What A Facinating Morning

[Deleted member 1258]

For most of the last 25 years I've been cycling around the Hampton Lucy area, and I never realized there was a 18th century mill in the village, having seen a newspaper article last week I found out where it is and that they were having an open day today. We went down this morning and were there early so we were stood next to the wheel when they started it up and the mill was working during our guided tour. The mill dates from about 1800 and stands on the site of an earlier mill, its being run as it was originally and is a working commercial mill. We came away with bread and cakes that were still warm when they handed them to us.

http://www.photobox.co.uk/my/album?album_id=2664850611

http://www.charlecotemill.co.uk/visiting-the-mill.html

 

[Dave 123]

I rode through a village yesterday, been through it loads of times....
They were all in whites playing cricket, and there were a bunch of kids on the swings. I had no clue there was a park there

 

[hoopdriver]

Since I started taking photos for my blog I have discovered interesting scenes and vignettes I never knew were there. There is nothing like seeing your own neighbourhood as a tourist.

 

[Davos87]

I regularly go through perhaps 6 or 7 little villages on my mainly circuitous rides and its funny how just recently I have begun to notice some of the lovely details to be appreciated on my own doorstep. Village pubs and greens, welcoming little benches placed in strategic places often with poignant plaques on them acknowledging a loved one who might have enjoyed that particular vista throughout their life and wanted others to do likewise. Miniature cenotaphs and war memorials hiding behind iron railings commemorating the men of that village who died fighting in the two great wars. And maybe most pleasing the variety of beautiful churches and chapels tucked behind ancient yew or towering oaks or dry stone walls just inviting the curious to park the bike, venture beyond the lych gate and explore.
There is something deeply satisfying after a few miles of strenuous activity, to sit a while, contemplate, live in the moment or call it what you will and just be at one with an environment that in our busy lives we can so often take for granted.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I spent years riding with the clubs medium paced group, spent my Sunday mornings holding a wheel and being part of the pack, eventually my enjoyment waned and I started to think no this isn't what I want, I dropped off and started to ride with the slower group, after a while I did lone rides more and more often, now I rarely ride with the club and do most of my rides alone, I see more of the countryside I ride through and stop to take pictures occasionally and if I see something interesting I might stop and have a look.

 

[Poacher]

Well worth getting hold of Pevsner's Buildings of England (or Scotland) for relevant counties. They're a mine of information on old / interesting architecture and contents (e.g. memorials, furniture, stained glass).