June 2009 Archives
I've now reached the end of my seven weeks of WWOOFing at 'Horse and Garden' in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada, and am looking forward to the next highlight in my summer of 2009 - a 9 week training voyage on the barque 'Picton Castle'. But before I move on, I wanted to share a few of my more recent images.
Looking across the Meadow
This is another of my HDR (High Dynamic Range) images, and captures very well the type of views that there are across the 'Horse and Garden' farm. I've enjoyed my WWOOFing time here, and have been able to contribute quite a bit to the farm, buildings and garden. I'm also feeling a lot fitter than when I got here, so hopefully will be ready to tackle some of the tasks on the 'Picton Castle' in the weeks to come. I'd recommend the WWOOFing experience to anyone - its a lot more fun than being a hamster on a treadmill in the Gym.
Horse and Garden - main house
Around the Bonfire - Visiting Friends
I've met quite a few of Charlotte's friends and relations, and have been made to feel very welcome by everyone I've encountered. Canadians are noted for their friendliness and hospitality - this has certainly turned out to be true for me.
Travelling Tim with a Nova Scotia tan
Daisies in the Meadow
Without transport, Nova Scotia is very difficult for the visitor to get around, so most of the time here was spent on the farm. I've taken quite a few images in the area, including this photo of daisies in the meadow behind our mini-home. Occasionally we would visit the local town of Windsor, where there is a small but useful range of shops and services, including an excellent second-hand bookstore. In the centre of town is an interesting wooden statue, commemorating the world's largest pumpkin variety: 'Dills Atlantic Giant', and its originator/creator, Howard Dill, of Windsor, Nova Scotia.
Dills Atlantic Giant and its creator Howard Dill of Windsor N.S.
Map of our road trip around central Nova Scotia
On Wednesday last, we all took a day off from the farm-work, and set off, with sandwiches, for a road trip around central Nova Scotia. You can see a map of our route above, which was plotted from data captured on my GPS receiver. I also use this to geo-reference the photos I took that day. You can see the location of most of the photos on this page by clicking on them - a new browser will open, showing the route superimposed on a Google satellite map. Isn't technology wonderful !!
Mahone Bay - Ladies in the Information Office
Picton Castle - Port Side View
Heading south-west from Windsor, we visited first the small and exclusive town of Chester, where the rich folks live. It was raining at the time, so no photos to share with you here. On to Mahone Bay, and a chat with the friendly ladies of the Mahone Bay Tourist Information Office. We left with armfulls (not really!) of maps, guides, and useful leaflets that would help our exploration of the area. Still raining there, but it stopped by the time we got to the coastal town of Lunenberg, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and very picturesque.
Picton Castle - Crew working on Deck
Picton Castle - Rigging
The main reason for coming here was not to see the town however, but to get my first sight of the 'Picton Castle', the 3-masted barque that I am due to join next Saturday. There she was, moored to a private wharf near to the schooner 'Bluenose II'. Some work was going on board, so I didn't like to bother the crew just then, but spent a while looking over the ship I had come so far to sail on.
Rommy and Tom on the schooner Bluenose II
Captain of the schooner Bluenose II
The Picton Castle moored at the Lunenberg wharf
What a lot of ropes - will I ever memorise the names and uses of them all? I've been working on the sail plan recently, trying to learn them at least, and practising the knots required of all trainees: bowline, reef knot, sheet bend, round turn and two half hitches, clove hitch, and the figure of eight knot. We had sandwiches on the dock at Lunenberg, then walked around the town looking at all of the fine and interesting buildings. A little shopping too, for some last minutes items needed on board.
Bladderwrack Seaweed - isn't it beautiful
Cyril and Tom waiting for the West Lahave Ferry
The Horse and Garden Team - Tom, Charlotte, Rommy, Cyril
Bottles in Lahave antique shop window
Leaving Lunenberg (for a few days, at least), we drove south to see more of the coastline, taking the ferry at Lahave, with its lovely artisan-bakery and a most interesting and cared for antique shop. Turning inland to Bridgewater, we stopped for coffee and cake, and a wander through the town and along the riverside, with its small but pleasant park.
Birch Trees in Bridgewater Park
Vehicles on Nova Scotia Highway 103
Back on the road again, and a major highway this time, the I103 which passes through forest and lakeland to take us to St Margaret's Bay. At the head of this inlet is the famous 'Peggy's Cove' lighthouse, so being tourists for the day, we felt we ought to go and see it. Rather dilapidated at the moment, the lighthouse has been in the news recently as needing a coat of paint which the local authorities decided they couldn't afford this year. A public outcry helped them change their minds, so these photos may be some of the last before it gets spruced up.
Peggys Cove Lighthouse and Visitors
Peggys Cove Lighthouse
Peggys Cove - Wildlife Photography
Peggys Cove - Taking a Photograph
Sea and Rocks at Peggys Cove
Rommy and Tom at Peggys Cove Lighthouse
Not far from the lighthouse is the farm of Charlotte's friends, Jean and Alan Frederick, and a more friendly couple you couldn't hope to meet. We chatted over tea and freshly made bread, inspected the wood saw and garden, then walked down to the shoreline to see a last view of the ocean before returning back to Windsor, at the end of a grand day out.
Face on a Barn Shingle Wall
Jean and Alan Frederick
Thunderhead Sunset
Another HDR photo, of the sunset seen from just next to our Mini-Home. Please note that all images, and many more like them, are available for commercial licensing in a range of sizes - contact me with your detailed requirements for further details.
Sunset at the Mini-Home
During the Cold War of the 1960s and '70s, the US kept most of their ICBMs (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles) in underground missile silos, hardened against direct attack. However, with the development of increasingly more precise inertial guidance systems, they were rendered somewhat less protected than they might have been. The US spent considerable effort in the 1970s and 1980s designing a land-mobile replacement, but none of the complex systems were ever produced, mainly due to budgetary concerns by Congress.
The Soviet Union, in contrast, kept a number of their nuclear missile systems mobile, and were thus much less easy to locate and destroy. This Blog, in 2 parts, brings you some photos of two different mobile Soviet nuclear weapon systems that I photographed on my recent trip to Russia: the 'RT-2PM Topol', and the 'RT-23 Molodets'.
The 'RT-2PM Topol', known to NATO by the name 'SS-25 Sickle', is a land-based missile system. This three stage solid propellant rocket, with an operational range of 10,500 km (6,500 miles), became the first Soviet mobile ICBM to be successfully deployed. It is mounted on the MAZ-7917, a 14x12 artillery truck designed and developed by MAZ, Minsk automobile plant, in what is now the country of Belarus. Accompanying the missile when it is deployed in the countryside are two other vehicles: a 4x4 Mobile command post that carries the required support facilities, and a Communications Relay Station that uses Troposheric communications antennas mounted on an extendable lattice mast.
View of Missile Launch Vehicle through fence
Its not everyday that one chances upon land-based nuclear weapon systems, so I was more than surprised to see a full RT-2PM Topol detachment when rounding a corner in down-town St Petersburg. The first glimpse I had was through a thick fence, topped with barbed wire. A sentry box stood close by, but was un-occupied at the time. Was it safe to stand and look? Was I breaking a whole bunch of military regulations by just being there? On my last visit to the Soviet Union in 1981, I had unwittingly photographed the notorious Lubyanka Prison, headquarters of the KGB, but apart from a brief and mysterious arrest and interrogation by the authorities in Leningrad, nothing more occured. Things are a bit more relaxed in Russia in these post-Soviet days, but was it safe to chance a photo or two? I was about to find out.
Tropospheric Relay Station, Mobile command post, and Transporter Erector Launcher behind fence
Making my way along the fence, I cast furtive glances at the impressive RT-2PM Topol missile and its huge 7-axle multi-terrain transport vehicle. Parked alongside were the Communications truck, with its tropospheric dishes deployed, and the large Command and control truck. All was quiet, no guards were in the vicinity...
RT-2PM Topol mounted on its MAZ-7917 14x12 artillery truck
I then noticed that other members of the public were walking by without a second glance. Was it a daily occurence for a nuclear launch facility to be parked there? Were they keeping their eyes averted for a reason? Then a party of school children ran by, swung on the railings, rounded another corner, and started climbing on a range of other military vehicles parked in a group. A ticket office stood nearby, and the explanation dawned at last - I was looking into the grounds of the Saint Petersburg Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Signals!
Tropospheric Relay Station, Mobile command post, and Transporter Erector Launcher. Note the guard-dog kennel on the left!
Once I realised that all was OK, I wasted no time in getting my camera out and taking some shots of these impressive vehicles. I hope you enjoy taking a look too. Please note that all images are available for commercial licensing, in a range of sizes - contact me with your detailed requirements for further details.
RT-2PM Topol mounted on its MAZ-7917 14x12 artillery truck
RT-2PM Topol mounted on its MAZ-7917 14x12 artillery truck - diagonal view
RT-2PM Topol mounted on its MAZ-7917 14x12 artillery truck - side view
RT-2PM Topol mounted on its MAZ-7917 14x12 artillery truck - side view
Missile Launch Vehicle - closeup of front
Missile Launch Vehicle - closeup of centre
MAZ-7917 14x12 artillery truck - front view
Mobile command post - diagonal view
Mobile command post - side view
Mobile command post - side view
Front of Mobile command post
Mobile command post: note the armored turret with machine gun at the rear
Mobile command post - detail of front side
Tropospheric Relay Station - diagonal view
Tropospheric Relay Station - closer view
Tropospheric Relay Station - side view
Tropospheric Relay Station - detail of dishes and extending lattice-mast
Tropospheric Relay Station - side view
Tropospheric Relay Station - diagonal view
Tropospheric Relay Station - front view
Tropospheric Relay Station - diagonal view
Tropospheric Relay Station, Mobile command post, and Transporter Erector Launcher. Note the guard-dog kennel on the left!
Please visit the second part of this Blog to see photos of another ex-Soviet nuclear weapon system, the 'RT-23 Molodets', known to NATO by the name 'SS-24 Scalpel'.
