ROGIE FALLS TO STRATHPEFFER

March found us reprising half of a previous trek from 10 years ago. That involved a walk from Rogie Falls to Strathpeffer and then to Dingwall via the Cat's Back. Given advancing years and a sharper focus on limitations it was decided to stop at Strathpeffer this time.

It was a glorious day and Rogie Falls was already busy when we were ready to go. Of course, most of the people at Rogie were only there to see the falls and were not about to embark on a perilous adventure to Strathpeffer.

Sandra's adventure was made all the more perilous when she tried on her new gloves which had been given to her by Jacque. There was a fundamental flaw. Whilst Sandra might have two left feet, her hands are just as you would expect.

After a rousing speech by our leader for the day, we were off.

Sandra was still vainly looking for another glove.

We took the less than direct route to the falls and were rewarded with some fine views.

Soon we were at the falls, which are really pretty good. 

An early opportunity for a bridge photo.

They were quite far away, but it really was them.

 The falls from the bridge.

The falls represent a major obstacle to salmon returning to the river to spawn. They manage to negotiate the falls by means of this fish ladder. This raises a number of questions.

How do the salmon know that the ladder is there? Is there an underwater sign to direct them? Is there a salmon tourist information point at the entrance to the river system to let them know the best route? If salmon always return to the same bit of river that they were born in, what happened when the ladder opened for the first time? Those returning salmon, presumably had never been above the falls and were now expected to abandon the place of their birth to go further up the river just because the ladder was there. How confusing would that be? Is there still a group of salmon for whom The New Way will never be used and those that do use it are parr venu and not to be trusted?

No such moral dilemmas for frogs - they just seem to spawn where the mood takes them.

A sure sign of spring.

We pressed on...... 

......making tracks through the forest.

The caterpillars here were huge.

Luckily Jimmy was not with us, or he would have found some way to salvage this barrow - not a wheel-barrow - and take it home, thus saving a fortune.

He had clearly been here before though, as his trademark piles indicated. 

 It was getting warmer as the day progressed and the ladies began to divest themselves of their clothes. Happily it didn't get too much warmer.

Onwards and upwards to the aptly named View Rock.  

This was our lunch spot, where the dinosaurs again exhibited their inability to all look at the camera at the same time. Sandra clearly found her yoghurt more interesting, while Maureen was just full of admiration for the way she held her spoon.

Eventually, Maureen and Sandra did the right thing, but Dave and Robin didn't. If I was really clever, I would merge the two photos, but then I would not be able to complain about the difficulties in herding cats.

Meanwhile Indiana Jones was being very casual, not in the least upset by the inability of 6 grown adults, with a combined age of about 320, and a reasonable degree of further education at the expense of the state, to face in the same direction at the same time.

At least the mountains didn't move. Well, actually they do, but not so you would notice in the time it takes to take a photo. 

Nor, even in the time it takes to turn the camera round.

Down we went to Loch Kinellan to spend a bit of time looking at the birds. 

 From there it was a short walk to the cars and a nice cake at the cafe at the disused Strathpeffer railway station. Unfortunately, a number of the party, some of whom are ex-teachers, could not understand our travel arrangements and had also managed to leave their money in the car at Rogie Falls. It would be rude to tell you who they are, but Sandra has now paid me back.

Thanks go to Susan and Robin for organising everything, including the fabulous weather and the faultless travel arrangements.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE INSANE TO WALK WITH DINOSAURS, BUT.....

For our February walk we stayed pretty close to home and walked around Craig Dunain. This was the site of the former Mental Hospital which is being redeveloped for housing.

We started off at the Rugby Club car park and walked up to the canal. Here is our small, but select, band walking along the canal bank.

 We pass the Jacobite Queen,and then head for Torvean Golf Course and the Great Glen Way. Rugby, Golf - what a sporty lot we are. 

The Great Glen Way - conjures up images of wild open spaces, doesn't it? 

The reality was shadowy figures in the underpass. You wouldn't want to meet this lot in the dark, let me tell you.

They certainly scared the droppings out of this guy.

But Nessie seems a bit happier.

There was a brilliant view of the Castle.

There was also a street light to show us the way - hopefully we weren't going to be out after dark - we might meet the weirdos in the underpass.

Soon we were climbing above the city - when I say climbing, I really mean we were heading upwards - no crampons or ropes were necessary.

There were some nice views, though.

Spring was in the air despite the cold wind.

Although the way ahead was barred to us, we were not dissuaded and forged ahead.

Soon we were able to look over the towers of the old Mental Hospital. It really was a Victorian work of art. Quite impressive.

Lunchtime was approaching and we were delighted to note that we were to be serenaded over our sandwiches, if only someone knew some xylophone tunes.

Unfortunately, no-one did  which was just as well, really, because the xylophone was no longer there, but this weird looking plank of wood with a face was.

From here you could look down on the whole of the hospital.

From our picnic site we could also get a view of the city and the sea.

You could also get a view of these pine cones which had been hung from the trees. I know that pine cones often hang from trees but these ones were hanging from beech trees. In fact, they had been dipped in fat and seeds and were natural bird feeders.

Maureen had her own feeder with her. Her lunch was inside and then it.....

.....folded out to make a place setting. How posh is she?

Here is the lunch photo - as you can see - quality, not quantity was the order of the day.

As we get older, some of us revert to our childhood. At least, that would be a charitable view of whatever Jacque was doing.

Hugh was going to give her a push, but there was no back to the swing, so his natural chivalry came to the fore and he decided against it.

And so, Jacque jumped off.

Onwards and upwards we went, not too traumatised by Jacque's demonstration of swinging from the sixties.

Somewhat unexpectedly, we found a large frozen pond.

It may have been a surprise, but it was quite photogenic.

Presently, we chanced upon the local version of the Paris Pont Des Arts. Hugh and Pam, ever the romantics, had added their padlock to the bridge when they were there. That may be why bits of the bridge are failing under the weight.

Right on romantic cue, Jimmy brought out the Matchmakers.

So we carried on with a spring in our steps. At least Jacque did - whether it was the Matchmakers or the thought of all that swinging, we can only guess.

Even Pam and Maureen were sashaying through the forest.

The Hydro had laid on a zip wire for us to get down, but we declined to use it.

A wall of stone snaking across the field.

Cows imitating a wall of stone snaking across a field.

Remember the heart tree in Game of Thrones? Well this is the tree from the Lame Old Crones.

And there they go.

This could easily be Craster's Keep.

Could this be Daenerys Stormborn's horse, Silver?

"Aye right" she winks, " Nay, I'm actually the Lone Ranger's horse, Silver."

After leaving Westeros, we wend our way to the canal and the cars. From there up to Simpson's for tea and cakes. A fine end to a really nice walk.

Thanks to Jimmy and Jacque for organising it all.