Rain battered our windows and a fierce wind, courtesy of storm Francis, howled and whistled throughout the night. We drove into Milford on Sea for a 9.30 a.m. appointment for the last of my earwax extraction, and afterwards Jackie parked in an empty coastal carpark while I battled with the warm gusts, trying to ignore the precipitation obscuring specs and lens.
A group of hardy individuals walked along the spit, the slope of which wasn’t quite as steep as the wind forced me to make it seem.
I hopefully waved the camera in the direction of the turbulent waves churning creamy Costa coffee crashing into the sturdy breakwaters and slip-sliding over resistant rocks.
From the comfort of her driving seat the Assistant Photographer recorded the proceedings.
As I was about to return to the car I noticed a windswept young lady leaning into the storm, her hair writhing like Medusa’s. She was joined by her male companion possibly more eager than I to photograph the moment.
I have chosen not to brighten any of these images in order faithfully to represent what we actually saw at 10 a.m. on an August morning. In fact the rain eased up and the sun appeared by midday although the wind continued even more ferocious throughout the rest of the day, apparently more than 80 m.p.h. through The Needles directly in line with us.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s lemon chicken and savoury vegetable rice topped with an omelette. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I drank Charlotte Fabre’s Tesco’s Finest Cateauneuf-du-Pape 2015.
The sea is both beautiful and terrifying when she goes wild! All is calm and dry here as we wait out the end of summer, and beginning of the autumn rains.
Wowsah, Derrick! You brilliantly captured a stormy day. Hope your sweet and house and garden escaped wind damage.
Thanks very much, Laurie. The house seems OK – we have yet to inspect the garden.
Phew! Bad storm here in the Southwest, far from Maine but still gives me shivers of fear for the people who are in harm’s way.
I would have stayed in the car with the Assistant Photographer; it looked very wild and wooly out there! Our forecast for today features wind gusts up to 100km/hr., I shan’t be out there.
That is more than I would face.
Great photos of your blustery trip to the coast. You did well to remain upstanding.
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x
Thanks a lot, Melanie X
We can definitely see the wind in these photos!
Thanks a lot, Merril. It was certainly a bit breezy.
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Your photographs make me feel cold – especially as we have a strong, icy wind buffeting outside and a ten degree drop in temperature tomorrow. Somehow winter here reserves its real bite for the end.
Actually the camera did lie on this occasion. It was really quite warm. Thanks very much, Anne.
Eek! Those people, including the photographer, are too close to the edge! Great photos, Derrick. Certainly not a good hair day.
Thanks a lot, Jill. And I’d washed my hair for ear dewaxing 🙂
🙂
It looked cold, wet and misrerable!
It was all those things except cold, Sheree. Thanks very much.
Great photography, Derrick! I’ve seen through other people I follow in the UK, that you’ve been hit hard with storms recently. Hold on tight! ??
Thanks a lot, John. All calm today.
You did well to stand up at all in that wind.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal. Legs are getting stronger.
Good. Keep looking after them,
yep, we had it too. Some of our trees whipped like an arboreal S&M club night
I expect there will be a few down in the forest. Thanks a lot, Geoff.
The wind whipping through my study this afternoon, scattering papers across the room, had nothing on your gale-force winds! I’ll bet you were glad to get back to the shelter of your house.
I was, rather, Liz. Thanks very much.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
So miss the sea. Great to see it.
Thanks a lot, Gary. I hardly ever saw it when I was growing up in London.
Wow. Thoose are some incredible pictures.
Thanks very much, Dumbest
You bet!
Now I’m chilled. I felt like I was there and shivered through the photos.
Hope you warmed up on Jackie’s lemon chicken real quick.
Thanks very much, Chrissy. In fact it wasn’t actually cold 🙂
Looks like an awful weather day.
It sure was, Mrs W. Thanks very much.
Your welcome.
I love those stormy images and so wish I could have witnessed first hand.
Wet and windy here but thankfully not quite as bad as yours.
Thanks a lot, Sue. All calm here this morning.
The ferocious wind, blew and blew
Erasing blue sky and sun from view
Nice one, Ivor. Thanks a lot.
That shot of the gal leaning into the wind says it all….
Thanks a lot, Maj.
You are the intrepid photographer!!! I love that simile about Medusa!
Thanks very much, Luanne.
And thinking that was 10 a.m. on an August morning…however, even in this circumstances I feel the sea has something magical ?
Indeed, Ribana. Thanks very much.
Do you have some sort of magical protection for your camera? A teeny-tiny raincoat, perhaps? I love the rain and a good storm, but I sure wouldn’t take my camera out in it!
Thanks very much, Linda. The camera is very tough and I give it a good wipe down afterwards. The salt spray makes it all a bit sticky. 🙂
You have managed to bring a slice of Francis to your blog. Jackie has again caught her favourite subject busy catching his own favourite subject. The lady with Medusa like hair appears busy turning the orange apparatus into stone, or vice verse, and the man shooting her from behind is witnessing it all through the eyes of his camera, which is a wise move considering the situation. Your rendition of the proceedings is the funniest of it all!
Thank you so much for all this, Uma.
I can almost feel the wind while looking at your photos. Stay safe, Derrick!
Thanks very much, JoAnna.
It looks like the gloomy Gothic romance is growing dramatic, as this set of illustrations indicates, as captured by a courageous photographer, captured, in turn, by his assistant.
Thank you so much, Dolly. 🙂
My pleasure, Derrick.
Hello again Derrick… I’ve written a poem today called “Storms and Old Bogeymen”, and with your permission I’d like to use one of your photos. there’s two that I like, ‘Woman on Promenade’ and ‘Sea and Rocks’… I’m yet to chose the one I might use….
You are most welcome, Ivor. I am pleased as always. Thanks you very much.
Thank you Derrick, I’ll probably post it before you go to bed ?
🙂
The storms are very spectacular but this new combination of trees in full leaf and 50 mph+ storms is quite a scary one!
Yes. We have a heavily pruned poplar which was swaying about. All quiet now.
Great descriptive text Derrick. Rather unfortunately I am in a holiday cottage in North Yorkshire with three grandchildren where the weather is exactly the same.
Sorry to read that, Andrew. Thanks a lot.
My daughter and son-in-law were camping on cliffs close to the Needles this week. Needless to say they were defeated by storm Francis and have at least returned home safely. It was certainly ferocious.
So sorry to read this Sandra. Two nephews of ours were due to begin a week sailing round the island yesterday. Thanks very much.
Your photos capture Mother Nature’s mood! And just looking at your photos I can feel her emotions! I hope you have some calmer weather days soon!
All your photos are amazing today, but gotta’ say…I like The AP’s photos of The GP the bestest!
Great photos, Jackie!
HUGS!!! 🙂 🙂
PS…Jackie, your lemon chicken inspired me…so I’ll fix that or some sesame chicken this week! 🙂
Thanks very much from us both, Carolyn. Jackie says “Jolly good” re chicken. X
One must never underestimate the power of Mother Nature! Great photos – from both of you!
Many thanks from us both, GP
Ugh, that’s a far more turbulent sea than the one we just saw. Hope your ear is fully functional now, Derrick! That would make a huge difference in life, I would think!
The ear is fine, Anna. Thanks very much.
Wonderful pictures.
Take care next time.
Thanks very much, Rupali. 🙂
Yikes, Derrick! Rather you than me (I’d have been blown over. That said, I can fall over anywhere and on a still day, so that’s not saying a lot).
Thanks very much, Val. 🙂
Did they solve your ear problems?
Thanks a lot, Lindsey. Yes – just a build up of wax. I have needed the process four times in my life, the first 50 years ago 🙂
amazing shots capturing the angry sea and unforgiving winds! Louisiana and Texas are battered with 110 mph winds this morning.
take care.
I hope you will be safe, Lola. Thanks very much.
A day to remember, authentically captured.
Thanks very much, Roland
The sea looks amazing, and the lighting without brightening keeps it grey and moody. Actually enjoy this sort of weather – it just feels a bit early!
Thanks very much, Libre. It is a bit early 🙂