From the archives we're up to June 2006, and the early part of that month starts as usual with the Royal Cornwall Show at Wadebridge.

One of my best from the show I think is this one taken at a blacksmiths forge...

...and a few more images from the show...








...it was a great show that year, but then it is every year.

And June 2006 produced what is in my opinion my best sunset image...


On June 22nd I went for a Summer Solstice walk on Bodmin Moor and met this young pony...

...and also took this self portrait...

...but of course the main attraction was the rugged landscape...


...and the rugged inhabitants...

May 2006 and the month starts with the ‘Obby ‘Oss celebrations in Padstow on May Day, and my annual trip to the Lake District for two weeks.

I did promise to update more often, but more health problems and computer problems have interfered with that. So, back to the archives and this pic of a ‘Obby ‘Oss from the May Day celebrations in Padstow…

This is an account of the day I posted at the time:
May Day started with a mix of weather, bright sunny but with the threat of rain on the horizon, and a couple of light showers. I went to Padstow, just a few miles from where I live on the North Cornish coast, where the annual May Day 'Obby 'Oss celebrations are held. The 'Obby 'Oss is thought to date back 4,000 years, a pagan festival to welcome Spring, although much of the current traditions are probably those which have grown up over the past few hundred years. At 10am the Blue Ribbon ‘Oss or Peace ‘Oss emerges from its ‘stable’ at the institute, called out by singers and dancers, and led by the ‘teaser’. Led by a band of accordions and drums the 'Oss dances along the streets led by the 'teaser' and followed by thousands of people. The 'Oss will often try to catch women and girls under it's 'skirt' as part of a fertility rite, and anyone caught is said to become pregnant within a year. I followed the Blue Ribbon 'Oss for a while, on it's slow journey along the streets, and then made my way to the Golden Lion Inn where at 11am the Old 'Oss emerged from it's 'stable'. I followed the Old 'Oss for maybe 2 hours up the streets of Padstow and out to Prideaux Place, then back into the town. The celebrations last from midnight to midnight, and by the time I left at 5pm the processions were still going round the town. In the end the weather was great, dry and sunny, and everyone was having a great time.

I was back in Padstow a few days later and walked out to the Camel estuary and took this shot…

…which definitely portrays the beauty of this area.

One of the first photos I took in the Lake District was of a black swan on Windermere…

A boathouse at Miller’s Ground on the shores of Windermere…

…and getting a close shot of a swan in Bowness…

View of Lakeside at the Southern end of Windermere…

The fells to the East of the road from Windermere to the Kirkstone Pass…

Aira Force on Aira Beck as it flows towards Ullswater…

One of my most popular photos of the Kirkstone Pass…

…and another very popular photo of the lower gardens at Brantwood on the shores of Coniston Water…

Sailing on Coniston Water…

The Steam Yacht Gondola leaving Brantwood jetty and heading for Coniston village on Coniston Water…

Goose and goslings at Rydal Water…

Just a few of the 253 photos I uploaded in May 2006. Next time some pics from the Royal Cornwall Show in June 2006.

April 2006 with visits to the Eden Project, Newquay Zoo and Padstow to see The Matthew

It's ages since I've updated here, had several problems with health and other things and found it difficult to cope with everything. Anyway, I'm going to try and update more often as I think it was a good idea to go back through my photo archives as I have been doing here so let's go back to April 2006 when on a visit to the Eden Project I took this photo of an anemone...

...and in the Rainforest Biome took this shot of an Anole, a small green lizard...


On a visit to Newquay zoo I met Mr. Happy...

Life... don't talk to me about life

At the end of the month I went to Padstow to see the preparations for the May Day 'Obby 'Oss celebrations, and just as I was about to leave see The Matthew sailing up the Camel estuary...

The Matthew was there over the May Day bank holiday, and such a beautiful ship deserves another look...


I think May 2006 will be a rather long post as it's always a hectic month for me, with the May Day 'Obby 'Oss celebrations in Padstow and my annual holiday in the Lake District.

A Cornwall magical sunset

On my journey through the archives I'm now up to March 2006. I've not taken any sunsets for ages, but back in 2006 they were one of my favourite subjects, and here is one from March 2006 which was one of my favourites...


On a walk along the Camel Trail near Wadebridge I came across this robin which seemed to like posing for photos...


On one of my visits to Bedruthan Steps on the North Cornwall coast I took this shot over Park Head to the Quies...


Many people know Cornwall for it's mild climate, beautiful sandy beaches, rugged coastline, mystical past, surfing etc. etc., but strange as it seems many are unfamiliar with it's beautiful mountains as seen in this photo...

The Cornish mountains, the Claytip Range, are home to Cornwalls Piskies, and as you can see from the photo even with our mild climate there is still snow on the upper slopes in March. You can read more about them here

More wonders from the magical land of Cornwall...

In the archives we're up to February 2006 and I paid a visit to Newquay Zoo, and one of my favourite pics is this one of a Red-crested Pochard...

...and along the Camel Trail between Wadebridge and Padstow I see many more water birds on a walk...

...including this Little Egret along the waters edge...


Back in Newquay and I visited the Huer's hut...

...and on the beach while it may look summery the water is still very cold in February but it doesn't put off this surfer...

Cornwall has beautiful beaches with excellent swimming, but now and then...

...we get some pretty dramatic stormy weather.

Back in the archives it's January 2006, start of a new year, and Newquay in January was looking pretty good...


...more like a summer scene but not warm enough to go in for a swim.

January 2006 also produced a pretty spectacular sunset...

...which included a sun pillar.

On a visit to Truro I took a few pics inside the cathedral...