Those of you paying attention will recall that there was an expedition to the 'English' side of what was the Severn Ferry. (Or at least the ferry furthest down the estuary. Unless, of course, you know different...)
This time, we voyaged to the far side of the river for a look at the Beachley end. Voyage being the operative word, since the 'old' bridge was closed for maintenance and we had to detour via the second bridge and the Magor junction. Anyway. Also at Beachley is the site of (what was?) the REME Apprentices school. Like many MOD sites, it's got this odd Stepford vibe. Silent Hedges indeed. There's also the world's largest UV light. Either it's a very random lighthouse, or a device for luring cyb3rkiddies to their doom.
While the slipway is wholesale, any ticket office that may have been there has vanished or been repurposed.
However, one of the ferries is moored up close at hand. It doesn't look as if it's going anywhere anytime soon, but appears to be in a non-terrible state otherwise. From above, the turntable that enabled dense car-packing can clearly be seen.
Since there was no traffic on the bridge, the whole place was oddly quiet. Until there was an impressive outbreak of hammering from within the structure. It sounded like iron-shod NMA followers indulging in a particularly vigorous pit.
The rest of the (as usual shoddily-taken) pictures are to be found here.
This time, we voyaged to the far side of the river for a look at the Beachley end. Voyage being the operative word, since the 'old' bridge was closed for maintenance and we had to detour via the second bridge and the Magor junction. Anyway. Also at Beachley is the site of (what was?) the REME Apprentices school. Like many MOD sites, it's got this odd Stepford vibe. Silent Hedges indeed. There's also the world's largest UV light. Either it's a very random lighthouse, or a device for luring cyb3rkiddies to their doom.
While the slipway is wholesale, any ticket office that may have been there has vanished or been repurposed.
However, one of the ferries is moored up close at hand. It doesn't look as if it's going anywhere anytime soon, but appears to be in a non-terrible state otherwise. From above, the turntable that enabled dense car-packing can clearly be seen.
Since there was no traffic on the bridge, the whole place was oddly quiet. Until there was an impressive outbreak of hammering from within the structure. It sounded like iron-shod NMA followers indulging in a particularly vigorous pit.
The rest of the (as usual shoddily-taken) pictures are to be found here.
no subject
Date: 2003-06-22 03:37 pm (UTC)Although this is generally to be applauded, aren't there quite enough of those out there already?
If you carry on with these expeditions into Avengers territory we'll have to take to calling *you* Mother.
no subject
Date: 2003-06-22 04:08 pm (UTC)You know, I wondered what happened to all those cyber people with wings who were so common 2-3 years ago - I've just imagined them all flapping dazedly into this thingy with an enormous bzzzzzzaaaaaaap noise and evaporating in a cloud of pink dust.
no subject
Date: 2003-06-22 04:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-06-23 12:21 am (UTC)Used to live just down the road.
WHAT A DUMP!
no subject
Date: 2003-06-23 02:18 am (UTC)There just isn't enough of it to be anything, let alone a dump.
no subject
Date: 2003-06-23 02:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-06-23 03:53 am (UTC)Growing up there has damaged me irreparably.
Chepstow at least has aspirations.