A run of perfect days

Hot, but not crushingly so; cooler nights, but above all – clear skies. Summer in its perfection. A breeze animates the greenery outside; my doors and windows are open, indoors and outdoors are as one. The insects are behaving themselves. Above all, the sky is crystalline blue; photons emitted by the sun entering into my brain undiluted by cloud, make me feel physically more energetic and sharpen my thinking.

Monday night was Perseids night; I saw 12 or so shooting stars flash by. Sadly none caught on camera, despite having it tripod-mounted on my rear terrace, 25-second exposure at 4000 ISO, wide-angle zoom lens set at f/4.5 zoomed out to 10mm and focused on infinity. Lots of stars and a few planes coming into land in the distance – but not one meteor captured. No matter – the experience was quite something.

Tuesday after work – time for an evening stroll. Below: the start of every expedition begins with me approaching the garden gate.

Below: beyond when the asphalt ends, my street becomes farm track and curves its way between orchards on its way to the dark wood.

Below: beyond the wood, and on towards Machcin II. That white dot is a setting half-moon.

Below: rural crossroad. The unasphalted track linking Adamów Rososki (behind me) with Machcin II and Dąbrowa Duża crosses the asphalted road from Jakubowizna to Machcin.

Below: heathland along the footpath that separates Jakubowizna from Widok. Note the lack of tall weeds, shrubs and bushes. The soil is too acidic and sandy. A habitat that's disappearing rapidly from the landscape.

 

Wednesday after work: today's walk will take me to Krężel via the wood that lies on the other side of Widok. Below: the footpath between Chynów station and Widok.

Below: where the wood meets the railway line. A setting sun illuminates the bark of the tall pines and silver birches.

I get to Krężel with a few minutes in hand before my train arrives to take me one stop, back home to Chynów station. Below: the sun, less than half an hour before it set, which it did today at exactly 20:00.

This time four years ago:
Twilight motorbike ride

This time five years ago:

Are we Bodies or Souls?

This time eight years ago year:
Popping out for a drink

This time 14 years ago:
In search of happiness

This time 15 years ago:
Mercenaries and missionaries

This time 16 years ago:
Spectacular sunrise, Jeziorki