The Glebe Blog

Monday, 14 July 2014

Bladnoch Social Sunday - Ayrshire Commercial Vintage Vehicle Road Run - July 2014

This post contains photographs of people and exhibitors at a public event. Should any photograph offend, be deemed inappropriate or if you see any images which you feel should not be here, please contact me and I will remove the image. My email address can be found in the "View my complete profile" in the 'About Me' section in the right hand column.

Sunday the 13th of July.

An advertised event called 'Social Sunday' organized by the Wigtown Agricultural Society caught my eye.

It was advertised as 12 till 2 pm, but I got there a little early.

My previous post showed the horse riding event.

This one shows trucks, trucks and more trucks.

(there is the odd surprise)

These trucks are on the annual Ayrshire Commercial Vintage Vehicle Road Run

There were trucks from all over Scotland, England and Ireland.

Mostly there'll just be the picture with no description.

(Message to blog reading truckers, right click and 'Open in new tab' for full size.)

If you look above the number plate you can see this little lass is called Emma.

Not Houston Texas, but Houston, Johnstone, Renfrewshire.

I relived my berry picking days with Jack.

James Kernohan from Randalstown.

James had fetched the family over. This was his first venture on this type of vintage trip. Nice to talk to you James, hope you had a great time.

Dromara's near Dromore in County Down. This truck reminds me of my first visit to Ireland.

A Yorkie

I remember tramping through Laneshawbridge in my army days, a beautiful part of Lancashire.

I think there were three Scotlee trucks in total (maybe more)

I loved this truck...........

.............and it's cargo!

David's brother from just along the A75 at Twynholm.

I think the guy in front was just passing.

It took me a moment to remember this logo.

L.A Reed from Swinefleet

I think it was Trevor himself I spoke to.

Back in my working day I had more to do with the other branch of the family.

Great to pass the time of day and reminisce.

Here's a local conversion.

The kettle's on.

We've something in common Mr and Mrs McCrea of Ballyclare

For non Scottish readers and the uninitiated Strathaven is prounounce Straiven.

Maybe he was going to Port William after this ?

Some nice artwork on the rear of the next three units.

It's known that some graffiti artists go on to be truck painting artists.

Well, I don't really know if that's right but there's supposed to be a 'Banksy' carrying freight around the motorways.

When I worked on the docks I never came across such a delightful container.

Nice talking to you lady from Kilmarnock and thanks for letting me take the pictures.

Heartfelt comment bottom left above.

As well as the trucks, a few escort vehicles were in attendance.

As well as the cream teas the two burger vans were busy.

Truckers and families get hungry !

The fire brigade were in attendance.

I was almost tempted to have a go.

Here's the line up.

Now Mickey says goodbye.

A very entertaining and interesting afternoon.

Update Tuesday the 15th
Here's an extra treat of photos supplied by my walking friend the 'Boatman'.

A couple of vintage cars spotted in the car park.

A rarity.
This lovely lady goes by the name of Helen and is a 1959 Albion Victor.

Here, courtesy of FavCars.com is Helen in her working days.

Here's Pat and the 'Boatman'.

Another look at J.Leech of Haslington, Crewe..............

............and finally one from the 'Boatman''s home town.

Bladnoch Social Sunday - The Horse Show - July 2014

This post contains photographs of people and entrants at a public event. Should any photograph offend, be deemed inappropriate or if you see any images which you feel should not be here, please contact me and I will remove the image. My email address can be found in the "View my complete profile" in the 'About Me' section in the right hand column.

Sunday the 13th of July.

An advertised event called 'Social Sunday' organized by the Wigtown Agricultural Society caught my eye.

It was advertised as 12 till 2 pm, but I got there a little early.

A light breeze and light clouds made it a pleasant day as I parked up in the field at Bladnoch Park and zoomed in on the Covenanter's Monument above Wigtown.

They were putting out the tables and chairs down at the clubhouse .

Around here £2 is great value for a cream tea.

I wandered over to the horses.

There were some very smart rigs on view.

I chatted to the owner of this mini Shetland foal. It was her first time to any event and she was understandably a little nervous. She's gorgeous, maybe I should get one.

All the horses were nicely groomed for the day.

I know very little about horses, but this one looked very much like the only horse I ever mounted.

That was back in British Guiana (Guyana) in 1965. Unless that horse has beaten the record of 61 years old, held by 'Old Billy' in the 19th Century, it'll be a long gone to horsey heaven.

The show's entrants seemed to range from little to large.

They paraded as a group.

Then individually.

I often wonder whether show horses have a happy life.

I spotted this on Wikihow.

How to tell if a horse is happy.

Good advice. I remember occasions with my kids where horses in fields would come over to see us, I guess that's a sign of happiness ?

The judge too was immaculately turned out.

Carriage riding took place next.

I also took some video of the carriage riding.

Maybe the accompanying music isn't quite equine, but it fitted my editing.

The horse show continued, but the arrival of the first of the lorries on the Ayrshire Commercial Vintage Vehicle Road Run took me away.

If a lot of pictures of old and newer commercial road vehicles turns you off then I'd suggest you ignore my next post.

HERE COME THE TRUCKS

Sunday, 13 July 2014

Wigtownshire Ramblers Fell of Eschoncan and Bennan July 2014

Saturday the 12th of July

I did not go on this walk. After returning quite exhausted from our easy coastal walk, I took myself off to the doctors. I'm awaiting blood test results, but my doctor thinks I may just be suffering from a seasonal malady. I don't feel particularly ill, but I'm tiring too easily at the moment. However I'm remaining quite active, but nothing too strenuous. I'm writing this after a pleasant afternoon at Bladnoch Park and the Wigtown Agricultural Society’s Social Sunday , a blog post of horses and lorries will follow sometime soon.

Saturday's walk leader was the Milkmaid and her report is below.

Two pictures taken on an I-Phone are the only imagery of the day.

I see from the pictures that apart from the Milkmaid and patḗr, the other walkers were some of our newer recruits. My feasible (not feeble !) excuse is above, maybe I've passed the bug on to everyone else ?

Up through the bracken on Eschoncan slopes.

The intrepid walkers.

I'd make a guess (though I might be wrong) that the photographer was an all weather walker.

~~The pictures were taken on an Apple IPhone 5 and that would Shorty.~~
So I got that wrong, the I-Phone was the Milkmaids, but the photographer was a regular.

Here's the Milkmaid's report.

Wigtownshire RamblersFell of Eschoncan and Bennan

Saturday morning dawned with mist and drizzle, not a great start for a day in the hills. Understandingly most of the ramblers opted out of the days walk. Only seven walkers met at Bruce’s stone for an 8 mile trek up the fell of Eschoncan and the Bennan. By 10am the rain had stopped.
Setting off from the car park, the walkers climbed steeply upwards, along a barely discernible path, through shoulder high bracken. Once above the bracken line, golden spires of bog asphodel and dainty yellow tormentil dominated the vegetation. The shrill cry of peregrine falcons pierced the quiet morning and the outline of four birds swooping above the hill top delighted the party.
The steep climb was eventually rewarded with stunning views of the mist swirling up the valleys and over the tops of the surrounding hills. Light filtered through the clouds, saturated the colours of the flora, and created a claustrophobic sensation with Buchan hill seeming near enough to touch.
Breath regained, the ramblers crossed the top of the Fell of Eschoncan towards the forest road where newly erected deer fencing encircled the perimeter of the lower slopes of the Bennan. The route taken followed the new fence line along the forest road to the left, around the Bennan, going downhill at first, and after taking a sharp right hand fork in the road, steeply uphill towards the radio communications mast. Leaving the road, a grass track led to a concrete base under metal frame work where an old fuel tank may once have stood. Here the group ascended the final slope of the hill. Machinery in the buildings on the summit could be heard but the mast remained shrouded in clouds, only being revealed when the top was reached.
A sheltered spot was chosen for lunch to shield walkers from the cold breeze. Views remained elusive until a break in the fog momentarily unveiled the strange rock formations on the ridge of the Bennan.
Refreshed, the group now plunged into the mists, past small lochans and avoiding the rocks. Once a little height had been lost visibility returned and the hill was easily traversed. Small white flags, perhaps placed as part of a recent military exercise, marked the way. Descending steeply by a stand of conifer, the forest road was reached. This was followed towards Culsharg bothy where the Merrick path along the Buchan burn led towards the car park Bruce’s Stone. Once the walkers were seated in their cars the rain, which had threatened all day, began in earnest.
Next week’s walk, Saturday 19th July, is a 6 mile C grade walk from Port Logan to Damnaglaur. Meet for car sharing at the Riverside, Newton Stewart at 9.00am and the Breastworks, Stranraer, at 9.30am, or the start of the walk (NX 094 404) Port Logan at 10am. New members are always welcome but must contact the walk leader on 01776 840636.