Photographing my travels: 6 weeks on Lewis Part 4

This is my third week on the island and still no otter. Luckily there have been plenty of other things to look at. I drove to Harris on Saturday. Stopped off at the Skoon Art Cafe, which is open on Friday and Saturday in the winter, for coffee. Very tempted to buy another painting from Andrew Craig but bought a couple of raffle tickets for one, instead. You can see more about the cafe on www.skoon.com

Took lots of seals from the golden road and stopped at Northton to watch the birds. Unfortunately, no cafes open on that side of Harris, so I went without lunch. Had a short walk from the Heb Art Cafe (only the gallery open, no food) on to the old road for views. Loads of rainbows as it was sunshine and heavy showers all day.

View from the B8011

Rainbow on the golden road

Seals

Oyster catcher

Rainbow at Northton

Bird on a wire

View from my stroll

On the Harris road back to Lewis

I had a lovely 3 hour walk from the cottage to Tacleit and the standing stones by the causeway from Great Bernera to Lewis. On the way back to Breacleit, I took the detour on a waymarked trail to Dun Barabhat, then cut across the moor back to the cottage. Unfortunately, although the sun tried to come through the clouds, the light was poor all morning.

Sheep's skull

Grey geese which I disturbed

I was taking a photo of the first sheep with the stones when I realised the second one was right in front of me. He seemed to want me to take him and did a couple of poses.

Standing stones

Snipe, I disturbed

stepping stones

Dun Barabhat with the sun peeping through

Broken fence

I have discovered that the lines of colour are to do with the slow wi fi speed on the island so I will have to redo the images when I get home. Now re done.

It poured on Monday, so I baked a loaf and had a visit from Jenny in the afternoon. Rain continued on Tuesday morning but I went out for coffee at Callanish and visited a couple of shops - gifts and food. Dried up in the afternoon so I dashed over to the tin house with tripod. However, it was VERY windy so I returned home after one of my filters fell out of my hand cracking on the road!

One way to get an image of me on to the blogsite

On the way back from bridge in Stornoway, last night, I decided to stop off at Callanish stones. The sky was studded with stars and I spent a pleasant 3/4 hr practising night time photography. Not well, so I will have to go back.

Star trails over the stones

I headed out to find the Norse Mill at Breacleit, this morning. With a detour, I managed to find the way. The tide was out so I was able to look at the mechanism in the Mill. No tripod so I balanced the camera on some stones, so one of the images is not straight.

I failed to notice the spider until I loaded the image on the computer

On the way to the Norse mill

Norse mill

Mill stone

entrance to the mill

This is the entrance to the mechanism

Mill mechanism

Leaving the Norse mill

High rock on the way back

Loch outside the cottage - I returned just before the rain

I forgot to mention that on the way to Callanish stones for my night photography, I spotted a fawn on the side of the road, just after leaving Lochganvich. I had heard that two deer and a fawn had been spotted in Peggy's (Jenny and Murdo's neighbour) garden.

On Thursday, I chose to go to Uig, Lewis rather then South Lochs. Rain and cloud most of the day, making Wednesday the best day this week. I walked on a very windy Ardroil beach and then made my way to Valtos and walked the beach there. These images don't really do the beaches justice but just in case the weather doesn't improve, I have included them here.

Ardroil panorama

Note all the razor clams

Rain again on Friday. This is the day of Callanish stones. I went to the visitor centre for my double espresso - one of the best places on the island for coffee. I walked from the centre down to the jetty - an otter has been seen here too, but not by me! I followed the shore line back to stones and took some images with no light. I met Jenny and Anne (Jenny's sister in law) for lunch at the centre then we went gift shopping at The Blue Pig in Carloway. On the way back via the Pentland road I noticed the sun setting with some lovely light. I didn't click that the stones would be receiving the light, until nearly too late. I dashed up to the car park and snapped quickly - too late to get the tripod out.

Greylag geese on the way to the jetty

Callanish stones

About 3.30pm - a panorama

Into the sun

Callanish reflection

Taken from the car as I was leaving.

I had the day in Stornoway on Saturday. Filling up with provisions and buying gifts. Went back to Jenny and Murdo's for a game of scrabble. We all returned to Stornoway for dinner and cinema at An Lanntair. We saw 'Anna Karenina' which was very tedious. Listening to the comments, on leaving the cinema, most of the audience seemed to agree with me.

A stag was feeding near the top of J & M's drive as we drove in. He was not disturbed by us at all. I hope to see him again in the daylight. The stars were beautiful again but I didn't return to Callanish.

I ventured out late this morning. The sun was out, defying the forecast but it started to rain as soon as I stepped out. No rain - no rainbows and I was snapping away before I reached the car. Jenny wanted me to check out Pol's Pantry which is only open on Sunday for coffee and light snacks. Unfortunately, only in season and they were closed. I stopped off at the stones at Garynahine, which maybe Callanish IV, before returning home for a late cup of coffee and photo processing. It is pouring now but I see blue sky, so I may get out again. You can see the difference in weather in the images below. There is only about 30 minutes from the first images of the rainbow to the blue sky at the stones.