Category: Photography
Distant Beaches
A few days ago I was reading a favourite blog friends post about beaches, and something seemed familiar. I’ve seen photos of many wonderful places since I’ve been blogging, it’s great to see parts of the world I’ll probably never get to visit in reality. Australia is one of those places and Eurobodalla beach in particular, and yet I feel a connection. So when Meg posted images of Broulee beach I looked through my photos to try to find out why. 
These rows where Dido and Daisy are paddling remind me of Meg’s beach 
As does this crisscrossing in the rock. 
and the view at Hartland is rather like Narooma!
And these are similar to Meg’s Smugglers Cove photos. 
Craggy rocks with winkles. 
Crops of determined little flowers 
Even surfers, but I expect they are colder than any near Meg. Pay a visit to Meg and see if you don’t agree with me, Hartland in North Devon has a lot in common with these beaches in New South Wales. To find Hartland on a map of the UK, first find South Wales, then go due south.
Dartmoor Walls
Like many upland areas around the UK and the rest of the world, dry stone walls can be found all over Dartmoor. Some are hundreds of years old and have fallen into disrepair, others are well maintained and still functioning as they were intended.
The name refers to the lack of any mortar used in the construction, although often nature takes its course and soil arrives and fills in the gaps.
I’ve always loved these old walls, to run my hand across the granite is a journey back to the dawn of time on our planet, and to make contact with all the hands that have touched before me. Dartmoor’s dry stone walls may not be as grand as those built by the Incas in Peru and I don’t suppose they can be seen from space like the Great Wall of China, but they are living, breathing masterpieces in their own way.
Cheri Lucas Rowlands has created the photos challenge of Wall this week, click to join in.
Lazy Poet’s Thursday Haiku
A loved hilltop view
heading home to my Devon
sun sets on the bay
Wordless Wednesday
Michelle Loves Orange, So do I
As long as I don’t have to wear it!
What’s not to love about orange? It’s vibrant. It’s cheerful. It makes a statement. It’s the perfect punctuation for a punchy photo.*
This week, share a group of photos where orange is either the dominant color, or provides a bold highlight. Shoot for at least three photos, and look for different shades — bright neons, deep rusts, delicate peaches.
So that’s Michelle’s challenge at The Daily Post this week.
And here are my photos, enjoy!
You know where to go to join in, I’m looking forward to seeing your entries.
Lazy Poets Thursday Haiku
Helen once walked along
This path to antiquity
Fair beauty of Troy
Wordless Wednesday
A Carved Wooden Bench
Jude is running a monthly bench challenge and for March the topic is wooden benches. I found this one a few years ago at a cultural centre in Kuala Lumpur and it’s always stayed in my mind. It wasn’t particularly comfortable but it was very tactile!
Perhaps you have a wooden bench to share? If you’d like to join in visit Jude at
https://smallbluegreenwords.wordpress.com/bench-series/
Trekking with a reward
Parco Dell’Etna in the north east of Sicily is a dynamic landscape. When I visited in 2013, there were nineteen eruptions, hence climbing up to the crater was prohibited. Etna, Europe’s highest volcano is 3323 metres high and also the most active. We spent a day driving around the national park, but soon realised that the best way to see it was with a guide, so we shared a 4 wheel drive with two other travellers.
We set off from Monte Sartorius, on a 5 kilometre trail to 2000 metres. A bright sunny day but getting cooler the higher we went.
Getting higher . . .
Some of the lava has very sharp edges, some gives way under your feet, concentration is necessary!
This path felt rather precarious, narrow, no grip and a steep drop.
Looking back down towards the valley
This was a two to three hour walk, steep in some places but not particularly challenging. It was a bit of a knee killer though and I could feel that I’d done something the next day, the reward outweighed the pain though!
Lucid Gypsy 
