Friday 12 November 2010

Heavy rain.







This week we have had over three inches of rain and our rivers are full and overflowing. The river in our dale is the River Ure (the dale used to be called Yoredale, the old spelling of Ure)and this afternoon the farmer and I crossed it as we went to collect various feed from our feed merchant. Tess insisted on sitting on my knee and looking out of the window for the whole of the journey.

I took a couple of photographs which really don't show you just how full and terrifying it is. As I went up onto the bridge to take the photographs the noise was like an express train. The bridge itself, Ulshaw Bridge, is also interesting as it was originally a packhorse bridge and has a sundial dated 1674 on it - I took a photograph of that too.

We stopped and took Tess for a short walk in a pretty little wood, where they have recently been sawing down some of the trees. She loved scuffing through the leaves and had great fun. I managed to get a photograph of the farmer and Tess on our way back. Also took one of the field opposite, which has marvellous terracing, which most likely goes back to medieval times.

The weather is still very unsettled but the forecast is slightly better for tomorrow - a shooting day for the farmer and for me a trip to a gallery to see an Embroidery exhibition. More about that tomorrow.

15 comments:

Doohie said...

I would have been scared to stand on the bridge with all that water thundering underneath it.

PurestGreen said...

I have read about the high rain fall and flooding that has been affecting many parts of the country. You can really see it in the photos how close the water is to the banks. I once saw a wooden bridge swept away by a flooded creek. I was just a child and the memory is as clear today as if it just happened. It was a remarkable (and scary) sight.

Just be careful when you're out walking!

Also, I love the photo of the terracing. :)

Rusty said...

You caught the whirlpools in the water - it's a good picture of the potential power of the near flood! Every time I see some of the old, indeed ancient stonework I think of the hands that worked so hard to create it. ATB!

jeanette from everton terrace said...

The power of water is amazing (and terrifying). It's so easy for me to say I love the rain because I live in the desert and we don't get very much, we pray for it. Hope you get some sunshine tomorrow.

Heather said...

Your photos capture the fullness of the river Pat - water has such an awesome power. I do hope your weather improves and you escape flooding. We have had strong gales but thankfully no damage. I love that terraced field and it fascinates me to think that the marks of medieval farming still show on the ground today.

Caroline Gill said...

We had dreadful gales last night, Weaver, but we live at the top of a hill so rarely get flooding - apart from in the back garden, which is probably due to builders' rubble.

Lovely to see Tess running along, enjoying herself.

angryparsnip said...

Hope your weather calms down soon.
Wonderful photos. Love the Medieval terracing and the stonework on the bridge. Lovely.

In Tucson we get the flash floods of our summer monsoons where one second your dry next second your standing in a down pour, then two seconds later your dry again.
Our dry washes fill up and you can here the roaring of the water as it rushes towards you.

Here's wishing for some sunny days.
cheers, parsnip

Bovey Belle said...

I think the first post on my original blog (see my sidebar for Codlins and Cream, at the bottom) was about flooding. We live close to the River Cothi and at times it can be terrifying in its power and speed.

Loren said...

Your climate seems amazingly similar to the Pacific Northwest Climate.

The best part of rain, besides making everything green, is that it makes the sunshine seem so special.

MorningAJ said...

Went over the Derwent yesterday (the one in Derbyshire)and it's just about ready to burst its banks. Fotunately they haven't started building on the flood plain yet so it'll just spill out. Makes the area look really pretty but they needed to raise the road three feet last year to avoid floods. Rain can be scary!

Unknown said...

We certainly had plenty of rain last night but today managed to stay reasonably dry if cold! It is always disconcerting when the rivers are in such spate.

Mrs Catch said...

Hi from Australia here. The Dales are one of my favourite places in the world. And that name is familiar. I think I walked along this river for a morning, many years ago with my husband. We had lunch in a divinely warm pub, the name of which escapes me, then re-traced our steps in the afternoon. All that rain makes for magnificently green scenery. But my Lord! It was COLD!

ArtPropelled said...

It seems that so many bloggers from all over the world have been experiencing rain.... Britain, the States, Australia and South Africa. I love to walk through the woods after rain.

George said...

Well, I certainly hope your weather improves, Pat. During the meantime, enjoy the indoor pleasures. I am amazed that you can get the farmer to an Embroidery exhibition. Now, that's an act of conjugal loyalty if I have ever seen one.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for replying. Yes that amount of water is terrifying and makes the most extraordinary noise.