Blue Monday and Weekly Photo Challenge: Happy Place – Messing About On Boats
The WPC theme Happy Place is such a broad one for me that I thought I would keep everyone’s week brightened with a Happy-Place-A-Day! As Sally, who hosts Blue Monday, will agree, blue is definitely a happy colour, and I have plenty of it for you all to start the week off with.
“Nice? It’s the only thing,” said the Water Rat solemnly as he leant forward for his stroke. “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing—absolute nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,” he went on dreamily: “messing—about—in—boats”
I’ve always loved the water, whether it be pond, lake, stream, river or the open sea! A few weeks ago Simon and I joined our friends for the day as they moved their boat, from its mooring at Newhaven, to the marina at Brighton. It was such a perfect day for it! Just enough wind, calm waters, blue skies and fluffy clouds, warm autumn sunshine and the tranquility that comes with switching off the motor and raising the sails. What truly made this a Happy Place for me was being able to spend quality time with Simon, to see him happy and rested!
There was so much photographic inspiration on our journey! I’m holding a few back but thought I’d share some views of the coastline and out to sea. I very nearly posted some of these for last week’s WPC Boundary theme. They’re accompanied by a simple haiku.
Horizon
Between sky and sea
The boundary line is set
At infinity
I thought that I’d also add a small gallery of photographs, taken on our day out, that I’ve shared over the last couple of weeks, to put them into context. I’ve loved all the comments that they’ve received! It’s clear from what you’ve all said that these scenes have brought you all a sense of peace and joy that we certainly enjoyed while out on the boat. Thank you Sarah and Bruce, it was an absolute treat 🙂
Follow the link below to find out more about Blue Monday!
Taking One Day At A Time 
I am very happy to soak in those views as long as I don’t have to be on the boat 😉
Oh Jude, do you get seasick? It was such a calm and still day but I know some people can’t take the sway at all! Glad to have been able to share the views with you 🙂
I can feel seasick just looking at waves and actually a still sea on a boat can be just as bad! I’m not so bad on larger ferries 🙂
So sorry for you Jude! I’m guessing you’ve tried all the usual remedies?
I’d be fine if I drove the boat 😀
I have always had motion sickness, it improved in my teens thank goodness or I would have never travelled anywhere, but even now I hate being a passenger in a car.
I’ve never been great in the back of vehicles! Up front in a car I can read, edit photos, navigate, sleep, all as a passenger of course 😉 I’m not good on buses for reasons of being thrown about like a sack of potatoes does my back in! Years ago on school trips I was always put at the front of coaches as no one wanted alternative consequences. It’s funny how motion affects us in such different and sometimes random seeming ways! I can keep my balance on a boat but not on a train. I suppose with driving a boat you’re looking at the horizon, at where you’re heading which is what people are supposed to do to prevent seasickness! Apparently eating all the time helps too.
Hi Sarah,
What beautiful shots! You could frame any one of them. Isn’t it fun finding blues to share?
Happy Blue Monday!
Thanks Sally 🙂 Nice to share several galleries of blue in one post!
I could be very happy on that boat, at any time. The shots you got are beautiful, especially with those storm clouds. And that final shot? Glorious!
Thanks Emilio 🙂 Hopefully we’ll get out a bit more with our friends! Maybe not til next spring though. I love the ever changing skies on the coast 🙂 The English Chanel is notorious for it which makes it fabulous for photography! I wouldn’t want to be out there in really rough weather though. There are busy shipping lanes and those cliffs get reshaped yearly by surging waves!
What beautiful views.
Thanks Colline 🙂 The UK really does have a beautiful coastline!
That is so beautiful, Sarah! Love to be there… 🙂
Thanks Amy 🙂 It’s a beautiful part of the country, in fact our coastline is a true wonder of the UK! I’d love to travel around more of it by boat.
Each one more beautiful than the one before. Amazing.
Thank you so much Tina 🙂
Terrific photos Sarah — the chalk cliffs with golden light are fantastic. Thanks for sharing this gorgeous and happy day. 🙂
Thanks Jet 🙂 Yes, the cliffs look amazing in the autumn light. Some of the yellowing is actually from lichens and moss clinging to the cliffs. There’s a lot of coastal erosion so the cliffs are always a changing landscape!
Fabulous set, Sarah! What wonderful light on those cliffs! Now, I must say, I’m not sure how I would be on a boat….years since I’ve been on one, and I can suffer from motion sickness at times…..
Thanks Sue 🙂 I’ve never had a problem on boats but getting me on and off was pretty funny!! I wouldn’t want to be out there in really rough weather but it’s so wonderfully peaceful when the sails are up 😀 Give it another few weeks and the autumn colours should be at their best for us to go out and capture a few scenes!
Yes, we must link up! I shall look forward to it…
I will email you some dates closer to the time 🙂
Great, that sounds like a plan, Sarah!
😀
Hi Sarah .. what a wonderful collection of photos. Love the sky blue, cloud puffs and the sea colours. The headland with the lighthouse is superb!
Thanks Julie 🙂 Oh I just love that spot up at Rottingdean with the windmill!! It’s on the edge of a golf course these days but it still looks fabulous 🙂 I had a lot of fun with the changing skies and different types of cloud!
Wow what a beautiful set of images Sarah, the light on the white cliffs is stunning, and what a perfect sky scattered with cherub clouds. A beautiful and inspiring way to pass a day💕😊
Thanks Seonaid 🙂 Perfect sailing and photography weather! So nice to get out on a boat and see the coastline from that perspective 🙂 I’d love to go sailing around the north of Scotland and amongst the islands!!
It’s always such a lovely way to see the land, and yes the West coast isles are beautiful for sailing, so many little hidden bays and islands and lots of sea life to encounter💕
Yes, it’s such a different shoreline to the South Coast! I would dearly love to come and watch the otters and puffins 🙂 Just about every professional wildlife photographer say that the Isles are the place to be to hone your skills!
It’s true✨😊✨
📷🎥🌈