Monday morning, Craft Group. J is just back from a Baltic Cruise. "Did you see the northern Lights?" I asked. She hadn't, I said I would love to see them sometime.
Monday evening, after our meal, and Bob said "I'm saying this just once, so listen" [I put down my book, and waited] "The Northern Lights are due to be visible over Norfolk tonight as there has been a lot of coronal mass activity. Do you want to drive up to the coast to try and see the Aurora Borealis?" I didn't need to be asked twice!
We set off after 10pm and got up to Weybourne Beach just before 11. It was so quiet. There was a camper van in the car park, and one solitary fisherman further along the beach.
We stood and looked out to sea. We could see lots of twinkling lights from the wind turbines, and a huge vessel with rows of lights moving across the horizon [we thought it might be a cruise liner from its silhouette and rows of lights on many decks]
There was one area of the horizon with an amazing pinky red glow. I knew that many of the pictures you see in the press have been taken with long exposures, posh lenses and fancy cameras, and what one sees with the naked eye may not be as dramatic.
But I was happy, listening to the susurration of the waves and watching the twinkling stars and the glow in the distance. I had put "Seeing the Northern Lights" on my 70s List, but I think I didn't really expect to achieve it.
We stood and watched for a long while, but were starting to feel a chill, and our legs ached. Home to hot chocolate and warm bed. Thank you Bob, for a very lovely treat!
Here is my very amateur, unretouched, photo, from my phone.
Wonderful - what a treat.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely
DeleteOh how wonderful. What a gift. What a memory.
ReplyDeleteA memory to treasure
DeleteThat's fantastic! I'm so glad you got to see them. X
ReplyDelete😊
DeleteHow lovely to do that. Magical. I have seen the Northern Lights on two visits to Norway and once in the Highlands of Scotland. Special to be in the county where you live. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteWow! three times!?!
DeleteA beautiful gift from nature and I’m so glad to were able to see it. Catriona
ReplyDeleteHave you ever seen them up in Scotland, I wonder?
DeleteA special night out! I saw them in Cornwall last year from the bedroom window of my friend’s house. I had read that you can see more through a camera lens and that worked. It would be nicer not to have been looking through the camera but just so special to see them.
ReplyDeleteSue
I agree
DeleteThey're on my bucket list too.
ReplyDeleteone day...
DeleteLong time lurker here. There have been some super views of the Northern lights over the last few years. But like you say lots of it is done to the camera and a long exposure. How lovely of Bob to suggest it. This may sound silly but reading your blog feels like being wrapped in a snuggly blanket. Thankyou. Jax
ReplyDeleteThank you Jax [actually, it would have perhaps been a good idea to have taken a snuggly blanket to the beach on Monday!]
DeleteThat sounds like a lovely evening out, listening to the waves in the dark is wonderful and you got to glimpse the Northern Lights too. Tick.
ReplyDeleteI love Bob's 'almost' Allo Allo impression ... 'I shall say this only once!'
🙂
DeleteSo lovely for you.
ReplyDeleteIt was breathtaking
DeleteI am so happy that Bob came up with the idea and you both had such a great time. Something to remember always. JanF
ReplyDeleteA very special memory
DeleteThat must have been such a lovely experience. I'm glad you got to see the northern lights.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely
DeleteHow lovely. I'm glad you got to see them. We used to see them at our old house which was on the hill with a living room window facing north. Now we are surrounded by trees, and too old and lazy to drive down to the river when they are likely to show up. But they usually seem to come in the middle of the night, I remember, and the local person who puts photos in the paper usually times them around 2 am!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I did it before getting too old!
DeleteWell done to Bob for finding out where and when this wonderful sight would be visible for you to see. Although a cold night, it must have been a real thrill for you. Now you can say, " I have my own photo of the Aurora Borealis".
ReplyDeleteIt was fabulous
Delete