Somewhere over the rainbow

As we sailed to Stromness from Scrabster on the MV Hamnavoe , we were lucky enough to witness a double rainbow arc-ing over the Old Man of Hoy. The light glinted off the layers of red sandstone that make up the spectacular cliff scenery creating a truly beautiful sight. Apparently, it was such a rare occurence, several crew members came out to photograph it too.

 As we were about to scurry back inside out of the rain shower, the setting sun made its appearance in the west, turning the sky a pale gold. Nature was really at her very best 

Beauty is all around

A pair of flying swans, their long necks and beating wings iridescent against charcoal clouds, swollen with rain; A rainbow, soaring into the sky across the patchwork of fields and stone walls below; The pink and orange cushion of dawn light, chasing away the darkness of night. 

I‘m very fortunate to have witnessed these simple yet memorable sights over the last couple of days, being lucky enough to live in a part of the world that has so much natural splendour. But, anyone can find something to delight in as beauty is all around us if we look closely enough….

Fire Creek Pass

As we walked along the PCT, there were three distinct topographical landscapes; rocky peaks, ridges and cirques of volcanic and glacial activity, dense, old growth forest with majestic Douglas Fir and Hemlock giants and fragrant, high mountain meadows wreathed in flowers.  All were beautiful but of them, the most awe inspiring were the huge, ice and rock strewn basins of twisted and scoured boulders, formed and shaped over millions of years by intense forces of heat and ice. Our first view of the valley below Fire Creek Pass, cloaked in ethereal, swirling mist was unforgettable; ageless, brutal but overwhelmingly beautiful.