Pershore in Worcestershire is only 10 miles from Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire where I am currently contracting. I found a nice studio to rent for 6 months in Pershore so Pershore was where I was based in a quiet cul de sac.
Ordnance Survey Online
Most of my weekend walks were taken from the AA 50 walks in Gloucestershire and 50 walks in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. After a while this gets a little restrictive or requires some long drives to the outskirts of the counties. This week I discovered Ordnance Survey online maps while I was at work. I was impressed with the online maps, showing such details as height of hills etc. Also with the premium version of which I purchased it gives you lots of routes to walk, also cycle routes.
Millennium Way
There was a good walk close to where I live starting at the Old bridge in Pershore and then along the river Avon and along the Millennium way and through Tiddesley woods.
It was another cloudy weekend and rain was forecast in a few hours time but I calculated I would miss it and get my exercise and hopefully some good photographs around Pershore. When your working the sun always shines during week days when you have to slave away at a computer in some office.
Canon 24 mm Pancake Lens
Another reason I wanted to get out today being Sunday was yesterday I had my new lens delivered via Amazon Prime.
I wanted a wide angle prime lens as I mostly shoot landscapes around this focal length. With a prime lens suppose to give better image sharpness than a telephoto zoom. At the price it was well worth taking the gamble. Of course it also a lot lighter than the 18-200 mm lens by canon.
My first shots with the canon 24 mm were of Pershore old Bridge. You can park up free at the Pershore Old bridge with it being a picnic area for families. But get there early especially if the weather is nice.
River Avon Pershore
After I had taken my first shots with the Canon 24 mm pancake lens I headed across the road to join the Millennium way by the side of the river Avon in Pershore. As I left a big white swan swam from under the new bridge to the old bridge and I lost the moment for a good focal point.
The fishermen were starting to arrive along the river avon in Pershore as I walked the stretch along the Millennium way. Old fishermen never die they just smell that way as the saying goes. Got a few good exposures of the river avon from the side of the river bank.
GPS tracking
The great thing with the online Ordnance survey maps is you can check your progress on your mobile phone or a 10″ tablet that I take along and tether it to my mobile phone. Each walk is plotted in a red line and superimposed over what ever map you choose to view.
So using your GPS you can correct yourself if you are getting off course. Something you cannot do with the AA walking books. The funny thing is with the premium version of online Ordnance survey maps is they come with all the AA walks. There are over half million routes in online Ordnance survey maps and you can download selected routes as GPX files and then upload them to google maps if you prefer.
Tiddesley wood and here comes the rain
I headed across the road walking alongside Pershore cemetery towards Tiddesley woods. Looking back there were some good views of Bredon Hill.
The other side of Tiddesley woods heading across farmland and feet getting heavy with sticky mud the rain started to come down. I had enough, put my pac a mac on and put away my camera and took the shortest route back towards Pershore highstreet and the old pershore bridge where my car was parked. I was impressed with the photo sharpness of the images I had captured with my new 24 mm canon prime pancake lens. Only a 5 minute drive back for a much deserved bacon sandwich and hot cup of coffee.