LOST IN SPEYSIDE

Well, where to start on this blog. Actually that was part of the problem. I wasn't able to go and they just didn't know where to start, go or finish!! It just got worse from the moment that they all ended up in different car parks.  They were supposed to walk around Loch Morlich - and I think they did in the end.

I hesitate to say who organised (or not) this walk - but it was Pam and Hugh.

Having said that, they did step in to do that at short notice due to the fact that Sue and Charlie were away.

As you can see, even when they got together, they couldn't quite decide where to go.

After considerable discussion, off they went.

Some went left and some went right. Actually, I don't think that was true, but I have just cleverly used the two photos to suggets that!

Soon, with some expert navigational skills they found the right way to go. Firstly, Hugh had a good look for a sure sign that they were heading in the right direction.

And sure enough, he found it.

Only Sandra and Pam seem to have confidence that Hugh the Navigator has got it right. It is only fair to point out that Pam may have had a vested interest in supporting Hugh.

But it was well worth the views, once they got on their way.

Then it was time for lunch under a tree on the beach.

As you might have noticed, Dave wasn't there, otherwise they would have had a much better picnic site.

Can it really be true - Mac has mastered some new(ish) technology and looks like he is about to take a digital photo!

Sandra and Sharon just seem relieved to be able to sit down and not to have to worry about where they were going.

After lunch it was time to get going again. At least it would be if they knew where they were meant to go! It seems pretty dangerous to me to be asking Maureen which way to go.

Three (wise?) men, no map............no idea!

This photo seems to me to indicate a degree of insecurity about having chosen the wrong route. There is an element of looking back longingly in the direction of home.

Neil seems to be leaving them to it as he ponders nature's gifts and decides whether he could steal a boat and make a dash for freedom.

Was it a Reggie Perrin moment for Neil, or just a nice picture of the beach?

It was just a nice picture of the beach - and here are some ducks enjoying the water.

Right, what is the worst that happens if we go this way?

After using the sun to navigate...........

.....they decided to find out!

And, so off they went again.

And this was the worst that happened.

They finally saw the wood for the trees and made it back to the car park - sooner than they had intended due to some slight detours.

At least they made it as I think the vultures were already looking for the dead trees to sit on and wait for things to go from bad to worse.

Actually, it wasn't really as bad as I have suggested and they all had a good time. Well done to Pam and Hugh for almost organising the walk and you won't have to do it again for a very, very long time.

A STEP TO FARR

The September walk was organised by Neil and Ann and took place at Farr on a series of community paths. It looked like it might rain on us, but we were lucky and it stayed dry.

After leaving the community car park we soon got underway. We obviously scared the natives as this man took to his roof to escape us.

Soon we reached something that we all recognised - can you guess what it is?

From something comfortably familiar we soon got out into some more untamed wilderness.

I could tell that autumn was approaching as the rest of the dinosaurs were receding - and not just in distance - you should see some of their hairlines.

The wilderness was not that untamed, as you can see from this photo that we were not too far from Farr and what passes for civilisation here.

We weren't sure if this was an instruction or not, but we went over the bridge anyway - nothing holds us back!

More signs of autumn.

A very strange water pipe in the woods, which only proves that water can run up the way as well as down - a bit like my shares!

A tricky bit - just as well there was something to hold onto at our age.

Another sign of autumn.

A sign that an alien civilisation was not too far away - a bit like the War of the Worlds.

And we were not alone! I am not sure if they thought we were more stupid than they were.

And to prove the point!

As you can see the path was very, very, very wide - allowing 5 women to walk side by side and slag off the men at the same time.

Nice views from the top.

And another one.

No Dave on the walk, so we were able to have lunch whenever we wanted! Is that a poke of chips Ann has - if so, how did she keep them hot and why did she not share them out?

Sharon finds that her waterproof seat was not.

And she wasn't very grateful to me even though I had given it to her and it was a gift from a very arduous business trip to Finland.

Drink, eat, and be merry.

Back on the trail again and Jim has obviously eaten too much.

Group photo at a gate.

Getting close to the finish line, apart from the stragglers that is.

Luckily there were no engineers with us to inspect the bridge footings before we crossed. After everyone else went over, I took my life in my hands and followed.

As you can see, I made sure that the bridge load-bearing capacity was well tested before I risked my life.

Back to the car park and a well earned drink - gin and tonic, I think.

Sharon - after a few of them.

And Jacque!

Jim - who drinks very seldom, clearly did not approve. He was obviously thinking about how he might get her gaiters off to get her in the car.

Thanks again to Ann and Neil for an excellent walk in a place few of us had ever been.