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.
u3a Photography Group One - Feb 2023
by Tim Wright - 17:26 on 08 February 2023
Eleven of us arrived at a gale blown Ness Point in Stromness to take photos. It stayed dry, at least as long as you didn't get too close to the shore where the spray was flying up. We then walked slowly down to the Pier cafe for lunch.
To start with there was a very rough sea over towards Hoy Low lighthouse with spectacular Mare's Tail Spume coming off the back of the breakers. A Trawler was going around in circles just off the Ness Point but why was difficult to discern, maybe engine trials. Along the street in Stromness there is always something to photograph from buildings to peoples gardens and the view across the bay. It is full of quirky items and funny little closes and alleys. The Hamnavoe came steaming in from the Flow in rough seas making one glad one was shore side. It was sad to see how few shops were open and how short their opening hours were. There were few residents to seen in the street apart from a gang of photographers.
At mid day 8 of us had a warming lunch at the Pier Cafe, the others having been blown away on the walk up. Then a walk back to the cars just as the sun came out. A successful morning despite the howling wind which was much less of a problem in the town.
The next meeting is Wednesday 1st March at Aikerness in Evie and the Project is "Blue". 5 photos as usual for the trip today and the project by Monday 27th Feb. Stromness photos to David and Project photos to me.
Keep Clicking, Tim.
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