HIGHNAM CHARCOAL

Tucked away in a corner of Highnam arboretum was this rusty metal container you can see at the back.
The surrounding chopped logs give a clue as to what it was used for.
It's a burner for making charcoal.

COTSWOLD ECLIPSE

In August 1999, I went on another visit to Highnam arboretum, this time to take pictures of the eclipse of the sun.
You may recall the event was broadcast live on TV from Lands End or somewhere like that, where they had a total eclipse occur.
Up where I was, it was more an almost very nearly total eclipse that took place!
I rattled off about ten shots in the space of 15 minutes, but what with it being Britain, the clouds were trying to hog the show and most of the pictures didn't show very much.
The best one in the batch was this one above which was the very last one I took.
When the sky was at its darkest, a little gap opened up in the clouds and revealed what was going on behind them - and there it was, the moon hovering in front of the sun.
I also remember, because it was very dusky looking, the birds started chirping away like they do when it's time to roost!
Shortly after, daylight returned and everything was back to normal.

TO THE PINETUM

Although I was well acquainted with what an arboretum was, this was the first time I had seen the word "Pinetum". Although it's rather self explanatory what it is, I did still find myself looking up my dictionary when I got home to see what the official definition was - only to discover pinetum wasn't in my dictionary!
Anyway, the sign, along with the log cabin, was in Highnam.

LEAVING CAUDLE GREEN

My bike is resting against a wall that is part of the route downhill from Caudle Green that leads to a junction at the bottom.
If you turned right at the junction it would take you to Winstone. If you went straight ahead you'd end up in Syde, and if you took a left turn you'd be on the road you can see in the background, which is the way to Brimpsfield.

LEY ROAD CROSSING

Just as I was cycling up to this rail crossing, the barriers swung into position, so thought I'd be as well to take a snap of the scene while waiting.
This was at a place called Ley Road which is way out on its own in the countryside - the nearest place to it probably being Minsterworth.
I did a Google Street View comparison to see if that wooden keeper's cottage is still there, and it is, although you could hardly see it because the surrounding trees have since grown over it quite wildly.
In fact I also spotted on the internet that Network Rail had the cottage up for sale last year, but I don't know what the outcome was.

THE THREE BRIDGES

This scene featuring 3 bridges crossing the river Severn at the same spot was taken around the Pool Meadow area, although you need to look at the reflection to see all three separately.

OXFORD PUNTS

This is about as touristy as my pictures get - a collection of punts on a river in Oxford.
It may be a rather cliched image but the scene did have a certain timeless charm about it - hence the vignette treatment I have given it.