Favourite uploads November 2024

[Steve F]

I discovered a deer park I never heard of right next to where I live. Need to go back when it's not raining and bad light!

 

 

 

[NYCat]

Lovely pics.

 

Paulette

[Steve F]

2 hours ago, NYCat said:

Lovely pics.

 

Paulette

Thank you. It's literally just over 5 mins drive away, but on a private estate with limited public access and not advertised at all. Was a good find!

[VbFolly]

Great photos of the fallow deer, Steve. 

I see you took them at Hackwood Park. My grandfather used to be the gardener for the estate, from the late 1930s until about 1970. My grandparents and mum lived in one of the lodges beside the Bolton arch at what is now called Crabtree. It was the main entrance to the estate until the M3 motorway was built through the middle. The lodges were bigger than what is left now - they knocked down the back of the houses, and just kept the older listed part.

[Alexander Hogg]

One of the favorites 

 

[John Richmond]

Four from me, all taken at The Garden House, Devon

 

 

 

 

 

Always glad of the access I get from volunteering in this lovely garden.

[Allan Bell]

Brass weathervane on St Peter & St Pauls church bell housing, Cherry Willingham, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, UK 

 

 

Car park pay station, Lincoln City, Lincolnshire, England, UK

 

 

Sichuan aconite 

 

 

Allan

 

[Steve F]

On 03/11/2024 at 14:31, VbFolly said:

Great photos of the fallow deer, Steve. 

I see you took them at Hackwood Park. My grandfather used to be the gardener for the estate, from the late 1930s until about 1970. My grandparents and mum lived in one of the lodges beside the Bolton arch at what is now called Crabtree. It was the main entrance to the estate until the M3 motorway was built through the middle. The lodges were bigger than what is left now - they knocked down the back of the houses, and just kept the older listed part.

 

Thanks Gillian. Your commentary is very interesting - I've been learning more about Basingstoke recently and trying to photograph it a bit more. Need to get the Bolton arch.

[Allan Bell]

 

Traffic diversion in village High Street, Cherry Willingham, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, UK

 

 

Lincoln Continental coupe mark 5 rear view

 

 

Lincoln Continental coupe mark 5 

 

 

Yucca garden plant in flower

 

 

Allan

 

[Martin L]

Dead Mans Fingers fungus gesticulating its displeasure at being photographed in a very British way  

 

[Alexander Hogg]

Two favourites taken at a local park near where I stay

 

 

 

[spacecadet]

On 03/11/2024 at 09:41, Steve F said:

I discovered a deer park I never heard of right next to where I live. Need to go back when it's not raining and bad light!

 

 

 

Looks like pretty good light to me.

[Rubens Alarcon]

Trying to upload with more frequency, hoping to go over 4,000 shots by January.

 

 

 

My current hometown

 

My previous hometown

 

 

New Orleans

 

[Steve F]

55 minutes ago, spacecadet said:

Looks like pretty good light to me.

 

Superior editing skills? No, one of those rainy flat grey days where there aren't really any shadows.

[spacecadet]

14 minutes ago, Steve F said:

 

Superior editing skills? No, one of those rainy flat grey days where there aren't really any shadows.

The one in the clearing where there is a strong toplight is striking. Reminds me of some of the Irish exteriors in Barry Lyndon.

Edited November 8 by spacecadet

[Betty LaRue]

Accepted iPhone images, victory speech

 

 

Edited November 8 by Betty LaRue

[gvallee]

Hubby and I are just back from a one month desert crossing stint in a 4WD Toyota Hilux fitted with a rooftop tent. What an adventure it was! We encountered high temperatures, a deadly snake in the car, camels, dingos. We even saved a life! A solo biker had crashed his enormous 1250CC BMW motorbike for the 8^th time that day on a very remote track.

 

We were the only car on that track. When we found him, he was delirious, sunstroke, injured, his face a mess. A scene from Mad Max! His phone had cooked in the sun and was not working. Thanks to our Starlink, we called Emergencies. Unfortunately, there was nowhere nearby for the Royal Flying Doctors to land, no helicopter within range, no help was forthcoming. To cut the story short, all ended well eventually but boy o boy! what a day!.  Snake in the morning, biker in the evening.

 

One of the highlights of the trip was driving up ‘Big Red’, the dream of any 4x4 enthusiast. The Big Red in the Simpson Desert is a spectacular sand dune standing well over 30 metres tall. It is part of a series of around 1,140 parallel sand dunes stretching across the desert. A particular thrilling few seconds are when at the top of a steep sand dune, the car is pointing to the moon and we don’t know where the track is on the other side. It’s never straight down, there’s usually a bend. Absolutely loved it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Steve F]

30 minutes ago, gvallee said:

Hubby and I are just back from a one month desert crossing stint in a 4WD Toyota Hilux fitted with a rooftop tent. What an adventure it was! We encountered high temperatures, a deadly snake in the car, camels, dingos. We even saved a life! A solo biker had crashed his enormous 1250CC BMW motorbike for the 8^th time that day on a very remote track.

 

We were the only car on that track. When we found him, he was delirious, sunstroke, injured, his face a mess. A scene from Mad Max! His phone had cooked in the sun and was not working. Thanks to our Starlink, we called Emergencies. Unfortunately, there was nowhere nearby for the Royal Flying Doctors to land, no helicopter within range, no help was forthcoming. To cut the story short, all ended well eventually but boy o boy! what a day!.  Snake in the morning, biker in the evening.

 

One of the highlights of the trip was driving up ‘Big Red’, the dream of any 4x4 enthusiast. The Big Red in the Simpson Desert is a spectacular sand dune standing well over 30 metres tall. It is part of a series of around 1,140 parallel sand dunes stretching across the desert. A particular thrilling few seconds are when at the top of a steep sand dune, the car is pointing to the moon and we don’t know where the track is on the other side. It’s never straight down, there’s usually a bend. Absolutely loved it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever thought about writing a book, Nomadic wanderings through the Outback?

[StokeCreative]

A few more from the Big Apple trip.

 

 

Looking directly down 1100 feet through the glass floor of the Edge viewing platform, Hudson Yards in Manhattan New York City, USA

 

 

 

 

Two Asian women take selfie in front of sunset at The Edge viewing platform, Hudson Yards in Manhattan New York City, USA

 

 

 

 

Brave tourists hanging from the top of The Edge tourist attraction, Hudson Yards in Manhattan New York City, USA

 

 

Street art mural of LL Cool J by artist Zimer, Ridge hotel, Eldridge street, in Manhattan New York City, USA

 

 

 

 

Senior asian lady in fancy dress holding dressed up small dog in Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade 2024, NYC, USA

 

 

Stop Guns mural by Brazilian artist Edouard Kobra in Eldridge Street, Manhattan, New York City, USA

 

[gvallee]

13 minutes ago, Steve F said:

Ever thought about writing a book, Nomadic wanderings through the Outback?

 

😃

[NYCat]

2 hours ago, gvallee said:

Hubby and I are just back from a one month desert crossing stint in a 4WD Toyota Hilux fitted with a rooftop tent. What an adventure it was! We encountered high temperatures, a deadly snake in the car, camels, dingos. We even saved a life! A solo biker had crashed his enormous 1250CC BMW motorbike for the 8^th time that day on a very remote track.

 

We were the only car on that track. When we found him, he was delirious, sunstroke, injured, his face a mess. A scene from Mad Max! His phone had cooked in the sun and was not working. Thanks to our Starlink, we called Emergencies. Unfortunately, there was nowhere nearby for the Royal Flying Doctors to land, no helicopter within range, no help was forthcoming. To cut the story short, all ended well eventually but boy o boy! what a day!.  Snake in the morning, biker in the evening.

 

One of the highlights of the trip was driving up ‘Big Red’, the dream of any 4x4 enthusiast. The Big Red in the Simpson Desert is a spectacular sand dune standing well over 30 metres tall. It is part of a series of around 1,140 parallel sand dunes stretching across the desert. A particular thrilling few seconds are when at the top of a steep sand dune, the car is pointing to the moon and we don’t know where the track is on the other side. It’s never straight down, there’s usually a bend. Absolutely loved it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Too exciting... Gorgeous photos.

 

Paulette

[Ed Rooney]

4 hours ago, Steve F said:

Ever thought about writing a book, Nomadic wanderings through the Outback?

 

Handing out a warning to Gen is pointless; her's is a daily dangerous adventure. 

 

Now you, Steve -- when you're done with your deer park snaps, please PLEASE get a blood test for deer tick illness. 

Edited November 11 by Ed Rooney

[Michael Ventura]

Gen and her hubby are living the life I dreamed about as young, just learning, photographer.   My life didn't turn out all that exciting but I love seeing others fulfilling their dreams and adventures!  Not complaining about my life at all, I am just in awe of people like Gen!

[gvallee]

4 hours ago, Michael Ventura said:

Gen and her hubby are living the life I dreamed about as young, just learning, photographer.   My life didn't turn out all that exciting but I love seeing others fulfilling their dreams and adventures!  Not complaining about my life at all, I am just in awe of people like Gen!

 

To be honest, we weren't sure if we could do it. Both in our 70s, in a rooftop tent? There were days at 42c/108F, no shade, no aircon except in the car when driving. It is the end of the season for the Simpson Desert before the tracks close due to  extreme heat. We knew that but it was the only time when the 4WD car rental was available.

 

Hence for days, we didn't see anyone. It was an incredible feeling actually, not a soul around for several hundred kms. In particular on the last track which is on Aboriginal land and requires a pricey permit. Not many people are keen to go this way for that reason and we knew it was unlikely anyone would come this way until next year. We had spare parts but are not mechanically minded. We (over?)rely on Starlink for comms and carry a personal locator.

 

Camping in these beautiful inter-dunes valleys with flowers and animal tracks was magical. Especially at night with the rooftop tent opening 360 degrees save an insect net, lying down under the stars with dingos howling around in the dark makes you feel very small.

 

This has to be one of the most intense experience in my 13 years in Australia. Retirement is great!

 

Edited November 11 by gvallee

[gvallee]

7 hours ago, Ed Rooney said:

 

Handing out a warning to Gen is pointless; her's is a daily dangerous adventure. 

 

Now you, Steve -- when you're done with your deer park snaps, please PLEASE get a blood test for deer tick illness. 

 

We had a very close encounter with an Eastern Brown snake, an extremely venomous and dangerous snake. Hubby was relaxing in a chair with his feet up on a jerrycan when I heard him calmly say 'look who's coming to see me'. I was birding along the river, so was only mildly interested and not very quick to react, thinking it might be an emu.

 

When I eventually looked, the snake was making a bee line for him. He crawled over the cable of the tablet Robert was holding and headed underneath the car. He proceeded to crawl up the back wheel and disappeared in the chassis. What to do? The rooftop tent was not sealable because of the ladder. We tried to smoke him out with a fire but the wind changed direction. We had to admit defeat and go to bed with a deadly snake somewhere underneath us.

 

Next day we planned to do several river crossings where he would need goggles, and drive over corrugation. That should be enough to make him choose another holiday place surely? We never saw him again.

 

Oh and by the way, hubby jockingly nicknamed the snake 'Sydney' as in Sssssydney the ssssnake. Without his knowledge, the ashes of a man called Sydney had been spread under a nearby tree. Spooky or what!!??

 

Edited November 11 by gvallee