Orkney U3A | Blog

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Photography Group One 1st May 2024

Ten of us met at the roadside Car Park in Finstown on a day with little wind and some low cloud but with the sun trying to get through. We set off to the Community Garden where we found lots of lovely colourful flowers out as well as tree buds bursting forth. The Burn was a great source of images.

Jocky Wood was painting a new picnic bench with the appropriately titled Wood Stain! He does a great deal of the work on the garden as well as his own just up the hill opposite.

Six of us then headed for Binsgarth Woods.

The track was muddy in places but the spring flowers were out all the way. There was Pink Purselaine, Wild Garlic, Wood Anemone, and the invasive Salmon Berry. Since the tree leaves were not blanketing the light, one was able to get good photos close up. The Burn had lots of interesting tree roots and hanging tyres and ropes from the kids' dare devil antics. Then it was back to the shop for rolls and along to Tom's house for a cuppa and a nice piece of cake. Thank you very much for that Tom and all the stories too.

The next meeting will be going to Westray on Wednesday 29th May for the day. Arrangement will be made nearer the time.

All in all a lovely morning, taking time to look at the flowers and listen to the Wrens, Willow Warblers, Chaffinches and Robins singing in the woods.

Keep clicking.

Walking Group One 25th April 2024

Five hardy souls collected today at Happy Valley for the first Hill Walk of the year .The temperature was cool with a North Easterly wind blowing and a hint of rain on arrival.

Off we set heading towards Russadale Quarry, spotting a Buzzard on the way.Turning into the footpath we remained sheltered from the wind all the way to the top of the hill.

The sun was out at the Quarry and a Greenshank was feeding at the edge of the Lochan. Then it was up the Peat road to the summit with spectacular views across Stenness and Harray Lochs, plus a view of the Closed Road beyond the Watch Stone. On the other side we looked over the Flow and down towards the Oil Platform and South Ronaldsay

Then it was back down after a stop for a snack and finally a walk around Happy Valley itself. The Daffodils planted by James and others were looking lovely and the Bluebells are days away from opening. Then it was on to a well deserved lunch at the Pier Cafe, having walked 4 miles and gone up 800 feet (and down again )

The next walk will be on Friday 24th May and hopefully more hills and views.

Keep moving.

u3a Photo Group One - April 2024 u3a Walking Group One - March 2024 u3a Walking Group 2 - March 2024 u3a Photography Group One - February 2024 u3a Walking Group One - February 2024 Index

PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP ST MARGARET'S HOPE

by Tim Wright - 22:02 on 27 July 2011

A small but enthusiatic group met this afternoon in St Margarets Hope in glorious sunny weather .We meandered around the Hope , went to the peir and up to Hoxa to view the Gardens there.Tea was taken at The Fossil Centre ,not because of our age but because they make lovely cakes and scones there.

"Summer Festivals" produced all sorts including a beer drinking race,a swiming race in Stromness Harbour ,as well as lots of Tall Ships and one lovely one of one the Tall ships, in sun, with all its sails up coming up the Flow.Most of the Tall Ships I saw here and in Shetland were in cloudy, rainy skies.We then looked at the Deerness trip photos which included the Gloup,a loo with a view at the Brough excavations and a pressure release on a butter churn.All the photos were well presented and sharp and were a pleasure to look at.It is amazing to see the variety of subjects produced for the monthly theme and what was seen at each venue we visit.Very rarely do we get similar photos and seeing what others have spotted helps to develop the photographic eye .Well done all and for those not there we will see your photos next time.

The next group trip is to The Fossil Museum to view the new set out (and to have more of the choclate cake).This will be on Wed 28th September at 2pm.I will check nearer the time to see if they are still open as the message today was that they will close at the end of Sept/ begining of Oct.

The theme of the monthly project is "Wood" ie a bit of wood,woods,or wooden houses or even dogs with a bit of wood in their mouths.

Keep Clicking,Tim

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