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Dorothy on the Fortress of the Black Swans walk

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recent news

  • The Western Front Expedition Album
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    Fortress of the Black Swans, June 3rd
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    An Autumn Day in Essex
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    An Autumn Day in Essex
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    Lucie's Crew Takes Leeds Castle
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    River Towns of Essex, July 14th
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    West Somerset Steam Railway Walk
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    Aldbury and the Grand Union Canal

Stonehenge – Salisbury, Jan 18th 2008

Author David Wenk   
Category New Routes, R & D, Reports, Stonehenge and Salisbury, Walks   
Date 21 Mar 2008    

Stonehenge to Salisbury walk

WALK REPORT These photos give you a good impression of what the Stonehenge and Salisbury walk feels like when attempted in wet conditions. Despite the mud and rain, Lassona and I had a grand day out, and I came home with a new and improved route for this walk. 12 miles, 20 pics:

Article continues …

Comments: 14

Godalming Walk, Jan 6th 2008

Author David Wenk   
Category New Routes, R & D, Reports, Walks, Winkworth Arboretum   
Date 19 Mar 2008    

Photo montage of a walk from Godalming to Winkworth Arboretum, in Surrey, England, January 2008

WALK REPORT Trial run of a walk I’m considering adding to the schedule, to Winkworth Arboretum, although it will probably be better to offer it in autumn, when the fall foliage is out. Route was Godalming – Tuesley – Busbridge Woods – Winkworth. Date: Sunday January 6th. With Ed & Sarah. 17 pics in this set.

Article continues …

Comments: 1

Aldbury and the Grand Union Canal

Author David Wenk   
Category Ivinghoe Beacon and the Chiltern Hills, New Routes, R & D, Reports, Walks   
Date 1 Mar 2008    

WALK REPORT Still lots of catching up to do on the walk reports. These photos were taken late last year on my second trial run of the Chilterns route. Joining me on this walk were some of my Hertfordshire friends – David, Graham, Dale and Dominica – who met me at Tring station on a beautiful, crisp November morning. Add a comment …

Photo montage of Aldbury and Grand Union Canal circular walk Article continues …

Comments: 7

Stonehenge to Salisbury, Take 1

Author David Wenk   
Category New Routes, R & D, Reports, Stonehenge and Salisbury, Walks   
Date 4 Feb 2008    

WALK REPORT Rafi, Brad, Nadine – I bet you thought I’d never get around to posting these photos. Well, at long last here they are! They’re from a walk we did way back on October 27th, 2007 – our first attempt to put together a decent route between Stonehenge and Salisbury, following the course of the River Avon. Comments welcome.

Stonehenge to Salisbury walk, Autumn 2007, photo montage Article continues …

Comments: 5

Winter Walks Photos

Author David Wenk   
Category New Routes, R & D   
Date 3 Jan 2008    

I’ve still to finish editing the last three batches of photos taken on our recent walks. In the meantime I’m posting one shot here from each of those 3 trips.

All Saints Church, West Dean, East Sussex - Nativity Scene

The first shows the interior of All Saints Church, West Dean, in East Sussex – a Christmas nativity scene.

Terrier in the Chiltern Hills, November 2007

We met this little dog on a chilly day out in the Chiltern Hills last November. His name was “Trouble”.

Salisbury Cathedral by night

And this last is a night shot of Salisbury Cathedral. We walked here from Stonehenge.

More to come,

DW

Comments: 0

Prepping for the New Year

Author David Wenk   
Category R & D, Website   
Date 2 Jan 2008    

Over the next few days you’ll see some changes to the site as I prepare ECW for the 2008 season. I’ll be posting a handful of new photos from recent walks, and updating the calendar. Stay tuned …

David

ps Yoshi and Martin, can you send me some of your photos you took on our walk yesterday?

Comments: 0

West Somerset Steam Railway Walk

Author David Wenk   
Category New Routes, R & D, Reports, Walks, West Somerset Steam Railway   
Date 17 Oct 2007    

WALK REPORT A big thank you to Sumeet, Priya, Anne, Aleks, Russell, and Zac for helping me test out English Country Walks’ first overnight trip, to Somerset in the west of England. On our walk, we encountered lots of apples, mushrooms, wild garlic and snails, rode a steam train, visited Dunster Castle, spent the night in a cozy bed and breakfast, drank local ales and ciders, and feasted in country pubs. 40 shots in this set. Click on the montage below to see the complete photo stream. Comments welcome!

West Somerset Steam Railway photo montage, October 2007 Article continues …

Comments: 10

Dunster Castle, 3D view

Author David Wenk   
Category 3D, New Routes, R & D, Special Media, West Somerset Steam Railway   
Date 15 Oct 2007    

This is kind of cool. In amongst the photos I took during last weekend’s trip to West Somerset (walk report here), I found two shots which show a piece of Dunster Castle. Quite by chance they form a stereo pair, which means you ought to be able to view this image in 3D. [read comments]

Dunster Castle 3D stereo pair

To make the 3D effect work, start with your head about 15 inches from the screen. Slowly begin to cross your eyes so that the pair of Xs in the foreground line up and overlap. Then freeze; after a few seconds your brain should recalibrate to this new way of seeing. Don’t worry if you see 3 images – ignore the outer two and just concentrate on the middle one. It helps if you shield your peripheral vision by cupping your hands around your eyes.

Once you’ve lined up the first X, the second should appear further back up the hill. Now can you see the castle in 3D? You’ll know you’ve got it when the bottom X appears to sink back into the shrubbery. The top X should float somewhere above the bushes.

With a little bit of patience and practice, and as long as you’re not wearing glasses, it should work. When it does, it’s pretty nifty! The individual leaves and tree branches jump out of the picture, giving you a sense of the image’s true depth. Hint: relax your eyes and don’t try to focus too hard. Also try varying your distance from the screen a bit.

If you want more help on how to view a stereo pair, try this page for more thorough instructions. Or watch this 3D animation I made here.

More pics from this trip here.

— DW

ps please leave a comment letting me know if you can see it or not – I’d be interested to hear what proportion of readers it’s working for

Comments: 9

Westward Ho!

Author David Wenk   
Category New Routes, R & D, Walks, West Somerset Steam Railway   
Date 12 Oct 2007    

At 8am tomorrow, we’re off to Somerset for the trial run of our West Somerset Steam Railway walk. A couple of preview shots for you, courtesy of Geograph:

Steam train at Bishops Lydeard

Steam train at Bishops Lydeard.
© Copyright Martin Bodman and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The railway as seen from the village of Old Cleeve

A view of the railway from the village of Old Cleeve.

© Copyright Steve Edge and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

More photos when we get back on Monday.

— DW

Comments: 1

An Autumn Day in Essex

Author David Wenk   
Category Cream Teas at Tiptree, New Routes, R & D, Reports, Walks   
Date 1 Oct 2007    

WALK REPORT Here are some photos from my test walk to Tiptree and Maldon yesterday. This time I went alone, and it was just as well, as I spent a lot of the day lying on the ground in attempts to get good photos of berries and mushrooms! 24 pics in this set – scroll down to see the full-size images.

Photo montage of walk from Tiptree to Maldon Article continues …

Comments: 15
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