Ginger and Gary on the beach
UK June 2011 – Day 30. Out of focus?
We celebrated by catching a bus down to Gun Wharf and Ginger buying some more clothes. After that we went and found lunch and coffee at Lou-Lou’s and had a long wait for a bus to the beach. We spent a wonderful afternoon on the beach, and just so that I could say that I’d done it, I went swimming. Compared to the frigid waters of Scotland it was almost tropical.
In the evening we went for a farewell dinner with Robert and Mel. The taxi is coming to pick us up and take us to Heathrow at seven am tomorrow morning. The only thing left to do was pack. It wasn’t easy somehow our bags were overweight. I had to leave some of my carefully collected geological specimens behind, and we did a lot of re-arranging of our bags, including putting the entire tent (except the poles) into my carry on bag. Finally we squeezed everything in and the weights were within the limits.
14 July 2011 | 365:195 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Oh dear!
UK June 2011 – Day 29. What a truly appalling picture.
Tonight we had a family curry and took this picture afterwards. My brother is absent – on the way to a weekend of fun in Germany. I could have set up the tripod outside while the sun was still out and taken a better picture but the dreaded photo-lethargy is still effecting me. Oh well. The camera also had trouble focusing again. There were some better shots but they were too blurred to keep. A $1600 camera and it can’t take in-focus pictures when needed…
Tomorrow we return the hire car, pack and get ready to leave. Our trip to the UK is all but over.
Today’s alternate shots
What a lot of keys I've collected on this trip. I should add that the fluffy pony key fob belongs to Marcelle.
A terrible picture of the family
13 July 2011 | 365:194 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Photo-lethargy strikes yet again
UK June 2011 – Day 28. Yet more curry!
In the evening we attended one of the Monthly curry nights that I used to go to, and again it was great to catch up with everyone. The dreaded photo-lethargy struck yet again, so all I have is this late night picture taken back at my son Robert’s flat.
Today’s extra
Gilberts Sweet shop, Eastney Portsmouth
12 July 2011 | 365:193 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Keith and Gary
UK June 2011 – Day 27. More curry lunch time and dinner with my son
After lunch we ventured into Southampton to look at the piles of trash in the street left by the council workers dispute and while away the afternoon before meeting with my son Keith when he finished work. The afternoon was not wasted, we managed to pick up a couple of gifts and did a lot of walking before six when Keith was free. After a false start (the pub was closed) we found another (open) pub and sat and talked the evening away. Which was very good.
Today’s alternate shot
11 July 2011 | 365:192 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Late at night sitting on my brother’s kitchen floor
UK June 2011 – Day 26. Last week we were Scottish Episcopalians, this week we reverted to CofE,
The service was sparsely attended, we stayed afterwards for coffee, which we had in the Church as the parish hall was being used for a function of some sort.
Two weeks later back in Christ Episcopal Church in Springfield, I felt very uneasy about the full church and how well supported it is. I read that the (below target) weekly contribution for the previous week had been over $13,000 that’s about £8,000 at current exchange rates. At St Margaret’s the vicar stood in the pulpit relating the reduced income of the previous week’s jumble sale of £700.00. One wonders what he, or the people at St Maelrubha’s in Poolewe would do with a fraction of that £8,000 per year let alone per week.
After church we spent the afternoon and evening with my friends Roy and Jan, their daughters and families. Dee is my Goddaughter, and I’m honorary Godfather to Lynn who asserts (to me anyway) that she should be my Goddaughter. The amusing thing is that I wasn’t her Godfather because Roy and Jan thought my (first) marriage wouldn’t last, well that’s what they told me some time later. Ha! I must have got ‘em fooled by the time Dee came along then. We had a great time catching up and were treated to a nice dinner out. But much more importantly Jan produced real home made mince pies for us. Mince pies in July. Wonderful.
I should have taken some pictures, but the photographic lethargy that’s afflicted me on this trip struck again, and I took none. At the end of the day I just sat on my brother’s kitchen floor (why not) and took today’s picture. After nearly a month away from home my beard’s looking in desperate need of a trim – that’s only a few more days away.
Today’s extras
Inside St Margaret's Church, Eastney, Portsmouth
St Margaret's Church, Eastney, Portsmouth
10 July 2011 | 365:191 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary and Ginger on the beach at Hunstanton
UK June 2011 – Day 25. Back to Portsmouth today.
Before departing for Portsmouth we took a walk North along the beach and cliffs. The weather had improved but unfortunately the sun was on the wrong side of the cliffs for good pictures. We couldn’t stay all day so I had to make do with the cliffs in shadow. The tide was coming in and there were lots big kites, kitesurfers and people getting ready for a day on the beach. Despite the problems getting a meal last night and the fact that the southern end of the promenade seems to be aspiring to become a mini Blackpool I still like Hunstanton. Old Hunstanton to the North of the cliffs has a much nicer beach and was much more refined.
The drive back to Portsmouth went without incident. We’re now back for the final few days with the family before returning to the US. I need to extend the hire car period by a day – for some reason I thought we were going back on Thursday. Turns out we leave Friday. The good thing about that is that we have time to fit in a family curry before we go.
Today’s alternate shots & extras
In case of Emergency. Very practical, but I found it amusing.
Cliffs at Old Hunstanton, you can see how there is more of the chalk layer at the Northern end of the beach.
Kite flying on Old Hunstanton Beach
Old Hunstanton, the sandstone visible at the base of the cliffs used as a building material.
Being nauseating on Hunstanton Beach. And why not?
The beach and cliffs at Hunstanton
Back in Portsmouth. Gary attempts to type with a cat perched on his arm. Photograph by Ginger
09 July 2011 | 365:190 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
A full day’s driving, a walk on the beach, beer and fish and chips take their toll
UK June 2011 – Day 24. Destination – the chalk cliffs of Hunstanton
We arrived late in the afternoon, visited the local tourist information office, and with their help found a bed and Breakfast. “I think he’s Spanish” to quote the Tourist Information woman, referring to our host for the night – more on that tomorrow. It didn’t take long to get got settled in.
It was very chilly in Hunstanton; in fact the heating was on in the B&B. Despite the cold we decided that there was just time for a quick walk along the beach to look at the cliffs – and take some pictures in case the weather didn’t cooperate the following day. The light was fairly good, though as I pointed out at the time we’d need to wait on the beach for the setting sun to catch the cliffs. However, we got bored moved on and sure enough later on the sun poked through the clouds and I missed a couple of good pictures.
We then discovered that sleepy seaside towns in Norfolk go to bed early; even on a Friday night. By eight O’clock most of the fish and chip shops were closed, not that we wanted fish and chips. There wasn’t an open restaurant to be found. We went into a pub which advertised ‘Food served all day’ ordered a couple of pints only to be told that they’d stopped serving food. Oh well. According to Inspector Morse, beer is food, so we had a couple of courses (or was it three?) after which we didn’t really care what the food was and fish and chips seemed just dandy.
Today’s picture depicts me slumped on the bed, tired after lots of driving, walking on the beach, drinking beer and replete with fish and chips.
Tomorrow we head back to Portsmouth.
Today’s extras
Multicoloured chalk and sandstone cliffs at Hunstanton, Norfolk, UK
Sun burst over the Wash
Multicoloured chalk and sandstone layered cliffs at Hunstanton, Norfolk, UK
Sea and Sky
08 July 2011 | 365:189 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
A photograph in which I appear to have a foot protruding from the back of my head. The foot does not belong to me.
UK June 2011 – Day 23. The presence of said foot probably explains the stupid grin I have.
Having checked the map, worked out our timings – we wanted to arrive at Cath and Jon’s around 6pm, we decided to drive down to Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island. We’d checked and the tides were favourable. You can only get on and off the island at certain times, failure to check the tide times will either result in disappointment or getting very wet. Before we could we set off, we spent some time shopping in Berwick, including checking out a couple of Outdoors stores to see what equipment was available in the UK.
Holy Island was full of tourists, but we got away from them by spending a lot of time in a a very interesting museum. I read first person accounts of life on the island at the time of the great and second world wars. We also looked at facsimiles of the illuminated Gospels. This activity fortunately coincided with a heavy downpour. By the time we’d finished in the museum the weather had started to clear, and I managed to get a couple of pictures, though the buses and dozens of tourists spoiled the pictures of Lindisfarne Castle.
I did get a picture I liked of the obelisks on Guile Point that are the leading marks into the harbour to the South of the island. The seaward obelisk carries a light (Guile Point East Lighthouse) and is over 68 feet tall. I’ve seen the obelisks referred to as sinister, they certainly do loom forlornly over the windswept coastline.
By mid afternoon it was time to move on, and we took the coast road again. We eventually headed inland and on down to Darlington, arriving as planned (gosh!) just after six. Having been introduced to the madness that is Cath and Jon’s four dogs we set out our tent to dry and headed out to dinner. We had a very enjoyable evening with Cath and Jon, who we originally met on Flickr. We’d last all met in person in June 2008 when Ginger last visited the UK.
I didn’t take any self portraits during the day, so this is a late at night shot with Ginger running interference in the background.
Today’s extras
Guile Point leading Marks, Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne Castle
Lindisfarne Castle
Bamburgh Castle - another brief halt on our coastal drive.
07 July 2011 | 365:188 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
The Royal Garden Chinese Restaurant – Berwick-Upon-Tweed
UK June 2011 – Day 22. Today we said goodbye to Scotland and headed South.
The day started with rain, so we had to take down the tent with the fly set and pack it away wet. Our plan was to get to take it easy and get to Darlington to meet up with Flickr friends Cath and Jon on July 7. With no real plan in mind we drove down to Edinburgh (Once more across the country) drove through Edinburgh, deciding not to take in the sights and headed South on the A1.
We finally came to a halt in the Borders at Berwick-Upon-Tweed. Driving around we found the Harrow Bank Bed and Breakfast run by an ex Gordie fisherman (ex fisherman not Gordie). Ginger couldn’t understand a word he said. He had sold his fishing boat and bought the B&B three months previously. The place was very nice despite my misgivings about it being near the docks.
We wandered around Berwick, found a nice Chinese restaurant, The Royal Garden – where I took today’s picture, just outside the door. Forgetting about the length of my chop sticks I managed to knock a glass of wine over myself and my camera bag (no damage I’m glad to say).
We ended our evening out drinking pints in a fine old fashioned pub with a snug, no TV and no loud music. The way pubs should be.
Today’s extras
Rainy day at Loch Rannoch
View from the tent across Loch Rannoch
Our last campsite in Scotland
The old road bridge at Berwick-upon-Tweed
06 July 2011 | 365:187 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary and Ginger in the tent camped beside Loch Rannoch
UK June 2011 – Day 21. The plan was to go backpacking in the Cairngorms.
We were up reasonably early for a very nice breakfast with Russell and Chris, and we planned to get on our way and go hiking and camping in Cairngorms. However, the conversation flowed, I looked enviously at the Lenses Russell has for his nature photography and we finally left shortly before lunch. It was really great to meet up with Russell again after all these years, once I get all the vacation pictures processed and posted I’m looking forward to sitting down and writing Russell an email.
The weather turned for the worse on our way South, becoming cloudy with intermittent rain. We discovered that the Cairngorms were heavily geared to tourists, and the one out of the way place we’d found on the map that had parking nearby didn’t appear at all inviting in reality. I ended up driving for hours as we crossed the country once more before finally finding a quiet spot to camp alongside Loch Rannoch.
The rain stopped just long enough for us to set up the tent. We had a close look at the level of the loch, we didn’t want to get flooded out in the night.
I didn’t take any pictures today, so we had to coble together a last thing at night flash photograph in the tent.
05 July 2011 | 365:186 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Enjoying the scenery by Loch Bad a’Ghaill
UK June 2011 – Day 20. Today I met an old friend,
it was the first time we’d seen each other in nearly forty years. Russell and I had said our goodbyes back when we left school in July 1972, exchanged a couple of letters and then lost contact. Thanks to the joys of the Internet we’d got back in touch about a year or so ago; he and his wife Chris have a bed and breakfast in Scotland; our planned destination for the day.
Before we could do that though we had to sit and enjoy the view from our tent for a while, which is when today’s picture was taken. There’s also a picture showing the damage the Loch Maree midges have done to me – imagine that all over your legs.
There was also another problem with our plan to go and see Russell and Chris. My cell ‘phone didn’t seem to want to work in the highlands, and we’d not been able to contact them, so they didn’t know we were coming. If they had vacancies that was fine, if not at least we could pop in and say hello on our way.
Getting there meant crossing the country again – they’re on the East coast, near to Inverness. As we drove (literally) across country I stopped under every cell ‘phone tower in the vain hope I could make a call. It didn’t work. I tired public ‘phone boxes, but in the age of cell ‘phones they are few and far between; and working ones appear to be even rarer. Finally I found a working public telephone and got through. Good sports that they are, Russell and Chris didn’t blink and eyelid at the zero notice and told us to come on over.
We arrived around three, and apart from a much needed shower, the next ten or so hours were spent catching up on forty years of news. I’d like to say that I took a couple of pictures to commemorate the occasion, but unfortunately I didn’t.
Today’s extras
This is what midge bites look like; on me anyway. I won't spoil the illusion by giving details of exactly which part of me this is. I'll let you enjoy guessing.
Camped alongside Loch Bad a'Ghaill
04 July 2011 | 365:185 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Looking out over Gruinard Bay, Scotland
UK June 2011 – Day 19. This might have been my favourite photo of the entire holiday,
but the autofocus didn’t work properly so it’s a bit blurred. I’ve now worked out what the problem is, see the very end of this post for my conclusions.
We were up early and elected to postpone breakfast so could get far away from the midges. We broke the tent down in record time, threw it in the car and drove off, stopping to make coffee, eat breakfast and take pictures at the side of the A832 beside Loch Tollaidh, just outside Poolewe.
Driving through Poolewe looking for a public loo Ginger noticed St Maelrubha’s – a Scottish Episcopal Church. We checked the time and realised we could make the service. Leaving the near by car park, I drove off on the wrong side of the road without realising it – until an on-coming car on my side of the road reminded me – Oops! We managed to get ourselves changed and a bit poshed up in the car parked outside the church. Off we went to join the small but enthusiastic congregation for the service, which was quite familiar, informal and very nice. We were made to feel most welcome and took up the invite for coffee and cakes afterwards.
After church our plan for the day was to find a remote camping spot somewhere North of Ullapool and to get there by driving up the coast road as much as possible. We had hardly left Poolewe when the views over Loch Ewe and then Gruinard Bay forced us to stop, get out and climb the hills to take pictures. In today’s picture we are perched on top of 400 foot high cliff overlooking Gruinard Bay. The only way to get an idea of the scale of this view is to zoom in on one of the in-focus pictures and look for the coach by the beach. Distances in Scotland can be very deceiving, with what looks like a small rock a short distance away turning into a boulder the size of a house much further off.
The scenery enroute to our camping area was spectacular though we didn’t stop very often to take pictures, it was all getting a bit too much. After driving around entranced, we finally stopped by the side of an Loch and set up camp. We spent the evening watching the light play over the distant hills and mountains. Superb.
Today’s extras
Loch Tollaidh
Breakfast out of the back of the car at Loch Tollaidh
Loch Maree
St Maelrubha's at Poolewe
St Maelrubha's at Poolewe
NATO Fuel Depot - Loch Ewe. Loch Ewe has been used for Naval refueling since the Second World War. It also has an island deliberately infected with Anthrax...
Aultbea from across Loch Ewe
View to the East across Gruinard Bay - try and spot the coach by the beach about midway across the frame.
View to the North at Ardmair Scotland
View across Loch Lurgainn, Inverpolly
Camped beside Loch Bad a'Ghaill, Inverpolly
Autofocus Issues
I’ve now completed some Internet detective work and discovered what the autofocus problem is. It only happens when I use the remote shutter control (quite a feat in today’s picture where I used the remote at a distance of over 50 feet). Sometimes the camera will focus sometimes it won’t. My D40X exhibited the same problem and I was very disappointed to find the same issue with the D7000. My investigations discovered that you mustn’t focus the camera before you take a picture using the remote. If you do it won’t focus when you use the remote. That’s a bit difficult as you sometimes need to focus the camera to see what’s in the viewfinder! This of course contrary to what it says in the D40X manual, and the D7000 manual remains suspiciously quiet on the subject. Darn. I now get round this problem by setting the camera up, and then turning it off and on before using the remote to take a picture.
03 July 2011 | 365:184 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Hiding from the midges
UK June 2011 – Day 18. Today I drove across Scotland,
twice. Starting from our campsite in Glen Etive near the West coast we drove up the length of Loch Ness, stopping at Foyers to have a walk and take pictures of the falls, which at 165 feet high are the highest we’ve seen on this trip so far. We drove on to Inverness; on the way passing Easter Boleskine where I’d stayed for a summer holiday over twenty years ago. Once at Inverness (on the East coast) we stopped to shop for food. Then we drove all the way back almost to the West coast, finally stopping in a very rough and ready car park near Lock Maree.
The midges there were fearsome. So fearsome, we unpacked the tent in the car to minimise the time spent outside putting it up. This trick worked well, and we were soon comfortably in our tent with the midges harmlessly massing on the inside of the fly sheet. Today’s picture shows me laughing in the face of the thousands of midges that would have liked to have eaten me for their supper.
Today’s extras
A last look at our Mutha Hubba tent camped in Glen Etive.
The Falls of Foyers by Loch Ness
Ew - lots and lots of midges
2 July 2011 | Highland Midge | 365:183 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
At the end of the hike
UK June 2011 – Day 17. It was a long hike.
Our day started early and with a choice. Hike up into the valley to the West of the one we came down last night or take the long route around by road. We didn’t know how good the other path was – it might peter out in a bog like the one we took yesterday. There wasn’t a clear way of joining the path. My hiking pole was broken, and if the route required a lot of hiking on wet grass I could end up slipping and damaging something or myself. We decided the best course of action was going to be to hike out (with our backpacks) the ten mile route by the single track road.
It ended up being only 9.5 miles, but with an elevation gain of 1,034 feet. Which brought the total hike to 14 miles and 1,507 feet. The last couple of miles were another hard slog through soft and boggy ground. It was a choice of that or walk along a main road with very fast traffic. Of course on our way out of Glen Etive we found some fantastic camping places – much nicer than the midge ridden Larch wood we stopped in.
Once back at the car we decided to drive back to Glen Etive and camp at one of the camping spots we’d seen. And that’s exactly what we did. We ended up camping in a beautiful spot by the river Etive. I did try swimming, but it was frightfully cold. Too cold to stay in for any length of time.
Many weeks later back at home we checked out the other route on Google Earth. The path was very good, and our guess as to how to get to it looked about right. So maybe we could have taken the valley route back.
Today’s alternate shots & extras
Looking back at the saddle of Lairig Gartain from Glen Etive. That's where we crossed over last night.
Ginger by the River Coupall in Glen Coe
Gary by the River Coupall in Glen Coe (Photograph by Ginger)
Gary and Ginger by the River Coupall in Glen Coe
End of hike celebration (darn forgot the beers *again*.)
Lairig Gartain from Glen Coe. A view of the start of yesterday's hike.
Camped by the River Etive in Glen Etive
Camped by the River Etive in Glen Etive. I dashed out to grab this shot just as the sun went behind the mountain.
The view of Glen Etive from our tent
Ginger sitting by the River Etive in Glen Etive
1 July 2011 | 365:182 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary and Ginger at the saddle of Lairig Gartain
UK June 2011 – Day 16. The plan was to drive to Glen Coe and Backpack up into the Lost valley.
We finally arrived at Glen Coe around three pm and the place was crawling with tourists. The parking area nearest to the Lost Valley clearly stated that no overnight parking was allowed. We didn’t want to hike a couple of miles along the busy road just to get to the start of a hike which begins with over a 900 ft climb. Between tourist coaches I tried asking a Scottish Piper if he knew if the no parking rule was enforced. He didn’t know, in fact he wasn’t Scottish – I think he was Ukrainian. I was now in an exceptionally foul mood, as we had no back up plan for where to stay for the night. In the end we backtracked to an earlier parking place, which linked to a public footpath to Glen Etive. From the maps it looked like a reasonable hike of around 4 miles with an opportunity for wild camping in the Glen.
Following the public footpath up Lairig Gartain we got a taste of things to come – peat bog. The ground was very wet and very soft, but no worries as the path was good and dry. About two third of the way up to the saddle we met some very tired Girl Guides coming down, that should have warned us. We arrived at the saddle a 740 ft climb about six thirty. We now had to decided whether to go on or go back – not that many camping places had presented themselves on the way up and the saddle itself was windy and uninviting. Ginger checked the map and said that the descent was only 500 ft, so we decided to carry on.
Before we descended into Glen Etive We took a few pictures to celebrate – later I discovered that the best of mine were spoiled by an autofocus error – so today’s picture isn’t the one I’d have picked but we’re all blurred in the better exposed & framed picture.
The path, which was good at the start of the hike, had been getting progressively worse the higher we got. Going down the other side it became very rough. I stumbled once and fell over. Further down the going got wet, and my Huaraches, great on rock and rough surfaces, proved to be inadequate on wet grass. I fell once more and broke my hiking pole. We had a long talk about the merits of retracing our steps or continuing. Ginger, used to reading maps with contours in feet realised that she’d mis-read the map, we were descending 500 metres, around 1,500 feet! We decided to carry on. At the bottom of the valley the trail petered out in a boggy mess, where I proceeded to slip over several times. Somewhere along with the dented car, the problems parking, my broken hiking pole, and now a wet backside, I totally lost my sense of humour.
We finally made it to the road and we headed towards a small larch wood where we camped for the night. On the way we encountered a very fine stag laying, apparently completely unharmed and disinterested at the side of the road.
Setting up our tent the midges were out in strength and we were very pleased that we’d bought head nets earlier. Over dinner we discussed the possibilities for the next day, continue with our plan to return by crossing over the next valley, or take the long route (10 miles) and hike out via the road. We decided to sleep on it and see how we felt in the morning.
Today’s alternate shots & extras
Gary and Ginger on the bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond
Gary and Ginger at the saddle of Lairig Gartain, would have been fine if it wasn't too blurred.
Loch Lomond
The Falls of Falloch - can you spot the people sitting at the top?
Achallader. It was while parked here I noticed I'd pranged the car.
River Coupall in Lairig Gartain
Gary contemplating the view of Loch Etive
Stag
30 June 2011 | 365:181 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Late at night sitting on my uncle’s sofa, apparently with a ceramic pigeon sticking out of my head
UK June 2011 – Day 15. More hiking, lots of driving and a fish supper
We started the day with a trip to Glasgow because of my discovery the previous night that our newly purchased MSR Pocket Rocket didn’t work. We had no problem getting the unit changed (another good mark for Tiso).
We then went on a long drive through the countryside ending up at the sleepy town of Comriewhere there was a short, at a little over 3.5 miles, hike with only 693 feet of elevation through Glen Lednock which included the Falls of Lednock otherwise know as the De’ils Cauldron. Thankfully we chose to forego the steep climb up to the obelisk atop of Dunmore hill.
After our hike we drove back to Cumbernauld taking a diverse route which included a pineapple shaped folly, the small and very picturesque town of Culross, though I was more photographically taken with the view across the Firth of Forth to the Grangemouth refinery. Back in Cumbernauld we vistited a fish and chip shop and had a fish supper for dinner. Next stop was Tescos for backpacking food.
Today’s extras
Keith and Ginger at the De'ils Cauldron, Comrie
De'ils Cauldron, Comrie
Glen Lednock
Glen Lednock
Larchwood path
Foraging for berries
River Lednock
Dunmore hill and Melville monument
Dunmore Pineapple Folly
Mid Causeway Culross, Dunfermline, Scotland
Oil refinery at Grangemouth seen from Culross
29 June 2011 | 365:180 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
keith, Gary and Ginger on Dumyat, Stirling, Scotland
UK June 2011 – Day 14. Time to get some hiking in again
After a lot of chatting last night, today my uncle took us into Glasgow to buy a gas stove, seek hiking advice and get some maps of suitable backpacking locations in the highlands. Uncle Keith is obviously in the know on these things as he took us to a fantastic outdoors emporium Tiso where the staff were really helpful, especially Kevin, who gave us some excellent advice on where to go. Even better he treated us like we knew what we were doing (possibly a mistake, as conditions in Scotland are very different to the Ozarks), and told us about places that should be within our capabilities. His only suggestion we subsequently didn’t like was the Cairngorms, which after the remote and wonderful highlands seemed less accessible and over populated.
We left Tiso with a MSR Pocket Rocket, a gas canister and several maps and headed off to Sterling for a hike. We climbed Dumyat a modest hill with a near-by hill fort. It might be modest but it was more than enough for us out of condition hikers, in fact my uncle (who used to go fell running) despite protestations that he was unfit, did a whole lot better than we did.
The beacon at the summit was put there to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. By co-incidence I had pointed out another of the beacons located at Fort Widley on top of Portsdown Hill in Portsmouth to Ginger, just a few days before.
The descent to the East on grass was steep and very slippery at times, I lent my hiking pole to my uncle, who had slipped quite heavily a couple of times. This of course made it more difficult for me to keep my footing, slowing me down, though I managed fairly well without slipping up. Little did I know that this was going to be just a brief foretaste of things to come in a future hike.
I managed to get some fairly good pictures once we were off the hill and on the track back to the road. Along the track we had to negotiate a herd of highland cattle with calves, which we gave a wide berth. The hike was a great warm-up for our planned backpacking in the highlands: 5.75 miles and 1,199 feet of elevation.
Today’s alternate shots & extras
Part way up Dumyat, I stop to take a call from my brother
Keith, Gary and Ginger - Dumyat, Stirling, Scotland
View to the South East from the top of Dumyat
Scottish hillsides - Dumyat, Stirling, Scotland
Pastures and derelict buildings - Dumyat, Stirling, Scotland
28 June 2011 | 365:179 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
On the beach near West Kilbride
UK June 2011 – Day 13. Today we had a longish drive,
by UK standards anyway. Birmingham to Cumbernauld (North East of Glasgow). It looked like we’d arrive at Glasgow just as the commuter traffic got heavy so we detoured to Kilmarnock and the west coast for a bit of scenery while everybody drove home.
I’ve not been on this road in over ten years, it was nice to see the sea and the islands again. We are staying with my uncle for a day or so. It should be good to catch up. He’s not met Ginger, and the last time I saw him was on a business trip to Paisley back in 2008.
Today’s alternate shot & extras
The beach near West Kilbride - It was nice to feel sand underfoot
Looking towards the islands
27 June 2011 | 365:178 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Tonight we are in Shirley
UK June 2011 – Day 12. “Surely you can’t be serious.” “I am serious… and don’t call me Shirley.”
To make things worse I’m not even sure if it’s because I’m too wrapped in the moment, reluctant to interrupt what we’re doing, or just disinterested. Anyway the result is another late night leaning against the wall picture.
Note: Shirley is a suburb of Birmingham in the West Midlands.
Today’s extra
Off to the beach
26 June 2011 | 365:177 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Watching Coldplay live at Glastonbury in 3D
UK June 2011 – Day 11. Today we met Dandy
Tonight we get to sleep in his huge family tent in the back yard – it’s so big we could easily set up ours inside and still have lots of room to spare. Tomorrow we’ll be setting off for Scotland via Birmingham. It’s going to be nice to get out on the road for a while.
Now we’re moving on it’s time to assess the trip so far. Our visit has been a lot easier for me than I expected. I thought I’d find it emotionally draining, but it’s not turned out that way. The strangest thing I’ve encountered is how odd all the accents sound, it’s almost like everyone has developed a Dick Van Dyke (Marry Poppins) cockney accent. My ear must have become tuned to the American accent which I don’t notice anymore. Driving has been quite easy (so far), though I live in fear of grabbing the hire car’s right steering column control stalk and breaking it off, mistaking it for the gear change, which on our van is mounted on the steering column.
Another strange thing has been seeing bits of furniture and some of my personal items. They’ve been turning up without warning in all sorts of places. They take me aback for a moment while I assimilate where I’ve seen them before. I found my old bathroom scales; when I checked them they still held my data, so I updated my age. I had to add five years – gosh. I also realised the bed we were sleeping on at Robert’s was probably the bed I used to sleep on in the garden all those years ago.
Today’s extras
My niece and her pony Dandy
Ginger meets Dandy
After dinner antics - Funny face
After dinner antics - Handstand
Oh how I would have laughed if he'd fallen in
25 June 2011 | 365:176 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Hands
UK June 2011 – Day 10. Today was a day for recovering
The ladies suggested a bosom shot , and who am I to deny them? Nigel and I not to be outdone did our own parody of a shot taken several years ago, though the most accurate rendition has been consigned to the cutting room floor.
Coincidences being what they are, it turned out that Nic and Nigel know my sister and niece from many years ago when the Eastney Tavern used to be their local. However I only found this out when I started to introduced them to each other.
Today’s extras
Gary and Nigel, not to be outdone.
While Liv doesn't like having her picture taken, with a few beers consumed, the ladies suggested an anonymous bosom shot, and who am I to deny them? That's Nic, Ginger and Liv, left to right. Oops.
24 June 2011 | 365:175 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
My first pint of real beer in over two and a half years
UK June 2011 – Day 9. A trip out to visit family
We were up early to go get the hire car, pick up my sister and then go off visiting family. We had a great time with my cousin, her family and my aunt. Several pictures of cute children resulted.
Back in Portsmouth it was my sister’s turn to put us up for a couple of nights, and before we knew where we were we were in a pub! Eight days in Blighty and this was my first chance at a real pint, so I grabbed it with both hands, and tried several more just to make sure. A friend in Springfield had specifically requested a picture of me drinking a pint in an English pub, so this is my picture for today.
Had the drinking stopped there all would have been well, but we carried on into the wee small hours back at my sister’s house. Apparently come bedtime it took me fifteen minutes to negotiate the spiral staircase up to the bedroom.
Today’s alternate shots & extras
Gary and friend (1)
Gary and friend (2)
With my first pint in over two and a half years
Cuteness
More cuteness
My sister plus the newest addition to my cousin's family
Happy - my aunt with her latest grandchild.
Latest addition
Parents (again) - you'd think people would learn after the first one! I can talk, I didn't.
23 June 2011 | 365:174 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Rest day
UK June 2011 – Day 8. Today we didn’t do a lot.
We had a ‘down day’ which involved nothing much which was very nice.
By the way – I’m deliberately not the focal point of this picture, I guess I could have gone for a higher ISO setting and brought us both into focus, but I rather like it just as it is.
Today’s alternate shot
Gary and Ginger take a rest
22 June 2011 | 365:173 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary and Ginger at the Tate Modern
UK June 2011 – Day 7. A day out in London
We took the train to London and spent most of the day looking around the Tate Modern, which is where I took todays picture.
By the time we’d finished at the Tate Modern it was too late to do much else. So we walked all along the South Bank – watching Tower bridge be raised three times. I’ve never seen it raised that often before, and I used to work just around the corner!
We had a stroll around the outside of the Tower of London, St Paul’s Catherdral, and ended up in Trafalgar Square.Ginger was unimpressed by the usual tourist haunts, such as the Globe Theatre. So much so we decided not to bother returning, which was a shame as I rather fancied seeing the Tate Gallery and Natural History Museum, not to mention the inside of St Paul’s. Also I’ve never been to Greenwhich Maritime museum, which I really want to see one day. Ginger missed out on Kew gardens so there’s plenty left over for another trip.
Today’s extras
Sunflower Seeds - Ai Weiwei at the Tate Modern
Floor 4 - Tate Modern
Tower bridge, River Thames, London
21 June 2011 | 365:172 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
