There’s no telling where we’ll end up when we go out for a drive. We may set off in a particular direction but then we go where the spirit takes us.
June 29th it was Lake Cossayuna.
Earlier, we had found Carter’s Pond and Grant had remarked that being close to a body of water is always calming.
It is said that it’s because our bodies consist largely of water.
But what of a storm-tossed sea?
For many years I lived just a block from the Atlantic and I had been within sight of a sea at two of my boarding schools. Practically on the beach once.
At night I would lie listening to the waves rolling in to shore.
Whatever the weather, the sound drew me out of myself.
Be it a gentle lapping of waves edging slowly up the sand, or breakers tumbling hard upon the beach, it captured my spirit.
Never a strong swimmer, I disliked being in salt water and was hopeless at snorkeling (sadly).
Aboard ship, I could cope with rough weather but when the ship wallowed in a swell, I would turn green.
Yet I loved being out at sea.
The slop, slop of waves against the bow.
A bracing wind in my face.
The ship’s wake trailing out behind us.
The pitch darkness of night, no land in view.
The ships that gave me passage were very small, so one was not troubled by human noise.
It has been very many years since I “went to sea”.
Three of the five ships I knew and loved subsequently sank in different oceans.
Sometimes I picture the water-logged cabins, some infinitesimal part of myself within.
Memories. Happy, mostly, but many sad.
A jetty at Lake Cossayuna reminded me of another that featured in the daily life of a young school girl.
No longer close to a large body of water, it is the sky which now inspires me.
As you probably realise!
June 29th started out cloudless, then as the morning progressed it became a tableau.
Each time we emerged from a tunnel of trees, a new brush stroke had been added.
Corn is taking over where snow left off.
The Green mountains came into view.
Not the Rockies, but pleasing none-the-less.
Mr Katz was criticized for writing about our “big sky”.
The “Big Sky State” is certainly stunning but I’ve never been more aware of the sky than here. (Yes, I have been to Montana.)
Or the light and how it defines a particular surface.
By now it was late morning and the clouds were building
As we changed direction, the western sky appeared.
Though big clouds still hung in the east.
Approaching home, we diverted over the Rexleigh Bridge
Because…why not?
This one is quite small, crossing the Battenkill River.
East meets West above Route 22.
No put-put cars or bumble-butt’s for Grant to moan about that day!
Then a ghastly thing happened.
For the first time…my camera’s battery ran out of spark!
We were nearly home anyway.
For the rest of the day, I watched the sky morph
As I went to catch one last shot, I saw a flash of red down in the field.
Some hum-dingers there! It’s such a long time since I’ve heard that, I had to look it up to make sure I hadn’t dreamed up the phrase!
I love that small covered bridge. Do you have many more of those in your area? Hope everyone pays heed to the speed warning or else they will get that hefty $25 fine!
There are quite a few of those bridges. I like them too.
I too have always been drawn to water and blamed it on my birth sign of Pisces. Now I’m lucky enough to live within sight of the sea and on a calm night I can hear the roar of the waves. We have some ferocious storms here and it’s exhilarating to watch the giant waves engulf the lighthouse sometimes, Dangerous too. I love your photos. Big skies give us a sense of freedom and space.
A good storm at sea is exciting and yes, dangerous! I am an Aquarian cusp Pisces.
I love the ocean (or a lake or a dam or a river ☺️). Laying in a tent on one of our wild camping trips next to the noisy Atlantic Ocean is one of my best memories. But I can also easily fall in love with the sky when looking at your photos. And such a beautiful drive.
I think English people are very drawn to water, because we live on quite a small island where you are never too far from a sea. I can’t swim, but love to be near water, and would live on a beach if I could afford to.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you, Carolyn, for the sky!
Joanna