A ten year old clip for Halloween

This is a clip taken on the Manhattan subway in 2003.

The star of the show is my grandson Callum. Two of his aunts sit either side and his sister and mum are both briefly glimpsed. 

He's almost fifteen now.

I hope he doesn't mind me sharing it again.

YouTube

Nothing fazes him these days.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Castramont October 2013

I got up feeling well under the weather and nearly decided not to walk. As I usually do I decided the walk would probably do me good so I went. Back home I went to bed at just after 8.30 pm and 12 hours later I woke at 7.30 am (clocks went back an hour). I guess it,s a bug of some sort. Feeling a bit better today.

Saturday the 26th of October 2013.

Today's walk leader is the Milkmaid with the Weaver as her back up.

We meet up at Castramon(t) woods for the walk start.

The question is do we call it Castramon, Castramont, Carstramon or Carstramont. Our leaders made the enquiry to the estate owner who say that the O.S map and other sources are wrong in their spelling, the correct one is Castramont. On a google search count Castramon wins the single word contest with 19,800, while Castramont hits 8680, Carstramon comes last. Yet put in 'House' after 'Castramont' and that wins with 20,400 hits.

I hope that clears up the confusion. ! Stop laughing now.  

There are twenty of us out today, the forecast is for rain in the early afternoon.

We set off road walking towards Rusco.

Photo by Kim Ayres

We were intrigued by the 'Dome of silence' sign. With a little bit of internet sleuthing I found it on the Environmental Art Festival Scotland website. It's by the Japanese artist, Ueno Masao.

Twins ?

After passing Nether Rusco we join the Gatehouse Station road. 

Rusco Castle dates back to the 16th Century.

Here's an interesting account of communication between Samuel Rutherford and John Gordon of Rusco

A noisy hound keeps guard at the castle gate.

The women outnumber the men today.

Scoop is out walking today. So, I get in the picture.

From here we head down to the Big Water of Fleet and join the riverside path.

The new hut beside this stream will be installed with a hydro electric generator. Well done to the estate owners, you'd think that with the rainfall we get in Scotland more of this technology wasn't in use.

I get snapped again by Scoop, that's the Milkmaid on the left.

My book tells me this is panaeolus sphinctrinus. Now how did it get that name I wonder ?

A dodgy bit of riverbank to negotiate.

The next set of pictures were all taken at the same location.........

...........the waterfall at Pool Ness

There's quite a flow of water tumbling.

Our walkers seem to be enjoying it.

Looks like I'm not the only one taking lots of pictures.

This is another of Scoops................

............as are these.

After quite a long look at the waterfall we make our way back up to the tarmac road at Upper Rusco.

To the northwest is Cairnsmore of Fleet with it's cap on.

Heading back towards Gatehouse we plough through some overgrown vegetation to again reach the river. 

Spot the walker trying to make a getaway.

The Big and Little Water join at Aikyhill meandering through the countryside to become simply the Water of Fleet. We too meander !

There's been a reason for a lack of rucksacks on the walk.........

...................................It's because we're having lunch back at the cars. 

I really shouldn't take pictures of people eating their lunches, but I think I can get away with this selection.

After lunch it looked like the forecast rain had arrived. We were lucky it was short lived. Now we were walking a circuit of the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Carstramon Woods (well that's the way the Wildlife Trust have spelled it)

Here's a puffball.

A collage from Scoop is the last image of this post.

Back at the cars, we headed down to the Galloway Lodge cafe for refreshments.

A very enjoyable walk considering the way I felt.

I'll publish the Milkmaid's report here when I get a copy.
.....and here it is.

Fleet Valley Walk

Saturday the 26th of October 2013.

On Saturday, 20 ramblers met at the Castramont wood parking area for a 7.5 mile walk in the Fleet Valley. The weather was warm but rain was forecast.

The walk was split into two halves with lunch back at the car park. The party donned waterproofs and set off, crossing the Fleet over the weak bridge under which lay a tree which appeared to have been uprooted during the recent wet weather. Rusko Castle which dates back to the 15th century was admired, and the Green Wood, which runs along the Big Water of Fleet, was soon reached. Here the walkers followed a well-made up path through deciduous and more recently planted coniferous woodland.  Bracken was turning reddish brown and starting to die back. The deciduous leaves were beginning to turn red and gold but it was felt they had not yet reached the peak of autumn splendour. 

 Along the river a heron was disturbed. It flew further down the river before looping back and disappearing across the other side.  

A stop was made to investigate the site of a new hydro generator system being installed by Rusko Estates to provide green electricity to Upper Rusko.  

Continuing down the riverside the Pool of Ness was sighted. The waterfall here was made spectacular by the recent heavy rain with peaty brown water and lots of foam. The group paused to admire and photograph the scene.  An inscription on a rock here states that grayling were added to the Fleet on the 22nd September 1870. Today this river is better known for its trout fishing.

A short walk uphill brought the walkers to the road leading to Gatehouse Station. From here views over the Fleet Valley, the Clints of Dromore and Cairnsmore of Fleet were enjoyed.  The road was followed back to Upper Rusko where the Green Wood could be re-entered. The Big Water of Fleet was then followed back towards the car park through low lying pasture. Here a high water line was visible denoting the recent flood levels. A red kite was spotted and a lone fisherman was disturbed. After re-crossing the weak bridge the hungry ramblers enjoyed lunch on a grassy bank by their cars.

With rain threatening a quick circular of Castramont woods was undertaken. Puffball toadstools emerged through fallen leaves coating the ground and the circular stands of gnarled ancient beech trees looked spectacular in their autumn clothing. Unfortunately the ‘Dome of Silence’ a bamboo and willow construction, by Japanese sculptor, Ueno Masao was not discovered.  Luckily the walk was finished and the company were enjoying tea and scones in the Galloway Lodge before the forecast rain began.

The next walk on Saturday the 2nd of November is an 8.5 mile circular walk over Barony Hill. Meet for car sharing at the Riverside, Newton Stewart and Stranraer Breastworks at 9.00am, or the walk start at Dailly Square War Memorial (NS270016) at 10am. New members are always welcome but must contact the walk leader on 01465 712180.

The Water of Minnoch - Roman Brig

Thursday the 24th of October........

was to be the only dry day of the week. 

I thought I'd make the most of it.

Drove up to Clachaneasy turned into the Galloway Forest Park

and parked up at Brigton Woods. I'm heading up to the Water of Minnoch.

There was still quite a bit of low lying mist around.

The damp vegetation shows masses of spiders webs on trees and grass.

These are sheet webs and the majority are made by the Linyphiidae family of spiders.

   

The dew still hangs heavy. Dewdrops make great pictures.

I've reached the riverside path.

There's a copious flow on the river.

More evidence of the Linyphia triangularis

The river looks colourful through the autumn leaves.

River bend at Drumsuir.

More felling due to larch disease perhaps.

The bracken's taking it's time to die off this year.

It looks a bit like a rain forest in places.

Only the occasional ripple from pond life disturbed the reflections in this pool.

Another reflection.

Th Old Bridge of Minnoch also known as the Roman Bridge.

Canmore and Scotland's Places state "A 17th or 18th century bridge locally alleged to be Roman. A pack horse bridge without parapets". Among local people the Roman theory is thought to mean Romany since many gypsies used to frequent the area.

Larg Hill, downstream and upstream.

I've been here with the ramblers, but I also did this Walk in 2008

Here's a member of the Tipulidae Sensu Stricto family or to us lay people a Daddy Longlegs, the Crane Fly.

I took some video which I've uploaded to Youtube

The accompanying music's by Callum Butler 

What an enjoyable walk. 

(Although i'm disappointed that I didn't get the camera pointing at the Merlin quick enough)

A 'Glebe' Runabout - October 2013

Watch the birdie ! That's another nice mess..............

What's goin on here then !

OK, so here's what I've been up to.
I travelled over to Fife to meet up with my cousin Jean and her husband Bob over on holiday from Western Australia and back to their roots. We also met up with my aunt in Glenrothes and a couple of other cousins one of whom I was meeting for the first time.
As well as walking and socializing around Kirkcaldyand Glenrothes we went off one day to Glamis Castle and Arbroath.
I then drove down to Ulverston in Cumbria on an overdue pilgrimage to the birthplace of Stan Laurel. I stayed there overnight visiting the Laurel and Hardy Museum and going to the pictures to watch 'Sunshine on Leith'.
I then headed up to the Gordon Walker Chalet at Stair in the Newlands Valley to join my fellow ramblers for some walking.
All in all I had a very pleasant excursion.

I'll begin with pictures from.........

Glamis Castle and Arbroath 

After a run around in Dundee (the roads never used to be so confusing) we got to the home of the late Queen Mother. For the uninitiated the ' I ' is silent.

That is one superior Doocot (pigeon house)

There were some lovely highland cattle in the field adjoining the car park.

This wee fella was adorable.

We got tea and cake in the castle restaurant.

We learned that all the fittings, ovens and this fire are all as they were originally installed.

A picture on the wall of the restaurant.

We took the guided tour and were amazed at the history. Anyone who was anyone over the last 900 plus years gets a mention. In 1034 AD King Malcolm II was murdered at Glamis and the first of a castle being built was in 1376.

Here's links to their web page Glamis Castle and their Facebook Page

Some readers may remember My 2008 Trip

I can't find a thing on the internet about the lettering PLEK-HMCK. Anyone ?

The estate,  parks and gardens cover more than 14,000 acres.  

Here's Jean and Bob outside the castle.

It's just a little bigger than their pile in Baldivis WA 

After Glamis we headed for Arbroath and came upon Balgavies Loch

Here we saw Pink Footed Geese, Greylag Geese and a few other varieties of our feathered friends. 

A very nice stop on the way.

Jean and Bob raised their family on Seafood back in Australia, and Arbroath is like heaven to them.

We came away with 'Smokies' of course. We visited M & M Spink where Bill showed us around his smoker and told us of his appearance on the Rick Stein television programme.

I noticed while looking up websites that there's more than one Spink in the Smokies business so to satisfy my curiosity I looked up Spink Arbroath in the phone book........there's 28 phone numbers there !

moving on we're now back in.........

Kirkcaldy

Above Burton's the Tailors in Whytescauseway. The Burma was the usual place I and my cousins used to go to dance in Kirkcaldy, but on occasions I would get myself up here to the Ritz  Plaza Ballroom...........ah ! memories. (not the bloomin Ritz)

Jean and Bob in the Robert Nairn

A dark but historic walk home.

It may be October but there's still a lot of blooms around

We're on a windy wild walk to the south of the town. You can still see coal dust in the sand from the now redundant Fife Coalfield. There were as many as fifty collieries at various times over a century plus. Many were open when I was young and a lot of my mother's family were miners. I used to hear that they'd been working under the Firth of Forth where some of them extended.  

It's rough out there but the fishing boats still brave it. There's an old saying that some of you might know "It taks a lang spoon tae sup wi' a Fifer." Fifers may be fly and mistrusting but better workers you'll not find anywhere. Although I was born in Forres, I still consider myself a Fifer (so don't cross me ha ha)

Kirkcaldy (pronounced kir caw day) has changed much since the days of my youth.

The pedestrianization like many other towns has taken it's soul away.

Maybe it's just me.

Right ye are then, I'm away tae..................

 Ulverston

I get myself booked in at Church Walk House, a Grade 2 Listed Building. 

I got a single room for the night for £35. The facilities and my breakfast meant I'd got a bargain, a nearby pub wanted £85 for a room for the night. 

I'm in town early enough to wander round.

I find the Tourist Advice office is in the Coronation Hall.

These are the boys I'm here for.

We make a fine trio don't we.

This is the Roxy Cinema and the home of the Laurel and Hardy Museum

I spent a good hour in the museum.

Lot's of memorabilia and personal items. Lot's of history of Stan's family. 

Someone kept taken my picture............

...................might have been me 

Well worth a visit.

This is probably the bed Stan was born in

As a Son of the Desert and a member of the 'Their Purple Moment' tent, this was a pilgrimage on my part.

I left after purchasing the above fridge magnet.

I soon found number 3 Argyle Street

Although I found the Stan Laurel Inn it was closed and I never got back to it. 

I'm saving that for the next time.

This is Lantern House. It's up for sale at £699,999

Ulverston's a very interesting, picturesque bright and breezy town.

After dining in the Rose and Crown I headed out to the cinema to watch 'Sunshine on Leith'

A very enjoyable film featuring the Proclaimers music.

Me and the boys got re-acquainted.

After a good night's sleep and an excellent breakfast I check out and get my walking boots on.

I'm heading up Hoad Hill to the Hoad Monument.  It commemorates Sir John Barrow who was born in Ulverston in 1764. Sir John was a founder member of the Royal Geographic Society.

It's not a difficult walk and the views are soon forthcoming.

I'm soon looking north to the Lakeland mountains.

It can be accessed on Sundays and bank holiday during the summer months. They fly the flag when it's open.

Information boards show distant landmarks.

I decide to come down the steeper slope with views over the town.

Back in the car I'm now heading north to join my rambling friends in the Newlands Valley near................

Keswick 

I travel up taking occasional stops as here at Coniston

It's sheep country too. Driving can be hazardous.

The sheep top left above actually seemed to smile at me (no names please !). It's a local Herdwick I think.

I've time to take in scenery as I get in touch with Scoop and find out that they're climbing Blencathra.

I've arranged to meet them for dinner in the Horse and Farrier in Threlkeld for dinner.

There are eight ladies in the group and only me of the opposite sex. It'll be an interesting couple of days !

Dinner is excellent I'd well recommend it. At the chalet, arrangements were made for me to sleep in a quiet corner, meaning I didn't need to sleep in the car. Thanks ladies.

The following morning we're heading out for a shortish walk as there's rain forecast for later in the day.

We drive over to Seatoller to start walking up to Castle Crag

It's quite cool but dry as we head through Borrowdale

Castle Crag looks small against it's larger neighbours.

Wainwright included it in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells because it "is so magnificently independent, so ruggedly individual, so aggressively unashamed of its lack of inches, that less than justice would be done by relegating it to a paragraph in the High Spy chapter."

We reach a point to overlook Derwentwater and Keswick

There are numerous paths and our leader the 'Musician' is right on target in selecting the right ones.

It's not Venice, but it could be the 'Bridge of Sighs'...... aah............

It's quite a climb from the base.

There's been extensive quarrying on the crag.

The gazelles of the group are already ensconced on the summit

Castle Crag was given to the National Trust in memory of 2nd Lt J Hamer and the Men of Borrowdale who perished in the great war. The plaque is a war memorial.

What a pretty picture you make ladies.

As others before us have done we leave our own little monument inscribed WR.

I deny any knowledge of the bottom graffiti.

Time to move down the 'Jaws of Borrowdale' and stop for a lunch break.

Love that tree !

We descend to the River Derwent and turn south. We find Millican Dalton's cave.

Reading up on him it seems he was quite a character. I too used to smoke Woodbine cigarettes !

Millican Dalton

Other caves are also available.

When the rain finally arrived it came down with a vengeance.

The YHA Borrowdale Hostel at Longthwaite appeared like an oasis in the desert.

Wonderfully welcoming and real value for money fare.

Having to put wet gear back on to get back to Seatoller was a bummer though.

Still, it was a fabulous walk.

That evening we headed out to Keswick's Theatre by the Lake to watch a wonderful production of  Oliver Goldsmith's 'She stoops to conquer'.

It's now Thursday morning and I've decided I'm heading home later today.

Here's the gang outside the chalet.

We're heading east up through Skelgill farm passing these fine specimens of animal-hood on the way.

It's a gorgeous day after all the rain yesterday.

Reaching Derwentwater we encounter an out of time World War One soldier going by the name of Corporal Duncan. He was due to meet up with others of his ilk to do a re-enactment for schoolkids from the Merseyside area. 

It's no wonder people are attracted to this area the scenery is cracking.

We see the cruise boats running up and down the lake a lot on today's walk.

They're run by the Keswick Launch Company 

John Merrill's Sculpture 'Entrust'

 The plaque says, the wooden sculpture commemorates the centenary of the National Trust's first ever land purchase, 108 acres of the Brandlehow estate, below Cat Bells on the western shore of Derwent Water, in 1902. The wood was opened on 6 October 1902 by Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria. The sculpture of cupped hands was unveiled on 16 October 2002.

"Celebrating 100 Years Of The National Trust Caring For Your Countryside At Brandelhow 2002

For Ever For Everyone"

We walk along the lake shore till we reach Brandelhow Bay before heading up to the road and the start of the climb.

It's amazing how the slightest boost to a photograph can turn it into something resembling an oil painting.

Purists can scoff, but it's no different to adding filters direct to the camera. It's my composition and I'm extremely happy with it..........so there. ha ha ha

  

We're zig zagging up Catbells, arguably the most popular hill in the lakes.

A few of the paths I remember from our January 2010 Visit have been closed to curtail the erosion. Alternative paths have been opened up.

I thought I'd construct a postcard with a few pictures.

Sadly I've lost two of my ladies on the summit, but these six beauties are enough for any one man.

After lunch just below the summit, I get my hugs and begin my descent. Scoop was right, the north ridges are the hardest descent. Goodbye for now ladies I'll see you soon.

I again met up with Hawkeye (The Sloane Ranger) and the Musician on the Friday night at the Isle of Whithorn village hall. We were there for a magical night of music featuring the fabulous Gaberlunzie and The Cochranes of Wigtown

It's been an enjoyable run around. Mind you I don't get around half as much as Sandy of Witterings fame