ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Sunday 8 March 2015

FLOODED IN. (08/03/15)

After forty eight hours the rain stopped at seven this morning. Everything in the van including the dogs is damp and smelly. I decided to set off up Foyers Gorge to have a look at the famous Falls of Foyers.

_MG_2832

_MG_2835   We were flooded in. This was not an insurmountable problem as there is a surmountable fence that got me clear of the inundation and allowed access to the lung busting stagger up the gorge.

_MG_2838   The bridge was still open and I hoped it would remain so as it’s a seven mile walk back if it gets closed.

_MG_2841   Onwards and upwards we plodded. The old bridge in the foreground is fenced off as it’s falling down, the Bailey Bridge is behind it and was a temporary replacement twenty years ago. The Spanish have maƱana to express urgency; Highlanders never have a job as pressing as tomorrow.

_MG_2845   Our first view of the falls.

_MG_2846                        This is the highpoint of our wander, from here it is downhill to the cataract.

_MG_2848     Getting closer and it’s not looking promising. There is far too much spray.

_MG_2850            WOW. It was like standing under a pressure washer. Sixty metres of waterfall. I was saturated but it was worth the walk. I did take a tripod and the sound recorder for some video but it was far too wet to risk either the recorder or the camera for more than a second or two. The ground was shaking and the dogs were barking with excitement. I could barely hear them over the water booming.

_MG_2853     The sun popped out as we beat a hasty retreat. Hasty? Let’s settle for a fast hobble.

It was worth the effort and one day I will catch the falls in a photographic mood. Neither a trickle nor a torrent but middling would be good.

46 comments:

  1. Wow you have an exciting life Adrian ~ I imagined the van was going to be found floating downstream and you would be homeless.

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    1. Carol, the van is fine, you can see it in the second picture.

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  2. I was a bit worried as the "flood" warnings popped up on my phone. Glad you're reasonably dry. I personally think all that spray makes the image, you can feel the force of it through the images.

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    1. Douglas, I shot them all at 50mm as there are only two vantage points and the lower one though wet is the better.

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  3. You were obviously impressed. Pity conditions were unsuitable for video.

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    1. John. maybe later in the week. It is a hell of a pull uphill for me these days.

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  4. WOW, you live on the wild side! I would be a nervous nellie about the bridge getting washed away! I imagine it was worth the hike to see the majestic power of the falls..what a sight! Stay safe and dry!

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    1. Terri, I checked it wasn't moving before stepping on to it.

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  5. So often people visit waterfalls only to find that they are little more than a trickle but you experienced the Falls of Foyer in all their mighty power. Sometimes it is the experience that matters much more than any photographic recording.

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    1. YP, I agree but it would have popped the icing on the cake to get a few minutes video.

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  6. I agree with YP about sometimes you just need to be there or experience it. Having said that I'm pleased that you managed to get the shots that you did. I walked miles (no kilometres - I was in New Zealand) to what was one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the area only to find that it was virtually dry.

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    1. Graham, it wasn't a wasted walk. I have been up several times only to find it trickling. I have never seen it like this. The loch is very high. So much water what with the rain and snow melt.

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  7. Well worth the slog for the falls Adrian. Must have been quite an experience seeing it.

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  8. Keith, if it's fine tomorrow afternoon then I'll have another go. It would be good to get a rainbow in the spray and a bit less spray.

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    1. Monica, I enjoy extremes. It was an impressive place today.

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  10. HI Adrian Well done for actually getting to to the Falls and it was certainly worth it. Great shots. I also love the shot when the sun came out.

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    1. Margaret, I was wondering today how many more times I'll manage the hill. It's less than a mile but it is steep.

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  11. I love the falls and the bridge pictures Adrian! Stunning Landscapes! Stay safe.

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    1. Ruby, it is a wonderful place. I am safe as houses here.

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  12. We are all living vicariously through your wonderful adventures! No wonder the dogs were barking! I could almost hear the roar of the falls myself!

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    1. Bob, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I was thrilled by it.

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  13. Adriaan what this is beautiful I am so glad that you did this for us. what a risky business but it's really big.

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    1. Bas, no risk except to the camera. It is magnificent.

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  14. Lovely falls, you can't knock them. Love your landscapes Adrian

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    1. Bob, they are grand and as a bonus the camera still works.

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  15. I'd say you hit the jackpot on this one even if you didn't get photos. Earth shaking falls are impressive. That was some rain.

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    1. Red, if there is one thing Scotland doesn't do by halves it is rain.

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  16. Some amazing scenes, both with the floods and scenery. I'm reminded about when you got flooded out in Galloway a while back.

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    1. Jay, a year last Christmas at Garlieston it was. The Gorge is always worth a walk but the falls are very unpredictable.

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  17. There can never be too much spray from a waterfall in my book, the more the better. And I really like the photo of it, too. Glad the bridge was there for you to get back to the van.

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    1. Pauline, I was pleased to see the bridge intact. It would have meant retracing my route then cutting back through forest for the rest of the day. I'd have been exhausted.

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  18. Incredibly dramatic photos, Adrian. I hope you can swim!

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    1. Frances, yes I can swim like a fish. It is dramatic weather. The rain has stopped or at least become showers but the wind is gusting 40mph now. It's nice in the sun.

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  19. ahhhhh, what a wonderful hike. Enjoyed sharing it through your lens.

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  20. Lung busting! An absolutely wonderful adventure for us to share with you---and we got to stay dry!

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    1. Bill, I see the falls quite often but never have I seen anything like this volume of water.

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  21. Yes, you have had your share of rain up there, that waterfall looks fantastic.


    peter

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    1. Peter, it is raining again now. It's also blowing a gale.

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  22. Replies
    1. It's a pity we can't even the rain out a bit.

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  23. A esto lo llamo abundancia de agua!!! Espero que no haya echo muchos desperfectos porque veo el rio muy alto. Magnificas tomas Adrian.
    Un fuerte abrazo.

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    1. Gracias Jordi, sĆ­, hay un montĆ³n de agua que estĆ”n bien y seque.

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  24. By the number of comments you can really tell we are all impressed. I do enjoy these pictures very much Adrian. Too much rain in my book, but then .. there's nothing you can do about it. Stay safe.

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    1. Raffaela, It was sunny all day yesterday but I was stuck in front of a computer. Wet and windy again now. It's all good fun.

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