Time for another blog chain!
This month's prompt: Setting the Scene
Write a location description, and make us feel as if we are there. No dialogue, no introductory comments, just a location. We're the tourists, you're the guide.
There's a divergence along the road, splitting off to the left. For the last few miles, drivers went by lush green trees with branches full of thick leaves, and only glimpses of a space beyond, glimpses at a silvery expanse of water. Now this new path leads to a clearing through the beautiful but isolating trees. The road turns from smooth tar to sun-baked dirt as it approached the water. There is a small row of parking spaces, and not another soul around. Leaving the vehicle behind, one can walk down to the lake's shore and look over the water. The sun is hot and bright, but a wind blows just gently enough to keep the air comfortable. There are colorful canoes along the far away sides of the lake. The water is a narrow stretch, but it is long - looking straight out, one can only see a endless path of water into the horizon. Perhaps it even does go out to the ocean.
A rusted sign says No Swimming, but a dip doesn't seem necessary anyway. A small dock stretches out onto the water. Walking onto the firm wooden planks is like being on the playground again as a child. On each side one can see rocks and plants just underneath the water. They have a yellowish tone, with light rippling around them, and a slightly slimy look. Unfortunately, there are no fish to be seen. As one walks out further, the water darkens until even squinting, the bottom is no longer visible. With a shift of weight, one can gently rock the dock side to side. There's something entirely relaxing about water, or the calm, quiet day, or the warm weather. A temptation to go ahead and ignore that No Swimming sign. Not that a swim would be necessary, but it would be fun.
orion_mk3 - http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com (link to this month's post)
juniper - http://www.katjuniper.com/ (link to this month's post)
LadyMage - http://www.katherinegilraine.com/ (link to this month's post)
dolores haze - http://dianedooley.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
jkellerford - http://jennykellerford.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
Ralph Pines - http://ralfast.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
AuburnAssassin - http://clairegillian.com/ (link to this month's post)
pezie - http://www.erinbrambilla.com/ (link to this month's post)
Inkstrokes - http://drlong67.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
WildScribe - http://DionneObesoBlog.com/ (link to this month's post)
Guardian - http://daewrites.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
Lyra Jean - http://lyratorres.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
egoodlett - http://wordlarceny.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
cwachob - http://www.corriewachob.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
Aheïla - http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
faerydancer - http://digitalinkwell.wordpress.com (link to this month's post)
TheMindKiller - http://www.jabberwocky.ws/ (link to this month's post)
Irissel - http://irissel.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
xcomplex - http://www.arielemerald.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
Robbi Sommers Bryant - http://www.robbibryant.blogspot.com (link to this month's post)
This month's prompt: Setting the Scene
Write a location description, and make us feel as if we are there. No dialogue, no introductory comments, just a location. We're the tourists, you're the guide.
There's a divergence along the road, splitting off to the left. For the last few miles, drivers went by lush green trees with branches full of thick leaves, and only glimpses of a space beyond, glimpses at a silvery expanse of water. Now this new path leads to a clearing through the beautiful but isolating trees. The road turns from smooth tar to sun-baked dirt as it approached the water. There is a small row of parking spaces, and not another soul around. Leaving the vehicle behind, one can walk down to the lake's shore and look over the water. The sun is hot and bright, but a wind blows just gently enough to keep the air comfortable. There are colorful canoes along the far away sides of the lake. The water is a narrow stretch, but it is long - looking straight out, one can only see a endless path of water into the horizon. Perhaps it even does go out to the ocean.
A rusted sign says No Swimming, but a dip doesn't seem necessary anyway. A small dock stretches out onto the water. Walking onto the firm wooden planks is like being on the playground again as a child. On each side one can see rocks and plants just underneath the water. They have a yellowish tone, with light rippling around them, and a slightly slimy look. Unfortunately, there are no fish to be seen. As one walks out further, the water darkens until even squinting, the bottom is no longer visible. With a shift of weight, one can gently rock the dock side to side. There's something entirely relaxing about water, or the calm, quiet day, or the warm weather. A temptation to go ahead and ignore that No Swimming sign. Not that a swim would be necessary, but it would be fun.
orion_mk3 - http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com (link to this month's post)
juniper - http://www.katjuniper.com/ (link to this month's post)
LadyMage - http://www.katherinegilraine.com/ (link to this month's post)
dolores haze - http://dianedooley.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
jkellerford - http://jennykellerford.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
Ralph Pines - http://ralfast.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
AuburnAssassin - http://clairegillian.com/ (link to this month's post)
pezie - http://www.erinbrambilla.com/ (link to this month's post)
Inkstrokes - http://drlong67.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
WildScribe - http://DionneObesoBlog.com/ (link to this month's post)
Guardian - http://daewrites.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
Lyra Jean - http://lyratorres.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
egoodlett - http://wordlarceny.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
cwachob - http://www.corriewachob.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
Aheïla - http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
faerydancer - http://digitalinkwell.wordpress.com (link to this month's post)
TheMindKiller - http://www.jabberwocky.ws/ (link to this month's post)
Irissel - http://irissel.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
xcomplex - http://www.arielemerald.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
Robbi Sommers Bryant - http://www.robbibryant.blogspot.com (link to this month's post)
Labels:
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Labels:
absolute write,
blog chain,
happiness,
life,
maine,
scenic,
setting,
summer,
writing
Posts
I'm guessing that there is a powerful reason why the water is so inviting although I am intrigued by the last sentence.
Ah, it looks like this is in second-person present tense...very rare these days! It's a nicely lush and inviting description, a little reminiscent of some of the classic text adventures (obvious exits are NORTH, SOUTH, and DENNIS), which is never a bad thing.
Second Person is hard to write but I think it is fun as well. More conversational.
What a great scene I could see everything. I have to agree with ralfast, maybe it's just me but the rusty no swimming sign and the yellow tint to the rocks seems ominous. Although the colourful canoes offsets that idea.
Nicely done.
Oooo... great visual description here! makes me want to jump in the lake too ;) but I'm afraid of what might be down there...
Thanks for the comments guys. I didn't mean for this to come out in 2nd person, but I'm glad that it works at least. :)
I didn't have a location in mind for this challenge until I started writing. It was just a stopping point on the road trip my mom and I had recently. But you're right, @drlong67, it does feel a little ominous.
Very pretty description. Well done!
It reads like a wonderful travelogue, something someone like a Rick Steves would pen for his fans. I liked the part about the swaying dock--those little sensory details make all the difference.
Your blog's beautifully themed, by the way.
Gosh, I kind of want to ignore the No Swimming sign too. It reminds me of this little lake I used to go to in highschool with my friends. Sort of private and off the beaten path. Good job!
Thanks Claire. :)
It took a while to pick out the theme, and then fix it. (Themes always seem to break my comments!)
Thank you, Erin! I'm glad it brought up some nice memories.
I remember when I was 13 or 14 and was on vacation at my Mom's house in South Carolina. I used to hang out with all kids on the street, aka dirt road. She lived a bit out in the sticks.
If you went to the end of the road turned onto the adjacent road, went halfway down, cut across this person's property there was a lake almost exactly like that. Except there was a rope swing and you were totally allowed to swim at your own risk. Thanks for reviving that memory it was a fun time in my life that I will always treasure.
Otherwise, it kinda reminded me of the movie, "Lake Placid", so I'll take memory #1 for $1000, Alex.
I don't want to ignore the No Swimming sign. I hate slimy rocks. They feel terrible on my feet.
Talking about no fish being visible actually reminded me of a time in Bremerton, Washington, where I couldn't see any fish either until the sun went down and I could see the schools of jellyfish glowing just below the water. Not that that has anything to do with your writing, just what it brought to mind :)
beautiful description! Reminds me of a place not far from Cape Hattaras, NC. I want to jump in the water, too, but something tells me that would be a HUGE mistake...
I love your blog theme! Stunning. Where did you find it?