It was bitterly cold with the prevailing winter wind buffeting from the south west. I was wearing my orange "Mammot" coat with a hood and I was also glad that I had remembered my woolly fingerless gloves. For me, fingerless gloves are best because they allow me to operate my camera properly.
I watched a kestrel expertly hovering on the wind above the rocks. Intermittently, the bird plunged down with its wings tucked in. It was clearly on the look out for prey but I do not know exactly what it was after. Perhaps a weasel or a resting songbird. Nearby eleven sheep were half-hidden in the heather as they sought nourishment
At this latitude in mid-winter, the veil of night descends before five o'clock. After a well-deserved rest at High Neb, I realised that I would have to quick march it back to The Dale as the golden orb was already sinking behind the Pennine hills and sure enough by the time I pressed the button on my car key there were only a couple of minutes of murky daylight left.
It was completely dark when I walked into "The Norfolk Arms" at Ringinglow where I ordered a latte and a glass of tap water. Stupidly, I left my car keys on the bar and by the time I had confirmed this one of the barmaids had already phoned Shirley about the discovery. You see, on my keyring I have my name and phone number - something that I would highly recommend to all car owners - just in case.
Some of you may recall that I am currently brewing a poem called "Stanage Edge" and on yesterday's walk some related words came into my head - "buttress", "ramparts", "wild" and "defiant" for example. I will mull them over in case, in a poetic sense, they have some purchase.
The triangulation pillar at High Neb
Rugged and so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWinter in some places can be wet and mucky, Not here, although we have lots of ice.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. It's the same here, dark so early in the evening, and so late in the morning.
ReplyDeleteThe triangulation point needs to be moved away from the large puddle so that visitors can get close and take selfies.
ReplyDeletePhew! Good job your key was safe.
ReplyDeleteStanage is a great place, every time you show us pictures I want to go there.
I know the feeling of having to speed up a walk or at least not dawdle because of the daylight rapidly dwindling, and usually I am able to time it just right, of course knowing the path and distance to cover. In an unfamiliar territory, I would time a longer walk so that I would have the most daylight. But as you say, this time of year night comes very early.
Winter Solstice is here, hooray!
It looks a very desolate walk with a lot of climbing involved. In that third picture one of the rocks looks like the side profile of a witch with a prominent nose and gaping mouth. By the way, have you visited my blog recently?
ReplyDeleteAddy, I saw that profile, too, but instead of a witch I was thinking of an old man 😊
DeleteAddy, I saw that profile, too, but instead of a witch I was thinking of an old man 😊
DeleteLovely photos. A landscape I can appreciate in photos but not in person - just too desolate for me. I need trees.
ReplyDeleteBeing on the other side of town in the town next door I don't get out that way as often as I used too.
ReplyDeleteIn that third photo, the formation near the top looks like a camel in some sort of headpiece.
ReplyDeleteA good walk is a great way to ferment thoughts for writing and art.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how the hell they got those "ancient stone slabs" up there? And 1977 -- I remember it well. The days of my youth . . . yes, best described as ancient times.
ReplyDeleteGone are the days when we could venture forth without any means of identification, unless we so chose. Good thing, too!
ReplyDeleteStanage Edge. Winter Solstice Eve.
ReplyDelete*Tis the year's midnight, and it is the day's.*
Except John Donne's poem St Lucie's Day is set on December 13.
In the Julian calendar this was the day of least sunlight.
I wish I had been in The Norfolk Arms yesterday.
Norfolk ? Shurely shome mishtake like they say in Private Eye.
Yorkshire's finest English bitter would have been my choice of rehydration.
Caffe Latte is for breakfast, paisano. Colazione, Signore.
How do you say Ringinglow in Italian ?
Perhaps the kestrel was after that guy in the blue jacket. Not sure I'd call 1977 "ancient". Happy Solstice. "Here comes the sun, and it's alright."
ReplyDelete