Another solstice

[shewhomust]

The solstice was duly observed this morning: I was not the only member of the party to declared themself too old for this, and sleep through it, but D. valiantly went out to the traditional vantage point (where he found C. and family, who are staying in the Old Granary). The sun did its trick of gleaming at the very edge of rising, and then vanishing into cloud as it cleared the horizon. There may even have been a little rain thereafter. Nonetheless, dawn had been observed to happen, and honour was satisfied.

Much later durham_rambler and I took a walk in the same direction. Through the meadow, past the foot of the Heugh, where we were buzzed by swooping swallows; along the harbour and past the castle, looking very stark and dramatic without the scaffolding it was wearing three years ago. durham_rambler took the right hand path (hoping for seals) and I the left, and we met at the bridge and went together to the edge of sea:

Each time we visit I think we have reached peak cairn, and each time it seems that I am wrong. The National Trust puts up signs asking people not to build more; I don't know whether I like them or hate them, but I'm fascinated by the clusters of stacked stones, each one carefully crafted, individual, and all the same. Beyond them just visible is the white pyramid on Emmanuel Head, the daymark of which they are such faint echos. We didn't walk that far, but turned left along Crooked Lonnen, and back to the village.

We lunched on crab sandwiches at the café attached to the Post Office, then bought ices from Pilgrim Gelato - 'gelato', of course, means 'we can't call it ice cream because it's vegan', and their branding emphasises that it is 'free from' a whole litany of things which doesn't include sugar. durham_rambler's salted vanilla was bright blue, and my toffee apple was more successful with the toffee than with the apple, but we both enjoyed our dessert.

This evening we have a dinner date with a former colleague of durham_rambler's, at the Ship: in order to get the booking, we dine at 5.30.

Comments

[sovay]

Nonetheless, dawn had been observed to happen, and honour was satisfied.

Thank you for witnessing!

I like the cairns at the edge of the sea. Do they have meanings, or are they by now their own end?

[shewhomust]

As far as I know the cairns have no meaning, other than that when stones are abundant, people feel the urge to stack them one on another. And then other people see them, and are infected with the same urge.

[sovay]

when stones are abundant, people feel the urge to stack them one on another. And then other people see them, and are infected with the same urge.

That is a serious Paleolithic meme.

[anef]

Yup, cairns are weird. But not I think offensive.

[shewhomust]

The word 'offensive' hadn't occurred to me - but now you say it, I wonder whether I do, in fact, find them offensive. Intrusuve, perhaps?

[anef]

They are art of sorts. One could ask "But do I want art all over the scenery?"

[shewhomust]

That depends on the art!