Mary Oz

@maryoz

Keen walker, especially of Slow Ways. Occasional volunteer guide for Visually Impaired adventurers. Please use Alt Text! Also interested in public transport, remnants of the past, beer, prog rock, astronomy and allsorts.

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Mary Oz@maryoz· 11d

Although I live fairly near to the sea, I hadn't checked the subject of this week's #WildflowerHour but I took these pictures recently anyway!

Bindweed on a village green. Small pale pink flowers, close up, with fence and houses in the background.

Teasel flower viewer from above. Pale purple.

Bright purple thistle flowers, with a bee hovering above it, and pale green spiky leaves.

Mary Oz@maryoz· 11d

Beautiful mass of colourful plants, despite the drought. Well, it would be beautiful, except that it's supposed to be a footpath! I had to reroute a new version of @slowwaysuk.bsky.social Tewkesbury to Cheltenham along a road instead ☹️. Maybe one for #WildflowerHour instead.

Mass of colourful plants, pale brown teasel, reddish brown dock, pale green and bright green shrubs, all muddled together.

Mass of colourful plants, pale brown grasses, reddish brown dock, pale green and bright green shrubs, all muddled together.

Mary Oz@maryoz· 13d

#PostboxSaturday Leaning hexagonal Victorian postbox, cluttering the pavement together with #phonebox eScooters cables box and litter bin. A nightmare if you're #VisuallyImpaired.

Leaning hexagonal Victorian postbox, phone box, eScooters, cables box and litter bin. All red or black on tarmac pavement in the sun with trees in the background.

Mary Oz@maryoz· 14d

Not a #FingerpostFriday, more of a #FingerlessPostFriday. Coming down from Cleeve Hill on @slowwaysuk.bsky.social route Bishop's Cleeve to Winchcombe. Gorgeous route in the #Cotswolds #Gloucestershire.

Wooden post about a metre tall topped with a circular wooden disc with four simple public footpath arrows on it. Baked grass below, from the heatwave and drought.

The same post but from a lower angle so that Bishop's Cleeve is visible in the distance.

Mary Oz@maryoz· 21d

#FingerpostFriday pointing the way to Skiddaw. With Skiddaw in the background.

Simple wooden fingerpost for walkers, cyclists and horseriders. 4 miles. Not sure if they'd all get to the top! Grassy fields, blue sky, distant mountains.

Mary Oz@maryoz· 23d

This looks a really useful book! It would be great to reduce the number of visitor cars in the Lake District!

WAINWRIGHTS WITHOUT A CAR

Published by Jagged Lakes Publications, Penrith

Wainwrights without a Car A Year on the Lake District Fells

Ron Kenyan

Copies available at local retail outlets and on the internet

Featuring on the cover are the bus in Great Langdale and an Avanti train, from Euston, arriving at Penrith Station

This publication gives comprehensive details to assist in ascending the 214 Wainwright summits in the Lake District without using the car. The core of the book is about the ascents of the Wainwrights, during 2023.

There is additional information about the bus, train and boat services and the geography of the area as well as places of interest.

This book should be used in combination with other information such as guidebooks and maps. This will help to not only enhance a visit but also, with that knowledge, make it safer.

The use of the car is often the only practical way of getting around however this book gives lots of ideas and information to leave the car and use public transport. This will not only help to reduce congestion on the roads but also one's carbon footprint.

This book will be of particular interest to those accessing the area by public transport from elsewhere for example by the rail service from London and the South of England.

One third of the net income from the book is going to be given to the Fix the Fells organisation, which helps to maintain the footpaths of the area. The bulk of the rest of the net income will go to other local organisations.

More details on the website www.jaggedlakes.co.uk

Mary Oz@maryoz· 28d

#FingerpostFriday from near Buxton #PeakDistrict Also a notice reminding owners to keep dogs on leads throughout March to July to protect ground nesting birds. I'm sick of seeing this rule ignored.

A lichen covered wooden post with three blades pointing to Berry Clough, Burbage and Axe Edge. Blue sky and peat moorland beyond.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jul 12

Several views of the Egyptian style Temple Mill in #Leeds #Yorkshire at the end of a recent @slowwaysuk.bsky.social walk from Middleton plotted by @snailpace.bsky.social. #Architecture

The Egyptian style Temple Mill seen from one corner behind iron railings. Brown stone with six columns along the front, splayed out at the top like open flowers.

A plaque on the side of the building describes the history of the flax spinning mill and this is its office, built by John Marshall in 1838-40.

Closer view of the entrance of the Egyptian style Temple Mill with columns either side. There's a winged design on the curved out lintel, and it's repeated twice on the top of the building above. A sign pinned to the railings says Danger Keep Out.

Wide angle view of the Egyptian style Temple Mill seen behind iron railings. Brown stone with six columns along the front, and a central entrance.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jul 11

Hazy summer morning on the Rochdale Canal at Hebden Bridge. #UKCanals @towpathtalk.bsky.social @iwa-uk.bsky.social #LifesBetterByWater @slowwaysuk.bsky.social The start of a very hot walk to Halifax, canal and hills.

Looking along the towpath shaded by a tree, but into the sun. Along the canal there are several boats moored on the opposite bank, and one has smoke coming from a chimney causing a bit of a haze further along the canal.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jul 11

The Avanti Climate #Train at #Preston Station, as viewed through the café window.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jul 7

Not quite a #ThickTrunkTuesday but a pretty interesting trunk anyway, as it appears to have entirely grown through a chain-link fence.

Like the message says. The wire fence is green coated wire in a diamond pattern of 3cm squares. The trunk is about 30cm diameter.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jul 7

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekAforAbandonded

A Very Old abandoned Austin Six car tucked into a corner against a tree covered wall on a quiet country lane. Black, naturally.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jul 5

From my walk along the derelict #Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal. I'll add it as a @railwalks.co.uk Salford to Bolton soon. #UKCanals interesting discoveries. @boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social probably passed us that day too! More info in #AltText. @towpathtalk.bsky.social @iwa-uk.bsky.social

Looking along the towpath. The canal to the left is obvious but is full of bullrushes. Japanese Knotweed along the towpath too. The Preston to Manchester railway line runs past on the left.

There were several points where the canal narrowed for a short distance and the walls of it had slots down them to allow wooden planks to be dropped between them, in case the water needed to be blocked off to allow for maintenance or whatever.

View along the Clifton Aqueduct a bit south of the M60 crossing near Kearsley. It crosses the River Irwell, which can't be seen from this angle. The canal is now just a mass of bracken. Pedestrians and cyclists can cross on either side.

The canal looks almost navigable further north at the gloriously named Nob End. This is at the beginning of a fascinating area of aqueduct, two staircases of three locks, the junction where one arm goes to Bolton and one to Bury, and the cute Meccano Bridge.
Looking along the watered canal, there's a little bridge on the right and a family of ducklings nearby on the left, in amongst the water lilies.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jul 2

Hah! I walked there today, from Salford Crescent Station to Bolton Station along the old canal route as closely as possible. #UKCanals

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jul 2

Spent the weekend rock climbing with Vision of Adventure. 3 of the 4 climbers here at this quarry near Preston are #VisuallyImpaired (one completely blind). The sighted guide volunteers (yes, including me) had a go too. @blindnewworld.bsky.social @brailleinstitute.bsky.social @bemyeyes.bsky.social

Four climbers, top-roped, halfway up a lumpy cliff wall which is about 20 metres high. Instructor and three people belaying (the fourth is round the corner out of sight) on the grassy ground below. Sunny day, blue sky.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 30

Why the underlying assumption that overall vulnerable user road deaths will continue decreasing at the same rate, into the future? This is the UK, and Europe, in the last few years.

Our World in Data graph of annual deaths from road incidents in UK 2018-2023. Vehicle drivers and passengers, pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists have all started increasing.

Our World in Data graph of annual deaths from road incidents in Europe 2013-2023. For vehicle drivers and passengers, pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists, the previously decreasing numbers have slowed to almost static.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 22

#BloomScrolling Common Hogweed or wild carrot. Surprisingly beautiful close-up. MUCH nicer than its horrible awesome Giant relative! Oops I missed #WildflowerHour again! #MondayMotivation instead?

Close up view of a Common Hogweed flower head with a pale pink colour.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 20

A gorgeous #mural in Padiham #Lancashire. The second photo also includes the building represented in the painting. #StreetArt

The top half of the side wall of a row of shops is covered with a detailed realistic painting of a parade through the town, with people in their Sunday Best led by some musicians playing brass instruments. Shades of purple, pale green and yellow are prominent.

The same wall and painting, which has the main street of Padiham as its background, and you can see one of the actual buildings depicted, beyond the mural.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 20

Well, I never new that. The origin of the name #Birmingham! Gooch Street Bridge over the River Rea just south of the city centre. I learn so many new things on @slowwaysuk.bsky.social walks, this one from Wythall into Birmingham. BirWyt2.

Sculptural metal sign on the side of the bridge alongside the pavement. In calligraphic lettering it says Near this river crossing an Anglian tribe led by Beorma founded Birmingham.

Sculptural metal sign on the side of the bridge alongside the pavement, on the opposite side of the road. In calligraphic lettering it says Beorma ingas ham. The home of the people of Beorma.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 20

Lime tree flowers close-up. #Trees

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 19

Near Edgbaston #Birmingham for #FingerpostFriday

Pale green metal fingerpost pointing to cricket ground, mosque, police station, health centre, neighborhood centre. Gold edged fingers and lettering. Slightly wonky ornate top in green and gold. Big white van parked next to it.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 18

#Thursgate Interesting mechanism. You pull down on the rope and the boinger moves inwards releasing the latch. And it works surprisingly easily! #Devon between Dawlish and Exmouth on @slowwaysuk.bsky.social

Wide wooden gate out of a field onto a road, with wire across the top with rope attached to it.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 18

#ADoorableThursday #ArtDeco This is the base of the Wellington Monument in #Somerset

Greyish stone wall with a tall green metal door in it. Three small steps lead up to it from the gravel. The top of the door has a grill panel. Above the door is a small panel with an art deco design possibly representing wings. Looks Egyptian style.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 16

#TelephoneboxTuesday In Padiham Lancashire from recent @slowwaysuk.bsky.social walks.

A red telephone box repurposed to display eight window boxes dripping with garden flowers of all colours.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 16

#ThickTrunkTuesday

A tall beech tree at the side of a footpath through the woods.

Closer view of the trunk which has a slightly twisted structure.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 14

#SignsOnSunday Spotted four days apart, by complete coincidence. The first one seen in east Lancashire and the second one south of Birmingham. It's amazing what you see on @slowwaysuk.bsky.social walks, off the beaten track!

There's a small wooden gate next to a large one. On the post between them is a coloured metal sign which has swung upside down. It says Keep gate closed no matter what the horses tell you! Down the side are pictured three horses heads peering around the gate.

A very similar sign, but with alpacas not horses. The right way up.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 13

A nice little collection of countryside footpath furniture. #Stile #Gate #Footbridge @slowwaysuk.bsky.social

As described. There's a tall purple foxglove each side of the stile, like gateposts. All set in long grass and trees.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 13

Happy #weekend #BloomScrolling

Close view of packed clematis flowers, pinky lilac with lime green middles.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 12

Typical little Public Footpath sign for #FingerpostFriday with and unusual road sign beneath it, in Read/Simonstone from a recent @slowwaysuk.bsky.social walk.

At the side of a suburban alleyway there is a small public footpath signpost, and also a road name sign saying Churchwarden's Way, St John's Church, with a hand pointing the way. Underneath it also says Dedicated to the memory of Cyril Law.

Mary Oz@maryoz· Jun 12

#FingerpostFriday from #Devon @slowwaysuk.bsky.social