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This morning we took a drive out to Lepe, during a brief window of sunshine in a gradually gloomier day.
Jackie dropped me off at the Watch House, from which I walked to the car park, alongside which, in the café, she was enjoying a coffee.
Perched on a rocky spit, the occupants of this house, reflected in the water, must have enjoyed an excellent view when on the lookout for smugglers.
A set of steep stone steps leads down from the road
alongside the seafront,
on the other side of which stand the coastguard cottages, still undergoing refurbishment.
A number of pairs walked along the sea wall.
The Dark Water stream flows under the road.
Gulls perched on the wooden breakwaters.
The sea has sculpted some of the piles into abstract forms.
Various vessels sped past the Isle of Wight.
Providing a backcloth to a dog straining to reach a gull, one yacht sailed into the harbour,
and back out to sea.
Turnstones tried their luck on the shingle,
where a spritely little dog dashed about in vain attempts to catch gulls.
The only bird, another turnstone, that it could have caught hopped around at a safe distance in the car park, on one foot. It clearly found enough food.
Alongside the car park,
in the cab of a heavy vehicle, sat a worker wielding a pen. Was he, like Jackie, working his way through a puzzle book?
From Lepe, Jackie drove us to Molly’s Den in New Milton where we bought a birthday present and my debit card was blocked. Fortunately I had enough cash to pay for the item. When we got home a phone call to the bank sorted out the problem. I really can’t be bothered to go into what they had done and the hoops I had to go through to put it right.
Elizabeth, Danni and Andy joined us this evening and we all drove to Lal Quilla in Lymington for the usual excellent meal with really friendly service. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and Andy drank diet Coke. The rest of us shared two bottles of the house merlot. After that, if you expect me to detail the meals other than my own king prawn Ceylon and mushroom rice you will be disappointed.
Beautiful places, Derrick! So nicely captured!
Thanks very much, Sofia
Beautiful place … a paradise for photographers. Loved the “sculptures by the sea”… 🙂
Thanks very much, Maniparna
Sorry to hear about your debit card, Derrick. No explanation needed…I’m quite familiar with those hoops.
Thank you for taking us along to the shore! I loved all of the photos, particularly the “and back out to sea,” shot…it’s gorgeous!
Many thanks, Jill. The bank had sent me a new card that was unnecessary. I had phoned to say I didn’t want it. I had been advised to keep the old and shred the new. That was 3 weeks ago. I am becoming cynical in my old age, so I didn’t shred the new. It is the old one that was blocked, even though I’d used it the day before. Now I have two, just in case
Lovely views!
Thanks, Lynn
Great adventure. How is Lepe pronounced?
Glad you asked, Leslie, because we have been getting it all wrong. It is same as leap. Thanks.
I was trying all sorts of pronunciations. Thank you.
Wonderful photos, Derrick. It may be imagine what the place must have looked like when there were smugglers–well, maybe there still are, but I meant those of the past.
I’m glad you got the debit card straightened out–and had a good meal–and drink. 🙂
‘After that’ I’m surprised you could put together a coherent blog post! Many years of practise I suppose. I haven’t heard the name ‘turnstone’ before. Is it an eponymous naming?
Many thanks, Pauline. The only bit I did ‘after that’ was the final para. 🙂 Turnstone is named from its habit of turning over stones to find food – just looked it up 🙂
Great eye for detail, as usual. Excellent selection of photos, and great Turnstone photo.
Many thanks, Quercus. I’m glad I got the bird right. Googled ‘shore birds UK’ 🙂
That’s why you will never see a picture of a warbler on my blog – they all look the same to me!
The basis for a great coffee table art book.
Thanks a lot, John
Disappointed, but the charming small house pictures compensated.
Thanks, Steve
I suppose after knocking off a couple of bottles of house plonk, I wouldn’t expect anybody to be able to give details about who ate what, so I’m just happy that you were able to recall what you had. 👿
🙂 Thanks, Brian. I’m a little bit heady this morning
Moody photos – at least we see the Isle of Wight 🙂
I’m happy with King Prawns Ceylon and Mushroom Rice.
Many thanks, Mary. Just for you 🙂
Thank you, Derrick 🙂
Wonderful images as always, Derrick! I especially love the little pup with delusions of grandeur thinking he could catch a gull!
Thanks, Lydia. Glad that one appealed to you. What wasn’t obvious in the photo was that he dropped his stick every time and picked it up again
Too funny! And just for the record, they all appealed to me! 🙂 I am learning so much about where my family came from through your little jaunts!
An interesting and beautiful day.
That house is so close to the water – any trouble during storms?
I feel bad that the poor little bird has one leg raised.
Thanks a lot, GP. The house has stood there for almost 200 years 🙂 Yes, sorry for the bird, but it looked chirpy enough
Lovely photos. We think the man in the heavy vehicle is writing poetry. The views are inspirational enough for it.
Many thanks, LL/PS. That would be good
Sounds like a merry February evening! Wonderful pictures, especially the one with the sea grass in the front and the ocean behind.
Many thanks, Laurie. You picked one of the best
That’s one for a card or to frame.
I was happy looking out at the sunshine on the snow, after looking at your photos.. now I want to be where you are.. =^_^= waves
Many thanks, Dymoon
I do so enjoy your photographs of the area. It is like extending our holiday there and getting to the places we hadn’t time to reach.
I’m pleased about that, Leslie. Thank you.
King prawns and mushroom rice? I wouldn’t have a thought for anything else either! It sounds wonderful. Derrick, your photos are just stunning in this one. Love that watch house, for watching. I think my favourite shot might be the sculpted pilings. They’re all wonderful though. Nice to catch a few sunbeams in there too!
Many thanks, Crystal. The sunbeams didn’t last very long, so I was lucky
Love your photographic skills Derrick, you capture the scenes beautifully.
I did wonder what a watch house was needed for until you mentioned smugglers.
Great post as usual mate.
Many thanks, Ian
Favorite is the man walking his dog with the yacht in the distance. The man in that scene seems as if he wishes to be in a story, don’t ask me why….Always enjoys the outing by the sea.
Be my guest, Cynthia. Thank you.
PS I’d put him in a trench coat/Macintosh, however and have it blowing about…
What a beautiful day.. such a lovely watch house and so enjoyed those views Derrick.. so pleased you got your debit card sorted.. Big smiles at the remembrance of your evening meal out.. Glad a good time was had by all.. 🙂
Many thanks, Sue