These are some pictures I took about a month ago, in Matlock Bath. I'd fogotten I had them. They're of a odd little thing they do as part of the illuminations there. The tradition dates back to Victoria's Golden Jubilee - rowing boats, swanning up and down the river with these big illuminated structures attached.
When you first get there (nice and early so you know you'll get a good view) the boats are just tied up, light-bulbs and structure all very visible and it looks like it's going to be very crap and disappointing. But then dusk falls properly and they head down the river and it becomes slightly magical. You can't see the oarsmen or anything. Just these bright, iconic representations seeming to float magically above the river.
wow. i grew up in the midlands and remember being taken to see the matlock bath illuminations one year as a teeny weeny kid. i'd totally forgotten about that. i wonder what other remembories i've got hidden away.
Posted by: funkypancake | October 07, 2004 at 10:33 PM
Extraordinary.
Posted by: Planethalder | October 08, 2004 at 07:55 PM
Amazing. I've just bookmarked your blog, really nice
Posted by: Luiz | October 10, 2004 at 07:52 PM
I stumbled across your blog a while back while on google image search and within minutes I bookmarked it.
You have some really interesting/amazing stuff.
Keep it up.
Posted by: j0hn1215 | October 12, 2004 at 12:09 AM
thanks for the kind comments everyone. And Dave - perhaps we should try and build our own illuminated boats and float them on the Serpentine.
Posted by: russell davies | October 12, 2004 at 10:37 AM
good plan !
we could combine it with the annual puddle boar race: http://www.funkypancake.com/blog/archives/002167.html
i'll give you a shout when we do the next one and we could have an inter-office tournament on tottenham court road !
Posted by: funkypancake | October 12, 2004 at 07:38 PM