LOSSIEMOUTH TO KINGSTON.

Another coastal walk for August. This time we went from Lossiemouth to Kingston - a fair distance but a good walk with lots of interest. It could have been shorter, but for some fairly sadistic parking that required us to go further than was absolutely necessary! Not that I am complaining, but my feet are still sore!

As this was a one way walk, most of the men left to sort out the cars whilst I was left alone with four women - a sort of dream, but not quite! In any event there is a canal next to the car park where we were left. There is also a helpful interpretive board that tells you all about the canal, which is not really a canal, but a drainage system designed by Thomas Telford to drain the Spynie Loch. As I spent a little while absorbing all this history and engineering, the gang of four decided to leave without telling me. I turned round to let them know what it was all about and they had gone. Given they have a collective age of over 200 I soon guessed where they were and headed for the public toilets - and sure enough, that's where I found them. Below is a photograph of the really interesting sluices that controlled the tide and prevented upstream flooding.

And here are the ladies at the ladies.

Soon we were joined by the rest of the group and we had to cross the river to get to the beach. Given the sign below we decided to take the bridge - which was very picturesque.

This is some of us crossing the bridge.

Soon we were on the other side and on to the glorious beach with hardly anyone else there with us. Although it was a Sunday morning it was clear that some of us had taken strong drink the night before - as you can see from the attempts to walk in a straight line.



Some nice photos of the beach - and as you can see the weather was getting nicer and warmer - always a cue for some dodgy apparel to make an appearance and this time was no exception.

Once we got off the beach the shorts appeared along with the obligatory white knees. I don't recall any white socks and sandals, though. However, it was to get much worse!

This is Susan showing us the ventilation slits in her trousers - at least, that is what I think she said.

Soon after that we all had to sit down!

After lunch we took in some urban art just to show that we are not just a bunch of backwoods hillbillies with no concept of modern trendy things - although I thought the guy was called Banksy - perhaps he changed his name due to the financial crisis!

From the art gallery we moved on to the shooting gallery, which is still used for target practice today. This is me inside one of the buildings waiting on everyone to leave so that I could use the facilities.

As you might expect, there were signs telling people to be careful and remember that this was a rifle range where you were supposed to be sensible.

Here is one of the signs.

Here are Jim and Robin ignoring the sign.

Here is Susan telling Maureen and Sandra exactly what she is going to do to Robin when she gets him home - and I suspect it didn't involve the ventilation slits!

Jacque just told Jim to walk on his own and not to come back until he could behave himself.

Finally we made our way back to the cars and the chance of a welcome seat. However, we came across this sign - which came as a shock to Mac, who didn't realise that Janet had a hidden career as a property speculator.

Another great walk on a great day - thanks to Mac and Janet for organising it as well as ensuring that the weather was so good. Just in case anybody missed it, I was the only one who did not have a big sticky cake in the tearoom in Lossiemouth afterwards.