Menoturals; Chalk And Cheese

It's that wonderful time of the month when LLB's NF meets up with this blog's FFF... sharing nature a wee bit differently.

Yesterday, I told you that I drove Mac1 down to Biggar Museum for a visit. En route, we stopped for lunch at the Errington Barn. The main eatery was very full, so we opted for the little side hut with a more limited menu, but golly, it was good. Sissy went for the farm egg bap with their Corra Linn cheese, and I had the goat's cheese and honey drizzle crepe. Slurperoonies!!! Needless to say, I also purchased a slice of the Lanark Blue (made from sheep's milk) and an Elrick Log (made with goat's milk).

Hard to tell from that photo, but those rounds are eight or nine inches in diameter, and nearly as deep! That blue cheese is nothing short of heavenly, and the goat's cheese, divine. 

At the museum, I mentioned that there was an introductory section that fitted into the NF part of things quite well...

Yes, a fabulous collection of rock specimens with lots of info and - happy YAMster - a handle it and name it section.

Always a keen amateur, you might guess that I was also channelling my 'inner Gail'! I couldn't help but think that she might have been reasonably impressed with this small but excellent presentation. If you biggify the next one, although I downsize my photos for publication, you should still be able to read the relevant dates. (Despite my post title, there's no chalk here... but grant me a little licence!)

Both my sister and I loved this delightful museum - small but perfectly formed!

Nature was having a rage outside, though. I told you yesterday that the rains arrived when we did... and they forgot to stop. When it came time to leave, those twenty yards to the van proved to be as drenching as standing under the shower on full power. I drove as close as I could to the bus stop for Mac1 to dash to the shelter, then tried to get to the overnight stop I had planned ... but it was further down the hill, and it was flooded! The roads were under a foot of water, and the traffic was tragic. I decided to head back up the hill to Carnwath, where I could get the van charged and knew there would be no risk of waking up to wet feet. The drive was hair-raising, a 20mph task, so heavily washed was most of the road. 

When I did get settled, I could not be bothered cooking, so had a plate with oatcakes, beetroot, some of the fresh broad beans I'd picked at Little Sparta, and some of that gorgeous cheese. 

I lingered in Lanark for about ten days, then headed back to Dunoon for August. There was still some excellent weather to come, but as we crossed on the ferry, we were met with this...