A Different Angle(sey)

As a child living in Holyhead, Anglesey, the Britannia Railway Bridge was our link to the mainland. We had no car, so if we wished to travel it had to be by rail. Our travels were hardly exciting; the highlight of my year was a day trip to Rhyl funfair or to Chester Zoo. Whatever the destination, that moment of plunging into the darkness of the bridge’s tubular crossing - glimpsing first the massive limestone lions - was as exciting as any intercontinental flight. We were leaving the island. 

Then in 1970 everything changed. Robert Stephenson’s 1850 masterpiece burnt for nine hours after party-going youths accidentally set the bridge on fire. The link with the mainland was severed.  (See link below) 

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/nostalgia/moments-shocked-north-wales-britannia-3408566

Of course the famous road bridge still stood firm, and eventually the rail bridge was repaired and changed to a two-tier structure that now carries the A55 over the straits, as well as the railway.

So today’s blip shows Pont Britannia from a different angle. No longer are we looking at it from the road or train, nor are we gazing at it from a distance. Instead, we clamber down from the A5 to the shores of the beautiful Menai Straits and walk along the coastal path until we reach the base of the bridge’s columns where the water’s currents race with alarming force, rafting teams training in the currents as we watch (see extra). 

Apologies that I am yet again behind with comments and responses; it’s been a day of family visits either side if photo-opportunities. I will catch up, I promise! 

There’s more about the bridge’s history below, if you are interested
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/our-history/iconic-infrastructure/the-history-of-the-britannia-bridge-north-wales/

Thanks to Bobsblips for hosting!