Thursday 21 May 2020

Up In The Morning Early

Whatever possessed me to get up at half past four in the morning? And why oh why did I think it would be a good idea to draw back the curtains and look at the sky?



Having got so far it seemed only logical, after having had a cup of tea and a slice of toast, to get the bike out of the shed and pedal determinedly off into the dawn.



Just after five o'clock I'd parked the bike in the hedge and was aiming my camera across Shepreth L-Moor as the sun began its ascent into the sky. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all.



An early rising and persistently cuckooing cuckoo was making his presence known as I approached the railway crossing in Shepreth. A road sign told me that the road to Barrington was closed, but I went that way anyway hoping that a bike could get through.



Yep, got that one right, they were repairing the bridge over the river and there was a temporary footbridge alongside - the workmen have to get from side to side, don't they? Now we're in Barrington.



Barrington not only has a huge village green, over half a mile (0.8 Km) from one end to t'other, but also has two duck ponds and many picturesque cottages. On one duck pond this morning was a Mandarin drake. 



I always say I'll resist taking any more photos of these quaint reminders of Old England, but never do.



Of couse it's a reminder of an England that never was; the present residents would probably have no wish to return to the primitive conditions of when these lovely old houses were built.



In fact it seems they're all still in bed and unaware that there's a strange old chap with a camera prowling about outside!



The low raking sunlight brought out some of the texture of woodwork and plaster work.



At length a man with a small dog appeared, though neither of them seemed the least bit put out to find someone out at the crack of dawn photographing their village.



Then I thought it was time to climb into the saddle once more and potter slowly back home. I'm ready for another cuppa.


Take care.


21 comments:

  1. Utter bliss John. What a lovely part of the world you live in.

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  2. Magical photoes !Specially nr 2 and 3! Love the English houses as well!

    Many times i have thought about getting up early to have some Nice pix but my oh my I fall asleep again!

    Take care and thanx for beautiful photoes:))

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  3. Stunning...

    The second one looks like Lord of the Rings.

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  4. What a wonderful time of day in that gorgeous area. I have to admit to not being a boring person so would never have thought about getting the bike out at such an hour. Your shots are beautiful!

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  5. What wonderful photos!! Luckily for us you got up at so early and looked outside!

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  6. It looks like a most excellent way to greet the day to me. Many, many thanks.
    Our dawns are usually much more subdued that this beauty. Galah colours of soft pinks and blueish grey.

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  7. The thatched roofs are quite lovely especially in that light!

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  8. I hope you never stop taking photos of the thatched homes, and the old bits. I love them all. I just love all these...love the one that shows the texture. Love that last one looking down the road..

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  9. These are pieces of art, seriously.

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  10. Thank you for waking so early and getting out there to photograph that beautiful sunrise and the quaint Old England. So lovely there in the early morning.

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  11. Thank you for all your wonderful photos. Love them all.

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  12. Thanks for the ride. Those old house are just picture book, beautiful. I guess they have been modernised inside.

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  13. All I can say is, "Thank goodness for the strange old chap with the camera!" The photographs are exquisite and fuel my desire for one more trip to Britain!

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  14. I am also glad you had the urge to get out early because your reward and now ours are these wonderful images and #2 is my favorite here. We have been talking about an early morning downtown walk before sunrise, but never seem to get out. Warmer weather may inspire us. The thatched roofs on those older homes have always intrigued me and I wonder what the interiors look like as well.

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    1. I wrote a post all about thatch a few years back, you might find it interesting:
      https://bystargooseandhanglands.blogspot.com/2018/08/beneath-roof-of-straw.html
      Inside these will have had a lot of money spent on them to make them very comfortable, though the ceilings are usually quite low. A friend of mine lived in one and I regularly banged my head on the beams.

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  15. Hi John - so English ... exactly as you say - it really is a delightful area you live in. Great photo storytelling too - love them .... thank you - Hilary

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  16. What wonderful photos. Thank you so much for taking us along on this walk. I just love seeing all the old houses and the beautiful gardens and lawns. Missing that beautiful sunrise would have been sinful. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.

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  17. Hope you had more than a cuppa tea when you got home John, you deserve bacon and eggs after taking these gorgeous shots. So worth getting up early for the stunning light here. The early misty shots are too beautiful 💙💛

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  18. First thought here. . . . . . ."oh to be in England now that spring is here." If life had been different this spring I would have made it! The thatched cottages are so beautiful, the red hot pokers with the painted window and door amazing. Glad you were able to get such lovely misty early morning photos for us, thanks John.

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  19. Some really lovely landscapes John.

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  20. Lovely photographs of a spring morning... I wish I was a morning person - I always long to get out early like this but no matter how good my intentions or how many alarms I set, I just can't do it!

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