Trees prepare for invasion,
Nature is battling with force,
The leaves are brave little soldiers,
Fighting for their cause,
Gone is springtime,
Gone is youth,
They prepare for execution,
Natures truth.
Paintings by Artist Melody Hawtin B.A.Hons and Photography by David Hawtin
Trees prepare for invasion,
Nature is battling with force,
The leaves are brave little soldiers,
Fighting for their cause,
Gone is springtime,
Gone is youth,
They prepare for execution,
Natures truth.
Well usually we have our caravan, what luxury, as comfortable as home maybe even better. This year I had asked for a tent for my birthday, why, I almost shout at myself, well I have found that I want to get places to take photos but it is just too far to travel for a sunrise or sunset.
The caravan is great and would be my first choice, but you can’t tow a caravan into the middle of Exmoor, so a tent seemed to be the answer.
So late October and I decide that if I am going to try it out this year then now is the time. On a lovely day I set out to Wimbleball Lake. It takes a while to translate the minimal instructions but eventually the tent is up and looking good.
Let me suggest to anyone thinking of using a tent for the first time in years, they re not naturally warm, I woke a few times in the night realising how cold it was. Surviving until the morning and emerging from my tent I realised how cold it had been as the ground was white with frost and the tent was covered in ice.
At least it got me up early and I watched the sun rising over the misty lake, it was spectacular and it is in those moments that the effort is worthwhile, of all the things I see or watch on television this was a moment that I could easily have missed and yet here I was watching my own personal show.
Later on I walked around the lake and that is when I found the canoe sitting under a tree surrounded by autumn leaves. I was an interesting walk, the lake which was formed as a reservoir during the 1970s was very empty with one section being almost completely empty. I didn’t manage a full circuit, it is probably about 10 miles, partly because I stopped and took photos on the way and just enjoyed the day. I did make it to the dam, to be honest it wasn’t the most scenic dam I have seen, but the lake was lovely and except for a few walkers and a group of fishermen I had it nearly to myself.
I must remember this day when I next plan a stay in my tent, it was certainly worth a bit of discomfort and I got two photos that I have now printed and framed. Some days out, even if well planed, end up with none, so this was good.
As this is a few days before Christmas, may I wish anyone who reads this a happy Christmas and new year.