Guernsey 2: Horse Riding

The second day of my trip to Guernsey in March couldn't have been more different to the first.  Not only had the wind dropped - considerably - but the sun was shining.  We went for a trip around the island, ending up on Cobo Beach where a lady was riding a horse up and down the sands.  It was an absolute treat to watch her; and, even better, to be able to send her some pictures a few days later.

 

Guernsey 1: Kite Surfing

In mid-March I was invited back to Guernsey in order to judge Spectrum Camera Club's annual competition.  This was part of their end-of-season dinner and prize-giving, so - quite literally - I had to sing for my supper.  I've made lots of photographic friends in Guernsey over the years, and it was lovely to catch up with them again.  Particular thanks must go to Carl, Gill, Chris and Sue for making me feel so welcome.

The weather was very cold and windy on the Saturday of the competition, so we headed to Vazon Bay to see if there were any spectacular waves owing to the rough sea.  There weren't; but, instead, we found a couple of kit-surfers (Belgian or Dutch, given their accent) who were having a wonderful time.  The strong westerly wind meant that it was possible to surf in both directions along the beach, although the receding tide meant that - occasionally - it was necessary to skirt some very sharp looking rocks in the shallows.

St Peter Port and Home

The series of workshops now being over, I had a few hours to wander around St Peter Port before catching the ferry after lunch.  I've always liked the town, and it's sufficiently small that walking is the most sensible way of getting around.  What follows is a miscellany of shots from the morning.

It was then time to board the ferry and head back to Poole.  I'm always sad to leave Guernsey, and this had been a particularly enjoyable visit.  Huge thanks are due to Carl and Gill for running the "best hotel on the island", and to all the Guernsey photographers who made me feel so welcome.  I'll be back, whether you like it or not!

The last couple of pictures were taken from the ferry just before we docked in Poole.

It was then a three hour drive to Cambridge, followed by the dawning realisation that I needed to go to work the following morning.  Roll on retirement...

Sunset at Vazon Bay

After the final day of workshops on Guernsey, Carl, Gill and I went for a walk along Vazon Beach as the sun was setting.  It was a warm, balmy evening, and the place was virtually deserted.  All it needed was a dumb blonde labrador to complete the idyll...

There was a slightly serious note to beginning of the walk as all the flags on the island were flying at half mast.  This was due to the premature demise of Guernsey's Lieutenant Governor, Peter Walker, who had died suddenly the previous day.

The evening light was beautiful, and the sea wall was distinctly warm to the touch.

The shadows of two photographers, both attempting to make pictures out of the railings above.

Carl, photographing everything which moved (or didn't, in the case of the sand castle and crab sculpture which we found on the beach).

The final picture shows the strange and ancient Guernsey sport of "rock lifting".  No, I don't understand it either...

The Little Chapel

Guernsey's Little Chapel is a real gem, tucked away in the grounds of Blanchelande Girls College and run by a charitable trust.  It dates from 1914, and was built by Brother Déodat as a replica of the church at Lourdes - but in miniature, and decorated with bits of broken pottery and sea shells!  It is possible to stand up inside the chapel - certainly for someone who is vertically challenged like me - but it starts to get very cosy when there are more than two people inside.  On this occasion there were several French visitors who were clearly making a pilgrimage to the chapel.

Quite a challenge photographically, as there certainly wasn't room in the chapel for a photographer and a tripod!

Sark (part three)

We had an excellent lunch at the Seigneurie, which is the traditional home of Sark's Seigneur.  The island has kept much of its feudal heritage, despite being occupied by the Germans during WWII and by the Barclay Brothers since 1993!  The Seigneurie Gardens looked very beautiful, despite the inclement weather.

A couple of pictures of the Seigneurie itself.

The weather started to improve while on the ferry back to St Peter Port, but I was somewhat pre-occupied having got my sticky hands on two of Fuji's newest lens offerings courtesy of Paul (who seemed to have collected the entire set).  These were the 90 f/2, which was used to capture the two reprobates below (Carol and Julie) and the 16 f/1.4, which was used to capture a very studious looking Carl.  Both lenses are stupidly sharp wide open, and I immediately started to lust after them.  Bad news...

Another with the 16 f/1.4.

I eventually had to give the borrowed lenses back, and returned to using my trusty 35 f/1.4.  The old sea dog below was shot with the lens wide open, and hopefully this gives some sense of quite how good these Fujinon XF lenses really are.

There were two cruise ships moored in the channel between Guernsey and Herm, and these were being serviced by a series of "shuttles" going backwards and forwards to St Peter Port harbour.

By the time we got back to Guernsey the rain had gone and the sun had come out.  A perfect end to a Grand Day Out.