March 2, 2010

The Bore

No, this isn’t a story about a dull person, but about a phenomenon called the Severn Bore. During my life, I’ve lived along the Severn River several times, on two continents and in three countries. When I lived in Annapolis, Maryland, it was along the banks of the Severn River. And when we stayed in Tewkesbury, England during a summer, our house was along the upper reaches of the Severn River. When I lived in Wales, Cardiff was on the Severn River, which had broadened to more than five miles wide. By St. Donat’s Castle, the river has turned into the Bristol Channel.Bristol_channel_landsat7The tides on the Bristol Channel are huge – the second highest in the world – up to 50 feet between high and low tide. Twice a year, during the spring and autumn equinoxes, the tides come in as a wave with such force that people surf, canoe and kayak them. The waves are up to nine feet high and move at a rate of 25 km/h. People come from all over the world to see this amazing sight. Severn--001

This is the week that the bore arrives. The waves usually come in the morning and evening and it takes a bit more than two hours for the bore to travel up the river.  Severn--003

"When the boar comes, the stream does not swell by degrees, as at other times, but rolls in with a head...foaming and roaring as though it were enraged by the opposition which it encounters" - Thomas Harrel 1824

Severn-006 This guy would totally be a friend of mine!

8 comments:

  1. Cool, Meg, very cool!

    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  2. love the new header - enough of snow! - that last picture just kills me.

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  3. So glad you go full bore in life and write to share it.

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  4. No to be a bore, but I really should've worn the neoprene dive bootie. The Chucks really didn't photograph well. Ah well, live and learn.

    heh.

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  5. OMG! That IS you! I thought you looked especially easy & elegant.

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