SHADES OF GREY (26/12/11)

Well! That’s another Christmas survived. I only have New Years eve to go and life will be back to normal……Hark at me!…….Normal? For a Romany perhaps! We were out before dawn as Alfie needed a comfort break. I don’t think he was too fussed but he has a delicate tummy and Moll and I were really bothered. A flatulent dog in a small camper can only be tolerated for so long.

    I just realized that I haven’t done a map……….it’s all the excitement. You think I’m being cynical but No! It’s been a very entertaining morning. I waited for some light and at around half nine decided I was waiting in vain so off we went to make the best of a bad job.

We walked down through Strid Wood to the river Wharfe. I have the dogs on a lead, I have one lead, they are tethered together. I let Molly off and she was away…….well. Bless my Soul! I’m Away To Hell In A Handcart!…There was a roe deer that I’d failed to notice. Silly me! Twenty minutes later she deigned to rejoin us.  Fortunately I hadn’t got around to letting Alfie loose. He can’t find his way back if he mislays Moll. It would have been a days job finding him. On we plodded along the river.

The dogs met a Weimaraner a grand young dog who tempted mine in for a swim. Weimaraners are water dogs terriers aren’t. Whilst trying to conjure up a suitably hideous expletive to attach to ‘Come Here And Now’ the dogs owner appeared…..a joggeress in black lycra………….Just like Christmas it was. Took my mind off the dogs and their imminent watery demise she did. She also had dog control mastered. Stuck the first two digits of both hands in her mouth and blew an ear splitting whistle and out of the river he came and off she ran. I’ve being trying to master this. All I get is a PHEW….PHOO sort of noise. Mind!…..As I watched her continue her run Phew! Seemed to fit the bill. I think I fell in lust.

On to the dull and dismal pictures.

The river Wharfe and as it disappears round the corner……………….

  The Strid, a diminutive of stride. The river goes from about two hundred yards wide to two yards. Stride and miss and you are meeting your maker.

It must be fifty or sixty feet deep with hollowed caves and allsorts of chambers under my feet to cope with the volume of water. It is said that no one who has fallen in has survived. It doesn’t look impressive but I was impressed. My imagination turned to Hades. Trapped for eternity swirling around in a subterranean cavern. It is not noisy and doesn’t make the earth move. It’s power and might are in it’s deeps. I’m happy I came to see it.

Cavendish Bridge. Yes it is Cavendish as in the Duke of Devonshire. He not only owns Chatsworth where we stayed last week but also vast tracts of land around here. Though I’m envious there is no way I would want the responsibility. He allows access so is a great bloke. He is also clearing trees to open up vistas not see in a hundred years. He is managing the land and putting in disabled access. A modern landowner who I congratulate.

   Cavendish Bridge again.

  Turner painted this panorama from this spot. I hung around for ages. No shaft of sunlight for me. Just about dead centre is Bardon Tower. The sun, sorry light, did hit it for a second……I missed it despite a half hour wait.

All images today are HDR. The water is popped back in as a two to three stop under exposure. Cameras lie but eyes don’t. I just tell fibs.

You all enjoy the rest of the holiday even if it is murky nasty weather.