Could that be sunshine

October arrives in a blaze of sunshine. I'd looked at the long range forecast and the sunshine was going to be a one day wonder so off I went.

The morning had been foggy, if I'd had transport I would have been out for sunrise - seems funny calling 7.15am sunrise but that's when it rises at this time of the year.

I was wondering if the sycamore tree in Sycamore Gap was showing any autumnal colour yet and thought with a lovely fluffy sky today might be the day to find out.

I called into Walltown Quarry to drop off some of my calendars for Allison in the shop, and bumped into a couple of the Rangers, then I saw fellow photographer, Barry Turnbull and stopped for a chat so by the time I was ready to go I'd left myself short of time.

(Took a photograph of the crag face and lake at Walltown, the tree in the centre of the picture, on top of the crags is the one featured in the black and white photograph from last weeks blog.)

A change of plan then, I'd go to Cawfields. By now the clouds were building and the crags at Cawfields were dappled in light bands, quite beautiful.

I pulled into the car park, nice reflections of clouds in the water so I took a couple of photographs before heading west up past Burnhead B and B and on towards Great Chesters Farm.

Still lots of walkers around, not so many from overseas now but lots of folk from this country taking an Autumn break, everyone's welcome.

The rowan trees and briar rose are covered in shining red berries ( or hips in the case of the rose) it's a bright colour and I guess once it gets coder the berries will soon be eaten by the birds.

I took the footpath that joins the access track to the farm,(NY707668) I like the view just to the north of the great ditch here.

Sheep were grazing and I stood watching them while waiting for the light to move around.

As usual once I was ready the sun went in behind a cloud, but I had some time and hanging around in our beautiful Hadrian's Wall countryside isn't an onerous task.

Eventually the sun came around and caught the crags at Cawfields.

I moved around, noticing the tups are back in with the ewe's again so the cycle begins once more.

Texel tups have to be the ugliest critters and there's one at Great Chesters farm that's even uglier than usual. I took a photograph but once I got the pictures on the screen here I noticed the poor creature had a real 'snotty' nose and didn't look too well. Didn't want to put you off your dinner.

I noticed a walker up on the crags, I always think having a person, or sheep, in the shot gives it a sense of scale, todays picture has both. When the photograph is large you can see the whole length of Hadrian's Wall, as it climbs up the crags to Winshields, is full of walkers enjoying the fine day. Hope they made the most of it because gale force winds are due tonight!

Catch you later,

Joan

www.joanthirlaway.com

Morning mists

Out at Great Chesters Farm a few mornings ago, it's where the remains of Great Chesters Roman Fort are and I was looking for some nice misty shots of Cawfields.

Arrived to find a lot more mist than I was counting on and walked up the Hadrian's Wall Path, past Burnhead B&B. I was hoping that by taking the high ground by Great Chesters Farm I'd be able to get above the mist and get some nice views of Cawfield Crags rising above it.

Alas it wasn't quite high enough but I decided to try a few shots anyway.

For a change I had company on my outing and we set up our tripods, hoping to get some shots of cows and sheep through the mist. It is a public footpath so I thought the cows would be quite safe, they seemed to be all youngsters in with the bull, but they were skittish.

They would come forward, simply being nosey and then charge away.

My companion stayed where he was but I'd spotted some sheep nicely grouped and headed over to get a shot. The cows went daft, charging back and forwards.

I grabbed my sheep shot and then we decided to beat a hasty retreat through the gate on the other side of a cattle grid, it wasn't that the cows were particularly aggresive but a few tons of beef charging around with the chance of a passing blow was just a bit more of a risk than I wanted to take.

Back down to the car park and after a quick stop to catch some nice light on the Vallum it was home for breakfast.

Just a quick note to say on the last few occasions I've been out at Cawfields Quarry early on there have been camper vans parked up for the night.

The fact that there's a toilet/washroom there and all without charge,( they seem to ignore the parking charge - I checked the winshields) is obviously a draw but by illegally parking overnight they are depriving our local businesses of income. Camping charges are reasonable and we need the revenue.