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Burrow Mump, Burrowbridge, drainage, East Lyng, Glastonbury Tor, Greinton, Poldens, rhyne, River Parrett, Somerset floods, Somerset Levels, Somerset |Moors and Levels, starling, Taunton
The bus I took to Taunton last Friday was a single-decker one. On the way home the 29 was a double-decker, and I was fortunate to get an upstairs front seat.
Allowing plenty of time at the bus stop, as it was only a two-hourly service, I had seen the Market House, a Grade II listed building now housing a variety of bodies,
and that the Dragon would be visiting Taunton this weekend.
Once we had left the outskirts of the town, I couldn’t resist taking a few photos with my phone. The majority of the route was across the moors, along a road that had been closed because of floods – a not unusual occurrence – a couple of weeks ago. Traffic has to go a longer way round by motorway when that happens. But now it was a pretty, if mostly dull weather-wise, journey across the Somerset Moors, through countryside and villages.
Given the grubby state of the windows, and the fact that the bus was moving, I am amazed that the photos are this clear.
The Somerset Moors (the correct name for most of what are commonly called the Somerset Levels) abound in ditches, rhynes and canals, not to mention remote-controlled sluices, all part of the water management system. The initial drainage was by the Romans, much extended by mediaeval monks, and continues to this day. It’s when nature wins that roads are closed.
The Polden Hills, the lowest range in Somerset, coming into view.
The bus passed nearby starling roosting grounds, and this is just a part of the flock which flew across the window at 16.20, on its way to join millions of other birds converging for the night.
Not too far from home now, the pimple of Glastonbury Tor coming into sight.
Musiewild's blog 
We haven’t had a decent starling murmuration for several years now. Well done for taking such good pictures while on the move.
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Sadly, along with many other species, the size of murmurations is growing smaller everywhere, I understand.
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Quelle chance que ce retour aux 1ères loges ! Chance aussi ce service de bus pratique.
Les photos sont en effet très réussies, bravo à la photographe et… au téléphone !
Ma préférée est sans doute Greinton church, cachée/révélée derrière son arbre.
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I was able to get the ‘1ères loges’ seat (a new expression for me – I had to look it up) because I got on the bus at the terminal. As for the practicality of the bus, as it is only every two hours, it’s not always convenient. For instance, I have just booked for a talk at the museum for an afternoon in May. I shall have to go by car because of the timing but shall use the Park and Ride facility, some sort of compromise I suppose.
Glad you like the photo of the church behind its tree. I was rather disappointed that the tree got in the way!
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Comparé aux possibilités et horaires des transports en commun en France entre villes de province, c’est Byzance ! (encore une expression 😉 )
Pour l’église et l’arbre, je me doutais que la rencontre n’était pas volontaire ! Ç’aurait été gênant en été, mais là, ça apporte une touche originale.
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You did well with your through the window photography – it looked like a very pleasant ride.
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I enjoyed it, even though it took 30 minutes longer than going by car would have.
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