Dawn. Worth Getting Up For?

You’re  not crawling out of bed at 3.30 because you’ve got an early shift at work.  You’re not getting up at silly o’clock because you’ve got to go through the whole dismal business of airport security and a flight before beginning your holiday.  No.  You’re getting up because you want to.  You can even largely skip getting washed, let alone finding presentable clothing.

That was me, last week.

3.45: I crept out of the house before it was even light, not waking anyone else up. In the car, on the way to Studley, the full moon shone cold white in an charcoal sky. The first glimmer of light – a sort of navy-with-apricot-ish coral stole across the horizon. Rabbits loped along the verges.  A barn owl rose silently from the road ahead, clasping its prey.

About 4.05: At Studley, those rich salmon sky-tones were flaring brighter now. A blackbird sang.  Just the one. Within minutes, he was joined by others.  Then robins, song thrushes. After that, wrens, bluetits, then blackcaps, chaffinches, chiffchaffs and nuthatches.  Even a curlew.  Even a tawny owl.  Not that I’d have known all this if it hadn’t been for Merlin.

I walked towards the trees, not yet quite in leaf, silhouetted against  the brightening sky.  Deer, more curious than startled, came to gaze at me before resuming grazing, or sometimes deciding that fleeing silently away together was a better option.

Gillet Hill gave views of Ripon and beyond, the now magenta sky beginning to halo the cathedral. But maybe the view from St. Mary’s would be even better?  The deer thought so.

The church was a fine sight in its own right, but haze now hid the cathedral, and down the hill I went to catch, at 5.20 (not 5.35, as advertised), the sun rising over the horizon.  I watched it climb – rather quickly, rather dramatically actually.

Then the early morning chill (1 degree ….)  finally got to me, and I elected for the warmth of the car home, then a hot shower, cosy clothes, and – just a bit later, breakfast, fresh-brewed coffee, and the chance to share news of my adventures.

Wasn’t all that worth getting up for?

The correct answer is ‘Yes’.

For Jo’s Monday Walk

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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.

37 thoughts on “Dawn. Worth Getting Up For?”

  1. Bless you, I couldn’t possibly say no. But him to whom I am married would call you a mad woman. And he’s a light sleeper so I’d have great difficulty getting out of the house without waking him, and he’d be grumpy. And I can’t drive and live nowhere near Studley, so I can only be very grateful to you. The best I can manage is to slip up to the roof and watch the skyline. Sea… no deer. And TV aerials, the bain of my life. Thanks, Margaret xx

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  2. Well done you! judging by the photos and your cheery prose, I would say it was definitely worth getting up for. quite often on holiday I would get up early and enjoy the dawn, returning a little later for my coffee and croissants.

    I loved your comment about the deer deciding that fleeing silently away together was a better option!

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  5. Wow, that is early! I found Merlin a few years ago and it was eye-opening or rather ear opening. But I have never ever gotten up that early and gone to a place to listen to birds. That sounds so cool. I have noticed the birds are chirp chirp chirping away in the early morning lately. My hummingbird feeder got 11 hits yesterday up from five from the day before. They are flocking back to my backyard. Have a great day and keep sharing your walks.

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  6. Seems it was definitely worth it – it gave you lots of pleasure and some memorable images 🙂 I’ve been known to get up early for special happenings while travelling, especially safari rides and occasionally ballooning. I don’t mind it but Chris hates it – he really is not a morning person!

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    1. As a lifelong Lark, it’s hard for me to understand the inability to rise and shine. On the other hand, being an Owl is something I can’t really handle at all. Each to her/his own!

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  10. A definite yes from me. As long as I can share your views. 3:30 is more likely to be the time I fall asleep rather than get up! I am very much a night owl.

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