Anne River meets the Ocean

Anne river

This is my last blog post about Anne river. Here she is, on her final run to the Ocean. All the way from Dunhill, through the yellow Iris and Buttercup fields.

cows

Her waters are so clear that I spotted a school of young fish feeding on something invisible.

fish

fish

Final destination – Annestown beach. It is where Anne River meets the Ocean.

sea

annestown

First I climb the eastern edge of the cliff, but I don’t walk any further – I think this part is quite dangerous to walk.

annes1

I sit down in the soft grass and enjoy what I see. Thrift (Armeria maritima) is blooming in early June, and it is the most beautiful part of the scenery.

annv 013

annv 059

I cross the beach and walk to the western edge, where cliff walking is safer. I have taken many photographs but it is impossible to share everything in this blog. One of the little pleasures was taking photographs of many flowers I came across.

flowers

I found some big, sturdy daisies that looked a bit like the Seaside daisy but not exactly.

flowers

I also found a single flower of Gladiolus.

flowers

This is the view from the western edge. If you click on the photograph to enlarge it, you will see a stony structure in the end of the beach. It is the remains of a lime kiln. Limestone was heated there until it crumbled, and was then used for fertilising the land.

annestown beach

There are many magnificent rocks and cliffs and welcoming coves down there.

cove

It is where I turned back: I didn’t like that crumbling sandy slope. It is the Ballydowane cove.

annestown

Back in Annestown, there are two donkeys – the most photographed donkeys in the area. I am not sure if they are the same donkeys I see every year – they must be not. Life of a donkey is harsh and unpredictable.

donkeys

As I was talking to them and rubbing their ears and heads, I though about the generations of donkeys that have lived in this old paddock over the years, or may be, centuries. They have never seen beautiful Anne River valley that lies just a quarter of mile down the hill from them, with its lush grasses and clean, transparent waters.

donkey

Thank you for walking with me through these three blog posts along the Anne River!

inese_mj_photographyHave a wonderful weekend!

 

113 comments

  3. I loved the photographs, Inese, particularly the ones of the fish. I enlarged the photograph of the beach to have a look at the old kiln. It’s nice to have interesting bits of history still lying about. I’d like to walk along the beach myself, but I don’t think I’d paddle in it like that mother was doing with her kids. My feet are not big fans of cold water and always give me a hard time if I put them in it. 🙂

    1. Thank you so much, Bun! The kiln is not photogenic and I didn’t take a separate picture of it, but thought I would mention it for the history’s sake. This summer the water was surprisingly pleasant, and some days even warm! I too wouldn’t let my kids that deep – I walked along the edge just ankle-deep, which was great enough 🙂

  4. The backdrop of the water with the tall grasses was just…oh, and those thrift just made me sigh achingly for a trip to Ireland NOW. The colors are so strong here, so clear. Everything’s so defined, and pulls me in for a walk through your perception. A feat, dear friend, a most beautiful feat.

  5. Beautiful landscapes and greens. I love the compositions with the fishes… so abstract in their patterns. Thanks, Inese. 🙂

  6. Here we have a donkey bossed around by two rather nasty Shetland ponies…seems to me you have it rather better for those of your own. A wonderful walk through a lovely land without having to walk it!

    1. Thank you for joining me for this walk! Anne River is one of my favorites because of the delightful valley it flows through. It is sad that the ponies bossy around the poor donkey. If he had a companion, he would be happier and more confident.

  7. A gorgeous post, Inese.
    Feel so fortunate to be able to go to Annestown most days. Its beauty has haunted me since I was a tot. Just back from a swim in nearby Garrarus. So calm this evening. How lucky we are to be surrounded by all this!

      1. No skill involved in my kind of dipping, Inese. It’s an addiction to the lovely seas, especially the one around here.
        Photography, like yours, is what I’d call ‘skilled.’

  10. Some of those sandy cliffs did look treacherous, but the beach and coves are lovely, and there’s something very appealing to me, about little flowers growing out of a stone crack. This has been a very nice series of posts, Inese Thank you!

    1. Thank you so much, Cynthia! I did feel uneasy walking so close to the cliff edge. The cliffs actually can crumble… My feet were sinking in the grass – as if I walked on a different planet 🙂 It was somewhat surreal and very exciting. Only when I saw the sandy slopes I realised how dangerous such walk can be.

  11. Lovely photos. It reminds me I need to stop reading, get off my rear, break out the camera, and go adventuring. 🙂

  14. Oh, thank you for taking us along via your photos! What view at the end where the river meets the ocean. The thrifts are gorgeous! And so many great images – I had to go back and visit more than once. You are a brave climber!

    1. Thank you so much! 🙂 I felt a bit reckless walking so close to the edge. Wouldn’t do it in a windy day. The beauty is beyond any photograph.

  16. No Inese, thank *you* for bringing us with you. What glorious views! It was as if I drank up your photos, so thirsty was I for peaceful, calming scenes. You captured the sparkling crystal waters so well. Perfection. Mega hugs my friend. 🙂 ⭐

    1. Thank you so much, Teagan! Sometimes a calming scene is exactly what we need. Anne River is rather a tiny stream than a river, but she does have a calming effect, and brings joy.

  17. Thank you for this privilege and amazing opportunity to walk these amazing paths and see the world through your photos. Just WOW!!!

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