September 2018 – ROLLING HARBOUR GALLERY

A COMPLEX SUNDIAL AT LLUC MONASTERY, MALLORCA

Published on September 22, 2018 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

The secluded Monastery of Lluc is situated near Escorca in the Tramuntana mountains of Mallorca. It dates from the c13, and is famous for its Black Madonna, the discovery of which is said to have led to the monastery’s foundation . It is a place of pilgrimage. The location is remote and peaceful, though inevitably the monastery has become an essential stop on the tourist and coach party trail. We returned there recently, not having visited Mallorca for more than 20 years. The buildings were much as we remembered, but the parking and visitor arrangements were more regimented and complex. Before, one just drove down the narrow road from the main mountain road and parked in the forecourt area close to the buildings. Now, everything is (unsurprisingly) geared to a daily mass influx of people and their needs for sustenance and souvenirs. We were pleased to see that it is still possible to stay at Lluc in one of small rooms under a long covered walk where the monks once slept. You can reach the Monastery’s website – and even book a room – HERE.

A short walk from the monastery, one can climb a path to a calvary and some great views. Along the way is a an amazing multiple vertical sundial. It was designed by Rafael Soler, and carved in 1991 and displays with some style the evolution of sundials. There are two historical dials, one central solar dial, and two modern dials.

CANONICAL HOURS – LATINATE

This dial simply records the 3-hourly canonical divisions of the liturgical day (as with the early medieval mass / scratch dials), starting with midnight (top) and working counterclockwise round a central gnomon.

CANONICAL HOURS – BABYLONIAN / MALLORQUIN

A more complex dial, starting at noon (XXIV) through to 21.00, and including the months and the signs of the Zodiac.

TEMPS VERTADER – TRUE SOLAR TIME

The centre sundial shows true solar time. The polar gnomon (triangular) shows the hours, the pointer shows the date with the declination lines. The inscription MULIER AMICTER SOLE (Woman Clothed by the Sun) references an account in the Book of Revelations.

MEAN TIME DIAL (SUMMER /AUTUMN)

The two right-hand sundials are complementary and each covers two seasons. I think this must mean that for a particular month, one will be reliable as to time and the ‘off-season’ one will not.

MEAN TIME DIAL (SUMMER /AUTUMN)

The creation of these dials was obviously a labour of love and skill combined. There’s doubtless plenty more to be said about these sundials and the splendid ensemble but I have decided not to get too technical – indeed, I don’t understand enough to do so anyway. Apologies for the rather washed out appearance of the images. This was operator error – I had the camera on the wrong settings and didn’t realise until later…

Credits: Props to arby101ca and lumbricus, members of a geocaching & waymarking website called Groundspeak. They hiked to Lluc (respect!) and wrote informatively about these dials. I found relatively little elsewhere.

AN UNCONVINCING TREE: GREYS COURT OXFORDSHIRE

Published on September 12, 2018 by Rolling Harbour1 Comment

I have no idea what species of tree this is. We came across it at Greys Court, a NT house in Oxfordshire. From a distance it looked unreal, possibly painted plastic with some of the paint having run in a rain shower to reveal yellow undercoat. Even quite close to, it was hard to believe it was real, though eventually the bark gave the game away.

If anyone knows the species (I suspect an Asian origin), please leave a comment.

AUTUMN BEE: ALSTROEMERIA POLLEN IMMERSION

Published on September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 by Rolling Harbour2 Comments

This little bee spent several minutes deep inside this alstroemeria flower, and in the process getting an all-over pollen decoration. It stayed for so long that I decided to investigate. I didn’t have a camera handy, just my phone. In good light, results can be quite satisfactory (in low light or on so-called “zoom”, it’s terrible).

If anyone can ID this bee, please leave a comment.

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT… A HUT ON THE FROME

Published on September 2, 2018September 2, 2018 by Rolling Harbour4 Comments

Fishing Hut on the River Frome, Dorset (Keith Salvesen)

The River Frome in Dorset rises in Evershot and flows 30 miles eastwards before, like its neighbouring river the Piddle, entering Poole Harbour near Swanage. It is the most westerly of the classic English chalk streams and provides excellent fishing for trout and in the lower reaches, salmon and sea trout.

The upper river fishings, upstream of Dorchester, are wonderful for brown trout. The beat I fish (with variable success) is a couple of miles above this hut, where the fish are as wild as the unkempt banks, wily, and hard won. I have occasionally fished the beats lower downstream, above and below this wonderful hut, where the banks are well tended, though without pretention to the manicured perfection found elsewhere.

The river level changes abruptly at the hut, with a water-level control and an overflow that goes directly under the hut through two entries. Inside the hut, is it slightly strange to watch and hear the water passing underneath. The hut is a simple structure, its historic beams and brickwork more or less original.

The pastoral setting makes this stretch of the Frome a most pleasant place to be for a day. And if it the weather becomes adverse, there’s a simple and most attractive shelter from the elements.