This afternoon Jackie dropped me in the Barton Common car park as she drove off to the Beachcomber Cafe where I was to meet her, Becky, and Ian, after they had partaken of coffee and cakes whilst I floundered through the mud.
A bridge has now been placed over the stream running through the common,
where the footpaths are waterlogged,
or so muddy as to make me fear that my walking shoes were in danger of being sucked off.
At one point a pool reflected the sunlight over Christchurch Bay.
The more open areas are populated with numerous memorial benches.
Before threading my way through the kissing gate leading to the golf course, I encountered a rather soggy group of ponies chomping the grass,
or chewing lichen off the gnarled tree branches. This pony’s collar is reflective and a crucial aid to motorists at night. Although the common is securely fenced, you can never rule out the possibility of these animals finding their way on to the road.
Once through the gate, I took the footpath alongside the course down to the clifftop.
More of the footpath has been eroded in the year since my last walk along this way.
On the final stretch of my journey, I monitored the late afternoon sun peeking through the yellowing clouds.
This evening we dined on Becky’s brilliant beef burgers and weird wedges with garlic and herbs. These burgers are built with layers of salad, mayonnaise, cheese, and pickles. I drank more of the El Solitto, Jackie drank Hoegaarden, Ian drank San Miguel beer, and Becky drank Lyme Bay strawberry wine.
Best pics! Beer and Burger; Yum.
Thank you, Mary
These are astonishing pictures. The one with the gnarled tree belongs in a fairy story. Nice walk!
Many thanks, Lisa
Stunning photography, Del! Well done, indeed.
Many thanks, Ian
Whilst you’ve been floundered through the mud you took wonderful photos, Derrick 🙂 And your “sun which peeking through the yellowing clouds” is magnificent. I love your photos
Many thanks, Monica
Nature is awesome, isn’t it? Even if you’re in danger of being sucked off. (I mean, your shoes being sucked off.) 🙂
I don’t know how ya’ll live with all those animals roaming around. I have enough problems living with all the dogs (and their poop). And you seem to complain about the animals a lot, which made me wonder if the animals have as much trouble living with human beings? Do they hang around at the stream and complain about the inanity of humans?
Great sky photos, Sir Derrick. Love all the reflections. 😀
Many thanks, Johnna. 🙂
Wow! Absolutely stunning photos! Moments in time to be savoured by all the senses – one can almost feel, smell and touch the subject and surrounds in your photos. Sensational, sensory sojourns through nature!
Many thanks, Rob. Like the alliteration
🙂
While some have cake and tea, others tromp through the mud to get photos. Great pictures, Derrick!
Thank you, Laurie
I concur with most of the previous comments – just wonderful photos despite the mud and danger of not only lost shoes but also upside-down Derrick!! Amazing to see those wandering surfers going to or coming back from their waves, so high above the water line. The darkness still amazes me as it was still light here when I headed off to bed to read my book at 10 last night.
Many thanks, Pauline
Your sunset photos are so beautiful, Derrick. And that third photo of the creek, I particularly liked.
Thank you, Jill
“O beautiful, for spacious skies…” in the UK!
Thanks, Cynthia. Yes. That is the best thing about moving out of London
Oh my goodness! I want to steal these photos and put them on Facebook!!!
You would be welcome, Luanne – just acknowledge. Thank you
Oh, thank you, Derrick!
Sounds like the cliffs have taken a real pounding this year. Much land lost?
I don’t have the long term knowledge to make comparisons, Geoff, but it certainly seems a steady erosion to this grockle
I wonder why there is so much coastal degradation. What are local authorities doing to help?
It’s a pretty crumbly surface, John. Some areas are better drained than others, and huge rocks have been imported from Scandinavia to do a bit of shoring up. But, I guess athe end of the day you can’t beat nature.
Beautiful pictures Derrick!
Thank you, Laura
Welcome 🙂
Fierce skies beautifully captured Derrick!
Thank you, Val
Mud! Mud! Glorious mud!
Nice one, Bruce
I was feeling quite chilly by the end, but you saved the day with the burgers!
Thank you, Quercus
Those are very fine pictures. Congratulations.:-)
Many thanks, Micheline
Are those really surfers in wet suits, or have I had too much prosecco?
Surfers, indeed. Thanks, Yvonne
What a very special walk Derrick – love the sky and open spaces. The last of your series of setting sun is a magical bunch of shots.
Thank you, Mary
Oh, these images … Alive with the nuance of reflection… The wildness of shadow and light.
Thank you, Ashley
Nice to see some blue sky above all that mud. Surfers on the clifftop path?
Yes, pagedogs, and they had 2 miles to go before they could get down to the beach. Thanks
Oh wow!! The photos are brilliant!
Many thanks, Kally
Barton Common car park and Christchurch Bay hold magic drawn through the lens of your camera. Superb sunset!
The cliff reminds me of one of my favorite scenes in the newer “Pride and Prejudice” movie where Elizabeth character played by Keira Knightley standing on a cliff overlooking water. There is a time Darcy may have overlooked same cliff in film, but my memory of “who” is there is not as important as the breathtaking view.
Donald Sutherland is excellent as the father of girls, by the way. The moors’ scenery at the end is rather like the grassy areas you took pictures of, including the surfers, Derrick.
Many thanks, Robin