Embracing the Wind
Rannoch Moor, Scotland
Wild winds carried back to me
memories of strength
That once existed
within myself
Before time and
circumstance
Wore down the shards of steel
And wild winds carry back to me
breath
to spark a smoldering fire
Forging a new core
of will and purpose
Nearly devoid of color (and warmth!) but not of beauty, Rannoch Moor on this cold April day was the embodiment of a stark and desolate wilderness. This had been intended as a day of numerous scenic stops, but the strong winds, temperatures hovering just above freezing, and the rain/snow mix dispensed by the clouds, laid challenge to that plan. After getting soaked at Glenfinnan and wind-whipped at a viewpoint in Glen Coe, I thought perhaps we would enjoy the views of Rannoch Moor from the car.
The dark storm clouds dumping snow on the hills seemed to reinforce that decision. But as the sky started to lighten, we pulled into the car park for a view of the moor. With some trepidation we set out to climb the hill to the viewpoint, picking our way across the rocky ground and a very muddy peat bog. Due to the mud we did not make it to the top of the hill, but found some rocks to stand on that offered a vantage point with sweeping views of the moor, the lochs, and the surrounding mountains.
The gusty winds made it a rather precarious perch however, and I was having trouble holding the camera, and myself, steady, so once again I took very few photos. But as I took in the austere beauty of this barren, windswept moor, I felt a deep connection to this place. And in that fiercely blowing wind found something deeper than a photo to carry home with me.
Embracing the Wind
Rannoch Moor, Scotland
Wild winds carried back to me
memories of strength
That once existed
within myself
Before time and
circumstance
Wore down the shards of steel
And wild winds carry back to me
breath
to spark a smoldering fire
Forging a new core
of will and purpose
Nearly devoid of color (and warmth!) but not of beauty, Rannoch Moor on this cold April day was the embodiment of a stark and desolate wilderness. This had been intended as a day of numerous scenic stops, but the strong winds, temperatures hovering just above freezing, and the rain/snow mix dispensed by the clouds, laid challenge to that plan. After getting soaked at Glenfinnan and wind-whipped at a viewpoint in Glen Coe, I thought perhaps we would enjoy the views of Rannoch Moor from the car.
The dark storm clouds dumping snow on the hills seemed to reinforce that decision. But as the sky started to lighten, we pulled into the car park for a view of the moor. With some trepidation we set out to climb the hill to the viewpoint, picking our way across the rocky ground and a very muddy peat bog. Due to the mud we did not make it to the top of the hill, but found some rocks to stand on that offered a vantage point with sweeping views of the moor, the lochs, and the surrounding mountains.
The gusty winds made it a rather precarious perch however, and I was having trouble holding the camera, and myself, steady, so once again I took very few photos. But as I took in the austere beauty of this barren, windswept moor, I felt a deep connection to this place. And in that fiercely blowing wind found something deeper than a photo to carry home with me.