Camber Sands

On the way back to Rye we stopped off for a few minutes to visit Camber Sands where a large number of wind- and kite-surfers were doing their thing.  It was a perfect day for it: warm, plenty of sunshine, loads of surf and a howling gale.

The first picture reminds me of a butterfly (or even a fallen angel).

The wind was sufficiently strong that not everyone was able to keep their feet on the ground.

I love the idea of a safety instructor looking on as one poor, hapless surfer gets carried off to France...

Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle is a National Trust property in East Sussex which demonstrates just how castles should be.  As well as the imposing walls and towers, there's the obligatory moat and drawbridge.  On a warm, sunny day in September it looked beautiful against a blue sky and fluffy clouds.

The only slight downside to the castle was the presence of actors, dressed up in mediaeval garb, attempting to engage the visitors in conversation about "the olden days".  We managed to escape.  Almost.

Detail of some of the (quite ancient) graffiti within one of the towers.

The view from the ramparts was even more spectacular than that from ground level.

A great place in an idyllic setting.  It served good ice cream too...

Rye (part 2)

Some more monochrome pictures from my walk around Rye on a misty morning with my faithful hound.

The final three are of The Ship Inn, which is where we were staying.  Many hotels and pubs claim to be dog-friendly, but barely tolerate our four-legged friends.  This was the kind of place where dogs were brought a free sausage in their own bowl if they came down for breakfast!  The list of amenities on the sandwich board gives some idea of the kind of place it was.  We had a great time there - including superb food in the restaurant - and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone (unless you're allergic to dogs or rubber ducks, of course).

Rye (part 1)

Back in September, Harriet and I stayed in Rye, East Sussex, for a couple of nights, as part of our 30th wedding anniversary weekend.  The weather was glorious when we arrived on the Friday (the same day as Leeds Castle and its Falconry Display) so we went for a walk around the Nature Reserve at Rye Harbour (a couple of miles from the main town).

The Saturday morning dawned damp and misty; and, since Amber (our four-legged friend) decided she needed to go for a walk just after 6am, I had no choice but to go out and make the most of it.

Colour is all very well, but when processing these pictures I kept hearing a small voice whispering "monochrome" in my ear.  Well, I had to listen, didn't I?

For starters, I was impressed that dogs clearly have their own Petanque league in Rye...

The old town of Rye is very beautiful, and the conditions added to the atmosphere as Amber and I walked around.

That's enough for today.  I'll post a few more monochromes from Rye tomorrow, assuming I get a moment to do so.