I took a brief walk on the Cliff Walk today. I went as far as it was safe to go. There was plenty of snow, and after a certain point the Cliff Walk stops being a path and becomes a blazed trail from rock to rock. I used to be something of a mountain goat 20 years ago; not any more! So I went as far as Beechwood, where I ran into thigh-deep drifts, and went back to the nearest exit at Marine Ave.
There were plenty of waterfowl out on the waters of Easton's Bay, but this trio of male Ring-necked Ducks really caught my eye. They're fairly rare and exotic in these parts.
Nearing the Webster Ave. access point I ran into these interesting drifts hanging over the top of a stone wall. Extruded through a mesh fence and sculpted by the wind, these things looked like they belonged in a museum of modern art.
Another interesting drift near Marine Ave.
I made it as far as the marble terrace behind Rosecliff, one of Newport's famed 19th Century mansions. All of the large flower pots atop the marble rail of the semi-circular terrace were covered with plastic except for this one; maybe its cover blew off in one of the wind storms we've had lately. And yes, I did this in black and white rather than color because it works better that way.
A little farther down from Rosecliff, out in back of the Astors' Beechwood mansion, I ran into those thigh-deep drifts and figured the rest of the Cliff Walk was going to be more of a chore than I was into today. So I went back to Marine Ave. to head back into town and home. Looking up Marine Ave. you can see what this latest snowstorm left us. Ah, I love Winter!
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Comments: 19
I also love snow drifts. I think they're some of the most interesting artwork that Mother Nature gives us, even though I hate winter. If I had run across the ones that pushed themselves through the fence, I probably would have stayed there for an hour.
These are really beautiful, Roy!
"Cold belly, cold belly, coldbellycoldbellycoldbelly....."
And I want to throw them some wholewheat bread leftovers and a couple ears of farmer's corn...and a blanket to park their cold bellies on.
(It's the momma in me, I guess...)
Beautiful shots...all winter shivers aside. Looks like a great walk, and the drifts? Yes, sculptures indeed, and b&w was perfect for these.
Thank you, indeed, for your postings.
Wilka
Aniko, they're frozen in place. The day after the storm the temps only got around 20º with sub-zero wind chills, so those babies are set almost like concrete!
Wilka, you don't have to worry. Ducks, Geese, and other waterfowl have extra layers of fat and very oily feathers to protect them from the cold. They're "dressed" in what would be, in human terms, an insulated wetsuit.