There were a number of people out walking on this weekday. I photo-shopped away one jogger at the far end of the path.
The day was a normal cool for winter, but the 25 MPH whistling winds were making the day harsher and when the gusts reached 35 MPH I had to brace my feet to keep from being blown aside like a twig. Rain storms and some snow to the north had created an angry rush of liquid down the mountains into the Potomac River which runs beside the canal. We walked to the lookout, a cement platform where emergency helicopters sometimes land to rescue a fearless kayaker or hiker that has fallen or is drowning.
Here the river is wide and deep and deceptively calm. I turned the photo into a painting above.
But just down the towpath and as we followed a trail to a bridge that crosses over rocks on one side of the river, chaos reigned. The sound of the rushing river competed with the sound of the shushing wind. In the photo below I am crossing the bridge and you can see my shadow in the lower right. As I raised my camera a gust caught me by surprise and I almost toppled.
Days when I feel overwhelmed, it seems that Mother Earth can take my hand and make me feel even so much smaller.
Beautiful calm before the storm.
ReplyDeleteHow easily we can be decieved, and how easily chaos can take over!
ReplyDeletewater is so powerful.
ReplyDeleteNature always tries to create a balance.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post
ReplyDeleteRushing water like that is interesting to look at and photograph. But, all the while I feel like I'm on the edge of a cliff about to give way. Its amazing how such a fluid thing can be so powerful.
I have heard of the Potomac but have never seen it. Great photos and a lovely walk in spite of the wind!
ReplyDeleteSometimes the sound of the wind and the water silences the rest of the world for me. From the look of the water, the cares of the world would have been silent that day.
Oh my goodness! It does look as if it were very turbulent and wild! I love the peace of the second photo, however, especially the way the sky is reflected in the water.
ReplyDeleteHigh water makes for an interesting stream flow.
ReplyDeleteWow! A tumultuous river for tumultuous times.
ReplyDeleteYep it is humbling crossing rushing water. Must be careful not to drop the expensive can in too! Pretty place there!
ReplyDeleteCam! My typos are as bad as ever on this little thing! It keeps changing the words I want too.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to see such wild photos of water, and such an expanse, England rivers are samll by comparision.
ReplyDeleteNature is above everything.
ReplyDelete