The weather today alternated between brief bursts of bright sunshine and darkly hammering heavy hail and rain. We probably picked the best time for a drive into the forest, where,
on Sway Road it was the turn of cattle and donkeys to create traffic mayhem.
I took advantage of the sunshine to photograph autumn at my feet before moving on.
We turned into Black Knowl where Jackie parked and I wandered on down. I had said I would walk back to the car when I was ready, but, because of the showers, she ignored that and followed me at a safe distance. The gentleman walking his dog in this shot exchanged friendly greetings with me as our paths crossed.
Fenced fields flanked my right side,
while open woodland graced my left. The orange mark on one trunk indicates the need for minor foresters’ attention; acorns and holly berries decorate some of the trees, although the acorns constantly clattered the tarmac; fallen boughs and trunks, making their decaying contribution to the ecology, gradually return to the soil from whence they came. The comparatively sheltered ferns cling to their youthful green hue.
Suddenly the sweeping sough of the wind was muffled by rapidly advancing thudding hooves of ponies on the run.
I just about managed to picture a few as they sped, seemingly panic-stricken through the trees.
Soon, a second wave surged ahead, passing a couple of walkers and tearing into the trees. Note the spaniel getting involved. The second of these pictures is Jackie’s.
The clacking and thumping of hooves of the next wave of rather more and larger equines had me taking immediate evasive action by leaping (figuratively speaking of course) into a dry ditch. Fortunately they turned off before they reached me. The idea of photographing them disappeared from my mind.
I then decided it was time for me to return to the car. A small group of humans had gathered at this point. There was some speculation that the animals may have been escaping from a Drift https://derrickjknight.com/2016/08/30/the-drift/ because they are happening about now.
“Have you seen my dog?” asked one woman. We had, of course; it was a spaniel. I pointed her in the right direction and her pet came scampering to her side.
From the comparative safety of the Modus, I photographed the fourth wild wave as it rushed on by.
We had reached Ober Corner, beside a stretch of Ober Water, as usual reflecting the surrounding landscape.
Jackie poked her camera in my direction.
This evening we dined on a second sitting of last night’s spicy delights with an additional tasty omelette and tender green beans with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank The Second Fleet, Shiraz 2018, a smooth full bodied red wine from Australia’s Limestone Coast.
I especially love the shot of the leaves. Amazing that number of horses on the roads. Cool, though, that the cars have to give right of way.
Thanks very much, Judy.
Such a busy road, Derrick! The horses roaming freely is a mystery to me.
Thanks very much, John. Rights going back many hundreds of years
I see, thanks for the explanation, Derrick. 😎🇬🇧
Must’ve been scary being charged by the horses.
Indeed, it was, Sheree. They normally hardly move.
Glad the pooch and owner were successfully reunited amidst the excitement. Nice and somewhat scary action shots of the horses in motion.
Thanks very much, Maj. I was happy to be able to catch the last bunch from the car 🙂
Sough…new word for me, Derrick. And the Drift, too. Thanks!
Thank you so much, Donna – and for following the link
I too really enjoy your photograph of the autumnal leaves!
Thank you very much, Anne.
Your neighborhood is going to have to elect you head ram-rod for all those critters!
🙂 Thanks a lot, GP
What a lot of horses to round up in the wild! I’m glad their health is monitored and they are minimally watched over.
Thanks very much, Janet
Quite an adventure! I’m glad the dog came back and no one was harmed. I can imagine someone could have been trampled. I love Jackie’s action shot of the horses.
Thanks very much, Merril. It was certainly dicey
I am glad that there was a handy dry ditch. It sounds rather alarming.
It certainly was. The pictures of the fourth wave show what it looked like – only more of them. Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
My goodness, the livestock were out in force! My favorite photos in today’s group are the studies in black and white.
Thanks very much, Liz. You are not alone.
🙂
Looks like everyone (“man and beast” 🙂 ) wanted to commune with the forest today! I can understand why! So beautiful! 🙂
All amazing photos, Derrick! I especially love the autumn at your feet, the Ober water reflection photos, the horses, the trees! 🙂 And The A.P.’s photos of The G.P. are wonderful!
Thank you for explaining about the orange mark. I was wondering about it and then I read your explanation. 🙂
That doggie had quite a run with the horses! I love how you captured them in action!
Glad the doggie came back to it’s owner. 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
PS…Whenever I hear, or read, the words “my dog” or “your dog” I think of this clip from one of my fav movies…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnXtuktNdlM
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thank you so much, Carolyn. I howled with laughter at the clip. X
I howled at this clip, too. Thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad you got a howl-laugh, Jan. 😀 It’s one of my favorite movies. 😀
It’s a moment that one may call a frightening beauty or a thrilling experience caption in time. Great photography and quick leg work. I could imagine the leap of faith into the ditch. And you thought you were getting too old for that sort of thing. 😉
🙂 Thank you so much, Chrissy.
We also find Australian Shiraz quite tasty, Derrick.
The black and whites, when viewed in succession, create a perfect feeling of the ominous weather. I was very impressed by the dynamic photos of running ponies; the movement is superbly conveyed.
Thank you so much, Dolly. It’s not often our normally somnolent ponies give us such an opportunity.
My pleasure, Derrick. But was it the increment weather that caused this stampede or something else?
It wouldn’t be the weather. Could have been a dog, but my bet would be on the Drift.
You are the expert.
Not really – just observant. 🙂
Oh my! I’m glad you didn’t get trampled, Derrick! I love the shot of the gentleman walking his dog. Great shots today!
Thanks very much, Jill. That shot is quite a big crop.
you and Jackie beautifully captured the speeding horses, Derrick. it must be scary though especially when a large number of them come running. the sun-kissed leaves look magical.
Thank you very much, Lola. Scary, it was.
Wow, what an amazing trip in the countryside. Thanks for the tour.
Thanks very much, Peggy
Run ponies! Run safe! Run free! Don’t run into Derrick or Jackie! These are great shots! I love the woodland realm.
I thought you would, JoAnna. Thanks very much.
Your photos and story of panicking ponies, and “have you seen my dog”, reminded me of this joke Derrick…. enjoy…
Two men were walking through the woods and came upon a big black, deep hole. One man picked up a rock and tossed it into the hole and stood listening for the rock to hit bottom. There was no sound.
He turned to the other guy and said “that must be a deep hole…let’s throw a bigger rock in there and listen for it to hit bottom.” The men found a bigger rock and both picked it up and lugged it to the hole and dropped it in.
They listened for some time and never heard a sound. Again, they agreed that this must be one deep hole and maybe they should throw something even bigger into it.
One man spotted a rail-road tie nearby. They picked up the tie, grunting and groaning, and lugged it to the hole. They tossed it in. No sound. All of a sudden, a goat came flying out of the woods, running like the wind, and flew past the men and jumped straight into the hole. The men were amazed.
About that time, an old hayseed farmer came out of the woods and asked the men if they had seen a goat. One man told the farmer of the incredible incident they had just witnessed…they had just seen this goat fly out of the woods and run and leap into the big hole. The man asked the farmer if this could have been his goat.
The old farmer said “naw, that can’t be my goat…he was chained to a railroad tie.”
Oh no, Ivor!
Oh Yes… 😃😁
🙂
🙂
Brilliant, Ivor 🙂 🙂 Thanks very much
It’s one of those great old-time jokes …
Excellent!
Oh my, Ivor! This is even better than your poetic responses (maybe)! Sure made me laugh out loud! Poor goat!
Yes it’s a genuine good old joke..
Got a good laugh outta me! <3
Yeah 😂
🙂
🙂
Oh my what a beautiful walk.🌺
Thank you very much, Laleh.
My pleasure.
What a day! All those horses. And the ones running through the woods looked magical.
Thanks very much, Laurie.
I love your black and white photos.
Thanks very much, Arlene
Thank you for supporting the Australian wine industry! A very good choice, from the Limestone Coast.
Very good, indeed, Yvonne. Many thanks
You’re an early bird! It’s 4.30 here, is it about 7.30 there?
Yes. Actually I’ve been up an hour 🙂
Oh my….they are beautiful creatures but betters not stay in their way when they’re in a rush 🐎 😉
Quite so, Ribana. Thanks very much
Three lovely photographs of the intrepid blog poster to finish with!
Thanks a lot, John
What an adventure!It is so exciting to follow the action through the wonderful pairing of photos and text. I admire the veracity and fast and furious progression. Thank you for this morning treat, Derrick, and take care. It is a good thing you didn’t get trampled.
🙂 Thank you very much, Sofia
Looking like Autumn. 🙂
I received the Familiar Trees book and was disappointed to find it to be very poor scan in B&W. I plan to return it if I can.
How very disappointing, Sherry. There are quite a few copies advertised on line, but I expect you have looked at those. I imagine whether or not you can return it will depend on how it has been described in the advert. Thanks very much.
I managed to return it.
Excellent
If you get no joy you are welcome to take my pictures off the post.
Thanks Derrick
The dog of course should have been on a lead. All dogs should be on a lead. Dog owners really annoy me.
I like the fence pictures but my favourite is ‘Autumn at my Feet’
Thanks very much, Andrew. That was a popular choice
Sounds like an exciting ramble! I’d have been happy to have an auto to jump into, too. 🙂
🙂 Thanks very much, Eliza
What a wonderful world. I totally agree with the other remarks, the b & w photos are lovely. I think sometimes, with the right subject matter the black and white picture has an air of mystery that’s not so easy to capture in color. And the tree shots need to be framed. Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Derrick.
Thank you so much, Paul
Glad you received some sunshine on a rainy day.
Thanks very much, Mrs W.
Your welcome.
Those “normally somnolent ponies” were really riled up, weren’t they? Glad no one was trampled. Great photos by Jackie. (Oh and of course, yours were their usual brilliant captures, too, {{{Derrick}}} . ) So, thank you for your always excellent sharing.
And thank you so much, Jan X
I enjoyed your photos of autumn, Derrick and Jackie! The Drift sounds like an interesting event, to be attended at one’s own risk. I wonder if someday hot branding will be augmented or replaced by microchipping for identification, as much more detail can be registered..
That is an interesting thought about microchipping, which works for dogs. Thanks very much, Lavinia.
Here is an interesting article from the American association of Equine Practitioners.
https://aaep.org/horsehealth/chip-your-horse
Thanks very much, Lavinia. Clearly beneficial
What a marvelous sight seeing the ponies thundering by. Thank you for the link with the information about the drift, so interesting.
Thank you very much Sue.
What started with stunning photographs quickly turned into a thriller: “Suddenly the sweeping sough of the wind was muffled by rapidly advancing thudding hooves of ponies on the run.” I am absorbing my lessons well at your blog! The Drift must be an alarming event for the hoofed marauders. Once again, the photography is top notch.
Thank you so very much, Uma.
looks like a wonderful walk in an extraordinary place with many ponies and people…
It was a good day, Cedar. Thanks very much.
I am grateful to Jackie for turning the camera on you every so often. 🙂 Those photos of the running horses are marvelous. What a ruckus, and in the first few shots, it’s interesting to see people who appear to be casually walking as ponies and a spaniel tear into the forest. My favourite photo from this set is the larger black and white of the fence. That one is a work of art. I also like the shot of the man walking his dog – the way you framed it. Derrick you make your world look magical for us.
Thank you so much, Crystal. I’m pleased about the magic. Those two women had no idea what was going on at that point.
Loved the photography of the woodlands, the horses and the black and whites, especially the first black and white
Thanks very much, Geetha