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Late this morning Jackie drove us to Mudeford for a visit to the quay, then on to Friars Cliff for brunch at the eponymous cafe.
Whilst I wandered around the harbour, Jackie enjoyed coffee in the cafe.
Looking out to sea, my ears were pounded by the white horses rumbling across the steely, turbulent, water’s surface, and crashing against the sturdy quayside;
shrieking of the squabbling gulls. The guests at the boisterous shindig being held against the backdrop of the most expensive beach huts in the country, joined forces to evict a jet gatecrasher.
Making good use of scoops of seawater, still ogled by hopeful scavengers perched on posts, the crew of a small fishing boat were engaged in cleaning up at their docking area.
As always, neatly stacked on the quay, lay buoys and ropes between towers of crusted crab baskets.
The entrance to the harbour lies beyond a protective spit. At once, the squeals were silenced and the water became still as rippled sheets of reflective glass. In fact the only sound was a feeble squeak emitted by the open beak of an adolescent cygnet.
Anchored boats made no motion, even when the gulls took off and landed on their gunwales. The outboard motor in the first photograph reminded me of one Jessica bought secondhand in Newark and used for one day in Instow in Devon. She left her recently acquired dinghy in the bay facing our holiday house. In the morning the motor was gone. As was every other similar item from other boats. This was apparently the first time such a theft had ever occurred at that location. I guess that was another example of sod’s law.
A solitary angler chose a position at the point of aquatic contrast.
This evening we dined on meat samosas, chicken and spinach curry, and paratha. I finished the chianti.
Wonderful photos…I can almost smell the salty air.
Many thanks, Maria
One can only imagine what they will be doing with all those dinghies. Is she sure they didn’t all just blow away?
It was only the motors, Sol. Thank you.
Oh! I misread it. I thought they had all zipped off to some island!
Excellent photograph of the angler.
Many thanks, John. I had taken another, but that was before he had finally settled.
Sod’s Law indeed! Did they leave the oars I wonder – do motorised dinghies have oars? Another great batch of photos Derrick!
Very many thanks, Pauline. As far as I remember they didn’t take the oars
Wow, Derrick, the photos of the swan and the gull and the dinghy with its graphic writing on the side are phenomenal. I think that close up of the gull is perfection with its cold gray soft background.
Very many thanks, Ginene
I like that the boat with the outboard motor seems to be covered with graffiti. Who knew?
Well spotted, Lisa. Thank you
Some really nice images!
Thanks, Gary. Not a river, but perhaps enough water for you. 🙂
I can’t help but wonder what the solitary angler is thinking about. That first photo is breathtaking, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Jill
I love the water views, Derrick.
Many thanks, Ann
Beautiful photos and post. I liked your poetic image of the breakers as white horses, and love the photo.
The shot of the adolescent cygnet is wonderful, too. Well, all of the photos are. 🙂
So many thanks, Merril
Merril, I liked both of those photos, and the “white horses”, as well. It was shocking the difference in the water – From rough to calm.
Thanks, Jodie
A perfect place to fish.
Thanks, Bridget
I liked the whole post, Derrick! Your sense of dry humor and interesting views were fun to see and think about. I would have liked to see more water around the cygnet, showing his sense of isolation and solitude. This was a beautiful photograph.
Looks atmospheric, though a touch raw. Wrap up well!
Believe it or not it was about 11 degrees. Thanks, Quercus
And there was me worrying… 🙂
These photos have an undercurrent of understated elegance in them, well done!
Very many thanks purelandsutras. Nice comment
Thank you for sharing 🙂
And thank you, Lakshmi
As usual, a wonderfully descriptive narrative to accompany your stunning pictures.
Very many thanks, Osyth
Wonderful photos indeed!
Thanks a lot, Laurie
I like the photographs. It looks so calm and restful with the sea so still like that. It’s a pity to hear about the outboard motor being stolen, though. I guess theft can happen anywhere, even in scenic locations.
Thanks a lot, Bun
A day by the sea refreshes the mind. The angler seems to be in deep concentration…
True, Maniparna. Thank you.
Eye-catching buoys, boat, cygnet–lovely
Many thanks, Cynthia
I love the first boat shot.
Thanks a lot, Brenda
Some good ones of the area, indeed, and the fisherman is particularly striking — and will be more so if he gets a bite!
Last time I was there was in swimming weather. I had to be taught not to call it ‘Mewed-ford’. What is it with the names round that part? I mean, Bewley and Foy as just two more examples.
Jackie’s sister, Shelly, was the first to move down here many years ago. She called it Mewed-ford, too. Thanks, Leslie
Beautiful water features. Here the seagulls are not too obnoxious everywhere but there are places like the Park Hyatt’s seaside restaurant where they can get extremely noisy
They will scavenge out of your hands here, Geetha. Thanks a lot.
Welcome.
I just love the place names; so utterly English.
As for these fishmen types, looking at your pics, I think they must have a few loose screws up top; else why sit out in that bleak, miserable looking weather, in hope of catching a tiddler or two!
I did wonder what he was hoping for, Brian. Thanks a lot.
Well at least I left a comment on this post, Derrick! Phew! What a relief!
It is hard to look at many posts which I thought I had replied or commented on. . .this was a cool post and still think the cygnet photo may have needed more water around it, to show the scenery a bit. . . just my opinion.
Thanks, Robin. Context, it is true, is important.