Not particularly good news on the radio this morning, all rather gloomy. The hospitals are starting to become
overloaded with Covid patients, numbers are as high in places as they were in April. There are more storm warnings which will compound the misery of those flooded earlier. At least the Brexit deal seems reasonable so, hopefully, we will be able to put that behind us.
With vigorous storm cells were forecast we decided to take the short walk around Princestead which was just as well as dark clouds welled up as soon as we arrived. Walking towards the harbour the Teal were very vocal in the meadow which was still waterlogged. Approaching the sea wall ominous clouds became visible low down to the east with blue skies above, a very dramatic panorama. It was high tide and a stiff westerly breeze was blowing so the sea was covered in white horses. It started to rain.
Heading west there were more dark, slate grey clouds looking angry with heavy rain driving down beneath them. Fortunately this was over Emsworth or further west, we were just on the edge of the downpour. Suddenly the sun came out of the clouds in the patch of blue sky, immediately the coastline was bathed in the most intense golden sunlight contrasting sharply with the dark storm clouds behind. Fitfully at first a rainbow started to form that soon grew to become a dazzling fully formed arch. All colours were bright and clearly visible across the considerable width of the arch. For a short time a double rainbow appeared to the left of the main one adding emphasis to the main one. Walkers stopped in their tracks, took photographs and excitedly exclaimed to each other how amazing it was to see a spectacle like this. For a few moments the gloom of the day was dispelled, nature had performed one of it’s exceptional spectacles.
Naturally it didn’t last for long, soon the sun disappeared and the rain came down in stair rods. Cold large drops that stung your face. The rough sea crashed against the rocks throwing up plumes of spray, just to
add to the effect.
In the fields and out of the wind it was quieter, we could notice the birds that were still flitting about in the hedges oblivious to the weather. This little Robin didn’t seem to mind us walking quite nearby, he even stayed still to have his picture taken; maybe he was used to people in gardens.