My walk this week is through my local Coedbach Park and I was disregarding the weather as I set out. Autumn has typically mixed weather but regardless of this, my head as well as my body needs to get out for a walk as regularly as possible.
So when the sun came out around lunchtime I thought Aha! This is a good opportunity for a walk. Of course by the time I had changed my shoes and got a coat on, the sky was darkening again, but I didn’t let that put me off and carried on out the door.
I reached the park before the first drops fell and fortunately I had brought an umbrella but even so I felt it advisable to stand under a tree and wait.
In the short video above, which also acts as my soundscape for this week, I start out in the oak woods where the magnificent trees, undergrowth and footpaths do the best job of calming any turmoil I may be feeling inside. The stress and mental congestion that is there for any number of reasons, but not least our current Covid-19 lockdown and all that goes with that, is handled admirably by nature and the elements, even the rain.
And after the rain comes the sunlight and as I wandered on down towards the salt marshes, the River Loughor was at just the right level to provide me with a beautiful reflection of the sky as the sun pushed through aa little gap in the clouds.
Hello Alastair, Well done for posting in spite of the weather and other pressures – always a great boost on a dreary Friday morning here to view your images and sounds – the healing power and order of our natural world in these times of chaos. Particularly love the oak trees – what stories they could tell of troubles past…
best wishes
Julian
Thank you Julian. Those beautiful oaks have always been there but sometimes I see them and sometimes I don’t. This time they really made an impression in me.
I don’t usually share the blogs of others, but this one seems important, to: Disregarding the weather (and get out there in the fresh air for a little saunter, regardless, in spite of…). ☂️ It does us all so much good, even for just a little pootle.
Thank you. From what I have heard it’s going to be a wet winter so be prepared to walk in spite of it
p.s. There’s a tree in the start of the video that looks like someone walking against the wind and rain, their cloak wooshing over their head. This reminded me of Aesop’s Fable of The North Wind and the Sun.
https://kids-pages.com/folders/stories/Aesops_Fables_2/Aesop2.jpg
A nice thought – they’re fab trees!
I find trees contemplative and there’s one tree that I’ve always thought looks like it’s praying it’s on the back road of the A40 on a road that goes through Bancyfelin. Anyways, not sure you can see it via this link:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.840548,-4.4256585,3a,15y,335.67h,90.6t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s3pFCMxIVX19PWRLKLAkJrg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Do you mean “down on its knees”? I don’t travel as much now as I used to but when I did, I was all over South Wales and really enjoyed it. It’s a beautiful country
It just sort of personifies praying looking at it. Google Earth map doesn’t show it well and maybe now it looks different. I will go take a look on the way to work or on the way home tomorrow and see if I can take a few photos, then post them on the blog soon.
Very enjoyable, Alastair.
I am so pleased you and others are enjoying the rain as well as all our other weather Thank you.
a nice walk and happy you didn’t let the weather stop you
Thank you Beth. We can’t afford to let a few million drops of rain put us off in Wales
right!
Plus, I’ve found my skin to be waterproof. Some worry so much about the rain they shut themselves away when a little drizzle appears. ☔️
Yes, but there are times when I have been out walking when I have thought it would be a help to have flippers rather than feet. What is they say? There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. I can’t afford Gortex so I just get wet
As long as you get home to warm up and dry, the wet can’t do much harm. I know there’s someone sleeping rough in a little tent, in a strange place, in such weather… I know I am fortunate, I can stand up in my home, I can be dry in my home, how blessed I feel. I feel for the homeless and notice them when others just drive past totally unaware. It’s good to have a home.
You’re so right
Tell you what though, I do hate how my face shield tries to leave my hand on the walk from the car to the front door of work and gets covered in rain that makes the blinkin’ thing fog up. These are the issues of 2020 and let’s hope they fade away like the fogginess on the face shields.
Isn’t our magnificent world delightful, Thank you for sharing your part of the world
My pleasure Kally. Thank you for visiting