On some days you need to get out into the dales and on other days enter into the grimmer parts of a city.
Today's 30 miles (2300 feet) ride was spent cycling to the Birkshall part of Bradford to photograph three redundant gas holders that are being demolished - and one aspect of cycling through a city centre on multi-lane fast roads is that it certainly sharpens your wits when right turns are involved. I had two rear red lights flashing to avoid ending up as strawberry jam.
There has been a gas supply in Britain since before the battle of Waterloo (since 1812 actually) and gas holders played their part for 200 years but now - except for those listed or being converted into posh apartmenst - they are all to be removed by 2025.
There are approaching 125 left (all decommissioned) and recently a photobook containg b/w photographs of every one was publshed. One of the pictures was of Birkshall and since I have been in touch with the author I thought I would update her ...
I could add that for two hundred years (and so before the motor car, or electricity or tarmac roads or much else) engineers provided the UK with a reliable gas supply; but then politicians decided to run down the North Sea source and buy gas from Mr Putin (and other countries)... and where are we now?
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