1 EAGLETON NOTES: A Visitor From New Zealand

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Tuesday 26 August 2014

A Visitor From New Zealand

On Wednesday a friend from New Zealand who is on a gap year teaching in Germany came for visit to Lewis.  The weather's been varied but it hasn't stopped James from exploring the Island's tourist spots with me and also going tramping on his own and exploring lesser known spots.  Today with the sun shining out of a clear blue sky and the temperature quite respectable out of the wind we went off to do the tourist trail in Harris.    I should, at this stage explain that nowhere, absolutely nowhere, is out of the wind in Harris and the wind was cold, very cold.  That didn't stop James from going for a swim.

No one can say that we don't have beaches and scenery here to match, or better, the rest of the world. What I do have to admit is that we don't have the hot, sunny weather that makes other beaches full of people and ours rather less so.

James using Google Photo Sphere (of which more in another post)

Very tempted!  I last climbed The Clisham in 2004 with Gaz
At Horgabost with Taransay Island in the background.
...and what is James doing standing in the water?  Using Google Photo Sphere again
Horgabost looking north
Enjoying the (very cool) water 
At Luskentyre
...can't wait to get to the water
That's James...the wee dot in the centre of the photo.  It's a big beach. 
....a huge one in fact.
and looking south from the same spot towards the Horgabost beach.

32 comments:

  1. The Photo Sphere can produce some wonderful images. When I first saw it ages ago I felt like a dinosaur. It takes me hours to produce what the iPad app can do in a minute. They can be annoying to watch but I am an expert at creating annoying images. It's a forte of mine.

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    1. I've been taking them with my iPhone Adrian and they are amazing. I'd not seen them before (except, of course, as Google Street View).

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  2. That really is beautiful scenery and the one thing about the weather perhaps not being quite so perfect is you get the beaches all to yourself!

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  3. "Eagleton Notes" has been included in our Sites To See #389. Be assured that we hope this helps to point many new visitors in your direction.

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2014/08/sites-to-see-389.html

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  4. Nice to see such lovely scenes... And my James there too!

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    1. I'm glad you liked them Kate: that you liked seeing your son goes without saying.

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  5. What a stunning island we live on. x

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  6. That sea looks soooo tempting. I love sea swimming, but hate swimming pools. Lucky James!

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    1. Apparently, Frances, the sea was not as cold as I imagined it would be. I have swum there on a very hot day and, because it is so shallow the sun does heat it quite well but it's all relative! You wouldn't have caught me in there yesterday!

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  7. You do have fantastic beaches. Now for cold water...skip it. we have enough cold water here.

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    1. And a lot colder than ours in this particular case I should think Red.

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  8. The Google Photo Sphere is an amazing tool. All of your images are fantastic. The open sea looks so inviting.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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    1. Thanks Mersad. I can't wait to use PhotoSphere more. As for the sea looking inviting it was an invitation I had no difficulty in declining.

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  9. These are, as you probably knew they were going to be, heart-tugging pictures for me. Wide open spaces! Big skies! Empty land! Large expanses of sand and water! If it weren't so cold up there where you have chosen to live, you'd be sure to have me as a frequent uninvited guest.

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    1. You are invited at any time you wish to come and sample out delightful Island Meike. It does get warm occasionally!

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  10. my favourite place as you know Graham and captured beautifully

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  11. What a wonderful looking beach! and so free of people. We have a couple of islands here, off the coast of Georgia, that, off season are quite empty too, where you can feel one with nature (St Simons Island, Cumberland Island.)

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    1. Yet another geography lesson Vagabonde. Thank you. Here we are reasonably free of people all year round.

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  12. The views are breathtakingingly beautiful... I think I'd prefer to stay dry, though :)

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  13. Looks lovely - but I'm not as hardy as James, and I think I'd prefer to enjoy the water from the beach! xoxox DeeDee

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    1. DeeDee James is both young and hardy New Zealand stock!

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  14. Gosh James was really having himself a good time on the island....the water looks cold even from here, but I'm glad he enjoyed his swim.
    I think I'd like to tackle the climb on The Clisham....looks very tempting.
    As always wonderful scenic photos of your island home.

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    1. Virginia the water was cold. I last tackled the Clisham in 2004. I shall post some photos soon.

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  15. What a wonderful beach! And you had it all to yourselves.

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    1. There were a couple of other people there Liz but as it's a huge beach they were well out of sight.

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  16. Your beaches and big skies are beautiful. And you know how I love beaches.

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    1. Absolutely Pauline: one of the many joys we share.

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