Lenticular clouds over the mountains

After seeing very light snow for just a matter of minutes at the weekend, I knew that, if I was going to make myself drive north of the city, I had better do it straight away. So, yesterday, 28 October 2014, I plucked up courage and drove "to parts unknown". Actually, part of the drive was along familiar roads and the rest was exploring.

I had intended leaving home around 9:00 am, but it ended up being 11:00 am. I had only been driving maybe 40 minutes before I pulled over for the first sighting. I couldn't take my eyes off one particular cloud - actually more like a stack of clouds. A car turned off along the gravel road shortly after me, and the young guy commented about the beautiful lenticular cloud. That is exactly what I had thought it might be, so I was really pleased. We don't get to see them very often. I've posted a photo of it this morning, taken using a special setting on my camera. I found that this setting showed the detail of the cloud better. I should add that this was a zoomed photo - the mountains were, in reality, more distant.

"Lenticular clouds (Altocumulus lenticularis) are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form in the troposphere, normally in perpendicular alignment to the wind direction. The clouds have been mistaken for UFOs (or "visual cover" for UFOs), particularly the round "flying saucer"-type, because these clouds have a characteristic lens appearance and smooth saucer-like shape; also, because lenticular clouds generally do not form over low-lying or flat terrain, many people have never seen one and are not aware clouds with that shape can exist. Bright colors (called irisation) are sometimes seen along the edge of lenticular clouds. These clouds have also been known to form in cases where a mountain does not exist, but rather as the result of shear winds created by a front.” From Wikipedia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenticular_cloud

Continuing my drive north, I managed to get as far as the town of Didsbury before I knew I just had to turn around and head for home, coming back via Water Valley and Grand Valley Rd/Horse Creek Rd. Saw quite a few Magpies, three or four Crows and one Gray Jay, lol. Other than that - oh, and one Hawk perched high up on a power pole along a busy road - I saw no wildlife at all. That was fine, though, as this trip was more about looking for barns. The one in this photo was a beauty. The owner's young Grandson happened to drive out of the property while I was taking photos. I asked if he knew how old the barn was - he said he'd been told, but just couldn't remember. Said his Grandfather had thought about painting the barn, but had decided not to - thank goodness. It is a fine enough historic building to be protected in some way, though.

During the seven hours that I was out on the road, I did manage to find several other barns, too, though not as spectacular as this one. Total driving distance was 322 km and this morning, my arms are feeling it! I also overslept by an hour and a half, and I have a volunteer shift to get ready for.