Under the Rainbow
July 31, 2009 by Bird
Filed under Blog, Skywatch Friday, Summer
Last Thursday was a good example of what our weather in the UK seems to be heading for long term – blindingly sunny one moment, the next, torrential thunderstorms of immense violence. The rain comes down with such force that it is actually painful to cycle through – I’ve had to pull over to the side of the road more than once, and watched as the road I was cycling along a moment before becomes a shallow but fast flowing stream. One great upshot of such quickchange weather is that it provides perfect rainbow spotting conditions. I’ve seen some real beauties lately, though I’m afraid I’ve not wanted to risk drenching my camera to capture them. However these pictures were taken safe at the top of our fire escape, and although in theory I was protected from the downpour you can see from the faint smudges on these pictures that the camera lens still caught a few stray drops. This was actually a double rainbow, though the second one came out only faintly. Look closely at the top picture – can you see the second rainbow?
For more beautiful and fascinating images of the sky around the world, visit Skywatch Friday!
Great captures of the rainbow and I too have noticed a lot of this weather lately, particularly in May – dark moody skies, some rain, and then the next instant brilliant sunshine. Here on the south coast July has been less magnificent in sky terms and more just plain wet. I for one am tired of this ‘global warming’!
Janice.
It hasn’t really stopped raining for about three years now has it Janice? When the sun does come out I feel like I have to drop everything in it’s honour. It rains just about every day where we are – been good for fruit trees I guess! Trouble is with global warming we’ll have more weather like this to look forward to – it doesn’t make things really hot, just unsettled…
great pictures- the rainbows are beautiful!
Thank you Dee!
lovely rainbow captures.
your weather sounds kind of like ours this week.
right now we are cloudy…thunderstorms likely.
already hot and humid.
That’s summer for you! Just one long humid thunderstorm
Great photos, I could see the second rainbow!
welcome Larry – I loved your Skywatch reflections too! Glad you could see the second rainbow – I wasn’t sure how clear it looked…
Hi Bird ~ Yes you’re right. One minute I’ve been driving in bright sunlight and the next, my car has resembled the bow-wave at the prow of a ship. Very dangerous, considering the driving idiots we have over here.
I’ve seen quite a few rainbows myself. I love them. Your double rainbow is beautiful. It rained a lot when Liz and I were in Lindisfarne the other week – no rainbows, but the light there is so beautiful – I think it’s known as the island of light….It was especially beautiful after the rain.
xhenry
You went to Lindisfarne? I would love to go there, but then I am partial to islands. That description, the island of light makes it even more attractive
You got some beautiful photos..but I wouldn’t want to be caught out in the rain that preceded that rainbow Bird…
I was cowering under the eaves while it bucketed down! So I didn’t get caught out – well not that time anyhow
Gorgeous! What a treat!
It certainly was Kit!
Fantastic capture. It has been ages since I have seen a rainbow.
Welcome Lazyclick – maybe I should send you some of ours! Only problem being that you have to accept the rain that comes with them
Thank you very much for visiting my blog, I’m glad to have found you
You have lovely sky photos here and yes I could see the second rainbow, what a very strange Summer we are having yet again! Those are beautiful photos of the Painted Lady on your previous post.
I have to say, referring to your comments on the post before that, that unlike you I have a huge aversion to pylons and similar man made structures, in fact I would go so far as to say I hate them! I still remember (and feel!) the fear I felt as a child every time I had to walk under a pylon in a field to get to one of my beloved country walks! Isn’t it strange how we all differ? Thank you I enjoyed my visit and will return
Hello Shysongbird, it’s lovely to have you here! I should really clarify about the pylons – I don’t love them in every situation you see. They seem to be particularly suited to Tottenham marshes which is such a strange place in its-self and in other semi industrial places I also enjoy them – they seem appropriate then. But in the countryside not so much
And I do get what you mean about them being quite threatening too! So for me I suppose it’s a case of everything being good in the right circumstances.
…Oh, and I loved coming across your blog too! I’m currently having a lot of trouble keeping up with blogging but I’ll be back to visit you I’m sure – just can’t guarantee when
Bird, wow how beautiful. Anna
Thank you Anna!
Great rainbow pics…
I cycled through some pretty heavy sheets of rain in a thunderstorm on friday, for the first real soaking I’ve had this year…and, actually, I think it’s important to get utterly drenched on one’s bike at least once a summer…kind of like a cyclist’s yearly baptism…
I like it… stormy baptism on the move. And though people have this knee jerk dislike of getting caught in the rain in summer it’s actually really pleasant, specially on a hot day.
I get a kind of perverse enjoyment out of cycling in thunderstorms, providing the rain or hail isn’t actually blinding me. I’ve seen a lot of drenched cyclists recently, and a fair few have been grinning all over their faces.
How in the *bleep* did I miss this? Holy cow, it’s almost time for the next skywatch! Anyways, beautiful rainbow, Bird, and I do see its double. So full and perfectly shaped.
Funny, one day last week (Thursday?) I also took a pic of a rainbow. Except I was riding in a car and had to turn around to catch it and wouldn’t you know it was over top a shopping center…an awful capture. Anyways, cool that we took a rainbow pic around the same time. So glad yours turned out beautifully!
Wow, simultaneous rainbows on both sides of the Atlantic… maybe it was the same one!
Great capture!
Thank you Lana!