Cliff Beach...

When I woke up at 7.30am there was blue sky and sunshine.  A VERY short time later and it was sweeping grey clouds and horizontal rain and that has been the pattern for the day.  

Actually I think that will be the weather pattern for the whole week with not much blue sky.  Whilst part of me wishes the weather was a bit better, the wow factor from the weather systems is off the chart and from a photography perspective, I couldn't be happier.  

Well I suppose with a new camera I would be happier.  I brought the Canon 60D as the 6D is just too heavy for me now.  Unfortunately there are spots on the kit lens (or maybe the sensor needs cleaned) but I am gritting my teeth and getting on with it and if anything it has spurred me on to get both cameras cleaned and serviced and sold! 

We had planned to have lunch at the Uig Community Centre cafe but it's closed on a Monday.  Glad I checked before we headed there.  Ended up having a bowl of soup and some lovely seeded sourdough bread at the cottage.

We waited till the rain eased off and dashed to the car...well I hobbled as I've done something to my back.  Think I must have twisted it in the shower this morning.  Shooting pain and the feeling it might go into a spasm has made for even slower progress than usual.

First stop was the local shop five minutes away to buy two bottles of Lewis gin (made not far from where we are) A bottle for us and a bottle for Ele's birthday.  

We then drove to Aird Uig, described as  "a village of two distinctive characters. The south end is composed of a traditional crofting community whilst the north end is a composite of army barracks and buildings many of which have been converted into homes" * 

RAF Aird Uig was a radar station and its history is fascinating.  The community is described as a strange hybrid of alternative community and ugly dereliction and I can't disagree.  Fascinating yet unsettling at the same time. 

From there we drove round one of my favourite circular routes on Lewis starting at the Church of Scotland Uig, past Cliff beach (main blip) Valtos cemetery, Kneep, Reef beach (where we stumbled on an art honesty box and I couldn't resist buying a print :-) and all the way back to the Church of Scotland.  Stopped to photograph the rusting boat wreck just before the end of the circular route, in extras.  Back to the cottage for coffee and cake (chocolate orange sponge bought from the wee local shop and absolutely delicious!)  

As we drove round the edge of the bay back towards the cottage, suddenly looming large before me, sitting on a rock, was a magnificent golden eagle (I thought it was a sea eagle but thanks to Kaybee and further investigation I think he’s right. Still over the moon to see it) I've been desperate to photograph an eagle every time we've been here but not been successful.  Well today I wasn't successful again!  I'd changed my camera settings to photograph a waterfall and forgotten to change them back!  Rookie error and I am so annoyed with myself!  

I shouted to D to STOP and got the car window down to find myself eyeballing this amazing creature, camera to eye and snap, snap, snap as it stretched it's wings (they can have a wingspan of up to 7’ and this one couldn't have been far off that) and took off.  I knew as soon as I hear the click of the shutter that it was far too slow to capture this stunning bird in any detail!  Arrggghhhhhh!  

I have included two of the shots in extras to torture myself forevermore of what might have been.  It's my equivalent of the fisherman's one-that-got-away!

I was reading an article online this morning about sea eagles snatching sheep and Shetland ponies from and golden eagles snaring and eating lambs. Golden eagles tend to get their claws into lambs and guide them across land to a precipice and lead them off it. They will then feast on the dead/soon to be dead carcas.

Thankfully it was dry when we arrived back to the cottage but within minutes of getting inside the clouds descended again and the rain came thundering down.  There's something rather romantic about being in a cosy little cottage looking out at the mist and rain.  

And of course a short time later the sun gave a last hurrah before dipping below the horizon.  Also in extras.

1st September already.  This holiday (and year) is passing by far too quickly! 


*Wiki