WALKING ON WATER

The February walk was through the Culbin Forest and then along the shore - at least that was what was intended - it didn't actually turn out quite like that. I can only say that it was as well there was just a small, but allegedly select, band who could make it. Certainly, I can say that they were clearly rugged and intrepid - or foolhardy. You must be the judge of which of these it was - I will stick to the facts as always.

So here are the intrepid crew posing in the idyllic Culbin Forest - a bit cold but nice and sunny. The photo was taken by Robin who completed the unfortunate band of wanderers.

They went through the forest until they reached the big game observation platform from where you could watch herds of wildebeest sweeping across the plains pursued by magnificent prides of lion, snarling and ripping their way through the red and bleeding....oops just got carried away there. Actually you could look over the forest and out to the calm and benign sea.

Here they are on the way down - in more ways than one!

Soon they were at the seaside - see the old salmon fishing stances out on the mud flats.

More of the same - lovely and peaceful isn't it?

Walking along the fabulous beach, I expect they thought they were somewhere in the Carribean.

However, if they had looked off shore they would have got a vital clue as to how the rest of the day was going to pan out.
It all started out deceptively easily to start with - just a bit of a squeeze between the cliff of sand and the incoming sea - nothing to worry about really.

Then they ran out of beach! Really, they were between a soft place and a wet place.

Time to be divine and try to walk on water.

One of the rarer wading birds not commonly found on this part of the coastline. It is more often seen in drier areas with a glass of white wine!

Note the dainty footwork, here - all in vain, of course, - they all got soaked.

So much into deep water did they get that the fish began to nibble their toes.

Robin's not just really wet, he's ringing!

This was them before they set out. See how happy and smiling they all are - full of hope and joyous expectation.

This was them after the socks had been rung out - full of despair and dejection - about to build a raft out of tree trunks and plastic containers and float off to the pub.

We are lucky indeed that they all made it back safely from their little tidal adventure. They say they all enjoyed themselves, so thanks must go to King Canute for arranging the walk. Robin is now not allowed to do any more walks that come within 20 miles of the sea.