Stopham Paddle

[stovie]

4.30am dropped my son off to catch a coach to Silverstone...some little car race he was keen to watch...and made straight for the river. Put in at 5.00am and headed up stream sedately, noislessly, a part of the river...

Pre-dawn light, cool air and silent running...

From the left a shot of electric blue straked the flat grey light, and left me wondering why I'd brought my camera...Kingfisher illusion, slight of wing, occult acrobat...

Paddling on, spotted a break in the reeds, and pulled too...sat a while and listened to the chattering Reed Warblers while the sun burst through and woke the day...

Reed Warbler in there somewhere...

Rounded a gentle bend and caught the magic that is nature's presentation...

Early light threw colour into shade and contrast into HD...

Swans, canot blanc, like ghostly voyageurs sailed toward me...

Wide stretches...

Magical drifts...

Found a place to pull over...and contemplate...

On the way buzzards, Yaffles, Heron, all came on me suddenly...The Heron was tucked in the reed bed, and neither of us new of the others presence, until we were within striking distance, leaving no time to get a picture.

After a relaxing few hours, the early 15thC bridge of Stopham came into view...aned the end to a perfect begining of a Sunday...

 

[Robbi]

absolutely perfect

 

[bilmo-p5]

A magical time.

 

[dwardo]

I bet that was a right soul battery recharge. Nice pics too.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Cracking read and watch, thank you dude.

 

[Dougster]

Beautiful photos and stirring words. Thanks for the push to get out on my boat.

 

[Twodogs]

Good stuff

 

[Tor helge]

Very nice pictures and a beautiful area.

I need to get my canoe on the water.

 

[DavidJT]

Very poetic!
Moments like that are why we do what we do.

 

[Bluemerle]

Wow!! thank you for sharing those beautiful images.

Is that an Apache you are paddling?

 

[drewdunnrespect]

wow mate i like that alot looks like an ausome way to start the day

 

[Gill]

Absolutely lovely Stovie , i have been desperate to get out in my boat for a while and this might just be the inspiration i need ,thanks .

 

[stovie]

Wow!! thank you for sharing those beautiful images.

Is that an Apache you are paddling?

It is indeed. 14ft and trimmed by my own fair hand...

Thanks for the kind words everyone...A paddle stirs the waters, time and place stir the heart...

 

[Shewie]

Magic pics Stovie, looks a nice morning out

 

[al21]

You're making me jealous again fella!

Nice pics show well what a great place the upper Arun is.

Al

 

[Qwerty]

Magnificent post, thanks for that!

 

[Gnasher]

What a wonderful way to spend a morning!

 

[Springheeljack1]

Great pictures, I just went down the Wye last week - left the camera on the bedside table, sigh!
Red Kites, Oystercatchers, Buzzards, hundreds of Sand Martins, an unknown Duck-thing, and a number of other critters all showing off within inches at some points, stupid no camera me.