Wreck on the coast

The wreck of the Sarb-J

Sunday 31st May 2015

Whilst walking along the cliff path (Cleveland Way) from Hawsker bottoms to Robin Hoods Bay, I suddenly became aware of rusty metal at the foot of the cliffs which are nearly 200 feet high. Not wanting to go too near the edge of the cliff, I zoomed in and there was the rusting hulk of a boat. From the winch gear on the front, I guessed it was an old fishing boat. Eager to find out more, I 'Googled' it when I got home. According to the Robin Hoods Bay website (http://www.robinhoodsbay.org/Wrecks/Sarbj/sarbj.htm) it was a fishing trawler called the 'Sarb-J' and it ran aground on the 20th January 1994. From a photographers point of view, I just want to go down there and take some photographs of the effects, from the constant battering from the sea on metal. Not sure if it could be done at low tide from Robin Hoods Bay?

Wetwang Scarecrow Festival

Fiddler on the roof

Saturday 30th May 2015

Today I popped up the road to have a look at the Wetwang Scarecrow Festival http://www.wetwang.org.uk/wetwang-scarecrow-festival/ which finishes tomorrow. The festival has been running for a number of years and according to some of the  people who had made the scarecrows, it just gets bigger and better. It was the first time we had visited and thought we would be back home within the hour. How wrong could we be. It took us nearly three hours to see all the scarecrows dotted about all over the village. There were some fantastic exhibits, well done to all. Rounded off with a trip to Harpers fish and chip shop!

Ryedale storm

Dramatic sky over Ryedale

Friday 29th May 2015

Busy working in the house today and had to go to Northallerton for an evening 'do'. Pleased I remembered my camera. Big clouds, sun and rain all the way from Driffield. Just as I was at the top of Ampleforth Beacon, I could see the makings of a rainbow and big storm over the Kirkbymoorside area. What a sky!

Cow and Calf

On Ilkla Moor Baht'at

Thursday 28th May 2015

We set off today to visit RHS Harlow Carr Gardens at Harrogate. We arrived at Harlow Carr to find not only was the car park full, but so too was the reserve parking and it began to rain - disaster, try plan B - we didn't have one! We decided to carry on and drive to Otley, and Ilkley. Lunch was taken at the Cow and Calf Rocks on Ilkley Moor. This is a millstone grit outcrop on the edge of the moor. Legend has it that the giant Rombald was escaping from his wife and stood on the edge of the outcrop, splitting the calf (large boulder) from it's mother (larger rock with man abseiling near top). So there I was up on Ilkley Moor taking this photograph wind blowing strong, about to rain, and me without a hat!

Drama on the Moors

Young Ralph's Cross

Wednesday 27th May 2015

Out doing my Cleveland Way Volunteers work today at the top end of the route in Guisborough woods. It was a dry pleasant day, until just before we finished, when it started to rain. I drove down through Castleton and by the time I reached 'Young Ralph's Cross' (above) high up on the moors at the Westerdale junction it was dark clouds and raining heavily. I parked the car and ran over the road in the rain to get a picture of the cross, which is the symbol of The North York Moors National Park. I looked up at the cross and the clouds and decided then and there on a moody black and white image. The white dots are flowers. 

Busy Bempton

A Gannet

Tuesday 26th May 2015

We decided to go to Flamborough and have a walk up the coast to Bempton and back. It was a sunny morning to begin with, then turned rather cloudy. We set off from Flamborough as solitary walkers enjoying the peace and the bird life on the cliffs. By the time we neared Bempton, it was like the whole world was at RSPB Bempton! We had lunch at the visitor centre (standing room outside only) and walked back. I had to take a picture of a graceful gannet, but getting a 'front seat' was almost impossible! By the time we reached Danes Dyke, we were solitary walkers again - ah ... peace at last!

Just a piece of wood?

Can you see a pig's head?

Monday 25th May 2015

The three day event at Sledmere is over for another year. The Driffield Photographic Society stand was outside in one of the cart sheds. For three days we looked at a large pile of timber that was stored in the yard opposite. I, and one or two others decided to take some photographs of the pile - because it was there! I looked at a large piece that had a split across it and had been sawn through. I liked the round dark patch to the left, which was probably where a branch had been. To the right, I had this vision of a pig's head with square jaw, snout, mouth and ears. The more I looked, the more it resembled a pig's head! Black and white helped emphasize the shape and texture.

A brush with art

My watercolour brushes

Sunday 24th May 2015

For the second day of three, I was manning the Driffield Photographic Society stand at the Sledmere House, Art Festival at Home Farm. I will be there tomorrow. I enjoy my photography and it is always nice to chat to people about one of my hobbies. But, I came face to face with my dilemma, as I wandered around the various stands and talked to people about their work, particularly the artists. I found myself longing to get back to my watercolour painting that I left, nearly three years ago, when we moved. On getting home, I went to my painting box and pulled out my trusted watercolour brushes. I had to photograph them to remind me I must paint again. Hopefully, there will be a finished picture on this blog in the not too distant future!

Weather vane or weather cock?

Which direction is the wind from?

Saturday 23rd May 2015

Sat having a glass of wine and a barbecue at my son's house. Looked up and did a double take. Although he has been in the house for two years and I have visited quite a bit, I had never noticed this weather vane (or in this case a weather cock) on his shed! They come in various shapes and sizes, but I think this is quite simple and in keeping with the countryside. The idea is that the arrow points to the direction that the wind is coming from (in this case about SE). I thought, as I sat there, that the wind was probably coming from the west. Looking at the rust around the shaft, it could be that it is not working properly? Must investigate further with an oil can!

Slithering Snake

Snake in the grass?

Friday 22nd May 2015

Spent most of the morning setting up pictures at Sledmere House for the 'Art at Home Farm' Art Festival which runs from Saturday to Monday 1000 to 1530 and features local artists. Driffield Photographic Society have a display. Then took a trip to Thirsk and forgot my camera! So returning late, I had to find something to photograph. I wanted to give the corkscrew a snake like appearance, so I lit it from both sides against a black background to give it some markings! I wouldn't want to meet it in the jungle- Scarey!

Three Trees

Trees in Frendal Dale

Thursday 21st May 2015

Out walking in Frendal Dale today. It was, by the time I got out, very cloudy and overcast, with the sun just poking through now and again. I saw these three trees and liked the composition. Problem was, the sky was not good. I decided there and then that they would make a great silhouette. Turning the image black and white, I removed any mid tones and left the fence line in, to add a touch of scale. 

Peasholm Park Harbour

Portsmouth Harbour or Peasholm Harbour?

Wednesday 20th May 2015

Found myself back at Peasholm Park, Scarborough today. Took my grandson to see the young goslings, although he liked them, he really wanted to see the swans and cygnets. To see them we had to go onto Peasholm Island and rounding a corner he suddenly yelled, "Boats". There in the shelter of Peasholm Harbour were an ocean liner, an oil tanker, three battleships and a submarine! You would find these in Portsmouth, but surely not in Scarborough? These are not ordinary boats, they are manned, scale models for taking part in the 'Peasholm Park Naval Warfare' which has taken place on the lake for over eighty years. It is a great spectacle and is performed during June, July and August, three days a week. The bridge and funnels of the liner are missing - removed for access!

Bluebells

Bluebells at North Cliffe wood

Tuesday 19th May 2015

A sunny and showery day today as we journeyed into Nottinghamshire. I decided that en-route I would stop at North Cliffe wood and photograph the bluebells before the rain and hailstorms forecast for today finished them off! There was a good display along the track into the wood. For some reason, I didn't think the bluebells in the wood itself, were showing as good as last year. Perhaps it is the lack of sunshine or heat?

Beautiful Clematis

Clematis Montana Tetra Rose

Monday 18th May 2015

I love this time of year, when I know my beautiful Clematis Montana Tetra Rose will be full of pink flowers. It is a deciduous climber that just keeps on climbing. We have it horizontal along a low fence, leading onto a wooden arch and it looks stunning. It is always sad when the flowers fade, but the reddish brown foliage creates a good backdrop for the summer plants. 

Aggression on the lake

Mum, Dad and four Goslings, plus The Swan!

Sunday 17th May 2015

Sat in the cafe this afternoon at a peaceful Peasholm Park, Scarborough, when I heard and saw such a commotion. Beyond the fence and stones in the picture is a wooden board that runs around the lake, to prevent the rowing boats from hitting the bank. One of the little goslings had got trapped between the board and the stones and could not get out of the water. The parents were trying to get it out, but couldn't. The Swan (in picture) was lurking at the other side of the lake and sensed the gosling in distress. It made a bee-line for the stranded gosling and despite hissing from the parents, it grabbed the gosling and tossed it in the air. A passer-by ran to the bank and started waving his coat at the swan. The parent geese both jumped in the water and attacked the swan, which reared up at them. A second passer-by scooped the gosling out of the water and put it on the grass. The swan was still intent on 'getting a gosling' and followed them around the park. The geese sensibly kept out of the water, while the swan shadowed them from the lake. It continued like this for about fifteen minutes, then the swan gave up. What chance all four make it to adulthood?

Halt! Who goes there?

Watching over us. Knight and day!

Saturday 16th May 2015

Out and about around Robin Hoods Bay area doing a seven mile Voluntary Ranger patrol for the North York Moors National Park. I had walked west along the north western edge of Howdale Moor to Cook House, then took the bridleway, through the farm yard. At the last gate on leaving the farm, I came across this relic of the Crusades! How long had he been there? His armour could do with a polish. Was there anybody in there? He didn't challenge me, so I guess I passed as a friend!

What is it?

A rat?

Friday 15th May 2015

Out all day today so had to settle for a late evening image. It looks like a rat on the right, clinging onto curtains, about to be attacked by a 'thing' on the left. In actual fact, it is my stapler, with a twist. You can make out the row of staples that form the backdrop. The rat and 'thing' are the jaws of the stapler complete with protruding staple (the tails). Come on, use your imagination!

Feather in close up

Part of a small feather

Thursday 14th May 2015

Whilst walking through the garden, I saw half a dozen small feathers on the lawn. Not sure what bird they were from, but they were off-white, about two centimetres long and very downy. I started to pick them up and noticed some detail along the centre. I thought it might be an idea to take a photograph. What I never realized until I was looking through the macro lens was that each minute piece of the feather was in turn another feather as you can see in the foreground. I decided on a high key image to soften the hardness of the dark areas. It almost looks like a pencil drawing!

Scoar Dale

Spring in Scoar Dale

Wednesday 13th May 2015

After a last minute photograph last night, I decided to get up early today and take advantage of the weather forecast - sunshine in the morning. I walked along Scoar Dale near Millington, which is Open Access land. The gorse was bathed in sunshine and the smell of coconut from the flowers was very powerful.

Bits and Pieces

New screwdriver bits

Tuesday 12th May 2015

Nearly didn't make the image today, very, very late. Picked up a new box of screwdriver bits and took a photograph at 2345 - enough said.