A tractor ride through the Downs

 Once a year, before it gets busy as crops are gathered in, the village of Chaldon Herring raises funds for the village hall and church by running annual tractor and trailer rides through the Dorset Downs.


Along farm tracks...... past fields full of barley and wheat,


and towards the sea ....... looking towards the Isle of Portland.


 and in the opposite direction towards Lulworth Cove and the Purbecks.


 The light was fantastic over the sea.........


 But the dark clouds also meant rain and as we turned away from this view back inland, the heavens opened.


It was a very wet group of people who returned to the village!


As I was loading these pictures I suddenly remembered this painting by the famous painter John Constable. He visited this area during his honeymoon in 1816 and this is one of his paintings. Almost two hundred years later it doesn't look very different does it!   Hopefully he didn't get caught in a storm too!

John Constable - Weymouth Bay from the Downs above Osmington Mills c.1816
Wherever you are I hope you had a good weekend too.
Sarah x

Comments

  1. Anonymous28 July 2013 at 20:24

    Lovely post Sarah, especially with the painting at the end to compare. I always enjoy seeing the sea on your blog, it makes me wistful to be there x

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  2. forgetmenotsblue28 July 2013 at 20:30

    I can see why Constable was inspired by that beautiful scenery. x

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  3. Unknown28 July 2013 at 21:13

    What a lovely way to see the countryside! We have also had much needed rain and it has cooled things down a bit! It's nice to know that the countryside of Constable hasn't changed that much.

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  4. Castles Crowns and Cottages28 July 2013 at 21:38

    Hello sweet Sarah and Daisy! Thank you for taking us to the sea; many of us are not near it at all, and live vicariously through those of you who share your musings and tours. SO GORGEOUS and how lovely that this area has NOT CHANGED in 200 years! Hugs, Anita

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  5. tlcukjourney28 July 2013 at 22:34

    I think you live near one of the mist beautiful areas of our planet! You are so very blessed.
    Have a great week,
    Tammy x

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  6. beachcomber28 July 2013 at 23:58

    i love your countryside rolling into the sea!
    x

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  7. flowersandhome29 July 2013 at 00:09

    Beautiful views again! The sea and the countryside right next to it is so lovely to see.

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  8. Gardens at Waters East29 July 2013 at 02:28

    It was a delight to find your Blog this evening. Anytime I see photos of the sea, it moves me. Living here on the shores of Lake Michigan in USA is just about like living on the sea. It is a super large body of water and I often have it as a backdrop to my garden photos. It is the sixth largest body of water in the world. Water, as you know, makes so much of a difference in the lives of those of us who live near it. So good to visit your Blog. JC

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  9. Gerda29 July 2013 at 03:59

    Beautiful photo's, and a nice way to visit it. Groetjes, Gerda

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  10. greenthumb29 July 2013 at 04:13

    What a fabulous time you all must have had, looks like fun.

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  11. Vintage Sheet Addict29 July 2013 at 05:39

    You are so lucky to be near such beauty! :) x

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  12. Gracie Saylor29 July 2013 at 05:41

    The village fund raising tractor rides sound like fun [except for getting drenched :)] .I remember how I enjoyed a few tractor tour rides as a child, although I did not get to see the sea or grazing sheep. I loved viewing your photos and the painting of your surroundings! Thanks for posting, Sarah!

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  13. Leanne29 July 2013 at 07:01

    I love the comparison of photograph and painting, Sarah. I think the sky looks it's best when the rain is coming.

    Leanne xx

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  14. Anonymous29 July 2013 at 08:16

    Ohh! Happy memories. I was at college in Weymouth from 1972 to 1975 . I met my husband now of nearly 40 years and he proposed to e at Lulworth Cove. Thank you for bringing such happy times flooding back.

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  15. Rosemary29 July 2013 at 09:30

    Dear Sarah - I felt so heartened to see the Constable painting and to be reminded that although we think our country is becoming over crowded much of it actually still remains the same. It is true of Scotland, Wales and much of rural England. Pretty 16th and 17th century villages sleepily reside untouched by the modern world apart from the roads being much busier.

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  16. The Faerie Factory29 July 2013 at 10:19

    Stunning pictures, you live in such a beautiful part of the world, it hasn't changed a bit ~ Sarah x

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  17. Wendy29 July 2013 at 10:30

    Beautiful views of the sea and all that open countryside. It is fascinating to look at the Constable painting and compare landscapes, especially when the weather is coming in from the sea in the painting, too.

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  18. rusty duck29 July 2013 at 11:14

    Great shots of the sky over the sea.. and the incoming rain :(

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  19. valerietilsten59.blogspot.com29 July 2013 at 11:34

    What a great treat, to ride the tractor through the downs..
    The views are spectacular .. I always say..you live in such a wonderful area.. its beautiful
    Constable sure did take in the reality of the place.. it looks no different.
    I like his work.
    enjoyed this post Sarah.
    Happy Monday.
    val x

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  20. Maria29 July 2013 at 11:46

    Just catching up with you, Sarah! I think your views are amazing what ever the weather...I have said it before many times, your pictures always look like holiday snaps! Love the painting with the drama in the skies...Big hugs Maria x

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  21. In My Wild Eden29 July 2013 at 13:44

    What a beautiful place to be. It is wonderful how it still looks like his beautiful painting. Even with the rain, I would have loved that ride!

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  22. SeagullSuzie29 July 2013 at 13:59

    The tractor rides through the Downs is a great idea for raising funds. Lovely photos, I particularly like the calm sea with sheep in the foreground, like you say the light is wonderful. It is still good to see some parts of the country have not changed too much. Thanks for a lovely little tractor tour.

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  23. kristieinbc29 July 2013 at 14:31

    Doing the tractor rides as a fundraiser is a great idea! I'm sorry you got rained on though.

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  24. Annie Cholewa29 July 2013 at 15:53

    Love the charity tractor ride idea, but not that you all got wet!

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  25. Patricia29 July 2013 at 15:59

    Such a lovely part of the country Sarah but I haven't been that way for a good few years. Beautiful scenery.
    Patricia x

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  26. Louise29 July 2013 at 16:09

    That sounds like so much fun, I'd love to do a tractor ride through the downs! Lovely painting too, I like Constable - we used to have the haywain as table mats when I was very small and I loved it!

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  27. Anonymous29 July 2013 at 20:35

    What a wonderful idea, I would love to take a ride, what ever the weather!
    beautiful shots Sarah
    Happy Days of Summer
    Thea x

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  28. Emilie's daughter29 July 2013 at 21:40

    I had a good weekend, thank you Sarah! These photos make me crazy and my mouth watering - England is such a wonderful country and I hope to visit soon and walk, walk, walk and watch and see and feel and breath! Christa

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  29. lucent imagery30 July 2013 at 23:33

    I just adore the light and the fields! Thank you for sharing your summer goodness via these pictures and your comment on my blog. Surely, one can never be too old to enjoy a tractor ride!

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