Mid Jutland, Lake District, Dusty Rain in November

A Taste of Denmark

This hedgerow  is from the second  week of November and almost all trees and bushes have lost their leaves now. It is early, compared to the previous years. It's one of those days where the sky is thick and grey, but where the colours are soft and blurred like in one of those English paintings which I like so much. Some British movies have caught that atmosphere in the landscape.



You probably know those  traffic circles. Various towns have created various traffic circles. This town, Ry, has chosen stones for the circle. They don't grow into a wilderness like some bushy circles do. If a town has a conncetion to a famous man, fx like Piet Hein, they place his super ellipse and super egg in traffic circles at the entrance to the town, a huge super ellipse and super egg, looking like they are made in solid silver. I'm not sure which town, maybe it's Skjern in West Jutland. The other little picture is a pretty villa at the top of a green hill in Ry, an expensive residential neighboorhood. 


But I'm not looking for a stay in town, I want to go out into the countryside, although the air is dripping with tiny rain drops. In Danish we call it "støvregn" (dusty rain) - you say drizzling. It must not grow into rain. I don't have a water camera. I know that photographers pack their camera into plastic, but I'm not a professional photographer. I can make a day without taking photos -  or I might take a photo from inside the car if necessary!


A path through a ploughed field. That dark umbra of the newly ploughed field is so warm. Don't worry about winter! December is a warm like umbra with lots of candles in the house and Christmas preparations. A tall bush in silhouette upon the little hill, waving with its twigs and branches. I cannot see what kind of bush, but it is perfect at that place, isn't it. Taking a closer look -  it might be a hawthorn.  


As usual on our way into the Lake district of Mid Jutland we pass the village Vrads with the little white church and the field with the Jutland horse. Usually I have a little chat with this horse, but not today. There are always three horses in this field, and the Jutland horse is the most curious. It has the most lovely friendly eyes under the thick  forelock. It looks as if it has got a haircut.




First destination was a path through a nature reserve, but we had to walk across the road to the lake instead. The soil was so muddy and smooth that we were sliding along the path like on ice skates. The lake was beautiful. The water was like the oh so often described mirror, and the farthest corner looked like a Norwegian mountain lake, dark and black. Everything was silent. Even the cows on the other side of the lake. They were only staring. Sweet cows. The resting place was not for use that day. Too wet. But we bring our folding chairs. Looking across the lake in a coffee break is not the worst thing to do for a cool Jutlander! I don't think you know the verse about the Jutlanders, and it is impossible to translate, but a Jutlander "he's strong and tough, and whether things go up or down you'll never see him being lost!" I'm not sure it fits with me - although I'm a born Jutlander!   

Cammock leaves by the lake

The next place on our little tour was at Klostermølle. On the way we passed the meadow where trees and bushes have been removed to give place for birds. Many geese are grazing here in winter. A tree is left in the middle of the meadow and the buzzard usually sits here, watching for prey, but today the tree has been occupied by a humble crow. We're always looking for the kingfisher by the water stream - there is a big channel and water mill at Klostermølle, built by the Benedictine monks in the early Middle Ages, but I have made some posts about this before. I like this place. We did not see the kingfisher, and if we had then this little bird is extremely quick. I haven't caught a useful photo yet. You'll just see a blue metallic glimpse ahead of you, and then it comes back a little later, always like a little blue lightning. Such a little tease!  And I haven't got the patience to wait for a perfect shot. The watermill at Klostermølle lies by one of Denmark's largest lakes, Mossø, and the shores of this lake
 are among the loveliest places I know. The trees along the lake are so pretty, I hope they will keep healthy so they don't have to fall. Here was once a fine kloster, and I can easily imagine the monks walking around here. The place is so peaceful, and today every sound is like covered in a soft woolen blanket.

The weather gets more and more dusty with rain and this soft-coloured photo looks like a painting.

 



Twilight came, and there was a sudden glow behind the forest until darkness fell completely. The days are short...........














 
photo Mid Jutland November 2011: grethe bachmann

click to enlarge pictures.

Klostermølle in Winter

present buildings

channel by the mill

Benedictine monks established ab. 1050-110 a kloster, named Voer kloster, close to the big lake Mossø in the lake distrikt in the middle of Jutland. It was one of the first klosters in Denmark, and it was probably also the monks, who established the 1300 m long dam, which forces the waters of the Gudenå river into a channel. Here was a waterfall which was able to run a watermill, also named Klostermølle today. (meaning "mill at the kloster"). The kloster was abandoned after the reformation and there are now only rests of foundations under the yard between the present buildings.

Nature school and center.

the drying barn

new bridge

The drying barn is built in three storeys. Here was a paper factory. It is now a workshop, where the forest district dry wood and make wooden objects for the public. In the corner of the barn with a view to the delta and the river Gudenå is a bird-tower. In the present buildings is a nature school. Here is also nearby a camping for canoeing tourists from 16 June until 31. December. In the mill buildings are exhibitions.

 

lots of ice at the mill today

along channel

a view from center to Mossø lake

in meadow, no geese today

but mother duck and father duck

marsh titmouse

a nice little nuthatch

Along the channel is a walking path, no disturbance from cyclists or skateboarders etc. Sands have been laid out on the moist ground. It's a good place to take a walk. Here in winter are not many people in the area, but in summer is it a lively place, both swarming with people and with birds. And there is a variety of plants along the river and in the area around the nature center - and many plant-relicts, like medical herbs, from the time while it was a kloster-center. Now on this icy cold day is not much life. A few birds high up in the trees. A nuthatch and some tits. 

Sorry, the woodpecker disappeared!

the delta seen from the bird tower.

Well, a winter's day - a very short day out. It is still very cold with an icy eastern wind. No need to stay out longer  than a couple of hours and the light will soon disappear. How wonderful it will be in just a month - I'm sure! More life - snowdrops and crocus and eranthis and anemones as some of the first flowers, all the birds singing, butterflies suddenly emerging in sunny sheltered places ...the humming of bees........... it is easy to dream, isn't it?

Black alder at the channel

the channel - here is the kingfisher - on occassions!

Rye church

The church in Rye lies on the top of a hill and is seen far away. Its old name is Sct. Sørens church, and Søren was a farmer's boy, who run away from working with the plough. He became a monk, and later a priest and died as bishop in Cologne in Germany ab. year 400. One thousand year later people "discovered " that a well in the forest at Rye was made sacred by Søren, and a pilgrimage began to the church and the well. So the Sct. Søren church in Rye thus was one of the centers of the spiritual life in medieval Denmark.

Various great events happened in this church. Here were also elections of the Danish king. Christian 3. was elected king by the Jutland nobility here on 4. July 1534. This election was the start of the fall of the Catholic church in Denmark.

the mystic farm

At last I took a photo of a farm which we often pass after the church. It always looks so desolate - as if no one lives there. However, there are signs of activities. Maybe the living house is built behind the stables close to and sheltered by the wood. And maybe they have a nice garden there!


photo Klostermølle 12. february 2011: grethe bachmann

In the Lake District in October

Mossø in October. It is a large lake in the lake district in the middle of Jutland and a part of the system of the river Gudenå. It is about 10 km long and about 2 km broad. The lake is surrounded by forests, meadows and farm land. In some places are large weed woods and bog areas along the banks of the lake. Mossø is listed in order to maintain its present condition and to secure access for the public. There's a rich flora and fauna. (+ English text)


The farmers are busy.


I cannot resist the Highlanders. They were too far away, no matter!


A grave hill. I wonder who has been resting here for more than thousand years.


Klostermølle. Here is a tree with a passage for a creeping through. Wanda, have you found one where you live? I hope you're not stuck! The channel behind the tree was digged by monks in the Middle Ages. There was a kloster nearby, (Voer Kloster), established by Benedictiner monks, (year 1050-1100) and they probably decided to establish the 1.300 m long dam at the foot of a high hill named Sukkertoppen (The Sugar Top!), forcing the waters of the river Gudenå into a channel and a fall, where the monks could use the water power in a mill.


Klostermølle. The field was last year overgrown with bushes and small trees. They have now been removed as part of a project and a listing of a large area. This winter it gives more space for the geese, when they arrive and go grazing in the winter period.


Klostermølle. A small jungle by the channel, but no real jungle. There are no dangerous animals. I always look for the kingfisher and often see it by the channel, but it flies so fast that I haven't been able to "catch" it - yet! But it is such a joy to watch that little metallic blue bird, when it is racing above the surface of the water, giving its characteristic short call.


One of our destinations was Kongsø Hede (heath). The Nøddekrige had been seen her. The spotted nutcracker, Latin Nucifraga caryocatactes. It is a rare Danish breeding bird, but a frequent migrating and winter guest. In some years are actual invasions. Near Kongsø Hede is a fine area with hazel and nuts for this bird.


Kongsø Hede is situated by a hiking route along Hærvejen. Two lakes, Kalgård Sø and Kongsø lie close to the heath, where nature is taken care of in order to prevent overgrowth and to keep the heather young. Upon the heath is a small dammed lake with a castle bank, named "Hansborg".

There are marked paths and information boards in the whole hiking area.


Kongsø Hede. Old age does not look bad on a tree.


Cosy Cattle.


I like our old churches.


A gorgeous tree at the church yard. It must be one of the chestnuts.


There is a resting place here at Torup lake at the top of a slope , good for a coffee break. The lake was silent and the water was a mirror, usually with many swans, but no swans were visible now. They have probably gone to another and better place before winter. Birds have a special talent, they know when and where to go. Some withered ferns blocked the view, so I went to the edge of the slope to take a photo of the mirrored lake. I disturbed a flock of ducks. They made an awful noise flying up and fleeing from this awful disturber. Sorry, dear ducks. They flew across water and circled in front of the forest, before they landed in the far corner of the lake, where they found peace and quiet.


across the water.......

in front of the forest.....


cattle is so reassuring to my restless mind. They just lie there, those cud-chewing animals, worried about nothing, just being in the Now!


The last stop that day was my favourite little lake, Brudesø. (The Bride's Lake). It was of the most amazing blue that day, and the background was deep purple. It was so pretty we could hardly go on, but it was very cold - and as usual I should have put on warmer clothes. I'm always in the same little problem each year in the transition from autumn to winter. I'll never learn! Last week the air was mild , but now I can really feel king Winter is lurking around the corner, waiting to freeze our nose off. So we had to leave my dear lake and go home to have some hot cocoa! See you next time.


photo Mid Jutland 16. October 2010: grethe bachmann