Tag Archives: Gosport

Lockdown Cycling 2020

Lockdown Cycling. Despite Coronavirus and lockdown it was still possible (and encouraged) to cycle locally for exercise. Later, restrictions were lifted and cycle rides further afield were permitted.  My 1000 mile total (to date)  was made up of  rides around the Meon Valley, along the Meon Valley Trail, frequent rides around Gosport and  Lee on the Solent, trips to the shops and what has become an annual ride around the Isle of Wight.

Even the government (and local authorities) have been pushing the cycling theme  “Thousands of miles of new protected bike lanes, cycle training for everyone and bikes available on prescription will be rolled out under new plans to overhaul cycling and walking in England launched by Prime Minister Boris Johnson today (Tuesday 28 July).”

Sadly some of the local pop up schemes have been dropped (one such scheme after a local councillor had a ‘discussion’ with the Highways Authority.

Please click on any thumbnail to view my lockdown cycling  photos in a carousel.

Solent Airport Daedalus Boultbee Spitfire

Solent Airport Daedalus

We are lucky in the Stubbington area  to have the Boultbee Flight Acadamy Spitfires flying from Solent Airport Daedalus

Boultbee Spitfire at Solent AirportIt has been great to see and hear the Spitfire flying from the airfield, particularly after the loss of the Portsmouth Naval Gliding Centre.

While I cannot match the quality of the  photographs on their website it has been great fun trying!

There has even been TV presenter James Martin thrown in for good measure.

The thumbnails below are some of the photographs I have taken over the past week. Please click on any thumbnail to view the images in a carousel.

Have a look at my gallery of aviation photographs or browse the other galleries on Out To Grass Photography.

 

Eclipse Busway BRT extension madness

Update 26/04/2019: Bridge to remain with a revised junction

The 1km Eclipse busway extension to the existing route will be from the Tichborne Way / Hutfield Link south to form a new junction with Rowner Road, maintaining the existing shared use footway / cycleway from Hutfield Link to Rowner Road.

Eclipse Busway proposed extension routeWhile this sounds good news, the downside is that the excellent existing shared pedestrain   and cycle path (also designated a safe route to school) from the Hutfield Link to Rowner road will  be squeezed in with the bus route.

The bridge at the new junction will be demolished with the loss of the underpass and the perfect seperation arrangement of pedestrains and cyclists from traffic on the B3334

Pedestrains and cyclists (whom the Govement is championing under the guise of Active Travel) will be will be pushed down the pecking order, at odds with The Manual for Streets

According to the Active Travel briefing The Manual for Streets changed the government’s approach to the design and provision of residential and other streets.

This includes a hierarchy of provision that puts walking and cycling at the top, and following its principles can help design places that encourage active travel.

The Eclipse Busway has gone as far as possible.

Solent Airport Daedalus 100 Years Event

Solent Airport Daedalus 100 Years Event

Static aircraft, stalls and side shows on display at Solent Airport to celebrate 100 years of flying at Daedalus. The airfield opened in 1917 during the first World War and played a major part in the Second World War, particularly the D-Day operations.

Solent Airport Daedalus 100 Years Event

Though not as exciting as the displays when it was a Naval Airfield (under the guise of health and safety)  it was great to see the vintage aircraft and the ex Royal Navy Sea King, Wessex and Wasp helicopters along with the NAVYWINGS Gazelle and Wasp helicopters

 

Sea King XV647 at Solent Airport Daedalus 100 years event

Sea King XV647 winched to safety 26 crew members of the MSC Napoli a container ship that got into trouble off the Devon coast and had to be beached

 

 

 

Past displays included this Virgin Atlantic B747!

Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-238B on approach / fly past at one of the HMS Daedalus Airshows during the 1980s. The airfield is now Solent Airport Daedalus.
Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-238B on approach / fly past at one of the HMS Daedalus Airshows during the 1980s. The airfield is now Solent Airport Daedalus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on any thumbnail below to view the images in gallery.