Langdon cliffs is Keith’s local patch in terms of wildlife. On the evening of the 22nd, a quiet still evening, he paid a visit at dusk in the hope of seeing the barn owls. Several birds who roost in the surrounding scrub were alarm calling, very unusual.
On a visit early the following morning he came across the carcass of a wood pigeon. The position and condition of the carcass did not suggest any of the usual killers. Also, a magpie was showing some interest but, was alarm calling whilst staying in an adjoining tree.
On a further visit that evening at dusk he came across a man who had set up a moth trap. Keith had seen this man before and knew he was local. They exchanged pleasantries and information. The man said there had been reports of a big cat in the area.
Make up your own mind.
As some of you will know we are active members of the Dover transport museum. On the weekend of the 17/18 Sept We were visited by 1,400 cubs and their leaders, pre-arranged. It was all hands to the pumps.
700 per day using the museum as a place to visit and a base they were transported on a fleet of buses, well three, to other places of interest in the area.
Jan worked in the tea room, hard but rewarding. Keith was on the gate as a steward, wise move.
Everybody involved worked hard and enjoyed it. Big smiles all round.
Woke up Sunday to sunshine. Decided to visit Crathe castle estate and gardens, a National Trust for Scotland property.
Our membership of the National trust allows us to visit for free. Did not bother to go in the castle, we are castled out.
Enjoyed the gardens, grounds, oh, and the cat.
Tommorrow south to Moffat.
Today the above, we both enjoyed it. Started at 09-30, we left at 16-45. The main events take place in the arena, several events at the same time. Tug of war, track events, throwing the hammer, highland dancing, a pipe band. And so it go’es on.
Difficult to know what to watch, that is part of the pleasure.
See the photo’s and videos.
The motor home, trailer and car combined is a little under 12 metres long and about 4.8 tonnes in weight. When driving I try to anticipate, give myself room to manoeuvre, get in the correct lane in plenty of time and be considerate to other road users. The rig is not good in the wet, either for pulling away or braking.
In Aberdeen this morning I was approaching a light controlled junction, lane one ready to turn left, it was raining. A prat in a BMW FOUR WHEEL DRIVE came from lane three, across lane two, into lane one and anchored on. Lots of cursing under my breath whilst trying to avoid a slide.
We had to kill a bit of time this morning as it is only a short journey to the site at Banchory and we were not allowed to arrive until after 12-00 noon. As it worked out by the time we did some grocery shopping and fueled up we did not have a lot of time to waste.
It is a nice site. Huge pitches, all hard standing on level ground with good facilities and nice and clean.
We Sailed from Lerwick on Thursday evening for the return to the mainland. The crossing was not as smooth as the outward journey but, not uncomfortable.
The ferry arrives in Aberdeen at 07-00 and you are allowed to stay on-board until 09-30, so long as your vehicle is driven off, (parking provided on the dock). This a very practical arrangement as it allows you have to breakfast, shower and generally get sorted in comfort before the onward journey.
The cooked breakfast was good value.
Not many motor bikes. Probably weather related.
A lorry with motorway maintenance on the back. No motorways on Shetland.
A high proportion of personal number plates, including buses.
Young people speak to you, as opposed to grunting.
People engage you in conversation and are helpful.
Most greet you with the time of day.
Very few older vehicles.
Well appointed caravan sites at reasonable prices.
Ifor Williams trailers parked unsecured, still there in the morning and the digger is still on the back!
Ah ah got you. Just as you thought it was safe to put your anorak away.
I will not bore you with details, only because I do not want to hear the groans. The nice thing about birding on the Shetlands is the ability to get close to the birds. I have watched birds with the naked eye which I would need a telescope to watch on the mainland.
Enough already.
It came to our attention that cheese was being produced on Shetland, visited the cheese maker, samples were generous.
Bought some, nothing outlandish, just nice.
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