Category Archives: Walks

Frilly Fungi on the Footpath

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One of the good things about my walk this week being the reverse of the same route taken a couple of weeks ago, is that I noticed different things. I must have passed this big tree stump with the frilly patterns of fungi all over it on my previous walk here, but if I looked in that direction as I walked, then I didn’t “see” it and subsequently made no note of it in my mind. Nor did I notice the rhododendron which seemed to stand out to me with its bright colour – it is of course possible that the flower was not there two weeks ago!

valley footpath

fungi patterns

Rhododendron

Water Under the Bridge

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The old iron railing on the footbridge which I crossed on my walk this week will be familiar to those who saw my posts a couple of weeks ago about my previous walk on this route. I wasn’t originally going to include the sound clip below because it’s just water flowing under the bridge – but then on listening to it again, I changed my mind!

The sounds of that flow have three distinct stages: the first part has a lot of bubbly texture to it, including trickles and tickles, gloops and bloops, splashes and plashes (in preference to more technical language), the second is more even with those highlights less noticeable, and the ambience of the third stage has greater weight on the right hand speaker but with a gloopy base returning in the background – and then the sound fades to my footsteps climbing a dry leafy slope.

cwm-dulais-16

Water Under the Bridge

Growth on a Yellow Brick Bridge

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Along the way of my walk this week in shade from the morning sun, the temperature was still low with some of the plants on top of this old yellow brick moss covered bridge displaying a rim of frost around their edges.

old bridge

yellow brick bridge

bridge growth

My Walk this Week – Reversing the Scene

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My walk this week is the same but different to one I posted about just a couple of weeks ago – I walked the same route but in reverse, starting where I finished previously. This is a simple technique commonly used to provide a different perspective on familiar things, but I am sure you will recognise some of the features.

There were other differences of course – this version of the walk took place on a bright frosty morning whereas previously the light had been more muted. Unfortunately I forgot the windshield for my Edirol sound recorder, so there will be less to a soundscape this time round. However, starting in the valley as I did, there was very little wind anyway.

cam dulls

Starting the Walk – Water and Gate

Aberavon Seafront – Reviewing the Walk

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My walk this week at Aberavon in south Wales started very gloomy with a strong sea fret masking the views. But it was still and quiet and one or two people were out and about in spite of the weather. As time went by, however, the mist lifted somewhat and a slightly clearer view over the bay to Swansea was revealed. It really was a most enjoyable walk and I went into the Health and Wellbeing fair (which was my original reason for going there) in a very healthy state of mind.

Swansea Bay from Aberavon

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Trailing the Railings

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Returning towards the starting point of my walk this week along Aberavon seafront in south Wales I followed the railings along the promenade and at the point where they turned a right angle ahead of me, I found an amazing mosaic of patterns created by them.

railings

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A Different Landscape

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Having climbed up from the beach via the sand buried steps (see below) on my walk this week at Aberavon, south Wales, I continued east along the promenade path and found a different landscape to that which I had been enjoying down on the sand. The sea fret had lifted slightly as evidenced by a clearer view of the cranes but turning round and looking inland, the mist was still hanging low over the hills and the light, or lack of it, was still apparent and somehow fitting for the old ruined wooden harbour wall and jetties.

old jetty

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The Sea, The Sea

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The sound clip I have included with the images below may be said to sound like wind in trees, but apart from the fact that it is not and the images would also suggest otherwise, I think there is a difference. I don’t deny that the sounds can be very similar but I like at least to imagine that there are subtle elements of each that would allow me to differentiate between the two. However, I’m not sure I would bet on it – every sound in any environment will always be different according to the circumstances at the time of listening or recording but attuning your ear to those individual elements can be a challenge.

Whatever, I love the sound of the sea, the sea in the clip below and feel confident that the waves breaking amidst the general water and wind ambience can be distinguished as such. See what you think!

sea fret

Clearly a Sea Fret

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