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RobCowell
RobCowell

RobCowell

Follow me on my adventures as I visit different places and photograph stunning locations. Læs mere🇬🇧United Kingdom
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  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    Heading out to sea
    SailingThere are many small beaches and covesCould that be a pirate ship?

    Sailing to Spatochori

    4. oktober 2018, Grækenland ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    The journey to Spatochori was straightforward with the aim to find a pleasant cove or bay to drop anchor for lunch and to go swimming ... and this is exactly what happened. Penny was first in the water followed by Rob who, it has to be said, was a complete wimp about getting into the water. The water was lovely once you were in, Rob just made heavy weather of it and took ages. Yes a real wimp, but once he was in he agreed the water was lovely and both Penny and Rob messed about in the water, accompanied by large blow-up pineapple (there's a theme going on here don't you think) until it was time to raise the anchor and continue the journey.

    On the way to the port for the night there was a strange sighting. Tom and Rob were sure they spotted a skull & crossbones on another boat. Could there be pirates in these waters, me-hearty? Rob managed a blurry photo of the offending vessel so what do you think? Will there be dastardly deeds on the High Seas before nightfall?    Læs mere

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  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    The best morning so far
    A really pleasant sail out of the portAlan at the helmRincewind cruises to the open seaRob poses for the camera

    Leaving Ithaki

    4. oktober 2018, Grækenland ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    The weather forecasts for the region have continually given the impression that every sort of weather could be expected at varying times of any day. Rain, wind, calm, thunderstorms and in whatever combination you choose. The only exception was snow - all the weather apps agreed on this - there would none, at any time!

    Rob decided to believe the suggestion that the day would begin clear and warm, so he peered outside about 45 minutes before sunrise to see if there might be an opportunity for some photography ... and there was. He collected his gear together (having got dressed of course) and quietly left the boat and headed down the quayside in search of a decent composition. It was quite peaceful in the morning light, setting up the tripod and trying different angles - a boat here, or there, or that angle or this but all too soon the sun was up and the light had changed, so Rob headed back for a coffee just as the others were getting up.

    After the morning briefing/breakfast in a nearby bar-restaurant it was time to leave. The weather was perfect and promised to stay like that for the whole day so, in the warm morning sun and on calm blue waters, Rincewind glided along through fabulous scenery towards the open sea.    Læs mere

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  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    We were moored near those other boats
    The view as we head out to seaAt one point we sailed through a narrow channelQuite rainy and dull when we arriveTom modelling the pineapple lightsRoute sailed on day 3

    Sailing to Ithaki

    3. oktober 2018, Grækenland ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Today the weather forecast was nothing to write a blog about. It was dull and cloudy and a suggestion of rain, though there was none whilst on the High Seas - which weren't high at all of course, given the absence of any wind. This meant the engine ran continuously and the sails remained stowed away. It wasn't exactly cold but Alan did feel the wind chill a little but even so, he enjoyed the gentle cruising across and around to Big Vathy, the next port of call for the night. At one point in the day they sailed through a relatively narrow channel, which was fun.

    It's amazing how the days are slipping by. Penny and Tom had said it wasn't going to be a problem but even on this quiet day sailing-wise, Rob's fears of boardom proved to be unfounded and in no time at all the crew of Rincewind had eased the yacht into her mooring and were relaxing with that G&T, with ice and a slice of course ... and the added bonus of a torrential downpour to end the day.

    Before the evening meal there was time for a little window shopping in the town ... Alan purchased a fleece jacket (just in case) and Rob a fridge magnet for his growing collection. They discovered a lovely restaurant with excellent food then returned to Rincewind to end the day. Penny had packed some pineapple fairy lights and these were attached to the sun hood, together with that green-theme lantern Rob used in the tent in Scotland.

    The pirates continued to be marked by their absence and still no sunset ... but there's still time of course!    Læs mere

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  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    The motley crew
    Yachts along the quaysideEvening viewRoute sailed on day 2

    Sailing to Kefalonia (Afternoon)

    2. oktober 2018, Grækenland ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Having upped anchor and motored out from the bay it appeared the wind had almost died away to nothing, so the only option was to continue with engine power.

    The sea conditions were calm and with little breeze, other than that created by the movement if the boat, Tom and Rob decided it was a perfect opportunity to test fly the drone from a moving vessel.

    They decided a good take-off spot was towards the front of the yacht and set-up there, but this turned out not to be such a good idea. The drone didn't cope well with fact that it's take-off spot moved and this confused it completely. It wizzed off towards the rear of the boat, collided simultaneously with Rob and the mast, stopped it's rotors and sulked, which is pretty much what Rob and Tom did as they collected the drone and checked it was okay. It was.

    It turns out that it's really hard to fly a drone from a moving boat so after a bit of analysis it was decided it wasn't a good idea given the chances of it ending up in the sea were quite high. So the rest of the journey was simply chilling out until it was time to prepare Rincewind for her mooring. That went perfectly and with everything in place it was once again time for a G&T. It seems to be a ritual one simply has to do, you know.

    So, still no sunset and not even the slightest evidence of some bloke with an eye patch and parrot. Maybe tomorrow then, Jim lad!    Læs mere

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  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    Lovely conditions for sailing
    Occasionally the odd ferry passes byPenny took this as she was swimmingThere were loads of fish by the boat, not that you can tell from this

    Sailing to Kefalonia (Morning)

    2. oktober 2018, Grækenland ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Having checked the weather forecast for today, at one point it suggested rain but fortunately it was wrong because the weather turned out to be just right ... bright and sunny with very pleasant temperatures. For sailing, the wind was great in the morning but virtually non-existent in the afternoon.

    The day, then, started with the standard morning briefing where the destination is set and the sea conditions given. Then, having taken breakfast in a small restaurant, it was back to Rincewind to prepare to leave. This didn't take long at all and Rob was really excited when he was given the opportunity to take the helm to steer the yacht from its moorings and out to sea. In no time at all the boat was in open water and the sails were raised.

    It turned out to be a great morning sailing with a steady wind (yesterday it kept changing direction) and the yacht maintaining a really good speed. At times waves broke over the bow and you really felt like you were moving. Penny & Tom commented this was probably the best wind they'd had in Greece and maybe this was helped by the fact they were sailing in open water - as the course changed southward the wind died down.

    At lunchtime Penny & Tom knew of a quiet little bay to anchor for lunch and this is just what they did. Lunch consisted of Greek salad, nibbles and rum punch ... it really is a hard life!

    Penny decided to go swimming and commented how warm the water felt, once you were in. Rob spent some time feeding a shoal of fish with some bread left over from the meal and Alan & Tom just spent the time relaxing.    Læs mere

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  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    First view from the rear of the yacht
    Almost ready to goView looking back to the portDestination in sightView at the end of the day as the light fadesRoute sailed on day 1

    First Day Sailing

    1. oktober 2018, Grækenland ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Today the weather was bright and sunny and after a morning briefing and a visit to the supermarket for supplies, the boat was prepared and Penny took the helm. Her trusty crew manned the ropes and Rincewind, the name of the yacht, glided from its mooring and headed for the open seas.

    Sounds impressive doesn't it ... and it was to be honest. The water was calm and a lovely deep blue and the temperature pleasant. Once out of the shelter of the port there was a favourable wind and soon the main sail was suitably hoisted.

    The sails were used all day with the wind gusting to around 20 knots at times and it really was fun even though there was plenty to do at times. It seemed like no time at all when the destination port was sighted then Penny was skilfully manoeuvring Rincewind into her birth for the night.

    The day ended with a G&T all-round then a lovely meal out in a nearby restaurant. No sign of a sunset though, so maybe tomorrow.

    No pirates either.    Læs mere

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  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    A hazy view of the Alps
    The sunny area down there is where the marina is locatedFirst view of Greece - rain and a rainbowWobbly panorama!Home for the week .... not much to see in the dark

    Travelling and Arrival

    30. september 2018, Grækenland ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    This is going to be a very different adventure to the one in August 2018. For a start, it's to a place where the temperatures are around 24c and the chance of rain far less probable ... hopefully! A big difference though, apart from the fact it involves a 38ft yacht and a load of sailing, is that Rob isn't travelling alone this time. His daughter, Penny, and her partner Tom provide the sailing expertise as they are both qualified Skippers and experienced with sailing yachts and all that goes with it. The fourth member of the crew is Alan, Rob's 90 year old Dad, who is really looking forward to the trip.

    The flight was 3.5hrs leaving from Manchester and the best view on the way was as the plane flew over the Alps. Though the mountains could be clearly seen, they were shrouded in an ethereal mist which gave them very much the feel of another world. Upon landing at Preveza in western Greece, the magic continued when the group were greeted at the airport with the most amazing and brightly coloured rainbow. Rob, of course, just had to photograph it (only with his phone though) and you can see the results in this footprint. The rainbow wasn't really wobbly in the middle but something didn't quite work with the panorama mode on the phone camera. You perhaps get the idea though.

    The journey ended after a twenty minute transfer to the marina where the four mariners were introduced to their floating home for the next week. It was dark when they arrived so it was difficult to tell what the surroundings looked like. Guess they find out tomorrow.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    Dunstanburgh at Sunset
    The Cuillin at Dusk

    That was Scotland 2018

    30. august 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    That’s it then - the end of the Scotland 2018 adventure and it was as predicted with plenty of falling water from the skies and all those pesky midges of course.

    It’s never possible to predict how a trip will pan out and this one has been no exception. The weather has at times been disappointing with heavy low cloud making it hard for Rob to capture the images he was hoping for. This doesn’t make the trip a disaster or failure, it simply means the images he took were not as expected. It would have been brilliant to have better or more dramatic lighting but you get what you’re given.

    Lessons can always be learned and the main one is not to go to Skye in August. It’s simply overrun with tourists and there were a couple of occasions, particularly at the Fairy Pools, which were impossible for photography simply because too many people were there. August is not so good for midges either, but Rob was prepared for that and the measures he took were effective ... Avon Skin So Soft does work. The camping experience worked extremely well too (Rob will be doing this again) and managing power, charging the phone and camera batteries etc etc, away from mains electricity worked to perfection. Though Rob felt he stalled a few times, unsure what to do due to weather constraints and plans needing to be changed, overall it was a great trip. He felt some time was wasted but it was a holiday as well and there’s no crime in taking time out to reflect or simply to enjoy the landscape you become part of and there were many moments to be treasured.

    In terms of photography, the aim was to return with about a dozen photographs to be proud of which amounts to around one for each day of the trip. All being well, when Rob has had time to view his photos on the computer, that aim will be met.

    The photographs in this footprint are from Rob’s Canon camera and have been processed on the computer after he got home. The first is one of the photos taken of Dunstanburgh castle and this one is in focus even though it may not look pin-sharp once it’s uploaded to this blog. It was taken a little earlier than the one you’ve seen already when there was more light on the headland and castle ruins. It’s basically the same shot though.

    The second photo was taken on Skye just across the road from the campsite. It’s was almost dark when Rob took this and that’s the feeling he’s tried to capture. The moon hangs low over the Cuillins, casting its reflections into the river as the last rays of daylight fade away and the land becomes bathed in a gentle blue light. Soon the night will take the last of the colour from the landscape and the moment will be gone.

    ————————————————-

    I hope everyone who’s been following this trip has enjoyed the journey with me and that the photos I’ve posted and the diary I’ve written have been interesting as well as amusing in places, for that was my intention. Thanks in particular to Richard Valsler who has meticulously commented on the daily posts (you need a medal) but it is difficult to tell if anyone is following along even though I know there’s been a fair number of you. Thank you.

    Someone asked why I do this. I started the FindPengins blogs with my friend Tony during the first trip to Iceland in 2016 and really enjoyed ending the day reflecting on what had been done and also using my phone to capture the journey along the way. I enjoy it because it makes me appreciate more what I’ve been doing and the places I’ve been, and I enjoy it in the hope I will bring something of interest to other people’s lives as well.

    So thanks again to everyone who’ve made it this far .... there will undoubtedly be another trip soon.

    I wonder where it’ll be. Rob    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    Rob arrived just before 5am and soon it started to get light.
    Doesn't look as though Rob's luck is in for a sunrise.No sunrise but still the camera was used.

    The Final Photo Shoot

    29. august 2018, England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    It seemed fitting that the final photo opportunity of the trip might be to catch a sunrise from Whitby pier. The weather forecast wasn’t hugely promising, as seemed to be the case for the entire two weeks, but there was a slight chance the cloud may lift around the time of the sunrise at 6.02am.

    Rob set the alarm and was leaving Goathland, having woken himself up with a coffee, at 4.35am so he could park the car and get to the pier for around 5am. It was still dark when he arrived but it is a pleasant time of the morning. It was dry and there were just a few people going about their business and all, without exception, said ‘Good morning’ as they passed. Rob chose his location and set up the camera and tripod then waited in the hope the right light would appear.

    At 5.30 fishermen started to arrive to try their luck from the end of the pier and everyone wished everyone else success with catching fish or capturing a sunrise. Fishing is way more successful it seems because the light never came and the clouds never parted but Rob still took photos and was hopeful he’d get a nice black & white image from the ones he took. Once again, Rob found it very calming being there with his camera whilst enjoying the ambience around him, but at 6.15 it was clear there was to be no spectacular sunrise and Rob packed his gear to leave. The fishermen had been busy though and one of them showed Rob the three good sized mackerel he’d caught, which was impressive for such a relatively short time.

    As Rob walked down the pier he met a fellow photographer who’d tried his luck as well. They chatted for ages about photography, photographic clubs, competition judges and compared cameras etc. That’s all pretty boring stuff for the average human but in those early hours there were two people exchanging thoughts and ideas and enjoying the moment. It was a lovely way to end that last photo shoot and who’d think that taking your camera for a walk was a worthwhile pastime ... and there’s no need for small plastic bags and a pooper scooper either.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    Whitby Abbey.
    Whitby Abbey.The hunt for Dracula's grave begins.Is this Dracula's grave?Rob was asked if he'd like Dracula's blood on his ice cream. Of course!

    Whitby Abbey

    28. august 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    There are 199 steps that take you from the town up to the headland where the ruins of Whitby Abbey stand next to St Mary’s a Church where Dracula is supposed to be buried. Dracula is a work of fiction of course but it doesn’t stop everyone searching the graveyard to find his grave. This can take a very long time because not only are there loads of gravestones, but many of them are seriously weathered so it’s difficult or impossible to read who lies there, but there is a grave near the entrance to the cemetery which you can see in the fourth photo of this footprint. It has a skull and crossbones on it and some believe this is where Dracula lies. Others believe it’s the grave of a pirate and others still think the symbol is simply the trademark of one of the stone masons of the time. Which is correct? You must decide.

    Surprisingly there weren’t so many people around here but that may be because it was quite late in the day. There was an ice cream van next to the entrance to the Abbey and Rob just couldn’t resist the opportunity for a ‘99’. The red sauce included isn’t the usual stuff you get elsewhere because here you get asked if you’d like Dracula’s blood on your cone. The answer has to be ‘Yes’ of course.

    The rest of the evening was spent in Whitby culminating with an Indian meal then back to a Goathland. Tomorrow would be an early start and Rob had already sussed out the car park charges in readiness - free until 9am.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    A bit of a shock after walking deserted paths.
    At this point there was temptation for a £3 boat trip.About to leave the harbour but the seas are calm ... me Hearty!Looking back to the town.This is as far as the boat went before it returned.Maybe somewhere here is a location for tomorrow.

    The Boat Leaves in Two Minutes

    28. august 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    There were no plans for the rest of the day other than to spend some time in Whitby. It was a very long time since Rob had been there so he was looking forward to seeing it again. The cafe was somewhere in the upper part of the town so to get to the harbour there was a maze of tiny streets and passageways to explore then, all of a sudden, you pop out at harbour level to merge with a sea of people walking in all directions. It was holiday weekend of course and the weather quite reasonable so the tourist areas of the town were very busy indeed. What happened next came as a bit of an unplanned surprise because as Rob and his friend were walking along the harbour they were attracted to a twenty minute boat ride for only £3 and this seemed quite a bargain. They paid their passage and stepped aboard and Rob immediately started talking like a pirate and walking with a limp, which of course is compulsory when boarding any sea faring vessel. It was strange though, not Rob limping and talking like a pirate, because he simply couldn’t find a main brace to splice but he wasn’t going to let a little thing like that spoil the adventure.

    Twenty minutes later, and as advertised, the boat arrived back having left the harbour, sailed around a buoy and travelled back from hence it came. It was a pleasant enough trip in very calm seas and gave a great view back to the harbour and immediate coastline. Whitby Abbey really dominates the skyline and it was easy to see why it’s such an iconic feature of the area. Rob didn’t see a whale though, other than a few sitting on the boat who’d clearly consumed rather too many portions of Whitby fish ‘n chips.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    Salmon Leap on the River Esk at Sleights
    Whitby Abbey in the distance.We heard the whistle ages before the train appeared.The Abbey dominates the town.

    Walking to Whitby

    28. august 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    After a relaxed start it was time to go walking so boots were fitted and a small bag packed with a waterproof jacket and a blackcurrant Ribena in case of emergency ... other blackcurrant flavoured drinks are available of course! The weather forecast was good so there was no need to take much.

    The first photo in this footprint is at Sleights and is of the fish ladder there. This is an intriguing place, as one stands on what appears to be the over-engineered and substantial foot bridge, where there was absolutely no sign of a fish, salmon or otherwise, and a notable lack of anything which can even remotely be called a ladder. At least at the Damn and Fish Ladder at Pitlochry (apologies for the bad language there) there were some concrete things, but here it appeared to only be a few random stones. It was a peaceful and pleasant enough scene however, not far from a railway crossing, and would be really interesting in the salmon fish ladder climbing season.

    The walk continued over styles and through gates with a goodly amount of chatting, interspersed with sections of ‘putting the world to rights’ and a sprinkling of ‘If I was a Prime Minister ...’ which, of course, is complete nonsense because the world doesn’t work as easily as everyone thinks it does. It especially doesn’t work the way a Trump thinks it does, but enough said about all that.

    Soon the first sighting of Whitby Abbey came into view then shortly afterwards, preceded by the distant sound of a whistle, one of the steam trains passed through which was a splendid sight with the steam puffing upwards, the drivers giving a wave and the passengers just sitting there giving no response. Clearly this train was the Old Grumps Express or maybe it was just too tedious having to respond to every Tom, Dick and Harriot who wave at the train like idiots.

    Finally, having been unsure at one point if it was the right or left path, the intrepid walkers arrived in Whitby where the first priority was to find a really nice cafe for coffee and cake. That mission was easily accomplished and it really was a lovely cafe even though Rob had no idea where it was. Definitely Whitby somewhere, he was certain of that!    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    The train now arriving ...
    Just like Bridgnorth in Shropshire, this station is used in TV and film.The shop, at the far end of this platform, is packed with Harry Potter items.

    Harry Potter at Goathland

    28. august 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    One of the locations used in the Harry Potter films was the railway station at Goathland in North Yorkshire, which is where Rob’s friends live ... in Goathland that is, not at the railway station.

    The journey down was quite straightforward other than a massive delay due to roadworks at one point though there was no-one working of course, as it was a Bank Holiday, but everyone had to suffer all the same. Goathland was packed with tourists as Rob arrived and although it may be nice to think everyone was there waiting for him to arrive (he can clearly be quite deluded at times) they were there to see the station, ride the steam train or visit the locations in the village which were used in the TV series ‘Heartbeat’, which is not a programme Rob watched so it was difficult to see what all the fuss was about. They all looked happy though.

    After coffee and home-made cake they went for a walk around the area, including visiting the station of course, then came home for the evening. Tomorrow there is more walking planned ending in Whitby. Should be good.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    When Rob arrived people were waiting for the tide to recede.
    Hopefully this will turn out okay.Almost dark and time to finish.

    St Mary's Lighthouse, Whitley Bay

    26. august 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    There was one location in Whitley Bay Rob had in mind for a photo opportunity: St Mary’s Lighthouse. It’s built on a small island just offshore (yes, if it wasn’t offshore it wouldn’t be an island) and is connected by a road which gets submerged at high tide (yes, that’s a causeway ... stop trying to be clever!) When Rob arrived the tide was on the way out and there was a gathering of people standing there waiting for the waters to subside, which they did after around 20 minutes or so. Amazingly, the rain stopped too so Rob had a bit of a scout around looking for a suitable composition then went and got the camera gear from the car. The conditions were nowhere near ideal but as this may well be the last photo opportunity of the trip, it had to be done. No photos were taken though.

    Just as Rob was setting up and thinking it probably wasn’t going to be all that rewarding, a local man arrived and started to chat. He had his two dogs and his Nikon camera, just in case, and he agreed the lighting was somewhat boring. They chatted for quite a while about photography and the local area and about how he’s always up at 5am and loves taking his dogs and camera for walk in those early hours. At this point Rob wished he was a morning person!

    Afterwards, Rob packed up and left and had driven about four miles back towards where he was staying when the light suddenly changed. It was 20 minutes to sunset so he quickly turned around and headed back to the lighthouse but by the time he got there the light had changed again. He grabbed the camera and tripod in any case just to see what he could get and by now it was a pleasant evening so why not? Once again it was almost dark when he left but hopefully he got a result ... it won’t be the best photo in the world, probably not even a keeper but once again it was great being there as the light faded. There is just something about photography that relaxes the mind and all your worries and concerns evaporate away as you concentrate on the moment. Rob was so pleased the day ended like this.

    Tomorrow he goes to North Yorkshire to stay with his friends for a couple of nights and on Tuesday maybe a day out walking. He’ll have his phone with him of course but maybe not the camera, though he might, so there may yet be another instalment before this trip draws to a close.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    A main feature of this seaside town.
    A surprise to find this in Whitley Bay.Shouldn't that be "It was the Taj Mahal to us, like."? Not enough room by the look of it.

    Blyth and Whitley Bay

    26. august 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    The weather today was most likely the same as everywhere else in the UK ... yuk! It started dull and cloudy then the rain set in for the day assisted by a cold wind, so it didn’t matter if Rob went north or south because neither would bring better weather. Rob went south.

    The day, then, was one of exploration and mostly spent in the car but with the odd excursion to look at a view (misty and dull) or to simply stretch his legs. It didn’t look as though any form of photography would be done today.

     Let’s say it was just the weather conditions today, but Rob’s impression of the coastal resorts south of Ashington was reminiscent of Bilston or Heathtown but by the sea. This may be immensely unfair but the area did have that ‘tired old holiday town’ feel about it. At one point road signs (proudly) announced ‘Battleship Wharf’ which sounded exciting and worth a visit, but it turned out to be a derelict dock area. Clearly this area was a hive of activity years ago. Ashington was a serious coal mining town and there are numerous dockyards which clearly haven’t been used for a long time.

    Blythe is proud of its multi-coloured beach huts and includes them on its town signs. They’re also a recommended photographic feature but they are actually no more than ten huts in a row and just didn’t look special today. Rob took a snapshot as you can see, but Blyth’s huts would have really benefited from blue sky and sun. There’s what looks like a lovely pier there too but it was too cold and windy to find the enthusiasm to go and explore it. Or maybe Rob’s just a wimp: Blyth has a team of young beach lifesavers who patrol the beach front wearing red tee shirts and they seemed happy to wear only those tee shirts and shorts. Makes you shiver just thinking about it.

    The best place visited today was Whitley Bay which surprised Rob when he saw a pavilion style building on the sea front which, as you can see from one of the photos, is compared to the Taj Mahal. Clearly the people of Whitley Bay have fertile imaginations, or maybe it’s just the council trying to be cool, but it’s an impressive looking building all the same.

    Whitley Bay definitely had a more up-market feel to it and it is apparently very busy when the weather is good, but it wasn’t today. There’s still the traditional English seaside town features - amusements arcades, chip shops, small fun fair, usual shops etc, but there are also some nice places for coffee and/or snacks which are more refined. All car parks are pay and display which immediately tells you this is where the people come. North of here all the signs advise that ‘Parking is Free All Day’ which when translated means ‘Please park here we need the tourism’.

    Still no photography though and by 5pm Rob was somewhat bored.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    Always check focus before taking photograph. Simples!
    Weather-wise, this was undoubtedly the best of the trip.Walking towards the castle ruins.This is pretty much exactly as it looked as Rob worked with his camera.Daylight was fading fast now.It was almost dark as Rob walked back to find the car. So peaceful.

    Embleton Bay

    25. august 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    You have a real treat today because Rob has transferred a photo from his ‘real’ camera so you can see what he didn’t manage to achieve. The main picture of this footprint is actually taken towards the end of the day and in one of the other photos you can see exactly where he took it, though in the phone shot the sun was a little higher so there’s more light on the castle ruins. The main photo however was set up to be an almost seven minute exposure to get that soft look in the sky. Due to the way that’s taken it actually takes fourteen minutes to capture so this was very much a final opportunity because the light would be completely gone afterwards. So, after a fourteen minute wait the result looked great on the back of the camera but when Rob checked he found it wasn’t in focus: Damn and Fish Ladder! These things happen, though they shouldn’t of course, but you get the idea and as long as you don’t look too closely it’s kind of okay ... and it wasn’t the best of the light in any case. :-(

    The day had started with Rob seriously oversleeping which was a bit of a surprise as he wasn’t all that tired at bedtime. During breakfast he confirmed the weather for the day (excellent) though that was pretty obvious given the sky was almost clear blue on the way in. It didn’t stay that way for long but there was plenty of sunshine and pleasant temperatures right through the day. If only it’d been like this in Scotland, it was really nice.

    Having confirmed visiting details with Rob’s friends in North Yorkshire, where he’s staying for a couple of nights on the way home, he headed north back towards Bamburgh to look for photo opportunities along that area of the coast, with the aim to be in Embleton Bay around tea time to hopefully catch the evening light around Dunstanburgh Castle.

    Most of his time today was mooching around on beaches so he hasn’t bored you with those photos. It was a relaxing time though with no pressure on where to be or what to do except knowing where he needed to be around 6pm and he’d already chosen exactly where he would be parking the car. And so it was.

    It was still bright and sunny when he arrived at Embleton and though there were a few people around it was really quiet given it was a holiday weekend, though it was getting towards tea time so maybe they'd all simply gone home. Sunset was around 8.15pm so again Rob spent time looking for compositions as the tide receded. He’s not sure he got anything worth showing but somehow all of a sudden it was 7.30. He spent a little time chatting with a young couple from Newcastle which isn’t all that far away of course. The girlfriend was patiently waiting for her boyfriend to take his shot then the talk went photography, cameras and places they’d like to go. Looks like Iceland gets two more tourists at some point as that’s a location they’d already placed on their list.

    In the end it was a late finish and almost completely dark when Rob got back to the car. A bright star guided Rob to a McDonald's for his evening meal though it didn’t turn out to be much of a religious experience and he even almost enjoyed it. The star was actually Mars, by the way, and there was an impressive full moon too.

    Tomorrow is the last day of the trip with the forecast rainy, the same as pretty much everywhere it seems, so a quiet day in store perhaps? Rob will have the camera gear with him and is sure to capture something but who knows what that will be.

    (In case you’re wondering, the evening shoot wasn’t a disaster because there are other photos which were okay.)    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    180 degree panorama showing the crowded beaches of the North East.
    There was a rainbow under that cloud in the centre but you'll strain to see it.That sky and what it carries is coming this way.

    Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland

    24. august 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    It has to be said that the journey down from Pitlochry was uneventful and somewhat boring. The first bit isn’t so bad but as you go further south you leave the mountains behind and the roads become more substantial. Rob had already joined the main A9 route yesterday evening and it’s the A9 he followed to Edinburgh where the A1 continues south to England. The A9, like the A1 afterwards, is a mixture of dual carriageway sections interspersed with good two lane roads but the road planners in Scotland clearly operate on logic not of this world. The dual carriageways are fine, being a limit of 70mph as you’d expect. The normal road sections are then 60mph, also as you’d expect, except that for some unfathomable reason there is a trial speed limit of 50mph for lorries. There are a lot of lorries, so it means no-one can ever reach 60 as it’s near-nigh impossible to overtake a lorry on that road. Oh, and the roads are religiously monitored with average speed cameras. Furthermore, there are sections reduced to 30mph for roadworks that don’t exist and electronic information signs saying things like “Are your eyes fit for driving” and “Soft tyres waste fuel” which, of course, everyone is so grateful for. Rob was hoping to see more useful signs such as “Do not eat yellow snow”, “Keep windows open while vaping”, or the fact everyone forgets “Do not sleep and drive”, not forgetting the extremely informative “Hats keep bald heads warm”. Anyway, eventually Rob arrived at Bamburgh in the hope of getting a coastal castle photo.

    Weather-wise it was as predicted with plenty of sun around, stormy clouds and showers. No hint of thunder though, but it all looked promising to get Bamburgh castle lit by the sun with dark storm clouds as a backdrop set on a sandy beach with tall grasses for decoration. Success? No!

    When he arrived, Rob took the phone photos first because they’re quick to do and if he doesn’t do that he can forget to take the photos for you to see, which is what happened a few times in Iceland. So what happened then? Well, you can see those dark clouds in the photos but just as Rob had the composition he wanted and was ready the clouds obscured the sun and within five minutes the rain was hammering down on the car window. Rob sat in the car for over half an hour as it got darker and wetter, then he left to go to find where he was staying for the next three nights.

    No photographs today then and now Rob is starting to get a little disheartened. Tomorrow’s forecast is sunny with clouds and no rain, but on Sunday it’s supposed to rain all day. It would therefore be really good if tomorrow turns out to be a successful photography day. The aim is to get some coastal shots, including a castle, or patterns in the rocks or sands. “Tomorrow is a new day” ... there must be a sign for that.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    Surely Ben Nevis is the one in the middle ... the big one!

    Travelling East

    23. august 2018, Skotland ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Eventually it really was time for Rob to start the journey to Pitlochry. As he travelled eastwards the weather got better and better. There wasn’t much time for sightseeing as Rob had spent (yet again) too much time at a location but he did stop quickly to capture this shot which shows more clearly which mountain is likely to be Ben Nevis. Hopefully the biggest one is the one.

    Rob made it just in time to the hotel where he was staying or, more accurately, he arrived ten minutes after the restaurant closed but the person on reception sorted things. That was really appreciated.

    The weather this evening is the best so far and Rob was a little peeved that when a reasonable sunset was to be had, he was in no position to take advantage of it. The weather forecast for the next few days is for sun and cloud with an occasional thunderstorm. Okay, the thunderstorm bit isn’t so good but, just maybe, this might create some moody lighting. Fingers crossed.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    Taken from the slipway at Elgol ... Rob's favourite photo here.
    1Which do you prefer: this one, the original ...... or this one, which is the other one cropped?Rob took the serious photos from here but maybe it should've been at the slipway earlier.

    Elgol

    23. august 2018, Skotland ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    Rob made it to the tent without getting wet but couldn’t get to sleep straight away because the wind and rain intensified, shaking the tent quite violently. It wasn’t that Rob was worried he’d be blown away and end up in the river, but the noise of the fabric shaking. So he decided to check the weather forecast for the next few days only to find it was wall to wall showers and cooling temperatures. The decision therefore was to move-on and head to Northumberland, which was always the intention, and to fit that in Rob would have to leave soon in any case. Eventually he fell asleep and the next thing he knew it was time to get up - to find a nice anti-Midge breeze and the hint of some sunshine. During breakfast however the first of the showers blew through ... definitely time to leave.

    Having sorted another coffee and a couple of ginger nut biscuits, Rob looked at the route to get to Northumberland and where he might stay when there. He certainly fancied B&B that night simply to take a shower at leisure, rather than hurriedly finishing up before he got too cold which is the joy of the loo block on a camp site! Pitlochry was chosen for the overnight stay and options considered for the weekend. Then, having taken-down the tent and packed everything away, he began the 160 mile drive ... Scotland is bigger than you think.

    On the way to the bridge to the mainland is the turning to Elgol, which is a bit of an iconic photo location, so even though the weather and lighting wasn’t brilliant, Rob decided to drive the 15 miles to go and take a look and it was well worth the detour. Rob took some photos en-route and also after a lunch snack at a really nice shop/cafe in Elgol, at the top of the hill just up from the public conveniences. You get the idea from the phone photos in this footprint ... not about the public loos, but about Elgol and the kind of view you get toward the Cuillins across the water.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    The path people are walking takes you to series of waterfall cascades known as the Fairy Pools.
    The mass of parked vehicles starts way before the official car park. There are too many people here.A constant stream of people walk the path to the waterfalls.There were a few compositions to be found. Perhaps here? ... and there's no Penguins!To get this shot or something similar. The phone was used for this photograph.Taken just before leaving with yet another shower getting closer.

    Revisiting the Fairy Pools

    22. august 2018, Skotland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    It was true: The Fairy Pools were now a tourist magnet and there were literally hundreds of people attracted to the location like Midges to a human. There is a car park but you can’t get near it for the cars, Land Rovers, camper vans etc etc all parked along the sides of the road. It didn’t really help that the car park charge was £5 which most likely tended to discourage people from using it. Things will change very soon though because the car park is being massively extended, then fences will be installed to stop roadside parking. Perhaps the charges are to fund that but, in any case, Rob managed to park the car ... just about. However, it was the first sight of the Fairy Pools that was so disappointing. Even from the beginning of the path leading to the cascades you could see the whole area was infested with tourists so the possibility of getting photos up there was remote. Clearly, August is not such a good time to be visiting Skye.

    All was not lost however because just like his visit to the Storr, if you left the main path there were quieter areas and in this case there was waterfall where hardly anyone went. This is where Rob spent his time until almost 7pm and visitors were still arriving as he left. In the end Rob was happy with the photographs he took here ... not the type of photos he expected to get on Skye, but it was enjoyable taking them all the same. Looks like ‘Impressive Landscapes of Skye’ isn’t going to be the theme for a calendar this year!

    The evening meal was taken in a nearby pub which was, as everywhere seems to be, very busy. However, being only one Rob meant he was found a small table straight away and while eating he spent time chatting to one of the locals about the growing problems of what is now mass tourism on the island. The Internet has changed things so now it’s so easy to find out about the places to visit and what needs adding to everyone’s Bucket List. That was his view and he’s probably right.

    So now the day draws to a close. The visit to Glen Brittle was a bit of a journey back in time as this is the place where Rob & Julie were rescued when the weather turned against them and the route back to the car park was cut off by swollen rivers. Hardly anyone was around then and there were only three cars parked when they started their walk. It was good to visit in better weather, even though there were still showers passing through, but Rob still didn’t get to photograph the Fairy Pools which means only one thing - he will need to return, but not in August!    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    This was the brightest Rob saw all day. It rained again shortly afterwards.

    Another Hard Day at the Office

    22. august 2018, Skotland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    After having breakfast and drinking the essential coffee fix, Rob began sorting himself out for the day. He’d received an email the previous evening about a major server failure in a school so was expecting a call about that at any time. Then the phone rang and for the rest of the morning Rob’s car became the mobile office for Design IT. After a few phone calls and some directed activity in the school, the servers were started again and Rob was able to remotely log-in to the school’s systems using his laptop to check all was okay. All was okay, but you have to be impressed with the technology going on there ... remotely connecting to computer systems in The Midlands from the back seat of a car in a campsite on the Isle of Skye. Be amazed.

    The plan then was to go back to the Quiraing and see if the weather was different to yesterday but as soon as Rob got within view of it he could see the cloud still shrouded the landscape. The decision was made to turn around and go to the other location he’d planned for the day: The Fairy Pools or, to be more accurate, the waterfall cascades in Glen Brittle. Rob had a feeling of what he might find there but the reality was still a bit of a shock.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    Thought you may like to see the view as Rob wakes up. Green.
    Quite pleasant this morning though not many camping. Strange that.A view through the midge net. Most people are wearing these this morning.

    Survived, Dry and Warm

    22. august 2018, Skotland ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    It turned out that weather forecast was wrong ... and my goodness did it rain and it was quite windy too, though it may not have been quite as bad as it sounds in a small tent. The wind howled around the car which Rob had strategically parked to help give shelter from the storm, but the tent held firm and Rob could be heard shouting, “Ah Jim boy, lash down them guys” which caused a great deal of interest amongst the other campers as to what on earth might be happening in such a small tent on a night such as this. The important thing is Rob did actually manage to get into the tent and stay dry, the tent was dry and once he got used to the sound of the wind and rain he drifted off to sleep as warm and as comfortable as can be ... and he then lived happily ever after. (That sentence needed to end like that even though it’s complete nonsense.) The guys remained suitably lashed.

    So all was well ... until the morning, of course, when the Midges made up for a lack of feasting the night before and Rob had left the head net and Skin So Soft in the car. Six feet, five bites - but it could have been much worse. There’s better weather predicted for today with 15c forecast and showers this afternoon, so hopefully there’s some proper photography to be had because tomorrow it’ll be time to move on.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    From sea level that's the best view of this stunning feature ... not the rock, the area in cloud.
    Three travellers delivered safely. Brave faces in pouring rain.

    Three Girls on the Quiraing

    21. august 2018, Skotland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    Now some of you may have thought that ‘quiraing’ was the sound you hear when someone hits their head on a ship’s bulkhead door. Others may think it’s the name of a car - the Nissan Quiraing - but no you’d all be wrong, especially about the car as everyone knows it’s a Nissan Cashcow.

    The Quiraing is a stunning area in the north-east of Skye which has been formed by a massive landslip, and truly massive it is too. Visually it’s fantastic and a classic photographic location which is why, even though it was raining heavily and the area was covered in cloud, Rob decided he’d still go and take a look. You can see from the first photo, taken on the way back to the main road from that jetty at Staffin, that it looks pretty miserable. Upon arriving at the small car park at the top it was .... truly miserable. It was raining hard with gusting winds and the landscape was completely soaked with areas of ground glistening wet.

    Whilst parked there Rob was impressed to see three walkers on the hillside, about 80 metres from the car, who looked as though they were thinking of wild camping and Rob decided they were either completely mad or truly impressive. At one point one of them waved in the direction if the car then there was what looked like packing up being done and five minutes later they were at the car window ... three girls, Czech students touring Scotland for a month. They looked completely drowned and were soaked through and were asking if there was any chance of a lift off the mountain. They needed to be off the mountain, that was clear enough, then it turned out they wanted to go to the camp site where Rob was staying. Their packs were heavy and also wet, but everything fitted into the car and the four of them had a great journey ‘home’. They all chatted endlessly and it was a great end to the day - apart from the driving rain and gusting winds of course, but who's counting those minor inconveniences?

    Rob ate at the now usual place and the weather, if anything, got worse. How the girls pitched their tent and prepared a meal is anyone’s guess but hopefully they’ll have a warm and dry night. Rob spent the evening in the car dealing with emails and uploading photos and writing this blog. Now it’s time to manage getting from the car to the tent whilst staying reasonably dry. As forecast, the winds have calmed and the rain abated so maybe it’s doable.

    So, what will tomorrow bring? The weather forecast is better but the way things are it’ll be during breakfast the decision will be made. Oh dear ... it’s raining again.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    It rained most of the day.
    Lealt Falls, not much further north than Storr.You can walk to a coastal viewpoint from the falls - not much to see today.The view from the cliffs near Staffin. (Panorama)

    No Serious Photography Today

    21. august 2018, Skotland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    At 4am Rob could definitely tell the temperature was lower than the previous night. All was okay though and he next awoke around 8am to discover it wasn’t raining after all but there was a pleasant cool breeze, which doesn’t sound right but you know what a breeze, of any temperature, means don’t you? Unfortunately this breeze was also the mechanism that brought the rain so just as Rob was making coffee he could see the mist that was falling water getting nearer by the minute. It was the sort of rain vaguely reminiscent of the rain in Iceland in 2016, that sort you see falling downwards but sideways at the same time. Maybe it would be just a passing shower and it was really, it’s just there were a whole lot more from where that one came from and so, right there, that was pretty much the theme of the day. Oh, and the increasing wind strength of course. Mustn’t forget that.

    “So this will be a sightseeing day,” thought Rob, “to see if they’re worth a visit for photography on a better day.” And so it was and so it rained and was cloudy and misty and it was just so as Rob drove past all the cars parked at the Old Man of Storr car park. “Who’d do that on a day like this,” thought Rob again, and drove on. Really, who would, except all those people who have only that one chance to do it?

    The first stop was therefore Lealt Falls and here it was truly manic. Not only was it raining like mad but there were cars everywhere and where there we no cars there were coaches, minibuses and, of course, camper vans. The best part of the visit here was watching drivers attempting to park cars to reduce the amount of walking they must do, made even trickier with drivers having to cope with the steering wheel on the wrong side whilst manoeuvring hire cars they weren’t used to*. It was mayhem. Then there were the coaches arriving who sounded their horns like constipated elephants and expected cars to grow wings and fly vertically upwards out of their way. One coach driver simply stopped and blocked everyone from leaving, Rob included of course, so the visit here was around an hour or more. Rob could have left sooner but there was no rush and why miss the entertainment?

    The next location of note was a cafe for a quick snack and a coffee. On the way out, having also purchased a magnet of the Storr for the fridge, Rob noticed there was a path leading to the cliffs and decided to stroll up there to take a look and wished he’d taken his camera rather than just the phone. It was brilliant sitting on a handy sized rock with a view like that. Okay, it’s just a typical coastal scene but it was a pleasant temperature and a peaceful location sheltered from the wind and the rain showers as they passed through. It was here the wind speeds picked up and when Rob took the car down to the jetty (zoom in to the panorama and you’ll see it) that’s when the heavy rain arrived and the wind shook the car. So that was really it for the day to be honest. There was no sign of it letting up.

    * Rob could hear the people talking and could therefore tell the countries they were from. The UK drivers weren’t all that brilliant either.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    Moon over the Cuillins.
    Time to sit in the car and upload today's images for you to see.

    End of the Day

    20. august 2018, Skotland ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    One thing was definitely true. Rob was starving and although he’d got something to drink during the day, he hadn’t taken anything to eat because he wasn’t intending to stay. But he did.

    As Rob drove south the weather completely changed and, even though the campsite is only 16 miles from that parking area, all of a sudden there were clear skies and sunshine. The evening meal was at the same place as last night and straight afterwards Rob collected his camera gear and walked to the left of the hotel and bar to the river which, from there, then flows past the camp site. The view was lovely looking along the river to the Cuillin Hills (even though everyone sees them as mountains) with the Moon above them and the fading light of the day. It was midge net time again but it was an enjoyable evening taking photos as the day drew to a close. The photos in this footprint are a hint of what it’s been like.

    Clear skies mean the temperature is cooler this evening and the fly sheet of the tent was quite wet as Rob climbed in to write the blog. It’s amazing being inside a tent on a camp site on Skye but having access to 4G 90mbit broadband. Crazy or what?

    So what will tomorrow bring? It’s difficult to say but the weather forecast isn’t good for the next few days and it may even be raining for breakfast. Hopefully not too hard because Rob remembered he hadn’t brought a waterproof jacket into the tent. Oh well, at least if it’s wet those midges will be grounded. The colder air kept them away at bedtime too.    Læs mere

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  • RobCowellScotland 2018Rejsende
    Oh look - camper vans. The Volvo is between two white cars opposite a .....
    Panorama looking back to the mainland and the Torridon Hills. Mountains really.View back down the path. A lot of people climb this route ... a lot!Big lumps of granite with the Old Man on the right.The last shot of the day is the best.How to make a coffee in less than a minute.

    Old Man of Storr

    20. august 2018, Skotland ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    It doesn’t take long to drive from the camp site to the parking area by the path leading to the Old Man of Storr and from this moment on the day became completely different to what Rob expected or planned. When he arrived it was packed with tourists but there was one Volvo sized place which was handy. Loads of camper vans and quite a number of travellers from various parts of Europe.

    The idea was to take the path, take a photo if there was one to be grabbed then go back to the car and continue north. In the end it became a peaceful day in the mountains when Rob took a side path and found hardly anyone else took the same route. The views were amazing from up there with a clear view across to the mainland. Photography-wise it was nothing special because the light remained flat all day, but it didn’t stop Rob trying to find a decent composition. There were plenty but the light just didn’t help at all and he decided it wasn’t worth the effort of walking further on past the main rock features to get the classic shot looking south.

    In the end Rob spent the whole day in that area and 5pm arrived without him even noticing. By the time he was back at the car brewing the coffee it was near 6pm and time to head back. Surprisingly, it turned out the day wasn’t finished yet.    Læs mere

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