School Holidays = Grandkids...Callum and Erin

It's the week commencing Monday the 16th of August 2010.
As can be seen from the previous post of a YouTube video,I have visitors this week.
Callum,Erin and their mum, my eldest daughter, are here for a few days.
The Cream O' Galloway is the first stop.

The only thing they won't bother with here is 'Down the Hatch',tried it...didn't like it.

Due to the exuberance,injuries are inevitably sustained.

Mum gets active this trip.No need for a visit to Weight Watchers this week.

Callum's the coolest dude out there.

Erin takes the Flying Fox in her stride.Callum moves on to a bigger cart.

It's the bikes next...

....Callum stays around the more demanding part of the course.After an initial tumble,Erin away like Sir Chris Hoy.She lets mum past on the last section though.

A well deserved lick after all the activity.

A short drive takes us down to Carrick Shore.Erin and Callum take turns in balancing Ardwall Isle on their heads.

There's lots of activity on the water.


Dog whelk egg mass is fetched back to the Glebe to be recognised.The stony face gets named Buckie since he was found close to the egg mass.Dog whelks are known as Buckies.

The end of a busy day.The above collage sounds like a good title for a childrens book. 'Erin,the Heron and the Magpie' (The moth is a Magpie)

Tuesday the 17 August

This sea monster was spotted above the cliffs at Kilantringan lighthouse.


Kilantringan and Knock Bay stretch out beautifully.

Although this looks an endearing picture of big brother looking after sis,I'm sorry to say it was just coincidence that their hands were close when I pressed the button.

As well as the beach,there's plenty of rocky areas to explore.

Cool dudes all right !

Grandad gets in the picture.

The sun's shining as we get to Portpatrick.

Dunskey Castle's condemned, but we still take a little peek.

We've seen movement out there that might have been basking sharks,but nothing definitive.

Now we're visiting Druchtag Motte.This is where the previous YouTube clip was taken.In the top picture above we have Erin to the left apparently defying gravity.
Take a look at this clip uploaded on Davshelgo channel.

This wasn't supposed to turn into a sliding down contest,but after this young lady had (accidental or deliberate ?) fallen on to her backside the damage was done.
What a great way to end a fun packed day.

Wednesday the 18th of August
Over to Port Logan today.

Holes are dug and filled with water to hold any shore life netted in the rock pools.

Lots of jellyfish are washed up on the sand.
A great time here,but we'll head to another beach.

Chapel Rossan Bay is the one.

That black cloud has made the sky very atmospheric.It makes a great background for this little princess carrying her net.

Lots of pools to explore here.

There's tons of excitement as lots of crabs and in particular blennies are found.
Grandad had an interesting encounter when he went to scoop up a blenny,and ended up with a crab crawling over his hand.ha ha ha
It's time to move on again.

Agnew Park in Stranraer will finish off the day.Archimedes screw,digger,boat,pirate island and a play park...


...there's lots of fun to be had here.Aren't pedalos hard work ?
That ferry won't fit in this boating lake,so why is it coming towards us.?

Grandad gets another look in.Where do you kids get your cracking looks from ?


This is a few pictures in sequence.It's interesting to see whether the kids can stay still for long.
What a day.What a visit.
It was great to see you kids.

Fun & Frolics on Druchtag Motehill

Filmed on the 17th of August 2010,
Callum & Erin find a novel way to descend the Druchtag Motehill near Mochrum in South West Scotland.

Mums got some washing to do now !

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Damnaglaur August 2010

It's Saturday the 14th of August 2010 and todays walk is in the South Rhins.
It's a circular starting at Damnaglaur near Drummore.
We covered much of what we're doing back in January on the first walk of 2010.
January Walk
There are 16 of us as we begin the walk with a tour of our walk leaders garden.
Since we are covering much of the ground we covered in January,I'll keep the dialogue short and I'll also insert the walk report when I receive it.
We're going down Kildonan Glen and Glenlee
It's life Jim!

We're now heading east.Here we're overlooking Luce Bay with the Machars across the water.

This was once the primary school just outside Drummore.Now a private house with a colourful garden.
It's a great day weather wise.

Kirkmaiden Churchyard & Cemetery.
Info

At Curghie Bridge four of the group take a little shortcut...

...while the rest of us head past this standing stone.

Heading west again.Alongside runs the Pulwhinrick Burn.

Here at Clanyard Castle we rejoin the wayward group.There's quite a descriptive account of Clanyard here
House of Gordon,Virginia

We now head along the interestingly named Glen of the Hole,before branching south along a farm track.This looks like it's going to be an interesting dwelling.Apparently the conical front section will be all glass.They'll have views over both coastlines.

We stop for lunch just below Inshanks Fell.Do you think this could have made the front cover of 'Hello' magazine !

Back on the move again.I'm not sure why Scoop's goosestepping.

We're back on tarmac for the final stretch.This moggy came down to say hello.

That's not rhubarb bottom left above.It's Gunnera manicata or Gunnera tinctoria and it likes boggy ground.
Back at Damnaglaur we're treated to tea,coffee,cakes and biscuits.
Wonderful Scoop !

There's some lovely goldfish here.

It's been a lovely walk in the rolling countryside of the South Rhins.

To be updated


Below is the beautifully descriptive report of the walk from the deputy walk leader.

Rambler’s walk Saturday August 14th 2010

A gloriously sunny day enticed 16 ramblers out on Saturday for a circular coast to coast walk starting at Damnaglaur, Drummore. The route began with a leisurely inspection of the beautiful garden of the leader for the day, then on up the road to take the path past High Kildonan to the old school road. The views from here were magnificent across Luce Bay to the Galloway hills and south to the Mull and the Isle of Man. School road was followed to the Old Kirk and here the party split with some lingering in the churchyard whilst others strode on down the glen road and over fields to Kilstay. Again the views were wonderful and an old standing stone was admired keeping lonely vigil on the hill.
The party in the churchyard inspected the graves of seamen from the Rio Verde torpedoed in 1918 off Crammag Head. The captain and 19 crew members were lost; five of the bodies washed ashore are buried here. Alongside is a memorial which marks the loss of the Rio Verde and the Main, a merchant ship sunk by a U-boat in Luce Bay in 1917.This wreck was salvaged in 1919 and whilst repairs were being carried out in Drummore harbour was a great attraction for local visitors. Money raised by them boarding the steamer, paid for this memorial.
The road now taken to Low Currochtrie was approached by the main party via Sandy Point . A farm track to High Currochtrie and the road to Castle Clanyard was the next stage of the walk. The remains of the Gordon stronghold built in 1600 is only one wall of the once magnificent L shaped tower house described by Symson in 1684 as ruinous even then. A passing little grey Fergie tractor caused some interest as the farm track past mill ponds was taken over the side of Cairn Fell and continuing onto Inshanks Fell, where at last lunch was taken, views over the North Channel and warm sunshine prolonging the rest.
Once on the road again near Inshanks it was a hard surface all the way back to Damnaglaur but the weather, views and wild flowers on the roadside - meadowsweet, horse mint and the dark hips of the burnet rose – made the time pass most pleasantly. At Damnaglaur the walkers were treated to tea and cakes in the sunshine, a glorious end to a glorious day.

A day in Edinburgh-it's festival time

It's Wednesday the 11th of August 2010.
I'm heading to Edinburgh for the day.
I'm taking the bus over from Glenrothes.Parking in Edinburgh at festival time is at a premium,and i'll save myself the hassle.It's a nice trip over the bridge anyway.
My youngest daughter's in the city and she's at the bus station to meet me.

The first thing we did was to visit my 93 year old aunt at the Braeburn home for the elderly.She's a bit slower than when I last saw her,but she managed to eat a hearty dinner while we visited.
It's a bit drizzly as we head back towards the city.My bus pass comes in handy

Familiar landmarks are passed as we get ourselves to Waverley Station and the Nor' Loch bar for a spot of lunch.I heartily recommend the jumbo haddock and chips...only the Peacock at Newhaven surpasses.
Now we head over the North Bridge.We're going to take a look down the royal mile.
(My plan was to climb Arthurs Seat,but the weather and circumstances put paid to that idea)

There's a carnival atmosphere as we mingle with the crowds at the street shows and previews.Flyers for shows are thrust at us every few yards.
This young lady and her mum are happy to be pictured.All manner of characters are on display today.I've a feeling I may be mistaken in thinking the young lady with the camera was a performer.(No adverse comments please!)Charlie Chaplin was good.
All the hostelries are doing a good trade.
Representatives from every continent seem to be present.
There's a wonderful variety of costumes.I never got a picture of the bikini clad beauties...that's not like me!
Bottom right in the above collage...what about the man in the middle ? I can't figure out if he's part of the act.

Now we have a bevy of beauties and some musical Romans.
I must visit Japan sometime.Also above is a woman in traditional irish dress,and I guess Richard is the blindfolded one.
Now we head back over Princes Street to meet up with the lead musician performing in 'tabú' with Nofitstate Circus.See here
Chris Cundy
Ok.I'm biased,but if you see the show you'll see I'm right.
A welcome drink and a seat in the Guilford Arms on West Register Street follows.
After a while Chris has to get back for rehearsals,so we're still considering Arthurs Seat.We head back to the lower end of the Royal Mile.
The designer of the Herald advert above has created a magical picture.
Don't you just love the outfit and the shoes !.
You either love it or hate it.I reserve my right to remain silent.

The rain makes our mind up for us.We jump on a bus to Easter Road from where we walk to Shrub Place on Leith Walk.
The aliens have landed.(After watching the show later,I think I might be right.Superhuman at the least)
A few of the entourage above.
The circus is sited at Venue 155.It's a derelict piece of ground that was once a tram depot.
According to one previous circus visitor,it had a roof on the last time...
...which is probable looking at the ruins of the remaining sheds.Look closely and you'll see a real old wreck....
...but not this classic.

It's been a very enjoyable day up to now.
Stay tuned for the main attraction.
nofitstate
and the show 'tabú'