Recharging and Renewal

What do you need to do to recharge your batteries? That’s the question posed by Egidio, in this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge. And my answer is the same as his: I need to get out, to surround myself with the natural world.

Living in France, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, the mountains grounded me in many ways. The sheer scale of them put me in my place – in a good way: reminding me how little my own concerns counted in the great scheme of things. Here’s a quiet scene from a lakeside high up the slopes not too far from our house.

Or these, from le Cap du Carmil …

There, lakes provided the solace that being near water often provides. Back in the UK, it’s the sea.

For the everyday recharge, it’s greenery, plain and simple. Local woodlands.

…or just a little bit more distant – Coverdale.

There’s just one place I need to mention though: one I’ve talked about before, more than once. A special afternoon and evening in l’Albufera, just beyond Valencia, where there is nothing but the lagoon, the sky, and wildlife … and peace. That’s my featured photo, and my best recharge ever.

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Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

57 thoughts on “Recharging and Renewal”

  3. I don’t think the way we live now is very natural at all and that is why we seek our recharge out in nature. Next week Mary Beth and I will be in Maine at Acadia National Park and that is where we try to go for renewal every year if we can. Although Bar Harbor, where the park is located, is a town that attracts tourists and has many nice little shops, it only takes a few minutes to walk someplace wild and away from all the noise.
    It’s good to have a special place, such as you’ve shared here, and I hope you get to visit there often.

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    1. I’m lucky to live in the countryside, and can get a quick recharge very easily. It was a lifesaver during Lockdown. Maine is one of the areas of the US I would love to visit. Enjoy your wilderness time!

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      1. Our state’s Governor encouraged people to get out into Nature during the lockdown. I was out most every day until our business was allowed to reopen. Thanks, Margaret. Maine has a lot to offer.

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  4. I know just what you mean about mountains grounding you amd giving you perspective. For me it’s not only their size, it’s also their age! So I love your mountain scenes but also on a very different scale that image of a still rock pool on the beach. I don’t think we’ve been in Coverdale, it looks lovely – must check it out on a future visit to Yorkshire!

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    1. Coverdale is worth getting to know. It’s not as accessible as some of the other Dales, which protects it from too big an influx. Carlton is not a bad place to use as a centre-of-gravity. Yes, the age of the mountains is something else that makes them special. I’ve just finished a fascinating book: ‘Walking the bones of Britain’, by Christopher Somerville. He does just that – walking north to south and discovering its ancient geology. That’ll put you in your place!

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  5. Margaret, it’s so nice to see we are in sync about our recharging opportunities. I love mountains just as much as I love the ocean. I got my fill reading your post. We are so lucky to have places such as those you featured that are close to us or just a short distance. The lake near your house is gorgeous. I simply loved your opening photo in l’Albufera. Great post and stunning photos!

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  7. Just enjoying these places through your photos is a recharging in itself. I would feel the peace of each of your locations but woodland is probably my favourite place for silence (which is nerver silent of course), peace and beauty.

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    1. I haven’t read your post yet – I will. But it goes without saying – for me anyhow -that such places have the power to switch off noise, both internal and external (and it’s internal that’s often harder for me), apart from permitted sounds such as water or birdsong.

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      1. I know just the internal noise you mean and that’s the hardest to quiet. Concentration on the details in nature I find helps, one of the reasons I don’t get very far is I’ve been staring at a mushroom. I love to look at those macro photos that people take, of insects and tiny fungi. Somehow looking down at tiny things can take me away from those metaphorical clouds around my head.

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  15. What wonderful recharging places and spaces…and getting away from the noise of life. I miss walking in mountain regions, or deep in forests…but your images are a tonic for the soul

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  16. You must have cried buckets at leaving all that behind, Margaret, but still you’ve compensated pretty well with what you have to hand. I’m not a woods person (unless there are bluebells) but that L’Albufera scene is so beguiling. How strange that I was hovering over booking a week in Valencia with the youngsters at Spring Bank just before I came here. It’s more expensive than I wanted to pay, but I’m tempted.

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    1. Valencia is a rewarding destination. Lots of sightseeing in a city that’s not too touristy, the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is endlessly fascinating (though not cheap), the sea, open space, and of course l’Albufera. No woods though, so that’s a bonus for you 😉

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  20. What a beautiful place to recharge Margaret. I also love the mountains. I can sit in their grandeur and wonder what they have seen and experienced. I have driven up mountains tall and small, but one, Mt. Hood in Oregon, cast it’s spell on me. Great photos and thanks for sharing.

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    1. Well, my site only accepts respectable people! Seriously, what IS happening? WP seems to take it into its head to monitor whom we may follow. It’s kicked me off various sites from time to time too. Thanks for trying – and for following.

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      1. I guess the first sentence reflects my hurdle 😉 Now when I look at my “Jetpack” list of sites I follow, I do not see yours, but when I try to add yours it tells me I am already following you 🤷‍♀️. I shall persist!

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    1. Yes. A lot. Especially since Brexit and the ensuing farce that calls itself British politics. But we are happy in our community here too, and nearer 2 sets of grandchildren – though further from the Spanish family. It’s complicated. You seem to have it all down to a fine art.

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      1. Mmm! Well, its getting trickier with Brexit, residency etc and I would miss being in the woodland but not the flights to and fro.It is hard keeping up the community links in both places and regular grandkid contacts. So seems sometimes more like graffiti attempts than fine art!

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  24. I love the fabulous views from your house, Margaret! The image of the woodland and Coverdale take my breath away. Great places to recharge.

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