Come away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o
Michelle at the Daily Post describes harmony as,
“the quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole.”
There is a beautiful sculpture garden, Broomhill, that I’ve featured in the past, and when I saw that the challenge this week was Harmony, this photo popped out.
So perfectly placed
to reflect the harmony
of nature and art
Bystock pools in March
waiting anticipating
waking dragonflies
It’s Photrabloggers Mundane Monday again and I’ve made it this week,
with an English country scene.
A few miles east of my beloved Exe, lies the river Otter, in an area of outstanding natural beauty and an important resting place for migratory birds. The estuary is at Budleigh Salterton, another favourite place and the start of my stroll on the evening of August 3rd. Keeping the cricket field on your left, go through the kissing gate and the path is parallel to the river.
The sea is behind to us on the right just out of this photo.
You can just about make it out beside the red cliff.
The tide is on its way in.
Someone’s been busy!
Wading bird heaven, it’s a pity I’m too hopeless to capture them!
The path ahead.
With plenty of sloes in the hedge.
and a wonderful canopy of oak.
On the left side of the path, a ditch full of life is the boundary between the path and the marshy field.
I’ve always called this White Bridge, I’m not sure if that’s the actual name, but when my children were little it was the turning point of the walk for us. If you cross here, and turn right, back towards the sea, you will reach the south west coast path. I’ve walked a little bit of it there, but it’s a knee killer! Better to keep going, about two miles to the village of Otterton with it’s lovely mill and a nice pub. I remember starting at Budleigh one evening many years ago, walking the two and a half miles and having a nice pub meal. The problem was just because we set off on a sunny evening didn’t mean we’d return on one. We had to walk back in the dark. Beyond White Bridge the path is grass and uneven earth. There are no houses or lights to be seen and every so often a cow or three would loom out of the darkness over the fence. Our return walk was a lot faster than the pootle out!
This time we turned back.
Enjoyed the flora.
Aha, gotcha.
I knew there had to be birds somewhere. Otters have returned to the Otter, I think the dogs could smell them, they got excited a few times. Much as I’d like to see one I’d rather the dogs weren’t with me, if they chased after one they wouldn’t come off too well.
The light was changing quite quickly.
The estuary curves around the end of the pebble beach, beneath the red sandstone cliffs.
It’s nice when walks are circular, but here I like having the outwards and inward views of beautiful Devon. This is a walk I never tire of. all year round.
I’m sharing this with Jo but I think I’ve probably missed the boat, heyho never mind, there’s always another Monday. Happy walking wherever you are.
This week, share a photographic “Oops!” moment with us. The fiasco could be what’s in the picture: anything broken, jumbled, or otherwise cringe-worthy (ugly sweaters are encouraged!). Or it could be something in the photo-taking itself, from the tip of your finger ruining a meticulously framed panorama to an inopportune shadow messing up a family portrait.
So Ben at the Daily Post is giving me the opportunity to show something I excel at, taking photos on the wonk! Most noticeable on my coastal horizons, the ones below are all taken in Devon.
It would seem that I favour a dizzy-making right hand down, OOPS.
I found this funny little bench on Sunday and thought of Jude. I was out for lunch, somewhere I’d never been before in south Devon, disappointing and I won’t be going back, but there were a few things to see.
![IMG_1835 [986677]](https://lucidgypsy.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/img_1835-986677.jpg?w=880)
Jude’s theme this month is either Autumn or benches with messages or plaques, I’ve got both for you today Jude! First of all so that you can see what it says,
And then in situ. I know Jude liked the walk I posted here, so I think this is one she’d actually like to visit.
If you have a bench to share join in here.
and Exeter!
The verb “connect” is among the most versatile ones in contemporary usage. We turn to it to describe an emotional click with another person, but also to talk about the status of our (ever-proliferating) gadgets.The verb “connect” is among the most versatile ones in contemporary usage. We turn to it to describe an emotional click with another person, but also to talk about the status of our (ever-proliferating) gadgets.
Like many people I thought about my gadgets and photographed the connecting ones, including my last five years of mobile phones, just for fun. 
Then I started thinking about what connected really means to me, family and friends goes without saying, I’ve posted a few personal photos here on my blog, but that isn’t what Lucid Gypsy is about.
If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know that I absolutely love where I live. I like to travel whenever I can afford it, going out into the world, meeting people and having interesting experiences is wonderful, but to live in my little part of the world is incredible lucky. So here are some random photos of my local area, a place that I feel a deep connection to. First of all, Woodbury, a little village five miles from Exeter where I lived for a few weeks just after I was born.
The nearest beach Exmouth, is the one that most east of the Exe people choose, especially if they grew up in the days before mass car ownership. I’ve already posted lots of photos of Exmouth, and other places along the Exe and the estuary.
Just a mile from the centre of Exeter is my area, Heavitree, it has its not so wonderful bits, like too many takeaways in the main street, but it’s full of history and very friendly.
We’re right in the city now. There is evidence that Exeter dates back to 250bc. It was also the most south westerly Roman settlement in Britain.
It may not be grand, except for the Cathedral, but Exeter, east Devon and a little village in Nigeria, there’s a photo here, are the places I feel connected to.
I’m late posting the Weekly Photo Challenge, mega busyness. The theme is Inspiration this week, I’ve been thinking about it and finding it difficult to pin down. In the end I was looking through Lucid Gypsy, some photos, and the my regular Lazy Poet’s Haiku posts. Then it fell into place, my county, Devon in the south west of England is so often my inspiration. So here are a few photos in a gallery so that you can see why.
What inspires you? You can share it here.
Lucid Gypsy 