Wednesday, February 18, 2009

cloud wandering








We wandered about a bit in a cloud.

We left for the hill in a slight drizzle and luckily as it turned out later, fully waterproofed up. As we climbed up the hill it became foggier and darker. It was cold and the wind was blowing. When the fog became thicker and decidedly wetter we realised what had happened: we had walked up into a raincloud.

We met up with a couple of old dead friends as we ascended, their bodies now empires of insects. Both came looming out of the cloud separately to greet us.

We came back down the golf course way, for some reason nobody was playing, but it was getting dark by then. We were walking straight into the wind now, and it was cold. We were becoming wetter and had been out longer than we had intended as it's a fair old walk back but we returned cold and happy and grateful that we had a place to come back to. No money had been spent in the process.

It was a lot wetter than it appears in the photographs as the rain is not always that easy to see in photo's, but the camera comes out in the rain anyway.

8 comments:

Skye said...

That looked like one of the most beautiful walks imaginable! You have me earnestly wishing for Spring so I can go for a walk in the fog and mist through the valley.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Skye

Yes, walking in the fog and mist is beautiful. The oak woods that you have around where you are look really good, certainly something to look forward to there.

the Silverfish said...

John your right it is beautiful here.
The valley bottom is normally some 8 to 10 degrees warmer than up at my place, funny since it's only 1/2 mile. As a consequence the river steams all night as the cool night air from on top falls into the valley generating fog. Then the warm valley air forces the fog up in the morning almost to my doorstep. It’s just one of the many reasons that things grow so well up here at the Swallow’s Nest.
It’s much like a giant green house where the plants and trees get misted every night. Most mornings the fog flows right up to the edge of the valley, which is some 70 feet from the house and is as thick as a cotton blanket and as flat as a snooker table. It makes one think that one could just step out and walk up on a cloud.
It is on mornings like these when the sun makes it’s daily visit surrounded by a clear blue sky and then starts to make the fog boil that one can almost see Dragons diving into the mist to escape detection. They do this as mere mortals should never know that Dragons do really exist, as that knowledge would diminish their power.

However here at the Swallow’s Nest sometimes they do allow us into their magical world, just ask Skye she has come to know some of them well and they guide her on those dark nights.

Besides the river there are many spring fed hillside ponds that have been over the years built by Beaver they also add to the moisture and the fog. The main picture on my home page is just such a beaver pond, it is some 400 meters down from the house and is some 12 acres. It’s a nice place to sit and talk to the world with nothing but Eagles, Hawks, Owls, Coyotes, Wolves, Beaver, the occasional Cougar or Black Bear for company. All toll life is good here at the nest.

Anonymous said...

Cheers Silverfish, thanks and apologies for not getting back sooner.

You describe the place beautifully and it sounds magical. Interesting to live at the top of the hill and be able to see out over it all. Around here we have to walk out of the town and up onto the hills and woods so some physical ascension takes place. The iron age people around here all seemed to live on the hilltops but I've never worked out if this was for spiritual or climatic reasons. I walked up there one very cold morning and soon found myself on top of the hill hiding from the cold wind by a gorse bush. Small clouds of sea fog were rolling into the clifftop and curling up and over into spiral shapes.

It sounds like you have a wonderful place there.

There was a good version of Gawain and the Green Knight on Radio 4 here yesterday, it might be possible to listen to it again on the BBC website if anyone is interested. It had Ian McKellen it.

Thanks again and cheers for now.

su said...

From a baked earth here and fires threatening I pasted the first picture as my desk top. I can smell the wet earth again. You soul saver you.

Anonymous said...

Cheers Susana

Fires threatening? that sounds a bit worrying, the fires I have seen in Oz have looked really bad, it seems so hot and dry this year in so many places. There is plenty of wet earth here at the moment though we seem to have turned out of winter slightly now and into 'anything can happen' season.

Thanks, john

su said...

John,
Yesterday evening thick black clouds came rolling over the mountain and thunder and lightening displayed themselves with much ferocity. I climbed on my bicycle and started cycling along the dirt roads in the heat and energy of a storm. Those first few drops of rain that fell on the hard baked earth must have been the most beautiful scent I have ever had the pleasure of smelling. Then they fell harder and eventually I was riding in a downpour. Laughing like a crazy woman. At times riding with my eyes closed, at times with my legs way out to the sides. It was as if the rain unleashed my childhood.

The fires are under control, thanks to the mighty juice from the clouds.

Anonymous said...

Nice one Susana that sounds excellent! I love thunderstorms and usually try to get outside to play somewhere too as entertainment doesn't get bigger than this. The rain must also be a huge relief where you are. Nice timing as well, as it's good to hear of the weather as it happens. Ah, the smell of rain on dusty dry earth! wonderful. Thanks.