If once you have slept on an island
You’ll never be quite the same;
You may look as you looked the day before
And go by the same old name
It has been a while hasn’t it! I’ve just spent a week on the Isle of Wight, at the lovely cottage that I visited for a long weekend last Summer. This time there was more walking, and definitely more Photography – and more weather too! Luckily we picked the perfect weekend, even getting a little sunburned whilst climbing a few cliffs…as you do! So we spent the first evening witnessing an incredibly beautiful sunset across The Needles – a sunset that wasn’t to be matched for the rest of the week so we were lucky!
The second day was my Birthday! Although I’d already had my main presents early – I opened an iPad from my boyfriend on Thursday evening (because I needed the internet before leaving otherwise I would have been a bit stuck!) And then an accompanying case and keyboard from my parents too. So I was already thoroughly spoiled! However there were more gifts on my Birthday and then we headed out to catch the open top bus tour into Yarmouth and explore a little more with the cameras. Afterwards, it was back up to the Needles for some more shots and a brisk and chilly walk down the cliff back to the warmth of Birthday cake and sunbathing!
You may bustle about in street and shop
You may sit at home and sew,
But you’ll see blue water and wheeling gulls
Wherever your feet may go.
We were lucky enough to have a beautiful walk across a heathland, right behind where we were staying. So the next morning we got up early and wandered up there. It was a little steep, but worth it for the views back across the Island and over to the Mainland too. We even got Hurst Castle in some of the captures, which sits out beyond the coast and is quite majestic with its lighthouse.
You may chat with the neighbors of this and that
And close to your fire keep,
But you’ll hear ship whistle and lighthouse bell
And tides beat through your sleep.
And then followed a trip to Amazon World. I’m not usually a fan of zoos as such, but this was a bit different. It was a place where you actually got to walk through the animals in their natural habitat, even the monkeys! I managed to snap a few nice shots here and there whilst we were being distracted by an amazing assortment of Amazon animals.
The following day saw us climbing – yes climbing – up a cliff to see what the view was like on the other side. It didn’t look all that steep from ground level, but it was and required hands to get to the top and a lot of energy! However it was worth it. The camera doesn’t do it justice, as it was so bright (hence the sunburn!) but it was simply amazing. From there we spotted Tenyson’s memorial in the distance, over at Freshwater Bay and decided to venture over to it (which took longer than it seemed like it would!)
The final evening however, was by far the best in terms of Photography. We didn’t think we’d get a sunset because the fog warning siren had been sounding for almost 48 hours, and it goes off every 25 seconds (twice) so we were quite aware of it by then! But looking out the window we noticed the mists were drawing back ever so slightly, giving a fantastic rolling feel to the sea and clouds. Off we ventured up the cliff again, with the cameras – and snapped away. There’s even a video too if you visit my facebook page here -> https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151611699293529
Oh! you won’t know why and you can’t say how
Such a change upon you came,
But once you have slept on an island,
You’ll never be quite the same.
~Rachel Field
Kathryn Dawson Photography 