Travelling down the Wye Valley 28/10/19

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Sat, 02 Nov 2019
  • 2699 reads
13 comments
 

Steep high banks of patchwork autumn treescapes
above the brown river overfull, overflowing
– weekend’s heavy, heavy rainfall in Wales
now nearing the estuary to join the ocean.

High above Chepstow, the ‘Eagle’s nest’
looks out to the cliffs opposite
and over the steep banks of
the river’s last big meander,
to the two misty Severn Bridges.

Certificate U
Poem
Countryside explorations
Nature
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by drew_gummerson on

I enjoyed this. The opening line is wonderful. Am I being thick? Are there two Severn Bridges?

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, so glad you enjoyed and that I managed to encapsulate those lovely scenes where autumn seemed to have just really arrived!

Yes, there are two Severn bridges now – the older Suspension one so well known, and then the new one built in 1996 I think and called the Second Severn Crossing or Prince of Wales Bridge near Newport. I've always just thought of them as the two Severn Bridges. You can see them by googling! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by drew_gummerson on

Thanks. I was stupid. I didn't know that. 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

No reason you should! You do now! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

You sum up the charm of the Wye Valley beautifully in this poem Rhiannon. I never realized they had eagles there, so I've discovered something new.

Thank you for sharing.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you very much, Jenny. But, no, no, there aren't any eagles there! The 'Eagle's Nest' is the viewpoint platform at the bottom right of the lower picture. Named such because it seems like the view one would have from an eagle's nest I presume! Sorry if I misled you! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is a part of the country I barely know, so I love reading these pieces - you should take a commission from the local tourist board!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Insert, glad you could enjoy! It was lovely driving down there on Tuesday and getting out for a walk too, before driving up to London to see family - beneficial half term on each account! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks for the cherries. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I love your walking poems, like Insert feel the tourist board should take you on, you certainly make me long to go to the borders!

This poem made me think of the worry of flooding, the relief of seeing the extra water nearly away to sea. I liked how you concentrated on the river, the fl sounds, but not actual flood. The water moving, not staying.

That second photo - it looks REALLY high!!!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Di. We hadn't  been down the Wye valley for quite a while and it is very lovely with its steep sides and meanders.

Both photos are taken at the 'Eagle's Nest' viewpoint. We approached it from a nearby car park and then went on a circular walk, but if you approach it from the car park on the main road below (and that is above river level) I think there are a famous 365 steps up to it! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

Another beautiful poem. My daughter and her family were in that area last weekend, and had to drive through many big puddles and were very worried about the flooding situation. But they had to go home early as their son was running a very high fever. He's ok now and coming to see me today.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jean. Glad you enjoyed.

Though the river was overflowing, there wasn't much trouble on the roads in the valley south of Hereford last Tuesday. I think the roads there are quite a bit above the river.

Up here, a bit further north, where we live there had been extremely heavy rain on the Saturday, causing big puddles on roads as it couldn't drain away quickly enough, but on the Sunday, the rain had stopped and drained well, but there was more local flooding from the water coming down the rivers Lugg, Arrow and Wye from Wales.

I hope you enjoyed your time with your grandson!

Rhiannon