ANOTHER COVID NO SHOW

Another walk has passed us by due to stupid Covid.

It is getting beyond a joke now. 

We have hardly walked as a group this year and it doesn't look very much like we will get another walk together before the year is out. 2020 has been cancelled for the Dinosaurs.

Luckily, we can look back with fondness at previous walks in October. If this pandemic doesn't stop soon, looking back might be all we can do. We may all be too old and doddery to go walking as a group again!

We did have some pretty mixed weather in Octobers past but did get to see some nice sights and a bit of autumn colour.

Our first October walk in 2006 (yep, 14 years ago) was from Rothiemurchus to the Lairig Ghru. This was when Dave thought we were an intrepid mountaineering group.

We were certainly a good deal younger, although we exhibited the same tendency that has always been with us - an inability for everyone to look at the camera at the same time!

The scenery was a bit special, though.

There was no October walk in 2007 or 2008. I'm pretty sure there was no Covid about then, but I'm not sure why we didn't walk and the blogs for the following months give no clue. Age seems to have dimmed my memory, so I can offer no reasons for this.

In 2009, we went to Torachilty for the day and we were joined by Sharon's sister Sandra and her husband, Chris. Here we all are sitting down to luncheon.

There was a lot to reflect upon.

2010 found us walking from Duntelchaig to Loch Ruthven and for that walk Bob's brother Bruce and his wife Irene tagged along.

We seemed to hole up in a canyon, like some Wild West outlaws hiding from the posse.

The trees on the side of the cliff had turned golden yellow to remind us it was autumn.

For 2011, we were back down in Badenoch and Strathspey at Loch Morlich.

What a happy band we were. Was this because I wasn't there?

Or was it just because the sky was blue?

It was quite good weather when we went out the back of Beauly in 2012. We still couldn't look at the camera, either. Then again, why would you with views like these.

In 2013, we were at Avoch and Rosehaugh Estate. Young Stewart, Jim and Jacque's grandson joined us for that walk. He was obviously a glutton for punishment, because he actually came on quite a few of our rambles.

We had some nice sea views that day.

The weather turned in 2014, when we went to the Slochd. That might explain the poor turnout. I can't say that this was a merry little band. A quick look at the body language would give the lie to that.

At least the gloom lifted sufficiently for them to see some hills.

In 2015, we visited Foyers. It wasn't exactly blazing sunshine, but we did have a little picnic on the beach at Loch Ness. No monster, though. Not sure why Jacque was doing an impersonation of the old school nit nurse, though.

The loch of tranquility.

It was not so tranquil for Pam in 2016 when we had to walk through a herd of cows at Drumashie. Here we are, safe behind the gate. Sharon's sister Sandra was with us again.

More autumn colour looking over to Meallfourvonie on the other side of Loch Ness.

Skye of Curr was next in 2017. No cows here, just sleeping sheep, well, roches moutonees.

There were some nice views over the Spey as well.

Next up was the little yellow hill, or Beinn Buidhe Beag as it is properly known.

Not such good weather that day.

There were some fine views over the Firth, to make up for that, though.

The latest October walk was to Loch Vaa from Boat of Garten last year. The weather was a little mixed (that might be a the name of a girl band, but I'm too old to be sure of that).

More autumn colour on show among the pine trees.

Nearly time to end on a cute note!

Time to definitely end on a note of hope that we will see the rainbow after the clouds have gone. Surely we will see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Keep safe, sanitised and sane.