The Acorn Trail archive

And the sun shone down on the weary traveller....

Thirty nine degrees, or near enough, tried in earnest to sabatage my schedule today. and I think I came out of it ok, just about. I made it to the meeting I had in town this morning, that went fine, although I have to go back in to finalise some paperwork. I called in to see my mom, she's okay. Stayed for coffee and a snack, al fresco, in the back garden. I went food shopping following that, then home, I was glad to be back, but felt that I needed to be outside, I rested for ten minutes after putting my shopping away, and after attending my groomimg needs, headed out.

I had packed my rucksack, including my camera. I was heading over to the park, and although I usually use the park to relax and soak up the sun, you never know, plus there is more to the park than first appears. Today of all days was a perfect candidate to use as a day to just laze a around doing nothing, given the energy-sapping heat. The overwhelming heat had made it uncomfortable where I was sat on the bench, and although I could have found sanctuary in the sahdow of one of the large trees the park possesses, I decided to investigate a little further, on foot...
I walked the borders of the green areas, it wound around into the mouth of an open wood, I want to say forest but I'd say more of a wood. the opening meets the pinnacle of the trees of the wood, as you face a downward drop, tapered by a spiralling stairway, safely gaurded by a banister. the top is a great place to stop for a while, get out your camera, and wait for the birds to show themselves. My muse was disturbed by a member of the public using the way as a shortcut to his destination. He chose a bench near the stream below me to take a breather. I took that as a cue to move on. He may not understand my motive for the camera. Speaking to him he seemed ok, but as I mentioned earlier, a short-cut. He showed no interest in my camera, must have worked out my interests in nature, one, I don't believe we shared. We candidly shared stories about local and personal issues. I then moved on, facing his reality had left a sour taste in my mouth, as I was here to see the beauty of this world, beauty that doesn't touch some people, we all "don't have the time", but some people can if they have the interest strong enough, even if it's a low priority, change your priorities, even just for a day, we all need quility time.
I continued on through the wood, sticking to the stretch of the wide stream. I turned at the point where the stream continued on through an underground tunnel. I had taken some movie footage and taken some pictures. I was now stood as quiet as I could awaiting a resighting of a songbird I didn't recognise, plus a blue-Tit, I havent seen any for a while, so both were a treat, but alas, no footage have I.
Standing back at the top of the spiralling staircase, I spotted a Robin hopping about between branches, worm in it's beak. My shots of it came out blurred. I think it was an equation of many variables, the heat, bad footing, the exhaustion at climbing, the fidgity Robin, and no tripod.
I then headed home the way I came.
There was a lot of prep work in all my activities today, and of course you can't scramble an egg without breaking the shell, in other words, I'd left my place a bit of a tip, and I had no energy left to deal with it. Tomorrow?

TODAYS IMAGES: one two three four five six

All photography by Geoff