Finding Heaven

In a day's surveying.....

I awoke this morning and gathered my rucksack and lunch together. I found myself pondering those questions of life - Why does the winter sun make your windows look so grubby? - Why do I have a lump of bracken in my jacket pocket? - Did I charge that spare battery?

Soon I was on my way, dropped off at the top of the Claerwen Valley to walk a section of the Monks Trod. So there I was sitting on the banks of the Afon Claerwen with cold feet and warmed within by the light as it flitted over the great expanse of rolling moorland and upland hidden lakes. The River took some negotiating, it was in full flow and I needed to cross. So I took of my socks and wellies and headed across, but the water was so cold I stopped on an island to put on the wellies again. The rocks were so slippery at least the wellies could be pushed in under the stones. I rather inelegantly hunched my way across as I eventually defeated my obstructor. On my crossing my head was down and staring into the murky slippery depths which allowed my chancing upon an otter spraint, this was good! Alas I also cursed at our fluffy puppy Luna who had nibbled a hole half way up my right wellie boot, this was not good. However with my trousers rolled up at least my legs would not be wet, for today the wind was keen and unforgiving; a wonderful companion in the heat of the walk, but it would not be should it be clung to wet damp legs. I deserved a mint club and a cuppa after that so I sat on the bank and looked out at the magical landscape. Though my images are not technically fab, they have a real connection for me. I wore a plastic bag over my right foot in my wellie, again not a cool look but it did actually work - dry feet! I saw 4 snipe on the journey and I was floating on rainbows. Pictures will say the rest for you :-)

F:9 1/25 ISO 100 35 mm lens..... looking over the sheep to Penygarreg dam first thing on way up the Elan Valley

F:7 1/250 ISO 100 35mm lens.... claerwen the remotest farm in Wales

F:9 1/50 ISO 100 35mm Looking over to Claerwen

F:9 1/20 ISO 100 35mm the kit getting sorted for the rapids!

F:9 1/50 ISO 100 35mm Sitting having tea and bicci enjoying the light and listening to the chuckling Afon/river as it ran along beside me.

F:9 1/200 ISO 100 35mm I had spectators!

F: 5.6 1/100 ISO 100 35mm It was so wondrous

F: 5.6 1/500 ISO 100 35mm I found the magic at the rainbows end, the gold was painted in the landscape all around me.

F 6.3 1/200 ISO 100 35mm looking back to Claerwen on the ridge

F 5.6 1/125 ISO 100 35mm old fishing lodge

F 6.3 1/160 ISO 100 35mm Over Craig Goch as sun starts to set.