Please take a photograph of your group "in action." Don't forget to ask for permission from everyone for the photo to be published on the web. Then email it to the address below and we will upload it to the gallery.
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.
PHOTOGROUP 1 JULY 23rd
by Tim Wright - 22:36 on 23 July 2014
Ten of us met at the Round Church in Orphir .Although dry ,there was a lot of mist .However, an early thought to go and photograph the Standing Stones in the fog was scuppered by Hilary, saying the fog was much less in Dounby. Undaunted ,we found lots to photograph from, the remains of the Church ,the Dragon's Head of the Viking boat ,the graveyard and it's Stones ,the Burn and the Beach with it's mini cliffs ,flowers and patterned slabs .In fact our hour and a half slipped past so rapidly that we were into Orkney time before arriving at the Standing Stones hotel .Morning coffee was taken and the photos from Waulkmill perused .What a lovely sunny day it had been on the beach that day. Model of the day was evenly distributed between Richard and his dog from both a distance and close up. The other entries included some interesting worm casts, especially with added foot prints ,a rusty Buoy ,that looked like a monster with a tail ,lovely cliff side algae formations and some photos showing the effect of a polarizing filter to saturate up the colours of sky and sea. A great effort from a beautiful day, so Congratulations to everyone .
"Flowers" was a popular theme and what a variety we had . Close up and ultra close up, fields of blooms in the day in both day and sunset, flowers with dew on and flowers fit for Ascot were among a terrific variety of colourful subjects . Great to see everyone getting so enthused over the monthly project .
The next meeting is a proposed day trip to Rousay on Wednesday 20th August.I would suggest that we go on the 10.40 boat at Tingwall. and come back on the 5.30 boat from Rousay.We plan to take two cars each with a max of five people in each. Ideally 4 would be better ,but if we have more people, we can try for 3 cars with 4 in each. Please could you let me and Hilary know as soon as possible if you are going to come so we can book the cars.
We plan to go to the Gardens at Trumland and drive around to find photo opportunities according to weather /preferences .We are not intending doing any major walks up hill. We will take a packed lunch to maximise our time out ,as stopping to eat in cafes/pubs bites into photo time .We will play by ear where and when we will view our Bu Round Church trip photos .
The theme this month is " Events" i.e. The Shows ,Regattas and for one lucky person, the Commonwealth Games.
Keep clicking,
Tim
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