Saturday, February 7, 2009

More Snow


No better place to be than on the bus this morning.

The road winds up and out of our low-lying city and as the altitude increased the view broadened till we few passengers could see across the fields to Wales. Skirrid - the Holy Mountain - and the Sugar Loaf and the Black Mountains, all, including the last, a pristine white. A panoramic view in any season. Today, heart-stoppingly beautiful.

In town you have to be up early to see the snow at its best. This past week it has fallen overnight then as the day progresses the temperature rises. Snow drips off the trees, turns into slush, flows away down the drains.



Here, just a little higher, the land is colder, the air crisper. The driver changed gear to accommodate the upward climb. In the reserve and silence of the lower deck we stared out of the windows at a changed world. Random travellers. The familiar reborn, recreated.

Update: More snowy pictures here.

12 comments:

Zhoen said...

I love snow. I'd love it absolutely if I never had to drive in it.

herhimnbryn said...

I can smell that snow and I can smel the bus (metal and upholstery).

Relatively Retiring said...

You make me want to dust off the bus pass and get out there.
I love the anonymity of public transport (when it's running!) and the constantly changing panoramas, inside as well as out. (Isn't it great to be able to see into people's bedroom windows?)

Anonymous said...

Ah, the beauty of winter when the familiar is buried and purified, i think. Today ours begins to melt.

Dale said...

(o)

MB said...

I love snow as long as I don't have to shovel it. Got away with it this morning as it was gone by noon.

And as long as there's somewhere warm to retreat to.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful here, but now something of a nightmare down my way. Another fall tonight and so back out with the shovel tomorrow morning...

Anonymous said...

We're happy here to be the other side of the snowfalls. Much as I love both its beauty and the amiable chaos it provokes, one more morning of having to dig the cars out of snow on top of inch-thick ice would have ended the happy relationship.

mm said...

Thanks all. Seems a long time ago now. It went as quickly as it came ...

pohanginapete said...

I love bus travel. As RR says, it's partly the anonymity and constantly changing panoramas, but for me it's also a temporary relinquishing of responsibility. For that journey, short or long, I have no control; I am a mere passenger, free to enjoy the journey.
Of course, it can be uncomfortable, especially in India. But even there the discomfort seemed worth it.

Lovely photos. :^)

Sheila said...

Hello, I found you by way of Kissie at Winter*Wood.
I was born in Worcs, and now live in Canada (since 1966) I grew up beside the River Severn, and love the city of Worcester and Elgar's music etc...! I shall be back to visit.
Snow was a rarity when I was growing up there, but we loved it and now I have more than I want and am not so keen..!

mm said...

PP: That's it exactly, the relinquishment of responsibility ...

Sheila: Welcome! and thanks for your comment.