Swim trip with Take to the Water

 Early on Wednesday morning found me on the ferry again.  This time with no problems and I was stocking up in Lidl in Inverness for my trip.  It seemed to take forever to reach Oban where the trip was starting.  A lot of very slow drivers.  I stayed in the Wee Bank Hut which was located in town and near to everything.  A lovely self catering with everything you would need.  I had a short stroll in the evening then to bed.  The next day I walked the hour to the Kerrera ferry and then another hour or so to the castle.  Sunny but a cold wind.  I was a little early for the tea gardens but decided to walk back to the ferry and have lunch in Oban.

Multiple 9 exposures

Gylen castle

Original image of 9 exposures

played in Photoshop with some of the 9 exposures to produce the abstract

walking back to the ferry

The swim trip started on Friday afternoon and I met the rest of the group at the meeting point.  Lynda from Take to the Water was our guide with help from Linsey from Kallbadimmersion.  Sara, Clare, Alli, Heather, Ingrid, Katrisse and Sheena made up the rest of the group.  We were off to Easdale to swim in the slate quarries.   I had been before but we swam in a different quarry this time.  After a first swim we took the little ferry back to Seil and had a picnic by a slate beach then a second swim.

Easdale quarry

Heather and Alli

Clare

Katrisse

Lynda and Clare in foreground

Alli

Heather

Katrisse

On Saturday we were on the Basking Shark and off to Staffa to swim in Fingal's cave.  An awesome swim but my camera failed me and I didn't make any good images.  Another swim through a channel near the pier at Staffa then to a small beach, Traigh Gheal for a third swim.   Lots of smiles all around.  Back to Oban and a hot shower then I met the group at Kaina for dinner.

Fingals cave

Traigh Gheal

Minimalist image on the way back to Oban

A lay in on Sunday as the weather was due to be better later on.  We went to Tobermory on the Basking Shark and had lunch there.  Then an hours trip to the Cairns at Coll which was rocky and wet.  The sun came out for our swim at an idyllic beach.  Fish and chips in the evening and all too soon our trip was at an end.

Clare and Sara coming into Tobermory

Tobermory

Having fun

Cairns of Coll

Ingrid on the way back to Oban

I drove back on Monday - same slow drivers on the way back.   No problems on the ferry and I made it home.  

Next post will be Shetland in July.  

Wakefield then Sheffield for RPS Visual Art Spring weekend

I stopped off at Dunfermline to break my journey then travelled down to Wakefield, staying at Hotel St Pierre, a Best Western.  The hotel was a five minute walk to Newmillerdam country park so I had a wander around on Sunday afternoon.

Still practising my multiple exposures

net curtain in my hotel room

Monday was wash day and I found a Revolution washing machine in Wakefield.  That done I had a wander around the town centre.  Had a picnic lunch at Sandals castle and a wander around another country park.

Sandals castle multiple exposure

and more multiple exposures

Tuesday I spent the day at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.  My fourth visit but I usually only manage an hour or two.  It was lovely to relax and walk most of the park.

Wednesday I visited two RSPBs Fairburn Ings and St Aidans.  Unfortunately I discovered my membership card was out of date.  I am not sure what happened to my new one.  Still a pleasant walk around.

wren

speckled wood

spoonbills

female kestrel with male kestrel up in the corner

little owl

Thursday I stopped off in Pontefract to see the Friarwood Gardens as there were some blossoms there.  Nothing in Pontefract but luckily there was Farmer Copley's farm shop where I had a good coffee.  There was a tulip festival so I had a wander around there.  Then on to Nostell a National Trust property.  

Friarwood Gardens

Tulip Festival at Farmer Copley's

Dolls house at Nostell

Wallpaper at Nostell

interactive video of the wallpaper with the birds moving

A straight image

bee at lilac

I do enjoy making 9 exposure images

Straight image of the lake

Blossoms in the kitchen garden

On Friday I made my way to Mercure Kenwood Hall in Sheffield where the Visual Art spring weekend was taking place.  I picked up Carol and Jane from the station and we had a walk to the Botanical gardens and a stop for lunch.   Mark had arrived when we were back at the hotel and Claire and Sam turned up later.   A welcome drink in the evening, meeting old friends and some new members.  The speaker was Peter Defty.  www.peterdefty.com

Fountain in the Botanical gardens

We had a walk around Sheffield on Saturday but were not too inspired.  Returned to the hotel and walk around the grounds before getting ready for the evenings talk.  Joe Cornish was the speaker. 

Peace gardens

Maybe the wedding wasn't enough!

roof of the cathedral

World championships at the Crucible

Glass window on an old building

lake at the Mercure Kenwood Hall

On Sunday I was on a workshop with Peter Defty.  Lots of fun where we were putting inks on glass plates and then pressing another glass plate on top.  Lots of abstracts.  Brad Carr was the speaker in the evening.

My personal plate

Blended a crop with an image of the cheesegrater building and used the difference filter.  The last image was inverted.

Monday saw us visit Bole Hill Quarry where Joe Cornish had had his workshop over the weekend.  Then we went on to Longshaw estate, a National Trust property.  Mark and Claire peeled off early to get back home.  I left Carol and Jane later on that afternoon and made my way to the Ibis budget hotel for the night.

Eating outside my hotel room

Bole hill quarry 9 exposures

3 exposures

Lots of millstones left

View from the top

Tree in Longshaw estate 9 exposures

Made my way home on Tuesday, stopping over at Galashiels on the way up.  Stopped at the waterfall just past Little Garve.  The ferry had been delayed by fog which meant an hour and half delay for me.  Very glad to be back on Lewis after over two weeks.

Next post will be my swim trip from Oban with Take to the Water.