MY TAKE; doses of Wild YAM : Isle of Bute

Showing posts with label Isle of Bute. Show all posts

MenoFest 3

'Tis the night before...

Me-Now-Views; Less Speak A Few Words then More Peek

This was taken when Bertie and Miss Gail visited. We found it outside the tea room at Ettrick Beach, Isle of Bute.

I held onto it thinking I would make a whole post out of it - but it boils down to this; the fellow was an ironmonger who married onto the island. He had that typical Scottish engineery kinda inquisitiveness that had him hobbying with flying machines.

The first powered flight in Scotland happened right here.

If you care to read more, click here... scroll down through the hilarious reference to being rained off and you'll find the story.

Menosukhi Moments - Ambassadogorial Activities

Last Monday, you saw that our dear Blogville Boffin, Bertie, and his Gail paid a visit to the YAMster's hutch. Sadly the Saturday, the only full day we had together, was true to form on the weather front. Wall to wall grey and that too with a glare which made photography something of a night-squirrel. That said, we certainly made the best of a poor lot. In case you missed Bertie's own post on the outing, click here!

There was one little stop which we made between the beach and Rothesay - a great lookout point. Bertie decided it was a good photo-op in support of his application for Ambassadog of Scotland.

He asked Gail to accompany him up the steps to ascertain the suitability of the walk over the island hills. They reappeared in 87 ~~hours~~ seconds having determined it was altogether much too steep and slippery for the likes of YAMsters or maybe even WFTs!

After we departed Bute (once more by the ferry dear friends), we came back to Dunoon via a different route. It brought us along Lochs Riddon and Fyne, then down the side of Loch Eck (The shortened version of the gaelic 'eachaig' being official for this body of water.)

It is a mighty bonny spot, even in the worst of weather.

Another photo-op. The YAMarazzi was having a ball* buzz even if not managing to get that one, brilliant, glory shot.

Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny - yup, you read that correctly! It was imperative that we make the most of it, so after brekky, drove up behind the town to Bishop's Glen. It's a delightful spot. That VisitScotland linky could be improved with a photograph - pawhaps of our Ambassdogorial Candidate???

As you see, Bertie did not miss the chance to display his agility skills! Neither did he pass up on the meet and greet along the way. After the Glen, we took a wee drive South of the town, once again enjoying the waterside and many other peeps and paws...

I do believe Bertie was really getting into the swing of the potential of Ambassadogorialship. I think you will agree, his credentials are strong! VisitScotland must surely see the potential!!!

Anyway, it was back to the hutch then, for leek'n'tattie soup with toasted cheese rolls and just a wee linger in the sunpuddles... and around came the farewells all too soon. I do hope that Bertie and Gail will visit again - there is sooooo, much more to see and do!!!

The remainder of shots worth the sharing will be here next week on the Me-Now-Views post.

*note to self; don't mention balls in presence of canines...

Menosukhi Moments in the Making

WEll, a few of you may have guessed from a post over at Bertie's place, but he and Gail came and stayed at the YAMster's hutch this past weekend!!! What an excitement.

What was pleasing was that Bertie approved
of the hutch. He slept well.

Arriving late afternoon on Friday, Bertie made sure to investigate the hutch fully, permitting Gail and myself to natter away about all and sundry over a bowl of soup and a cuppa; then we went out for a walk along the promenade. It has to be said that Dunoon - really the whole of the Bonny Land - did not put on its best show of sunshine. However, as Gail pointed out, it is the Scottish way to say how good the day was by what was not present... no rain, no wind, no midgies... score.

This proved also to be true on the Saturday. Grey from end to end, but almost entirely still and almost entirely dry, with nary a gnat or a fly. After a small dither about which direction to take my dear blogpals for the day-trip, the Isle of Bute was settled upon. This, it turned out, permitted Bertie his first ever experience of riding a ferry! I have no doubt at all that he will be pawparing a full repawt on his adventures, so I shall share with you here only my own pawspective...

As we headed out of Dunoon, we made a brief stop at Little Eachaig (say 'eck') Water - a pleasant spot for a peek.

It is a comparatively small river - what many might simply call a 'creek.

The falls are quite wonderful though (they've featured here before) - few folk, one feels, cannot enjoy the sound and vision of water tumbling over rock...

One of the key reasons for choosing this particular trip, was that Ettrick Beach on Bute is just the best place for a boffin to wander free... there is much to see, geologically, ecologically and just beautifically!

There are also peeps and pups to meet. Little Winnie took our Bertie round in circles - many, many circles - at great speed and with much delight. The tide was out, which made this even more fun - and Bertie and Gail made the most of it!

The light was glary and made photographing a real challenge, especially as our resident scientific advisor was wearing camo! We lingered long at the beach, enjoying the fullness of its length and breadth. After this, a drive around the byways brought us to the main town of the island, Rothesay. Will leave the telling of that place to Bertie.

In the evening, there was the small matter of Six Nations Rugby finals, which kept us entertained (and occasionally bored, and just once or twice, disgusted)... it is delightful to discover blogpals who are as keen as oneself on such matters. We had an early night - a long day by the seaside had us all a bit pooped!

Next Monday, some more of my views of our time together; but here now, just two more - one long, one close. The stick in honour of angel Goose and his inheritor, Buddy.

Menorise [men-oh-rIse]; the process of inculcation.

"How very little can be done under the spirit of fear."
(Florence Nightingale)

Me-Now-Views; Less Speak More Peek

Sharing with you, today, the piccies of the critters spotted on the recent outings with Mlle CG.

The gull was nesting right by the door of Rothesay Castle! The heron flew in just as we were about to leave... and there were, of course, many, many, many, lambs!

Little Ringed Plover

...can you see what I see???

...and another gratuitous beauty-scene. Jus' 'cos...

NB; have updated the 'shop' page with some new images, so if you haven't been to RedBubble yet, you can get a preview there!

Me-Now-Views; (Slightly) Less Speak More Peek

Last week I shared the first outing with Mlle CG, visiting from France. The next day, there was just enough brightness in the sky to encourage us to think of a slightly longer drive... this time over to the Isle of Bute. (You know I love the place - just see the label at left!). We were on the road by 10am.

First stop was hardly outside of town, to photograph some farm animals, then another ten minutes along and it was the obligatory stop by Little Echaig Water - which wasn't so little after the deluge of the previous few days.

The drive over the 'spine' of the Cowals takes one round the end of Loch Striven and through Troll country, until, 50 minutes(ish) later, one arrives at Colintraive (Col-in-trIve) where there is a wait for the ferry.

The ferry crossing of 500 metres. Yup. Hiss, spit and one end's barely up when the other end's getting lowered.

Mlle CG thought I had jested... She actually choked on laughter when seeing it in the metal. Can't get to the island without it though.

We cruised with a few photo stops down towards Rothesay. I have so many photographs already (see that label!) it was a little difficult to add to the collection.

Here you have them though!

There were major renos underway at Rothesay castle, but when the ladders were cleared away (just before the hail and sleet hit - yes again...), there was time for me to shoot off a panoramic of the interior walls.

Perhaps ought to have engaged the flash for this one of Mlle CG on the spiral steps...

At Rothesay, we enjoyed our lunch at The Musicker. I mentioned it last Thursday. Pure vego and every soup I have eaten there has been very original and fresh.

On this visit the soup was.....

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PEANUT BUTTER!!! Served, as always, with a most rustic and delicious bread roll and butter.

This stick at Scalpsie Bay made me think of Goose (and his mom)...

By the time we got to Ettrick Bay, where it would have been wonderful just to linger, the wind was flinging icicles at us at a rate of 50kph and head-on. We found the bird hide and nursed some hot tea from the flask before deciding it was as well to just keep driving. We took the long road home. No matter the weather, this is a most scenic place and Mlle CG truly enjoyed it - noting that there was a lot unseen and therefore a longer, more focused visit will need to be planned!

NOW - on a different note; today is the day of the 'welcome to Blogville' dance, organised by Sarge.

I introduced Mara and her cat Miss Oswin and travelling companion Brom. Here we are, all dressed up and ready to rock!

We sure know how to party in Blogville!!! (Just an aside to my Indian readers - no I didn't get fizzy and forget how to dress - there was a little confusion at the photoshop end is all...)

No sooner will all this be done and dusted, than we will be pawparing for the next big event - THE BLOGVILLE RODEO. Go back one post to read a little more about what will be happening here and keep your eyes peeled for updates on activities here and over at the Mayorz place!