The active weekend; continued.

SUnday was calm and damp in the morning but by 10am it was dry enough for Jo and Ralph to join the Speyside Joggers for a 9mile run.

In the afternoon in the cold sunshine we all went for a 9 mile walk from Nethybridge. It was going to be a 5 mile walk, then it was dry and the views were stunning so we extended it, then I extended it a bit more by taking us a bit further down a track than I meant to.

We had to ford 2 streams which involved balancing on tree trunks so the walk did have some excitments too!

Sadly I didn't take the camera so the photo is actually from the Saturday walk showing the Spey in the valley which forms part of our daily walk.

Getting friendly with the reindeer on the Cromdales.

Friend Jo was here for the weekend and we decided to tackle the Cromdales, hills that shelter Grantown from the mountainous weather of the Cairngorms. The forecast wasn't great and in fact it was appalling but Jo and I are never deterred by the wind and set off.

We reached the dizzy height of 635m which is marked by a georgeous cairn. At this point the wind was so strong that I couldn't stand upright, never mind take a photo.

You can see we did have some respite from the driving snow and wind but that wasn't the only thing that preventing me taking photographs. You can see the herd of reindeer which was taken at some distance only because when they came within stroking distance I was a little alarmed!! Jo had to walk a little distance off with our dogs so I could try to drive them away with my walking pole.

If it weren't for the dogs, I would not have been so quite nervous. They seemed a LOT larger than the ones pulling Santa's sleigh (previous post) and were more numerous. I expect they are fed and used to humans and unlike cows, didn't seem too interested in the dogs, but they have very imposing antlers and there were a great number of them..as you can see. So, no close up photos but an experience to have 20 odd reindeer running across a snowy hillside to see us!

Meanwhile the husbands were doing their own form of exercise; Adie cycling and Ralph exercisersizing his mind with Saturday's Guardian. They did walk Pip in the afternoon.

Just for your info, dog lovers; Buffy is a GSX and 10, well used to hills and long days, and Moss is a brilliant hill dog, walking nearby and not running off and disappearing. Pip stays home for preference, that is MY preference, just because of her love of chasing animals small and BIG, probably like reindeer.

On the beach.

Cute little birds...piles of seaweed and the inevitable picture of the collies.

This is Lossiemouth Beach today, still on the Moray Coastal Trail but despite the tanquil sky, the wind was whipping sand into sheets across the beach and it was bitterly cold as well as unpleasant walking into it.

So a short walk.

If I didn't have endless horse manure for compost then I would be stuffing sacks of all this lovely seaweed which must have been swept into piles during one of the recent storms.

The birds...well they are Snderlings. You can't use Wikiepeadia today but I'm sure you'll find them on an RSBP site.

The off-road bike course in Church Wood.

It is fab! I haven't been on it on my bike yet because it was not finished but I ran round it with the dogs. I love all the swoopy bits and bumby humps but the stone path as on the photo far right, is way beyond my modest skill and nerve.

I can't take any photos of the children using it without their permission, especially now I'm Child Protection Officer for the Speyside Paddlers, so the course looks a bit empty but it is used and they have already had races. Great!

More scenery.

A quiet walk from Colyumbridge on Friday.

This area is to become the site of a new town with 400 new houses and a school. The planning permission has been passed despite objections and despite the fact that the area sits deep in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.

You might think that this status would protect an area but no. There are other schemes for development in many of the out lying villages, including Boat of Garten and Nethybridge which are RSPB reserves and the nesting site of rare birds like the capercaillies and the osprey.

I wonder where the population of the new developments are going to work. Inverness is the fastest growing city in the UK (I think) but it is 30 miles to Inverness, over a steep snowy hill and there is plenty of space around the Moray coast.

I think it will be second homes mostly. There should be legislation to prevent this but of course it is a sad fact that councils need income, the locals need employment and development will generate the local economy.

I have been active in campaigns before moving up here. It is now time to get involved again.

Life has started again.

After the dull quiet of the Christmas holidays, everything is back in full flow. There is the Art Group and the Paddlers group of which I am a member of both. I went riding yesterday on an adorable Highland pony in the tracks around Nethybridge, looking out towards the mountains of Cairn Gorm, Kincardine and Cromdale!

Ralph has joined the Speyside Joggers and has been out twice with them. Ralph has his scooter to complete rebuilding.

We have the garden to plant up (seeds bought) and the hens to put in the newly ordered hen run. The allotment may be too far away so we are still looking for some land for the polytunnel.

There is the U3A which Ralph went to on Tuesday to learn about the Strathspey Railway. There are talks every 2 weeks on a variety of subjects.

There is the Botanical Illustration, French and Horticulture Group (me)

There is Photography (ralph)

Natural History. (both)

It's so exciting! There are eagle watches, a boat trip to find dolphins, an art exhibitions to prepare for and holidays to plan.

I'm away with my walking group (from Huddersfield) twice, away with friends canoeing (weather permitting) twice, walking the West Highland Way with a friend being planned, and Ralph is planning a motorbike trip to Spain and south France.

Then there is the whole of the West Coast and also the islands to explore, the Glen Affric trails and mountains is at the top of my list having never been there...

Ralph has entered the Inverness Half Marathon and then there is the Loch Ness Marathon in September.

Meanwhile I look after my dad, keep him from death's door with twice daily company and a supply of food, drink and medication and aim to help him to enjoy the last years of his life.

Sunset.

Last night over the neighbour's house. Wow.