OFF UP TO THE CRAIG!

The June walk was along part of the Caledonian canal and then up to Craigphadrig. The blog would have been done sooner than this - indeed, it actually was - but a bad case of puncher's digit meant that it disappeared into the ether before I published it.

However, here it is and we start with a nice atmospheric photo of a boat with reflection. I had plenty of time to take this photo as Dave and Sandra - the ex-teachers - had failed to read the instructions thoroughly and had gone to the wrong starting point. There will be a punishment exercise for that at some point in the future.

Soon we were on our way and as chance would have it we had to walk past my own yacht - recently purchased as a result of the wads of cash given to me by the Council on my retirement!

We took a quick detour into the Merkinch Local Nature Reserve. We all looked quite interested in what can only be described as brown sludge.

The next photo is the not quite the bridge photo.

Not only was this a site of natural wonder, it was one of significant historical interest - here is King Canute's throne.

Back to the towpath and evidence of the cutbacks affecting publicly funded bodies was clear in this British Waterways sign - you would think they could take it down for the summer - even if it is summer in the Highlands.

We carried on out the sea-lock and the weather was getting very warm. So much so, that Hugh began to look a bit like a wild west gunslinger.

And here is the bridge photo.

At the sea-lock, Mac and Neil chained Robin to the railings and only agreed to let him go again, if he stopped talking about that great shot on the 4th at Castle Heather!

Meanwhile, Hugh took the lonely gunfighter image a bit too far, adopting a thoughtful and moody look as if waiting for the bad guys to get ofF the train.

We left the open spaces and the flat walking of the canal behind and took to the jungles of Craigphadrig.

We soon reached the top and the trained archaeologists among us were excited to see the Iron Age fort in front of us.

The rest of them just couldn't see it at all!

Then, finally, Janet got it.

Foxgloves and the Beauly Firth beyond. If I had been really clever, I might actually have been able to take a photo of the foxglove with the hamlet of Foxhole in the distance, but I wasn't.

Apparently these trees are thought to be like picture frames or arches framing the view - a bit too arty for me, but they do make a nice contribution to the composition.

It was all downhill from here on in.

Soon we left nature behind and got back to the soothing straight lines of the canal.

And very pretty it was too.

Sharon and Susan adding to the prettiness of it all. I was paid to say that.

Some more boats waiting to ascend the canal using nothing but the miracle of water engineering.

Opening the floodgates!

And that was the end of the walk. A very pleasant one it was - arranged by Mac and Janet and not a drop of rain in sight. Well done to them and to everyone who took part.