Pootler

On  the seventh day, God rested. H e p ut his feet up, had a beer and took his eye off the ball. C haos ensued.  Geology is the study of pressure and time. That's all it takes really, pressure and time. (Red: The Shawshank Redemption)  This is about the landscape of the northern Home Counties. Nothing of early Earth can readily be seen in them, but I thought that I ought to start at the beginning and acknowledge the canvas before asking you to admire the painting. There are two big things that you need to be aware of. Everything else is detail. As I am sure you know, it all started with the Big Bang some 14bn years ago which, initially at least, wasn't big and wasn't a bang. If you want an explanation try this short video:  Link : Big Bang .  In any event, i t wasn't until 4bn years later that there was a proto-Earth. This would have been a hellish time to visit. Early Earth lacked a magnetic shield to protect it from the nasties that the sun was spewing out, an...

Route GPX file     Metroland The gossamer thin trainspotter rationale of th is route is to follow the long- abandoned extension of the Metropolitan Line beyond Aylesbury to its termination at Verney Junction near Buckingham. You will see work on its rather more expensive 21 st century substitute as you go. It is an easy ride on a clockwise route on quiet roads from Haddenham & Thame Parkway Statio n, through pleasant, gently undulating, but generally unremarkable arable and pastoral countryside. There are a couple of ridges to cross in the first few miles and a short but steep climb of 40m or so after you have crossed the A41 at Waddesdon on the return leg.  Also the estate road in Eyethrope Park has been temporarily closed, see the Route Notes below. Zooming In Highlights Include: The home of ‘Spaghetti Trees’. Playing detective to spot what remains of the abandoned stations. (Often not much!) The Buckinghamshire Railway Ce...

GPX file of the route  Goring Gap GPX This ‘figure of eight’ tour takes you from the wide, flat Thames Valley at the East end of the Vale of the White Horse, into much narrower and steep sides valley where the river cuts a course between the Chilterns meets the North Wessex Downs. This is the Goring Gap. It starts from Didcot station and heads north on NCR 5, a good(ish) cycle path towards the Thames, which it follows to Dorchester and Wallingford. Both were important cities in the Iron age and the Saxon period respectively and both can prove it!. It then continues along the bottom of the Goring Gap to Goring itself before returning to Wallingford, enjoying longer views from the upper side of the valley. From there it skirts the foot of the Downs back to Didcot. Apart from NCR 5 out of Didcot, It is mostly flat, minor roads with the odd busier stretch near the river. Much of it is flat, but there is a long but gentle climb out of Goring and an unmade section around South...