ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Friday 31 July 2015

FIT. (31/07/15)

I do like it here but am walking miles to get pictures of dragonflies and not even seeing them. I suspect I go out too early but they should still be parked for the night on reeds. Not a sign. This morning I went to see if I could find some Great Crested Newts as this is supposed to be their northerly limit. Not a sign of them; there is a sign about them but no sign of the creatures themselves. I circumnavigated Glassarts Glen which takes about three hours, much of the walk is in pine forest so a bit depressing but every now and then I get a view. It is supposed to be eight miles and the beauty of it is that I rarely see anyone. This morning was the exception as I met a lady on a horse but the horse was naughty and tried to kick the dogs. Fortunately the dogs know horses can be bad so Moll gave it a good barking to. The horsewoman was not best pleased but as I pointed out it was her horse started it. I then met a gillie with three dogs but his dogs are properly trained and didn’t want to speak to Moll and Alf. It was busy this morning.

Here are a few views from our walk.

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The little red line is where the camper is. It always looks a long way home from here. This is about halfway as I have to follow the track round the head of the glen. I don’t like being old, twenty years ago I could have run round here in an hour.

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I am getting fitter again, I got back and hardly felt as if I’d had a walk whereas last winter a couple of miles was my limit.

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Alf sleeping off his wander and dreaming of the deer he failed to catch. A filthy but contented dog.

Have a great weekend. The pictures are a bit gloomy but it was a dull morning at least the rain held off.

28 comments:

  1. You have been there so long I think it is time to sell the camper van and build yourself a cabin - putting down roots - somewhere you can live out your remaining years. A rocking chair on the cabin's porch would be a nice touch. You will also need to get yourself a Ward tartan kilt - see http://www.scotweb.co.uk/tartandesign/details/28231

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    1. YP, I'm staying until the harvest is done. I have thought about stopping. It suits me here.

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  2. HI Adrian Good advise frrom Yorkshire Pudding although I am sure you will not take it! Lovely countryside.I do hope you restrained the dogs fromgoing into the ponds!! have a lovely weekend and hope the weather improves.

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    1. Margaret, they can't get in they are fenced off.

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  3. I so agree with the aging remark. But don't get how being in a forest is depressing. Rather be in any forest than in front of the computer *grin*. Beautiful vistas today. Glad you could be out there. Woof, growl, bah bah to Alf and Mol.

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    1. R.Mac, it's very dark and dismal in commercial forest.

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  4. That was quite the hike and good to know you are feeling fitter from the exercise. Looking for likely subjects to photograph is a terrific reason for getting out and about. That pond does look like a perfect spot for seeing dragonflies, newts and numerous other creatures. It's lovely that you can see for miles :) Alf is tuckered!

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    1. Glo, it's just too cold for insects at the moment. Alf always sleeps like that we have just been out for our last walk of the day in the rain.

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  5. We're feeling a bit of cabin fever with temperatures passing the 100 degree (f) mark. Ick. A mile seems to be a good outing for me these days--- when it's not quite so hot.

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    1. Bill, I seem to be ploddig along quite well at the moment.

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  6. Nice views but that does look like a long way from "home"... I have no idea what dragonflies do when the weather it's rainy and dull, I've never seen any except in full sunshine :) Any mention of newts always makes me think of Gussie Fink-Nottle (PG Wodehouse character in the Bertie Wooster novels).

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    1. Monica, neither do I.
      It's about five miles depending which way I go. The last mile is the worst as it is on the road and uphill.

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  7. I love newts. I used to,catch them with a worm on the end of a string. Happy days...

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  8. Frances, I think you have to be certified to handle newts these days. Quite possibly worms also.

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  9. Shame Alf isn't feeling as healthy as yourself he looks knackered:-). Hardly scientific but I reckon the cold'ish weather might've had an impact on the newts. I can't even find the more common Smooth Newts over at my local park this year. Still you have some amazing views and countryside to enjoy.

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    1. Douglas it isn't cold freezing cold but it rarely gets above 14C and keeps raining. Alf was rareing to go after a quick power nap.

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  10. That's one tired dog! Lovely landscape photos.

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    1. Linda, he always sleeps like this. They cover a lot more ground than I do as everything has to be investigated and paddled in.

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  11. The countryside is so beautiful for your daily walks. I'm sorry they haven't been more fruitful in your searches for elusive birds and bugs.

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    1. Lynda, it is a pleasant place to wander. I see plenty of birds but didn't take a long lens with me. I'll keep looking for Dragonflies.

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  12. You are in a very beautiful area. Pine and spruce forests tend to be very dead places as far as life is concerned although I see the pine is very sparse.

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    1. Red, it varies the newer plantings are very sterile but I do my best to ignore those.

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  13. Looks to be a lovely area to be semi-settled. And not a lot of people which is always a bonus in my book.

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    1. Pauline, it is amazing how few people I see here.

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  14. For some inexplicable reason (I've never even had scary experience in a forest) I can not walk alone in a coniferous forest. A deciduous or mixed one is no problem, I've been like than since I was a child in the Clocaenog Forest of North Wales. However if I were to accompany you on such a journey I'd be as happy as Larry (whoever Larry is).

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    1. Graham, they are spooky places, so dark and with little but trees growing.

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  15. Could be that the newts are out and about away from the water. Much the same with dragons. This time of year I see more away from water than near it, usually hunting around hedges.
    Penny wishes she could sleep upside down but her long legs make her overbalance.

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    1. John. I had a good rake through the undergrowth but never found any. It may be worth going up at night.

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