Sunday morning and its a warm and slightly overcast I downed the last of my coffee. Grabbed the camera and decided to go for a walk. Over the last few weeks I have been using my Nikon D750 with the 50mm 1:8 G lens. A lens I don’t use very often. I was reading a piece on photography on the net, this photographer shoots mostly with a 35 and 50mm lens. So I thought I’ll give that a go but only with a 50mm lens (I don’t own a 35mm lens) and I decided I would shoot in Black and white. So I set the screen to show my images in B&W even though I shoot in raw. The captured image would still be in colour on the image files.

I live just outside the small village of Kinallen in County Down, Northern Ireland. I turn right right at the end of the road and begin the climb up hill into the village.

The walk up into Kinallen passes a few housing estates and this large farm house sitting among the trees across the road. The hill steepens as I approach the cross-roads.

There is also the local petrol/gas station which is also a small store. This is where I buy my lottery ticket from but I’ve discovered they only sell faulty one’s. Plus they won’t give refunds for them, but it’s a great little store for everyday goods with friendly workers.

Being Sunday morning the store is still closed, in fact I’m the only person about. I turn right onto the Banbridge Road. The only sound bar my heavy breathing after that hill is the birds singing, more pleasant on the ear.

I have seen this seat only when I have been driving, I crossed the road to photograph it and find out who it was dedicated to. I have no idea who she was or what caused her death since I only moved here a few years back. I’ll ask some of the ladies who work in the store whenever I’m back in there. A few hundred metres on and I turn right onto the Skeagh Road. It’s downhill here past the last houses in the village and back out into the countryside. During the week this can be a busy road plus its narrow and has no footpath/sidewalk. Its popular with walkers in the evening and weekends.

Its not telling me to slow down but drivers because there is a junction on the right just a short distance ahead.

Did you lose a cyclists water bottle ? There was a cycle race a couple of weeks back which finished at the top of the hill I just came down. I guess someone lighten the load before the sprint uphill to the finish line.

I turned onto Mayfield Avenue, here the road narrows close to being a single track road. Not much traffic on this road.

I did notice the road sign sat at the same angle as road, level with the road. great job lads…. no its not the way I held the camera. (note: must check this next time I’m over that way:) now where was I. Oh yes.

Just after turning into Mayfield Ave I spotted two poles supporting a garden fence. Let me show you.

We had a storm here a few months back, winds up to 120 MPH, It looks like they are waiting for the next one. Better hope it come from the same direction.

With the morning sun spotlighting parts of the road I met a lady walking a couple of dogs . We chatted for a few minutes, she declined to having her photo taken. So that’s why you get to see just the road.

In Ireland a tree that stands alone in a field is known as a fairy tree, it’s the entrance to middle earth and brings bad luck to any person that destroys it.

The cattle don’t seem to worry to much about it. It’s rare to see them still have horns, most get dehorned but I still would not like to be hit by one.

Its about now I get the smell of one of the country sides worst smells. Slurry spraying.

A true assault on the senses.

That’s the source, never a day off in the farming world. A dry day to get the fields sprayed. These guy’s fill this narrow road, glad I’m walking.

For any one from outside the UK or Ireland these roads are for two way traffic with a speed limit of 60 mph, yes that’s correct unless it is signed otherwise. Thought I would share that with you.

Ok not long to go now, hang in there and I’ll brighten the ending up for you. And we have Trespass laws here as most land is private.

No uninvited person please.

The Gate Lodge, A pretty stone build cottage which at some time would have been part of a large estate.

A short distance on and a runner with two dogs passes me, by the time I got the camera raised I saw his back disappear around the bend ahead.

Once pass this old farm building and climb the steep hill which starts here and goes on till the road ends. I have a short walk from there home. I hope you have enjoyed your walk in little part of Ireland. Thank you all for visiting and hopefully we will met again.

Some colour to finish, take care.

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