Monday, November 18, 2013

COUNTRY AND SURF AT 'THE TOP OF THE DAY'

It looked like a good day to go out last Sunday, (16th November 2013). With the shortening daylight hours, every opportunity has to be taken when a day is at its best, at 'the top of the day' as the local expression goes. We found ourselves walking a bit of the North East Coast.  You are never far from countryside, in fact, the three, sea shore and countryside, merge.  The sun was low in the sky, seriously blinding for driving into, and also, for walking. It was not particularly good either for photographing some of the weird and wonderful things that caught my eye; maybe I shall get pictures of them another time.

Hardly noticeable, this water treatment plant sat neatly on the coast.



 Sheep grazed. They were not interested in us. I think they must be used to people.  Perhaps too many people had wandered by.  The path ahead of us through the field where the sheep were, was closed off by a five-bar gate.  It was not intended that the gate should be opened.  It was secured with barbed wire.  The gates we had already used were dropping on their  hinges by a considerable amount, requiring some heaving to open and close them behind us. It was not unreasonable to conject, therefore, that there may have been some issues with farm gates being left open.



Hay bales were sitting in the stubble on the fields.  The bales were outlined by good surfing waves   At a distance, the bales almost seemed to be  being pushed along. My stereotypical picture memories, much like the old masters,  are of hay stacks in fields, with more rolling fields surrounding them.  Bales and sea surf were unexpected companions. If you peer into the surf, you will just be able to make out a surfer, (a black dot).



I counted about ten surfers in this group.  This coast, indeed this bay, is known to serious national and international competitors for the quality of surf.  Recently, there was a major competition here.









You might just be able to see a few surfers in action through the spray 'curtain'



...and these surfers are flat-lining on their surfboards. 








Very many years ago, there was land reclamation on this part of the coast, the sea is now reclaiming back the same land, partly through erosion and in part, because, the unmaintained harbour breakwater, (the upright boulders, which are seen in this picture) has given the sea free reign to move back in.



This doorway to nowhere testifies that a substantial property  was built here. The barley twist design the stonemason carved either side of the jamb is still intact on the right. The doorway is beautiful in its decay and solitude.



You can make the images bigger if you click on them.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

A most enjoyable post to read, with some impressive pictures especially the spray curtain and the last one.
A day out like that at this time of year is most worthwhile before winter sets in.
Flighty xx

ZACL said...

We thought the same Mr F, taking advantage of opportunities. I am glad we did.

We had our first snow last night and more today. By comparison to what we could have, we've had fairly light snowfalls.

I am pleased you liked the pictures. thank you for your thoughts and comments.xx

Snowbird said...

What a wonderful post. The sea is reclaiming Formby too. How haunting and melancholy that door looks, rather beautiful too. I did love that pic of the surfers through the spray curtain.xxx

ZACL said...

Hello Snowbird,

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the pictures.

There are regular reports about large events of erosion around our coastlines. The South seems to be having its fair share, East Sussex, for example. About a decade ago, The Isle Of Wight lost a major chunk of Black Gang Chine. It doesn't really exist anymore.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed this post and the pictures, and am especially struck by the thought that although we once reclaimed land from the sea, that situation is now in reverse. What happened? When did we stop doing the necessary work? and why?

ZACL said...

To your questions, GillyK, I have to honestly answer, I do not know. I can only consider what I saw, which does not apply, I am sure, to many other areas around the coast. Some erosion is unavoidable. I believe there has been some 'underpinning' on the Isle Of Wight, however, even that has had to be selective.

The sea reclamation pictured may say more about a choice not to maintain sea defences by the owners of the properties immediately adjacent.

Anonymous said...

Very nice scenes, and a beautiful description. I thoroughly enjoyed this post. But what I found most fascinating, was the 'doorway to nowhere'. That's just the sort of thing that could have me meditating for a while, and imagining all sorts of structure that once were attached. A good read.

ZACL said...

Hello Shimon,

I am truly delighted you enjoyed this post.

Like you, I too, could spend a long time musing about what the door was attached to, or even where it might go...a bit like a theme from and in Alice In Wonderland.