Our forest drive this morning was taken through very heavy fusillades of rain alternating with bright bouts of sunshine.
Surfaces of roads, lanes, fields, waterways, all glistened with the excess liquid dropped continuously by heavy clouds throughout the night.
The No BBQs sign on waterlogged Balmer Lawn beside the swollen Highland Water seemed a little unnecessary at the moment.
It was difficult for the naked eye to discern the difference between lawn and water,
or to distinguish between the yellow lines of the road markings at the verges beneath the surface reflections from above and the grassy islets bearing autumn leaves.
Beneath a bridge crossing Balmer Lawn Road, we sat weighing up whether to follow the warning posted beside the dicey looking road. So did another vehicle behind us, until this oncoming larger vehicle snowploughed its way over. We and our followers did the sensible thing, as did a number of others while we were amusing ourselves
with the Water Recycling Centre sign,
beside which I photographed wet leaves and Jackie photographed a tree trunk regularly bitten by a wire fence.
Tilery Road is a stretch of deeply potholed gravel along which the only smooth journey could be made by joggers and dog walkers who could simply slalom round the water-filled cavities the depth of which could not be gauged by car drivers. The waterlogged woodland flanking this should give readers an idea of how joint-ricking was this trip.
Many roads, like this one at North Weirs on the outskirts of Brockenhurst, had become shallow lakes, along which we all followed each other somewhat gingerly.
It was not surprising that Jackie was able to photograph a briefly lasting rainbow along Meerut Road.
This evening we all dined on more of Jackie’s penne Bolognese with which which she drank Zesty and I drank more of the Italian red wine.
Quite the roadside adventures. Glad it all ended safely and deliciously.
Thanks very much, Pat
Wow! That is a LOT of water. I am glad that you stayed safe.
Thanks very much, JoAnna
At least everything is getting a good watering, Derrick! ????
Indeed, John. Thanks very much
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I particularly like “Reflections in Highland Water 2.” And the rainbow, too, of course!
Thanks very much, Liz. That reflections picture was a contender for the header
The header picture was a very close second for my favotire.
At the end of soggy outing there was a rainbow to brighten your day … well done Jackie
Thanks very much from us both, Ivor
These scenes, very well captured, are reminiscent of my recent travels all the Murray River here in Australia. Albert
Thanks very much, Albert
You got some rainy pictures, there.
Thanks very much, Bridget
We seem to be heading the other way in Nelson (drought), bon courage
Thanks very much, Sylvie
You were very bold. I am surprised that you did not come upon a stranded car or two.
One man was stranded, but it seemed rude to photograph it. Tanks very much, Tootlepedal
Lots of water. Beautiful rainbow pictures.
Thank you very much, Andy
You’re welcome.
Nothing like a rainbow at the end of a watery day!
Thanks very much, Barbara
The reflections are like magic mirrors. I’m glad you did the sensible thing and got to see the rainbow.
Thanks very much, JoAnna
We would call that a major flood — and the radio would be blaring “Don’t drown; turn around!” It’s still sunny n Southern California, though the temps are settling down a little. Highs are now in the mid 70’s — last week they were mid 80’s!
Thanks very much, Janet
A thoroughly waterlogged day, with terrific reflection photos and a rainbow to crown your adventure.
Thank you very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.
That’s a lot of water. We experienced a heavy hail storm yesterday that last a good 20 minutes. The noise was deafening. Not much damage but we lost a few marble sized avocados and all our capsicum flowers and tiny capsicums. I love the variety of photos here Derrick.
Thanks very much, Chrissy
Very good reflections, Derrick. The UK storm and floods featured on our news last night. The sights certainly didn’t look very good, frightening.
Thank you very much, Suzanne
Beautiful photos, Jackie and Derrick!
I especially like the wet leaves photo, the reflection photos, and the rainbow photo. 🙂
“Water, water every where…” 🙂 – Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Dry-(((HUGS))) HA! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you very much from each of us, Carolyn XX
I really liked that “baby-rainbow” !
Thanks very much, John
Pretty reflections. But that’s too bad.
Thanks very much, Sherry
I remember a similar flood in the dip of a narrow lane in the Dales, where I stopped the car and weighed up the situation. My friend, having spotted a stick on the grass verge, jumped out and, using the stick to measure the depth of the water ahead of her, she slowly walked through the flood soaking her leather boots. When she reached the other side, I drove across.
Good thinking. Thanks very much, Sue
It would never have entered my head to do that, let alone get my feet wet!
You got some beautiful photos in your somewhat treacherous trip. The waterlogged woodland looks like waterlilies floating in a pond. I’m glad you didn’t get stuck anywhere. Rainbows are always magical whatever the size.
Thank young much, Merril
This is quite a collection, Derrick!
Thanks very much, GP
Perhaps, a soggy day, but the photos are stunning with reflections and a beautiful rainbow.
Thank you very much, Eugi
Most welcome, Derrick.
We are in a drought here.
But you are keeping your garden going. Thanks very much, Flow
When you have water, as the saying goes, photograph reflections. An excellent set of photos for a rainy day. Love Jackie’s photo of the trunk and fence. Actually, I think I may just hve made that saying up . . .
That was a good coinage, Quercus. Thanks very much from each of us
That is quite a bit of standing water the storm left behind, especially over the road! The scenes with sun filtering down through remaining foliage are beautiful, as are the reflections in the water. I assume you do not get much snow where you are?
Hardly ever, Lavinia. Thank you very much
Love the rainbow… <3
Thanks very much, Sue X
Flood waters, I hate it. Good thing we are no longer experiencing rainy season.
Thanks very much, Arlene
That is a lot of water. You got some heavy rains.
Indeed. Thanks very much, Dwight
Your are welcome.
i’m glad you’re safe! that’s a lot of water! 🙂
Thank you very much, Wilma
You really had a lot of rain! I love the reflections and Jackie’s rainbow!
Thank you very much from each of us, Aletta
You’re welcome.
I can’t believe the amount of cars that plow through that water. Perhaps it’s safer in the country. In the USA when this happens in the cities people get swept away and die. The news has instilled in me the foolishness of driving through such a flood. So glad you guys were ok.
I think yours are much worse than ours, Jodie. Thanks very much
We have so many floods around here. The fields just can’t take anymore rain.
Thanks very much, Gary
Even more water!
Thanks very much, Sheree
Oooh, that’s a lotta water! Glad you didn’t get stuck. Love that rainbow!!
Thanks very much Jan
Oh wow! That is a lot of water!
Thank you very much, Ribana