Adventures - Fog
Last weekend I went to Colchester to vote. As an ‘anarchist’ I normally don’t take a part in elections, but this time I decided to give it a go. The deciding factor was the location. I wanted to take some pictures in Castle Park, someone told me that is really nice there. As I like some photography adventures I packed my gear and hit the road. Oh wait, there is more! One degree Celsius, wait for it… I choose to take my bike! Yes, courageous. I already stated this a few times: courage doesn’t come with a lot of brains! In Colchester, I’ve met with a work colleague and his other half. We voted and then we went for a walk at Colchester Castle. Good times!
Took a few portraits of them, they took a few portraits of me, took some other pictures around the place, and then we decided that we should probably have a bit of a bite. Found a place, scanned the app, placed our order, and obviously, enjoyed our meal that went cold in seconds. Have I mentioned that it was cold?!
Oh, I do talk a lot! I was wearing about twenty layers under my motorcycle gear, the cold couldn't reach me. Different story with my friends though... I hope that they'll forgive my looong and never-ending stories... or my "vast" photographic knowledge that I shared with them, even though, no one asked for it. As I said, oh, I do talk a lot!
We finished our stories, I meant me, and the time was to leave for our homes. Cold. Yes, very cold. I jokily said: well, at least I don't have to wait for my screen to defrost. Have I said that I was on my bike? Pretty sure I did.
I didn't have to wait to defrost my windshield, but I had to wait a bit to find the will to start riding, realised at one point that the longer I was waiting the colder it was, so... get up, get lost!
Back on A120, 70 miles per hour, a bliss! I could feel a cold snake snuggling behind my neck, going forward my back. Nice! Hands? I couldn't quite feel them, so it's all good!
Arriving in Dunmow I've noticed some nice reflections at the Doctor's Pond. I HAD to stop and get a picture, at least one.
Bike on the side stand, engine off, helmet off, gloves off, camera out, tripod out. Secure the camera on the tripod. Check the frame... and the camera falls on the ground nearly heading into the pond. Missed the pond edge by an inch, oh dear... having the hands close to frozen, I haven't properly secured the camera on the tripod, fortunately enough it missed the pond and the tripod wasn't set up too high. That could have been a very expensive mistake...
Cursed for a good couple of minutes, took a few shots, and on the bike again. I need to be at home! Yeah, how about the fog? What fog? Oh, that's coming a bit later, just before arriving in Thaxted. Beautiful, just beautiful!
Thick fog, a Christmas tree, the Guild Hall, the Church in the background, and some guy with a van, spoiling my image. But I was too cold to wait for him to leave... back on the bike! I need to get home!
Back on the road, just passing the Church in Thaxted... don't look at the church, don't... why did you look? Bike on the side stand, helmet off. Can a pattern be noticed? I just couldn't miss the opportunity... The Church looked so unreal. I had to stop, and even though I told myself that it's going to be a quick stop, half an hour later I was still there. Half of my photography backpack was on the ground, lenses, clothes, yeah... still cold though I wasn't feeling it anymore.
That was it, time to be going home, for real this time! And I left, the driving conditions were bad... riding conditions? Well, my heating didn't work... I could barely see the road through that fog, and my poor hands and feet well I winged enough. And of course, something popped up again in my frame! That newly built Beefeater at the Saffron's edge. Those lights in the fog... Bike on the side stand...
Got home safely in the end. After half an hour spent in the welcoming warmth... I still couldn't feel my hands properly. I should have taken the car... or at least I should have put on the winter gloves...
I dislike the cold but seems like whatever I do, I manage to get in these freezing conditions. Was it worth it? I believe so... I've posted the pictures on Thaxted's Facebook page and they received very nice comments and reactions. I love photography, and oh I love my bike!
Would I do it again? Yes! I had an amazing day, very good company (hopefully someday, after they're going to forget how much I can talk about things that nobody cares much, we shall meet again, looking forward guys) and I managed to take some pretty unique pictures...
Quite a long post this time, appologies, but was it worth it?