A recce and other stuff July/August 2014

Pictures from a few outings over the last week.

Thursday I recce'd the walk I should have been leading this Saturday.  

It was overcast as I climbed the slopes of the smaller of the Millfores'

Behind me I could see Clatteringshaw's Loch, Benniguinea and Cairnsmore (Black Craig) of Dee.

Zoomed in down to Craigdews cottages.

A selfie on Millfore

One of a number of cairns on Craignelder looking towards the river Cree and the Machars

Looking over to Tonderghie Glen.

The fields of Corwar and Dallash

Murray's Monument looking small.

After composing a drab and dreary panorama to the north I decided to try some enhancements.

Here's the result on Dermander. 

Descending Craignelder was difficult. Large tussocks, deep holes and falling on my 'Bahookie' half a dozen times convinced me I couldn't bring a group of ramblers down here. It took me an hour and forty five minutes just to reach the forest road.

On the walk back to my car I came across these wild orchids by the roadside..............

.................and this little beauty. 

The closest thing in my book tells me it could be 'Ragged Robin', I'm not sure ?

Friday the first of August

I was treated to this view on opening my bedroom curtains.

I've often seen the odd bird or two, but this morning there were a couple of dozen.

As well as pictures I took some video.

Youtube

What a gorgeous way to start my day.

So after the weekend's wet weather Monday looked a better day. I headed along the river bank.

Blooming strongly just now is the invasive Himalayan Balsam.

I love it but I suppose it does need to be controlled. 

Riverbank wild flowers are in full bloom, Autumn's coming.

The bees are so busy they almost ignore me and my camera.

Close to this pretty spot a water vole slipped down from the bank.

Another busy bee.

Water Forget Me Not.

A short walk through Doonhill Woods to check on................

...............the Blairmount Cygnets.

The little fella is still a bit shorter in the neck than the others but looking healthier than the other day.

One of the Juvenile Moorhens get's more adventurous.

That's it up to this Tuesday morning.

It looks like showers today.

More rain tomorrow.

Where's My Lunch

Another clip from a couple of years ago.
This was a heron looking for and getting a bite to eat.



Filmed on the River Cree at Newton Stewart.

Reworked Video Clips

Three video clips I'd previously uploaded.


A reworking of a video previously uploaded in 2008.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Portpatrick (Gd: Port Phàdraig) is a village hanging on to the extreme south-westerly tip of mainland Scotland, cut into a cleft in steep cliffs.
Dating back historically some 500 years, and built adjacent to the ruins of nearby Dunskey Castle, its position on the Rhins of Galloway affords visitors views of the Northern Irish coast to the west, with clifftop walks and beaches both north and south. The Gulf Stream, flowing in from the north, gives the coastline a pleasant climate, in which subtropical plantlife can flourish.
Industrially, the village was founded on fishing origins, with construction of the crescent shaped harbour that remains the focal point of the village today.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Portpatrick was important as a ferry port for passengers, postal mail and freight between Ireland and Scotland. During this period (1759-1826) Portpatrick was described as the Gretna Green for Ireland. There was a daily packet boat from Donaghadee, and marriages for couples from Ireland were conducted by the Church of Scotland minister in Portpatrick, although according to Brack (1997) he often overlooked the rules about the publication of banns or the required period of residence.
However, in the late 19th century, when shipping became a considerably larger feature of industry, the village's vulnerability to strong westerly winds made it unviable for larger ships, and thus most of the profitable trading routes were diverted to nearby Stranraer, despite the longer voyage out of the northerly-facing Loch Ryan.
To the extreme north on the clifftop where the village's 100 year old Portpatrick Hotel stands, begins the scenic Southern Upland Way to Cockburnspath on the east coast.

A look at one or two of the ferries (Including the Stena Navigator) operated by P & O and Stena Line, operating out of Loch Ryan in South West Scotland.
Thanks to Mobygratis for the accompanying music 18 and Aerial from the albums 18 and Hotel-Ambient.


Baling and cutting of silage in South West Scotland.

Dromod-YouTube Video

This posting refers to the YouTube video posted below.


The Cavan & Leitrim Railway is run by volunteers. Their Depot is in Dromod, Co. Leitrim. Trains run every weekend, and on Mondays. The group also have a transport museum, with narrow gauge trains of every gauge, buses, planes, fire engines and artillery guns from WW1 and WW2. It is located beside the Irish Rail Station in Dromod.
One of the original locos, No.2, and one of the original carriages, is preserved on display at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.
Thanks to Wikipedia for the above.

I was meeting up with my Irish American relatives in Dromod early June 2009,and was told of a railway museum across the railway bridge.
I was persuaded by Mr Michael Kennedy who runs the place to join a couple of guys from Belfast for a look around.
The pictures in this photo story are just some of the items on display here.Some exhibits are almost perfectly preserved,others as will be seen are almost graveyard material.
There's a yellow submarine---the cockpit and passenger section of a Douglas DC7 used by the Queen and Prince Philip in 1958---more aviation memorabilia---a bike that you pedalled on the railway line ! ---artillery---buses and all sorts of vehicles---and a myriad of other stuff.

Michael and his staff (should i call them that), have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the history of any of their exhibits,and i would recommend a visit to anyone with an interest in anything.You'll be well entertained,and all for a donation of your choosing at the end of the tour.
More info at
Dromod

YouTube

I've decided to come back to YouTube.
I won't be uploading lots and lots of video's like before,but will put back on any that people ask me to that don't infringe any copyrights.
I doubt i'll be uploading any new videos until i get myself an upmarket camcorder (I may as well wait for the January sales now)

Here's a link to my channel.
Jimzvidz1