Riding With the Storm Clouds

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by Arundhati Basu

There is such beauty in transition. For example an exceedingly dreary day of rain and colourless skies can make way for a pretty sunset as it did today. The sun set in a flaming ball of fire way faster than I could pound across the pavement to get to it. This is the second time it has happened that it has given me the slip, within a week. I guess I have to time these runs better. But within the matter of a half hour, the skies had changed tune again. This time they graduated to a dirty grey pink that made way for a smoky blue.

The waters that had lapped gently against the mossy breakwaters in a rippling of sheet silver as if adapted to the change of tenor to a blackish-blue tinge. Usually I would have made my way home because it had turned stormy, oh but the hypnotic pull of the waters, the many twinkling lights of the port glittering like jewels against the inky backdrop and the thin strip of vibrant orange as if separating the river from the sky… The leaves of autumn that had arrived late in my part of the world started wafting towards me in fistfuls, glinting golden under the halogen of the street lights, twirling and pirouetting like fluid ballerinas. I was sold. I could not stop running under the stormy skies and the park was all mine apart from the tubby squirrels and a couple of dogs and their masters – the bearded terrier checking out the tiny pooch with perked-up ears and the stance of a tiny brave warrior.

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Arundhati Basu

The great affair in my life is to travel. I count myself immensely fortunate that my partner shares this passion. We are a team that likes to spend time planning and plotting out places to go. Destination check, flights check, accommodation check, cheesy grins check. Off we go.

62 thoughts on “Riding With the Storm Clouds”

  6. How beautiful is that sunset!! Definitively wish I could have been there to enjoy the immense beauty of nature – and I adore how it is complimented by the glowing streetlights 🙂 amazing post as always ❤️

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  11. Wow. Just wow. I step away for a bit (a few months), and so much has changed. Love the new format of your blog!

    But some things haven’t changed. Your prose, as always, is as vivid and captivating as the photos. Good luck chasing down the sunset. It’s one of those races that provides its own reward.

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    1. Thanks Gabe, the change was overdue and I am a sloth, so I finally got there while you were out meeting bears and vampires. You are incredibly kind to say such words. Cannot wait to read about your experiences and hey I am taking that good luck for the next few days.

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  13. Super photos! I love the play of light upon water and the way the sky and sea change in sync and how no two days are the same. The view is the reason we bought our home and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

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  15. Lex and I were just talking about how much we love to be out when there are storm clouds. California is such a dry place that when we do see rain clouds, we get pretty silly and immediately want to go out and ogle at them. Your amazing photos are definitely ogle-worthy! 😉 Thanks for sharing them! – Neek

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    1. Thank you Neek. We are truly soulmates then. This was one of the most startling storm clouds I had set my eyes on. My over-enthusiasm got the better of me today when I thought it would not rain. Oh but how it poured! It did not help that it was icy cold outside and I had to walk gazillion blocks to get back home because I chose to pick up some baking essentials from the store post a run. Sigh.

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  24. I’ve come to appreciate a walk, run or bike ride in the rain. The overwhelming sense that I get from this piece is that you’re an absolute lover of color. You really give each one it’s moment to shine. My favorite is the last picture, dark greys and blues and flash of fiery orange. Beautifully written.

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    1. Why thanks Lyz…so generous of you. When nature conspires to give you such beautiful moments, you have got to capture her, no? Any activity in the rain sounds fun but the other day I was caught in this freezing rain outside when I went to the store which is like 24 bloody blocks away. I cannot tell you what insanity that was. I was withering away inside as I trudged back with heavy bags!

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  26. Such dramatic photos! Wow!

    And, this sentence won me: “There is such beauty in transition.” So many times I have said, why do things have to change? This is stressful, I don’t know what’s coming, and I was doing perfectly well before … (esp in my writing lately) – but … to realize, there is such beauty in transition as you put it, struck me as a perfectly apt observation at this moment. Thank you! 🙂

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    1. I am happy to hear that you are going through a transition. It is irking initially – we are such creatures of habit, aren’t we – but then once you are halfway into it, it might not seem so bad. Thank you for the lovely words, Theresa. Hugs xx

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