RPS Visual Art Autumn weekend in Plymouth

 Another great weekend with the Visual Art tribe.  I flew to Exeter via Edinburgh and was picked up by my friend Debbie.  Debbie very kindly drove me to Plymouth via Wivi to pick up my prints from Rupert of The Little Grey Shed.  We had a quick lunch before Debbie had to return home.  We had a show and tell and a presentation by Andy Ferrars on the Friday evening.

On Saturday, Mark drove Carol, Claire, Jane and me to the Burrator reservoir and Morwhellam Quay  I don't think I have ever been here before in all my time down south.  A good day taking lots of images before getting back for the second of the show and tells and a presentation by Charlie Waite.  

3 different takes on the same scene

At Morwhellam Quay

The Bentley drivers club were visiting too

A slight alteration to make my initials

Sunday was a workshop with Stewart Wall.  Very enjoyable and I was thinking I would not be able to form a haiku for my images but we were all doing it.  Claire was the best.  Stewart runs Ginko Workshops. www.Ginko.org.uk and www.stewartwallphotography.co.uk

The Plymouth Prawn

Pigeon dance

All too soon it was Monday and we were saying goodbye to most.  A few of us were staying another night but I hadn't realised I had booked a house around 20 minutes away instead of nearer Plymouth.  We made our way to Royal William's yard.  However, Mark wasn't feeling well and suspecting he was having a heart attack, Claire took him to A & E where they both spent the day.  The rest of us wandered around the Yard and took a ferry back to the Barbican.  Luckily Mark's heart was fine but he had an infection and was pumped full of drugs.  Carol and I went to the hospital to pick up his car keys.  The shocking thing was the amount of ambulances, around 30, at A & E.  There was also a huge walk in queue for a Monday morning.  I have read about this but the first time I had seen it in action.  Plymouth and Cornwall hospitals declared a High Alert the next day due to the high numbers attending.

Dereliction at Royal William's Yard  Soon to be 24 new townhouses

At the Barbican

In the church behind the Guildhall

In the Guildhall

Claire in Dawlish

Pied wagtail in Teignmouth

Luckily Mark wasn't detained and was able to join us the Yellow House in Tideford later that evening.  Claire drove me to Dawlish where I was spending a couple of days with my friend Susan.  It was good to catch up with Susan's news and take in the beautiful view of the sea from her home.  We had a walk in Teignmouth in the warm sun.  Unfortunately, Susan wasn't feeling too well the next day so I left her in bed to visit some friends in Taunton and to view my sister's Liz's flat.

On the way to Dawlish

The dragon in Taunton.  I was sent many photos of this when it was erected but have my own image now.

I made my way to Exeter airport on Thursday morning by train and bus.  Arrived safely in Stornoway by 4pm.

The sunflower which greeted me at home, finally in flower in October

A couple of weeks at home before I am off to the mainland for the Creative Haven photo weekend run by Margaret Soyara.

East coast Scotland, Skye and Isle of Lewis with my cousin

 I left for the mainland early September to pick up my cousin Debi from Glasgow airport.  She was flying in from Montreal, Canada.   I had a lovely trip on the ferry.  We were entertained by dolphins, a minke and seabirds.  Just outside Contin my tyre gave away and I was stuck in a layby until 8.30 before a replacement arrived from Elgin.  I made the Culloden campsite by 9.15 and the kind hosts stayed open for me and connected the electricity.

Minke amongst the birds

Gannet taking off

A busy drive to Glasgow airport which was a nightmare for parking.  Once in you cannot get out without paying.  I had no idea the parking was so expensive.  I drove out paying £5 for nothing and found a Londis petrol station where I thought I would top up and try to find out where to park for a reasonable amount.  The helpful attendant told me I could put my registration in the machine and have 3 hours free parking on the forecourt.  Debi's plane was late so I was stressing but all was well and we were soon on our way to Keith for a couple of days.  Debi's father's family came from Elgin so we spent a couple of hours looking around Elgin before driving to Lossiemouth where Debi spent time at her grandparents beach hut.  Then to Findhorn to visit the eco village.  Went too soon and I wished I had booked another day to explore the area.

A walk near our apartment in Keith

On the beach at Lossiemounth

Lossiemouth

Onward to Skye the next day where we were camping at the Staffin campsite for a couple of nights.  Had a  good walk looking for dinosaur prints.  Took the afternoon ferry on Wednesday back to Isle of Lewis and Harris landing in Tarbert and home.

Hooded crow

View from the walk from the campsite

Old man of Storr in the distance

Debi

Spot the cow's backside

Is it a footprint

We explored a few beaches over the next few days.  First Vatisker then on to Reef on Saturday.  Callanish stones and Bragar the next week.  Luckily the surfers were out at Bragar so lots of opportunities for photos.

Seen at Cnip beach

Harebell

Secret beach at Reef

Razor bills seen on my monthly wetland survey

Callanish stones

A rainbow at Dal Mor

River at Dal Mor

Surfers at Bragar

We stopped off at the Port of Ness and were lucky to have a white-tailed eagle fly past chased by a gull.  A good walk from the lighthouse to Eoropie beach and back.

On the walk to Eoropie

Finally made it back to Harris and did the loop around stopping for coffee at Skoon Art cafe to admire Andrew's paintings.  Lots of seals along the golden road.  Visited the church at Rodel and spent money at Granny's attic.  Then on to walk to the temple at Northton and drove past the beaches before stopping at Luskentyre around 4pm.  Car park was still busy but people were leaving so I found a space. 

Oystercatchers at Luskentyre

Luskentyre

The grey horse at Luskentyre

We went to Uig and drove to the end of the road.  Stopped to watch the sheep on the beach.

Starling taking a rest on the sheep

We had a stroll around Lews Castle grounds on Friday.

On Saturday spent money at Bragar at the craft fair.  Then returned to Reef (via Shawbost beach) for a dip in the sea.  

Golden Plovers

All too soon I took Debi to Stornoway airport for her flight to Glasgow and on to Spain for her second break in Valencia.