That's what this winter's been about round here.
And wind.
And high tides.
And floods.
So I've been indoors and, on the whole, have kept away from the cliffs and the sea (they could be lethal) and from the rain which would finish off my camera.
Thus - silence.
Here and there, hawthorn leaves open, alexander seedlings spring up and . . . and I expect all sorts of other things are happening which would be interesting to notice if I could see anything beyond my streaming spectacles. Even when the rain takes a rain break the wind carries on and everything not set in stone keeps dancing. Nothing is still. So it's all a spin of water here and everything's blurred and not very blog-friendly.
But I wouldn't want you to think I've dissolved or have been swept out to sea - so I went to look at Portland Bill. My intention had been to walk between the rock gullies where plants are stiff and protected from the wind. I've been there before. It's interesting to see change . . . or lack of it . . . Except on that side of the headland the sea was rougher than usual and I was scared. It wasn't going to leap over and 'get' me - not at that moment, it wasn't - but there are big rocks missing from the sea, shattered by recent storms. I didn't want to go missing from land. The waves coming in were fifteen or twenty foot high. A ship was ploughing along, dipping in and out of view as it hit even bigger waves further out.
+-+AT+PORTLAND+BILL+-+JANUARY+28TH+2014+-+IMG_7148+-+CR+2SHBRTEMMID+-+2047.jpg "Densely packed, deep green leaves of Erigeron glaucus (Seaside Daisy) ? Portland Bill") |
| Erigeron glaucus (I think). (I'll take its picture again when it flowers.) |
Being a coward . . . I pottered round to the other side of the lighthouse where everything was much calmer than it often is in winter and found . . . not a lot.
Which isn't quite true. There probably was a lot but I didn't stay long enough to do much more than photograph a few plants a million times so something would be in focus - and come home.
Proves I exist though!
* * *
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| Burdock (Arctium) |
Portland Bill is the southernmost tip of the Island of Portland - which isn't quite an island and which is joined to the mainland of Dorset by a causeway and a bridge.
Other Portland Posts on Loose and Leafy:
17 comments:
Yes, I empathise! I long for a few quiet, sunny, dry days, so that I can do some gardening and take some decent photos. All my recent photos have been either taken indoors, or else very hurried.
Hi Mark. I went to take a photograph of the tree in the drain I've been following and it started to rain instantly. Going out with a camera is rather like hanging up the washing - acts as an instant rain spell. Tipping down again now.
Hi Lucy, It's lovely to see a post from you. The weather has been so awful home is the best place to be at the moment! Sarah x
Keep yourself safe in this weather - best to get out and view the aftermath rather than attempting to catch the eye of the storm
Hello Sarah. You are doing better than me with posts. You've even managed to take pictures of Chesil Beach. The moment I took my camera from its case beside The Cove House . . it rained. Some job they've got up there! Re-organising pebbles on a beach sounds like a mythological penance.
Hi, Gerald. By the time the storms have passed I think the muscles in my legs and arms will have lost their power - I'm staying indoors so much.
from here it looks idyllic, blue skies - but crumbly cliffs and fierce seas would make me VERY wary.
Nice to see you posting again. I don't blame you for staying indoors and away from the cliffs. Your weather has been just awful, up here on the edge of the Peak District it's been wet and miserable but nowhere near as bad as your part of the country. Let's hope that we all get some signs of spring soon.
Good to see you back.
There is much to be said for a weather proof camera.
Hello Diana - it was a fortunate break in the rain and I grabbed it. Only lasted about an hour. And it was really odd that the sea was comparatively calm on the side where there are usually huge plumes of spray against the rocks (where I took the spray-less picture!)but on the other side of the lighthouse the sea was frightening.
A rock stack has completely vanished - smashed by the waves There are more high tides today.
Do you know Sarah's blog - 'Down by the Sea'? She has a post about some of the clearing up along Chesil Beach http://tinyurl.com/q5se3u2
But even her pictures look placid and sunny. When the waves are crashing right up over the top of the beaches and cliffs it's really dramatic - but dangerous! And even if you stand back - the spray gets around.
Hello Rowan. Glad the weather isn't causing you too much bother. I imagine the Peak District is used to rain so the land copes. I feel a fraud with this blog. My house is neither storm nor flood threatened. I am really lucky. It's been nice when friends have phoned to ask if we are ok because Dorset was on the news - but embarrassing too because some of them have waters reaching towards their homes and really do have things to worry about!
Hello Adrian - how wonderful a weather-proof camera would be! (And glasses with wind-screen wipers!)
It is good that you played safe and didn't do anything that could have put yourself in danger. Better safw than sorry.
Hi - long time no see. I have hardly taken any photographs this last month - as you say nothing much to see. But living on the coast as you do, better be safe than sorry - I know you have had it pretty bad down there.
Portland Bill, new to me but easy to remember. Its good to live by the sea, and your coast looks very exciting.
We have had rain, snow and frigid temps so i know how you feel....good to get out and walk near the sea....I would love it.
I'm glad you are back! This rain seems endless, doesn't it? And I need wind-screen wipers on my specs, too.
Nice pictures - I love water and rocks, but preferably with some blue sky and pretty clouds above.
By the way, I always visualise Portland Bill as an old and jolly lighthouse keeper...
Onwards and upwards :)
It looks so calm and tranquil in your first photo Lucy and so far removed from the weather we've been reading about and seeing on our television screens this winter. Then as we know the weather is so mercurial. Your neck of the woods has really been hit hard this year. Do take care when you are out and about. Roll on spring and some gentler days!
You post, therefore you are...
The ocean can be a powerful and scary thing. Especially so in bad weather.
We don't get much rain in my part of the world, but I always seem to end up in places with a lot of dust. Both are bad for cameras...
At least it isn't snowing:) I enjoyed your photos Lucy:)
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