Archive for the ‘Gary’ tag
A night in The ‘Don – May 2010
We just can’t stop ourselves, we keep going back: Every time we visit London we pass a crane on the A4 at Brentford, a big red bastard we can see for miles before. We practically go underneath it, but we never pull off and stop. Always other things to do, places to see.
Battersea Powerstation – Dec 2009
You can’t ignore it from the Chelsea Embankment. A brooding brick hulk decaying since the 1980s.
Go West – May 2010
Another 28DL meet was arranged, and my attendance in Cardiff was confirmed when I realised what there was to do on the way down. Following Guildford, Bristol and Manchester’s previous nights of antics in years gone by, I pencilled myself in and got arranging.
In the Gasometer – April 2010
I’d looked at Gasometers since I was a kid, always fascinated by the scale of them, what they were, how they worked, and why they were built. Never quite got it, you see. Since long before I started exploring, I’d always fancied going up one, and on a night where we scoped out several other sites, this was the only one we ended up doing.
(This is why I still shoot Film)
Ticking Boxes – April 2010
March/April 2010 has been quite a busy period, what with visiting some drains, getting high in London, doing some interesting new stuff and then some stuff that’s under lock and key until I feel like it (probably next week or so…)
So here’s a few of those little things that just get done along the way. Read the rest of this entry »
London Highs – March 2010
Beneath London, above London, in London. Get it all here. We approached the capital with vague intentions of hitting something high. We discussed various sites we didn’t even go near, took the piss out of Nebba’s noddy car and upset taxi drivers by driving erratically. First site was the delightful Temple Court, a medium sized block close to Bank. In fact, it’s right next to New Court. Easy as pie, comical almost. Only downside was the presence of the wind, which knocked Nebba’s tripod over before he’d even opened his bag.
My First Sewer – March 2010
Having not been much of a sewer-rat since picking up this Urbex hobby/lifestyle/affliction, its been over 3 years since seeing pictures of the London Sewers and actually getting down there. Having always put it off in place of chasing asylums and local sites, the underground has grabbed me a little more having visited the Catacombs in Paris, and as such I made arrangements to get down under London for once.
Hobotrip – March 2010
Following Paris and the Einslife trip, the plan was to get away to Belgium again and see some powerstations and industry. More of the usual, whatever we can get our grubby, bramble scratched hands on. This trip seemed almost routine, a foray into dereliction for a prolonged period of time less of a novelty. If I’d have taken this trip a couple of years ago I’d have probably been beside myself with excitement. Thanks on this trip must go to Miles in particular, driving all the way to Liege and back in short stints between our long houred days of exploring.
Home Fires Burning, 2007-2010
The desire of explorers to conquer local derelict sites is always strong. Like a dog pisses on walls to mark its territory, explorers become expert at their local sites to gain early credibility. Reading isn’t exactly a haven of exploration. Aside from Station Hill’s 80s urban wonders, there is little else in Reading aside from an outdoor swimming pool and some office blocks. Construction comes and goes, there is the usual crap such as nursing homes and hostels, but the bottom line is, Reading doesn’t really draw explorers in.
Climb Cranes – Feb 2010
We turned up at Heron looking to climb the big tower. They had action on the ground floor and delivery lorries parked up waiting. We gave it an hour, stuffing our faces with McDonalds and then decided to fill our boots with something else. So through a hole in the wall we went, into another building site we’d not seen before.
