A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot - G: George, Golf, Geese

 It these days of throw-away culture I still wonder what litter lout abandoned - 

We frequently see geese flying over our village, but they never land.

Just up the road from my daughter's home in Michigan it's a different story.

Strutting by the river on Belle Isle

When it comes to golf I'm spoilt for choice so I will stay at the Homestead on Lake Michigan - the freshwater resort.

My daughter perfecting her driving style

I nearly forgot to add a shot that could have been in 'F' but falls here as well.

Gary tree frog

A-Z Challenge 2018 - British Rivers: 'T' Tees

There are so many rivers beginning with 'T' - Tay, Tweed, Tyne, Tees, Trent,Thames, Test, Taw, Tamar - it's impossible to cover them all.

So I'll stick to the one I know best.

River Tees 'looping' round the town of Yarm

Here you can hardly miss the railway viaduct that appeared in my 'Theme Reveal' post.

Railway viaduct crossing the River Tees

That's it, together with the road bridge, at the left of the first photo.

Upstream of the viaduct the river looks very peaceful. A seal has been fishing there this week.

You can see the road bridge with the viaduct behind from this shot taken from down stream.

The name of Yarm is derived from the Anglo Saxon 'yarum' meaning 'fish pools'

The road bridge was built in 1400 by Walter Skirlaw, Bishop of Durham; now it is twice the width of that 1400 bridge, but original stonework still makes up part of the pillars you can see.

The first bridge over the Tees at Stockton, further downstream, was built in 1771. Until that time the port of Yarm had been the nearest place to the North Sea where River Tees could be crossed. As ships got bigger port facilities moved down river, first to Stockton, then and now to Middlesbrough.

When we first moved to Yarm in 1970 the Tees was a tidal river up to and beyond the town. It was not uncommon for the town to be flooded; high water heights are recorded on some buildings.

In the 1990s a tidal barrier was installed between Stockton and Middlesbrough. The Tees at Yarm is now no longer tidal with the water level controlled by the Tees Barrage.

Geese on the River Tees at Yarm

Raised floodgate on the Barrage

High Tide

Low Tide

Meanwhile back at Yarm the geese line up - 

For their turn in a gala on the River

We cannot leave the Tees without taking a look at some bridges further down river,

The Infinity Bridge at Stockton
(with the Tees Barrage in the background)

The Infinity Bridge was erected to celebrate the end of the 20th century.

You can walk alongside the River from the Infinity Bridge down past the Tees Barrage, alongside the Portrack Nature Reserve. Then if the mood takes you can cross over to the other side via - 

Newport Bridge

Designed as a lift bridge to allow ships to past, the road section is now fixed in place and only small craft pass to go up to the Barrage and through its lock to Stockton and beyond.

Along that stretch of the Tees you may, if the mood takes you, indulge some bird watching.

A curlew in the mud

Closer to the sea you come to Middlesbrough and the bridge that has become an icon for the town.

Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge in action

Strong Lines - Thematic Photography

One of the things I like about thematic photography is the different ways in which you can interpret a photo - after you have taken it. Most of Carmi's themes have forced me to do this and this week is no exception; strong lines couldn't have been in my mind at all when I took these.

All I wanted here was to capture the flower.

Clematis

But is it the strong lines or the obelisk that is the star? And what about those between the boards of the fence.

You may have to work a bit harder to see the lines on the next shot of follow my leader.

Geese on the River Tees at Yarm

The original idea on the next shot was to photograph the gull.

Bedruthan Steps Hotel, Cornwall

Window frame, railings and line of surf on Mawgan Porth beach all make different types of line.

In Mallorca it was the jacuzzi I meant to snap.

Jacuzzi room - Mallorca hotel

But if you strain your eyes you can see a line of yachts on the horizon.

Back in Cornwall the lines make up a geometric shape.

Eden Project

The only shot where I can say that it was the upright columns were the intended lines is this from Fountains Abbey.

'Temple' in grounds of Fountain's Abbey

For the life of me I cannot remember the correct name for this.

If my lines are not strong enough for you and even if they are you should make a beeline for more at Carmi's thematic photographic 194

Sepia Saturday: Christmas Is Coming

Christmas is coming the geese are getting fat. But is there 'Anyone for Mock Goose?.

If you follow the link you can check out what life was like at  Christmas in 1940. As I was only 3 at the time I can't claim I remember it. Britain still had an Empire then so perhaps this gives a link to Sepia Saturday's Christmas.


http://rememberwhen.gazettelive.co.uk/2010/12/anyone-for-mock-goose.html?

More festive sepia at: Sepia Saturday 55: Seasonal Open House.

Merry Christmas everyone.