A DOCHARN GOOD WALK

A small, but allegedly, select band were able to make the date in March. They walked around the Carrbridge area and into the Docharn Woods. They seem to have had a good time. However, before they left the car park they all admired the car that Hugh had bought for Pam - it is the one with the personalised number plate.

Soon they were on their way and Hugh asked them all to look at the camera for a group picture. Unfortunately some of them could not follow these fairly easy instructions.

It wasn't long until they were into the woods and no matter how hard he tried Dave couldn't get a word in edgeways!

However, the walk was not without its obstacles - but the strapping lumberjacks soon managed to sort it out.

There clearly was a lot to see on the walk, or else they were auditioning for the YMCA.

They all wanted lunch, but it was a bit before 1 o'clock and despite all the arguments, Dave would not come down off the fence (or the gate) and make a decision.

Eventually, he relents and they all sit around like little pixies in the woods.

Soon they were back on their way again and they found another car for Charlie to fix up for next year's Snowman Rally!

But not before Robin decided to see if there was anything he could find that might help the NHS out of a severe budgetary situation.

In a similar vein, Dave decides that he could just about keep the tree alive until next Christmas!

I wasn't clear whether this photo was the group just seeing how many dinosaurs it would take to break the bridge, or whether Robin had fallen in and the others were deciding who should jump in after him.

Eventually they made their way home and who was waiting for them, but Jim!

I realise that I was not there, so I would have to admit that this version of events may not actually be too close to what happened, but it looked likely to me!

RAMBLING BY THE RIVERSIDE

Our February walk involved a nice circular along and across the River Nairn, starting at Kilravock. We all gathered at Jim and Jacque's to start and here is a picture of their house.

From there we went the short distance to Kilravock Castle, which is an altogether more humble abode - but it does have a much grander sign at the entrance than Jim and Jacque's. As you can see, it was a bit on the cold side, with snow lying on the ground. That is why we were there rather than Abriachan where the snow would have been up to our armpits - well at least the armpits of Agnes and Sandra!

Soon we were off the public road and into the Castle grounds, where only some of the women were looking where they were going - the rest were exercising their vocal chords and trusting in their unerring sense of direction.

Just in case that was to let them down, the master cartographer showed us all where we were, by pointing to the arrow that said "You are here". It was true as well - we were!!

From where we were we went somewhere else - in fact we went to look at one of the tallest trees in the country - A Sitka Spruce. It was certainly big enough to dwarf us. Jim and Dave were going to go back with the chainsaw to get some logs for the wood-burners later.

Whilst most of us were over-awed by the tree, Maureen found something else to play with - I feel that I cannot possibly do this photo justice, so I will say nothing more.

After that we came upon a little hermitage, complete with Bible for some quiet contemplation - luckily there was no-one there, because there was nothing quiet about us. It had been decorated and well kept, despite its evident age - oh sorry that is Agnes through the window. The photograph after shows some of the decoration.

Whilst the walk was relatively straightforward it did involve some obstacles - but luckily there were some helpful old-school gentlemen about to help the frailer ladies across these.

Here we are at the bridge across the River Nairn - although you cannot see just how precarious the bridge actually was.

And so we had to cross the River, using the rickety bridge to do so. Pam showed off her classic deportment by crossing without using her hands to hold on.

Dave, on the other hand was less sure-footed and bowed to the rigours of age and held on.

In fact, Pam wasn't really showing of her walk from the Finishing School, she was actually auditioning for her exit from the Big Brother House!

And then it was time for lunch - a little early, but Dave was so hungry he could hardly get the food into his mouth quickly enough!

Just to show that this was a working landscape - here are some tracks in the snow looking across to Ben Wyvis.

Back off the public road we came to a bridge providing access to one of the very nice big houses nearby. It got a bit embarrassing then, when the girls started to do the Can-Can on the bridge - they couldn't be persuaded to jump onto the parapet to do an encore.

After the Can-Can, Dave asked Sandra to do a bungee jump off the bridge - and here he is looking very happy with the results!

The girls thought it was fun to try and guess which of the boys' bums this most looked like. What I wanted to know was how any of them was in a position to be able to make any meaningful comparison!

And so to the pub - where we had a very pleasant drink before heading homewards.

Another fine walk and well done to all. Just to show that despite the snow, Spring is just around the corner and we can expect some nicer weather for the walks to come.