Big Empty Beach

It's a Friday, the sun's out - where is everybody??!!

6th March09, High Newton, 3pm

Some boat wreckage with a tale to tell

WWII tank traps in the low sun

Castles and Princesses

Clear skies at this time of year still mean frost but it soon warmed up leaving only the shadows as the last refuge of the ice crystals. What a modern fairy tale you could weave with the juxtaposition of the abandoned shoe and the castle.

5th March09, Embleton Bay, 08:30

Flowers on the shore

Off to town again this morning so an inland walk through the woods

4th March09, nr Alnwick Castle, 08:30

Another cold, bright day and it was nice to see flowers amongst the shoreline. I have consulted my books but can't identify this one definitively. [edited - It's a Coltsfoot "the classic early spring wildflower"]

The Face in the Sand

Kinda dull this morning. Last time I was here was beautiful with snow but today it was visually less exciting although the birdsong was lovely. Shame I can't share that with you.

3rd March09, nr Alnwick Castle, 9am

..and so to the face in the sand...

3rd March09, Low Newton, 3pm

a strange angle for Trooper

sun's out

The sun's out but it's as chilly as ever. Does it look warm in these pictures? Somewhat unwell, I lay in the shelter of the dunes and soaked up the sun on the bit of skin between my hat and my scarf. Trooper stood too close and panted saliva on to me until I got up to play again.

2nd March09, High Newton, 3pm

lonesome pine

The more observant will note this is the same tree as a couple of days ago. It stands very much on its own on the moor surrounded by an iron-age hillfort, prehistoric burnt mounds and mysterious cup and ring marked rocks.

It's a reminder that moors such as this were once naturally forested and, from stone-age times, as man became increasingly industrial, all the trees were felled for housing, fuel and shipbuilding. This one stayed upright but not alive.

1st March09, Jenny's Lantern, 3pm

Tornado

This is 60163 "Tornado" a brand new, built-from-scratch steam engine. She's pictured at Christon Bank level crossing pulling the "Auld Reekie Express" from York to Edinburgh on the main East coast line.

This project is a magnificent engineering feat. Read more about it here.

Isn't she great!

28th Feb09, Christon Bank, 11:39