Lazy Sunday, Leading on to Monday.

This was truly a lazy Sunday,  (it was so lazy I'm posting this on Monday) I got up late lounged about in my pyjamas and after a late breakfast I got dressed and did a bit of reluctant housework.  in the afternoon I decided to head out with my camera and drove up to  the feeder station  to see if there was much activity, but it was just the usual suspects. I stayed a while then decided to go up over Whita as I hadn't been for quite a while.

Bum's up

A  more dignified pose.

Always good views at the feeders.

A bit of a slimy character.

I found these tiny pieces of fungus which I discovered under a sheet of corrugated iron, which I've never come across before quite intriguing.If any readers has some inkling to what they are I would be grateful. 

On the way I stopped off  at Broomholm  to admire the start of autumn. 

 I heard they have they have started felling trees  above Hillhead   which is part of one of Tootlepedal and my favourite walks,  which  starts off from Whitshiels  but as they are leading the felled trees down the path we use it may be some time before  we can  return,  but it will be interesting to see what grows in the future.

A couple of sheep taking a keen interest as to what was happening.

 This rust coloured grass was quite prevalent on the back of the hill. 

The heather has lost its purple lustre.

The road tae Langholm......

  

.......and the road tae Copshaw.

I love meandering walls.

There was still a bit of colour on the moor

Passing strangers.

  

I think this should be named Whisky Burn due to the colour of the peaty water.

  

I went as far as the County March then made my way home.

Monday.

In the morning I went to do some more maintenance painting at the Social Club which fellow committee member Eddie Fisher and I have been doing over the summer months. Later when I returned home for some lunch I rang Toolepedal if he fancied a stroll in the aternoon. I picked him up at the allotted time and we decided to have a walk down the Esk at Canonbie as we hadn't done  that walk this year. 

The following is a few of the shots I took, nothing really interesting but worth posting all the same.

Canonbie Church stands well on the knowe of the hill.

The Deid Nook

We weren't the only ones on a riverside walk.

A family of evasive Goosanders.

A bit of experiment here, I thohgt this shot was more monochrome than colour.......

........then I was interseted to see what it would look like in an inverted state.

Some fishermen have to much money on their hands.

I found this feather and water droplets rather interesting.

 We walked a fair distance down the river bank but due to the start of the rain that had been forecast we cut out losses and headed back to Wauchope Cottage for a welcome cup of tea. 

We were joined by Dr Mike Tinker who was enjoying a visit from his son and family from New Zealand . I returned home and prepared my selection of photos for the first session of the season of the Camera Club, then made a nice stir fry for my tea. Click here to view Tootlepedals version of our stroll.

The Camera Club went well with a good attendance, with new members and returning old showing an excellent collection of photos.

A Walk and a Drive a New Pair of Boots

Shot of the Day

Saturday

I spent most of the morning doing general housework and making a pan of parsnip and potato soup for my lunch which I might say was quite delicious. Tootlepedal phoned to invite me for a coffee but I declined as I had just sat down to a cup of coffee I had just poured for myself. He and Mrs Tootlepedal were planning a quick trip  into Carlisle and we arranged to meet later for a short walk. 

Whita Hill living up to its name

We met as planned and decided to have a nice leisurely stroll round the Murthholm. Although the ground conditions are improving Tootlepedal made the wise decision to wear yaktraks, I made the unwise decision to wear a pair of trainers but I did manage to get round without coming to grief. It was a lovely day for a walk but the sunshine was accompanied by a very cold wind which we would be going against on the return part of the walk.

It's good to see families out walking

Murtholm Farm

The holly berries were eye catching against the green of the leaves.

Looking back towards Meikleholm and Timpen.

We both stopped to take the obligatory photo of the old distillery.

I just love the way the water has shaped these stones over countless years.

Tootlepedal pointed out this fungus that was attached to an old tree stump.

This picture picture shows the old railway bridge getting dismantled and what the same spot looks like now.

The lichen on one of the suspension bridge supports caught my eye. 

We returned to Wauchope Cottage for a welcome cup of tea and one of Mrs Tootlepedals delicious hot cross buns. 

Sunday

Once again we were treated to a day of brilliant sunshine, this time there didn't seem to be the biting wind that we had yesterday. No Tootlepedal to accompany me today as they both were away on choir duty in Carlisle. Instead of a walk I decided to have a run up to the moorland feeders to see how the new hide was coming on.

Quite nicely by the looks of things. I'm sure Toolepedal, I and others will make good use of the hide in the coming months.

A very grand bug hotel.

I took a stroll back down the road to see if I could get some shots, when I met Bruce, Lesley and Guthrie. Guthrie thought it would be good idea for Bruce and Lesley to visit the feeder station as they had never been up that part of the road. 

 I them moved on to  The Hollows bridge and took this shot when I parked the car. I've done a comparison showing the same shot Autumn and Winter.

The beauty of living in such a beautiful area you have an abundance of favourite views and this is two of mine taken from Gilnockie bridge, looking upriver and looking down river.

 

I then continued on to Canonbie. Walking down towards the Kirk this strangulated tree trunk caught my eye

The path by the grave yard was free of snow and ice but when I came to the river bank it was too slippy for me to continue on that route so I crossed the fence into the adjacent field where walking on the level and on fresh snow was much safer. I wanted to see the result of a  rock slip that had occurred recently. That must be very close to someones garden which must be quite scary. 

I couldn't resist one more shot of the Kirk

Having splodged about lately in footwear that wasn't quite up to the present conditions I took a run across to Gretna Gateway and purchased at a very reasonable price a pair of lined rubber boots. All I need now is Yaktraks.