Ahh... crisp autumn air is settling in and a symphony of vivid colors is transforming the Northern Utah landscape. I had a quick layover in Salt Lake City a couple of days ago and dashed up to a viewpoint with my parents at sunrise. I'm excited to see the colors are coming along perfectly to welcome our Northern Utah Fall Colors participants! I can't wait for our instructor A.J. to show everyone around. It's going to be a great year for the living kaleidoscope!

Opulein . Makeup Kit #101 [Fatpack] - ABSTRAKT EVENT!

Yalin Fashion MEIRA - Yalin Fashion

Revienne: The Jolie Diamond Earrings [SILVER]

S-CLUB KATY FATPACK 120723 - Access

[piXit] Sharp - Pose Pack - [piXit] Mainstore

DASHED - RED NAILS FATPACK

A two car Queen St. PCC train dashed through a yellow light at Bathurst St. September 1975.

As I have been doing for weeks now, here are a few more photos from my archives. I will add the description that I wrote under a different, previously posted photo taken on the same outing.

"Maybe a week ago, my daughter and a friend went to the Calgary Farmyard for a visit. My intention had been to do this for the last few years, but somehow it just never happened. I tend to think of it as a place to visit around Halloween. Until I saw my daughter's photos, I didn't realize that the farm also has a sunflower area as well as a Corn Maze, which I knew about. Nothing would ever get me into a Corn Maze - with no sense of direction, I would never find my way out.

Two nights ago, on 29 August 2020, I took another look at their website and saw that yesterday was going to be their last day being open in summer. So, on the spur of the moment, I dashed out east of the city, found the farm, and luckily found an empty parking spot. Tons of people with young kids, but still plenty of space to be distanced from everyone. All sorts of thing for kids to climb in and on. Farm animals and the sunflowers were what I headed for. The sunflowers had mostly passed their prime, so photos looking over a field of flower heads resulted in very colourless, uninspiring images. The plants that still had bright yellow flowers were being enjoyed by endless bees.

Llamas are one of my favourite farm animals to see and photograph, though these ones were not being very cooperative. Nearby goats were entertaining and offered a few photo opportunities.

After I left the farm. there was still plenty of time to drive the backroads. A couple of beautiful Hawks - one a Swainson's and the other a Red-tailed Hawk, I think - made the drive worthwhile."

Eastern Reef Egret (dark morph)

Egretta sacra

June 7th, 2023

Buffalo Creek, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

Canon EOS R5

Canon EF 600mm f4L IS III USM lens

Canon EF 1.4x III Extender

One of the really amazing aspects of digital photography today is the capability of our cameras to handle high ISO noise. When combined with the incredible noise reduction software options we now have available, these advancements have really extended the possibilities for wildlife photography.

This image of a fishing Eastern Reef Egret is an example of such extended capabilities.

The Egret had been fishing on the incoming tide for about 30 minutes before sunset & then continued on for at least another 30 minutes after the sun had already set. With the ability to push into seriously high ISO ranges, it meant I was able to keep my shutter at a reasonable enough speed to capture the action even as the light was fading. This enabled me to capture the action as the Egret dashed about chasing the small fish that were flowing back into Buffalo Creek with the incoming currents. Then with some very basic editing in Lightroom, I was able to produce a really nice image.

An amazing experience to lay in the shallow water, watching this agile hunter dart all over the place, stopping on a dime & pivoting as the fish desperately tried to evade capture. Mind you the tide was coming in pretty fast over the flat beach, so I was mindful of the amount of sea water splashing on my gear & one must always remember to be wary of crocodiles when up North!

The beautiful soft blue & grey tones created as the light faded combined with the dark plumage of the Egret really appealed to me.

Yesterday afternoon, 25 October 2018, I dashed down to a place that I had been curious about for the last few years. Every time I drove the highway, I would pass a sign that said Kayben Farms. My daughter had posted photos from a visit there with friends a while ago and there were a few things that I wanted to see sometime. A spur-of-the-moment visit yesterday gave me the chance to do so. Actually, I suspect it may also have been a delaying tactic for all the endless things that I knew I should be seeing to.

There were a few sheds/barns scattered around the grounds. Most were a pretty basic, simple shape and not old, including the shed in the above photo. However, I absolutely loved its wonderfully bright and colourful door. I did add a touch of filter to bring out the grain of the wood.

Wandering near the corn maze - now closed till next year - I came across a dead Sunflower hanging its head. One of my favourite things to photograph, at any stage of their life. As for a corn maze, nothing would make me enter .... nothing, unless the corn plants were no higher than my waist and if I was with someone who has an excellent sense of direction!

Various pieces of old farm equipment dotted the area. I always enjoy coming across such things on any of my travels.

In a nearby area, there was a variety of farm animals, including a large Pot-bellied (?) Pig that was fast asleep and snoring loudly, and horses, sheep and goats were entertaining. All made for a very pleasant visit, just in time before the farm closed to the public for the winter season.

The Lake Worth Playhouse occupies the former Oakley Theatre, the oldest building on the register of the Art Deco Society of Palm Beach County. It was constructed by Lucien and Clarence Oakley, two brothers who came to South Florida from Illinois on the wave of a movie mania sweeping the country in the early 1920s. Their dream was to build a movie palace and vaudeville house.

The theatre first opened its doors on November 3, 1924 with local newspapers proudly touting its $150,000 cost – a very high price at the start of the Great Depression. Opening night patrons were treated to a showing of a silent movie based on the Broadway play Welcome Stranger. The new $10,000 Wurlitzer pipe organ (with built-in piano) played in concert for the first time that night and a five-piece orchestra from Fort Lauderdale played for the two performances.

On September 16, 1928, a devastating hurricane ripped through the area, virtually demolishing the Oakley Theatre. But the tenacious brothers quickly rebuilt and reopened the theatre on January 10, 1929. Their dreams were ultimately dashed when the full weight of the Depression struck South Florida, and they lost ownership of the theatre for good.

Over the years, the theatre changed names and ownership many times, showing art films, mainstream films and, later, blue movies. But no one was able to keep the film house afloat, and the theatre was finally shut down.

On December 1, 1953, the Lake Worth Playhouse was incorporated by a group of Lake Worth citizens. The earliest seasons featured four productions a year in the auditorium of the old Lake Worth City Hall. Despite the long stairway climb to the non-air-conditioned third-floor performance space, audiences came out to support the organization. Most of the early performances sold out. The first play produced by the fledgling organization was Springtime for Henry.

In October 1975 the Lake Worth Playhouse purchased the Oakley Theatre building for $60,000 and began much-needed renovations with an additional $15,000 Bicentennial grant. The first production of the Lake Worth Playhouse in its new home was The Last of Mrs. Lincoln, chosen to fulfill stipulations of the federal Bicentennial grant.

Today, the Playhouse is proud to offer a variety of mainstream and alternative programming, both live and on film. The Playhouse also offers educational programs for adults and children, and community outreach initiatives that bring cultural programs into the neighborhoods of underserved youth, and also make theatre available free of charge for disadvantaged citizens in the community.

The Lake Worth Playhouse is a 501c3 nonprofit community theatre with a never-be-dark policy. Year-round programming includes award-winning dramas, comedies, musicals, area premieres, Broadway favorites, children’s shows, international ballets and operas in cinema, live concert series and alternative programming.

In addition to its main stage theatrical fare, the Playhouse presents daily independent and foreign films in the Stonzek Theatre, an intimate black-box style theatre equipped with a large viewing screen and high-definition projection.

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:

www.lakeworthplayhouse.org/welcome/playhouse_history/

www.pbcgov.org/papa/Asps/PropertyDetail/PropertyDetail.as...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Low light in the garage and his lightening fast reflexes make for a grainy action shot. But his joy and mirth come through.

He dashed in, did a tuck and roll (photo), tossed the mouse skyward and then recaptured before it fell to the ground.

That blue eyed squeaky toy is so done for!

Rusty keeps getting to be a stronger and healthier Bengal Kitty every day :)

Once you are in this lane right is the only option

New York Susquehanna & Western SU-99 drops downhill into Sparta on a roasting hot mid-June evening in 2024. Leading the way into town to work for an abnormally long amount of time was NYSW 4066, an EMD SD70M-2 acquired secondhand from the Norfolk Southern. This photo was taken a few minutes before 8 PM; if memory serves me the train didn't leave Sparta Junction until about two and a half hours later. Needless to say any hopes of a daylight shot on the CNYK past Port Jervis were dashed.

We end the week's posts with a small castellated building in Navan, County Meath from the Eason Photographic Collection. The castle has seen extensive work to make it more habitable with what seems to be an extension out the back, a coat of dashed render and some significant chimneys for cooking/heating.

Photographer: Unknown

Collection: Eason Photographic Collection

Date: between 1900-1939

NLI Ref: EAS_3222

You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie

I found two copies of '8909 - LEGO Collectable Minifigures - Team GB' at my local Argos four years after release!

I'm extremely satisfied as I wanted to get the whole 'Team GB' series but at the time I only managed to get two. This was purely unintentional and it clearly caught me off guard. As soon as I laid my eyes on them I literally dashed towards them with a burst of excitement.

As you guys may know that these go for £15-£20 each (sealed) on the secondary market as they were a limited edition series and only available in the UK, therefore they are very valuable.

Riding the waves on a windy day.

"Watching huge flocks of Snow Geese swirl down from the sky, amid a cacophony of honking, is a little like standing inside a snow globe. These loud, white-and-black geese can cover the ground in a snowy blanket as they eat their way across fallow cornfields or wetlands. Among them, you might see a dark form with a white head—a color variant called the “Blue Goose.” Snow Geese have skyrocketed in numbers and are now among the most abundant waterfowl on the continent.

The dark color of the blue morph Snow Goose is controlled by a single gene, with dark being partially dominant over white. If a pure dark goose mates with a white goose, the offspring will all be dark (possibly with white bellies). If two white geese mate, they have only white offspring. If two dark geese mate, they will have mostly dark offspring, but might have a few white ones too." From AllAboutBirds.

On 12 October 2021, I stayed home in the morning to wait for a landscaper who had arranged to come and look at my tiny backyard late morning and give me an estimate for putting down desperately needed new grass that I want putting down from fence to fence. A last minute phone call let me know that he had been called out on something urgent, so had to cancel So, I got ready as fast as I could and dashed out east of the city in hopes of finding the Snow Geese that people have been reporting. I was in luck, though the maybe 300 or so birds were a long way off. I don't often go out looking for birds that are reported, but I thought it would be nice to see some Snow Geese, that I rarely see. Not a good spot for parking/pulling over, but I was either the only person there or just one other. These really are beautiful birds - and very vocal. I managed to take one video of them noisily in flight, taken from inside my car and looking across the passenger seat. Not the best video, as I kept getting the edge of the door included. However, it was so windy that I stayed inside.

After spending some time watching these beautiful, migrating birds, I drove a few mainly familiar roads before heading home. Just enough time to find a few, previously photographed barns.

Shot on iPhone 6S.

We arrived in Melbourne and before we had to hand in the campervan we dashed down to Brighton Beach. We've visited this beach three times because we love the little beach huts - and each time it's been freezing and blowing a gale. That's Melbourne for you. I had about five photos I could have gone with today but this one wins for me.

The usual hurried shot from the roadside as we dashed north.

Cropped from an ancient slide.

He ran as soon as he saw the camera pointing in his direction and I had to chase him in my wheelchair to get two quick shots before he dashed across the street...

Assuming this is the same bird, it has spent several summers now on the coast of Northumberland. This year it mated with an Arctic Tern - and, at the time I took these photographs, it was sitting on eggs.

Any notion of an unlikely hybridisation however were unfortunately dashed as the eggs failed to hatch.

font: Youngsook BTN

See more in my Bird set here

Bumbarrel’s Nest

John Clare.

The oddling bush, close sheltered hedge new-plashed,

Of which spring’s early liking makes a guest

First with a shade of green though winter-dashed –

There, full as soon, bumbarrels make a nest

Of mosses grey with cobwebs closely tied

And warm and rich as feather-bed within,

With little hole on its contrary side

That pathway peepers may no knowledge win

Of what her little oval nest contains –

Ten eggs and often twelve, with dusts of red

Soft frittered – and full soon the little lanes

Screen the young crowd and hear the twitt’ring song

Of the old birds who call them to be fed

While down the hedge they hang and hide along.

Cloud at Sunset on the River

Side Cut Metropark, Maumee, Lucas County, Ohio

Taken on August 8th, 2018

It had been a rather uneventful day for the most part. At one point I looked out my window and saw that it was getting late in the afternoon, so I thought to myself "why not go get some pictures down by the river?" I simply got up, put my camera bag over my shoulder, and headed out the door. The sky looked very good with the sun going down. Being behind a cloud the sun created a beam of light that shined from behind it that pointed up towards the heavens, and I was more than eager to get something on camera.

I arrived down by the river to find the Jerome Road Rapids still rather low, and with plenty of puddles of water there reflecting the sky like a ground laden with mirrors. I pulled out my camera and attached a lens...only to find out I had forgotten my memory card. Frustrated beyond belief I went back up the hill and dashed back home. I got the memory card, and hurried back out the door. I looked back up at the sky which still looked very nice, but the light was quite obviously changing very quickly. By the time I got down to the rapids again all the light had left the rocks that made up the riverbed, and if I wanted to get anything out of all this it was going to have to be a reflection of the sky.

I was in luck because the cloud that the sun was behind earlier still maintained a rather simple shape, and it provided a nice subject to reflect on the water. A simple photograph, yet an effective one when put together with the colors that were now showing themselves in the sky. What luck! I can only hope that next time I don't forget something as important as a memory card.

Early last week, on getting to the woods, we were greeted by a horrendous smell & it quickly became clear the farmer had spread manure on the nearby fields. Flynn was eager to go down & have a closer look (& maybe get a taste & take a "mud" bath at the same time!). He was most disappointed when I, boring hooman that I am, wrinkled my nose in disgust & dragged him away to play all the way on the other side of the hill!

Several days of very nice hot, dry weather later & the smell had gone, so I cautiously ventured back to the fields. Flynn dashed ahead, suddenly very excited again - the fields had been ploughed! What had been a bare patch of (stinky!) earth had now turned into a wonderful playground. The furrows make perfect hiding spots, where a sneaky collie can lie in wait for their slow, plodding hooman & they double up as long, narrow race tracks to skitter up & down.... & then you can use the ridges as hurdles too! So much fun! The only thing Flynn would've enjoyed even more, is if I joined him & went charging along the "race tracks" & jumping hurdles with him but the farmhouse is just down the road & while they might not mind a light-footed collie springing over the turned earth for a few minutes, I felt I'd better stick the path :)

162/366: 2016

Making the most of my reluctant model. He was just leaving for work and said I could take his photo but he was busy looking at his phone. He did actually look up after this test shot and I took a couple of others before he dashed off. I preferred this one though even though I would have preferred to see his eyes. He has taken to waxing his moustache and I think it suits him...of course I am biased!

People have lived on this site in Stainborough since the Iron Age. The remains of a now much disguised hillfort lies under the 18th century folly on the hilltop. Following the Norman Conquest, the lands were owned by the De Lacey’s. In the mid 13th Century it was owned by the Everingham family, who sold it to the Cutlers in 1610.

Wentworth Castle is an estate born of a bitter family feud. When Thomas Wentworth’s expectations of inheriting nearby Wentworth Woodhouse were dashed in 1695, he bought Stainborough Hall, some seven miles to the north in 1708 and began to create a house and gardens to rival his usurper, changing its name to Wentworth Castle.

His son William inherited the estate in 1739 and carried on his father’s work – and his feud.

Years of neglect and decline have seen the landscaped park partially return to nature. An early 21st century project has partially regenerated the gardens and parkland, halting the decline, but there are still decaying remnants to be found of the park’s former glory.

On a summer evening, when the warm air is full of the sound of deer fawns playing in the long grass, Stainborough Park is a magical place. It is possible to be transported to a place apart from the modern world, if you can zone-out from the background thrum of the nearby M1.

Brown Hare / lepus europaeus. Havergate Island, Suffolk. 04/10/14.

In December, 2013 a tidal surge breached Havergate Island in a number of places, resulting in substantial flooding and damage. Many of the island's Brown Hares perished as a result of this.

When RSPB staff could access the island and assess the situation, only eight hares were counted. However, there was no undue concern about the numbers lost. Whilst acknowledging a much reduced population in the short term, the RSPB‘s view was that numbers would soon bounce back. Hares can make a quick generational turnaround.

I returned to the island for my second visit 10 months after the surge and had to work hard to get any sightings. I managed to see five including this individual who I shared time with in a gorse thicket. Not a comfortable experience but a completely magical one as I watched it doze, groom and feed. This image shows it on full alert after another hare had dashed through the gorse close to it. After holding this pose for a second or two, it lay back down again reassured there was no danger.

BEST VIEWED LARGE.

Previously- www.flickr.com/photos/mark-of-falworth/14766927958/

Mark of Falworth (AKA Kenosis) was deeply shaken by his encounter with the blue hermit. Hardly taking notice of his surroundings, he slouched along in the slushy snow. This made it a cakewalk for an expert assassin to catch him unawares.

"Halt! Who goes there?!"

Mark started, surprised by the sudden shout. "Oh! I am Kenosis of the Outlaws, and-"

He was unable to finish his speech, for as soon as the word 'outlaw' left his lips, the cloaked warrior sprang from the shadow of the pine and clutching two swords, savagely slashed at his face.

The weapons were dashed aside by Mark's own, raised in defense. With a quick jerk of the head, he bashed his helmet into the pointed crest of his attacker. The Areani rolled backwards into the snowbank.

Mark had mere seconds, and two choices. Keep fighting? Or run?

His life among the Outlaws had taught him the benefits of the latter.

He blindly tore through the snow-laden trees, but only gained 50 yards or so before the ground beneath cracked and groaned in warning. But in vain. The ice shattered beneath the weight of Mark's armored body. He skidded to and fro and just barely managed to stay afloat on one of the larger slabs of ice. Falling in would ensure instant death.

That, or the recovered Areani, charging after him in furious pursuit, would finish the job.

The desert warrior leapt at his opponent, both weapons poised to strike a deadly blow. Despite his imbalance, Mark brought his battle-axe to bear in a powerful underhanded stroke which sent the astonished Areani flying back into the frozen forest.

Mark sprang to the slippery shore, deciding then and there that he'd had quite enough of running from his troubles.

He charged towards the spot where his enemy landed in the brush, only to find him lying dazed. Mark raised his claymore to strike, but stopped mid-swing. It grated on him to strike a man when he was down.

The Areani brushed some snow from his helmet, stunned by the hit he'd just received.

"I've been dealt many a blow, but none quite like THAT."

"I'm not sure why I don't just kill you right now."

The Areani cocked his head to one side. "I was wondering the same!" He half-rose. "Wait. I know that voice..."

He peered into the visor slit of Mark's helmet. "No. No, it can't be."

"Can't be...who?"

The warrior gasped "But - but - you died, months ago!"

"Who died?!"

"Wait! That explains it! No one else could hurl an armored opponent through the treetops with one blow whilst balancing on an ice floe!"

Mark rolled his eyes. "I seem to have hit you on the head. You are babbling nonsense."

"YOU'RE MARK OF FALWORTH!"

Mark paused, a light dawning in his eyes, but then he shook his head. "Who is this Mark of Falworth of whom you speak? My name is Kenosis... or at least, that's what my swamp friends call me."

"No! You are Mark of Falworth! There can be no mistake! I traveled with you for many weeks... I am Acelerar."

"Well... I am afraid that you have made a grave mistake, or I have rattled your brains. I have spared your life, now you shall spare me my time." He turned and stalked away.

Acelerar stood, shocked, his mind racing. The great Mark of Falworth was thought to have fallen in battle many months ago... but he appeared here, masquerading as an Outlaw in Garheim, with apparently no knowledge of his true identity.

"I must report to the grandmaster!"

To Be Continued!

Yes, I'm still on a snowy pine tree kick... ;) I've tried a different top this time. I think it looks better. Please let me know what you guys think! :)

The day turned glorious after a grey start. I thought "What about a nice Solent sunset?". As I finished my cup of tea I heard the sea-monsters in the bay (ships' foghorns). Dashed down to Lee on the Solent and got htis atmospheric shot ot the sun appearing and disappearing in the sea fog. Visibility between 100 and 200m.

While on a short hike in the Sierra foothills, I happened upon butterflies flitting about in a tiny wildflower patch, so I dashed to the car to grab my telephoto and capture some springtime images.

www.optimalfocusphotography.com/

Having been trying to get my P950 back into how it used to work. Several re-sets & got rid of some of the problems but not all. Dashed out last evening for a couple of garden shots to test. Only problem for me now is the review system seems tyo have changed & i want it back to full frame review.

My white double flowered Hybiscus is doing well. Probably because it is in the dryist sheltered part of the gdn

My eyes suddenly popped open at 5am because the curtains were open and I dashed for the camera.

I actually prefer the pre-sun appearing over the horizon shots because the angle of the sun hitting the clouds is just fabulous and all that detail is lost when the sun comes up.

They have forecast rain for today and if these skies are anything to go by it is going to BUCKET down.

Straight out of the camera, not even a crop on this one!

MORE INTERESTING ON BLACK. CLICK ON PHOTO

This is picture number 20 of 100 in my 100 Strangers Project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the flickr.com/groups/100strangers/ Flickr Group page

It was midday when I dashed out to run a quick errand, camera in my bag but no real expectations of using it, when right there in my own street were these two beautiful girls - what could I do but ask to make their portrait?

Natalia and Marisa have been friends for "oooooh forever!!" - well since they were about three years old. Now that they are at uni in different cities, they find that their friendship is stronger than ever when they do get to see each other. Natalia is studying Psychology, and Marisa is in her 5th year of Medicine.

In terms of the portraits, midday of a glaring summer's day is not an ideal time! The sun was high overhead and there was precious little suitable shade. What's more, my street offered little in the way of backgrounds. We tried the mustard coloured wall, an off-white patterned gate, there was a grubby grey wall that I refused to consider, there was a shot against a white wall, and of course these ones, crammed hard against the greenery in what little shade remained.

We did photos of the two girls separately, and there were some really good results. This photo was the very last one, and was at their request. I debated about adding one each of the individual photos to the project, but finally settled on this one as it seems such a delightful photo.

Natalia and Marisa, I hope you like it, and thanks for the fun!!

I was having dinner in the garden when the mother bear arrived with her four cubs. I dashed inside with my food, but my barrier around the garden pool was off. While one cub sampled my glass of wine (it didn't like the wine, but didn't break the wine glass), another cub started checking out the pool.

千葉県鴨川市

One Sunday morning in late May, some local guys had set up the mobile sauna by the beach as they often do. This time they also set up an ice bath. Having just got out from a sea swim, they offered, so I decided to try the ice bath. Rather enjoyed it, dashed back in the sea again to warm up, got dried then decided I just had to get a shot of the sun on the ice. With still unsteady hands I pointed the Kodak Retina iic and exposed a frame on the Rollei RPX25. All a bit of fun. I quite like the Rollei RPX 25 developed in Xtol too.

Beautiful evening yesterday, dashed out from the office to capture the sunset over Cowling. I waited til the sun dropped below the horizon and thought i would try in portrait instead of landscape

Three moose spent all day wandering around our cabin browsing the willows, so I decided to tip-toe outside and see how close I could get to the Mama and her two babies. As it turned out I got very close. I could clearly hear her stripping the leaves from the willow shoots. From time to time she would grunt, snort, and make other moosey sounds to communicate with her twins. All that stood between me and her was a four foot tall, spindly spruce tree. Suddenly she stopped munching - stared at me through the brush - made a sound to her kids - and simultaneously they all dashed off into the forest - making a lot of noise as they crashed through the brush.

I turned toward the cabin, enjoying the warm sun, and noticed that my rhubarb bed was aglow with bright red colors. Kneeling down - I captured this image as the sun backlit a huge leaf. It is definitely the beginning of autumn in the far north.

This scene is about five miles inside the Wellington Harbour Heads; Cook Strait - one of the windiest and roughest stretches of water in the world - is just "out there"...! It was a calm day when this scene was photographed, but note the damage to the slipway in the right foreground...! The damage done to this boatshed's ramp / slipway illustrates just how rough it can get...

AN EXAMPLE OF STORMY WEATHER:

On April 10th 1968, the near-new Lyttleton (Christchurch) to Wellington overnight ferry "Wahine" was nearing Wellington Heads. A storm with winds averaging 50 - 55 mph was battering the region, but ships had sailed through the Heads' and into the harbour in stronger winds than that, so the Master of the ferry wasn't especially concerned. After all, his ship was a reasonably big vessel...!

Alas, just as the ferry entered the confines of the narrow shipping channel, a Tropical Cyclone / Hurricane tracking down from the north collided with a Cold Front moving north from Antarctica.

The result would prove to be catastrophic...!!!

Suddenly, the ferry found itself battling winds of 115mph. It's radar was blown out, and navigation lights marking the channel disappeared in the pre-dawn darkness, torrential rain and driving wind, and the suddenly huge following seas frequently lifted the stern of the vessel right out of the water.

The Captain attempted to turn the vessel around so he could return to open waters, but by now he and his crew were totally confused as to where exactly they were. Alas, "that" issue was suddenly rectified when the ferry struck the outer reaches of Barret's Reef, tearing a huge gash in the side of the ship below the water line...

At around 1pm that afternoon, the order was eventually given to abandon ship, but with the ferry now listing heavily, only the starboard-side lifeboats could be lowered, and many of them were either smashed against the side of the ship, or promptly sank when they hit the water. However, some passengers were somehow able to climb into a lifeboat, but although they were only a hundred or so metres from Seatoun Beach, the roaring wind, huge seas, and incoming Tide blew the lifeboats down the harbour and across to the opposite coast where numbers of people perished as their lifeboats were dashed against ragged rocks...

Fifty-two people perished in the disaster; two or three more died of their injuries in the weeks and months that followed...

BACK TO TODAY:

If you're still reading, you've done well...

I don't know when this slipway suffered its 'wipe-out', but it would have taken a considerable storm or storms to cause such damage...! So don't let the calmness of the sea in this scene fool you. This is one very dangerous and very wild stretch of water when Conditions turn nasty...!!!

Thanks for the very kind and encouraging comments beneath this photo...! Your support is very greatly appreciated.

Klayar Beach is resides in Donorojo district, Pacitan Regency. It is about 35 km towards west Pacitan city. It can reach about 60 minutes from the city. Many rockies like spink in Mesir are settled in this beach. Klayar with its dune has a distinctive feature from another. Its waves dashed against the rock spourting from the hole make sound like a bamboo flute. The springkling of waves rush to the beach and out through the hole spurting about 7 meters high and has a sound like blowing bamboo flute.

Saturday night cruising in Paprihaven, at the Market Street 7-11.

Ah, the crisp night air of March in Paprihaven.

"The Ides of March!" Lennox Lorin shouts aloud, alone in the parking lot. He pauses to admire the elect baritone of his genteel voice.

Lennox breathes the air deeply, imagining that his sophisticated nostrils are able to parse out any foul essence that might be emanating from Lee Crimmel's Mustang.

"Psh!" Typical American. The man didn't even use a parking space as he dashed in.

It is not properly yet the Ides of March but, once the month has arrived, Lennox insists on using it regularly. He is sophisticated, after all.

A wide smile, (Almost a grin but gentlemen of formulated nobility like Lennox don't 'grin'.), breaks across his countenance even as he turns to admire his Brit Speed.

Of course Lennox possesses a cultured admiration for the automobile and his particular niche is the land speed record type.

His custom V12 is built for the salt flats. Over 1,000 howling horses propel... Wait, Lennox frowns. Horses do not howl. He'll need a witticism more in comportment with his cultivated sensibilities.

Nevertheless, his Brit Speed is fast. Staggeringly so. And it has those long elegant lines that immediately signal all the charm and magnificence of British motor cars.

Lennox decides he may mingle with the commoners tonight. Stop light racing is so plebeian but, if the outcome is the recognition of British racing superiority, then Lennox will suffer that momentary indignation.

🚌🚦🚗⛽🚐🚍🚎🚔🚑🚨🚒🚓🚔🚕🚧🚖🚜🚘🚲

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A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.

Hot Wheels

Brit Speed

City 5-Pack

2020 Indonesia

Hot Wheels

'67 Shelby GT500

Multipack Exclusive

2018, Malaysia

Hot Wheels

Muscle Tone

Color Shifters

2014, Thailand

* The last time Lee was here, also eschewing a parking spot, he was approached by the strange lady.

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/54175476138/

Another fine Bijou Planks entry from Grab Bag #25!

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53128516414/

After many false starts refurbished 319's finally started their Liverpool to Manchester Airport diagrams today.

I only found out they were running just as this was leaving Lime Street so dashed to my local station to record.

Bev Price de-trained off this working and I asked him what did he think? .. "vastly superior to the old order" was his reply.

Northern Rail 319362 crosses Stephenson's 1830 Viaduct as it slows for the Newton-le-Willows station stop.

* Susan has just remarked they look like the OOMI ZOOMI's (characters from children's TV!) LOL.

I haven't seen a Kingfisher since beginning of the year, so this brief sighting was very welcome. Could not get close but managed a couple of shots before it dashed into the distance.

At 05h15 yesterday morning... a Taiwanese fishing trawler ran aground in the fog... on Clifton's First Beach!

19 of the 28 crew members were successfully evacuated... leaving the others (and a dog) to coordinate the high-tide refloating attempts. Fortunately the engines and generators are still in good working order... and very fortunately there does not appear to be any danger of an oil-spill... at this stage.

Of course... I dashed out there with my D3100 as soon as I heard about it... here is a six portrait-image panorama... taken shortly before sunset. There's plenty of detail in this pano... it's definitely better to view it large. :)

Nikon D3100, Sigma 18-200mm at 98mm, aperture of f16, with a 1/160th second exposure.

ID

3271

britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300003271-capel-tabernacl-co...

I've just returned from a trip with the kids back to visit some of our good friends in Northern Virginia. We've been making the trip to Virginia since 2007, and I've always meant to shoot a sunrise or sunset in DC each year, but have always run out of time between events with the family or other places to shoot. I thought I was going to get my chance last October, but our stupid congress shut down the entire city just before I arrived. This Summer, I knew I wanted a shot of the US Marine Corps War Memorial at sunrise shooting East back toward DC. If you've been shooting for any length of time, you may have heard the adage "F8 and be there" when people ask how you were able to get a particular shot. In this case, I woke up at 3:30 AM 5 out of the 7 days I was there in order to make the drive into DC and be in position by 5:15 AM. Finally, on the day before I left, the sky lit up, and I was able to get my shot.

I should also mention that from here, I dashed back down the Roosevelt bridge and grabbed a shot of the Jefferson memorial and then the Lincoln memorial before the light was gone for the morning. During that week, I took many wrong turns, fell on my butt in the mud on Roosevelt Island, and came across many disappointments as much of the mall area and the capitol were taken over by the 4th of July fences, tents and speakers, but overall, I had a great time shooting while getting to know a good deal more about how DC is laid out, where to park, etc, as well as getting to hang out with some very good friends for the week. I'm already looking forward to next year.

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William McIntosh Photography

Under an ominous sky, billboards promoting an adult store and religious messages compete for space along Interstate 41 between Fond du Lac and Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

IMGP0957.3.tinted

June 7th, 1944

We landed on the beach yesterday morning. We experienced all of Hell’s fury while trying to make it to the beachhead. It was a miracle that we made it out alive. After clearing the beach defenses, we pushed inward. While trekking through one of the nearby towns, a Jerrie MG opened up on us. I dashed for cover with one of my mates. Just as I found safety, I watched as the lieutenant was hit and tumbled to the ground. In the rush of the moment, I ran and dragged him out of the line of fire. Just then, a mortar shell hit near us and killed the majority of our squad. Since I knew that we couldn’t last long, I put the lieutenant on my back and started running as fast as I could. Soon, we came upon another little town. A tattered sign read, “Caen.” Almost fainting from exhaustion, I managed to get us into a bombed-out house. I found some supplies and patched up the lieutenant. I have decided to stay here and wait for the rest of the 50th Infantry. But they could take days to arrive, and I don’t know how long we’ll last. Wait, I think I see a patrol coming around the corner…..

Torso by X39BrickCustoms

Frank and Lois spotted a sale at Don's on bedroom furniture. Their daughter Barbara had just gotten married and they knew she was looking for a bedroom set. Lois couldn't wait to get home and phone Barbara about their find, so she dashed out to the pay phone next to Don's to make the call. Frank said "For God's sake, Lois, you'll catch your death out there in the rain" but Lois couldn't wait.

1:24 scale diorama

Wednesday, 4 August 2021, was yet another hot, smoky day. I had been wanting to drive SE of the city to call in at a farm to drop off a couple of photos for weeks now, but kept running out of time. This day, I was determined to reach my destination, though the smoke from the British Columbia wildfires was really unpleasant. Travelling south on the highway, it was very tempting to turn around and try on a different day. However, I suspect we might be getting this smoke for the rest of the summer, so I decided I might as well continue my drive. Much of the landscape had disappeared, shrouded in toxic smoke.

There are two barns that I love down in this area, and I took just a few photos of each one before calling in at the farm to give the photos to the lady who owns the smaller of the two barns. We had spoken whilst on the back road near her barn on maybe three of my visits to the area other years and this time, we sat and chatted outside on her porch. It was so enjoyable!

Leaving the area, my drive took me back exactly the way I had come, as there was an old homestead that I had missed on the drive to the farm. Perhaps it had been removed, but I was really hoping that was not the case. I just hadn't been looking in the right place.

This was definitely a barn day, which was my intention, but there were so few birds to be seen. anyway. My drive was quick, as I didn't want to be out for a full day in the heat and smoke, even though I was driving, not walking. I did call in at the Saskatoon Farm on the way home, though. My hopes of buying some nice, fresh fruit and vegetables were dashed, as no fruit was left, bought by earlier visitors. Enjoyed a meal there, so that I wouldn't have to make supper when I got home. I had been hoping to get to the Saskatoon Farm for the last few days, but avoided going, as it was a long weekend here. Why would I go on a busy holiday weekend, anyway, when I can go during the week?

Can't wait to see blue sky again, and our beautiful foothills and mountains in the distance. Compared to all those people who live much closer to the wildfires, we are lucky. How I feel for them, having to breathe in all the toxic smoke particles, not to mention the devastating losses that many people are having to deal with.

I was hoping this was going to be leading but my hopes were dashed but still lovely to see this on the mainline. BR green 37057 on the rear of a Longsight-Derby RTC test train through Sutton Park.