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Sunday, 07/Jun/2009
Time Lapse Video of Kennet and Avon Canal
It's been a rather wet and comparably cold weekend, although the weather was better today than originally forecasted. I used the opportunity to create another video of the Kennet & Avon Canal, having already uploaded the Morning at the Kennet and Avon Canal Video and the video of the Waterside Series Canoe Race passing Aldermaston Wharf earlier in the year. Today's video is slightly different though, my first attempt of a time lapse video:
The time covered in the video is just under four hours, ‘compressed’ into 30 seconds. I had hoped to cover a slightly longer period, but unfortunately the camera battery didn't last any longer. If it's not too expensive I'm considering getting the AC adaptor, then I could create one of a full day. Either way, I hope you've enjoyed the action.
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[07/Jun/2009: "Time Lapse Video of Kennet and Avon Canal"]
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Saturday, 16/May/2009
Yakovlev Yak-52 Flying Demonstration Video
When I wrote about the Brimpton Airfield Fly-in Day last week I mentioned that I had quite a lot of video footage from the afternoon. Earlier this afternoon I sat down to start editing some of it and created the first video. For this video I picked out one plane, the Yakovlev Yak-52 and pulled together a video of its flight display:
DirectYakovlevYak-52FlyingDemonstrationAtBrimptonAirfield (use this link to watch in HD)
I've uploaded the video as a High Definition HD video, to view it follow the link above and then click on the ‘HD button’ at the bottom right of the video. You should then get much better quality than what I have embedded above (also slightly bigger).
The video doesn't contain the whole display, just the best sections of what I managed to capture. It was my first attempt to film a plane in flight (performing aerial acrobatics, not just flying in straight line), so not all turned out as well as I had hoped. I hope it still provides a good impression of the plane and its as well as its pilot's capabilities.
PS: Just found this video also shot on the day: GT450 Approach and Landing 07 at Brimpton Flyin. G-KEVS
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[16/May/2009: "Yakovlev Yak-52 Flying Demonstration Video"]
Sunday, 10/May/2009
Brimpton Airfield Fly-in Day
Another nice spring weekend in West Berkshire. When I got up this morning I didn't have any plans yet what to do, apart from that I had to get out in the nice weather. During my morning run along the canal I noticed two small airplanes coming in fairly low, which reminded me of Brimpton Airfield. I had found out about the airfield back in February and knew that they occasionally had ‘Fly-in Days’. Could it be that one of them was today?
As soon as I arrived back home I checked on their website and it turned out my hunch had been right: They indeed had a fly-in day today. The short drive from Aldermaston Wharf to Brimpton Airfield only took a few minutes. Now it was time to look at planes. One of the first planes I noticed was G-ERDA:
Next was a flight demonstration with a Russian training plane, I hope I remembered/googled it correctly, a Yakovlev Yak-52. We were treated to a fascinating display, loopings, barrel rolls and fly-bys. Here's an impression of it in the air:
There was quite some applause when it returned to the airfield. This is it with the pilot of the day, smiling after a successful flight. In his day job he's a commercial pilot. He's talking with his wife, who is also his coach. She is also a pilot and flies the plane when he isn't.
Now there weren't only ‘real’ planes, there were also several remote controlled planes. Some tiny, some surprisingly big. There were several displays with them as well, here's a picture of one of them showing off:
All in all an afternoon well spent, entertaining, interesting and exciting. The pictures don't fully do it justice, as the displays are obviously about the action. I've got quite a lot of video footage from the afternoon, but it will probably take me a few days to review and edit it. Fingers crossed some of it will turn out well. In other words, watch this space for updates...
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[10/May/2009: "Brimpton Airfield Fly-in Day"]
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Sunday, 03/May/2009
Bank Holiday Sunday Walk - Two Pubs and Bucklebury Common
After last week's short stroll on the other side of the A4 it was time for a longer walk this bank holiday weekend. Unfortunately I had some back problems yesterday, but with most of it gone today I was ready after lunch. Having consulted my Ordnance Survey map #159 Reading, Wokingham and Pangbourne I set my sights at Chapel Row and Bucklebury Common as my destination for the day. The Bluebells at ‘Shrub Wood’ had been joined by other flowers:
From ‘Shrub Wood’ I continued past Beenham Church through the ‘Old Copse’, then past ‘Oakwood Farm’ to the ‘High Wood’. More Bluebells were to be admired here, together with a variety of trees. Across a field I walked to ‘Upper Farm’ before turning right for ‘Copyhold Farm’. From here it wasn't far to ‘Chapel Row’, where I made my first stop at The Bladebone Inn.
I had a pint of ‘Good Old Boy’ from the West Berkshire Brewery and some crisps, sitting in the sun in their beer garden. Refreshed my walk continued, through ‘Chapelrow Common’ I walked along various byways and bridleways to Bucklebury Common. I went to a place marked ‘Scotland’ on the map, but couldn't see anything that told me why it was called that. It just looked like plain old West Berkshire. Still, it was sunny and mild, a nice time to walk through the woods with all the fresh green.
Spotting the moon in the sky reminded me that I still had quite some way to go, especially if I wanted to be back home before it got dark. Through the ‘Lower Common’ and ‘Carbins Wood’ (passing ‘Reading's Gulli’ on the way) I walked towards ‘Midgham Green’, turning off on to the footpath through ‘Channel Wood’. This took me to Upper Woolhampton, from where it wasn't far to Woolhampton. My plan was to visit The Angel Gastro Pub Woolhampton, unfortunately it turned out they were closed on Sunday evenings. So it was The Rowbarge again instead.
As it was rapidly approaching 7:00 pm I decided to have something to eat here, I picked a ‘gourmet burger’ with chips. With the sun starting to set behind the trees this was enjoyed in the beer garden, together with another pint of ‘Good Old Boy’. Now back in familiar territory south of the A4 it was time for the final stretch, following the towpath along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Aldermaston Wharf.
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[03/May/2009: "Bank Holiday Sunday Walk - Two Pubs and Bucklebury Common"]
Sunday, 26/Apr/2009
Bluebell Woods and Beenham Church Stroll
In my quest to stay at least mildy active after my return from WalkIslay 2009 and to slowly discover more of the area I live in I did something today I hadn't done so far: I ventured to the other side of the A4, towards Beenham. Not a long walk, more of a stroll, but it was certainly worth it. The first section wasn't too exciting, just a road past a factory. But once I started climbing the hill and reached an area called ‘Shrub Wood’ I was rewarded with these bluebells:
The early evening light was very nice, providing some beautiful colours. The fresh green of the new leaves, the carpet of bluebells on the ground, the trees, just wonderful.
I walked up to Beenham Church and cemetery, where I had a quick look around. From the church I briefly explored a footpath towards Oakwood Farm, but then decided to turn back and walked home the same way I had come.
After 1.5 hours I returned home, a nice stroll worth building on. Looking at the Ordnance Survey map #159 Reading, Wokingham and Pangbourne there seem to be quite a few footpaths in the area worth exploring. There are a few bank holiday weekends coming up...
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[26/Apr/2009: "Bluebell Woods and Beenham Church Stroll"]
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Saturday, 21/Mar/2009
Misty Morning at the Kennet & Avon Canal
This week just gone we had some wonderful early spring mornings here in Aldermaston Wharf and therefore at the Kennet & Avon Canal. Sunny but cold. This meant some mist developing, rising up against the sun, providing some very nice views. I took a camera with me to try to capture the mood one morning, here are some of the pictures I managed to take:
The sun shining through the trees lights up the mist, showing the mist above the water. Looking along a bend in the canal you can nicely see the mist rising above the water.
Vapor trails from a passing plane still hang in the sky in the last picture. The mist drifting along the canal creates a mythical atmosphere, creating a very mild light on a cold morning.
I hope you like the pictures, may be let me know your thoughts in the comments?
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[21/Mar/2009: "Misty Morning at the Kennet & Avon Canal"]
Sunday, 15/Mar/2009
Swan -vs- Goose
Today felt like the first day of spring, it was mild and sunny with temperatures reaching 15°C (looking at the forecast winter is far from gone though, we might get frost again). With such wonderful weather I decided to go on a day out and drove to The Vyne near Basingstoke. Only about a 20min drive from Aldermaston Wharf and I could drive with the sunroof open all the way. My first stop was at the large lake, where I could watch an interesting spectacle. The main roles were occupied by two swans and a goose:
There were two Swans on the lake, which had taken a serious dislike against a white Goose. At least one of them, sometimes both at the same time, were chasing and harassing the single white goose (I assume it's a domestic goose, probably an Embden Goose).
They were getting quite aggressive at times, attacking the goose which then took flight. Only for the swan to catch up with it soon again. There were a few close calls where the swans got quite close and almost managed to bite it.
The chase went on for probably at least 30min, possibly longer (I didn't have my watch with me, so I'm not sure). On occasion both the goose and the swan lifted off, the goose fleeing and the swan in hot pursuit.
Later in the afternoon I continued my walk around the park and gardens, also briefly visiting the bird hide overlooking the wetlands. Unfortunately I had forgotten my binoculars in the car, so there wasn't too much to see. Obviously also had a look at the house, some quite impressive rooms in there. Some pictures of the house (from the outside, no photography is permitted inside) may be some other time.
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[15/Mar/2009: "Swan -vs- Goose"]
Saturday, 06/Mar/2009
Morning at the Kennet and Avon Canal Video
For the last 25 years or so I've been going for a 30 minute run almost every morning. Since moving to Aldermaston Wharf I jog along the canal, usually towards Woolhampton. This time of the year is probably one of the best times for it, as the sun has just risen around the time I'm out at the canal. Yesterday I took a small camera with me to try to record a few impressions. Here's the video I created from it:
The slight hum you can hear in the background is the A4 from Newbury to Reading, with rush hour kicking off it unfortunately can be heard in the background. It's not too bad though, certainly nowhere near as loud as the M4 I was used to when living in Swindon.
There are also a few sheep with their young lambs on a field next to the towpath, unfortunately those videos didn't turn out very well. I hope to catch up on that over the next few mornings.
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[07/Mar/2009: "Morning at the Kennet and Avon Canal Video"]
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