DO NOT MENTION SAINTS TO ME (27/08/09)

Got up, as usual, it's the middle of the night, so went back to the bunk for a while. Did the dawn run, then a few chores like telling the management I was around, paying for my pitch and negotiating to stop over the weekend.

'Can't you read, we are full!'

'You are now. Thirty foot of truck found room twenty hours ago. Don't know what full is, some folk.'

Soon came round when I offered cash for five nights, with the proviso he chucked in electric. Should have been Irish, the tongue I have on me!

DUNLIN......Thanks Keith. I apologise to all you ornithologists out there, not the best of images but better than yesterdays wee blobs. I promised this so you've got it.

WEIRD LIGHT FIRST THING.......Tomorrow there are some more, these are a taster.

Today is Holy Island day, set off on the couple of mile wander that took me along the coast to the start of the causeway. A grand sunny morning and the world to myself.

Then things started to go rapidly down hill. The causeway was packed with cars. Undeterred off we set for the three or four mile walk to the source of all known saints. After half an hour was getting decidedly morose. Forever jumping into the ditch to avoid being flattened, get back into our stride and a couple of minutes later repeating the process. Why is it one sees families, being conveyed by enormous Toyota pickups, stainless steel roll bars, bull bars, a horn that would not be out of place on an Intercity 125? And why having come close to terminating one do they find it necessary to hurl abuse? I must be a little slow, they have a large transfer affixed to the vehicle which explains all. 'ANIMAL.'

Eventually arrived at the village, be OK if not for the hoards, No chance of any decent images, so retired to the nearest pub for a couple of pints of humour.

LINDISFARNE.......Well worth the walk!

There turned out to be a service bus due, wasn't risking the road again. He kindly dropped me at the end of the causeway, no charge either, not a scheduled stop. Grand things these computerised ticket dispensers!

Things started to look up on the way home, dozens of butterflies and a few dragon flies.

SMALL WHITE AND A PEACOCK.......First of the latter I've seen this year.

WALL BROWN AND A RUDDY DARTER?........Not bad in three quarters of a mile of salt marsh. Sense of humour now fully restored.

PAINTED LADY AND A FUNGUS......Lots of these but this was the best, What is it please and can I eat it? It's a good 6"/8" in diameter. A meal in itself but rather a lot if not good for me. Suppose I could offer it to a pickup driver.

MY CAMPSITE........A Grey Heron completing the picture.

Anyone wanting what I should have provided can have a look HERE.

That's all.