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Late in the morning, Shelly and Ron paid us a visit. After our usual enjoyable conversation we all drove to Otter Garden Centre where we brunched. As we each went our separate ways, Jackie drove me in what developed into a circular route around East Boldre. Although we experienced no more rain until it set in again after dusk, enough has fallen in recent days for the ponies not to have to go in search of water.
The seasonal pool at the junction between St Leonard’s Road and the East Boldre road is even fuller than it was a couple of days ago. As so often, shooting into the sun produced a monochrome photograph.
While its companions grazed on the bank, a chestnut drank before joining them.
A damp dappled grey caught my eye. Although on the higher level, it was tantalisingly close enough to the rippling water for me to go into contortions in an attempt to catch its reflection. I was about to abandon the project when the obliging creature
set off along the turf,
and, at a lower level, dipped its neck to slake its thirst.
A cyclist, rounding the bend, bore the unfortunate stains on his back which indicated nothing more unsavoury than that he had pedalled along soggy mud-laden roads.
On the outskirts of Beaulieu we passed Beaulieu Cemetery, beside the entrance of which stands a bronzed crucifix.
Alongside this burial ground, the waterlogged verges encourage the generation of weed and reflect the trees some of which now seem to be rising from their depths.
Whilst I was photographing further such scenes outside East Boldre, a gentleman, mistaking me for a birder, informed me that there were a lot of hawfinches about. I said I hadn’t seen any. He said neither had he, because of his eyesight, but he assumed I would know what I was looking at. When the conversation turned to the quality of the sunsets we were on more secure ground.
This evening we dined on Hordle Chinese Take Away fare, with which I finished the merlot
Delightful!
Thanks a lot, Cindy
You know I love seeing the horses!!
I do, GP. 🙂 Many thanks
Water, water everywhere! Once, when I was volunteering at our town’s local food pantry, I rode my bike there on a damp day. It was only when I got home that I realized I had a muddy stripe up my bike. None of the recipients said a word. Too polite! After all, what could I do at that point? Made me giggle a bit, though, when I discovered that stripe.
🙂 Many thanks, Laurie. Trust the power is with you now
This is all news to me – Makes sense, though, what with the laws of physics and whatnot.
I’m a horse person! And your photos are just great!
Many thanks, Cecilia
Beautiful pony photos. 🙂
Many thanks, Sylvia
Your interaction with the blind birder did make me smile as does a man who knows that one slakes a thirst 🙂
Many thanks, Osyth. The smiles make me smile
I loved both of those details, as well. But Osyth says it best.
Reflections in a pool is particularly amazing.
Many thanks Cathi
T’is a lovely eye you have for capturing reflections. 🙂
Thanks very much, Widders
I like how you followed and persisted with the horses, but I really love the photos of the trees and branches reflected in the water.
Thanks very much, Merril
Looks like a good day out. I’ve always wondered when mudguards became optional extras for cyclists.
🙂 Many thanks, Quercus
🙂
Beautiful country scenery!
Many thanks, Arlene
I really like the cemetery picstures. They’re so fascinating to visit, to wonder over those who came before us.. One of my favorite stops on a trip was a country resting place and on it was a small very old church for services. It made for an interesting post.
Also: did you once ride horses? You seem to favor them. Lovely shots.
Many thanks, Cynthia. I’ve only ever once sat on a horse: https://derrickjknight.com/2013/10/05/making-connections/
I favour them because they are everywhere here.
That is quite a shot! One for the family archives, for sure! Love the long hair –right out of our generation’s lifestyle culture (give or take a few years)! 🙂
Many thanks, Cynthia. Try this one: https://derrickjknight.com/2014/04/20/didnt-you-know-grandpa-was-jesus/
Took a look and can see how she may have imagined that! Ha! But quite a good looking nice guy, this one!
More thanks, Cynthia 🙂
I always love to see the ponies! Is Hordle a person or place? We love Chinese!
Hordle is a place, Jill. Just a mile or two up the road. Many thanks
Thanks, Derrick! I just Googled it and I see it’s a village. 🙂
When I was a child we all road bicycles and they all had mudguards but we didn’t have black strips up our back. I wonder why that might be!
🙂 Many thanks, Paol. No rain, perhaps?
The image of the grey pony drinking from the stream is exquisite. Your encounter with the wanderer who dreamt of hawfinches beyond his field of vision was interesting.
Many thanks, Uma
I could do with a cooling drink and splash in the puddles today, its just hit an amazingly hot 107’F here today and I think it’s getting hotter !! Inside my little home it seems to be hovering at 85’F, and that’s ok.
Wow. That’s hot. I once ran a marathon in 86F. Many thanks, Ivor
I thoroughly enjoyed your photos, especially the dappled grey. I used to have a grey horse many years ago. She was a light grey. A grey roan I think.
Many thanks, JoAnna. I’m pleased to have keyed into a memory
I thoroughly enjoyed your wet wander in the Wessex wilds. Thanks, Derrick.
Very nice comment, Roland. Thanks a lot
Loved the grey horse and the water features. Beautiful photography and you seem to have had a nice stroll
Yes – thanks very much, Geetha
Most welcome Derrick 🙂
I’m with Uma and the drinking horse. I presume a hawfinch is a bird that thinks its a donkey. Hee-haw!
🙂 You take some emulating. Thanks, Bruce
I love the reflections in the last three horse shots.
Many thanks, Brenda
So much rain! Love seeing the ponies!
Thanks very much, Lynn
Most welcome
Beautiful horses!
The horses, ponies, and beautiful scenery are so incredibly fairy tale story-like. Thanks for the dappled gray’s reflection, Derrick. 🌞
Thanks very much, Robin. That one required a bit of patience 🙂
Lovely reflections, that dappled gray looks fine!
Thanks very much, Eliza
Beautiful watery reflections! I have heard that there are many hawfinches visiting this country at present and would love to see one! I am glad you persisted with following the dappled grey.
Many thanks, Clare
That dappled grey pony is very pretty. A photo of her in summer with a sleek coat would be interesting to see.
I’ll look out for her then, Lavinia. They tend to keep to their chosen patches. Thanks very much.
Love the ponies, Derrick. They add such charm. And I have been birding with my brother – a REAL birder- and we all love to chat with the other birders about what we have seen (or heard) and what others have seen and heard. The camera around your neck is what put you into that conversation. A pair of binoculars would have had the same effect.
Quite so, Jodie. Many thanks
Was that a Yank riding that bike on the wrong side of the road? Are you allowed to run them over when they do that? If not why not?
Thanks for that, Brian. Donkeys have the right of way. If you run them over you are legally bound to report it.
Here in Canada we have some donkeys that think they have the right of way and are not legally bound by law or common sense. 😀
Wonderful sequence. The centaur in the header image is very apropos. 🙂
Very many thanks, Joseph
The light in some of the photos is very reminiscent of Constable.
Very many thanks, LL/PS