tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64290132609862013712024-03-19T00:47:16.504+00:00Alex and Bob`s Blue Sky Scotlandblueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.comBlogger772125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-5044342382970963792024-03-17T16:07:00.005+00:002024-03-18T10:13:02.235+00:00A Water Adventure.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaeXTCLV1iRI4V2XeQmg2tOkG3pz_Thjy-aP6HMEpn7T1pZF50KXef2Vjvp1RLeXyxPBQzJ0B8zfl8WTFSEy0tS0VqpmEZVrN4a2w80xMXBud6AhrGEecdSDX0zh3yjtyYnZekv2P7QhMYXapo4ER3bLca5c785F79UKzm8wLF0NVVqyaNOk68rICbFE/s1634/40%20Mins%20From%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1634" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaeXTCLV1iRI4V2XeQmg2tOkG3pz_Thjy-aP6HMEpn7T1pZF50KXef2Vjvp1RLeXyxPBQzJ0B8zfl8WTFSEy0tS0VqpmEZVrN4a2w80xMXBud6AhrGEecdSDX0zh3yjtyYnZekv2P7QhMYXapo4ER3bLca5c785F79UKzm8wLF0NVVqyaNOk68rICbFE/s320/40%20Mins%20From%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A water adventure this time as Alan has a small boat so we motored up the west coast of Scotland a few weeks ago.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwwuqNWHQnKcD-Da148AN44zwVIyTEezT9g97S3M18-sHgeeFzowbjxsm9hfil_vM8Utvk-thSCgDl6GHMknFoCiu2qesa6G1kHPqOYXvfdZoOonX1NaGo8DbqZY2NK_gH9jJgq4aHyZYayJ-dYL2DfQ2oPZxq5jWS8Ng6ftLDS1CmRk3pFiMD-_kIC0/s1427/Timber%20and%20Mountains.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1427" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwwuqNWHQnKcD-Da148AN44zwVIyTEezT9g97S3M18-sHgeeFzowbjxsm9hfil_vM8Utvk-thSCgDl6GHMknFoCiu2qesa6G1kHPqOYXvfdZoOonX1NaGo8DbqZY2NK_gH9jJgq4aHyZYayJ-dYL2DfQ2oPZxq5jWS8Ng6ftLDS1CmRk3pFiMD-_kIC0/s320/Timber%20and%20Mountains.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Fresh snow on the mountains but in general it's been a very mild winter thus far in the UK which is a bonus for people struggling with excessive heating bills.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9J3ZpXRjlhMWHqofUipnkFOF93V-G1vHn3WhLypCqJ1xKNo4qDEpu7rwceXDyh90B2MwITozPEUxbY9gaDBM2MFp9vH-qPnpYeFv3mhDBatzJL3vk2yllMWSajJS7fzVJdgOYLhAC7LpleJ7e2XhiGSqyndapcfHwN-J_GkjOCckavEUCJwiT1uImqM/s1537/Winter%20over%20the%20Western%20Seaboard.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1537" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9J3ZpXRjlhMWHqofUipnkFOF93V-G1vHn3WhLypCqJ1xKNo4qDEpu7rwceXDyh90B2MwITozPEUxbY9gaDBM2MFp9vH-qPnpYeFv3mhDBatzJL3vk2yllMWSajJS7fzVJdgOYLhAC7LpleJ7e2XhiGSqyndapcfHwN-J_GkjOCckavEUCJwiT1uImqM/s320/Winter%20over%20the%20Western%20Seaboard.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">We picked a calm day for crossing this sea loch as it's only a small inflatable boat and we did not fancy big waves. It did save us many miles of walking or cycling however as I've been into this remote abode several times before after a long trudge or cycle with a heavy pack. A beautiful day. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEzC2Qm1CW4J6EAV7G3fTGKlhPMNgW1kJ8WrmZhG-S5XG00folFW8CrXH6a-4lMFCJjf4VW5hzrOgH4uzVAC5u2A-TnZrJKpUQ7aw223xxgOqPr_GbT4cqU1uQqNLCw6Azavd1T-Gj7JZ2enWZirbHVQ7OdLDqwAQCHPO0tPwKGEYYz9a0T6To5PDPcs/s1618/A%20G.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1618" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEzC2Qm1CW4J6EAV7G3fTGKlhPMNgW1kJ8WrmZhG-S5XG00folFW8CrXH6a-4lMFCJjf4VW5hzrOgH4uzVAC5u2A-TnZrJKpUQ7aw223xxgOqPr_GbT4cqU1uQqNLCw6Azavd1T-Gj7JZ2enWZirbHVQ7OdLDqwAQCHPO0tPwKGEYYz9a0T6To5PDPcs/s320/A%20G.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It was a quiet loch people wise but not so for aquatic creatures. We spotted several guillemots, harbour porpoises, and a seal but all were actively hunting for fish and by the time I got the camera out they were under the water again. A lot of wasted shots later, (one advantage of a digital camera is that you can take loads), this is my best efforts to capture them so I gave up.</span></p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisL8NzxGG4fQUoFhJJpgJGN5CpQQNTUQhLZrcJlX8gaixyZTdDE9_wkkii3Btp5Zl4c5ORe8CnsVMfMnnW4H17oWahza88DWdPUSJe6wtyJhdvpmRub9JEgsk4_24JI9VLHTmOiWBja0rpsSPT3sA2FGLPo1UUEW0BRpmoOTlaqha5QRK_2f699Zw3tsE/s1644/Underwater%20Activity.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1644" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisL8NzxGG4fQUoFhJJpgJGN5CpQQNTUQhLZrcJlX8gaixyZTdDE9_wkkii3Btp5Zl4c5ORe8CnsVMfMnnW4H17oWahza88DWdPUSJe6wtyJhdvpmRub9JEgsk4_24JI9VLHTmOiWBja0rpsSPT3sA2FGLPo1UUEW0BRpmoOTlaqha5QRK_2f699Zw3tsE/s320/Underwater%20Activity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Harbour porpoise being mysterious.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_rEATlUK1u0gWGqjkuxxZfIKGXoEXYAUsThy6KnzYdUZX5eqDVkrBAnjZSFETUl8vJP8L904qLWZJ0J3aAAgIEs0myZzmdCgAktIbBXEkWxRQb-j4Wz68bnzAngcOx7Iqwc0f6A_1QMGrYtL7G74qsyv-g8NI5p9eC6mCl6VjPp60pSChrTos-kSkYs/s1431/Small%20Inflatable%20Boat.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1431" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_rEATlUK1u0gWGqjkuxxZfIKGXoEXYAUsThy6KnzYdUZX5eqDVkrBAnjZSFETUl8vJP8L904qLWZJ0J3aAAgIEs0myZzmdCgAktIbBXEkWxRQb-j4Wz68bnzAngcOx7Iqwc0f6A_1QMGrYtL7G74qsyv-g8NI5p9eC6mCl6VjPp60pSChrTos-kSkYs/s320/Small%20Inflatable%20Boat.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Unfortunately we managed to get a puncture in the boat just carrying it down the rocky shoreline and placing it in the water then filling it with all our gear as it was very uneven ground with loads of sharp bits...in the water and out of it... or it could have happened elsewhere. The boat bottom being only the thickness of an average tangerine skin.... or fabric elastoplast wrapped around a cut finger. Anyway... this is Alan testing it out for leaks, above, after the DIY repair. A short time later we set off for our destination. As large commercial ships over 300 metres, (1000 foot long) sometimes use this dock facility here I was very aware the loch must be hundreds of feet deep in the middle in places. Not a comforting thought sitting in a bubble with only air keeping you afloat. Also some eagle eyed locals told Alan killer whales sometimes visited the loch and whereas normally on land I'd be really keen to see that.... a small boat encounter with creatures twice the boat's length did not fill me with joy very much, especially as in some European waters they like to play with small craft, treating them as floating toys to knock around.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkJNEwk1Psor6iNSfwD1m8ZzVbMIcVW4nOo2wWGfwohj8sC2wGMWGYR-029Zt0QOjatJqza8NQi_9EZ_0K2ip_UVGMP3MI76CEDP3OJ3_w7CYit-N2yCVlM9nY0jdMV4ZO7Y5FTEG9g-bBZYvd1IwSL-q_BumG20drYcCNQ2jHiKcPFn4D7UxUwYVP64/s1411/Winter.%20West%20Highland%20Loch.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1411" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkJNEwk1Psor6iNSfwD1m8ZzVbMIcVW4nOo2wWGfwohj8sC2wGMWGYR-029Zt0QOjatJqza8NQi_9EZ_0K2ip_UVGMP3MI76CEDP3OJ3_w7CYit-N2yCVlM9nY0jdMV4ZO7Y5FTEG9g-bBZYvd1IwSL-q_BumG20drYcCNQ2jHiKcPFn4D7UxUwYVP64/s320/Winter.%20West%20Highland%20Loch.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Luckily, it was a beautiful calm day. Years ago I used to go swimming for free every week in my local swimming baths but after two decades of austerity cuts to council services UK wide it closed down so it's either sea swimming or expensive gym membership... the result being I've not been swimming for 20 years. If the repair came off halfway I'd soon find out if I still remembered how to stay afloat. ( we did have life- jackets on but that water was cold!) So not without risks to get there.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDco-o_aKsrjsuUWAEmrsajqk0bpE6sVSGbJfZJtv9z5Fsrfq4lqC_C7JCZ8Nznf2O7jEDZbhEh6mqLT-o1wZiuL5SlFavrqKejdqnlqRbFsfrQ_EzSMvj-uChJMBysriDBWPTkmcLfHCDQ6meTNtaKB3qhbVsJD1Yo543iwaRW1FADWi31JFlFraT3A/s1485/The%20Habitation.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1485" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDco-o_aKsrjsuUWAEmrsajqk0bpE6sVSGbJfZJtv9z5Fsrfq4lqC_C7JCZ8Nznf2O7jEDZbhEh6mqLT-o1wZiuL5SlFavrqKejdqnlqRbFsfrQ_EzSMvj-uChJMBysriDBWPTkmcLfHCDQ6meTNtaKB3qhbVsJD1Yo543iwaRW1FADWi31JFlFraT3A/s320/The%20Habitation.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Our destination. If you know where this is keep it to yourself.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSGPL0N8OyExNZ9rfrfBEiDUIDEJ3zFwFXHITKv8R2b9p0h_vkThX0Dr0-_8WRF19SDex0POy6SMZ8y_vcUsi-qyZ6s0RmH7FxFS-ng91P94kQAsVyWmluMkfsscQJCx7m0y9B_zsBfF7HpQBsYYXtnt1IA1ibazZpOUaYfzrFVP16xFAvmsQOZG1wdM/s1754/Surrounding%20Mountains.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1754" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSGPL0N8OyExNZ9rfrfBEiDUIDEJ3zFwFXHITKv8R2b9p0h_vkThX0Dr0-_8WRF19SDex0POy6SMZ8y_vcUsi-qyZ6s0RmH7FxFS-ng91P94kQAsVyWmluMkfsscQJCx7m0y9B_zsBfF7HpQBsYYXtnt1IA1ibazZpOUaYfzrFVP16xFAvmsQOZG1wdM/s320/Surrounding%20Mountains.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Surrounding mountains. Only a private forestry track leads to this habitation on the end of an uninhabited peninsula.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_K28yV-XiIFWSh-hQYIR5ODzdjFG5L5rD35m1hZ4Lk3idLznT9ZrVUHizAI0QV3IFnbPasjUHylHD1ue3n3bApLxwrl4w0xmlO3rhj4Sz-TYnFa0nSlRg89Sg5E0AbYDA_MWw81DmxHGlaDu2a6PVFF2npenM_wYjMKMPZEZPWnQmigjVS-t9yXR9fQ/s1544/A%20Lesser%20Known%20Loch%20in%20Scotland.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1544" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_K28yV-XiIFWSh-hQYIR5ODzdjFG5L5rD35m1hZ4Lk3idLznT9ZrVUHizAI0QV3IFnbPasjUHylHD1ue3n3bApLxwrl4w0xmlO3rhj4Sz-TYnFa0nSlRg89Sg5E0AbYDA_MWw81DmxHGlaDu2a6PVFF2npenM_wYjMKMPZEZPWnQmigjVS-t9yXR9fQ/s320/A%20Lesser%20Known%20Loch%20in%20Scotland.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Our loch for the trip. It's always been in my mind that Loch Ness is a very good PR stunt. Out of all the scenic Scottish lochs I've visited over many decades Loch Ness would struggle to get into the top 50 being just a deep drinking trough for cattle with not much going for it scenically except the monster. I've always thought that. Which is good as it keeps the tourists away from all the better lochs in Scotland.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYCtomkVHVQS0Mz0vQK5zSRAmBWzWy4vR4KIckm51YgS-0YNiRU8C7nF6XGuTlRl2TVO3jY7IqP5zTLSu4BcfQWc9v4qpdYbuPM4Q59-U_99HQPVJOF0zQc3Bpa6PNgszp3-8WTkwoTozk0hYN_IC7sTE958eEVZ7Yfc3PnSIiWmOJQbVZIBsF0eQx9M/s1519/A%20veiw%20of%20the%20Loch.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1519" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYCtomkVHVQS0Mz0vQK5zSRAmBWzWy4vR4KIckm51YgS-0YNiRU8C7nF6XGuTlRl2TVO3jY7IqP5zTLSu4BcfQWc9v4qpdYbuPM4Q59-U_99HQPVJOF0zQc3Bpa6PNgszp3-8WTkwoTozk0hYN_IC7sTE958eEVZ7Yfc3PnSIiWmOJQbVZIBsF0eQx9M/s320/A%20veiw%20of%20the%20Loch.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We passed the first day exploring the shoreline and pine woods around the habitation.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgZ8Ww7eLGfI1shynadcLpo2D6MiUuBH4TAeN-Ct39bs5ARy1WFFYLXEKAS2tge-afVyqusZ1RRxzgcBn0K6eyc5CLbIAgz5NtIBybbu0irnVlx9yh2w2bk5tJlItPTIILe1mW4D2Z4xdDnyVxJuZJhuNRBmzglIrKwR5A_UUZdQj8qd8BdJx1Lzr6Rg/s1642/Deep%20in%20the%20Forest.%20The%20Hidden%20Glade,%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1642" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgZ8Ww7eLGfI1shynadcLpo2D6MiUuBH4TAeN-Ct39bs5ARy1WFFYLXEKAS2tge-afVyqusZ1RRxzgcBn0K6eyc5CLbIAgz5NtIBybbu0irnVlx9yh2w2bk5tJlItPTIILe1mW4D2Z4xdDnyVxJuZJhuNRBmzglIrKwR5A_UUZdQj8qd8BdJx1Lzr6Rg/s320/Deep%20in%20the%20Forest.%20The%20Hidden%20Glade,%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Deep in the pine forest.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTR3cqgyTJtvb0Xhq1kMUA_5EoFHZYZ74iFvm4gkQLwdy2nzNWKDmzi1NTdO2-vegUnfcOqy91IC7FkYnwm9lcK2_3BbdY5INn9bCBLfXetCrXOu1K8puvMFcu4CA-0q2I7EziosuCxzq6je1XtodMZ3hONN24QqiKfsDjUqQJzmWXT6ZiD_imOtg7qSU/s1521/March%20in%20the%20Scottish%20Highlands.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1521" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTR3cqgyTJtvb0Xhq1kMUA_5EoFHZYZ74iFvm4gkQLwdy2nzNWKDmzi1NTdO2-vegUnfcOqy91IC7FkYnwm9lcK2_3BbdY5INn9bCBLfXetCrXOu1K8puvMFcu4CA-0q2I7EziosuCxzq6je1XtodMZ3hONN24QqiKfsDjUqQJzmWXT6ZiD_imOtg7qSU/s320/March%20in%20the%20Scottish%20Highlands.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> And discovered an old track that used to presumably connect the scattered dwellings along the shoreline before the pine trees covered this peninsula. 1n the 1800s up to the 1920s dozens of water craft, paddle steamers, puffers and the like crisscrossed all the Highland lochs and villages when existing roads were terrible. Indeed many of the communities thrived better and were far better served back then than today as documented in the pages of Neil Munro's Para Handy about the captain and crew of a wood, coal, brick and gravel puffer as they reached isolated outposts often easier than today from their shifting base around Glasgow's busy docks and Bowling Harbour. Puffers were designed to fit into Scotland's canal system or they could land directly on beaches at low tide to deliver coal and other supplies to remote cottages without a pier, floating off again at high tide, making them a valuable lifeline for West Coast communities.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TJFddrrF4u7h-pgHcYS5lJ7wo3qTGbWT_I0TOGE9sTl1P87kYxOvdgxdF0AnyfA0xBpyjsnLFrPyDzzbZD3Vlwu9Dywe9M_Sed0hr6HjKGOhjx7XI-vTDw1Y7K6kMv73ocdR1kMT4_vLvOKUWvnjjPF4KGc4gQnZfATnsGSgz5rBCXM1fS9cuJ4IBbc/s1470/2nd%20Night%20Fire.%20Stamped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1470" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TJFddrrF4u7h-pgHcYS5lJ7wo3qTGbWT_I0TOGE9sTl1P87kYxOvdgxdF0AnyfA0xBpyjsnLFrPyDzzbZD3Vlwu9Dywe9M_Sed0hr6HjKGOhjx7XI-vTDw1Y7K6kMv73ocdR1kMT4_vLvOKUWvnjjPF4KGc4gQnZfATnsGSgz5rBCXM1fS9cuJ4IBbc/s320/2nd%20Night%20Fire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We could also go back to that time in our temporary abode 'but n ben' with a traditional coal fire and candles. Similar to the Broons comic strip weekend getaway retreats which also highlighted the benefits of a short break from city life.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYxanjIyyDBznmZ-j6rZjCpC9A-Se3Bjnp1fH8b43ITzZTULqIxZokEFGgGnI-9-svPCIltpzduGU8ZVJg-aF_vqGml076JjxHObKDM25q3fpBDCRrlgqak9l-7-la8KYTScFZg3zdVNGHT8pN6jC4P9qQMB8OkPHcyoqycYDE9IfsXzqhiabyK7mnBc/s1563/Frying%20Bacon.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1563" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYxanjIyyDBznmZ-j6rZjCpC9A-Se3Bjnp1fH8b43ITzZTULqIxZokEFGgGnI-9-svPCIltpzduGU8ZVJg-aF_vqGml076JjxHObKDM25q3fpBDCRrlgqak9l-7-la8KYTScFZg3zdVNGHT8pN6jC4P9qQMB8OkPHcyoqycYDE9IfsXzqhiabyK7mnBc/s320/Frying%20Bacon.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Even cooking dinner over it. A good night was spent watching the fire, singing songs and drinking.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_9_57Tt-moq9ZRS9oBJMde2BnWf_b9Pel0CdK8jLWccXv3tbpR984InpJwiL6kAwce_iLmON6hGQLpjiowCg4K_Zm52loaYgqJpH0rGNyiCzgh9ktBCmLeudLEtBRCVXz8ljIsuH5YR59h2T7zkfR3GQWRgDiDIwH5ymJtpTrYvASuJrMEbOYuCsWCU/s1459/Highland%20Port%20Lights.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1459" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_9_57Tt-moq9ZRS9oBJMde2BnWf_b9Pel0CdK8jLWccXv3tbpR984InpJwiL6kAwce_iLmON6hGQLpjiowCg4K_Zm52loaYgqJpH0rGNyiCzgh9ktBCmLeudLEtBRCVXz8ljIsuH5YR59h2T7zkfR3GQWRgDiDIwH5ymJtpTrYvASuJrMEbOYuCsWCU/s320/Highland%20Port%20Lights.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One thing that was different was the lights from a busy Highland port across the water as normally bothy surroundings are a pitch black void whereas here we had Blackpool illuminations outside.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5GszTlBTgdUB34ZQz4HjuN5U9VcRsk9xynYIoFhByFJT0x-tJQYSPYQ2oFGykTtmfHGpFsPSolV2yif0ehr5INmOOU3xAqHp8_svLpnuZnpcu00NnQkWEV4U_zujuuFL4ury5e8q1BbCWqCkJaEz5XwSZa9yG8AQQwAG1qWoBi0ScfHkL927a-k3eJc/s1379/West%20Coast%20Illuminations.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1379" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5GszTlBTgdUB34ZQz4HjuN5U9VcRsk9xynYIoFhByFJT0x-tJQYSPYQ2oFGykTtmfHGpFsPSolV2yif0ehr5INmOOU3xAqHp8_svLpnuZnpcu00NnQkWEV4U_zujuuFL4ury5e8q1BbCWqCkJaEz5XwSZa9yG8AQQwAG1qWoBi0ScfHkL927a-k3eJc/s320/West%20Coast%20Illuminations.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Extremely remote where we were yet not remote at all as it were. I remember the same feeling on isolated Kerrera Island looking across the bay at a thriving busy Oban with folk walking the high street and shops there while being utterly alone and disconnected if anything happened and I needed rescuing quickly.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZo2-Kq30kHSCzX0RknqRcJ79I702EfI2pBg8tG1ThuNOqdmwBjF3ybG9eJxBGb4N1H2BddGvAuU-2p_cE1pO9vnZbsp7PnwXvZJPidMhhzyncFMqmBdwpRhzLdjuCLy1PdwugrTQctDdrZYlU8ArzoQifpCq8hfAijxB6BjENzoYRa1r-vftoaesuzGU/s1664/A%20Wild%20Scottish%20Coastline.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1664" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZo2-Kq30kHSCzX0RknqRcJ79I702EfI2pBg8tG1ThuNOqdmwBjF3ybG9eJxBGb4N1H2BddGvAuU-2p_cE1pO9vnZbsp7PnwXvZJPidMhhzyncFMqmBdwpRhzLdjuCLy1PdwugrTQctDdrZYlU8ArzoQifpCq8hfAijxB6BjENzoYRa1r-vftoaesuzGU/s320/A%20Wild%20Scottish%20Coastline.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The next day we did more exploring along the shoreline, the cliffs and forests inland being too steep to ascend except by the one rough track winding out to civilization again. The nearest civilization via that forest track being a small hamlet of a few houses.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WhAmLb9KrbgURvKgN9VP-con8AudjlwzyZr3P_uy-BDakHtO443SkHlty5V41SmSXyIFdyTHfr2_du5YNK3gcw4Oa3YZtPvxC50Y5d6r10No5ZxEIUrniKp8huib0PbP-TToC33OvfTgHw6PhT72eTM6Clev-v04HngXf0RIs6UALO3lXHgbEh7Gg1g/s1444/Scottish%20Rain%20Forest.%20Cold%20and%20Wet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1444" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WhAmLb9KrbgURvKgN9VP-con8AudjlwzyZr3P_uy-BDakHtO443SkHlty5V41SmSXyIFdyTHfr2_du5YNK3gcw4Oa3YZtPvxC50Y5d6r10No5ZxEIUrniKp8huib0PbP-TToC33OvfTgHw6PhT72eTM6Clev-v04HngXf0RIs6UALO3lXHgbEh7Gg1g/s320/Scottish%20Rain%20Forest.%20Cold%20and%20Wet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">You could call this rain forest as it was certainly wet enough with foot deep green moss in places under our boots once under the tree cover. We also gathered dead wood as there was plenty around due to the increasing frequency and strength of storms bringing down trees everywhere. That and the winter rainfall which has loosened entire slopes elsewhere in Scotland with repeated road closures in certain troublesome steep sided glens.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpAf0JLEVr0u0tlQVmXJKpqaNT97lDP6nRn8zcFgpCw0JyM4GsEVKygVdqRXNe4WwW5teU8xm1DXx_MdjOn3atezwKsisJO7WStsIw_N6ihVoGwVFCJaZ8FUEguxvjJ3HNZZRBKAWcBMyZVwysFtsl6heZTRyfJy3kUbhRzJtj-tKMcOsRfSBVOaq7UI/s1439/The%20Bothy%20Fire.%20A%20Living%20Being%20in%20the%20Room.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1439" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpAf0JLEVr0u0tlQVmXJKpqaNT97lDP6nRn8zcFgpCw0JyM4GsEVKygVdqRXNe4WwW5teU8xm1DXx_MdjOn3atezwKsisJO7WStsIw_N6ihVoGwVFCJaZ8FUEguxvjJ3HNZZRBKAWcBMyZVwysFtsl6heZTRyfJy3kUbhRzJtj-tKMcOsRfSBVOaq7UI/s320/The%20Bothy%20Fire.%20A%20Living%20Being%20in%20the%20Room.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another night in front of the fire and good company. It must be something primeval about a natural fire... coal or wood. I can still be bored watching TV or enjoying all the other gadgets of modern life if it's not riveting enough to hold my attention yet sitting in the dark in front of coal and candles I'm never bored at all.... and you make your own entertainment.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbGMxKkhszNw0GmAcVTmACIjkz_zwujX37MC99v0dB5lwIHTzrfVIVOQlQPhWEZdXcC8V0VtbJ5fG9W-AQVtLwiQH2thSb_HWuVZa6N8t-KKQBd1WZF65umcImaaxto0xBRRavAiWp9cT5rkRqLG-aBI8yVh2M8V0s_oGWDqXX_6dDjf1m9MbfBBeOxY/s1903/Visions%20in%20the%20Flames.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1903" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbGMxKkhszNw0GmAcVTmACIjkz_zwujX37MC99v0dB5lwIHTzrfVIVOQlQPhWEZdXcC8V0VtbJ5fG9W-AQVtLwiQH2thSb_HWuVZa6N8t-KKQBd1WZF65umcImaaxto0xBRRavAiWp9cT5rkRqLG-aBI8yVh2M8V0s_oGWDqXX_6dDjf1m9MbfBBeOxY/s320/Visions%20in%20the%20Flames.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's like a living thing, a central friend in the room and one that's ever-changing. It needs feeding every so often... and tended. Nurtured throughout the night or it goes in the huff...and dies... but it does reward effort. A person in the fire here holding a burning sword. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8nxYJR9N9NXyB4CSFpnD6eQ7g3ls6Ai4Y4kHekt2sYWD9efLieFh5CYI-X_lyvD4X3Efa1LBlzgvSwxrB5j30IeC4Zo20cyjrkebsslnZNSOTkn0gDFpNJ59mZyTpmZfGQDKBpzos9aQ0Wbh5G_FDVra2PUZsZAx6vxQ40kNgSzLecum1P1MuBfXtdY/s1489/The%20Spider%20in%20the%20Flame.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1489" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8nxYJR9N9NXyB4CSFpnD6eQ7g3ls6Ai4Y4kHekt2sYWD9efLieFh5CYI-X_lyvD4X3Efa1LBlzgvSwxrB5j30IeC4Zo20cyjrkebsslnZNSOTkn0gDFpNJ59mZyTpmZfGQDKBpzos9aQ0Wbh5G_FDVra2PUZsZAx6vxQ40kNgSzLecum1P1MuBfXtdY/s320/The%20Spider%20in%20the%20Flame.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Or a large spider hanging above it with another already in the flames.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> How many ancient civilizations have started wars, created myths, or seen their gods deliver prophesies in the flames of fires like this one? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGnXXFMzfpEgxhM3WqxyPa6FTgSjD3asa2SY4pKlOY1EaLLNj73JxYt_Iop27VZ86gSFUAmj6ebUwnhfjTOE1AiIkFn3zVc6-lc30OrY0sZZ0fR7gbQB06Wof7IzsHHsOGVZUm2C0Q9Wz3Qynpjt1EUiZUz4JmEtFyzZ9YiVrVSigAzM950ACuFOxUbQ/s1444/The%20Loch%20in%20Winter.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1444" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGnXXFMzfpEgxhM3WqxyPa6FTgSjD3asa2SY4pKlOY1EaLLNj73JxYt_Iop27VZ86gSFUAmj6ebUwnhfjTOE1AiIkFn3zVc6-lc30OrY0sZZ0fR7gbQB06Wof7IzsHHsOGVZUm2C0Q9Wz3Qynpjt1EUiZUz4JmEtFyzZ9YiVrVSigAzM950ACuFOxUbQ/s320/The%20Loch%20in%20Winter.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> All too soon it was time to go home again... but typical of Western Scotland by this time the weather had changed dramatically. Rain and a strong breeze which turned the calm loch into an angry one with small white horses and a two foot swell. No photos on the return as I was too busy hanging on to the ropes to stay inside our plastic bubble to think about getting the camera out.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxceE3J-3nv8PCO6jP0uoYeWL9EqWYuHCW8CZL9YjXyltGNh2t9rRLlOwEgBxFHUgbhAnZw42rw7yWPyTNcMBNi-GWZEWlsIjlP9NAE1YmXmLfgT9Z-1agXdVnNPstrUboFioK0ZB1iewil3jJsFs2e7rMwewb_sC8P4mjTnjFYeFMwIXzgmabBO4BRE/s1499/Typical%20West%20Highland%20Weather%20in%20Winter.%20Rain%20and%20Mist.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1499" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxceE3J-3nv8PCO6jP0uoYeWL9EqWYuHCW8CZL9YjXyltGNh2t9rRLlOwEgBxFHUgbhAnZw42rw7yWPyTNcMBNi-GWZEWlsIjlP9NAE1YmXmLfgT9Z-1agXdVnNPstrUboFioK0ZB1iewil3jJsFs2e7rMwewb_sC8P4mjTnjFYeFMwIXzgmabBO4BRE/s320/Typical%20West%20Highland%20Weather%20in%20Winter.%20Rain%20and%20Mist.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> This is the weather on our return. Typical west coast rain and mist, often lasting for days at a time. Scotland is either magical... or grey, wet and grim... year round. Reminded me of the west Highland postcard years ago of the lone sheep in a field in all four seasons. Winter... lone sheep in field in the rain but with snow on its back appearing immune/unbothered/ unconcerned/miserable in all four photos...Spring... rain with a single daffodil appearing. Summer... rain with longer grass... Autumn. Rain with single brown leaf on its back. I always liked that postcard. Inspired.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKZGu8TR7thB53WtdYNvZqwMeelvvAXVx7ZJAHX760cEYLbJfamkMvU4apnNmaCI79saYvTQNQ83p7Op43UU_HQE36qmBVCrJvGlPs5QXHTY5mKDEbMqps-dz2vM1hbUhRcaLlOsUuK05hhs_-Y_OLBd4fUcPFZUR7gXAlfGl65JE_NIPXd3g6LjO-yg/s1505/Village%20Church.%20West%20Highlands.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1505" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKZGu8TR7thB53WtdYNvZqwMeelvvAXVx7ZJAHX760cEYLbJfamkMvU4apnNmaCI79saYvTQNQ83p7Op43UU_HQE36qmBVCrJvGlPs5QXHTY5mKDEbMqps-dz2vM1hbUhRcaLlOsUuK05hhs_-Y_OLBd4fUcPFZUR7gXAlfGl65JE_NIPXd3g6LjO-yg/s320/Village%20Church.%20West%20Highlands.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Thanks to Alan for the company...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2yI5zvXEAs_ELNO4gvzAUPhZXPvLxLihgR4BWLg-OOhyDyi8W6WFbCfKfomfTRkKhr51Ce0UosddiXKSVWSJY_dD2e9dx18EgdM8DXrb73A4w9qfbWBRUS7bxOL9-D3UDNCB5yiXQSoXTOJ3bNy1_U7d1JAaWEqHSrcu3HiVkXDDGGf7l336KXkkTlY/s1447/Winding%20West%20Highland%20Roads.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1447" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2yI5zvXEAs_ELNO4gvzAUPhZXPvLxLihgR4BWLg-OOhyDyi8W6WFbCfKfomfTRkKhr51Ce0UosddiXKSVWSJY_dD2e9dx18EgdM8DXrb73A4w9qfbWBRUS7bxOL9-D3UDNCB5yiXQSoXTOJ3bNy1_U7d1JAaWEqHSrcu3HiVkXDDGGf7l336KXkkTlY/s320/Winding%20West%20Highland%20Roads.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And his suggestion to come here in the first place.<br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-91046059250398649992024-03-12T18:31:00.011+00:002024-03-16T16:22:30.838+00:00Brownside Braes. Paisley and Glasgow's Arthur's Seat. The Balcony Trail Walk.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupNjA1f0B7MeyMP_Hn9bwZSVUZqnhwUP0ndr3sL9o5n5_KUcW4DUIx-dDsWYzCFi6sgmvM9mqzAc-Vc4uRuUXDPZzMH7am2hLpUh0M1k1Dz0C73J0PcSOVFvRGUwxk9aasobCaAZBR-ZXESpumpqxbEmUhoA_Zz7jWWDN_BhhM9yQz3oFXdVIzOkep_U/s1678/Upwards.%20To%20Gleniffer%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1678" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupNjA1f0B7MeyMP_Hn9bwZSVUZqnhwUP0ndr3sL9o5n5_KUcW4DUIx-dDsWYzCFi6sgmvM9mqzAc-Vc4uRuUXDPZzMH7am2hLpUh0M1k1Dz0C73J0PcSOVFvRGUwxk9aasobCaAZBR-ZXESpumpqxbEmUhoA_Zz7jWWDN_BhhM9yQz3oFXdVIzOkep_U/s320/Upwards.%20To%20Gleniffer%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is Alan and myself driving up to the 'car park in the sky' above Paisley on the B775 which leads up to Gleniffer Braes public park. I read recently that the five best views of Scottish cities according to one popular newspaper was No 1:- Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat... No 2... Glasgow from Cathkin Braes...Stop!!!... at which point I was both happy and outraged. Happy because I knew it wasn't true yet would see an increase of footfall to the area mentioned...thus keeping better places quiet.... and outraged as I've always known the best places to view Glasgow from and Cathkin Braes ( although perfectly OK) ain't it. I know because I've spent five decades ( as Scotland's Finest Living Central Belt Landscape Photographer ... hey... it worked for Muhammad Ali calling himself The Greatest, didn't it?) exploring all the Central Belt's high points multiple times in every season.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvSSZOXr-VN3RiL6UJdErZkZTx3qew_vHhQvZNb-n7o8SzKy1qFZRhsUbRR28w9oDuLslkkYx_Z-uIqk4lAIrrl2UPmxBE3jzkd1l-9Ovx-DaMFKS_FmCZ3od8tUL_7Yf_HHG0QD0n37tTAxoCQB08ahAf9AcuPOxmWrhsIKoZbaVk_euNNl05fkeqNI/s1540/Highland%20Cattle%20and%20Crow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1540" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvSSZOXr-VN3RiL6UJdErZkZTx3qew_vHhQvZNb-n7o8SzKy1qFZRhsUbRR28w9oDuLslkkYx_Z-uIqk4lAIrrl2UPmxBE3jzkd1l-9Ovx-DaMFKS_FmCZ3od8tUL_7Yf_HHG0QD0n37tTAxoCQB08ahAf9AcuPOxmWrhsIKoZbaVk_euNNl05fkeqNI/s320/Highland%20Cattle%20and%20Crow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> By coincidence I did a walk on the Cathkin Braes just recently with Alan and it had none of the variety of the Gleniffer Braes/ Brownside Braes which<i> is</i> one of Scotland's best balcony trails running from Paisley over to Barrhead. Highland Cattle herd, above.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIv5Tn-v954kIDMmpqETJZ-hbjOGY9wFeaROEnbhGF2WauVe6GRh35jgoTJHvai2sOpPy51qe6dYkfaOOvrKDAPOK9kjgXhgfktbjcpEd7an0X_ghGNdvx8igj66pYzCdoxhpoToWk5HyvAYRai10bGOL8Nhi41SfUaaOVQktY-du_pgARu1E9hnrRHk/s1511/Moss%20Heights.%20University%20of%20Glasgow.%20Springburn%20Hi%20Rise%20Behind.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1511" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIv5Tn-v954kIDMmpqETJZ-hbjOGY9wFeaROEnbhGF2WauVe6GRh35jgoTJHvai2sOpPy51qe6dYkfaOOvrKDAPOK9kjgXhgfktbjcpEd7an0X_ghGNdvx8igj66pYzCdoxhpoToWk5HyvAYRai10bGOL8Nhi41SfUaaOVQktY-du_pgARu1E9hnrRHk/s320/Moss%20Heights.%20University%20of%20Glasgow.%20Springburn%20Hi%20Rise%20Behind.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In my humble opinion Cathkin Braes viewpoint is too distant from the city centre, even with a zoom, to capture it properly... also it's a plain direct view of the city, not its best angle at all. University of Glasgow, middle; Moss heights, white line of hi rise; Springburn hi Rise, top middle. The view is clearly better from Brownside Braes. No contest. No dopamine effect.<br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRLArOo0IcdkeJROL0VkY7LDYfFW9dnP_tIcxZhLwIe5Q7h-EB40ABSkjeymyIiIxeak35G9k_wR8SdmwCo6ls7K0Qcc4hEAF4SNC3u2e8riJ-HH0X1j3qCYup_WNEKXhl2eo5nWyrTIoIQvNYPbifnczdrwCEUFVsv61PULcTB9t7pmi_0zelEL3Z7o/s1581/Planes%20Landing.%20Glasgow%20Airport.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1581" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRLArOo0IcdkeJROL0VkY7LDYfFW9dnP_tIcxZhLwIe5Q7h-EB40ABSkjeymyIiIxeak35G9k_wR8SdmwCo6ls7K0Qcc4hEAF4SNC3u2e8riJ-HH0X1j3qCYup_WNEKXhl2eo5nWyrTIoIQvNYPbifnczdrwCEUFVsv61PULcTB9t7pmi_0zelEL3Z7o/s320/Planes%20Landing.%20Glasgow%20Airport.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Also Gleniffer Braes sits close to Glasgow Airport. With flights landing ...</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_zCEb67YY27BHhQZz_CHuRys-gHeH36cIXNEmY8dTo9YYATwr7B95Nlh3LT417rnovs9wOiN2vGgzLmrdrEFoSZkQujSS4LfGWLXfPWlO2VBcE2A9PtHa7ejC7nSB1U5hvfuqeqsNJXDskxL6Hfvv4xz2Sic8W_sTxofGdrF1OZ8x0wrdiUBDl00jm0/s1662/Plane%20and%20Scottish%20Mountains.%20A%20Glasgow%20Airport%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1662" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_zCEb67YY27BHhQZz_CHuRys-gHeH36cIXNEmY8dTo9YYATwr7B95Nlh3LT417rnovs9wOiN2vGgzLmrdrEFoSZkQujSS4LfGWLXfPWlO2VBcE2A9PtHa7ejC7nSB1U5hvfuqeqsNJXDskxL6Hfvv4xz2Sic8W_sTxofGdrF1OZ8x0wrdiUBDl00jm0/s320/Plane%20and%20Scottish%20Mountains.%20A%20Glasgow%20Airport%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And also taking off... incidentally all my blog photos are sized for an 18 inch by 10 inch screen so viewing them on a smart phone is a complete waste of time.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpYta-C82zVl48b9QbpM2YDtinM-zhYcVnjzYDotWE1dDalxtzUqLK1JK_tmQoOTN6oIMw5Ym76QvelTtkuZikfFpWQyqyU_IPaugKG_vmtrHVzpZFp1XB2SparPB0_CP8DJVg2lJ8SCjRraf-UbyFLwbid9ceHvptV_i3psORWxR5Jytq5LcWZgOBTk/s1728/A%20Suburban%20Paisley%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1728" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpYta-C82zVl48b9QbpM2YDtinM-zhYcVnjzYDotWE1dDalxtzUqLK1JK_tmQoOTN6oIMw5Ym76QvelTtkuZikfFpWQyqyU_IPaugKG_vmtrHVzpZFp1XB2SparPB0_CP8DJVg2lJ8SCjRraf-UbyFLwbid9ceHvptV_i3psORWxR5Jytq5LcWZgOBTk/s320/A%20Suburban%20Paisley%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">You are even closer to Paisley, one of Scotland's largest towns so that's also a bonus for a God's eye view of Scottish urban areas. So much so we felt like human drones...launched into the air to hang above individual buildings.... or glide about slowly like ancient relics/citizens of Mount Olympus.... two vast heads....staring down at frail humanity living below. Never had that feeling once on Cathkin Braes. The city there is too far away... wrong angle.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCIfnOOByBTH8b7eDUBCDTUMj4rOCB-Fo29UiOShliG8z4ZIdjjtOrXaluMwepzItDgpEnRStVCe-N8Y8XvPXRWgTMMhHT44BX00qcukE_m1wGyCtY_Ihs9_YrwB6tfSICjO1_x82hIC26JBR1BsgT91XgRgLt-Hkt7SgQqoIH-l8tRXfDjmDoOzi_hc/s1613/Golfers%20Above%20Glasgow.%20Leverndale.%20Moss%20Heights.%20Springburn.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1613" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCIfnOOByBTH8b7eDUBCDTUMj4rOCB-Fo29UiOShliG8z4ZIdjjtOrXaluMwepzItDgpEnRStVCe-N8Y8XvPXRWgTMMhHT44BX00qcukE_m1wGyCtY_Ihs9_YrwB6tfSICjO1_x82hIC26JBR1BsgT91XgRgLt-Hkt7SgQqoIH-l8tRXfDjmDoOzi_hc/s320/Golfers%20Above%20Glasgow.%20Leverndale.%20Moss%20Heights.%20Springburn.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Golfers. Leverndale Tower view. Also Crookston Castle, (middle right in woods) and Glasgow Tower ( the thin needle above C.C.)<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> <br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_zY6subOWo61MiODoJ-b8KjlVkJJq4-CWZD40miF6KVSgOJs0vZA2XkrJDPgAa2Ia3R5dG3mQqSoXWSP-3ZvRC3juaYYgqJbcZaWeF47s0PrWuwNdOMpH-bh6zr0pyXS-XWaxROGU_S8Vx18JWRZRksTFjeEZtJGatAjoFRlcNr3CaFA1p9r5yMwX9Q/s1650/Waterworlds%20in%20Renfrewshire.%20Brownside%20Braes.%20Glenburn%20Reservoir.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1650" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_zY6subOWo61MiODoJ-b8KjlVkJJq4-CWZD40miF6KVSgOJs0vZA2XkrJDPgAa2Ia3R5dG3mQqSoXWSP-3ZvRC3juaYYgqJbcZaWeF47s0PrWuwNdOMpH-bh6zr0pyXS-XWaxROGU_S8Vx18JWRZRksTFjeEZtJGatAjoFRlcNr3CaFA1p9r5yMwX9Q/s320/Waterworlds%20in%20Renfrewshire.%20Brownside%20Braes.%20Glenburn%20Reservoir.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Water is another big part of any Brownside Braes walk. Glenburn Reservoir here. None to speak of on Cathkin Braes. Mere puddles pissed by pygmies.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMSanjKWVkHoom73uajiKXkf_HnvGuR8q73y4PSeqglH4d3PBhoxoDQDwWKUoowY-CjoxBtiLVHtD3RBDhCI99iVa_aQ3HBaE0nsomwlprqKx4WyvmUb0NG5Y3V0u6sZpt6d5ySVtXuK3tISlBFUE1BxW_fPBB2PDRI3s_yECIzLRKhQfx-yW-1qHsG4/s1407/Local%20Hills%20Above%20Paisley.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1407" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMSanjKWVkHoom73uajiKXkf_HnvGuR8q73y4PSeqglH4d3PBhoxoDQDwWKUoowY-CjoxBtiLVHtD3RBDhCI99iVa_aQ3HBaE0nsomwlprqKx4WyvmUb0NG5Y3V0u6sZpt6d5ySVtXuK3tISlBFUE1BxW_fPBB2PDRI3s_yECIzLRKhQfx-yW-1qHsG4/s320/Local%20Hills%20Above%20Paisley.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Looking across water close up... or looking down. Paisley again here.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNhSzl2KkYa1GBDTglSWPeqHt_g6H5hzeWdB_nvafILCJroOolJqkirrCpctJ2NjRXQeIAN7N5ktovLw-9VTLuMqmlhBwOdcmSypjs0Cd8xf_aAS-guJIaX2lPsXemo6ZYpzpN-JLlyZ-fgNVmQxv4Dxd1zSnQ37jzudIM4fCNCTZPUqpKdskB9OX-YM/s1532/Gleniffer%20Braes.%20Big%20Enough%20to%20get%20Lost%20in.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1532" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNhSzl2KkYa1GBDTglSWPeqHt_g6H5hzeWdB_nvafILCJroOolJqkirrCpctJ2NjRXQeIAN7N5ktovLw-9VTLuMqmlhBwOdcmSypjs0Cd8xf_aAS-guJIaX2lPsXemo6ZYpzpN-JLlyZ-fgNVmQxv4Dxd1zSnQ37jzudIM4fCNCTZPUqpKdskB9OX-YM/s320/Gleniffer%20Braes.%20Big%20Enough%20to%20get%20Lost%20in.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We both thoroughly enjoyed this walk as it's long enough, at a few hours duration, to get the real dopamine effect flowing freely from exercise yet it's mostly flat or gently rolling on this upland plateau. And large enough an area, even after dozens of visits... to get lost in, if only for 20 mins or so.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs3d_EWqGQdV2rIv5PHpyj5E0gyJIPRhtnI7qjEYve6jgkthqosP62RpRVaVpVJT3ktzMzhmk4dB4rEOJLD3OYsATU-MD5IMZIOAlIfCC63kHQ8y973MokuvpfZl_s1B47QjhCt-f452szZ3B4J_CghRZOjxWnyuPCVJbDFN398W4Kyxr8rLKC4RME38/s1432/Glasgow%20in%20a%20Bowl.%20Paisley%20To%20The%20Campsie%20Fells.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1432" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs3d_EWqGQdV2rIv5PHpyj5E0gyJIPRhtnI7qjEYve6jgkthqosP62RpRVaVpVJT3ktzMzhmk4dB4rEOJLD3OYsATU-MD5IMZIOAlIfCC63kHQ8y973MokuvpfZl_s1B47QjhCt-f452szZ3B4J_CghRZOjxWnyuPCVJbDFN398W4Kyxr8rLKC4RME38/s320/Glasgow%20in%20a%20Bowl.%20Paisley%20To%20The%20Campsie%20Fells.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our balcony trail by the way... the nearest hill top views Glasgow has to match/ compete with Arthur's Seat... runs from Gleniffer Braes Country Park across this upland plateau in the direction of Barrhead passing Glenburn Reservoir on its southern edge then cuts across to spot height 219 ( OS landranger Map Glasgow Sheet 64) then Thornliemuir trig high point at 237metres or 777 feet. On good paths that on this occasion keep to the high ground edge of the escarpment rather than descending down into the gorge via the Tannahill way<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkJj_5-8ed24fSjbpoe9bX9pZ1DqTV577VKo-vrGdIJk0EmLTs0l2PxjiMI9X5G1h5roZrBIKBX1UZMSy4Q4P9X-aCLnA5-si9t5IPbIMkWXOkgyGTq3oAbkm5l8fmsofWrtNqn1OrYucDqhodITF4sIsQvjgRFbqY2CD7V2FAILPjEqBV0NGML1xPAc/s1479/Spot%20Height%20219.%20A%20Fereneze%20Hills%20Summit..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1479" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkJj_5-8ed24fSjbpoe9bX9pZ1DqTV577VKo-vrGdIJk0EmLTs0l2PxjiMI9X5G1h5roZrBIKBX1UZMSy4Q4P9X-aCLnA5-si9t5IPbIMkWXOkgyGTq3oAbkm5l8fmsofWrtNqn1OrYucDqhodITF4sIsQvjgRFbqY2CD7V2FAILPjEqBV0NGML1xPAc/s320/Spot%20Height%20219.%20A%20Fereneze%20Hills%20Summit..jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the spot height view</span>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVu0KNfoNgBEup2P56FbLIIZuxlQOZmNhrb05ABaWAJTlY6GHV5vuzCRlcrOACIJBPzJn7RyVdT2VMeE0UasxbhaZ7wrHrFwFpTK0rKVxC3QwzWJZCIx7AiPKX52UT9w6hD7zZ4PhilIGj2PO_hZ9Qjc1ipo-HnpHOa9WvETN7rK0WGmpsEhY2D0lL64/s1539/Glasgow%20from%20The%20Braes%20Escarpment.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1539" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVu0KNfoNgBEup2P56FbLIIZuxlQOZmNhrb05ABaWAJTlY6GHV5vuzCRlcrOACIJBPzJn7RyVdT2VMeE0UasxbhaZ7wrHrFwFpTK0rKVxC3QwzWJZCIx7AiPKX52UT9w6hD7zZ4PhilIGj2PO_hZ9Qjc1ipo-HnpHOa9WvETN7rK0WGmpsEhY2D0lL64/s320/Glasgow%20from%20The%20Braes%20Escarpment.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And a hazy winter sun view of Glasgow. Pastel Perfection. Also from this viewpoint you get an idea of the sheer size of the urban area involved. Glasgow and the surrounding satellite towns like Paisley, Clydebank, Hamilton, Airdie, and Motherwell. A large chunk of Scotland's population in one go. Suburban sprawl... As far as the eye can see fading into the distance in both directions. No wonder this slab of concrete creates its own micro climate as I've observed many times. Wall to wall sunny blue skies under this valley bowl all day long yet grey skies or rain on the surrounding hills and braes on that same day.<br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55tB-TNZ2e3Tdvf9D9NDbo2x5vrcGQjVsbhBJROctxghtWePFUvguMD77j3rAIt8EbikDSEOAih3f93qmYDY0UQnvhAqAUzkzXloXfYNRqxuu6bFBYUVfRsm5vxaLuhKHjLW_wFFlb63MRTp0TlTcGtJFg362ArjkQtoRHf0HCo4GRi6If8labWPfyJA/s1573/Glasgow%20City%20From%20The%20Woodland%20Realm.%20Pollok%20Park%20and%20House.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1573" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55tB-TNZ2e3Tdvf9D9NDbo2x5vrcGQjVsbhBJROctxghtWePFUvguMD77j3rAIt8EbikDSEOAih3f93qmYDY0UQnvhAqAUzkzXloXfYNRqxuu6bFBYUVfRsm5vxaLuhKHjLW_wFFlb63MRTp0TlTcGtJFg362ArjkQtoRHf0HCo4GRi6If8labWPfyJA/s320/Glasgow%20City%20From%20The%20Woodland%20Realm.%20Pollok%20Park%20and%20House.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Pollok Park and House.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOkuK2M7BiK8H_-VP2S3noXS0kCJ6i8WizbNzDf52yAycOaTRF5W1Rp0VGAae35y8f1lB1bsUNElERd9OHelz9fKdZLTqyTBFnuLORuS_6XP8viawS3lRAksPFPXaRkgciEp9CNQtPx31RctG-BP1NpMNKwPMDvBk0Zd59HymYyVpPr0afO4QJv13diM/s1432/Scottish%20Highlands%20From%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1432" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOkuK2M7BiK8H_-VP2S3noXS0kCJ6i8WizbNzDf52yAycOaTRF5W1Rp0VGAae35y8f1lB1bsUNElERd9OHelz9fKdZLTqyTBFnuLORuS_6XP8viawS3lRAksPFPXaRkgciEp9CNQtPx31RctG-BP1NpMNKwPMDvBk0Zd59HymYyVpPr0afO4QJv13diM/s320/Scottish%20Highlands%20From%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And the edge of the Scottish Highlands...far less sunny blue sky days up here but it does happen... just not that often.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqVriDNoG0c6RKKjfvU-dzUxIPItG8iGqqMsVtTYjWyiKQMaxi8ljXR-KtgH1M4qSIhpKe-L2MYnWZfE497_-ue05_mVG6r6aQ4HcoEdGnxwA6eVa3zu_Wb_jNJOwpjgEYlOUtUC6HOUmvHm-dftjhYIHWMD_gWihih-M35V0JQLDY7QegldeDAcEjV4/s1481/Highland%20Cows%20And%20Calfs.%20Brownside%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1481" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqVriDNoG0c6RKKjfvU-dzUxIPItG8iGqqMsVtTYjWyiKQMaxi8ljXR-KtgH1M4qSIhpKe-L2MYnWZfE497_-ue05_mVG6r6aQ4HcoEdGnxwA6eVa3zu_Wb_jNJOwpjgEYlOUtUC6HOUmvHm-dftjhYIHWMD_gWihih-M35V0JQLDY7QegldeDAcEjV4/s320/Highland%20Cows%20And%20Calfs.%20Brownside%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And Cathkin Braes is missing Highland cattle.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixc2HdaHCYWwUTv7rE7ikUHwnsU10opp3iaN_o06UNjd_Lf8AJNV67SuATwMzNyv3A3gTDTrzQYYK6y9zgrl0gKa9cGtvL5fIBQn_S7uuR_4TqUN24yiJc88S9vUbDxCkuTMUojrZOeJJsk_CngP-u_NeAM6A2-L2mU3BmmX4bu7x6PASmHsZuxlh9vSY/s1564/Young%20Calf%20Drinking%20in%20Stream.%20Brownside%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1564" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixc2HdaHCYWwUTv7rE7ikUHwnsU10opp3iaN_o06UNjd_Lf8AJNV67SuATwMzNyv3A3gTDTrzQYYK6y9zgrl0gKa9cGtvL5fIBQn_S7uuR_4TqUN24yiJc88S9vUbDxCkuTMUojrZOeJJsk_CngP-u_NeAM6A2-L2mU3BmmX4bu7x6PASmHsZuxlh9vSY/s320/Young%20Calf%20Drinking%20in%20Stream.%20Brownside%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Calf taking a drink. Girl interrupted perhaps.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfII6oxIFsX7n6tR3PvUawOF_KB9aRXlY1JqQT4CESVkf6hMdc2yJunS-OZg3DNOjWu6ZgYl0vKGDf71uNaNK6yl5ZbxRjcVsgwm2N4dBFhyWUNwPEXKymPbzL7612X-jDM10yuxOtN5rCOXS-qcxOECggY60CustlKFHLNTxUTeLKJPIC9KJmk71Iy4/s1602/Landscape%20Photography.%20One%20o%20One.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1602" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfII6oxIFsX7n6tR3PvUawOF_KB9aRXlY1JqQT4CESVkf6hMdc2yJunS-OZg3DNOjWu6ZgYl0vKGDf71uNaNK6yl5ZbxRjcVsgwm2N4dBFhyWUNwPEXKymPbzL7612X-jDM10yuxOtN5rCOXS-qcxOECggY60CustlKFHLNTxUTeLKJPIC9KJmk71Iy4/s320/Landscape%20Photography.%20One%20o%20One.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And not just a few token cows...here and there... but a massive herd. This was the first day this winter it really felt like spring. Warm, sunny... daffodils, snowdrops and crocus all out in one go lower down in the suburban gardens. The first early trees starting to bud and turn green.<br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwj0uvUmtuCk050VgXNcz_Nkg_7GUPEI-b53REYY2j5MvGH9ABAt4c6jfeBsIUSW1ukHH2GysN5G9kuhyphenhyphenwzOatVVOeeo3d8CdIZQ0ib8_gxywW16mW1jp41XFka8Z5b63Uv2P1xEggKwFzvsKXg2l54tCxJ-Gskk95LAIKXcbygYpnWYKuephUCZxegQ/s1391/A%20View%20North%20From%20Barrhead.%20Schaw%20Court.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1391" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwj0uvUmtuCk050VgXNcz_Nkg_7GUPEI-b53REYY2j5MvGH9ABAt4c6jfeBsIUSW1ukHH2GysN5G9kuhyphenhyphenwzOatVVOeeo3d8CdIZQ0ib8_gxywW16mW1jp41XFka8Z5b63Uv2P1xEggKwFzvsKXg2l54tCxJ-Gskk95LAIKXcbygYpnWYKuephUCZxegQ/s320/A%20View%20North%20From%20Barrhead.%20Schaw%20Court.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So much variety... plus the city views as well The path up via Barrhead with what looks like the Scotstoun Hi Rise Flats ... and maybe Bearsden's Schaw Court... top middle.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUodosXgj20nuMm_xi2fVmycMbrX6XRXAohiZdhaUvmlgkMwSWhH9kEwJYW3imY5-jKaDXzHDMdd-0Eqq7AS383tcSW5QQg5Pw6T_6liupwlZG3SQZyslhvPdSZu_6iLNqIkGLjYdO-gJpeGkwEObOsb3z1DYxXbJeboSPyn4Pz2By1iYG6I6i3zsvTU/s1568/Largest%20City%20in%20Scotland.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1568" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUodosXgj20nuMm_xi2fVmycMbrX6XRXAohiZdhaUvmlgkMwSWhH9kEwJYW3imY5-jKaDXzHDMdd-0Eqq7AS383tcSW5QQg5Pw6T_6liupwlZG3SQZyslhvPdSZu_6iLNqIkGLjYdO-gJpeGkwEObOsb3z1DYxXbJeboSPyn4Pz2By1iYG6I6i3zsvTU/s320/Largest%20City%20in%20Scotland.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The City of Glasgow. Balcony Trail View.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVAep62qF4vcjyuySjTiTmTjlS4mjT2WANKg-VexmcOlXTTE49CHXkTmAzO13V92euc63cPoRFuoXMAHxk5LTr8XVdCioLtUKLclGTqxnGMYokW864RHQ9Drt65LTyfxoHhZbWDgwVB1s79aOp99I4X78R91Eer4rL3EwQjL8y1CHKJftA87Cka6A3Uk/s1446/Dykebar%20Hospital.%20Glasgow%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1446" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVAep62qF4vcjyuySjTiTmTjlS4mjT2WANKg-VexmcOlXTTE49CHXkTmAzO13V92euc63cPoRFuoXMAHxk5LTr8XVdCioLtUKLclGTqxnGMYokW864RHQ9Drt65LTyfxoHhZbWDgwVB1s79aOp99I4X78R91Eer4rL3EwQjL8y1CHKJftA87Cka6A3Uk/s320/Dykebar%20Hospital.%20Glasgow%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Dykebar Hospital in foreground. Sandstone buildings.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc66bLKjl5P1cIQliRJ0sdb7IwFUhKfM5lUVlDpQfoHztbRxdTO75JMiL8xTmj9659lSbo0CuJtZnMD62Xyi2oaZ_5dv5pjqpt1WdCgPheU7nb2nZp3rEbY4TbxkBRdFv5_fmdrAUSGx3NrJOxaLEu1OW1pZLNP0c1W0pRXLRMRc8wjIf7jR-6f4EjVPo/s1468/Path%20Signposts.%20Harelaw%20Reservior.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1468" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc66bLKjl5P1cIQliRJ0sdb7IwFUhKfM5lUVlDpQfoHztbRxdTO75JMiL8xTmj9659lSbo0CuJtZnMD62Xyi2oaZ_5dv5pjqpt1WdCgPheU7nb2nZp3rEbY4TbxkBRdFv5_fmdrAUSGx3NrJOxaLEu1OW1pZLNP0c1W0pRXLRMRc8wjIf7jR-6f4EjVPo/s320/Path%20Signposts.%20Harelaw%20Reservior.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Plenty of paths up here, and a golf course...you can arrive and depart...by car.. or bus... or train. By public transport you also have the option for one way walks with Barrhead to Paisley over the hills a grand day out.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rUhvP4qUiITZQFZQEMLxlNNTjwYH6SCnB8oMIviVUC5fHuyef01RwjwTj7n3aOHcX6BwuxCBLExDUVkSZXBLYysrvsnSH_93v9O92hSN7sQ77tPZJuhOHfshhctPdwSss3WlGD6DFrToGXylNNPFIaV7e-MGUS7_dSQzO4r8JUEwHX8QzVzGYN2PIhs/s1568/Abbey%20Mills.%20Paisley%20and%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1568" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rUhvP4qUiITZQFZQEMLxlNNTjwYH6SCnB8oMIviVUC5fHuyef01RwjwTj7n3aOHcX6BwuxCBLExDUVkSZXBLYysrvsnSH_93v9O92hSN7sQ77tPZJuhOHfshhctPdwSss3WlGD6DFrToGXylNNPFIaV7e-MGUS7_dSQzO4r8JUEwHX8QzVzGYN2PIhs/s320/Abbey%20Mills.%20Paisley%20and%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Abbey Mills and Paisley View.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsPS9TjKEWa5V7PmLswKNX3TJTzqzKwa-YAp9NylLpDs_m8naKZA15ftsliRwZmepND8xvr-AnloU3MENDDxblH8Mjtsej0VShStgraU9ZfjJ_bYYsVSLWmbOm-Jgp8B5vA45ieqlfSm-bEYmBhyphenhyphenUHJDLA07j1K2sjm-Yu873d9h8imzndwcfTuZBMpY/s1472/A%20View%20of%20Silverburn.%20Pollok%20Woodlands%20And%20Glasgow%20City.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1472" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsPS9TjKEWa5V7PmLswKNX3TJTzqzKwa-YAp9NylLpDs_m8naKZA15ftsliRwZmepND8xvr-AnloU3MENDDxblH8Mjtsej0VShStgraU9ZfjJ_bYYsVSLWmbOm-Jgp8B5vA45ieqlfSm-bEYmBhyphenhyphenUHJDLA07j1K2sjm-Yu873d9h8imzndwcfTuZBMpY/s320/A%20View%20of%20Silverburn.%20Pollok%20Woodlands%20And%20Glasgow%20City.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A view of Silverburn Shopping Centre and Nitshill's white tower block surrounded by the extensive woodlands of Pollok, The Hydro and Glasgow's City centre district. Bellahouston Hi Rise twin flats in front in salmon colours. Both middle of photo.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpZlL85GGKub6hcMh_MM14rVhJicVjn8rLJ5mH7xdiVF7mH_ir17AvbBQJHgW4HyhOWp4S4CkYY4YzqxHkp86-QPI-yU9ebDkvRdD2B7zFVvDt1qtbM_hEKUyCBSRlRsg-q-nn04AR8BWa7LMG2oNr0Y6uZPhzC9LmfRIj_Wh6MfQ8B1vGYWouegkY6Y/s1649/Darnley%20And%20Arden.%20An%20Escarpment%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1649" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpZlL85GGKub6hcMh_MM14rVhJicVjn8rLJ5mH7xdiVF7mH_ir17AvbBQJHgW4HyhOWp4S4CkYY4YzqxHkp86-QPI-yU9ebDkvRdD2B7zFVvDt1qtbM_hEKUyCBSRlRsg-q-nn04AR8BWa7LMG2oNr0Y6uZPhzC9LmfRIj_Wh6MfQ8B1vGYWouegkY6Y/s320/Darnley%20And%20Arden.%20An%20Escarpment%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Even local views make a big impact. Darnley and Arden here. 27 years of memories growing up in this district.<br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYNblHjV-oKQNJQ_dHWz4TV0n37NaEGFiu10U2mPngSNNTS9bjZb2aUlsWsT1iImiMAAI8_Qqz8rUL9rU_gzV9Umx9MZSGPGFqFupMasfjFtwoAlIvEgt3g7KM8jSz_ecOqcTHyI4Hr-GXbD4Ix6YcijnaXTBFduQCyc8qp2K4l652tuGT-VTwMDT_oY/s1613/Grass%20Paths.%20The%20Upland%20Plateau.%20Gleniffer%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1613" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYNblHjV-oKQNJQ_dHWz4TV0n37NaEGFiu10U2mPngSNNTS9bjZb2aUlsWsT1iImiMAAI8_Qqz8rUL9rU_gzV9Umx9MZSGPGFqFupMasfjFtwoAlIvEgt3g7KM8jSz_ecOqcTHyI4Hr-GXbD4Ix6YcijnaXTBFduQCyc8qp2K4l652tuGT-VTwMDT_oY/s320/Grass%20Paths.%20The%20Upland%20Plateau.%20Gleniffer%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And a joy to walk on top of this upland plateau, usually with views over the escarpment edge on a cracking spring day that holds so many wonders.</span><br /> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1SZJFgp-XwyQ64CqmbghaFEabKqk2zOg0O0H2nMwfx3xnTA9A71Bya14vFE_r0n4Ir-c-c6EhnujK97ypQf9A8ntyTl4K_gOqjuGxpxLfsMXlzETglMfOkZmuJV8W1o5g8ymlue3gcro2i8LKyEqcew9XeCisTmDxh9U8yd2pbi4q9fM3LVPMc9SKDw/s1627/The%20Wonderland%20of%20Nitshill.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1627" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1SZJFgp-XwyQ64CqmbghaFEabKqk2zOg0O0H2nMwfx3xnTA9A71Bya14vFE_r0n4Ir-c-c6EhnujK97ypQf9A8ntyTl4K_gOqjuGxpxLfsMXlzETglMfOkZmuJV8W1o5g8ymlue3gcro2i8LKyEqcew9XeCisTmDxh9U8yd2pbi4q9fM3LVPMc9SKDw/s320/The%20Wonderland%20of%20Nitshill.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking across at my childhood home. Nitshill. Aw. So much open countryside to play in and explore. So many different options in life.... strange paths to visit. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I think, looking back at my teenage years, I was not always completely sane. Who is at that age with hormones kicking in?</span><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpguYmYL3Rzp9vo1QXOnZOp3W3bGPavu6QCJWj6_ZCFCZi_L9pP_d0NWWTh6gaNU3u2bu-YXx6nesJihkA7v9UhcXoxmy07nQVm7mtgyNd0TmwX5blThAHJ56dO_2NTeFSDeGTh-VwfA_ua4JzDeNYqbrchsHwAp6nv8cCyu4Ihu9ESihPRYP1D0CTro/s1541/Renfrewshire.%20The%20Magic%20Kingdom.%20Stamped.%20Detail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1541" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpguYmYL3Rzp9vo1QXOnZOp3W3bGPavu6QCJWj6_ZCFCZi_L9pP_d0NWWTh6gaNU3u2bu-YXx6nesJihkA7v9UhcXoxmy07nQVm7mtgyNd0TmwX5blThAHJ56dO_2NTeFSDeGTh-VwfA_ua4JzDeNYqbrchsHwAp6nv8cCyu4Ihu9ESihPRYP1D0CTro/s320/Renfrewshire.%20The%20Magic%20Kingdom.%20Stamped.%20Detail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes. My name is written down in<span style="background-color: #444444;"> </span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"> <span style="background-color: #ffa400;"><span style="background-color: #660000;">tiny silver letters</span> </span></span></span>and I live in Oz.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiissdrW0iygco1tnqYMacIw0AvNoLBIGBiDhX_ZWU0jSrkPYr-IK1v6zdpeUaHBOEaOUW2RNbKrEhW5fCcUnBNAdROn6ATd7u2EZNQHhKj5tqOHUt3vJFi1Zg0f0Bw75_e864Wqpi09LPsYjm7YJO2C_Z5yMja-ziIvV4oAsH6_y-XA6t8QSsP8gCFQFc/s1458/Brownside%20Braes%20and%20Barrhead%20From%20South%20Nitshill.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"></span><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1458" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiissdrW0iygco1tnqYMacIw0AvNoLBIGBiDhX_ZWU0jSrkPYr-IK1v6zdpeUaHBOEaOUW2RNbKrEhW5fCcUnBNAdROn6ATd7u2EZNQHhKj5tqOHUt3vJFi1Zg0f0Bw75_e864Wqpi09LPsYjm7YJO2C_Z5yMja-ziIvV4oAsH6_y-XA6t8QSsP8gCFQFc/s320/Brownside%20Braes%20and%20Barrhead%20From%20South%20Nitshill.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And I always have done.... as I could easily walk every summer to reach Glasgow's Finest Balcony Trail from my old house. As seen here. above. Brownside Braes view in June. Buttercup heaven.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BovgPlaXAzisUYC0Zg23Jf9NKkY71efTuVlh3XKw9d97UyChdahyphenhyphenaMd9bDF27lkiEocr9kFw4AFvq7gOT35dqN7NcGBSp-zFpscuoiIZ-3HVp8DVcFCADhCLgkLn3HRsGapLxXhEiSuP-szOHfQqidE83HqXlQKtFVsI8kAjiPxMguF3-Y3X2ovnUJU/s1460/South%20Nitshill.%20The%20Love%20Affair.%20Stampedk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1460" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BovgPlaXAzisUYC0Zg23Jf9NKkY71efTuVlh3XKw9d97UyChdahyphenhyphenaMd9bDF27lkiEocr9kFw4AFvq7gOT35dqN7NcGBSp-zFpscuoiIZ-3HVp8DVcFCADhCLgkLn3HRsGapLxXhEiSuP-szOHfQqidE83HqXlQKtFVsI8kAjiPxMguF3-Y3X2ovnUJU/s320/South%20Nitshill.%20The%20Love%20Affair.%20Stampedk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: small;">... and May/June spells <span><i>Magic... in any language.</i><br /><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgje01CtkWNabrGsckEHyT9RevbvHC68zt8adDiz_zjuQg0jrQL0H-XtKQHkjmIbH6fUvQf8lP60MYPqLIvG-oUmm39Z5lJ02JQkSx7Of4GiF9jCuH-MLNmLzEWt2N7us1E7lHSM-lM7LDQqnvIxgg1kPlkQRC322SRJdiYtA2KTP_IQYgZ-TFLxjxcbg4/s1274/The%20Luss%20Hills%20From%20Mount%20Zion.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1274" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgje01CtkWNabrGsckEHyT9RevbvHC68zt8adDiz_zjuQg0jrQL0H-XtKQHkjmIbH6fUvQf8lP60MYPqLIvG-oUmm39Z5lJ02JQkSx7Of4GiF9jCuH-MLNmLzEWt2N7us1E7lHSM-lM7LDQqnvIxgg1kPlkQRC322SRJdiYtA2KTP_IQYgZ-TFLxjxcbg4/s320/The%20Luss%20Hills%20From%20Mount%20Zion.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Yes..... I see fed people....</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This montage sums up those tricky teenage years very well :) Ticks every box.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGMWNP8tDmw" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGMWNP8tDmw</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-35567051512038714862024-03-03T16:39:00.001+00:002024-03-03T19:53:28.123+00:00Bishopton. Barochan Moss. Dargavel. A New walk.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd9f1wrv6zxBCHVLgiRSB6gsOF_myYCqHpPCO_7OWYqWCKHq631NyozftXngU94tAAPKq1T0Ic9Zb4zpwF0rEm1ZHqk04H6eIhNMVMVsy1I2JDjjX2-Lfoin_JtfJJx84SCZOVSgmRmi3tVUCP7r9gnr-reMxqR65mRr9Ua0lHV3TGZaksY8zEp7FyCg/s1496/A%20Farm%20Track%20in%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1496" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd9f1wrv6zxBCHVLgiRSB6gsOF_myYCqHpPCO_7OWYqWCKHq631NyozftXngU94tAAPKq1T0Ic9Zb4zpwF0rEm1ZHqk04H6eIhNMVMVsy1I2JDjjX2-Lfoin_JtfJJx84SCZOVSgmRmi3tVUCP7r9gnr-reMxqR65mRr9Ua0lHV3TGZaksY8zEp7FyCg/s320/A%20Farm%20Track%20in%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One walk we did in the late Autumn of 2023 that I've only got around to posting now. A lovely day and a walk in Renfrewshire I hadn't done before which is an unusual event for me. Alan's Dad showed us this walk which runs round the mostly decommissioned Bishopton Royal Ordnance site. Being MOD property there's a massive fine for anyone caught on the wrong side of the fence but a pleasant network of farm tracks, grass paths and minor roads gives an enjoyable walk of a few hours duration.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWVOxvbRSty4zODGivthyphenhyphenrP0w9PsymmlKX8Q6Lup3ISpWJ8ZhebCVDFH1rAlyzv7fmlGeP4F2UmaXoaCIVIS5OGF4D5aK6a9oUp1Is42_8Y3TvT5WKkJSfDBQT_KGjY00-4zfKjMhp-ghBzbo0VBrKbAB3M8qHg_7_XY2TD8L9BlzoBDoV3KsxEC3GmI/s1503/A%20Misty%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1503" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWVOxvbRSty4zODGivthyphenhyphenrP0w9PsymmlKX8Q6Lup3ISpWJ8ZhebCVDFH1rAlyzv7fmlGeP4F2UmaXoaCIVIS5OGF4D5aK6a9oUp1Is42_8Y3TvT5WKkJSfDBQT_KGjY00-4zfKjMhp-ghBzbo0VBrKbAB3M8qHg_7_XY2TD8L9BlzoBDoV3KsxEC3GmI/s320/A%20Misty%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The perimeter fence and MOD property is very obvious, seen here, above. The path more or less follows lanes and farm tracks through rural land from Bishopton then skirts the new housing estate of Dargavel on what used to be MOD property.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91EursklnKjSD2QRHD2UtxFRbblUKRi_npjc5O_5mdHPV1lgKsUpdfH7W6dNWYG8CjRPzG2DirsiY801eb7BEMkRmHttlvqBxgUrmKkWgE2y3RQOYoUtaOEYxZPc2UcdRqiSNQ3rvZWBp-21aCaxvVTlgDXoQP11GgZZPRkfdGFvHhGZF9uzhfCr-log/s1636/Dargavel.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1636" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91EursklnKjSD2QRHD2UtxFRbblUKRi_npjc5O_5mdHPV1lgKsUpdfH7W6dNWYG8CjRPzG2DirsiY801eb7BEMkRmHttlvqBxgUrmKkWgE2y3RQOYoUtaOEYxZPc2UcdRqiSNQ3rvZWBp-21aCaxvVTlgDXoQP11GgZZPRkfdGFvHhGZF9uzhfCr-log/s320/Dargavel.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> This is the new housing estate here and the path skirts the western edge of it.</span><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzpcvFIDJ5culkz5B71vyE5T2IMqaHLzxuUrKrFki2FCMMtJGiG325JHfX66dX_yMtu242dtDviqnBkgXfC0oWJ4Djj7Zo9TEkanUIZk4J6He0YuADubZz72ZmOy1QDKxIt3cd-8jk7MRfRUXZxJ0Ahf7EjGvszGBZFVWEYDNtIrHW2R-17XQHMx2UYo/s1481/Bishopton%20Royal%20Ordanance%20Factory.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1481" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzpcvFIDJ5culkz5B71vyE5T2IMqaHLzxuUrKrFki2FCMMtJGiG325JHfX66dX_yMtu242dtDviqnBkgXfC0oWJ4Djj7Zo9TEkanUIZk4J6He0YuADubZz72ZmOy1QDKxIt3cd-8jk7MRfRUXZxJ0Ahf7EjGvszGBZFVWEYDNtIrHW2R-17XQHMx2UYo/s320/Bishopton%20Royal%20Ordanance%20Factory.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When I was doing cycle rides from my house around 10 to 20 years ago I used to cross the Erskine Bridge on my bike then circumnavigate the Bishopton Royal Ordnance Estate via the minor and very quiet Reilly Road which followed the perimeter fence most of the way. The site was heavily wooded then and being inside the fence and closed to the public wildlife like foxes and buzzards could be glimpsed inside occasionally. That was also a pleasant circuit...one of several in the area I used to do. It now looks as if its been stripped of trees and maybe at some point they will build further houses here. At the moment it's still out of bounds.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5cVHplmVagAQ6WNzB_L4pMYOp4DFGvByjzjzTLaWFEU_WBIGwtLUvrv6ZsQBYr6jRyqImva38DscqYX3gIVP68znOmocKuCqbW5zuHh1kZdhKCwit_tQmhn7h70X9oCQLeo-4k90wvEd61cWlXG8KZCi1Y-Gzxh1IPdd7wKGn6vwS2HZbfDSmtqWZOk/s1531/A%20Lane%20Near%20Bishopton.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1531" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5cVHplmVagAQ6WNzB_L4pMYOp4DFGvByjzjzTLaWFEU_WBIGwtLUvrv6ZsQBYr6jRyqImva38DscqYX3gIVP68znOmocKuCqbW5zuHh1kZdhKCwit_tQmhn7h70X9oCQLeo-4k90wvEd61cWlXG8KZCi1Y-Gzxh1IPdd7wKGn6vwS2HZbfDSmtqWZOk/s320/A%20Lane%20Near%20Bishopton.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This lane starts from near Bishopton Train Station, skirts the edge of Dargavel owner occupied housing then links up with farm tracks on the public access side of the perimeter fence. A new walk for me but not for Alan and his Dad.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsgYbDh46tOD_m9eveQewKaC3DzuqoiVwcqJQvOdKMiHbOhx86CzrV5UKVIPZ69Qc6fKoBNnI3GWDJBoP25r38UKtYWNke1OytTVnWpBUisHI5C8DT-fFRLo8mStU8SCQKut8v4cRgllYJloZRPjwe3d-bxi8CFUfRGwtohlLTxb8h6Nmzpq_3mSDSks/s1478/The%20Rural%20Peace%20of%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1478" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsgYbDh46tOD_m9eveQewKaC3DzuqoiVwcqJQvOdKMiHbOhx86CzrV5UKVIPZ69Qc6fKoBNnI3GWDJBoP25r38UKtYWNke1OytTVnWpBUisHI5C8DT-fFRLo8mStU8SCQKut8v4cRgllYJloZRPjwe3d-bxi8CFUfRGwtohlLTxb8h6Nmzpq_3mSDSks/s320/The%20Rural%20Peace%20of%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Very pleasant countryside around here.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRaguF3WH7CFKfClVWwgHPUbAgTCggLMTbPpc74rLoeDK4qfx61oRnoZ5qonIACovwi_DLVhFNKvBaTFF8CjlJl-5UqUlJshlZ_FmN87wJJeRIYPTOgA5sDNr-5IbUuRtZi3kJ3ScJgE8tEK_B_XPlTC2vpvFkdI-pOKsABO28HArGno-3DHjX-JZnx8/s1674/Rolling%20Ridge%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1674" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRaguF3WH7CFKfClVWwgHPUbAgTCggLMTbPpc74rLoeDK4qfx61oRnoZ5qonIACovwi_DLVhFNKvBaTFF8CjlJl-5UqUlJshlZ_FmN87wJJeRIYPTOgA5sDNr-5IbUuRtZi3kJ3ScJgE8tEK_B_XPlTC2vpvFkdI-pOKsABO28HArGno-3DHjX-JZnx8/s320/Rolling%20Ridge%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And distance views are pretty good as well.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRVpz0jgUC7eCprdQvYKxPUSYshb6iBxuCk0p4JabQa5sHbuI_7Y_9ekJvTwRZH2TLcJXOW4SkbQYrichp8Ay2pCeFP3pqJCz-TFj6kTEejwv7kXGmai-P_ig76VGtWoNBv9BNdLlcko7Jw6xix6qMSxI2nnKYfokS41sMtHaS38YNc-_PVsBPMe-qdo/s1509/Rural%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1509" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRVpz0jgUC7eCprdQvYKxPUSYshb6iBxuCk0p4JabQa5sHbuI_7Y_9ekJvTwRZH2TLcJXOW4SkbQYrichp8Ay2pCeFP3pqJCz-TFj6kTEejwv7kXGmai-P_ig76VGtWoNBv9BNdLlcko7Jw6xix6qMSxI2nnKYfokS41sMtHaS38YNc-_PVsBPMe-qdo/s320/Rural%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking across towards the Kilpatrick Hills from the farm track.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLEQ_xyfOffWJZbajJkBXFF5GGJdQASG49nCzkORZ7D81r66mSEE-zUC-PhkbwE7qPGGnwg6kfuLcSWLRmw3kzwwT-DesKUiPtMwt8U2F4JulGrmTZlboupmQDBQ5i44QvjPeYc8Q6CdLuRYl_m63tf2bmKjkUYRc0P45ocYimU2Yd82sO-VxIAzPLBs/s1596/The%20Lands%20Surrounding%20Bishopton%20Royal%20Ordanance%20Factory.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1596" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLEQ_xyfOffWJZbajJkBXFF5GGJdQASG49nCzkORZ7D81r66mSEE-zUC-PhkbwE7qPGGnwg6kfuLcSWLRmw3kzwwT-DesKUiPtMwt8U2F4JulGrmTZlboupmQDBQ5i44QvjPeYc8Q6CdLuRYl_m63tf2bmKjkUYRc0P45ocYimU2Yd82sO-VxIAzPLBs/s320/The%20Lands%20Surrounding%20Bishopton%20Royal%20Ordanance%20Factory.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Renfrewshire is not an area lacking in trees so there's still plenty left in the district as you can see here.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bT8Z6hBOcFY5gxAoaDd6rg7lpuXNoQU4FmKPpgrZ75HBVPz-N81qJlEY1QxXTZU62LO4XIO0jokI_ORPMf_I_WXVyXaD0MF3TQmHP_ZZRDPQnXoO7yc_XCm2jz9WSlM87zeWx0tVfNaXNY8V_ecHZOJJI2_Oe7FreeJ1XYyUmpk7QJa28mVQqqD59k4/s1529/All%20Yellow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1529" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bT8Z6hBOcFY5gxAoaDd6rg7lpuXNoQU4FmKPpgrZ75HBVPz-N81qJlEY1QxXTZU62LO4XIO0jokI_ORPMf_I_WXVyXaD0MF3TQmHP_ZZRDPQnXoO7yc_XCm2jz9WSlM87zeWx0tVfNaXNY8V_ecHZOJJI2_Oe7FreeJ1XYyUmpk7QJa28mVQqqD59k4/s320/All%20Yellow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Further grass tracks lead round to Reilly Road.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JVGsTKhYMbgKw1_GlLis8Oo59AKCyS4Eiyu22YgL32yzXJVbl4O4YZVB4xNMc49DlKQZbfTGzT-N-h78wFYeHHq2d-PJLbRC1890ARFl6hYArDFo2PeOZ2P1GnfQ2cCWt7wrsvZyrmORd6t9-vCZ74qKOeJUhc3gPOAAfP4RGpElGWRHRqmmHjlsxlg/s1276/Fungus.%20The%20Boxer.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1276" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JVGsTKhYMbgKw1_GlLis8Oo59AKCyS4Eiyu22YgL32yzXJVbl4O4YZVB4xNMc49DlKQZbfTGzT-N-h78wFYeHHq2d-PJLbRC1890ARFl6hYArDFo2PeOZ2P1GnfQ2cCWt7wrsvZyrmORd6t9-vCZ74qKOeJUhc3gPOAAfP4RGpElGWRHRqmmHjlsxlg/s320/Fungus.%20The%20Boxer.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Unusual boxing glove fungus growing out of a tree.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3_-MpAODqGT-p295_bkadZDDtHejR1R_jwbIe7ePSPvrTuO-55MJeY4044MHnpSwXu4hLVTPH_x2KiBg6uE2NRfnxfE6NkNpoD-b3s9kAcNOvLdHGigQkj2ngw9CHTLrUX_f_SfMwCmyLJMjRamtiSW_LMmMzZFOYB2AisG0LHz_uN6YzV6Mus3hi_k/s1585/Track%20to%20Minor%20Road.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1585" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3_-MpAODqGT-p295_bkadZDDtHejR1R_jwbIe7ePSPvrTuO-55MJeY4044MHnpSwXu4hLVTPH_x2KiBg6uE2NRfnxfE6NkNpoD-b3s9kAcNOvLdHGigQkj2ngw9CHTLrUX_f_SfMwCmyLJMjRamtiSW_LMmMzZFOYB2AisG0LHz_uN6YzV6Mus3hi_k/s320/Track%20to%20Minor%20Road.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Other track leading up to the 'monkey house' and another minor road which can be turned into a circular walk back to Bishopton.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cHB6KdAeDWKcMISaQAz8RiWF22t2OXBeUeJn6bFIVRWEq-93sdPM2XQYhVgVzrJD9036b-ZUQCKhxjZorknGyoj8jzqztySsXvr5ntkavDgeHBmgQIHfWt97Ig_W5KEIPOK_vgyHkd7tzFxK9EMWliZNdFLRlea4yfhBAH6ZZraEiaMFEu9mmTHxYsA/s1358/Woodlands%20Near%20Bishopton.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1358" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cHB6KdAeDWKcMISaQAz8RiWF22t2OXBeUeJn6bFIVRWEq-93sdPM2XQYhVgVzrJD9036b-ZUQCKhxjZorknGyoj8jzqztySsXvr5ntkavDgeHBmgQIHfWt97Ig_W5KEIPOK_vgyHkd7tzFxK9EMWliZNdFLRlea4yfhBAH6ZZraEiaMFEu9mmTHxYsA/s320/Woodlands%20Near%20Bishopton.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Nice autumn colours throughout this walk.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClyzj-r6vbuLGFfU39acrI-15eGJuP6QmnZ5GgVZciZpMTA775U_UiMeD92C0cClVlnOwD6OCvwSVaMORv2kRwka1Cr9GWuJ-HMovFURdrpQqodWMmOd6ZvgKrs9d9w8u1AE-a2rqQv6M_FirDao0cQ-Y8i41rVIabWPhMewt1PYdwhsB7IAzm4X0B3w/s1501/Walking%20in%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1501" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClyzj-r6vbuLGFfU39acrI-15eGJuP6QmnZ5GgVZciZpMTA775U_UiMeD92C0cClVlnOwD6OCvwSVaMORv2kRwka1Cr9GWuJ-HMovFURdrpQqodWMmOd6ZvgKrs9d9w8u1AE-a2rqQv6M_FirDao0cQ-Y8i41rVIabWPhMewt1PYdwhsB7IAzm4X0B3w/s320/Walking%20in%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">After coming out onto Reilly Road we had a choice. Either walk along Reilly Road then return via the traffic busy Houston Road B790 which we didn't fancy much as it was a long way on pavements with frequent cars shooting past or return more or less the same way. So that's what we did. No hardship given the day and good scenery with different views all the way back.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1K1Mo7jNhcuM-sJOXJQikEbkgFrCk3-faNgZ_WmFTEpOcCDxtvoewlBB8Kyc8GGHmTWzUfSnueglqtEMjchI2ld1iVQH3uqa5psLEqc6ebMMLinLLgNayRHGzyKVgEX-s0EcQ0vs5GNHddu8l_mqoL4tymCne1vweupmN24SUN-cPZs5W8UCLZY_K_k/s1596/Bishopton%20and%20The%20Mountains%20Behind.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1596" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1K1Mo7jNhcuM-sJOXJQikEbkgFrCk3-faNgZ_WmFTEpOcCDxtvoewlBB8Kyc8GGHmTWzUfSnueglqtEMjchI2ld1iVQH3uqa5psLEqc6ebMMLinLLgNayRHGzyKVgEX-s0EcQ0vs5GNHddu8l_mqoL4tymCne1vweupmN24SUN-cPZs5W8UCLZY_K_k/s320/Bishopton%20and%20The%20Mountains%20Behind.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We then passed through Bishopton again, seen here, above, and walked up a slight hill ( where this photo was taken from) to view the Bishopton Gun. Bishopton Royal Ordnance was built in the 1930s and at its peak employed 20,000 people. The gun commemorates that. It was a massive site. Link here.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROF_Bishopton" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROF_Bishopton</a><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvrsNwGtLpJoWCrrkH5Y25yIseHyGOL-PjAEJhRKbK_o0W_0zJDKs-mq2yCaWMFW7CbLbEmTQ4nBxRWi6adx928RgyIweX1v4mTI4Km_y9OuIRidSMBnq2c5C2fxo8WBNclkRDBDJE9Gs3KW3Zra-woHkzWJaqVxtebNtRH7Hvw8_g6SpKcCSRfnqEaI/s1223/BRO%20Gun.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1223" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvrsNwGtLpJoWCrrkH5Y25yIseHyGOL-PjAEJhRKbK_o0W_0zJDKs-mq2yCaWMFW7CbLbEmTQ4nBxRWi6adx928RgyIweX1v4mTI4Km_y9OuIRidSMBnq2c5C2fxo8WBNclkRDBDJE9Gs3KW3Zra-woHkzWJaqVxtebNtRH7Hvw8_g6SpKcCSRfnqEaI/s320/BRO%20Gun.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The gun.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtkaJ4_YTwsbv8R36IRd7u2UMAxVNCzlRc8HpskXAugY-BlFmvTDRd_nXgS8TlFiICA-tSzxwrv-aCCn40TmF-gE4t8GyX9Z35pghnebljMFfKk_196tWf-jnFkjkYDNGYpmfM2Gg1YK9ceU3cxo35zfYo0DQpSh7za8YkaZFpMeIplf7BtbuvGSx45U/s1370/Gun%20Info.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1370" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtkaJ4_YTwsbv8R36IRd7u2UMAxVNCzlRc8HpskXAugY-BlFmvTDRd_nXgS8TlFiICA-tSzxwrv-aCCn40TmF-gE4t8GyX9Z35pghnebljMFfKk_196tWf-jnFkjkYDNGYpmfM2Gg1YK9ceU3cxo35zfYo0DQpSh7za8YkaZFpMeIplf7BtbuvGSx45U/s320/Gun%20Info.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Gun info.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVJrjW4PWwsI43kyxnLBJlXwyjmy6O63ZC-RuFawMKx2s4lupr0iB8kNmIRzgcmQPAyWNCns6diUjGy-PMaKJKSBBZCqV7vhATSnhp9geE1-0p9rL8m2FxWM_6gJVUknVfotPg1h3iAFpJxUCJNmAOkgQiI3Q2JnlNZdWYS1iofd12GHPzXXnaaWXxnk/s1517/The%20Village%20of%20Bishopton.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1517" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVJrjW4PWwsI43kyxnLBJlXwyjmy6O63ZC-RuFawMKx2s4lupr0iB8kNmIRzgcmQPAyWNCns6diUjGy-PMaKJKSBBZCqV7vhATSnhp9geE1-0p9rL8m2FxWM_6gJVUknVfotPg1h3iAFpJxUCJNmAOkgQiI3Q2JnlNZdWYS1iofd12GHPzXXnaaWXxnk/s320/The%20Village%20of%20Bishopton.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A good walk and a very unexpected one. Bishopton and the Kilpatrick Hills.<br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">.<br /></span></p><p> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-22450971925865867432024-03-02T12:34:00.007+00:002024-03-03T00:42:53.150+00:00Kilmacolm. Knapps Loch. Glen Moss. The Wonders of Inverclyde and Renfrewshire.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPQKql_Wc72C20ehrfTNk8nO3D9uvs-CN55YG2kvaGigEbQnEn2leAcxAMKfHT-06WXsOtCtvQBz-812eJtnOysiN29C4rEIneKeky2vClcMhdmbelNiBuLNtC7pUKgvC9GFKyH3GHg7_1E7fgOh9ppSqjHxjUicjdUAkuS9jLCL4vYBZi2Dar3wODQg/s1436/Ben%20Lomond%20From%20Kilmacolm.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1436" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPQKql_Wc72C20ehrfTNk8nO3D9uvs-CN55YG2kvaGigEbQnEn2leAcxAMKfHT-06WXsOtCtvQBz-812eJtnOysiN29C4rEIneKeky2vClcMhdmbelNiBuLNtC7pUKgvC9GFKyH3GHg7_1E7fgOh9ppSqjHxjUicjdUAkuS9jLCL4vYBZi2Dar3wODQg/s320/Ben%20Lomond%20From%20Kilmacolm.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ben Lomond in winter from Kilmacolm. It's been years since either Alan or myself visited Kilmacolm and the nearby Knapps Loch and Glen Moss. This is good however as it stops any over-familiarity with this area creeping in. I always take loads of photographs in this part of Inverclyde and Renfrewshire. Regional boundaries have changed here over time but in my own head I've always ignored these official lines. I separate them instead by landscapes and geology. Renfrewshire is my wonderland and although Kilmacolm and Knapps Loch reside just over the boundary line in Inverclyde my own visual boundary lines when cycling or walking here place them firmly in 'green-hill country.' Glen Moss however is in Renfrewshire, despite being a very short distance from Kilmacolm so official boundary lines, for me, are largely unimportant. Dozens of quiet minor roads crisscross green-hill country through rolling farmland. Inland Inverclyde tends to be high bleak moor, hill farms and only a few minor roads. You can easily tell the difference walking or cycling.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcqa640ZVeNFBkcOR_L6UffsSb4Sc9tBKbTIRtHoiKqDUuChQGxJtMN8eRdtzGfegCK74hWemf8iPM-jM86gVTb6ptozziZs22BpicU1X5Fi5Z3mxaeQjvQnKo5faztwJ26T-YpKELmbpmciaUNDHpYYS6VHSCE2DBfQfIdFdRW3Sh1F64KsGFqy4axY/s1297/Boats.%20Semple%20Loch.%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1297" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcqa640ZVeNFBkcOR_L6UffsSb4Sc9tBKbTIRtHoiKqDUuChQGxJtMN8eRdtzGfegCK74hWemf8iPM-jM86gVTb6ptozziZs22BpicU1X5Fi5Z3mxaeQjvQnKo5faztwJ26T-YpKELmbpmciaUNDHpYYS6VHSCE2DBfQfIdFdRW3Sh1F64KsGFqy4axY/s320/Boats.%20Semple%20Loch.%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Castle Semple Loch. This is what green-hill country looks like to me. In the past when walking or cycling I'm not that aware of official boundary markers between different districts... or when I'm crossing them. That's only important if you live here... for letter delivery, postcodes, public services etc...I have always separated them by landscape features instead. Rolling green hills, inland lochs and dams, cattle, farms... rural life. Picture box perfect. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkgejoOsMoX6Oeimk7qlEaLV7MzHNMf_hn0nr-4G5fWJHpOKicBq637p6nf5NU9Hmu8Jqu6vvxNL2iWHrRLu_KYVBfySVsAvC-DcMdR30tZurnSCluSqd58F22A35DIwPwk16Flq6aaqhwXZxcXqTnaRLNVPbx_RPEOAmEKglv1IwvDcS4-5uY3rlzNQ/s1249/Cows%20and%20Ridges.Misty%20Morning..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1249" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkgejoOsMoX6Oeimk7qlEaLV7MzHNMf_hn0nr-4G5fWJHpOKicBq637p6nf5NU9Hmu8Jqu6vvxNL2iWHrRLu_KYVBfySVsAvC-DcMdR30tZurnSCluSqd58F22A35DIwPwk16Flq6aaqhwXZxcXqTnaRLNVPbx_RPEOAmEKglv1IwvDcS4-5uY3rlzNQ/s320/Cows%20and%20Ridges.Misty%20Morning..jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">To me, visually, this is always green-hill country. A beautiful oasis. I'm not that bothered if it's in Renfrewshire, North Ayrshire or Inverclyde as it's clearly defined for me just by looking at it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhYFP-2zoj90BNNOK3BAMU0Vp-SbUCwVhCOWhyphenhyphenYrjgNA-YXR2QIN5T7gee157MFoDB2KTBidGAtY7l06hB-EuReKeadnjFolh5xHZP4pJCKZSyLMQt9-hunPgQjbF0olYVKjvTgfE8zLxMAs_0HLcDJzWBmAqCURtdkm_lzI4CGRVi59aUU3hsEby3is/s1401/The%20Emerald%20Kingdom.%20Renfrewshire%20and%20Inverclyde.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1401" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhYFP-2zoj90BNNOK3BAMU0Vp-SbUCwVhCOWhyphenhyphenYrjgNA-YXR2QIN5T7gee157MFoDB2KTBidGAtY7l06hB-EuReKeadnjFolh5xHZP4pJCKZSyLMQt9-hunPgQjbF0olYVKjvTgfE8zLxMAs_0HLcDJzWBmAqCURtdkm_lzI4CGRVi59aUU3hsEby3is/s320/The%20Emerald%20Kingdom.%20Renfrewshire%20and%20Inverclyde.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> So for me this is green-hill country with Inverclyde the much higher slopes behind. It's probably all Inverclyde officially but as a traveller and not a resident I don't care about that. I've known all my life visiting 'the kingdom' where <i>my</i> country begins and ends.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHTbeI5zrLQ9F0Pc55x2HC0I6iE37U_TX3wYpbwDcnUCHhFgyj6NTH8VUMDAuP8F0Lm2a9wuO2j5wMtNGZ9f3oj1289EfcQIcYHCQ6IINTzRnd3Bxb-ORzHNgs6KKcV0k04MLs2Pw_i3oEalne4oJVyc7OXsxvYCVB_0VRAYUykiXnJ0uk6uVEDF75gQ/s1592/Auchenbothie%20From%20Jocks%20Craig%20Escarpment.%20Wildest%20Renfewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1592" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHTbeI5zrLQ9F0Pc55x2HC0I6iE37U_TX3wYpbwDcnUCHhFgyj6NTH8VUMDAuP8F0Lm2a9wuO2j5wMtNGZ9f3oj1289EfcQIcYHCQ6IINTzRnd3Bxb-ORzHNgs6KKcV0k04MLs2Pw_i3oEalne4oJVyc7OXsxvYCVB_0VRAYUykiXnJ0uk6uVEDF75gQ/s320/Auchenbothie%20From%20Jocks%20Craig%20Escarpment.%20Wildest%20Renfewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It can be quite spectacular, as here at Auchenbothie with the River Clyde deep water trench hidden and a backdrop of the Kilpatrick Escarpment.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYp4IdWmqhN1Vv-SpeyMtl63wT9yqXaeh2qc8of9dSbcQ2leR7hVsr0YCvadn70WBS-HRMmvyzlhvpEmEYnvLwdnzh3PFkIFsWW4iGL4IJHYTNpp7K9We7qGwAMzthr5sbn6LcH1lDACjBoWgrD9tvKPhLwLciYbGXT1Cv1eqNToLhZoewsVWvF43vpE/s1306/Glanderston%20Dam%20Near%20Neilston.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1306" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYp4IdWmqhN1Vv-SpeyMtl63wT9yqXaeh2qc8of9dSbcQ2leR7hVsr0YCvadn70WBS-HRMmvyzlhvpEmEYnvLwdnzh3PFkIFsWW4iGL4IJHYTNpp7K9We7qGwAMzthr5sbn6LcH1lDACjBoWgrD9tvKPhLwLciYbGXT1Cv1eqNToLhZoewsVWvF43vpE/s320/Glanderston%20Dam%20Near%20Neilston.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">But in general it's usually very obvious where my own boundary lines are without looking at a map. Green-hill Country sums it up.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCU1BVcDw2whyphenhyphenkaTkELxY3NOJMv-dNqCInmV29mEOsDai-alU5jyMb0CXdca8D9B5_-sBa3Uh32MgYFw2OOYr9jOVnoDRdwUbONy4vOieGXP0OAr-pYPRa6UhfXYahAyVCggw8Z9jd4A6ArCPI4LFr4d4jYmVefN5bjyDxYZf0WojcAKZ0WnyYxhMOb4/s1522/A%20Kilmacolm%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1522" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCU1BVcDw2whyphenhyphenkaTkELxY3NOJMv-dNqCInmV29mEOsDai-alU5jyMb0CXdca8D9B5_-sBa3Uh32MgYFw2OOYr9jOVnoDRdwUbONy4vOieGXP0OAr-pYPRa6UhfXYahAyVCggw8Z9jd4A6ArCPI4LFr4d4jYmVefN5bjyDxYZf0WojcAKZ0WnyYxhMOb4/s320/A%20Kilmacolm%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">So we, Alan and I, started off at Kilmacolm and Knapps Loch. It does feel like a magical kingdom but like the English Lake District wealth is often the key. Kilmacolm, like Helensburgh and Rhu, is one of Scotland's richest communities so the scenery has been enhanced by that revenue stream for over one hundred years.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rYyvrnbOr8HeDyAEy_hxfWXYQHxbs68y5Xb4ED8TWWbhiJIEbT05rxp0XjDUDVP8YEQD-LKLSbnXpTPWmcP1Xl5O8VCjrTh9JAhkBED2jjqZYldmKHH5u43_mEN1Qc6Sd0kvaoCAo580OFWsVeoyq9Zdr-CF2HkYCBjr4t7a8i_rwFKUBGYYd4DuJzs/s1252/A%20Church%20in%20Kilmacolm.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1252" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rYyvrnbOr8HeDyAEy_hxfWXYQHxbs68y5Xb4ED8TWWbhiJIEbT05rxp0XjDUDVP8YEQD-LKLSbnXpTPWmcP1Xl5O8VCjrTh9JAhkBED2jjqZYldmKHH5u43_mEN1Qc6Sd0kvaoCAo580OFWsVeoyq9Zdr-CF2HkYCBjr4t7a8i_rwFKUBGYYd4DuJzs/s320/A%20Church%20in%20Kilmacolm.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In less well heeled lower middle class areas I've been really bored on walks, street after street of perfectly decent but very dull identikit housing that I never even bothered to post but never that here. I find I either like rough housing schemes/ or very wealthy areas just because they are much more interesting architecturally to walk around. Beautiful church above. In some ways 'green-hill country' feels very 'English home counties' and you can't say that for much of urban Scotland.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvrOv2NzCqq-hbeWsO-B9GI7MBfSxMYNBIA1M8tP45p4B90Pb30G0qyxMFKo9vfHalVluF3K8QyubkAnj1EL9_HcMhry-TDhc1wg-csZtOvW297VPLuASeqzmUbanh4LernAtOqZo1yMDhFscYslRnHUaEINVkTqHh_LLF76OEmfejtCrWvLsDsQRYr8/s1469/Arcadia%20Starts%20Here.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1469" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvrOv2NzCqq-hbeWsO-B9GI7MBfSxMYNBIA1M8tP45p4B90Pb30G0qyxMFKo9vfHalVluF3K8QyubkAnj1EL9_HcMhry-TDhc1wg-csZtOvW297VPLuASeqzmUbanh4LernAtOqZo1yMDhFscYslRnHUaEINVkTqHh_LLF76OEmfejtCrWvLsDsQRYr8/s320/Arcadia%20Starts%20Here.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So we did our usual tour of Knapps Loch, seen here...</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLx69LnKvpzm7HB1X9_Hohb9W0h0smVBWtrbDfO7cScp9X2vl8ImW-WzONnBXymN-cL2RMDO05gVBHTgwaN93p59skZ1bWdVj8MlnNF520cb_7vtz_oGD7SykJv-IUwux11utZEa4xrMcLSnxZAgURtSdAiHJV4iQlefcOADHW7SJQN40haDPKHzNcss/s1380/The%20View%20Ahead.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1380" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLx69LnKvpzm7HB1X9_Hohb9W0h0smVBWtrbDfO7cScp9X2vl8ImW-WzONnBXymN-cL2RMDO05gVBHTgwaN93p59skZ1bWdVj8MlnNF520cb_7vtz_oGD7SykJv-IUwux11utZEa4xrMcLSnxZAgURtSdAiHJV4iQlefcOADHW7SJQN40haDPKHzNcss/s320/The%20View%20Ahead.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">... then up onto the obvious crag behind the loch...reached via grassy paths, although they are getting more used looking now with increased yearly rainfall in west Scotland and post pandemic healthy living daily advice to get outdoors, influencing suddenly exercise conscious adults... plus the usual internet obsession with beauty spots worldwide. Glen Moss incidentally is reached across the fields on faint paths via the houses in the middle top of photo and a signposted wooded strip/path through the golf course. <br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGbu1lv-3kjFMqVCkDGh8ZW56wYf2XdOvCI2cgwrl0ggJLFK6MxbF_-zYyKpdw15_ZQ3SLSLu9DDHPjCoKi_azrx6SHYJbEDn-VKvbiJ4wbgvGUfB5MlrdD-n0s2uB6lyZcakLfmsAGacfo7MRrIYuz5-dphY3LzXncP9Zt6OACpX3vDDjZusrvDNDOc/s1560/A%20Viewpoint.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1560" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGbu1lv-3kjFMqVCkDGh8ZW56wYf2XdOvCI2cgwrl0ggJLFK6MxbF_-zYyKpdw15_ZQ3SLSLu9DDHPjCoKi_azrx6SHYJbEDn-VKvbiJ4wbgvGUfB5MlrdD-n0s2uB6lyZcakLfmsAGacfo7MRrIYuz5-dphY3LzXncP9Zt6OACpX3vDDjZusrvDNDOc/s320/A%20Viewpoint.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's a popular dog walking area for locals which is no surprise as I've always found in other upmarket areas they build golf courses on any available land rather than public parks although Kilmacolm is better served with good walks locally than say Newton Mearns or Helensburgh.... with far less scenic minor roads available in the last two places mentioned. But you've got to know where to go in this area. Visitor parking is very limited ... which is a good thing throughout Green-hill Country/ Renfrewshire/Inverclyde/North Ayrshire as it keeps it fairly quiet. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXY7fw9Q_puDMz0L9vI0tP2YrcV5-nEhpUA0pO16JyKRdXyGCcq5PrMUREZ-34zTb2446kTL5X3bhSjzYOuOupMBiSBV4e2NlT164ZKn6JS6qThrCKDfD7OfUfG006ZM4L3_BkUtkYYqs0cse2EzZ_ArbsxwKtdiULI9Zdg66FR047PQT3B0B3Evl4KnM/s1511/Back%20of%20a%20Kestrel.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1511" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXY7fw9Q_puDMz0L9vI0tP2YrcV5-nEhpUA0pO16JyKRdXyGCcq5PrMUREZ-34zTb2446kTL5X3bhSjzYOuOupMBiSBV4e2NlT164ZKn6JS6qThrCKDfD7OfUfG006ZM4L3_BkUtkYYqs0cse2EzZ_ArbsxwKtdiULI9Zdg66FR047PQT3B0B3Evl4KnM/s320/Back%20of%20a%20Kestrel.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> A kestrel on a tree... snapped unaware as balancing on this thin twig was occupying it fully in a playful breeze. Does my bum look big in this?<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltqyxTMA1TxF__XLQUtH_EYiLFg9Vw8u3pQISSDThFWoT6f_dgJJ6J-qJ06CedA1gxe_m9QXZVh4rBaWsrtUwnpL0i6bcAwMq_0b1MIxE8NMFe7S-B50xAQ5PI65tSo5J-1DcG-jAxds3P-AISD8KnLGcrL8HylWzc8WswAOfiwqL-6YrZOrLOrodT8s/s1696/Classic%20Hovering.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1696" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltqyxTMA1TxF__XLQUtH_EYiLFg9Vw8u3pQISSDThFWoT6f_dgJJ6J-qJ06CedA1gxe_m9QXZVh4rBaWsrtUwnpL0i6bcAwMq_0b1MIxE8NMFe7S-B50xAQ5PI65tSo5J-1DcG-jAxds3P-AISD8KnLGcrL8HylWzc8WswAOfiwqL-6YrZOrLOrodT8s/s320/Classic%20Hovering.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Minutes later it spotted a potential meal, a mouse or a vole, and soared upwards to maintain its classic hovering position.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlVuIAZUjYzT9cKVEajZlLKl-p5a1bulTEftIiS8IWMuOoYPpxnF1KaE4o1rhuB-ckxgvePrzYWVR04V05em7syoxgFgxhNRySxoCT-aW_eCbak-RQ9ePdzM7zT1DDh9uNbbIeEWHFjORZOgP-pNfAK10jQruzApvQQYX46vZGomUokdSLdPRJ8GgOOI/s1614/Geese%20again.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1614" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlVuIAZUjYzT9cKVEajZlLKl-p5a1bulTEftIiS8IWMuOoYPpxnF1KaE4o1rhuB-ckxgvePrzYWVR04V05em7syoxgFgxhNRySxoCT-aW_eCbak-RQ9ePdzM7zT1DDh9uNbbIeEWHFjORZOgP-pNfAK10jQruzApvQQYX46vZGomUokdSLdPRJ8GgOOI/s320/Geese%20again.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On other occasions it can seem like a magical place. A few geese in a field here.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhgC3v7UJzbpvLLS7EnX9d_wuHVNcHSp1STOiykuJhLyoGywVTP6Hs5K0LXDC5ntTymWiFo_38Ua2SEEVlh2N0KjrxJE-XTgIMd_zMS-FuJBhD2k9ZPjshCqHjncYubtl0l3rldDiZ-apqLQnw8-SD2rWK1Q8USvgHqEVA8h7Yn7Uks3HxWvxUJ2C4nk/s1443/Hungry%20Geese%20Tuck%20in.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1443" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhgC3v7UJzbpvLLS7EnX9d_wuHVNcHSp1STOiykuJhLyoGywVTP6Hs5K0LXDC5ntTymWiFo_38Ua2SEEVlh2N0KjrxJE-XTgIMd_zMS-FuJBhD2k9ZPjshCqHjncYubtl0l3rldDiZ-apqLQnw8-SD2rWK1Q8USvgHqEVA8h7Yn7Uks3HxWvxUJ2C4nk/s320/Hungry%20Geese%20Tuck%20in.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy geese feeding near Kilmacolm.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthnsauAzneY3fNDK9XYBUfP6TCnNbMVzjjXZRaSXg9KL4NLi3gpZiG_xKbrRViiqn3dM6zLwxbIAZWAl8CaHeNgvea5f1Hb7BOF9Ib5Ipy2BRbLduwg_UzP64xNK9ztoJ67Xwa6bNgJTSbjyn4SblXq_FE7kb3Z52m5V0rEDdvHzVBnz4-X7IKmG_VFw/s1216/Mount%20Zion%20Tower.%20The%20Village.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1216" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthnsauAzneY3fNDK9XYBUfP6TCnNbMVzjjXZRaSXg9KL4NLi3gpZiG_xKbrRViiqn3dM6zLwxbIAZWAl8CaHeNgvea5f1Hb7BOF9Ib5Ipy2BRbLduwg_UzP64xNK9ztoJ67Xwa6bNgJTSbjyn4SblXq_FE7kb3Z52m5V0rEDdvHzVBnz4-X7IKmG_VFw/s320/Mount%20Zion%20Tower.%20The%20Village.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And some amazing buildings. Mount Zion in Quarriers Village, above.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNaDJEWdgopH_mmLzIUgl6i_Dt7AHvetnUr_4tMZkGwagevH-6YewaMcIPFb9wPqMkk6pkfTtTfXVz3lRz9swf5te0TOX7ax6kQEknY0qcvryqK0HeF714uDTA360JZHxULoofQlpiFkptWOPb63sHzZJcsRtQmSDcGygzJLaqg7iqpwOzwZEaKDhAxA/s1320/The%20Village.%20Inverclyde.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1320" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNaDJEWdgopH_mmLzIUgl6i_Dt7AHvetnUr_4tMZkGwagevH-6YewaMcIPFb9wPqMkk6pkfTtTfXVz3lRz9swf5te0TOX7ax6kQEknY0qcvryqK0HeF714uDTA360JZHxULoofQlpiFkptWOPb63sHzZJcsRtQmSDcGygzJLaqg7iqpwOzwZEaKDhAxA/s320/The%20Village.%20Inverclyde.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The village lands.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Z4WW8gGnc8QVDzuDhqsaRsZ9HlxlTuEhDWGoj4fScIoPYEmA-fJf-2KrDkOFSNa-X06mFCdhhl7-YsYYmqoarkpB1llAQtL0DYYpiQR-V8l22junfq55Rd0eldAAQKyhkWqyUF14NFd6EuqfzT6IAy1ZkTFDuxBot9v34B54kak24qlXQixbywZ8Tho/s1241/Old%20Signpost.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1241" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Z4WW8gGnc8QVDzuDhqsaRsZ9HlxlTuEhDWGoj4fScIoPYEmA-fJf-2KrDkOFSNa-X06mFCdhhl7-YsYYmqoarkpB1llAQtL0DYYpiQR-V8l22junfq55Rd0eldAAQKyhkWqyUF14NFd6EuqfzT6IAy1ZkTFDuxBot9v34B54kak24qlXQixbywZ8Tho/s320/Old%20Signpost.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Old signpost near Glen Moss.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ot4JLToXH_XsT83739n-KIizVTxALeCM_h6SXB2nU_OEUDSI0tuqAWkGTulFAxzhaZ1WdVgyKRM_isLzqarsMq9ErnCCot8Tfh427pbIggiW8k4L4noQCjZLm8T6H8SXTYQEcqBSMHMD6NfOcgPxqR_lAxxziBBAIaUNk7tgbvApClrAFit56DAx45k/s1434/Glen%20Moss.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1434" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ot4JLToXH_XsT83739n-KIizVTxALeCM_h6SXB2nU_OEUDSI0tuqAWkGTulFAxzhaZ1WdVgyKRM_isLzqarsMq9ErnCCot8Tfh427pbIggiW8k4L4noQCjZLm8T6H8SXTYQEcqBSMHMD6NfOcgPxqR_lAxxziBBAIaUNk7tgbvApClrAFit56DAx45k/s320/Glen%20Moss.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Glen Moss. It used to be used for curling in winter but with warmer temperatures and a lack of marshlands UK wide it's now best suited as a wildlife reserve.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPg35x_yQJAdgVCT49gP1MnFyFQI5Pj9XbHe0Jl51DvcHMcJRASL4pNjEIyW9Eb-Ws4NgsmCEOnaU0L9Ay0tokHwx6NghUpDyPQMY2eTjgJVoR-j_5kL0aq6Wehyw9m1U3OsGbuxLaiyn-8Y6TE4orhLhlvhHKtxufJ7Cuixg5ux-DWiXsp28nFmNu68/s1227/Kilbarchan%20Steeple.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1227" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPg35x_yQJAdgVCT49gP1MnFyFQI5Pj9XbHe0Jl51DvcHMcJRASL4pNjEIyW9Eb-Ws4NgsmCEOnaU0L9Ay0tokHwx6NghUpDyPQMY2eTjgJVoR-j_5kL0aq6Wehyw9m1U3OsGbuxLaiyn-8Y6TE4orhLhlvhHKtxufJ7Cuixg5ux-DWiXsp28nFmNu68/s320/Kilbarchan%20Steeple.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Kilbarchan Steeple.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3LeH81-l2UgwpCXjsyJFyjvDceh14sXkOlrxJHV8tvFOz94Do2YtVYPf15RA6ivrQoZ34DXTwF_IbvjvmVC2y1g7G5sGFxKj2NDogEspnD01oI_Ass5xyk9e9bdbFmY1fBHzqsaukp3AbOA7PF9pXwKbzmm2EXCMCS0VZPph0jU6mxDhBq7DAVLYGJ4/s1418/Cycling%20Past%20Howwood.%20Renfrewshire%20Ridgelands.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1418" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3LeH81-l2UgwpCXjsyJFyjvDceh14sXkOlrxJHV8tvFOz94Do2YtVYPf15RA6ivrQoZ34DXTwF_IbvjvmVC2y1g7G5sGFxKj2NDogEspnD01oI_Ass5xyk9e9bdbFmY1fBHzqsaukp3AbOA7PF9pXwKbzmm2EXCMCS0VZPph0jU6mxDhBq7DAVLYGJ4/s320/Cycling%20Past%20Howwood.%20Renfrewshire%20Ridgelands.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Howwood and the surrounding green-hill country.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQA552K0S39qcIYdOSoYnUvde4qxDKvPZscVfAMDROHzR_GA1o43rf8v2CrFTymLLahvX-8jZCLqWON3ImOyk88aT3IsVN2PlPihMxrA6ZHV8sd320sCvP2_hCfAYOHo9_ItjQwMorQ7TCwS9U2qAgZAhhtXkn96L7S8T2W36VG9_JS1bRgnmAu87FIc/s1527/Kilmacolm%20Church.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1527" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQA552K0S39qcIYdOSoYnUvde4qxDKvPZscVfAMDROHzR_GA1o43rf8v2CrFTymLLahvX-8jZCLqWON3ImOyk88aT3IsVN2PlPihMxrA6ZHV8sd320sCvP2_hCfAYOHo9_ItjQwMorQ7TCwS9U2qAgZAhhtXkn96L7S8T2W36VG9_JS1bRgnmAu87FIc/s320/Kilmacolm%20Church.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Kilmacolm church and local bus.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14w_nm-RcomU9URJNwZf_r8y8NIP1SCTM-XfY6KXmGs4Gemz5tOOeWSCceN07_0BiPf4nyObWxjZjTAxdsx7Ih1QYbpmFisyPljifP3GzOhBJlT2ManXc7BrdoKm8Ul0JM7NQEcJtrF6rDeq8budReG3jmiEp9GahVcAVF8uezKqz-klCNy9apP83A8M/s1600/Dumbarton%20Rock%20and%20Ship%20Passing.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1600" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14w_nm-RcomU9URJNwZf_r8y8NIP1SCTM-XfY6KXmGs4Gemz5tOOeWSCceN07_0BiPf4nyObWxjZjTAxdsx7Ih1QYbpmFisyPljifP3GzOhBJlT2ManXc7BrdoKm8Ul0JM7NQEcJtrF6rDeq8budReG3jmiEp9GahVcAVF8uezKqz-klCNy9apP83A8M/s320/Dumbarton%20Rock%20and%20Ship%20Passing.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> And if you fancy something different the Clyde Coast is just a short drive/ cycle ride or local bus away.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNydM5mjebr_MQRr9Thy5Byp5yTLvwl3yVKbYwwyfjOqG25lkjvlXuBJfUPzGupwMrtBGgI_6-2CGBSQHc0xvr7mHzwnuVFBS6s0jmT1kr_YQ6EYyz06-oOTEp-QrRKbnWzg3EdkpERPDPt2m5Ur6KVSSqO7LEKn27IDWt4Abe3ipbX-vupAbj6yqljQM/s1181/Waterworks%20Well.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1181" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNydM5mjebr_MQRr9Thy5Byp5yTLvwl3yVKbYwwyfjOqG25lkjvlXuBJfUPzGupwMrtBGgI_6-2CGBSQHc0xvr7mHzwnuVFBS6s0jmT1kr_YQ6EYyz06-oOTEp-QrRKbnWzg3EdkpERPDPt2m5Ur6KVSSqO7LEKn27IDWt4Abe3ipbX-vupAbj6yqljQM/s320/Waterworks%20Well.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I read recently about the Cathkin Braes being the best place to view the City of Glasgow from... as a perfect high vantage point in a quality newspaper. That's a matter of personal taste of course but to my mind, having visited both areas recently and in the past it's very obviously not. The next post should confirm that beyond doubt.... coming as it does from Central Belt Scotland's best living landscape photographer :) ie. me.<br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjNyC4VpLbuXBqhVWXurdaOp_qNGPPe3FstniMg4HeUahJMouwe_enN8R8jltUYLLblLtkQzjLbvwxy5kxqIAGVOgjSiBNb8pUVGulVZZtxCR7eJ3sXWxeyuDUw4V6nP3uKvqGjjnJzb59X5KgiQkaxDKTIYVIguR84g0ebVI7nb8HswKiwmx9ssZbj8/s1301/Veiw%20towards%20Glasgow.A%20Sea%20Of%20Trees.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1301" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjNyC4VpLbuXBqhVWXurdaOp_qNGPPe3FstniMg4HeUahJMouwe_enN8R8jltUYLLblLtkQzjLbvwxy5kxqIAGVOgjSiBNb8pUVGulVZZtxCR7eJ3sXWxeyuDUw4V6nP3uKvqGjjnJzb59X5KgiQkaxDKTIYVIguR84g0ebVI7nb8HswKiwmx9ssZbj8/s320/Veiw%20towards%20Glasgow.A%20Sea%20Of%20Trees.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> A last look at green-hill country.<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />A very different land in this link. I've been a fan of this duo for over ten years. Clicking unmute brings the sound on.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x22alud" target="_blank">https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x22alud</a> </span><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-70265943660245495462024-02-24T13:22:00.009+00:002024-02-25T10:39:23.587+00:00Newark Castle. Kelburn. Parklea. Ships. Shoreline Birds.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlDW2iI_4h8pluk5jAG4uc3fpDvP4fJE2B06-PZO7_GleMvelyXdagg-4lOdRunWPEk51RmTvdqcOhE_6Mo8CUGkWWSKOn8bXFGM_B0INH7J6d-dqD5eGwr1MsH8hiz5LuCSEwHFBj03UGAM2ipK1R4k1Fy3eavWM8doLL3FCVVs1kaJdPKi559Il35Y/s1551/A%20Rainbow.%20Port%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1551" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlDW2iI_4h8pluk5jAG4uc3fpDvP4fJE2B06-PZO7_GleMvelyXdagg-4lOdRunWPEk51RmTvdqcOhE_6Mo8CUGkWWSKOn8bXFGM_B0INH7J6d-dqD5eGwr1MsH8hiz5LuCSEwHFBj03UGAM2ipK1R4k1Fy3eavWM8doLL3FCVVs1kaJdPKi559Il35Y/s320/A%20Rainbow.%20Port%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A rainbow. For a change in the blueskyscotland universe it was a decidedly mixed day with heavy showers forecast. As neither Alan or myself fancied getting soaked up a hill we decided on a flat walk from Newark Castle (Fyfe Shore. A small car park just a half km up river from castle, yet still next to the water's edge) Although we've both been in Port Glasgow numerous times neither of us had walked from Port Glasgow up river towards Glasgow the full way. (heading for Langbank) It's a busy photograph.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtCqlLGlIKF4zVPjShOCw0Z9fjnHmCBuHFRaowXUT4WZWs505Qi7Nl-hBd0ylprLM5GS4HQp-TWOfOtpSAvYsADDkxHAz5R8E6lahe1tVTP0plXzUev0pYI09qCsD7WXBYuXmV9S9HHBwQ_Lroe_v6QvCQpoHNI-9gH95r9M_vOuopx2stVmvWjoJdeo/s1651/Port%20Glasgow%20View.%20Start%20of%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1651" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtCqlLGlIKF4zVPjShOCw0Z9fjnHmCBuHFRaowXUT4WZWs505Qi7Nl-hBd0ylprLM5GS4HQp-TWOfOtpSAvYsADDkxHAz5R8E6lahe1tVTP0plXzUev0pYI09qCsD7WXBYuXmV9S9HHBwQ_Lroe_v6QvCQpoHNI-9gH95r9M_vOuopx2stVmvWjoJdeo/s320/Port%20Glasgow%20View.%20Start%20of%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is taken from the car park with a view of Ferguson shipyard. What made this walk special was the unexpected river traffic heading up and down the River Clyde Estuary on that particular day and also the bird life. It was full high tide so all the birds that would normally be out feeding on the low tide exposed sandbanks were waiting it out in sheltered bays. It was also a very windy day which in mid winter also put us off a hill walk yet surprisingly sheltered and warm along this stretch of coastline. The sunshine coast of Inverclyde! Happily out the wind for most of it.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUGA22Q39czXa8FqgnruYkxtO700nlwFUf0xRN0LzJKMVSXYNVe2cl1Umw5JVAraOSUoaxf3rNsDnhsbVMggaRgLXdk2888f5Ifxux1xaAKJhLfhwJgnH4n5uvgM_qxaQiDovbBtUVrHgjCxI6ODJm8TkQqh8CrMCin8bdq5gBj5JmOxverFxoHC5Zx8/s1534/Arsland%20passing%20Port%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1534" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUGA22Q39czXa8FqgnruYkxtO700nlwFUf0xRN0LzJKMVSXYNVe2cl1Umw5JVAraOSUoaxf3rNsDnhsbVMggaRgLXdk2888f5Ifxux1xaAKJhLfhwJgnH4n5uvgM_qxaQiDovbBtUVrHgjCxI6ODJm8TkQqh8CrMCin8bdq5gBj5JmOxverFxoHC5Zx8/s320/Arsland%20passing%20Port%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Chemical/ oil tanker Arsland passing us on the walk.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Sg1zMUDG9QyEAg42UPr33PyYAfBgNsyFEymQ5k-fZHxOZvREbOf0dYbAuyHyXSpgxrUwUSMhkco8_7ExWENA0CA41vatT95Hi1BbiMxV3BU9IHztGLXgEcS2mY1L5kxtdOfOyOKcZkdnnNmh1XsjikP1hHsbPoQ6LeP4LAG_1StA-NrPKAMUYHn-ML0/s1449/River%20Clyde%20Walk.%20Port%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1449" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Sg1zMUDG9QyEAg42UPr33PyYAfBgNsyFEymQ5k-fZHxOZvREbOf0dYbAuyHyXSpgxrUwUSMhkco8_7ExWENA0CA41vatT95Hi1BbiMxV3BU9IHztGLXgEcS2mY1L5kxtdOfOyOKcZkdnnNmh1XsjikP1hHsbPoQ6LeP4LAG_1StA-NrPKAMUYHn-ML0/s320/River%20Clyde%20Walk.%20Port%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">At the start of the walk it's a straight flat romp along this boardwalk but once this section is completed it opens out into a series of small sheltered bays.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2o5XOO5tJR2mXEPJOjk_DcqdZD5VTEegnNHaAvib6sIgQJUvF0XY4F5LxOWbv2kgFJWvD_SNCr6sylBVKoTANYEH9mHkzgWbV8MkbB-sQBQNAP2CbOfwPVLl_MPdtQjagJyMc8g5O3r_1xj6ufrJLufu0Xroj51XTtauqtd7PIj0vgstlxub2bjBatns/s1611/On%20the%20Port%20Glasgow%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1611" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2o5XOO5tJR2mXEPJOjk_DcqdZD5VTEegnNHaAvib6sIgQJUvF0XY4F5LxOWbv2kgFJWvD_SNCr6sylBVKoTANYEH9mHkzgWbV8MkbB-sQBQNAP2CbOfwPVLl_MPdtQjagJyMc8g5O3r_1xj6ufrJLufu0Xroj51XTtauqtd7PIj0vgstlxub2bjBatns/s320/On%20the%20Port%20Glasgow%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Then a wider expanse of shoreline with playing fields and small woods.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wjXaAmz00nRZXC_6VQM_CoCgVy9tcZJ0CWWs-yJ3z6PQCkxySJYEyx_Kqyg61Y2bhowJDnmHRrODOdnL_PY0bVeQoU6rWRxYfKaKruhG0P7WmQfaflXXlIOr6wPZdrv2Ueo3oTe39MJTtUxMc5KUTGfQZVsk2-shlbGKyheBOp5mDQOA7Icroes8jUo/s1366/Assorted%20Ducks%20in%20Sheltered%20Bay.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1366" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wjXaAmz00nRZXC_6VQM_CoCgVy9tcZJ0CWWs-yJ3z6PQCkxySJYEyx_Kqyg61Y2bhowJDnmHRrODOdnL_PY0bVeQoU6rWRxYfKaKruhG0P7WmQfaflXXlIOr6wPZdrv2Ueo3oTe39MJTtUxMc5KUTGfQZVsk2-shlbGKyheBOp5mDQOA7Icroes8jUo/s320/Assorted%20Ducks%20in%20Sheltered%20Bay.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Thought at first these ducks were Pochard due to the brown head...</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIG8pWWUXEXKYNXkPsZ0k1kdNzu5poLJ3qvc4lVYqkbJnvOlsgB8Z9eZ5bY_xvne7nBWwMzf5nwWUu6_gX_fDvBWIa5bSe16n8XKT3JOVK6lpN30llBLgo6fzWK6MCiPEYx2y5EZrzHYOCcg8H-C9JbooQQ4vTm81rfo9BFB1McwyqrW5E56-ZxHxnGRc/s1743/Two%20Wigeon.%20Port%20Glasgow%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1743" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIG8pWWUXEXKYNXkPsZ0k1kdNzu5poLJ3qvc4lVYqkbJnvOlsgB8Z9eZ5bY_xvne7nBWwMzf5nwWUu6_gX_fDvBWIa5bSe16n8XKT3JOVK6lpN30llBLgo6fzWK6MCiPEYx2y5EZrzHYOCcg8H-C9JbooQQ4vTm81rfo9BFB1McwyqrW5E56-ZxHxnGRc/s320/Two%20Wigeon.%20Port%20Glasgow%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But consulting my bird book they turned out to be Wigeon, a duck I've only seen once before, same as Pochard.... in 50 years of coastal, pond, and river walks. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSrW98OfXHxsaHbdSDCPMEE2kbyyvEXoJw5Wcy6rhLsvUM9j4VNPGysRQhdQvyhQ27m-_leuRPSerThrXVry-4-W0KsdlOKI9OhmW2rdOln8sp3keI9gHyjvKNJlPFR9baeWpQr87f5eJEO6Cz232Dn8wsdvCsXETdR95xbJD8BWYMnmCdlvPwwDu-lM/s1712/Solo%20Male%20Wigeon.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1712" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSrW98OfXHxsaHbdSDCPMEE2kbyyvEXoJw5Wcy6rhLsvUM9j4VNPGysRQhdQvyhQ27m-_leuRPSerThrXVry-4-W0KsdlOKI9OhmW2rdOln8sp3keI9gHyjvKNJlPFR9baeWpQr87f5eJEO6Cz232Dn8wsdvCsXETdR95xbJD8BWYMnmCdlvPwwDu-lM/s320/Solo%20Male%20Wigeon.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The small white wing bar and the jaffa orange crest on the head being the giveaway.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5swKzbxykr7YUVf37HUei3HkSCN8f9poV2-wGP6MZF1MxNLvnxC7e2_wf9OLsuNbomW5vQIrO0R1d-VlAMBfYRuGXAifN0TGNEg3EKC1NjAcxqetBXe2Lb_aDTLO10Qvj6Z4dXDNlGsTr65hOs59KzF_-Uh4YZ2W8XdiX0anrrbYJPgwjHay3VSL_oI4/s1346/Out%20of%20focus%20flock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1346" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5swKzbxykr7YUVf37HUei3HkSCN8f9poV2-wGP6MZF1MxNLvnxC7e2_wf9OLsuNbomW5vQIrO0R1d-VlAMBfYRuGXAifN0TGNEg3EKC1NjAcxqetBXe2Lb_aDTLO10Qvj6Z4dXDNlGsTr65hOs59KzF_-Uh4YZ2W8XdiX0anrrbYJPgwjHay3VSL_oI4/s320/Out%20of%20focus%20flock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Further up we spotted what I thought was a large flock of sandpipers but it was hard to get a photo of them as tree branches in front were what the lens always focused on.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3G-byGYKj5GFv8ZBY9NXEYkuuHglDvA3cXCyxAi-hVpd-PODLfZ5mhvgSUMvzUVhywcuFIUIe4pCPl5cNa70Hv4u8DiCFFouTLIYEIa3_8Bfk-LZiWIMQttskzSB8-nBQhSc5jHSqHb56E8Jd_YDmpliwJqQNstTeChyphenhyphen9uYOzFTNKUC5dcFR_j-mBYoA/s1550/Redshanks.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1550" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3G-byGYKj5GFv8ZBY9NXEYkuuHglDvA3cXCyxAi-hVpd-PODLfZ5mhvgSUMvzUVhywcuFIUIe4pCPl5cNa70Hv4u8DiCFFouTLIYEIa3_8Bfk-LZiWIMQttskzSB8-nBQhSc5jHSqHb56E8Jd_YDmpliwJqQNstTeChyphenhyphen9uYOzFTNKUC5dcFR_j-mBYoA/s320/Redshanks.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Turned out to be Redshanks, (I think,) a bird I've seen feeding on the sand and mud flats but always on its own, never in flocks. As I don't go to nature reserves normally and I'm not a dedicated bird watcher, only photographing them on walks, this was a good day's haul of bird life for me. You would think in 50 years of being highly attuned to capture any wildlife encountered though and the number of coastal walks I've done during that time I would have seen a wider/ better range of species.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74axF0yYAOVZfa6gqCBfv57T9q2ZoeAs6Lpxx1d7O-XFx8r8e_mGR-39Tk_LeaIkXxmVBPNHzLhbF0ePRf-A6xxHo13HNHv-WocqrQefDSA_mvIGkW0Pw6vPBzew4Pm1txU2eLlZ8kT1TTxZhEfHgtuC-IHmk_0XwNKkR8XFvQWcliANoMePLVOKn6mE/s1428/Teal.%20Duck.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1428" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74axF0yYAOVZfa6gqCBfv57T9q2ZoeAs6Lpxx1d7O-XFx8r8e_mGR-39Tk_LeaIkXxmVBPNHzLhbF0ePRf-A6xxHo13HNHv-WocqrQefDSA_mvIGkW0Pw6vPBzew4Pm1txU2eLlZ8kT1TTxZhEfHgtuC-IHmk_0XwNKkR8XFvQWcliANoMePLVOKn6mE/s320/Teal.%20Duck.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For instance.....Teal... above. Only spotted twice. Once near Ayr and once in the River Carron marshlands.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF409Dk1Vm8otODDfi9khDRNoTkPXKr3i5k56aRkfa-kFYr6tzPvI6_Y04LEIMHdKt6oBGbpjRkkuTt-mpFcZfmP3HaVEKh5VUNtzSiDeQXI0QT-qDzVIjmJUs8BRzfOQqXhlrySQ_L5BlTTXxu0kZO1PojxAI8Fe_te7Z-AER4s1N9guZFlzt_WOhQiU/s1525/Bullfinch.%20Fife%20Coastal%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1525" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF409Dk1Vm8otODDfi9khDRNoTkPXKr3i5k56aRkfa-kFYr6tzPvI6_Y04LEIMHdKt6oBGbpjRkkuTt-mpFcZfmP3HaVEKh5VUNtzSiDeQXI0QT-qDzVIjmJUs8BRzfOQqXhlrySQ_L5BlTTXxu0kZO1PojxAI8Fe_te7Z-AER4s1N9guZFlzt_WOhQiU/s320/Bullfinch.%20Fife%20Coastal%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Bullfinch. Spotted only once... that I can remember....in Fife.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zznDDgHvT-RUP1NMIEENoW08TO9BwnoObyHIjeHcSrA2iyvB_ua4RHh5dkJcqMWrG6uCWbpnZ6AAJ0rUncpd4mdiDaoe02E_aR9RlUK5liyFxRaqjZAjxY0N-3SMDwZl8KgGmA-a-mrVKq7UvoT4xM69lYerPskVVpacAejl-JeUQgxQuKo684rE0EU/s1499/Grey%20Partridge.%20Fife.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1499" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zznDDgHvT-RUP1NMIEENoW08TO9BwnoObyHIjeHcSrA2iyvB_ua4RHh5dkJcqMWrG6uCWbpnZ6AAJ0rUncpd4mdiDaoe02E_aR9RlUK5liyFxRaqjZAjxY0N-3SMDwZl8KgGmA-a-mrVKq7UvoT4xM69lYerPskVVpacAejl-JeUQgxQuKo684rE0EU/s320/Grey%20Partridge.%20Fife.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Grey Partridge... only once... same Fife day.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahvh-0lg3IE3l8unY2H8Wjs7VTYUaPen4tAidfsNB4QNL-AlCVH6F0cpYl00I4hBJhh1EiIZu021dFFtGDvY1lxh4qOJAi-4i-P_tnQW3niRpTW6ualmQTkJJbvAu0n1LR58r1Dj_MuzZ3n4Vz2R89YvA2QHGx7h6oDHPbMqEgWJPEqI6ZbN_1BJfeYc/s1496/Goldeneye.%20Diving%20Duck.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1496" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahvh-0lg3IE3l8unY2H8Wjs7VTYUaPen4tAidfsNB4QNL-AlCVH6F0cpYl00I4hBJhh1EiIZu021dFFtGDvY1lxh4qOJAi-4i-P_tnQW3niRpTW6ualmQTkJJbvAu0n1LR58r1Dj_MuzZ3n4Vz2R89YvA2QHGx7h6oDHPbMqEgWJPEqI6ZbN_1BJfeYc/s320/Goldeneye.%20Diving%20Duck.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Golden eye. Again only once. I know many UK birds have been in sharp decline for decades but at this rate of spotting that puts them in the same extremely rare bird category as Little Egrets. I'm excluding Green Parakeets here as I've seen and photographed them on four occasions now. Yet all the preceding species mentioned are supposed to be fairly common in the UK. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOCbUXwOEmA4FVZ_4hV1r6DrgjMHKkBwFPa3cFDQqJRSRhC2hbImr18SYB7fHDTEJ_tnQLrWGZs5u4rjEDlL2L-2Y2tmmDxDIK0uH8nVOmb7seUCxls5ike92MXN6TSeIlQic4645nkq5UqSc3fMPspH-KrYH7pVkygzDz8J5-H8d5WEKsNNyJy1CBgY/s1656/Oystercatchers%20and%20Jackdaws.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1656" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOCbUXwOEmA4FVZ_4hV1r6DrgjMHKkBwFPa3cFDQqJRSRhC2hbImr18SYB7fHDTEJ_tnQLrWGZs5u4rjEDlL2L-2Y2tmmDxDIK0uH8nVOmb7seUCxls5ike92MXN6TSeIlQic4645nkq5UqSc3fMPspH-KrYH7pVkygzDz8J5-H8d5WEKsNNyJy1CBgY/s320/Oystercatchers%20and%20Jackdaws.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Two birds I do see a lot of near the coast are Oystercatchers and jackdaws... and again on this walk.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggd5VRteaSMGE3ax7b07MROe4KaJLjywgnmVfNIJw87N8szLZKGNs6zp7zxxfJlwJUTZld71TPuCD3VEHrteW4V80JC-3hQXx33PfZDOU2Pe7Xo53w5PN7AceV2HShH9RtcImqJ0j_RGd9m9yGds9_48StohviGHNUzvtE_VrzhHjVDjYfByJ_VYqi5Oo/s1446/Timber%20Ponds%20and%20Dumbarton%20Rock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1446" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggd5VRteaSMGE3ax7b07MROe4KaJLjywgnmVfNIJw87N8szLZKGNs6zp7zxxfJlwJUTZld71TPuCD3VEHrteW4V80JC-3hQXx33PfZDOU2Pe7Xo53w5PN7AceV2HShH9RtcImqJ0j_RGd9m9yGds9_48StohviGHNUzvtE_VrzhHjVDjYfByJ_VYqi5Oo/s320/Timber%20Ponds%20and%20Dumbarton%20Rock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Timber ponds and Dumbarton Rock. In the days before steel hulled ships timber was stored here to season in salt water before it could be used in the various River Clyde shipyards, the skeletal remains of which can be seen to this day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2saRYExwSJIimtoucts5k2TaPJaeehVvCWDcO7mM5tJPIVIhlSQT_tsnvJ9SFxLAL6VMSUSQRj7TAPbxFVHmGjgQZrQksZrg9Mlkzyum_BfTL8hF6NodsZIUrySwsYMvhH-I8DAmkvHoRw1DJL2wttkhbwSB-H454_7rf_-rRuzGxnkVaXOhRAdBonqA/s1480/Green%20Sward.%20Port%20Glasgow%20Walk%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1480" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2saRYExwSJIimtoucts5k2TaPJaeehVvCWDcO7mM5tJPIVIhlSQT_tsnvJ9SFxLAL6VMSUSQRj7TAPbxFVHmGjgQZrQksZrg9Mlkzyum_BfTL8hF6NodsZIUrySwsYMvhH-I8DAmkvHoRw1DJL2wttkhbwSB-H454_7rf_-rRuzGxnkVaXOhRAdBonqA/s320/Green%20Sward.%20Port%20Glasgow%20Walk%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The broad green sward at Parklea....</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrDPw8ei2kshKLaQtKmqED9lWZFC2mMPSI2SpWkXRwtGXhupoRLGnH2DAeRu3foCVAIlGpy0b6WnGOAYLg_ySXvbK-bU9xspmJi6okGxTIrqTklxGxdMJIkJF_m1bBAQvlnEAF1JCqMKVdHWPcrW7bhHefklTSrxklCulinID91xicsfx-7lbsKSEbCI/s1423/Shoreline%20Walk.%20Port%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1423" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrDPw8ei2kshKLaQtKmqED9lWZFC2mMPSI2SpWkXRwtGXhupoRLGnH2DAeRu3foCVAIlGpy0b6WnGOAYLg_ySXvbK-bU9xspmJi6okGxTIrqTklxGxdMJIkJF_m1bBAQvlnEAF1JCqMKVdHWPcrW7bhHefklTSrxklCulinID91xicsfx-7lbsKSEbCI/s320/Shoreline%20Walk.%20Port%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> ...and looking back at our shoreline walk.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr4F8h4-NfP0vxdAL-4YxfU1A8s9xVpYW9QK3GixiVQQPzDtC9d3sCX_WA56GJbzcLU8w5i6unZBTLWTawq9pVzto9AapkKR3peDdnvmjuers7WGggrzz3C8bBj9H0mdc91QdwnCI98tukN8fe62d9qoK-TJHUEEG8DJAA0PcAYhiaOJXDkCvOO5zESQ/s1493/Serco%20Passing%20Westcliff%20in%20Dumbarton.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1493" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr4F8h4-NfP0vxdAL-4YxfU1A8s9xVpYW9QK3GixiVQQPzDtC9d3sCX_WA56GJbzcLU8w5i6unZBTLWTawq9pVzto9AapkKR3peDdnvmjuers7WGggrzz3C8bBj9H0mdc91QdwnCI98tukN8fe62d9qoK-TJHUEEG8DJAA0PcAYhiaOJXDkCvOO5zESQ/s320/Serco%20Passing%20Westcliff%20in%20Dumbarton.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The Serco passing Westcliff in Dumbarton.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HFJFEC4imWDLp_48ENQOJz5A3z7sIgrlxoT7OTiTVeyq6kLDbGSUulLb-GP-9z-_cbOnfTn7ei_YS5EbBqlP8em0nctgIlX0yAsen49-IsJXX_Q2vKvk9pd9Pn1KoV2XxwY5efsuEu5PyGiisOTnoaE9dg0rQa6JMJsrGTN_csqD1BGeEL9b3GQQML4/s1371/Rainbow%20Close%20Up.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1371" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HFJFEC4imWDLp_48ENQOJz5A3z7sIgrlxoT7OTiTVeyq6kLDbGSUulLb-GP-9z-_cbOnfTn7ei_YS5EbBqlP8em0nctgIlX0yAsen49-IsJXX_Q2vKvk9pd9Pn1KoV2XxwY5efsuEu5PyGiisOTnoaE9dg0rQa6JMJsrGTN_csqD1BGeEL9b3GQQML4/s320/Rainbow%20Close%20Up.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A rainbow up close. Although we observed various rain showers over the hills and mountains at times we stayed dry all day so a good result.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ROze-IaDoxpBgmX4qLkhxvbekzAMYBUdw-JwWub13aWXpHDwS_qZoEd0lRgmDBJCtNbn8fGNOLsUoMTB_ITw7Niq_fs2G2l7dadqkfuzL_nGVKV80CgiG3OiS3WEDRRszqz4vUqaZwTI-N0aVUXZEMz2O9Li9ZMYqUre6v-stFsErBzTz8AsBAnOY_M/s1510/Tug%20with%20Large%20Ship.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1510" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ROze-IaDoxpBgmX4qLkhxvbekzAMYBUdw-JwWub13aWXpHDwS_qZoEd0lRgmDBJCtNbn8fGNOLsUoMTB_ITw7Niq_fs2G2l7dadqkfuzL_nGVKV80CgiG3OiS3WEDRRszqz4vUqaZwTI-N0aVUXZEMz2O9Li9ZMYqUre6v-stFsErBzTz8AsBAnOY_M/s320/Tug%20with%20Large%20Ship.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">A tug escorting a large ship up river.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IOI0mK8aWin-s0pPIYlqilpLXpKk1pDbO6gFY9TZgPDRYUEbA2KGOU3NtaP-57Y3GguLifeEeP-aFpztTvXSYw3OGqFBogfY3zzbPBtEBpDNKRCa-Jcojr7TJY2WxAZPKO9xsq2hbfI-_YK_JHQKUFdatcgWe1iZgo-PP5m0E3ZIs83kGnAkfgFa9X4/s1645/CalMac%20Ferry.%20Port%20Glasgow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1645" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IOI0mK8aWin-s0pPIYlqilpLXpKk1pDbO6gFY9TZgPDRYUEbA2KGOU3NtaP-57Y3GguLifeEeP-aFpztTvXSYw3OGqFBogfY3zzbPBtEBpDNKRCa-Jcojr7TJY2WxAZPKO9xsq2hbfI-_YK_JHQKUFdatcgWe1iZgo-PP5m0E3ZIs83kGnAkfgFa9X4/s320/CalMac%20Ferry.%20Port%20Glasgow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">On the same route back we stopped off at Port Glasgow's Coronation Park where an impressive modern sculpture sits. A tribute to the shipyard workers of the past... and present.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5pZnV0tcP8j4hk8YUq3kdWIjJG5pLc4BMdMCeQQGDXCK8VjODKiQTSyQrFLbo39ToyRqksNXxSgr_wuZiLisAi75XqX4I9lwSXFgLdIN75Rdn9WJhzqOURl3NOhJJ4wBcObEybKzJTDwfz60ggg6Bh0lZegNLm_xrzb653KjpienhZUgDP1XgrccY6A/s1213/Shipyard%20Workers.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1213" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5pZnV0tcP8j4hk8YUq3kdWIjJG5pLc4BMdMCeQQGDXCK8VjODKiQTSyQrFLbo39ToyRqksNXxSgr_wuZiLisAi75XqX4I9lwSXFgLdIN75Rdn9WJhzqOURl3NOhJJ4wBcObEybKzJTDwfz60ggg6Bh0lZegNLm_xrzb653KjpienhZUgDP1XgrccY6A/s320/Shipyard%20Workers.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Hammers away. If it doesn't fit always use a big heavy hammer on it. Or even better two hammers. That's my advice.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaPelStDsJNwTRuumGxymOliMBrG1oOGJI_9Tqh5NLMyHZblveWupdkyvdJnJ_bnn_IRllC3SQ7u8UOuvYkIMANrRqQ68lMAfX3Vv0wpsLIg8CL8-G7DWgxqUD9HLEybaebayubxeaYqenuAOUNG4KkZQfz3pBjWyjugDpmDJmSO9LA-jftI-VcgzFP4/s1467/Steel%20Men.%20Port%20Glasgow%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1467" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaPelStDsJNwTRuumGxymOliMBrG1oOGJI_9Tqh5NLMyHZblveWupdkyvdJnJ_bnn_IRllC3SQ7u8UOuvYkIMANrRqQ68lMAfX3Vv0wpsLIg8CL8-G7DWgxqUD9HLEybaebayubxeaYqenuAOUNG4KkZQfz3pBjWyjugDpmDJmSO9LA-jftI-VcgzFP4/s320/Steel%20Men.%20Port%20Glasgow%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">With the clouds scudding past at speed due to the wind strength you had the disconcerting illusion, standing directly under this giant, that it was the sculpture that was moving slightly and just about ready to swing it down on you. A very good sculpture for Port Glasgow and a highlight of a modest heritage trail in the town. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6DpmNTkg8Sas4lCarku5rkkKfphsFtqe-EHjXc5ca6UVkBD3eKn8VqIr36Z7Lu2S2fD1HwX4SsKRNFSc-SolsCitBd6pPFyssh0Q_dGg1OZi3zjlnW4sXI-Fby4uflZCJi8ttcddm6iASBBeTOkhyzRPqArf7ev-7lGwDxX9sALnSQx9qpJsIeiDhYE/s1505/Dumbarton%20Rock%20and%20Castle.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1505" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6DpmNTkg8Sas4lCarku5rkkKfphsFtqe-EHjXc5ca6UVkBD3eKn8VqIr36Z7Lu2S2fD1HwX4SsKRNFSc-SolsCitBd6pPFyssh0Q_dGg1OZi3zjlnW4sXI-Fby4uflZCJi8ttcddm6iASBBeTOkhyzRPqArf7ev-7lGwDxX9sALnSQx9qpJsIeiDhYE/s320/Dumbarton%20Rock%20and%20Castle.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On this walk you also get good views of Dumbarton Rock and Castle. And you can visit the nearby Newark Castle. A pleasant jaunt of a few hours duration.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Even though I'm not posting videos anymore... now and again a song I've not heard totally captivates me. This is one. A real classic yet I've never heard it before. This should be as well known as any Beatles song to my mind yet I've never heard it on the radio. I would have remembered it. Although it's easier to get songs on the internet many catchy but fringe modern tunes never get the same airplay on radio or TV, still dominated by previous decade classics, especially the 1960s to the 1990s, probably because they still had a proper music industry then with teams dedicated to promoting all the established acts. This is a real slow grower. Sweeping... epic... sad... but beautiful. and I've already heard Eleanor Rigby dozens of times in every decade. I live for good <i>new</i> songs I haven't heard before. Miley Cyrus also does a great version of it as well but this is the original....as far as I'm aware.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2m2et4" target="_blank">https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2m2et4</a> <br /> </span><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-88533595778931677072024-02-18T15:52:00.003+00:002024-02-19T01:19:13.071+00:00Whitelee Windfarm and Ballageich Hill. 333 metres. 1092 feet.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXTUAjni6OlOTxtU5HUvNiv6-RShYepkfsWQvA36QEnuO0EkGCVKHmMmgo6WO-4K22MLwdhogCF7k-Jzgoeejwhndw8_UpWXpGn-cmHg4kaPXz0hOgFuEU5_-0Punxw-wxvAChQmivTD2V4RYOeaziPGsCFx2mojiA-AmcxbFM76knSIF2psxnq-zQQI/s1276/Info%20Board.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1276" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXTUAjni6OlOTxtU5HUvNiv6-RShYepkfsWQvA36QEnuO0EkGCVKHmMmgo6WO-4K22MLwdhogCF7k-Jzgoeejwhndw8_UpWXpGn-cmHg4kaPXz0hOgFuEU5_-0Punxw-wxvAChQmivTD2V4RYOeaziPGsCFx2mojiA-AmcxbFM76knSIF2psxnq-zQQI/s320/Info%20Board.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A trip completed about a month ago to visit Whitelee Wind Farm, The UK's largest onshore turbine location so worth a day out. A new destination for Alan as he was curious about it. A second visit for me, decades apart. Anyone who reads this blog already knows I love Renfrewshire and Inverclyde with a passion- as the area of land between Newton Mearns- Stewarton- Dalry- Johnstone and Paisley is completely unique in my mind. A wonderful world of blue reservoirs and small dams, green rolling farmlands and loads of small hills and ridges. A patchwork quilt of complexity... and variety. As seen below.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAoDF61HRJ4qHnS0k99pVOHibpB6ZTXVpcK9aOrQoB95ZBCQ7j7XwqJx77eGTlxn5rFX47c1__SYRXXQlFAhjfgxjDJXcb2-fB76CG0DRtRI8K9OJ9_1jTdxvS5e0R1L3dO59vX6RROt_27_aUXuJOEaIY0UqDKfb1MyHYklUOJZqHJ-O_eZaklDmOd4/s1341/Arcadia%20Starts%20Here.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1341" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAoDF61HRJ4qHnS0k99pVOHibpB6ZTXVpcK9aOrQoB95ZBCQ7j7XwqJx77eGTlxn5rFX47c1__SYRXXQlFAhjfgxjDJXcb2-fB76CG0DRtRI8K9OJ9_1jTdxvS5e0R1L3dO59vX6RROt_27_aUXuJOEaIY0UqDKfb1MyHYklUOJZqHJ-O_eZaklDmOd4/s320/Arcadia%20Starts%20Here.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> ....and here again, below. One of the many rolling ridges in this area reached by quiet minor roads under slightly different grey light conditions. Edging into Inverclyde but still beautiful undulating landscapes. Happily, very few parking places for visitors. A place to explore via public transport. Train ,bus, bike... or on foot. Good dairy farming country. To built a large wind-farm site here would be complete madness. You would think.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mJPxGqtqYA3lLMusYP-QxN-vM7cLAejjxZJMxqZzqPZh7rBY9GCWC0fcUUXZ3uZlynO6NrA-rKg-dlZMDCEJlEXJq6dXEbpO9JrJrpmN33NGxrP9HYzpQQgSfi821eRorBNkC354tGXlxllJKMhNjDLLbL772WcQRqcPA4CySeLHTZPPPuY45SmnpFI/s1194/Gryfe%20Water%20Escarpment%20From%20Cycle%20Track.%20Cows%20In%20Renfrewshire.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1194" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mJPxGqtqYA3lLMusYP-QxN-vM7cLAejjxZJMxqZzqPZh7rBY9GCWC0fcUUXZ3uZlynO6NrA-rKg-dlZMDCEJlEXJq6dXEbpO9JrJrpmN33NGxrP9HYzpQQgSfi821eRorBNkC354tGXlxllJKMhNjDLLbL772WcQRqcPA4CySeLHTZPPPuY45SmnpFI/s320/Gryfe%20Water%20Escarpment%20From%20Cycle%20Track.%20Cows%20In%20Renfrewshire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Fortunately, Whitelee is situated in East Renfrewshire... which is a different beast altogether as the lands above Eaglesham are flat, higher and much bleaker in character. A wasteland of open moor.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4q-gxBSE15kalCw6p8idal_xJmCxNZIUWJdlHNtZTqHAR3sKPNtsv0QIOFFhIOF8oiWo70GIIReT082jKnMDP2g4ZUzALoIoHuWndGPgnbuQTxzYb4qn_BgGC-wh8rL1bBNGBdTxMRLhKffMJ_Ci3eik5duvV_N4RgzHMd9yXOuScjYHwHGdLDY3pYk/s1482/Middle%20of%20Whitelees%20Windfarm.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1482" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4q-gxBSE15kalCw6p8idal_xJmCxNZIUWJdlHNtZTqHAR3sKPNtsv0QIOFFhIOF8oiWo70GIIReT082jKnMDP2g4ZUzALoIoHuWndGPgnbuQTxzYb4qn_BgGC-wh8rL1bBNGBdTxMRLhKffMJ_Ci3eik5duvV_N4RgzHMd9yXOuScjYHwHGdLDY3pYk/s320/Middle%20of%20Whitelees%20Windfarm.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> I'm not a particular fan of wind turbines in general but if you had to install 215 large turbines in one location without spoiling the surroundings too much then this is the perfect spot to achieve that.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUJrTZmV07Si2wlIqh122mnjV_zpIwsBwN4whQgADveIdqQ9SVAAldCohnEc_1q92_purKdZ1tn3o_0Mb-CTMHaWkfCSj8pKgGucckWtBUFxfsgjXk6Yjq8gE4wIirbal4t9v2QPF3r2ytddalrErslC08zMTqoqImluDNYW0BK7mz4RoDiqRtkez-N8/s1758/Whitelees.%20Scotland's%20Largest%20Onshore%20Windfarm.%20Nearly%2050%20in%20this%20photo%20alone.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1758" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUJrTZmV07Si2wlIqh122mnjV_zpIwsBwN4whQgADveIdqQ9SVAAldCohnEc_1q92_purKdZ1tn3o_0Mb-CTMHaWkfCSj8pKgGucckWtBUFxfsgjXk6Yjq8gE4wIirbal4t9v2QPF3r2ytddalrErslC08zMTqoqImluDNYW0BK7mz4RoDiqRtkez-N8/s320/Whitelees.%20Scotland's%20Largest%20Onshore%20Windfarm.%20Nearly%2050%20in%20this%20photo%20alone.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> In the warmer months they run buses around the wind-farm park and it is popular with mountain bikers, dog-walkers, wind-farm baggers etc with endless miles of fairly flat trails to negotiate but we, Alan and myself, contented ourselves with following just a couple of paths up to the turbines before calling it a day. To be honest once you have seen one of these monsters up close the thrill tends to dissipate somewhat if bagging the other 212 so we headed across the road to go up Ballageich Hill instead as I remembered it had good views over Glasgow.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0crgUxnQJvSkN0J3R-YfLbbeOFT5yq0Q6L-9Sfeupy4xo5jzaoFkCtLKRKwu7BP39LhZeuHXh3WOBPxjvkCcH5PNBEKjuUoKdqPnUPyaRGs8Lo4eRjIPAyMCBcnPCpj1IOYZDT_uSnR8qqJ_qYTgXy5FO7Jf7Eg1IyB38Gr6r0xDMXF9WQIGF6v_24s/s1444/The%20Eaglesham%20Moor%20Road,.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1444" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0crgUxnQJvSkN0J3R-YfLbbeOFT5yq0Q6L-9Sfeupy4xo5jzaoFkCtLKRKwu7BP39LhZeuHXh3WOBPxjvkCcH5PNBEKjuUoKdqPnUPyaRGs8Lo4eRjIPAyMCBcnPCpj1IOYZDT_uSnR8qqJ_qYTgXy5FO7Jf7Eg1IyB38Gr6r0xDMXF9WQIGF6v_24s/s320/The%20Eaglesham%20Moor%20Road,.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The Eaglesham moor road gives you an idea of the landscape of East Renfrewshire. We had to walk down here to get to our hill. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFP1fBxWPlXfWtKvCadvnbNixhrMoMWXELM_k91KqlzOtgV5rsTtkNYhIzNkqNpj6dkEEN_rCJvemVtR_dNko3XQJedjfAUGKQzblS19tHv2V1GLmSVAOPU0gh2nB9joy0qgOIwFVgEQO97snsUGHA5Bw5VIElBj7TcgsLJEDrLcopToqGWPl920hTHc/s1607/Bennan%20Loch%20from%20the%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1607" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFP1fBxWPlXfWtKvCadvnbNixhrMoMWXELM_k91KqlzOtgV5rsTtkNYhIzNkqNpj6dkEEN_rCJvemVtR_dNko3XQJedjfAUGKQzblS19tHv2V1GLmSVAOPU0gh2nB9joy0qgOIwFVgEQO97snsUGHA5Bw5VIElBj7TcgsLJEDrLcopToqGWPl920hTHc/s320/Bennan%20Loch%20from%20the%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> As soon as we were on top of it we felt immediately better, looking out over Renfrewshire again. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Bennan Loch here, above. Although snow was absent it was bitterly cold with night frosts down to minus 8 to 10 below for over a week.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAc7lrH7OyyPAK9ggwZIVAacFxriZouTZPeye2_rSILzxn3D3XMIg-d68x3uqO4AbTLgRBu4xoe6MH4fh3m4lcO_kaFfxDI3DFJLpxmkyPckAY8FolIY4ATUJHIsGjIMZu3gqQhn2BfpbUHricW2Bfwa32e-KTokAagbfwwQgE8jayvPDkWq5_zDhrDl0/s1368/Ice%20Crystals%20in%20Mossy%20Ground.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1368" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAc7lrH7OyyPAK9ggwZIVAacFxriZouTZPeye2_rSILzxn3D3XMIg-d68x3uqO4AbTLgRBu4xoe6MH4fh3m4lcO_kaFfxDI3DFJLpxmkyPckAY8FolIY4ATUJHIsGjIMZu3gqQhn2BfpbUHricW2Bfwa32e-KTokAagbfwwQgE8jayvPDkWq5_zDhrDl0/s320/Ice%20Crystals%20in%20Mossy%20Ground.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The mossy ground was frozen solid sporting a thick blanket of ice...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBzxFRugwHzXTTvBBLiOSV2HnG9eYDIg69JSBzZ7qe4JEKgx-iRyeB3n3evg56RREUX9RVDN17xW9v4ZfRGr44CKWGTexO7lOIXcYblAoOwO7ikwv2T9xzZETg8RZKJHd0mhxOzIlJfNN6_67gCIz4GKklArcusFrGknRjDH33xBDMs6W39KFs9gZB58/s1354/Frozen%20Loch%20at%20Minus%208.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1354" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBzxFRugwHzXTTvBBLiOSV2HnG9eYDIg69JSBzZ7qe4JEKgx-iRyeB3n3evg56RREUX9RVDN17xW9v4ZfRGr44CKWGTexO7lOIXcYblAoOwO7ikwv2T9xzZETg8RZKJHd0mhxOzIlJfNN6_67gCIz4GKklArcusFrGknRjDH33xBDMs6W39KFs9gZB58/s320/Frozen%20Loch%20at%20Minus%208.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">...and any dams up here, at almost 1000 foot of elevation and completely open and exposed, had an almost walk across cover of ice. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZUVO5tK6x4UfiI1VppPkqhqZ0J0Gcxz4qMm0KiDmidSooCM-2OhgK725RuX3dpmgdpjHhtLcxix5hw7mu4VPyog9mFBsRhUsaHbfMKxTXDDQsjyah1eKwuhOb_u3q9Kp9x_PHRyN6vennXeLdwaBvgSImcVm_yDWifVhtanXzxApNO-kNi9BCDspf04/s1692/The%20City%20of%20Glasgow%20From%20Whitelees%20Wind%20Farm.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1692" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZUVO5tK6x4UfiI1VppPkqhqZ0J0Gcxz4qMm0KiDmidSooCM-2OhgK725RuX3dpmgdpjHhtLcxix5hw7mu4VPyog9mFBsRhUsaHbfMKxTXDDQsjyah1eKwuhOb_u3q9Kp9x_PHRyN6vennXeLdwaBvgSImcVm_yDWifVhtanXzxApNO-kNi9BCDspf04/s320/The%20City%20of%20Glasgow%20From%20Whitelees%20Wind%20Farm.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The cold clear air did produce pin sharp clarity of vision though for obtaining good views of Glasgow from our hilltop vantage point.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis11McDHE4_TTOhI0Q4nVMn72FiJ8RvX5ci9e0fqXxwUX9-Dr2zWXPzUHt3qfk219sDXRVV6d9r3TDJsbjWfEJcgjzW6p6uwPB8QJZVVtR5baPlw0zs3Tv5CvVuc7d7X2Tqz23q3apUNaEmCcOUJAdJm1YrhiT8RSoxmfJT_PRj4McIS4kWQtYIaD-5ak/s2286/Glasgow%20City%20Centre%20From%20The%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="2286" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis11McDHE4_TTOhI0Q4nVMn72FiJ8RvX5ci9e0fqXxwUX9-Dr2zWXPzUHt3qfk219sDXRVV6d9r3TDJsbjWfEJcgjzW6p6uwPB8QJZVVtR5baPlw0zs3Tv5CvVuc7d7X2Tqz23q3apUNaEmCcOUJAdJm1YrhiT8RSoxmfJT_PRj4McIS4kWQtYIaD-5ak/s320/Glasgow%20City%20Centre%20From%20The%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> A view of the Hydro, extreme left, Shawlands hi rise, (4 white blocks above cottage) and Glasgow city centre... on the middle right.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48aNuv9zA-mGehT1rUmbRkxg5MKGW-iAhG3okbEjS9I3sTROxUHjbJ-D5JdmWs7tFgEYPtp3QMejHe5loNbeF6bWtd6Fwer5DBkcWOgRDWwTuVMjJDEsQ90aQObZtakuvl6KA4kFLC38S4SQKl2A6ZqwZOfVJ3DRF_hV9wsxlbm06HgX43BdITNEuNFs/s1584/Ben%20Lomond%20from%20Ballageich%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1584" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48aNuv9zA-mGehT1rUmbRkxg5MKGW-iAhG3okbEjS9I3sTROxUHjbJ-D5JdmWs7tFgEYPtp3QMejHe5loNbeF6bWtd6Fwer5DBkcWOgRDWwTuVMjJDEsQ90aQObZtakuvl6KA4kFLC38S4SQKl2A6ZqwZOfVJ3DRF_hV9wsxlbm06HgX43BdITNEuNFs/s320/Ben%20Lomond%20from%20Ballageich%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Looking across at Ben Lomond with its cap of snow.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-ntLNO05ex8xuQWaN9pFUVnlFMIhF6SDSdR9y_Ta9BY7It7UHmLevGeNatK15PMugLAMKPMG2hRNG_n9-FTBv3i6iIFJT5ltR-aywbC1v8hUHsfnfOggkgKjZO1sa8w1CNYwGheK-f6z4Yev39Yhvyz-tnmrDDKBYr5-h8FjUIwMcuhdRSvKfMfX3-c/s1609/The%20Edge%20of%20Whitelees%20Windfarm.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1609" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-ntLNO05ex8xuQWaN9pFUVnlFMIhF6SDSdR9y_Ta9BY7It7UHmLevGeNatK15PMugLAMKPMG2hRNG_n9-FTBv3i6iIFJT5ltR-aywbC1v8hUHsfnfOggkgKjZO1sa8w1CNYwGheK-f6z4Yev39Yhvyz-tnmrDDKBYr5-h8FjUIwMcuhdRSvKfMfX3-c/s320/The%20Edge%20of%20Whitelees%20Windfarm.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A remote farm on the edge of Whitelee.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAk-pqW-Xv050vYMIlauxb10YCthMLzZEI89IGrkpXhuyBH6t8JQ2qgYgqE2iwOfdbgsyPIWc3Vw4uVVfbM8jPs4nDuYoA7noMt1ZwA-31_ZZ1uQ19jLw-vXrnDNGEKWZDkzhuE-2Vzjv9bqnJBRg87TvvXfZjFvxqaGVDYCMp_3_XKjSn0J0fkTueqUQ/s1690/Neilston%20Pad%20from%20Ballageich%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1690" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAk-pqW-Xv050vYMIlauxb10YCthMLzZEI89IGrkpXhuyBH6t8JQ2qgYgqE2iwOfdbgsyPIWc3Vw4uVVfbM8jPs4nDuYoA7noMt1ZwA-31_ZZ1uQ19jLw-vXrnDNGEKWZDkzhuE-2Vzjv9bqnJBRg87TvvXfZjFvxqaGVDYCMp_3_XKjSn0J0fkTueqUQ/s320/Neilston%20Pad%20from%20Ballageich%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Neilston Pad from Ballageich summit.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1vCHvf5MMIIq3AVPlII9IX4zWRBlIagEJMxwyLqSyisHEzBsmD5f-mAfqZ0T0L6H2dmJyAEVwRdF-cr1gxPro6K6CpV7KP2OLNhbztgYcsMmKkSh2PjmIZPbAaqhc9h5JaD1eGgZya-7-0cLA9YUq6eM7PHZWhyphenhyphenPBhd30Eu-1u8xhkFz689fhZDuePI/s2364/West%20Glasgow%20View.%20Moss%20Heights.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="2364" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1vCHvf5MMIIq3AVPlII9IX4zWRBlIagEJMxwyLqSyisHEzBsmD5f-mAfqZ0T0L6H2dmJyAEVwRdF-cr1gxPro6K6CpV7KP2OLNhbztgYcsMmKkSh2PjmIZPbAaqhc9h5JaD1eGgZya-7-0cLA9YUq6eM7PHZWhyphenhyphenPBhd30Eu-1u8xhkFz689fhZDuePI/s320/West%20Glasgow%20View.%20Moss%20Heights.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A West Glasgow view. Bottom of photo to top. Silverburn Shopping Centre. Moss Heights hi rise flats.( long white block) Scotstoun hi rise flats, Middle left edge. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExmQci4a5vpX_4S5OlxcR5hbkGFn8OjRlYLouFOY7xJeo0euRx6MinRV2pWzSd_9V2ya0OmhCGoe61un_cOPOVnl7YOJPgdiLm00XxB5tB9Li6jtzmAAGt_MDlIyd-2b6nmvXRt2xb15SYZTmGEY8kp-FsarcXVNzotNMOmYpfrrOTDgM6fXG7oCymeA/s1522/Frozen%20Pond%20at%20Minus%208.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1522" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExmQci4a5vpX_4S5OlxcR5hbkGFn8OjRlYLouFOY7xJeo0euRx6MinRV2pWzSd_9V2ya0OmhCGoe61un_cOPOVnl7YOJPgdiLm00XxB5tB9Li6jtzmAAGt_MDlIyd-2b6nmvXRt2xb15SYZTmGEY8kp-FsarcXVNzotNMOmYpfrrOTDgM6fXG7oCymeA/s320/Frozen%20Pond%20at%20Minus%208.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After our hill we travelled back through the Barrhead Dams district. This is an area near Newton Mearns where an old dye works used to be. Although I've cycled past here many times in previous decades I never stopped to go in so I never realized how extensive it was until now. A sort of mini industrial hub in the depths of the countryside. Alan knew all about it though.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9GJJStqDKyvly5G86-_Tw0ahJ7lMvBOwM9MUbnMeB8xTKP2ymhBQQYHdr4dqh8_cl7rCsKXajLTx7ZAqNuCHM2gxLX4WibC0ETZwlZAzvHF1P_WULyPIH0tXZ6HegWPlmt_cmdkV1s8AIdMOqr5J0TeoK79fZwXeOQ3PsXaxZZvchLiqHpuQGLcPBW4/s1488/Minus%208%20in%20the%20Back%20Country.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1488" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9GJJStqDKyvly5G86-_Tw0ahJ7lMvBOwM9MUbnMeB8xTKP2ymhBQQYHdr4dqh8_cl7rCsKXajLTx7ZAqNuCHM2gxLX4WibC0ETZwlZAzvHF1P_WULyPIH0tXZ6HegWPlmt_cmdkV1s8AIdMOqr5J0TeoK79fZwXeOQ3PsXaxZZvchLiqHpuQGLcPBW4/s320/Minus%208%20in%20the%20Back%20Country.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Fairly slippy minor roads after a week of minus 8 below. Melting at the edges in limited afternoon sunshine.<br /></span><p></p><p><br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOWYUbCTD9jV56GHTk-vf_1mfiycrGAmyT9y5FrshVw4KTXWHVl9hN4uluvxXIM9OsbcUAux81HkJjp8V5L7-mxXiYrGA1vx1ftZahe2P7Eq5yqvIMuQ712knbpNYNSISGkPeyLUq9HenDGWg4triOZnwdQeN97XyiKPRIrU9pus4lGDPkBUgZik4OeE/s1551/Sheet%20Ice%20on%20Road.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1551" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOWYUbCTD9jV56GHTk-vf_1mfiycrGAmyT9y5FrshVw4KTXWHVl9hN4uluvxXIM9OsbcUAux81HkJjp8V5L7-mxXiYrGA1vx1ftZahe2P7Eq5yqvIMuQ712knbpNYNSISGkPeyLUq9HenDGWg4triOZnwdQeN97XyiKPRIrU9pus4lGDPkBUgZik4OeE/s320/Sheet%20Ice%20on%20Road.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">More sheet ice. An abandoned site for now but given the relentless march of the ice sheet glacier that is Newton Mearns posh housing nearby it might not be long before this site gets tarted up and turned into an owner occupier smart suburban enclave instead.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFaMVqXj0BahNSt4XmChPsIhjfuRDcIRK_yTnsbFQPpD3ggXc1UMYYjAeFcBhPLCsdT1plouW1QSoo8O_XMeTYYESoPY79TZ39c2SnSp4-9mZFmtUoExtk-pqMXCX2Y-Uz2OKm1XPCVaWh_s4tVYwgJVxsiXma0qiMzbqjZvUi7sLdtEQpXgRc5yiVfs/s1503/On%20the%20Ice%20Barrhead%20Dams.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1503" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFaMVqXj0BahNSt4XmChPsIhjfuRDcIRK_yTnsbFQPpD3ggXc1UMYYjAeFcBhPLCsdT1plouW1QSoo8O_XMeTYYESoPY79TZ39c2SnSp4-9mZFmtUoExtk-pqMXCX2Y-Uz2OKm1XPCVaWh_s4tVYwgJVxsiXma0qiMzbqjZvUi7sLdtEQpXgRc5yiVfs/s320/On%20the%20Ice%20Barrhead%20Dams.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Which brings us down to the Barrhead Dams, also frozen.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGE_Yd4Z9MX4dMTuc-MxmpFpi0g6RjN7oUml0QreZtW9MI-f_sR1gs3DmJgWS_YlAGYKf44zqZk1AvieA4J2A87EgindVXcrcGnlNcM7HisB_QoBRzHIyNt_pYTEDFxikWOTC5SEn8i_48UW-PdOXEiC1cTa5AqkbJ06ALZLR1hZ1yYxd9QzqTcRjC7Q/s1529/Barrhead%20Dams%20Fishing%20Piers.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1529" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGE_Yd4Z9MX4dMTuc-MxmpFpi0g6RjN7oUml0QreZtW9MI-f_sR1gs3DmJgWS_YlAGYKf44zqZk1AvieA4J2A87EgindVXcrcGnlNcM7HisB_QoBRzHIyNt_pYTEDFxikWOTC5SEn8i_48UW-PdOXEiC1cTa5AqkbJ06ALZLR1hZ1yYxd9QzqTcRjC7Q/s320/Barrhead%20Dams%20Fishing%20Piers.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">For the last couple of years it has looked like this with the water well down on previous levels. Fishing piers stranded a long way from any fish. The smaller lower dams are the same size they always were but this largest dam, Balgray Reservoir, is a pale shadow of its past glory. I do not know if it's surplus to requirements now but it used to look like this...</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8ccT7yPlzcJza8IZei8cIlYh04JSTRIk_2lcvMI48oQ1vGfrbVMaTEhN4kIfa-g7TmuAacIzyJtDGZ3gIcD2NwUV8fj7QugM2aXT5Qhuph2vuAlg-RLbMj3CpR9ttZar_7EEBj8jRgYzYSp6gEwWvaaBdZqygGHc7OGJkjpcU6sgl1Qzs79vMFO-liI/s1395/Big%20Reservoir.%20Barrhead%20Dams.%20in%202016..%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1395" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8ccT7yPlzcJza8IZei8cIlYh04JSTRIk_2lcvMI48oQ1vGfrbVMaTEhN4kIfa-g7TmuAacIzyJtDGZ3gIcD2NwUV8fj7QugM2aXT5Qhuph2vuAlg-RLbMj3CpR9ttZar_7EEBj8jRgYzYSp6gEwWvaaBdZqygGHc7OGJkjpcU6sgl1Qzs79vMFO-liI/s320/Big%20Reservoir.%20Barrhead%20Dams.%20in%202016..%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Almost large and wide enough to be an inland sea, a great delight in spring and summer, and far more impressive than any wind farm to walk around. This was what it looked like in summer 2016.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCUOrd7jC3KneW3hyphenhypheniIQ8j8kG9Uk1A2vTSZ7Y91tFO9694EyqQ4oXs_JvnuSKCLmOrdgffLC__B3jowqR4yrSooxxFh9XH-RGWfEiCgMe1j8LcnjfR43W2cwhrClSo3xzbbhuqVMIvCdJMZv8dvdgvv8hkjzVHUHgT06KCHCW2d5Gsb5CMmgFtQXhHq4/s1614/Duncarnock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1614" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCUOrd7jC3KneW3hyphenhypheniIQ8j8kG9Uk1A2vTSZ7Y91tFO9694EyqQ4oXs_JvnuSKCLmOrdgffLC__B3jowqR4yrSooxxFh9XH-RGWfEiCgMe1j8LcnjfR43W2cwhrClSo3xzbbhuqVMIvCdJMZv8dvdgvv8hkjzVHUHgT06KCHCW2d5Gsb5CMmgFtQXhHq4/s320/Duncarnock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Duncarnock. Unchanged for a thousand years. Site of an ancient hill fort and tribe. A good day out. If you skip the wind farm.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-48000599394414433682024-02-10T18:33:00.007+00:002024-02-12T17:26:30.675+00:00Glasgow. Stockingfield Junction. Glasgow City Views. Ruchill Park. A Grail Quest.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HvztgpAWpM4zTaU8pNez0xB0VPRVReB4RAX1dGrZu0Kza4iT3OoHLYVHdeTo0PNDjy9e_10V1XLumNfRH10HZ7x8_ZvKa9eRQUu0YOdlStSJAqzp1kyOgfxISSaO8dqhb-GvUfJuYaO6owmwGaRbYbM8uIvna_cgfFa-RPzXgjEfVdNeqwrDpjFodzM/s1507/Campsie%20Fells%20in%20Sunlight.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1507" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HvztgpAWpM4zTaU8pNez0xB0VPRVReB4RAX1dGrZu0Kza4iT3OoHLYVHdeTo0PNDjy9e_10V1XLumNfRH10HZ7x8_ZvKa9eRQUu0YOdlStSJAqzp1kyOgfxISSaO8dqhb-GvUfJuYaO6owmwGaRbYbM8uIvna_cgfFa-RPzXgjEfVdNeqwrDpjFodzM/s320/Campsie%20Fells%20in%20Sunlight.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another semi urban walk I did recently with hill-walking friend Alan was back along the Forth and Clyde Canal but this time to see the landscape and sculptures/ceramics at Stockingfield Junction. Campsie Hills view above. We would also visit the timber basins at Firhill/Maryhill and the Claypits re-wilding project along with Ruchill Park, all reached along the canal at various stages... and all linked by ribbons of lush greenery snaking and sneaking through the urban sprawl, above or sometimes below, the unsuspecting city.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClw-K_qYOzA3rB5V00O-N1T01JsWdSz0jer8116BrEq975mroBSRpS8HnrK_f1qBWq9zCzkdYVlhDHgwRCl1y3GLY0myIBAzUUDlA5B-8bmUXBNsiPv1IegJ5MgUZN11d2eqJsx-lYm4cJxzvmyuK-e-ZLhEXtJg8IZAwqUuUEBKJ_kK1-P3ZdG-jARo/s1548/Gold%20Frog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1548" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClw-K_qYOzA3rB5V00O-N1T01JsWdSz0jer8116BrEq975mroBSRpS8HnrK_f1qBWq9zCzkdYVlhDHgwRCl1y3GLY0myIBAzUUDlA5B-8bmUXBNsiPv1IegJ5MgUZN11d2eqJsx-lYm4cJxzvmyuK-e-ZLhEXtJg8IZAwqUuUEBKJ_kK1-P3ZdG-jARo/s320/Gold%20Frog.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So Stockingfield came next. An area where two canals meet at Lochburn Road in Maryhill. There's a dangerous road tunnel that goes under the canal at this point built in an age before much traffic with very inadequate narrow pavements, barely wide enough for one slim person to shuffle along. Not wide enough for a female with a pram or kid's on bikes, effectively cutting off the three communities living around it like a modern day moat. A single lane for cars squeezes between pedestrians on the narrow strip of pavement using the tunnel as well and it can be a busy bottleneck at times although a new set of traffic lights improves the situation somewhat. So a new bridge was built to replace one that was here decades ago and fell into disrepair over time.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAx-8i79Yr0Pl75P6jsy6chFESv_aUe2m67sewdcUuVDX6gjZddkOcvtIV8ou0OM4k5NwRQF29WoGD5AESYZaKz6oZlS4h45tTErntPViefhUFztXaNgr0x630JTCTksNrlkY-bFZ6P4WVBfv8zWTLlSWTE7RZRWrvwZhYWBRw1jriy-r1CYp6ArOrGPk/s1388/Ceramic%20Detail.%20Stockingfield%20Junction.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1388" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAx-8i79Yr0Pl75P6jsy6chFESv_aUe2m67sewdcUuVDX6gjZddkOcvtIV8ou0OM4k5NwRQF29WoGD5AESYZaKz6oZlS4h45tTErntPViefhUFztXaNgr0x630JTCTksNrlkY-bFZ6P4WVBfv8zWTLlSWTE7RZRWrvwZhYWBRw1jriy-r1CYp6ArOrGPk/s320/Ceramic%20Detail.%20Stockingfield%20Junction.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Not got a photo of the bridge as, unlike Alan, I've been here before several times by bike or on foot. Anybody that wants to see it and the Claypits greenery can look at my other posts by typing in Stockingfield Junction and Claypits. That should get them. Ceramic detail, above.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCvQRu1skTnZQd7eYFet9BxzIqqdiAiJzFQianyg6GGKdvTP3DX7aHy4G6Y_ts70H7o0MmmzsIyc6nKWf4wDt3hEwVwWqthchyphenhyphenT1QQxMmVwRD5pdWanvhN4e-Hf_ZHv0Es0gzQa0tiIdimDGMbXRWKR8VDj3dU6IZDJ2y3WHzs2w4PhXhqZTJd6F8a5I/s1503/Ceramic%20Tribute.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1503" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCvQRu1skTnZQd7eYFet9BxzIqqdiAiJzFQianyg6GGKdvTP3DX7aHy4G6Y_ts70H7o0MmmzsIyc6nKWf4wDt3hEwVwWqthchyphenhyphenT1QQxMmVwRD5pdWanvhN4e-Hf_ZHv0Es0gzQa0tiIdimDGMbXRWKR8VDj3dU6IZDJ2y3WHzs2w4PhXhqZTJd6F8a5I/s320/Ceramic%20Tribute.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ceramic tribute.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> <br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuZAOShNOfdQ8tzle-TW5eeSKBaRTOdEzUeIRC6aQ5lAxUc9gG5snyIgMKORaGCNjMu34B2oJbsJ5wTb5jvuvNoHy4mhUb09xVdbojIcboCvFEwQkCfGGSf6J708usJIot9naoZYkNSAJBkqpixsdtz2VT8Y0X0f7pbXHBr30N19qQbyrQ4eGGeYUN5Y/s1341/A%20Favourite%20Art%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1341" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuZAOShNOfdQ8tzle-TW5eeSKBaRTOdEzUeIRC6aQ5lAxUc9gG5snyIgMKORaGCNjMu34B2oJbsJ5wTb5jvuvNoHy4mhUb09xVdbojIcboCvFEwQkCfGGSf6J708usJIot9naoZYkNSAJBkqpixsdtz2VT8Y0X0f7pbXHBr30N19qQbyrQ4eGGeYUN5Y/s320/A%20Favourite%20Art%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A lovely item. My favourite so far hereabouts.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65Dts-R7STmD0gCDNOl5OgTyXAK0fBdwMWGaPmhe9GlAolS-BNnYRhrVEyVFxy3ruHHECa9lS70NvWmRx56XuiHrgBVwAFqTs1JYuDbHlXAoKEO2lmnlXxJJlXR_X5e6WQ0w7SMYnwpoDtxSPqj5gsT8is4Toff-e4QCIT34SDAA9lmrSV5uzdXrNsEg/s1338/A%20Gathering.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1338" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65Dts-R7STmD0gCDNOl5OgTyXAK0fBdwMWGaPmhe9GlAolS-BNnYRhrVEyVFxy3ruHHECa9lS70NvWmRx56XuiHrgBVwAFqTs1JYuDbHlXAoKEO2lmnlXxJJlXR_X5e6WQ0w7SMYnwpoDtxSPqj5gsT8is4Toff-e4QCIT34SDAA9lmrSV5uzdXrNsEg/s320/A%20Gathering.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Next we left the canal briefly to cut down through the quiet back streets of Maryhill to reach the River Kelvin just north of the Botanic Gardens. Here the Penguins live. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcD1wtCXlZGmtcPBsmwlEOdj02ZY488rifijMQQ03d_I7_QbX94qgIzBB2jXgXggFT8c_S1u-lqlEGt8woVYHw5fc7EctXq2gb7zFEtgdPaP2zXBYRqWYUTHWKWV_Pvpxa8IS6ZY2AKQgBuL4F6P_jngs1F4_UJ52hhV8u_1VF8GQeh75ADBvj25R5Ho8/s1407/Penquins.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1407" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcD1wtCXlZGmtcPBsmwlEOdj02ZY488rifijMQQ03d_I7_QbX94qgIzBB2jXgXggFT8c_S1u-lqlEGt8woVYHw5fc7EctXq2gb7zFEtgdPaP2zXBYRqWYUTHWKWV_Pvpxa8IS6ZY2AKQgBuL4F6P_jngs1F4_UJ52hhV8u_1VF8GQeh75ADBvj25R5Ho8/s320/Penquins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">No one knows why...</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuptOUuqkcPDIdDDRA6TgxuOzMExNxHJnImOa_izkOGOnWHL7bA-hr8IWenXZBK6GCyW6AuH9-Q0aAtQ1nDziLlr4muyZJhMWYxyKw6b580zSiytu4RNXy6x2JGhy20RZGkYBhAEY0WZbXbhzAkoyNx3s-aNZCH2vMTW7F6LAfXqrY682jrt4dNn1uI0/s1503/Singing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1503" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuptOUuqkcPDIdDDRA6TgxuOzMExNxHJnImOa_izkOGOnWHL7bA-hr8IWenXZBK6GCyW6AuH9-Q0aAtQ1nDziLlr4muyZJhMWYxyKw6b580zSiytu4RNXy6x2JGhy20RZGkYBhAEY0WZbXbhzAkoyNx3s-aNZCH2vMTW7F6LAfXqrY682jrt4dNn1uI0/s320/Singing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes there's more of them... on this occasion far less... What parent could deny a crying three year old with outstretched sticky fingers.... ? Little paws with suction tips and tears aplenty....... to weep on command... to obtain the objects they desire.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Hard Hearted Me! That's Who!!! Stop ******** stealing them three year olds!!! Bad Mummy! Bad Daddy! There should be a lot more photos here of cute penguins but they've all been ********* swiped by infants. Not the vast collection I was expecting for our arrival...that I've seen here at other times previously. Bah Humbug.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMAK4-qa_ZNu4ZnCNpZmejRlsMIcSyRR6Enny-AzQHwjswaCjNDWRcIBPnp7HWAEfe0A1h29taCZ6apAEkf11Y5B6Y300lam3kNRf_9XYPNlaEdxVJxZQu8n_Lzg0kanIwkoRYPeEAbO7OdZOsvTXzEDX-BIQlfkYzbn3k7ASiIZTy00rTvwCQ-DHCt8/s1129/Kelvinbridge%20Parish%20Church.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1129" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMAK4-qa_ZNu4ZnCNpZmejRlsMIcSyRR6Enny-AzQHwjswaCjNDWRcIBPnp7HWAEfe0A1h29taCZ6apAEkf11Y5B6Y300lam3kNRf_9XYPNlaEdxVJxZQu8n_Lzg0kanIwkoRYPeEAbO7OdZOsvTXzEDX-BIQlfkYzbn3k7ASiIZTy00rTvwCQ-DHCt8/s320/Kelvinbridge%20Parish%20Church.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">********** little bread-snappers! Never mind. Undaunted we made our way back up to the Forth and Clyde Canal. An underwhelming detour this time.<br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-tz-FIU7Ka4GZp8nWBWuZKLQ0-h__l6eJ40TpcYG6LrEKT5cCvTz1rgcG2GVdm_BtKrZCgiGOZey7WZxkEovOCtKhlZWQmJ8C-5rKuAABSTi21aDcDz2cO9XlRckf8F62djrS1WOCjeh8D0Tw5zNzcZZnD9hgICHQbqqb4Hbv1qXnt8UMDhMP5pIZS4/s1305/Kelvinbridge%20Parish%20Church%20in%20Sunlight.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1305" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-tz-FIU7Ka4GZp8nWBWuZKLQ0-h__l6eJ40TpcYG6LrEKT5cCvTz1rgcG2GVdm_BtKrZCgiGOZey7WZxkEovOCtKhlZWQmJ8C-5rKuAABSTi21aDcDz2cO9XlRckf8F62djrS1WOCjeh8D0Tw5zNzcZZnD9hgICHQbqqb4Hbv1qXnt8UMDhMP5pIZS4/s320/Kelvinbridge%20Parish%20Church%20in%20Sunlight.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Passing Kelvinbridge Parish Church here.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06CbKS64kSzC7qQqaK5G7crpUMpiRLYqbL2_w2zZbmDuxjdE73FhmxxjisK9YQSI9t-KnYVF4KlRH4AWiH97k56qMsjaL568YWS13lPFsrpMpoF_bGHIri7GlS4JbDyiXci_WEbr3amBMo_7noTq8HmudQ1iTScZGTFEI4ZDS6u5SbMiRZaNYuxPZ78s/s1336/Army%20Reserve%20Building.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1336" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06CbKS64kSzC7qQqaK5G7crpUMpiRLYqbL2_w2zZbmDuxjdE73FhmxxjisK9YQSI9t-KnYVF4KlRH4AWiH97k56qMsjaL568YWS13lPFsrpMpoF_bGHIri7GlS4JbDyiXci_WEbr3amBMo_7noTq8HmudQ1iTScZGTFEI4ZDS6u5SbMiRZaNYuxPZ78s/s320/Army%20Reserve%20Building.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And this beautiful, and unexpected Army Reserve Centre.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8iuzGaVLD9U4LEjKhMAxu9gtwonGUhOFa8eRkCRpq4PsZ7A9kvjiNbPJ1P7HcZeh2YjvTxAiVp9qOMDbyLuThQtU7KzC4EsNwocHPfbkUwW0YfaF6w_NqKFpDIQmCi4gd5zezCXPDDMlfrb9EJvGHqAbosDcePnzUa7ZKkEQK7B2CCAkyfkW_xrZ7kA/s1432/Canal%20at%20Partick%20Thistle%20FC.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1432" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8iuzGaVLD9U4LEjKhMAxu9gtwonGUhOFa8eRkCRpq4PsZ7A9kvjiNbPJ1P7HcZeh2YjvTxAiVp9qOMDbyLuThQtU7KzC4EsNwocHPfbkUwW0YfaF6w_NqKFpDIQmCi4gd5zezCXPDDMlfrb9EJvGHqAbosDcePnzUa7ZKkEQK7B2CCAkyfkW_xrZ7kA/s320/Canal%20at%20Partick%20Thistle%20FC.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Back on the canal near Partick Thistle Football Stadium.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8mH9i6rsho_8Dn2ZYtQwXpobZkosMoCveRjj4tBQWUO3A4KKOhqUrDm4c2h81YSXTqjtAo7EKL05GaOfT9XpnQ5ASJc-y_5fy4RdmKyhREYVTNNKDGK1jS9XKs9_c7MUNi8DNcULSckd-QvXkPgIVZUXsVX05wlsplPATvwkXqT1jDrCdrFj9GtCrDc/s1551/Frozen%20Timber%20Pond%20at%20Firhill.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1551" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8mH9i6rsho_8Dn2ZYtQwXpobZkosMoCveRjj4tBQWUO3A4KKOhqUrDm4c2h81YSXTqjtAo7EKL05GaOfT9XpnQ5ASJc-y_5fy4RdmKyhREYVTNNKDGK1jS9XKs9_c7MUNi8DNcULSckd-QvXkPgIVZUXsVX05wlsplPATvwkXqT1jDrCdrFj9GtCrDc/s320/Frozen%20Timber%20Pond%20at%20Firhill.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And the frozen timber ponds at Firhill. Some parts of the canal, in the sun, were water, others like here in the shade all day stayed frozen.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFAvcgd7gsfZSEWgLgRPH-azoRK9sPbsqODC7b-YkAoUt6k-6y1npqkDKdWKZDzdVe06I_l7_ZYunI7RZj9HJTvNkyotzlujtGZSVaU61bbpF7-WscUOiL96u-AabCnLE2jxfcH6AvoDpM01WwgL2e3Xsnwbv2DfNmWFVNlndoFL1wSCO_IZoG9zVt5Q/s1429/Frozen%20Timber%20Pond.%20Sighthill.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1429" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFAvcgd7gsfZSEWgLgRPH-azoRK9sPbsqODC7b-YkAoUt6k-6y1npqkDKdWKZDzdVe06I_l7_ZYunI7RZj9HJTvNkyotzlujtGZSVaU61bbpF7-WscUOiL96u-AabCnLE2jxfcH6AvoDpM01WwgL2e3Xsnwbv2DfNmWFVNlndoFL1wSCO_IZoG9zVt5Q/s320/Frozen%20Timber%20Pond.%20Sighthill.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> New flats at Firhill. Like most people in my situation and income bracket, there's not a lot of spare cash for trips abroad at the moment. Probably like 50 percent of the population in the UK coming from a similar housing scheme/ estate background as mine I would imagine. (or the inclination for flying abroad nowadays if I'm honest due to certain non serious but irritating health issues) Although everyone sees other posts on the internet from various friends about fantastic places they visit every year (Thanks Alice!) and what a larger income might bring you I try to make the best of what I have got on my doorstep instead. No complaints from me as I feel I've already led a very charmed and fortunate life... much more freedom and movement than my parents generation ever had by being a 1960s child and therefore largely avoiding the 9 to 5 40 year career necessary to get the big money for someone like me in the first place. (Not bright. Average intelligence. Low drive to get on in business. Body swerve big promotions that would cut down any spare time away with friends. <i>Secret mission statement.</i> ) Although I gave 100 percent in any job I had I lived for weekends and holidays and had no real interest or ambition to climb any corporate ladders. So I happily led an unconventional lifestyle to get what I wanted out of my time here on this good flat Earth. I had plenty of ambitions... just not for work advancement :). Money has never been abundant or a big incentive either but I gained a huge amount of freedom as a result. For instance.... I was far more travelled and adventurous before I started on here with the blog 15 years ago. Got most of my abroad trips in early while I was still backpacking fit, with good knees. For decades I was a walking God! Home and abroad. This is my static end of life era/period you are viewing now. You all totally missed my best stuff... all the missing years and mountains climbed before the internet arrived. Wah! Sniff sniff.....My hasty youth.... The females... or lack of them......First Munros... then...then.... etc etc as detailed in my book Autohighography. Plug plug. Only ten more shopping months til Christmas. Get it early :o)<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uban9oaDj9sRdqn2dX21b_LsFm88L32Gdd7EIa_bo1jEmQE10yfJyvzNZyDrFO13ks6YoGKthG4K_9_Z2i2tOCZubwT4xUChJjP-BkTpQ_ZrlEi1hh5DX3-JYNHYhz7i8W8qTPL0ktD3l_8IEKf_5IUBJtGzF_DKQ-HPvHvjOesTC60EMHRhH9fU-Is/s1311/Looking%20North%20from%20%20Stockingfield%20Junction.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1311" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uban9oaDj9sRdqn2dX21b_LsFm88L32Gdd7EIa_bo1jEmQE10yfJyvzNZyDrFO13ks6YoGKthG4K_9_Z2i2tOCZubwT4xUChJjP-BkTpQ_ZrlEi1hh5DX3-JYNHYhz7i8W8qTPL0ktD3l_8IEKf_5IUBJtGzF_DKQ-HPvHvjOesTC60EMHRhH9fU-Is/s320/Looking%20North%20from%20%20Stockingfield%20Junction.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One advantage of being static however, as people found during covid, is that you really get to know an area well. Having worked in every part of Glasgow over many decades I know most districts fairly well. Street by individual street in many cases. And a cascade of people. In my head a visual memory of each Scottish city and town and what they looked like during the 1960s to the 2000s any time I visited. For work and pleasure. Jobs I enjoyed as it got me into places I'd never get into by myself. Hell, I'd have paid <i>them </i>for the experience half the time. Often very exciting jobs in the big council estates. Memorable times<i>. A Grail Quest</i>. Even doing this blog so many things I have photographed in urban areas have now disappeared, been transformed, or altered dramatically, in just the last five years. One of the great benefits of a big city is constant change. I still have a love for that around me. Stockingfield Junction here, above, looking north over the city.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaY7P4k2Nr9s9wpi5LWIjLOZOQCJMP_ZVCpJZEP8BqRLJO4zjbAA2tnNUwRWMSm3zO9XXQ13M7__7Yg8hYBanQCeTfuirzceXkUTXbMpzN6T76ZNPxd9aSP4PtN4GZTDVnheuKk1c6WeCxuoA5MhwLla4NaiJ3l8XpdwGpLghyphenhyphenDm_arpYpnK4SI1J0Gd8/s1611/Stockingfield%20Junction.%20Maryhill%20District.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1611" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaY7P4k2Nr9s9wpi5LWIjLOZOQCJMP_ZVCpJZEP8BqRLJO4zjbAA2tnNUwRWMSm3zO9XXQ13M7__7Yg8hYBanQCeTfuirzceXkUTXbMpzN6T76ZNPxd9aSP4PtN4GZTDVnheuKk1c6WeCxuoA5MhwLla4NaiJ3l8XpdwGpLghyphenhyphenDm_arpYpnK4SI1J0Gd8/s320/Stockingfield%20Junction.%20Maryhill%20District.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Same place.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagrbsQnb30B5kNF2XTz-VJsS5PSQur0shG8GF1cagnkOjacqf8iVJQ9Ng_wehHnbPYm63-6nZ730aiM3rE5z22d2XYruQ5opU2VLLTlQRTGIR25I0gUdJBz2r_qcQzA6-QQDWLabB3W4RCvlZ2GqKlTEXXwVi-saVHoqbkOmg1aPo91RgrSb4z0JpOq4/s1304/Old%20Car%20Sculpture.%20Sculpture.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1304" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagrbsQnb30B5kNF2XTz-VJsS5PSQur0shG8GF1cagnkOjacqf8iVJQ9Ng_wehHnbPYm63-6nZ730aiM3rE5z22d2XYruQ5opU2VLLTlQRTGIR25I0gUdJBz2r_qcQzA6-QQDWLabB3W4RCvlZ2GqKlTEXXwVi-saVHoqbkOmg1aPo91RgrSb4z0JpOq4/s320/Old%20Car%20Sculpture.%20Sculpture.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">And here. Vintage car sculpture.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLI2NHf6WkrIwthZYC-JvtqC_lkQ8XIxlQp89ZP8JnjYk-1xV8xvutNQvHXOnTtbFza95UoR26LZNhHMtCWbkXCd5nLgfwPVCGii2M6KvuLlXhrZuHyYWgkIcee1APZc0F5p4XatOKQws9nznFIIa7e3dNns7Y9tr9iCHk1v0cLinRz8psdmzK4CFi2w/s1465/Cowcaddens%20District%20of%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1465" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLI2NHf6WkrIwthZYC-JvtqC_lkQ8XIxlQp89ZP8JnjYk-1xV8xvutNQvHXOnTtbFza95UoR26LZNhHMtCWbkXCd5nLgfwPVCGii2M6KvuLlXhrZuHyYWgkIcee1APZc0F5p4XatOKQws9nznFIIa7e3dNns7Y9tr9iCHk1v0cLinRz8psdmzK4CFi2w/s320/Cowcaddens%20District%20of%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Next up on our city tour we ascended two different hill tops for the views over the gleaming metropolis below. Claypits Nature Reserve on the canal near Firhill district just down from Stockingfield and then Ruchill Park, again reached from the canal via this bridge. Locked at night probably. Student zone. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Charing Cross district above from Claypits hilltop.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbRco0z9dwIVUXWv8nqloIXsgvuKQhifZBICkhm7TaVxndSuix6X6-71Ivv2jJnl_e8c8f_M3K1qdihe_Z0Xtkbr48oYjOWa5KSD41lfxV6jsx1-uU1qPzjpNKs_RYo28OcLWTjC7XWAH23h5YSF_jhhBwzcTWECGzA7UkLMSR0g-JPOn2WFtR89siKg/s1498/Bridge%20Reflection.%20Forth%20and%20Clyde%20Canal.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1498" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbRco0z9dwIVUXWv8nqloIXsgvuKQhifZBICkhm7TaVxndSuix6X6-71Ivv2jJnl_e8c8f_M3K1qdihe_Z0Xtkbr48oYjOWa5KSD41lfxV6jsx1-uU1qPzjpNKs_RYo28OcLWTjC7XWAH23h5YSF_jhhBwzcTWECGzA7UkLMSR0g-JPOn2WFtR89siKg/s320/Bridge%20Reflection.%20Forth%20and%20Clyde%20Canal.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The wooden bridge linking canal to Ruchill Park.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_pqku5Piw9TOGatvX2kGSGXkODK_veR162ui1NQwtpA4gjuecVOKUakimNlEMWIa2NOo9EtTaWX2By8-baiXCikXM4mobocc6LMOg8N8SFXyoz38wv_3mYgesSB2axWjzrwNyE89JsXPnzDM-9BcxDmBLHea56wsE93Bl9y9Mt7r_STD9sPnbg-7wvI/s1539/University%20of%20Glasgow%20Libarary.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1539" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_pqku5Piw9TOGatvX2kGSGXkODK_veR162ui1NQwtpA4gjuecVOKUakimNlEMWIa2NOo9EtTaWX2By8-baiXCikXM4mobocc6LMOg8N8SFXyoz38wv_3mYgesSB2axWjzrwNyE89JsXPnzDM-9BcxDmBLHea56wsE93Bl9y9Mt7r_STD9sPnbg-7wvI/s320/University%20of%20Glasgow%20Libarary.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">University of Glasgow. Gallery of Modern Art and Library.( The tall grey building.) From Claypits.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPZ30uZIV01LOztjTFVhbJioCoWgp-2OBMF9TYBlVAZUEGGuN6Kqfix8tMutiQ7XqZi23HwwJ3L5pipBPf6W_sZX2Gf1slMvLSABvh6GTOsAQDxjoRb0YBnjeoybIs88q1KyaOfYhAQUdobTRbZF7dlLXkEmnX5TCr9hwmpRATsgbCsGwO422IHsxUiQ/s1622/University%20of%20Glasgow%20Tower.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1622" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPZ30uZIV01LOztjTFVhbJioCoWgp-2OBMF9TYBlVAZUEGGuN6Kqfix8tMutiQ7XqZi23HwwJ3L5pipBPf6W_sZX2Gf1slMvLSABvh6GTOsAQDxjoRb0YBnjeoybIs88q1KyaOfYhAQUdobTRbZF7dlLXkEmnX5TCr9hwmpRATsgbCsGwO422IHsxUiQ/s320/University%20of%20Glasgow%20Tower.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> University of Glasgow Tower. The old section.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwjYdAE5LR8h8zmb1HwIgvx6-IQNV8DbWvnsqiq-s4C63O5FQnaCQ_gbCZULTNgIqqnW2bezwhAbADYTRR9mSw6YAqKE2-EHpJVnbABtkaJ6YR8QcZRJ_y0Xs-vidFctGsr8G__b-hjm2XTuU0I0TP0kwugyWyM7fsuOIO0r_fRBkAr7q0JK7kPXXbK4/s1382/Wyndford%20Hi%20Rise%20Flats%20from%20the%20canal.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1382" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwjYdAE5LR8h8zmb1HwIgvx6-IQNV8DbWvnsqiq-s4C63O5FQnaCQ_gbCZULTNgIqqnW2bezwhAbADYTRR9mSw6YAqKE2-EHpJVnbABtkaJ6YR8QcZRJ_y0Xs-vidFctGsr8G__b-hjm2XTuU0I0TP0kwugyWyM7fsuOIO0r_fRBkAr7q0JK7kPXXbK4/s320/Wyndford%20Hi%20Rise%20Flats%20from%20the%20canal.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Wyndford hi rise flats.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPdADSs8LNlBwXNBjtwdCdEarOTExcO_oupthQObeCv3pjFE6PyYYoTZ00u4TIMPlR9fusQqD4sk1HKjAZJ1VCAbnQJjdoRQXn7WYkafKGIDzC4kD2MTxYpigLTPG9q-LJyckWvC2QMmmQcLQAcPKOuM_s2HES8zQKYjjeDYBaJWmaqrfbVCmff1TK_U/s1406/Forth%20and%20Clyde%20Canal.%20Glasgow.%20Port%20Dundas%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1406" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPdADSs8LNlBwXNBjtwdCdEarOTExcO_oupthQObeCv3pjFE6PyYYoTZ00u4TIMPlR9fusQqD4sk1HKjAZJ1VCAbnQJjdoRQXn7WYkafKGIDzC4kD2MTxYpigLTPG9q-LJyckWvC2QMmmQcLQAcPKOuM_s2HES8zQKYjjeDYBaJWmaqrfbVCmff1TK_U/s320/Forth%20and%20Clyde%20Canal.%20Glasgow.%20Port%20Dundas%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Port Dundas with folk walking along the Forth and Clyde Canal. Both hills good viewpoints.</span><p></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4D36CbFVhm7lwxkH7hQwZ8TM71z0yRe74M47tGHSYueRhHj8ZqctWGTOFMqkJ2HgecahXD3sgbN6FeV8obnhCo5VeJ76tw96mif_oV31c-yH3FMAZP6FxRbsMv2tI9JKJrVKZTODKgCSDyEE5DX3meFEV6ojV_ncciNFLgFigMDjHzdMzLGWAhgJqCc/s1533/Glasgow%20From%20Ruchill.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1533" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4D36CbFVhm7lwxkH7hQwZ8TM71z0yRe74M47tGHSYueRhHj8ZqctWGTOFMqkJ2HgecahXD3sgbN6FeV8obnhCo5VeJ76tw96mif_oV31c-yH3FMAZP6FxRbsMv2tI9JKJrVKZTODKgCSDyEE5DX3meFEV6ojV_ncciNFLgFigMDjHzdMzLGWAhgJqCc/s320/Glasgow%20From%20Ruchill.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Glasgow from Ruchill. New hospital at Govan on far right.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7O0xUEBNk2ik9Dnet-ynIPFjOWOGMlJISxeGcIfHsQNDDNuKcuu9TXu7JShb_lavC_NAZfCBlz8rOYcmgp8ERC54lpdOL0lMN4JQXTbGY94qJbieC6nToPuYOzYk8zlLPn49o6N6s6Uo3Bmiucwf3RkXwtuc4w75Bbkeb_3uIlsLgHk-AtgQQtwNubqc/s1650/Park%20Circus%20Towers.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1650" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7O0xUEBNk2ik9Dnet-ynIPFjOWOGMlJISxeGcIfHsQNDDNuKcuu9TXu7JShb_lavC_NAZfCBlz8rOYcmgp8ERC54lpdOL0lMN4JQXTbGY94qJbieC6nToPuYOzYk8zlLPn49o6N6s6Uo3Bmiucwf3RkXwtuc4w75Bbkeb_3uIlsLgHk-AtgQQtwNubqc/s320/Park%20Circus%20Towers.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Park Circus Towers from Claypits.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3NbM5ohO5fEHWq15jxf0OsMB0CNyEXq4t-5F7pGQ7id8VmfbGakAqAYYx6djSSeE1DMH3tpLc_AEDSsMbj8nY29LXl6vQVpv3caKg48bLRJ68DU5JdY8JuUHTzlc5fVnxSvw5eXLNWcV1tuGR5ou1cSNXBHXhtA2esi_YC0TLU_dCxraKpZ8hEQV7ys/s1452/North%20Glasgow.%20Maryhill%20and%20the%20Kilpatrick%20Hills.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1452" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3NbM5ohO5fEHWq15jxf0OsMB0CNyEXq4t-5F7pGQ7id8VmfbGakAqAYYx6djSSeE1DMH3tpLc_AEDSsMbj8nY29LXl6vQVpv3caKg48bLRJ68DU5JdY8JuUHTzlc5fVnxSvw5eXLNWcV1tuGR5ou1cSNXBHXhtA2esi_YC0TLU_dCxraKpZ8hEQV7ys/s320/North%20Glasgow.%20Maryhill%20and%20the%20Kilpatrick%20Hills.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Maryhill District.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrabuwBdgNXDdSMtnLoJ7aH1gWxRqlj53PDMsShye26yezOn4-BStWJznvTQCH10lW2Oi9vUo9kE6t5beL7A5FIrpGW1Q76WUUbNGO8RDYYvfdihStUd6cIY4ufVODpQlebltCoZWdA5fvDq_QEy5X6aSOdOWUgkKPevlWfbZn7cUTud2yz80KLk3R010/s1533/Glasgow%20Overview%20of%20Cowcaddens%20District.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1533" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrabuwBdgNXDdSMtnLoJ7aH1gWxRqlj53PDMsShye26yezOn4-BStWJznvTQCH10lW2Oi9vUo9kE6t5beL7A5FIrpGW1Q76WUUbNGO8RDYYvfdihStUd6cIY4ufVODpQlebltCoZWdA5fvDq_QEy5X6aSOdOWUgkKPevlWfbZn7cUTud2yz80KLk3R010/s320/Glasgow%20Overview%20of%20Cowcaddens%20District.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Cowcaddens from Ruchill Park flagpole. A stunning view.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRS4h3o-Nj5QEt2MkYnCgn4UOtpOpOjgVwT_waPnVy6xzJzbnRcvOGni-Rmo5KZoFg7R6gcRSAZ1oGzQzdjnQ06ATtXt3bWKNorYXoT1woEm-1Vf4Qd6UQxImmMyDR5MLWrHjIwboSPhxR3uRXC_VsQy_PKM9HsA0ZIiJJEHNHzHdPLWm6OPJkdslvAA/s1502/Ruchill%20Park.%20Flagpole.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1502" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRS4h3o-Nj5QEt2MkYnCgn4UOtpOpOjgVwT_waPnVy6xzJzbnRcvOGni-Rmo5KZoFg7R6gcRSAZ1oGzQzdjnQ06ATtXt3bWKNorYXoT1woEm-1Vf4Qd6UQxImmMyDR5MLWrHjIwboSPhxR3uRXC_VsQy_PKM9HsA0ZIiJJEHNHzHdPLWm6OPJkdslvAA/s320/Ruchill%20Park.%20Flagpole.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Said flagpole.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cnA3sPW7Pa8IAhMwiLMfGCeUu3TO1c-ZI93GopLMok4lVf9ZILi1NTbIxjZFFP43bGpY1ztFG_ijH6Pert-_LVEeoMRgtxa6FCl2wrAjNslZTTQEmHvR52O4OQ4zdzWT-8mLpGAAJAyOLqHj_D14WGop5SFiWnB7ci8VbqvyzNlATdpP1ToX3FR4-Es/s1498/Winter%20Feed%20for%20Birds.%20Ruchill%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1498" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cnA3sPW7Pa8IAhMwiLMfGCeUu3TO1c-ZI93GopLMok4lVf9ZILi1NTbIxjZFFP43bGpY1ztFG_ijH6Pert-_LVEeoMRgtxa6FCl2wrAjNslZTTQEmHvR52O4OQ4zdzWT-8mLpGAAJAyOLqHj_D14WGop5SFiWnB7ci8VbqvyzNlATdpP1ToX3FR4-Es/s320/Winter%20Feed%20for%20Birds.%20Ruchill%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Winter berries for the birds. Ruchill Park.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-XVP2DKZrcno9NajRKRkVUD1WBe7A3IJ8BYmI2NJ1zyDnRB83JQWY65tqg8mu49aj14H0Qv2O-A8X4JwZT_SwrwHIcfAUrfoPvM7RcqU03A_DPFnPbNnBoPddJGUcNEfevHxLe2s9bhquJjqWYXqyqj9fBe9RQb0de0vxdDm2THwgTqXhGFarYggiT0/s1541/Canal%20Reflection.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1541" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-XVP2DKZrcno9NajRKRkVUD1WBe7A3IJ8BYmI2NJ1zyDnRB83JQWY65tqg8mu49aj14H0Qv2O-A8X4JwZT_SwrwHIcfAUrfoPvM7RcqU03A_DPFnPbNnBoPddJGUcNEfevHxLe2s9bhquJjqWYXqyqj9fBe9RQb0de0vxdDm2THwgTqXhGFarYggiT0/s320/Canal%20Reflection.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's not a bad life if you can see the beauty and magic of the world around you wherever you happen to live and beauty visits me every single day.... and that normally makes me ..... ......delighted. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-8cN-T8eNwF-fPcCs69fLBpAMmNto44kLAUpsyjtbCKt8lM54oipOpcNcyoSVr-toSPluiOSOyZRWne4qiDDHp5jkqTL0Sx7TZNibZYZMkYBY7L97qrdTW2VN5WbqX0XrvxaI2JZJdW_8auuOgrQTKOPEzr-Fr0ds5ADq_BSpl45sd0UUBa3rD7CTNo/s1364/River%20Kelvin%20Walkway.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1364" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-8cN-T8eNwF-fPcCs69fLBpAMmNto44kLAUpsyjtbCKt8lM54oipOpcNcyoSVr-toSPluiOSOyZRWne4qiDDHp5jkqTL0Sx7TZNibZYZMkYBY7L97qrdTW2VN5WbqX0XrvxaI2JZJdW_8auuOgrQTKOPEzr-Fr0ds5ADq_BSpl45sd0UUBa3rD7CTNo/s320/River%20Kelvin%20Walkway.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The River Kelvin.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />So wherever you are in life... the secret is to make the best of what you <i>have</i> got. Which I try to do. And a new walk for Alan. I think he liked it.... even though he's not that keen on urban walks normally. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><br /></p><p><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-44205301745496128282024-02-05T15:42:00.005+00:002024-02-06T17:15:45.832+00:00Forth and Clyde Canal. Bird Photo Gallery. Exotics. Glasgow Parks. Mixed Weather.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNX7YXsZhI5Jz9EPX6XXruA08y11cx6IkOD-2N3TjEIPse59Qf0ZMV1AONXMIYgw7m6kwyfSolSE1xDMl_vA65mblK-gsenntbwp4IRAoqcN0qVWRuguONZXYJ5NpKSqxThNnWgFO2ho_y6C82hiF2BhvQ9Z9F2wAwZwYOrKmYxhSY8uehyvY0olP0uM/s1652/Big%20Snowball.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1652" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNX7YXsZhI5Jz9EPX6XXruA08y11cx6IkOD-2N3TjEIPse59Qf0ZMV1AONXMIYgw7m6kwyfSolSE1xDMl_vA65mblK-gsenntbwp4IRAoqcN0qVWRuguONZXYJ5NpKSqxThNnWgFO2ho_y6C82hiF2BhvQ9Z9F2wAwZwYOrKmYxhSY8uehyvY0olP0uM/s320/Big%20Snowball.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A range of photos taken over the last two months. The weather has been mixed so far this winter. Brief spells of snow that did not last long followed by very mild conditions up to 12c degrees, followed by a cold week of minus 8c to 10c below freezing. Large person sized snowball here reminiscent of the ones designed to melt indoors in an art gallery. Youngsters do it for free outdoors every winter.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfwxPdxpaFxSEfju0R7hGgPYOF8zk4wFp7Rm4YkMkplQ3uW9cV2KTdp7kXYBpYZBlM8Qo_gO-YOA48qXjjLLVGHdBgXo_afHQTi-KJDoQQREu_Af06J1FzEtIDakrgNj9mLZSsNrXO5xFtDJKxGIQlYqkshka1W-6cOeicwe6raaGekXmZWE6l-JpnkY/s1626/A%20Walk%20in%20the%20Snow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1626" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfwxPdxpaFxSEfju0R7hGgPYOF8zk4wFp7Rm4YkMkplQ3uW9cV2KTdp7kXYBpYZBlM8Qo_gO-YOA48qXjjLLVGHdBgXo_afHQTi-KJDoQQREu_Af06J1FzEtIDakrgNj9mLZSsNrXO5xFtDJKxGIQlYqkshka1W-6cOeicwe6raaGekXmZWE6l-JpnkY/s320/A%20Walk%20in%20the%20Snow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Boxing Day. A walk in the snow up to Drumchapel. If the shops thought they would have good Boxing Day sales in Glasgow they might have been disappointed as most folk that day, including me, left their cars at home, the road conditions being too treacherous to drive for many in the morning with ice an added factor under the new snow. The Range car park here with only a few cars, many of them store worker vehicles probably.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmrkZLHxii4wgIIpC_nHR6aD8S_2FErPPYdqJ9Tne3pvL_a0L-vscuSUsDaJiOccg0enE6YveriPw791p13SVbX1KCGo7FNMJd1hCS6uJUavSC2zTUwDY0MqDVPMCdws-IDrSxP2HrKjLs5n3J3KoOEVMOX8SdTum-4OQ2jBD61YQzxOPh0n35Z9IYQc/s1470/Forth%20and%20Clyde%20Canal.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1470" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmrkZLHxii4wgIIpC_nHR6aD8S_2FErPPYdqJ9Tne3pvL_a0L-vscuSUsDaJiOccg0enE6YveriPw791p13SVbX1KCGo7FNMJd1hCS6uJUavSC2zTUwDY0MqDVPMCdws-IDrSxP2HrKjLs5n3J3KoOEVMOX8SdTum-4OQ2jBD61YQzxOPh0n35Z9IYQc/s320/Forth%20and%20Clyde%20Canal.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">As I like walking in the snow compared to rain or dull/grey conditions I was out and about. Forth and Clyde canal here on the way up to Drumchapel.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiratozEjuPViFshtrnVMtzz130pqVj31SR5_KSLfzOWS4KCPArbTuf-6a23B1W87nyj2fdX0W3JOnfXeVneMOjg5xwjZnbXucVUT6hhe8R__zCKuVrfSjLiSWtzZ8TRThbskzq_lotZkoBSW_liLxYr8hAnyt-9A_zB1ctrvTclWP1LIbeCNMkXtaL48k/s1650/December%20Snow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1650" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiratozEjuPViFshtrnVMtzz130pqVj31SR5_KSLfzOWS4KCPArbTuf-6a23B1W87nyj2fdX0W3JOnfXeVneMOjg5xwjZnbXucVUT6hhe8R__zCKuVrfSjLiSWtzZ8TRThbskzq_lotZkoBSW_liLxYr8hAnyt-9A_zB1ctrvTclWP1LIbeCNMkXtaL48k/s320/December%20Snow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Golf course. As a non golfer the only time pedestrians get on a golf course for free is after a dump of snow so I always make for any in the vicinity.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA_pYTCkhNNOwNs05HWzINjYNh405jpgceordLkd0r2c41K0lYaNgim4vW4q8aybK1RuzCo1dwg-JrgyTJ6hs1WOx_lfLHcnhYJzw8B8V5UrB8dCYX1u565Qor9yDB4N3zSMGklvPVYBygMXbeCeWghWcJPieWYnvOSM2cIrGz48kEvGQ8fOk9I0F8g4/s1560/Getting%20Dark%20by%20Three%20pm.%20Glasgow%20in%20December%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1560" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA_pYTCkhNNOwNs05HWzINjYNh405jpgceordLkd0r2c41K0lYaNgim4vW4q8aybK1RuzCo1dwg-JrgyTJ6hs1WOx_lfLHcnhYJzw8B8V5UrB8dCYX1u565Qor9yDB4N3zSMGklvPVYBygMXbeCeWghWcJPieWYnvOSM2cIrGz48kEvGQ8fOk9I0F8g4/s320/Getting%20Dark%20by%20Three%20pm.%20Glasgow%20in%20December%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Getting dark by 3 pm in the urban wilds of Glasgow.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VnPeOItLjivAeWyd1C4vaIpC0gzvqL3AeoL0BjOcTgBehmZFHJkTMB0tZhBvdUxN2KlCmu6GPHYmGXyxd_FvdQrtsEQKuscIE1LRge4AiiQE2TrSE30_ORhLEi7YdrHDqVf4mcgKdlkjL6FplJdwJqGk-KDnfvCW9pjN1OOX7-ZW1LyNDTR24-mX-SM/s1500/Light%20Fading.%20Winter%20Afternoon.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1500" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VnPeOItLjivAeWyd1C4vaIpC0gzvqL3AeoL0BjOcTgBehmZFHJkTMB0tZhBvdUxN2KlCmu6GPHYmGXyxd_FvdQrtsEQKuscIE1LRge4AiiQE2TrSE30_ORhLEi7YdrHDqVf4mcgKdlkjL6FplJdwJqGk-KDnfvCW9pjN1OOX7-ZW1LyNDTR24-mX-SM/s320/Light%20Fading.%20Winter%20Afternoon.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Light fading. Winter afternoon.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQ2vxH9ejc-E7R4fGLhKoLsIKGwovh0l2zao7Zs93_aFUDg8l0-Vr16am1W6QVh2Q0k0H8vXZ7E7Pq0973g36d6RU8jwYtxScRhXUB56QSp7_Oen-7DamF_b-WQEnU105untC-gVYBou3dOBQ0bHsmq61CotpmPlXT4IkCP3MLR9KB2l-euymbquL7zk/s1542/Five%20Tufted%20Ducks.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1542" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQ2vxH9ejc-E7R4fGLhKoLsIKGwovh0l2zao7Zs93_aFUDg8l0-Vr16am1W6QVh2Q0k0H8vXZ7E7Pq0973g36d6RU8jwYtxScRhXUB56QSp7_Oen-7DamF_b-WQEnU105untC-gVYBou3dOBQ0bHsmq61CotpmPlXT4IkCP3MLR9KB2l-euymbquL7zk/s320/Five%20Tufted%20Ducks.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A few days later it was mild again, the ice on the Forth and Clyde canal melted and the wildlife was eager for a meal. Five tufted ducks here. This was a walk with Alan linking up several parks: Knightswood, Dawsholm and Maryhill parks via the Forth and Clyde canal seeing places very familiar to me but mostly new for him.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrG9PPCEs0JfexH84VG4SR2KbYwlk5MYj3n7MyOmA2oqZgzpsYkp-2_MV2JLLv8tkFzpSipZcJa_9n1Qrrm80N5kJbMC-5_JEUN80hehR6rJ8OuJaI8X1tYPM-s0c9Pf3Rem2AdqSaUsJ5nI-iVY9cpIeFNQ7LjTZ1VVoNiw5-ZOQcgIaAzitjfNCHzU/s1233/Forth%20and%20Clyde%20Canal%20Mural.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1233" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrG9PPCEs0JfexH84VG4SR2KbYwlk5MYj3n7MyOmA2oqZgzpsYkp-2_MV2JLLv8tkFzpSipZcJa_9n1Qrrm80N5kJbMC-5_JEUN80hehR6rJ8OuJaI8X1tYPM-s0c9Pf3Rem2AdqSaUsJ5nI-iVY9cpIeFNQ7LjTZ1VVoNiw5-ZOQcgIaAzitjfNCHzU/s320/Forth%20and%20Clyde%20Canal%20Mural.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Forth and Clyde Canal mural near Anniesland Cross. Life in 2025 presumably? Amazing what they can do with ancient DNA locked inside amber and the latest genetic/ cloning technology. A selfie with the past and present.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuMU9l68OMh2MlQT_fbdgWuMDn8UCzzREsi4OfyhtMb5ErdM_r5_KtMkiGDO3e_zWujn_ysUsmpaEcI_WjRoS4XYuENlB9K-0YcZDyqctztevYGaykp4mjNSddciaGRrRRhIL2FtwUegeK4CpjLb9YhllXPfc5b_M-O7803RkTlWhmX-0l_qmRGAs9Ps/s1718/A%20Couple%20of%20Mergansers.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1718" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuMU9l68OMh2MlQT_fbdgWuMDn8UCzzREsi4OfyhtMb5ErdM_r5_KtMkiGDO3e_zWujn_ysUsmpaEcI_WjRoS4XYuENlB9K-0YcZDyqctztevYGaykp4mjNSddciaGRrRRhIL2FtwUegeK4CpjLb9YhllXPfc5b_M-O7803RkTlWhmX-0l_qmRGAs9Ps/s320/A%20Couple%20of%20Mergansers.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I,m presuming this is a pair of Red Breasted Mergansers, Very hard sometimes to tell them apart at distance from Goosanders but as the female here has a spiky back to her head, which only Mergansers have apparently, I,m going for that. (Mind you when I get up each morning my hair is all over the place as well- smoothed down with a comb minutes later. )</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nu7E0iGG8gD2v8D_C0MjuQFgAaaWYxlRQ6XmvaAfDgTt2gtMWBifVWB_klO6ETgTROUcPNb545a7HFfS_iVrZ-O_C17NMzBRycLLFYg8fH7wXIoXRHrZeGtzL9_JK0tuZru1cNFzvp3rkjUmnHD9e_2JF3wngoDkbWMy0EQ8n-jvPDr0JB3_ZwIUPAI/s1692/Grey%20Heron.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1692" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nu7E0iGG8gD2v8D_C0MjuQFgAaaWYxlRQ6XmvaAfDgTt2gtMWBifVWB_klO6ETgTROUcPNb545a7HFfS_iVrZ-O_C17NMzBRycLLFYg8fH7wXIoXRHrZeGtzL9_JK0tuZru1cNFzvp3rkjUmnHD9e_2JF3wngoDkbWMy0EQ8n-jvPDr0JB3_ZwIUPAI/s320/Grey%20Heron.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Grey Heron.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQFcLZqVWYoUSbJaS8N8Wfnv_9-PRAEz6ToW0-1ioTuDH4Aj6JPwEdh2CoIbKgahJlGuSoYMwQ0jSCSbpVYXPl6HsKTTYzbom8D1ZZ0FCg89t6Ykq6DQZYG5g2MVFD3PcOHBEBxvfKOmGOA8f5nL42inkJPrr_6SlohS3leJs3MdxMZ07j4WHsr1z8pU/s1560/Dawsholm%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1560" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQFcLZqVWYoUSbJaS8N8Wfnv_9-PRAEz6ToW0-1ioTuDH4Aj6JPwEdh2CoIbKgahJlGuSoYMwQ0jSCSbpVYXPl6HsKTTYzbom8D1ZZ0FCg89t6Ykq6DQZYG5g2MVFD3PcOHBEBxvfKOmGOA8f5nL42inkJPrr_6SlohS3leJs3MdxMZ07j4WHsr1z8pU/s320/Dawsholm%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> So far very familiar birds to both of us. In the deep woods of Dawsholm however I knew other birds might be around but as I wanted the surprise element I never told Alan about them. No point promising something in advance if it doesn't show up. I was always listening out for the musical sounds they make though. ( Like a squeaky dog toy being stepped on several times.)<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsicH034u2n-rEFYC_38UUwsd86JZj295wqyI8PLyS5n_uSw1B_WsxdEcfa_Y3zX-AQF6qIAK895Yh5S_YvX9PYqsZlQOX9zEYMJya4r42_3rvFiPWgaILB96qvHS2qp6tFrCWY9Cb2nVAXVBp7VhDnyqJDiEM-HeYaR18V38DPhPoo0xpYprpQzFdQMY/s1580/Green%20Parakeets%20in%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1580" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsicH034u2n-rEFYC_38UUwsd86JZj295wqyI8PLyS5n_uSw1B_WsxdEcfa_Y3zX-AQF6qIAK895Yh5S_YvX9PYqsZlQOX9zEYMJya4r42_3rvFiPWgaILB96qvHS2qp6tFrCWY9Cb2nVAXVBp7VhDnyqJDiEM-HeYaR18V38DPhPoo0xpYprpQzFdQMY/s320/Green%20Parakeets%20in%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">But we were lucky and they did show up. Rose Ringed Parakeets. About half a dozen of them. Many UK cities have small wild colonies of these birds now, native to the foothills of the Himalayas and the Indian Sub-continent ( Pakistan, India, etc) so able to tolerate snow and ice to some extent. London has a large population but Glasgow's much smaller group has been spotted in Victoria Park, Knightswood Park, Dawsholm Park and The Garscube Estate Lands. Might be different small groups or the same ones as they are excellent fliers and very intelligent so they will go where the best food is. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZ74J171KpH9s5-YZM6_0bg6ebiOI0HbnUaoite8G0Dm2jGEaYvBrxHjc1Wv0Mr6VxV2rG5YdLCI9QJr5xZExYmw2sk7NU15Ul5dM2zViv10XjR9C_fvc-9fvBwiOqi-d7rHAWMB3Sk3yEZCnmOA6yeKT-oUBu68zQ7Q75N9f7MdyVeKN5rUlXXvysdg/s1620/Green%20Parakeet%20in%20Tree.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1620" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZ74J171KpH9s5-YZM6_0bg6ebiOI0HbnUaoite8G0Dm2jGEaYvBrxHjc1Wv0Mr6VxV2rG5YdLCI9QJr5xZExYmw2sk7NU15Ul5dM2zViv10XjR9C_fvc-9fvBwiOqi-d7rHAWMB3Sk3yEZCnmOA6yeKT-oUBu68zQ7Q75N9f7MdyVeKN5rUlXXvysdg/s320/Green%20Parakeet%20in%20Tree.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway I was delighted for Alan they appeared as they are a real splash of the exotic in grey winter Glasgow.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWarfkxim3f9gWoHjV1JLfysz_TDs6gBToV2kOFAIa1iNzJM0fRG2vwhNOc1x4FDo0ilnbft0pqXht2P3WzMu3lWBPa6eRlOvN5OIYYrpqa50P1-WUMtkt518NAXfHX66D2Pzdw2v6teb52p4QxYVGkx80laivWrPfwDUHU79YYHYypOCGE-vaqabZvE/s1594/Ring%20Necked%20Parakeets.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1594" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWarfkxim3f9gWoHjV1JLfysz_TDs6gBToV2kOFAIa1iNzJM0fRG2vwhNOc1x4FDo0ilnbft0pqXht2P3WzMu3lWBPa6eRlOvN5OIYYrpqa50P1-WUMtkt518NAXfHX66D2Pzdw2v6teb52p4QxYVGkx80laivWrPfwDUHU79YYHYypOCGE-vaqabZvE/s320/Ring%20Necked%20Parakeets.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">You can see here how they get the name Rose Ringed Parakeets as the ring is black at the front and rose coloured round the back. As I had several budgies, a wandering tortoise, a hamster, terrapins, and mice as a child, not all at the same time though, this was pure nostalgia for me remembering various pets over the years. At the moment, outside London, it's only small groups but if they start breeding on a large scale it might impact native wildlife. They do have predators though. Peregrines and Goshawks catch and eat them.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxfpN6xo5YsrLEzDZhtXLstz59OZ2pDHVXvDYh0KpCeGROZDpc3If1AL-_aBMPQec1jzGwhkRzYdgDC4BMT0GjM7aBG_T45MBN3ov-HfYO4DxFfgonThmqtYD9jUV0ZS6lDZN23Gk4UsfycOPQ2lixdk1qsJLY-x-i_Tut64PsOMChAuB4NPQPBpjud4/s1220/Red-eared%20Terrapin%20in%20a%20Pond.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1220" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxfpN6xo5YsrLEzDZhtXLstz59OZ2pDHVXvDYh0KpCeGROZDpc3If1AL-_aBMPQec1jzGwhkRzYdgDC4BMT0GjM7aBG_T45MBN3ov-HfYO4DxFfgonThmqtYD9jUV0ZS6lDZN23Gk4UsfycOPQ2lixdk1qsJLY-x-i_Tut64PsOMChAuB4NPQPBpjud4/s320/Red-eared%20Terrapin%20in%20a%20Pond.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Even terrapins can be found living wild in the UK although they do not like freezing winters. This one, the size of an adult face was spotted by me several years ago in Kelvingrove Park pond. Although cute they will eat almost anything, even young bird chicks swimming on the surface can get pulled under, so they can soon decimate any pond they are in.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjegXh8mW2ncPLR9tU0w3CKJrJoC-k0bhtyCMav6d2144ZoGrUxIvcGg52cvk5ifV49F14uEb5XAJYFr-y9LVa-pzkV2RAVWsXUZo9nnQIcQnhowevsGHjOxvolgna7F0EpLCjfH2Rt5XRXONTKI5OI18gtQcKmeLIRhJZPXawC51vpCrIQPLfF8IdSjY/s1724/Campsie%20Fells%20View%20from%20Maryhill%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1724" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjegXh8mW2ncPLR9tU0w3CKJrJoC-k0bhtyCMav6d2144ZoGrUxIvcGg52cvk5ifV49F14uEb5XAJYFr-y9LVa-pzkV2RAVWsXUZo9nnQIcQnhowevsGHjOxvolgna7F0EpLCjfH2Rt5XRXONTKI5OI18gtQcKmeLIRhJZPXawC51vpCrIQPLfF8IdSjY/s320/Campsie%20Fells%20View%20from%20Maryhill%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">To make a roughly circular walk we returned via Maryhill Park, seen here with the Campsie Fells in the distance then Acre Road then the Garscube Estate Lands then Cairnhill Woods coming out at Westerton Train Station to cross over the bridge there back onto the canal and our eventual parking spot near the BMX Centre and Knightswood Park. Although Alan knows Glasgow pretty well this particular North West circuit was mostly new to him and he was impressed by how much wild land can be found within the heart of a major city by sticking to a green carpet of parks and canal pathways all the way round. </span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-1613052549170406012024-01-25T18:54:00.016+00:002024-02-09T02:07:25.637+00:00Dumbarton Shoreline Walk. Rock Climbers. Dumbarton Rock. Little Egret.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBD9LRKiQNUTYhJLsjhvkeJeHMoeWvW7uOS9lPxl7YmNH687IUgR1gDSnYBvbZYSGoAHvl1zUjRwyUcL1dOQtHMzCs4HlKyREZ_NgOq3r0ct19GPWMTvZYHexnh6ujJoX6YW4KfnqFSWtGVjASiEXNEV7tkTQbLXIMOlbWIH6mSyET9FznM_QPWexVDBo/s1600/Best%20Snowman%20Award.%20Not%20Snow%20Though.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBD9LRKiQNUTYhJLsjhvkeJeHMoeWvW7uOS9lPxl7YmNH687IUgR1gDSnYBvbZYSGoAHvl1zUjRwyUcL1dOQtHMzCs4HlKyREZ_NgOq3r0ct19GPWMTvZYHexnh6ujJoX6YW4KfnqFSWtGVjASiEXNEV7tkTQbLXIMOlbWIH6mSyET9FznM_QPWexVDBo/s320/Best%20Snowman%20Award.%20Not%20Snow%20Though.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A walk Alan and I did around the Christmas period in Dumbarton that I'm just posting now, about two to three months behind on posts at present but that always leaves a few extra in the bag in case of a lull. Before I met up with Alan again I went five years without a walking companion, except for my cousin occasionally. mainly because I gave up serious hill-walking and hill-walking clubs at the start of Covid and never went back....as most of my friends from that time period are still totally addicted to it to the exclusion of anything else and I got fed up with that attitude as they had little time for any of my suggestions to do something different for a change. Hills or nothing else for the last 45 years. Every single weekend and holiday period. A proper life long addiction to my way of thinking and one I no longer had to the same extent. I was the mad one for wanting a change, at least now and again... Another reason for packing in or a switch was I was getting old and the hills were increasingly hard on knackered knees. My heart wasn't in it anymore.This is not a real snow person but it is a good one. Used mainly to hide an unsightly tree stump I think, Didn't want to get caught lifting up the snow person's attire to find out... so it remains a mystery...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifrv-zCAuEkHprtXFmT9fEoZArnKBl1lfDuoVI-0PvWxiG-qKLINwo8qR5HwQvKdunecdSs81nor4QM-uEfkUvkfjMjO8VvB5HfK9WXtvx4CbG3swx4Z3hSMjdeNrluoofGK0bDtQQJk5ZYugB_YjrpvVWBe4BMxKepj0yrIVy_VpgD1sMYLavpeztY0/s1402/A%20Dumbarton%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1402" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifrv-zCAuEkHprtXFmT9fEoZArnKBl1lfDuoVI-0PvWxiG-qKLINwo8qR5HwQvKdunecdSs81nor4QM-uEfkUvkfjMjO8VvB5HfK9WXtvx4CbG3swx4Z3hSMjdeNrluoofGK0bDtQQJk5ZYugB_YjrpvVWBe4BMxKepj0yrIVy_VpgD1sMYLavpeztY0/s320/A%20Dumbarton%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Anyway, this walk starts from Dumbarton's main tourist car park beside Levengrove Park down river from Dalreoch Train Station and past the distinctive three orange hi rise blocks. The walk starts here by crossing the stone bridge onto the side with the shopping street then follows the River Leven along that bank downstream until it empties into the River Clyde. As you can see it was a beautiful cloudless morning. It always is in the world I live in... unlike the weather you experience up mountains 85 percent of the time.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Just in case there is no heaven awaiting us I like to get my thrills and paradise moments in early, down on earth first.. to save disappointment later on. Also, I didn't want to die having just climbed hills all my life, continually and increasingly following someone else's idea of a great day out rather than my own version. Having said that a sense of purpose or a hobby is one of life's great gifts. It's just they have their own bucket lists now and I have mine. One of which is photography.<br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUs5hSAB2Ji5JRRSb-5RabjAW73B0UsRbWY9pTS13NSi6j4L1wtlWdzmFeyxgtXi2DlGQgr2sJ8AaRtmimAYxGKfhwAH1hl4gT1zDdXMddypHE3UTs8CSsPWia9CX-9QCZUq3xSalU-DBinq7h9t1GUeXgpmdAWNWsJGjxS-E7CmB8fzpFMO6_tbg81o/s1278/A%20Peaceful%20River%20Leven.%20Dumbarton.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1278" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUs5hSAB2Ji5JRRSb-5RabjAW73B0UsRbWY9pTS13NSi6j4L1wtlWdzmFeyxgtXi2DlGQgr2sJ8AaRtmimAYxGKfhwAH1hl4gT1zDdXMddypHE3UTs8CSsPWia9CX-9QCZUq3xSalU-DBinq7h9t1GUeXgpmdAWNWsJGjxS-E7CmB8fzpFMO6_tbg81o/s320/A%20Peaceful%20River%20Leven.%20Dumbarton.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The walk around the harbour, some of it on waste ground is always a pleasant experience and very varied.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgHsfdMMi_5DU_kF4rW2yWGl8PDYhQIAn8CFuA6zkiUmtFhZxeI71ScI1fSVbGPbvI5UYZoG64t1-Z1tdLlCjq3CCtVk1myrA9egV3MAEcpY300_SfmaOjOVTtuYx-8LybSGEDd0FsD002har3bHB21GyiseICE4Ze4ys26gm7V7X0Fo6lhUYY2F17Qs/s1170/Elephant%20Bench.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1170" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgHsfdMMi_5DU_kF4rW2yWGl8PDYhQIAn8CFuA6zkiUmtFhZxeI71ScI1fSVbGPbvI5UYZoG64t1-Z1tdLlCjq3CCtVk1myrA9egV3MAEcpY300_SfmaOjOVTtuYx-8LybSGEDd0FsD002har3bHB21GyiseICE4Ze4ys26gm7V7X0Fo6lhUYY2F17Qs/s320/Elephant%20Bench.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> A modern elephant bench. Dumbarton's long history with elephants will be mentioned later on.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cojW4RHOSubBgDzkBn7EeUMEJZE5VSS9_DyeVUre9yqsppQHnvKS9Z_71zrmkEwkIbAfkFAlZThB02Oftum7DwiTEYw7mFHAA1efA_ZtdWfzhVFCeBSPSUZG_nMP5ZMXmn5EmAcdD8oaVFRExD4gUB_V7aERwLuEzJt91EStgAxqIYcJR8VNhcNxScI/s1463/Dumbarton%20Rock%20and%20River%20Leven.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1463" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cojW4RHOSubBgDzkBn7EeUMEJZE5VSS9_DyeVUre9yqsppQHnvKS9Z_71zrmkEwkIbAfkFAlZThB02Oftum7DwiTEYw7mFHAA1efA_ZtdWfzhVFCeBSPSUZG_nMP5ZMXmn5EmAcdD8oaVFRExD4gUB_V7aERwLuEzJt91EStgAxqIYcJR8VNhcNxScI/s320/Dumbarton%20Rock%20and%20River%20Leven.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The River Leven and Dumbarton Rock and Castle. The car park is just out of sight on the right on the Dumbarton rock side, (the river twists right in this photo to run beneath it in front so to reach it it's the left hand bank in this photo that you have to walk down to reach it. This river drains all of Loch Lomond so in times of heavy rainfall/floods it can be impressive for the sheer volumes of water it discharges into the Clyde Estuary.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXzjaMQk0PDT6xNdicB9gQgIcNntxo4Ei4e-GMWcijUBNpPIOIjgKVnbJNEv1raA0w2weFIhksOjBNP7eFqdmYpPfpwYUE-h82Bj9R0iF-uH6Ih0sZCv269qrwZNM-7xHzlWVKGklrpH7Ubzjrukv4pk2S5t1diMYL7xIMT7mrnJQzmYWKsPrrdjfjH8/s1503/Old%20Docks%20At%20Dumbarton.%20River%20Leven.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1503" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXzjaMQk0PDT6xNdicB9gQgIcNntxo4Ei4e-GMWcijUBNpPIOIjgKVnbJNEv1raA0w2weFIhksOjBNP7eFqdmYpPfpwYUE-h82Bj9R0iF-uH6Ih0sZCv269qrwZNM-7xHzlWVKGklrpH7Ubzjrukv4pk2S5t1diMYL7xIMT7mrnJQzmYWKsPrrdjfjH8/s320/Old%20Docks%20At%20Dumbarton.%20River%20Leven.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The remains of the old docks when Dumbarton, like most UK towns, cities, and even small villages during the industrial revolution produced products shipped worldwide. Shipbuilding, whisky distilleries, and glass making to name but three industries here for a population of around 20,000 citizens. Maybe 30,000 at it's heavy industry jobs peak. For a lot of towns and districts; Dumbarton, Paisley, Barrhead, Clydebank, the Inverclyde towns and the Ayrshire towns spring to mind, the good times of earning a regular wage in a steady reliable job from year to year is mostly a thing of the past for a lot of people and there is a lot of deprivation, alcohol abuse, drugs and unemployment in these mentioned areas. Although maybe more so in recent past decades. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sitSg6KwzRpjO08IY6re9EzmeAGymiVCRne2fbNwkfOvQErediyvGu2xIrrYm_mRAlZCPkYkeibgJRu7NDldqwHxZKJvraLsF2SVuV6VBvU76VMxk_frQ4A2hmCUZ3eGqhPlg-4F2v1hNOHvpfEY2HQhrc55xIlfANJXehq7q8xlYABsruCFynJynTk/s1542/Sunken%20Ship.%20River%20Leven%20Harbour.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1542" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sitSg6KwzRpjO08IY6re9EzmeAGymiVCRne2fbNwkfOvQErediyvGu2xIrrYm_mRAlZCPkYkeibgJRu7NDldqwHxZKJvraLsF2SVuV6VBvU76VMxk_frQ4A2hmCUZ3eGqhPlg-4F2v1hNOHvpfEY2HQhrc55xIlfANJXehq7q8xlYABsruCFynJynTk/s320/Sunken%20Ship.%20River%20Leven%20Harbour.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> But it's an interesting town and walk with a long history. Sunken ships here in the River Leven. Good for local fish and other sea creatures as a home.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxlR3Gqll4OoQi952AP2i5gxbs2fLvNKL5VfQBTzZR64ft1ON6v-sifPHP2Pc-q1w2D7YL_PB_vPWytNqlZO61xYnJ623CHHS_LgH7hHCVzIy3WPFkR8nLTH7hh9Py_IPt01Uva5vV9_dxwOQOmn0sw9w4gUGBbuzphbwr3Ni5TlvkeXJRLA1YzAjkTw/s1472/River%20Clyde%20Esuary%20Scramble%20at%20Dumbarton.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1472" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxlR3Gqll4OoQi952AP2i5gxbs2fLvNKL5VfQBTzZR64ft1ON6v-sifPHP2Pc-q1w2D7YL_PB_vPWytNqlZO61xYnJ623CHHS_LgH7hHCVzIy3WPFkR8nLTH7hh9Py_IPt01Uva5vV9_dxwOQOmn0sw9w4gUGBbuzphbwr3Ni5TlvkeXJRLA1YzAjkTw/s320/River%20Clyde%20Esuary%20Scramble%20at%20Dumbarton.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Which brought us round to Dumbarton Rock. One of the bouldering boulders here with rolling Renfrewshire in the distance.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mwyWx7U2n0lLVKnAb_kY3sBHhJFp-p9UZR4JYIO536062SlZ01U_aAoDYCAEEzzzucfsx8L17JO7xpLW1SsHJB3A5mRMtNoqq3TqEvDp_us6nnXVKC_9-3dvNYP9mLhdIfyPvZPlSvmbl0gO1ecE7O2muCnWYsbDNc-cATP76k_8ezskAGLSSYv7HK4/s1626/The%20Imposing%20Cliffs%20of%20Dumbarton%20Rock%20with%20Bold%20Climber.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1626" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mwyWx7U2n0lLVKnAb_kY3sBHhJFp-p9UZR4JYIO536062SlZ01U_aAoDYCAEEzzzucfsx8L17JO7xpLW1SsHJB3A5mRMtNoqq3TqEvDp_us6nnXVKC_9-3dvNYP9mLhdIfyPvZPlSvmbl0gO1ecE7O2muCnWYsbDNc-cATP76k_8ezskAGLSSYv7HK4/s320/The%20Imposing%20Cliffs%20of%20Dumbarton%20Rock%20with%20Bold%20Climber.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The other bouldering boulders here and the main face where the hardest rock climbs are. I've been here dozens of times over the decades and never seen anyone climb any of the big E routes featured here. E being Extreme. You can just see a climber at the top of the obvious slanting crack climb, above. So he's obviously done the actual route up the crack itself.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjRZzs4DZcJnkfamuTmRoj7ZsB0LWtFgNLDC0eGR8Zfj9fmk-mzjAJ8Cf9DHnhptXE99k6mu7yLfrx1zoNv6WuqHaS6pCe-viv7zWynaDkZCtu5e_w7pcXQtyCz2YLtMxu2sFdRBh10BFwXIlKftrOi5fmaDEGOyCBHpsnmgGf01Vty0z-q6nAEuth-A/s1665/A%20rock%20climber.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1665" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjRZzs4DZcJnkfamuTmRoj7ZsB0LWtFgNLDC0eGR8Zfj9fmk-mzjAJ8Cf9DHnhptXE99k6mu7yLfrx1zoNv6WuqHaS6pCe-viv7zWynaDkZCtu5e_w7pcXQtyCz2YLtMxu2sFdRBh10BFwXIlKftrOi5fmaDEGOyCBHpsnmgGf01Vty0z-q6nAEuth-A/s320/A%20rock%20climber.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This time a couple of climbers were attempting Chemin de Fer, ( French for Iron Path or Railroad) one of the best crack climbs in Scotland... if you can handle E3 basalt that is... not the most friction friendly rock around. And it was in December... Cold, damp and fairly miserable on fingers and toes I'd imagine. Going by the bolt the rope is attached to high up on the cliff it seemed as if they were attempting a direct finish to the route judging by chalk marks above the climber. But that's just my guess. The only guide I have left now is a 1980s Climber's Guide to Central Scotland and Southern Scotland featuring most of the low lying outcrops in that wide area by Jerry Handren. Still a classic today. So maybe a direct finish is an actual route now... or will be one someday. Being an HVS climber as my uppermost top grade outdoors on cliffs I made it a point never to go near this overhanging face as I'd be well out of my comfort zone so well done even getting up that far. In mid December of all months. This type of hard basalt is smooth and slippy even when bone dry.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnR9PCLyDRebRdf_ro_62RZGnx0k7Jr2DLFwQCsVF5kIiY1XMd298dxa1WeCy0v_vvbp5TNfcDnFJCL42Uzi24aSSQw7tr8RDsk7H4giZjK5mDVHaYsjBJRVNADEOjS9Mfo85cdHG4maQ6cMzsIO3Ug9TKg6B1iC0jh8uOrsH3wR3xNIgvi2OYT-B8hE/s1446/E3%20Rock%20Climb.%20Dumbarton%20Rock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1446" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnR9PCLyDRebRdf_ro_62RZGnx0k7Jr2DLFwQCsVF5kIiY1XMd298dxa1WeCy0v_vvbp5TNfcDnFJCL42Uzi24aSSQw7tr8RDsk7H4giZjK5mDVHaYsjBJRVNADEOjS9Mfo85cdHG4maQ6cMzsIO3Ug9TKg6B1iC0jh8uOrsH3wR3xNIgvi2OYT-B8hE/s320/E3%20Rock%20Climb.%20Dumbarton%20Rock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another photo abseiling down. (Note all the metal protection gear in the crack, hence the name of the route ?...) Even if you did finish the climbs the soaking vegetation exit at the top of these routes is off-putting as well in winter. Still a lot of visible wet weeps on the rock so cold frozen fingers almost guaranteed for climbers here.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1-srpL9K4KDt0uf0tK2esQqdtN5Pqu0zWY9XpRfNrPK6AJTc1y0SEIbQsBPpQwh_1L9b_s2sfmyQFSag2BmZqq-cvM9UbQlTjo_GTVTN0_OcgffiaSj7tu37-jaFULXp6lRG6_w0h7kZap57k1Y0INogqzWwWMay7gjLfF_JfvdYGAfHcq8AYHcHNvc/s1463/Rock%20Climber.%20Dumbarton%20Rock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1463" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1-srpL9K4KDt0uf0tK2esQqdtN5Pqu0zWY9XpRfNrPK6AJTc1y0SEIbQsBPpQwh_1L9b_s2sfmyQFSag2BmZqq-cvM9UbQlTjo_GTVTN0_OcgffiaSj7tu37-jaFULXp6lRG6_w0h7kZap57k1Y0INogqzWwWMay7gjLfF_JfvdYGAfHcq8AYHcHNvc/s320/Rock%20Climber.%20Dumbarton%20Rock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This face is also overhanging in places so you have to cling onto the holds just to stay attached to the route all the way up. Strenuous stuff.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRz3AR4d54r_ixJukOe4PK7bsw3GPlMPhEMFzLYjuUFaQbf7AYttxA76x9pMDgWNp0XOJvt-o9Wgt7LeDK4s8jilq_hMmoqr9Dfr7hYIINf8p-EA9oM3bIT-kO345OcLcyquzI3B2Y-9S5iK26LBYarc7UxqNxpx68nI0hmqTTPQFYN1a85bPNlDK-ac/s1393/Dumbarton%20Castle%20on%20its%20famous%20rock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1393" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRz3AR4d54r_ixJukOe4PK7bsw3GPlMPhEMFzLYjuUFaQbf7AYttxA76x9pMDgWNp0XOJvt-o9Wgt7LeDK4s8jilq_hMmoqr9Dfr7hYIINf8p-EA9oM3bIT-kO345OcLcyquzI3B2Y-9S5iK26LBYarc7UxqNxpx68nI0hmqTTPQFYN1a85bPNlDK-ac/s320/Dumbarton%20Castle%20on%20its%20famous%20rock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, we only stayed here for five minutes then moved on to see the castle itself around the front of the rock. A feature older than Cleopatra.. or Jesus....or the pyramids and the Spinx.... and apparently one with the longest recorded history of any fortress in Scotland. Dating back to the Iron Age... possibly even the Stone Age as an obvious natural defensive location. The ancient fort of the Britons that even the Vikings and the Romans knew all about. Obviously the present incarnation of this castle fortress is more recent than that. Somewhat ironic then that the last few years it always seems to be shut to visitors... although most of the repair scaffolding has been removed by now.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkLwgyDwgC8zYbCelI0ZmA2KnZeKNnZCCqweDaUMyk7Gj4FvrAQI6p4uEXSnPffvGsSU8S3Psnt9J3itKUF1-YWhVlcNPJ9mIHmnEkmDzjumQ5Txrw0WUy5d9M8M7XXZ9TCT8I-_VGFBj8dgiwPNdY8NbDYf1f5iyIICjBg7mZ9Qpg1HY9LzM0AMaXh0/s1460/Shoreline%20Walk%20near%20Dumbarton.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1460" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkLwgyDwgC8zYbCelI0ZmA2KnZeKNnZCCqweDaUMyk7Gj4FvrAQI6p4uEXSnPffvGsSU8S3Psnt9J3itKUF1-YWhVlcNPJ9mIHmnEkmDzjumQ5Txrw0WUy5d9M8M7XXZ9TCT8I-_VGFBj8dgiwPNdY8NbDYf1f5iyIICjBg7mZ9Qpg1HY9LzM0AMaXh0/s320/Shoreline%20Walk%20near%20Dumbarton.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Next up was the shoreline walk from Dumbarton Castle to Milton direction although it does not go all the way to Milton but heads inland at the edge of Dumbarton by going under a railway line via a stooped concrete platform ( harder for anyone over six foot tall as you have to bend double or crawl along with a watery punishment if you get it wrong.) This is a nice wild stretch as you walk under these volcanic cliffs on easy flat grass paths. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TUDK8V31n9ys3RsT8HIAC-PVvpxMLA1Th_Pmv7D8_o1-2ObelSZCOB9asZrsVxAbOIq8y1EcD6QwleD7q0PemXZW7gRKG37gRC1oXWWpcGDY9BCMfpawaDMYOH08Fhp7oFo_9CjY3q5vo9-1YsBiuzyLrobvgVAdUslX7f0oCJqQQjM6uB_65tQKr-4/s1600/Little%20Egret.%20Dumbarton%20Shoreline.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TUDK8V31n9ys3RsT8HIAC-PVvpxMLA1Th_Pmv7D8_o1-2ObelSZCOB9asZrsVxAbOIq8y1EcD6QwleD7q0PemXZW7gRKG37gRC1oXWWpcGDY9BCMfpawaDMYOH08Fhp7oFo_9CjY3q5vo9-1YsBiuzyLrobvgVAdUslX7f0oCJqQQjM6uB_65tQKr-4/s320/Little%20Egret.%20Dumbarton%20Shoreline.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It was at this point we spotted the Little Egret, a rarity in Scotland normally but with climate change and milder Scottish winters they seem to be spreading north. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCCEe67f7-QWSjcxMIrWXhU1FoygEwZ9YObt5274yKqleA1ICxauRjTf17PhZFcgLf4j85ipY0efJKMkZ6NN4sDYQgqibmfREV7I4mGQyCUjKdmyF8qi3S9Xh02LmFpmflQNGLP4umY4Df51oK88Iw-QJ1kEd-6EiQgslJ2OKNWqoXqs03y8fsSUJiSQ/s1681/Little%20Egret.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1681" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCCEe67f7-QWSjcxMIrWXhU1FoygEwZ9YObt5274yKqleA1ICxauRjTf17PhZFcgLf4j85ipY0efJKMkZ6NN4sDYQgqibmfREV7I4mGQyCUjKdmyF8qi3S9Xh02LmFpmflQNGLP4umY4Df51oK88Iw-QJ1kEd-6EiQgslJ2OKNWqoXqs03y8fsSUJiSQ/s320/Little%20Egret.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">A large bird similar to a heron they are more common in the south of England as they prefer warmer temperatures and you often see them in wildlife documentaries nesting in Australian mangrove swamps or skulking next to elephants in Africa... watching for disturbed insects or frogs displaced by big heavy feet. First time either of us has seen one though. A fairly rare occurrence up here. Must be only a handful this far north at any given time.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7s-FKrtrVkLq0kHqU323WjzBPxBdfKte-VXpHnJTDGtJznq38Wv26_K7MuZClCDakQL1QzjGrbpOsz3FlNPBYUEjA2iSpVmxeAxyaHHoqL6y7BN5ORi7nA63YvodbzAthcF6H0Vok7aj7L4lBV4Zw8POXrjgMDRMT6TKCjMVzOCnGYBW0ffSKaWlOcw/s1421/Cold%20Raw%20Day.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde%20Estuary.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1421" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7s-FKrtrVkLq0kHqU323WjzBPxBdfKte-VXpHnJTDGtJznq38Wv26_K7MuZClCDakQL1QzjGrbpOsz3FlNPBYUEjA2iSpVmxeAxyaHHoqL6y7BN5ORi7nA63YvodbzAthcF6H0Vok7aj7L4lBV4Zw8POXrjgMDRMT6TKCjMVzOCnGYBW0ffSKaWlOcw/s320/Cold%20Raw%20Day.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde%20Estuary.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It was a cold raw day so hopefully it would not regret moving north for the winter. Luckily birds, given enough food for energy, can fly south again in under a week.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwauYrfU_A3uehofOJRq-e3jS0DPgj0XHjA1lYQm7sFJtrplgMed7N-3tsm_BYkPptWkhmJr-hHaZYnVR3pSy0xZmWw7xFyREvDKrIAoVxpsPztx8zqJhz2KttI0ZD6XuZ2Sx9t9O5Jbqxv-sHRF9FkgAA7p5_b-1WJKl8BTGQnGneoPpW45gOqEVsfAY/s1716/The%20Back%20Lane.%20Dumbarton.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1716" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwauYrfU_A3uehofOJRq-e3jS0DPgj0XHjA1lYQm7sFJtrplgMed7N-3tsm_BYkPptWkhmJr-hHaZYnVR3pSy0xZmWw7xFyREvDKrIAoVxpsPztx8zqJhz2KttI0ZD6XuZ2Sx9t9O5Jbqxv-sHRF9FkgAA7p5_b-1WJKl8BTGQnGneoPpW45gOqEVsfAY/s320/The%20Back%20Lane.%20Dumbarton.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The back lane beside the bonding warehouses that used to be guarded by a flock of geese up until the late 1990s- early 2000s.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGD66jFbn_OVptL_EB_N4POWYNXHe1StEwft3MypG4drzgaFhcVmC6CNrNwSpyVQDEj4jqacndoSBKrNb_LIQ2C6a4uTlZPM-5R37kT60ZSR4Kex9w_xlsJKorAL8OP__nyidk-eB7KU3PD88cINYaGDdjklnoavebw3lP8pKKzYjl6Pf0M5bASu1gMQ/s1165/The%20Old%20Jail.%20Dumbarton.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1165" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGD66jFbn_OVptL_EB_N4POWYNXHe1StEwft3MypG4drzgaFhcVmC6CNrNwSpyVQDEj4jqacndoSBKrNb_LIQ2C6a4uTlZPM-5R37kT60ZSR4Kex9w_xlsJKorAL8OP__nyidk-eB7KU3PD88cINYaGDdjklnoavebw3lP8pKKzYjl6Pf0M5bASu1gMQ/s320/The%20Old%20Jail.%20Dumbarton.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">From there we headed back through the town itself on the history trail. Old town jail here. not much left of it but a doorway and a wall still standing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYf7s-hQ55NLqGgCD3uhw7jOfvNqQplwshND0TKpWeioyC5bf7-yA8XcUtfTkvrpUJx8Rhs63yciSs5AJlvXcj2veIji3c_K1hLcdkDMNjX7Jd-vQg9yZK1DMarmG9Bxyw4SC-0p9BBlDw8sCyLcmPKxAg-Y460b1UbS1Ytz4aUoIkUR075Erfq9WqblM/s1299/Crown%20Carving.%20Old%20Town%20Jail.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1299" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYf7s-hQ55NLqGgCD3uhw7jOfvNqQplwshND0TKpWeioyC5bf7-yA8XcUtfTkvrpUJx8Rhs63yciSs5AJlvXcj2veIji3c_K1hLcdkDMNjX7Jd-vQg9yZK1DMarmG9Bxyw4SC-0p9BBlDw8sCyLcmPKxAg-Y460b1UbS1Ytz4aUoIkUR075Erfq9WqblM/s320/Crown%20Carving.%20Old%20Town%20Jail.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Crown carving on the jail wall.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1hG0s6MqM-ks3Gx9CZiSUOi1tNdRjI3hlPkX9ERSLTSHqhrqdKlKQ7esKhyphenhypheneOeta87YK44gPmRFWsf0adRtQuPrOsdkKM1KZheDHIrsF7-XB8KkzWW8Q6q_Gz5k0q4k3rfFcidGRQM4OZ3YOlOj0KPaPGezw5A9UUcnMEiv24jzB65mlOkDbdP2KMyk/s1580/Elephant%20and%20Castle.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1580" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1hG0s6MqM-ks3Gx9CZiSUOi1tNdRjI3hlPkX9ERSLTSHqhrqdKlKQ7esKhyphenhypheneOeta87YK44gPmRFWsf0adRtQuPrOsdkKM1KZheDHIrsF7-XB8KkzWW8Q6q_Gz5k0q4k3rfFcidGRQM4OZ3YOlOj0KPaPGezw5A9UUcnMEiv24jzB65mlOkDbdP2KMyk/s320/Elephant%20and%20Castle.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Elephant and castle signs are everywhere in Dumbarton as it's the town's Coat of Arms. Presumably dating to a time when tiger hunts used elephants with people on top.The original sight and idea of that must have been amazing when it was first discovered during the west's love affair with all things Indian Subcontinent. The colourful wildlife, the history, the flamboyant colours in the flowers, birds, and people. It was a popular craze... just like wild swimming is today. Elephant and castle signs are common in the UK with pubs, districts, cities, etc holding examples but maybe a natural affinity occurred here as the rock could well be the elephant beneath with the castle on top. Symbols of endurance, immovability and defensive strength. Or maybe inspired by a much earlier example of elephant power- Hannibal's extraordinary journey over The Alps into Italy to fight the Romans.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRCBXaTDLZbfND6TLiyMjp7lWYSvCibE8FtXy1lp0J_Sfzte4A3TYhq5sjOn9MWBh7ffKb-OecjRUcsHHv32dG0ovLQP7BzodjczkdX_Ng5WzIPUzH-TdVUA2luT8OQ3Z2Z72AwRjEuEcA2otgcYWaOCCGfZ1hLjXvJa82vMGmc7Pq8Nc2ueSH9v6bno/s1428/Dumbarton%20Municipal%20Buildings.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1428" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRCBXaTDLZbfND6TLiyMjp7lWYSvCibE8FtXy1lp0J_Sfzte4A3TYhq5sjOn9MWBh7ffKb-OecjRUcsHHv32dG0ovLQP7BzodjczkdX_Ng5WzIPUzH-TdVUA2luT8OQ3Z2Z72AwRjEuEcA2otgcYWaOCCGfZ1hLjXvJa82vMGmc7Pq8Nc2ueSH9v6bno/s320/Dumbarton%20Municipal%20Buildings.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The wonderful Dumbarton Municipal Buildings.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2swuZbuCQ7NBM4Kh4FlvzcQ4LNFgs8Jgk_Tt33NlQYtCL70omowiKixZE-tv8LztqenjsLr3L8Z1tuyg1qOGSRjfOMWe7Z2q1Ju-9_TjYSvy71wgusSm_cX_HAF5DSWp6bCStQyiZVomd_zLLA3LkEbrfp-xjxevOZvr3jfJ0WdYVAlbwIqgpAStVlHA/s1324/Peter%20Denny%20Statue.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1324" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2swuZbuCQ7NBM4Kh4FlvzcQ4LNFgs8Jgk_Tt33NlQYtCL70omowiKixZE-tv8LztqenjsLr3L8Z1tuyg1qOGSRjfOMWe7Z2q1Ju-9_TjYSvy71wgusSm_cX_HAF5DSWp6bCStQyiZVomd_zLLA3LkEbrfp-xjxevOZvr3jfJ0WdYVAlbwIqgpAStVlHA/s320/Peter%20Denny%20Statue.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Peter Denny Statue. One of the most important shipbuilders at that time. Don't know if he would appreciate the gull perched on his head though.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQkSrYEVxqWvmHKsbk7bQ8SAD-ALEuO1P86OawS6KedkO0zt7L2iigznqGRZ_5MfIyEk982hiEH6D3Ssun4BPcOV9okFPCW9NaGXbmjyUH7_8JtkJzPQAuwdEnLkGOb-3PdgEkOI9F2lK9317G_YqR7keOwwTHIbAb9qL5V1KtNVjjtdjPY8FQQxOP8w/s1564/Denny.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1564" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQkSrYEVxqWvmHKsbk7bQ8SAD-ALEuO1P86OawS6KedkO0zt7L2iigznqGRZ_5MfIyEk982hiEH6D3Ssun4BPcOV9okFPCW9NaGXbmjyUH7_8JtkJzPQAuwdEnLkGOb-3PdgEkOI9F2lK9317G_YqR7keOwwTHIbAb9qL5V1KtNVjjtdjPY8FQQxOP8w/s320/Denny.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This gull was not bothered in the slightest by our approach. "I was here first. It's my head. It's my shit on this head! See it?. That's my claim right there. I ain't budging for the likes of you pal." it seemed to say.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bk9rq8A9fn61m2hupahEEF0XhyphenhyphenM6dVkLh62xJJ-inZXLQHGVotlmdub2MQJBv_jnU1I4dN6Yjt9MOfFjXqkcrORT_iAIZ_9NOONoamd4MAVpkGqV1mi6dXUZ0m-1AvMFX9oRlcgxxwgsHoh9tRq7uqOAVYJiXeLwz6bY0e1Ma8DldhY2JdWx9LkNYck/s1565/Group%20Photo.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1565" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bk9rq8A9fn61m2hupahEEF0XhyphenhyphenM6dVkLh62xJJ-inZXLQHGVotlmdub2MQJBv_jnU1I4dN6Yjt9MOfFjXqkcrORT_iAIZ_9NOONoamd4MAVpkGqV1mi6dXUZ0m-1AvMFX9oRlcgxxwgsHoh9tRq7uqOAVYJiXeLwz6bY0e1Ma8DldhY2JdWx9LkNYck/s320/Group%20Photo.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Not even lining it up for a group close up photo of the head, the gull, and the coat of arms bothered it. "Their aw deid pal. I'm the only living thing here right now. And I'm no moving! This is my favourite lookout nut and it's staying ma favourite lookout nut long after you leave! I like to see what's going on in ma burgh. This is ma toon after all. No yours!"</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6eIC0w28hKLE12RAd2jGf9SorpKDdv9YV8ZQH0ZgrgnIpfrbaxfEsqE1vP6VZ-0CiP9totktEjiWUFCZo7w3tXKXZkTvcMUimDdDRM-YtmX_x33gdtoRZnVeDfya85ho9poGIj5mE6rnsc13WtfTOmxFo6fB5GTL3FK6Yditoa1JwvFTCLSnIqeyEL4/s1444/Dumbarton%20Library.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1444" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6eIC0w28hKLE12RAd2jGf9SorpKDdv9YV8ZQH0ZgrgnIpfrbaxfEsqE1vP6VZ-0CiP9totktEjiWUFCZo7w3tXKXZkTvcMUimDdDRM-YtmX_x33gdtoRZnVeDfya85ho9poGIj5mE6rnsc13WtfTOmxFo6fB5GTL3FK6Yditoa1JwvFTCLSnIqeyEL4/s320/Dumbarton%20Library.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Dumbarton Library.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRJlMDScEeOJ2IP1Ui1q_cq-YoY9UGbGSxObkM1kGQgSvjVoudk9d5JhBfypLvPqvv3tJW7jUKGbQutfl6gUMKfAzdPKbN-fxyWxz69kHwLFHOLqgN_JHmyFaWnizAzGANAyphyc2UvQLghOSD895rQFYNajCwOKnTBm3-RZHE6c11pt-9s-9a8cKrB0/s1549/Cherubs.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1549" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRJlMDScEeOJ2IP1Ui1q_cq-YoY9UGbGSxObkM1kGQgSvjVoudk9d5JhBfypLvPqvv3tJW7jUKGbQutfl6gUMKfAzdPKbN-fxyWxz69kHwLFHOLqgN_JHmyFaWnizAzGANAyphyc2UvQLghOSD895rQFYNajCwOKnTBm3-RZHE6c11pt-9s-9a8cKrB0/s320/Cherubs.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">A detail.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Some folk rock climb, some folk retail shop for pleasure... and some people try to help others...</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBASBbYBH-i_yF6Kqs9UA-r3zF-8ghkL7Y8Zk0HcR33WBz9_eDBVmeWzCFj5ZaQncsX9FKcbzXm0pKxcYTmntr47Z6sOTcO3zvk01kr-LHnSAeVVsmmgQLtSmu2yMzv_86KuiRYPd7tMcYOEtTeWC9B47C6yg0fWZmywRcNYuYvWpEhAIFM_3arisdSGU/s1369/Born.%20To%20make%20us%20Happy.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1369" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBASBbYBH-i_yF6Kqs9UA-r3zF-8ghkL7Y8Zk0HcR33WBz9_eDBVmeWzCFj5ZaQncsX9FKcbzXm0pKxcYTmntr47Z6sOTcO3zvk01kr-LHnSAeVVsmmgQLtSmu2yMzv_86KuiRYPd7tMcYOEtTeWC9B47C6yg0fWZmywRcNYuYvWpEhAIFM_3arisdSGU/s320/Born.%20To%20make%20us%20Happy.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">A display to help sick children ended our walk. Another good day out. A walk of a few hours duration but with plenty of interest and variety.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-36556823840778338042024-01-20T14:51:00.008+00:002024-01-26T21:03:57.811+00:00A Lucky Dip Day. Byres Road. Kelvingrove Art Gallery. U of G New Buildings.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzSq7uX6A072ADu19f9BY0_b3k2ye6AYjy6lFRii3T0_EyyHkpVm9pRp5Bvqu1gNvmPWXAiFqGYxczA-QX-yloFERT_hkx874FvDbtmKvr7KSUfK1rbeP38dq5_G3v7djw12oljIVVxC0B2ifzwj_ZPghp8_VJix2qdYKa0eix6p22usdPaC888NkUgg/s1223/Oran%20Mor%20Church.%20Byres%20Road.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1223" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzSq7uX6A072ADu19f9BY0_b3k2ye6AYjy6lFRii3T0_EyyHkpVm9pRp5Bvqu1gNvmPWXAiFqGYxczA-QX-yloFERT_hkx874FvDbtmKvr7KSUfK1rbeP38dq5_G3v7djw12oljIVVxC0B2ifzwj_ZPghp8_VJix2qdYKa0eix6p22usdPaC888NkUgg/s320/Oran%20Mor%20Church.%20Byres%20Road.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I needed a set of keys replaced at short notice so after looking online I discovered a Timpson near me at Byres Road in Glasgow. Oran Mor Church above. They cut or repair new keys for house, office, car, garage etc and also do shoe repairs. It was a busy wee shop as there's not that many shops left that do that kind of stuff. I had a quick attempt online which took ages to jump through all the hoops required plus I couldn't ask face to face questions directly about my set of keys so I got steered towards the most expensive products instead.. .and a three day wait to get them back again. After finding out the correct address I turned up in person and got a much cheaper deal face to face with the guy in the shop. It's a shame the internet and smart phones are destroying the High Street approach worldwide as this is one service where it was much better... and cheaper... in person.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fVwISESP2AKTgbAdNQNE6nez3fSGDQzFdd-Ziv-DmAqXS-W5hZKM5QSkHNjGIIHLu_hSlzfoCBZ0EK8Xx32knId86a_qzTw5-CI9j_4nlQ6HYAXrD63LRpjza7fUaVpMpyDJO9ibZzbGrXDjqiyTrVcof6cuxuo_ugs7-arBG-J-ClHr1_i_xZVun2Q/s1396/Traditional%20Tenements%20in%20Byres%20Road.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1396" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fVwISESP2AKTgbAdNQNE6nez3fSGDQzFdd-Ziv-DmAqXS-W5hZKM5QSkHNjGIIHLu_hSlzfoCBZ0EK8Xx32knId86a_qzTw5-CI9j_4nlQ6HYAXrD63LRpjza7fUaVpMpyDJO9ibZzbGrXDjqiyTrVcof6cuxuo_ugs7-arBG-J-ClHr1_i_xZVun2Q/s320/Traditional%20Tenements%20in%20Byres%20Road.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I had two hours to wait to get the results so I took a gentle stroll down Byres Road from the Botanic Gardens to the Partick end, intending to visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. One of Glasgow's finest buildings and art collections. Traditional period tenements line Byres Road on both sides, above. Before they were built it used to be open ground here, grass fields, and cattle byres, hence the name. The Curlers Bar, beside the underground station, harks back to that time when a popular ice rink formed every winter in a nearby pond and locals would play against each other on the ice.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9TIUxiPdYkGmxsUgcCdfG2I2RpSpcR4wa98k1PKG12EcMK4Y2t6zzzIwlNslbrRz5ImJszPvk8OsGJXS45mHiaaQAwKa_QTe9HXAZw-Mb0fVXpwDLb-I9mI7KC7gMBGOsV9NyXlCZERfXg7dotnXxDher107IrB6PYW8Hha6dgxFyPWs-88rqi-Muy4/s1528/Yorkhill%20District.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1528" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9TIUxiPdYkGmxsUgcCdfG2I2RpSpcR4wa98k1PKG12EcMK4Y2t6zzzIwlNslbrRz5ImJszPvk8OsGJXS45mHiaaQAwKa_QTe9HXAZw-Mb0fVXpwDLb-I9mI7KC7gMBGOsV9NyXlCZERfXg7dotnXxDher107IrB6PYW8Hha6dgxFyPWs-88rqi-Muy4/s320/Yorkhill%20District.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So far.. so familiar... Yorkhill District here and student flats.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNl3FTYJYTgwtaCiRCzOEgmryxKyWtw2uYU6gLyd454Jiu1Z4mbOJlQtMzEZzhZNbiJqo_tqE1xquFeCfP5rIXYdfkqH6iq2oe0q1qcKWF9Rf4BIOy4pwYLdXpdsVUyKLvbgVpsPQERmWysQ4YrF4UdMJ2b6Hb5cZwnPz6zQeZrO2wpAo2YpJYSaWqFbc/s1156/New%20Buildings.%20University%20of%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1156" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNl3FTYJYTgwtaCiRCzOEgmryxKyWtw2uYU6gLyd454Jiu1Z4mbOJlQtMzEZzhZNbiJqo_tqE1xquFeCfP5rIXYdfkqH6iq2oe0q1qcKWF9Rf4BIOy4pwYLdXpdsVUyKLvbgVpsPQERmWysQ4YrF4UdMJ2b6Hb5cZwnPz6zQeZrO2wpAo2YpJYSaWqFbc/s320/New%20Buildings.%20University%20of%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Then the shock of the new happened. I'd completely forgotten the new buildings rising up, phoenix like, from the ashes of the now gone Western Infirmary, leaving a large gap site. As I've not been down this way for at least six months I didn't realise it would be at such an advanced stage. The next set of photos are all buildings for the University of Glasgow.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGBewyOHQOmljA1jQhD__6ywJwQhkpwGzKzOuR1ujlsxFLODyg6xV-i1rHr5Ief2CL4mD7SFQOX3CTkO55P0LkcW4lhvLqjxAnA9hnA6br_rOqphaetiLN65eQDUwkDl1wMO3IZtxCuxppfGPwgj_-JLsEqvtSRH_hRj_6OrmsuGGXCKNXIsY9ZVSzag/s1509/Arc%20Building.%20University%20of%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1509" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGBewyOHQOmljA1jQhD__6ywJwQhkpwGzKzOuR1ujlsxFLODyg6xV-i1rHr5Ief2CL4mD7SFQOX3CTkO55P0LkcW4lhvLqjxAnA9hnA6br_rOqphaetiLN65eQDUwkDl1wMO3IZtxCuxppfGPwgj_-JLsEqvtSRH_hRj_6OrmsuGGXCKNXIsY9ZVSzag/s320/Arc%20Building.%20University%20of%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The ARC building and new plaza, just completed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68GvGWdfNNPncMWxI3vimRCa71DZf7tiJcoJgmzuoGCmTc-DrSxJnyl8LU7m-7z6j0AZ48bMsLAEvFen9zCL1wsEB1AnSKNSNctA4AqaMTZQIs0tjv_EUOrvlny_wTDW4xHzUQH-moNXsXfhNEjlAotkLh4n-GdQQvAhoqpfNqfC0dVW_wF8_S6TkOH0/s1353/Brand%20New%20Buildings.%20University%20of%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1353" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68GvGWdfNNPncMWxI3vimRCa71DZf7tiJcoJgmzuoGCmTc-DrSxJnyl8LU7m-7z6j0AZ48bMsLAEvFen9zCL1wsEB1AnSKNSNctA4AqaMTZQIs0tjv_EUOrvlny_wTDW4xHzUQH-moNXsXfhNEjlAotkLh4n-GdQQvAhoqpfNqfC0dVW_wF8_S6TkOH0/s320/Brand%20New%20Buildings.%20University%20of%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Different view.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBz2XMzqyBFuDGMvJ1bOt6XS2OA3L5KXyh-E38QvavtNKFSqsKZRV-cLitsXRPGcYnoN6DF8O-4S10PYd2Jmj_y3lQjJi9ASUwsrJNl83nipwe_LKTZdo0uH61rzI-eM_BBGkhQR7LvNktazQL4TFZLJynOCe9FrL4INxQu-8e5tbNCu-cXmIe9f2UXU/s1239/Brid%20Mural.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1239" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBz2XMzqyBFuDGMvJ1bOt6XS2OA3L5KXyh-E38QvavtNKFSqsKZRV-cLitsXRPGcYnoN6DF8O-4S10PYd2Jmj_y3lQjJi9ASUwsrJNl83nipwe_LKTZdo0uH61rzI-eM_BBGkhQR7LvNktazQL4TFZLJynOCe9FrL4INxQu-8e5tbNCu-cXmIe9f2UXU/s320/Brid%20Mural.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> This area also has a mural fence, probably to make the place seem more finished as parts of this district still have several gaps with other buildings planned to fit into them by the looks of it. The featured buildings look almost ready for students but nobody around on this occasion.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJr7WGS8-FBLxqrKCdxjDD8Y4GvU6ULLN4GlV7hztDz_cyzVGdbzRNNolwyY7A0BdAF1U-_oDK3pL2tBgdHeN-EFofyO6KRVqbGAc3ic3oJk8l6vZM43maX9bPFLH1LyP9QSnZD20dxvt1k0nNwvHmvYYPfBfdcW-16IErJux60S3zLrJzdfmWqh7ElE/s1329/Red%20Bird.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1329" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJr7WGS8-FBLxqrKCdxjDD8Y4GvU6ULLN4GlV7hztDz_cyzVGdbzRNNolwyY7A0BdAF1U-_oDK3pL2tBgdHeN-EFofyO6KRVqbGAc3ic3oJk8l6vZM43maX9bPFLH1LyP9QSnZD20dxvt1k0nNwvHmvYYPfBfdcW-16IErJux60S3zLrJzdfmWqh7ElE/s320/Red%20Bird.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Red Bird. Might be a Cardinal... a North American bird if it is. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPB-wkyUFrphexu7PfUbxiBo-0Izi1NKzUK_3ERmLxhpgteq3CMeZbiwFQdtH_0kF_eVzK2doguKW29fTObYBR8OpBdt5htrkjNMhHBKzUS6wVcSHsBW2jlUSHEkRN47GgKG1DdSoSpbIKrCwK4TZqakDsUNJ09vp63slZUW_Cx5PfeW7U3hfkAk-8gJ0/s1242/Mural%20Wall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1242" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPB-wkyUFrphexu7PfUbxiBo-0Izi1NKzUK_3ERmLxhpgteq3CMeZbiwFQdtH_0kF_eVzK2doguKW29fTObYBR8OpBdt5htrkjNMhHBKzUS6wVcSHsBW2jlUSHEkRN47GgKG1DdSoSpbIKrCwK4TZqakDsUNJ09vp63slZUW_Cx5PfeW7U3hfkAk-8gJ0/s320/Mural%20Wall.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A busy design. I like it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8S07vIvz7edQM1rq85DWqtXAhBdlp1ksjIH_3wPP5mBVwX5wTtTaZRVlDU0ToLtftVdTKt5ffIg2H2mGkpAgYUd6BTqlD6dJtPTxM4kCF_dG1THGIw0k7xGt-TFQ-vBrKQ1jdR4aE_3JQ3qrgPvOqpYyMvpkJaI_WEYc6HEa4lZaLZrKmj6bMZ8Jj3-A/s1215/Two%20Icons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1215" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8S07vIvz7edQM1rq85DWqtXAhBdlp1ksjIH_3wPP5mBVwX5wTtTaZRVlDU0ToLtftVdTKt5ffIg2H2mGkpAgYUd6BTqlD6dJtPTxM4kCF_dG1THGIw0k7xGt-TFQ-vBrKQ1jdR4aE_3JQ3qrgPvOqpYyMvpkJaI_WEYc6HEa4lZaLZrKmj6bMZ8Jj3-A/s320/Two%20Icons.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Two Icons.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFa8mj2Mzo9Ju_d-L1xJrVZXjfD1P9_eRkjPH54GMlOhyphenhyphen4dKMv5WTMjScjJY9vRGxy7kdcoI-6pizlm7t1UvR1-86fXHDX7aRYuYVwqHhR1_0ZQFVqR5iOz3O-QYycR697jUaYzZFGoVWMFL9VD7_BBhbJ9RNSZKtROsSBwYbEM_s7-XsxTYbW2ikom0/s1357/Mushroom%20House.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1357" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFa8mj2Mzo9Ju_d-L1xJrVZXjfD1P9_eRkjPH54GMlOhyphenhyphen4dKMv5WTMjScjJY9vRGxy7kdcoI-6pizlm7t1UvR1-86fXHDX7aRYuYVwqHhR1_0ZQFVqR5iOz3O-QYycR697jUaYzZFGoVWMFL9VD7_BBhbJ9RNSZKtROsSBwYbEM_s7-XsxTYbW2ikom0/s320/Mushroom%20House.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Mushroom house.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivszh_gk7JuYHH-t9wYcOwS1Q_QCL9FJ8-yUwhArBl3YT_98k_qV6MkQNhyR9uEIqqB__RGkoT1VWUFZI1qlPp_2P9YDw8hD6grAWrjIVkSsH9uZ5n_K5XgrZcW3_BpiAxNfnXAvRDFLPQcLJoRUr2sXvRnKgzDPN3Cc8YtDMnDi14hKZ7TpwUjVr4q18/s1490/School%20of%20Health%20and%20Wellbeing.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1490" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivszh_gk7JuYHH-t9wYcOwS1Q_QCL9FJ8-yUwhArBl3YT_98k_qV6MkQNhyR9uEIqqB__RGkoT1VWUFZI1qlPp_2P9YDw8hD6grAWrjIVkSsH9uZ5n_K5XgrZcW3_BpiAxNfnXAvRDFLPQcLJoRUr2sXvRnKgzDPN3Cc8YtDMnDi14hKZ7TpwUjVr4q18/s320/School%20of%20Health%20and%20Wellbeing.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">School of Health and Wellbeing.. apparently. I didn't need to go in however as I got a mental lift just from the shock of the new buildings. One of the many reasons I like living in a big city is the changes that occur in it year by year. Entire districts transformed, almost overnight.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwLp5gfwnYeKGt_bDjZjZO8TEjzykTNTYX7Kgy_HEsk9rSXHdpdhEs5zL5FzaO-jIcvKvfwJxBXuyBkK67NZv7m2ZZA2_E16O0cJpuhpkO3CPSteUKAQKg-yQGg2Pe2V-o0cnszhJZgf-Di60Xc6VqGr3N2BqzpsGZ6GUl3z5JfXG8PCa_ij7ITsWrfE/s1299/New%20Open%20Plaza.%20University%20of%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1299" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwLp5gfwnYeKGt_bDjZjZO8TEjzykTNTYX7Kgy_HEsk9rSXHdpdhEs5zL5FzaO-jIcvKvfwJxBXuyBkK67NZv7m2ZZA2_E16O0cJpuhpkO3CPSteUKAQKg-yQGg2Pe2V-o0cnszhJZgf-Di60Xc6VqGr3N2BqzpsGZ6GUl3z5JfXG8PCa_ij7ITsWrfE/s320/New%20Open%20Plaza.%20University%20of%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And amazingly I liked all the new buildings. With three separate universities in the heart of the city and a college as large as a university (City of Glasgow College) you could safety say 'the dear green place' is a university hot spot with thousands of student apartments all over the place.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD6W6HyOmgHqS1UB6XEpv2vMDKE8444LHSCUOFnxL9ve37OZMB_EGe6_6Ls9XjR3yXJvDF7BA80MvlMwTmdTSg1G8nOeloiBTsQbmwv_RHtBm4F-LlA-albyOmuJgsY4CfVO9wbxDapnJqXO0Y82N72yVl7Ad1QvNqCqSt77q6NdjcmByygGlI6vZ1OE/s1281/Bee%20Mural.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1281" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD6W6HyOmgHqS1UB6XEpv2vMDKE8444LHSCUOFnxL9ve37OZMB_EGe6_6Ls9XjR3yXJvDF7BA80MvlMwTmdTSg1G8nOeloiBTsQbmwv_RHtBm4F-LlA-albyOmuJgsY4CfVO9wbxDapnJqXO0Y82N72yVl7Ad1QvNqCqSt77q6NdjcmByygGlI6vZ1OE/s320/Bee%20Mural.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">In my own school days, with my rough council estate background, unless you were very clever ( and I was distinctly average) no-one ever considered you as university material in the slightest. Getting a trade was a big step up for the likes of me unless you, your teacher, or aspirational parents suggested a university placement instead but it certainly wasn't the must have essential option on your CV it is today. But maybe that might change again in the future. There was no need for a university education back then either for ordinary folk as people still had good jobs and could earn a decent living without one in heavy industry, or numerous factories/shipyards/steel works etc... pre Margaret Thatcher that is... and no one had ever heard of zero hours contracts. You normally worked from 8 or 9am to 5pm Mon to Fri with most weekends free. And a reliable wage packet with the same amount in it at the end of every week. A much simpler life back then in many ways, although it could still be hard or boring depending on the work involved.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyN0iJK4jSHxCUjr2EVT6GZgv-f6qPO1jck-PYOIxLZzssIlehpo9I1_2lcnTv-pMZJDnfgdcA4SoLIiTFPIdZ6u5CozZa5dELNw96AqqwUK4dPn1DFT3kC8MXLhppfRksjbsbepSjWCVrCGZlJbyZfxGpvo_oHWFWytdrmVPUlOXxZRDhtzRYOjUfi0/s1464/New%20Buildings%20On%20University%20Avenue.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1464" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyN0iJK4jSHxCUjr2EVT6GZgv-f6qPO1jck-PYOIxLZzssIlehpo9I1_2lcnTv-pMZJDnfgdcA4SoLIiTFPIdZ6u5CozZa5dELNw96AqqwUK4dPn1DFT3kC8MXLhppfRksjbsbepSjWCVrCGZlJbyZfxGpvo_oHWFWytdrmVPUlOXxZRDhtzRYOjUfi0/s320/New%20Buildings%20On%20University%20Avenue.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">New buildings on University Avenue.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUdESpDJyHQnxcvGIrId8OvEODHI5ppnnO38uiED59LTSnNPhJYnihuUg6G67tcFHlek3arBWYv6k11EMKJwiL9i7IYdgUHxKaYPH1QsWQX_dQVbk3QaxHxlLQAi9pT4avkGB50nL8abbNYPb33wQo55LacSW0Rq6lCUPDg3e2FLliq8qAPhDRKJ6rpI/s1546/University%20of%20Glasgow%20New%20Building.%20Stsmped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1546" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUdESpDJyHQnxcvGIrId8OvEODHI5ppnnO38uiED59LTSnNPhJYnihuUg6G67tcFHlek3arBWYv6k11EMKJwiL9i7IYdgUHxKaYPH1QsWQX_dQVbk3QaxHxlLQAi9pT4avkGB50nL8abbNYPb33wQo55LacSW0Rq6lCUPDg3e2FLliq8qAPhDRKJ6rpI/s320/University%20of%20Glasgow%20New%20Building.%20Stsmped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I thought this was a red building at first... from a distance...<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDtqBHfqg1sCzHmnMBubu6EC_y9DmWYS__s5bayVb6pzLathak_kx44Kj1czuvfVpJ5OaEy4I4ieeRXCuPP4o7uKVMZyzk6cKRqW4Toc4aZsYUAtzmEv8hWfEweIrbMOuJNekyGS_9rZimPyyLLX608MHw9pSIZ0RHXV9UvljIHgUJrBHIeU6X7V5L0Q/s1241/Suspended%20Panels.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1241" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDtqBHfqg1sCzHmnMBubu6EC_y9DmWYS__s5bayVb6pzLathak_kx44Kj1czuvfVpJ5OaEy4I4ieeRXCuPP4o7uKVMZyzk6cKRqW4Toc4aZsYUAtzmEv8hWfEweIrbMOuJNekyGS_9rZimPyyLLX608MHw9pSIZ0RHXV9UvljIHgUJrBHIeU6X7V5L0Q/s320/Suspended%20Panels.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Only to find out it was covered in suspended panels. A neat and elegant idea.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid51qV9UwHcCKJT08oyqfEJpcQxZMJ5UJXEwdDspTTWqUOvm3kCEzkIzCJpbIj3BNUBY7aIbfMa9zfJGCAQjkG1bdH_mcPedBi4gEdc6F1JLXb8OZbm2oj42wNSq0auSbPn5gSHuMaa3UBzgGMRYj6fXQB52LBic6wShFW9TsMfD9e9TNtl6BDpvaSi9Q/s1271/Suspended%20Heads%20Gallery.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1271" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid51qV9UwHcCKJT08oyqfEJpcQxZMJ5UJXEwdDspTTWqUOvm3kCEzkIzCJpbIj3BNUBY7aIbfMa9zfJGCAQjkG1bdH_mcPedBi4gEdc6F1JLXb8OZbm2oj42wNSq0auSbPn5gSHuMaa3UBzgGMRYj6fXQB52LBic6wShFW9TsMfD9e9TNtl6BDpvaSi9Q/s320/Suspended%20Heads%20Gallery.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And I finally arrived at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Famous suspended heads.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGFwJs9MWrGBD4vawsjAmiXRrTm7epTovY8Jjl9ldl5QUm1vZetOMVgRiP_JEqKYKG8iMCMpLdw21AMmfki-8JM3nXY6DZYy6Sgd3iGPRgJLRhu3ub7HGye6L88k76Iqu-CXEWERKnh-b4Fe6EKbtZdgPO9PM2hNt4rRPu4CMFsCM69XnUdQuLB8zNbQ/s1545/Suspended%20Plane.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1545" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGFwJs9MWrGBD4vawsjAmiXRrTm7epTovY8Jjl9ldl5QUm1vZetOMVgRiP_JEqKYKG8iMCMpLdw21AMmfki-8JM3nXY6DZYy6Sgd3iGPRgJLRhu3ub7HGye6L88k76Iqu-CXEWERKnh-b4Fe6EKbtZdgPO9PM2hNt4rRPu4CMFsCM69XnUdQuLB8zNbQ/s320/Suspended%20Plane.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I just took a few photos of things that caught my attention out of probably thousands of exhibits. Don't know if you can do so but never spotted any signs up saying it was not allowed. Glasgow and Edinburgh are two very different cities with their own unique attractions but entrance fees are one thing that separates them. I put £2 in the honesty box here. Many of Glasgow's attractions are the same. A voluntary or suggested donation into a box. Many of Edinburgh's best attractions are £20 per person or more to get in. Edinburgh Castle £15 to £22, although that is good value nowadays. £38 for family ticket of two adults and two kids so if you see a few paid attractions in one day it can mount up. By comparison Glasgow is a cheap but friendly date.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkg1It45AgrJZSw1THq7jLOizsUSFA-rsFYvKGctveDFs036Xj1S7yhTEyrJF116LaK8Q1SookrBQqG6kzOZsmVYyDZnda5X85o1yuJzQoflmMiaYLcWesstY-zrwJ3XW-dnPQLDsyHdZyoj00stLIrsX9HfO2BkgZEx73R6NPpEOBULV0KnmrFLFZOgU/s1209/Demon%20Mask.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1209" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkg1It45AgrJZSw1THq7jLOizsUSFA-rsFYvKGctveDFs036Xj1S7yhTEyrJF116LaK8Q1SookrBQqG6kzOZsmVYyDZnda5X85o1yuJzQoflmMiaYLcWesstY-zrwJ3XW-dnPQLDsyHdZyoj00stLIrsX9HfO2BkgZEx73R6NPpEOBULV0KnmrFLFZOgU/s320/Demon%20Mask.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Most of the time anyway. Demon Mask.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTy1xhFB92ujZ9wOS_01cYdJonAEeRWnGrOb8XuaQnOFSYQgUYTztItWe_62THEeryi349aJfxWo7biae6huZqfTYuGNC9pSuChkr5ltZFf5Ow3zuLpNtkMID0FRDS5d7OpsdmWaVPTLW0kQVQfbhl74w_9b_MLJ-AHSSN6rONvVcNKCuBNWHugF9iwOE/s1437/Leopard%20Seal%20Close%20Up.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1437" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTy1xhFB92ujZ9wOS_01cYdJonAEeRWnGrOb8XuaQnOFSYQgUYTztItWe_62THEeryi349aJfxWo7biae6huZqfTYuGNC9pSuChkr5ltZFf5Ow3zuLpNtkMID0FRDS5d7OpsdmWaVPTLW0kQVQfbhl74w_9b_MLJ-AHSSN6rONvVcNKCuBNWHugF9iwOE/s320/Leopard%20Seal%20Close%20Up.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> I took this photo of a leopard seal, a fierce polar predator, as I remembered a story about Ernest Shackleton's ill fated Antarctic expedition, when trapped, stranded, and starving on the ice they dressed the smallest man in the company like a penguin in black gear then had him waddle about on the ice beside open water. Leopard seals are around 8 to 9 feet long and love eating penguins so the ruse worked as a large bold adult flung itself out of the ocean straight at him... whereupon the rest of the crew, hidden out of sight, raced forward and clubbed and stabbed it to death before it could escape... or get its sharp teeth into the fake penguin/ very relieved small man. One of the things that saved them from starvation, allowing them to march into the history books later on.<br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0PBtT-yDPicxak0igmkyzFYuRgoD95GtY3ji_uuT86z3tyZLYh6pwiIt4jm4VQ1fwaEoqDoXEMi-0tP4N3n_BxfOQ17EHXc5F3oEeV7c7V3mfKfyEDxt5GkDOpMIG_PT1F0ldcMuBtEuP6R_3NgkCxjPVyqwLJaMJ6azLtkEXxVsNrqVMlgy6Q8N6QU/s1224/Kelvingrove%20Interior.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1224" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0PBtT-yDPicxak0igmkyzFYuRgoD95GtY3ji_uuT86z3tyZLYh6pwiIt4jm4VQ1fwaEoqDoXEMi-0tP4N3n_BxfOQ17EHXc5F3oEeV7c7V3mfKfyEDxt5GkDOpMIG_PT1F0ldcMuBtEuP6R_3NgkCxjPVyqwLJaMJ6azLtkEXxVsNrqVMlgy6Q8N6QU/s320/Kelvingrove%20Interior.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Kelvingrove interior. A magnificent building. Inside and out.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzCV2ifwHLe9DSzVxNswCODv6EokI1M2Ktpa8uDbUBhQxChba27O9mzo9VUBdqN2lYq9KUGyuSL7nEX0ftWsWO3tbj_1WPIcNsEWesYAsv8SLuvEiy89tB3lwzUSqp7Cnc6jLfTRbm79NcRqZr2SFjgNvjNkmuYyq9SAnMP6IO4cnrgp734pFOJg7FuI/s1213/Ancient%20Egypt.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1213" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzCV2ifwHLe9DSzVxNswCODv6EokI1M2Ktpa8uDbUBhQxChba27O9mzo9VUBdqN2lYq9KUGyuSL7nEX0ftWsWO3tbj_1WPIcNsEWesYAsv8SLuvEiy89tB3lwzUSqp7Cnc6jLfTRbm79NcRqZr2SFjgNvjNkmuYyq9SAnMP6IO4cnrgp734pFOJg7FuI/s320/Ancient%20Egypt.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Ancient Egyptian artifact.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNub56IripvLywgzNJUnqJAvhzXEu3Hphg-blfZrHGPbjcrhA-qBZiJqnoLH7-QVj70KOqbnTz63yhWookCMRjnSIKOIZDGVm-_ZPPOUN8jXwnApQswyhystQ0A_qWdmTTG_LsN8ZCNxgu_EEaHDwcPNnaIVMMQ2CVprEEaTJpDmsPskQ94nTSsnJWcq0/s1344/Alone%20Through%20Eternity...%20Or%20not.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1344" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNub56IripvLywgzNJUnqJAvhzXEu3Hphg-blfZrHGPbjcrhA-qBZiJqnoLH7-QVj70KOqbnTz63yhWookCMRjnSIKOIZDGVm-_ZPPOUN8jXwnApQswyhystQ0A_qWdmTTG_LsN8ZCNxgu_EEaHDwcPNnaIVMMQ2CVprEEaTJpDmsPskQ94nTSsnJWcq0/s320/Alone%20Through%20Eternity...%20Or%20not.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Dog and owner presumably...</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Zwnc_nQ7RjyPYCv7ekLIr_Td2to3xJFXYwCYiLjXKZb73IhZL_a_XrkALi2ahn91YCiO-Md2VJOb9XgyMtf_qeEaxYjscCm9pFjuGJJR2Q4yXjN07rMtjIKut0yMG16Qtzxcditjp12FpbZBFsBeTciyyw3xiNc7ckMn_4XW3SiRn5CepGJsW_q5vw8/s1579/MM%20A%20Detail.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1579" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Zwnc_nQ7RjyPYCv7ekLIr_Td2to3xJFXYwCYiLjXKZb73IhZL_a_XrkALi2ahn91YCiO-Md2VJOb9XgyMtf_qeEaxYjscCm9pFjuGJJR2Q4yXjN07rMtjIKut0yMG16Qtzxcditjp12FpbZBFsBeTciyyw3xiNc7ckMn_4XW3SiRn5CepGJsW_q5vw8/s320/MM%20A%20Detail.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A detail of a panel. Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, a fine artist in her own right and wife of that tall chair guy I'd rather not mention. He gets all the credit, usually.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIj-XGVnuc-1Zn3tM-rjBNhcotJOMkb1wqj6JQt3mPfjfEN0zQQC75n_NzhfX6r-GXaegxlXTJ8lpMHhzjVGQh8pQ2RzRl3Nnl2wbNf5d6UfHsoV2D7thp56gUj3-OR75UnsoudcxafiFwJM4WRv5GhpmhiDjoVaPjFpK9Y0H4F89kusFzvsW4L15Yso/s1284/Victorian%20Splendour%20of%20Kelvingrove.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1284" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIj-XGVnuc-1Zn3tM-rjBNhcotJOMkb1wqj6JQt3mPfjfEN0zQQC75n_NzhfX6r-GXaegxlXTJ8lpMHhzjVGQh8pQ2RzRl3Nnl2wbNf5d6UfHsoV2D7thp56gUj3-OR75UnsoudcxafiFwJM4WRv5GhpmhiDjoVaPjFpK9Y0H4F89kusFzvsW4L15Yso/s320/Victorian%20Splendour%20of%20Kelvingrove.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Museum interior.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBFZwf6-zRRiwH4fgjP8fn4SwtiGn5BlWo1ZDEGrBKOl-5CR6VP7VMbkg8s245QFAgS0uoRirU_qHVUwO0A2IdMPSZOMKMdM3lhSnX0bN6xHHXoAcPkPfetuPRfKlBwpeHH6eFm-kkveYU6Sousg3qvFanyvMLyd-wv_AHTjUSuDjs6pm7tldtJEHaFQ/s1252/Walking%20Fish%20from%20Ancient%20Oceans.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1252" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBFZwf6-zRRiwH4fgjP8fn4SwtiGn5BlWo1ZDEGrBKOl-5CR6VP7VMbkg8s245QFAgS0uoRirU_qHVUwO0A2IdMPSZOMKMdM3lhSnX0bN6xHHXoAcPkPfetuPRfKlBwpeHH6eFm-kkveYU6Sousg3qvFanyvMLyd-wv_AHTjUSuDjs6pm7tldtJEHaFQ/s320/Walking%20Fish%20from%20Ancient%20Oceans.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ancient walking fish. Note the extra limbs.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0DQvIUSdAprqPbG4ueArl29UPSOVkGWYiK6XieO6oIjNFb1z6m7xBkuryO0cp_Sb-2R7p2qFQd7GHMl5LCq70VwORKl1KTYeWAaiP6glaazO3wtQ_Fd6Kc3P06orEZAVVas36P4rI_fW_cmR78y4jZPzXfMFoLQYo9DUULfKq-YmEa4JywYfZlAid7I/s1294/Stags%20Ffighting.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1294" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0DQvIUSdAprqPbG4ueArl29UPSOVkGWYiK6XieO6oIjNFb1z6m7xBkuryO0cp_Sb-2R7p2qFQd7GHMl5LCq70VwORKl1KTYeWAaiP6glaazO3wtQ_Fd6Kc3P06orEZAVVas36P4rI_fW_cmR78y4jZPzXfMFoLQYo9DUULfKq-YmEa4JywYfZlAid7I/s320/Stags%20Ffighting.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Stags fighting...</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6DJPThQ2w2J7FrGlhvJk_cIUTbVgZsScd5YnbNwyo0DZCka7dpjrAfEL7ALY2T3Me1KfAW7xY8jYyGPVEir9jaj9mFKS8_ggDtso_Ckio1io5FGmO1qjTbjHBRLetlgKLG1kPohaZxRDjql4numpSjeY9XLKpVVwrs7zEHZ7SVwZer5BA9lWor7AqQQ/s1494/The%20Haggis%20in%20its%20%20Natural%20Heathery%20Abode.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1494" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6DJPThQ2w2J7FrGlhvJk_cIUTbVgZsScd5YnbNwyo0DZCka7dpjrAfEL7ALY2T3Me1KfAW7xY8jYyGPVEir9jaj9mFKS8_ggDtso_Ckio1io5FGmO1qjTbjHBRLetlgKLG1kPohaZxRDjql4numpSjeY9XLKpVVwrs7zEHZ7SVwZer5BA9lWor7AqQQ/s320/The%20Haggis%20in%20its%20%20Natural%20Heathery%20Abode.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And on the floor below.. a wee wild haggis. With heather being a foot tall this wee fella can scuttle around in it, almost invisible, which is why I've only ever seen a few in the wild. Just a blur really and a tail. As it's very tasty to eat it is understandably timid and shy of humans.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_VbRQ7jRqH28mepnRekWY9i68ET8mSf6MqEmFWtXtn3eF34Ivs0XuSkESWv993WUULEgK2Ufecoviz5_gCPBU2AxEUMF8VbpZNyzcel7UZNjEdrdeq-Bgmht8lSk-d1vCd2tzyw5dfq7fG1evEdqftvoCGwQZj32uYLdkUdgY-wicNVrm0hifysE1SY/s1327/Kelvin%20Hall%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1327" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_VbRQ7jRqH28mepnRekWY9i68ET8mSf6MqEmFWtXtn3eF34Ivs0XuSkESWv993WUULEgK2Ufecoviz5_gCPBU2AxEUMF8VbpZNyzcel7UZNjEdrdeq-Bgmht8lSk-d1vCd2tzyw5dfq7fG1evEdqftvoCGwQZj32uYLdkUdgY-wicNVrm0hifysE1SY/s320/Kelvin%20Hall%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Kelvin Hall in the sunshine.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWICOgwGE-UwtUhhwk-M4RQfpSZL-yxW5I63SEbWGmd8dVIL_onK1_0ahlhSCEO4h0bbTtEazQhyphenhyphen4VvzUXEAKdBdgBXOMYkp3HXs3zAMJMqeP60dvbKgWVlPTBhZc51_Y30FyjvEyknLdZm7oFcxSyBQzy6V-N72_kpu5aXf1ZSOiGoxfIcFkIcnkxyA/s1434/University%20of%20Glasgow%20Library.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1434" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWICOgwGE-UwtUhhwk-M4RQfpSZL-yxW5I63SEbWGmd8dVIL_onK1_0ahlhSCEO4h0bbTtEazQhyphenhyphen4VvzUXEAKdBdgBXOMYkp3HXs3zAMJMqeP60dvbKgWVlPTBhZc51_Y30FyjvEyknLdZm7oFcxSyBQzy6V-N72_kpu5aXf1ZSOiGoxfIcFkIcnkxyA/s320/University%20of%20Glasgow%20Library.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">University of Glasgow. Gallery of Modern Art and Library. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYG5jgYErqKoVGZXmcMVQ2kfNEdHrd_0YvmaPpIr6w8ETCmNzHEEM1gfcPZdCuccSzsel_BCQC3Pw9enVmSpu_nmm8vfGyw7zBXlt-MBSRkxYNRhekU6M0zdqdN1EUCpj7ukoYhY-BKhAk5dgxqgo7SuBbFlgq_E5d_L7GWs4mlilYP9zmnG9eH0l-Qw/s1516/Kelvingrove%20Museum%20and%20Art%20Galley.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1516" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYG5jgYErqKoVGZXmcMVQ2kfNEdHrd_0YvmaPpIr6w8ETCmNzHEEM1gfcPZdCuccSzsel_BCQC3Pw9enVmSpu_nmm8vfGyw7zBXlt-MBSRkxYNRhekU6M0zdqdN1EUCpj7ukoYhY-BKhAk5dgxqgo7SuBbFlgq_E5d_L7GWs4mlilYP9zmnG9eH0l-Qw/s320/Kelvingrove%20Museum%20and%20Art%20Galley.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Kelvingrove Art Gallery from the outside. My head stuffed full of culture and learning I wandered back up to get my keys. They worked fine again. I never missed a university education though or a health and wellbeing certificate. My old mum was my teacher and adviser. " The world's yer apple Son! Go out and peel aff aw the layers to find your fortune... or a pearl inside."</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">She was a font of wisdom in matters of the heart as well. " Never trust a women Son. They are slippery creatures and you are too gullible for them. Women are like spiders! They will easily trap the likes of you in their web of lies then proceed to eat you alive , bit by tiny bit... until you vanish completely."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So I took that advice to heart... as she should know. She was a woman after all...................... I think.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Well....It was a long time ago. <br /></span></p><p><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-70448961808775854742024-01-03T15:33:00.004+00:002024-01-12T10:16:48.301+00:00Walls Hill. North Castlewalls. Renfrewshire Uplands.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wswKQwq9RPZ41L49UPW-k8kNIrgJQarp2WsFBppD7WKfNYSHWCGiVWPJZCIx4lZ9CmYXIScZo0YRtGKBWseldKPsI2Xcxme_sOS5H8KALcr1ZvbyQhW8u2i3BaVzTQFb9Y6XA2P5dwFmb99gaUR8O4_AhG9itKm87qN4fouNzoFIAYu8twSOvH35RzU/s1477/Ailsa%20Craig%20From%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1477" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wswKQwq9RPZ41L49UPW-k8kNIrgJQarp2WsFBppD7WKfNYSHWCGiVWPJZCIx4lZ9CmYXIScZo0YRtGKBWseldKPsI2Xcxme_sOS5H8KALcr1ZvbyQhW8u2i3BaVzTQFb9Y6XA2P5dwFmb99gaUR8O4_AhG9itKm87qN4fouNzoFIAYu8twSOvH35RzU/s320/Ailsa%20Craig%20From%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another winter walk with hill-walking friend Alan on the Renfrewshire Uplands, this time to bag Walls Hill 230 metres and the nearby North Castlewalls 236 metres. A misty view of Ailsa Craig in the distance, above.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY68kkMomneQCKG9C648uxr_cytNgF_mRIhBh98PFvUvq0YjtSQRIDW8NjwQ9KvGg8rWPvzoN-ppQL1S5yIzs21EFhhEBrlhmjcQir-yYqhWusRd9Nrzb5gDvUAVi674TPnRo4PDrBIt-D-UsGfISmrIwg1Sh0vlutSn3KovOXsxPwRg2Y64B6xeXYs3w/s1506/Deepest%20Renfrewshire.%20Barcraigs%20Reservoir.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1506" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY68kkMomneQCKG9C648uxr_cytNgF_mRIhBh98PFvUvq0YjtSQRIDW8NjwQ9KvGg8rWPvzoN-ppQL1S5yIzs21EFhhEBrlhmjcQir-yYqhWusRd9Nrzb5gDvUAVi674TPnRo4PDrBIt-D-UsGfISmrIwg1Sh0vlutSn3KovOXsxPwRg2Y64B6xeXYs3w/s320/Deepest%20Renfrewshire.%20Barcraigs%20Reservoir.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We parked near but not at Mid Hartfield Farm where the minor road bends sharply. A right of way path runs from here over the rolling landscape to the village of Howwood but we motored on for just under a km to where the small stream meets the road. I remembered the right of way path being boggy if you leave it to cross towards Walls Hill over several flooded ditches and with all the rain recently it would be even worse.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuGs3XO2Ncv9GmMyndWTOlZFnOO65enfiwfgHuUa0r0nkuTj63mkPPD-V3gesMjAlpmgRCjpvxwVVj7R01-ftywVo-pJfqw0yrL5kDtss0fWY37adYYiCtquPs7KmXUr9TxI0jncg62BkrhFw0alZetWem0xeSz611bLuAU0GObVCxvdI6a4G7H-OtSg/s1609/Sunlit%20Uplands.%20Deepest%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1609" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuGs3XO2Ncv9GmMyndWTOlZFnOO65enfiwfgHuUa0r0nkuTj63mkPPD-V3gesMjAlpmgRCjpvxwVVj7R01-ftywVo-pJfqw0yrL5kDtss0fWY37adYYiCtquPs7KmXUr9TxI0jncg62BkrhFw0alZetWem0xeSz611bLuAU0GObVCxvdI6a4G7H-OtSg/s320/Sunlit%20Uplands.%20Deepest%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> An old abandoned reservoir used to fill this spot and although drained decades ago it is still marshy so we parked in a one car lay-by beside the stream where an open gate and a farm track led us directly up the ridge line with dry feet.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKw7nDiseCfQfr3VekoREmDuV543j-LrKrq_-n3_XdBmKcd5FxSh2Ut6JD6C0rzjMqPZoLZyKfW5_o_kBc6hZtB3HDy2Ak7nZAt8bBFo1RHnIpvCTAE0dz-PX5fZIqK7QDfjanTj5SXahNpa2fvI7sdqHQ3tQLQFFA2H9xp2efGFtBL97hBIFx7YvQNjk/s1496/Arran%20Ridge%20From%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1496" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKw7nDiseCfQfr3VekoREmDuV543j-LrKrq_-n3_XdBmKcd5FxSh2Ut6JD6C0rzjMqPZoLZyKfW5_o_kBc6hZtB3HDy2Ak7nZAt8bBFo1RHnIpvCTAE0dz-PX5fZIqK7QDfjanTj5SXahNpa2fvI7sdqHQ3tQLQFFA2H9xp2efGFtBL97hBIFx7YvQNjk/s320/Arran%20Ridge%20From%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Arran ridge and wind farm in the distance.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OPyy4wXYJ7Xs-_0rcH3tdtt-4j0ojJCWsDecMoVL-S_D_Yao8sjzRy1nQgCzpTz3klNMLld2Jbjwnm94_0TtOnxUdVZZWM5NQmJBCGaJ4yy-vMYe3wbS4JK4fGpoJNISXS0PPNniRSFDbiZQh7umJ7iP1Usq1LIiJsQZnQK0UXwz2Lv5mr8l9ezt7Yc/s1940/A%20Colourful%20Plane.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="1940" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OPyy4wXYJ7Xs-_0rcH3tdtt-4j0ojJCWsDecMoVL-S_D_Yao8sjzRy1nQgCzpTz3klNMLld2Jbjwnm94_0TtOnxUdVZZWM5NQmJBCGaJ4yy-vMYe3wbS4JK4fGpoJNISXS0PPNniRSFDbiZQh7umJ7iP1Usq1LIiJsQZnQK0UXwz2Lv5mr8l9ezt7Yc/s320/A%20Colourful%20Plane.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">A large Emirates plane passing overhead. The largest type to fly into and out of Glasgow Airport.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Z8I0Zq_JQ8EKmfVf-7u8In8h2FguUkUR5rybBVIY02sobojA3EyCxHF0RlhhTyRn0BKIQxdjz9omivbLJm2lT-tDkgwMuroLG4sP1C5BQ_k7fpdl7AZu5X4KXsGkG6MiuPrkQDnM2sxdKVhesXwZWd-9sMKSaXnDlqXGK-ILu1iXy_uQW_VnfYQBprE/s1564/Barcraigs%20Reservoir%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1564" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Z8I0Zq_JQ8EKmfVf-7u8In8h2FguUkUR5rybBVIY02sobojA3EyCxHF0RlhhTyRn0BKIQxdjz9omivbLJm2lT-tDkgwMuroLG4sP1C5BQ_k7fpdl7AZu5X4KXsGkG6MiuPrkQDnM2sxdKVhesXwZWd-9sMKSaXnDlqXGK-ILu1iXy_uQW_VnfYQBprE/s320/Barcraigs%20Reservoir%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It was a fairly murky cold day but with light winds. Luckily this area has good varied scenery and green fields so plenty to look at. Barcraigs Reservoir and surrounding hills, above.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxzA6_YB4Mp9gzviRYKjHU7Wz2AczvH-QoeadZy5jW9KlnqOpg_GeirKFYinZkmfr-P5U7UdQIXzjY4jtdu56i1oyE5A1hVDs3kH4HNFUZKobOo70D9arVu_S55jZuCjsLjqWjVZKoORDMZ7dwChhyphenhyphen2c_-PJCqdqRjBBwPLsqYBxi6EdwMUiyHAIDXqo/s1705/Cattle%20Herd%20and%20Former%20Reservior.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1705" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxzA6_YB4Mp9gzviRYKjHU7Wz2AczvH-QoeadZy5jW9KlnqOpg_GeirKFYinZkmfr-P5U7UdQIXzjY4jtdu56i1oyE5A1hVDs3kH4HNFUZKobOo70D9arVu_S55jZuCjsLjqWjVZKoORDMZ7dwChhyphenhyphen2c_-PJCqdqRjBBwPLsqYBxi6EdwMUiyHAIDXqo/s320/Cattle%20Herd%20and%20Former%20Reservior.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Good cattle country as well. The brown area is the former reservoir now filled in.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3D8fowQEQaUU4k0ZGQcYkmb1-fJ3tt5y46oz17cDYXZfETKxzquOF51AMe8I_NTUh0qfsedFsvyuObodRvarkQ1nzlRg1Xu4d8y3xuU-Nwk2zBGRW3nhS-bS9pGY64mqY6BVCVDPoY6yNR3OKkVz9J954zU7M61vi9k82PD_2Yr2DQe-t_xMyBqsrxU/s1486/The%20Ridges%20of%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1486" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3D8fowQEQaUU4k0ZGQcYkmb1-fJ3tt5y46oz17cDYXZfETKxzquOF51AMe8I_NTUh0qfsedFsvyuObodRvarkQ1nzlRg1Xu4d8y3xuU-Nwk2zBGRW3nhS-bS9pGY64mqY6BVCVDPoY6yNR3OKkVz9J954zU7M61vi9k82PD_2Yr2DQe-t_xMyBqsrxU/s320/The%20Ridges%20of%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Renfrewshire is mainly rolling ridges, small hills and hollows with water in them. Very green landscape.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6a79j2RIuuxk10A9a-WpTiLO1Eift6gRyJ0nH5kmSLTTT99rppNHzzLhz7K8Nn8WPv94JzB2LQX5Xyy0_Dz5o12vYeC_CELfdqBpX9qVbLWEbHWoQx0AcuMHJZZgh4wSfIOjINabvML1oKVPQvs9Ff6fH6qhWLC_jy5yF-NWu9yTeK6E65SyPn9ORATs/s1469/Cattle%20and%20Old%20Farm.%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1469" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6a79j2RIuuxk10A9a-WpTiLO1Eift6gRyJ0nH5kmSLTTT99rppNHzzLhz7K8Nn8WPv94JzB2LQX5Xyy0_Dz5o12vYeC_CELfdqBpX9qVbLWEbHWoQx0AcuMHJZZgh4wSfIOjINabvML1oKVPQvs9Ff6fH6qhWLC_jy5yF-NWu9yTeK6E65SyPn9ORATs/s320/Cattle%20and%20Old%20Farm.%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another cattle herd and an old ruined farm near North Castlewalls. The name probably refers to this farm as the hill doesn't have one on my OS Landranger map.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVa05B5o_Q1tXi1V42JhWeP-WMG_rv5n3Wdld_O2PV1i3_uxDJPfolO5RY97v7TVvRsVcNNwvCaQ4GhSs3N9cEigLueUkWqqCU-OPhpSu2Ixl_3e1UCDCtkEH1uN6eXLyI396WMVarjmKx-5ZtDfESoXAEcCyXbwtinFzx8jqGE-iGjHfzTyBj1zCkh6E/s1558/Herd%20of%20Cattle%20in%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1558" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVa05B5o_Q1tXi1V42JhWeP-WMG_rv5n3Wdld_O2PV1i3_uxDJPfolO5RY97v7TVvRsVcNNwvCaQ4GhSs3N9cEigLueUkWqqCU-OPhpSu2Ixl_3e1UCDCtkEH1uN6eXLyI396WMVarjmKx-5ZtDfESoXAEcCyXbwtinFzx8jqGE-iGjHfzTyBj1zCkh6E/s320/Herd%20of%20Cattle%20in%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">North Castlewalls from Walls Hill. Unlike the nearby Gleniffer Braes Country Park very few people ever come here. No parking for a start except for one or maybe two cars at most. Although I've never done it, the one way walk from Glen Park to Howwood passing through this area, using public transport to get to the start and return from the finish line looks a cracker. Around 15 to 20 km walking over very scenic countryside. You can include the Barcraigs Hills/ reservoir if you are young and fit. Or old and a duracell bunny type with plenty of stamina in the tank. Probably best in summer though and longer daylight hours. And pick a good weather day.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIQ_HHcGD2TI_iplZ8_eLvFGr6clhtBcDA3ASePjfd06QbA6Ns-4fjgmDF4AkSuKnSQDR4OpdPGkujOE9CNK1LUY-NAs4k_ksuCyKl9fgvc4Sy5Ek7P6Sbk68yGNn9AHyFdqFsLHPogs0NUyvyS0lAYbH7N9ZFmIjdN_kUlxWiMPI34iNZuNeShowk_U/s1686/Ben%20Lomond%20from%20Walls%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1686" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIQ_HHcGD2TI_iplZ8_eLvFGr6clhtBcDA3ASePjfd06QbA6Ns-4fjgmDF4AkSuKnSQDR4OpdPGkujOE9CNK1LUY-NAs4k_ksuCyKl9fgvc4Sy5Ek7P6Sbk68yGNn9AHyFdqFsLHPogs0NUyvyS0lAYbH7N9ZFmIjdN_kUlxWiMPI34iNZuNeShowk_U/s320/Ben%20Lomond%20from%20Walls%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Ben Lomond from Walls Hill. Site of an old fort. Iron age maybe.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4siMbnH9ZK-iwwGFlO6tU1WOLGT47EumeLDcsZtO5AVGBjEbZCwKH8vTqpmQlojE9yAz9DLg3j-cxHrthr_reF0rUtfcCq4IvdoYu1z_vWD9UqiPa6Bjjf__PRpcWhJ20OrYLWfi6O6tHH-7b71qY-98P9ZCEZPVX9LRuC1F8Ok5KlJqhjsS8uSSaSk/s1306/Fallen%20Beech%20Tree.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1306" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4siMbnH9ZK-iwwGFlO6tU1WOLGT47EumeLDcsZtO5AVGBjEbZCwKH8vTqpmQlojE9yAz9DLg3j-cxHrthr_reF0rUtfcCq4IvdoYu1z_vWD9UqiPa6Bjjf__PRpcWhJ20OrYLWfi6O6tHH-7b71qY-98P9ZCEZPVX9LRuC1F8Ok5KlJqhjsS8uSSaSk/s320/Fallen%20Beech%20Tree.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Beech tree blown over by storms.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUKjlPbMAhTP9an0enfsuaQeGSTkUadsBCG9fC5d1fySYOI1IqPmwMPgEcZRmTRmDo_5dsDhSGGPGHpuNjQnTAe5BfeOAaEYYfkj9QiKdM8ca1qvlHbcP7sVB4o5Ei-Z2-KI23Q0-HgXKasOwnJTBNOyz6GF-qN3PirpARx1ai8d9LjnbYPPPlJKW_HY/s1485/A%20Path.%20Brandy%20Burn%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1485" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUKjlPbMAhTP9an0enfsuaQeGSTkUadsBCG9fC5d1fySYOI1IqPmwMPgEcZRmTRmDo_5dsDhSGGPGHpuNjQnTAe5BfeOAaEYYfkj9QiKdM8ca1qvlHbcP7sVB4o5Ei-Z2-KI23Q0-HgXKasOwnJTBNOyz6GF-qN3PirpARx1ai8d9LjnbYPPPlJKW_HY/s320/A%20Path.%20Brandy%20Burn%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> On the way back we did the path network on the hills above Johnstone and Elderslie. Brandy Burn path here.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIFK4xt34LBmm05sZ8_nbpIiXZU2Y1zZeJTVmqvDD6QOCSIli0sogRYD5Nyplqo5_Lk97Hezp-jhireTep8iwlb7bLciZ5LSuTwai9tOHQbiB7R1bLYOXzzr6vHXx6slAPtHWogRnTj8-AhuOBcDpFd5o5IbooBfY4OwkJ-aSAgyD7nKyhDcbDEfvO4I/s1273/Dark%20Pine%20Path.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1273" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIFK4xt34LBmm05sZ8_nbpIiXZU2Y1zZeJTVmqvDD6QOCSIli0sogRYD5Nyplqo5_Lk97Hezp-jhireTep8iwlb7bLciZ5LSuTwai9tOHQbiB7R1bLYOXzzr6vHXx6slAPtHWogRnTj8-AhuOBcDpFd5o5IbooBfY4OwkJ-aSAgyD7nKyhDcbDEfvO4I/s320/Dark%20Pine%20Path.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Which included a dark pine forest trail. Being a short walk of only a couple of hours we did go somewhere else afterwards.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZFRUNBrFzCv2LaRtuy3Ic-tlonSckuJ0d0i55cx02u92G-3m78A8Z1pBLAgD2WSdnH3w38-h3czHGMFYa4F60W16DI2tyWNpjEtqKf1w5BpkB2HidnxNeo-l2zBnMXm9l7kiInWctqGkyadG0Tsr4Ys-9x0VerVfp-4FIMkIqDVADGJqOiHN2bCDtpo/s1466/Winter%20Evening.%20Renfrew%20Ferry.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1466" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZFRUNBrFzCv2LaRtuy3Ic-tlonSckuJ0d0i55cx02u92G-3m78A8Z1pBLAgD2WSdnH3w38-h3czHGMFYa4F60W16DI2tyWNpjEtqKf1w5BpkB2HidnxNeo-l2zBnMXm9l7kiInWctqGkyadG0Tsr4Ys-9x0VerVfp-4FIMkIqDVADGJqOiHN2bCDtpo/s320/Winter%20Evening.%20Renfrew%20Ferry.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">But that part I'll keep for another post. Renfrew Ferry here.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6ObzIfB70_pcu5aU3W4nphvKz9RFPdTiPw-2AOEuP7gUnMhdM7JOVQ-nCXPwxfRdK_KPpToVerKP21eMt2vRRNDnaYM1GFygq6NCLgKGgNks8piQl4XLhQy7R0SA1ICPg-wRiDFCNJ7Yg7vZGxNI7ZZ8suyro_48WpDR7fag2V2MUSWmsdg-pN1USwA/s1624/Teal.%20Duck.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1624" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6ObzIfB70_pcu5aU3W4nphvKz9RFPdTiPw-2AOEuP7gUnMhdM7JOVQ-nCXPwxfRdK_KPpToVerKP21eMt2vRRNDnaYM1GFygq6NCLgKGgNks8piQl4XLhQy7R0SA1ICPg-wRiDFCNJ7Yg7vZGxNI7ZZ8suyro_48WpDR7fag2V2MUSWmsdg-pN1USwA/s320/Teal.%20Duck.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Teal duck. With the light fading only the white near the tail showed clearly what it was with the colourful distinctive head obscured by the murky conditions. Only the second time I've ever seen one but we've ( Alan and myself that is) have been fairly lucky spotting rare birds recently on walks with Little Egrets and Ring Necked Parakeets putting in an appearance. ( future post on that soon.)<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpbg3lp7HfeTs10_xzWkMxBeZzspJ7R84yeTRB5OLb3Za2gJE1KN3w3lHQ-8Nk1dNZw0_TkczBKeDWlwmheHWUSNy84XqjiqbZOD7lciBH-608bbs65Olg_-vP_nKy8x198RMFrOxgGiJChLpvh8ShX5hRlsmXqpX-BLMOGoJ5QJGEI_pm58cTrUXAKw/s1412/Renfrew%20Ferry%202023.%20River%20Clyde%20Crossing%20at%20Dusk.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1412" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpbg3lp7HfeTs10_xzWkMxBeZzspJ7R84yeTRB5OLb3Za2gJE1KN3w3lHQ-8Nk1dNZw0_TkczBKeDWlwmheHWUSNy84XqjiqbZOD7lciBH-608bbs65Olg_-vP_nKy8x198RMFrOxgGiJChLpvh8ShX5hRlsmXqpX-BLMOGoJ5QJGEI_pm58cTrUXAKw/s320/Renfrew%20Ferry%202023.%20River%20Clyde%20Crossing%20at%20Dusk.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Dark by 4:00pm outdoors in winter. Ferry arriving. Dark by 3:00pm if trying to read or work indoors so lights on then inside the house.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyIP_C3l-HvQ6AYqvrJtGS5WJ0U1rXEZ4g5pvOWDNQn8RhDvTXTlMYTcWa30wrV9xMmg7fStXCvI2t5kfAfWorP-FGPHMLAZCm4cYnDTVvWjiw62XAUtlYPKh001xUygiUz1b-F1rNGKAXZ41F8I9C91i-hFE1X2u93V_7nzLytlMytRW2PHHXzn4C-w/s1483/The%20River%20Clyde%20at%20Dusk.%20Yoker%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1483" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyIP_C3l-HvQ6AYqvrJtGS5WJ0U1rXEZ4g5pvOWDNQn8RhDvTXTlMYTcWa30wrV9xMmg7fStXCvI2t5kfAfWorP-FGPHMLAZCm4cYnDTVvWjiw62XAUtlYPKh001xUygiUz1b-F1rNGKAXZ41F8I9C91i-hFE1X2u93V_7nzLytlMytRW2PHHXzn4C-w/s320/The%20River%20Clyde%20at%20Dusk.%20Yoker%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The River Clyde at dusk. The end.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-83196524529118831192023-12-27T17:09:00.007+00:002024-01-01T00:59:22.524+00:00A Colourful Glasgow Walk.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxJUa4d28TJ8c8a76RmcFtMdo7iYao6oeOhNECUMUUFz__no5ibD2Nm6RgJ0MyvDSeohYEoCK2juXR6pfjx2wkFQ1tgN7y9tbUcuOE2H5Xyb9y6_uwe1zv581dVwyELl5lRroD3scHVtU8fIOHGmLkqxkVmBirpkFVFwlZBJXxJ3OcBV11mhfGVQ4Z3k/s1440/A%20Spurge.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1440" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxJUa4d28TJ8c8a76RmcFtMdo7iYao6oeOhNECUMUUFz__no5ibD2Nm6RgJ0MyvDSeohYEoCK2juXR6pfjx2wkFQ1tgN7y9tbUcuOE2H5Xyb9y6_uwe1zv581dVwyELl5lRroD3scHVtU8fIOHGmLkqxkVmBirpkFVFwlZBJXxJ3OcBV11mhfGVQ4Z3k/s320/A%20Spurge.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sunflowers.... For Vincent. This is a post from the end of autumn. October time 2023 a few months ago now.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuJUipz2M7fZXM4wyE2w0GcwP-MfXORJMOO9E9DXQXdcaZbzIPhIy0xLGwRR7dE9cGvgzVMjww6vUX7pjFvUjqK-sgTfMKhqBoo9F72TBx-_qaAqb1EruUGqqKx7PBZesVtpKt_peiUaU-uBcIQEXyDAmb5IpqRPrk25XuOkVi11Vbq1fxR6nWkylFX0/s1481/Barrowland.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1481" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuJUipz2M7fZXM4wyE2w0GcwP-MfXORJMOO9E9DXQXdcaZbzIPhIy0xLGwRR7dE9cGvgzVMjww6vUX7pjFvUjqK-sgTfMKhqBoo9F72TBx-_qaAqb1EruUGqqKx7PBZesVtpKt_peiUaU-uBcIQEXyDAmb5IpqRPrk25XuOkVi11Vbq1fxR6nWkylFX0/s320/Barrowland.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> Met up with Alan at the Barras Market, had a wander round there then headed up through Glasgow Cross and the Merchant City District.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87HTMWwQ83nRzkuwyRpsuOVtNsV0eIBha0GEIIf4LEXQNjcooSU1lq8ChbjeSB1RBR031lJ-AtJ1Roy-auHJjG-D0_117GB9LytBEbQ46rCx3B42_JrTe3BSelkqlhKvOlt1vi390mDe83r0q1jGzrKfVkHLCH-JwZ7pOB0SMGnGH4z7gjd7SYOdRcaM/s1343/Weather%20Vane%20and%20Clock.%20Glasgow%20Cross.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1343" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87HTMWwQ83nRzkuwyRpsuOVtNsV0eIBha0GEIIf4LEXQNjcooSU1lq8ChbjeSB1RBR031lJ-AtJ1Roy-auHJjG-D0_117GB9LytBEbQ46rCx3B42_JrTe3BSelkqlhKvOlt1vi390mDe83r0q1jGzrKfVkHLCH-JwZ7pOB0SMGnGH4z7gjd7SYOdRcaM/s320/Weather%20Vane%20and%20Clock.%20Glasgow%20Cross.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Glasgow Cross district.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ71oH-zzC5d-EhrWfVHLh7ZX1iw-pxcqGMd__E8ZZLFoomI5LexxXJkdJzK4ZaYhFglLUcHUJ4Ig0mOYkllx37Au7i5zFFLFMDNWPyzib5onfIj_cs7Heox6fhuXKuGLVpUbboexgpQTWcyD6jpGuL0t52TMKSpPHXyGrZBzscofKErrlMkXEOK6lQLE/s1369/Glasgow%20Cross%20Period%20Buildings.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1369" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ71oH-zzC5d-EhrWfVHLh7ZX1iw-pxcqGMd__E8ZZLFoomI5LexxXJkdJzK4ZaYhFglLUcHUJ4Ig0mOYkllx37Au7i5zFFLFMDNWPyzib5onfIj_cs7Heox6fhuXKuGLVpUbboexgpQTWcyD6jpGuL0t52TMKSpPHXyGrZBzscofKErrlMkXEOK6lQLE/s320/Glasgow%20Cross%20Period%20Buildings.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Period buildings around Glasgow Cross.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQioqHTyyAa0KSb1UZuSqesSeK1gajk5wurv8xA-QAZ5LCao6heGpzjEq1mPV2hYUwDk_NarSs-9mb7_Gi_gvC7AF1eXh_NEJIRPou4NjhBmJGCbMnKm5sexxuJJrtQJdTlgQiCzgVTdq28SYEoVjv9J4DrgkpKXzOK5UJylTW0Xt5kn1wOFGhhyOuAc/s1179/Lion%20Face.%20Glasgow%20Back%20Lane.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1179" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQioqHTyyAa0KSb1UZuSqesSeK1gajk5wurv8xA-QAZ5LCao6heGpzjEq1mPV2hYUwDk_NarSs-9mb7_Gi_gvC7AF1eXh_NEJIRPou4NjhBmJGCbMnKm5sexxuJJrtQJdTlgQiCzgVTdq28SYEoVjv9J4DrgkpKXzOK5UJylTW0Xt5kn1wOFGhhyOuAc/s320/Lion%20Face.%20Glasgow%20Back%20Lane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Found a few murals in a back lane I'd seen online but not visited in person.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ67tCuLI76vZzQqsUczVft2ltUnFYQgb8_zSAMu8binYunCVZ1ZPsZI9mMmeqC_gWGDw3wedsvyn8nKMgIxaN9RTU-A6rq95FlvBCZRx0kQZg4faIDDd83ejxXNdVqSEl8z3EPUCf916Ie6ZlB06cFmNn8_6hDQJJR_SsHglquYEzpGPE_6YjYbO7vMA/s1363/Goose%20Feeding.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1363" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ67tCuLI76vZzQqsUczVft2ltUnFYQgb8_zSAMu8binYunCVZ1ZPsZI9mMmeqC_gWGDw3wedsvyn8nKMgIxaN9RTU-A6rq95FlvBCZRx0kQZg4faIDDd83ejxXNdVqSEl8z3EPUCf916Ie6ZlB06cFmNn8_6hDQJJR_SsHglquYEzpGPE_6YjYbO7vMA/s320/Goose%20Feeding.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Goose.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA7nhPsiHGd63YU6-cqh8fP1BzdbfToWCOcXrNT6I4-SvD2Q3Q3_cbJ5TmE1qBXb4-AwzkP2PB2pNLCapXZdDdP_XN3zCFb_1QSG2lMYBCQbX-tTjmDN9GH9ty2-3qH2cGqTiWmhLNakJ0gtMysfdFqon_4vWVEYHJTy8dctOO_L3TiuS2CxKZUGO-LU/s1417/The%20Lion.%20Glasgow%20back%20Lane.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1417" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA7nhPsiHGd63YU6-cqh8fP1BzdbfToWCOcXrNT6I4-SvD2Q3Q3_cbJ5TmE1qBXb4-AwzkP2PB2pNLCapXZdDdP_XN3zCFb_1QSG2lMYBCQbX-tTjmDN9GH9ty2-3qH2cGqTiWmhLNakJ0gtMysfdFqon_4vWVEYHJTy8dctOO_L3TiuS2CxKZUGO-LU/s320/The%20Lion.%20Glasgow%20back%20Lane.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another Lion.</span><br /></p><p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIv4k8ujgqGX0r_15qSaMsZSAaZQgmgNvFCwt1hbPuL4nIJgPdXShyphenhyphenAYFuFQy8l8pATla7hYDQoMYB9bjToUbDyR-ly8VHqX3WfOWY3cWg2FccUgMDkVUiaJqPU1zPgMOXZWtVdbKJeWgMPEP0dJ7RXAubfkMeoXkBILW6T2p3jW5uyc2SOWxlYnHF8A/s1223/Period%20Sandstone%20Buildings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1223" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIv4k8ujgqGX0r_15qSaMsZSAaZQgmgNvFCwt1hbPuL4nIJgPdXShyphenhyphenAYFuFQy8l8pATla7hYDQoMYB9bjToUbDyR-ly8VHqX3WfOWY3cWg2FccUgMDkVUiaJqPU1zPgMOXZWtVdbKJeWgMPEP0dJ7RXAubfkMeoXkBILW6T2p3jW5uyc2SOWxlYnHF8A/s320/Period%20Sandstone%20Buildings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Merchant City District.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmLoiwtw4MM28f_J-yqGp6vHOjlUECloceRv3G2euY0eJ_5dFdIzCuGfGlC5260sCLp9TVGn0E9BVRBIF89VERX_jWyJ5kiHtxpxs6S8lhxcc_uayjihStnc1k9k4rrYDE2kOGa2r3zXP-dJMuy7xkyY_dFW82rED_xOeqM2CVugKjGXjLL5DzoubDUo/s1721/Glasgow%20Bar.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1721" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmLoiwtw4MM28f_J-yqGp6vHOjlUECloceRv3G2euY0eJ_5dFdIzCuGfGlC5260sCLp9TVGn0E9BVRBIF89VERX_jWyJ5kiHtxpxs6S8lhxcc_uayjihStnc1k9k4rrYDE2kOGa2r3zXP-dJMuy7xkyY_dFW82rED_xOeqM2CVugKjGXjLL5DzoubDUo/s320/Glasgow%20Bar.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> In the city centre, restaurants and bars change all the time. Last time I walked past here it was called something else from a different culture. Scottish Tennent's Lager I think.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-XBXX4z3O2UrGA-VjfyhkSwHKxSI9pBlE9x0gCNOkQEoRCd3VO3CisVAk79MF2Ba_dGF9ttfELg0hLmVRZBH5y0uyV6xXev00H2xrfBoxIt1wZ_jIJHoNvO8Zw-RPXuxkkSSTsO0nUn1vW0YPcl-cdp0HEbmpqzwllMT3xs6C6UeiLOnwGUm3XMaiKw/s1590/Glasgow's%20Red%20Bus%20Tour.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1590" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-XBXX4z3O2UrGA-VjfyhkSwHKxSI9pBlE9x0gCNOkQEoRCd3VO3CisVAk79MF2Ba_dGF9ttfELg0hLmVRZBH5y0uyV6xXev00H2xrfBoxIt1wZ_jIJHoNvO8Zw-RPXuxkkSSTsO0nUn1vW0YPcl-cdp0HEbmpqzwllMT3xs6C6UeiLOnwGUm3XMaiKw/s320/Glasgow's%20Red%20Bus%20Tour.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Glasgow's Red Tourist bus. Departs from Ingram Street on a run around the city while you have afternoon tea on board or you can hire it out for a group booking. Not being a tea or coffee person I've seen it around but never been on it. Popular though. Other tourist buses run around the city but you don't get served with anything on board.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WzcqH62Qtz-wH_NhYCzOZ6umbpBEAwK7hyphenhyphen8TdBpq7mmZ_e9olcTetOp_WwxrNxcFDLh0oZUsBRqkOnBMrqKrishzLNv_14rOcAQGIqEfu86H0HOaPVowIoak72cO7GxJWRw1n3oAIv0YtcMGI9vqZorWXXLWkVmeRFSLoHy0698zeNnQku-JrA-Y_2U/s1273/Strathclyde%20University%20Building.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1273" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WzcqH62Qtz-wH_NhYCzOZ6umbpBEAwK7hyphenhyphen8TdBpq7mmZ_e9olcTetOp_WwxrNxcFDLh0oZUsBRqkOnBMrqKrishzLNv_14rOcAQGIqEfu86H0HOaPVowIoak72cO7GxJWRw1n3oAIv0YtcMGI9vqZorWXXLWkVmeRFSLoHy0698zeNnQku-JrA-Y_2U/s320/Strathclyde%20University%20Building.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We made our way up through the university and college lands still walking slightly uphill. Livingstone Tower above. An early 1960s construction addition to the University of Strathclyde it was named after African explorer and missionary David Livingstone.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnJLNXVOEg8WYO-lFzoL3rRfBqQQOYhBWjcd3cLb-Av_qVAyBsWMzuQdBZVb12QtD4NzZ64_WaqEgPCBlCr0qHDSX7cr5800fiIQEVOCogLgDZGSNzCRGxRyfuBxCcWFDiY3_k65MGKrjmySRa6wexYcL1gBNVpIne5PVjkolBq_fU70A97KeQfcwisk/s1095/The%20Tower.%20University%20of%20Strathclyde.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1095" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnJLNXVOEg8WYO-lFzoL3rRfBqQQOYhBWjcd3cLb-Av_qVAyBsWMzuQdBZVb12QtD4NzZ64_WaqEgPCBlCr0qHDSX7cr5800fiIQEVOCogLgDZGSNzCRGxRyfuBxCcWFDiY3_k65MGKrjmySRa6wexYcL1gBNVpIne5PVjkolBq_fU70A97KeQfcwisk/s320/The%20Tower.%20University%20of%20Strathclyde.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A side view. Always liked this building and the colourful frontage helps to soften the brutalist nature of grey concrete on the lower sections. Note the steep drumlin it's built on. Glasgow's main city centre shopping streets usually run west to east in the flat sections between these cucumber shaped hills with minor streets like this one running south to north up and over them.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTe61ewb1JQ0mLKY0tqxQDSs_KGIhOhWteaNb4_C7iAtaJPaAOJEVMwaSfHyC5HQJ50ASAC_6p8vWvBzmCxVMH1E3nucjrt1gM8yyLEml0JIrysP3MebI5enSMZY8WBGr6913gREl5xwZ-fcCWM849It4TWDCO_mIfuRnybhiqYlKARcidq4w45yJiyE/s1746/Strathclyde%20University%20Mural.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1746" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTe61ewb1JQ0mLKY0tqxQDSs_KGIhOhWteaNb4_C7iAtaJPaAOJEVMwaSfHyC5HQJ50ASAC_6p8vWvBzmCxVMH1E3nucjrt1gM8yyLEml0JIrysP3MebI5enSMZY8WBGr6913gREl5xwZ-fcCWM849It4TWDCO_mIfuRnybhiqYlKARcidq4w45yJiyE/s320/Strathclyde%20University%20Mural.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Quite a few murals around this district and several items of modern sculpture within the campus grounds. As non students you can walk around the area freely as the University of Strathclyde, Caledonian University, and The City of Glasgow College are very close to each other, built over several of Glasgow's notorious drumlins ( small hills) which makes walking energetic but gives fantastic views over this bumpy green metropolis. 'The leafy city of one hundred hills.'</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicViXuDYy_7i8-IUR73c50AeFNH44gyp1jDcC-kSj4ggaFoTehDzDIaGP3L8vQeGVdksTBt8Bdcq25kFjDO8EU1Brlv0B8x1b5jG6Es9WQWY-VZOrb_LZK8G9eDyfB8qyVeNN5VTV2ePASedDjWv5qBEtFjMPJ537sQ-YVQaZRIoaV5qbDQqpzhKRroUg/s1318/University%20Student%20Mural.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1318" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicViXuDYy_7i8-IUR73c50AeFNH44gyp1jDcC-kSj4ggaFoTehDzDIaGP3L8vQeGVdksTBt8Bdcq25kFjDO8EU1Brlv0B8x1b5jG6Es9WQWY-VZOrb_LZK8G9eDyfB8qyVeNN5VTV2ePASedDjWv5qBEtFjMPJ537sQ-YVQaZRIoaV5qbDQqpzhKRroUg/s320/University%20Student%20Mural.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Student mural and false door.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjeCKLiUB-tJqw_HxTz6cqJ9MYsDPn2LXrOckwFYZkz31JaZLIQrLfCA6nIDIMuH2_RKuLN3WKnIMlhnBdPxTU7KrIRzQyv8QsZv4Q9JKQacRQoDoS9ogVME4jcHNRc1YK8lWolUStIhd0SHvDPJEpTOsF3c6qSDqRl2hF3N2Z4FA6EodaIL5mSl_Ojk/s1548/protected%20by%20the%20ejaculation%20of%20serpents.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1548" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjeCKLiUB-tJqw_HxTz6cqJ9MYsDPn2LXrOckwFYZkz31JaZLIQrLfCA6nIDIMuH2_RKuLN3WKnIMlhnBdPxTU7KrIRzQyv8QsZv4Q9JKQacRQoDoS9ogVME4jcHNRc1YK8lWolUStIhd0SHvDPJEpTOsF3c6qSDqRl2hF3N2Z4FA6EodaIL5mSl_Ojk/s320/protected%20by%20the%20ejaculation%20of%20serpents.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The big surprise on this walk was an open day for the High Street allotments which I'd never been to before. During Covid lockdowns people in the suburbs had it relatively easy with sizable gardens and green spaces to escape into but the area around the High Street and Drygate districts has very few gardens... mostly tenements, tarmac, concrete, and high rise flats. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqtSqa8IfY2Zb59e8-XAayD8vlzZnkv5dWWF_M5DQWEtIS-ZrsBmoFdFQigIE6-c-O8mDPKC03JOsZ6rvbATQiW_B4Yc4XVGZ6Pu8C1ThqNFJ6NsyLpe-SSsrmxDxCZGsfdtKwPINqfBDTkopwhyYEOkOGM6vBYU9jXlUBuoJSm4GEUaGCqh1YWtGr_Q/s1659/Cabbage%20White%20Butterfly.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1659" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqtSqa8IfY2Zb59e8-XAayD8vlzZnkv5dWWF_M5DQWEtIS-ZrsBmoFdFQigIE6-c-O8mDPKC03JOsZ6rvbATQiW_B4Yc4XVGZ6Pu8C1ThqNFJ6NsyLpe-SSsrmxDxCZGsfdtKwPINqfBDTkopwhyYEOkOGM6vBYU9jXlUBuoJSm4GEUaGCqh1YWtGr_Q/s320/Cabbage%20White%20Butterfly.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So these allotments are even more precious I'd Imagine. Cabbage white butterfly here.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8VgjqnQ8m0hPwm8_an0k9v3AAN4_7AE9MIqNU_U6sRVTMNdYOa9IbPyK6SWhOeBN8UhZT2yvbseRom-0NbD6WZeLUYECKFKSrStNXbQ6GRKvFh6Qw2uD2V0VjLxcIQuvITLMLipXXcTVkdFo_pZSGM5PbNC9TRxvujXtDf5t3EnhPCnbCcbBjk9fByw/s1431/Drygate%20Flats%20from%20the%20Necropolis.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1431" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8VgjqnQ8m0hPwm8_an0k9v3AAN4_7AE9MIqNU_U6sRVTMNdYOa9IbPyK6SWhOeBN8UhZT2yvbseRom-0NbD6WZeLUYECKFKSrStNXbQ6GRKvFh6Qw2uD2V0VjLxcIQuvITLMLipXXcTVkdFo_pZSGM5PbNC9TRxvujXtDf5t3EnhPCnbCcbBjk9fByw/s320/Drygate%20Flats%20from%20the%20Necropolis.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>A<span style="font-size: medium;"> few of the Drygate high rise flats and tenements. Many more exist out of view. While Number Ten Downing Street had numerous drunken parties all the way through the various covid lockdowns without the slightest threat of a £10,000 fine... spare a thought for folk in inner city high rise flats or tenements, without gardens, stuck indoors for months on end. Mind you for ordinary folk like myself in the outlying suburban districts Covid did not make much difference at all as I still went on local solo countryside walks... as usual... with no police ever in sight to enforce anything. And my life barely changed at all. It was just what I normally do. It was mainly middle and upper class folk that were deprived of holidays abroad, second home visits, frequent nights out or visits to the theatre or other public entertainments but on the plus side many did save/make a shed load of money during covid restrictions... in one way or another....</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmAwytZk0Z9RxH1lMGwifCEs3-QONc9HbV4ZR09qblf7HbuN-wcdD0nXWW-4_vUEJsCXcH72sHqxpby8A46LrM2MnEXKQgbbU3_tBQDDOz7Z_LM9qvhYiV8mE0wRl64IICKcXIrmAhiU_ZT3tgcOjM2mh5RNCnX55sqptLbjicKi25mpKAzkzdmtbL0s/s1374/Red%20Admiral%20and%20Hoverfly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1374" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmAwytZk0Z9RxH1lMGwifCEs3-QONc9HbV4ZR09qblf7HbuN-wcdD0nXWW-4_vUEJsCXcH72sHqxpby8A46LrM2MnEXKQgbbU3_tBQDDOz7Z_LM9qvhYiV8mE0wRl64IICKcXIrmAhiU_ZT3tgcOjM2mh5RNCnX55sqptLbjicKi25mpKAzkzdmtbL0s/s320/Red%20Admiral%20and%20Hoverfly.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Maybe that's why this small set of allotments were so treasured and special to the surrounding residents as I've never seen so many delights packed into such a small space.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATT5uPXTcG8ZQMxYkrijfCK90-tvxYpIifjU022vEAyQn3niKV_kAhIULg9pzb_Go_E0qFA5nDDHyvxPQmaCJ9QguCVxsH7wkZhHZwoRsJIgEeB22Fv5DcPIqWzYfnnc069gAvHW0NpkAhb9U5NA9Ownr50TOIKJ-e5_4zZdTXgDGM1ZnnAG2RY12HRg/s1364/Flowerpot%20Person.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1364" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATT5uPXTcG8ZQMxYkrijfCK90-tvxYpIifjU022vEAyQn3niKV_kAhIULg9pzb_Go_E0qFA5nDDHyvxPQmaCJ9QguCVxsH7wkZhHZwoRsJIgEeB22Fv5DcPIqWzYfnnc069gAvHW0NpkAhb9U5NA9Ownr50TOIKJ-e5_4zZdTXgDGM1ZnnAG2RY12HRg/s320/Flowerpot%20Person.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Not only dozens of sunflowers but each bed held marrows, peas, other vegetables and a cute collection of surprises.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhN4z4TXle89lO7jaX6HV5RThwtBTlmbCeG0JgBGvYzuJ0a9v-atrLEqucu85BBuHTetCxZlVZdZf9xFDpzfkSURgvORrp2trvFYbC_tScPHek9Lo1kjpeyiYCQidTZ2qFNut70eMvU_qUlUxQOjJywOiLdp-t2fwq9Msfmx2CK7TB4jURH2PReUP4-E/s1325/Gnome%20on%20Pole.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1325" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhN4z4TXle89lO7jaX6HV5RThwtBTlmbCeG0JgBGvYzuJ0a9v-atrLEqucu85BBuHTetCxZlVZdZf9xFDpzfkSURgvORrp2trvFYbC_tScPHek9Lo1kjpeyiYCQidTZ2qFNut70eMvU_qUlUxQOjJywOiLdp-t2fwq9Msfmx2CK7TB4jURH2PReUP4-E/s320/Gnome%20on%20Pole.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Free to get in as well on the open day. The highlight of the walk as it was so unexpected.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKma4X5ttbEHLGfoHUIq_axfmZor-Y6FARZP7Ss4ZwBcP5MTxxJIZyVnImDD5KbpWgaYGTe79O2__0XFV3ZBooc-ZG6C3cminebx9Q97mrIBHz6y623WO1dsTitnO2BMrV_oy4hAa4wNr-yovNI65mB7b-Txruketcegh45XbJ57ShtoC45j6v7olrS_k/s1513/Hedgehog%20Togetherness.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1513" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKma4X5ttbEHLGfoHUIq_axfmZor-Y6FARZP7Ss4ZwBcP5MTxxJIZyVnImDD5KbpWgaYGTe79O2__0XFV3ZBooc-ZG6C3cminebx9Q97mrIBHz6y623WO1dsTitnO2BMrV_oy4hAa4wNr-yovNI65mB7b-Txruketcegh45XbJ57ShtoC45j6v7olrS_k/s320/Hedgehog%20Togetherness.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Hedgehog togetherness.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eds3CQZOlscF6qJGNWfpgvd-hinpNTayOfwXYO82rXTP4Ya4dhiLPUvmu4P_580Iulhq13Z5lelCjG6nYbLtfjAxq-7rCf5U1AvJibJBGD6stBypWbzNA9R2YoXA6HfP9j-W0Pq2_EX79GQnr0hIF1wpijkT6db76gINAwZy5k2M2EwOMSE_8er9AKs/s1555/sunflowers.%20autumn.%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1555" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eds3CQZOlscF6qJGNWfpgvd-hinpNTayOfwXYO82rXTP4Ya4dhiLPUvmu4P_580Iulhq13Z5lelCjG6nYbLtfjAxq-7rCf5U1AvJibJBGD6stBypWbzNA9R2YoXA6HfP9j-W0Pq2_EX79GQnr0hIF1wpijkT6db76gINAwZy5k2M2EwOMSE_8er9AKs/s320/sunflowers.%20autumn.%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;"> After that splurge of radiant colour we climbed still higher to Glasgow's City of the dead. The Necropolis.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7aLzLrIKhu9iqfheemjvjv7EG4V2tcgfJ5vNss3UQT7Ojaz2i1rPpqgGR8yvuWh8L1lPm6WjfHBuXuN3cJPPntJzTR2OWQMGsJsqBaMrLm9lHBaREfAf_x0veQAkHI2FxOEmlf3a5qGnAMOllOUKv3M0-MUbTnwm-nlqrWhvkSHqKVqGZc9rbepemEY/s1283/Period%20Church%20Dedication.%20High%20Street.%20Glasgow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1283" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7aLzLrIKhu9iqfheemjvjv7EG4V2tcgfJ5vNss3UQT7Ojaz2i1rPpqgGR8yvuWh8L1lPm6WjfHBuXuN3cJPPntJzTR2OWQMGsJsqBaMrLm9lHBaREfAf_x0veQAkHI2FxOEmlf3a5qGnAMOllOUKv3M0-MUbTnwm-nlqrWhvkSHqKVqGZc9rbepemEY/s320/Period%20Church%20Dedication.%20High%20Street.%20Glasgow.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Church detail on the way up.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3MZ19unDb6Zk6rdIKSoQPS7iuPvNe48yHvokowLc5EkHizdUAvO4XOCCrGluNKgQSibtQGgXTjbVwBthWdE28erTUhQa-iMpEyLZfNH-gnseaZUAKW97jIJ_0301OD2bw1n9RwSg8MM4gZb-rJ6uL4d0r5uuuUVHAkogzpsmfH3Rfowqtfuf56EwcuA/s1562/Aztec%20Temple.%20Glasgow%20Cathedral.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1562" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3MZ19unDb6Zk6rdIKSoQPS7iuPvNe48yHvokowLc5EkHizdUAvO4XOCCrGluNKgQSibtQGgXTjbVwBthWdE28erTUhQa-iMpEyLZfNH-gnseaZUAKW97jIJ_0301OD2bw1n9RwSg8MM4gZb-rJ6uL4d0r5uuuUVHAkogzpsmfH3Rfowqtfuf56EwcuA/s320/Aztec%20Temple.%20Glasgow%20Cathedral.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">When I first visited the Necropolis, back in the 1970s and 1980s I was usually alone apart from a few down and outs who would sleep in the open crypts for shelter from the rain. Not many tourists visited back then. It's very popular today however with tourists up here most days from around the world. The steeple of Glasgow Cathedral getting a makeover, above.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pVsxLg20ew4VO-J8_0p4NdGZjgSe89YlB3KXIzMZEN2eZ-6RPwX_VIsVxqg7t8HjSe4U0mxuj5lTp0l7yNWDkK1MDgC4sb8t0CIVd7uZz8ezmvzuK8otLu-Say2vaEh9s-9dM4eYjH9BDlOls0fmzm7Lrj2ax2RVVTmD2hyzaxiIQqVbgpy7t7-KZ8E/s1450/Barrowland%20and%20Glasgow's%20Hi%20Rise%20Flats.%20City%20of%20Glasgow%20From%20The%20Necropolis.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1450" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pVsxLg20ew4VO-J8_0p4NdGZjgSe89YlB3KXIzMZEN2eZ-6RPwX_VIsVxqg7t8HjSe4U0mxuj5lTp0l7yNWDkK1MDgC4sb8t0CIVd7uZz8ezmvzuK8otLu-Say2vaEh9s-9dM4eYjH9BDlOls0fmzm7Lrj2ax2RVVTmD2hyzaxiIQqVbgpy7t7-KZ8E/s320/Barrowland%20and%20Glasgow's%20Hi%20Rise%20Flats.%20City%20of%20Glasgow%20From%20The%20Necropolis.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> I mainly came up here for the excellent views. Barrowland Ballroom and the Gorbals District from the Necropolis. What I didn't realise then however was that it's only people that could afford a stone monument that get remembered up here and Glasgow, like any other old city has had numerous plagues, disasters, mass calamities etc over its long history where hundreds or even thousands died at one time. So unless they are all buried in mass graves somewhere else this entire hillside must be comprised of long dead corpses, piled one on top of each other. Probably why it's a sizable hill in the first place. A hill of dead people as for everyone one that could afford a stone monument about one thousand citizens could not. Something to think about when you are up here. Be careful where you step.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooqmg20zlBtbomcFgs1wBV-NbDlCDemfD3iQA9DcySDrbMa1vE6wME-P5feKPnMtaJyVyUOTE9H0Kl6qbKZpS2R3038xOQHR_EwoCLeIC_9hJ0QB-y8qRV6VBp4YXYF2YubB4gc637WyNQL0qxyFOXbGk3mcsZcQjaPmBqKfMq5INq3r5hsU3T4sA7YM/s1429/Charles%20Tennant.%20Glasgow%20Necropolis.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1429" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooqmg20zlBtbomcFgs1wBV-NbDlCDemfD3iQA9DcySDrbMa1vE6wME-P5feKPnMtaJyVyUOTE9H0Kl6qbKZpS2R3038xOQHR_EwoCLeIC_9hJ0QB-y8qRV6VBp4YXYF2YubB4gc637WyNQL0qxyFOXbGk3mcsZcQjaPmBqKfMq5INq3r5hsU3T4sA7YM/s320/Charles%20Tennant.%20Glasgow%20Necropolis.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> On the very top of the hill factory owner Charles Tennant sits. A wealthy industrialist who built one of the world's largest chemical factories at Glasgow's Sighthill. Died early to mid 1800s. So this summit was here then.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirWpV7G0IsH9h_dRUdK7O3N65hJX5xPy9SJPsVEeTa3R6DTLpajJ1wo89M9Pw5piuKZlD1tTzOCvvKdLyfi_Hfc8_x0YoDfJv_hZhPbLD2XZJ2ouJoYb1VJNvLkgQSuemtlWaV5UMxjbKysbLY25-RNcdJPNPBnD2bm98m_GTpQhbkINC7pBVpfmr02s/s1384/Exploring%20Glasgow%20Necropolis.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1384" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirWpV7G0IsH9h_dRUdK7O3N65hJX5xPy9SJPsVEeTa3R6DTLpajJ1wo89M9Pw5piuKZlD1tTzOCvvKdLyfi_Hfc8_x0YoDfJv_hZhPbLD2XZJ2ouJoYb1VJNvLkgQSuemtlWaV5UMxjbKysbLY25-RNcdJPNPBnD2bm98m_GTpQhbkINC7pBVpfmr02s/s320/Exploring%20Glasgow%20Necropolis.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of the other large stone monuments.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKnNknzpO5h4mLXGpdl8FI1HylJ4bohTWyq4toSOJpb49nlp4afMSVdz01dlvJkbvsvQCmBT0eRN0UjqREBzmRlKsgpzu6Fr2uveer9NwyIB4I1FbpFrwbbEcyMP0ruAfcbMYcC6S5-PLIqmMGy9zMmMkiBMds97oKkPNGPcw3CevIhxIoG2NzI8IeXg/s1642/Celtic%20Park%20FC.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1642" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKnNknzpO5h4mLXGpdl8FI1HylJ4bohTWyq4toSOJpb49nlp4afMSVdz01dlvJkbvsvQCmBT0eRN0UjqREBzmRlKsgpzu6Fr2uveer9NwyIB4I1FbpFrwbbEcyMP0ruAfcbMYcC6S5-PLIqmMGy9zMmMkiBMds97oKkPNGPcw3CevIhxIoG2NzI8IeXg/s320/Celtic%20Park%20FC.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Celtic Park Football Ground.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_bQt59Fgx9i8rITfpIngsNm9c4LrNiBY3uTQayew4Spay9iXHhWNDqVTuHktn9YyA_UqCTU4mKmicGSLtuQ5tRHgnGY4_YJk54OfpedzEkj2HT9j49slhIE6uZYEMoqXe9FsqnFLrwWan5Y_9pRTexgDPCJlMqbnwoBfmNY-ojn2_hhlOINWDiMXE30/s1511/Glasgow%20Necropolis.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1511" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_bQt59Fgx9i8rITfpIngsNm9c4LrNiBY3uTQayew4Spay9iXHhWNDqVTuHktn9YyA_UqCTU4mKmicGSLtuQ5tRHgnGY4_YJk54OfpedzEkj2HT9j49slhIE6uZYEMoqXe9FsqnFLrwWan5Y_9pRTexgDPCJlMqbnwoBfmNY-ojn2_hhlOINWDiMXE30/s320/Glasgow%20Necropolis.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">John Knox protestant firebrand also commands a summit view from the highest mound of unknown, unremarkable, unremembered bodies beneath. He who made Mary Queen of Scots short life all the harder, being a Catholic Queen in a largely Protestant court/country. Or it was back then among the elite of the Scottish lowlands where the main base of castles, power and influence existed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWo8TCgi_ylis7CS7mjDHABNZl5a0S96o5PLSJtID5k1-XNMgnMKUFbs7L3kNyqHlf-psKBP405rUT9j3-wI9-TQa008XNvMQe7d_6pCEVqzg8qi2AalKReryIfCfBnqX_EqFcUknT6JxlO5ZKihsRFjZGQhJ8x72GI1SAI8D3rb-4NajhIRghGaGRiA/s1600/Life%20Everlasting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWo8TCgi_ylis7CS7mjDHABNZl5a0S96o5PLSJtID5k1-XNMgnMKUFbs7L3kNyqHlf-psKBP405rUT9j3-wI9-TQa008XNvMQe7d_6pCEVqzg8qi2AalKReryIfCfBnqX_EqFcUknT6JxlO5ZKihsRFjZGQhJ8x72GI1SAI8D3rb-4NajhIRghGaGRiA/s320/Life%20Everlasting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Life everlasting...?</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCII-rv8uBw80qjRJRvYlO5b4YXu5ESxEbYUjS7Wwus1ylWwS5R1WItayCaUxf2vgbE7EzqTXg4hxicVUbT1v4Fp7_q-i-Q1N1xrRXhyY1kE-vH2TO6l6BufbvefG48rBwt2_UOTfV7wJpfHO8ZF9eH5tynBUbWlKe9FypSF6mHYkpkDGpAo4F-zkgi_c/s1402/I%20see%20an%20Angel.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1402" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCII-rv8uBw80qjRJRvYlO5b4YXu5ESxEbYUjS7Wwus1ylWwS5R1WItayCaUxf2vgbE7EzqTXg4hxicVUbT1v4Fp7_q-i-Q1N1xrRXhyY1kE-vH2TO6l6BufbvefG48rBwt2_UOTfV7wJpfHO8ZF9eH5tynBUbWlKe9FypSF6mHYkpkDGpAo4F-zkgi_c/s320/I%20see%20an%20Angel.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I like this one the best though. As the truly innocent.... 'they sleep, play, fly, dance and sing with angels.' This I've always known.... from my own birth to death.</span><br /></p><p><br /></p><br />blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-79989060138363617162023-12-16T01:11:00.009+00:002023-12-16T15:38:36.963+00:00Greenock Gourock Circular tour.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiR-M1koH_E77gw1fKAyR-E6Ls6CS9pOjQVDqCZ3QsOor4zyaucVajvojggYDfBimbPOiXCYinEOugeGAcZGO4A8o7QeofjDiq01askF239YeTVcHyZxeiofVyJCehRUftQCt0nNWYSjHiw0D6AEaNXqkuzHoeCqaNNp6uAi1mh4k10Pu4c-2VACAEVY/s1403/Container%20Ship%20at%20Greenock's%20Loading%20unloading%20dock%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1403" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiR-M1koH_E77gw1fKAyR-E6Ls6CS9pOjQVDqCZ3QsOor4zyaucVajvojggYDfBimbPOiXCYinEOugeGAcZGO4A8o7QeofjDiq01askF239YeTVcHyZxeiofVyJCehRUftQCt0nNWYSjHiw0D6AEaNXqkuzHoeCqaNNp6uAi1mh4k10Pu4c-2VACAEVY/s320/Container%20Ship%20at%20Greenock's%20Loading%20unloading%20dock%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A walk suggested by Alan recently proved to be better than I expected, even though I've been in both towns many times. We parked along Greenock's Esplanade, seen here, above, then walked along it towards Gourock. It was a sunny but breezy day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAmrguPKF23f_1glpvpl3WeuLcp-lfA854a0-Ae5Liq_9W_vhmwup5zl5fl_ksbtkbUtFRM6UaX5tV4ftFAir13i_dnBo4JxJ0rb18-4vvPjjJaIDOumWYH_oxSwawGOJO0cUEkBqG9G1n9U_0MDAVXM-QnnCRUh18i71kCMw1ke4sCBw_a5AhaMQqnw/s1429/Boat%20Club%20Building.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1429" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAmrguPKF23f_1glpvpl3WeuLcp-lfA854a0-Ae5Liq_9W_vhmwup5zl5fl_ksbtkbUtFRM6UaX5tV4ftFAir13i_dnBo4JxJ0rb18-4vvPjjJaIDOumWYH_oxSwawGOJO0cUEkBqG9G1n9U_0MDAVXM-QnnCRUh18i71kCMw1ke4sCBw_a5AhaMQqnw/s320/Boat%20Club%20Building.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">At the boat club building a few brave swimmers were bobbing around enjoying the December sea and the wind driven swells.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq97YWCbnyZpdNXVsipu7z9LM_BqUUc93B0nLZRz42khNBqqs01r_KRKcPhmZesHpss7Fs83M_xbSu39as08s2-ybYaENJV6w3rmHwjYCqinUi9LSvl3H-XVANYi-ZSYNsbrR2yX-EX0KBMIHVGNHLD5p6OU2s81feJm2fQvwKop4m3xQaV_suoNfU1UE/s1604/Battery%20Park.%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1604" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq97YWCbnyZpdNXVsipu7z9LM_BqUUc93B0nLZRz42khNBqqs01r_KRKcPhmZesHpss7Fs83M_xbSu39as08s2-ybYaENJV6w3rmHwjYCqinUi9LSvl3H-XVANYi-ZSYNsbrR2yX-EX0KBMIHVGNHLD5p6OU2s81feJm2fQvwKop4m3xQaV_suoNfU1UE/s320/Battery%20Park.%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That was not our idea of fun at all but we did appreciate the wide open grassland setting of Battery Park, which came next, with a distant view of Tower Hill which was our eventual destination. (The small stone tower is just visible on the ridge line to the right of the tower block and our walk continues up that ridge line, trending right to left.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSSLiuy1CEBKAdlYfuynEpVP1ohcy-5mv0OaE0agd9O3jZKUkLkZi-9pmJvoEoh756T_pD9jWvZeew-AAjv9JD7DDx1gp8yb9Dk5x6-M0EwDiD4__Ahl_Edsf_iemV9mIh0LdL01BP-IMn1nQ2iThPKecyikFBDLM7jewZU4nDI7F2AUtEMe6fE9-tRY/s1525/Gourock%20Main%20Street.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1525" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSSLiuy1CEBKAdlYfuynEpVP1ohcy-5mv0OaE0agd9O3jZKUkLkZi-9pmJvoEoh756T_pD9jWvZeew-AAjv9JD7DDx1gp8yb9Dk5x6-M0EwDiD4__Ahl_Edsf_iemV9mIh0LdL01BP-IMn1nQ2iThPKecyikFBDLM7jewZU4nDI7F2AUtEMe6fE9-tRY/s320/Gourock%20Main%20Street.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Gourock's main street came next. At the other end of this row of shops, seen above, a lane on the left leads upwards to the hill.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00U7WRCmV3r_gqn1p3mbmy8uEQIg38GoGEQAk3NpILnKKf3AQNn8fUZ03WIjYSyb78FDt0L1i9DuM7fedHZKnVTesGfxgyZ5l-Kcv9hh7wzkv3rfwPm3Ce1g-JxU3CV9luouQKLWubqaCSZB8ifF-miF4F-1rgujAiRJsYJHx9EM-LmxC-j5uzceLWtA/s1280/The%20Town%20of%20Gourock%20on%20its%20Slope.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00U7WRCmV3r_gqn1p3mbmy8uEQIg38GoGEQAk3NpILnKKf3AQNn8fUZ03WIjYSyb78FDt0L1i9DuM7fedHZKnVTesGfxgyZ5l-Kcv9hh7wzkv3rfwPm3Ce1g-JxU3CV9luouQKLWubqaCSZB8ifF-miF4F-1rgujAiRJsYJHx9EM-LmxC-j5uzceLWtA/s320/The%20Town%20of%20Gourock%20on%20its%20Slope.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">What I've always liked about these three towns, (Gourock, Greenock and Port Glasgow) is the way they cling to the hillsides like limpets in a rock pool, forced by the terrain to expand upwards rather than spread out sideways.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVWVKHZganG4BLEVff_kxekdpP2Dlk-oTQPyN7MAvvU1T65yr_DwyELoF77FpSbUpsp6L6AGQcBoORNMEJi43ph1Ddue1qxpB_mnywVORvqTkwEbuVaW9slMV20hwVMw0CpNwabwA3_ZYjSRVoG93H9B-jCJlpxpHUl_YXTJDbT8HRDHjBeizliMzOPE/s1509/The%20Steep%20Nature%20of%20Gourock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1509" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVWVKHZganG4BLEVff_kxekdpP2Dlk-oTQPyN7MAvvU1T65yr_DwyELoF77FpSbUpsp6L6AGQcBoORNMEJi43ph1Ddue1qxpB_mnywVORvqTkwEbuVaW9slMV20hwVMw0CpNwabwA3_ZYjSRVoG93H9B-jCJlpxpHUl_YXTJDbT8HRDHjBeizliMzOPE/s320/The%20Steep%20Nature%20of%20Gourock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Halfway along this main shore front street in Gourock a thin lane and stairs on left proceed to climb this hillside. Always a thrill to find this half hidden ascent unchanged as it's rarely known about or frequented by tourists, even today.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFam70s6Ti8dqKXKd7g8l6dgb1ey-NO9TdjTbEeIxE1rC0H8MTzNoYjo5WyCAg88_oQGYC7s-PgKNcmbhozwSI4B7QiqLyNvPvPapfnD5US5pwuz8qcVFvX2Q_I-LqmU1hEMvvVP0b5PGgFtGp87Xy8ycvnoF7gZO_311-96z5FgePKFnS2YNEdw7Pv5k/s1281/Stairs%20up%20Tower%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1281" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFam70s6Ti8dqKXKd7g8l6dgb1ey-NO9TdjTbEeIxE1rC0H8MTzNoYjo5WyCAg88_oQGYC7s-PgKNcmbhozwSI4B7QiqLyNvPvPapfnD5US5pwuz8qcVFvX2Q_I-LqmU1hEMvvVP0b5PGgFtGp87Xy8ycvnoF7gZO_311-96z5FgePKFnS2YNEdw7Pv5k/s320/Stairs%20up%20Tower%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">At the top of these stairs an arrow straight road leads directly inland and slightly downhill with houses on both sides but halfway along it another flight of stairs, on the right, leads to the summit of Tower Hill.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40JREA3Y8z5vBzuqe14ZI6MQy9q_2S3cT77LfRTVDJE8FwprRa6oxvzt_tpcysWN0k8uxI3eWba_lSSHzmbBHNu4C8VGQqiQXac7obTLnQ8aAyKRvfJGwSffInQYsPV1eCo7_mgLu6KPdDdG21qX15Jw5X-v4WrBbiHlBhyFrKMcTc_TbkRyvlx8g35Q/s1475/Gourock%20View%20and%20Greenock's%20Lyle%20Hill%20From%20Tower%20Hill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1475" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40JREA3Y8z5vBzuqe14ZI6MQy9q_2S3cT77LfRTVDJE8FwprRa6oxvzt_tpcysWN0k8uxI3eWba_lSSHzmbBHNu4C8VGQqiQXac7obTLnQ8aAyKRvfJGwSffInQYsPV1eCo7_mgLu6KPdDdG21qX15Jw5X-v4WrBbiHlBhyFrKMcTc_TbkRyvlx8g35Q/s320/Gourock%20View%20and%20Greenock's%20Lyle%20Hill%20From%20Tower%20Hill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The view from Tower Hill is one of the best in Scotland. As seen here, looking across at Greenock's Lyle Hill. Walking to this other hill is also an option for a longer circular walk. (We started our walk near the white boat like structure, visible halfway along the higher patch of blue sea on the left then stuck to the coastal path around Gourock Bay to get to here.)<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6XOKTLeFABvwu6DSmYCZljPqQzk6QDEnuFkaj4TBtGVNOdwUutRY9EMmHx4hlUz3_Fj7rxbSlG331QIA4wxQMRONvsRSQA7ndnArdeuMicfsNxNwiMyEJFD2nV3botKndkGLm2Y4webLRV7ZxGuFO2d887qn4kvwcuQo6oFI-a-0z9aMOBr_TCJHeyA/s1432/Container%20Ship%20and%20%20sunken%20Sugar%20Boat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1432" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6XOKTLeFABvwu6DSmYCZljPqQzk6QDEnuFkaj4TBtGVNOdwUutRY9EMmHx4hlUz3_Fj7rxbSlG331QIA4wxQMRONvsRSQA7ndnArdeuMicfsNxNwiMyEJFD2nV3botKndkGLm2Y4webLRV7ZxGuFO2d887qn4kvwcuQo6oFI-a-0z9aMOBr_TCJHeyA/s320/Container%20Ship%20and%20%20sunken%20Sugar%20Boat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A container ship passing Battery Park. A Modern Santa. This was the white structure mentioned earlier.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcC_vlPca4eiJIcngAdiiyS5vnKiZhUFMH4bkZWaip9scQdpnNhrHEMmDx41lytxxrcvNusNn74f7yFIrrlfJfeQZeKepquYU8I1D_qJW5HMUC3Y8TpIUZYlzNO-YueCpn8fek79I1fsU8dD-KVQL5_B2dy0THzPd3s8sSCraKjkzaePlkh4Txs0WvsqQ/s1583/Firth%20of%20Clyde%20Estuary%20Portkil%20and%20Gallow%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1583" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcC_vlPca4eiJIcngAdiiyS5vnKiZhUFMH4bkZWaip9scQdpnNhrHEMmDx41lytxxrcvNusNn74f7yFIrrlfJfeQZeKepquYU8I1D_qJW5HMUC3Y8TpIUZYlzNO-YueCpn8fek79I1fsU8dD-KVQL5_B2dy0THzPd3s8sSCraKjkzaePlkh4Txs0WvsqQ/s320/Firth%20of%20Clyde%20Estuary%20Portkil%20and%20Gallow%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Firth of Clyde Estuary, Portkil and Gallow Hill.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTK-tjNg67gVDgMnkZ94Oo_AkNV45NCWNu5YSg271Fu-0IaBcG18fyE5k0FG46jtotQZyDu313fe1RqT2Z1l_rqjDHuix8ZAz56NVBxlaLmQ_0LVimQw4V9VJ38oVBqwzfVj0JXt9lhxsUju91DKTayopu09ll8gzo49T7b1RsJbZVA730wvjg2fL2mbQ/s1417/The%20Mountains%20Surrounding%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1417" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTK-tjNg67gVDgMnkZ94Oo_AkNV45NCWNu5YSg271Fu-0IaBcG18fyE5k0FG46jtotQZyDu313fe1RqT2Z1l_rqjDHuix8ZAz56NVBxlaLmQ_0LVimQw4V9VJ38oVBqwzfVj0JXt9lhxsUju91DKTayopu09ll8gzo49T7b1RsJbZVA730wvjg2fL2mbQ/s320/The%20Mountains%20Surrounding%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The mountains surrounding Greenock and Gourock.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntNLYU4o0lNPHeVbBW1RLkyLlsZOjX7tnPU_E22G6r1poCoboULzo0kdwvLxjVvhR7Ds3rbP_IqZ7ZMb5eYHr6gBtPkmUUP7gmomzOXEFx1AsCXYpJ_ZJhlL0E5pJj2_IncDeb3b_gHLCItV3VwGWzrWuJWSB1hhyphenhyphenFBt_0Zbjr6CSNvqCwvC_cA4L-n8/s1628/Container%20Ship%20Passing%20Rhu.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1628" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntNLYU4o0lNPHeVbBW1RLkyLlsZOjX7tnPU_E22G6r1poCoboULzo0kdwvLxjVvhR7Ds3rbP_IqZ7ZMb5eYHr6gBtPkmUUP7gmomzOXEFx1AsCXYpJ_ZJhlL0E5pJj2_IncDeb3b_gHLCItV3VwGWzrWuJWSB1hhyphenhyphenFBt_0Zbjr6CSNvqCwvC_cA4L-n8/s320/Container%20Ship%20Passing%20Rhu.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A closer view of Santa. ( for the children.) It's red and white... delivering loads of presents made in a faraway land. It must be Santa.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1b8T4Ynud0aPlg1P6M5ZOPGdjYpU9xlF7FhD6gSzneQC8gm26vRxVKq4WWnxSBeq1jpv3uE_3lnLBQWPmQVoHBHNQQc4QIs5WKgVR7HkRH2n7-u167bCQUPTsVQmXlKCo1DinQR8IIBhWlpVKB9dZAFVt4O4y4EbERxN_0iPrJ9ihPvh1bnJQjRZmj3A/s1566/Strone%20Point%20From%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1566" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1b8T4Ynud0aPlg1P6M5ZOPGdjYpU9xlF7FhD6gSzneQC8gm26vRxVKq4WWnxSBeq1jpv3uE_3lnLBQWPmQVoHBHNQQc4QIs5WKgVR7HkRH2n7-u167bCQUPTsVQmXlKCo1DinQR8IIBhWlpVKB9dZAFVt4O4y4EbERxN_0iPrJ9ihPvh1bnJQjRZmj3A/s320/Strone%20Point%20From%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Mountains and Strone Point.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJB7cJhEnZ7FYUpxyLq-VIBKx8o1WyXYa-L5IW_EsoobOcuH8ZeZ3uLYN00suJYFfz4b9cNJWguDit_hLVCTku_2Ec8xQcRLxyLLHMV-Kzwy4jrIaDSuzttlhpYPUpsZbly7VlTITZkh2N4IWxmokeVTayo7-HGNbkE0tFprK6ZtlEj5y0mLCmtEc7Hcc/s1319/View%20From%20Tower%20Hill.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1319" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJB7cJhEnZ7FYUpxyLq-VIBKx8o1WyXYa-L5IW_EsoobOcuH8ZeZ3uLYN00suJYFfz4b9cNJWguDit_hLVCTku_2Ec8xQcRLxyLLHMV-Kzwy4jrIaDSuzttlhpYPUpsZbly7VlTITZkh2N4IWxmokeVTayo7-HGNbkE0tFprK6ZtlEj5y0mLCmtEc7Hcc/s320/View%20From%20Tower%20Hill.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> After enjoying the views we turned to look at the way ahead.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GtQ4qWUUW1cctqqMVb39m-XQ9V_9MW8pqorcxYxu55OwGKreZIG7mIjp-qZrcb61AZggo9HUx1CDfZ1sZFDD7c8YtTcHLa9j5f6Fgkav8unRhf8ky_5A60zY4iEKm5vl5-fVVAiZHtUw1a-OXUdSEcyLUDVjsJBWsHT-GWaLYFjm1DjclwnYcfQJHpk/s1444/Inverclyde%20Hospital.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1444" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GtQ4qWUUW1cctqqMVb39m-XQ9V_9MW8pqorcxYxu55OwGKreZIG7mIjp-qZrcb61AZggo9HUx1CDfZ1sZFDD7c8YtTcHLa9j5f6Fgkav8unRhf8ky_5A60zY4iEKm5vl5-fVVAiZHtUw1a-OXUdSEcyLUDVjsJBWsHT-GWaLYFjm1DjclwnYcfQJHpk/s320/Inverclyde%20Hospital.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The stone cube of Inverclyde Hospital was an obvious landmark to head for as we both knew what sat beside it. The road up to it is at the left end of this row of tenements, which is why I include this photo. The grass path leads rightwards, running down along this wire fence in the photo then crosses several streets, making for the left hand end of these tenements to reach the hospital.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6QmeCPgc13aYkX1J7RUhs8bjXrcxvyn5EFpMf9CRPN35wGvdEXaO4JnHjueYq8GoI9HvKzO6IpXMCY7bnGRb0wnikMF-VvpuM3HF2jarR9jRN-5MMi-oXWSQUFnIRWxp2WcOsEcEoPOKUtpbi7aGaq1sOgeObDVs7Cm5XybDoRDgWCMw66eKqM-CC-o/s1480/Coves%20Reservoir%20Walk.%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1480" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6QmeCPgc13aYkX1J7RUhs8bjXrcxvyn5EFpMf9CRPN35wGvdEXaO4JnHjueYq8GoI9HvKzO6IpXMCY7bnGRb0wnikMF-VvpuM3HF2jarR9jRN-5MMi-oXWSQUFnIRWxp2WcOsEcEoPOKUtpbi7aGaq1sOgeObDVs7Cm5XybDoRDgWCMw66eKqM-CC-o/s320/Coves%20Reservoir%20Walk.%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Considering this is still within the heart of Greenock it is amazing how wild parts of this highly unusual town can be. This network of trails surrounding Coves Reservoir beside Inverclyde Hospital being a case in point. Always loved this place since discovering it in the early 1970s.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYth2pkDhDhb-iP5n3m3-lOxes6Na6YiUt9jmweGMpCFZBKvDPsoH4xO_Pu_X0C2K1tVkH5yFECp1Ssye_Mr5Bx41H6ykXr6aSIUXL6ubZVJ-XLCCVZqDz3aZPKohV20l08YNljCn_F04tBIaknayitpLU4gyu-EtmvdTFnNLztINUAFbs-aPk3AJIK8/s1335/In%20the%20Heart%20of%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1335" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYth2pkDhDhb-iP5n3m3-lOxes6Na6YiUt9jmweGMpCFZBKvDPsoH4xO_Pu_X0C2K1tVkH5yFECp1Ssye_Mr5Bx41H6ykXr6aSIUXL6ubZVJ-XLCCVZqDz3aZPKohV20l08YNljCn_F04tBIaknayitpLU4gyu-EtmvdTFnNLztINUAFbs-aPk3AJIK8/s320/In%20the%20Heart%20of%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Could be any wild remote beauty spot this place yet it's entirely within Greenock's town limits.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLJGy29mZCDwVLLbswBKxZHzQfd2fFcpWDTA0bc1zf6DJ4JqneM9elIlyQFsLC2swb-ndZXVaQtJ4Qtwrpif56eJXU0HulCO2KcVHal_spMxX6w_PdqPVpgZqU9MXhSXRHm6B68XtnR4kK4qohJF7OC3jO4mePqInd7FlyRkcfYptYD3ikMHdAl2tJ2w/s1480/Reservoir%20Area.%20Clydeview%20Academy.%20Greenock%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1480" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLJGy29mZCDwVLLbswBKxZHzQfd2fFcpWDTA0bc1zf6DJ4JqneM9elIlyQFsLC2swb-ndZXVaQtJ4Qtwrpif56eJXU0HulCO2KcVHal_spMxX6w_PdqPVpgZqU9MXhSXRHm6B68XtnR4kK4qohJF7OC3jO4mePqInd7FlyRkcfYptYD3ikMHdAl2tJ2w/s320/Reservoir%20Area.%20Clydeview%20Academy.%20Greenock%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Two reservoirs in fact. With Clydeview Academy beside it, A town secondary school with outstanding views, as the name suggests.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjih99_NsId73R2lU8iJAvDulC0Kiah-Mn01J5b6hnGzXXFOq_pKh0KXo1NTI6S7f71YiK_z6_TSgySYT1IA9iQJFysYfpUnA8c2BXKNo40NVGviXFiyklq2f_mmhZlrB-CLJ1tqb6THj8bq0_p4Bm7ejXZ8S3Nt2JTDjx0HQOYobAVBelNGCqu1l-mRSA/s1560/Modern%20School%20Design.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1560" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjih99_NsId73R2lU8iJAvDulC0Kiah-Mn01J5b6hnGzXXFOq_pKh0KXo1NTI6S7f71YiK_z6_TSgySYT1IA9iQJFysYfpUnA8c2BXKNo40NVGviXFiyklq2f_mmhZlrB-CLJ1tqb6THj8bq0_p4Bm7ejXZ8S3Nt2JTDjx0HQOYobAVBelNGCqu1l-mRSA/s320/Modern%20School%20Design.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> This is one modern school I do like the look of. Very bright and colourful.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBA8dnHKtP6UVW730FE3fomSeyzOT-jVVdGvG9yFPIRc-jKq8QXWDPAcMLJk8AH4siUTbdrozsu7MBufTg42esXVrRaN0pQfi2Jf-kkhzB73yvu498RbL58ehnyLexZQq831lyAc2emD8Dy5VdnYZSXsXqk1mA9zqLro5-hhVBZHkDYHOP9VbRlW0XYE/s1501/Luss%20Hills%20from%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1501" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBA8dnHKtP6UVW730FE3fomSeyzOT-jVVdGvG9yFPIRc-jKq8QXWDPAcMLJk8AH4siUTbdrozsu7MBufTg42esXVrRaN0pQfi2Jf-kkhzB73yvu498RbL58ehnyLexZQq831lyAc2emD8Dy5VdnYZSXsXqk1mA9zqLro5-hhVBZHkDYHOP9VbRlW0XYE/s320/Luss%20Hills%20from%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Luss Hills on the slow descent to the esplanade again.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHLGluGkfDGU_Rc-GIm5nl3aN91Ol7eu28Zk025xhJlPIGFNhoGI4srHX_P7Mbzlqeck_NYFXjTQOBdosc8WCMJA7FDXT1kvZEmFTwODtrKJRAWpwgeQDUaKCXKJEy246VJ9zGyHNfbXN_gH_o4AB-MF1afKGtSEu-sPqfQ_X1u49wpWZ9XdrzoxcYu0/s1737/MOD%20Ship%20Passing%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1737" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHLGluGkfDGU_Rc-GIm5nl3aN91Ol7eu28Zk025xhJlPIGFNhoGI4srHX_P7Mbzlqeck_NYFXjTQOBdosc8WCMJA7FDXT1kvZEmFTwODtrKJRAWpwgeQDUaKCXKJEy246VJ9zGyHNfbXN_gH_o4AB-MF1afKGtSEu-sPqfQ_X1u49wpWZ9XdrzoxcYu0/s320/MOD%20Ship%20Passing%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">MOD ship passing Gallow Hill. Plenty of water traffic in the Firth most days. An extra bonus on this walk.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJ5c6taPkudmdkfcRmXM8-V6aWpNqku_2fAvF_vHuy1k31fLb20a9xw48HJsQlaf_YfCyO7pjPS-GIyH88rge-QGMss2qyCwUgf2ILgRGvpQfNKTPNhquedduMSme_zohhyV4fcgx8Y9umFDn0JsMLkyAuSCt9-e-u6y9pXDTx62FvTcCgE00-7MmygA/s1160/Oor%20Willie.%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1160" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJ5c6taPkudmdkfcRmXM8-V6aWpNqku_2fAvF_vHuy1k31fLb20a9xw48HJsQlaf_YfCyO7pjPS-GIyH88rge-QGMss2qyCwUgf2ILgRGvpQfNKTPNhquedduMSme_zohhyV4fcgx8Y9umFDn0JsMLkyAuSCt9-e-u6y9pXDTx62FvTcCgE00-7MmygA/s320/Oor%20Willie.%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Oor Wullie. Greenock.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL81RQORJnm39548KUKD1Tu2Jm0fmDb0U-NFuLkDoukLtg4qzXvVxG-WGVhXmAf2bhIjoF8bRymMqdPm8_PcK-S7WZsR69QgakUv8dm_eqdQYU15LSh-yjqFXz_xkRE4urTU-SuDFi2gG-1jXf54n0Du10u2dtZ5CzOcFrDnyR2bxPlqLv_orK2WbJ_LI/s1259/Holidays%20Down%20The%20Clyde%20Coast%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1259" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL81RQORJnm39548KUKD1Tu2Jm0fmDb0U-NFuLkDoukLtg4qzXvVxG-WGVhXmAf2bhIjoF8bRymMqdPm8_PcK-S7WZsR69QgakUv8dm_eqdQYU15LSh-yjqFXz_xkRE4urTU-SuDFi2gG-1jXf54n0Du10u2dtZ5CzOcFrDnyR2bxPlqLv_orK2WbJ_LI/s320/Holidays%20Down%20The%20Clyde%20Coast%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Bucket and spade memories of holidays down the coast sculpture. Gourock. A cracking and varied walk.... even today. Allow 3 to 4 hours depending on speed. An extra hour for including Lyle Hill. Both hills also great spots at nightfall for all the town lights twinkling on below, viewed from the summit. In winter it's dark by four or five pm so still safe enough to drive up and park on Lyle Hill for the outstanding night views. Only Oban comes close for night-time hilltop panoramas although you still have to be wary in both places by using common sense. i.e. don't get out the car unless it feels quiet and safe. ( usually it is both empty and safe) <br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThBTUYlzxklpRwoV7S19c5jjXjGzeF-qm_30Du6FkKpWmx7AxhRraxX3ofnRkjzIQhIkl9N_o1X_vdtsjQvbL0lKrEPtXL6IAFvHWb3aXem5CvwxpCY1SdDH573oFmozaEJULmRctRT0FuyZscQGtoNTr4SRUsLg4BxFw7SVufN92u-yLJ8-phDDdndU/s1469/Victoria%20Tower.%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1469" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThBTUYlzxklpRwoV7S19c5jjXjGzeF-qm_30Du6FkKpWmx7AxhRraxX3ofnRkjzIQhIkl9N_o1X_vdtsjQvbL0lKrEPtXL6IAFvHWb3aXem5CvwxpCY1SdDH573oFmozaEJULmRctRT0FuyZscQGtoNTr4SRUsLg4BxFw7SVufN92u-yLJ8-phDDdndU/s320/Victoria%20Tower.%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Victoria Tower. Yep. I'm a lifelong fan of all three Inverclyde towns.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br /></p><p><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-87710799535596291142023-12-03T15:56:00.013+00:002023-12-17T14:12:03.121+00:00A Walk around Neilston in Renfrewshire.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaL0IvHexHBVU1ATHDcX2pzXDFD5Lz-wXz3_HTwodqZjp-cJ2_wJHXUVmoSJ7o7QLJUTrSEXXAC2ny1EL6I5ofKxsuQY9GFdeEioaiAfYNvu7xlgwKxBsYv5l9AhmxY7NoojNdhPbLtSQzrWfXj8cnOVBrNyz5YdHVDHRw8sE_MO2W7D4M03nDE7HzeQ/s1246/Former%20Cotton%20Mill.%20Neilston.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1246" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaL0IvHexHBVU1ATHDcX2pzXDFD5Lz-wXz3_HTwodqZjp-cJ2_wJHXUVmoSJ7o7QLJUTrSEXXAC2ny1EL6I5ofKxsuQY9GFdeEioaiAfYNvu7xlgwKxBsYv5l9AhmxY7NoojNdhPbLtSQzrWfXj8cnOVBrNyz5YdHVDHRw8sE_MO2W7D4M03nDE7HzeQ/s320/Former%20Cotton%20Mill.%20Neilston.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">With minus 4 temperatures and a recent dump of fresh snow at street level in Glasgow I though I'd escape back into summer instead. Neilston's former Cotton Mill, above. The walk started here by following this lane along the side of the old mill wall. Further on a step through hole in the wall leads into woods then a banana shaped path curves around a meadow to Holehouse in Neilston then another path takes you past Brimstone Bridge, following the Levern Water some of the way, then Neilstonside Farm via a minor road. Living in a northern country I always appreciate Spring, Summer, and Autumn for its greenery and hopeful heat. Summers not too warm as yet but not cold either. Perfect in fact.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13abn5Mz_VteVwl6ogazlPsHevJPa0kYX9kycsqVUv98mzCOAZZw-eSsyvg5QYY7pQYgXE4XQccxoWR3Vf4dVleM_wdJ34AiYOOc7wAyeANjuFujsjP-S9mfEcrTVMYQdmC8af0BGeZHOsptmZ9RG1fqkuyUoUnv5KeMgqH5hT1LCq1sD7Ly7aALpAsQ/s1818/Dairy%20Cattle%20Country.%20Rural%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1818" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13abn5Mz_VteVwl6ogazlPsHevJPa0kYX9kycsqVUv98mzCOAZZw-eSsyvg5QYY7pQYgXE4XQccxoWR3Vf4dVleM_wdJ34AiYOOc7wAyeANjuFujsjP-S9mfEcrTVMYQdmC8af0BGeZHOsptmZ9RG1fqkuyUoUnv5KeMgqH5hT1LCq1sD7Ly7aALpAsQ/s320/Dairy%20Cattle%20Country.%20Rural%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Renfrewshire is dairy cattle country so this is a scene very familiar to me although the cattle here appear to have been gathered in for something but the general setting is much the same. Five minutes walk from my house between the ages of five and fifteen, black and white dairy cattle munched in fields very close to my front door and even better the fields were large with mature hedgerows separating them. Unlike here, photo above and below, you could usually avoid any cows in a large field and even if you couldn't... skipping into any adjoining field was easy via numerous gaps in the hedges. There was always space to walk along the edges even in a field of crops, which, of course, we knew not to touch. Simple for children or teenagers to squeeze through between fields if the cows got too close but not for the cows to escape and follow us. (We/ us being various friends.)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTLaCVej8Ie5Jbd0xkjyXJ9q3ebz56Fo2cxYtbP07NS9Pdd6FJRWpjtlqgqHiJlQg7XyiwaSGGp30rUqgs2VpVRas2iYJQ2-iZfSQc5e0j-7eGVsqHkUw2HBhyM0CLX6oXE-04YrGAWtIvRwFzoH69CaNmvEzwhAGzmsuVHRGGn2HZFkXYB2QYHcgO1E/s1507/Cattle%20Herd.%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1507" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTLaCVej8Ie5Jbd0xkjyXJ9q3ebz56Fo2cxYtbP07NS9Pdd6FJRWpjtlqgqHiJlQg7XyiwaSGGp30rUqgs2VpVRas2iYJQ2-iZfSQc5e0j-7eGVsqHkUw2HBhyM0CLX6oXE-04YrGAWtIvRwFzoH69CaNmvEzwhAGzmsuVHRGGn2HZFkXYB2QYHcgO1E/s320/Cattle%20Herd.%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">So I always look at cows... and tenements... with fond affection. Possibly because I didn't have to muck out winter concrete farm buildings at any point although I've seen it done many times. All that area used to be like this when I was growing up but now it's been swallowed up by various housing estates. Darnley, Parkhouse and Southpark Village. We didn't harm the cows in any way but I'm ashamed to say we did collect birds eggs found in the hedgerows back then but I only needed one egg from each common bird. Egg collecting being my first real obsession. A reason to go into the countryside in the first place and something of an addiction, like any other hobby. With no adults or TV / media around to teach us it was wrong my personal lifelong interest in wildlife/ nature started right here. Back in the 1960s Africa was still something of an untraveled continent for anyone other than rich explorers... the world was unbelievably vast and apparently limitless, tourists still had stay at home holidays in the UK, mainly because most families were poor and had a limited two week's off work in summer plus foreign tourism was just starting to catch on for the better off..... And nature was thriving. Still plenty of fish in rivers and oceans: No global warming or climate change to think about and hundreds of birds nests in the hedgerows to choose from. A childhood myth going around being birds could only feel three eggs, a middle body egg and one for both wings so we always left those three behind, even in a nest of four eggs. Probably a parent told someone that on hearing we were collecting although it wasn't frowned on then as much as it is now from what I remember. For children exploring the area it was just something that was accepted they might do, like trainspotting. (The more upmarket harmless hobby not the film.) We also collected small fish, caterpillars, tadpoles, frogs, mice, butterflies and newts... keeping them at home for a few days or a week to study them close up before releasing them again. Climbing bushes and trees only added to the excitement of the hunt as a fall could be fatal.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmf0vVQJcHRALs0PxhfKOmlo3ueATBJe7uzZx6H5fE4rFpVsFVi3gIXRoUCnNimBFnsCPXcN3DyaJS4gZJzoGvSCloVw15vgTv4xRDNxURU1n1WkZrDd51q93xxlYApQlWuwnQNX0KHIbNADFpjQXIz3HLMUwBWuv7oGlRHlrI-EaAxRi3cafrDUOHjS4/s1589/Typical%20Renfrewshire%20Scenery.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1589" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmf0vVQJcHRALs0PxhfKOmlo3ueATBJe7uzZx6H5fE4rFpVsFVi3gIXRoUCnNimBFnsCPXcN3DyaJS4gZJzoGvSCloVw15vgTv4xRDNxURU1n1WkZrDd51q93xxlYApQlWuwnQNX0KHIbNADFpjQXIz3HLMUwBWuv7oGlRHlrI-EaAxRi3cafrDUOHjS4/s320/Typical%20Renfrewshire%20Scenery.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Only a small percentage of children were egg collectors or even explored outside their own estate into the countryside so we were unusual. When I was about twelve to fourteen however I gradually stopped collecting and the enjoyment/addiction faded away because I realized it was cruel, I had enough eggs, one for each species, a box of 25 or so, and wildlife, however plentiful, had a right to exist as well. Life in the estate could be very cruel for humans so it took a while to gain a proper sense of compassion for other things, especially with other, harder or older children tagging along, offering advice. The usual peer pressure. Looking back, although we did some damage to bird numbers.... a few years later they ripped out the hedgerows and covered many of the best fields in tarmac, roads, and housing estates which would be an even bigger loss to any wildlife that remained I'd imagine. Also domestic cats kill over a million small birds/ animals every single day in some large countries to put my own small contribution towards species decline into context.<br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HEeWrzVO8vyYY5sOu_bs2W5wbrN37WBvItEgGbS9JJ8EWQqR5l5hJE6uW56v8cjsEqTaf193s15blTSOZZnSxAo4tjDrep1EmNO9hdxbsN1tfYSiWOSYA5HRocUVip4XF7S1lkFLlPUN5dq4R16z2_AV6FBRktZqvjLZk_0uj979YGJy_tSb3DSwwFQ/s1587/Quiet%20Minor%20Roads%20in%20Neilston.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1587" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HEeWrzVO8vyYY5sOu_bs2W5wbrN37WBvItEgGbS9JJ8EWQqR5l5hJE6uW56v8cjsEqTaf193s15blTSOZZnSxAo4tjDrep1EmNO9hdxbsN1tfYSiWOSYA5HRocUVip4XF7S1lkFLlPUN5dq4R16z2_AV6FBRktZqvjLZk_0uj979YGJy_tSb3DSwwFQ/s320/Quiet%20Minor%20Roads%20in%20Neilston.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So the countryside around Neilston reminds me of what my own area used to look like ( Dams to Darnley Country Park that is) back in the 1960s. With a network of quiet scenic roads The Barrhead Plateau Escarpment Uplands remains ideal for cycling. On this occasion though Alan and I were on foot heading for Neilston Pad via these minor roads and paths, The highest summit in the area at 260 metres, 856 feet, is a hog back grassy top instead of bog and tussocks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWlgkZhoJ7rwTMi8-7Apa9pEaYhFK-fQyWmwaoqwjQQbgX9w-EEzzGQerfaE98ssCH-9-gsEfWGdOiZpoZsyBPD9B_VvQId73vbZqN-MSeJs9apaS9Y5_IeCMFaG0ZSwXC8hyphenhyphenLgh8yfG8ywA4KOcSxUvAOQIaw8Q89AsxkP1-bONnglpMdu3yHV3po3A/s1403/Quiet%20Paths%20around%20Neilston.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1403" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWlgkZhoJ7rwTMi8-7Apa9pEaYhFK-fQyWmwaoqwjQQbgX9w-EEzzGQerfaE98ssCH-9-gsEfWGdOiZpoZsyBPD9B_VvQId73vbZqN-MSeJs9apaS9Y5_IeCMFaG0ZSwXC8hyphenhyphenLgh8yfG8ywA4KOcSxUvAOQIaw8Q89AsxkP1-bONnglpMdu3yHV3po3A/s320/Quiet%20Paths%20around%20Neilston.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Still lovely country here. A path near Neilston that we walked.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGPigrDdt0KqYQRkwkoW-BawNa2reDiKUAgoQYe6DjpFG_hnPLPKEazeUMQD8SjtwS2KFMBvk4Z9_DWU-Mw5uKQDpA0UsrNt_BaAiO0T-JkPETCru2bpoZRBR3b-5qEM00_Z5qmcrpubbk8PcVn3nKBGoKy3v8e8DRcVJp7DXPW9apIF5nBfPKW6Yj2k/s1608/British%20Airways%20Plane.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1608" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGPigrDdt0KqYQRkwkoW-BawNa2reDiKUAgoQYe6DjpFG_hnPLPKEazeUMQD8SjtwS2KFMBvk4Z9_DWU-Mw5uKQDpA0UsrNt_BaAiO0T-JkPETCru2bpoZRBR3b-5qEM00_Z5qmcrpubbk8PcVn3nKBGoKy3v8e8DRcVJp7DXPW9apIF5nBfPKW6Yj2k/s320/British%20Airways%20Plane.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Near the flight path but no overhead engine noise. A few zoomed shots.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQ2G-_cNrtgS7FNjkTCuUDYyS17g-87vj1oUQmMZVPUMbNLXPa23d2qUlpS95DogPwxejheh6HSzuUuKPAa4nH3ALlmOG5SXV6RtIG4KKCLps87sU4or7T44aV3kEOLvjv0H8gZnoidEz9Ra5xDAJCu8_vkjJaKn2idbJ-h7V7aASxwszChPyYnM2fsA/s1514/Red%20Plane.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1514" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQ2G-_cNrtgS7FNjkTCuUDYyS17g-87vj1oUQmMZVPUMbNLXPa23d2qUlpS95DogPwxejheh6HSzuUuKPAa4nH3ALlmOG5SXV6RtIG4KKCLps87sU4or7T44aV3kEOLvjv0H8gZnoidEz9Ra5xDAJCu8_vkjJaKn2idbJ-h7V7aASxwszChPyYnM2fsA/s320/Red%20Plane.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Red plane.</span><p></p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbP9iTOOmzh3BLgftRe1bvxA6nrw7o6PTZqfxr2ZBVyjRLzT8wrUXnP4-P0WsHJEac6Z43ZDkSk8IblZDn0EJ8wv_jFC08gtGDhEuvsN2mkflmv7Fkly_cXzotr0neRevavvGpaWtvjYYYNouL4EnYYhdBl_A_wU7DVuaz4Ev11Rp5wWymTkN11UHWeIc/s1746/Loganair%20Plane.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1746" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbP9iTOOmzh3BLgftRe1bvxA6nrw7o6PTZqfxr2ZBVyjRLzT8wrUXnP4-P0WsHJEac6Z43ZDkSk8IblZDn0EJ8wv_jFC08gtGDhEuvsN2mkflmv7Fkly_cXzotr0neRevavvGpaWtvjYYYNouL4EnYYhdBl_A_wU7DVuaz4Ev11Rp5wWymTkN11UHWeIc/s320/Loganair%20Plane.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Scottish Loganair plane.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKLu_L1srqZJGgbP4oBj2Kqk0Q1CqHhsT0t9zl66biIhHCLXCjkOZUO8KRvqFSWW8vza8hPx_91t70rXRcOXQHwVPajPR9Gt_3INyWkGlkTcnBI2vnnriuoZ6QQKkAZ5ce9Rud85NMFm4IkPkqLeVW07uvDRkgQYzL-eljDld8QrmmZ3lyTkAn8b50U8/s1648/Easyjet%20Plane.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1648" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKLu_L1srqZJGgbP4oBj2Kqk0Q1CqHhsT0t9zl66biIhHCLXCjkOZUO8KRvqFSWW8vza8hPx_91t70rXRcOXQHwVPajPR9Gt_3INyWkGlkTcnBI2vnnriuoZ6QQKkAZ5ce9Rud85NMFm4IkPkqLeVW07uvDRkgQYzL-eljDld8QrmmZ3lyTkAn8b50U8/s320/Easyjet%20Plane.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Easyjet plane.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJtgkvsGBFCzZtTrbbdzOsrrAYZMk9zP505xePlTAYYcfAM_iGFO9TW4g8Xc8WlwgDjCLojdCZ_07dyv5apKxh80XJYH7UjCYyOpUmYgy3A6a5nqdJ-e5uII2BPQICS9jYkB3pW02u8isPeP5jrBTT686-VQJ1ZfqCbsMsokqwVxz8E5hK7JvSgvIcDs/s1276/Arran%20Ridge.%20Neilston%20Pad%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1276" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJtgkvsGBFCzZtTrbbdzOsrrAYZMk9zP505xePlTAYYcfAM_iGFO9TW4g8Xc8WlwgDjCLojdCZ_07dyv5apKxh80XJYH7UjCYyOpUmYgy3A6a5nqdJ-e5uII2BPQICS9jYkB3pW02u8isPeP5jrBTT686-VQJ1ZfqCbsMsokqwVxz8E5hK7JvSgvIcDs/s320/Arran%20Ridge.%20Neilston%20Pad%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Arran Ridge visible on the ascent.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDstB5AHyjQQdjoTiTofy29t81dPUt7SenEDvv3bbvv97UJhr9tXoM-FYa-QpnN_mkOf2B82veuNVaphZw0U-ACbg8PjweaPRt_nxqGEoYJhr5Z_tNw7HpOEisjvsNNCsoV4Tllyh3AXxksuespxqASvSoCwR5BwBOYiPZeESWUaDJYW-nfRxEYHaY7g/s1434/Neilston%20Pad.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1434" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDstB5AHyjQQdjoTiTofy29t81dPUt7SenEDvv3bbvv97UJhr9tXoM-FYa-QpnN_mkOf2B82veuNVaphZw0U-ACbg8PjweaPRt_nxqGEoYJhr5Z_tNw7HpOEisjvsNNCsoV4Tllyh3AXxksuespxqASvSoCwR5BwBOYiPZeESWUaDJYW-nfRxEYHaY7g/s320/Neilston%20Pad.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>.<span style="font-size: medium;">..and finally Neilston Pad itself. You can do this hill from the small car park immediately below it in 20 mins or so but the way we did it gives full value to its modest height and provides a longer more interesting ascent of a few hours which also explores the town and a small rock climbing quarry as well.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pep_TJ1NKp4xJloyZcw-NxYRXVXwMug6-x2Ie-OI1e91Yh-eZxY8rttHz0XyNQEQgxWLTQhTDNrbAnH4FeP8CZV8GZeGBboRDudH-NoNQh6F36cfm2pPicF47ZIE4kka6cE5qcgFvn8VrCGQdAQyVYGPdtl2k1URVNzUNgHHQGm3pO6LRJIy5SUiiFM/s1642/Neilston%20From%20Neilston%20Pad.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1642" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pep_TJ1NKp4xJloyZcw-NxYRXVXwMug6-x2Ie-OI1e91Yh-eZxY8rttHz0XyNQEQgxWLTQhTDNrbAnH4FeP8CZV8GZeGBboRDudH-NoNQh6F36cfm2pPicF47ZIE4kka6cE5qcgFvn8VrCGQdAQyVYGPdtl2k1URVNzUNgHHQGm3pO6LRJIy5SUiiFM/s320/Neilston%20From%20Neilston%20Pad.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Neilston from Neilston Pad showing part of the route walked.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DNr0o_rOfYsVTkQORp02s-aV6QtiFlMk1YVgrXQWzsiWlMaQhyphenhyphenZ6d2vMAmD7Ruu01U7RExf4yNPhKvtj5YXjmzAx1UgXycvsyA3hr85dMsIwUnbwllFQhfROMNNnpyvRq0uQKcvxK6Ly2Za-VLhKNFLFEHwgeK7wld2Gg_8hP28cpbSnx8IC5nPrNJM/s1432/Scottish%20Highlands%20From%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1432" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DNr0o_rOfYsVTkQORp02s-aV6QtiFlMk1YVgrXQWzsiWlMaQhyphenhyphenZ6d2vMAmD7Ruu01U7RExf4yNPhKvtj5YXjmzAx1UgXycvsyA3hr85dMsIwUnbwllFQhfROMNNnpyvRq0uQKcvxK6Ly2Za-VLhKNFLFEHwgeK7wld2Gg_8hP28cpbSnx8IC5nPrNJM/s320/Scottish%20Highlands%20From%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The start of the Scottish Highlands from the summit.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ty_Xdu0xmysolfEs0I0-8Z6hLcisq30f5Uqp8Ua14zjSlY2M_UVS_waV01oBru2md5WyqL3Vc8Auj0pH4RUCcySLQHqTchcEO9rHVS_EqEPDN_i9SN1MR7mxWPQULyCVg6dKeUoVgdoLVYUmGZtRaMtGulwJHc_WzAD5iIRGETObVy42dASWUGIy9R8/s1577/Artistic%20Painted%20Pebbles.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1577" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ty_Xdu0xmysolfEs0I0-8Z6hLcisq30f5Uqp8Ua14zjSlY2M_UVS_waV01oBru2md5WyqL3Vc8Auj0pH4RUCcySLQHqTchcEO9rHVS_EqEPDN_i9SN1MR7mxWPQULyCVg6dKeUoVgdoLVYUmGZtRaMtGulwJHc_WzAD5iIRGETObVy42dASWUGIy9R8/s320/Artistic%20Painted%20Pebbles.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As usual nowadays we came across several outdoor shrines to loved ones, either Covid related or pos<b>t </b><i>Covid</i> deaths.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCJZvo_VDFO3vbGilozvUqbwKALk6QYBODZVBn41nga_nNwWaocPLtHS1mNtxm-KJkH8lnF_f6Zscteua5uSPPdOru-z1GDser7vrKcYE57JG7NrMx4H_BDUyQRqnYn0K87OhBdbxXt-b1zgCGdqXHva7DDZVAzIGyGHL-dO0XIRVn3zbCLfAylxJ-Lg/s1524/Art%20Pebble.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1524" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCJZvo_VDFO3vbGilozvUqbwKALk6QYBODZVBn41nga_nNwWaocPLtHS1mNtxm-KJkH8lnF_f6Zscteua5uSPPdOru-z1GDser7vrKcYE57JG7NrMx4H_BDUyQRqnYn0K87OhBdbxXt-b1zgCGdqXHva7DDZVAzIGyGHL-dO0XIRVn3zbCLfAylxJ-Lg/s320/Art%20Pebble.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Lot of artistic people out there. Painted pebbles.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxV4Ehz4Zx2Jf_PPZiYmV64ca5MBx__K2_juUcZH7c_WKM-xWkD61RcAzrRCjbhwVOlRJAguT3G7MV3HLlaE7UGylR4qZE5-5SU7LhYB2ZbKtpLWl5qYthNsh2lKYLVJ0W8mu6nIZ5aN37LHn4wUz-t-dpRbxlggk3Gpn2fHPZTpdXmVcSlUxvKhwIqj4/s1424/Small%20Lochan.%20Neilston%20Pad.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1424" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxV4Ehz4Zx2Jf_PPZiYmV64ca5MBx__K2_juUcZH7c_WKM-xWkD61RcAzrRCjbhwVOlRJAguT3G7MV3HLlaE7UGylR4qZE5-5SU7LhYB2ZbKtpLWl5qYthNsh2lKYLVJ0W8mu6nIZ5aN37LHn4wUz-t-dpRbxlggk3Gpn2fHPZTpdXmVcSlUxvKhwIqj4/s320/Small%20Lochan.%20Neilston%20Pad.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A small lochan near Neilston.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2T9fAXAK3GzYmhhzqJaC2_xyFfsGA7ZmbL-p9s1NYpHZomfvI70q7mopMC2cjcpWrh7PYVlBm8crMKKkXy0UyfdD27QFg9yr4iMiZht7V0EMMBTVR1FN34L-BhVKiKPU2ektvtBIpPQmPcwrxedaFrC2KBJ0OfxiHtqcuZhEbf77nVdZxcW0ndEXYdyM/s1124/Decorated%20Trees.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1124" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2T9fAXAK3GzYmhhzqJaC2_xyFfsGA7ZmbL-p9s1NYpHZomfvI70q7mopMC2cjcpWrh7PYVlBm8crMKKkXy0UyfdD27QFg9yr4iMiZht7V0EMMBTVR1FN34L-BhVKiKPU2ektvtBIpPQmPcwrxedaFrC2KBJ0OfxiHtqcuZhEbf77nVdZxcW0ndEXYdyM/s320/Decorated%20Trees.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Decorated tree</span>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVv_cPESBxebrPtoibLhP-ePr42xFK1CYFYurfA740nD4gdysS2GlPSF0oBMkgouRxqyY5pyI0hv6UlfqY_kNMaRvh2YSfI9RbLAzpBWv1XyLh9kGGK4kMBgM2f8WY30L6gxGKVMEZFWnw4QxXsKnoKq1uHlXk9nEN5O2C9itVaXh29SBds4bRaEuWsOw/s1465/Wind%20Turbine%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1465" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVv_cPESBxebrPtoibLhP-ePr42xFK1CYFYurfA740nD4gdysS2GlPSF0oBMkgouRxqyY5pyI0hv6UlfqY_kNMaRvh2YSfI9RbLAzpBWv1XyLh9kGGK4kMBgM2f8WY30L6gxGKVMEZFWnw4QxXsKnoKq1uHlXk9nEN5O2C9itVaXh29SBds4bRaEuWsOw/s320/Wind%20Turbine%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A wind turbine.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PhEPH88luch2xYCjfl70auf-akySSwRPiCAKEADi9Qg6fVGLzv1s29GWzQT_lAANyFE2Htr42QSt0qUyRmhfBpLjJYzNfsRDLQV6XEBGb5LILVG39vWvPPJgYi-pynbKUvDwR6JmhbfHruqwQUD88ZJnqePVkSc7P9_eoqkNkvvdsfVshUoYTTrXQAo/s1502/The%20Beauty%20of%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1502" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PhEPH88luch2xYCjfl70auf-akySSwRPiCAKEADi9Qg6fVGLzv1s29GWzQT_lAANyFE2Htr42QSt0qUyRmhfBpLjJYzNfsRDLQV6XEBGb5LILVG39vWvPPJgYi-pynbKUvDwR6JmhbfHruqwQUD88ZJnqePVkSc7P9_eoqkNkvvdsfVshUoYTTrXQAo/s320/The%20Beauty%20of%20Renfrewshire.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The beauty of the Renfrewshire Ridgelands. This is more like the large fields, cattle numbers and hedgerows that used to exist where I grew up. Classic Renfrewshire landscape.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6DYGzW_gqOTX1gZRm5K3HxNXV6hQmafc0cwV-nSva50Vp_Gvhvssl83Kc2zMvFEyb9_vOL_raM5oT-TSRLImSCAGWYQ8LXNMGsLzhPAelKRXghEmViL2-876PKnoJa8kvBwES6rjS0Kbmal1Ncjkc07UA4COBd2_XyHse-ORSVoWylLm0KZXpXrUEqA/s1682/The%20City%20of%20Glasgow.%20Neilston%20Pad%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1682" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6DYGzW_gqOTX1gZRm5K3HxNXV6hQmafc0cwV-nSva50Vp_Gvhvssl83Kc2zMvFEyb9_vOL_raM5oT-TSRLImSCAGWYQ8LXNMGsLzhPAelKRXghEmViL2-876PKnoJa8kvBwES6rjS0Kbmal1Ncjkc07UA4COBd2_XyHse-ORSVoWylLm0KZXpXrUEqA/s320/The%20City%20of%20Glasgow.%20Neilston%20Pad%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The City of Glasgow in the distance..... And as I type this in my frozen hovel, with snow lying outside, trying to minimize any extortionate heating bills. ( I have the money to pay them but I 'd rather spend it on other things I need more so it's strictly rationed to one hour morning and night to stop the pipes freezing.) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qM7ZmyVoO-DueLZe92abwm9FVIo1UB0QlAT7noJXYVLvl0HOuX4jUB19Tpb8ccoD2MAXbZ5iPeNFlhIM2JnafDxXtkDXn8vMtHcnf6HxcC0byIE0S9-x_wAAgzpMZ3Qe1uEa5YqrvnHwvxL1hln9qb0vLBX9by6-DZzqZ_cwwrOH8SSzeh0inDrRB6U/s1278/Large%20Exotic%20Poppy.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1278" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qM7ZmyVoO-DueLZe92abwm9FVIo1UB0QlAT7noJXYVLvl0HOuX4jUB19Tpb8ccoD2MAXbZ5iPeNFlhIM2JnafDxXtkDXn8vMtHcnf6HxcC0byIE0S9-x_wAAgzpMZ3Qe1uEa5YqrvnHwvxL1hln9qb0vLBX9by6-DZzqZ_cwwrOH8SSzeh0inDrRB6U/s320/Large%20Exotic%20Poppy.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Large exotic poppy in Neilston garden.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, I can honestly say I miss summer. P.S. to make amends for past misdemeanors I always feed the birds in my garden daily, especially during the winter months and give them fresh water to drink if it's frozen solid, like now. And I bet all the outdoor animals, birds included, hate ****** winter as much as I do!<br /> </span><br /></p><p><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-43042316972883800822023-11-20T16:30:00.012+00:002023-11-22T12:32:00.510+00:00Gleniffer Braes. Paisley. Last of the Autumn Colours 2023. Waterfall.<p> <b>ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.</b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n4vY739c55D-ixmxKxsUD4qZjWMglyqbw6UBTpIRoKWWqG8ac_-6dPcD0fvN0hvBlEz0X_MLAugHJk3BrHw6vwY9ANWyGwkQAwvs-TBpPSq-yQ50g-iAYsBZaJthheiAhxcwh1k2-kIZv6u-cTPGCdlII0FhoAVOmLUW-FUv6hp7jnBF_jnEQbCbNuk/s1602/A%20last%20Autumn%20Display.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1602" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n4vY739c55D-ixmxKxsUD4qZjWMglyqbw6UBTpIRoKWWqG8ac_-6dPcD0fvN0hvBlEz0X_MLAugHJk3BrHw6vwY9ANWyGwkQAwvs-TBpPSq-yQ50g-iAYsBZaJthheiAhxcwh1k2-kIZv6u-cTPGCdlII0FhoAVOmLUW-FUv6hp7jnBF_jnEQbCbNuk/s320/A%20last%20Autumn%20Display.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> A walk from a few days ago in mid November. Although the higher tree canopy had been stripped of colourful leaf due to rain and strong winds that only highlighted the lower shrubs and bushes, which being more sheltered, had retained full leaf cover, as seen here.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRJh7nR-MXh23B2KuM8f48TLmQC95riuMTxupSMk9kDA0rarMGWZ-p8qpLxImt7O0YDj2RnLAmFZZKBB_LmnFRtH4UHbXYfczKVkJzHRLeqSa-00iV8rXgYGq5dU4rSAsyOBOL60ZqlcfeDEztduvG6icjMWPveXdaRXr6rHYEQlxWdgXy9kTWxpPQTA/s1507/Gleniffer%20Braes.%20The%20Plateau%20Trail.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1507" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRJh7nR-MXh23B2KuM8f48TLmQC95riuMTxupSMk9kDA0rarMGWZ-p8qpLxImt7O0YDj2RnLAmFZZKBB_LmnFRtH4UHbXYfczKVkJzHRLeqSa-00iV8rXgYGq5dU4rSAsyOBOL60ZqlcfeDEztduvG6icjMWPveXdaRXr6rHYEQlxWdgXy9kTWxpPQTA/s320/Gleniffer%20Braes.%20The%20Plateau%20Trail.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Our walk for today was a short drive to the Gleniffer Braes Country Park. parking at the large Robertson Car Park above Paisley. ( aka.... 'The car park in the sky' as it sits 400-500 foot directly above that town.) Four small hill ranges run into each other here in a horseshoe formation. The Lochliboside Hills, The Fereneze Hills, The Brownside Braes, and The Gleniffer Braes which together form part of the Clyde Valley Plateau Lavas.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Clyde_Plateau_Volcanic_Formation" target="_blank">https://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Clyde_Plateau_Volcanic_Formation</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">All the Central Belt hill ranges are apparently the result of massive lava flows and volcanic activity with many familiar and much loved local summits being either volcanic plugs ( Duncolm in the Kilpatricks, Dumgoyne in the Campsies, Dumbarton Rock etc and many others stretching across the country west to east in a wide band to Traprain Law and Berwick Law beyond Edinburgh. Being higher, 1000 foot plus, The Kilpatricks and the Campsies tend to be wilder and bleaker. Less sheltered, with more up and down ascents everywhere. The Barrhead/ Paisley Hills however are completely flat on top... a plateau... see photo above, 600 to 800 feet in height and that lower altitude makes all the difference... Scattered farms and short green grass meadows exist here instead of the usual bog, tussocks and empty ground on the higher peaks to the north of Glasgow.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxj7002d2OA3FlwVPHyZa9BuRgaa_eJ2bV9elXE3ZyBFAycbBCbMfzIIwzVWhDAlqur5H226A0OK8dU2rYx1jUmRyQRXHHZzOOLIniwcA3Rhsgt9HxSvHIm9SkD8XjQdc38Em-fPAVmThcheVcPLsDLL9mC9y-9xsxBn91NxYIkri3uY-77Fj-VnMF45Y/s1433/Dog%20Walkers.%20Gleniffer%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1433" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxj7002d2OA3FlwVPHyZa9BuRgaa_eJ2bV9elXE3ZyBFAycbBCbMfzIIwzVWhDAlqur5H226A0OK8dU2rYx1jUmRyQRXHHZzOOLIniwcA3Rhsgt9HxSvHIm9SkD8XjQdc38Em-fPAVmThcheVcPLsDLL9mC9y-9xsxBn91NxYIkri3uY-77Fj-VnMF45Y/s320/Dog%20Walkers.%20Gleniffer%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I've always thought of this area as a Scottish mini Cotswolds as they have much more in common with many of the gentler small hill ranges in the south of England than the usual wild and windswept Scottish summits. ( I have explored most of the southern hill ranges as well in my hasty youth so it's not mere imagination speaking.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> There are similarities... although this is a much poorer area economically and hundreds of miles further north. Paisley/Glasgow is slightly further north than Moscow incidentally, level with the middle of frozen Hudson Bay in Canada, or the chilly Baltic Sea yet on a warm windless spring day you would never know that. An almost tropical cornucopia/ mimosa of flowering shrubs, exotic scents, and lush green grass surrounds you in a friendly embrace every single summer. Something I first discovered here as a young child. For a budding nature hedonist ( i.e. I prefer it warm, sunny, and stuffed with colourful vegetation outdoors.) that was truly magical....<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNGT0rNq2MoGEme0ObqWfi6veAgbvj2h9zizrOYaChm73cEjenLMjxTvOc9yeSaLMRC1u_2gL6rfhpeznflyvrGf1WeVPC7fRK8APUlY_ewRsex6t4spYPJcjnxvUMO1Svqep3EyhXOwF1PHOb2oRcv4gHlw4bn53b4b4b_pezgzMPQ5_lEK5CcKMQpU/s1458/Kilpatrick%20Hills%20From%20Paisley.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1458" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNGT0rNq2MoGEme0ObqWfi6veAgbvj2h9zizrOYaChm73cEjenLMjxTvOc9yeSaLMRC1u_2gL6rfhpeznflyvrGf1WeVPC7fRK8APUlY_ewRsex6t4spYPJcjnxvUMO1Svqep3EyhXOwF1PHOb2oRcv4gHlw4bn53b4b4b_pezgzMPQ5_lEK5CcKMQpU/s320/Kilpatrick%20Hills%20From%20Paisley.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The summit of Duncolm in the Kilpatrick Hills here looking across the town of Paisley. The previous five days had been stormy and wet so this was a brief window of good dry weather before more rain was forecast to arrive. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6tI0iQ85yl2KzVfOMgfaa__ZyA2J_hAlYdDXhqWUqvAFN1CvBgDZrRtmxBomdhAlwZT80xGBez65H3NOjHwhtQPkf4tZRe-SW-IVHTSOELZpvOapqY129bWyZbeoZYmMGe2vvnHPJwSOOeVSILTIyTtSuYQzY9IsjIcViaykn_Ft6-99czxqlKIbZ3s/s1490/An%20autumn%20Stream%20Crossing.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1490" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6tI0iQ85yl2KzVfOMgfaa__ZyA2J_hAlYdDXhqWUqvAFN1CvBgDZrRtmxBomdhAlwZT80xGBez65H3NOjHwhtQPkf4tZRe-SW-IVHTSOELZpvOapqY129bWyZbeoZYmMGe2vvnHPJwSOOeVSILTIyTtSuYQzY9IsjIcViaykn_Ft6-99czxqlKIbZ3s/s320/An%20autumn%20Stream%20Crossing.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> As the autumn colours were still abundant, a last November flourish, we stayed on the lower edge of the Gleniffer Braes, walking from Robertson car park on the escarpment edge path down through deciduous woodlands to Glen Park, the waterfall, and a necklace of small dams/ ponds once presumably used in the weaving/ textile/ thread industry that Paisley was once famous for worldwide.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzGldfzeknyryHE2Ybj0p4VznVsQZyt4tzj3UJpLFwbQDDRuyf66I-E0QOKOwHZPbbcBP0yKR_cgDy3pjPs405z_l4SvsSeAR08hn7OkZ4Ftcu9WmGBe6QZTN6msU3i9axdsdMvE1ZB3MWMBUX7-TBfbJBlPR1_U5xNekGQu2GdQx9psvucKtHQrxDjA/s1484/View%20on%20the%20Tannahill%20Way.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1484" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzGldfzeknyryHE2Ybj0p4VznVsQZyt4tzj3UJpLFwbQDDRuyf66I-E0QOKOwHZPbbcBP0yKR_cgDy3pjPs405z_l4SvsSeAR08hn7OkZ4Ftcu9WmGBe6QZTN6msU3i9axdsdMvE1ZB3MWMBUX7-TBfbJBlPR1_U5xNekGQu2GdQx9psvucKtHQrxDjA/s320/View%20on%20the%20Tannahill%20Way.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After crossing the obvious deep narrow gorge via a wooden bridge we came across the Tannahill Walkway. a tarmac balcony trail leading gently down to Glen Park which offers great views over Paisley and Glasgow. Robert Tannahill was a local Paisley poet and songwriter who was a fan of Robert Burns. He loved his local hills above the town so this path is a fitting lasting tribute to him. Glasgow might not have an ancient volcano beside its city centre or a dramatic castle on a rock within its city limits but it does have Dumbarton Rock and Castle and the Gleniffer Braes/ Kilpatrick Hills as a nearby ( far less tourists, much cheaper) Edinburgh equivalent. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">His very interesting and rather sad story here. Surprising what his songs/tunes/lyrics later evolved into. You might not have heard of him, unless you are a local, but you will know these melodies.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Tannahill" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Tannahill</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfylDKaEN2RxmU0wJcmItXPl6Dn2slYcN_YlohdpJWJ4YRcATgTzXoDfPRigK_6hDUmNMdZVllBQv7wJNphEeez5Z6nOxJcQu_6Hjq9lGrfR1phy6MOMalpTAi-TYuRzFmjIH5WUey5HsCqJK8yVYNSuW9k5LE5M2Wn7Vbg_FcewvKerYSHbnelNOAaj4/s1359/Tannahill%20Walkway.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1359" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfylDKaEN2RxmU0wJcmItXPl6Dn2slYcN_YlohdpJWJ4YRcATgTzXoDfPRigK_6hDUmNMdZVllBQv7wJNphEeez5Z6nOxJcQu_6Hjq9lGrfR1phy6MOMalpTAi-TYuRzFmjIH5WUey5HsCqJK8yVYNSuW9k5LE5M2Wn7Vbg_FcewvKerYSHbnelNOAaj4/s320/Tannahill%20Walkway.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Info sign on path.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbWC0vtigH67DE8UUwi5k_BPBUqPCgbA2o-jaMHnXUTldc4Gq65YIHoMEEevXNyT-xl4VHM9uhBW8lZKVDFYoiiCkHIRTYtkXjhjzs0Z2mAP5Y0W0mG5rSYYpxHbtrqdP9WujgOVJRU9ioCUaZg3NcsNuBzVJe9fZu9LWe-XEvbqi7yuk2syjrjGCuv8/s1374/Stanely%20Reservior%20and%20Paisley%20from%20the%20Gleniffer%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1374" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbWC0vtigH67DE8UUwi5k_BPBUqPCgbA2o-jaMHnXUTldc4Gq65YIHoMEEevXNyT-xl4VHM9uhBW8lZKVDFYoiiCkHIRTYtkXjhjzs0Z2mAP5Y0W0mG5rSYYpxHbtrqdP9WujgOVJRU9ioCUaZg3NcsNuBzVJe9fZu9LWe-XEvbqi7yuk2syjrjGCuv8/s320/Stanely%20Reservior%20and%20Paisley%20from%20the%20Gleniffer%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This balcony trail on the edge of the escarpment led Alan and I down to Glen Park and offers outstanding views, even with slightly murky visibility on this occasion. Part of Stanely Reservoir here.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSlAnbWUAii_xMM7qa_4SY_52qTutWi58ywBeQJRQ_00y0Q6xger-SD8IfmVvMzWod5K6Xtb1OHjCN8npz2gz7NW5T6tVXBqTY2MngqGyYhwttirWFMaejqRvGhlT01F7TJlmhQuwOBPOJ24FdlO5qUC03rdpqDnyukuWq8eaNd4-yCvJCi8MTrQXoGw/s1396/Storm%20Clouds%20Departing%20over%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1396" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSlAnbWUAii_xMM7qa_4SY_52qTutWi58ywBeQJRQ_00y0Q6xger-SD8IfmVvMzWod5K6Xtb1OHjCN8npz2gz7NW5T6tVXBqTY2MngqGyYhwttirWFMaejqRvGhlT01F7TJlmhQuwOBPOJ24FdlO5qUC03rdpqDnyukuWq8eaNd4-yCvJCi8MTrQXoGw/s320/Storm%20Clouds%20Departing%20over%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Overnight storms and rain clouds departing from Paisley and Glasgow.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtj7ruilR0ghfaDltGb5SYWkMTm_9Qbfaf_LNnTcTc2vj2tT5Y6i1VRlltBaLNX13AnJELNpbT67zhMz-6ChVJUCyYJRS5NnT3YfefZ4auEq25RZmtxTAvLLWDnWQY5m66t3YNaD7y-vv5HRot2DkNX4trDsRx-nvsTrrFWjgXN6nhDHgHv23r_WkVYDQ/s1512/November%20Skies%20over%20Foxbar%20in%20Paisley.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1512" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtj7ruilR0ghfaDltGb5SYWkMTm_9Qbfaf_LNnTcTc2vj2tT5Y6i1VRlltBaLNX13AnJELNpbT67zhMz-6ChVJUCyYJRS5NnT3YfefZ4auEq25RZmtxTAvLLWDnWQY5m66t3YNaD7y-vv5HRot2DkNX4trDsRx-nvsTrrFWjgXN6nhDHgHv23r_WkVYDQ/s320/November%20Skies%20over%20Foxbar%20in%20Paisley.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A patch of blue sky and sunlight over Foxbar and Paisley.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3J-nIBP0bWzpcBgCz_fIQ3PY3DHl1cqQJNh83KJzS0J12TiTa7loTd6PtkoGWf634c-TpDJpP9qis-OXyTu1ByLfFa49k5ak2QsrOAMvKsKfsAs6hVckdLknOiERPPMLmQk09gjQL3qhrXT7VnTxDl_eyTFLEeNjoIDXy-DLJ4OqlyETF-bvzUYwYp-A/s1376/Hi%20Rise%20Flats%20View.%20Paisley%20From%20Gleniffer%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1376" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3J-nIBP0bWzpcBgCz_fIQ3PY3DHl1cqQJNh83KJzS0J12TiTa7loTd6PtkoGWf634c-TpDJpP9qis-OXyTu1ByLfFa49k5ak2QsrOAMvKsKfsAs6hVckdLknOiERPPMLmQk09gjQL3qhrXT7VnTxDl_eyTFLEeNjoIDXy-DLJ4OqlyETF-bvzUYwYp-A/s320/Hi%20Rise%20Flats%20View.%20Paisley%20From%20Gleniffer%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Standing on the escarpment edge overlooking Hi Rise flats in Paisley.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pzDHwOnzjpVc2Gkj0KIsg7e2YuEQrZpT3fmDwnkIU2U2oDg2rCIjoaGKNtnuD7QvJQEgdTy5YHey_5edX_I-3L2wuVYWRmve2IPW5wF4LOBgfup2eGzpBZZtwTtDI_kvPhPPkbvR_c-hPnp2qyIWFuJdlRj8g1uR2UUAhwY4h2wKEYd32C-nqLYHfQY/s1611/Bird's%20Eye%20View.%20A%20Road%20in%20Paisley.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1611" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pzDHwOnzjpVc2Gkj0KIsg7e2YuEQrZpT3fmDwnkIU2U2oDg2rCIjoaGKNtnuD7QvJQEgdTy5YHey_5edX_I-3L2wuVYWRmve2IPW5wF4LOBgfup2eGzpBZZtwTtDI_kvPhPPkbvR_c-hPnp2qyIWFuJdlRj8g1uR2UUAhwY4h2wKEYd32C-nqLYHfQY/s320/Bird's%20Eye%20View.%20A%20Road%20in%20Paisley.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Stanely Reservoir. On a nice sunny day this gives a blue Mediterranean sparkle to the town.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggnZgZ6ux7C2a1cNmfLtqtBzg1aBdDg6p-09TKx8HAZOzZdHezX4HOLLyAL9pK_Ko3uqKi-SCobNo0Viy94-czGx9oUawzoMilczJYOGXtB2mvs8CgkJBNiFjrjvLDbnv_jNdXvOBwkrMpbR14g0Oik08fWD4Klv-5JS1PIXF69PN7_uNqf7SuGKAC1g/s1658/Paisley%20Yet%20Glasgow%20Airport.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1658" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggnZgZ6ux7C2a1cNmfLtqtBzg1aBdDg6p-09TKx8HAZOzZdHezX4HOLLyAL9pK_Ko3uqKi-SCobNo0Viy94-czGx9oUawzoMilczJYOGXtB2mvs8CgkJBNiFjrjvLDbnv_jNdXvOBwkrMpbR14g0Oik08fWD4Klv-5JS1PIXF69PN7_uNqf7SuGKAC1g/s320/Paisley%20Yet%20Glasgow%20Airport.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Paisley Town Centre and Glasgow Airport. ( This airport is right beside Paisley but only a short bus ride or drive to Glasgow City Centre from here.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFM3RZpwLLfRvqNQYlvYAaMnzZwedLCyLOhMrYQTKPmqJyyUamIG-IWrt7dpHG_POkEkC2fTGrYtO6kdOenbqLXSA0pCcqW9HFNjEo9-e47OzNP95hQ0elrvjfB1JdEPZDA0LJ0os_XLsrvBBnWAZVhF0iTS1Ql1gbAwnwHFv6b5yc8rYpqcoLxYqADu4/s1455/Autumn%20Colours%20in%20Mid%20November.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1455" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFM3RZpwLLfRvqNQYlvYAaMnzZwedLCyLOhMrYQTKPmqJyyUamIG-IWrt7dpHG_POkEkC2fTGrYtO6kdOenbqLXSA0pCcqW9HFNjEo9-e47OzNP95hQ0elrvjfB1JdEPZDA0LJ0os_XLsrvBBnWAZVhF0iTS1Ql1gbAwnwHFv6b5yc8rYpqcoLxYqADu4/s320/Autumn%20Colours%20in%20Mid%20November.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Glen Park and the Dams walkway.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEKR02EnbXzPAjIoeD36pJRfWcgRcnUH2NsJKF5Wgv-Dv4i6wU6DrrlYznSTBjm4b3vHlrIKQvUhAi1eK0LxnDgGfuXCW02nbtWx80KcT_4_yC7f5zZUXVNxrwlfThRzpSX_QviP63HIVkmiZ7MPscl1htPfcL9RqsSg7uuYJTCBNkZ3_dyJZCeU5fSY/s1573/The%20Dark%20Water.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1573" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEKR02EnbXzPAjIoeD36pJRfWcgRcnUH2NsJKF5Wgv-Dv4i6wU6DrrlYznSTBjm4b3vHlrIKQvUhAi1eK0LxnDgGfuXCW02nbtWx80KcT_4_yC7f5zZUXVNxrwlfThRzpSX_QviP63HIVkmiZ7MPscl1htPfcL9RqsSg7uuYJTCBNkZ3_dyJZCeU5fSY/s320/The%20Dark%20Water.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One of several ponds/dams in this area.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMF7g7JQ3Cvmnx4CfPra_fV2S8dDKQztMXI3f4el88uJnBZvK9JB08EizMdgc1PIF5avlaNEj0kUMFORngJB4bFlfgEXCosKDYYqfuql5rMbL2FMYDow3ZgGTiibDOg3JHGz_Y4XnTDp_dKCXWexGTnxkbLMB56KK03lEGcAUmdj1dtRQPPxdnzdZtKdw/s1344/Autumn%202023.%20The%20Woodland%20Floor..%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1344" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMF7g7JQ3Cvmnx4CfPra_fV2S8dDKQztMXI3f4el88uJnBZvK9JB08EizMdgc1PIF5avlaNEj0kUMFORngJB4bFlfgEXCosKDYYqfuql5rMbL2FMYDow3ZgGTiibDOg3JHGz_Y4XnTDp_dKCXWexGTnxkbLMB56KK03lEGcAUmdj1dtRQPPxdnzdZtKdw/s320/Autumn%202023.%20The%20Woodland%20Floor..%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The woodland floor in autumn.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55viYhE2ZASdM4ahi4f4tL5gASav1aMBwqkLvwwdFvYQylqxcDumLTxsMoZ1q-8N5wOPZAFjIB-dx0IpS0i2Ot2-8HyKonIBgmTcAhE2NEnHrmgz7SgUKzmwteMzWVjj9hZvamx2fw9ezo8wJxFRM8mh2aUIYROHanuKYQau5DyWtBEPTu4ZMoXiTjZQ/s1600/Crossing%20The%20Ravine.%20Glen%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55viYhE2ZASdM4ahi4f4tL5gASav1aMBwqkLvwwdFvYQylqxcDumLTxsMoZ1q-8N5wOPZAFjIB-dx0IpS0i2Ot2-8HyKonIBgmTcAhE2NEnHrmgz7SgUKzmwteMzWVjj9hZvamx2fw9ezo8wJxFRM8mh2aUIYROHanuKYQau5DyWtBEPTu4ZMoXiTjZQ/s320/Crossing%20The%20Ravine.%20Glen%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Crossing a gully.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRQnCXJ61IXQzPYZdxsm7L0KGacCNyNa8-aUE8feZ78bE9L4NeAs3NLTV0uL3B4wLDKu43b3BQ5mxYZ-A9AFyreS4IxI8Mzp2QbHbujkeN964vmb05ManOdwP_HtzpmNz-xhyphenhyphenO8XlWYi7VcvUdenv5giX4NRwe1vAAvjidGrd9mQCdGbdXIMKk99eAqk/s1582/Scottish%20Woods%20in%20November%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1582" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRQnCXJ61IXQzPYZdxsm7L0KGacCNyNa8-aUE8feZ78bE9L4NeAs3NLTV0uL3B4wLDKu43b3BQ5mxYZ-A9AFyreS4IxI8Mzp2QbHbujkeN964vmb05ManOdwP_HtzpmNz-xhyphenhyphenO8XlWYi7VcvUdenv5giX4NRwe1vAAvjidGrd9mQCdGbdXIMKk99eAqk/s320/Scottish%20Woods%20in%20November%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Scottish woods in November.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgL1wYvwTAD1k1YVRX-pzoN0jfWzvAXQwvqf2zE3MFDyhkIx2E6O_Rae8FbEjSGyt7Ntv2s2DzW6kv4ZuN2sgpS4XB5yNCawG6Zx13bkrhXoUUqFEp3TTJbBWvsELZ31kLt3py6R-8_nWjlpQTl6iDLjlesTbflgfKXbymKnyaxe1XdxFKtLeCdVJp_w/s1455/Waterfall.%20Gleniffer%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1455" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgL1wYvwTAD1k1YVRX-pzoN0jfWzvAXQwvqf2zE3MFDyhkIx2E6O_Rae8FbEjSGyt7Ntv2s2DzW6kv4ZuN2sgpS4XB5yNCawG6Zx13bkrhXoUUqFEp3TTJbBWvsELZ31kLt3py6R-8_nWjlpQTl6iDLjlesTbflgfKXbymKnyaxe1XdxFKtLeCdVJp_w/s320/Waterfall.%20Gleniffer%20Braes.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Due to the levels of rain falling in the last few days the famous waterfall plunging over a cliff was very impressive. In summer it can be just a trickle but this was thrilling even though I first visited here when I was around six or seven with my Mum, aunt and cousins. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXmcXckO-Z2cBvxjsqqUqoSuRJtCdsnrdN7BvISmFUAIHlTYGn8CcLHKmR9GxL7zbiN7BKvvww80vuT3YejZp4gfzfQqgiZlKV8sDQ2wm_I2n75RoB7vbPVsJKi4U5A53T6xXc5mGGxgBenfbOzZ8icGzneyvn2SKgL7OMx6ynaW9o8aWLeDj1jtmb4o/s1276/First%20View%20of%20Waterfall.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1276" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXmcXckO-Z2cBvxjsqqUqoSuRJtCdsnrdN7BvISmFUAIHlTYGn8CcLHKmR9GxL7zbiN7BKvvww80vuT3YejZp4gfzfQqgiZlKV8sDQ2wm_I2n75RoB7vbPVsJKi4U5A53T6xXc5mGGxgBenfbOzZ8icGzneyvn2SKgL7OMx6ynaW9o8aWLeDj1jtmb4o/s320/First%20View%20of%20Waterfall.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It was so good we made it linger as we approached it from afar. Teasing the experience out a little.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jdyyayZ5oTq2qJE0BWD_c4EPxRvaCXqhcBzP0agKEt9a2YmmkkfoJ6aOVgKCAfNaCgYAddtrtCHzWgLwJ5GddfggZyOYfQtMEaCpjierf0LD9HUfSeA6XmoGMyj6uPdP07XCwiZZR5hGMuGsNErwYwGPtT6o-awnc0kvdYK3JWpLR4dPZT2W4rRUJCo/s1716/The%20Waterfall%20Path%20in%20Autumn.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1716" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jdyyayZ5oTq2qJE0BWD_c4EPxRvaCXqhcBzP0agKEt9a2YmmkkfoJ6aOVgKCAfNaCgYAddtrtCHzWgLwJ5GddfggZyOYfQtMEaCpjierf0LD9HUfSeA6XmoGMyj6uPdP07XCwiZZR5hGMuGsNErwYwGPtT6o-awnc0kvdYK3JWpLR4dPZT2W4rRUJCo/s320/The%20Waterfall%20Path%20in%20Autumn.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> There is an easy path to it on the other side of the gully but we were enjoying the autumn colours.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2o8H-Q2jT09Q9P-7cQicWqaViy9gic72PuwHm4tFR4Fn-g7jNIfSdC9zb4B7e5gTeGgKnHtLezOthEZ45k-n97t8-vlR142aipGC44Npcjm2DYQt5811PB6Bk_x5Kl_9wLAzERaVcHSslDqP1r5Ub83OokcfkgEEqJXcB0Pcc-o5jZsijkmAjDZ3r8w/s1332/The%20Waterfall.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1332" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2o8H-Q2jT09Q9P-7cQicWqaViy9gic72PuwHm4tFR4Fn-g7jNIfSdC9zb4B7e5gTeGgKnHtLezOthEZ45k-n97t8-vlR142aipGC44Npcjm2DYQt5811PB6Bk_x5Kl_9wLAzERaVcHSslDqP1r5Ub83OokcfkgEEqJXcB0Pcc-o5jZsijkmAjDZ3r8w/s320/The%20Waterfall.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The Waterfall. Even after all these years <i>this is still</i> a magical place.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWlS35-q1YT0sVnmwBppic8SrxaiGWRMqHHt89dLTr72P54g9YuPOY_uO1i7FtqZC0EigKxxPrEgwyZmRds7ev7adlp_Z_aJb5NjTw-ZvB6nSqo6MPM6gWhXyGGa-Q_YbuK1bgEImPI1ffbnOp8tWjHy8gyZ7wzxJNJN3kCniuo0f58FfIY1FRSIKrQ0/s1166/The%20cottage%20of%20Robert%20Tannahill%20In%20Paisley.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1166" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWlS35-q1YT0sVnmwBppic8SrxaiGWRMqHHt89dLTr72P54g9YuPOY_uO1i7FtqZC0EigKxxPrEgwyZmRds7ev7adlp_Z_aJb5NjTw-ZvB6nSqo6MPM6gWhXyGGa-Q_YbuK1bgEImPI1ffbnOp8tWjHy8gyZ7wzxJNJN3kCniuo0f58FfIY1FRSIKrQ0/s320/The%20cottage%20of%20Robert%20Tannahill%20In%20Paisley.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On the way back, in Paisley, we visited Robert Tannahill's cottage/ workshop. Amazingly still standing to this day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI13cdwe152kF5qSp_EVerC_f8lJkliGuAT_uRcWTALSPcgYdENSRX5cTLg_ETBfzLbJP2zr94WowrIcAbRv0Fqs3slgp_uo88KARRpHVEWA1BM9YCaHNIUbqzUkQ81Nm3jcXo9uAokuu9UnY-_5yMeXZ__Yd0UGTy7drSKKQiWyFrZFXn6eAQSVKoud8/s1565/Robert%20Tannahill's%20House.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1565" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI13cdwe152kF5qSp_EVerC_f8lJkliGuAT_uRcWTALSPcgYdENSRX5cTLg_ETBfzLbJP2zr94WowrIcAbRv0Fqs3slgp_uo88KARRpHVEWA1BM9YCaHNIUbqzUkQ81Nm3jcXo9uAokuu9UnY-_5yMeXZ__Yd0UGTy7drSKKQiWyFrZFXn6eAQSVKoud8/s320/Robert%20Tannahill's%20House.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Info tablet.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqLBk_2_S2yCdF2aSMXqh3-kSjeWu8OBHG_D7mlUW8PF4_95VKMy39hVoIjAe743tSMr9V1oHmEUAt0DksOcOtp7uhT_NEI7T7VtheYiRPGujaHDzR3W9UjK-Ys0QOPLR6sLwkDCOmsekMBP6-KkhDnbHNUsCfwUPkIwtQYOnjAL-WdgvXj4AEIyg3Vo/s1539/Panda%20Mural.%20Paisley.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1539" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqLBk_2_S2yCdF2aSMXqh3-kSjeWu8OBHG_D7mlUW8PF4_95VKMy39hVoIjAe743tSMr9V1oHmEUAt0DksOcOtp7uhT_NEI7T7VtheYiRPGujaHDzR3W9UjK-Ys0QOPLR6sLwkDCOmsekMBP6-KkhDnbHNUsCfwUPkIwtQYOnjAL-WdgvXj4AEIyg3Vo/s320/Panda%20Mural.%20Paisley.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> And a couple of local Paisley murals I hadn't seen before.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> <br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMeb-jbLb3dXzm9-Sg-NANHIcMte4ZlsRkRueBwBXwGcc7SVaaMWoCw0UqtrPT7BM3lEr0VkirDpLNUNgHuf1FgB0rXK8SIAfUh5hfTz0lNguTwVHUI-rMRDHC9yDz3CDcVN8TpHXzWkH6SdQt7C1UP8xBqrZKYZqO21olT1ULslKKXPApZiSEYYIoG0/s1475/Paisley%20Mural.%20Autumn%20Harvest.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1475" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMeb-jbLb3dXzm9-Sg-NANHIcMte4ZlsRkRueBwBXwGcc7SVaaMWoCw0UqtrPT7BM3lEr0VkirDpLNUNgHuf1FgB0rXK8SIAfUh5hfTz0lNguTwVHUI-rMRDHC9yDz3CDcVN8TpHXzWkH6SdQt7C1UP8xBqrZKYZqO21olT1ULslKKXPApZiSEYYIoG0/s320/Paisley%20Mural.%20Autumn%20Harvest.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Fittingly, a harvest theme. A great day out with good company.<br /></span><br /><p></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-35491208346828687482023-11-07T16:37:00.007+00:002023-11-09T00:25:23.652+00:00An Autumn Gallery. October 2023. The Golden Highway.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-8hiLb5cO_OpMqbGWMVxbmivYcmFuZaLV2-FIzdp_4L-20McdvUYIoiuttdUS7DLXXRmXw68JfHBntpzR1yGCFMUAhNxLWBkMNkBKH3NWAMQJ9Nx7cqqLjOoW3L7CAvBrBIOE7LRqx01Bf6rHB3rTcP0CYRJqeUvifapXqJfXV_puTuAkn6hqItK8qg/s1327/An%20old%20Mossy%20Post.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1327" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-8hiLb5cO_OpMqbGWMVxbmivYcmFuZaLV2-FIzdp_4L-20McdvUYIoiuttdUS7DLXXRmXw68JfHBntpzR1yGCFMUAhNxLWBkMNkBKH3NWAMQJ9Nx7cqqLjOoW3L7CAvBrBIOE7LRqx01Bf6rHB3rTcP0CYRJqeUvifapXqJfXV_puTuAkn6hqItK8qg/s320/An%20old%20Mossy%20Post.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">An old fence post covered in thick moss. Maybe even one harbouring a lost world of minuscule creatures, happily breeding and hidden away for decades, on this completely isolated vertical sided but extremely lush mini mountain summit. After 40 years of taking autumn photographs I know all the best places to find good autumn colours so this is a gallery celebration of the dramatic third act of the seasons. The very essence of autumn. 'The Fall'. A good photo should make you want to step right through into the picture and experience it as if you were there in person. So hopefully this selection will achieve that.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8a2JIhaEtNSTtEM9CLl2kQsSU0eVxMrmBgP4XMpmY3nd0MTYqByIaZvBbesqlWpc6Ba7-_rHH1U3uIcsCeYOJnJ4nkkERMab1WMrYWCnreVL2S-lG2VFNqmDEz42kJ1PVa1qHLZ4igzof1pbcdKpzeQLENy5dzDZIuGZNqE8KhXqNgXt8PK9Dld5t4xQ/s1404/Dappled%20Winter%20Sunlight.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1404" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8a2JIhaEtNSTtEM9CLl2kQsSU0eVxMrmBgP4XMpmY3nd0MTYqByIaZvBbesqlWpc6Ba7-_rHH1U3uIcsCeYOJnJ4nkkERMab1WMrYWCnreVL2S-lG2VFNqmDEz42kJ1PVa1qHLZ4igzof1pbcdKpzeQLENy5dzDZIuGZNqE8KhXqNgXt8PK9Dld5t4xQ/s320/Dappled%20Winter%20Sunlight.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I don't need to travel far to find the best areas either. Great Western Road between Drumchapel and Anniesland is as good as any park for autumn colours in trees although I have done recent walks around Knightswood Park, Clydebank Park, and Rouken Glen Park to broaden the art gallery theme still further.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyU29kMZ-cqoNmwRkkJ7BiyDZZWZ8kgz4_GxMoWnE9RG6azqFvnGT3pRO2S7uVM-3aOE7b97SKO8ZHgQzx9nTQ7Ru7KM3NOWyQNPQWd3MfzuR1GFqtbXqhX9avJ3M7PD-xVhRhnUGcrfwpVJG62SSEXD7XKSoSapqWglMU0rUtKgfKA25Tb_Qba48ME8/s1480/A%20Golden%20Harvest.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1480" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyU29kMZ-cqoNmwRkkJ7BiyDZZWZ8kgz4_GxMoWnE9RG6azqFvnGT3pRO2S7uVM-3aOE7b97SKO8ZHgQzx9nTQ7Ru7KM3NOWyQNPQWd3MfzuR1GFqtbXqhX9avJ3M7PD-xVhRhnUGcrfwpVJG62SSEXD7XKSoSapqWglMU0rUtKgfKA25Tb_Qba48ME8/s320/A%20Golden%20Harvest.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A golden harvest for wildlife with colourful wild berry and fruit trees lining both sides and the middle strip of this golden highway. Yet I have personally seen very few birds here eating them. They are enchanted.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8H-YWc_R2wyN_0mJsq2xZYoi3dDCIIpTazVbuo0_M48oyyiQ7n3ky4Ag69rECapOIVSjyahUbfDwc2wGGThcz59bawE0L0YvFMUfXlKGVzI3X3nUU2wg8PvNlDDiVZ-t_0zeG7CAXrpUtLPj1y3x_q_ZNevRgAUUBwwLwkObJqlI4r8puLnCuBxVhgH4/s1543/God's%20Golden%20Highway%20into%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1543" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8H-YWc_R2wyN_0mJsq2xZYoi3dDCIIpTazVbuo0_M48oyyiQ7n3ky4Ag69rECapOIVSjyahUbfDwc2wGGThcz59bawE0L0YvFMUfXlKGVzI3X3nUU2wg8PvNlDDiVZ-t_0zeG7CAXrpUtLPj1y3x_q_ZNevRgAUUBwwLwkObJqlI4r8puLnCuBxVhgH4/s320/God's%20Golden%20Highway%20into%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This is Glasgow's version of the Yellow Brick Road and the Emerald Kingdom beyond.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnIOaXNwnt8YiHbEnLnY6i4_xxXgpOo5XuWRYJU6ZJnBqTG552n1YMOcIv7hM3WFDt6_eGzHZ15d8_byTt4cCDMZ0UvCiJeuP_uRyOIQcixv_t3l8GT4tKGxqkiuDPOAtd6p6gxzSaRHV5GFadC0R6VJyBYLYraxQ_ftgctcnVIC9GW2OXNH77mVLCT0/s1408/Hedgehog%20Fungi.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1408" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnIOaXNwnt8YiHbEnLnY6i4_xxXgpOo5XuWRYJU6ZJnBqTG552n1YMOcIv7hM3WFDt6_eGzHZ15d8_byTt4cCDMZ0UvCiJeuP_uRyOIQcixv_t3l8GT4tKGxqkiuDPOAtd6p6gxzSaRHV5GFadC0R6VJyBYLYraxQ_ftgctcnVIC9GW2OXNH77mVLCT0/s320/Hedgehog%20Fungi.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> <span style="font-size: medium;">Strange things do occur here occasionally.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPH0-2t8lqRcML7HuP3GRzmO1iAtFSfK8_Wu6aJZQRgqRaYDgtRwWHPzKfp4qcvjdN0q1eavrIUYYS6F-HyBi6qLtgp6WQV_V0ExBcMfVQpA2En4So4GUWeFMwgy3h9VTmfu9zZNHYXIylq-sCdn4ZanQjtNm_ZNiR9T_-YIuw2YdSsgbukzcWqjR753g/s1581/Autumn%20Morning.%20The%20Golf%20Course.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1581" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPH0-2t8lqRcML7HuP3GRzmO1iAtFSfK8_Wu6aJZQRgqRaYDgtRwWHPzKfp4qcvjdN0q1eavrIUYYS6F-HyBi6qLtgp6WQV_V0ExBcMfVQpA2En4So4GUWeFMwgy3h9VTmfu9zZNHYXIylq-sCdn4ZanQjtNm_ZNiR9T_-YIuw2YdSsgbukzcWqjR753g/s320/Autumn%20Morning.%20The%20Golf%20Course.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> A cold autumn morning on the golf course beside Rouken Glen Park. What I thought was a stray golf ball at first glance from a distance was not.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIOCaze4StyipQV-jvBlSeLg16r2Q9QYd_2xhFtro-YokMdJBWpOkJF1y_xfszw0WAWHWwOQXY-j6R22xrdZ2FlwosBHKj9wk5ybz_nD4pkSsSBB2W24c9792B36si3A57CIsbel4TUkNXpLbTCo5_fUzhrxgeZ_voAcwPff5ZFrRYa1craQKxonN9xs/s1406/Bus%20Wait%20In%20Autumn%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1406" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIOCaze4StyipQV-jvBlSeLg16r2Q9QYd_2xhFtro-YokMdJBWpOkJF1y_xfszw0WAWHWwOQXY-j6R22xrdZ2FlwosBHKj9wk5ybz_nD4pkSsSBB2W24c9792B36si3A57CIsbel4TUkNXpLbTCo5_fUzhrxgeZ_voAcwPff5ZFrRYa1craQKxonN9xs/s320/Bus%20Wait%20In%20Autumn%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Bus Stop in autumn 2023.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDwsvf2mhbESzFUO3bkP1sA6EjLneGrsCePZDuA-lBs8iS3YcgCjr5z6Nv-OwLZ3HdF0UKSjJ64fPyXC9wXGhwCIBv65RYo9VWkm2jY0y_bywx_w24RCs7WFcKSRndkpSDv4ObhMygQ5kS78e22LN7bwDfX1m7Wjzom4eTtVFlLnWlxYv0FS5wsa5Eec/s1395/A%20Walk%20in%20Autumn.%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1395" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDwsvf2mhbESzFUO3bkP1sA6EjLneGrsCePZDuA-lBs8iS3YcgCjr5z6Nv-OwLZ3HdF0UKSjJ64fPyXC9wXGhwCIBv65RYo9VWkm2jY0y_bywx_w24RCs7WFcKSRndkpSDv4ObhMygQ5kS78e22LN7bwDfX1m7Wjzom4eTtVFlLnWlxYv0FS5wsa5Eec/s320/A%20Walk%20in%20Autumn.%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I also pick good light to bring up the colours more. Late afternoon sunlight here.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET5tHYQclqNRDuq0_m5ATLfg-6NEvKd_6c7mL9qqHvyd_yWwAEGbYn93chyJey6Mm4ZgpK15btLf43LVaAzP4WGUSdlISBRxLjKRRg2t3NFwg5rPk4SPOx6kVTlt5FKztUtM1CaRNHJQemlJa1WBm5dp5kWm4h599xr4c9SR0gVtU3-c5UzNyTjfBMDE/s1444/Gardens%20of%20Delight.%20Clydebank%20Public%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1444" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET5tHYQclqNRDuq0_m5ATLfg-6NEvKd_6c7mL9qqHvyd_yWwAEGbYn93chyJey6Mm4ZgpK15btLf43LVaAzP4WGUSdlISBRxLjKRRg2t3NFwg5rPk4SPOx6kVTlt5FKztUtM1CaRNHJQemlJa1WBm5dp5kWm4h599xr4c9SR0gVtU3-c5UzNyTjfBMDE/s320/Gardens%20of%20Delight.%20Clydebank%20Public%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And some views are just magical. Another realm entirely....... that <i>you can</i> step into.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkcTnb_J3P0dSYdipqUK7k8aQLW4pdCeiKuEqtMXhjTRFTUBvvBXpXZrQq1Qa5KW-XPGVK81lXdRHByijoygaMOWDCiU5qgMqt-ygVZDV3rt9RokBD21kJnX7tX8eDbcPzdLqJ4Q4xy0TD4LVBMevi_CaG64mxkGGnvwNkILp9rxxS-fpHHkAaeIQbAg/s1367/The%20Fall.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1367" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkcTnb_J3P0dSYdipqUK7k8aQLW4pdCeiKuEqtMXhjTRFTUBvvBXpXZrQq1Qa5KW-XPGVK81lXdRHByijoygaMOWDCiU5qgMqt-ygVZDV3rt9RokBD21kJnX7tX8eDbcPzdLqJ4Q4xy0TD4LVBMevi_CaG64mxkGGnvwNkILp9rxxS-fpHHkAaeIQbAg/s320/The%20Fall.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are lucky with the weather autumn colours can last from early September to mid November which certainly helps to make the bleak winter months of cold darkness pass quicker before Spring eventually appears again.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cOMqvq1UeGMToRp_GmdpWJCAXW_mLGWPl-KKLnNYonvgW1DzDrQpqoTyII4n-ykhbxLvl0uQlWu8uHaIugp9aels-3qeMmbsHNL8kywOt9-HurkU0qlgYAsgQDpSuA6DTiihjSF3QLqYaFOcpzVqqdMPbNeVXR9V9S6Itw64PcfOF_PS7OLEdzgjE_k/s1420/A%20Dipper.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1420" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cOMqvq1UeGMToRp_GmdpWJCAXW_mLGWPl-KKLnNYonvgW1DzDrQpqoTyII4n-ykhbxLvl0uQlWu8uHaIugp9aels-3qeMmbsHNL8kywOt9-HurkU0qlgYAsgQDpSuA6DTiihjSF3QLqYaFOcpzVqqdMPbNeVXR9V9S6Itw64PcfOF_PS7OLEdzgjE_k/s320/A%20Dipper.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A dipper enjoying a very clear stream flowing through Rouken Glen park.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9w04mOl9yA48cSdHD5T5-x3UAT8IU28k4cQDnoDnLFPUXpasOBqSTvuNzhjOcQAcL8HUTVJsYTZUeW-pkVfNTsXNSXyPgf-N3L3_y1nPLrX3lVqRVvcXhV9GUMKCr2ny72iONeO8rHmAD_O54fxxGfwTMkSiovTDkS-B3hyX0CbYUfxYX5BwCJ1kyic/s1524/Autumn.%20Parklands.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1524" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9w04mOl9yA48cSdHD5T5-x3UAT8IU28k4cQDnoDnLFPUXpasOBqSTvuNzhjOcQAcL8HUTVJsYTZUeW-pkVfNTsXNSXyPgf-N3L3_y1nPLrX3lVqRVvcXhV9GUMKCr2ny72iONeO8rHmAD_O54fxxGfwTMkSiovTDkS-B3hyX0CbYUfxYX5BwCJ1kyic/s320/Autumn.%20Parklands.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Autumn park lands are plentiful in the western suburbs of the city.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfe4thZjwILHAfi61zTMPDKaNhZxax3VcVJN-wDj-vHxI0_hvVb5Nl83G1X4FsmzTDT3EuFN5xl0OKxOLGdI7VOjcZLhhhSfCx66Pz2uBcl2mUulorBK_NL98VsHOhKEXAY6cNpk5cfI6hUkUkRfUoS8i5Xki8BDMfUJhqtgc6ISw3ArnD0gc5KePI9uA/s1323/The%20colours%20of%20an%20Autumn%20Forest%20as%20Art,.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1323" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfe4thZjwILHAfi61zTMPDKaNhZxax3VcVJN-wDj-vHxI0_hvVb5Nl83G1X4FsmzTDT3EuFN5xl0OKxOLGdI7VOjcZLhhhSfCx66Pz2uBcl2mUulorBK_NL98VsHOhKEXAY6cNpk5cfI6hUkUkRfUoS8i5Xki8BDMfUJhqtgc6ISw3ArnD0gc5KePI9uA/s320/The%20colours%20of%20an%20Autumn%20Forest%20as%20Art,.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">All the colours, sights and smells of a productive October forest floor. Any goodness used up, stored away safety, then turned into a wide range of mirco materials that all growing things desire come spring... easily as efficient as any human food factory turning out products for sale to their customers. The invisible world wide web of tiny mycelium threads that you never normally see without digging them up but without which most things above ground would perish. The original food delivery service perfected over millions of years of evolution.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsX5HYm26Lc81l2BzLq5hOnBOBAvvM9OBlLDsA9jjVAh-asCu5zKp9B4URc2ye0nxuryb3M5BJwwn-2G_ZeZwjeEbSL7_eWj-OdN8Xu_6jMaC9kSSfgVjaHx2ma9qKm493dDCy4o4zlMUDk8y6t9I5elXObgWZCPTx6Gb4HIb6_HBziga4X-NW1ZxyhI/s1512/A82.%20Open%20Highway.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1512" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsX5HYm26Lc81l2BzLq5hOnBOBAvvM9OBlLDsA9jjVAh-asCu5zKp9B4URc2ye0nxuryb3M5BJwwn-2G_ZeZwjeEbSL7_eWj-OdN8Xu_6jMaC9kSSfgVjaHx2ma9qKm493dDCy4o4zlMUDk8y6t9I5elXObgWZCPTx6Gb4HIb6_HBziga4X-NW1ZxyhI/s320/A82.%20Open%20Highway.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Great Western Road. Still quiet and serene outside rush hour times.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IPfj2xl2uJq4QMB1xvboz8QSsa3Jz8nABacOKL4leAgZ2AfGV2mpNrRc1WeT5G9ohP-wieAab1-mU51vHMc6-0QFpM4SJKVrAQ9g6EgyaF_-CKAocKwz_3LRdhzRM1LeHRuInWI-n8NwFugQg6C8mA0G-9JpzUC2eraEsNDNU4Yy7VwbuJILPfnXGYw/s1551/Coat%20of%20Several%20Colours.%20Autumn%20Mix.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1551" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IPfj2xl2uJq4QMB1xvboz8QSsa3Jz8nABacOKL4leAgZ2AfGV2mpNrRc1WeT5G9ohP-wieAab1-mU51vHMc6-0QFpM4SJKVrAQ9g6EgyaF_-CKAocKwz_3LRdhzRM1LeHRuInWI-n8NwFugQg6C8mA0G-9JpzUC2eraEsNDNU4Yy7VwbuJILPfnXGYw/s320/Coat%20of%20Several%20Colours.%20Autumn%20Mix.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Coat of several colours.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdvPuKeejAnLOOK72thcRBW8q75KpYeRh4zAkHPvT52PfrZfxuxlQyq1AEZtPR3yZvpIIx4nOUl5aPJLPvQp1gMHkSSf1N53ts99vVm6rFaOX8VrQ7dcYylq65fZ0_i4pC2xGU2Sb13XaD0alKa2VCG5S5Xhfx-3Y5L4_pyXF-V1_D7ITsBM_sHXGlh0/s1334/Fly%20Agaric.%20Amanita%20Muscaria.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1334" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdvPuKeejAnLOOK72thcRBW8q75KpYeRh4zAkHPvT52PfrZfxuxlQyq1AEZtPR3yZvpIIx4nOUl5aPJLPvQp1gMHkSSf1N53ts99vVm6rFaOX8VrQ7dcYylq65fZ0_i4pC2xGU2Sb13XaD0alKa2VCG5S5Xhfx-3Y5L4_pyXF-V1_D7ITsBM_sHXGlh0/s320/Fly%20Agaric.%20Amanita%20Muscaria.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Amanita Muscaria.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWT7ShD_Qc93LGH0CroVqL5bRKJdBJRn0OjNcco8j7MfxVmycnf_wIKjVtP-VaNyP-ROsIG-fq0qqc8en-hb6zu32G-50Tbev5hd0kv4ZrpYvqLvwCR-gTJ9doqXDNp9SeNTCebOeAiMDZNlYEQfVFZaCakpLiRMectLWmLD2BeYYmN0OZ22QYOrk5qs/s1555/Autumnal%20Colours.%20High%20Parklands.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1555" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWT7ShD_Qc93LGH0CroVqL5bRKJdBJRn0OjNcco8j7MfxVmycnf_wIKjVtP-VaNyP-ROsIG-fq0qqc8en-hb6zu32G-50Tbev5hd0kv4ZrpYvqLvwCR-gTJ9doqXDNp9SeNTCebOeAiMDZNlYEQfVFZaCakpLiRMectLWmLD2BeYYmN0OZ22QYOrk5qs/s320/Autumnal%20Colours.%20High%20Parklands.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Autumn foliage. High Knightswood.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qjgcgJy0czqvKa-devf6sIIGNvVxgUKtLFRR890kcwST22kGOnmMGs9jFyQQMFtNuzUMtlGhAcDTwe_B6j-1_CPBac3UZ9cUUisi1WeMYIB_VAN22hKy1OZ-DW45PGt4CgJt6IbIu9u9pZVbfYlvy5fJjCyG4uo_zZujvIc6hzhZgL-pTHVYM0-ua_g/s1618/Creatures%20of%20the%20Forest%20Edge.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1618" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qjgcgJy0czqvKa-devf6sIIGNvVxgUKtLFRR890kcwST22kGOnmMGs9jFyQQMFtNuzUMtlGhAcDTwe_B6j-1_CPBac3UZ9cUUisi1WeMYIB_VAN22hKy1OZ-DW45PGt4CgJt6IbIu9u9pZVbfYlvy5fJjCyG4uo_zZujvIc6hzhZgL-pTHVYM0-ua_g/s320/Creatures%20of%20the%20Forest%20Edge.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Deer. Shy creatures of the forest edge near The Barrhead Dams.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPU9rI-gip8nIVLYVzodFmGmEIJu9MXkSzlfKJJZCNTsA_gx9kABGCa3S8KhXflYv5EPJILyWps3LRo6CEoKfvIQwxHxh2s85juT9QH51zTbmDys1l4FCX6FPM1rqSQknx_D7ES-KJj2CBF7d-h_Nk7SoXYjZ6XSSxgl4beD2G5JivoS04Vxd0nJ7LHc/s1506/Evening%20Sunlight.%20Late%20October.%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1506" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPU9rI-gip8nIVLYVzodFmGmEIJu9MXkSzlfKJJZCNTsA_gx9kABGCa3S8KhXflYv5EPJILyWps3LRo6CEoKfvIQwxHxh2s85juT9QH51zTbmDys1l4FCX6FPM1rqSQknx_D7ES-KJj2CBF7d-h_Nk7SoXYjZ6XSSxgl4beD2G5JivoS04Vxd0nJ7LHc/s320/Evening%20Sunlight.%20Late%20October.%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Evening sunlight walking along Great Western Road.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJF6svoQ8aJcP1yJjv-_uQLPjJW97Xh-FL6p45q22gCC2jgyfNE_VXoTh38n4NWzWDSzwtyQl63t5APIg0Hi3FZvrZZQPOo_buUHDt0F0FKZh9JRhgo32OIaWJaTN5u5OfItzd-jWJXp96j8mW9d7GNePDeycHnkTLYX5hhCa4JUwFw510B4Bwc69iEs/s1345/The%20Stream%20in%20the%20Gorge.%20Rouken%20Glen.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1345" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJF6svoQ8aJcP1yJjv-_uQLPjJW97Xh-FL6p45q22gCC2jgyfNE_VXoTh38n4NWzWDSzwtyQl63t5APIg0Hi3FZvrZZQPOo_buUHDt0F0FKZh9JRhgo32OIaWJaTN5u5OfItzd-jWJXp96j8mW9d7GNePDeycHnkTLYX5hhCa4JUwFw510B4Bwc69iEs/s320/The%20Stream%20in%20the%20Gorge.%20Rouken%20Glen.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The stream in the gorge at Rouken Glen Park.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MhuDDl0o3atV2UKCo4dnBN1M5unTSOV8gwCrI3z27VQ9LE7BM0YSEX4Wi35DNgTKgPvmELghVE5OiRmiz1y0KLtzw0TPOmmYzgghbAmdnMcxIODnk-O0qlyFWh3_hBSmEfn7MooYPL8cA_2XSXAGVZ-AwYSZ0m1S7ukN5nbEt2tSmeof1rvnyWvsGcU/s1342/The%20Riches%20of%20Autumn%20for%20Wildlife.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1342" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MhuDDl0o3atV2UKCo4dnBN1M5unTSOV8gwCrI3z27VQ9LE7BM0YSEX4Wi35DNgTKgPvmELghVE5OiRmiz1y0KLtzw0TPOmmYzgghbAmdnMcxIODnk-O0qlyFWh3_hBSmEfn7MooYPL8cA_2XSXAGVZ-AwYSZ0m1S7ukN5nbEt2tSmeof1rvnyWvsGcU/s320/The%20Riches%20of%20Autumn%20for%20Wildlife.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The riches of autumn.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnm0W25RZsHa4Rz_Ng_lL7CzxowjUfZzLuKEjMtgN07-iKfxdjV316ehmSGP-iaXnxugAn-aT6FyXnlX5oOM4XkJl771R26nLojEMGBMSBy1TPBKMhz1ZzxCrLuu89rfJ0btpbAchIoLi-KS6e6pODt0cfOag1lfvNyIW253bv-xZEuBaAmOLgY9bbOTA/s1490/The%20Beauty%20of%20Glasgow's%20Parks.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1490" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnm0W25RZsHa4Rz_Ng_lL7CzxowjUfZzLuKEjMtgN07-iKfxdjV316ehmSGP-iaXnxugAn-aT6FyXnlX5oOM4XkJl771R26nLojEMGBMSBy1TPBKMhz1ZzxCrLuu89rfJ0btpbAchIoLi-KS6e6pODt0cfOag1lfvNyIW253bv-xZEuBaAmOLgY9bbOTA/s320/The%20Beauty%20of%20Glasgow's%20Parks.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The sheer beauty of Glasgow's many parks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8z8ZnR-daK9oVOm69KWTAHtzzzJ_qi_O4hH3iOM4XPnT0j7iw7eiFcAlZuOiYVGV5LQ9qbON5ohlT3TGqELwczyiylciSn_DnqXCKR3J178xcQC_p59i_yb_LiVcU6T4Ue7i-5Wth2hUnWUqILK9PMAkkY1vy_Kt3mSueEn9D_i9cRrq-U3jFK68TZ4/s1380/Pastel%20Perfection.%20Autumn%20Tranquility.%20Glasgow%20Autumn.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1380" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8z8ZnR-daK9oVOm69KWTAHtzzzJ_qi_O4hH3iOM4XPnT0j7iw7eiFcAlZuOiYVGV5LQ9qbON5ohlT3TGqELwczyiylciSn_DnqXCKR3J178xcQC_p59i_yb_LiVcU6T4Ue7i-5Wth2hUnWUqILK9PMAkkY1vy_Kt3mSueEn9D_i9cRrq-U3jFK68TZ4/s320/Pastel%20Perfection.%20Autumn%20Tranquility.%20Glasgow%20Autumn.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Pastel Perfection. Misty morning with weak sunlight burning through November's dark mists.<br /><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8cD8S4E5Le_641CvCUY6Zfi1k4-zF4SZoPQgY4JNvph62asCAFmXl5IT652UWVdAKDjGkTHvxQv8aKKRUnlgg_vyO4JnYX4HbfNwGQRwqCLPWdbV1eOB6J2mdcAoonMblJrhgylJM11xOwT_fEBnnmp2I6PS5ukoQLw2UKOmc-6Hn6j_-JzIkp5Rw7U/s1501/Wind%20Blown%20leaves%20on%20pavement.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1501" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8cD8S4E5Le_641CvCUY6Zfi1k4-zF4SZoPQgY4JNvph62asCAFmXl5IT652UWVdAKDjGkTHvxQv8aKKRUnlgg_vyO4JnYX4HbfNwGQRwqCLPWdbV1eOB6J2mdcAoonMblJrhgylJM11xOwT_fEBnnmp2I6PS5ukoQLw2UKOmc-6Hn6j_-JzIkp5Rw7U/s320/Wind%20Blown%20leaves%20on%20pavement.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Wind blown leaves swirling in a tight circle create an overnight random archipelago on the pavement outside. or ...hinting at a sinkhole effect.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZXrFkZMcUzXLxTmKA3pGAw7k1T0aVFKDIy-jbAIVnb7i_nl2ZX_iCbsPNyyOOLJheNBJoKcVaBNfRJGps4ysPG727_gom0aGBi-tsF9aw8J6eUhIggM034UywZ0VufBZ1ualSwxUNSIJFdAKJixTvwA1OxZfys3eM4FIDAql_Y_AnQGrPpW0ct1TKwU/s1516/The%20Beauty%20of%20the%20A%2082.%20Passing%20Drumchapel.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1516" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZXrFkZMcUzXLxTmKA3pGAw7k1T0aVFKDIy-jbAIVnb7i_nl2ZX_iCbsPNyyOOLJheNBJoKcVaBNfRJGps4ysPG727_gom0aGBi-tsF9aw8J6eUhIggM034UywZ0VufBZ1ualSwxUNSIJFdAKJixTvwA1OxZfys3eM4FIDAql_Y_AnQGrPpW0ct1TKwU/s320/The%20Beauty%20of%20the%20A%2082.%20Passing%20Drumchapel.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">...and the pleasures of the open road ahead.<br /> </span><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-77113313733556667962023-10-14T15:56:00.009+01:002023-10-18T10:00:37.701+01:00Kilsyth. Kirkintilloch and Croy Hill. Auchinstarry Quarry.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1LiGZjRQ-y5fWa8FZDd5N0mh83wM-NqJuh8lHMWZ05DfUoJpwRNltCB0dwvnuulEc8wkMjTQWBl2_L4fiayWxDMM0GDWSprS1RudvdToCYygQ17QSi3MvLjPsnCSo5tCK1ke3oCMNlpVHGy0oKT1jwUroDAI16ukCmMOfSKbONiRkSmk4qrf5z5FhVA/s1243/Auchenstarry%20Quarry%20With%20Swams.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1243" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1LiGZjRQ-y5fWa8FZDd5N0mh83wM-NqJuh8lHMWZ05DfUoJpwRNltCB0dwvnuulEc8wkMjTQWBl2_L4fiayWxDMM0GDWSprS1RudvdToCYygQ17QSi3MvLjPsnCSo5tCK1ke3oCMNlpVHGy0oKT1jwUroDAI16ukCmMOfSKbONiRkSmk4qrf5z5FhVA/s320/Auchenstarry%20Quarry%20With%20Swams.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As a change from west coast hills Alan and I decided to head east this time. Kilsyth to be precise, where Auchinstarry Quarry resides.( See photo above) This brought back loads of memories for me as it was a favourite day trip rock climbing venue. Not as midge infested as Craigmore, ( a small crag to the north of Glasgow), very scenic, and with dozens of good routes up the cliffs here at all grades. Being higher it can also feel more exposed with a mountain scale to some of the climbs.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSa38jO_TrNUQ_jFaploMv0po5dIdNUdhLMCxgw67rNhcAhHroQXfIqgjV2_7NCGu_vRimyZkdDHOLNlamD_VpWQE6rP3oCgK40k3sDEs9bkQuti6fATMubRwHjJtgOAZ462MPhdhy3-P9Blie3tAnCRC8l2Xb5_Pqbew5F2CLYiKdEgUQMEMeunn1a5g/s1382/Auchenstarry%20Quarry.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1382" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSa38jO_TrNUQ_jFaploMv0po5dIdNUdhLMCxgw67rNhcAhHroQXfIqgjV2_7NCGu_vRimyZkdDHOLNlamD_VpWQE6rP3oCgK40k3sDEs9bkQuti6fATMubRwHjJtgOAZ462MPhdhy3-P9Blie3tAnCRC8l2Xb5_Pqbew5F2CLYiKdEgUQMEMeunn1a5g/s320/Auchenstarry%20Quarry.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Red Lead 27 metres at Very Severe VS and White Slab 27 metres at Hard Severe HS, (both seen above on the blank looking wall directly above right side of left hand bench) were club favourites along with Walk on the Wild Side HVS. Not only was it a scenic and fairly adventurous place to climb with a scramble down the cliff to reach the 20 to 30 metre high climbs ( 60 to 100 feet high) then a shoreline traverse above deep water... it was also a place where you could occasionally look down and see 2 to 3 foot long pike gliding beneath your climbing shoes when balanced on a thin ledge halfway up the routes. Unique in that respect.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldUxOQ2vqd3qY0ixY018Z-NBn1rAiAChkR_dyhH2vMhtuOluDwpWX6gppBfSNr-HdX99vocj4WwYLGnwC3nQll_O8GqDz1piarV3WbceAMchseLcQ8v7_atQZxouAV7uX8hUOvY-PXQsH93F-p_hGVC1r0hFySlT0y1P5z6mBrTXodjxNlMqUmXmXbOo/s1609/Cliffs%20at%20Auchenstarry%20Loch.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1609" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldUxOQ2vqd3qY0ixY018Z-NBn1rAiAChkR_dyhH2vMhtuOluDwpWX6gppBfSNr-HdX99vocj4WwYLGnwC3nQll_O8GqDz1piarV3WbceAMchseLcQ8v7_atQZxouAV7uX8hUOvY-PXQsH93F-p_hGVC1r0hFySlT0y1P5z6mBrTXodjxNlMqUmXmXbOo/s320/Cliffs%20at%20Auchenstarry%20Loch.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This black smooth slab looks like Walk on the Wild Side HVS although its 25 to 30 years since I last climbed here. A different person entirely to the sad old duffer gazing thoughtfully at it just now. Out of curiosity I looked at the current online UK guide and many of the routes are still the same grade, some have gone but new ones have appeared to take their place from Diff to E6. HVS/E1 was my upper limit here though.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">See link below with climbing photo gallery and grade list. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/auchinstarry_quarry-226/" target="_blank">https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/auchinstarry_quarry-226/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLAUiZfgSqiI7tqeuAc8FCNqJYVodsVw8yHseVJAw9MLsN-gzSUDaz-hqf8yxl8a5lNfHpyo_U0BduDu5Tp_k2y66hu2afWQCfc4Jq-IVSjxpWZtNRJyHdVU6LJ7EHWCHxjHTv4SM8xVzjzuKbOUmW_LVqdaTGhIPvo9RJxbpnHb7hGZ1rb89HsVS_LY/s1396/Children's%20Playground%20at%20Auchenstarry%20Loch.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1396" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLAUiZfgSqiI7tqeuAc8FCNqJYVodsVw8yHseVJAw9MLsN-gzSUDaz-hqf8yxl8a5lNfHpyo_U0BduDu5Tp_k2y66hu2afWQCfc4Jq-IVSjxpWZtNRJyHdVU6LJ7EHWCHxjHTv4SM8xVzjzuKbOUmW_LVqdaTGhIPvo9RJxbpnHb7hGZ1rb89HsVS_LY/s320/Children's%20Playground%20at%20Auchenstarry%20Loch.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our purpose this time though was just to park here and walk up the nearby Croy Hill. I do not remember this replica wooden fort for children to play on when we used to climb here. A more modern addition, though a good one.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> <br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqEV9rB3_dD4JVDmZXIzYESTj44atdLIp6SYNzQrpIwcQPdBDMd1YGItfVKUL0vhOs2PYQycu02BnCQXVeFwIQMlOIl0VTALPf9mgQv-LxSalOU1mO-R1V76oitzXUmhnQXAIrUlmKYCiW2mkYVKLoyveS0ew9EhZrwUKVrYMAckOn7arZnvZma2FG_8/s1599/Auchenstarry%20Basin.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1599" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqEV9rB3_dD4JVDmZXIzYESTj44atdLIp6SYNzQrpIwcQPdBDMd1YGItfVKUL0vhOs2PYQycu02BnCQXVeFwIQMlOIl0VTALPf9mgQv-LxSalOU1mO-R1V76oitzXUmhnQXAIrUlmKYCiW2mkYVKLoyveS0ew9EhZrwUKVrYMAckOn7arZnvZma2FG_8/s320/Auchenstarry%20Basin.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">From the car park, seen here with the promontory cliffs, and Auchinstarry canal basin you can either walk along the north bank of the Forth and Clyde Canal or take a path through woods on the edge of Kilsyth to reach the same bridge near Shawend.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SX_pDmVrZ4joFQBN27vZOL362-veKqh40KfryxKXu4CgrBC7oQJsjzUeDN_IUTT9QG-8NYaP6eRpQczMH-ohxD794XrxlaZUkIy27qNoPWs0Ld24WVwyu4sCShb9bAIjOV-HbJT7bBzUqFv8NRMnKGFaKY3rV7YLJF2LZ4loJCdTPsBe03VGxYnlcAI/s1606/Croy%20Hill%20from%20Auchinstarry%20Canal%20Basin%20Oct%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1606" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SX_pDmVrZ4joFQBN27vZOL362-veKqh40KfryxKXu4CgrBC7oQJsjzUeDN_IUTT9QG-8NYaP6eRpQczMH-ohxD794XrxlaZUkIy27qNoPWs0Ld24WVwyu4sCShb9bAIjOV-HbJT7bBzUqFv8NRMnKGFaKY3rV7YLJF2LZ4loJCdTPsBe03VGxYnlcAI/s320/Croy%20Hill%20from%20Auchinstarry%20Canal%20Basin%20Oct%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Auchinstarry canal basin/ marina and the wooded slopes of Croy Hill. This is one path, along the canal.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8Y_wOqnvXDC3YlRi8AU-uW24i4KfXWVBnJISAplmb-j5IWJVTcyyn3bfQMVj9fgoU1odfFRb0l7iSCPagAbkUQJQYKhtT9NXCmElWEa4pscOwTP9vuXMAp4xVboUiOVbdoGBYE3tZksL3REVMHoPVdbKjVcSs4YzWUCneWup21FYtoJxIApqnZ4_6dc/s1515/Kilsyth%20and%20The%20Campsie%20Fells.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1515" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8Y_wOqnvXDC3YlRi8AU-uW24i4KfXWVBnJISAplmb-j5IWJVTcyyn3bfQMVj9fgoU1odfFRb0l7iSCPagAbkUQJQYKhtT9NXCmElWEa4pscOwTP9vuXMAp4xVboUiOVbdoGBYE3tZksL3REVMHoPVdbKjVcSs4YzWUCneWup21FYtoJxIApqnZ4_6dc/s320/Kilsyth%20and%20The%20Campsie%20Fells.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A view of the other path from Croy hill which follows a minor road, seen here at the first white houses, to cross the same canal bridge. From the bridge various paths lead up through woods onto Croy Hill. The eastern end of the Campsie Fells seen above the town of Kilsyth here. See above.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggM-4mv2a2venYVo-fzCQVm1i_a3Hhd-zGTdkObNOKEOY_JKK8JiOHK_dKoxLNhx0mnaD0hAZekwHJ23SKuVxONxwgyhUOpPaHsa-J9bu8fz3SB0fR2FTHQn_71mEbA-A7AWKgaOQ_xaB0T4KP6YYBvctbQZI9xizdA85Q8V63fxLgsB8Et5ChI-Z7_v8/s1524/Horses%20Below%20Croy%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1524" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggM-4mv2a2venYVo-fzCQVm1i_a3Hhd-zGTdkObNOKEOY_JKK8JiOHK_dKoxLNhx0mnaD0hAZekwHJ23SKuVxONxwgyhUOpPaHsa-J9bu8fz3SB0fR2FTHQn_71mEbA-A7AWKgaOQ_xaB0T4KP6YYBvctbQZI9xizdA85Q8V63fxLgsB8Et5ChI-Z7_v8/s320/Horses%20Below%20Croy%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Horses below part of Croy Hill. Even though it's pleasantly wooded good views along this long ridge-line and several grassy meadows make it an enjoyable and effortless ascent.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96-vh7WGQiQEwLGg2coNDHo7_kyAtNLk5UF_VYPc5fdKuL0qx-kaXacxx4kzXr-0-pSTybInWXJbuyRP-FMdjKvd0TUCzKy0CqdyC1ZFgiJbV5BVEjdM3A-jtA1XIwQTtc_eecLFDAzLPRkDpZ-eI2t_Zwx9l7_XDTvINEaLOFw32hEFm0JoWDcR-Ydc/s1719/Minor%20Road.%20Campsie%20Fells%20near%20Kilsyth.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1719" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96-vh7WGQiQEwLGg2coNDHo7_kyAtNLk5UF_VYPc5fdKuL0qx-kaXacxx4kzXr-0-pSTybInWXJbuyRP-FMdjKvd0TUCzKy0CqdyC1ZFgiJbV5BVEjdM3A-jtA1XIwQTtc_eecLFDAzLPRkDpZ-eI2t_Zwx9l7_XDTvINEaLOFw32hEFm0JoWDcR-Ydc/s320/Minor%20Road.%20Campsie%20Fells%20near%20Kilsyth.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The minor road with the Campsie Fells behind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXmPRV9ImgWfLIrX4-pda16CBMUTTZo07FdfVQQvL4q8Q-luuf3UE6EAz82bsPuGsnNwhitAzOeTNuQBlUOCPKKUEjLvydYYQdnkrpN5NKbQ8n_I9RouC3bV2mMrQjk8UHxskagIJ65i2aG5uJSeHCG0Wd9U0mK7L04iR33Y-TZ5UYQRwPi6EoTfUruA/s1346/New%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1346" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXmPRV9ImgWfLIrX4-pda16CBMUTTZo07FdfVQQvL4q8Q-luuf3UE6EAz82bsPuGsnNwhitAzOeTNuQBlUOCPKKUEjLvydYYQdnkrpN5NKbQ8n_I9RouC3bV2mMrQjk8UHxskagIJ65i2aG5uJSeHCG0Wd9U0mK7L04iR33Y-TZ5UYQRwPi6EoTfUruA/s320/New%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This sculpture was not here either. Most English folk, unless they have a good interest in history, only think of Hadrian's Wall stretching across North Britain from sea to sea but the lesser known Antonine Wall, running across Central Belt Scotland did the same job for a single generation until it was abandoned. The furthest flung northern frontier of the Roman Army. An extra ditch, turf and wooden barrier and fort network against the constantly raiding barbarian tribes to the north. The history of both walls re-imaged for Game of Thrones and various films like King Arthur (2004 Clive Owen) and The Eagle. (2011) Unlike the well preserved Hadrian's Wall, built of stone blocks, the ditch and turf layout of the Antonine Wall has vanished in many places altogether but on the nearby Bar Hill and in Falkirk's Callendar Park you can still see evidence of its existence. This head is at the east side of Croy Hill.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4Rj-etxsmoy0JzJWl088B83ks7pscLQ4Cc9evhg7u6oEExguExw8_8mk3MhicnmGWWpI0qQPQv1NpaI3kYJ2kt8WcopimjzaIHvFD4Kl1b3JsksQ0x843BV2StEZiggjJe9TPTeehId5ImPr8LTP-tX2_DcDIRImFyyRWwYW_LuxWMd4472J2jns0w4/s1444/Croy%20Hill%20and%20Bar%20Hill%20Near%20Kilsyth.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1444" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4Rj-etxsmoy0JzJWl088B83ks7pscLQ4Cc9evhg7u6oEExguExw8_8mk3MhicnmGWWpI0qQPQv1NpaI3kYJ2kt8WcopimjzaIHvFD4Kl1b3JsksQ0x843BV2StEZiggjJe9TPTeehId5ImPr8LTP-tX2_DcDIRImFyyRWwYW_LuxWMd4472J2jns0w4/s320/Croy%20Hill%20and%20Bar%20Hill%20Near%20Kilsyth.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Croy Hill and Bar Hill. Pleasantly wooded rolling countryside. The long distance John Muir Way, 210km 130 miles 10 to 12 day hike runs through here from Dunbar to Helensburgh, across Central Belt Scotland from coast to coast. Having done most of it on day outings decades ago before it even existed as a long distance route I would recommend it. Beautiful scenery throughout. Either in one go or on day trips. No high mountains to climb here but plenty of scenic interest and local history.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6vxDrlwmXuJW75XOR0csBEl6ktigng0ob-f2QBEC6sAL2gOgqKlVJZbs-Cqu9Fv30Tc-XSj15OwWGrliRR4SII6UWeKPlNX-SxrJ5dPVl3a-mwbeYL6I7muidOmhYmef2d1Cg_7NFPgy35y7muOYkVjQcgNpC9fo-gHmYvj4xXIzaH5VlRrVM92RxOs/s1676/Bar%20Hill%20and%20The%20Antonine%20Wall.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1676" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6vxDrlwmXuJW75XOR0csBEl6ktigng0ob-f2QBEC6sAL2gOgqKlVJZbs-Cqu9Fv30Tc-XSj15OwWGrliRR4SII6UWeKPlNX-SxrJ5dPVl3a-mwbeYL6I7muidOmhYmef2d1Cg_7NFPgy35y7muOYkVjQcgNpC9fo-gHmYvj4xXIzaH5VlRrVM92RxOs/s320/Bar%20Hill%20and%20The%20Antonine%20Wall.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The descent off Croy Hill. Typical Central Belt scenery on the John Muir Way.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyy6WOU3sUvaMdGB7fr4s-uR-taBJ-IbvqEX4W_erGp-onI-8tTySvE5VjfPhR8fSoJtjjekQOFMTsUN9HIGAA16dV2f1wy6_HnLMOEo6wk3U9hJ2-Ty27Yw2FYeqf-a997FBU80YS53CDttZCx1NQ0h9p2Av8bJ9znm99VliHcg3oXC5llol09Mq9-2o/s1585/Auchenstarry%20Quarry%20Cliffs.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1585" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyy6WOU3sUvaMdGB7fr4s-uR-taBJ-IbvqEX4W_erGp-onI-8tTySvE5VjfPhR8fSoJtjjekQOFMTsUN9HIGAA16dV2f1wy6_HnLMOEo6wk3U9hJ2-Ty27Yw2FYeqf-a997FBU80YS53CDttZCx1NQ0h9p2Av8bJ9znm99VliHcg3oXC5llol09Mq9-2o/s320/Auchenstarry%20Quarry%20Cliffs.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We also had great views over Kilsyth, the full Auchinstarry range of climbing cliffs laid bare and the canal boat basin.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBW-5dRm6VsCCccYqlv1bbkDHqKoDShnSR0hYZaR2fc00Jph3zzxbc4dBRA_UF-8H0dN6COCt8HWo9gyJmjydSwoxRpOp46xu2UfeyU87jgSSAbLdrZZUgH8gXJgu2IIiKqqVnNEsMhTkxjgt-gAbYODhh5ocd5Q3FydWwci04Z5pgmssm4RInO-LJa70/s1506/Sign%20Post%20Near%20Croy%20Village.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1506" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBW-5dRm6VsCCccYqlv1bbkDHqKoDShnSR0hYZaR2fc00Jph3zzxbc4dBRA_UF-8H0dN6COCt8HWo9gyJmjydSwoxRpOp46xu2UfeyU87jgSSAbLdrZZUgH8gXJgu2IIiKqqVnNEsMhTkxjgt-gAbYODhh5ocd5Q3FydWwci04Z5pgmssm4RInO-LJa70/s320/Sign%20Post%20Near%20Croy%20Village.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Signpost near Croy village.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_B0iZJUeapzSDMP53Lt-N0jNIRMBypISqUhdvdDYMu4mWt4XiUMToSQgg5yqTg3op2qws_z6czXMipmKi9Ca-l8Jn-E87wFkm_HPCTSKsmB_v9m3X780gaq4B5y9kDNa04UrYLDdEprWEn2-U25TNmIM5seLkcxyYin9Ocajq1ALz72W8yHkMaPKugA/s1589/War%20Memorial%20Gates.%20Peel%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1589" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_B0iZJUeapzSDMP53Lt-N0jNIRMBypISqUhdvdDYMu4mWt4XiUMToSQgg5yqTg3op2qws_z6czXMipmKi9Ca-l8Jn-E87wFkm_HPCTSKsmB_v9m3X780gaq4B5y9kDNa04UrYLDdEprWEn2-U25TNmIM5seLkcxyYin9Ocajq1ALz72W8yHkMaPKugA/s320/War%20Memorial%20Gates.%20Peel%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We could have continued on to do Bar Hill but we wanted to avoid the notorious rush hour slow crawl along the M8 motorway back so we had a quick visit to Peel Park in Kirkintilloch instead. Never been though Alan knew his way around here.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUDUBUMRqNRXFzWBeZC8-grftFQHa8dz4Qhe4THxnHFVqStE07i0o2kfpbFlcrwX2-TjsH0hz3xz_461Nz7bwfYVQ26ATOXiS9h6NXhj6Dkmf45lTD8zeFQgSekP9eGXNYIxmCNNt9te1dVi7J4k-0W4xufYXp5s-aJEZ9cCs6DO1nfenvZ0DO-AWmyA/s1501/Antonine%20Wall%20Marker.Peel%20Park.%20Kirkintilloch.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1501" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUDUBUMRqNRXFzWBeZC8-grftFQHa8dz4Qhe4THxnHFVqStE07i0o2kfpbFlcrwX2-TjsH0hz3xz_461Nz7bwfYVQ26ATOXiS9h6NXhj6Dkmf45lTD8zeFQgSekP9eGXNYIxmCNNt9te1dVi7J4k-0W4xufYXp5s-aJEZ9cCs6DO1nfenvZ0DO-AWmyA/s320/Antonine%20Wall%20Marker.Peel%20Park.%20Kirkintilloch.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> A small park on a small hill but a good one. Roman fort influence again.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ecl8NOYTjBC6q-jFa4pUciw_QM8u1wwhkyv67RPmOlNrBKg99KrWoZJpnyUl3RR7VWfBDfVesgATrToivhUK5kvS8GfX-ho74LdVI1q7TDMYSOLNipPQkpnUMH0tQzcyrBwqgKSXMxpqIoqwV-mnGTXYnr_Shmy3ooeS6F6jOJdXls5wJ_nZ_Q28BIw/s1314/Peel%20Park.%20Kirkintilloch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1314" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ecl8NOYTjBC6q-jFa4pUciw_QM8u1wwhkyv67RPmOlNrBKg99KrWoZJpnyUl3RR7VWfBDfVesgATrToivhUK5kvS8GfX-ho74LdVI1q7TDMYSOLNipPQkpnUMH0tQzcyrBwqgKSXMxpqIoqwV-mnGTXYnr_Shmy3ooeS6F6jOJdXls5wJ_nZ_Q28BIw/s320/Peel%20Park.%20Kirkintilloch.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Peel Park. Postage stamp size. Not much bigger than this shown here although plenty of local walks, linked to this town run through it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwTNzv-FSl5UpZHwAQwSksi-9XiR7t2ZceaV_BLYxHYBvm2Ff2TeFV72EGg6YxarLuI4YvggrkbIlxayH1phdlXT1dK4sAYmuAQ9Cyza7hH-bVbQUgTMHSWUUCE7uB57TW3XglD5o-eWlll0GBrXxBYYRQ12xeYazws6ywd-RkUeeI4bJakTBSNxn-Q4/s1609/The%20Edge%20Of%20Kilsyth.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1609" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwTNzv-FSl5UpZHwAQwSksi-9XiR7t2ZceaV_BLYxHYBvm2Ff2TeFV72EGg6YxarLuI4YvggrkbIlxayH1phdlXT1dK4sAYmuAQ9Cyza7hH-bVbQUgTMHSWUUCE7uB57TW3XglD5o-eWlll0GBrXxBYYRQ12xeYazws6ywd-RkUeeI4bJakTBSNxn-Q4/s320/The%20Edge%20Of%20Kilsyth.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">An enjoyable day out with good company. Three to four hour walk. With sky high energy bills I'm not looking forward to the winter months of darkness, dampness and cold mornings very much. This was probably the last warm day of T- shirt hedonism for us before the big chill of winter and shorter daylight hours sets in. Dark here by 7:00pm now. People that love winter must be rich enough to laugh at big heating bills dropping through their door. On the plus side bed bugs hate cold houses... so I'm OK. Any bugs better have four season sleeping bags to crawl into indoors cos that's where I will be. Wah! Missing pleasant summer days already!</span><br /><p></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-3759592787026348152023-10-05T15:55:00.002+01:002023-10-13T11:35:07.591+01:00Lunderston Bay Walk to Inverkip Marina<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRh_jp_d0NICZGiU4pTMRm6GmY9P-G9_YmWCbGNDPSmGmPNzJGvFNHHgk96BH9L7wK_JcqvfwgYE665-MT67PgJYJH2Um-VLT4DkJwiXVYnRdlWzqsGaBEkOkNcIiQcwmetYNBy9irLBk1mRiMqEXwLXq4HhPpPgA7qX5GoH3FpbiYJKY4S4gIpvoNQlg/s1524/Lunderston%20Bay.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1524" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRh_jp_d0NICZGiU4pTMRm6GmY9P-G9_YmWCbGNDPSmGmPNzJGvFNHHgk96BH9L7wK_JcqvfwgYE665-MT67PgJYJH2Um-VLT4DkJwiXVYnRdlWzqsGaBEkOkNcIiQcwmetYNBy9irLBk1mRiMqEXwLXq4HhPpPgA7qX5GoH3FpbiYJKY4S4gIpvoNQlg/s320/Lunderston%20Bay.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> A flat walk on a lovely day of a few hours duration. Lunderston Bay lies between Gourock and Inverkip. It's a popular day trippers place so although it's a large car park, on a good sunny day better to get there before 10:30am- 11:00am to bag a spot. Once parked, or coming by train to Inverkip Station, you walk the coastline path between Inverkip Marina and Lunderston Bay. A path also leads inland through the Ardgowan Estate for the circular return leg.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-_OB1oGkiQWMZmJ8cdmHCchH3_NrE9OOXlm4cddXf_gxDAMrn6r3zK96-0m134s9n7wJxYg8ETaVo9nODoJcKb5Iyp9trmb9obegqaL_ElqwMK8DY-mJJsQou_q7E_85BKspCJyQ5-L0FEseHXJlP3xVfBoFav_IpYucd2eOETEs4d9Jx4QlNSzlAwU/s1536/Container%20Ship.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1536" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-_OB1oGkiQWMZmJ8cdmHCchH3_NrE9OOXlm4cddXf_gxDAMrn6r3zK96-0m134s9n7wJxYg8ETaVo9nODoJcKb5Iyp9trmb9obegqaL_ElqwMK8DY-mJJsQou_q7E_85BKspCJyQ5-L0FEseHXJlP3xVfBoFav_IpYucd2eOETEs4d9Jx4QlNSzlAwU/s320/Container%20Ship.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's a walk of great variety with views of the mountains and the Firth of Clyde plus any passing ships or pleasure craft. Container ship bound for Greenock docks here, above.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5G7duUu1lisB-uTfYtCwnW6Ft_pQXAvq9o7bfPF6_SCaIHV_9Np1cWADptidkqnXhM-CNyRDVFmULjkZ7W-y0mTDBCgpc8p_YHAiIi1RwPL63gBcprFYPvg_dIs4v3_GoPhmU3yLEkFpzeep43Yjkonuc8ZrIwfMZ8tDA21jCCfyD2biAVM-GarOaTxs/s1475/Lunderston%20Bay%20Path.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1475" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5G7duUu1lisB-uTfYtCwnW6Ft_pQXAvq9o7bfPF6_SCaIHV_9Np1cWADptidkqnXhM-CNyRDVFmULjkZ7W-y0mTDBCgpc8p_YHAiIi1RwPL63gBcprFYPvg_dIs4v3_GoPhmU3yLEkFpzeep43Yjkonuc8ZrIwfMZ8tDA21jCCfyD2biAVM-GarOaTxs/s320/Lunderston%20Bay%20Path.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The path is also a good one and after last weeks encounter with missing hill trails and barbed wire fences ripping into me everywhere outdoors an easier straightforward day was much appreciated.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnNzlgAdsXEDoXt4wvM_ptmAIhpfdwkqfoAsDubLqljZbYEbjZhfdG-BogwpT8fB-XKYfIuIrTdndRgVJMcO4zqYmpfHqLwNAHMDe-9waZt2oPJfdxKbwQUioMqkV00UY6DWkvHINBdnQuudsZmY7o6uDZk_yp31l5wMVnUR_9jiX9ID_-Bg-kBqqSX4/s1442/Lunderston%20Bay%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1442" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnNzlgAdsXEDoXt4wvM_ptmAIhpfdwkqfoAsDubLqljZbYEbjZhfdG-BogwpT8fB-XKYfIuIrTdndRgVJMcO4zqYmpfHqLwNAHMDe-9waZt2oPJfdxKbwQUioMqkV00UY6DWkvHINBdnQuudsZmY7o6uDZk_yp31l5wMVnUR_9jiX9ID_-Bg-kBqqSX4/s320/Lunderston%20Bay%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">It's also very scenic with sandy beaches, mature deciduous woodland and grassy meadows once inland.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKFKJBgLCIXi7zEStKxaNlipH5WbX5UXYtvbgmnQCsfhm_SpvlBawc1eOrfKUha5kr11BJ1eWHNvNlFiAoaPaPHxgoJFW0BAzsV-1bbrhsJFLRy31Hr9sdlN_MsgwNfZrrX3PhrmpPQLP2LnM13jw7ReiuUEzzKIvH8mTtTNXdu0aDo4pDyI7Ca1f_c8/s1539/Passing%20Boats.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1539" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKFKJBgLCIXi7zEStKxaNlipH5WbX5UXYtvbgmnQCsfhm_SpvlBawc1eOrfKUha5kr11BJ1eWHNvNlFiAoaPaPHxgoJFW0BAzsV-1bbrhsJFLRy31Hr9sdlN_MsgwNfZrrX3PhrmpPQLP2LnM13jw7ReiuUEzzKIvH8mTtTNXdu0aDo4pDyI7Ca1f_c8/s320/Passing%20Boats.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Boats passing each other.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBSGR0rytysoRK7NEAWlu0sAMBtP6cG7ptlsZjCzojmYgUSySOeqTDmN4AtT8XimfImK4sfazuigx_okru_-02mVj8iLDART_iRZ2K2EKOGxIhI4U-dmwiaTA_YeyREqLp2tyPDEkmVWOv34EbxdKLnLhFb0cj2Upb1IbisbTG-Wwh_-5sASbjPCOaYA/s1545/Cosmos%20Border.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1545" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBSGR0rytysoRK7NEAWlu0sAMBtP6cG7ptlsZjCzojmYgUSySOeqTDmN4AtT8XimfImK4sfazuigx_okru_-02mVj8iLDART_iRZ2K2EKOGxIhI4U-dmwiaTA_YeyREqLp2tyPDEkmVWOv34EbxdKLnLhFb0cj2Upb1IbisbTG-Wwh_-5sASbjPCOaYA/s320/Cosmos%20Border.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Cosmos border. An increasingly popular flower these days.<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQCgJly25Eez_WszNP9zgxd387mnWp8JpG6H_jEqWHPzw_Li1VHqeQus_7mMHDy4wMV2vqAyABixuC8Su_9nhmcZDWN1Cv9u8Dp0ZG5pepyqOk0Cyy6w47LyCQNlBZ6XsmXo7D2rQ-ZcX57_CRjuVYt6OYC3kSIbiTzQiiDnIp8CPd7s_BHXoELlrmjA/s1650/Butterfly%20Feeding.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1650" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQCgJly25Eez_WszNP9zgxd387mnWp8JpG6H_jEqWHPzw_Li1VHqeQus_7mMHDy4wMV2vqAyABixuC8Su_9nhmcZDWN1Cv9u8Dp0ZG5pepyqOk0Cyy6w47LyCQNlBZ6XsmXo7D2rQ-ZcX57_CRjuVYt6OYC3kSIbiTzQiiDnIp8CPd7s_BHXoELlrmjA/s320/Butterfly%20Feeding.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Red Admiral butterfly feeding.</span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjxagvPBFj0LFcY7OiH08e-EShSWxs1hZTpHXKCOdSJNv4_2Cgkff-bdeDUW_oPiznpctO97KZFVOAPczo4KHlYCodt6IgVmyCJ1j9396apReYJAf_CksPjMHq97HC8EhS6YYU80Cug4-4CUB7Lw4tyTt5wjOECcHFXExqh1BVykseE_psfK6tOLALdQ/s1432/Natural%20Sea%20Sculptures.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1432" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjxagvPBFj0LFcY7OiH08e-EShSWxs1hZTpHXKCOdSJNv4_2Cgkff-bdeDUW_oPiznpctO97KZFVOAPczo4KHlYCodt6IgVmyCJ1j9396apReYJAf_CksPjMHq97HC8EhS6YYU80Cug4-4CUB7Lw4tyTt5wjOECcHFXExqh1BVykseE_psfK6tOLALdQ/s320/Natural%20Sea%20Sculptures.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Natural sea sculptures on pebbles gathered in under a minute on Inverkip beach.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejIHWRlsr5ER-cVas5B7qTpec5CvQR7AWve8GXFSWYXhFXr30tOdl3DnKKAx-0tJ6vRtUzuIRA63HB2immkiMbopfmkF8Xm_nVJSyeD9V2-4-jojTPYc9WLv8-_yqtYrBNP2I33OOUTz1n7cnMhLMLQ9ijkv1tAQjaaaLCSu4jiLFE6IGa4PvhEPkVAY/s1389/The%20Essence%20of%20Beach.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1389" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejIHWRlsr5ER-cVas5B7qTpec5CvQR7AWve8GXFSWYXhFXr30tOdl3DnKKAx-0tJ6vRtUzuIRA63HB2immkiMbopfmkF8Xm_nVJSyeD9V2-4-jojTPYc9WLv8-_yqtYrBNP2I33OOUTz1n7cnMhLMLQ9ijkv1tAQjaaaLCSu4jiLFE6IGa4PvhEPkVAY/s320/The%20Essence%20of%20Beach.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> I love a good beach walk as long as it's not too busy and this one was not, just me, my friend Alan, and a few dog walkers. We have done most of the hills in the Inverclyde area now so this was a change from uphill walks.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnnQhZRPwDvY6Jo3Rprr3aQXHzp4oDaxWR8ftt16P1DaE4qZ1FsWSpAJceqnpjcUeHTiPLGpZ4twda8Yl_wsVdSg8iMXMCbD6UxJR0337VdNwmMuzud-7mpatbuG3NI9rmlBl2anjq1P5YIWIQqKJC711Uc0Y-tUENqOUPRRpunABbgHA8l8pPD-88Vc/s1519/Beach%20View.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1519" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnnQhZRPwDvY6Jo3Rprr3aQXHzp4oDaxWR8ftt16P1DaE4qZ1FsWSpAJceqnpjcUeHTiPLGpZ4twda8Yl_wsVdSg8iMXMCbD6UxJR0337VdNwmMuzud-7mpatbuG3NI9rmlBl2anjq1P5YIWIQqKJC711Uc0Y-tUENqOUPRRpunABbgHA8l8pPD-88Vc/s320/Beach%20View.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Beach view from Lunderston Bay.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jPvlutCMKit_LFmFQTYyG41hcsPfLgZdnuErNFl7fGL8oJ9sh50O2ihPVbycPk0Cb7X_PpYZMKs-N7GM5UrLBFYxKs1uuXGKMUmQtAXD11qrgzB1RkUn3OqdhGt85YKmTun3JarqFFYCl_AwQ8Fw_DHHuynNJTt6ymeV5KE-4JDsfskuRF5iX1hSxSI/s1622/Large%20Ship.%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1622" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jPvlutCMKit_LFmFQTYyG41hcsPfLgZdnuErNFl7fGL8oJ9sh50O2ihPVbycPk0Cb7X_PpYZMKs-N7GM5UrLBFYxKs1uuXGKMUmQtAXD11qrgzB1RkUn3OqdhGt85YKmTun3JarqFFYCl_AwQ8Fw_DHHuynNJTt6ymeV5KE-4JDsfskuRF5iX1hSxSI/s320/Large%20Ship.%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Large ship heading for Greenock.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiGU80HeLLPw-dFI8I-81VfintbJcNASyrX9NM_PKWXiGy0mfR2kLAC-mY4fAVIwZSQLgjGpgnBfx0SRgdKidlPI0oOcEEpIrJHfHvegYEo4om2_9i8iRJGD6ALcOje6blKsdc0W1hzU0-k5kaHah6ntbQickWxmGAjNyPtHqAg1seGUb_SbSCKT3rXk/s1299/A%20Stone%20Pier%20at%20Inverkip.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1299" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiGU80HeLLPw-dFI8I-81VfintbJcNASyrX9NM_PKWXiGy0mfR2kLAC-mY4fAVIwZSQLgjGpgnBfx0SRgdKidlPI0oOcEEpIrJHfHvegYEo4om2_9i8iRJGD6ALcOje6blKsdc0W1hzU0-k5kaHah6ntbQickWxmGAjNyPtHqAg1seGUb_SbSCKT3rXk/s320/A%20Stone%20Pier%20at%20Inverkip.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The old stone pier at Inverkip. Ruins of a building/house here as well near the shoreline so maybe predating the marina construction.<br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHqpNe8A-58dByr6r9UR_QqG4FehKCEMDBrvGcdgZ_iGNj7cXoo5Jmsov4m3pD5k7pLB-l6azLHshSR1h1oanCPukUNUNZibl3bD_UGcQKZ0V8bOXDQPhM9deylVlC5cpAftGTYAn-H3Ua_rydNc_WXpl8dSx_n7pVXfxpZIZZgm5l0ML93xMm9PSIqE/s1474/Inverkip%20Beach.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1474" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHqpNe8A-58dByr6r9UR_QqG4FehKCEMDBrvGcdgZ_iGNj7cXoo5Jmsov4m3pD5k7pLB-l6azLHshSR1h1oanCPukUNUNZibl3bD_UGcQKZ0V8bOXDQPhM9deylVlC5cpAftGTYAn-H3Ua_rydNc_WXpl8dSx_n7pVXfxpZIZZgm5l0ML93xMm9PSIqE/s320/Inverkip%20Beach.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Inverkip Beach.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeS90ROsTgys9ZBY5GbgzRJVqBNFd9FMG3NL3enK3YpEyhUCKac4YuUJcvlb9-rvME5G__JBJoEtZqB7PJhcUL2_wvkliBcVodKG7q1DqyO0WGZyvwY_tlZuHMkeBEWHJ9l6QtChl9ECzKNgos9tQ_SZnd1aOSFPAbfXCoVc_nYK17a1O5fZ72lKhzQM/s1291/Inverkip%20Marina.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1291" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeS90ROsTgys9ZBY5GbgzRJVqBNFd9FMG3NL3enK3YpEyhUCKac4YuUJcvlb9-rvME5G__JBJoEtZqB7PJhcUL2_wvkliBcVodKG7q1DqyO0WGZyvwY_tlZuHMkeBEWHJ9l6QtChl9ECzKNgos9tQ_SZnd1aOSFPAbfXCoVc_nYK17a1O5fZ72lKhzQM/s320/Inverkip%20Marina.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Inverkip Marina. Felt like Italy or France with the sun and heat. I'll miss that warmth now were are into much cooler temperatures. Scotland should be well placed however in a warming world... rarely above 26c in summer... and hopefully milder winters given the current increased domestic heating bills.</span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQihp6iidpmOc_rDLjweWx1HDNRfssUi7kmMi4_Pb-rmFUT4FIZdU2g5ZzEuZl3FkXdU43Bjyx1wSmFOWVKtPuE8UziQ_a3LVz822AbxTppGPm6tsNZEQ6vq7Ra1UJSYU6zUQqC3isxk9zX1ZHYQ9ueVq2VuqTZR88HGn1N2UEvB4uv7Z16tPaO6I6no/s1578/Inverkip%20Marina%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1578" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQihp6iidpmOc_rDLjweWx1HDNRfssUi7kmMi4_Pb-rmFUT4FIZdU2g5ZzEuZl3FkXdU43Bjyx1wSmFOWVKtPuE8UziQ_a3LVz822AbxTppGPm6tsNZEQ6vq7Ra1UJSYU6zUQqC3isxk9zX1ZHYQ9ueVq2VuqTZR88HGn1N2UEvB4uv7Z16tPaO6I6no/s320/Inverkip%20Marina%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">More Inverkip Marina. This part of the walk can look semi tropical with this blue lagoon effect and the lines of boats</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZnZ7Z2_Q-bdVnJm0y8Xc1KcTQI2jJ9k6miIGeiNq8QxKFu2mP-zieoMAL5RJmLpuVw-i2gwgDYsrHDqDt7Z3FwwuvggwWNPa3sPL6hD82B6y96TcslG8taHurXzo2SUYkynynklj1wy2Rivj9S6BCBnnWhtN7GMN6RNIYeC5FeYM34QqbVNIFfLQWIw/s1315/Kip%20Marina%20Bar.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1315" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZnZ7Z2_Q-bdVnJm0y8Xc1KcTQI2jJ9k6miIGeiNq8QxKFu2mP-zieoMAL5RJmLpuVw-i2gwgDYsrHDqDt7Z3FwwuvggwWNPa3sPL6hD82B6y96TcslG8taHurXzo2SUYkynynklj1wy2Rivj9S6BCBnnWhtN7GMN6RNIYeC5FeYM34QqbVNIFfLQWIw/s320/Kip%20Marina%20Bar.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Kip Marina bar and restaurant. Was only in this once, many years ago.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k4RuZDLSlvmT9-Fs7J0wp374rOknYTuuCSzbFwkWtFExqGzujfm3fvro4MrbIM9unX8nMQj2pRFX41ZHgm85ejKvpUBc_bAr5MW4E0Cqj_iO9u8cbs61joncPtQWP3AVjLX3cUhBR1evHHBiJb0PdLEngIyd8G3D0KKgoADi-W6v_zRTuMOrJ3oQhIo/s1473/Mountains.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1473" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k4RuZDLSlvmT9-Fs7J0wp374rOknYTuuCSzbFwkWtFExqGzujfm3fvro4MrbIM9unX8nMQj2pRFX41ZHgm85ejKvpUBc_bAr5MW4E0Cqj_iO9u8cbs61joncPtQWP3AVjLX3cUhBR1evHHBiJb0PdLEngIyd8G3D0KKgoADi-W6v_zRTuMOrJ3oQhIo/s320/Mountains.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After a last few views out to sea the path travels inland through the Ardgowan estate. The few times I've experienced midges this year they have been very bad so maybe this explains midge nets for the estate horses. They do drive humans and animals to distraction.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBneFqxqEJKxtg-avzatnGOcrpWsWTYJoI8Mn3I0G027GHQAvoVg5bydxnnj85fmPB12uHlqUlE9Jjp4uFYR832wyjCaqRMkgzn0ZVuHU5L3pkfEdi3SBxpnLkz99BHiN2pGw6bu4mKQ1yJDlQJtbpzJM6Jwr5M8CBQS8imWByQR5JzSwFlTjJYPVkuE/s1488/Horse.%20Midge%20Nets.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1488" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBneFqxqEJKxtg-avzatnGOcrpWsWTYJoI8Mn3I0G027GHQAvoVg5bydxnnj85fmPB12uHlqUlE9Jjp4uFYR832wyjCaqRMkgzn0ZVuHU5L3pkfEdi3SBxpnLkz99BHiN2pGw6bu4mKQ1yJDlQJtbpzJM6Jwr5M8CBQS8imWByQR5JzSwFlTjJYPVkuE/s320/Horse.%20Midge%20Nets.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Horse midge net in action.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsel82NzoIk-RkidkX3CwnjyOl6HK3GiimBUgOyKS5J106frZFHnwtDnBATvsILdRe67lAQGVtI5Q-eigU49ZuMAwaAos43HXMg1AH1A7TVBazMTR6UEUkzgWlkD2nR7_RKCy6ukAvrXoetxWY0KoCriBpemEMX5EP9V72ln6C-EnN2-z6PcDTUf9dG0/s1554/A%20Summer%20Shorn%20Alpaca.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1554" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsel82NzoIk-RkidkX3CwnjyOl6HK3GiimBUgOyKS5J106frZFHnwtDnBATvsILdRe67lAQGVtI5Q-eigU49ZuMAwaAos43HXMg1AH1A7TVBazMTR6UEUkzgWlkD2nR7_RKCy6ukAvrXoetxWY0KoCriBpemEMX5EP9V72ln6C-EnN2-z6PcDTUf9dG0/s320/A%20Summer%20Shorn%20Alpaca.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">They have introduced alpacas since the last time I was here. Summer cut coats for the last three hot months.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qM_a6Wcwz2mCEy21dVTsSpQhtgrNmR7gyUj1dsKcg6zbybx2_yNBBz9WDp_L5E3KkWCvGGySIxQk2HvnTBbSuhf7z58X9j2twG7fjcUv8rxyG6t9InCVeV-75_SJ3uwJLhvhPwRBhnLzAc0bQeNL10vnvVW6JKbSpvnwfkHUeZoGDjn23Aor4dGTI1Q/s1622/Alpacas.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1622" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qM_a6Wcwz2mCEy21dVTsSpQhtgrNmR7gyUj1dsKcg6zbybx2_yNBBz9WDp_L5E3KkWCvGGySIxQk2HvnTBbSuhf7z58X9j2twG7fjcUv8rxyG6t9InCVeV-75_SJ3uwJLhvhPwRBhnLzAc0bQeNL10vnvVW6JKbSpvnwfkHUeZoGDjn23Aor4dGTI1Q/s320/Alpacas.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">They have five or six in a paddock. Nice to see.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkop-zIB_xmlUUiC0bFPx_xcCkYvcedK7PPRtnn_WvxY7xtwYbv2BLTUkccOAvTEro2-eUh-c-Yq_z7Vbdhv-uUjxhg6qMi5SUUL9iGc97ZmLJ60vdNnXiOOWMNLaZW1uNJJnYurJDGVjKK9zyuT848LFEbPXMfMDpb1maUqRQ3iCugILi-Mm3UJPfYn8/s1619/Three%20Alpacas.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1619" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkop-zIB_xmlUUiC0bFPx_xcCkYvcedK7PPRtnn_WvxY7xtwYbv2BLTUkccOAvTEro2-eUh-c-Yq_z7Vbdhv-uUjxhg6qMi5SUUL9iGc97ZmLJ60vdNnXiOOWMNLaZW1uNJJnYurJDGVjKK9zyuT848LFEbPXMfMDpb1maUqRQ3iCugILi-Mm3UJPfYn8/s320/Three%20Alpacas.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Cute and funny.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmri1X1s4yDpgID1_ltd6ofPn-TjoD_VCVNW838mbmgycKGaPhEk7tNxpOUXQOujMg_14_1fQZDQ5-B02yiYLPsWfntpMHHXhclzhcQO6DT-4rKitZp1D1bMyVqz-kl_K2xi4IuO0Oz6_FBqW1udk571KypwdkuM78rpEvOhKf6aa5fuLRAQomwMkDz4/s1591/Sweet%20Chestnuts.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1591" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmri1X1s4yDpgID1_ltd6ofPn-TjoD_VCVNW838mbmgycKGaPhEk7tNxpOUXQOujMg_14_1fQZDQ5-B02yiYLPsWfntpMHHXhclzhcQO6DT-4rKitZp1D1bMyVqz-kl_K2xi4IuO0Oz6_FBqW1udk571KypwdkuM78rpEvOhKf6aa5fuLRAQomwMkDz4/s320/Sweet%20Chestnuts.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sweet chestnuts. Introduced by the Romans to make flour (polenta I think) but it's usually too cold in the UK for them to ripen fully. Maybe not this year though.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIGfWf94Z6LldtF-3Y8uJ9_-8OZ71c-CQdXYL1g53bq1E2H49dCoViME6M9HH1VxRxmKDestshe2YSay5zRxOanBiLOGV0_Z1ytd5ECFExLqxLpztSjeUM-Wg0aTVQcbLzqg6DLc1nBL2ke-4HIT-kFirHbAYgm0Z5cGoJ8gcOODdUr1w4LCxGXoig6g/s1444/Acorns.%20Late%20September.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1444" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIGfWf94Z6LldtF-3Y8uJ9_-8OZ71c-CQdXYL1g53bq1E2H49dCoViME6M9HH1VxRxmKDestshe2YSay5zRxOanBiLOGV0_Z1ytd5ECFExLqxLpztSjeUM-Wg0aTVQcbLzqg6DLc1nBL2ke-4HIT-kFirHbAYgm0Z5cGoJ8gcOODdUr1w4LCxGXoig6g/s320/Acorns.%20Late%20September.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Acorns in Late September.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmEOeAjqJOcENMeJL0rgUbV0YSrrPCnsDhBhaeveszt4ZzNGB6hCnW2m5Is3hb2tOiKp3A50efhWKU_sytAig1fm9c86KKQ8kiF-UCJlgTprhNEJWK2AeVeUFkYeUqGqqXvFSS6EPbdH_cAY1VdfoehbgAez64zQnX7i5s1toVffE8vJSjfofVTYuCM0/s1515/Path%20to%20Inverkip.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1515" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmEOeAjqJOcENMeJL0rgUbV0YSrrPCnsDhBhaeveszt4ZzNGB6hCnW2m5Is3hb2tOiKp3A50efhWKU_sytAig1fm9c86KKQ8kiF-UCJlgTprhNEJWK2AeVeUFkYeUqGqqXvFSS6EPbdH_cAY1VdfoehbgAez64zQnX7i5s1toVffE8vJSjfofVTYuCM0/s320/Path%20to%20Inverkip.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A colourful, pleasant and very varied day out.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8s4pU2qlY_HetGk1klcR9kAXkspOoFVcddQ6P2H9sQxcvD2enmVlQZ1GuNGk2Mcn7fMCu35B5Sz3N0HYsULxK5WBkWO1QNddU3CV7JaNko0aEk3q8iA_syxicdufQqik5cTYVWEW9LxQ0DzF_jcbegLZS0D_deE3v_DlBAS325sWDwMo1Z7Jd_uV36zc/s1569/The%20Cosmos.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1569" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8s4pU2qlY_HetGk1klcR9kAXkspOoFVcddQ6P2H9sQxcvD2enmVlQZ1GuNGk2Mcn7fMCu35B5Sz3N0HYsULxK5WBkWO1QNddU3CV7JaNko0aEk3q8iA_syxicdufQqik5cTYVWEW9LxQ0DzF_jcbegLZS0D_deE3v_DlBAS325sWDwMo1Z7Jd_uV36zc/s320/The%20Cosmos.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">More Cosmos borders along Greenock's esplanade. 2 to 4 hours depending on speed and lunch stops.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> PS. much, much harder to leave comments on wordpress accounts now. Still rejected after leaving my email, phone no and two different verification codes sent to me. They want me to change to wordpress now. **** that!<br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-69911994318123262732023-09-26T18:49:00.009+01:002023-10-14T16:03:37.387+01:00The Knock. A Small Hill Above Largs.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pq2EJD5768vWAgQb5kttFsiUvyJOLoIFBqhdKEMjlADjI9i92117Ru4WeIL5IXYhy2GYcwejKZ0h9T5miajOEChTWLFcXjryxm42Vn6T4GWMjqcELZmEn-LtAh4PU-mipSVhKP-uW_wxKxJP1xMx9MvibqqR_oJr89jT9s1-C5HaysRNRGgx-hf5kE8/s1452/1950s%20Row%20of%20Shops%20Mural.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1452" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pq2EJD5768vWAgQb5kttFsiUvyJOLoIFBqhdKEMjlADjI9i92117Ru4WeIL5IXYhy2GYcwejKZ0h9T5miajOEChTWLFcXjryxm42Vn6T4GWMjqcELZmEn-LtAh4PU-mipSVhKP-uW_wxKxJP1xMx9MvibqqR_oJr89jT9s1-C5HaysRNRGgx-hf5kE8/s320/1950s%20Row%20of%20Shops%20Mural.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another week and another walk. We were going to Largs but we went via Port Glasgow, which now has a tourist trail, of sorts, one of the highlights being this colourful mural of shops from the 1950s which used to be here. Only problem of following it is that Port Glasgow is a vertical town built on a steep hillside so some of the attractions involve steep ascents and as we were already planning on doing a hill this low level mural was as far as we got.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzCauo9Xqj49c4Qd5NsDxHh_UEvdsvERn7UsPHWmjYg1cTX-SJmZ5N_ATK1JHF5SLo9HF202pohUpITBzNIRNyZ3hQ3mJHR8i1D5AhvqN1lthoMBCuB3TBBm1fl4lt-wJEHapteeJK-QmGpFLjdDOqWxBz-PIcZEgKp6NPK3P6_nkP4pg8_x_g4YRX-w/s1396/Period%20Shops%20Tribute%20Mural.%20Port%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1396" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzCauo9Xqj49c4Qd5NsDxHh_UEvdsvERn7UsPHWmjYg1cTX-SJmZ5N_ATK1JHF5SLo9HF202pohUpITBzNIRNyZ3hQ3mJHR8i1D5AhvqN1lthoMBCuB3TBBm1fl4lt-wJEHapteeJK-QmGpFLjdDOqWxBz-PIcZEgKp6NPK3P6_nkP4pg8_x_g4YRX-w/s320/Period%20Shops%20Tribute%20Mural.%20Port%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We plan on coming back though to do the rest of it as a further day out, which would class as a hill day in its own right. We being myself and Alan, my usual hill walking companion these days.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidU5EY2LtIsfxn_p_EC9cZHakjwbOG8ihRK-sUtzqv0Vw1KcPKy3HhwJ-KB-HHDwml2RCb3ILWQ3bXIE6yv8TB9S0lPPzh3qU3iasa8bcpRWL_tiXXa-wTKCV3rZRJyaLw7jjDwIRuiSXVplrfKAPZ8mrI0py5UzgKeNDY6UqqVEjySnJPcR23vGoU2K4/s1404/Shop%20Murals.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1404" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidU5EY2LtIsfxn_p_EC9cZHakjwbOG8ihRK-sUtzqv0Vw1KcPKy3HhwJ-KB-HHDwml2RCb3ILWQ3bXIE6yv8TB9S0lPPzh3qU3iasa8bcpRWL_tiXXa-wTKCV3rZRJyaLw7jjDwIRuiSXVplrfKAPZ8mrI0py5UzgKeNDY6UqqVEjySnJPcR23vGoU2K4/s320/Shop%20Murals.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">It's good to see Port Glasgow getting a minor revamp as I've always found it an interesting place with good features if you look for them hard enough.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODUpXbn_pXIffTnlTvhBN2MQqaENH02BPtpiBIuuA2NcNes7zR_Vj4-zOY4FfyHxlRbxr90J482AXqxSWBsIiOWyD8_8BfmWiVZeBtFIQPn4XzrqmX_GT7r2fCqq3ovpLJc7AYfi_nfmPVmhg0EnkJQncRo1TgAtT1ivmNg4sPVC93YnVXjbrvmWOgZE/s1581/The%20Wild%20Places.%20%20Largs%20Moor%20Road%20From%20The%20Knock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1581" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODUpXbn_pXIffTnlTvhBN2MQqaENH02BPtpiBIuuA2NcNes7zR_Vj4-zOY4FfyHxlRbxr90J482AXqxSWBsIiOWyD8_8BfmWiVZeBtFIQPn4XzrqmX_GT7r2fCqq3ovpLJc7AYfi_nfmPVmhg0EnkJQncRo1TgAtT1ivmNg4sPVC93YnVXjbrvmWOgZE/s320/The%20Wild%20Places.%20%20Largs%20Moor%20Road%20From%20The%20Knock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the view looking north towards Greenock from the summit of the Knock. I'm putting this in here to show the route of the scenic single track road running over the high moors from Greenock to Largs, a huge area of empty ground covering Inverclyde , Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, and part of Cunninghame. It always surprises people visiting when you take them over this wild section in a car as it could be anywhere in the remote Scottish Highlands, yet it's not.<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBk2J30-byjXLS27EjAeYSz3i1SkAk5-3Sse4nBHbg-RpfD8jgnyl8x5VE486rj2pWV6XsAInGIiKPwVYSFDG6hMvuIxVg6jKICKGRc8w55SS2itU29M-dQhSyzSpl_T7f8yB03_-DhHE3xNBkt2dxuV6hKd5UaTd1bpTqBGLvHCMAATGD9CffFY0p8dc/s1407/A%20Car.%20Burnt%20Offering.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1407" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBk2J30-byjXLS27EjAeYSz3i1SkAk5-3Sse4nBHbg-RpfD8jgnyl8x5VE486rj2pWV6XsAInGIiKPwVYSFDG6hMvuIxVg6jKICKGRc8w55SS2itU29M-dQhSyzSpl_T7f8yB03_-DhHE3xNBkt2dxuV6hKd5UaTd1bpTqBGLvHCMAATGD9CffFY0p8dc/s320/A%20Car.%20Burnt%20Offering.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's not all sweetness and light however as it is bordered on the coastal edges by several deprived districts with the usual problem of drugs, crime and bad behaviour.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlgKMbAx6itZaA0Loglh2xLycBzMOA6cLPWN789uJVEQKJ4FGNsB6RZhqwjLgZ6RfAP37yUhYGg8-V1DUMmD8zJzd8OVr3qg8jQy5f65k7tITFXZ2EMblLDfIBU8D18o_wukrc-ONZZC4SI_asKaRlRsyTY7C9kTCKlzFBmoYvHQe5X6sJrFQ9Ngv8Gk/s1734/The%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1734" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlgKMbAx6itZaA0Loglh2xLycBzMOA6cLPWN789uJVEQKJ4FGNsB6RZhqwjLgZ6RfAP37yUhYGg8-V1DUMmD8zJzd8OVr3qg8jQy5f65k7tITFXZ2EMblLDfIBU8D18o_wukrc-ONZZC4SI_asKaRlRsyTY7C9kTCKlzFBmoYvHQe5X6sJrFQ9Ngv8Gk/s320/The%20Hill.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Mostly though it's very scenic and this is our first glimpse of our chosen hill, The Knock, from the high moor road.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lgiPQnzne4bRfS9GyyKEDYT8Q9IwDk80rb2tI3KumOvWzG28Djs1rAR1DMHEuDDRC2U-p49RQjMsg7ZDjdoNVx6vGt9TWPfM2nw7Xw9UEcelPqYbuxWNjbkUM-i1ohcrNv2jBDHbvoaB0Ho8hQ3FIJ_UZuCaC1ln7Taa7F9WucYZ7fazhBUTxHznuwU/s1512/The%20Knock%20From%20Fairlie%20Beach.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1512" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lgiPQnzne4bRfS9GyyKEDYT8Q9IwDk80rb2tI3KumOvWzG28Djs1rAR1DMHEuDDRC2U-p49RQjMsg7ZDjdoNVx6vGt9TWPfM2nw7Xw9UEcelPqYbuxWNjbkUM-i1ohcrNv2jBDHbvoaB0Ho8hQ3FIJ_UZuCaC1ln7Taa7F9WucYZ7fazhBUTxHznuwU/s320/The%20Knock%20From%20Fairlie%20Beach.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And one from Fairlie Beach showing it's truer profile. On the OS Landranger map Sheet 63 Firth of Clyde it does not have any name just a spot height of 217 metres or 712 feet. I was up this way 12 years ago and back then a path led from the outskirts of Largs near the park boating pond up the minor road past Bankhead. Only a short way up this minor road a stile and a metal pole denoted the path running up through green fields, roughly following a line just below the skyline running left to right. I was looking out for this stile and pole but couldn't see it. Thinking we had missed it due to either talking or high summer vegetation obscuring it I realized we were going too high up the minor road and crossed into the field system at the next gate to find that path. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ17c8mYq-gOJNnlSo7Lzu29YJ74pBwdzD1C7CGQ_qK4Hci2zbZ8kuHCA__A_x0Aw_bYij7DAMZmWAzH_wsWsDQnXBY2r7JUfyS3zMwetrosy-8gtk9tT-QFLtYh9mDVYx6IdByrqens-PhF6OsmxqGEhK5FSKbMsVOVBwDEdcTITueNxC_ZOiKM6Ejk/s1512/Ripe%20Berries%20on%20a%20Rural%20Wall.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1512" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ17c8mYq-gOJNnlSo7Lzu29YJ74pBwdzD1C7CGQ_qK4Hci2zbZ8kuHCA__A_x0Aw_bYij7DAMZmWAzH_wsWsDQnXBY2r7JUfyS3zMwetrosy-8gtk9tT-QFLtYh9mDVYx6IdByrqens-PhF6OsmxqGEhK5FSKbMsVOVBwDEdcTITueNxC_ZOiKM6Ejk/s320/Ripe%20Berries%20on%20a%20Rural%20Wall.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> This was a mistake as no path exists now and several barbed wire fences had to be crossed. Long gone are the days when I could jump over most fences without touching them or leap over one handed on a solid post. An ageing tree kangaroo has replaced a champion show-jumper so I picked the easier option of crawling under several fences rather than clambering over them. The last one had a sting in its tail however as it caught my head as I was sliding under, leaving a half inch rip in my scalp. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhd8vseLcbB-9-_6daKEQmMwVjlCltk8evPgKVWMMwnoY0oNtT6w7zDbgrM20Hbzr5SuQI3NOLyxs7-oDyxd3k1XrF-76yOweYxXk9kR9ADRMqVquXLuI3yr6dfhfKp4aD5dKxc1mIzrlzh9UpLcj2ivqsZeL8tUzR1sSiRvX2N7KPCp4w-d3ZAGNwYg/s1134/Head%20Cut%20in%20Action.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1134" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhd8vseLcbB-9-_6daKEQmMwVjlCltk8evPgKVWMMwnoY0oNtT6w7zDbgrM20Hbzr5SuQI3NOLyxs7-oDyxd3k1XrF-76yOweYxXk9kR9ADRMqVquXLuI3yr6dfhfKp4aD5dKxc1mIzrlzh9UpLcj2ivqsZeL8tUzR1sSiRvX2N7KPCp4w-d3ZAGNwYg/s320/Head%20Cut%20in%20Action.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> For a small cut I hardly felt at all it bled profusely, within seconds pouring down my face and into my eyes. Doctor Alan came to the rescue however and stuck a wad of toilet tissue on it with compression until it stopped. I was beginning to think the Largs hills had turned against me as that's several times now I've almost came to grief following routes/ paths that used to be there for many decades but alas are no more. It's like learning them all over again... from scratch in this case. </span><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5awv4jCIXdDJZq5DApuDhcoiNoaQkqBcHcZ4mCUd_5Pe1wnUbqzQnuk9aTOLWBNYrraDdNba11iMQ9X56Fi0mK1exiGgI0DD51ExlRWuYwcTf2xwKP6MoLWhU5tRjTtUmjKaiBzFA0vqTl0koZB1MDgz_RdEhbXJpNIHPcUPBThKXhpR_4I-9cz94J2E/s1449/A%20Hillside.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1449" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5awv4jCIXdDJZq5DApuDhcoiNoaQkqBcHcZ4mCUd_5Pe1wnUbqzQnuk9aTOLWBNYrraDdNba11iMQ9X56Fi0mK1exiGgI0DD51ExlRWuYwcTf2xwKP6MoLWhU5tRjTtUmjKaiBzFA0vqTl0koZB1MDgz_RdEhbXJpNIHPcUPBThKXhpR_4I-9cz94J2E/s320/A%20Hillside.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We did get to the summit this way but I would never recommend it. Fields of livestock and more barbed wire fences, several doubled with a five foot space in-between further impeded progress but we were committed now having passed the Rubicon, as it were. The correct way up is to follow the minor road past Knock Castle and Home Farm to link up with the Ayrshire Coastal Path, ascending the hill from its north side then down via Brisbane Mains. It's a longer route and having a dog with us I was wary of going through farms as they usually have dogs there, sometimes loose in the yard. Lost count of the number of times I've been barked at and occasionally charged at by sheepdogs in farms only doing what they are there for, protecting the property. But it does make you wary going through or passing close to unfamiliar farmyards. I'd imagine most folk climbing this hill would do it from Largs but it's longer and harder now with that northern ascent.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6769CMyulX4KzYF_M0GMSZS4HDWtImE1omObUygvMas8IzfdFvlspDaDkWnbzFP1Gc0sIGUMAIm2BcgTcM0dycpfIF-XsDigp0Eoc1ZI0-WwXzP4iOGc5dfbskNWdY9CtUjA3C9jLBOXu8fejgX3THC0ZV0gRiAMamqBxjLsp5ph1Byf_WhJYUmkNrKo/s1899/Brisbane%20Glen%20Hills.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1899" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6769CMyulX4KzYF_M0GMSZS4HDWtImE1omObUygvMas8IzfdFvlspDaDkWnbzFP1Gc0sIGUMAIm2BcgTcM0dycpfIF-XsDigp0Eoc1ZI0-WwXzP4iOGc5dfbskNWdY9CtUjA3C9jLBOXu8fejgX3THC0ZV0gRiAMamqBxjLsp5ph1Byf_WhJYUmkNrKo/s320/Brisbane%20Glen%20Hills.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Brisbane Glen hills. Not sure if it occurred during covid lock-downs or just the passing of time but we have noticed that decades long established paths we've walked years ago many times have simply ceased to exist. In this case probably superseded by the long distance Ayrshire Coastal Path dominating and eliminating any other routes that used to be there.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHk8iae47mVZPaqEj9qYBGqL1eX-LZSrIdvL3Fyy6v2AI8TGKLgHrxmmxp6Bfd9wkwNFlWfvgClWmBHMvJiYbE1u3ROCArmcVR0HeWv81GgeJfnBlcIFAKwQci7jyAwYNCS4Lmes7Oan1zTcrEVIL28d8rRM71Frt0RA_zp-kYfUpeJ6feKJ3RwDYjWIw/s1506/A%20Hilltop%20View%20Looking%20North.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1506" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHk8iae47mVZPaqEj9qYBGqL1eX-LZSrIdvL3Fyy6v2AI8TGKLgHrxmmxp6Bfd9wkwNFlWfvgClWmBHMvJiYbE1u3ROCArmcVR0HeWv81GgeJfnBlcIFAKwQci7jyAwYNCS4Lmes7Oan1zTcrEVIL28d8rRM71Frt0RA_zp-kYfUpeJ6feKJ3RwDYjWIw/s320/A%20Hilltop%20View%20Looking%20North.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">View from the summit looking north west.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwPy5E90z_qgDz8IDHjsJ7tlIZtDPb6ty9WYMa6_Tf7xRBUl1NM8Dp3rXbvz0D2gsDzZYwyU0qcFAenmzjP5vy7pyX_UdaGDUeAGclSI94_Jrx_XRIDLNDQBwrd9Htk9s9yvajKbaHOgSK6VjkCymP2FrzRwkCwPuyBQF_hujDjMNM9LfGrK0Plvh2Zc/s1336/Largs%20from%20The%20Golf%20Course.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1336" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwPy5E90z_qgDz8IDHjsJ7tlIZtDPb6ty9WYMa6_Tf7xRBUl1NM8Dp3rXbvz0D2gsDzZYwyU0qcFAenmzjP5vy7pyX_UdaGDUeAGclSI94_Jrx_XRIDLNDQBwrd9Htk9s9yvajKbaHOgSK6VjkCymP2FrzRwkCwPuyBQF_hujDjMNM9LfGrK0Plvh2Zc/s320/Largs%20from%20The%20Golf%20Course.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And back down to Largs. Golf Course view.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj457Sy4JjIgSZj9Z05RjyMHDMA424DAmBQhrfc77EnCi--59FNYMlQ0S7TGiRVUtfi3KsrIv-d28BnDYBYCUS2e5qVCjyKjaH0RqjWzLeKbiNLS7inxhPZf65YuUD2qSd-C_D1b4QePHr0JrJdCQ3HQ7ESYf3tBIRQ9vMV9AI8nQccE5fgQVs07lOuMW0/s1867/Rural%20Farmland.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1867" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj457Sy4JjIgSZj9Z05RjyMHDMA424DAmBQhrfc77EnCi--59FNYMlQ0S7TGiRVUtfi3KsrIv-d28BnDYBYCUS2e5qVCjyKjaH0RqjWzLeKbiNLS7inxhPZf65YuUD2qSd-C_D1b4QePHr0JrJdCQ3HQ7ESYf3tBIRQ9vMV9AI8nQccE5fgQVs07lOuMW0/s320/Rural%20Farmland.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Rural hinterland above Largs. This looks a very similar scene to childhood wanderings near my old house in Nitshill. Rolling green hills and cattle country.... and sliding under any fences with ease in a much smaller body back then.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7yWAldrnUh7s3gVYfGlFyVe1TfDzxM41_ed7pXhBJIqftxeP99EH4syIrHDBfUOjlXvDCAMoIFJZk_y9aKw2LwonRaVKX8q8p2niQmnqm6LUm6nW9HR6buLWKNU7ll4I8PzXlbPgp5hrxslAglDBI0dwbIsdQO1sGNq9P6yc85E3QTglICdoMLcCcOE/s1477/Fly%20Swarm%20Around%20Trig.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1477" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7yWAldrnUh7s3gVYfGlFyVe1TfDzxM41_ed7pXhBJIqftxeP99EH4syIrHDBfUOjlXvDCAMoIFJZk_y9aKw2LwonRaVKX8q8p2niQmnqm6LUm6nW9HR6buLWKNU7ll4I8PzXlbPgp5hrxslAglDBI0dwbIsdQO1sGNq9P6yc85E3QTglICdoMLcCcOE/s320/Fly%20Swarm%20Around%20Trig.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Loads of summer flies around the trig but 10 feet away having lunch we were fine. Different story if it was a swarm of midges this thick.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyUIxB8QAtYHDOSuZ5Yv5hdlzZ8_3gYmP1O7V3GYlmeZh0T7ZpG0PHDM6cB-NUXQoONSnqzbwKMCZdhIFy80-x0FzQy4G1v2Pvol3HJp3ozML-KYYS9qU5ELXHdPorTp7KYcxy0p9eCY_CqhplgqS88w3JcCFbv71gxK26eghPjcBCGAqUNE1_1UUdSE/s1607/The%20Knock.%20Our%20Hill%20top.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1607" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyUIxB8QAtYHDOSuZ5Yv5hdlzZ8_3gYmP1O7V3GYlmeZh0T7ZpG0PHDM6cB-NUXQoONSnqzbwKMCZdhIFy80-x0FzQy4G1v2Pvol3HJp3ozML-KYYS9qU5ELXHdPorTp7KYcxy0p9eCY_CqhplgqS88w3JcCFbv71gxK26eghPjcBCGAqUNE1_1UUdSE/s320/The%20Knock.%20Our%20Hill%20top.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Determined to find the correct way down, but one heading for Largs, instead of north, towards Greenock, we followed an obvious good path down the side of a golf course but this too petered out. We then descended into a small deep wooded gorge beside the golf course which was magical, full of large 50 foot high mature beech trees that seemed out of scale compared to the minor V shape of the gorge. A path had existed here but many of the large trees had topped over in winter gales so this too was an awkward obstacle course of jumping over or crawling under fallen trees.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqoy2wlBYOPkE-tlnU94fRFkwockZSYpUzcAuGZlbOorABRjSX8_VivmivtWbB5u9l7TYUsjD8vXi-4aviZ_XlMeMZ81zCdZ6BHiyLd5Ogi5JHqQsUoDHlVNpx1olGncq8EWb98dm78QtRA52LYWGxBG70c0Ip63Mt6-N7afX5q22H1jhedlmRJBPuA0/s1310/Old%20Pedestrian%20Gate.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1310" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqoy2wlBYOPkE-tlnU94fRFkwockZSYpUzcAuGZlbOorABRjSX8_VivmivtWbB5u9l7TYUsjD8vXi-4aviZ_XlMeMZ81zCdZ6BHiyLd5Ogi5JHqQsUoDHlVNpx1olGncq8EWb98dm78QtRA52LYWGxBG70c0Ip63Mt6-N7afX5q22H1jhedlmRJBPuA0/s320/Old%20Pedestrian%20Gate.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This ironwork beside Routenburn Farm however at the start of the gully convinced us that it had indeed been a regular path up the hill in past decades. Yet another lost route up this hill.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrU6_FwI8B02JkSOWHItJ7Rh_OGQ8xiVUZlHvsphS20DY4egZUkq8KkJIeIsPAttyg2T3jou4QWfC48PdOkKAmXHRv6zyd8_cIoMYIKJVAAqk0_En3YWEVqxF7MW88u4_SnvXE_66YnAGp7uSJV4AJV62zY5WInqLuzQvZ5D5sz1O9SQAhxmBkvR9CLsM/s1431/Park%20Pond.%20Largs.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1431" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrU6_FwI8B02JkSOWHItJ7Rh_OGQ8xiVUZlHvsphS20DY4egZUkq8KkJIeIsPAttyg2T3jou4QWfC48PdOkKAmXHRv6zyd8_cIoMYIKJVAAqk0_En3YWEVqxF7MW88u4_SnvXE_66YnAGp7uSJV4AJV62zY5WInqLuzQvZ5D5sz1O9SQAhxmBkvR9CLsM/s320/Park%20Pond.%20Largs.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Back in Largs again at the boating pond. For such a small hill of 712 feet it did not succumb to our efforts easily. Once back in the house I looked at an online satellite map but even that zooming in to full close up did not show any paths leading down in the direction of Largs other than the Ayrshire Coastal one already mentioned, and even that was hard to pick out from above, zoomed in. Even though I've been walking hills for 50 years it's taught me that you can't ever count on past memory of walks nowadays as many landscapes have transformed completely since I last enjoyed hill walking five years ago. Only The Cut above Greenock remains the same.</span><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-73710465528066885852023-09-15T16:37:00.002+01:002023-09-22T00:21:26.172+01:00The Cut. Scotland's Best Balcony Trail?<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqskGDwW43Tmx-vT_BR5vH3DhQp3TsM0MYPUv_dVOr7Wom9rlQFCWp23FFWHh4CbzPOxKkXM3iM94c2TubXdPGKsLsAhGwsVvzNqI3-5JmshkeVjuqXg62r59ZG5-YCC1U7LK6RIxtw5x2iqlXBJa3_LLWfX4EUgeWIACYJZt8qAZmDXF-4rDXjO3M5sU/s1414/Shipyard%20Workers%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1414" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqskGDwW43Tmx-vT_BR5vH3DhQp3TsM0MYPUv_dVOr7Wom9rlQFCWp23FFWHh4CbzPOxKkXM3iM94c2TubXdPGKsLsAhGwsVvzNqI3-5JmshkeVjuqXg62r59ZG5-YCC1U7LK6RIxtw5x2iqlXBJa3_LLWfX4EUgeWIACYJZt8qAZmDXF-4rDXjO3M5sU/s320/Shipyard%20Workers%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Shipyard Workers sculpture. Port Glasgow. Another trip where Alan and myself found our way back to Port Glasgow and Greenock. This time to do........ The Cut.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0nl19PLFC9yYeAYxjFooASadDKJyocm5v70UvULjkJXiWUC6Oju2u4uzGaMKvR0D6j2O92Fac7bOdTGnCqzuPDrttY48GqLQzCww5nw5ZNLJARpiqwTmx0Es3zOP01Pdf3sk_ZTSvd-z1SPNqjgo-x2LwBv231bFLi5gqg0oOayH1-P8dAbcGeiOZUA/s1652/Old%20Building%20Port%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1652" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0nl19PLFC9yYeAYxjFooASadDKJyocm5v70UvULjkJXiWUC6Oju2u4uzGaMKvR0D6j2O92Fac7bOdTGnCqzuPDrttY48GqLQzCww5nw5ZNLJARpiqwTmx0Es3zOP01Pdf3sk_ZTSvd-z1SPNqjgo-x2LwBv231bFLi5gqg0oOayH1-P8dAbcGeiOZUA/s320/Old%20Building%20Port%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> <span style="font-size: medium;">Numerous mills, shipyards and factories covered Greenock and Port Glasgow during the Industrial Revolution and all required an increasing level of plentiful fresh water, both for drinking and for industry. By the early 1800s demand was outstripping supply from the various small hill dams originally there so civil engineer Robert Thom, who specialized in this UK wide problem, designed and enlarged what became Loch Thom and marked out the line of The Cut... a long level aqueduct running along the sides of several small hills for 5.5 km, carefully angled at a very slight gradient so the water would be delivered to the thirsty towns below year round. Later on another large body of water, the Gryfe Reservoir, got added on as well. He designed a smaller but similar set up for the town of Rothesay on Bute. Both of which I've visited. Several of the mills, warehouses, and factories still stand to this day in Port Glasgow and Greenock, some converted into upmarket apartments, like this one, above. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjcVo3Dcwz-9VZnNmaxd0Gx8heuQKKvJ1Es_Sy4ROaYidSmvKmP4Ib4TKmFtml_gbKVo645j_A4GtdwaGvZcbXY0alyX6QdACzLcra43XailX9-_sFWJiLLu6FLBpostsd_i0cKFXgkWEB0penya4fUfQCqjCelfC5EK2rRaZdtH-q1ofQhyj8yFjrDA/s1525/Loch%20Thom%20Path.%20Inverclyde%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1525" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjcVo3Dcwz-9VZnNmaxd0Gx8heuQKKvJ1Es_Sy4ROaYidSmvKmP4Ib4TKmFtml_gbKVo645j_A4GtdwaGvZcbXY0alyX6QdACzLcra43XailX9-_sFWJiLLu6FLBpostsd_i0cKFXgkWEB0penya4fUfQCqjCelfC5EK2rRaZdtH-q1ofQhyj8yFjrDA/s320/Loch%20Thom%20Path.%20Inverclyde%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The Cut Walk starts from Cornalees Bridge where there is a large car park and visitor centre next to Loch Thom, a tiny section of which is seen here. This path leads gently uphill then descends to Overton and the start of the cut, a Scheduled Ancient Monument. People can walk along the cut but bikes are not allowed. Ok on this stretch though and along Loch Thom and The Gryfe Reservoir ( rough landrover track)</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmm5zdFAw2oYkh-1tNYCr9Vop7bLF6t7vu_6DB8AeUbihIvL9K94KeGiNxxCPoF3JyxpSjRdkTITFmp5Vr2EIjgS32czQ3mhg6dpt7fqYOfbNJCXZB2JStepCdh4JqMAeSyWHN7MPxMR4GG9ZOf2oTT3KLgzsQj5dUqD-taQP8AenT0p1o4NxUEzjFFzI/s1555/Overtoun%20Cottage.%20The%20Start%20of%20The%20Cut.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1555" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmm5zdFAw2oYkh-1tNYCr9Vop7bLF6t7vu_6DB8AeUbihIvL9K94KeGiNxxCPoF3JyxpSjRdkTITFmp5Vr2EIjgS32czQ3mhg6dpt7fqYOfbNJCXZB2JStepCdh4JqMAeSyWHN7MPxMR4GG9ZOf2oTT3KLgzsQj5dUqD-taQP8AenT0p1o4NxUEzjFFzI/s320/Overtoun%20Cottage.%20The%20Start%20of%20The%20Cut.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The descent into Overtoun and the start of the cut, to the left. It is a circular route.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRO3MGerQ28MqCFTm8jvOXtXi6VRnYr6O63RAjsYFjgjU8yIJrOo0QYUGOd5DA_poR3kC51w_TAF3f-C-4bVBMh-CGixpD5spRV63p-P3J8fLZ6ADLfwHF6EIFIoHnvCuEK7xD0QHnWKQ7k1CA3fcSh6feotYEVL88AGax57MyNywlsiU9GtjX07vvbyk/s1542/Balcony%20Trail%20View.%20Greenock%20Docks.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1542" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRO3MGerQ28MqCFTm8jvOXtXi6VRnYr6O63RAjsYFjgjU8yIJrOo0QYUGOd5DA_poR3kC51w_TAF3f-C-4bVBMh-CGixpD5spRV63p-P3J8fLZ6ADLfwHF6EIFIoHnvCuEK7xD0QHnWKQ7k1CA3fcSh6feotYEVL88AGax57MyNywlsiU9GtjX07vvbyk/s320/Balcony%20Trail%20View.%20Greenock%20Docks.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This leads to fine views over the Firth of Clyde, Port Glasgow, Greenock (seen here) and Gourock, which all run into each other without obvious gaps between them. Greenock's docks often have large cruise ships coming and going year round as the Norwegian fjords and towns, Greater Scandinavia, The Scottish West Coast, Ireland, The Isle of Man and The English West coast are all easily reached from here. This ship is the Island Princess.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVGDU13lEpnQAXUTx8UuHnLsK4JQapI-UPTyPW4DcQfgCrEO9hxdhN6BgadB5CYjK5cszWw8rxVsUIG18zLsUMb8h_VLjA3a4Wo84dtnEJ211dH9xDgce3wwdRHQPcMsFKaDOA3Yl6I85dqeLAkXedZuz0deghT-rchKK4wQDbQEl8s1rLRcwnG9682c/s1556/Island%20Princess%20Cruise%20Ship%20at%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1556" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVGDU13lEpnQAXUTx8UuHnLsK4JQapI-UPTyPW4DcQfgCrEO9hxdhN6BgadB5CYjK5cszWw8rxVsUIG18zLsUMb8h_VLjA3a4Wo84dtnEJ211dH9xDgce3wwdRHQPcMsFKaDOA3Yl6I85dqeLAkXedZuz0deghT-rchKK4wQDbQEl8s1rLRcwnG9682c/s320/Island%20Princess%20Cruise%20Ship%20at%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">A closer view. This ship is roughly the same height as the hi rise blocks beside it. Length 294 metres or 964 feet. If placed vertically it would be higher than the ancient volcano Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh at 823 feet. That puts into perspective the size of cruise ships and this is only a medium sized example. It is currently heading for or already in Iceland I believe which is another destination not that far away from here.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNNbc9eqEQe_dTZKBl24CHe5dDZPZe-Th-oYKe-1YSG_JWPsLtJ8RhhViOzI0OcNsbp7Hyc6Zz9HhIipDLpDEHDgBc15Sxz-Yj5-opEca6YG2xHW4jsxXlUyBTyajZjDrC79Nx76LNvJlC0hi-m6nyXwNJ6-AuW8iVeShrjxPlFfUti485POocXAMQAM/s1381/The%20Beauty%20of%20The%20Cut%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1381" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNNbc9eqEQe_dTZKBl24CHe5dDZPZe-Th-oYKe-1YSG_JWPsLtJ8RhhViOzI0OcNsbp7Hyc6Zz9HhIipDLpDEHDgBc15Sxz-Yj5-opEca6YG2xHW4jsxXlUyBTyajZjDrC79Nx76LNvJlC0hi-m6nyXwNJ6-AuW8iVeShrjxPlFfUti485POocXAMQAM/s320/The%20Beauty%20of%20The%20Cut%20Walk.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">As well as the three towns below to look at you also have the backdrop of Argyll's mountains to gaze on, which in winter covered in snow, are spectacular, looking far higher than 2000 to 3000 feet as they rise up, often abruptly, from sea level. The large building is Inverclyde Hospital.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYIAxscDRo_TGSVs_FLWCCchXTEWozROGSBAp4ym2RHrSZ_KP62tkwTojhTQGtfeOTyXypmgsRRC3beEa2RUuwkQVhAKYrJL-D9jr0jbD9qbsSZ8FQ2BifkbNdO9ksoZUVBssv41hXWN55PeXjwHxyWSLi6ADq-10DYBBnvFGzbe0wMMILz29n8XHT2E/s1576/Argyll's%20Mountains.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1576" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYIAxscDRo_TGSVs_FLWCCchXTEWozROGSBAp4ym2RHrSZ_KP62tkwTojhTQGtfeOTyXypmgsRRC3beEa2RUuwkQVhAKYrJL-D9jr0jbD9qbsSZ8FQ2BifkbNdO9ksoZUVBssv41hXWN55PeXjwHxyWSLi6ADq-10DYBBnvFGzbe0wMMILz29n8XHT2E/s320/Argyll's%20Mountains.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I personally think the best way round is Overton to Sheilhill, walking east to west, for the finest views. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NO3GSEaP6nGuLO7_C7gJ833NtNKmRjeV_JSeIHHLtVUGKE5wVy7V5pSzDAO8KeuSi0FHle5Keo4x1cl0-3XyBmY4mLI2W4jmqZJDpVEk4II2l72zUGHMPTo7gkmdiywMRHJND6PS8g4K8WzQLaW6nI7OeVrDe5pngWwLEqEMGDHaMrWoRIj_TNXhyQs/s1517/Walking%20The%20Cut.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1517" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NO3GSEaP6nGuLO7_C7gJ833NtNKmRjeV_JSeIHHLtVUGKE5wVy7V5pSzDAO8KeuSi0FHle5Keo4x1cl0-3XyBmY4mLI2W4jmqZJDpVEk4II2l72zUGHMPTo7gkmdiywMRHJND6PS8g4K8WzQLaW6nI7OeVrDe5pngWwLEqEMGDHaMrWoRIj_TNXhyQs/s320/Walking%20The%20Cut.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The other great thing about The Cut is that it's flat, no steep inclines, so all your energy is saved for the views instead of panting uphill... only to come back down again. A big bonus for the elderly... like me! Some might offer Arthur's Seat, The other Edinburgh hills, The Binn above Burntisland etc as Scotland's best balcony trail but having done them all and many others besides this is the only one, in my opinion, that qualifies as a proper balcony route, following a level line around a slope on the same contour line. I have done balcony trails in the Alps decades ago and this is the nearest equivalent to them in Scotland. Equally spectacular in winter under snow.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9pE1gcNr_h9XzM9ZAUF3ESPiqg_H1yUSdSK-U9moUiexhPQvGpd-mNd0HE4INkVjaW_7qm19SnG2GltsQ8lPSE6CH3CYqhBHbTYhduYG8y5_ddJWGuGFQzY-hj9CXmpvgZ57hYNX9RcBEL2MER5FPwquc-w8kIzYZzJ26DeRVVGEls4FnMNfnGA2wBU/s1656/Firth%20of%20Clyde%20Viewpoint.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1656" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9pE1gcNr_h9XzM9ZAUF3ESPiqg_H1yUSdSK-U9moUiexhPQvGpd-mNd0HE4INkVjaW_7qm19SnG2GltsQ8lPSE6CH3CYqhBHbTYhduYG8y5_ddJWGuGFQzY-hj9CXmpvgZ57hYNX9RcBEL2MER5FPwquc-w8kIzYZzJ26DeRVVGEls4FnMNfnGA2wBU/s320/Firth%20of%20Clyde%20Viewpoint.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">For those without a car Drumfrochar Train Station in Greenock is the closest to the start of the route at Overton or a bus to the town centre from Glasgow. Firth of Clyde here.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeIpLVwoYrPU9ij1R2NqlljB70aV6aJWDMABzam7ogsaLHQSuv19nuZW5PD5OAVc_q6Io1NI-sqkiH9b6AC01E3Y3_O_412vJtcHAPSl1fgDdBnxx1E1nMDax1s9eFbT6XTGWJhy_i7Y5-x2atxJGqwXX5oJwGCo3-IP9nmR-_9m8BwpOk4PezdCnViY/s1517/A%20Cruise%20Ship%20at%20Greenok%20Docks.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1517" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeIpLVwoYrPU9ij1R2NqlljB70aV6aJWDMABzam7ogsaLHQSuv19nuZW5PD5OAVc_q6Io1NI-sqkiH9b6AC01E3Y3_O_412vJtcHAPSl1fgDdBnxx1E1nMDax1s9eFbT6XTGWJhy_i7Y5-x2atxJGqwXX5oJwGCo3-IP9nmR-_9m8BwpOk4PezdCnViY/s320/A%20Cruise%20Ship%20at%20Greenok%20Docks.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Another view from The Cut with a small reservoir. All three towns have bags of interest in them yet cruise ship passengers rarely if ever see them.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFW4VbTyJkyvhfG2XroeNwQWlFFiz5plU-_r1J_LGb945-l2k0YUPV2tnlRZ2zMQMciLriSM3r1U2CUJ_XVyUCInHyoOeq3NYjIL8n-W8oFqG8BmdQwYJW4WIlwliAzBWnlY42NW9qOb4iHxsnkqeRlj8FrE53d-LPz95AmgQht_ZNBm6mDhYFFLpVDsY/s1542/Container%20Ship%20Unloading.%20Greenock%20Docks.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1542" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFW4VbTyJkyvhfG2XroeNwQWlFFiz5plU-_r1J_LGb945-l2k0YUPV2tnlRZ2zMQMciLriSM3r1U2CUJ_XVyUCInHyoOeq3NYjIL8n-W8oFqG8BmdQwYJW4WIlwliAzBWnlY42NW9qOb4iHxsnkqeRlj8FrE53d-LPz95AmgQht_ZNBm6mDhYFFLpVDsY/s320/Container%20Ship%20Unloading.%20Greenock%20Docks.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A container ship at Greenock docks. Always something of interest to see on this walk.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWJF5yUlumcsLd5JjkTl_67zYpCuJdahOyXhg0SJL6Pe8J3BadfgqkM6BJ2uJHceELgZ1OogoIRHQQzq4kBu4kT_vOxr8X9F5H-ypZAUhSgLOgpEFumnmt8w2mDXyODBCqfm9zwWuCyZ_qw6V7rMO3UfE6oUEdWBV3TvC_KDXNka6OyHm_E9jueDjf4c/s1352/Greenock%20Prison%20and%20Cruise%20Ship.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1352" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWJF5yUlumcsLd5JjkTl_67zYpCuJdahOyXhg0SJL6Pe8J3BadfgqkM6BJ2uJHceELgZ1OogoIRHQQzq4kBu4kT_vOxr8X9F5H-ypZAUhSgLOgpEFumnmt8w2mDXyODBCqfm9zwWuCyZ_qw6V7rMO3UfE6oUEdWBV3TvC_KDXNka6OyHm_E9jueDjf4c/s320/Greenock%20Prison%20and%20Cruise%20Ship.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Greenock Prison. When I took this I was thinking ruefully, comparing the prison inmates with the cruise ship passengers. Ostensibly world's apart yet both equally confined in boxes except for exercise periods. On a previous trip years ago Alan and I had a walk around Greenock Prison, several town reservoirs, and then Greenock Cemetery. A very varied trip I enjoyed. Not so sure Alan did though.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstowXoxQkrQ04NZ6pYRontPhq6U8E2Hiiy-_QoDI7UpVX61hp5l80S1XVMCuTf5pZE9rUAZb6DKjqVffOHGHjWQkjXUQcGTanG166823Gljcb-eA302M4T9G05mio4XTHkWYrVPoxhmbuPwArRn5xMS5YDsY1LM9E6y_MTHyrNe6cXOEPsAYS9uva9z0/s1502/Greenock%20Cemetery%20and%20Prison.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1502" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstowXoxQkrQ04NZ6pYRontPhq6U8E2Hiiy-_QoDI7UpVX61hp5l80S1XVMCuTf5pZE9rUAZb6DKjqVffOHGHjWQkjXUQcGTanG166823Gljcb-eA302M4T9G05mio4XTHkWYrVPoxhmbuPwArRn5xMS5YDsY1LM9E6y_MTHyrNe6cXOEPsAYS9uva9z0/s320/Greenock%20Cemetery%20and%20Prison.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">He did enjoy the cemetery though, seen here, with many beautiful mature trees, including monkey puzzle trees and ornate old gravestones.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXNAnSdU29qSYDuxr2QeyxaM-eoqaqmuMu9fPK-wYID340h7hha7ALJT7TcR0lD-4mZTwZnR9xvDN3shYldjEuWRThf0J_rTfmyHNtgUS7CrzTONGQn6SlguzXa82Xgmpc9GNT8vX3pIpM24jXd4DdgQyzvTwMrczJai9pOTuQVe2mWIs6QMUqoXcBg4/s1469/Former%20IBM%20Plant%20at%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1469" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXNAnSdU29qSYDuxr2QeyxaM-eoqaqmuMu9fPK-wYID340h7hha7ALJT7TcR0lD-4mZTwZnR9xvDN3shYldjEuWRThf0J_rTfmyHNtgUS7CrzTONGQn6SlguzXa82Xgmpc9GNT8vX3pIpM24jXd4DdgQyzvTwMrczJai9pOTuQVe2mWIs6QMUqoXcBg4/s320/Former%20IBM%20Plant%20at%20Greenock.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Further round The Cut green fields and farms replace urban views as the three towns fade out. This concrete patch is all that remains of the large IBM complex, once a major employer in the town but now flattened. It had its own train station and employed thousands from the 1950s onwards.... over 5000 workers at its peak. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5s97xoOiE3Af9ndQCiCv2IHXmafHxipmHm9T8wKHkUIzzpriuHFckFkxfSLYsi-Kd9SKEYM9DQ7tM02HkpjwuhlDJQrCtMsv1LY1IOKcitvb68aZuzmKlT29rRGzf7nCVTmr1K8y1PvD_o8diKodw3gFxsgcNNXRY1LuIR0PWiKMbwZhDzqYSppSURE/s1355/Waterfall.%20The%20Greenock%20Cut.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1355" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5s97xoOiE3Af9ndQCiCv2IHXmafHxipmHm9T8wKHkUIzzpriuHFckFkxfSLYsi-Kd9SKEYM9DQ7tM02HkpjwuhlDJQrCtMsv1LY1IOKcitvb68aZuzmKlT29rRGzf7nCVTmr1K8y1PvD_o8diKodw3gFxsgcNNXRY1LuIR0PWiKMbwZhDzqYSppSURE/s320/Waterfall.%20The%20Greenock%20Cut.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Waterfall Near Sheilhill. We deliberately picked a dry sunny day for this walk but heavy rain had fallen previously so the water in the cut was half full. I have seen it bone dry in summer although it is no longer used as drinking water, replaced by more modern pipes underground. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgDR_2NElO8pO1GTCPl4cjvaq18QFzwnxIwZk7ZkTKnbqqbMmTf0mYmdoMBO-3Rk5R1uoxWVrCOgrpL1jMm-49rfRLwm4XqoqMBp08z2cEPTAGT7lb0ksgfYx43pN6Twsoav_QJckpr6pNsUPNMzZ_SxnmcpI0NjA6_9Wo2eDpqbtTy8HGLg1kXSsRIY/s1784/Large%20Dragonfly%20on%20Bench.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1784" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgDR_2NElO8pO1GTCPl4cjvaq18QFzwnxIwZk7ZkTKnbqqbMmTf0mYmdoMBO-3Rk5R1uoxWVrCOgrpL1jMm-49rfRLwm4XqoqMBp08z2cEPTAGT7lb0ksgfYx43pN6Twsoav_QJckpr6pNsUPNMzZ_SxnmcpI0NjA6_9Wo2eDpqbtTy8HGLg1kXSsRIY/s320/Large%20Dragonfly%20on%20Bench.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">All the water did make for a plethora of flying insects however with bees, butterflies, and dragonflies spotted all the way round. A large hawker here on an old wooden bench.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aSq171V7SDy-0nxv1vOsW8iKTqov1KAEkg_UJpul7DZzbU7-zuiARN2mXfjUE42bWTwOvSveIbomkMwo7b6voFYg154K_5axindaKKWhHv9BQ5QmomU2vc18Vdia9Mw7zgsGNp-7GTd0HFvHRtknmCGRaRiQuGiTnrqk5-LOKoOb3yNgE1XspC0qDZI/s1490/Dragonfly%20Wings.%20Beautiful%20Stained%20Glass%20Panels.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1490" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aSq171V7SDy-0nxv1vOsW8iKTqov1KAEkg_UJpul7DZzbU7-zuiARN2mXfjUE42bWTwOvSveIbomkMwo7b6voFYg154K_5axindaKKWhHv9BQ5QmomU2vc18Vdia9Mw7zgsGNp-7GTd0HFvHRtknmCGRaRiQuGiTnrqk5-LOKoOb3yNgE1XspC0qDZI/s320/Dragonfly%20Wings.%20Beautiful%20Stained%20Glass%20Panels.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Obviously a very common sight Europe wide for thousands of years to humans observing them closely. Is it just a coincidence that dragonfly wings look like stained glass windows in churches and cathedrals? Inspiration from nature perhaps.... yet again? Note the one stained or coloured window on both wings here.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwHq0Ujpn9f9F2Lb_OlfzO67NvH1hl4TbJVV1Sc7CrTcZYGjaJHKN_JXPJ4HwEXmMdNsq9i_bG1JCIZBPyylxgB7JXAguCZ_D72PIqFU1QBEW4jKLGdOwlzlHyzG57NQ02X3YdNzO2MJYxUn12t2f19rcAFay8qjhUG9M2onAoCmLfWx4Utyofz-UYqs/s1496/Dung%20Beetle%20With%20Dung%20Ball.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1496" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwHq0Ujpn9f9F2Lb_OlfzO67NvH1hl4TbJVV1Sc7CrTcZYGjaJHKN_JXPJ4HwEXmMdNsq9i_bG1JCIZBPyylxgB7JXAguCZ_D72PIqFU1QBEW4jKLGdOwlzlHyzG57NQ02X3YdNzO2MJYxUn12t2f19rcAFay8qjhUG9M2onAoCmLfWx4Utyofz-UYqs/s320/Dung%20Beetle%20With%20Dung%20Ball.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Dung beetle doing what dung beetles do best. Rolling dung from the path into the long grass to lay its young in and produce the next generation. Spotted several here.<br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-75763527276243873972023-09-03T17:08:00.002+01:002023-09-04T10:48:32.393+01:00Largs. Castle Hill. Gogo Water.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkJbFKbjS3DHNK0vAplsEPv09g9znf8jL3nthC4xD7UiW3IbfaUEYXsdlX-T9ZUzim60r_Vm6tuVR2Y3Ji_q-WjZvUhhmJdLjzqiLLxkAKmByVck2UuIdTjZ9IUSHFTwAK2OEbNDhihTJI739aG81Bfc7-9zwkgrRynRF_M_5tw6O6vn_LFz9v0qIb54/s1326/Cosmos%20Flowers.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1326" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkJbFKbjS3DHNK0vAplsEPv09g9znf8jL3nthC4xD7UiW3IbfaUEYXsdlX-T9ZUzim60r_Vm6tuVR2Y3Ji_q-WjZvUhhmJdLjzqiLLxkAKmByVck2UuIdTjZ9IUSHFTwAK2OEbNDhihTJI739aG81Bfc7-9zwkgrRynRF_M_5tw6O6vn_LFz9v0qIb54/s320/Cosmos%20Flowers.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Cosmos flowers. Alan wanted to do a hill walk this time so I suggested Largs with it's backdrop of scenic green hills rising behind the town and as he had never done them before he was keen to give them a go.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QNF9cbL0YokYEfuAeFP-EyAL8R7USBqPIu0lGXeqDH7JG1RmfraeDybB9V4S14Ov1a8UF6cNyrfs8WoTeYLNDfhKY3sHrUR5G2_W5r9CfF19fD1QjDK5RnF7jMUUq4JfKjglP4JyfA8uBd2hYxva3N_uxpAX1zW21NwW-hQlK1mrAdL3w0HScF850Hw/s1524/Rain%20And%20Colour.%20Douglas%20Park%20in%20Largs.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1524" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QNF9cbL0YokYEfuAeFP-EyAL8R7USBqPIu0lGXeqDH7JG1RmfraeDybB9V4S14Ov1a8UF6cNyrfs8WoTeYLNDfhKY3sHrUR5G2_W5r9CfF19fD1QjDK5RnF7jMUUq4JfKjglP4JyfA8uBd2hYxva3N_uxpAX1zW21NwW-hQlK1mrAdL3w0HScF850Hw/s320/Rain%20And%20Colour.%20Douglas%20Park%20in%20Largs.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> We parked in the quiet back streets just up from the seafront as I knew two small but attractive parks nearby which would be good for colourful borders at this time of year. Instead of Rudbeckia, another attractive late flowering ornamental plant, we had Cosmos, both photos above. An easy flower to remember as it has big showy flowers but feathery candyfloss foliage beneath, albeit green in colour, not pink. After six decades of walking outdoors I find that knowing flowers, animals, trees, insects, etc, just adds extra interest to any walk with more things to find out about and get into other than simply hills you are ascending. Either that or I just get bored easily as trudging up hills is not enough on its own these days for mental stimulation.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTnSYCc3nwbtjt_WY3LneztitPChlj6PVvb9re3DEol0nGLAwo6r_LD4ZEYd6LMTeTR4Hk-47HfXD6w6xr8VkRFURdSODG6E5OXVtW3-zraeFF1fjD4Jgxs2dlff4hhW9yB0C7jinvTfeMPJGNPiEczfsXyBCOPWeeHGAi4W1PBI5xz0NP6sCC7iHi6Y/s1605/Decorative%20Bench.%20Largs.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1605" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTnSYCc3nwbtjt_WY3LneztitPChlj6PVvb9re3DEol0nGLAwo6r_LD4ZEYd6LMTeTR4Hk-47HfXD6w6xr8VkRFURdSODG6E5OXVtW3-zraeFF1fjD4Jgxs2dlff4hhW9yB0C7jinvTfeMPJGNPiEczfsXyBCOPWeeHGAi4W1PBI5xz0NP6sCC7iHi6Y/s320/Decorative%20Bench.%20Largs.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Really nice decorative benches as well, donated by locals, presumably in remembrance of loved ones.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKSBYOU4tUKpVmRS0eWmBgeEdeTwdtikVYVYxOZkg2e6t78NHJCtxEOaVcROYVBo9tSTGK1iiZLvZO9zQO_vc6yDVanVSGYCRUzaF9bJ1WC9yxjnSCA5qyPAKOmjELxSusAhr-0Nmt7d1_BirYKKQcgNh-6l-WetqJx2Pgy1u3jeNKFSfTVmpbSWP254/s1592/Decorative%20Wildlife%20Bench.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1592" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKSBYOU4tUKpVmRS0eWmBgeEdeTwdtikVYVYxOZkg2e6t78NHJCtxEOaVcROYVBo9tSTGK1iiZLvZO9zQO_vc6yDVanVSGYCRUzaF9bJ1WC9yxjnSCA5qyPAKOmjELxSusAhr-0Nmt7d1_BirYKKQcgNh-6l-WetqJx2Pgy1u3jeNKFSfTVmpbSWP254/s320/Decorative%20Wildlife%20Bench.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> in a range of different styles.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCb0BYrLWuJ_9wb0PIfEltJ9UrqNzkRnK7TPmCwpGL-VZmaELvZt2CK5BDTRrB4erbiMGAuRXL8j4Jw6d9n8SdETJtsrMDu8jYX9gWEY23L7JJ_gKYM_g2jrgRlC_jkJ2dlOpN3So0bi3EHgFDPKqyBtvgZ7GhKw0HXKQNjaT9iiyrKAXTWydTDt8cImA/s1420/Burns%20Garden.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1420" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCb0BYrLWuJ_9wb0PIfEltJ9UrqNzkRnK7TPmCwpGL-VZmaELvZt2CK5BDTRrB4erbiMGAuRXL8j4Jw6d9n8SdETJtsrMDu8jYX9gWEY23L7JJ_gKYM_g2jrgRlC_jkJ2dlOpN3So0bi3EHgFDPKqyBtvgZ7GhKw0HXKQNjaT9iiyrKAXTWydTDt8cImA/s320/Burns%20Garden.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Also a small area dedicated to a famous Scottish poet. Easy to guess which one...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnTn4ZH8dXxUEXYxA0A8ZfmpPl1MGEPN7t7_nq1fTkNckprwLK8IT7riHKsY5X2jrv5Ttqell-KqlFW9IzyHkH1qYFOKLqmujm6s2yOc86DB6eKDTjOhJAWh1m_fircaupaf5OXCv6babaEozKCGH9i30OHudJvh51QFEdk5rF8muKp7wBSgf3NURiL4/s5184/IMG_1101.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnTn4ZH8dXxUEXYxA0A8ZfmpPl1MGEPN7t7_nq1fTkNckprwLK8IT7riHKsY5X2jrv5Ttqell-KqlFW9IzyHkH1qYFOKLqmujm6s2yOc86DB6eKDTjOhJAWh1m_fircaupaf5OXCv6babaEozKCGH9i30OHudJvh51QFEdk5rF8muKp7wBSgf3NURiL4/s320/IMG_1101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Man and faithful nag. A before and after tail... maybe an original example of that...<br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ii1brnLM_UANUJXl44K1T0usMQOPcghILV-DPCFzzWuQguf9r03trObJ9J1vDlKl6b2-_S1LwsUsOljwHi8JuD-OgIjmicyDIVDmI-WUxwBrz0pNWdupAaRc4GsKIFuqLUBr4n0RMJKiRdhVVhjAUOYlZOpKo_OZKa887cipUEJ8mHg2rw-a2FuttGA/s1543/Local%20Largs%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1543" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ii1brnLM_UANUJXl44K1T0usMQOPcghILV-DPCFzzWuQguf9r03trObJ9J1vDlKl6b2-_S1LwsUsOljwHi8JuD-OgIjmicyDIVDmI-WUxwBrz0pNWdupAaRc4GsKIFuqLUBr4n0RMJKiRdhVVhjAUOYlZOpKo_OZKa887cipUEJ8mHg2rw-a2FuttGA/s320/Local%20Largs%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> It had been raining heavily overnight but the forecast was good for today and it started to clear up once we arrived. This path up Castle Hill starts close by and we were soon climbing up the slopes on pleasant green paths where the views opened up.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULK2H-w5PGrF74lBDBIehiDqyxVQyOpBK1wVGpdF5i2NV6hoKWdbeBlejuh5036Bdg_UPKQP4mM6pd6zEiTUJOh83POCThDbD9RhXAYUkgH9m8GPJsZdIirAxDCdvaY5HqrctVBr3acsvHlz4G3eVDPbYy_nMjMBTxoTq06uObv2ziLd-Nj_vOZHC6WM/s1503/Great%20Cumbrae%20from%20Largs.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1503" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULK2H-w5PGrF74lBDBIehiDqyxVQyOpBK1wVGpdF5i2NV6hoKWdbeBlejuh5036Bdg_UPKQP4mM6pd6zEiTUJOh83POCThDbD9RhXAYUkgH9m8GPJsZdIirAxDCdvaY5HqrctVBr3acsvHlz4G3eVDPbYy_nMjMBTxoTq06uObv2ziLd-Nj_vOZHC6WM/s320/Great%20Cumbrae%20from%20Largs.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Great Cumbrae ( an island containing the small town of Millport.) and part of Largs from Castle Hill.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirls9OCEjEO3bvjjzlaEDslxhXIdg7_fRAILFpzNOFDfbgXJ8WWZ4SFPOk1P0TKHE9VJmnSBPBdOSeCyb886hrBMoIUmfrjfIP8yH3q3f8dz5YFRNdjuJg4tbwAZWSHOW8HEYY5yW_Tfs_18ldlqTT2nHUYPXPyPUrHu2qFW0BFUrWFHHrt7zc6l-U4Jc/s1507/The%20New%20Largs%20Secondary%20School.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1507" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirls9OCEjEO3bvjjzlaEDslxhXIdg7_fRAILFpzNOFDfbgXJ8WWZ4SFPOk1P0TKHE9VJmnSBPBdOSeCyb886hrBMoIUmfrjfIP8yH3q3f8dz5YFRNdjuJg4tbwAZWSHOW8HEYY5yW_Tfs_18ldlqTT2nHUYPXPyPUrHu2qFW0BFUrWFHHrt7zc6l-U4Jc/s320/The%20New%20Largs%20Secondary%20School.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">What looks like the new Largs Secondary School, replacing the old Largs Academy, that site now demolished and turned into low level housing units.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIml5LUx-s9vLu3z06WkKNdiGqW8NXdaEkMY6eMakAfiRrHYjM734Az0TO8IBfpS3V8KFayvTp_ka1wls_yi2CZSPYhahDIXfTEILGhOVIkJP9JqZKnylDz2--_BiXBrAUv1ucNariIqUBY5j7gbqaHdwpM0pq_9vohK5uvbt5ooaxoeTjOcmcZZ_QSdk/s1406/Hill%20Walk%20Above%20Largs.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1406" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIml5LUx-s9vLu3z06WkKNdiGqW8NXdaEkMY6eMakAfiRrHYjM734Az0TO8IBfpS3V8KFayvTp_ka1wls_yi2CZSPYhahDIXfTEILGhOVIkJP9JqZKnylDz2--_BiXBrAUv1ucNariIqUBY5j7gbqaHdwpM0pq_9vohK5uvbt5ooaxoeTjOcmcZZ_QSdk/s320/Hill%20Walk%20Above%20Largs.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The enjoyable path up Castle Hill.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihh5TIrlkqoUuzBSGP4n9W39Ae14t6CUQ9IEmlJZaBAj72_cJd7i5IFs7tf2O7C9_qmv7klA5N-U4y0Ijq2sKc_1AAoOmJBeM3Emb0c-7rjcci3NPyIEH-JVKw72ub_mE9rZRnYqGUVpjNP9TdyhzSi1-pmYl91NEDJYK-roLmW6Yygz1-aDj9cELoRc0/s1561/Largs%20Marina%20And%20Hunterston%20Sands.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1561" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihh5TIrlkqoUuzBSGP4n9W39Ae14t6CUQ9IEmlJZaBAj72_cJd7i5IFs7tf2O7C9_qmv7klA5N-U4y0Ijq2sKc_1AAoOmJBeM3Emb0c-7rjcci3NPyIEH-JVKw72ub_mE9rZRnYqGUVpjNP9TdyhzSi1-pmYl91NEDJYK-roLmW6Yygz1-aDj9cELoRc0/s320/Largs%20Marina%20And%20Hunterston%20Sands.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">From the summit we could see Largs marina, Fairlie, Southannan Sands and Goldenberry Hill.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoECDqXZ5kP6Ik1iM1lAs3czXdBF7vpj54Tmo4bfsYyL9_9_faBy0ycWhxmRjs7IG22pvPGv4cxXkuE3fcewRbMhYMj2mKPsuycqOWLPr63EvImhsVc0R8iG1KRrDeDHFX5b3PBKEPiTU7oLNiOwbMX1OybCEQ_o2cMAWPWhBemtrCOavc3Yl0QoWZvwQ/s1520/A%20Farm.%20Largs%20Hill%20Range.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1520" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoECDqXZ5kP6Ik1iM1lAs3czXdBF7vpj54Tmo4bfsYyL9_9_faBy0ycWhxmRjs7IG22pvPGv4cxXkuE3fcewRbMhYMj2mKPsuycqOWLPr63EvImhsVc0R8iG1KRrDeDHFX5b3PBKEPiTU7oLNiOwbMX1OybCEQ_o2cMAWPWhBemtrCOavc3Yl0QoWZvwQ/s320/A%20Farm.%20Largs%20Hill%20Range.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And looking north west another fine little hill above Brisbane Mains.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfedINF1cLgbwKpDPFxI47oKaZMlAAXiZC37dM2jcYFVE21DMB32_gjkQL6X-koAtKbSpRBFPN0EXU3QuPY14lodpVvM7vtrHg_-W34wlSfk35gfwK0QBBsuCyZz7O7XwutNziO3d6n5d4ohocEmcXuDAzxnEdT9LUKF81zYWNAXagPIbMi36Ga92JJY/s1469/Largs.%20The%20Waverley%20and%20Great%20Cumbrae%20Ferry.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1469" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfedINF1cLgbwKpDPFxI47oKaZMlAAXiZC37dM2jcYFVE21DMB32_gjkQL6X-koAtKbSpRBFPN0EXU3QuPY14lodpVvM7vtrHg_-W34wlSfk35gfwK0QBBsuCyZz7O7XwutNziO3d6n5d4ohocEmcXuDAzxnEdT9LUKF81zYWNAXagPIbMi36Ga92JJY/s320/Largs.%20The%20Waverley%20and%20Great%20Cumbrae%20Ferry.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Also the Waverley Paddle Steamer on one of its last Scottish trips before it departs down to the English south coast for the autumn/ winter season. It can be ten degrees C warmer down there so following the better weather and the heat in other words before coming back up here next spring/ summer. That way it attracts more paying day trippers around the UK and people are usually pleased to see it arrive, rather than taking it for granted if it stayed in one location all year.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fJBfvdPt86cgUnUjlAvB3TtFhvdDIm63KgxxOPGlmYdEBerXPeMfRPUUQKDT9-eKWOOngr_tfWLcJsiBGnSflhp-nRTyA1rmFNjBJc82rqNWrqaZUZY2-OWjU7dB2rNOM6ytQu3acqGZsI2CFqEogVtmQQbl1GREIDaq1eTXKMt9jfcKPsECv8MLJfE/s1711/Waverley%20Paddle%20Steamer%20Passing%20Largs.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1711" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fJBfvdPt86cgUnUjlAvB3TtFhvdDIm63KgxxOPGlmYdEBerXPeMfRPUUQKDT9-eKWOOngr_tfWLcJsiBGnSflhp-nRTyA1rmFNjBJc82rqNWrqaZUZY2-OWjU7dB2rNOM6ytQu3acqGZsI2CFqEogVtmQQbl1GREIDaq1eTXKMt9jfcKPsECv8MLJfE/s320/Waverley%20Paddle%20Steamer%20Passing%20Largs.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A closer view of it leaving Largs. You might think a paddle steamer would be slow and sedate but this one can really move through the water at speed.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzHrIVyXwkiJys5qC9naH9RW0qhkM3M0WCSbj8wQdj0kJUaV1Me2e5UqyPECM66XLoiN2qvSULZextx5dQF_W90PDDAq0aPh3dE17LpMhF11u60WHTvcf60KwgMO1kTxYiIBqKytrzROL-eGRqnAgf3B_zXt8ftImDCn3VIu_pM3DsckBwnfOElnp9Wk/s1464/Hill%20Walking%20Above%20Largs.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1464" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzHrIVyXwkiJys5qC9naH9RW0qhkM3M0WCSbj8wQdj0kJUaV1Me2e5UqyPECM66XLoiN2qvSULZextx5dQF_W90PDDAq0aPh3dE17LpMhF11u60WHTvcf60KwgMO1kTxYiIBqKytrzROL-eGRqnAgf3B_zXt8ftImDCn3VIu_pM3DsckBwnfOElnp9Wk/s320/Hill%20Walking%20Above%20Largs.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">At this point I made a bit of a blunder. Instead of continuing up on an obvious green path, seen here to Rigging Hill, still way off in the distance, I decided to do a shorter circuit straight down from here to the series of waterfalls, the other big highlight of the area. I'd done this in the past and it was fairly easy but they have now planted trees on this steep slope, the grass is much thicker with no grazing sheep to keep it down and the path that used to run on the other side of the river is no longer there. I find that on a lot of walks nowadays... either Covid lockdowns or just the passage of time means many paths I used to know well have altered considerably since I last walked them. The descent was something of a nightmare with deep hidden holes, thick grass hiding them, boggy underfoot, and very slippy. Then we had to wade the river at the bottom of this gorge, swollen with overnight rain. The beautiful path up the river on the other bank to the waterfalls is no longer there, obscured by tall grass and spreading bramble patches. Gone forever. It was a challenge and an adventure admittedly but one we could do without. It did make us fully appreciate paths though when we eventually found one again... and stayed on it this time. Lesson learned! <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJKQN1W6p0chamNyRUtSthcuPbCFvZafEKqd4dz6qKo1Gr_vJJhKcgVNR-nJcfMuwyf7d6UC4VETmy6TkWrjrPiem8sS2fndsR95g9boGsEMccgp1sxm3nlOnLZsAhK9tzgMSiTdG0b9Qdw7YEDW8IAanpQZ3yZCrjmyr8YgqFoymK2X4okXs6BfSpig/s1520/The%20Town%20of%20Largs.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1520" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJKQN1W6p0chamNyRUtSthcuPbCFvZafEKqd4dz6qKo1Gr_vJJhKcgVNR-nJcfMuwyf7d6UC4VETmy6TkWrjrPiem8sS2fndsR95g9boGsEMccgp1sxm3nlOnLZsAhK9tzgMSiTdG0b9Qdw7YEDW8IAanpQZ3yZCrjmyr8YgqFoymK2X4okXs6BfSpig/s320/The%20Town%20of%20Largs.%20Firth%20of%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A good walk overall though and excellent views, as always. The town of Largs above.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBq3bIVUc7xrvQAHRlLoZCCP-0NLpV2WLwnsBx0wWZ1zXA9_NdgX7NDjgp4lTraM6nAPqbs1mbcLmCpwfdvZHlgDthUXK92EVw2nSUp5T69-ynDAIq0ZEPqyMQLXk2PQme3dOkx2QI6LSn8_lrBNCnfKrDnJ3hoDcb3OtVeYEUyp2cIH2p0QLBhfu83g/s1585/Grass%20of%20Parnassus.%20Flowers.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1585" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBq3bIVUc7xrvQAHRlLoZCCP-0NLpV2WLwnsBx0wWZ1zXA9_NdgX7NDjgp4lTraM6nAPqbs1mbcLmCpwfdvZHlgDthUXK92EVw2nSUp5T69-ynDAIq0ZEPqyMQLXk2PQme3dOkx2QI6LSn8_lrBNCnfKrDnJ3hoDcb3OtVeYEUyp2cIH2p0QLBhfu83g/s320/Grass%20of%20Parnassus.%20Flowers.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And an example of what I was talking about earlier with plants as I spotted these Grass of Parnassus flowers on the nightmare descent. Not a grass at all but so named after Mount Parnassus in Greece when local herders there noticed the livestock eating these little delicate flowers with obvious relish as well as the surrounding green pastures, hence the unusual and memorable name. Now isn't that interesting?<br /><br /></span></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-52138948464688022482023-08-28T18:29:00.005+01:002023-08-29T16:19:50.223+01:00David Livingstone Centre and River Clyde Walk.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzIplISgZzLR2XxW86DnuCCFQ2NUitMnjBXK5KMbrhvr6zLRuxR2myNn4k6CVKo7ufX8svdB6zz73Zq8LDCA0qPYiYqYEen7nXQNZWh16fABo40dy8sfq3GFR6aZfSi_nM5NRPRQc0UBB7tallxGQPT49rpNb_p8-WjKkC3J3ldkMEoolaYzjVE9A5vk/s1599/David%20Livingstone%20Centre.%20Museum.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1599" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzIplISgZzLR2XxW86DnuCCFQ2NUitMnjBXK5KMbrhvr6zLRuxR2myNn4k6CVKo7ufX8svdB6zz73Zq8LDCA0qPYiYqYEen7nXQNZWh16fABo40dy8sfq3GFR6aZfSi_nM5NRPRQc0UBB7tallxGQPT49rpNb_p8-WjKkC3J3ldkMEoolaYzjVE9A5vk/s320/David%20Livingstone%20Centre.%20Museum.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> A trip out to the David Livingstone Centre, which is situated on the River Clyde near Low Blantyre and Bothwell. It is a very interesting museum dedicated to the life and travels of David Livingstone, Christian missionary, doctor and Africa explorer. He was born and grew up here, at that time, early 1800s, part of a collection of buildings belonging to a cotton mill and weaving tradition, usually trades situated beside plentiful fresh clean water.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P0nOR7ovLYwYF18II1MmWAP7Ik2Hz9-aBOJoUB7lFYG5bDsV8TOHylfwtiTx5DfJH5aRXpWs9l0G6bBgJg_ffpWwJEkd4UiZACSAE3PKrvmAAl4zDgi0crPH2iFoVN7PH1sYojfRbwzBbqGyyDJ_pQ_w8S_6wdCrmRWJsuBtYaJCRYIbnaUjApmOuk4/s1642/A%20Study%20in%20Pastel%20Colours.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1642" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P0nOR7ovLYwYF18II1MmWAP7Ik2Hz9-aBOJoUB7lFYG5bDsV8TOHylfwtiTx5DfJH5aRXpWs9l0G6bBgJg_ffpWwJEkd4UiZACSAE3PKrvmAAl4zDgi0crPH2iFoVN7PH1sYojfRbwzBbqGyyDJ_pQ_w8S_6wdCrmRWJsuBtYaJCRYIbnaUjApmOuk4/s320/A%20Study%20in%20Pastel%20Colours.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As well as the museum there's also a gift shop, tearoom, toilets and surrounding grounds with various sculptures together with some lovely flower borders in seasonal splendour.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DwXe-sfBBq-hUDn7H3q2VIgaJ6UqT7WzlOBXFXhodx9fKr7X2RvyhXRO-n3gvyuyytWdUuXCuyxwaKPlyUJcJHtgPNN9B0nRbn0Mt3oU98--YBHVC7qjl9HeVGuVoO9kPhanYAAEIbR3unWmvWl-fDGMdeBubJqxOLmRG-eyvryf7ZNUGkz95qweXEE/s1453/Beautiful%20Flower%20Border.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1453" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DwXe-sfBBq-hUDn7H3q2VIgaJ6UqT7WzlOBXFXhodx9fKr7X2RvyhXRO-n3gvyuyytWdUuXCuyxwaKPlyUJcJHtgPNN9B0nRbn0Mt3oU98--YBHVC7qjl9HeVGuVoO9kPhanYAAEIbR3unWmvWl-fDGMdeBubJqxOLmRG-eyvryf7ZNUGkz95qweXEE/s320/Beautiful%20Flower%20Border.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a selection of planted beds here.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiI1y2KBvfOfY6PDuE8uPmEOWMktVOcf1pnh5ZByCWPEJ9jLiQqO-_vkNpZvVinA-q1OYx3r9ixGLAld-Q9-GjiLTdBywsHhadCzznl2gIZ31FjhI7YFVwa7YqMy4eAP5MsKI7fu6KRyTE4xmTuc5uJ0Wh8OjKEAgVoF_cAbknSUtO5uxbIWgjq87c_Wg/s1541/Exotic%20Pink%20Flower.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1541" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiI1y2KBvfOfY6PDuE8uPmEOWMktVOcf1pnh5ZByCWPEJ9jLiQqO-_vkNpZvVinA-q1OYx3r9ixGLAld-Q9-GjiLTdBywsHhadCzznl2gIZ31FjhI7YFVwa7YqMy4eAP5MsKI7fu6KRyTE4xmTuc5uJ0Wh8OjKEAgVoF_cAbknSUtO5uxbIWgjq87c_Wg/s320/Exotic%20Pink%20Flower.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Exotic Pink.</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeD3BFINrTsVcJnWrMf48nxD2dwZ2KOsoqcwtcLlrKIrnZHh3q9XSFb6xngg1wwFWHHnW6tr9OmS-urhZSKGTOGEqUy_5ipnDqS-PalME3C_TI96b7jQP0rDzgg0O9UluabE3dsn7JOHkQd9s9cWYXpIZuFhMgWfrCo03cGJBeZo1xRr4vaJLb5QhaTI/s1460/Flower%20Borders.%20David%20Livingstone%20Centre.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1460" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeD3BFINrTsVcJnWrMf48nxD2dwZ2KOsoqcwtcLlrKIrnZHh3q9XSFb6xngg1wwFWHHnW6tr9OmS-urhZSKGTOGEqUy_5ipnDqS-PalME3C_TI96b7jQP0rDzgg0O9UluabE3dsn7JOHkQd9s9cWYXpIZuFhMgWfrCo03cGJBeZo1xRr4vaJLb5QhaTI/s320/Flower%20Borders.%20David%20Livingstone%20Centre.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rudbeckia or Black Eyed Susan.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9KL5VeWOmJ65aWLy0f-hGTnjRh_EuodACabEzvw85QgFteeeq0linMyoelgYGDbmluGOUZU4anUtD6th1DQwVWwgBgenqKy0NH_kEgFBaQmagVAaWkUMDarJZ3cBkUdn3SB4-AziEnBgxGlezntr2hGyeglkCHEBM-i-VyJx97Qfjm8iIx4lweD4sJ0/s1453/Lion%20Attack%20in%20Africa.%20David%20Livingstone%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1453" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9KL5VeWOmJ65aWLy0f-hGTnjRh_EuodACabEzvw85QgFteeeq0linMyoelgYGDbmluGOUZU4anUtD6th1DQwVWwgBgenqKy0NH_kEgFBaQmagVAaWkUMDarJZ3cBkUdn3SB4-AziEnBgxGlezntr2hGyeglkCHEBM-i-VyJx97Qfjm8iIx4lweD4sJ0/s320/Lion%20Attack%20in%20Africa.%20David%20Livingstone%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> I've been in the museum before, around ten years ago, and apparently it has been modernized since then to include other exhibits. Nothing illustrates how dangerous travel in Africa could be however than this amazing centerpiece sculpture of David Livingstone getting badly mauled by a lion. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXzT18dqY4NCAx6VhhGpdFzGJsP9fSTf7J3XUlivymdsQif6iktEg-8YiGM685pEO_8M75wh4bwDLpvQo9dU5t3qJ1nHypbOkXSjUEO0nft4XgTvSuvHwuJuqSk-Tuih8UYAU45SbecRdTPsPERO6wf5EpF_xiADyQVWNSOt6oEr2i4AGFxQ0cLdB0dc/s1545/Lion%20Attack.%20Back%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1545" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXzT18dqY4NCAx6VhhGpdFzGJsP9fSTf7J3XUlivymdsQif6iktEg-8YiGM685pEO_8M75wh4bwDLpvQo9dU5t3qJ1nHypbOkXSjUEO0nft4XgTvSuvHwuJuqSk-Tuih8UYAU45SbecRdTPsPERO6wf5EpF_xiADyQVWNSOt6oEr2i4AGFxQ0cLdB0dc/s320/Lion%20Attack.%20Back%20View.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">From every angle there's a dynamic view of sudden unexpected attack. It didn't kill him but crushed one arm very badly in its powerful jaws before it was killed by other helpers, as shown. Surprisingly, according to the info board, famous film special effects artist Ray Harryhausen had a hand in its creation, modeling it in wax first, as he had a David Livingstone family connection, before sculptor Gareth Knowles turned it into this scaled up and very lifelike depiction.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6CHzIjniiVghwKxbvlvWd7DKdCZY2OixM-9kLMLjB2YxsZk4QsouxShf46ObKw_MsJX7SU1OPdKL53qHro-9Avkq52E7Hh70AdCfMBt0HqaDYMiVChmt-Nhe5HMtQ_VWbv5c-1MY8G7ldWtbxfmMF_YxV8vE5E4ILXj1Ww4GyPGIfcuP-cL852ESxkk/s1373/Sculpture.%20David%20Livingstone%20Centre.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1373" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6CHzIjniiVghwKxbvlvWd7DKdCZY2OixM-9kLMLjB2YxsZk4QsouxShf46ObKw_MsJX7SU1OPdKL53qHro-9Avkq52E7Hh70AdCfMBt0HqaDYMiVChmt-Nhe5HMtQ_VWbv5c-1MY8G7ldWtbxfmMF_YxV8vE5E4ILXj1Ww4GyPGIfcuP-cL852ESxkk/s320/Sculpture.%20David%20Livingstone%20Centre.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Lesser individuals might have given up then and gone home for good with only a mangled arm to show for his efforts but from the age of ten D.L. had worked long daily shifts in the nearby cotton mill as well as some school work so lying down was never an option for very long. It was only after this event occurred that he started exploring inland Africa and its great rivers, The Zambezi and the Nile, in earnest once it eventually healed to the point where he could continue.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YrUE3kdxxYlmlu1HSiAX7EhvtZNwxeh28CY-2Lq_KG6M7--kJUO3ds8Z5hstHkBg2wqzQ5-Ke3cLCfiqUArfxWf6hGjcU4PpjaCunDJiDpiOvTb-Fdq5W29IT85mU1TfiWduFD7Nv8D_WtNLmJI2Q8yWdGUbygywVtn3Cty2SrTPsu4wWE2EqXbv8sQ/s1468/David%20Livingstone%20Metalwork%20Detail.%20African%20River%20Exploration.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1468" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YrUE3kdxxYlmlu1HSiAX7EhvtZNwxeh28CY-2Lq_KG6M7--kJUO3ds8Z5hstHkBg2wqzQ5-Ke3cLCfiqUArfxWf6hGjcU4PpjaCunDJiDpiOvTb-Fdq5W29IT85mU1TfiWduFD7Nv8D_WtNLmJI2Q8yWdGUbygywVtn3Cty2SrTPsu4wWE2EqXbv8sQ/s320/David%20Livingstone%20Metalwork%20Detail.%20African%20River%20Exploration.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There's a few other sculptures and art works dotted around the grounds and they are free to visit. Rather than use up a car park space within the museum grounds we parked in the lane outside. At the bottom of this lane is a pedestrian bridge across the River Clyde. This is where the walk starts.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fYsWjyce7D6sxwafIfXxIlfcR0gFFSnODgF6QSKwJAbDcb4RyRXHrlVAv6h6zn10ibLp3-sRrjtbD1_6SDhvHsq1Il8XDuCF-WkKn8KzscVH1Ym3YPCyR7jb5pEpJAnVAjIvmSk1NXnjeunzXZ3M841PhePJGrLULvyn2P4SX8W96Ma1598hY4y619c/s1067/Pedestrian%20Bridge%20Near%20David%20Livingstone%20Centre.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fYsWjyce7D6sxwafIfXxIlfcR0gFFSnODgF6QSKwJAbDcb4RyRXHrlVAv6h6zn10ibLp3-sRrjtbD1_6SDhvHsq1Il8XDuCF-WkKn8KzscVH1Ym3YPCyR7jb5pEpJAnVAjIvmSk1NXnjeunzXZ3M841PhePJGrLULvyn2P4SX8W96Ma1598hY4y619c/s320/Pedestrian%20Bridge%20Near%20David%20Livingstone%20Centre.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Pedestrian Bridge across the River Clyde. As soon as you cross this bridge turn left and follow a path through the woods downstream, which is narrow at first and can be slippy after rain, but soon opens out to become flat easy walking along this side of the river on a good wide path.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPz2IixLxTa_FhFdmjngvdi1nq9F41tbDjXmIqbn9hn3UMeTCY0wnKWICy0vkvsWtVCecaPJFYR4itDxA6wiF9vOr2ZEi959l3TzTAxJ_hqf0O1EpUnJwP2835cDnPhsCa-DYFRjy3evjNKztDY5JMI4rskJ4sm3bLYqsu2VXyoMPWCLBvCN9MkiEeq8/s1432/Woodland%20Path.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1432" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPz2IixLxTa_FhFdmjngvdi1nq9F41tbDjXmIqbn9hn3UMeTCY0wnKWICy0vkvsWtVCecaPJFYR4itDxA6wiF9vOr2ZEi959l3TzTAxJ_hqf0O1EpUnJwP2835cDnPhsCa-DYFRjy3evjNKztDY5JMI4rskJ4sm3bLYqsu2VXyoMPWCLBvCN9MkiEeq8/s320/Woodland%20Path.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This kind of path.... but wider.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlI6S6NNXtftLvxV0uPyIWlLexfGRwapumkBHtwzIUpfSDe-LGi1a1rWb38A5J_xk37kxH6kz1xkFUZ6rSgN71p3s-eXJkhbIZt9eeUAwk51n_-wkBbO8bBygwhPWPJwWqXkLn7fUMxhg5DVZtuvZjqXIm_HthTVfVF7WcrlN9QyBsWoX-cK-muOY9gE/s1342/The%20River%20Clyde.%20David%20Livingstone%20Centre.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1342" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlI6S6NNXtftLvxV0uPyIWlLexfGRwapumkBHtwzIUpfSDe-LGi1a1rWb38A5J_xk37kxH6kz1xkFUZ6rSgN71p3s-eXJkhbIZt9eeUAwk51n_-wkBbO8bBygwhPWPJwWqXkLn7fUMxhg5DVZtuvZjqXIm_HthTVfVF7WcrlN9QyBsWoX-cK-muOY9gE/s320/The%20River%20Clyde.%20David%20Livingstone%20Centre.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">View from the foot bridge looking upstream.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykSB2084uTce8QKFsVcwHvwqaeHf7EKyG-k9LgOFSEyQhFQch636VqzNASwfzXRHr0_wd-lq7nKRMT-djyR2L4NdfnKXEc869b7ZP0WWZmTt34E2jo9M03cOk5bTHw21tHBj4sxSEshWVPsJXpSzCQdLVgepFqEOrhYRnjqhp2NcdmmWyMSwWrlpUH3Y/s1489/Unusual%20Houses.%20David%20Livingstone%20Centre.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1489" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykSB2084uTce8QKFsVcwHvwqaeHf7EKyG-k9LgOFSEyQhFQch636VqzNASwfzXRHr0_wd-lq7nKRMT-djyR2L4NdfnKXEc869b7ZP0WWZmTt34E2jo9M03cOk5bTHw21tHBj4sxSEshWVPsJXpSzCQdLVgepFqEOrhYRnjqhp2NcdmmWyMSwWrlpUH3Y/s320/Unusual%20Houses.%20David%20Livingstone%20Centre.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Houses on the David Livingstone side of the river. Before the foot bridge was built a ferry used to be at this spot, carrying workers and locals across.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFVUnapdeFnTDRR0tXp21gk2sw_nUo1cfMR2v34I9K2-ku_0uoSbvlzJJBj0n7Waln7A8MDPUL6AjJQaiH1-Pjra3tI73lVHt63TVCFbrI4SvcoXXyBZadMJM8NEJJoKoicvcVjhi_HCE-TviJjzWdMhcxOosHGthKIShG-54b1EecU5sjTy8eM9jjSU/s1506/The%20Wild%20River%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1506" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFVUnapdeFnTDRR0tXp21gk2sw_nUo1cfMR2v34I9K2-ku_0uoSbvlzJJBj0n7Waln7A8MDPUL6AjJQaiH1-Pjra3tI73lVHt63TVCFbrI4SvcoXXyBZadMJM8NEJJoKoicvcVjhi_HCE-TviJjzWdMhcxOosHGthKIShG-54b1EecU5sjTy8eM9jjSU/s320/The%20Wild%20River%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The wild River Clyde at Blantyre.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpeaY64K86ZJVEejASMFPpyqitvQ2ql2ohVDgPPRp9xgU5sjes_tlHqku0j4LTx9UcM5-fXnJxGo70sKD7ERFmvfGUQqLVvAHn8Ir4YGxDcTZPg5vgCQrtZ1Paxnppfbgp2XNBbl70_upCaRuqmN73wUYTaVuFr1CyhAJjBq9BmsKgJ7sTuA4JlO9i9E/s1546/River%20Clyde%20Reflections.%20August%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1546" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpeaY64K86ZJVEejASMFPpyqitvQ2ql2ohVDgPPRp9xgU5sjes_tlHqku0j4LTx9UcM5-fXnJxGo70sKD7ERFmvfGUQqLVvAHn8Ir4YGxDcTZPg5vgCQrtZ1Paxnppfbgp2XNBbl70_upCaRuqmN73wUYTaVuFr1CyhAJjBq9BmsKgJ7sTuA4JlO9i9E/s320/River%20Clyde%20Reflections.%20August%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />River Clyde Reflections. This riverside path takes you past Bothwell Castle ( usually a photogenic treat but currently surrounded by scaffolding and ugly metal fences. After three km the only other suspension footbridge takes you back across the river. At this point you can go several ways. Myself and Alan crossed over a wooden stile then a grass field to follow the river down this other bank. A beware of bull sign, loads of fresh cow pats, and unsighted corners made this field crossing slightly tricky and apprehensive but it was very scenic....</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkdmjjBWaZ6iwxTEjJC7L5mJsasLLho-2N4O-InjD_ohM8czxYt6f46NrKuWM9BywHJWCjnhekyT12zQiPz5Xr6et_I4A5D07v8-uD7OGNQLHm8Ge8hA9vDC9O-bdG9LxmwDG_thoVt5MJyx6Om_24bx7ZJ0eNeN-cnyAJOv_Ha0kiCWKjq2tymU-19I/s1422/The%20River%20Clyde%20Near%20Bothwell.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1422" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkdmjjBWaZ6iwxTEjJC7L5mJsasLLho-2N4O-InjD_ohM8czxYt6f46NrKuWM9BywHJWCjnhekyT12zQiPz5Xr6et_I4A5D07v8-uD7OGNQLHm8Ge8hA9vDC9O-bdG9LxmwDG_thoVt5MJyx6Om_24bx7ZJ0eNeN-cnyAJOv_Ha0kiCWKjq2tymU-19I/s320/The%20River%20Clyde%20Near%20Bothwell.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">... almost magical in its serene calm.... as you can see from this photograph, above. And no bull to be stumbled across... which might have been less serene for us. Stopping here for lunch therefore we spotted a kingfisher and a tree-creeper. Both far too fleeting and fast for a photographer on a walk to capture but good nonetheless. Many years since I've seen a kingfisher close up. After lunch we continued to follow this bank across another green field before the trees closed in. Two more wooden stiles proved we were still on a faint trail beside the river but summer vegetation growth was waist to head high by this point so we cut up the slope near the old priory to find a better trail which led us out onto an open meadow filled with wild flowers and a larger track.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0787gofL15jxUoJDxWUjUGtVH1CluOMzbnwtArsA300S9jpAkzK-II8yyt2YvtqfXTfL6EU5nzXeDZm3GheCqmR4bbxrDPHtMKgPThj00TQNp1XJd2-JjIBOua8y-XVs3wguMRJ4ufbU_y-3SIEYpHGSLVj2u29mX6XlqTFimxVhYPiSKH3mJBVXMkSs/s1648/River%20Clyde%20Walk.%20Wild%20Flower%20Meadows%20in%20August.%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1648" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0787gofL15jxUoJDxWUjUGtVH1CluOMzbnwtArsA300S9jpAkzK-II8yyt2YvtqfXTfL6EU5nzXeDZm3GheCqmR4bbxrDPHtMKgPThj00TQNp1XJd2-JjIBOua8y-XVs3wguMRJ4ufbU_y-3SIEYpHGSLVj2u29mX6XlqTFimxVhYPiSKH3mJBVXMkSs/s320/River%20Clyde%20Walk.%20Wild%20Flower%20Meadows%20in%20August.%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is it here. Almost looks like flattened spoil heaps with a grey crushed powdery earth surface showing in places. Does not look at all like ordinary soil. As Blantyre in the past was a coal mining village this might well be the case. You can also reach this point via the other easier route following an obvious tarmac path from the second footbridge then a minor road left to arrive here. From this point several woodland trails take you back to the David Livingstone Museum. Allow around 4 hours for walk at an easy pace. DLM around £6 to £8 each admission. Book online or pay at door. Limited parking in DLM lane for walk only or train stations at Low Blantyre or Uddingston.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAr1gQ1T01uMG7vQPcX1sZHDOpG_vL36q6xrXepCrNZ7Lt2sp7R6I9IvmfcMzojBZuqyMXyZU_9vNBUggF0YtOiEAKmVJ7sFYkpTRrXtJxz0q8BuGscqh93pmICYm_6e2ZS7wN1kwND7qO-GYC5LTK2Izk5F2OqKJFRaGEsKBXbjlV3-e65QbRAIxNDBM/s1379/Map%20of%20the%20World%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1379" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAr1gQ1T01uMG7vQPcX1sZHDOpG_vL36q6xrXepCrNZ7Lt2sp7R6I9IvmfcMzojBZuqyMXyZU_9vNBUggF0YtOiEAKmVJ7sFYkpTRrXtJxz0q8BuGscqh93pmICYm_6e2ZS7wN1kwND7qO-GYC5LTK2Izk5F2OqKJFRaGEsKBXbjlV3-e65QbRAIxNDBM/s320/Map%20of%20the%20World%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Map of the world fountain. DLM.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another good day out and an enjoyable river walk.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-67783671578931017562023-08-17T17:25:00.007+01:002023-08-28T13:04:03.108+01:00The Barras 2023 and some wall murals.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNfBF1-yqxkkwJQ7E8l1amrZz1nyLctsSrbMkqUM__WbhuaZhjoYVh5p_tcCaxMRY8muKvRr71hEp9BrLQQQmpknUTPP_23g2_SpBA4YsR2bn_08Ua0Bzwve78e6o3ybOcOrXldnQAhxAiVvE6vWPB-Uww7dLjqZNGHftv_Hjed-gzxFa4Nszida-w8k/s1283/Hard%20Water.%20Drizzle%20%20on%20Flowers..%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1283" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNfBF1-yqxkkwJQ7E8l1amrZz1nyLctsSrbMkqUM__WbhuaZhjoYVh5p_tcCaxMRY8muKvRr71hEp9BrLQQQmpknUTPP_23g2_SpBA4YsR2bn_08Ua0Bzwve78e6o3ybOcOrXldnQAhxAiVvE6vWPB-Uww7dLjqZNGHftv_Hjed-gzxFa4Nszida-w8k/s320/Hard%20Water.%20Drizzle%20%20on%20Flowers..%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A couple of weeks ago I was supposed to be meeting Alan at the Barras Market in the East End of Glasgow but being a Sunday I was late trying to catch a bus so I missed him by 15 mins as he had to be elsewhere and had left his mobile phone in the house. Bus services in Glasgow on a Sunday are usually grim so despite leaving my own house much earlier than I normally would on a week day ( when I have a choice of four different buses every 15 to 20 mins Mon to Fri, ) only one of the four buses I could normally get ran a service on Sundays and even then it was cut to every 40 mins. So I missed him. Raindrops clinging to nasturtiums above. Sticky water in action. Another form of surface tension demonstrating the basic laws of physics. Nature always provides us with loads of inspiration. Water gemstones perhaps as a glittering example? I'd imagine rain had this idea first before humans replicated this look with solid objects.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6QSnNVMg4NAY6qRnE5aMJocfuVwEl-_KlfoZaWTbyFLnC0pjMFN0Vmp0M0fx27Ae5yt51dkPPPmouRiGjfFm297IvAu0dNwyYJHaL1XmamUOLatm2R4A8IMwObko6lgVM9NTxfHAp-Wmqc9nrm84BXqNNKDIDL4qvdapRubkzE_aopQ8FvWUuic2_mY/s1503/Shop%20Mural.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1503" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6QSnNVMg4NAY6qRnE5aMJocfuVwEl-_KlfoZaWTbyFLnC0pjMFN0Vmp0M0fx27Ae5yt51dkPPPmouRiGjfFm297IvAu0dNwyYJHaL1XmamUOLatm2R4A8IMwObko6lgVM9NTxfHAp-Wmqc9nrm84BXqNNKDIDL4qvdapRubkzE_aopQ8FvWUuic2_mY/s320/Shop%20Mural.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Cut diamonds mural.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgVxiTk6k72geU6Bf-5NvG6WteULbbEkcI65fIzon_cFihSioPyoZ6evtrKcTA7h7WWbiWc1ilLukZTsW4Zj3mIXJUcGtX0zYaIek4ENub8Lw2wV5bkbsrA6n_y6NPGppSulBVyptfyJuqospJmf3DZ3ep85aj3KpS2l0dLLUht2Wu1mSX-4UkL8KdZg/s1631/Raindrop%20Solar%20System%20on%20a%20Leaf.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1631" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgVxiTk6k72geU6Bf-5NvG6WteULbbEkcI65fIzon_cFihSioPyoZ6evtrKcTA7h7WWbiWc1ilLukZTsW4Zj3mIXJUcGtX0zYaIek4ENub8Lw2wV5bkbsrA6n_y6NPGppSulBVyptfyJuqospJmf3DZ3ep85aj3KpS2l0dLLUht2Wu1mSX-4UkL8KdZg/s320/Raindrop%20Solar%20System%20on%20a%20Leaf.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The original inspiration perhaps to start polishing rough gemstones? After all, this example was right in front of humans all the time as a perfect sparkling reality of what might be possible. Also visible magnification in action with the largest droplet here. Monkey see... monkey do.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzDDjHfHl21pkqqDNrjSGC7-pj_9_9dR1MmOMeY2SaMIoMeia4Z8pT9Dg1DHANijVTFFLS8xHzVe5aSgk9dLXwDOn4FPJrHhqwu1S9DkOYC7gz8-J0uu6CLBwm8QTYJNtJjffNWk4jVrgej_Ycle3Zx7-VB9-_GpX8GwhBWUicC7__DMHy6V9TbKnuAM/s1404/Barras%20Mural,.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1404" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzDDjHfHl21pkqqDNrjSGC7-pj_9_9dR1MmOMeY2SaMIoMeia4Z8pT9Dg1DHANijVTFFLS8xHzVe5aSgk9dLXwDOn4FPJrHhqwu1S9DkOYC7gz8-J0uu6CLBwm8QTYJNtJjffNWk4jVrgej_Ycle3Zx7-VB9-_GpX8GwhBWUicC7__DMHy6V9TbKnuAM/s320/Barras%20Mural,.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So after 20 mins of waiting I realized he was not going to show up so I had a wander around myself with the camera.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ReTachzusEYtbJfwhKuNfpKThb1rYKKpI_Xp1qiqheqYNVwUzv8z4E1k7czxZ2AlsF9bXkBFZl2rfXtPV5oAcEne0RYM3kdtX1sozar81KSrgrenhTVQ3-0LiDUwMDyu6oCAonqoWr6TbcX9janOvpS07r8TE7FU-YEWL-SUMgH3hPNVacHdkoGaQnk/s1451/A%20Bud%20Neill%20Mural.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1451" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ReTachzusEYtbJfwhKuNfpKThb1rYKKpI_Xp1qiqheqYNVwUzv8z4E1k7czxZ2AlsF9bXkBFZl2rfXtPV5oAcEne0RYM3kdtX1sozar81KSrgrenhTVQ3-0LiDUwMDyu6oCAonqoWr6TbcX9janOvpS07r8TE7FU-YEWL-SUMgH3hPNVacHdkoGaQnk/s320/A%20Bud%20Neill%20Mural.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Bud Neill mural above Bill's Tool Store. It was a morning of heavy showers but that just meant the streets and market stalls had less customers than normal, rain being a real trade killer for open markets with less footfall on wet Sundays.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5y1fwgqycrCHIKmLGAQ-pXI6irwKleRUGaiu9EhVvFmlKrEghvwS9ZMyPfBM9h4HVPpdnCY9J69GNJCy9we8OfXIxdRuHfj68GYdbQ3UEeO_J8X_OnW8sG0yrp1wesYmlAsdx0QRIsM6ZIbPWEVvmE78ST4RZzO7KEFQ8pBEC_MZEY6KEuE2n5Db4Gy8/s1603/Bill's%20Tool%20Store%20Mural.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1603" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5y1fwgqycrCHIKmLGAQ-pXI6irwKleRUGaiu9EhVvFmlKrEghvwS9ZMyPfBM9h4HVPpdnCY9J69GNJCy9we8OfXIxdRuHfj68GYdbQ3UEeO_J8X_OnW8sG0yrp1wesYmlAsdx0QRIsM6ZIbPWEVvmE78ST4RZzO7KEFQ8pBEC_MZEY6KEuE2n5Db4Gy8/s320/Bill's%20Tool%20Store%20Mural.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The other half of the mural. Bud Neill was a popular newspaper strip cartoonist during the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s era with a fictional blend of Wild West cowboy influences. local Scottish humour, and World War II references. Bill's tool store has been situated in the Barras for decades.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfQ_ix_sZ73IfDm-xTgjWCkbc_YvKK0bl5d4C-HK13vyINc28Tqv1ko6sZwf_lGmDor8uMZ3EUVcqBMfuETfHrHT9g72d5uvel44BtUYUh-BE5fJ9gciYHENMdIRCbfNliWWNMtYGrSIKR34R5IGGh8oNpglUblDvo1dK0WgDoWlWWKNZ4h-aR6nniBU/s1373/The%20Barrowland%20Ballroom%20Mural.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1373" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfQ_ix_sZ73IfDm-xTgjWCkbc_YvKK0bl5d4C-HK13vyINc28Tqv1ko6sZwf_lGmDor8uMZ3EUVcqBMfuETfHrHT9g72d5uvel44BtUYUh-BE5fJ9gciYHENMdIRCbfNliWWNMtYGrSIKR34R5IGGh8oNpglUblDvo1dK0WgDoWlWWKNZ4h-aR6nniBU/s320/The%20Barrowland%20Ballroom%20Mural.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> A mural tribute to the Scottish novel Shuggie Bain, about a young guy growing up in Glasgow. I've got the book in the house somewhere but not read it yet. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1FMPVdS5T8r_722UOvP94q7yA88rhdplGU_FUa8PhbmZ8qzNQoEJlzeedL-3FTcYc52TabG9FBzDT_9vuUUMiWnkAzJtHlt5VAiqa31rcxAgUMnVaxRmI4LxgQCNh47y3JlrafVQfvc38ZTWoEuT0ltz6x8-y7Tp9MzqFRY3wq3GCo_HArS-6w7nOv0/s5178/Barrowland%20Mural.%20Other%20Half.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2934" data-original-width="5178" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1FMPVdS5T8r_722UOvP94q7yA88rhdplGU_FUa8PhbmZ8qzNQoEJlzeedL-3FTcYc52TabG9FBzDT_9vuUUMiWnkAzJtHlt5VAiqa31rcxAgUMnVaxRmI4LxgQCNh47y3JlrafVQfvc38ZTWoEuT0ltz6x8-y7Tp9MzqFRY3wq3GCo_HArS-6w7nOv0/s320/Barrowland%20Mural.%20Other%20Half.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> It is situated on the side wall of the famous Barrowland Ballroom and is so large I had to capture it in two separate photos.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSh9BiM5IST5L1bbvuHPVFk7eiEhTR28IK1FtMAbUegBhYuHWFlUaa6Ngu6UsvIiQozuEurR6Af1rP7nV1kGljmYt166dbJIdLaRWRTHS7dKfoQhoGQKShIK-iwhSOvkshUzKgLLEyt4tnkvQp_E6DoYm3wWk_ZVtJbPxmYpAJh-dV9wmPVmCmk2gXCQ/s1604/Brick%20Wall%20Mural.%20The%20Barras%20Market.%20Glasgow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1604" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSh9BiM5IST5L1bbvuHPVFk7eiEhTR28IK1FtMAbUegBhYuHWFlUaa6Ngu6UsvIiQozuEurR6Af1rP7nV1kGljmYt166dbJIdLaRWRTHS7dKfoQhoGQKShIK-iwhSOvkshUzKgLLEyt4tnkvQp_E6DoYm3wWk_ZVtJbPxmYpAJh-dV9wmPVmCmk2gXCQ/s320/Brick%20Wall%20Mural.%20The%20Barras%20Market.%20Glasgow.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A few other colourful murals in this area.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPQQjr4L5TbnehSzNlOTUGVTw65Cc22yJGebCB5AKS83cE6WM1zsKzyaf8RiEytt9q-TcUZuMSNn92eZQOzQ9ij8Pb9KwgApd48SFF2xnDbQdvO-m37VOb7jymYyXBbMxinWLAGjJ21gw-_fzWJak-c_bHWV99c1zJFVctAcHbOMxu2C0AxTsaIBQjjw/s1648/Girl%20Mural.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1648" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPQQjr4L5TbnehSzNlOTUGVTw65Cc22yJGebCB5AKS83cE6WM1zsKzyaf8RiEytt9q-TcUZuMSNn92eZQOzQ9ij8Pb9KwgApd48SFF2xnDbQdvO-m37VOb7jymYyXBbMxinWLAGjJ21gw-_fzWJak-c_bHWV99c1zJFVctAcHbOMxu2C0AxTsaIBQjjw/s320/Girl%20Mural.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">An old favourite. Glad to see it still there.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYBSPDWHzDrfb_WUweXJQXX190McPPKa7ter9FWGyKedrLuk7lpAE95-xvARC5JYDHLcP4NGTXi-V-_EiE7M4tuqfyA9-hurl31GeUnorgQVTyh13QQDO0yWSBrO-O4-5ZAI17vRp48djTzkWTtg7JZwxT_f0kYMDWH6c8txPlgtlALQT-H0sGcN3XGY/s1595/A%20Barras%20mural..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1595" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYBSPDWHzDrfb_WUweXJQXX190McPPKa7ter9FWGyKedrLuk7lpAE95-xvARC5JYDHLcP4NGTXi-V-_EiE7M4tuqfyA9-hurl31GeUnorgQVTyh13QQDO0yWSBrO-O4-5ZAI17vRp48djTzkWTtg7JZwxT_f0kYMDWH6c8txPlgtlALQT-H0sGcN3XGY/s320/A%20Barras%20mural..jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">An older very faded and slightly damaged mural I've managed to restore back to full colour before it disappears forever. This is the old Barras market. A traditional view as a place for bargains, street entertainment, and gossip with friends while shopping.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtezpwbZAB4PC9M7KANw-t0BbESoYcdUJIF-CDT2vLe0Xn6loBOtfyb1jmqWeWu6E2N9GWmDuohWJJZAzQZmosudBweiNSvArt-As5vs4HZV6H_POh2LsPxDiLGJ593LYL-O9ijLppCfrQSbNm2yWslSsTJ6HUcF0vZs8KgsW723xq6UD06nmXQU8jZo/s1153/Former%20Clay%20Pipe%20Making%20Factory.%20Late%201800s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1153" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtezpwbZAB4PC9M7KANw-t0BbESoYcdUJIF-CDT2vLe0Xn6loBOtfyb1jmqWeWu6E2N9GWmDuohWJJZAzQZmosudBweiNSvArt-As5vs4HZV6H_POh2LsPxDiLGJ593LYL-O9ijLppCfrQSbNm2yWslSsTJ6HUcF0vZs8KgsW723xq6UD06nmXQU8jZo/s320/Former%20Clay%20Pipe%20Making%20Factory.%20Late%201800s.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The old clay pipe factory, built in 1877, now an occasional arts venue. This was where I was supposed to meet Alan.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBoJy_ghWMoxiAjybag0ud1RHkcyv9IuXs-KaoSoUKUbNLO0fQBAmxWqdpT_1CZ77kZpDyYsqv5BLxdgyhL9XZkfu6DDSZG0QsvHme5v8UmVvUOgHQ6Tm804rxrj3kG5c3QS4uQUys70q9BT6XaLGeOhydtwtmkcUiFGpYhyN2wLChBx4Vh-gsjH0-NU/s1469/A%20Celtic%20Pub%20in%20the%20Barras.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1469" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBoJy_ghWMoxiAjybag0ud1RHkcyv9IuXs-KaoSoUKUbNLO0fQBAmxWqdpT_1CZ77kZpDyYsqv5BLxdgyhL9XZkfu6DDSZG0QsvHme5v8UmVvUOgHQ6Tm804rxrj3kG5c3QS4uQUys70q9BT6XaLGeOhydtwtmkcUiFGpYhyN2wLChBx4Vh-gsjH0-NU/s320/A%20Celtic%20Pub%20in%20the%20Barras.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">A Celtic pub in the Barras. Being traditionally an East End located football team, with Parkhead stadium not that far away, Celtic pubs tend to dominate here. Rangers being located at Ibrox with Rangers pubs scattered around that area traditionally. Makes sense before or after games for favourite pubs to be walking distance away from the football grounds due to the large numbers of supporters involved in one locality.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziduaAaSbTU4IQufgPdJtdEGBmS3PHB9aaSzIM51c-igBam6597ZsUnS8DMRbw9S89RKSU2HDEamPiUjD1ynKU27D_UQbtyCWi05hSZQEf5mnYPJ_MdMTMGbtRiPJQF1fLKvyh4V-Q0uZ6YnRcT-Dx2hgS2ydWmCpgo9EgrsluWJyGAYGwQt_e4PByyg/s1582/Calton%20Weavers%20Strike%20Mural.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1582" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziduaAaSbTU4IQufgPdJtdEGBmS3PHB9aaSzIM51c-igBam6597ZsUnS8DMRbw9S89RKSU2HDEamPiUjD1ynKU27D_UQbtyCWi05hSZQEf5mnYPJ_MdMTMGbtRiPJQF1fLKvyh4V-Q0uZ6YnRcT-Dx2hgS2ydWmCpgo9EgrsluWJyGAYGwQt_e4PByyg/s320/Calton%20Weavers%20Strike%20Mural.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Calton Weavers strike mural.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjyZqG899-_QeKblxADMSKE1uGHL8GHhu3LpN1i2aBCF0D6anTNtaNLcUIgc04TfULPqng3b8gvQ-Ncz7fp-xydwNxKwIO2VEXyiuEZrcMb5UUllQbzSW7AqKXN0IToh45VJsI-2BXZYVr2Npt2SoWk6kCbLXD52oU0lhTyBK-uVjszDSFKU8ETEw1Rg/s1701/Protest%20Mural.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1701" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjyZqG899-_QeKblxADMSKE1uGHL8GHhu3LpN1i2aBCF0D6anTNtaNLcUIgc04TfULPqng3b8gvQ-Ncz7fp-xydwNxKwIO2VEXyiuEZrcMb5UUllQbzSW7AqKXN0IToh45VJsI-2BXZYVr2Npt2SoWk6kCbLXD52oU0lhTyBK-uVjszDSFKU8ETEw1Rg/s320/Protest%20Mural.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The other part of it.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w2OWGR_mf3zwUcgakyuUdp9ZsQiMm1z_qE-gB2mL1pz3CRkBJEr6duiP-dzQpoSYD0jY_ZYOLc4LWO_KaaDs4K9ps1Y1TAxor_mgKOqUT5IE-tZ_ca8uppnq4XXNAN3fE-AifEf6xLBvvzkfJybAxd_8yude7IJKe7Zs_fKTMYXCzIRDNVp_RAqaPGI/s1203/Fortune%20Telling%20Mural.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1203" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w2OWGR_mf3zwUcgakyuUdp9ZsQiMm1z_qE-gB2mL1pz3CRkBJEr6duiP-dzQpoSYD0jY_ZYOLc4LWO_KaaDs4K9ps1Y1TAxor_mgKOqUT5IE-tZ_ca8uppnq4XXNAN3fE-AifEf6xLBvvzkfJybAxd_8yude7IJKe7Zs_fKTMYXCzIRDNVp_RAqaPGI/s320/Fortune%20Telling%20Mural.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Fortune telling mural perhaps.... </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ5i5UXiFolWfU8Av17veAytb5-fCquV0WbBvlQpGpO7PMqZv8CmgtT0M4-WbL7g4YveT_vGbc-qc81DJC5GcK5KPeHOmCuTXAGjOBvm9gV9Om8IduPRXW5LwCu2ZP7me3sUNOk3khz0Mh9dVkgrnA5DL1nFygYnNMbFaOpv-moUgxDN8ZiAWvC8OX5w/s1252/Tunnock's%20Tea%20Cakes%20Mural,.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1252" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ5i5UXiFolWfU8Av17veAytb5-fCquV0WbBvlQpGpO7PMqZv8CmgtT0M4-WbL7g4YveT_vGbc-qc81DJC5GcK5KPeHOmCuTXAGjOBvm9gV9Om8IduPRXW5LwCu2ZP7me3sUNOk3khz0Mh9dVkgrnA5DL1nFygYnNMbFaOpv-moUgxDN8ZiAWvC8OX5w/s320/Tunnock's%20Tea%20Cakes%20Mural,.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Tunnock's tea cakes. A Scottish factory making a variety of tasty treats, caramel wafers being another popular one they make.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilh4T0otoOjrdY8yqy1n-zhp51ONbc7oOgBIHdTpHc5Kcd0fAI1syGcIahxayWeaiFKdLBmXvvs9b2yy9N27ebsNDXcF3yx_BwWU9C9FQ-klMxF1POs_zu3JfhvRcrg_-g1p52aD1BvfW4oGCm7FqqVwRRqIXU0RJQAwz5vc8oOylvKcU7yifh70Ls8og/s5178/Catholic%20Church.%20The%20Barras%20Market.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3768" data-original-width="5178" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilh4T0otoOjrdY8yqy1n-zhp51ONbc7oOgBIHdTpHc5Kcd0fAI1syGcIahxayWeaiFKdLBmXvvs9b2yy9N27ebsNDXcF3yx_BwWU9C9FQ-klMxF1POs_zu3JfhvRcrg_-g1p52aD1BvfW4oGCm7FqqVwRRqIXU0RJQAwz5vc8oOylvKcU7yifh70Ls8og/s320/Catholic%20Church.%20The%20Barras%20Market.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ornate Catholic church in the Barras.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4XFzVKJPMcbQwgBITAaWjYqKNgU_ATyDfifXcfFRk0EBAJuGm0ezJQyOzphnicHDqf8Z9SAYY_8YtQL3Jg1o9n2bKXWroVOPDgjpxqOafzmr8xt8Gm42PQGrwpQMKlpd1tH_a6z7U9yegfeI5U2IYdZX_qGl2Xn4VGsx9BcQMF6ewE1vUnxn7BQiWb8/s1395/Catholic%20Church%20Banner%20at%20The%20Barras.%20Glasgow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1395" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4XFzVKJPMcbQwgBITAaWjYqKNgU_ATyDfifXcfFRk0EBAJuGm0ezJQyOzphnicHDqf8Z9SAYY_8YtQL3Jg1o9n2bKXWroVOPDgjpxqOafzmr8xt8Gm42PQGrwpQMKlpd1tH_a6z7U9yegfeI5U2IYdZX_qGl2Xn4VGsx9BcQMF6ewE1vUnxn7BQiWb8/s320/Catholic%20Church%20Banner%20at%20The%20Barras.%20Glasgow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A closer detail of it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5iX8L0kveEGn8h9AkypzkAfjf_Ez87FNZDmY1VGU9NzmwItgsIpDib-D9uM1tj91uYa1amustTQ7mUD3VZVndEDcwmbdNgTc3-Drmr64JpisPP1UxC9wBmAnxCv0UwL_tZ4I6xdMsHRbj3HIZE5ISKnQNhA2zJAOkmxKfXVwEmHkmc-2yFyPm4E30h8/s1159/Ukraine%20Mural.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1159" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5iX8L0kveEGn8h9AkypzkAfjf_Ez87FNZDmY1VGU9NzmwItgsIpDib-D9uM1tj91uYa1amustTQ7mUD3VZVndEDcwmbdNgTc3-Drmr64JpisPP1UxC9wBmAnxCv0UwL_tZ4I6xdMsHRbj3HIZE5ISKnQNhA2zJAOkmxKfXVwEmHkmc-2yFyPm4E30h8/s320/Ukraine%20Mural.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ukraine mural on shop shutter. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7uVsjbR-bQ9EV02owdhjA2w8rc-u60o4EeoXPNAIm31h8VPXtLpHJfPQ3pz2HwvDR-rv1ITZj21Kg3bl426RfDIxOSnY0T4LIJtN4rBCNr361Z1LmGbQe6HtlRpxORYz_txAtOMQgV0IdoH080M_bKDGJJkhs8AbVUuBym5Cfz4Fmv5kAeTS_wweEhw/s1212/Wall%20Art.%20The%20Barras%20Market.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1212" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7uVsjbR-bQ9EV02owdhjA2w8rc-u60o4EeoXPNAIm31h8VPXtLpHJfPQ3pz2HwvDR-rv1ITZj21Kg3bl426RfDIxOSnY0T4LIJtN4rBCNr361Z1LmGbQe6HtlRpxORYz_txAtOMQgV0IdoH080M_bKDGJJkhs8AbVUuBym5Cfz4Fmv5kAeTS_wweEhw/s320/Wall%20Art.%20The%20Barras%20Market.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Wall art.<p></p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGgLH7Y5kc3iL0MLADx59Pi-k8o3x_wYk6O3pubcGHqkdkYMU3dMmcimPuGn782xOKkxnp3IV-XrWvXcQsjRu9rtroEx6hOd6v_g7qhIoXKJdSzlzwYcRQv5Gy2TWuM1RcWgWk7yLgnzBhP6AOWw0lpsVr2fizSrek8TdnIrSsYZjDKT5Z3u47EFxy74/s1563/The%20Barras%20Market.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1563" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGgLH7Y5kc3iL0MLADx59Pi-k8o3x_wYk6O3pubcGHqkdkYMU3dMmcimPuGn782xOKkxnp3IV-XrWvXcQsjRu9rtroEx6hOd6v_g7qhIoXKJdSzlzwYcRQv5Gy2TWuM1RcWgWk7yLgnzBhP6AOWw0lpsVr2fizSrek8TdnIrSsYZjDKT5Z3u47EFxy74/s320/The%20Barras%20Market.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> What the Barras Market area looks like now.... a handful of lanes with some shuttered shops like these, some moveable outside pop up stalls, and several out the elements labyrinthine, almost Dickensian, indoor passageways... all selling a wide range of fancy goods. Not as wondrous or as busy as in it's heyday period (1930s to 1980s) with much stiffer competition nowadays from a plethora of other discount stores but still a unique experience in Glasgow to this day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKAtR4iR0WOMHp1AwL3ihh4uRv5uYykbMO0p4mXXdvDauJeMCfNoHlHj8_j-xY7WfESkyoVd64Il9VzduhqBCxJ06yXA6f0k5oJgHIAXNt_C9cN4QblDQrB7UZxEz2oXz1bciJL4DSxGgx7tTWTIrbaXoAK99xXMO7HserK3WJNvwi3VIjqdalxu_vn8/s1315/Wet%20Day.%20London%20Road%20at%20The%20Barras%20Market.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1315" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKAtR4iR0WOMHp1AwL3ihh4uRv5uYykbMO0p4mXXdvDauJeMCfNoHlHj8_j-xY7WfESkyoVd64Il9VzduhqBCxJ06yXA6f0k5oJgHIAXNt_C9cN4QblDQrB7UZxEz2oXz1bciJL4DSxGgx7tTWTIrbaXoAK99xXMO7HserK3WJNvwi3VIjqdalxu_vn8/s320/Wet%20Day.%20London%20Road%20at%20The%20Barras%20Market.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Some buildings in the area could do with a fresh coat of paint however... or modernization in some way....</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1M0yZnAEl46vMZf8W1ZFRfmh6QdhyhrTWPsLB-K7kh0isrEHuWGDSjsgEliW8wNN03UzOjP0CI3OxoVp7tTZPH-gmMdPrMTr2Zxo-SLAnL_8cxnjlBO-BcLsITDIIYE-LTdipeh7CkfcvkjRr7BH_ZPt3i_OpLx-TWYzkN-GdssfyFdmA61VmUSaqWaY/s5184/New%20Morrisons.%20The%20Barras%20in%20Glasgow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2910" data-original-width="5184" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1M0yZnAEl46vMZf8W1ZFRfmh6QdhyhrTWPsLB-K7kh0isrEHuWGDSjsgEliW8wNN03UzOjP0CI3OxoVp7tTZPH-gmMdPrMTr2Zxo-SLAnL_8cxnjlBO-BcLsITDIIYE-LTdipeh7CkfcvkjRr7BH_ZPt3i_OpLx-TWYzkN-GdssfyFdmA61VmUSaqWaY/s320/New%20Morrisons.%20The%20Barras%20in%20Glasgow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">But even the Barras District is gradually changing with a large new supermarket close by and modern apartment blocks springing up in the area.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy0ZQfhDXmHLllpVyFjISlP8Kt8Ix4b4NVuqdt6MLpRKC-L4LThfseo1GkIm9qbOfzxOI5cvk0hAaAOiiQ1AxPeXwXstF3zifbocfpsa2up6q_2G-a75n3oL6F3TdzCr7RN2jkXDOVRsHtESWU1Kv6_mZTlb7s9tblW-4Z0Sq_jDBJrXhpA8N8hTpTzs/s1596/barras%20kitchen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1596" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy0ZQfhDXmHLllpVyFjISlP8Kt8Ix4b4NVuqdt6MLpRKC-L4LThfseo1GkIm9qbOfzxOI5cvk0hAaAOiiQ1AxPeXwXstF3zifbocfpsa2up6q_2G-a75n3oL6F3TdzCr7RN2jkXDOVRsHtESWU1Kv6_mZTlb7s9tblW-4Z0Sq_jDBJrXhpA8N8hTpTzs/s320/barras%20kitchen.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The most colourful local restaurant being this one.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV4E2vY7NKAtkdl5dezqdK408dJYZuqpaG5BiVcyHk4z05fuDTzu-ynvUrwJgTylUu38X6pmBWdNnTzqXX1kMN0f7HfPkM1xQbg2M6vpJhUhadgXzGlefln8YUTS7QQ9LoJsrWMxbcaECXWpue0KAqvWybTl81cQ04iFrmDgcBDkkVSL3O5b50d11Gy4/s1595/A%20Barras%20Market%20Cafe%20and%20Resturant.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1595" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV4E2vY7NKAtkdl5dezqdK408dJYZuqpaG5BiVcyHk4z05fuDTzu-ynvUrwJgTylUu38X6pmBWdNnTzqXX1kMN0f7HfPkM1xQbg2M6vpJhUhadgXzGlefln8YUTS7QQ9LoJsrWMxbcaECXWpue0KAqvWybTl81cQ04iFrmDgcBDkkVSL3O5b50d11Gy4/s320/A%20Barras%20Market%20Cafe%20and%20Resturant.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Also with an American theme going on by its vibrant artwork...plus some well known Scottish treats...<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_owRiP2TbORWbFqihoPRjEUwFqdoFAfChuRhOlnuGnzW8C2OR_WEFk-Vrr68kC9I76WZgCwNyp1QlUN_QjO-f7CCg2WVwwujKUHuC5IWwWJZ0o_Q0sa11be3xkQQoUAWkiMitX3Xb53b2jGsaQilmidJjpyxLttDY-YxF2b0tr8Pt4mo-D2Ha0tu9JiI/s1176/Smokies%20Mural.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1176" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_owRiP2TbORWbFqihoPRjEUwFqdoFAfChuRhOlnuGnzW8C2OR_WEFk-Vrr68kC9I76WZgCwNyp1QlUN_QjO-f7CCg2WVwwujKUHuC5IWwWJZ0o_Q0sa11be3xkQQoUAWkiMitX3Xb53b2jGsaQilmidJjpyxLttDY-YxF2b0tr8Pt4mo-D2Ha0tu9JiI/s320/Smokies%20Mural.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Sidewalk mural.... and Only Fools and Horses...as acted by giant budgies...or pigeons.... so plenty to look at as you eat your meal.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsErwdXyM_ouJBsi3lJ3Gf-kfZpMy2FaUVrNmn3HOEqAAwGuNKoM2jM-Pxxg4nqJer0iAFKLNDk6Hc-lZviKMevILkFK053UC8uCQ59IVoMNM6nctvngzUa5dIxORAj6MpYuxZNbHkBXsx9MJTHDKTbV9us5skvFdaD2vZTzdCvb9FC-tRb2_pXHMqOj8/s1470/Smokie%20Trotters.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1470" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsErwdXyM_ouJBsi3lJ3Gf-kfZpMy2FaUVrNmn3HOEqAAwGuNKoM2jM-Pxxg4nqJer0iAFKLNDk6Hc-lZviKMevILkFK053UC8uCQ59IVoMNM6nctvngzUa5dIxORAj6MpYuxZNbHkBXsx9MJTHDKTbV9us5skvFdaD2vZTzdCvb9FC-tRb2_pXHMqOj8/s320/Smokie%20Trotters.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> I wandered back via Glasgow Cross District.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2MQQ2cKfE9MXwizo3Rhk-QQfcx9OH1_AeUM3-CK6B7omJZK2tGS_rNdIc-BSH5yGnH4z-VpBRBjI5MitExbXICuGAjKNZjc1ysscGedvnusCLUWU7EiPqBzygS17F0FqlFsGxXgtZKld8hgNVa4PhvS_w-Eh22WKEZZQ3NdPQTGO6VwlN6fZSFUzCc8/s1313/Flats%20Resembling%20Courtyard%20Castle.%20Glasgow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1313" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2MQQ2cKfE9MXwizo3Rhk-QQfcx9OH1_AeUM3-CK6B7omJZK2tGS_rNdIc-BSH5yGnH4z-VpBRBjI5MitExbXICuGAjKNZjc1ysscGedvnusCLUWU7EiPqBzygS17F0FqlFsGxXgtZKld8hgNVa4PhvS_w-Eh22WKEZZQ3NdPQTGO6VwlN6fZSFUzCc8/s320/Flats%20Resembling%20Courtyard%20Castle.%20Glasgow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Architects often try to imitate certain existing features of their surroundings when placing a new building into the mix. These apartments having the look of an updated medieval castle/ courtyard in some ways with the newer rooftop spire copying the much older version at the back.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaheDuD1q6ZOIZ7YOb9zG7yDzDu_olrO-VGo6n_IcaPB8bCm7_Ath34Kw2RZZzLySYPA9bF_EuHuC80_UHC1r5JRhX9IZJiWMXLVYnFlC1fB-ZW2WGuBAnlW_DKqtk7pQ94o-aKoVuJ_-ir5ZJ934L54M-IIoY3I1KRuDM6BwhhioWjxHmlbXEk1aGYJY/s1562/Glasgow%20Cross%20in%20July%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1562" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaheDuD1q6ZOIZ7YOb9zG7yDzDu_olrO-VGo6n_IcaPB8bCm7_Ath34Kw2RZZzLySYPA9bF_EuHuC80_UHC1r5JRhX9IZJiWMXLVYnFlC1fB-ZW2WGuBAnlW_DKqtk7pQ94o-aKoVuJ_-ir5ZJ934L54M-IIoY3I1KRuDM6BwhhioWjxHmlbXEk1aGYJY/s320/Glasgow%20Cross%20in%20July%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Period buildings close by, above.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fw-Nvsv9R-5oMMuE-c8g_0oQeQ_Vds80A8QeVAbxmyfKtwZNSEggvyNbiTsN1Zz_SmRFBf_9akcvEzjyLQONRiRZ7YWQCLacF6NWdHFkZUcLZkcjMoMI_UUKDBHvrXlz0RcBKZi5y05xY4-S8m5Oeyim1FIQyXOrOUd92RmM5yFl343YhzVLYj_qzcQ/s1477/Period%20Buildings%20Around%20Glasgow%20Cross.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1477" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fw-Nvsv9R-5oMMuE-c8g_0oQeQ_Vds80A8QeVAbxmyfKtwZNSEggvyNbiTsN1Zz_SmRFBf_9akcvEzjyLQONRiRZ7YWQCLacF6NWdHFkZUcLZkcjMoMI_UUKDBHvrXlz0RcBKZi5y05xY4-S8m5Oeyim1FIQyXOrOUd92RmM5yFl343YhzVLYj_qzcQ/s320/Period%20Buildings%20Around%20Glasgow%20Cross.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Glasgow Cross, a mere stone's throw from The Barras. The well preserved older part of the city. If the city fathers had managed to keep and restore more of Glasgow's older districts of period buildings however we would have been much more of a match for Edinburgh's quaint tourist honey-holes of cobbled lanes and alleyways. Glasgow at that time though seemed to be more obsessed with Le Corbusier's vision of a new radiant city springing upwards from the old outdated warrens and communal closes of the early 1800s... demolishing entire old streets and districts... replacing them with in vogue 1950s to1960s visions of concrete hi rise modernity and motorway ring roads.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pwXqEGnNjrN9XPiTVBjxryvj-rhFFQU_TZhyG1HbNstbIbt2qdGD41I6DE0veG2TP9poCmGWU0osd2u1A4KMhmzzzxWZzfvejp9ZZPn5_ACd6yi7WwsuSC5xN5gaw2B1zVuXCkiN2pStFu2sUULyTgWze2O3WzG6ENOEbuhDEELberNhzlv-lXtJ75M/s1196/New%20Building.%20Argyle%20Street.%20Glasgow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1196" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pwXqEGnNjrN9XPiTVBjxryvj-rhFFQU_TZhyG1HbNstbIbt2qdGD41I6DE0veG2TP9poCmGWU0osd2u1A4KMhmzzzxWZzfvejp9ZZPn5_ACd6yi7WwsuSC5xN5gaw2B1zVuXCkiN2pStFu2sUULyTgWze2O3WzG6ENOEbuhDEELberNhzlv-lXtJ75M/s320/New%20Building.%20Argyle%20Street.%20Glasgow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The remaining older buildings we do have left giving a glimpse of that potentially rich ornate past with a brand new 2023 addition rising above in the background and nearing completion.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvggsVRHCJK36251_UvKvskRkvWhvvezorhYELdsXUvB5XlEhUCSfZYm1pAaxgqlXkLgLv_P61unZL_p2UQLekLCo9c23ihcHFg-qbxKlh51mzyVMCtvr4dPv26GfQqkfsIMIk7DeQK73L9QZwa7-QVGFBpPwHp8WJgUXK7qW-p23WIkFjLC08JWDa1xw/s1350/New%20University%20of%20Glasgow%20Buildings.%20Kelvinside.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1350" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvggsVRHCJK36251_UvKvskRkvWhvvezorhYELdsXUvB5XlEhUCSfZYm1pAaxgqlXkLgLv_P61unZL_p2UQLekLCo9c23ihcHFg-qbxKlh51mzyVMCtvr4dPv26GfQqkfsIMIk7DeQK73L9QZwa7-QVGFBpPwHp8WJgUXK7qW-p23WIkFjLC08JWDa1xw/s320/New%20University%20of%20Glasgow%20Buildings.%20Kelvinside.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">On the way back I passed another new addition to Glasgow's infrastructure. On the site of the former Western Infirmary, several blocks rising from the rubble of the old. Probably University of Glasgow student flats.... or other uni infrastructure of some sort.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7dXBHqDO3DqtXIOmtxGDoq4iTseXjRVgmlg11rwNZw2tolxzs18H-ex7VsysI-zAneC4b9dbbUuSTgDNo2yHXTFZjDd8GltUaICwkQ-AvspmiYjDxuHTShTHPwH4yZxbsHiY0R5QQwn1JEGP46WdrbHRXESfJ56C1ds_48JdN_Zefu79Naxwb6pODK4/s1703/Street%20Mural.%20Partick.%20Glasgow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1703" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7dXBHqDO3DqtXIOmtxGDoq4iTseXjRVgmlg11rwNZw2tolxzs18H-ex7VsysI-zAneC4b9dbbUuSTgDNo2yHXTFZjDd8GltUaICwkQ-AvspmiYjDxuHTShTHPwH4yZxbsHiY0R5QQwn1JEGP46WdrbHRXESfJ56C1ds_48JdN_Zefu79Naxwb6pODK4/s320/Street%20Mural.%20Partick.%20Glasgow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">....and another street mural in nearby Partick. Still raining on and off.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiTRlUpcDHET_IBMNNsV1k-nTZgL6_U41gZK6BkHVLPZ1ioQ9SPDGa_k-P-auJ9tTflS5NAVcGZgrTNZj1Jxvg2-SLnIyTIGjqYB5qaBLgYDCKt_7wYscUB61XaK8Fo-p8PnQzI7pVUBDALCu3FAm18DMgFFbw39G5jsz5db6GaM0UtvRZ0q7uYtJm_A/s1163/An%20Angry%20Mural.%20The%20Barras.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1163" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiTRlUpcDHET_IBMNNsV1k-nTZgL6_U41gZK6BkHVLPZ1ioQ9SPDGa_k-P-auJ9tTflS5NAVcGZgrTNZj1Jxvg2-SLnIyTIGjqYB5qaBLgYDCKt_7wYscUB61XaK8Fo-p8PnQzI7pVUBDALCu3FAm18DMgFFbw39G5jsz5db6GaM0UtvRZ0q7uYtJm_A/s320/An%20Angry%20Mural.%20The%20Barras.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So I might have missed Alan but I still made the most of my time at the Barras. Even with Sunday buses! Angry mural.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo34ZXLFHPrvDsTqnVeAEupbxIgzDWeAl4C-sFBx-7tMq46CVg4lqwkcJJe2x4o4plkQrB6hNQkC6lsH8SM9KozdiqpvHZQiGOGvr_PAePMxYQx-2fxOc-lTBIPGq4lcIcwYkUI0sm__sARkYvu2InIAkkDDHYlenU_Iw3m4QL4SMx_g_7eILzstIoC_s/s1401/Rock%20Mural%20The%20Barras%20Market.%20Glasgow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1401" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo34ZXLFHPrvDsTqnVeAEupbxIgzDWeAl4C-sFBx-7tMq46CVg4lqwkcJJe2x4o4plkQrB6hNQkC6lsH8SM9KozdiqpvHZQiGOGvr_PAePMxYQx-2fxOc-lTBIPGq4lcIcwYkUI0sm__sARkYvu2InIAkkDDHYlenU_Iw3m4QL4SMx_g_7eILzstIoC_s/s320/Rock%20Mural%20The%20Barras%20Market.%20Glasgow.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Rock's not dead mural.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9sRXCbfWZJ6efFFEZ1cf14a4A0G4U9a4Z9vdSyDHQte8aOXJq5lksfyW-ddgywLyQiGo7BRJo86WfGH4RCsre0_mkzHll3QolCWBLeLc00UkYgHc0cfsXEZZREdaHZ7ZAJM6IVCn_K9vgI2qnyio2clYyQjBnftuUHWkwx1Sy9ZPvXOPKoZVichRmH4/s1599/Alert%20Young%20Fox.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1599" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9sRXCbfWZJ6efFFEZ1cf14a4A0G4U9a4Z9vdSyDHQte8aOXJq5lksfyW-ddgywLyQiGo7BRJo86WfGH4RCsre0_mkzHll3QolCWBLeLc00UkYgHc0cfsXEZZREdaHZ7ZAJM6IVCn_K9vgI2qnyio2clYyQjBnftuUHWkwx1Sy9ZPvXOPKoZVichRmH4/s320/Alert%20Young%20Fox.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And I met a young fox and got to play with it. So a good productive day.<br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-1437742823739085332023-08-08T15:33:00.006+01:002023-08-08T15:58:10.664+01:00A River Clyde and Clyde Estuary Gallery.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tJpYkiOPupu01GHkXUV8bpOpu5QDmTI2-7rLuSqUkvBjFR0AMP3lQ9f7p0fC26MZrQOh_nIBsxBlBc0BN-ccidEcmZ5VuOWlF_sZAFdyceB_4LBGVRAfvH_9TeT5jj0dbVQxdhWFQgHr8lQ09cu1xMa6tfEEluCsfoSHm1GEgtVu4kV114WDF2ujdY0/s1600/Cruise%20Ship%20Ambition.%20River%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tJpYkiOPupu01GHkXUV8bpOpu5QDmTI2-7rLuSqUkvBjFR0AMP3lQ9f7p0fC26MZrQOh_nIBsxBlBc0BN-ccidEcmZ5VuOWlF_sZAFdyceB_4LBGVRAfvH_9TeT5jj0dbVQxdhWFQgHr8lQ09cu1xMa6tfEEluCsfoSHm1GEgtVu4kV114WDF2ujdY0/s320/Cruise%20Ship%20Ambition.%20River%20Clyde.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> A photo gallery of two different days along the River Clyde and the Clyde Estuary. The first is the Ambition Cruise ship from March, berthed at Glasgow's Govan docks for displaced Ukrainian refugees to live on until they wanted to return home or get settled elsewhere. I think there was one moored in Edinburgh as well for the same purpose by Scottish government arrangement. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4PRhERO-XOBFdyPAiOVedxj_kwUQOdQQxB404cL_tScuQzQ_wMrO-RZHkpUKCsus9zN8WZ-kHwT0xKOlw4oFc6oe8I8zKKnuUlX45y2SsojN_e_oYfWLLkAzDgIRYQ2-sMS7ocIFmQ-hTFdrZniDxESxOAzZBzlPyHGX3BLyGoFvQpgO9-WVfwN8RjU/s1511/Cruise%20Ship%20and%20Tug.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1511" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4PRhERO-XOBFdyPAiOVedxj_kwUQOdQQxB404cL_tScuQzQ_wMrO-RZHkpUKCsus9zN8WZ-kHwT0xKOlw4oFc6oe8I8zKKnuUlX45y2SsojN_e_oYfWLLkAzDgIRYQ2-sMS7ocIFmQ-hTFdrZniDxESxOAzZBzlPyHGX3BLyGoFvQpgO9-WVfwN8RjU/s320/Cruise%20Ship%20and%20Tug.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> I missed getting photos of all three cruise ships berthed in Glasgow during covid lockdown when no one was taking holidays so this was me finally getting the chance to capture one, close up, departing the River Clyde. ( when I mentioned in my outdoor book Autohighography, that Christine and Ian took cruises in the 1980s it was not this type of cruise, although Christine would have been keen. As usual lack of money meant they did some basic research first, got to Europe's biggest rivers, then sailed down or up them by the cheapest means available. No fancy dinners or lunches for them. Often no beds on board either. Sleeping bags on deck sometimes, if lucky. On the plus side no smart phone booking ahead grabbing places weeks in advance so often they just turned up on the day and picked what was on offer from the locals once over there. Hopping different boats in stages. Different times but more of an adventure that way. Unpredictable, which really suited Ian. Christine... not so much.)</span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XJry95D7wR6uZj52TXpGR4036L1Dq_-3zQdVsEmANDMewquDw6RIPsaJTRfssz6WaZ3s8tM8wGP7XeRMNOsmS9R66-WaY_NR2ywyJhXFlHyRDv1UbgTktoxDocT1FL2c4nQOlAprmzbbuiUehqXINodWmjdQHOza7v8JwDp3j02tj1KktDvxvM7RZz8/s1650/Cruise%20Ship%20Passing%20Clydebank.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1650" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XJry95D7wR6uZj52TXpGR4036L1Dq_-3zQdVsEmANDMewquDw6RIPsaJTRfssz6WaZ3s8tM8wGP7XeRMNOsmS9R66-WaY_NR2ywyJhXFlHyRDv1UbgTktoxDocT1FL2c4nQOlAprmzbbuiUehqXINodWmjdQHOza7v8JwDp3j02tj1KktDvxvM7RZz8/s320/Cruise%20Ship%20Passing%20Clydebank.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A very different type of refugee ship is currently berthed in an English port at the moment in a trial run and it's worth pointing out that the recent influx of refugees crossing the channel or through Europe in droves is greatly facilitated by smart phone use, which translates any language barriers instantly, informs how to make claims once here, gives details of where to find people smugglers, small boats etc,....and shows the poor and hungry elsewhere a very different enviable lifestyle enjoyed by many other, richer, countries and in general takes a lot of the uncertainty out of travelling into the unknown, even if you live in a mud hut. So for that reason alone I cannot see the influx diminishing any time soon even though we are fast running out of hotels to put them all in. Another disadvantage of smart phones. And Brexit, so far, has made the UK poorer, not richer.<br /></span></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSwJD_eNd84SzT-rVhEZ0JHDIkfQrXtuvl-oKKF_39WVcnwMmxr3Hpd4JW_WWnZAPKALagidcG2DeUQ9sGHWdwMhLmIvXNnihbwzMVIfPbN2c8_fUmv7ZMRHPpz6WolDVo0BNWRXA7Uz64MKEcYGa8tZbu5FP9qQd6tktRC3-NbxibvEnGlBcqUa8e_U/s1527/Cruise%20Ship%20and%20Titan%20Crane.%20Clydebank.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1527" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSwJD_eNd84SzT-rVhEZ0JHDIkfQrXtuvl-oKKF_39WVcnwMmxr3Hpd4JW_WWnZAPKALagidcG2DeUQ9sGHWdwMhLmIvXNnihbwzMVIfPbN2c8_fUmv7ZMRHPpz6WolDVo0BNWRXA7Uz64MKEcYGa8tZbu5FP9qQd6tktRC3-NbxibvEnGlBcqUa8e_U/s320/Cruise%20Ship%20and%20Titan%20Crane.%20Clydebank.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A last view of it departing past Clydebank and the blue Titan Crane. There are a lot of drawbacks to having a cashless society as well... as we will soon find out if we go down that road in the near future. Big business is all for it of course as they can save loads of money shedding millions of jobs that used to be done by humans. Don't think I've posted these before as I only had a few photos of this ship.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckaB9h87vmp5K1Sg7VAWZylU3t3zPgUQqs6N3py48dxCSH99Or6xXWocpiIDgLUXx7vty5JrP1YTyHezdHiy_CAMTjL2RjGurVLrH3ar9fQ6YHuGtAX5xHv93N_W-p_mxnAhlcGsHjO8_1Eiy3VRJqCSZ-D28jA5-To3Pn7W6FJFsGO5Q05QmsmQuJcQ/s1610/Dumbarton%20Rock%20and%20Castle.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1610" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckaB9h87vmp5K1Sg7VAWZylU3t3zPgUQqs6N3py48dxCSH99Or6xXWocpiIDgLUXx7vty5JrP1YTyHezdHiy_CAMTjL2RjGurVLrH3ar9fQ6YHuGtAX5xHv93N_W-p_mxnAhlcGsHjO8_1Eiy3VRJqCSZ-D28jA5-To3Pn7W6FJFsGO5Q05QmsmQuJcQ/s320/Dumbarton%20Rock%20and%20Castle.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A recent different walk is this one undertaken from Dumbarton and Levengrove Park, which always has nice flower displays in Spring, Summer and Autumn.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixj01BUJXu7e74zs2uTDZdXvp4v5q5osWHhDII9OnaCodHe6dirC5bE2MNzFkrzT3kcQ7LHGjvBwCyW6FgNDmI1PAyNu7xSXX0UAsxAD6cRwVEUBZCzqhTvYvJIwlnCQL-zaTTuCu4VjlciWZUXUklZyP9ZlOdx18LY4fGOw0JlXfxYLc9CFwnh2txjTQ/s1651/Central%20Flower%20Gardens.%20Levengrove%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1651" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixj01BUJXu7e74zs2uTDZdXvp4v5q5osWHhDII9OnaCodHe6dirC5bE2MNzFkrzT3kcQ7LHGjvBwCyW6FgNDmI1PAyNu7xSXX0UAsxAD6cRwVEUBZCzqhTvYvJIwlnCQL-zaTTuCu4VjlciWZUXUklZyP9ZlOdx18LY4fGOw0JlXfxYLc9CFwnh2txjTQ/s320/Central%20Flower%20Gardens.%20Levengrove%20Park.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> July and August 2023 display as we passed. Alan had his Dad along this time.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNccM-4oc3RZe3Njw9UnHobCus3oAF4OpsuKmS_3KnOeZEqrkEWYa4Z3gkWKlnHR0mjKL6hsKjTb_ut14FJ_4jlIclMyllTygngBwu69t6sjrKb7Vi66xpBOePax3NmB5zSQUfoaDaesNPzDd1Ha7vIEEbn5myJx-cxXRVoiLs2mTgyM7pDzHcrU37MI/s1605/Huge%20Skies.%20The%20Mudflats.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1605" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNccM-4oc3RZe3Njw9UnHobCus3oAF4OpsuKmS_3KnOeZEqrkEWYa4Z3gkWKlnHR0mjKL6hsKjTb_ut14FJ_4jlIclMyllTygngBwu69t6sjrKb7Vi66xpBOePax3NmB5zSQUfoaDaesNPzDd1Ha7vIEEbn5myJx-cxXRVoiLs2mTgyM7pDzHcrU37MI/s320/Huge%20Skies.%20The%20Mudflats.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Low tide so we were able to walk across the mud flats in places.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK266a50w-I7Y9voEYf5FHj1ahSZdN8m7nVJWgamo3F9HOO3ELXC7rMCneAcAIFyPH85hF32rG7eFYqySXoDATWDQNaVhB9F4jPLuaqR2Y74P2aF80j4ppljHz9NJu4ptfQ-RqUKW4X1kkJuuzH4tWEmui7krYxQVRJKm7mPewMju-TEczTJbrZmi2-Nk/s1503/Large%20Villa.%20Dumbarton%20District.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1503" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK266a50w-I7Y9voEYf5FHj1ahSZdN8m7nVJWgamo3F9HOO3ELXC7rMCneAcAIFyPH85hF32rG7eFYqySXoDATWDQNaVhB9F4jPLuaqR2Y74P2aF80j4ppljHz9NJu4ptfQ-RqUKW4X1kkJuuzH4tWEmui7krYxQVRJKm7mPewMju-TEczTJbrZmi2-Nk/s320/Large%20Villa.%20Dumbarton%20District.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A large prominent villa. Dumbarton district.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYE5F6M3b2XXyHQVbQFcCW191KOzoDJCqEZQ5sIL-62rJo1Wh_B59YJYG8qHD2TkpyVyjJRC-ZO_SSa4590g6r30i6Ptggsaus7kAaCgYxCSNARytdvtOR_OvjNCHCmt43T2MA2-E0T9jfJNOKiC4ORnKYnARqZJMzSljwFf8GXZyDaD3WL3T4N8r6wU/s1513/Big%20Skies.%20The%20Mudflats%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1513" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYE5F6M3b2XXyHQVbQFcCW191KOzoDJCqEZQ5sIL-62rJo1Wh_B59YJYG8qHD2TkpyVyjJRC-ZO_SSa4590g6r30i6Ptggsaus7kAaCgYxCSNARytdvtOR_OvjNCHCmt43T2MA2-E0T9jfJNOKiC4ORnKYnARqZJMzSljwFf8GXZyDaD3WL3T4N8r6wU/s320/Big%20Skies.%20The%20Mudflats%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> In places it was ankle deep in water, mud, and sand but the views were good out here. Huge skies and flat horizons, very unusual for Scotland. Not a place for expensive boots though as salt water eats away at them unless washed in fresh water afterwards.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTn6LZ80V49-bUc8PUE0cfec-XfSna-VafjujJVUtbkX99TMdnOmAr2eKi7EP6MuY7BoCWmt4jp8VlkbLbo719h2ucausAxASOAhTRz-ImnXrERQBH24UOOXnK7ZSHBfuF_2JG5ryL2UXTIHUBbUfkkYNsrJlTFkGsUQvb5Sym4ZPukyzHSoIJkqpXis/s1497/Fishery%20Protection%20Ship.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1497" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTn6LZ80V49-bUc8PUE0cfec-XfSna-VafjujJVUtbkX99TMdnOmAr2eKi7EP6MuY7BoCWmt4jp8VlkbLbo719h2ucausAxASOAhTRz-ImnXrERQBH24UOOXnK7ZSHBfuF_2JG5ryL2UXTIHUBbUfkkYNsrJlTFkGsUQvb5Sym4ZPukyzHSoIJkqpXis/s320/Fishery%20Protection%20Ship.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A fishery protection vessel.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SiobBfAO9jLhWOwIm_K23CWnjQYzkNANC4HvmIA_yyKfFBuNLkIyOlNZAqhZfReGV82Q7golmT1zADWa_KRJBE4DQIS2SSF5dR-T0tjS7Hbrij-ZhwVB_hJpquDRFCOFuy-l2aBo2SGwMnQdraV5R3myb-So0Uq4S8-zu9m84Ah2ILdV1WEPYGB0sOs/s1706/Waverley%20Paddle%20Steamer%20Passing%20Langbank.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1706" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SiobBfAO9jLhWOwIm_K23CWnjQYzkNANC4HvmIA_yyKfFBuNLkIyOlNZAqhZfReGV82Q7golmT1zADWa_KRJBE4DQIS2SSF5dR-T0tjS7Hbrij-ZhwVB_hJpquDRFCOFuy-l2aBo2SGwMnQdraV5R3myb-So0Uq4S8-zu9m84Ah2ILdV1WEPYGB0sOs/s320/Waverley%20Paddle%20Steamer%20Passing%20Langbank.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The Waverley paddle steamer on a day cruise down the River Clyde, passing Langbank. ( this is more in keeping with Christine and Ian's type of 1980s European cruise holiday set up... but still a good trip. The last ocean going paddle steamer in the world apparently.. yet I've never been on it yet. You have to book in advance so it's pot luck what weather you get.<br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBr-2ulKOFa4oCLemqhSRllRKblG5A2SkgzTjeMDWAm30yaqf21aXyfojO3_GPdvY-Xx0qcB2xe6ys_2kjP4aPTdPUY9zbG1iyquql4cYD-B77Sv8QVvLllWw2ZqfHUkG5TVzXvOX-UxlIO-LQUHr9Zoo1QQHiCW9SpCG8Pvg4RaPe0T9hXJQURKaYOg/s1399/Port%20Glasgow%20From%20the%20Mud%20Flats.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1399" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBr-2ulKOFa4oCLemqhSRllRKblG5A2SkgzTjeMDWAm30yaqf21aXyfojO3_GPdvY-Xx0qcB2xe6ys_2kjP4aPTdPUY9zbG1iyquql4cYD-B77Sv8QVvLllWw2ZqfHUkG5TVzXvOX-UxlIO-LQUHr9Zoo1QQHiCW9SpCG8Pvg4RaPe0T9hXJQURKaYOg/s320/Port%20Glasgow%20From%20the%20Mud%20Flats.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> <span style="font-size: medium;">Port Glasgow from the mudflats. Also shows where we set off from in Alan's small boat several posts ago.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj36TW0GjNiKSrZnlscKyc5UeuPFoLXXiW1RPNK4G1QN_hpetN06CNHZodvOXrP1LhmAyMw4nIceTZvVNfJSWOUcOaRd2_G0qjXqAqNuBWHrmHVFUgqBw4snempJyicJFEihX_pTkZ-hGvUExsHX0Shpb2Rs0ekiSNUqnI8ECTKJ0TQq3NTq3LZwBsfY0/s1618/Large%20Cruise%20Ship%20at%20Greenock%20Docks.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1618" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj36TW0GjNiKSrZnlscKyc5UeuPFoLXXiW1RPNK4G1QN_hpetN06CNHZodvOXrP1LhmAyMw4nIceTZvVNfJSWOUcOaRd2_G0qjXqAqNuBWHrmHVFUgqBw4snempJyicJFEihX_pTkZ-hGvUExsHX0Shpb2Rs0ekiSNUqnI8ECTKJ0TQq3NTq3LZwBsfY0/s320/Large%20Cruise%20Ship%20at%20Greenock%20Docks.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Greenock docks and another cruise ship. Greenock is a regular stop in spring, summer and autumn cruise lists, having deep water berth facilities, although as our recent small boat trip proved you need to be very careful and have local knowledge to avoid the numerous sandbanks in this estuary, especially in a massive cruise ship. <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlSAwL2NWshfSuJL91t1WMzwUJlDP8qQDGLrRFKpuMGR9p0F4m-HsSAf1vsAHYjYJC-AQwclx-dAVrpW1MtbfIjeBfHjP7C7VmL2mZhOkQw4XFUavpi3BJtHJHglVw3qX2wla-rxB8G_30hvjM1DawWNiObTM6PJJ08cZ2LduvqPuxV4_YdmkSvTIuOE/s1466/Langbank.%20Clyde%20Estuary%20Viewpoint.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1466" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlSAwL2NWshfSuJL91t1WMzwUJlDP8qQDGLrRFKpuMGR9p0F4m-HsSAf1vsAHYjYJC-AQwclx-dAVrpW1MtbfIjeBfHjP7C7VmL2mZhOkQw4XFUavpi3BJtHJHglVw3qX2wla-rxB8G_30hvjM1DawWNiObTM6PJJ08cZ2LduvqPuxV4_YdmkSvTIuOE/s320/Langbank.%20Clyde%20Estuary%20Viewpoint.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A good sunny day out.</span><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429013260986201371.post-74266416436727937222023-07-19T17:44:00.011+01:002023-11-08T10:49:16.803+00:00Ardmay Park. King's Park. Croft Park. Drakemire Drive. Holmbyre. Big Wood. Cathkin Braes. Castlemilk Park.<p> ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1J0UZ0RW5JwPb5rCyiQ6TSGHf-hRbNxlDZr1ta7iYGwIm95bxP2ukF7AVcgmlBTOYHQIq2ASAP9SwVm6ZpqxA_7OwBYtCH20UT2vNARvlUEjcMOAvkwLbTGo1Zz9yjnXQX4KFpZD3lANWQXJ7dJ3HWHZ9Py9l0eSM5PiUlaZpOgboJmsYnqYi5vGFKo/s1563/Hampden%20Park.%20National%20Football%20Stadium.%20Glasgow%20%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1563" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1J0UZ0RW5JwPb5rCyiQ6TSGHf-hRbNxlDZr1ta7iYGwIm95bxP2ukF7AVcgmlBTOYHQIq2ASAP9SwVm6ZpqxA_7OwBYtCH20UT2vNARvlUEjcMOAvkwLbTGo1Zz9yjnXQX4KFpZD3lANWQXJ7dJ3HWHZ9Py9l0eSM5PiUlaZpOgboJmsYnqYi5vGFKo/s320/Hampden%20Park.%20National%20Football%20Stadium.%20Glasgow%20%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> A variation walk suggested by Alan on the mid south side of Glasgow devised by the Glasgow Ramblers I believe to give a good long walk by linking up a group of city parks and green spaces in a circular romp. It's called the 'Magnificent 11', although we dispensed with Netherton Braes, Linn Crematorium, and Linn Park as it was a hot day. The name is derived from either 11 parks visited ( I only count 7 or 8 though) or an 11 mile long route. We parked on a side street near King's Park railway station then walked the short distance to Ardmay Park for the views over the city and the nearby Hampden Park, Scotland's National Stadium, seen above.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCGgCNw2LvJ3s_FEfvgBwS7JsqQXRA7eAvVv5A0HAHLxfKNBkUsKDFGgkOA3CUkuuHXkondop40x1vff8qby0wUchMEFpSp14UKTCl9UA-vaiNHpNZ_cc9Oyrgkp228LKP9jrNni0xcKeN8hl4AHvSUAPB6kvU-1sbat7xZ0_9PQLRAwLnH9EzpCLgDk/s1539/King's%20Park.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1539" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCGgCNw2LvJ3s_FEfvgBwS7JsqQXRA7eAvVv5A0HAHLxfKNBkUsKDFGgkOA3CUkuuHXkondop40x1vff8qby0wUchMEFpSp14UKTCl9UA-vaiNHpNZ_cc9Oyrgkp228LKP9jrNni0xcKeN8hl4AHvSUAPB6kvU-1sbat7xZ0_9PQLRAwLnH9EzpCLgDk/s320/King's%20Park.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">King's Park came next which is a lovely medium sized park full of open meadows and mature deciduous trees. Capability Brown style as it was once the private estate grounds of the large and still standing Aikenhead House<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGQDQkjJjj2IOuCwiNj1E2oQl6xV7gw9IhJbkgHa3nEITnUAXBM_Rg93yVV0BBgl07jHGYp4qd5pu-nJmIii2v_R8TzJATD2hLKJNUwn6sUZwi9WEjeq2AElTNyHFhHiq2qZPrchdMcoWaGT0DF4t5mT0nrvdTJYyR1cOrmKNaDgm4RXOdBg3ThDIyKU/s1278/Croft%20Park%20and%20King's%20Park.%20Glasgow%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1278" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGQDQkjJjj2IOuCwiNj1E2oQl6xV7gw9IhJbkgHa3nEITnUAXBM_Rg93yVV0BBgl07jHGYp4qd5pu-nJmIii2v_R8TzJATD2hLKJNUwn6sUZwi9WEjeq2AElTNyHFhHiq2qZPrchdMcoWaGT0DF4t5mT0nrvdTJYyR1cOrmKNaDgm4RXOdBg3ThDIyKU/s320/Croft%20Park%20and%20King's%20Park.%20Glasgow%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Straight across the road from King's Park is a newly created green space on what was once the sloping domain of King's Park Golf Course. When I was here about ten years ago it was all short grass open meadow, still looked like a recently abandoned golf course, but now it's been remodeled with a curving path, see above, and planted with trees. A view from Croft Park looking towards King's Park, above.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Next came Drakemire Drive and a set of stairs leading up to Lainshaw Drive Then Holmbyre, on the western edge of Castlemilk.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX3NWKJo5KmhBybb_PeRJb4NyC0ePnOMwzbtWV5sZcQ2xRNgIrTtvIQJeMgdP8vAQ1_tVgJkQmevyliFeDOZOLyayeFlWKnACu064VGXSFztkeaLe8FnO6T9Fm-4cnlunH_ZH-Xa4igTex0kPNRE38X5A80RO2D6N76jrdFIvIfaQp8eSLl8kUJPasF0/s1512/Painted%20and%20Real%20Flowers.%20Castlemilk%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1512" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX3NWKJo5KmhBybb_PeRJb4NyC0ePnOMwzbtWV5sZcQ2xRNgIrTtvIQJeMgdP8vAQ1_tVgJkQmevyliFeDOZOLyayeFlWKnACu064VGXSFztkeaLe8FnO6T9Fm-4cnlunH_ZH-Xa4igTex0kPNRE38X5A80RO2D6N76jrdFIvIfaQp8eSLl8kUJPasF0/s320/Painted%20and%20Real%20Flowers.%20Castlemilk%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> <span style="font-size: medium;">Holmbyre (Road) is classed as part of Castlemilk but is a detached small scheme/ housing estate separated from the main bulk of Castlemilk by the broad sweep of Carmunock Road. Therefore not as rough an estate as the densely packed tenement interior of Castlemilk, the original tenement houses here, as you can see, have been mainly saved, like Drakemire Drive, with a modern makeover. I liked this bright and colourful wall mural of flowers, halfway up the estate that we passed. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWSJAz-DjQGEJ9B_sZVCLXNCQn6QJxi9EpeFFgd5cwumVna48HnbaFREMYbGQGbGHtx1w3r1u5LnfSRfVovBJ4rrjGblf07DCXdBAvyNRvMn8_Isvn9mUcz1JUkinCHuUcvVNN7GsNUnPtMfCdJPEVGCQVOvt1b2zA7b_vUh5MQ2UXPoh8RF4ChrcAAE/s1521/Mural%20Guy.%20Castlemilk.%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1521" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWSJAz-DjQGEJ9B_sZVCLXNCQn6QJxi9EpeFFgd5cwumVna48HnbaFREMYbGQGbGHtx1w3r1u5LnfSRfVovBJ4rrjGblf07DCXdBAvyNRvMn8_Isvn9mUcz1JUkinCHuUcvVNN7GsNUnPtMfCdJPEVGCQVOvt1b2zA7b_vUh5MQ2UXPoh8RF4ChrcAAE/s320/Mural%20Guy.%20Castlemilk.%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Alan was not as keen on it though. It also had a lush carpet of real wild flowers in front of it.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMttjlnDeCah7UndldT_zUHxbwgu4Nyx4jI_oE30yZlrBXlBunxPM21a7_7nWw8SK90qhu5ZAbB1FgWZqim2eA7YpjfX3eWmbrSfX9Zl_kh7oaOn5yLABRguEYePdpF9p3-YhFItqRHvllrnUGO_WXkoWiRndvs2Pewm6XpjSGG9pBe_jSFpH4SsoJWsc/s1589/Holmbyre.%20Castlemilk%20Mural.%20Glasgow%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1589" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMttjlnDeCah7UndldT_zUHxbwgu4Nyx4jI_oE30yZlrBXlBunxPM21a7_7nWw8SK90qhu5ZAbB1FgWZqim2eA7YpjfX3eWmbrSfX9Zl_kh7oaOn5yLABRguEYePdpF9p3-YhFItqRHvllrnUGO_WXkoWiRndvs2Pewm6XpjSGG9pBe_jSFpH4SsoJWsc/s320/Holmbyre.%20Castlemilk%20Mural.%20Glasgow%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Pink thistles and rose bay willow herb mainly</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUMJCnzKZHpxT8JwuzcItld5IppgpzJuONswBaymVA6u0_zxnC5rkNpVXf0iPGpqU9-V17Hl4m4I5H9gANGuoAc-0gDK-YF5r3RnereiJplbpzsrG68A8TQX-OxDmRWEJOVIv0_J5CfIbko2tt7bDb14khVFgFkBgya_ZJ8H2z8A5PYhpHjEiR3RFzag/s1429/Holmbyre,%20Castlemilk.2023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1429" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUMJCnzKZHpxT8JwuzcItld5IppgpzJuONswBaymVA6u0_zxnC5rkNpVXf0iPGpqU9-V17Hl4m4I5H9gANGuoAc-0gDK-YF5r3RnereiJplbpzsrG68A8TQX-OxDmRWEJOVIv0_J5CfIbko2tt7bDb14khVFgFkBgya_ZJ8H2z8A5PYhpHjEiR3RFzag/s320/Holmbyre,%20Castlemilk.2023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A splash of colour does make a significant difference to a place and on human moods living there. The original Castlemilk scheme/ estate comprised of three and four storey mainly grey tenement clusters, densely packed and somewhat claustrophobic, especially for a visitor, with a once notorious reputation. Even when I visited it in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s many of the tenements were boarded up and abandoned, with graffiti up to the rooftops in places. It was a wild place for an outsider wandering around up until the early 2000s when they started knocking down the worst affected areas. It's like night and day now with far more lower level upmarket housing built, a richer diversity of building types to look at, and a more scattered population.... roughly half the number of inhabitants than it used to have with several sets of high rise flats gone and many tenement cluster districts no longer there or slimmed down in scale. I've always enjoyed exploring housing estates though as part of a walk... Alan not so much :o) </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7ofHD2Tx5v2m4rkr2fA5UkF7Q0byYDln0oNsJC0GIYpCdmRn3d24Srq0jfhN7ZZNlQfcjftYNVrjgglNLTM23hDUV4pqdnas7scMN1f5EHAv476A_kLcwBlAATTjstC0Ctdu6OpDFq1bNjOmzoP3q_dtV2HNKMVmE6MXVMfGr1pN5GD7S1zeX2gtDl8/s1612/Castlemilk%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1612" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7ofHD2Tx5v2m4rkr2fA5UkF7Q0byYDln0oNsJC0GIYpCdmRn3d24Srq0jfhN7ZZNlQfcjftYNVrjgglNLTM23hDUV4pqdnas7scMN1f5EHAv476A_kLcwBlAATTjstC0Ctdu6OpDFq1bNjOmzoP3q_dtV2HNKMVmE6MXVMfGr1pN5GD7S1zeX2gtDl8/s320/Castlemilk%20Sculpture.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Like a lot of hill-walkers he felt happier in open countryside rather than prowling around urban estates. But he did like this sculpture on the edge of the green belt.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYUZYV7goKbi_oRBVEm1_L7PKLibkezmVvACDG9gLURnFbBGxHvAL_hYbcgwYpAPBbyVZMeoYCxWrjT3vCCxytC-7rPsj17yETLnzwRvlE37UF3Q_YhkpYrWAUDuYxzgt9HjDsrRJJ3jtW-7tuEj7yoenPMhoxsMdDyyTrk17mC8yggWbf2IgxUnihUc/s1569/Countryside%20Paths%20Near%20Cathkin%20Braes.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1569" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYUZYV7goKbi_oRBVEm1_L7PKLibkezmVvACDG9gLURnFbBGxHvAL_hYbcgwYpAPBbyVZMeoYCxWrjT3vCCxytC-7rPsj17yETLnzwRvlE37UF3Q_YhkpYrWAUDuYxzgt9HjDsrRJJ3jtW-7tuEj7yoenPMhoxsMdDyyTrk17mC8yggWbf2IgxUnihUc/s320/Countryside%20Paths%20Near%20Cathkin%20Braes.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Which led us up into open countryside again between Castlemilk and Carmunnock. A green path here leading up to Cathkin Braes Country Park and the Big Wood.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8_S5BYUNkKfgn4h7I-XBKBJV_fjJkCviAoZaeDPJnlcpFDbLyTigvNtlmQ_UvE_1l9EC09OCGAtZWWYVerQ6YdaboKy2-Kr7Stdi6_-UjsZQJ9ylDXvd6-G_HESKsULExPtBo7o2ERjmJ6BWuslqFivPF_qG53aQ_GsH9kK14QkhCXAJSH0GxWKo70Q/s1367/East%20Renfrewshire%20Countryside.%20Stamped,.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1367" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8_S5BYUNkKfgn4h7I-XBKBJV_fjJkCviAoZaeDPJnlcpFDbLyTigvNtlmQ_UvE_1l9EC09OCGAtZWWYVerQ6YdaboKy2-Kr7Stdi6_-UjsZQJ9ylDXvd6-G_HESKsULExPtBo7o2ERjmJ6BWuslqFivPF_qG53aQ_GsH9kK14QkhCXAJSH0GxWKo70Q/s320/East%20Renfrewshire%20Countryside.%20Stamped,.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Views over the surrounding district.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdD2McUNUhoKnRWvGthmB1VwVNQuYDXlxKEA7LK_UUVQfGvLKZz7pcCzBbKnW-AGGd62QnDfmzRK31IKespuSzg9jtVtcNs8Q7Rx-uiw4isdfZD4QvfHIPKO5bIXInOKfyai_KsH5s2iteJMGn4a2f1-nl2TlabNW7klIM3Y9n3GoqfATWoAQRAdnI4bE/s1523/Cathkin%20Braes%20Wind%20Turbine.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1523" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdD2McUNUhoKnRWvGthmB1VwVNQuYDXlxKEA7LK_UUVQfGvLKZz7pcCzBbKnW-AGGd62QnDfmzRK31IKespuSzg9jtVtcNs8Q7Rx-uiw4isdfZD4QvfHIPKO5bIXInOKfyai_KsH5s2iteJMGn4a2f1-nl2TlabNW7klIM3Y9n3GoqfATWoAQRAdnI4bE/s320/Cathkin%20Braes%20Wind%20Turbine.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Alan heading up towards the single large wind turbine on Cathkin Braes....</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSFvaAKK042Hyib5ySHtntvJ5Vpv6c38gZ5EZMy8JRceVyzlW_LHjj6DrtrnqbqYwVbNPaHR34DBYqFLJKUs5DfFnU3WJ0rUGOE-Ye2OHyuqcKCT-TLzofMZAM1kFsgpx8vSk_Vl26f457OWU12k0qMN21NQchyIKUrzQRJMsJ3gyxQbnrilXBbMFMlA/s1569/Part%20of%20Glasgow%20City%20Centre.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1569" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSFvaAKK042Hyib5ySHtntvJ5Vpv6c38gZ5EZMy8JRceVyzlW_LHjj6DrtrnqbqYwVbNPaHR34DBYqFLJKUs5DfFnU3WJ0rUGOE-Ye2OHyuqcKCT-TLzofMZAM1kFsgpx8vSk_Vl26f457OWU12k0qMN21NQchyIKUrzQRJMsJ3gyxQbnrilXBbMFMlA/s320/Part%20of%20Glasgow%20City%20Centre.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Where we got extensive if heat hazy views over the UK's 4th largest city. ( This list changes depending on whatever list you look at, with London first by a long way, then Birmingham, then usually either Glasgow or Leeds in 3rd or 4th place. Leeds sprinting ahead of Glasgow during the last few decades.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgan-sKH6UZd3FAFueoPpibkDLeLimgwf83X-gpi11iHHSVf9y60bAaDdhgZdEswAXC2pVgjHNLuTaYaYJ3c6dyVzKbHxG1JYjcnBDw1D9jHL5iMuf-4PDfEzTA81d2yM5PehUOiUT-5D9-iAIg01t9d89ddTVHVl3P39cAaoZANyygkN6uFar3Ao0blg/s1449/Glasgow%20City%20Centre%20District%20From%20Castlemilk.%20Glasgow%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1449" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgan-sKH6UZd3FAFueoPpibkDLeLimgwf83X-gpi11iHHSVf9y60bAaDdhgZdEswAXC2pVgjHNLuTaYaYJ3c6dyVzKbHxG1JYjcnBDw1D9jHL5iMuf-4PDfEzTA81d2yM5PehUOiUT-5D9-iAIg01t9d89ddTVHVl3P39cAaoZANyygkN6uFar3Ao0blg/s320/Glasgow%20City%20Centre%20District%20From%20Castlemilk.%20Glasgow%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's an impressive urban sprawl anyway, in whatever position it sits in the league table, stretching in both directions away into the distance when you take in the surrounding, nearly touching towns, like Hamilton, Motherwell, Wishaw, Coatbridge, Paisley, etc... over two million people in one glance from this viewpoint.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hIk_5XUhELwxfmP30EYGouH4MOdgRazb2tNoF46ofXBuO3_48w6InjhcIYQx-L8fuTtwYzUS7W6Ww7A1Al_ZO3DHU8kkvMOiOJT76m2IrsS4pU-ZIjFJoFaoJBBaOySTuj1aHZH-RMM0osuXuRMTZJNH-h4OHKa3KGgxjiVVr-M-77E5e6PI5weZEiY/s1526/Castlemilk%20and%20Celtic%20Park%20FC.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1526" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hIk_5XUhELwxfmP30EYGouH4MOdgRazb2tNoF46ofXBuO3_48w6InjhcIYQx-L8fuTtwYzUS7W6Ww7A1Al_ZO3DHU8kkvMOiOJT76m2IrsS4pU-ZIjFJoFaoJBBaOySTuj1aHZH-RMM0osuXuRMTZJNH-h4OHKa3KGgxjiVVr-M-77E5e6PI5weZEiY/s320/Castlemilk%20and%20Celtic%20Park%20FC.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Castlemilk tenements from Big Wood and Celtic Park FC, in the distance.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVu3wzVLFFgsh9mSkXK6yqgIkfx2TGLf1YVAcucn6FrUdQC4agZkIGJJ0bExqkYH0vQgU1nQ387fXprZtV94tsdSyZ8wkaTrS3vrL4Txo1Pk8BD4d9Ly8Udhi5YO_ld9C7tKLjxS6632nz-vpb65vWokq_z72UJfCnT8tzR8TboVDPSiL9mVC64QJeDQ/s1418/Looking%20Across%20Glasgow%20From%20Castlemilk..%20July%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1418" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVu3wzVLFFgsh9mSkXK6yqgIkfx2TGLf1YVAcucn6FrUdQC4agZkIGJJ0bExqkYH0vQgU1nQ387fXprZtV94tsdSyZ8wkaTrS3vrL4Txo1Pk8BD4d9Ly8Udhi5YO_ld9C7tKLjxS6632nz-vpb65vWokq_z72UJfCnT8tzR8TboVDPSiL9mVC64QJeDQ/s320/Looking%20Across%20Glasgow%20From%20Castlemilk..%20July%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">City Centre district and Finnieston here and a photo that shows Glasgow sitting in its shallow bowl surrounded by hill ranges. Kilpatricks and Campsies on the north..... Brownside Braes and Cathkin Braes in the west and south.<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGH4PJQlx1kbrS3Ay_-2G5OIivSkZnjokx811O3WZhtZGFwAMu2kVslBcfLddBEnfwPYkC8ihzispyVTWr-vBXVyLHXB-NoYAqLOHHG6HEGq_bUdaS7NM-b6klGBGRsGYtf7bQUpqZ3jpG0ajrBULke2hFWEVJrKO4CM3wk8BuIel6RQrmiANs3YyarAc/s1509/Castlemilk%20from%20Big%20Wood%20Viewpoint.%20Glasgow%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1509" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGH4PJQlx1kbrS3Ay_-2G5OIivSkZnjokx811O3WZhtZGFwAMu2kVslBcfLddBEnfwPYkC8ihzispyVTWr-vBXVyLHXB-NoYAqLOHHG6HEGq_bUdaS7NM-b6klGBGRsGYtf7bQUpqZ3jpG0ajrBULke2hFWEVJrKO4CM3wk8BuIel6RQrmiANs3YyarAc/s320/Castlemilk%20from%20Big%20Wood%20Viewpoint.%20Glasgow%202023.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And just below our feet the remaining tenements of Castlemilk which rises up a long slope and was the reason for the Drakemire Drive detour to lessen the uphill walking and leave us with a long easy downhill march back to the car at the end, just when we needed it most. At one time in the 1970s over 36,000 people lived within Castlemilk. One of the 'big four' Glasgow council housing estates built in the 1950s on open land on the edges to re-house the residents of the city from it's crumbling and insanitary inner district one hundred year old slums. 36, 000 incidentally is larger than Falkirk at 35,500, Irvine at 34,000 and only slightly smaller than the town of Stirling at 38,000, yet it's only one district of Glasgow out of dozens more within the city limits<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbYvXGEe03wBV7E8u3hFtRtJLZ_ooJSM00GvdW9WM-GQdpPCVLxUDewDV0j4_u9Z8p4_eyBCmcFnRvfnqxZGxhps2ecjYKSYnsmXK2UsqJweCjK1p3GdU7PaMI9Iu8I5QQDYU3Tck1pRPptrqkDzWYqnvUpr-jSXvD35axfE41L5qI4z1tf15w4nGRcE/s1458/House%20With%20a%20View.%20Castlemilk.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1458" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbYvXGEe03wBV7E8u3hFtRtJLZ_ooJSM00GvdW9WM-GQdpPCVLxUDewDV0j4_u9Z8p4_eyBCmcFnRvfnqxZGxhps2ecjYKSYnsmXK2UsqJweCjK1p3GdU7PaMI9Iu8I5QQDYU3Tck1pRPptrqkDzWYqnvUpr-jSXvD35axfE41L5qI4z1tf15w4nGRcE/s320/House%20With%20a%20View.%20Castlemilk.%20Glasgow.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A house with a view from the top edge of Castlemilk. Like Pollok and Drumchapel Castlemilk is surrounded by wonderful green countryside as it was once a grand estate with a large house sitting in its own extensive grounds. The big house is long gone but the stables and the leafy glen with the remains of a stone bridge spanning it and fish pond below can still be seen today.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Grand Estate link and photos here.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlemilk_House" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlemilk_House</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRHyxzH9SclvIAhJv3BF8qE9ObBPJG-RlVx89azgNztG2MO69jzez7k7VOcCZIEaklwbTDVnfmV_NNl73zif6VjW0K3Qcj-ccTSQbYEIrEnr8TukSIoOJcbV1OK2XQHVvW-C4BcW6rJ-3NTv1qG9zBI3qX9ucLw9Sk3OA75Ke0ewPzk4oREVhbZG2mBs/s1067/Castlemilk%20Stables.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRHyxzH9SclvIAhJv3BF8qE9ObBPJG-RlVx89azgNztG2MO69jzez7k7VOcCZIEaklwbTDVnfmV_NNl73zif6VjW0K3Qcj-ccTSQbYEIrEnr8TukSIoOJcbV1OK2XQHVvW-C4BcW6rJ-3NTv1qG9zBI3qX9ucLw9Sk3OA75Ke0ewPzk4oREVhbZG2mBs/s320/Castlemilk%20Stables.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Castlemilk Stables, now a drop in centre and community resource. The only building left from that time period.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhHP5pliuw5KeOaDSVNnMkYYneLFahbc7svtdf20HGNYgWDmM0QWdzxomxRCKiA4efc2Ej8eQvKJs2fZUGfDDvs8lEFcs8K-CUy4Ho4qZX1F9y0O2PNCeKilfjxGQFyBZfRmTrO5J8U9Xi4N6qgqYqUiMbEduzd_jGo87m528k7oCJw0lBiwSG5qF8Zk/s1410/Dead%20Tree%20and%20Large%20Fungi.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1410" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhHP5pliuw5KeOaDSVNnMkYYneLFahbc7svtdf20HGNYgWDmM0QWdzxomxRCKiA4efc2Ej8eQvKJs2fZUGfDDvs8lEFcs8K-CUy4Ho4qZX1F9y0O2PNCeKilfjxGQFyBZfRmTrO5J8U9Xi4N6qgqYqUiMbEduzd_jGo87m528k7oCJw0lBiwSG5qF8Zk/s320/Dead%20Tree%20and%20Large%20Fungi.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Large fungi on dead tree in Castlemilk Glen.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDiNsUk7A78EgRV_yXbX4JeFSyQDzR2DabcE2487bL-BeYBjODV3WL8CR78ZMHr3cw7J7rze3fNB_4IxCL8ZoHNeieY-z9F9-FtronZGC87EFMxSIU8VsNgy7mdkPrz5BYUPa_r3OoOn9qLcxPNvSE3KEycMHT2fZKED1K2_w_fADP_lXJnnTGD_qgiU/s1711/Town.%20Stamped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1711" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDiNsUk7A78EgRV_yXbX4JeFSyQDzR2DabcE2487bL-BeYBjODV3WL8CR78ZMHr3cw7J7rze3fNB_4IxCL8ZoHNeieY-z9F9-FtronZGC87EFMxSIU8VsNgy7mdkPrz5BYUPa_r3OoOn9qLcxPNvSE3KEycMHT2fZKED1K2_w_fADP_lXJnnTGD_qgiU/s320/Town.%20Stamped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">A good walk and we both felt it in the legs on the way back. Glad to reach the car again.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQ9WYKCaBNyYDOgP-QQdwDyOQr5lJjIqqDjN6EdAJBwYEzzvlHBRw-bTqPgXvLlBQ4RJGZMwxyNDk-Rd0_OY8t8OCXK9SR_B9Rx3X6xBjZPKLUiRRvcddAFLHnQFuiiC_VX_W5Vt2y6adFql_oRhjsz3TFcHZtGLrMWu1cjDJ4ZoNaXK99eX4cHQLoXY/s1187/Info%20Sign.%20Castlemilk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1187" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQ9WYKCaBNyYDOgP-QQdwDyOQr5lJjIqqDjN6EdAJBwYEzzvlHBRw-bTqPgXvLlBQ4RJGZMwxyNDk-Rd0_OY8t8OCXK9SR_B9Rx3X6xBjZPKLUiRRvcddAFLHnQFuiiC_VX_W5Vt2y6adFql_oRhjsz3TFcHZtGLrMWu1cjDJ4ZoNaXK99eX4cHQLoXY/s320/Info%20Sign.%20Castlemilk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Near where the Mitchellhill high rise flats used to stand a car park exists at the top of Castlemilk as a gateway to The Commonwealth Games mountain bike circuit. Starting from here it's a challenge though as winding trails climb steeply up several hundred feet to the summit where the wind turbine sits. I have seen mountain bikers struggle up this way but I would definitely pick the easier alternative route on the flat as several car parks exist nearer the summit of this long slope off the B759 Cathkin Road. A good day out.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>blueskyscotlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09373718369702364265noreply@blogger.com9