Cragg Vale’s bunting, at dawn

Monday 7th July 2014, 3.45am (day 1,047)

Cragg Vale bunting, 7/7/14

To mark the passing of the Tour de France, pictured yesterday of course, the people of Cragg Vale, a valley to the east of Hebden Bridge, created the world’s longest-ever line of bunting — 12,115 meters, or over seven miles, with nearly 60,000 flags (see this page for the details). It ran up the longest continuous uphill gradient in England, which the cyclists ascended after leaving Hebden Bridge yesterday.

And why the hell was I there at 3.45 in the morning? Well, off on another work trip — you’ll see where tomorrow. What I’ve also done is definitely break the record for the earliest ever morning shot on this blog. There have been three before at around 1.00-1.45am but all of them were from me having stayed up from the night before. Today’s was definitely the earliest shot at which I’ve had to respond somehow to an alarm call.

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The world’s greatest cycle race comes through Nutclough…

Sunday 6th July 2014, 1.50pm (day 1,046)

Tour de France, 6/7/14

…so I think the Tour de France should be the subject of today’s picture… don’t you? I doubt any other world-class sporting event is going to come within a few feet of my front door again. Of all the ones I got today I like because of my friend Simon’s smile, and also the fact it has the yellow jersey on it — he’s just visible in the centre.

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Clare and Joe

Saturday 5th July 2014, 5.20pm (day 1,045)

Clare and Joe, 5/7/14

My family. No further comment necessary.

Tour de France tomorrow.

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Jackdaw, early morning

Friday 4th July 2014, 6.45am (day 1,044)

Jackdaw, early morning, 4/7/14

I like the way this bird (which apparently is a jackdaw, not a rook as I originally identified it) looks aspirational, as if it’s seen something up there and (unlike poor grounded humanity) knows that within a couple of seconds it can reach it. I also like the focus and the lines of the slates below it. All not bad going for 6.45am, the first time I’ve done a shot remotely at this time since November.

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By Canal Street, Manchester city centre

Thursday 3rd July 2014, 9.40am (day 1,043)

Canal street, 3/7/14

Canal Street in Manchester is best known for being the street in the midst of the Gay Village; but it does actually still have a canal beside it. This is probably the first time I have seen a working boat on it. If you barge it for long enough, by the way, in a generally northerly direction, this is also the canal that goes through Hebden Bridge, as seen many times on this blog in the past.

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Warning sign on Keighley Road

Wednesday 2nd July 2014, 8.40am (day 1,042)

Warning sign, 2/7/14

You knew the Tour de France was coming past the front door of my house on Sunday afternoon, right? Well, if not, you do now.

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Clare, incognito (15th wedding anniversary evening out)

Tuesday 1st July 2014, 6.30pm (day 1,041)

Clare incognito, 1/7/14

I knew you wouldn’t make it all the way down the road in those heels, dear. Anyway, even if the exact date is tomorrow — happy wedding anniversary, hun. My, 15 years… as long as Basil and Sybil Fawlty 🙂

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Platform 1 roof, Hebden Bridge station

Monday 30th June 2014, 8.40am (day 1,040)

HB station roof, 30/6/14

After 1,040 days I need now and again to try to see something more than the usual scenes. Heavy cropping made something of what was otherwise a standard ‘train coming in’ snapshot. Does the modern display board spoil the shot?

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George and Kelly visit

Sunday 29th June 2014, 10.20am (day 1,039)

George and Kelly, 29/6/14

George is originally from Cyprus and his wife Kelly, from Minnesota. They had been living in Austin, Texas, but have recently moved to Vancouver Island, Canada. He used to work with me at the University of Manchester and was passing through Hebden Bridge (England) today, on their way to fly home, from Scotland, so we met in the morning for tea.

I don’t know if they were planning to appear on my blog as well as all these other places in their life, but as they look happy and I like this picture of them, they have.

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Walker, summit of Arthur’s Pike

Saturday 28th June 2014, 12.20pm (day 1,038)

Walker, Arthur's Pike, 28/6/14

Another Lake District walk today. I was sat down having my lunch on the summit of Arthur’s Pike (1747 feet above sea level) when this other walker came over to admire the view and I just snapped him from below, the Pennines in the background. More photos and text will appear on my other blog tomorrow, but not tonight. A cloudy day, as you can see; OK for walking but June is never a great month for photography.

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