...and they're off

9th Sept09, Low Newton, 8am

The beach at Low Newton is that bit busier than the others so I tend to avoid it during the school holidays. It makes it all the more pleasant to be back...

I met a couple this morning walking "The Inn Way" a circular, ale-drinking walking week around Northumberland. They were thoroughly enjoying the route and I must say it seems like a grand idea. Here's a link.

Sanderlings are very nervous and this was as close as I got before they took to the sky. Such bonny, peaceful little birds.

This must be about as good as horse riding gets. I was a tad jealous at how much of coast they were able to cover in the same time as I travelled about 100 yards with Trooper demanding ball games!

water water everywhere

6th September09, College Valley, 11am

A very wet walk in the cheviots. There had been a lot of rain and the streams were in spate. Lots of evidence of last year's flood (1 year ago today).

7th Sept09, High Newton, 8am

..and back to the sun. Lovely light as the sun is lower in the mornings these days.

8th Sept09, High Newton, 8am

Rain and wind forecast N of here. Sunny, warm weather to the S. we're stuck in the middle with clouds and wind but strangely, oppressively, warm.

Beachcomber

5th Sep09, Embleton Bay, 6:30 am

An early rise prompted by a quick look out the window. Once I've seen that it's such a nice day I can't get back into bed.

All of the flood worries of the last two days were dispelled by the weather today and as a bonus the storm had left fantastic breakers.

Where are the surfers this morning??

The intertwining meanderings of one man and his dog.

You're never alone on Embleton Bay on a nice weekend, even at 7am - in fact the photographers are out especially at 7am!

The beachcomber?

The Feel of Autumn

This morning had an autumnal feel. No bad thing.

2nd September09, around Falloden Woods, 8am

Brambles are coming to a hedgerow near you...

I have photographed this stretch of road before - There's something very pleasing about the composition.

stay calm and carry on

I love my early mornings because there's often no wind. The calm air lends such a peaceful atmosphere. As soon as the sun gains a bit of height and the warm air currents start to breeze around it changes from "morning" to "day" and I head for home.

30th August09, High Newton5pm

31st August09, High Newton, 8am

31st August09, Embleton Bay, 5pm

After a fantastic day, the beaches were still fairly crowded when this rainstorm started to approach and we headed straight to the car just as the first fat drops arrived. Sometimes it pays to understand the clouds...

1st September09, Football Hole, 7am

Gorgeous, still morning. Even Trooper was happy to sit and contemplate the view today.

harvest time

27th August09, Rock village, 4pm

There is a school in Rock and I suspect this sign is something to do with the kids.

A much drier harvest than last year when lots of the cereal crops were lying broken, bedraggled and unharvestable in the fields.

28th August09, Howick, 8am

Interesting light (as usual around these parts) on the sheletered cove at Howick.

after the storm

We'd all been warned about "Hurricane Bill" passing over the UK yesterday but it was a bit of a damp squib. Anyway the sun was back this morning.

27th August09, High Newton, 8am

This, I think, is perennial sow-thistle. So called as the milky sap was believed to be good for a sow's milk production so was fed to pigs. They're covering the dunes right now.

A Small White butterfly breakfasting on the thistle's dandelion like flower head. Also known as the cabbage white, but doing no-one's cabbages any harm here.