Weekly Photo Challenge: Boundaries
Boundaries and borders are made for crossing! Bridges, fords and tunnels are the most common ways of traversing a river. The Stepping Stones on the River Mole at the base of Box Hill are part of a National Trust walking route around the hill, designated an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty in The Surrey Hills. I grew up in the area and we walked around Box Hill many times as children, always delighting in crossing the stones! Rivers have always been natural boundaries within the landscape but the waters around the stones are actually very shallow. Children go barefoot through the waters, often with a net for catching small fish, newts and larvae in the shallows of the river. It’s always made me laugh that during the Second World War authorities actually removed the stones in case of an invasion! They were replaced in 1946 and are still enjoyed by walkers of all ages today.
I had to get past a few of my own limitations to get these photos for you. My mobility is very poor and I usually go out in my electric wheelchair to explore the landscape, nature and local wildlife. Obviously the Stepping Stones aren’t exactly wheelchair accessible! Fortunately they are very close to a carpark just off the main road to Dorking. I’m also fortunate to have a Simon who loves coming out with me and enabling me to do photography projects that would be impossible on my own! He helped me down into the water and then passed my camera and tripod down to me so I could find some good views of the stones. I was in my wellies and didn’t have a problem with my early shots. I really wanted to get views from a number of aspects to show the beauty of the river and the surrounding woodland. There are several things that I learned! 1: If you crouch to adjust your tripod you will get a wet backside. 2: Dogs do not understand the concept of waiting for the stupid photographer to complete a long exposure. 3: Just because you remember the river being shallow enough to cross near the stones doesn’t mean that it’s the same depth either side. 4: Wellies that are full of water are very hard to get off!
Well all of your work paid off. Beautiful shots!
Thank you 🙂 Definitely worth getting a bit damp!
Thank you for sharing these beautiful captures with us, Sarah! I can imagine how challenging it was to take these image for you.
Thanks Amy 🙂 It’s my pleasure! A big challenge but it makes it all the more satisfying. I may well go back in a few weeks as the autumnal colours hadn’t come on as much as I thought they might!
Fine images Sarah – can’t help but imagine that Captain Mainwaring had something to do with removel of the stepping stones 🙂
Thanks Robin 🙂 Oh, I can just picture Dad’s Army in a desperate fight to remove them! Don’t panic, don’t panic! The thought that it could have prevented the movement of enemy troops is hilarious 😉 I think Box Hill itself would have been a more evident boundary!
Beautiful reflections Sarah, and I love the low angle of view in that first shot.
Thanks Mark 🙂 Yes, the low angle was when I got wet backside!! Or in Bake Off terms “a soggy bottom” 😉 Cue much laughter from everyone on the river bank. I’m well practiced at laughing at myself thankfully!
Well it was worth the soggy bottom……..go Nadia btw 😊
Gotta love Bake Off!! Yeah she was great 🙂
I admire your temerity in getting these images Sarah. I wanted to go down to these stepping stones in August, but the rain and my sprained ankle stopped me. So lovely to see them photographed so beautifully, I could not have done anywhere nearly as well. And a lovely contribution to the boundary challenge. Thank goodness for Simon, where can I get one from? 😀
Jude xx
You certainly wouldn’t have been able to cross them Jude!! I don’t even want to try, hence wellies and wading 😉 It’s not far from the carpark but the path is a bit rough. Most of the photos that I’ve seen of the stones over the years have been taken from the near bank. I just had to get something different 😉 A lot of the work is in the processing! I thought the autumnal colours would be a bit further on than they actually were so I will hopefully go back at the end of the month or early November. Simon and I are a good team 🙂 I took him to watch Steve Hackett again tonight. He’s one of Simon’s heroes from the early years of Genesis and has a fantastic band that he works with now. Yes, I was working again, although I do happen to absolutely love Steve Hacketts music!
Wonderful captures, the water has a wonderful quality….and well worth a wet pair of wellies;-)
Thanks Seonaid 🙂 The water is shallow and clear, I think that’s what gives it such lovely reflective qualities! Wet wellies, socks, trousers and cardigan lol 😉 I need some waders for my next visit!!
Yup, I often end up with a soggy bottom thanks to my love of low angles😳
Lol 😉 I might have to get one of those fishing outfits or a wetsuit!
Beautiful reflections Sarah 🙂
Thanks Kaz 🙂 It’s such a beautiful place!
Such tranquil scenes! Thank you for going to such lengths to share this beautiful place with us!
Thank you so much 🙂 It’s a pleasure to share them!
Beautiful photos, Sarah. And you my dear, are an inspiration. You put my wet backsides and belly to shame. Do you know if there are any photography groups for people, like us, that deal with physical disabilities?
Thanks Charly 🙂 I do wonder how much I’d be pushing myself if I wasn’t also being inspired by fellow photographers here on WP! I haven’t found a single disabled photography group anywhere but I know for a fact that many of the really talented photographic artists that I follow on here have a range of chronic illnesses and disabilities. I really do think that keeping inspired and challenging ourselves is a real aid in staying as well as possible. Hope you’re feeling a bit better this week?
Gorgeous girl! Thanks so much for taking these. They are splendid! What a beautiful place. Imagine them being removed? Wellies full of water are awful .. 😃
Thank you lovely lady 😀 I sometimes forget just how beautiful some of my local area is! I wish I knew what the stones were originally like. It was very soggy indeed, Simon had to yank them off for me back at the car and we got more laughter from others returning to their own vehicles 😉
Thank you for making the effort! These are beautiful.
My pleasure Renae and thank you! It’s such a beautiful place and I’m so glad that everyone has enjoyed seeing it through my photos 🙂
So serene! You’ve brought calm into my day.
Thanks Susan 😀 Such a lovely comment! Very glad to be a able to share the calm and tranquillity 🙂 Thanks also for the link!
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valuable lessons in exchange for some beautiful pics – cool, serene, and inviting.
It is a serene spot and very inviting on a hot summer’s day! The walking routes around there are so lovely and it’s a real shame that many are inaccessible to my wheelchair. I have some wonderful childhood memories of walks in the hills 🙂 Next time I shall either go barefoot with a towel waiting or get some waders! Thank you 🙂
so sorry that you have to deal with a wheelchair scenario…
I can walk short distances but much more than that is just too painful. It’s just the way life plays out for some of us but I really miss the days when I was active!
I can well imagine…having had plantar fasciitis for two years has really crimped my activity level as well. Luckily, it is on the mend.
I get similar symptoms from my fibromyalgia! It’s horrible. Really glad that yours is improving!! It’s hard to try to explain invisible pain to others. I’ve had some relief of symptoms from acupuncture but mostly my treatment is neuropathic pain relief from pregabalin. I just love being outdoors though! I would really love an all terrain wheelchair but they’re incredibly expensive so I make do with my electric NHS wheelchair 🙂