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Just off the A9 - My Life in Grantown on Spey.

THE LAST POST

This is the view from the last Munro Party we went to on Saturday.
It is Ben Hope near Tongue in Sutherland, a quiet and easy 3 hour drive from Grantown and such a beautiful and remote place.
Scotland is full of beautiful and remote places and is to me what makes living here the best thing I have ever done.
It IS hard, caring for someone and I have touched on that part of my life a little bit but the reality is that this part dominates all my life in Grantown. It is hard to leave for my weekends away and I haven't done as much as I would like to do. But if it weren't for my dad, I wouldn't be here, so I have his neediness to thank for the ultimate decision Ralph and I made to settle here.
I can't wait to explore more of the country and I want to explore it on foot, on bike, on water and on horseback...hips, knees, weather and availability of friends both human and equine, to do so.
Meanwhile Yorkshire is still only 7 hours drive away.

Gold for Grantown.

We have our own post box painted gold for a medal won by Craig Maclean, the eyes of the blind cyclist Anthony Kappes, (who also won gold of course) in the 200m sprint. setting a lap record.

I think everyone in the UK has been excited by the Olympics and Paralympics and it's nice to have a local competitor do well. However, I have been shouting for the locals to Yorkshire. Today the hand cycling was won by a Halifax woman...and that still felt like a home win.

This will be my penultimate post before Yorkshiretospeyside closes because now I should be a Highland lassie. One part of me has always been so...but for now I'm rushing off to the Grant Arms Hotel for a talk on Walking in Scotland, just to see how it's done.

Another tourist weekend.

This is a beautiful car. It was one of many that parked up for Motormania last weekend.
The town was packed and everyone was out, strolling up and down in the sunshine, listening to the live music provided by the pipe band and the Scottish dance band (perhaps there is a generic term for this, but fiddlers etc) and the Farmer's Market, stalls for local charities and some market stalls so that people could buy blow-up hammers for some reason.

It was also Dad's birthday. Sadly not one of the good days so he missed his birthday dinner. He is 83 and has good days and a lot of poor days when he feels frail and tired or is sick and unable to eat. On a good day he can walk to the river through the woods but these days are increasingly infrequent.
Grantown is a good place to grow old, the local services are fantastic and Dad gets his prescription delivered to the house if he can't make it. They just bring it, he doesn't ring. They just notice he hasn't appeared by closing time and the staff trot over with it. The "service" is partly because we are a small town and partly because of the good nature of the people who chose to live here.

In 6 days I will have lived here permanently for a year and this blog will cease. The transition is complete; from Yorkshire to Speyside.

The Motormania was on Sunday, on Saturday I climbed a mountain from Glen Feshie and on Friday I canoe-ed round Loch an Eilean. The need to fit in all the good weather activities I can is pressing as winter is on the way. The curtains were drawn at 8.40pm...but we're not there yet!

Harley Davidsons arrive in Grantown.

Shame, I've been trying to load the video that Ralph took because the noise of 3000 (?) Harley Davidsons is something unmissable. It is on my Facebook page for my friends.
The rain was sheeting down in the morning and again at 5pm but inbetween the hours of 1pm and 5pm, it remained dry and even nearly sunny. I will await the newspaper report to give details of numbers, but just to say, this is a sight not to be missed.
I am now lusting after my own, a small HD 880, that has a low seat and needs to be steered round corners notleant. I had a big bike (Kawasaki 550 Zepher) and after falling off it several times on the hairpin bends that are all over Huddersfield including at the end of our street, and securing a new job with a company car, I sold the Zepher. When I took up biking again in 2009, I got a 125cc again but found it underpowered and would be no good here on the long, uncluttered Scottish roads. Perfect for the communte through Bradford and Halifax though and was sold easily when I left the farm.
I haven't felt the need of a bike as I don't go anywhere that doesn't entail taking the dog, the canoe, the tent, Dad or the bikes. But now I am to start volunteering at the Dolphin Project...I do have somewhere to go!!
I'll tell you more about the Dolphin Project after I have been for my first day as a shadow on Tuesday.
Meantime, the Highland Games today had bright sunshine and Ralph and I climber Geal Charm Mor near Aviemore and had views north and south of the strath. Bliss.

The chaotic garden and revolution!

Oh, it looks so lush and I do have plenty of spinach, lettuce, kale, carrots, parsnips, the start of the sprouts and some broad beans...plenty chick weed too.
When the veg are finished, the chickens will clear it all up. There is potential for so much more and yesterday my letter appeared in the local paper; The Strathspey Herald. I was bemoaning the fact that so much land around Grantown is not being used despite the national park (Cairngorms National Park) and the estates professing to support wildlife, crofting and "grow your own" initiatives. Instead, beautiful fields stand neglected, either empty or rented by horse owners (well, just one horse owner who sub-lets even though I understand she is not supposed to) and they are being over-grown with ragwort (poisonous to livestock incidently) and bracken. The fields are also poached and water logged. Yet the estates will be receiving money for just owning this land.

Scotland and who owns the country makes for interesting reading. So too does the history of the land, from the Glen Coe massacre, the clearances, the Scots abroad, mainly Canada, and to modern times with the establishment of the national parks that seem to allow development indiscriminately. Shame not to nuture and adore this beautiful countryside.

Maybe I'll get a response to my letter...

Meantime, Grantown is full of tourists and motorbikes for the English Bank Holiday. Thunder in the Glen and the Highland Games and every bed is taken. The weather turned foul at 5pm and it rained and rained. Pity the campers and bikers but I'm sure it'll not dampen anyone's spirits...and my weeds will grow even more unwieldy!

The Last Day!

The walk takes you along the side of Glen Coe for 3 miles then climbs up and over The Devil's Staircase. We passed an orderly line of...German walkers who moved aside to let us pass. "Which bank have you robbed?" commented the leader. We laughed and said, "We've a long way to go...Fort William."
That is 23 miles and the two steepest climbs in one day as well.

The clouds cleared as we dropped down to Kinlochleven. The first sight of this wee town nestling in a steep sided valley is more industrial than rural, although the contrast of the lush green from the brown and grey of Glen Coe is remarkable. The photograph above is looking up towards the track we followed down, showing the hydro-electric scheme that dominates the entrance to the town.

The climb out of Kinlochleven is spectacular because of the views down Loch Leven. It took us a while to walk to the top of this climb as it grew steadily hotter and I grew steadily more hungry and Sandra grew steadily more tired. When we reached the top where the path evens out, I stopped and attacked my picnic lunch from Kingshouse!

Lairigmor is a steady trek at around 1000' and is very beautiful although exposed and there was a stiff breeze which in the sun was actually quite welcome. It is easy going with a good track until reaching the forestry. Sadly another industrial landscape when the trees are felled, as these were. The chopped woods always remind me of Paul Nash's paintings of war scapes.

It was lovely to enter into the soft paths of the pine woods and have the shelter of the trees overhead and the comfort of pine needles underfoot. Then Ben Nevis...with this strange cloud formation hanging over the dreadful path that winds its way clearly up the side.

Obce Ben Nevis was on our right, we knew we were very nearly at the end of our walk. It would have been nice to finish at the Visitors Centre but there was a a mile and a half to the end...or at least the end as Sandra knew it... Her husband was waiting for her there...mine was still a mile away at the centre of Fort William at the new end. Shame. John could have driven us there but we decided having come so far we would make it to the "new end" and thus ended our West Highland Way walk.

I enjoyed every minute. I loved the scenery, the places we stayed at, the weather, the company of Sandra and our German acquaintances and all the others we met briefly. I would recommend this trip to anyone who is of reasonable fitness but you don't have to be super-fit. There are plenty of baggage transporters which would take the weight off your shoulders and back for sure, but whether that would disrupt your sense of making your own way, I can't be sure.

Scotland is a beautiful country. I have many more paths to explore.

Kingshouse Hotel.

Arriving at Kingshouse in the hot sunshine of an August weekend, perhaps we should not have been surprised to find it so busy. A woman we had met earlier in the day (walking north to south) had told us that we would find excellent service at the hotel, unsurpassed in the Highlands despite her lengthy experience travelling around.

She was right. There were no waits for registration, dinner, the bar or breakfast. At breakfast we were actually 15 minutes early, wanting to get started asap on the last leg of 23 miles to Fort William, and the motherly, efficient "front of house" took our order and brought us a waitress to take our order with no hesitation.
The bedroom was so quiet that it was differcult to believe the hotel was so busy and it had a BATH, much to Sandra's delight. She had commented on descending towards the hotel how much she would love a bath and I expressed extreme doubt. So she had her bath!
Out on the lawn, supping lager, Sven came to sit with us and we spent the evening learning about the German's view of our NHS, environmental policies and power, the economy, languages, the psychology of relationships...and after our evening meal, we were joined by 2 more Germans, a couple who were equally good company, eloquent and had extensive English vocabulary, it probably surpassed my own.
I forget their names but the young man had 8 languages and also the language of music. We ended up in a room with a piano and we sang him Scottish songs for him to play by ear. His musical interpretation was much more melodic and in key than Sandra's and my efforts.
A lovely evening.

The next day, an Australian that we spoke to en route remarked that it should be called "The West German Way" but that evening in Kingshouse was very pleasant and it was just sad that we had to retire early so as to get up for our walk the next day. Photo below, leaving the next morning in the only cloudy weather we had...but it does add to the atmosphere of Glen Coe.

Rannoch Moor

After a wonderful breakfast; (Sandra had porridge and the full Scottish while I had eggs from their free range hens and proper field mushrooms fried in butter plus home made jam, slurp!) we set off on the longest day so far across Rannoch Moor to Glencoe.

My walking club (Huddersfield Rucksack Club and yes, I'm still a paid up member) had many dire warnings for me about the trudge across Rannoch Moore but they obviously hadn't walked it in sunny, balmy conditions.
For me the most boring walking of the whole 95 miles was the section between Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy when we followed the route of the A82 which could be clearly seen and heard from the track. The noise of traffic was intrusive and the scenery was mundane. It was easy walking and we made good time but I was glad to leave Bridge of Orchy and continue on  to Inveroan over a scenic bump and to Rannoch Moor. The colours of the grass, gold and red, gently waving like a shimmer of water. Stunning.

The unexpected delight of Rannoch Moor was enhanced by the oasis at Ba Bridge. Here there were a few people gathered and we met again Sven who had been at our B&B (Glengarry, did I mention the name?) and had wished us a good day before departing at least an hour before us. There were a good many Germans en route, probably due to the dire warnings the British folk had given each other about weather and midges.
We walked 19 miles that day. Walking down to Kingshouse was breathtaking with the startling Ben Etvie greeting us at the head of Glen Coe. Even in the sun, Glen Coe looking haunting and wild, the hotel looked remote and deserted from the distance and we slowed as it came in sight, glad to have made our next night's refuge in 8 hours.

The Best Bed and Breakfast place I've ever been to...

Leaving Inverannan we walked through Glen Falloch towards Crianlarich. Todays walk was only 12 miles and now we were definitely getting fitter. We could easily have made it to Bridge of Orchy but we had booked at Tyndrum so we strolled along the beautiful glen and Strath Fillan. The area is decorated with a backdrop of Munros. The warmth made them hazy but no less spectacular and I wish my camera and photography skills did them justice.
We came across another campsite (Auchtertyre) which was away from roads and any noise. It looked blissful and I think I could easily spend a week there. This was a farm and had a small shop and cabins like the one we'd left and smaller. A noticeboard here informed me that we were looking at 3 Munros from here, Ben Lui at 3708' being the highest.

We stopped for a paddle before walking nearly to Tyndrum.
The Glengarry B&B is located 200 yards off the WHW and it is signposted with white sticks. I was rather alarmed to see it was right on the main road but I need not have worried. It was blissful.
We were there at 2.35pm...!! We were so fit by this time, that our 12 miles seemed like a stroll in the park. Also this stretch is easy on the eye and underfoot so that makes the going easier.

We were greeted with tea and homemade cake, a beautiful sopacious, quiet and clean room with roomy shower and to Sandra's delight, a hairdrier! The little luxuries included "Skin So Soft". We sat in their conservatory reading a great selection of magazines before setting off to the village centre for a meal. We were even offered a lift, it's only 4oo yards!
The evening was so hot that we sat outside (for a lager) before heading to the cafe for our salads. The menu was extensive, cheap, well prepared and imaginative. No wonder the place was packed.
A lovely night's sleep.
Glengarry House (glengarryhouse@supanet.com) and on the WHW accommodation list. I'm not getting paid for this plug and in fact although I tried to put a report on Trip Adviser, I couldn't be bothered doing all the registration.

Along the North Side of Loch Lomond.

We had a good breakfast at the hostel and set off in good time for our 14 mile walk to Inverarnan. It was another hot day and we enjoyed the shelter of the trees. This part of the lochside walk is quite hard with lots of scrambling over rocks and trees but for the first part this section of lochside path was closed due to erosion from all the rain. Instead we made good progress over the first 4 miles walking on a forest track.
The rest of the path follows the loch closely until the end of the loch just opposite Ardlui, where we were booked in for a night at a B&B.

The above picture was taken at Inversnaid which is half way along the route. The hotel allows passers-by to use their toilet facilities! How pleasant to have this attitude rather than signs stating "FOR RESIDENTS ONLY". Needed as well.
Across the loch from Ardlui, the path continued up the side of Cnap Mor and down into a campsite at Beinglas Farm. Here there was a welcome sight of a bar, cold lager and some little wooden huts which used to be wigwams apparently. The option of travelling on the busy A82 back to Ardlui seemed a very uninviting prospect.
When I booked this B&B I wan't aware that it was so far off the WHW as it was listed on the website as accommodation. I assumed we could catch a bus easily enough but we succumbed to a cold lager and booked a cabin at the campsite instead. I called the B&B of course and gave the heat as a reason for not making it that far!
We did go the Hotel (name?) and had a beer there later but decided to eat at the campsite bar intsead. We had excellent food (curry for S and burger for me) and breakfast was good too so were very pleased we made that decision.
Sandra had a harder night than me after a fall during the walk when she landed heavily on her right side, left her a bit sore on the hard bench beds.

There were midges here because we could see people in tents swathed in their nets looking like zombies and slightly unnerving, but we weren't bothered by them. After all we had our little hut. (above)

Drymen to Rowardennan

This stretch of the walk is familiar to me as I have walked this way a few times. Jo has lived in Drymen for at least 15 years because I remember the first Munro her son completed at the age of 3! It was Ben Lomond of course. which is just above Rowardennan.

Jo walked with us to Balmaha which is at the south end of Loch Lomond and the route takes you near to the top of Conic Hill (1175') and we did go the top for the photos. It is a spectacular view and was being enjoyed by all and sundry on this hot summers day. This is Sandra and I and Jo's  dog, Buffy.

Balmaha was HEAVING! We found a bench and ate the sandwiches Jo had prepared for us then she ran home while Sandra and I continued along the lochside.

Most of the lochside is now restricted to picnic areas rather than camping due to the amount of litter being left by folk. Even the residue of the picnics made it look a untidy because people just don't take their rubbish home and leave burnt out fire sites on the sandy shores.

Despite this, it is a beautiful walk with lovely stretches of woodland that are quiet and glimpses of views along the length of the southern loch.

It is an easy 14 miles but because of the heat we were happy to reach the hotel and carpark with toilets to wash off some of the sweat and sun lotion. 

The YHA is another 5 minutes walk away from the hotel and it is beautiful old hunting lodge, which sadly I didn't take a photograph of. I had booked a twin bed room which I had forgotten about so felt estatic on being given a key to our peaceful home for the night.

Normally the YHA do serve meals even if you haven't booked but not this evening as there were so many people staying...young people from Belgium. So we walked back to the hotel and had a really nice meal for £10 ish then fed the residue to their ducks and chickens. (Sandra had Angus Beef Burger and chips and I had fajhitas which were excellent). And cold lager.

We sat out in the sunshine until late without jackets or midge spray. Was this really the WHW?

You've seen the photos...

This is a record for my own diary. I didn't keep a diary as it meant extra paper and pens to carry when I was doing everything to keep down the weight of my rucksack so this a restropective account.
I had booked the accommodation for August 8th - 11th, except for the last night in Fort William (12th Aug) by Feb 5th. I am the sort of person who needs to do things ASAP.
I used the WHW website accommodation list and booked a YHA, 2 B&Bs, and a hotel, plus my friend's place in Drymen.
I have a lot to thank Jo for because it is due to her that we picked the week that we did. I needed to fit in Sandra's English school holidays with Jo and Adie's holiday in France and their visit to London for the Olympics. Perhaps I would have chosen the following week so as not to miss the 2nd week of the Olympics but at that time I didn't think I would become as captivated as the rest of the country did by our home games, so I chose the first week following Jo's return to Drymen.
Sandra bought a bus ticket from Derby to Inverness so she changed at Glascow then continued up the A9 to Aviemore. I had asked her to try and alight at Aviemore because this town is just 14 miles away not 32 miles like Inverness Like her trip past Glascow, she would duplicating an immediate return journey on the same route.
She arrived in Grantown at 10.15pm and by 9am the next day we were on our way back down the A9 to Glascow.
Milngarvie is the starting point of the West Highland Way. Ralph left us to drive on down to York to his mother's, and by the time he reached York, Sandra and I were already sitting in the garden chez Jo, being plied with French cheese and oat cakes and our contribution of cold tins of larger which Sandra and I mostly polished off.
The first day was hot. We walked the 12 miles through the lovely (although not so lovely named) Mugdock Country Park. People were smiling and offering us good wishes for our journey ahead and we were full of life on the nearly flat well made up path.
The tarmac from Gartness into Drymen was the worst part of the whole trip. Although still fairly gentle and undulating, it was too hot and too hard underfoot. Hence the cold lagers!
This 12 miles took us 4 hours.

West Highland Way

Conic Hill, lower Loch Lomond.

Mid way, Loch Lomond.

End Loch Lomond.

Cabin at Inverannan

Cooling off near Tyndrum

Ben Lui.

Rannoch Moor

Kingshouse, Glen Coe

Kinlochleven

Coming into Fort William (phew)

Finishing the West Highland Way.

95 miles. 5 and a half days. Warm, sunny days (except a bit of cloud in Glen Coe which is a must for Glen Coe!) Perfect holiday.
This is Sandra and I sat at the end last Sunday.
I can't load all the photos here as it takes too long but I will let you have a glimpse over the next few days.
The WHW starts in Milngarvie which is on the outskirts of Glascow and winds its way along Loch Lomond, through to Glen Coe and finishing in Fort William. I organised it around the places to stay; my friend's Jo's house in Drymen, the YHA in Rowerdennan, a campsite hut in Inverannan, a wonderful B&B in Tyndrum and the Kingshouse Hotel in Glencoe.
The scenery was beautiful and all the dire warnings I received about midges and rain were unfounded. Sandra and I got on very well and we met a few pleasant people en-route, including 3 of the many Germans completing the walk. One walker remarked it should be called the West German Way. However the paths were not crowded and for most of the time we walked alone.
I'm back home, having being dropped off and picked up by Ralph who visited his mother in the interim. The sun still shines and I'm busy weeding while I can.
I amy have missed the second week of the Olympics but I would not have missed the perfect weather last week for anything.

Free food!

Mmmm, look at those delicious chantrelles being gently fried in butter! We met a man in the woods who was collecting them and I queried how you can tell false chantrelles from the real thing and he said they just don't grow round here. Well, take a man at his word, we picked a small amount and then tried them a home. No halucinations - the false chantrelles are halucegenic apparently. (think I need to check the spelling on that).
So now our daily walk is turning into a fungus foray. Tonight Ralph is just adding them to his Shephards Pie but yesterday we consumed all of the above as a starter...yum.
Please note; Ralph's Shephard Pie. Yes, he still does turn his hand to the kitchen duties occasionally. The Channel 4 news often gets in the way.
Also there are wild raspberries and blaeberries (blueberries to you lot in England) for picking. These are tine though and we are just eating them as we walk round. The paper said today that soft fruit in England is way behind the usual time for ripening but with all the rain, the fruit is well formed, therefore delicious. Scottish strawberries grown up the road at Nairn and so nice but we do have to buy them, next year I'm planning on my own being abundant enough.
4 days until my walking holiday!

A week at the beach.

This was Tuesday on a Puffin Cruise from McDuff. The trip was organised by the Natural History group, puffing round the coast from the little harbour at McDuff round Troophead. Those less seaworthy than us walked on the RSPB reserve at Troop Head and waved to us as we idlly sat looking for puffins.
Yes, we saw puffins, rediculous little birds flapping wildly in amongst the graceful swoops of the gulls, kittiwakes, skuas, fulmars (ugly brutes, cormorants...I may have missed some. They all looked like seagulls when in flight but the nesting habits of the gannets and kittiwakes made them easy to spot. The walkers also saw a peregrine!
Ralph and I sat on the beach at Cullen which is lovely little town further west while I ate my sandwiches and we watched children SWIMMING in the NORTH SEA! They are hardier than me, although the air temperature was hot, the sea is never ever warm. Little wet suits help though and are a great idea. I love to swim outdoors and have been in the Spey in March, so maybe I could aclimatize.
We were on the beach on Sunday after a visit to Nairn Allotments Open Day and the sun combined with the wind to make it a day of contrasts...wild waves and sky blue sky (!)
I was in Nairn again yesterday on the beach eating ice cream with my "grrrls", mum, Frances and her 3 nearly teenage twins and eldest 15 year old. We walked to the tower at Culbin Forest with Moss, one happy dog. What does she love more than the company of 3 adoring girls.
(Maybe the bone from the last piece of our road kill venison...)

The search for land.

Scotland is different from England in many ways. There is a definite cultural difference with costume, language, music and food tastes (no, not deep fried Mars Bars but lots of oats in national dishes). I have three kilts, I like porridge and haggis and know how to Strip the Willow.
But what I find the most difficult about my move up here is losing our land and animals. With all this space around us I thought it would be easy to find a field or two or some woodland, like Dale Wood or Sandal farm. There is always land coming up for sale in England.
Here is is different. The estate own most of the land which is around Grantown and although pieces of land do come on the market, they generally have planning permission attached so are out of our price range.
There is rented land but that too is highly sought after, like the Mossie, where Sue keeps Basil and Utrillo (and previously Bertie, sniff).
I have placed adverts, e-mailed the estates and looked at all the adverts in estate agents, papers etc.
We are now missing our main occupation that filled all the hours outside of work and after Bertie I am keen to have my own pony again, on my own land so I can look after it (not bothered, him or her) the way I want to.
I have even found a local - ish horse rescue that has a nice 18 year old who may well suit me, but I'm not going down that road until the land issue is sorted.
Meanwhile, we are still aiming to get an allotment on the proposed site in Grantown...that too is waiting for the estate to sort out their objections. A lovely visit to Nairn yesterday filled us with envy as their council had given the land for allotments to the society and fenced each plot and a security fence all round plus toilets...luxury.
But I've got lettuce and curly kale and eggs...better than nothing.

On the train situation, the driver was supended, Ralph is back on the plate next week and has been renovating a bullion carriage ... what bliss! He is also working on his Lambretta again.

The view from Carn Mor...a 2000ft hill on the Glenlivit estate. The people are from the walking group that I have joined and this is my 3rd walk with them.
As you can see, we did have some sun so consequently some views and the people are very normal and friendly, even if the walks are a tad sedentary compared to the Rucksack Club.
I had an active week; a paddle down the swollen river Spey incorporating the rapids between Alvie and Knockando (more on this later), a visit to an interesting garden centre in Dyke on Thursday where I bought 14 shrubs (for £50) and had a lengthy and interesting talk with the knowledgable owner, two garden visits with the Horticultural group on Friday, and riding Juniper around Grantown on Monday then Nethybridge on Sunday...phew!
This week seems sedentary in comparison. An appointment at the opticians,2 talks at the Grant Arms, a few hours getting the shrubs in and making them hen-proof which is no small undertaking and when the weather seemed too gloomy, painting the bedroom walls.
Ralph has an injury so he is taking it easy from physical activity but has wall-papered the hall and now painting it. He is also devouring library books, on book number 3 in 4 days.
It seems amazing to me that Grantown has so much when it is such a small place, but then the nearest city is 34 miles away and the next city is 90 (?) miles (is Perth a city?) or Aberdeen which is 108 miles. We are really quite isolated here. So, the dentist, the hospital, the optician, the entertainment, the shows and concerts, work even; here on the doorstep. We take the car out for outdoor pursuits more than any other reason.
There is also the river, the hills, the mountains, the tracks and crags, the beaches and the woods.
On Wednesday, after 2 days of heavy showers, which obviously were heavier in the mountains, the Spey was in full spate and we, the Speyside paddlers did a 2 hour river run. The rapids were smoothed over by the quantity of water but where the Avon met the Spey, the waves were like a surfing beach and it was the most fantatsic paddling I've yet done. I don't know why everyone wasn't on the river that day.
Many more to come...

Horses and boats.

This is Juniper. She is a 17 year old Highland that came for the weekend while her owner is on holiday. I miss Bertie, his lovely blonde rump which was often near my back garden fence and his thick, unruly two tone mane. Most of all I miss riding him, so willing and happy.
Sadly, his owner sold him as she didn't much like him and that's the way it is. You need to bond with your horse for it to work and their partnership was never going to work.
I just couldn't ride him for long because of his extremely broad back and my now wearing out hip joints. Our last ride was just an hour and a half and I had to get off and walk...mind you, it was a shorter ride if we could have cantered a bit but horse owner doesn't want to push her horse, Basil, as she fears he is suffering from fatigue.
However, Juniper came and I've ridden her once before on home ground and despite being in a strange place, she was forward and unflappable. Only the golfers unnerved her a bit and we did a 90 minute ride with very little pain for me, so despite her being very fat...she isn't as broad backed and my riding career isn't over.
Sorry for all this detail...it means a lot to me!
On Wednesday, I ventured through the rapids of the Spey with members of the Spey Valley Paddlers Group. The water was high and fast and therefore the rocky bits were easier but the converging waters of the Spey and Avon, created waves like a surf beach.
I enjoyed every last minute of our 90 minute paddle and feel confident in my boat and my river. I wish I could have taken photos but it was a trifle wet, not rain as it was a dry and clear day, but because of the waves and the speed we careered down river. Yipee!!
Ralph pulled/tore a calf muscle today on the usual dog walk and had to hobble home. He is now sitting with his leg up, pondering a summer of inactivity.

Updates.

It is a month since my last post...better bring you up to date and record for all time the months of May and June in Speyside and beyond.

First; trips away have included, Gairloch, Newton Stewart again and Braemar. Next one; West Highland Way.
Second; the house is still being decorated inside and out and the vegetables are making slow progress in the garden.
Third; Horse...Bertie went yesterday. I had one last ride of this lovely boy and then he was off to a riding place near Aviemore. I will have to pay to ride him now but at least I will get to have a nice canter on him and he won't be so lonely as he has been. I was heartbroken though as to me he is the perfect horse...just too wide and not having my own land presented difficulties.
Fourth; Land. Getting nowhere except for some allotments which are underway in Grantown. I am now on the official allotment group and we will hopefully be getting one sooner or later.
Fifth; Railway. Ralph is still training to be a fireman but was severly compromised yesterday when the train was started and moved while he was between the carriages....I was nearly a widow. Not good.
Canoe; I bought a lightweight canoe then found out it was kneeling only...whoops. It will have to go back down to Leeds for re-sale, totally unused! What a twit, I had no idea kneeling ones existed. (I've got bad knees) Finally got some bars and Ralph invented a device so I can load my own kyack (but that was only yesterday so still have no trips to report).
Sixth; Visitors, brother and mum in law. 2 others that were expected are ill. Very very sad situation.

Lastly; Dad. He continues to be frail and ill much of the time with glimpses of health every few days. He's not happy and it is hard to be a carer.

Oh...weather! Well, we still haven't had the extremes that others have had. Mostly just dull and showers while England drowned. 3 hot days this week so a bit of gardening...then rain today, hence the catch up.

Happy summer!

Holidays!

This beautiful blue loch is in South West Scotland. How lucky we were with the weather as it rains and rains in south west Scotland. The wee figure that you see is Ralph, taking a refreshind dip in Loch Enoch. It was half way round a walk I was looking out for my Club weekend in June. I hope the weather is as good.
After Newton Stewart, we had 3 days in Wastwater. Whatr a stunning place the youth hostel is in!
Then it was down to a damp and dreary York for a few days. We had a nice walk on Sutton Bank, but York lies on a flat plain which is wet and featureless. The weather is usually good being on the east side and without hills and M-i-L s garden is a wondrously productive site.
I'm glad to be back in a place where the hills are.

The crofters Home.

It was actually pitch black inside. How people used to live...

This post is out of sequence but I can't move it...

While the rest of the country drowns...

How wonderful to live in the north east this year! I can't imagine what the fields of Sandal Farm look like and although I desperately miss my animals, I do have the sun as compensation and my new wide ranging chickens who are now foraging in the garden, being stalked by Moss.
This untidy bit of garden is at the front and gets the sun all day. You can see beyond the sprawling heathers, there is a cleared piece of land which now has 10 strawberry plants on it. , carefully netted to prevent hungry little beaks getting to the flowers and fruits and also slug pellets, which although are pet friendly, I'm certain will do no critter any good.
The hens are obviously used to being handled and one came and sat on my lap while I forlornly nursed a cold yesterday. They don't seem to have got the idea of putting themselves to bed at night but are easily plucked from the ground and put back in their run.
Whenever we are absent, the chickens will live in their house and run so they don't need to be locked up evry night.
They won't like it, after they've enjoyed the freedom of the garden but better that than death by cat.

Enough of the April Showers but I've got a job.

The rain comes over in sharp heavy showers which leaves huge puddles on the roads and the Mossie has turned into a nightmare bog. The horses are standing as still as they can on the highest parts of the land. In between showers, the sun is actually very hot and the vegetation and tarmac steams as the surfaces rapidly dry off.

Talking of steam, this is the engine that Ralph, as a trainee fireman/stoker, has had a hand in making go forward. It is the job of the driver to ensure forward motion but it is the fireman who provides and regulates the fuel to propel the beauty forward. He has spent 2 days on the plate and will take him a while to be fully trained up (no pun intended).  On his other days he has replaced a washbasin, cleaned up wheel cogs so they turn, rubbed down, greased, drilled holes, scrapped off dirt and rust...and so on. Ralph is very good at the minute tasks that refurbishment of vehicles entails but here he is also enjoying the comaraderie of an all male enviroment. Being in the clothing industry, then nursing, it is almost a unique experience. He comes home with a dirty face and his hands are a disgrace, so it is just as well he isn't nursing. Patients would run a mile.

Yes, I have a job. Same as I was doing in Bradford only instead of Pakistani wives, it's Eastern European staff. There are many many of them and they are delightful! Good fun, committed and hard working.

Hurray!





Highland Life Museum.

Free entry. A lovely sunny day. Interesting and not one bit stuffy.

The house is an example of one that I may have lived in in Grantown on Spey a few years back. There were also older examples of how the MacDonalds may have lived in their Glen when life was cold and harsh.

I have lots of photos but Blogspot only seems to accept one or 2 at a time. Best go on the website to see what is there.

What I really liked was that the buildings were inhabited by local people and so their stories were real. The bicycle repair man who loved clocks and so built a lean-to on his house in the twon of Nairn so he could indulge his hobby, collecting, repairing and inventing wierd and wonderful machinery in order to do so. His workshop looked like my dad's. Everything was saved and mostly stored. But some things were made use of, his iron bedstead was cut in half length ways and made into gutters on his shed. How unique and inventive.

I wonder what possible use my dad had for the collection of castor wheels he collected, or the old irons. He won't have any use now though; age has made work in his garage impossible. He is still hoping that Ralph will take up where he left off and Ralph is busy donating it all to the Steam Railway. Now that's another post.

Snow use.

Plans for a canoe trip have been postponed and Ralph took the car instead of the mtoorbike because snow was lying this morning. It has been coming down in flurries on and off for 2 days but inbetween the sun has shone and it is very hot then.

I walked in the morning yesterday and had to stop to take my fleece and jacket off. I sat on a bench overlooking the Cromdales which are picturesque with their fresh snow lying lightly on the upper slopes. The Cairngorm mountains were not visible at all. I wonder if people are manging to ski. Locals have bought their annual ski pass and used it 3 times this winter! There is still time, we are quite far north after all.

The garden flowers have been battered by the snow. This picture was taken at 2.50pm Sat and shows the sleet laying the daffs low.

I have picked a good crop of rhubarb though and that is stewing ready for our first crumble tonight! Yum.

Ralph is on his training to be a steam engine fireman so should be warm and exercised today.

The hens have arrived.

This is one of the 3 young PoL hens that arrived yesterday. She is very timid and hasn't ventured out of her tidy new home. I relented and put feed and water in their house yesterday because it was obvious Miss Shy wasn't going to be persuaded to descend the ladder.

However the other two are out and about in their fox proof run despite the extremely cool showery weather we are having this morning.

Sightseeing.

After the frantic weeks of sunshine and outdoor activity, I spent 5 days with my friends, Sonia and Amber who had arrived to snow capped mountains, grey sky and on-and-off rain. Luckily each day we managed to avoid the heavy showers and had at least half a day in dry, even sun!

The trips included a visit to the Ospreys at Loch Garten, the beach at Nairn, a trip up Cairn Gorm (more reindeer photos!) and a trip to the River Findhorn which is pictured.

Moss was delighted by young company although was very naughty, taking advantage of them with some outrageous behaviour. I say them, because Amber was be-friended by the 3 young lassies who walk with me and their mum and Moss on a regular basis.

I'd not been to this section of the Findhorn before. It is used for white water rafting and I could tell it was way and beyond my own kyacking/canoeing skills.

Something to aim for...

The Osprey. The Siskin.

On a visit to the RSPB reserve at the beautiful Loch Garten, I was priviledged to see Odin. This male Osprey was late to mate with his partner of the last 3 years. Beaten to the act (which is viable for 14 days) he stood guard over the established nest and his humiliation and despair was clearly visible on the CCTV camera that you can see in my photo. The female had disappeared that morning, obviously (so the RSPB volunteers assured me) distressed that she had mated with the new, younger male who had beaten him to it.

Now "Odin" sits on his tree overlooking his empty nest and you can't help thinking; Mills and Boon of Strathspey.

The sweet little Siskin in all his colours to attract a sweet little Siskin girl, cheered me up. Despite the sudden snow and cold which has left the daffodils and primulas flattened and the small birds returning to the bird feeders, the males are in all their glory preparing for the serious business of mating and raising their young.

It's all love and lust and longing in the bird world.