Feest Isolation Days – 9 October
I’m stargazing. It’s been a bit dark the past few days. There haven’t been any rainbows as when the rains have been around the sun has disappeared. But as it’s been dark, I thought it time to star gaze.
Little did I know when we booked our holiday to Exmoor National Park next week that we would be there during their fourth annual Dark Skies Festival. Suddenly, with my renewed interest in stargazing and a desire to look to the heavens, I discovered this to be the case!
We have booked a holiday which is in itself an amazing experience and one that I will share with you when we come back. We have booked a self contained house for a week. There is fishing nearby and writing inside and plenty of long walks in our plans no matter the weather. We are taking all our own food which we’ve been making and freezing for ages in preparation. There will be no meals out, no breakfasts or lunches in a pub somewhere with a roaring fire, but the place will be different and we will be away for a whole week! A first for months and months and months.
I didn’t expect the extra benefit of stars though!
We have been to the most extraordinary place in the Southern Hemisphere to see stars. Great Barrier Island, a short flight from Auckland in New Zealand has very little light pollution. They are not on the electricity grid which means there are not many lights. Each home owner and business runs a generator in order to manage their electricity requirements. This means on a clear night you can see more stars than I’ve ever seen anywhere ever before. We had the most exquisite evening in the summer (last year’s winter here) when we returned from the pub to our hotel. It was pitch black and the stars were literally falling into the sea. It was hard to tell what was sky and what was sea. I shall never forget that stargazing evening.
Don’t look for me for again until the 20 of October as I will be
ON HOLIDAY !!!
When we get back home I might have something to say again…for now though….
We’re off!
Stay healthy and enjoy.
See you on the 20th October!
With love
Kathy x