Also last week, but over at Clive. Our level had reduced so we were able to drive locally. I am in NZ, and we're now at level one, which is pretty much normal, except our borders are still closed.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Thanks Brian - you're most kind. We're so fortunate here with many miles of walks available from our front door, and whilst the scenery contains little real drama (certainly compared with your beautiful locality!) there is still beauty to be found. With lots of fresh air, miles of open country and a good camera at one's side there's so much to be grateful for.
Totally agree with your final sentence - there is so much to be grateful for.
What I have found most interesting with the lockdown is the fact that I have to stay local. This has meant local walks or cycle rides (not really an issue on the edge of York) but seeing the farmers fields change over the season has meant a connection that just hasn't happened before. The rape fields dominating then the bluebells and now the poppies - it has been wonderful seeing the colour changes.
I also now work from home so being stuck in 8:00 -17:00, means that the trips have often been at 7pm to 9pm which again has opened opportunities for photography.
And of course the little Olympus camera always comes with me.
Will be glad when the lockdown is completely over so that I can go back to socially distance on my own terms!
Didn’t intentionally shoot portrait only today, that’s just how it turned out. Pleasingly I wasn’t stuck at the extremes of the zoom the whole time either (the long end is where I normally find myself).
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
I hope you'll join me on my latest "Bike Ride of the Pandemic" and will bear with me for uploading more than the recommended ten photos.
Here in Wales, we're still not supposed to travel more than five miles, though the Welsh Government have said that those living in rural areas can do more "within reason". I'd recently had a telephone consultation with a hospital physiotherapist who told me I should try some longer rides, so.....
I had a reason.
My wife and I headed inland to start with and then aimed for Solva, a small coastal village. After 10 miles or so, we dropped down to Middle Mill and despite passing this property literally hundreds of times, this was the first time I'd noticed that it was once a pub, 'The Llanunwas Arms'.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
A mile or so along the valley alongside the river, we entered Solva village itself, with the quaint old cottages on our right.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
A short way on, there are cottages on both sides of the road, with those on the left adjacent to the river.
There's a sign on one, indicating a small passageway giving access to the river itself.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
We soon arrived at the main road passing through the village, with an old chapel converted to an art gallery, owned by a colourful Cuban character named Raul Speak.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Just opposite are a few other galleries, with these signs displayed.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Arriving at the harbour car park, we were greeted by this new mural on the end of the Public Conveniences (still closed) painted by Raul Speak.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
We were then able to ride along the path towards the harbour entrance, where one family were setting off for a short ride in different transport than ours.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
While one lady was going solo, on what has been reported on as being one of the most popular means of propulsion this year.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
For the local sailors however, they've not yet had the opportunity of getting their craft into the water.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
While one family of land-lubbers were more than happy to take advantage of the outgoing tide and give their youngest child their first experience of sand.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
After sustaining ourselves with bananas and muesli bars, we decided to ride back on the main road, as traffic was still very light given the lockdown. We hadn't tackled the steep hill out of the village for over 20 years but thankfully got to the top with a little breath left. Thankfully the next two hills weren't quite as steep and we made good time on this short-cut home.
The last downhill section is a fast sweeping descent to Newgale beach with the Duke of Edinburgh pub located opposite, where we stopped for a refreshing pint of lager (in our dreams - it was actually apple cordial from our drinks bottles).
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
And then merely had the 2 mile long uphill slog back home.
Thanks for accompanying us on our day out,
cheers, Brian.
Here's some insects out the other day that were happy enough 'socially distancing'. I couldn't help but think the soldier beetle on the left was saying, "Blimey, it's a long way down, innit?"
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
(for those from outside of the UK, "innit" translates into "isn't it?")
Henley Lake Masterton. In NZ we are in level one, which means border restrictions, but little else. Unfortunately the border restrictions have been an absolute fiasco!!
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
P1024781 Henley Lake late autumn colour by Rose McGillicuddy, on Flickr
I hope you'll bear with me (yet again) for another "Bike Ride of the Pandemic".
We set out on this particular route a few days ago after discovering it a short while ago and I intended to submit a couple of photos for the Tracks and Roads forum and possibly the Show Artworks one. However, there are quite a few aspects of interest which could have gone in other fora too, so I've decided to lump them all together here!
A couple of years ago the local council obtained money from a European Community Fund to build some safe cycle routes alongside main roads. We'd never bothered with this section as it was slightly out of the way as we usually only drove into town. During the lockdown we thought about riding into town while it was quiet and used this off-road section.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
You can just see the start of a dangerous bend on the main road, that the new track has cut out.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
I think a few of these could have gone in the Show Fences forum too.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
A little way on, the track crosses the main road and continues alongside it into town. That's what we'd intended to do on our first ride, until a friend suggested an alternative. Despite living in Pembrokeshire for over 40 years and passing this side road literally thousands of times, we'd never ventured down it because we though it only led to some cottages and the hunt kennels. However, once the road ends there is a bridleway that one can cycle down, taking a short cut into town.
Here's the start of the track.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
And rounding the first bend there's a lovely section underneath an avenue of sycamore trees.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Which continues for around a mile or so.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Before emerging on a quite road leading into town.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
As the cafes are still closed due to the lockdown, we didn't ride into town, instead taking a road heading north into more countryside.
We stopped for a drink and banana on 'Cuttybridge' an old stone construction over a tributary of the River Cleddau. There's so much greenery alongside the river that it's hard to get a good view of the bridge itself.
Eagle-eyed viewers may just be able to see what's about to pounce at the other end of the bridge.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
This traditional Welsh house, built of local stone, sits high above the river in case of flooding.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
And is guarded by this creature (which I will post in the relevant forum to satisfy Erich ).
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
The owner of the house has painted this wonderful mural on the side of their garage, dedicated to the NHS workers looking after us all during this pandemic.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
And from there we had an uneventful few miles home.
Thanks once again for looking.
I often use my short Pandemic "Exercise Walks" to do some "visual exercise" as well. Here is an example of a sequence of numbers. Other variations I've done are: All with one focal length, no cropping (like this one), alternating b&w/color, single shot each in sequence. All within a single block of the walk...
I would be interested to know if anyone else has "visual exercises" they are using to keep the brain focussed.
Yesterday's walk
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Links on this page may be to our affiliates. Sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.Mu-43 is a fan site and not associated with Olympus, Panasonic, or other manufacturers mentioned on this site.Forum post reactions by Twemoji: https://github.com/twitter/twemojiForum GIFs powered by GIPHY: https://giphy.com/