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

Thursday 31 December 2009

2009 AND WHERE WE'VE BEEN Part one

Woke this morning, freezing cold and decided to get a picture or two for the New Year. Got a picture and a not very edifying one at that.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA         So plan 'B', a quick look at a few of the sights we've seen.

image   Bought myself Snagit for Christmas so maps should be better in future.

The following images are included because they reflect some of our best days. Some are new all have been reworked from the RAW files.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Captain Cook in Whitby, waiting for his Chinese takeaway!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA    Robin Hoods Bay.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA    One hundred foot overshot waterwheel in Weardale.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA                         The train driver.........Having agreed to have her picture taken she went shy on me. So this was all I got.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA     Calder Idris........A touch on the damp side.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA    New Quay............Must include some sunny shots in Part two.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA    Emperor Dragonfly........Included simple because it took around five hours to get one in flight. Was almost ready to fetch the fly spray to the little devils.

 OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA     Bristol floating dock.

Have a very, very happy year, my best wishes to you all.

Saturday 26 December 2009

A SUNNY DAWN TO CHRISTMAS (26/12/09)

Christmas day dawned bright and clear it couldn't and didn't last.

Untitled_Panorama1_edited-1Torbay Panorama......One either likes these or hates them. This is a combination of thirty images. Six HDR images in portrait orientation each HDR image consists of five separate exposures -2EV to +2EV. Passes a little time on on Boxing Day.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA            Molly's Christmas dinner, brown rice, turkey, scrambled egg and a couple of dog treats.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA            She declared it a success.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA         All gone in a minute or so............She spent the next hour burping quietly in the corner.

Today being Boxing day is the biggest day in the year for our hunting compatriots.

 OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOur furry natives are fighting back.....Make sure if you are a hunter that you don't become the hunted.

I hope you all had a good day yesterday. Best Wishes.

Thursday 24 December 2009

RAIN STOPPED PLAY (23/12/09)

A wet cold morning with ferocious heavy showers. Molly and I went for a quick constitutional collecting the newspaper on the way back. Quick is relative, can't the daft dog tell it's heaving it down and not the time to be investigating every leaf and blade of grass. Obviously not!

Around ten thirty the showers seemed to be easing so we caught the bus down to Kingswear and the ferry across to Dartmouth. No sooner had we disembarked than down came the sleet, the farmers market was shut and I took a wrong turn whilst trying to locate the Post Office. Such is life!

Caught the ferry back across the river by which time it was noon and so dark the street lights were coming on as were the navigation lights in the estuary.

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Noon and the new pontoon for the passenger ferry.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA       The Royal Dart.......Gave it a miss, will power you see.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERATurned left into Brixham Road.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Two minutes later we were steaming gently in, of all places, The Steam Packet.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAfter a reviving pint stuck a star filter on and snapped this model Lowestoft sailing trawler. Certainly very sparkly for Christmas.

That's it, shopping, laundry and cleaning tomorrow.

Tuesday 22 December 2009

A DAY OUT (22/12/09)

This morning thought it time for a good walk. So set off for a place called Man Sands which lies a mile or so south of Brixham. This small area has had it's sea defences removed so that a wetland habitat can develop.

A chilly, sunny day but dragging my weary bones up hill and down dale soon warmed me up.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA     The first thing we happened upon were these rather fine pine cones....Now they would not only enhance my festive decorations but also double them. Better where they are, everyone with the stamina of a polar explorer can enjoy them here.

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Raddicombe Wood.......We walked through some very nicely named places today. Penhill Lane, Forder, Woodhuish Lane to name but..........well all of them.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA      The new wetlands....Got some developing to do, so have the National Trust, might just as well have left the hide on the main road three miles away.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA      Not what a dedicated and respected birder like wot I am expects. No roof, no flaps and the bench is soaking wet. Not only that they have forgotten the book where I write down my guesses and the poster with the bird pictures, which admittedly I can never read because most hides are too dark. Standards however are standards and there to be maintained.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA      There were some birds, look like Blackheaded and Herring Gulls, could be anything at this range. To be honest with me they could be anything at two feet away.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA      Pretty view mind.............................And................

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA As usual the robin saved the day.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA    And again..............Now I was sure there were three Robins when I pressed the shutter. Not now there aren't.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Back to blurry for this Great Tit, there is also a Blue Tit but I'll spare you his portrait. You may think otherwise but I do have some standards.

To finish off here is a superbly crisp image.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA       Now I could have sworn this was a Wren when I focused. Upon reevaluation it appears to be a bit of wind blown horse muck lodged in a bush.

That's all.

Sunday 20 December 2009

CROSSING THE BOUNDARY

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A tribute to MARK LYTHGOE who died yesterday.

A gentle man, a fellow sailor, a fellow cryptic solver, a devoted husband to Lynne and my very best friend.

Left us in the lurch again you old bugger.

Friday 18 December 2009

THE THINKER (18/12/09)

 Yesterday we moved back up to Princetown. Primarily as it has a Post Office and secondly the countryside is magnificent. Yesterday was cold but gloriously sunny so some bright and cheerful pictures. Posts are likely to become a little erratic over the next couple of weeks but normality should return in the New Year.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA    Vixen Tor...............Reminded me of The Thinker, just one little cloud.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA    These bogs can be quite deep as I found the other day, blasted chilly too!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA These Leats, appear man made.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERASoon have leaves and blossom again.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA    Great Mis Tor.........A few clouds but it remained dry. Another beautiful day.

Will post this as and when I can get WiFi. Have a really good weekend.

Wednesday 16 December 2009

FIVE THOUSAND YEARS OLD (16/12/09)

 A clear sunny morning, we went for the bus at five to nine. It never came so went back to the truck to find I had misread the time table it's a Saturday only service. Well bless my soul! The next and first bus of the day was not until eleven by which time it had clouded over.

Running a little late but eventually got to Merrivale Bridge and not far away on the moor is a site of great antiquity it dates back to around 2700BC. Even by my standards that is old! I am fascinated by these places but recognise that one half metre high stone looks much the same as another so will restrain the number of pictures posted. The job consists of two sets of two parallel lines of stones with a blocking stone at the eastern end. There are several embellishments in the form of stone circles and a Kistvaen. The full words and music can be found by clicking HERE.

On to the photographs.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA The blocking stone.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA      This stone circle is in the middle of the southern set of stones which is roughly half a mile long.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA The western end.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA          This Leat separates the two rows, whether or not it is contemporary I'm afraid I don't know.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA           The ends of the rows. This is the start of the northern row, they are not quite in parallel nor ruler straight, this row is shorter than the other. Obviously builders haven't changed much over the years! (A joke Tony)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA           Kistvaen......I am assuming this a burial chamber but it seems a touch on the small side.

Loads more views but enough is enough, probably more than enough.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA           Merrivale Bridge.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA          I imagine this being picturesque in summer, quite like it now. The white building lurking behind the branches is The Dartmoor Inn, it's open.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA         Taken with a star filter attached.

Rain, freezing rain curtailed the wander yet again but was very fortunate. Two old ladies I was chatting to in the pub were heading home passed the van so kindly offered a lift. Saved waiting for the bus in the rain. Better than that one of the ladies sons owns a camp site at Ashburton just up the road. So, another good day.

TOMORROW I PROMISE (16/12/09)

It seems ages since we had a really good productive walk. That time of the year, some days it hardly gets light. When it does the light can be superb, casts a pewter like sheen across everything. Not that I've been in the right place at the right time.

We headed up onto the moor, went to Princetown to unload some mail at the Post Office. Hopefully to be exported in locally made sacks. Knowing this government they will get mail bags in Devon from the prison in Peterhead!

On the way back, tried to park at the Dartmoor Inn but there wasn't space. This is my promise for tomorrow, a great little bridge, old settlements, druid remains, natural rock basins, Wildebeest, Rocs...........Ok delete the last two, got a little carried away....Probably deserve to be carried away!

Today we stopped on Whitchurch Common...Again! This year I have spent a good couple of weeks on Dartmoor and never set eyes on a wild pony, today couldn't shift for them. Not something you can creep up on, as you try to close the distance they amble away in a relaxed fashion which belies the fact that their comfort zone is increasing....My comfort zone wasn't, so busy watching the ponies went knee deep in a bog.....'Well I'll go to the bottom of me Grandma's stairs!' How can a man of my age and experience not look where he is going! Suspect it may be the age bit!

What was snapped today........................................

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA   Dartmoor Ponies.....These are silhouettes.........On purpose! Mostly in camera. 2 stop grad filter upside down, cropped heavily, levels adjusted. I'm trying.....Very trying!!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA     Some more, bit misty and murky.....That's the Dartmoor I know.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA     They do have the ooh! factor going for them......Even if it does seem to have a touch of Ringworm.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA       Brentor Church..............Almost as good as Mount Fuji.....Better.... Mount Fuji is a volcano and they haven't built a church on top of it. After all this I do hope it is Brentor Church. Not on my map and a couple of valleys away.... It's Karen's fault, she identified it. As regular browsers will already know I spend most of every day taking snaps of things I fancy.... Then the problem ..................What is it?

All the best, a bus ride tomorrow for some more images.....PROMISE!