Pauline and Rob called in for a couple of cloudy days in late September but at least it stayed dry and we could get out for a few outdoor activities. Gabrielle took them on one of our favourite walks around Balcary Bay and we had the full kayak fleet out on the water later that day as the high tide was around 5 p.m. This is in Castle Haven Bay with the old walls of the Iron Age fort, known as ‘the Borg’ in the background.
Down on the shore at Kirkandrews Bay.
We had a house full of people in early September which worked out well for getting our greenhouse set up (see entry in main blog pages). Apart from helping with the greenhouse, Jerry and Billy also had a couple of sessions out in the kayaks in very nice weather conditions. Here’s a ‘selfie’ of Billy out in the kayak with Jerry and Craig Cottage in the background.
This is Jerry (and the end of Billy’s wellies) paddling at Rumblekirn.
Here’s Jerry contemplating a pot of flowers while waiting for the barbecue to heat up.
Ellen caught a shrew in the garden and brought it up to the house to show the rest of us.
Pat catches a crab on Kirkandrews Beach
Judith and Ed at Rascarrel Bay
John and Ed paddling out of Kirkandrews Bay
Ed bobbing around in the waves at Rumblekirn
In early August we had a visit from Susan and Mark who live out in Magnolia, Texas, just north of Houston. They had been experiencing 100 degree Fahrenheit weather over there and were looking forward to cooler conditions over in Scotland. Unfortunately after a warm, sunny July, the weather turned unseasonably cool for the first part of August. Nevertheless we had a good time visiting a number of the local gardens and historical sights. Here’s a windy afternoon at Threave Castle, near Castle Douglas.
We had a trip across to border to England to see Hadrian’s Wall and had a fine sunny day to stroll along it and soak up a bit of the history.
After the walk, we were ready for some refreshments at the local pub.
We went over to Logan Botanic gardens at the far south-west tip of Sctland, where the Gulf Stream brings in a milder climate and enables them to grow some lush tropical vegetation. Here are Susan and Mark negotiating the ferns and Gunneras.
We had another visit from Hilary and Jonathan in July, right in the middle of the spell of hot, dry weather. Here are Gabrielle and Jonathan inspecting the contents of one of the rock pools at Kirkandrews Bay.
The sea was a bit frisky outside Kirkandrews Bay but we managed to get out in the kayaks for a trip round the headland to Rumblekirn.
Here are Gabrielle and Hilary paddling back into the bay.
John & Jonathan demonstrating synchronised paddling on the way out past Meggerland Point.
The weather remained chilly into May but stayed mainly dry so we managed to get out for a few walks and John & Stuart cycled over to Gatehouse of Fleet to sample a pint of Galloway Gold at the Masonic Arms. Gabrielle is demonstrating the latest Kirkandrews fashion for vertical hair in the windy conditions on top of Barn Heugh with Craig Cottage in the background, just to the left of the cairn.
Margaret came to visit us for a few days just after we had the heavy snow falls at the end of March. Luckily the weather was dry and sunny while she visited and we were able to get out and about to visit some of the local attractions.
At the footbridge over the Pulwhirrin Burn. Craig Cottage is in the background.
On a walk from Balcary Bay with a hazy view of Hestan Island in the background
Down on the beach at low tide on a walk over to Ardwall Island.
Elaine and David after a stroll around Kirkandrews, Feb 2013