ABC Wednesday - Wind

It may be invisible but the direction can be seen as after years of a westerly wind the tree bends to its will. Used as a way point on a moorland walk I wonder how many years it has been here. If you click on the photo to enlarge you will see right through the bottom of the tree to the other side.

The Ancient Greeks stories tell us that Aeolus was the ruler of the winds and he kept them confined to a cave on Mount Haemus, Thrace.

He must have let one of them out to whistle through the Black Mountains in Wales. On a very warm and sunny day with a hat to protect against the rays, I sat down to have a drink and RB got his camera out. As he went to click
Whoosh away went the hat. You can see I am a coiled spring about to chase it down as it moves to the edge of the photo. An almost action shot.
A scenic windmill on Mont Dol seen through straight fir trees, they deal with the wind in a different way. Although this day was almost windless with just a gentle zephyr.
From the other side the still windmill and restaurant with umbrellas to shelter against the sun. The wind likes to play with umbrellas.
The wind turbines are not as attractive but the chequered pattern is rather appealing. This was taken on Kirkby Moor, the same place as the tree in the first photograph. It is a schizophrenic place, part of it is a wild and fragile moorland, then a fraction of it is a wind farm and then further on there is a slate quarry with spoil heaps. It could probably act a microcosm of how the human race treat the planet.

But lets move and go up up and away as the
wind takes the balloons. The Raiderettes having problems releasing and separating the balloons, which took on a life of their own, and winged their way into the atmosphere, never being separated from each other. Weeeeee

I leave you with one of Tolkien's riddles. Natural phenonomen are always a favourite in these puzzles. There are sometimes consequences in legends of not being able to answer a riddle. Riddle me ree

Voiceless it cries
Wingless flutters
Toothless bites
Mouthless mutters


We are nearing the end of the alphabet in the ABC Wednesday meme. To see what words the other participants have used whizz over here

Kirkby Moor

Started off in the afternoon at the Kirkby railway station, up the lane and through fields of long grass, and over all the variety of stiles imaginable. Eventually gained height and on to Kirby Moor, turning to look back over the Duddon Estuary dominated by Black Combe. The bracken is at its height but the tracks are easy to follow. As we headed further uphill towards the stream we were accompanied by the 'tsak tsak' call of the Stonechats. Beautiful birds with a delicate colouring.

Head up the valley and over the hill keeping to a narrow track which widens and comes out onto the the old slate road. (This is where horse drawn wagons carried slate from the quarries down to Ulverston to be loaded onto boats).
A pleasant lane full of wildflowers and grasses. Looking towards Ulverston on the above photograph, you can just make out the white of Hoad monument, to the left, with its scaffolding on as it undergoes a makeover. Further down the lane, and towards Rathvale where, after a patch of woodland we are once more on open moorland with delightful views. The day which was warm and sunny started to threaten rain as we made our way down a steep sided valley but it turned out to be only a shower. By now we were on our way to Beckside and back to Kirkby so were not bothered about getting wet.

Looking towards Coniston and the fells, here are the clouds gathering.