Loch Lomondside in Winter.

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Although I slept in and missed Graeme, Alex, and David's trip to the mountains of the east coast in deep snow (sorry guys) I did manage to get out the next day, Sunday, as the weather was too good to miss. Full winter conditions come to  Ben Lomond, see photo above, with the Island of Inchmurrin in front.

Luss Church and graveyard looking fairly snowy as well.

 The Luss hills above the village of the same name. Popular Scottish TV series Take the High Road was filmed here over many years and it still draws in loads of visitors, even in winter. The Paps, Cruach Dhubh and Beinn Ruiag direction.

Probably Fieldfares but might be Redwings. Thrushes anyway. Covers all the options :o)

Bullfinch.

Assorted Geese and Ben Lomond.

Luss, Hill walkers and Islands in Loch Lomond.

Navy helicopter over the Firth of Clyde.

There used to be a boat that sailed from Derry/Londonderry nicknamed "The little green boat from Derry." This plane flies in most days to Glasgow airport (might be every day) and I always look up and think there's that little green plane again but I,m always too slow to photograph it on the zoom as it's a fast wee bugger and hard to locate in a wide sky. Nailed it at last with a decent image. Usually get a tail shot or a blur.

Luss was a busy place despite the snow but it's free parking in winter, in a large car park. (80 pence an hour in summer which mounts up if you're out for a full day on the hills)
 An eventful trip to these islands takes place in Chapter Four of my book Autohighography, which is a comedy about a fictional Glasgow hillwalking club. The underlying clues and some of the secrets contained throughout this book will be revealed at a later date as it does have hidden complexities you might not be aware of. It is not just "another hillwalking book" as that was never my intention when writing it. No politics in it at all as I wanted to create a fun book folk might actually read.

I finished the day on the return leg by heading for Dumbarton and sunset over the River Clyde at low tide and a stroll along the sands/mud flats. A magical experience and you could almost hear the mermaids sing.

The edge of the deep water channel near Langbank. A fine free walk.

The Firth of Clyde in Winter.

This was intended to be a cheery post so I,ll end with this upbeat cheery video. Amazing song and harmonica playing combined. Felix the Cat was the first big superstar of animation in the 1920s until the change from silent to talkies came in. Maybe a coincidence but the early Mickey Mouse cartoons, which came later and took over, bears a resemblance to Felix in shape and design.
Of course Disney went on to conquer the world market but they do seem similar. It's never stuck me how much until now.



Autohighography. First three chapters free to read here.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JNAIGAO/ref=s9_simh_bw_p351_d3_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=17N3DV6YZTHCKJ5AGX34&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=511296287&pf_rd_i=341689031