Chapel

Derelict chapel near Llandeglau

Cold and wet here tonight, a suitably gloomy evening for Hallowe'en.  One thing I notice on journeys are ruins, so for the eve of All Hallows I thought I would upload an image of a very derelict chapel on the moorland near Llandeglau, and a view of surprised sheep behind it.  I like the idea of charting a journey or a landscape through 'elements' which seem to define it.  I pass four interesting derelict or semi-derelict churches on the journey to Aberystwyth, and may well upload more images of them later on.  Rhayader is the only sizeable town I pass through, and this is a Dylan Thomas town of pubs and chapels, but one of my queries about the blog is how much additional travelling I should do.   But these buildings define this Welsh landscape so it might be interesting to document them. 

Moorland landscape behind the chapel

Fifty Miles of Weather

Fields and clouds near New Radnor

This journey to Aberystwyth is essentially a rural journey, from the Radnor valley to the sea.  I was aware today how busy the road is and how empty and bleak the surrounding landscape is.  'Bleak' is the wrong word, it is just empty, but today there was an edge to the wind and the drizzle never let up until I began the descent into Aberystwyth, when the clouds parted and the sun came out!  At home we haven't seen the sun for about four days.   My camera was struggling with the light and shade this afternoon, but here are three images to record the weather - and the contrasts - today.  

Lead mining landscape near Ponterwyd, outside Aberystwyth

And then climbing back into the hills the weather closed in on me again, the traffic all had headlights on, the drizzle turned to hill-mist and steady light rain.  

Near Tarenig, looking back towards the coast

The Start of the Journey

The Radnor Forest above Llanfihangel

At this time in my life I am travelling to Aberystwyth every week from the Walton basin/Radnor valley near the border with England.  This is a journey across Wales; from the house I can see into England, and from the hill above Aberystwyth I can see the Irish Sea, so my weekly journey takes me from border to border.  I thought it would be a good idea to record these journeys in a blog, recording stories and weather and landscapes, history, abandoned places, all my usual interests!  I will try and add photographs - weather permitting - and hopefully the posts will build into a poetic, creative portrait of the year.