Photographing my travels

Sunday, December 02, 2012

6 weeks on Lewis - Final part

My last week on Lewis and I still have plenty I want to do.  I finally managed to photograph the deer at Lochganvich.  I positioned the tripod at the side of the road and looked down on them.  They spotted me straight away and were watching all the time.  When I moved to the side, I spotted all four together but they decided to move to the next field, before settling down to graze again.

After picking up my cards in Stornoway, I drove over the moor to Barvas and had a walk along the beach - a freezing wind kept my walk short.


Alpha stag

Through the gap in the fence

Moored in Stornoway harbour

A much photographed shieling on the Barvas moor - shame about the sky!

Hint of a rainbow


I attempted to take the snow peaks from J & Ms, before and after we had Sunday lunch in Stornoway, to celebrate Anne's birthday.


Midday

3 pm
Drove to the end of the road in Uig today.  There is a track to Harris from here but I did not attempt it.  The sun made a brief appearance at midday and I sat and watched the waves at Mhangarstaidh beach for a bit before heading back to the cottage.


You might be able to spot the bird if you click on this for a larger image.


Jenny and I met up at Woodlands Centre in Stornoway for lunch.  We both wanted to take a photo of the fence lines at Tong sands.  However, the light was poor and although we trekked down to the shoreland, we left without taking anything.  I have included one I took earlier - last Saturday.

This is a shortcut on foot to Stornoway, when the tide is out, but a dangerous route.
Back to J & Ms via the Pentland road, hoping to get some light on the shielings but it was not to be.  Another sunset from Lochganvich - still not up to the standard of Lewis sunsets but will have to do.



I finally made it to the Golden Eagle observatory off the road to Huishinish.  Icy roads but no wind, so no eagles flying.  However, a couple, I met, did see the pair about half an hour before I got there, but a long way in the distance.  There was another couple on the walk too - the man was staying on the island for 6 months - I am envious.

Stopped off at Callanish for my usual coffee

Harris peak

30 min walk to the observatory from the walk - the bridge is about half way





Visited Anne and Donald in Tolsta on Thursday.  Rained most of the day.  Today is my last full day.  I walked along the fishing track by the river near the turning off for Berneray and Uig after my usual coffee at Callanish.  There has been only one Callanish pig next to the visitor centre and I thought the other had gone to make pork.  However, mother has returned after having these little cuties.  After taking lots of pics of piglets I returned home to pack the car.  Off to watch the Big Band in Stornoway tonight and hope for a glimpse of aurora on the way home - good forecast tonight.


lunch

Lots of hooded crows on the island

Feeding tiem

Good bye

River walk

Rainbow over peat
A beautiful clear night with stars, on my way back from Stornoway but no Aurora.  As I had to be up for my journey, I did not stay awake.

Good journey through Skye to Fort William.  Left Fort William at 7.15 am and arrived in Taunton just after 6 pm.  The motorways and weather were kind to me.  I have put a couple of images of the Cuillins with December snow - but still in poor light.