Surprises can arrive out of the blue at any time. Several days ago a letter arrived in my inbox with a message that my blog has been awarded a place in the top 100 Nature Writing blogs on the web. I was amazed and delighted, particularly as I share this list with National Geographic, BBC Earth, the World Wildlife Fund and the Nature Conservancy. What an honour!
I began writing my blog in 2012 by publishing a weekly post. I selected this particular theme as I wanted to explore descriptive prose writing in the essay form, while combining it with my photography. To date I have published 193 posts and will continue to contribute monthly. This blog has become my joy and a labour of love.
Back Roads and Byways
A wide strip of winding road disappears into the hinterland behind us. Like some primordial serpent, it glides over hills and slips down embankments, all the while grasping every contour of the land in its close embrace.
Nearby a towering tallowwood captures our attention. Its strong trunk, covered in rough shards of orange and brown coloured bark, gives way to multitudes of smaller branches. These continue their climb toward the light, diminishing in size until each bough ends in a branchlet, then in a twig.
The roadways also mirror this pattern. Side roads branch away from the centre, morphing from bitumen into gravel and onward into sand. Many of these roadways end in a narrow dirt track overgrown with grasses and scrub.
The hinterland: all those places back, beyond, and further out, calls to the traveller.
“Come follow me as we explore the back roads and byways. My scenery—remote, beautiful, and untouched—will heal and inspire you. In these wondrous places you will learn to appreciate my stillness, nature’s intense colours, and the open sky ringing with birdsong. Enjoy your discovery of secret highlights and beauty spots along these ways. You will be forever enriched by them.”
“Two roads diverged in a wood and I –
I took the one less travelled by.”
Robert Frost
Huge congratulations! And I recognise the bottom photo too. Well done you, Mary.
Many thanks, Margie. I’m still in a state of shocked surprise. I’ll get in touch soon for a catch-up coffee.
Take care!
What a wonderful surprise Mary, and so well-deserved. So pleased you have not completely disappeared. ( I am still around the ridges, when you have time.)
Many thanks for leaving your comment. Yes, I’ll get in touch in early October to enjoy a catch-up visit again.
Lovely to read that Mary, congratulations… so pleased for you! Glad you are still writing and I do enjoy your poems and nature writing. My best wishes and look forward to reading your interesting posts. 🙂
Congrats on the award, Mary! And a woodland walk is such a lovely way to celebrate. I love your observation that the branches “continue their climb toward the light, diminishing in size until each bough ends in a branchlet, then in a twig”. There are few trees where I live in the north of Scotland – we’re surrounded by moors, beaches and sea. When we lived further south there were many forests, and I do miss the trees! Congrats again, Laura
Thank you, Laura, for leaving this comment. It was much appreciated. I’m very interested in Scotland – it’s wonderful scenery and magnificent literary tradition. I’ll visit your blog as well.
Many thanks, Iris, for your comment. I also enjoy your poems too.
A pleasure, Mary. You ‘re most welcome to visit again. Have a lovely day. Much love, Iris 🙂
Congratulations Mary – I always enjoy your lovely photos and words – well done!
Many thanks Lyn, for leaving your comment. I’ve paid a visit to your website and was moved by your beautiful poetry. I’ll visit you again.
Congratulations, Mary. Your blog is a joy to me, too.
Lovely as always to hear from you, Gallivanta. Thank you for your comment.
Congratulations on your well deserved honour, dear Mary. 🙂
Blessings ~ Wendy
Thank you, Wendy, for leaving your comment. It was good to hear from you and to revisit your beautiful website.