Yet again, my trip to the river has been delayed by bad weather and apathy but I made a point of popping down there this morning after the school run, glad that I had my wellies in the boot because the path from the car park is still very muddy. There is no sun today but it is not cold and, for a while, I was the only person around. I was struck by how tranquil the riverside seemed, despite the cacophony from various birds in the trees. They were incredibly noisy, but in a way that did not disturb the peace. I couldn't tell you if I heard any traffic noise, although the busy A31 is barely half a mile away across the water meadows. The birdsong (and birdsquawk, birdshriek and birdshout too, from the sound of it) created a natural overlay to all other sounds, like a cocoon of nature to insulate the riverside from the human world.
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| an overcast day but so peaceful by the river, it was a wonderful place to be |
It was so calm and still, hardly a ripple in water that was moving quite swiftly:
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| I love the water - a great place for reflection, introspection and...reflections |
I lingered on the bridge awhile, revelling in the atmosphere; so much at peace that I didn't want to leave, save for the urge to take my camera on its first proper tour of my riverbank. With a new zoom to play with I was able to capture different views from those I had pictured with my phone's camera. In fact, the camera now has better eyesight than I do! I was a little disappointed that the local Swan family didn't bring their cygnets closer as, even with the zoom and the bridge rail for support, the zoom still wasn't quite enough for a good shot. However, that does give me more reason to come down to the bridge frequently in the next couple of months - I would love a good picture of those babies.
Moving on, I paused at my usual bench, so overgrown with nettles that I misjudged my usual shot - now I'll have to go back again! There were so many things I wanted to snap that it was hardly a wasted trip and I was able to get some pictures of the river that I really like. I am particularly fond of reflections that show the trees on the bank, framed within the river itself:
and the energy in the turbulent water, beyond the leaves, which, though relatively motionless are still skittish in the breeze:
Finally a couple of shots from a new vantage point, the cliff-like bank between the bridge and the car park, so recently submerged and part of the river itself, it is now several feet above water-level again but lets me feel as though I am on the water itself:
My midsummer pictures are not, as I had once thought possible, of a scorched bank and depleted stream but of a calm, tranquil, lush, green place of peace. I love it.
