vanish soon afterwards. I do add mine here if they do vanish as then it's a record, but although many have been which are still present it's probably safer not to, so none to be displayed here. Henley was also in a green gap so well worth the relatively easy trip via Maidenhead, and carried on to Bix before turning back.<br />
<br />
Having enjoyed the magic of seeing my trips arrive on the map on the geotrips I saw so many people had done walks that became my next mission, and as you can't get many squares without being a seasoned distance walker I wasn't planning to do it for them, and just checked to see areas I'd barely taken any photos. That has produced one or two a week since I started, the latest all being taken in heavy rain as it started the minute I arrived.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3699811">3699811</a>]] being a typical example, with maybe a quarter failing the weather test and not making publication. I've seen so many corners a road or two from the main ones I'd never have bothered to otherwise, and some interesting old council signs, a whole bunch like these in Southgate which included directions to both house numbers and local locations normally found on signposts.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3670009">3670009</a>]] This bunch bumped up my total in the square to 39 as each was a pair, covered three roads and then quite a few on the shopping parade pointing to where the shops were. Having grown up in an area where most roads were linked by paths and I explored them all on my bike, I take every path and alleyway I see, this was just one example [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3669612">3669612</a>]]. I also discovered much of Kensal Rise, where I'd passed through for a few years once a week to college actually has a lot of very nice houses in it behind the main roads such as these [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3691510">3691510</a>]]. In fact it seems although leaving a gap in Cricklewood the Golders Green style of houses did continue south to parts of Brondesbury where I went the previous week and Kensal Rise, which I always thought were a few exceptions till now. I walked where no car can pass in Edgware, as an entire area bounded by four A roads will not cross the stream at any point by road, so had never gone to look there till now.<br />
<br />
Of course that meant the only way across was by my favourite paths [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3682101">3682101</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3682103">3682103</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3682096">3682096</a>]] so plenty of new material there. And also another favourite, a footbridge over a dual carriageway. [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3682067">3682067</a>]] I also discovered at least three parks I didn't know existed although there are others a few blocks away I did, [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3691401">3691401</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3691493">3691493</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3669462">3669462</a>]]. Finally I filled in various gaps around my own patch, I have five full hectads so far so need to go a bit further now for new territory, but covered Norwood [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3676146">3676146</a>]] Henley of course [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3665566">3665566</a>]] (also allowing me to add a couple of old scans as I won't add any pre-digital photos to gain a new square as they are so random) and adding some more to TQ17, meaning I can now finish it in one more visit. [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3697702">3697702</a>]]<br />
<br />
Overall I've been squashing in as much photographic activity as possible during the end of the season, as after October it's saved videos, meditation and paperwork till the clocks go forward, as well as a few local walks if it's light and dry enough. Plus any old road signs that turn up, as I can use the flash for them.text/html2013-08-16T00:48:42+00:00David Howard51.892040759646 -2.0522655276794Mission complete
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/198
July 29th actually saw the completion of a two year mission here, after uploading about 4,000 archives over winter 2010 I began making specific Geographing trips, with ambitions to get into all the compass points and adjacent myriads. I was very busy last year doing a trip a week on average during the long days, sharing the driving, and knocked off myriads SZ, TV, TR and finally TM after having driven into a field the first time and having to return to actually cross the line on the following week.<br />
<br />
I then began part two, extending the furthest points between red spots, going NW to Bourton on the Hill [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3093355">3093355</a>]] and SE to Battle, [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3113459">3113459</a>]] to complete the 2012 leg of the mission. Having covered a few thousand miles on the clock the following year was to be far more specific, and also had the great fortune to find over ten more pre-Worboys signs all over the SE meaning they had priority as you can turn up a week later to find them gone even after lasting over 50 years initially. So while aiming to beat my distance and add another myriad, my first creating four in a row (edges, but they all count) I was hopping off to Sussex and Kent which were turning up a couple a week via both Streetview, existing sites with photos, and random chance when driving there and back spotting even more. The overlapping job was going to Braintree to get my first ever yellow bordered pre-Worboys sign with more than one name on it [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3497516">3497516</a>]] (more common on major roads so removed before the ones tucked away or just for local places).<br />
<br />
<br />
Within a week or two of the clocks going back I got to Ashford [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3422675">3422675</a>]], and with no A-Z (when I collected old train tickets in the 80s I'd buy one of every city I visited as I went to ten or more stations in a day) just tried to aim east to extend my limit, took wrong turnings and recovered and meant I covered far more squares doing so than expected plus a little one extra when a roundabout turned out to have a fifth exit when I took the fourth. Then weeks of going south for the rich vein of signs which cropped up possibly faster than at any time since I started looking in 2008. That got me to Sissinghurst, Steyning (I though that had gone but turned out the reason I couldn't see it on Streetview was a hedge had grown across it which I removed), High Brooms, Sunninghill [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3318686">3318686</a>]], Windsor, Haslemere, Chatham [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3457215">3457215</a>]] and Cuckfield [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3400443">3400443</a>]] before finally making it to Braintree (the route there is littered with bottlenecks and was lucky I had a free run after the previous visit). I then continued searching and found a quite probably unique beauty in Sawbridgeworth [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3508890">3508890</a>]], also allowing me to pick up Harlow's 13th and apparently last pre-Worboys direction sign, followed by a second road number arrow with two names on it in Aldershot. Sadly the advice has been not to geolocate pre-Worboys signs still in place as many have coincidentally vanished soon after it has happened anywhere in the past, so I now add them here when I find they've gone already. There is no way of proving a connection between revelation and removal but any risk is not worth it.<br />
<br />
That completed every single sign known for the first time since I'd begun looking (unless you include one in Hutton which requires a half mile walk through a field, and on railway property although still counts as they were usually located on public roads) so was then set to just add a new myriad before the clocks went back, which my father generously offered to take me on the 29th to save my energy for photography. The camera performed incredibly well on the move, not the fancy new one which couldn't focus from a moving vehicle, but the old compact which hadn't done that well the last time I tried so stopped, but didn't have the time to keep stopping on the 80 mile plus journey so just took regular shots out of the window which amazed me in nearly all being not just usable but quite respectable.<br />
<br />
All other trips are now optional for me, and can now return to what I did before Geograph specific trips, taking nice and interesting views.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3597759">3597759</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3596652">3596652</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3594468">3594468</a>]] <br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3592828">3592828</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3592789">3592789</a>]] <br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3581507">3581507</a>]]<br />
The camera goes almost everywhere with me and take whatever I see that catches my eye I haven't taken before. Of course I would like to add more indefinitely, but it will now need 80 plus miles each time to stretch my coverage, and can always potter around filling in green spaces between the red ones when I have the time as well. I wouldn't dream of trying to compete with anyone else here, like the gym you can't do more than beat your own records as everyone's circumstances are different. But it's very satisfying having both done that and all of them now.text/html2013-06-11T23:43:33+00:00David Howard51.900402911646 0.54948677219808The new season
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/196
This year I set myself three simple goals for the photography season (April-September while the clocks are forward), to beat the distance between two squares, ideally enough to potentially beat two myriads horizontally or vertically (nowhere like diagonally which adds 50 miles), from 122.8 miles to beyond 125, which I did shortly after, adding one just short of 130 in Ashford. South of London is now completed unless I do the old run using Waterloo Bridge when it was still free to cross during the day, heading towards the east Kent peninsula. Otherwise it's north and west remaining for the second trip, ideally one adding a myriad, and none less than 80 miles as that's now the record to beat. The second plan was to get Robin Webster's amazing find of a multi-destination pre-Worboys yellow sign, something so familiar in London till Ken Livingstone removed them all around 2001 I forgot to take pictures of them, all to Hatfield, Aylesbury and even South Wales around the area I lived in. The only others were 200 miles away plus, way past the level of a reasonable journey, so had to get that while it was still there and with work busier than usual during the week for over a month (that's not that busy but busier than before) wasn't possible till now.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3422342">3422342</a>]]<br />
<br />
Meanwhile the compensation which was well worth it was I had been searching south of London instead for my weekends and in five searches discovered eight new signs including two I only discovered while driving home by total chance. So I already had a profit from being prevented from going there for so long and finally got the chance last week and managed it without any drawbacks, and being diverted right instead of left due to the absence of directions anywhere in Braintree gained many more interesting squares than returning on the main road as planned, including many with only one or two photos on them. I got a second sign on the way in Felsted which I hadn't even known where it was till I discovered this one in Braintree and saw it was nearby. So ten signs for the price of two was an amazing deal, as I hit Streetview hard every week when I couldn't head east and it had plenty of treasure.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3497570">3497570</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3497516">3497516</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3490989">3490989</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3468035">3468035</a>]]<br />
<br />
Now I can relax, as no places can shift anywhere and could go somewhere else if any do, and just want to finish the planned jobs for 2013 so the house and garden can get the attention they need, and a few friends I need to visit. If the next is done there are always more, but not scheduled for this year unless I felt like it. Road wise I've worked out the easiest of the possible runs and am also checking the train timetables to see if any of them offer an easy run somewhere as well like I always used to do.text/html2013-04-15T01:56:18+00:00David Howard50.99910834151 -0.34114346827527The new season 2013
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/191
The new season officially kicked off two weeks ago, with the clocks going forward, allowing my freedom to go wherever I wanted given the opportunity before it got dark. The first was a shortish run to the Sussex border as there was a gap without any red squares it was easy to fill in, and a week later finally got to Cuckfield to get this wonderful pair of signs only found because of Dave Spicer.<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3404506">3404506</a>]]<br />
<br />
I have a list of trips for 2013 now, that was the first, mainly as old signs are not guaranteed to be there so take priority over all others, and there's another trip to find a recent arrival here in Braintree with another on the way sooner or later. Since then it's just been gap filling locally, but had my first request to come on a photo trip with me on Thursday, and filled in some of the space between the A5 and A1000 between St Albans and Hatfield.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3407142">3407142</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3407217">3407217</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3407218">3407218</a>]]<br />
<br />
Yesterday I bent a regular journey around the North Circular in Ealing to bag a few extra squares<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3409954">3409954</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3409895">3409895</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3409813">3409813</a>]]<br />
<br />
showing it's not always necessary to stick to the pretty stuff as even the most miserable places mean something to someone. I then realised I was well over half way to another hectad TQ17, which would be my 6th, so added that to the list, and as I only had a limited time today used it to kick off by mopping up about five in Feltham, including the first off road square, which luckily began before I had to go any further along this path.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3411307">3411307</a>]] This was one of the best views [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3411345">3411345</a>]] of Hanworth Park, and you can never go wrong with a good flyover. [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3411270">3411270</a>]]<br />
<br />
So journeys short or long are now all possible most days for six months or so, and of course the more you do the less you can do as the remaining trips become further and harder, but I have my 2013 quota and will be very happy just getting the major ones done. I have collected all my life, and seeing my exact travels on a map is irresistible to someone who grew up reading maps for pleasure, visiting some of the places which looked interesting (from the Hebrides in 1969 to America in 1980) mainly thanks to my grandparents, then used train tickets from 1970 till they were mainly abolished in 1988, with a few remaining to the 90s. Had digital photography and the internet been around even a decade earlier I'd have covered the south coast from Studland to Dover and Canterbury (I have random photos mainly of stations as I started taking them when they didn't have the old tickets) and north to Manchester and Blackpool, oddly I never took the camera on my many visits there. And a four day holiday to the Cotswolds when I drove to Stratford on Avon, Bath, Oxford and Wooton Wawen in as many days, and do have photos albeit a bit dodgy at times when the light got in the back of the very good camera.<br />
<br />
I have so far revisited the Cotswolds on digital as I only include digital photos here (begun in November 2005) for new squares, and then add the archives when I've got one already. The south coast is easy enough to get to so done a couple there so far with one or two to go, while east Kent is now verboten since all the London bridges are out of commission bar Tower Bridge (which I can't imagine the state as most people have to bypass the centre to cross the river on weekdays) and haven't felt like suffering the journey to the Blackwall Tunnel alternative for a while. I've collected many old signs at the weekend across London but have been limited by restricting the possible days I could go further in that direction. Part of the reason other trips have reduced is the vast rise in the cost of petrol, meaning when my old Proton gave up the ghost I had to buy a runabout which saved me about 20% of the cost, which does add up. Now when on the flat it starts slowing down around 60mph and really doesn't want to go much faster, and wasn't really designed for motorways like the last ones. This means they are used as the exception rather than the rule so can't get as far using the back doubles.<br />
<br />
But whatever will be will be, and will be quite happy just extending my scope here at all rather than aiming too high and being disappointed when I don't manage it. If I ever get a flight somewhere on the map though that'll cover them all!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
text/html2013-03-19T03:22:57+00:00David Howard51.478892274705 -0.58300795347782Spring is coming
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/183
Although the calendar (read 'government') means the clocks don't go forward till the final day in March this year it's now not getting too dark for photos till 6pm, so ignoring their method of trying to cheat time and beginning my 2013 plans, even if I haven't yet carried any out yet. I was pleased to get the first medium trip a few weeks ago to the edge of Reading, as it made a little splash in a previously green void, and luckily since when I've been available more pre-Worboys road signs have turned up not too far away, and used them to cover as many green areas around them not yet covered. So following Reading [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3346733">3346733</a>]] each week the pre-Worboys fairy has provided them in Jordans [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3351523">3351523</a>]] (one I had but a variation and one on a public road), Addlestone [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3366094">3366094</a>]](a repeat but far better condition, plus a few old council signs), and today a matching pair in Windsor, which were sitting on the ground when I got there as the brackets had become loose, they looked the same but not quite right flat on the floor.<br />
<br />
Without tempting fate with location details, the usual record breaking is all in the book now to follow. Maximum distance north and east, maximum distance between the most distant points (currently 122.8 miles), another myriad, which will bring the west maximum automatically if I do. Of course each year the distances become greater, with little under 60 miles now to make the slightest dent in my stats, the maximum single trip has been just over 70 miles with the digital setup as the crow flies, given the limit south is just about 50 miles before hitting the coast, so have to make it up by going further the opposite direction. The London congestion charge stymied my old A2/A20 trips [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2867642">2867642</a>]] as I can't use the bridges over the river except one, which is clearly not worth joining the rest of the mugs while everyone using them for work (not many others would bother for pleasure I suspect) carries on as before. I've found one workround which is hoping to manage TR again [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3014504">3014504</a>]], as I'd like a little more coverage around the edges, as my entire range of TR, TM, SZ and TV are coastal by two squares in, although TV is barely bigger by design. TM is estuarial this end, and very happy the Essex marshes stick out just far enough to get there, as when I planned to go right past them on the A12 I have already recorded the cause of a diversion elsewhere or nowhere.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, being self employed as well as a ferocious collector, work has been picking up recently, meaning I don't feel guilty holding back the newly possible trips after a five month nature imposed close season, as earning money trumps any other activity to wipe out any trace of guilt I'm only wandering round the local park instead of taking to the A127. When I had more energy and a far bigger car I'd drive up to 500 miles in a day (Burry Port in Wales and back on the M4 for their last Edmondson train tickets before they stopped them) for old train tickets, but every decade of life has removed some physical energy which is replaced by mental power, and although many friends and family whizz around in their 80s I am not one of them despite being three decades younger. But these gifts are all handed out differently, and if I get tired more easily now compared to others it's beyond my scope, although I can lift 80 kg up to my waist (greater than my own weight, which is the main criterion in weightlifting) in the gym as stamina and muscular strength are two different qualities.<br />
<br />
Looking back to the 90s and first half of the 2000s I still whizzed around, and didn't even take the camera half the time as I still remembered and regretted the loss of the old train tickets I used to look for treasure wherever I went since 1970. And unless I went abroad, when I did I took a few railway stations (the next best thing) and any nice houses I saw as I always had. The biggest range for ages was a few days spent near Moreton-in-Marsh [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3092485">3092485</a>]] , when I went to Stratford on Avon on day one, Bath on day two, Oxford on day three and Wooton Wawen on day four. Of course had I been on Geograph I'd have covered most of my entire mapping ambitions in a few days, and at least took photos in all corners partly as there were stations and a steam railway there, although it got dark very quickly in Bath and the camera let light in the few I managed beforehand. The other trick, started by my father in the early 80s as I was so far out on Gunnislake station platform, was taking me by the station name. It is a line only kept as it's so hard to cross the Tamar from Devon to Cornwall by road they keep the tiny branch line to allow people to do it by rail. So there's a second set of photos not eligible for my page regardless of me standing by random stations from there to Hythe in Essex, as well as Brussels.<br />
<br />
Talking of Brussels my earlier collection was foreign coverage, and having only missed Portugal on a cruise in 1974 as they had Cholera, so stopped just north of the border instead of Lisbon or Porto (as if the germs knew the difference) and had to make do with sailing less than a mile down the entire Portuguese coast on the way to Morocco. But that followed the opposite situation when my penfriend in Denmark came down with the flu and sent me home early, but my grandpa said he'd come over and we had another week in Copenhagen including two trips to Sweden earlier that summer. But the problems when travelling abroad can be 1000 times worse than in Britain, and after a few later on left it as the exception rather than the rule, and discovered the day trip in 1982 when we spent a lovely afternoon on the beach in Calais, which was as good as any in the world and far better than most opposite on the south coast here, and followed with a couple more in the 90s (one more in the 80s found the weather too bad for them to run so we took the little railway to Dungeness where I did take a good few pictures).<br />
<br />
But just like the hundreds of pre-Worboys signs I passed almost daily in London and didn't think to take photos, we can't turn the clock back and do what we should have at the time, and back then travel meant train tickets, and tended to use the camera properly only when going abroad, even though a few trips appear to have been without the camera which I still can't understand. So looking back at my entire live's travel history I am now looking forward, at my current collection of red squares for Geograph. Eventually I'll find a method on Paint to crop the map and then try and enlarge it when I've done enough to warrant it, and print out a nice record on paper, which I don't even know is possible using our little map program on others. I would definitely add my entire life's archive if I could use a different map for it, as it would just be small spots across the entire country, plus the ones I have added now as I have digital photos in those squares already now. I know we can't have extra profiles and currently no way to have two maps for different things, but I suppose the ones I do have are so rough most wouldn't be much of an addition besides recording my early life, but do have some good steam railways if little else.text/html2012-12-17T19:06:04+00:00David Howard51.28082593471 0.041801791582881Making the best of it
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/166
2011 and 12 began my quest for distant squares, after spending the previous few years simply taking everything I knew well and then loading them in here. But if you're not an early riser taking photos (while stopping every half a mile for the next red square) 50 miles and beyond from home would mean it inevitably got dark long before I could do anything even with the new camera. But my other targets are pre-Worboys road signs, which can be taken with a flash, and with the camera able to take Geographs in the dark now also allows a few extras as it needs enough street lighting near enough to the target, or a target near enough to the flash, means the winter (it's autumn but looks and feels exactly the same) hasn't meant a full hibernation.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3238279">3238279</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3262194">3262194</a>]] <br />
<br />
With little effort from me, either walking the streets online with Google or tips from other collectors, I've been to Markyate, Leighton Buzzard, Swanley and Sevenoaks so far, with both in Kent managing to complete before it got dark as a bonus. <br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3261852">3261852</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3261845">3261845</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3255071">3255071</a>]]<br />
<br />
Each provided new squares as the chances of covering the same route twice is pretty remote once I'm out of west London. There are more turning up in deepest Sussex, which would no doubt need driving long roads at night with no lighting, which us Londoners see as the equivalent of driving blind and will never get comfortable with. So I'll keep searching, there aren't any more left closer at the moment (after five years it's amazing they keep popping up) and anything beyond will have to wait till the spring.<br />
<br />
Otherwise I may still get to Essex if I get a chance assuming the traffic doesn't mop up the time between leaving and sunset, as since they widened the A406 the trip east is now back on the agenda and used it many times this year to catch up and reach new myriads. I have my list for next year in place, comprising one new myriad, a north record, east record (just, the coast limits that one) and getting much further into SZ. Meanwhile as long as something turns up every now and then I'll keep going till the spring and keep adding new material one way or another in the limited hours available.text/html2012-11-19T00:46:25+00:00David Howard51.331874870677 -0.34351727599859Close season
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/165
Having completed my last long trip to the compass points to Battle, finishing the compass a few weeks before the clocks went back, it was back to local duties until around April when it gets dark around 6pm again. [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3113459">3113459</a>]]<br />
<br />
Luckily pre-Worboys signs continued to turn up, and with the advent of a new camera, not because I particularly wanted one but because the other was corrupting my cards at random times (possibly after I'd dropped it) and upgraded to a serious bridge camera which could cope with semi-darkness and (yet to test it) moving images in shot. As a result it meant not losing a few extra Geopoints at night, as sometimes it's a lot easier later in the day but either if it got dark half way there or all the way the new machine gained Geographs regardless, meaning as well as adding to my sign collection (which always look best using a flash anyway) kept the new red spots arriving (not the type I had in 2006 when catching chicken pox for the first time). [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3195877">3195877</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3195123">3195123</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3142634">3142634</a>]]<br />
<br />
Otherwise the next possible task was completing my 5th hectad, as TQ16 was fairly well covered I just managed it despite having to negotiate a gated estate in Oxshott. In the end the other ends of the same roads were free to use, so just caught a moment with enough light to gain a Geograph in the 100th square in Oxshott (as per heading illustration), which required about ten or more attempts (half now supplemental, rest binned) as it was just light enough to take the odd photo, with no street lighting to improve my chances. The reason certain squares were unvisited always became obvious when going there. A few had a sliver of road, often accessible via complex estates and banned turns etc, and one today was only bagged as I stopped every hundred yards or so along the road, and turned out the A-Z I was using wasn't the same as the OS map so very lucky I didn't take any chances by only stopping at a couple of points. Off-roaders ranged from Richmond Park (at least three from memory), only possible now as Streetview have covered the paths, so combined the many ponds which could be used with the car parks and other features to ensure I hit the targets clearly each time with no room for uncertainty. Others were the dreaded public footpaths, sometimes coinciding with rain or twilight (it doesn't matter what time you leave, after negotiating complicated routes and stopping to walk into off-road squares and back by the time you reach the end it often hits sunset but the new camera means many places can still be completed regardless now.<br />
<br />
The period between now and spring is going to be Streetviewing for more signs, and amazingly still find one a month or so simply as the range is so great the law of averages seems to apply. Many are found by the large group of other collectors for me, some here, and others by patiently filling in the road map in felt pen as I walk each road online. In fact some are not clear enough to tell and still have to go anyway in case, and that meant two trips to Hertford and Ware in a week, the first for a pair of remade PROHIBITED MOTOR VEHICLES signs which clearly were impossible to distinguish from the real thing on a small screen. Plan B was always map squares, so planned to drive to Stanstead Abbots, but at the end of the sign's road a red sign said 'Road Closed Ahead', meaning the railway line between there and Stanstead was shut, losing about three squares taking the road parallel to it. I still got enough to show up, and the same route was taken in Hertford when the sign found on a public road turned out to be a hand painted privately made one which meant plan B, only missing a single red square there as the camera failed to take a usable picture as it got dark on entering it. But again managed to widen the block there so kept me out of mischief for another afternoon.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3205785">3205785</a>]] I was surprised how many squares in Herts only had a single photo, all from before I would have thought of going anyway, but clearly once visited were so off the beaten track there was no reason for anyone to go there specially but were on my route anyhow.<br />
<br />
Other than that I found two KEEP LEFT signs (as that is how they look) on an island (road not water) in Sanderstead, some of the rarest in Britain but had an example already. The main difference being these were plain while the other had catseyes, so technically not the same, while the pair were actually on a public road which may only be the second known with them in Britain. The roads round there are like a web of capillaries rather than anything man made, and as I hadn't plotted the required squares on paper ended up going in circles and getting four new ones from a potential of around 12, but got what I really wanted there.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3201664">3201664</a>]]<br />
<br />
The places taken in new squares, considering after driving 10-80 miles means if you want as many as possible can't either keep getting out and walking to scenery, or park anywhere legally at all, so get a lottery of what happens to be there. The hedge dilemma, which tends to occur when a driver stops at the lights and that's all you can see from the passenger window as there are reflections through the front, has been a last resort when nothing else represented the square, is what I feel the most embarrassing submission but if in focus will take it, and now try and stop somewhere with any special feature if lined with trees or hedges or it can take hours to locate it. My favourite lucky breaks are interesting road junctions with shops and buses which look like I meant to stop there, and best of all skyscrapers, as there aren't many in Britain (until Canary Wharf was built, and that's a tiny area in comparison) [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2889365">2889365</a>]] so despite the parking being fairly dire Croydon is the place for those, and have been quite a few times and get more each time. It also offered up two old one way street signs, which I had already but worth getting, and had possibly the last one with a red circle on it before a building was demolished in the next road along maybe 10 years ago long before I knew it had been there.<br />
<br />
With it getting dark at 4pm now until February I will probably go into hibernation. With five complete hectads anywhere I can get to has been covered already besides the wilderness west of Twickenham, so will just look for old signs till then and make a trip to Whitton sooner or later when I have the chance. I don't post many pre-Worboys signs here simply as when I first started the coincidence of putting a 45-60 year old sign online with its removal was too much of a coincidence to risk deliberately. They were all put online elsewhere but little way to pin down the exact spots. Whether it's councils looking online to save them missing them or thieves doesn't make any difference this end, once they're gone they're gone but am slowly adding them here when they have as then it's not required to hide them. Two had recently been repainted by the council so can't imagine them spending hundreds and then the whole things being removed (poles and all) leaving nothing. Councils frequently don't replace old direction signs, as the law tells them they must remove them, not change them. So for our lowest level of bureacrats as long as they follow the rules it's more important than people being able to find their way around. I am still not sure if that could ever happen in another country.<br />
text/html2012-09-13T04:34:59+00:00David Howard51.537587049328 0.68778901643793What next
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/156
Now the summer is almost over, and it's getting dark at 7 then this long era is drawing to a close, and with the final trip to Battle last week have now visited all eight compass points to a reasonable extent, with possibly the winter to gather new energy and begin another mission in spring 2013. The Geograph map project began last year, having previously added whatever I happened to have wherever I'd been, and began seeing what increases and records I could create deliberately. The compass points was the final mission planned, as once you've made a fairly even journey to all extremes all others of a lesser distance will appear swamped by the main spider and unless making some other purpose tend to be a little but uneconomical on both time and fuel. But I tend to find such vacuums filled by their nature, and while I would feel lost not going on a long trip every week or two then maybe a few more will come to me next spring when the days get longer again. Meanwhile in the close season I have completed hectads TQ 18,28 and 29, and begun 19 with seventeen squares left to bag. After that I expect once a week or so I should be able to reach short hops to places like east London, Seer Green, and if really feeling ambitious a road sign (I always hope remains in place) in Shenfield. And while restricted to light duties gradually new roads and spots occur to me such as the already mentioned Mersea Island, and short of new myriads which have an A1 and A40 access respectively, am wondering about Bournemouth and Ashford as followups, although would love a decent saloon car as mine struggles on motorways compared to what I used to drive when petrol was a reasonable amount. I will also return to scenic photos on my doorstep, not because there are any new ones to take but because the new camera can cope with poor conditions and will triple the number of reasonable views compared to many which looked like I'd used an old phone to take them on. And of course I will find other things to do besides photography, like gardening which was the first casualty of alternating between the car and the computer since March or so, and no doubt others.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile here are some highlights of the long days of 2012, which extended me from 6 to 8 myriads, added 3 completed hectads and crossed the 8000 photos line. It also added a number of new counties, from Cambridgeshire [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2971367">2971367</a>]] to Northants, [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3073406">3073406</a>]] Suffolk [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3054645">3054645</a>]], Warwickshire [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3093408">3093408</a>]] and Gloucestershire [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3092945">3092945</a>]], only finding a few miles more would have added Worcestershire but not all maps have obvious boundaries when looking at the roads to navigate instead. As Huntingdonshire no longer exists that can't be the next, but as they moved Dorset to just west of Christchurch that may be the next to follow. And if I can persuade anyone to go up the M4 for me may add Wiltshire as well. I think trying the A30 and heading to Salisbury will double the time from 2 to 4 hours and be beyond the call of duty to attempt the return journey using A roads. But these all add ideas by just thinking about it and in fact the longest trip has been one of the quickest simply as it was major roads door to door with absolutely no traffic besides the usual in Oxford. The featured photo was one of my favourite spots of 2012 on the sea front at Leigh on Sea.<br />
<br />
An off-road square for TQ28, although a road exists to the north. This involved climbing a gate to a private road a minute before a storm began [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3046275">3046275</a>]].<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3045198">3045198</a>]] A fully off road square with the longest walk required so far.<br />
Crossing the border [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3012593">3012593</a>]] followed by another straight after [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3012286">3012286</a>]], requiring counting telegraph poles on the satellite view as the road is not on Streetview. Getting into the congestion charge for TQ28 by waiting till it ends (only just occurred to me) [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3098868">3098868</a>]] and the advent of the new camera continuing the same area [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3105202">3105202</a>]]. Previously there were both a far larger congestion zone, removed recently allowing a daytime journey into Paddington and Kensington [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3098843">3098843</a>]], and only added any by going at the weekend and the Christmas week when it was suspended. These were also taken deliberately during the school holidays (and general ones) to halve the journey time at the very least. One available loose end is Lea Bridge Road (traffic permitting) to make another line south of the next crossing up via Walthamstow which has proved one of the worst routes of the 21st century, having used it regularly in the previous one, especially the 60s and 70s when my grandma lived past it, and has now become virtually unusable. But when did explorers ever have an easy time of it?text/html2012-08-24T02:39:24+00:00David Howard51.990679009551 -1.746556117902Mission almost complete
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/154
Having begun my project to spread my presence as far and wide across the personal map early last year, I began with myriads (as you would), and then went for the compass points. The combination of very frequent stops (unavoidable in these cases) and a little economical car mean I can't eat up the motorway as I did in my ancient Proton, but potter around on the A roads (if I'm lucky) and get stuck at every non-bypassed town, from Luton [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2558049">2558049</a>]] (never changes), Hertford (now found a way round the almost constant gridlock), Southend Arterial Road [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2961440">2961440</a>]] (that never used to be bad but another casualty of our overpopulation), St Albans (a river of traffic squeezed into a maze of capillaries) and the series of traffic lights known as Dunstable [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2882736">2882736</a>]]. That meant theoretically simple journeys often took twice as long as the old days, and just allowed all day to complete wherever I was going, except when the major dual carriageway previously able to transport all motorised traffic designed for roads to Colchester in less than an hour from Ilford became a car park. Undaunted I had two more attempts to get to TM via Wickford [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3003164">3003164</a>]], the first thwarted by not purchasing a local map and turning off yards too early, and then finally mopped up all the adjoining myriads (TW is only a hypothesis as the south coast stops before it would have).<br />
<br />
Since then I've managed around one per week into each new green space on the map, learning along the way the A10 is now permanently jammed as far as Broxbourne and to use the country roads to reach it just beyond. I've also satisfied my other photographic hobby as there are pre-Worboys road signs scattered around the countryside, such as this absolute classic in Pampisford [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3061947">3061947</a>]] so as well as following the map have also fitted in wherever these happen to be, including a large set of direction signs around west Kent. I saw the road from Pampisford was a short run to Newmarket after getting the sign there, and a very nice easy one too, so got my first digital photos in Suffolk [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3054418">3054418</a>]] as a result of going there, and also keep a note of my compass point records and that was my furthest north posted here. My last yawning gap was NW in SP quadrant, and that was pretty much only reachable by the motorway, one I used to use every week going back to London at weekends after working near Oxford. Those were the days of cheap petrol and insurance, and before someone made it into a Mazda sandwich while it was parked outside my house had a very nice two litre car which took it without really noticing I was moving. But being a motorway meant I got the whole way to Bourton on the Hill in much less time than Northampton [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3073380">3073380</a>]] or Southend [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2960010">2960010</a>]] simply as it was dual carriageway all the way from Hanger Lane to around Woodstock.<br />
<br />
I always like to put a wiggle or blob in the line you get on a long road, but the caveat being (I would never use a satnav as I used to drive a van and know how to find anywhere in the British Isles using paper) without a large scale map of the area if I go too far off piste I may easily get lost and waste ages going round in circles regardless of the extra red squares. I usually get lost at least once per trip anyhow, with corresponding red islands, so try and avoid it happening on purpose. This time each town and village was too small to potter around and get a few more squares anyway, so instead because the road crossed Warwickshire [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3093433">3093433</a>]] for a few miles turned off on the way back for a mile or so just to add more as I put them in county sets on Flickr and wasn't expecting to go back there in the foreseeable future, and just turned out to be the complete diagonal of a single square so won't show up on the map.<br />
<br />
Knowing Oxford was no longer a car friendly zone (last time I couldn't even see if there was a way from Summertown [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3093015">3093015</a>]] to Headington [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2483237">2483237</a>]] by taking the left turn at St Giles) so may well have got thoroughly stuck again (I'd never seen anything like it last year having lived there myself in the 80s for a short time) so didn't fall in the trap of 'just ducking into Woodstock Road and coming back along the High Street to add a few more squares there. You can always try a bit too hard and wreck an otherwise smooth journey. So now all compass points are complete. I then got six squares to complete my second hectad TQ18 yesterday, [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3094462">3094462</a>]] and need seven to complete TQ28 [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3083837">3083837</a>]] in a week or so, having suddenly realised I could avoid the congestion charge by going after it's ended for the day. I hope to get near Hastings next for the alternative reason of road signs, one I haven't got and one I have, but as in a corner I haven't yet covered will be just as useful even if it's mysteriously vanished on arrival. And soon the nights will be drawing in and I'll return (as I did today) to taking Hampstead Heath [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3095851">3095851</a>]], Golders Green and Mill Hill until the next spring and see what ideas come to me between then. Mersea Island is an old haunt from childhood, and another corner not quite covered short of Colchester, and there's always another myriad. But not in 2012 I think.<br />
<br />
text/html2012-07-22T20:57:33+00:00David Howard51.661599569763 -0.14355510725849Water everywhere
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/145
Having completed all my adjacent myriads the far easier job of completing my first hectad could be carried out, needing 10 squares of the 100 around the edge of Hertfordshire and two in Trent Park. I expected it to require two trips as however careful you are it's easy to miss the odd border, and as Trent Park had few clear landmarks used the pond as my second square out from the car park and assumed the other one I needed was en route.<br />
<br />
I covered the roads easily through the back of Enfield, and required a half mile walk or so into Middlesex University before trekking through the long grass and mud to the pond beyond it. I got some very nice pictures as a result like this [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3045212">3045212</a>]] and this [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3045198">3045198</a>]] and when I got home found the monument I hadn't taken was in the second closer square I needed and then there were two to the west I hadn't seen as were covered by the blue line on our personal maps and hadn't zoomed in to see them. So day two meant heading due north, and when I arrived in Dyrham Park discovered the dreaded feature none of us want to see with a camera, a locked gate. Although there were roads on the map into the square we couldn't use them, but used the pylon and buildings as my guide as the square was maybe 100 yards along the track, and climbed over the gate to run as far along as possible to prove where it was using the features. Then the black clouds let the rain go, and was soaked on returning to the car. That was bad enough, but meant when I got to Trent Park for the same walk minus the University as yesterday I would be doing it with wet clothes. The square illustrated was the third required and sensibly through the car door window. My small umbrella covered my head for the walk along this route [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3045230">3045230</a>]] which goes on and on and on, to this point guaranteed to be in TQ2897 where I'd just been right across the day before with only a few possible photos but not able to add as they may have straddled a line and I had no certainty which side they were.<br />
<br />
The monument was however a certainty and almost took it the first time but had put all my focus into guaranteeing the certainty of TQ2997 to realise the ones I took at the end of Snakes Lane and the long road were too far south and the monument wasn't. I always appreciate the exercise but after completing the mission [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3046262">3046262</a>]] all that water was on me, through the jacket to the shirt (it was fine when I left so didn't take a raincoat) and trousers. But that was the hectad completed, and the obvious answer to why the final squares were left was they were all the hardest to get to. Two others were either at the end of a dead end or off road altogether, so had to walk along Arkley Lane to Saffron Green which is a large recently built nature park [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2730912">2730912</a>]] with the only road through TQ2197 being the A1 which would need a lucky shot from a car window with someone else to drive, which is a lot less work than walking along a footpath. It was a second geograph though so clearly not a popular route.<br />
<br />
Looking at my personal map the three around me left are all possible, with TQ18 being by far the easiest as the remainder is just a winding route round Hounslow and Southall, although I'm guessing one or two are bound to be demanding, TQ19 is not so easy as needs the whole of Watford which is across a river and almost impossible to get past nowadays as the current population is simply too great for the old road system to carry, and would need to go north and come back in to avoid the two bottlenecks which is why that row of squares is still missing as I had to turn back twice in the past. TQ28 includes the whole of central London, ie the congestion charge and no parking, so I may try on a Sunday if they let you use the yellow lines and mop up Soho and Mayfair, and probably need everything round Hyde Park which isn't the square below it. I've still got my distance ambitions during the long days, I planned one record breaker after the 8th myriad which was just before Romsey to add nearly 10 miles to my main personal mission, the longest distance between two points. It's only about 113 miles from the other in Tillingham, and will do the exact calculation with the map references when I have the patience. The next trip is for road signs two miles away from an existing trip near Crowborough, but they are my photographic priority as TM and TR will be there long after I've gone but old road signs could be gone tomorrow. Then the Cotswolds and my summer plans will be completed.text/html2012-07-13T04:04:45+00:00David Howard51.573284366005 -0.2481720341525Breaking records
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/141
My maths is something which evaporates as soon as a sum starts manipulating figures. I can however arrange them and happy with statistics, and as a result had a very good chance with the OS grid map to work out all the criteria required for maximum results and efficiency. There are various landmarks, and the most outstanding figure for me on the profile, albeit misleading, is the myriad total. Therefore using my own personal alternative criterion, measurable for each map but not recorded (a suggestion is now brewing) you can bag 8 myriads having travelled a minimum of 89 miles in two diagonal directions, but only have four in a row and travel over 240 miles for example. But as the myriads are there it was only right and proper for me to work out the most efficient routes for each of my adjacent ones (7 as the other's the English Channel)[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2597889">2597889</a>]] as although preferring my personal criterion (more to come) it is almost endless and directionless, whereas the myriad lines sit there looking at you, and each one has a specific route to reach it, TV and SZ sticking out in small promontories into the Channel with a road or two linking London where I begin. My working partner offered to share the driving, so was taken to the south coast twice while I wound down the window at lights and took anything before the car moved again to make a nice red line instead of a few dots and dashes before the border, and of course not miss the hectads every 6.25 miles. Two were covered ages ago simply as I live near the borders, but not SP as it's in the middle of nowhere, and needed two shots at that as Amersham and Chesham do not have lines drawn on the road so had to return the following day with them on my road map in pencil. [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2372592">2372592</a>]] Next were TM and TR, the map says Kent and Essex, but once you zoom close and ignore the road maps the node is all on the Dengie peninsula in Essex, and already recounted my dual visit there as I made the same sort of mistake trying to get TM the first time as with SP, except I didn't have a map so made my own which had a lot missing. [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3012278">3012278</a>]] this was how I knew I'd made it, and took it for proof.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, I've got the 8 myriads now but look at the maps, the red on many with 4-6 is spread over a huge area while mine still looks like the high altitude result of a passing seagull on the ground. Regardless of the myriads my personal original project was compass point maximums (hence the forum thread I began), and using the topography which discovered the maximum and minimum distances for each number of myriads taken, realised the only criterion which distinguished the map coverages was the distance between the two furthest points, something extremely relevant and important for those who care about statistics, but only measurable currently either with a ruler and a rough figure, or Pythagoras and an exact one. Of course a program can be written to measure the distances by including the formula into the red dots, once it recognises the extreme points and then chooses the top through simple ranking. The only unknown is if a program can recognises the extreme points as it's not a simple formula and visually not easy to see on anything roughly symmetrical. But possible.<br />
<br />
So now I've got the myriads the compass points have partly been covered, south by the coast and east by the combination of the sea cutting into the land and the dire roads NE and SE having been turned back from Colchester by a tailback like a picket line preventing entry to all comers. [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2947048">2947048</a>]] North is optional now as the one sector remaining is NW (I don't know why really, probably because the A 41 doesn't go NW and the next road goes almost north as used that already) while the only official planned trip is west again followed by a turn north if possible. Those are mainly based on the best remaining roads not yet covered where I know there won't be a Cheshunt, [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2992086">2992086</a>]] Brentwood, Upminster, congestion charge, Dunstable, [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2882736">2882736</a>]] Luton [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2558344">2558344</a>]], Hertford, Bishops Stortford [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2917599">2917599</a>]] etc (been there, got the tyre marks) but a usually free run like the one last week to Winchester which (I can say it now as not going back and can't tempt fate) appears constant. Every decade each road set loses some of their free runs, as the A12 was an easy one until now, as was the A127 for most of it but two out of three were second gear jobs this year [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2960578">2960578</a>]]. The A10 may have gone downhill the worst, as I'm sure last time I went to Cambridge it took just over an hour, maybe ten years later same road same traffic lights no changes, it was almost two hours just to clear Broxbourne. But all those are water under the bridge as they were directions I no longer need, and the next trip will probably add a few miles to my existing maximum distance, while any to follow are designed to make SP red instead of green and roads I know very little about but pretty lightly populated.<br />
<br />
The limits do vary with circumstances of course, hence the lack of actual ones but personal ones, and before this project I went to football matches in a rough 50 mile circle mainly when my local team were relegated from the league so decided to see as many other grounds as possible, and after only one I used locally allowed photography didn't take the camera elsewhere, and if I had doubt I'd have taken anything except the match (especially when at night) and any station I saw on the way. Before that it was collecting used train tickets, and with the energy and cheap petrol so I often had a large comfortable saloon car instead of the tiny hatchback I had to replace the last one with when the petrol wasn't cheap and just headed on the motorways to whichever destination I needed if there was one, or the equivalent, and was still young enough back then not to get tired even after driving half the day, although I usually took a friend on the long runs and could get some to share the driving. But you can't repeat your past and had I carried any sort of camera can give my west point around Padstow, east at Canterbury, east at Woodbridge, south at around Smallbridge on the Isle of Wight and north at Leeds or Batley. Of course instead I got train tickets from there, except when there weren't any to be had, but was in some places for other reasons so just popped in the stations as a matter of course as well.<br />
<br />
Not wanting to add my rare trips taken since then specifically for photos, when the old tickets were stopped, as they were on film and only dotted around randomly, I often went to the south coast, taking buildings, stations and straight roads in Bexhill, Pevensey, Peacehaven, Storrington and a little north in and around Basingstoke, a totally forgotten trip (I remember being there but still not why) in Cambridge where I took the camera presumably as an afterthought, and took the station as I was after tickets and the road to it as it is straight, one to Jaywick (and Clacton station) as it was built like a shanty town so unlike anywhere else in Britain, a few on the way to my friend in Newmarket I used to visit regularly so the trip became a familiar routine, and the incredible few days in the Cotswolds in 1997 where from a cottage near Moreton in Marsh went to Bath (with the camera), Oxford (without), Stratford on Avon, Toddington (for the steam railway) and Wooton Wawen, which probably covered more myriads in that period than I have in three years. But they are little spots you'd barely see, but boost the myriad count by around 100%, a few in Bath before it suddenly got dark, Bourton on the Water (we took the same view every time we went for nearly 40 years, Toddington, the flat we were staying in, Kemble station (not mine as it was part of my series of me standing by a station name sign), and I think that was it. There's also one of me outside Hythe station in Colchester which was all I had from that visit as well although at least I took the camera. Much of my records are on video mainly as my friend took it with us when I did a ticket trip, and I got one some years later I took on a few myself. But it was always the exception rather than the rule, and when I got the digital and joined here it was start again from literally square one, TQ. And it takes a lot longer when you stop every mile or so to take pictures, so unless I decide to do one without it to see how far I can get it's certainly curtailed every previous one specifically to use here, but I always think a line is far easier to see on a map than a little morse code. And ideally a new trip can be seen on the front profile page map, those are a little extra when you do.text/html2012-06-29T02:10:51+00:00David Howard51.676469582308 0.89853220242635Been there, done that
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/138
My Geograph career has gone from locating and adding five year's worth of archives to myriad and distance collections. Last year was myriads 4-6, quite enough for one summer (you can't get to many with the clocks back), and hadn't decided exactly what map locations I was after this year besides compass points. That involved getting as far as possible on each main compass point, and as NE crossed into the 7th TM myriad decided to cover both and go up the A12 to Colchester (Hythe actually) on an extremely familiar route never causing any problems since the 1960s. I arrived at Gallows Corner and the short stretch of ordinary road before the trunk road began in Harold Wood, and the traffic ground to a halt. However long later I found myself moving faster than 20mph (which itself was intermittent) in Ingatestone, well over 10 miles from the start of the jam, [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2946116">2946116</a>]] and past the point of continuing the lion's share having spent the earlier part of the afternoon gardening for my mother before leaving to head east. Not having planned a plan B the only option was to leave at the next exit (I only knew I was in Ingatestone when I got home and mapped the photo I took when I parked in the layby there) which turned out to be Boreham (very appropriate), with a single road off it not returning to Chelmsford (where I'd just been recently already) which went due north. About a dozen roundabouts later (all recorded more or less) I reached Braintree, admittedly new territory but turned out only 7 miles beyond my existing material after driving well over 50 to get there. The only conclusion drawn from that trip was the A12 was no longer an accepted route and as I'd already tried TM looked at maps to see the alternatives. The two were Mersea Island, a popular childhood haunt during the school holidays, and the unmapped Dengie peninsula. As my maps didn't show roads into TM I assumed it was similar to Foulness Island just over the river Crouch, and MoD land or similar where we can't travel to.<br />
<br />
Just out of curiosity I decided to blow up the Google map just in case on a scale I didn't have at home some roads came out of the background and then were passable and hopefully viewable directly on Streetview. Wandering around I saw the nodal point which then crossed into the next myriad TM was a single road, only a fraction was viewable but seemed it reached TR before it stopped, and was another road a mile south well into TR which was viewable. I printed the page out, coloured both routes in and set off for Essex. Apologies to everyone who read this on the forum, but it's only a part of a wider picture here so has to be repeated as a link in the chain. My exit point was a crossroads on Keelings Road, Dengie, turning right and crossing three TM squares and finally into a quarter of a TR. That would complete all adjacent squares as myriad 9 doesn't exist for TQ due to the English Channel getting in the way. I saw a no through road sign at the crossroads to the right as expected, drove past a farm and then the road ended abruptly when it became a grass track.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3003076">3003076</a>]]<br />
<br />
As I did know not all the road was viewable I wondered if it stopped filming it for Google as it became unpassable (many roads look real on maps until you see them dwindle into dirt tracks or footpaths on Streetview) and having driven through the worst series of traffic lights (20 miles of at least) crossing the entire north of London's suburbs after nearly 3 hours was hardly in a condition to consider alternatives. All I knew was I clearly hadn't reached TR but the crossroads was the border for TM and went to Southminster to reach TR easily. Only on returning home did I discover there was a second crossroads not visible on the map and both didn't go straight on but turned left (worryingly similar to a swastika, which is the closest shape I can use to compare it with) so no chance of knowing it wasn't the right one from that. I had both taken the first right of two, and quarter of a mile before the myriad border. I also forgot to write the name 'Bridgewick Road' on the right turn, otherwise Landwick last time would obviously been passed by.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3012278">3012278</a>]]<br />
<br />
So clearly all I could do was return, which was a 6 day wait, and had investigated the area so thoroughly in between I had plans to cover extra territory as once I'd repeated the actual Bridgewick Road route I could then turn left (straight on swastika style) and add a few more potential TM squares depending how far north I went. I just got one more and then took the road west towards Tillingham to add another row of red to the two below to Dengie and Southminster, and for the first time in three recent trips had no jams there, and none back on any as the road clears up after about 6-7pm going west. Looking at the map the final (and not scoreable by Geograph unless it becomes added to the profile data, which may not be a bad idea) mission is to increase my maximum distances between two points on the map. Taken from here currently: [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2566135">2566135</a>]]<br />
<br />
Having reached all eight compass points at roughly the same distance already I now have routes on two of them (ie ones which hit the open road almost immediately) planned to stretch out the width of the map (the height again is restricted by the Channel to the south as I've got there to get SZ and TV myriads) but when I feel like it (while the clocks are forward of course). I hope to do the first on Sunday (football, what football?), and was planning the next with my father as it's one we've done for over 40 years from time to time but he hurt his back and needs to recover enough for the long journey sitting. After those I expect it'll be the autumn months as I've driven enough this spring to earn a summer break after the next one, and no doubt because England is not going anywhere in the forseeable future (I'm really not planning going any further) I'll think of some to follow. I am getting my first hectad when the clocks go back, I think it's 13 squares required and two are in a public park so need to get the pair together rather than miss one due to rough planning. I've got a few ideas for the next lot if I'm still motivated, and are all in myriads I have already but much further out. Another thing I learnt is the minimum mileage required to get 8 myriads (9 is different but 7 and 8 are the same) which would look on our map had anyone done it like lines from home to three corners and a little blob on the nodes (if there are any) but would just look like all the red is within one square on the main map but the count would be 8.<br />
<br />
Due to geography that is much harder for most people, mine involved about 10-15 miles beyond the hypothetical nodes to the south for little bits sticking out into the sea, and other nodes can be right buggers to get to like TM/TR/TQ/TL. Mersea Island means A12 and then wandering all over the show up and down dodging marshes, streams and the like, so far further mileage wise in reality than on the map, a bit like getting to the Falkland Islands. So although in theory catching 8 myriads in three trips may be possible the practical restrictions can make getting to some a lot harder than the same distance and more in other directions. Without making about a 20 plus mile detour to pick up the M25 at Potters Bar, drive way north of London and then back south to Cranham I can't avoid the potential 90 minutes through London itself to head east, and motorway driving is actually more tiring, in a small car anyway, than suburban. But I now have 8 laurels to rest on, and all future journeys are for fun and not to make a number increase, although I do know each will stretch my currently pretty low maximum between points, 105 miles. But unlike myriad counts that is not a discrete or relatively limited number so as my father says if I just took the plane to Scotland I could bag it in a day but where would the fun be in that?text/html2012-06-03T00:50:13+00:00David Howard51.537587049328 0.68778901643793Plan ahead continued
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/131
I remember my previous hobby, from 1970 to around 1996, when the last privately issued small train tickets left the national rail system on the Isle of Wight ferry. Being much younger and fitter, as well as various reasonably powered cars and friends without families I'd go off into the distance to get tickets from wherever they were issued, knowing they were destined for removal from 1982 onwards, finally leaving the last national station in 1988 at South Merton as far as I know. A handful of private agencies kept them on for a couple of years, and the Isle of Wight ferry until 1996, so rather than be forced to pack in completely used my wide network of staff and collectors to learn what was available where. Needless to say the last thing I thought of was to take a camera, and just have a few videos when my friend with a camera came with me.<br />
<br />
9 years later and I got a digital camera, no longer limited by film or waiting for prints, and mopped up every interesting view I knew locally, and when I finished then started travelling around taking pre-Worboys road signs I discovered in 2008 despite being surrounded by them all my life. Then with Streetview I was able to add all my back catalogue here as otherwise I only dared upload certainties, and even then often found strange differences between where they were and where I'd put them, even though in a car I can read a map far better than any satnav (I don't end up in rivers, one way streets backwards or not know which road is better than another regardless of directness). Once complete the new challenge was to populate my green map, as all my interesting destinations were randomly scattered on film while the digital were closely packed to the west of London. With a small and economical car I can't mop up motorways like the Proton or Mazda 626, so combined with the need to stop every mile or so to take photos was no longer able to do the sort of unlimited driving I did for the train tickets. I do get help sometimes as well so have done the dubious experiment of poking the camera out of the window along a motorway and seeing the results. Of course without a fancy camera you won't freeze movement as some clearly do for hundreds of miles, but managed many new squares for the few successes before calling it a day on that idea.<br />
<br />
2012 began for me when the clocks went forward, the winter months mopping up local squares not previously covered before the sun went down at 3.30pm or so, and continued last year's clock face project, plus the new myriad count. I got the basic home boxes last year with a good deal of help, and decided to work on the clock face this time round, making sure I had a trip in all the main compass points regardless of traffic. This is where the plans fall apart, and whatever you aim to do something can get in the way. This can be from the recent unprecedented jam along the A12 at Brentwood to the cleaner wanting to come on a different day and having to wait to let her in. I have a list of routes, and am now down to the last few, which is pretty good going for only June, and the next was hoping to be the alternative to Colchester, actually closer and has two added myriads rather than one as on a node. That was scotched by said cleaner situation, but did have the other trip north which didn't involve driving round London for nearly 20 miles before the open road but open road almost outside my front door, and made Hitchin in about an hour before heading as far north as possible in the time allowed. I initially thought due north from Biggleswade, but saw the map needed a detour to the A1 (this was why) [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2971965">2971965</a>]] with few places to stop and a possible error finding it, but the B road to Potton went north as well so did the same amount but there instead.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2970792">2970792</a>]]<br />
<br />
Having either bored, confused, or both everyone on the discussion about how many miles can you fit in a myriad (88) and the relation between myriads and distance (there hardly is one) it meant I'd actually gone some way further from my red bit going towards Cambridge (10 miles west) than TR/TM. In fact I could have gone to Wolverhampton or so and added about 80 miles to my coverage and still stayed in the same SP box. But that little number at the bottom of the blurb is mesmerising, and although I know perfectly well you can have 4 myriads counted and a spread of 175 miles in two directions, and 8 with a dual coverage of 63 miles each way that little number seems to mean quite a lot. So technically I'd improved the area but you needed to work it out, while two more myriads had been counted for me. I'm not moaning as once I'd done the myriad trip the north one was next, so I just changed the order. Currently I've only had a day or two a week free to make the long trips, one only last week, and that was why I couldn't do it a different day, and down to one or two next week as Tuesday is the Jubilee Bank Holiday and unless it's raining (no fun for driving or photos either) half of London will also be going to Southend so probably safer to hold that back. [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2959907">2959907</a>]] <br />
<br />
I am very motivated when on a mission, and although one good trip is really as good as another if you try and specify too closely for anything you will always be wrecked and disappointed sooner or later, so really need to go with the flow and take what comes.text/html2012-05-21T00:46:59+00:00David Howard51.643822595435 0.34715207940956Doing your best
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/129
Alternatively titled when life gives lemons make lemonade. The fun of the planning and chase, as well as the map entering to me is as much fun as taking the photos themselves. It is a circular process until maybe me or my car (or anyone else's) run out of steam and go back to seeing how many different views I can preserve of Golders Green. When reading the map for the spring when the days were long enough to allow a free run I made a list of map directions unvisited within reason, and by May had done over half (I am motivated when I get an idea) and with plenty of time to go had another look in case there were any other routes available. I once worked in a lorry despatch office and as well as learning the routes to send them on the most efficient routes needed a few extra details such as splitting an overnight into reasonable portions.<br />
<br />
The route mapping has a second consideration of road quality. The white ones basically mean a combination of wrong turnings and single tracks, and double the time for the same distance as dual carriageways. Ideally. So after working out the simplest route for a new myriad the well covered route from Harold Hill to Colchester would easily be the smoothest run as there was no known bottleneck now from here to there. After a slightly halting crawl to Edmonton things opened up, including a spectacular hailstorm with lightning in Gants Hill, and when I saw the difference between Colchester and Southend at the turnoff did stop and think should I take the easy route, as it was getting late and almost as far from my existing area covered. But that was based on the existing knowledge, so who could have guessed as soon as the A12 became a dual carriageway the traffic would stop. <br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2947048">2947048</a>]] Evidence.<br />
<br />
No, not slow or increase, but just stop. It was maximum 30 mph onwards on the brief periods of movement all the way to Ingatestone, over 10 miles, and was clear the chance of getting the still substantial distance was remote, so plan B was decided on, leave at the next exit (I had no idea where I was) and see the best place to go to instead.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2946049">2946049</a>]]<br />
<br />
As it was it was the aptly named Boreham interchange, as I was by then extremely bored, and with little need to investigate deeply besides the road I was leaving the only main road led due north to Braintree. That was a straight run with nothing off it besides those dreaded white roads which although some turn out as nice white lined 50 mph runs the majority do not, so didn't want to go off piste, and after travelling 118 miles my red dot in Great Notley was a whole 7 miles away from my red dot in Great Dunmow. Like losing a pound and finding a penny it was a small comfort compared to a myriad, but all profit. Technically I had also got plenty of new squares, got a couple of miles past another existing point in Chelmsford, and got 3 squares further east than before. As I collect the pre 1964 road signs as soon as I turned into Great Notley I saw some writing on a plate and realised it was a broken road sign. The arrowhead and two letters had gone, so was still almost usable, saying BRAINTR with RAYNE underneath (although Braintr-ee appeared to be in another direction) and unusually E GREEN 1 1/2 on the other side.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2945805">2945805</a>]] The road from Rayne.<br />
<br />
The only odd thing was the letters were double the usual size, but the right font. When I got home I did the collector's trick of checking the route online as many with one old sign have others in that set, and found a perfect condition RAYNE BRAINTREE sign at the other end, but on a local huge size fingerpost rather than a standard flag arrow. There's no certainty both were identical as besides the poor resolution the other one didn't seem identical, and mine had a black border and different brackets, the ones used on national signs. Without the end (or someone who remembers it) I can't be certain either way, but a small additional bonus on top.<br />
<br />
I did, however, discover how relatively easy it is to get to Southend, planned next, as although I've been many times wasn't so sure of the traffic at the moment. Technically it is the gateway to another myriad as well, but all on white roads past the A127 plus MoD land where you may get handcuffed at gunpoint (I do watch a lot of cop shows) a few miles approaching the border. But not on the official list. But the conclusion is we can only do our best and make the best of any unforseen obstacles. But (not that I'd dream of watching it) in this case the only way is Essex.text/html2012-05-01T16:28:26+00:00David Howard50.92528298874 -0.95560689044644The spring is here
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/123
Now the figures are in I see people do actually read my blogs here, so will keep going. The clocks going forward have now given me back my freedom, the dark months saw me consolidate areas with green patches, and am now about 10 short of my first full hectad when I get round to doing the rest of it. Having spent a year previously on Geograph-specific trips am now running out of many under 50 miles, so the stakes are rising as each new target is further away than the previous one. But I have so far risen to the occasion, and spent April mopping up the pre-Worboys road signs in north Kent I knew about, managing an eastern record in Paddock Wood of 67 east in TQ. [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2899842">2899842</a>]]<br />
<br />
Being a lifelong collector my Flickr aim was purely artistic and road sign related, while here although I try my best (especially after the moving car experiments on various roads) to remain artistic some roundabouts are inevitable, and some hedgerows, simply as that is all there is in a square at times as any other attempts would be dangerous or impossible to attempt. But I hope at least they are well composed roundabouts, [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2917074">2917074</a>]] if not in focus at least. In the end I managed every pre-Worboys direction [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/1078788">1078788</a>]](I don't post them all here simply as the powers that be and vandals, often indistinguishable in this case, seem to coincide their removal with posting their exact locations online) in and around London, including twelve in Harlow (I knew of 8 and found four more en route) and amazingly despite the breadth of the place only missed one when I went back home and checked online. I'd Streetviewed most of the area for 30 miles or more so less likely more will turn up locally as I'm now over four years from the start of the project, but very soon after I'd completed the mission someone found a lovely example in a place I'd already been for the first one there in Petersfield. I checked the map and it turned out to be on a road heading south, meaning I could extend my coverage about 6 miles into the green after getting it and make something from having to repeat a 60 mile trip a few months later. I did find the same day I was a few hundred yards away from one in Seaford, but there is no decent road there from here and can't go much further as like the first time you hit the sea the minute you try. [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2597883">2597883</a>]] There has to be a cost-benefit analysis on duplicate trips, and the effort involved to Seaford would be far better used going to Worthing or maybe Eastleigh in the future.<br />
<br />
So just over a month into the long days I've done around two trips a week and broken a few of my records already. I went to Finchdean yesterday from Petersfield, and still running the wooded roads looking for the inevitable similar anonymous photos with no houses or special features to single them out from similar miles of road either side. [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2924586">2924586</a>]] I was free today and almost followed the urge to go out again simply as I could, but although there may not be another chance for almost a week I resisted it as we are only human and once you hit 50 really don't want to overdo it as whatever the mind wishes the body does not always appreciate it when you follow. <br />
<br />
There is plenty of time before October to do more than I want and have a list of places I'm gradually ticking off, while a few depend on other people to be available as well before I can go. It's been a very good start and have learnt from last year's errors to weed out the real rubbish, although a slightly out of focus hedge does represent that point, and if the only usable one in a square and possibly a rarely visited one it does contain more value than none, but preferable to find ways of getting something a bit better if possible. I can't stop my camera shutting down in indirect sunlight (one of the perils of older equipment, I doubt the more recent kit does that) and even the edits leave them looking washed out rather than funereal, as the programs can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. If you go east and return west you have the sun pointing at you the whole way and without the verboten shots with the sun included, simply having it in the same general direction makes my camera so shy it almost turns itself off. Being on auto setting it knows what it should be doing, and being compact if you try and use the numerous manual settings it either provides a blue tint or a blur, sometimes both. They basically don't work, at all. As I can take perfectly passable photos otherwise and edit most of the effect out, I'm not spending whatever it takes on a bridge camera (the wider field allows proper alterations for conditions, even freezing a 70 mph motorway shot as evident across the site) you can't put it in your pocket (unless you're a kangaroo) and probably needs a strap like my SLR, which unlike the current equipment was bought in 1979 and will probably last forever if someone doesn't try and press the wrong button like I did. That cost me £70 (well over the price new) but apart from losing the exposure meter when it fell off the back seat of the car is still as good as new. My digital has mangled four memory cards, various photos as a result, and barely has a zoom facility but as I don't take many views needing it and if I do then simply use the SLR, which has a 200 and 500mm lens, a tripler (hard to get enough light and needs a tripod) and a macro ring. Actually macro is the only thing I can do easily on the digital, although the resolution is not enough for a ladybird (I may try it on full pixels and crop it to an inch of its life as a test) unless something melts in it I intend to keep it for the duration. It's now 6 years old and taken about 15,000 photos and although the XD cards it uses cost four times more than the current equivalent, and don't go in my printer (plus the card reader I use to transfer them to one it does is now in the great cage in the sky) it does the job. And some of my best pictures were taken on an Instamatic so go figure.text/html2012-04-03T04:17:19+00:00David Howard51.197371077184 0.18124622012307When cameras behave badly
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/113
My 6 year old Olympus compact digital has known limits, and if I keep within them (shots at night, moving objects etc) I get perfectly good results. But about two years ago it (OK, I had dropped it a while before) it froze during a little film I was making and had to format the card. Ever since it's done the same about twice a year, but each fault was different, and my father offered the obvious solution to carry a spare card which I now do. It's previously lost (initially) all my takings from a day, but a friendly neighbour recovered the lot for me, and some can be corrupted with either a small line of junk at the bottom which just gets cut off, or totally unreadable mosaic which is beyond recovery.<br />
<br />
Yesterday I drove over 30 miles each way, and at one end had a picture error message for a second when I was checking a road sign photo (I do now as have had a few out of focus or wiped out by the sun), but it returned to normal and I just carried on. Now I know (once I got home and plugged it in) once I get the blue screen (they chose a familiar warning sign) I should swap cards immediately. But not then, and as I was on the laptop not at home I only had about an hour of battery time left (I had a spare for a short time but the original died and didn't really need another) the neighbour had just left to go away that evening and didn't have a recovery program on the laptop as the one I'd used the once only had 15 days. Long story short I'd never in my life paid for a program by memory in 12 years online, and the only thing which would do so was to recover lost photos as they cannot have a price on them if too hard to get again. I spent hours testing free and paid ones, and finally got one to recover the lot (one other had found 54/over 1200) and simply bit the bullet and paid at least two limbs and an an internal organ as it had passed every test.<br />
<br />
Then of course there was nothing I could do as the camera had no power, and my card reader was 15 miles away, so rather than worry I drove back, collected all my kit, and carried on. As it would take all night to charge it and then recover them (24 hours or so apparently for the whole set, but got most in an hour before the battery died, as they seemed to do it randomly with a small bias to the newest ones) I plugged the card reader in planning to leave it on overnight and all the photos simply popped up as usual, with 11 being unreadable (the program recovered them and they were mosaics, which some boffins do claim to be able to unscramble, but would probably need to sell a kidney for that). The bottom line is I only lost about 11 photos, all the closest to home on the way back, and so far appear to have others in the same squares, so for the second time have managed to recover nearly a whole trip but am now the proud owner of an extremely expensive insurance policy. If I keep the camera it will fail again as it's clearly damaged in some way, and each time is different, but rather than spend the same as I did before (the prices have come way down so it would be like a Jaguar for the price of a Mini nowadays) just to get a better zoom and the rare night shot and freeze shots from a car window I will currently rely on what works and trust if the worst does happen yet again (although it only wrecked photos after the event, everything taken before was perfect when read on the card) I have something able to fix it. I won't keep a card in if I get a blue screen again either, so although I may never have needed this program (I have a pretty good free one on the PC but couldn't remember the name till I'd bought the new one, ZAR if anyone wants it) it's there now and if the worst comes to the worst I won't be caught defenceless. I'm only concerned about the photos, and maybe I can follow IBM and offer a recovery service at a fraction of the price. I know some people would rather do that although the programs are generally automatic and you only need to select a drive and it does the rest on its own it scares many off and would rather someone else do it for them. I've been plumbing in TV systems and fixing program conflicts etc for friends since VCRs were on the market, and if it's not something beyond the obvious am always happy to get in it up to my elbows as I like the challenge and never have the concern when sorting out someone else's issues. My mother paid an engineer for her new digital setup the other day although I should have tried, but she wanted a comeback if it went wrong and she's used it already. Probably because she got someone else to do it...text/html2012-02-02T22:25:54+00:00David Howard51.390608591506 -0.068303766441564Beddington to West Wickham and back via Beckenham
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/93
A trip through some of my favourite parts of South London, from the modern urban centre of Croydon to the leafy backwaters of West Wickham and Eden Park. It was a Sunday (deliberate) and besides a few roadworks had an absolutely free run in both directions from my weekend base in Richmond. I had made the same trip in 2009 to get an old road sign but only took a few other photos en route as was in a hurry that day. I have retraced the route to fill the whole trip in from start to finish. You can see this trip plotted on a map on the Geo-trips page <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://users.aber.ac.uk/ruw/misc/geotrip_show.php?osos&trip=326" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://users.aber.ac.uk/ruw/misc/geotrip_show.php?osos&trip=326">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="http://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> .<br />
<br />
Besides collecting old train tickets, this is an area I've visited every now and then as I have taken photos of nice houses for 30 years and once you reach Dulwich and head SE they are around for miles pretty well to the Kent border in Bickley. The last visit was for an old direction sign there two years ago, but was the Sunday of the Brazilian Grand Prix, and pretty well timed it to get back in time to watch the start. I always take photos of stations as part of my rail interest, so although Bickley was nearby I calculated the time taken turning off, stopping and fiddling about wasn't worth the risk and just did West Wickham which was by the main road and a few interesting places there and back as always. Needless to say I wasn't thinking of my Geograph map then, and just added whatever would be of interest when I got home if I had the chance or saved till I did. It took a dire winter at the end of 2010 to spend four months uploading my complete backlog to around 2005 on digital, and after I'd finished saw the pattern and worked out where to go to extend it, and basically haven't stopped since.<br />
<br />
So this was basically a trip retraced but for photos only, and being a Sunday could drive through Croydon unimpeded, although the flyover and roundabouts pretty well keep traffic flowing there if you avoid the silly times. I've always loved Croydon, being Britain's answer to an American city of skyscrapers, where they all have kernels of tall buildings getting smaller around the edges, but the best views were from the flyover with no pedestrian access, so may never manage, although there must be people who did find a way. I didn't have time to stop and do the whole range as just had long enough for a triangular route before the light gave in, and just got a couple more samples to add to the couple I'd taken before.<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2206593">2206593</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2783649">2783649</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2783654">2783654</a>]]<br />
<br />
But unlike London, the centre of Croydon is still a suburb, so right next to the first tower just outside the middle on the way to Addiscombe were these modern houses filling a large plot off the main road.<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2783391">2783391</a>]]<br />
The suburbia continues following the tram to Sandilands, and turned off left at West Wickham to Beckenham, and back through Shirley to Waddon and west. The tram was far superior to any trains beforehand, over or underground (especially underground) and spent many happy hours going to South Merton or East Croydon and getting them to different points, eventually covering the complete line except to Beckenham via Elmers End on the branch. That included two trips to the annual fair in Lloyd Park, and from what I remember back then around 2000 the fares were a lot lower than the other methods, although haven't checked since we had a mayor and everything shot up. It was nice to see some of my favourite places around Eden Park, although didn't quite cover Ravensbourne and Hayes (although I have some there already), and was going back the following Sunday to head to the M25 and beyond through West Wickham but the snow postponed that and forecast for next weekend as well. I will get there sooner or later though but due to the incredible cheek of having to pay to get across Waterloo Bridge in the week (on top of road tax and massive fuel duty) have to wait till the weekends to do that trip nowadays and any like it. That is the only reason my map peters out beyond Bermondsey, and not through lack of trying.<br />
text/html2012-02-03T00:15:29+00:00David Howard51.178256064672 -0.29180100511117Deepest Surrey
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/94
A trip from the A25 in Betchworth to Rusper, and return to Dorking. I try and return on a different route to double the map coverage. You can see this trip plotted on a map on the Geo-trips page <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://users.aber.ac.uk/ruw/misc/geotrip_show.php?osos&trip=327" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://users.aber.ac.uk/ruw/misc/geotrip_show.php?osos&trip=327">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="http://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> .<br />
<br />
After a while you get to know the good roads, and once checked the personal map see the furthest I can get before it gets dark or I run out of steam. The A25 is a backbone along the North Downs, and alongside the M25 serve to allow trips east and south from the other side of London and can easily cover the ground towards the coast during the spring and summer months. My old road sign hobby means Streetviewing ahead of most trips, but this went just beyond my original searches and on the way back, on a fairly unplanned route besides going south one way and coming back another saw an incredibly rare 'low gear now' sign while passing, and we had to stop beyond, find a farm entrance and turn round so I could get a photo. The old 'steep hill' with a red triangle on top had long gone, but the one below was still perfectly adequate for the required task so left behind quite sensibly. It turned out it had already been recorded here, but without adequate labelling will not be raised on any searches. [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2785000">2785000</a>]] [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2784990">2784990</a>]] The hill in question<br />
On the way back I passed an even rarer 'Slow major road ahead' sign which had been passed along to me on Flickr when I posted one in a museum, and jogged the viewer's memory he'd taken one himself back in 1991. Being on a private road there was no reason for it to be removed though, and nearly 20 years later I returned on tenterhooks that one of the hardest signs to find would still be in place, and it was just the same, and in perfect condition, besides using a crossroads sign for a T junction and then painting out the top bar. I have no idea if they were given the wrong one and the worker decided to plant it anyway and cheat, but either way that was the result.<br />
<br />
Just before there in Holmwood I found an equally hard to find prize, also at the entrance to a private road, the elusive 'keep left', which became an arrow in 1964. And complete with pre 1953 catseyes. There was also a 'prohibited all vehicles' I stumbled upon further east on the main road in Godstone, one I'd spent months searching for on streetview after someone found it and lost their notes. I was checking all the side roads for 10 miles and it turned out to be in the middle of town on the A25. I will be revisiting the area in the spring for another trip south, and look forward to the long days which allow it.<br />
text/html2012-02-03T00:43:17+00:00David Howard51.624013040675 -0.043959174301169Following the 102 bus
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/96
The 102 bus used to pass the bottom of my road in Finchley heading to Chingford Mount (now cut to Edmonton), but had never actually been there, and only to Chingford once in memory, so to celebrate the opening of the new dual carriageway section on the North Circular Road just beforehand headed east to Chingford and beyond until it got dark. Being near the shortest day this was around 4pm otherwise I would have got a bit further. You can see this trip plotted on a map on the Geo-trips page <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://users.aber.ac.uk/ruw/misc/geotrip_show.php?osos&trip=329" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://users.aber.ac.uk/ruw/misc/geotrip_show.php?osos&trip=329">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="http://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> .<br />
<br />
Chingford is actually quite out on a limb, requiring a crossing of the river Lea from the west, either on the North Circular Road at Edmonton or Southbury Road in Enfield a couple of miles north. As a result it's one of those places you can pass on the way east to other places, but as it's not on the way anywhere would never have a specific reason to go there otherwise. I went in about 1987 when my previous hobby of collecting the old Edmondson train tickets was on its way out, with only a year left before withdrawal. I literally covered the country from north to south, culminating in 1990 with a day trip to west Wales to the last privately owned ticket office to collect my first and last ever Welsh Edmondson tickets, and completed the trip in just over 8 hours including stops for lunch and a couple of other stations nearby. Chingford is the end of a short branch line, mainly for commuters, and having driven now from end to end found it quite a reasonable suburb.text/html2012-02-05T20:48:06+00:00David Howard51.631773700122 0.028623956092144Beating the clock
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/97
Having spent my first year doing specific Geograph trips, the almost sudden switch to getting dark at 4pm originally worked to put the mockers on my plans for some while, as I'd spent six years already with the digital camera covering local views and other trips made generally, and was round to the long hauls (relatively anyway) for me and there is no way I can get 50 miles and then record half the return journey by 4pm. But I kept going by filling in green patches till January or so, and had almost completed my first hectad as a result. Then it started getting light a little longer and the great news was after an unquantified number of years my only sensible route east (I'd been forced to learn why as a result), the North Circular Road, had been widened and was now open for business. I met my first ambition soon after (in the forums as my only resolution for 2012) by accidentally getting to Essex (see display photo) simply as I wanted to stop for a square and turned left until it was safe. This turned out to be due east, as the main road turned sharp south, and by the time I found a layby on returning home discovered I'd crossed the county border and entered Buckhurst Hill.<br />
<br />
Now that direction is finally free I covered a route close to my heart as my late grandparents lived in Ilford until 1965 for my grandpa and 1975 for my grandma, and most weeks went along the route from Kingsbury where I am again till 1965, and Finchley subsequently. I had already made a video of the trip in 2002 but not yet been with a still camera. <br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2786392">2786392</a>]]<br />
<br />
That followed a trip the previous day in the opposite direction to the edge of Sussex, and although I Streetview as much as possible for my other hobby of collecting pre-1964 road signs I hadn't quite covered the route (I didn't even know which road I'd be taking until I got there) and found an incredibly rare 'low gear now' on the way back a few miles north, and found it was already recorded here but not findable as hadn't been named or tagged. I don't know how many others may be in the shadows but I was very lucky I found it as it was completely random.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2785000">2785000</a>]]<br />
<br />
I have a series of routes planned till the spring, extending as the days get longer, and would have gone to Kent today had we not had a few inches of snow overnight. I even reached 4th on the leaderboard after three successive days of trips last week, and nearly a fourth had I had a chance the following day. So despite our governments (every single one) removing an hour of daylight despite every other country in the world being an hour ahead I have kept filling in my map. How the map crashed the exact day I finished the last trip I will never know, but Barry did a wonderful job tracking it all down and got it going again today after about a week of reverting to earlier versions. I found one click to raise a distant view of the new areas a couple of days ago but now it is all thankfully back to normal and have now put the last five on the road map as well, something I wanted to see for a while but didn't realise it was either possible or as easy, expecting to have to spend hours entering photos by hand, but they're all programmed in already and each takes a few minutes. And as it's been so long since I went to Ilford, a lot longer on the High Road, I didn't know the traffic situation. As soon as I reached it in Goodmayes the view of well over a mile of stationary traffic meant a quick look at the map (I've never understood why people don't think they're good enough any more) and went back on parallel roads and left the chaos behind me. <br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2785906">2785906</a>]]<br />
<br />
The next day I heard on the radio a building had collapsed in the centre of Ilford and presumably happened just before I'd got there. As a result I have many more rows of old houses now rather than the High Road, but didn't hold me back at all.text/html2012-02-03T00:32:04+00:00David Howard51.737324639603 -0.40114768393083North to Bedfordshire
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/95
I was alerted to a pre-Worboys direction sign in Markyate (I collect photos of them) and somewhere I'd never been before as off the beaten track. Once collected I carried on west into the countryside and got some nice views of the Chiltern Hills on the Bedfordshire borders before heading back home to North London. You can see this trip plotted on a map on the Geo-trips page <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://users.aber.ac.uk/ruw/misc/geotrip_show.php?osos&trip=328" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://users.aber.ac.uk/ruw/misc/geotrip_show.php?osos&trip=328">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="http://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> .text/html2011-10-06T00:35:12+00:00David Howard50.788775094145 -0.7884069015522011 roundup
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/81
I am now into my 43rd year of photography, having switched to digital in 2005 when the results finally weren't pixillated and switched from the exclusive to the inclusive. I began with all the nice scenery near me which I added to my Flickr site, and soon joined here as an existing browser, added three photos, without any Streetview or similar to help, made heavy weather of it and returned to browsing for a couple of years. After adding current material since then decided to add everything relevant from my archives last winter when the weather turned nasty, and four months later had virtually completed the job, around 40 photos a day, although more still surface when I search memory cards and the like.<br />
<br />
Once that was done I saw the map coverage and made plans to extend it however I could. Nine months have passed and it's now getting too dark for photos by around 6, and will soon be a lot earlier till the spring, so have had a year well spent. I had no specific aims but worked my way round the myriads to get the total to six, hampered by a serious bottleneck on the North Circular Road, partly due to a gap in the dual carriageway which causes a day long jam permanently, and partly due to road works a mile or so beyond which have the added effect of shunting the traffic on the other few routes instead. The reason for this is unlike the Thames, the river Lea only has crossings every couple of miles or so, and as the main one is now avoided long term the others are either jam packed or so out of the way going east has become worse than driving through the centre of London and out, although since the congestion charge in 2003 that has been restricted to weekends, meaning the other freely available area towards Kent is also relatively verboten, and even resorted to taking the M25 instead a few times. I am hoping they may at least complete the lane restrictions on the North Circular to get people back on it, as the simple trip to the Blackhorse Road junction from here took an hour, when it's usually half that most of the time. Ferry Lane is the alternative from me, and Southbury Road to the north was so backed up the whole of Southbury was gridlocked on all routes when I was unlucky enough to be there. So my wings have been clipped somewhat for now and can only hope one day I can return to Angel Road as once you pass the A10 eastbound it's usually a breeze heading to Essex.<br />
<br />
But those were the small failures, instead I made the best of the rest, and living west of London then driving any heading with a W in it is pretty simple, and due north and south are as well. My preferred cars are large saloons that can (and may soon legally) cruise at 80 (you don't have to do it but know they can), and eat up motorways in comfort, but financially since petrol became so expensive had to swap my last saloon for a small hatchback when it fell apart as I needed a lot more MPG. It's great on normal journeys but starts to flag at 60mph without a slope, and as a result tend to use the A roads more of the time which slow the progress but doesn't leave me worn out at the end of the day. I do get driven sometimes as well so not all my effort, but can't just decide to go somewhere at the last minute and have someone else to take me there.<br />
<br />
I have seen many old familiar places which had hardly changed, and many new as Seaford for instance meant a couple of mile extension over the river Ouse to bag TV square. And it was a lovely modern resort, absolutely no facilities for kids which I used to prefer, nothing but shingle on the beach, but wonderful views and sorry I didn't remember my swimming things as it was warm and sunny, the beach was deserted (there was only one other person on the road while we were there) and may not have been as warm in the sea than out. I also went to Selsey for SZ, I'd been to Chichester ages ago, but don't think we went south, there's not much there really but it's home to someone. It's always good to go to Oxford, although the latest road closures now mean the whole north side is at a standstill which continues round to Abingdon Road, and it's the only place I've lived outside London for a short time in 1988-9 before I was offered a job back home that meant I could afford to return. There was very little traffic then, although as it's barely got any hills I used my bike everywhere in town, and did the 17 mile trip to work past Didcot in 15 minutes every day as I lived by the A34. I've been there regularly all my life for one reason or another so know it pretty well, with the last trip I remember wondering why Headington was so quiet when I'd gone for football, only to discover near 3pm they'd moved the ground to Cowley, we missed about half the first half and got a parking ticket as everyone parked on the new service road so I did as well, and returned to find they aren't allowed to. You live and learn.<br />
<br />
So I am now winding back my activities like a bear in the winter, there is an old road sign hanging about in Kent I may get to sooner or later which I missed last time as the motorway exit was on the right (it happens) and was impossible to cross three lanes in time, and others on routes which would try the patience of a saint, although they would also add some red patches are definitely optional. If I make another trip it's planned to a little village called Nasty and maybe beyond, as it's the next route left on the clock which hasn't been added, and have a few more eventual aims if and when I can get round to them, including the far east (Essex and Kent that is) which really should get some more attention. I decided not to mix apples and oranges by adding all my scanned photos as it would add isolated dots across the map with no relation to anything added digitally, so literally started from scratch again when I changed cameras, although the SLR will never be retired as you can't take distant shots on a tripod with a compact digital, so as long as someone will print them I will also take them. Meanwhile here are a few highlights from the year.<br />
<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2482929">2482929</a>]] Summertown [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2546984">2546984</a>]] My first photo stop 50 east<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2432875">2432875</a>]] New Alresford [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2422319">2422319</a>]] The house I spent the weekend in in 1970 in Wokingham<br />
[[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2598147">2598147</a>]] Mount Caburn, Lewes [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2458557">2458557</a>]] Forest Rowtext/html2011-12-17T02:00:36+00:00David Howard51.663155040653 -0.24470792697769Working in the dark
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/86
2011 began my first year making Geograph trips. Prior to that it was either scenic views or pre-Worboys road signs, but as both were pretty much done to a reasonable distance besides random new arrivals I began working on my personal map. The long days allowed 50-60 mile trips, which normally take less time but if you stop to take photos every so often does spin them out a lot longer, but added a few extra myriads which completed the 2011 ideal mission target. When the clocks went back I went into withdrawal. As each week passed the distances possible shrunk, but not wanting to stop the addiction (I've collected all my life, from model cars and number plate spotting and coins to rocks and train tickets) I made a list of new red squares in the gaps between them for the dark months and so far been filling in a couple of times a week regardless, preferably on sunny days as adds half an hour to the available light.<br />
<br />
I'm already straining in the stalls to get out further again. I've made a new list for 2012 and also crossing my fingers the work on the North Circular Road is finally complete then so I can get to Essex in less than an hour as I did till they made it unpassable and with the river Lea only being crossed a few times east of what used to be Middlesex all the other traffic joined me trying the few either side and doubled the journey time for all. It didn't stop me altogether (god forbid!) but just the distance extended east as all I did was use the slow traffic to take photos closer to home and give up and turn back as had to do the same thing all the way in the opposite direction again. Previously my local football team Barnet were relegated from the league, and as I prefer to watch league matches used the years they were down below to ground hop, and tried to visit as many as possible. I came home with a programme, souvenir from the team shop, and as only Brentford previously actually allowed cameras where I went regularly no photos except from Brentford. Otherwise I had a ring around London from Southend, Cambridge (although I took a few there already), Luton (I have been since as not that far from me), Oxford (also finally made it again), Wycombe (also been since), Reading and then south to Dulwich Hamlet (v Millwall, a pretty useful team at the time) and Crystal Palace. I also had a large saloon car at the time which ate up motorways at any gradient, and after it gave in after about 160,000 miles had to watch the pennies and buy something that gave 45mpg as petrol had doubled or more since I got the Proton. The new car is very comfortable but at 60 decides unless there's a slope it's pretty well had enough. One solution is my father likes long trips so often volunteers to take me in his car, meaning I am free to open the side window and shoot every time he stops at the lights. The number of hedges, garden walls and worst of all grass verges on A roads is quite embarrassing, especially if blurred, but will only use now if nothing else in the square. I don't like doing them but as long as in focus at least does represent exactly what every other driver will see from the car or someone walking past would without having to go there.<br />
<br />
On the Streetviewing front, I can still find places they haven't, paths and the like especially, and unless they cover all of those on foot as well (which will take far longer than the cars) we are still way ahead, and also on most of the private roads they were banned from covering when asked for permission. Someone has a pre-Worboys sign on a level crossing here on a road they don't, and another on a footpath warning walkers of the overhead cables (unless they use giraffes then the 17' headroom is unlikely to be a concern, but the sign is there) and no one will ever find them trying to use Streetview.<br />
<br />
I've also been surprised how many 2nd geographs remain north of London. Go south and even the fields seem to have a good number of images, but an A road in Herts or Middlesex often has one or two, including a good few T points to have. I just aim to get them within reach and the fringe of Herts is nearly all point territory, and the next aim is to get my first hectad, TQ 29, which I think needs about 15 around Enfield now to complete. That may be one which has an OS map on board although besides the traffic getting the whole corner in one go is probably almost impossible as the equivalent of a few hundred paper rounds. TQ 19 needs about 17 but a bit more remote or need to cross the river Colne, which on at least two occasions has halted me in my tracks as the only two bridges east of the centre of Watford (without going round the north part) were backed up for ages and gave up. Go north and it's fine as more spread out and suburban and not nearly as congested, but Oxhey or Croxley from the east are pretty much verboten nowadays. I will go sideways though, from Rickmansworth back to Croxley and then double back to Batchworth which is an easy route barring a jam somewhere heading towards Watford. I am also aiming to get to Ilford in the next few weeks, not just because I haven't but because I spent 15 years going there and back to my grandma while she was alive, and did the whole journey on video in 2002. The day was when you could get to Woodford in under half an hour from here on the North Circular and then free to head along Eastern Avenue at will till you ran out of steam. This time will be the south route we usually took as we took her home in the evening more often than not, and was an easy run back then, I also remember the blue pre-Worboys directions that were at many of the lights from Fortis Green to Blackhorse Road, and wish I'd taken photos of them while I could, but they were just the signs I'd never seen change until they gradually were removed, some not to be replaced at all. When I took to the roads in 1976 there was one each end of East End Road (A504) which were very useful to allow me to aim in the right directions, most of all the no right turn allowing me to use the middle lane (actually compelling, the left lane was to turn only, and still is). Before then I remember the huge yellow sign at Aylmer Road (A1) eastbound heading for my grandparents in Highgate on my mother's side, Holloway and The City straight on, local traffic to the right and various other places round the little one way triangle at the start of Archway Road. One still remains just off North Hill at a split junction going left and right, and still the original one in Muswell Hill a mile north. Having a photographic memory I can picture many of these scenes to some detail, plus the roundabout at the junction of the A1 and A406 at Henlys Corner which went in the late 60s. We moved from Kingsbury to East Finchley in 1965 and knew every single part of the North Circular from Southgate to Chiswick, and still use the west part every week now I've returned to Kingsbury (mainly a financial decision).<br />
<br />
I have a few books of local photos from the 50s and 60s, and one of Staples Corner as it was, traffic lights and all the pre-Worboys signs including a yellow arrow to the North Circular Rd from the left. One still remains further along on the barrier, sadly covered by a new higher one which put it behind bars but still quite visible. That was a lucky break, but the one stuck to the back not covered by a barrier had fallen off long before I found it leaving an empty frame. I also found a photo of the parallel arrow on an old picture of the South Circular in Forest Hill. If only they'd had digital in the 70s I'd have taken many more photos back then no doubt including a few of the signs even by accident. I never did, I caught a good few new ones as you can't really help it and just one red triangle sign on my block so far in the background you can just see the symbol at a 4X enlargement. I also caught a blue direction on video also so far away it was illegible on the largest blowup possible in 2002, but that was it. I also only took two trips to get Routemaster photos, which by then had gone from the suburbs and had a terrible time finding anywhere closer in to catch many, I got a couple as near as they went in Willesden, and then stood in Notting Hill Gate and got plenty but all 94s as that's all there were. The 13 went to Golders Green but although I used to stand outside the station and film them going in and out a few times for some reason I forgot the still camera. I can get a few made from the video but have probably called in my favours from the film editor I know long since.<br />
<br />
So the winter (not even officially here till the shortest day) has not clipped my wings altogether, but still pretty much ready for the long days again as I have a lot more ground to cover. But will be very happy to get to Ilford before then.text/html2011-09-14T17:11:58+00:00David Howard50.767344109146 0.090272142994213Learning as I go along
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/80
2011 was the first time I started taking photos especially for the Geograph map. I'd already got a library of 10,000 plus digital photos from when I bought the camera in November 2005 and had finished uploading the suitable ones once Streetview allowed me to get the spots correct, I did a few before then but struggled with the buttons and locations and returned to browsing others' photos here until I had another go two years later.<br />
<br />
After a while of course I noticed the map spread out, but my further trips had been on film which I decided not to include as the method on digital is so different that having a few random isolated spots of not particularly exciting photos and a good number of railway stations wasn't worth muddying the water with and decided to start from scratch here instead. So myriads became new all over again, and from the fourth, which sparked off my first blog entry as I drove to Chesham the first time without a grid map (I knew where it was so assumed I didn't need one) and got home and found I turned left instead of right partly as I saw a steep view which always makes good photos, and stopped a few hundred yards short of the blue line west. Not to be defeated I drove out the next day and turned right at Chenies and drove literally some of the worst roads I've ever driven in the country (after 12 summers driving in Devon) to do the node, the crossroads of four myriads and take photos in all four within a couple of miles (I had the other three already but that was the actual route to get SP9900).<br />
<br />
A couple of months ago I noticed someone had taken perfect photos on the motorway, clearly able to focus at 70 mph, so on the M40 tried a couple out of the window and they did indeed come out as usable. That unleashed the monster described in my previous entry, as my trip to Oxford beforehand consisted of Oxford and nothing else, with a gap to High Wycombe where I'd been already. There were the two red dots on the motorway used as test experiments which had passed as well, but the following trip to Wheatley nearby filled a red line back to Wycombe plus a nice fat tail to Thame and Stokenchurch. It also meant less time to go further as previously each of my photos was taken by finding safe places to park, and of course that slows you down like a bus ride. The downside of course is the many photos of marginal quality, both blur (inevitable) and content. Green verges out of the passenger window do make geographs but without some very clear feature so I could find them to locate did not make good photos. But they did make red lines so with nothing instead in they went.<br />
<br />
After overdoing it with far too many on a trip to my next myriad (SZ) I wound it back a bit, taking everything as before but only including such gems as this [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2600234">2600234</a>]] and this [[<a href="https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2599826">2599826</a>]] where absolutely unavoidable, and then kicking everything out with more than a small amount of blur regardless. The wounderful Department of Transport delayed the sixth myriad trip (TV) by a week as the M25 has something almost but not totally unseen on British motorways, a right hand exit. Heading east from Reigate there's the A22 junction we needed and somehow missed, then the M26/J5 at Sevenoaks. One minute you're on the nearside waiting for the around ten mile ricket of overshooting J6 to be rectified, and another you see a sign (tiny and barely mentioned under the M26) Sevenoaks on the right. You can't cross three lanes of motorway traffic in half a mile or less, so besides the rain coming down around that moment, any chance of driving south when heading for Badger's Mount was over. I hadn't been to Kent either digitally (due to Waterloo and adjacent bridges being verboten from the congestion charge, and not joining the sheep across Tower Bridge when I could have been in Eltham already the old way) so not a waste by any means. That ended up creating a nice tail around the M25 and my favourite views of the North Downs in Kent I'd never have bothered with (and had no photos of despite being there numerous times) otherwise so not actually a bad result after all.<br />
<br />
The bonus of going to Seaford was although the straight route gets you there it turned out to be a slow and winding road however direct, plus a signposted four mile kink in Lewes which coincidentally meant I got another unexpected hectad 30. My father said the A22 was a far better road, my mind is more linear and when it sees a straight road takes it unless as then it turned out to be a bit of a swine. He remembered going to Eastbourne far quicker on the A22 despite it bending round Uckfield, and did the reverse trip in a third of the time back to the same point in Wych Cross. That meant not a line but a lozenge, and you all know how that looks on the map in comparison as well as possible added hectads. The main objective was to get the final myriads of 2011 before the clocks go back next month as whenever you leave if you want more photos coming home it must be before then, it got dark around Lingfield and ended up with a good few sunsets (not wanted or intended) as a result. So my mission is complete. 2011 has added three myriads and a return to a number of places I hadn't seen in years, plus a good few I'd never seen before as who'd willingly shlep to Selsey without a myriad to catch? (It's certainly not the most scenic of locations). Seaford however was a wonderful surprise as being out on a limb (the reason it contains another myriad) I'd never got there before, having reached Beachy Head from various earlier trips to Eastbourne. Unlike the other Sussex resorts it's nearly all modern, and besides the ubiquitous pebble beach (a couple don't have them but not the reason I was there) probably the nicest one along the Sussex coast. Without wanting to offend anyone, the biggest disappointment was Littlehampton, which reminded me of East Ham by the sea. I have heard locals agree so don't think I'm saying anything too controversial.<br />
<br />
So in nine months my personal map and collection are looking healthy, I have learnt not to let garbage in except in absolute last resorts, I can get photos from a moving car but must be selective with the results, and revisited many old haunts. text/html2011-08-19T03:02:30+00:00David Howard52.016326984613 -0.42036588204588Borderline cases 2
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/77
If the weather's bad I won't take photos unless I happen to be somewhere already and have the camera with me, but of course the weather changes, so as soon as I'd been out a short time yesterday it started drizzling, and continued to the rest of the day. I wasn't turning back as I was out and it wasn't too bad but knew the photos were going to suffer if it carried on, as it did. I carried on regardless and you can't see the damage till you get home and look at them all on the computer, and did wonder when I saw them whether Geograph would prefer I waited till the weather was better (something you can't rely on anyway if you're out for even an hour) or would rather have reasonable pictures with some raindrops on them. I wouldn't have used any with more than a small scattering at worst, but really don't like doing it at all on a library site. I personally don't mind all sorts of typical obstructions- rain, car interiors showing on the edges etc, especially as since childhood I've had the camera with me on holiday and had no choice but point and shoot out of the car window when I saw something interesting, as any record of it was better than nothing and I may never be there again. So my personal preference, especially as a Geograph viewer some time before adding my first photos, is more is better than less, but as a photographer who had never thought of taking one random roundabout, let alone every single one I pass, did try and catch something artistic, nostalgic or unusual if possible. Having not had a digital camera until I was 45, it also meant my film rationing had been well ingrained, and as a result didn't realise how few photos I took outdoors full stop, as I basically waited for something special before bothering, mainly nice houses, American type scenes (these have been frequently commented on they look like America so I wasn't imagining it) and railways. I expect most people have themes besides the usual friends, family and holidays, but when I think I didn't take a Routemaster bus till 2001 when I knew they were being withdrawn, despite seeing them every day I was in London since birth, I realised taking even what seems dull at the time does not look at all dull 20-30 years later. Even the cars, which now get in the way of so many shots, present a picture of history, long gone names like Morris and Sunbeam were normal features at the time and so pleased now when I look at the handful of photos I took with 1300s and Anglias, and a nice Bedford post office telephones (who remembers them?) van.<br />
<br />
So back to my dilemma, how should I feel when a quarter of my photos are sprayed with water, like the sports cameras watching F1 or football, as rain is as much as part of real life as snow and everyone and their cat comes out to take photos when it snows. With digital I am now able to remove horizontal and vertical incursions like windscreen wipers and mirrors, but not the long bonnet of a car. But raindrops are randomly splashed on the picture and like the photos taken from the back of my parent's car in the middle of nowhere are the only time I may get them. And looking back I treasure every single one I did, however rough some of them came out- a lovely shot of Hounslow High Street before it was pedestrianised, the A38 in Plympton, a chip shop in Folkestone etc. I hope most members and viewers in general agree with me, as I prefer just to look at places and know we're all human and however hard you try, if you're taking lots of photos around and about you can either filter all the ones which either aren't perfect or a bit dodgy or draw a line at 10% out of focus or 10% obscured by something which isn't meant to be there like I do, as I look at what I can see and accept it's impossible to avoid the rain or not take a good view from the car and get some sort of penalty for doing so. Thank goodness I've just discovered digital cameras can happily take a photo at 70mph (I saw them here on a motorway and tried it myself) and as a result now get a red line to some places rather than a big gap as I wind down the window and keep snapping and then bung away the blurred ones when I'm getting a lift somewhere. I imagine so many members (well I don't really need to as I can see it) in the same position as me, addicted to collecting (as I always have been), hastily poking the camera out of the window at every jam and traffic lights as it's another red square. Until I did trips for Geograph specially I didn't usually do that as there was no map to complete, but with new criteria you need new methods. And the random element that brings in adds the chance of what happens to be there when you do stop, from a sea of traffic next to you, an absolutely featureless road junction with no buildings or views, to interesting houses and shops, amazing views across towns and village greens. One person I know on another site seems to specialise in shots from his car which seem to prefer as much of the interior (he is a car fanatic and expert) of his expensive car as possible, with the view almost secondary. I've got used to them now, even though I know you can avoid most of it if you want to, and just interested in the overall scene regardless, with the context just part of the photo. Not that I'd dream of doing it myself on purpose, but each to their own- he hasn't actually tried to post one here and sure he wouldn't think of it!<br />
<br />
So I made the case and my decision as a result, a photo is nostalgia in the making and as so many have a flaw or two prefer the flaws than missing what may be unique for me or someone else. To start picking holes in other people's work yet again (not here of course!) occasionally it can be counterproductive to make basic errors- one theme I take I expect some will be familiar with is pre-Worboys road signs, and one of the group seems unable to take a legible sign photo although the darn things are static and next to the road so can easily walk up and take the picture. Instead nearly all are taken as if they crept in by accident, often with poor exposure to add to the problem, and as a result partially illegible. I managed to catch a couple like that without even seeing them and were better than nothing as a result, but he actually takes them specially but most look like accidents. Yes, it takes all sorts.text/html2011-05-26T21:51:35+00:00David Howard51.418375449025 -0.80059957984214Borderline cases
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/60
Time for some audience participation here, how many times do we get a gridsquare we really feel we don't deserve somehow, especially one in a crucial and hard to get position? Besides losing them by apparent inches, which can happen to anyone, and far worse a faulty camera (my latest new experience), I do sometimes feel a little naughty when something I either thought was the other side or was so poor but the only one I could take on a busy road. The latest and pretty good example is here, and I justify it myself in three ways. One, the system put it there, two, it was exactly where I put it after many checks, and three, I think the clincher, although I was on the border, probably the other side, the photo I took east was in 8269 as the border was north, and the photo I took north, although I was pretty much on the line, was actually virtually all in 8369. I'm never quite sure (is anyone besides the trained staff?) of the rules of which circle clinches the square, but assume it's the light blue one of where the photo itself is, rather than you. Fair enough, especially on a zoom, but my known experience of zooms is if you take Windsor Castle from the road by the park, you are into three square, in one, across the park, and the castle either in that one or even the one beyond if you use a telephoto. I know they go where the midpoint of the view is, but they usually get a supplemental, and quite rightly so if you were not actually there. Are you confused now? I am.<br />
<br />
Anyway, my map looks nicer now with a block rather than a line (don't they always?) but do feel a little sheepish that it was only created while waiting at traffic lights and the traffic moving into the junction was across the border and I doubt I ever was, but I think if that's the rule I'll happily live with it. I took two photos of Gerrards Cross common, originally intending to stop on the way in a suburban road but was solid double yellows, and spent probably close on an hour measuring the surrounding features to make absolutely sure it genuinely deserved a new square when my car had moved marginally forward, compared to the previous one which was clearly in the next square along. In that case it wasn't quite as far as Wokingham, and the next time I was there coming back from High Wycombe already knew the traffic lights were the border, and stopped well short and took everything on the A40 that was there. <br />
<br />
Anyway, so far my only two known losses are the missing link in Bracknell I may still manage to repair (even if it costs me £30 for a programme I'll only ever need again if my camera goes wrong, after not doing that for over 5 years so far), and a geograph lost in Enfield when the card went wrong and I formatted it, forgetting the hard disk with the original photos which included a wide shot I'd cropped for a road sign (supplemental) would have been a geograph, had blown up and so had two months of photos on it as well (all stored on Flickr as I always do) except for the unedited handful. I've got a good few geographs back from supplementals that way, and also found anonymous bus stops (one of my most popular photos on all sites are red buses) years later which filled a very useful gap where I'd only been once and would never go again (Poplar, would you? ;)). That was on the vain hope an old sign there hadn't yet vanished, but had, although took two in Hackney on the way and chose not to try and stop in Bethnal Green to take the pair there I'd originally taken at night to get better pictures. I should have as had I taken Cambridge Heath Road as well I'd have changed another supplemental as all my indoor/night shots of the station have to be. I'm tuned in now I make special geographing trips, although I've been a member for ages I still had road sign and scenery trips and put the relevant ones here till I ran out, and then began extending my red map coverage. <br />
<br />
It's been great to see some places I haven't seen for years, and a few I've never been to such as Bowling Green, a real place on the way to Odiham in Hants. And one thing never changes, the traffic through Watford whichever route you take, like Martini any time any place any where it is nearly always jammed. I don't make the rules.text/html2011-04-28T01:47:09+00:00David Howard51.694441685884 -0.56181800054587Plan ahea
https://www.geograph.org.uk/blog/48
I'd been planning to start the blog but normally too tied up after a trip entering exact locations which normally continues until bedtime. But after working my way round likely trips I hadn't covered since going digital (my film collection was very selective so tended to be exclusive based on a few favourite topics rather than everything I could see, except for a few day trips to the continent which can't of course go in here) it was time to finally go the 20 miles or so to get my 4th myriad, SP. I'd discovered I'd already passed a mile or so from it by chance in Chenies, and remembered it was either a very complicated maze through single track roads from there, or head for Chesham on the main road, which I opted for. Unfortunately all I bothered to note was 'Chesham', and simply drove along Latimer Road westward, knowing at some point around Chesham it turned north and crossed the SU-SP border. I got some lovely shots of the Chiltern Hills and various farm animals and returned home after turning left at Chesham Bois as the scenery was interesting.<br />
<br />
Big mistake. When I got home and opened the OS map I discovered although little more than a village Chesham itself is a few miles wide. I simply drove a little beyond the sign announcing entry, and took the first left turn as it provided the best views. Had I stayed on Latimer Road for no more than 100 yards I would have crossed the line and at least caught the myriad into SP 9600, but it wasn't to be. I had extended my previous trip a few squares west as well as the new photos of the area, but no myriad. Being in my nature not to wait for anything where possible, I simply got an old map, drew the gridsquares over it in pencil, drew arrows along the long winding route (it was indeed hideous, saved only by more than usual laybys) and went out as soon as possible the following day. As a result I doubled the views of the Chilterns and surrounding countryside, and created a far larger block of red where otherwise there would have been a thin line, and a second SP square as it was part of the route back. Of course had it been further I'd have probably done the planning the first time but is an easy and pleasant journey as long as there are no holdups in classic bottlenecks like Hatch End. I have posted my first photo of SP myriad, a barn connected to a farmhouse on Codmore Wood Road, in Great White End. It also goes to prove that it isn't just the distance that is the issue, but the route.