Walk pictures - Bradwell holiday 2

Introduction

We went on holiday to Essex near a nuclear power station, but there were other pretty bits as well.

This is part 2 of the pictures (except the nuclear power station pics, which were posted separately). Part 1 is also available.

Seashore

Tarred-together stones above the beach.

1/1500 at f8, 22mm, ISO200 51°44′31″N 0°56′21″E

Tractor spreading lime (or something) on fields behind the sea wall.

1/1000 at f8, 220mm, ISO200 51°44′51″N 0°55′13″E

Mum in clouds of dust.

1/1000 at f8, 179mm, ISO200 51°44′50″N 0°55′12″E

Bradwell village

While waiting for a bus, I took a few pictures in Bradwell village.

Church clock.

1/750 at f8, 250mm, ISO200

Weathervane.

1/2000 at f8, 250mm, ISO200

Walk from Asheldham

We took the bus from Asheldham and walked back. After passing a field of deer and crossing some agricultural land, this led us to a place which is apparently called St. Lawrence and which features virtually nothing...

...except this great water tower!

1/750 at f8, 10mm, ISO200 51°42′5″N 0°50′40″E

And a cute little church.

1/500 at f8, 15mm, ISO200 51°42′12″N 0°50′41″E

A peaceful gravestone.

1/180 at f8, 22mm, ISO200 51°42′11″N 0°50′43″E

The water tower again, showing nearby farm buildings.

1/250 at f8, 200mm, ISO200 51°42′12″N 0°50′41″E

The walk then took us along a road with views of the river, until we reached another village (not sure what it's called).

However, they sell bull's eggs.

1/500 at f8, 18mm, ISO200 51°42′57″N 0°52′53″E

An old public footpath sign.

1/500 at f4.5, 90mm, ISO200 51°42′49″N 0°53′0″E

A dragon on the roof.

1/500 at f8, 250mm, ISO200 51°42′49″N 0°53′2″E

A small quarry seemed a bit out of place.

Here's a quarrying-thing.

1/350 at f8, 200mm, ISO200 51°43′1″N 0°53′14″E

After passing more farms, we returned back to the community via St. Peter's Chapel.

Complicated equipment on the roof of a farm building.

1/1000 at f8, 146mm, ISO200 51°43′11″N 0°53′43″E

The chapel (and the vestry). The chapel looks a bit knackered but it's 1,400 years old so I guess we can cut it some slack.

1/1000 at f8, 14mm, ISO200 51°44′6″N 0°56′23″E

Wildflower meadow (its variety is in fact too good to be true; it was sown with wildflower seed mix) under an impressive sky.

1/500 at f8, 22mm, ISO200 51°44′8″N 0°56′24″E

Evening

The chapel after evening worship. There aren't lights inside; the window is reflecting the last of sunset.

1/8 at f4.5, 55mm, ISO800 51°44′9″N 0°56′25″E

Looking out over the river, and some familiar barges, at night.

1/15 at f4.5, 22mm, ISO1600 51°44′32″N 0°56′19″E

Along the coast

We took another walk out along the coast to the south.

On departing, it was clear that the community's wind turbine was working...

1/250 at f16, 146mm, ISO200 51°44′14″N 0°56′23″E

Large flock of birds.

1/2000 at f8, 250mm, ISO200 51°43′50″N 0°56′29″E

Small, derelict farm building.

1/350 at f8, 116mm, ISO200 51°43′7″N 0°56′25″E

We took too long photographing the small derelict farm building, and Mum got bored.

1/350 at f8, 16mm, ISO200 51°43′6″N 0°56′24″E

The path then reached the top secret radio installation thingy! No idea what this is for but it's something military.

This is a big aerial.

1/1500 at f8, 84mm, ISO200 51°42′34″N 0°56′26″E

In the distance, haze caused odd visual effects. That or it was a distortion generated by the top secret radio installation thingy! I didn't bring a tinfoil hat so there was no way to check which.

1/1000 at f8, 250mm, ISO200 51°42′33″N 0°56′32″E

The military compound.

1/1000 at f8, 90mm, ISO200 51°42′33″N 0°56′30″E

Another view of the machine, which seemed to be built from a number of container-size blocks hooked together.

1/250 at f11, 10mm, ISO200 51°42′33″N 0°56′27″E

Wires.

1/1000 at f5.6, 179mm, ISO200 51°42′34″N 0°56′26″E

Buttons.

1/2000 at f4.5, 84mm, ISO200 51°42′34″N 0°56′23″E

The area also contained some vicious spiky-looking things that weren't military at all.

Okay, so it's a plough. (A French plough.)

1/1000 at f4.5, 22mm, ISO200 51°42′37″N 0°56′14″E

Glorious mud

In the mud along the shore near the chapel, Roman remains and various dubious things were reputed to lurk, so we went to take a look. We found a lot of mud.

These banks (which you can walk on) are all just mud.

1/500 at f8, 10mm, ISO200 51°44′17″N 0°56′31″E

Looking out to sea, there was mud as far as the horizon. All the things that look like rocks are, in fact, lumps of mud.

1/750 at f8, 10mm, ISO200 51°44′17″N 0°56′32″E

Where there isn't mud, there's shells - millions and millions of shells. In place of shingle that you'd expect on a normal beach, this one had shells.

1/1000 at f8, 10mm, ISO200 51°44′12″N 0°56′36″E

This view along the shoreline shows mud.

1/750 at f8, 10mm, ISO200 51°44′11″N 0°56′40″E

Mud in the foreground, with St. Peter's Chapel and the observation hut silhouetted on the horizon.

1/1500 at f8, 55mm, ISO200 51°44′11″N 0°56′39″E

Mum found this, which might be a Roman ridge-tile! Or it might be a non-Roman ridge tile. There were quite a lot of tiles around, either way. She also found a piece of bone which might have be human, and was at least enough to impress some German children back at the community.

1/750 at f5.6, 154mm, ISO200 51°44′11″N 0°56′38″E