high waves

 29th August 2020, Simonside, 9am

Very breezy up on the summit ridge and a fair few people walking up as we walked down.

This is a nice photo in colour but I felt that the bold patterns of the waves allowed it to work in black and white.

no tricks

 28th Aug 2020, Beadnell Bay, 8am

A lovely long walk that started grey and rainy and ended with blustery sunshine and waves.

An early start and weather for the connoisseur made for a quiet morning.  Me and her and loads of joggers.

When the last of the rain left us, we were surrounded by every shade of silver.

Daisy doesn't do tricks and I had to lift her up here for the photo!

Once there, she enjoyed the view and spotted something of interest.  It was a balloon blowing across the sand (which is now in the bin).

house of sand

 21st August 2020, Alnmouth, 7am

I found a plastic shape to make a sand-house - presumably its for those without the aspiration to build a sand castle.

the way I like it

 20th August 2020, Buston, 7am

Very quiet on the beach.  A few folk started to arrive as we headed home for breakfast.

access

 19th August 2020, Warkworth, 8am

Because of the huge number of visitors we've had this summer the short-sighted and unimaginative land owners seem to be systematically closing off all the access roads and parking areas to the beach.  This doesn't stop visitors it just means they park somewhere else - probably even worse than the quiet wee roads they were using.  Meanwhile us locals have nowhere to park to walk on the coast and the closures will affect us all winter when there are no visitors here.  There is no joined up thinking in Northumberland tourism authorities and interested parties.

Anyway we'll park carefully as ever and take advantage of the access while we can.

It was a perfect blue-sky day.

19th August 2020, Boulmer, 11am

A similar photo to one I posted at the end of lockdown.

The NHS flag is gone 

The solitary, isolating couple who were staring peacefully at the sea have moved on. 

They are replaced today with a socially distanced group of friends chatting in the sun.

missing mansions

18th August 2020, Alnmouth, 7:30am

It was a very misty morning and up on church hill I met a visitor who asked me where Alnmouth was. 

I explained it was just there over the river but it was completely invisible. 

He looked skeptical!! Honestly it is there. A row of massive mansions just 100 yards away. 

I couldn’t even see the boats in the harbour. 

It was like being transported back in time...

The mist was sticking to vegetation and spider webs.

The thistle-like knapweed flower was the inspiration for my company logo a few years back.

finding colour

 17th August 2020, Amble, 11am

It had stopped raining by the time I headed out on the bike but it was all grey and moody down the harbour in Amble.

There was colour to be found among the "Covid Snake" of painted pebbles. The designs ranged from the arty to the simple message

 Then the rain came on again and I got soaked on the way home.

17th August 2020, Warkworth, 4pm

Dry by now and I was experimenting with Daisy and a new iPhone (8).

flotsam

14th August 2020, Embleton Bay, 7am

Colourful flotsam 

left over from the summer 

of two days ago 

Now it’s the only colour 

in a seascape of drizzle and mist 

Borne on a north wind 

But we know the sun 

will be back soon enough 

And there will still be time to play.

familiar

 13th August 2020, Buston, 8am

You can walk past a place dozens of times and suddenly one day you see a photograph. A particular combination of light and weather perhaps? 

So it was this morning at the wee chapel S of Alnmouth. 

The lesson is never to take a familiar location for granted.

raindrops on a feather

grey, damp and cool but still a nice place to be...

diversion

 12th Aug 2020, Buston, 1pm

When I headed off on my bike it was misty and cool.  By lunchtime it was sunny and warm so I diverted down to the beach.

lapping

11th August 2020, Alnmouth, 7am

All peaceful by the gently lapping water this morning.

looking out

 10th August 2020, Howick, 7am

Beautiful light on the sea

10th August 2020, Buston, 1pm

An afternoon cycle down the hill to the beach.  When I got there it was low tide so I pedalled up the golden sand for a mile or so. Not many folk around.  Perfect fun on the bike.

10th August 2020, Buston, 6pm

Nice and quiet this evening.  The few of us that were here were all hanging about enjoying the atmosphere.

improved

 8th August 2020, Warkworth, 7:30am

On the beach nice and early to avoid the crowds...

Daisy much improved and happy to walk with us.

peace and quiet

 7th August 2020, Boulmer, 8am

Daisy is out of action with a sore mouth -she came 2nd in a fight with a cat.  She's OK but isn't wanting a walk this morning so I was able to go for a nice early bike ride before it got too busy.

Boulmer is one of the few places where fishing still happens and fishermen still live. The tractor was waiting for the boat to come in and there was a fridge lorry ready to load up and head to market - just like the coast should be.

It has to be said they both had their engines running (although the incoming boat was nowhere to be seen) so it was quite smoky and very noisy.

Sometimes tranquility is the cost of lost industry and peace is only found where no-one is working.

scraggly hound

5th August 2020, Buston, 7:30am

Just me and a couple of other dog walkers this morning.

I had a wee lie down in the sand and drifted away with Daisy's lead in my hand so I could keep tabs on her while she watched over me.

the best of the day

4th August 2020, Warkworth, 7am

A gentle light greeted me on the beach this morning.  The forecast promised rain for the rest of the day so this was to be the best weather for a while.

one wheel

3rd August 2020, Alnmouth, 7:30am

The unicyclist seems to be a regular visitor now.  I got a photo of him this time...

3rd August 2020, Shilbottle, 7:30pm

A beautiful evening sky.  There are lovely views from every corner of this village.