Picture(s) of the day....

[NewcastleFalcon]

A bit of 'stick-art' spotted whilst setting out and marshalling the Linford Wood parkrun course this morning...

hellomp8.jpg

It made me smile

In a similar vein, if farmers have a little too much time on their hands, they amuse themselves with things like this!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_p4Zf1jnAB0c/R ... spring.jpg

regards Neil

[CitroJim]

In a similar vein, if farmers have a little too much time on their hands, they amuse themselves with things like this!

Love that Neil

Recognise this crashed car from a few posts back?

Borrowed from Facebook... Broughton Cycling Group

One of our local cycling clubs spotted it whilst out for a ride today and posed by it

Wondering why it's still there?

[NewcastleFalcon]

Recognise this crashed car from a few posts back?

Well its a bit of an identi-kit-ish hatchback looking a bit Volkswagen Golfy


2009 Volkswagen Golf (5K MY10) 118TSI Comfortline 5-door hatchback (2011-11-08) 03 [Public domain], by OSX (Own work), from Wikimedia Commons

Regards Neil

[myglaren]

A bit off-topicish but I saw this this morning.

Copied from eBay

Not too exciting for the majority but it is Jackie Evancho's first piece of artwork offered for sale, currently on eBay for $1,475.00.

As if being a magnificent singer wasn't enough she is also quite a talented artist.
I expect she isn't bothered about how much it sells for, she's not particularly in to making money, although she isn't short of it by any means, but rather wants to see if anyone likes it enough to buy it.

Pencil and watercolour with a real dried flower.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Recognise this crashed car from a few posts back?

Well its a bit of an identi-kit-ish hatchback looking a bit Volkswagen Golfy
Regards Neil

Its as Volkswagen Golfy as you can possibly get...Its a Volkswagen Golf (probably a 67 plate at a guess).

beware of the devious whatsthisthen-er?

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

Yes indeed, it's a 67 plate Neil When I first saw it last Wednesday I clocked its registration...

I was amazed it spent such a long time stranded on top of the bank where it came to rest...

[CitroJim]

This is my picture of the day

Own Work

Completed it in 1:58 and a few seconds

The sun shone on us and it was actually beautifully warm for once

It was a truly lovely run

[Peter.N.]

I wish I had your energy Jim - and joints.

Peter

[CitroJim]

I wish I had your energy Jim - and joints.

I'm enjoying and making the most of it whilst I still have the energy and joints Peter but they do say that cycling especially (and running by extension) is great for keeping the effects of ageing at bay and boosting the immune system...

There was an article about it on the BBC news website the other day... Proof positive that keeping fit and very active into old age is really, really good for you - especially cycling

Who'd have thought that five years ago I was practically an invalid and almost housebound... It's been an utter transformation for me

Anyway, you're not doing so badly yourself... I read between the lines that you keep very fit and active Much moreso than those of your age

[NewcastleFalcon]

Breached wall, Kirnie Law Reservoir

© Copyright Jim Barton and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Interesting how you can pick up interesting stories from a brief look at the pics of the day on Geograph. Have been to this area of Tweeddale many times but only today came across this part of the first pumped storage hydro electric scheme in Scotland. Privately built to provide power to textile mills in Walkerburn.

Not a real spoiler but the listing info tells the story

Spoiler: show

Statement of Interest

Kirnie Law reservoir sits in a saddle between the hills of Kirnie Law (1541 ft.) and Priesthope Hill (1802 ft.), 1000ft. above the mills it served and on the lip of the Walker Burn. The Ballantyne family owned Tweedvale Mill in Walkerburn since its construction in the mid-19th century. A rival mill, Tweedholm (also in Walkerburn) was bought by them in 1918 and it was decided a more efficient means of producing power for both mills was needed. Until then, power was supplied by water in the shared mill lade fed from the River Tweed and used to turn breast wheels. Combined, the power derived from these sources was around 110 horse-power. It was necessary to produce 450 horse-power for the mills' requirements. Bovey and Co, Ltd. (56 Kingsway, London) were consulted and came up with a scheme that relied on the mechanical storage of power; that is storing surplus energy when it was not needed. A reservoir sited high on the hills would be capable of holding 3,500,000 gallons of water when full and took 132 hours to fill from empty. Water flowed down the hill via the high-pressure pipeline when needed and fed a pelton turbine, which had its own generator and produced an additional 230 horse-power. This power when added to the power produced by the low-pressure turbines gave the necessary horse-power for the whole factory complex. At night (when the mill was not in operation), surplus power was used to pump water back up the hill into the reservoir. To achieve this, the belts coupling the low-pressure turbines were moved across to the pump pulleys and the pumps started to return the water up the hill. All the concrete used during the construction of the reservoir and tower was prepared on site and was hauled up the hill by means of a purpose built funicular railway. 400 tons of cement, 100 tons of reinforcing bars and over 3000 tons of aggregate was used for the construction. The total weight the railway pulled up was estimated at approximately 3,650 tons. During construction, the reinforced side walls were tied into the floor and any local strain is borne by the construction as a whole; it was not rigid but yielded gradually to the pressure of the water when full. A 12in.water pipe leads from the reservoir and follows the contour of the hill until it meets the tower. This tower houses a surge tank, which was big enough to compensate for sudden variations in the water demand. It is also here the pipe changes to a 9in. diameter one (again subterranean). It continues its journey down the hill to the mill lade. All the pipe work is steel riveted with great care taken on joint flanges. The scheme was a success and was used to supply power to the mill for over 25 years. The mill eventually became hooked up to the National Grid and its hydro-electric scheme became obsolete. With the reservoir no longer being used, a hole was blown in the side of it to prevent it from overflowing or potentially giving way and flooding the village and valley below, as well as preventing potential drowning accidents. Unfortunately, the hole is where the name of the reservoir used to be. The reservoir is listed due to its importance as the water storage for Scotland's first pumped storage hydroelectric scheme. It is also a testament to the engineers and workers who carried out the construction of such a groundbreaking scheme on difficult terrain.

[CitroJim]

Gosh Neil, that's incredibly interesting I love stuff like that!

[NewcastleFalcon]

There is more, bit more background and a few construction photo's, the food and drink of the Pickled Egg Library so I have deposited it there.

The reservoir in full, in its setting amongst the hills.

Former pumped storage reservoir, Kirnie Law

© Copyright Jim Barton and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Regards Neil

[Peter.N.]

I wish I had your energy Jim - and joints.

I'm enjoying and making the most of it whilst I still have the energy and joints Peter but they do say that cycling especially (and running by extension) is great for keeping the effects of ageing at bay and boosting the immune system...

There was an article about it on the BBC news website the other day... Proof positive that keeping fit and very active into old age is really, really good for you - especially cycling

Who'd have thought that five years ago I was practically an invalid and almost housebound... It's been an utter transformation for me

Anyway, you're not doing so badly yourself... I read between the lines that you keep very fit and active Much moreso than those of your age

Well done Jim, I think its mostly if you don't use it you will loose it.

About 10 years ago we stayed in a lovely cottage in France with a lake, there was a rowing boat and a couple of pedlo's there for the use of the guests, great fun I thought, I pedalled my way to the middle of the lake and my knees just seized up, after a rest I could pedal very slowly but when I got to the shore there was an offshore wind blowing and every time I stopped it blew me out into the lake again, I had to shout for my wife to come round and throw me a rope. That was when I realised how bad my arthritis was, cycling was completely out.

I have good and bad days and have to use the good ones to best effect, if I take some pain killers I can work for a few hours which is useful, I'm just doing some work on our newly acquired 206 Hdi estate. My knees are worst effected, I have fallen over four times this year, fortunately I don't break easily, all those years of carrying TVs I think but I am having to be very careful now - something I am not used to doing.

We visited an very old friend with terminal cancer yesterday - makes you count your blessings.

Anyway, keep it up Jim.

Peter

[NewcastleFalcon]

Walkerburn is probably a wholly unremarkable little settlement as you drive through it on the road down from Peebles to Galashiels. But as we have found out...up in the hills we have the Concrete Reservoir and the pumped storage hydro electric installation the first in the UK and down in the village centre just by the little cafe/craft gallery we have this....the little grey construction to the side of the building

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.62401 ... 312!8i6656

but what is it I here you cry

Its a Cast Iron Urinal of course! ( c.1897 from the Saracen Foundry (Macfalane's) of Glasgow.)

Old urinal in Walkerburn

© Copyright Walter Baxter and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Regards Neil

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

it seems the health benefits of cycling are 'further reaching' than we might have thought. This article was replicated in part in my favourite Daily Comic [I've no time for 'serious' news]
http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/cycli ... nds-372227