Slieau Whallian

High winds on Slieau Whallian

 

Wednesday 15th August, 2012

 

     On Wednesday we climbed Slieau Whallian.  We were rather anxious about the weather because heavy rain with localised flooding was predicted to arrive in the late morning - combined with strong winds.  Well, we managed to finish the walk before the rains came but the wind was very impressive.  As Dorothy said "It's a pity you can't photograph the wind!"  I took the first photo of the view to the east on the way up the hill.  

    It wasn't the best of days for photography.  There was a gap before I took the next photos because the wind was so strong at the top of the hill that it was all I could do to keep upright.  Holding a camera steady would have been impossible.  I had to take off my glasses because the wind was threatening to blow them off.  We staggered downhill until we reached a slightly more sheltered spot and I took this photo of Peel on the west coast . . .

. . and this one of the others picking their way through the heather to join up with the path to the plantation.

    We stopped for a break when we reached the shelter of the trees at the top of the plantation.  Trevor's daughter is the extra member of the group.

On the way down through the plantation the trees were swaying and making groaning noises above us.  The gales on the Island can be rather impressive.