The rivers are all contained by embankments, but the land is still shrinking. As the land drained, however, it began to shrink, and sink to below the level of the rivers. It's still in constant danger of flooding and every town and village has a water tower (and a windmill, many still in working order). It was once marshland, but was systematically drained in the early modern era to create seemingly endless flat arable fields. This is a vast and eerie stretch of countryside which runs from Cambridge to Boston in Lincolnshire. I've selected some of the quirkier shots to share here, under the cut because this will be a bit photo-heavy, including the aforementioned prognosticator, a leech barometer (no, really).įirstly, the Fens.

I'm a crazed photographer on these trips, because you never know what might come in useful as a reference photo. Later this weekend, I'll post again to talk about the impending release of the Closet Capers anthology, which contains a rather sweet and daft story of mine, but for the time being I'm going to blather about my trip. I always come back not only relaxed but brimming with story ideas (I want to write about shipwrecks and lifeboatmen now, because the RNLI museum in Whitby moved me to tears). I've been to York once, and never set foot in Lincolnshire before, so I was clearly overdue a visit.

This year I explored Lincolnshire and the Yorkshire coast, two areas which were completely strange to me. I tend to take off for two weeks every Easter and just explore an area of the UK, spending a night or two in one place before I wander onwards somewhere else. So, I've been on my travels for the last couple of weeks.

Reawakening by Amy Rae Durreson