This morning started off with an early drive over to Penshaw Monument so I could photograph it at sunrise. It was very still and calm this morning as the sky was empty and there were only a few other people around. However, it was very slippery walking up the steep steps from the snow that had fallen the day before which had frozen overnight. I carefully and slowly made my way up, making space for others to move past as I was very scared of falling. I do not recommend visiting Penshaw Monument when it is snowy or icy; it is very dangerous!
Once I reached the top of the hill I was able to take in the spectacular views of all the towns that surround Penshaw for miles around. It was so interesting to see these other towns deep in snow and had been affected a lot worse than the Sunderland area. There happened to be one man by himself sitting on the edge of the monument writing down notes, it was inspiring watching him in the moment, enjoying the morning with no distractions around him. This made me feel like I should get up earlier each morning, get outside and plan my projects in nature, rather than in my flat, staring at the same four walls all day.
The photos I took today do not do Penshaw Monument justice as the camera was competing with complementary colours that do not go well together, especially while editing. To get the full experience of how stunning the views are here, it is best to visit for yourself, and the parking is FREE! This is a place to visit when you need to get away from the world and stresses life causes, it's a place to breathe, relax and think.
After I had made my way down the hill using the frozen mud for better grip rather than using the treacherous steps, I drive over the road to Herrington Country Park, which is full of art sculptures, lakes, birds and walking paths to discover. When I arrived, I was greeted by hundreds of ducks, geese, and swans swimming in a narrow stream where the lake had not frozen over. I stayed to photograph the birds for quite a while as I was fascinated by the way they moved in and out of the water. I then headed around the country park to see what I could find, where I came across some art sculptures from a collection called the ‘Sculpture Trail’. I wasn’t able to find all of the sculptures as I had used up my hour slot for the day, but I will be coming back here again to explore deeper into the park.
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