Today’s brisk north east wind carried a much cooler breeze than the sunshine promised. Fooled by this deception we took a circuitous route taking in
Keyhaven Harbour at low tide on our way home.
Some moored boats sat on dry land;
others, with buoys bobbed
on the rippling shallow surfaces while winds whistled through their bristling masts.
A lone oyster catcher picked its way among the drying weed,
like this black headed gull
quite unfazed by a black crow’s attempts at menace.
Several of the walkers who stepped out along the open freezer that was the sea wall commented on the tingling temperature.
There was not much activity at the end of Saltgrass Lane with its bridge to Hurst Spit over which
gulls swooped no doubt wondering why two gentlemen kept their prescribed distance.
One of the black headed birds rested on a rock contemplating
a cluster of yellow wild flowers on the opposite bank.
It is always risky for me to disembark with a camera while Jackie stops along a narrow winding lane like the one named
Agarton, because if any other vehicle comes along she will have to drive off and wait for me at the next available spot. Today we were lucky. Until we ventured into Lymore Valley.
There a most unpleasant stench beset our nostrils.
Rounding a bend we came nose to tail with a waste disposal tanker draining a domestic septic tank.
There was no way round it and Jackie was forced to back up until she found a place to turn. Difficult to do when you are holding your hooter.
Later this afternoon Jackie embarked upon a necessary watering session in the garden, where Nugget was having difficulty taking a bath in the somewhat reduced water feature. She refilled it and turned to her tray of potted plants. Her familiar followed her and indicated that he would rather swish around in that while keeping her company.
Looking rather tatty after his bath,
he was determined to hide. “Where’s Nugget?” (77) and
eventually emerged a little drier
to gather provender
for his offspring.
In addition to these pictures of her resident robin Jackie photographed the rose Paul’s Scarlet now scaling the wisteria arbour.
Fortunately The Culinary Queen prepares plenty of her delicious pasta arrabbiata for us to enjoy a repeat sitting today and other days. She drank Hoegaarden with her helping and I drank more of the El Zumbido Garnacha Syrah with mine.