"Unusual happenings"

The are always unusual "happenings" when one fishes at night, some unexplained, some with a much more obvious explanation. There are some images that I can never forget - they are imprinted in my brain forever. Five years ago, looking down from Jan Morrises pool, the moon, full shining along that stretch of river, shafts of moonlight shimmering through the trees - absolute magic, no words can describe it, I wish I had a photograph, but that might spoil it.

In 1990 at the beginning of the season, when the river was very low all along the tidal stretch Allt Goch and the pool above there were luminescent shrimps. They were very noticeable shining in the half darkness. They were there only for a few days - I've never seen that happen since although occasionally off the beach in Criccieth you do get there luminescent shrimps from time to time.

Luminescence is an interesting phenomenon - lumps of rotting wood often in the water glow due to a luminescent fungus. This often causes consternation.

On the stony ground above Lloyd George's Grave near the new pools there are usually quite a few fireflies, with the end of their abdomen glowing brightly - worth looking for.

Shooting stars are a common event, easily seen on a clear night. Meteor showers often occur in August. Very occasionally a larger one comes to Earth as it did some five years ago when I was fishing with Ian Doughty by Penmaen pool in Trefan Woods. It was certainly spectacular and as it came to earth somewhere out at sea there was a large explosion. It was reported and discussed on the local radio station the following morning.

A year earlier another similar occurrence took place below the Concrete Pool, but with this one the was no explosion but a very bright light traveling very slowly which disappeared over the sea.

As I write this there is a thunderstorm rumbling around and reminds me of the same pool below the Concrete Pool, after some very dry weather - the river was very low and a tremendous thunderstorm broke about 11 o'clock at night. As it began to rain, at the bottom end of the pool coming up from Allt Goch - we could hear them coming through the run - we could sea three "V"'s coming up the pool - huge fish. What a sight!

The Eclipse 11/8/99

A partial eclipse - about 90%, pictures were taken from the bridge at Llanystumdwy - see below. The temperature noticeably dropped, less light but not darkness, a very peculiar light, birds became less active. Very nice "multiple eclipses" on the woodland floor above Lloyd  Georges Grave (the gaps in the leaves of the trees acting as pin hole cameras), (thanks to David Heaf of Hafan Llanystumdwy who pointed out this phenomenon).

eclipse no filter	multiple eclipses woodland above grave	eclipse waning	and again	bridge pool

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