THE LONG MARCH AT DUNTELCHAIG

Hugh and Pam sorted out a mini March at Duntelchaig. It was mini because a lot of people were missing. However, it looks like those who were there had a good time.

Here is Dave at the start of the walk. Just in case people didn't know it was the start he decided to wear a HiViz vest to make the point.

Here the intrepid bunch are setting off. The weather obviously took Dave's message to heart and made a new and better start.

Fabulous views from the top - I just hope that there wasn't a break with tradition that involved some climbing!

Very artistic - not sure about Sandra's pose, though, perhaps she was just fascinated by the bend in Dave's stick.

Did Neil really steal one of these nice trees in the previous photos just to provide some support on the walk - not likely given his conservationist stance - it does look like a twig to me, though. It has to be said that Ann was rather more stylish with her pashmina than Neil with the twisty trousers.

A couple of chicks - no comments, please, about the sign!

A few more chicks

And they say chivalry is dead.

This may be the third or fourth picture we have of people getting into boats on dry land in the course of one of the walks - I suppose it must be something to do with dinosaurs evolving from sea creatures.

A nice misty picture of the little church at Flichity - where if you go into the churchyard you can still see the marks on the walls from where the Jacobites sharpened their swords before the battle of Culloden. They believed that by using the church as a whetstone they would gain divine protection - how wrong can you get?

At least you get educated as well as entertained when you read this stuff.

A nice friendly picture at the crossroads.

A strange picture - I may be persuaded to buy a pint for anyone who was not on the walk who gives me the best explanation for what Hugh is doing and why everyone is pointing at him. I am pretty sure the answer isn't what I think it is.

Dave doing his Shakin' Stevens impression despite everyone pleading with him not to.

Neil took everyone to see the next stage in VisitScotland's campaign to attract more of our Continental neighbours to come on holiday to the Highlands.

Looks like lunchtime was short on conversation but long on views.

Back to the pub - looks like another good walk - can we keep it up?

By the way, is that a third eye that Pam has, or is there something more sinister happening - I seem to recall that Hugh was abducted by aliens on an earlier walk.

Well done to all and next a whole weekend at a lighthouse - I can't wait - what with no driving from the pub there are bound to be some people with a bit of a hangover on the Sunday walk.

RAMBLING ROUND ROSEMARKIE That's alliteration to you poetic types.

A good day in Rosemarkie for our February walk up the Fairy Glen along the road towards Eathie, onto the beach and back to the Plough Inn at Rosemarkie. Jim, who arranged the walk assured us that he had checked the tidal tables! If he was wrong then it was a long way back from the point where the tide would have prevented us from completing the circular tour. If that had happened I am pretty sure that our number would have been reduced by one.

Anyway, we were all a bit early at the car park, which was just as well, because Jim was confused about which jacket he was supposed to wear - he is colour blind after all - this text is all in orange just for you, Jim!

The walk started just nicely in the Fairy Glen which is always good for a stroll. However, it wasn't all bridges and easy stuff. Further up there was no bridge to get across the raging torrent, but luckily the fairies had been out and put in some nice stepping logs.

And here is the raging torrent.

Before crossing, we all stopped to look at the coins stuck in the tree trunk. Hugh, being an accountant, counted them all up - he wouldn't tell us how much it was as it clearly was somebody's tax shelter - his fee was pretty good though!

Here we all are crossing the raging river. These photos look like one of these expiditions in the deep Malaysian jungle - you know the ones where they take a wrong turning and not all of them make it back!

After succesfully making it across the river without loss we moved onto the public road where some of the girls couldn't resist horsing around.

Then onto the yellow brick road - at least Jim thinks it was yellow - leading to the beach down a fairly steep little path studded with primroses even this early in the year.

I feel that I cannot make any kind of comment about the next series of photographs - at least I can't think of anything to say that might not be misconstrued.

Please judge for yourselves.

Lunchtime on the beach.

The group photo.

We did go to the pub afterwards, but nobody took a camera so there is no proof. However, they were very good to us at the Plough and we made plans for the lighthouse trip that is coming off in April - what fun that promises to be!

Well done to Jim and Jacque for the walk and the fairy logs.