SUMMER SWANS

I  have been out in the early morning these summer days.  It is my favourite part of the day.  Even as  child I was never one to spend extra time in bed reading or whatever.  Once awake I am up and ready for off.

I had the happy task of taking Baby Harriet out yesterday morning.  So I headed off for Kilmardinny Loch which is just a short walk away.  Nothing for it, but I meet the neighbours and also dog-walkers around the loch.  Wonderful!

Not only are there woodpeckers in the trees around the loch but the mallards and the swans are in evidence.  There were, however, no cygnets this year.  No eggs?  Or maybe eggs but they were eaten?

Today at our local supermarket there were some visitors: a swan and 6 cygnets!  In the Allander burn below the rampway to the supermarket were this family swimming below us as we pushed our trollies back out to the carpark.  Again ... a wonderful sight (in the pouring rain)!

TIGHNABRUAICH BOATS

The Fife yachts headed to Tighnabruaich today but they were not racing, only cruising.  I didn't get any photos of them as they were either already in or had gone elsewhere for the day.

However it was a lovely day and there were other boats about.

 East Kyles of Bute looking toward the Clyde.

Boats for those who like to row.  They were having some fun races with 4 boats taking part. They look like brand new wooden boats.  Need to find out about them....

FIFE REGATTA 2013 Day 1: NOT FOR MA, PA AND THE WAINS

There is a regatta taking place on the Clyde starting now and carries on through next week.  It is a gathering of yachts that were built (roughly + or - 100 years ago) in the Clyde by Fife Boatbuilders based in Fairlie (adjacent to Largs).  The regatta is the Fife Regatta 2013.  Details are on their website  here.

It was held 5 years ago and I was able to get some stunning photos at that time.  They are on my blog of 5 years ago here.  (Five years ago!... Really?!)

Be that as it may, it headed off on the train (if you get my meaning...) to Largs somewhat late in the morning.  The first race around Cumbrae started at 11 am but I reckoned I would be able to catch the boats at the end or see them jeeling about on the water*.  There are 20 in the regatta and they had to go around the island twice.

Well I really mucked up as there was nothing ... well ... very little to be seen.  Yes, the weather was low cloud and muggy but not actually raining.  The boats that I did see in the distance were small Fifers, i.e. I was looking for the grand Classic Yachts with a crew of handsome sailors all in their whites.  (See previous photos of 5 years ago as referred to in the blog reference above.)

Largs, I am here to tell you, was absolutely packed with people.  The marina (a mile away) where the boats were all in for the day was virtually empty of people except for those on the racing yachts tidying sails and stuffing kit bags before they headed off to the shower room.

In Largs I asked in the cafe what was on as there were so many people! The train was packed; Ma, Pa and all the wains were out for the day at the seaside. It was all about "Largs Live" ... meaning pipe bands, jazz bands and a radio station all keeping the place jumping.

Yachts? Not part of this scene!

The one (and only) other group in evidence were the media: half a dozen empty RIBs (rigid inflatable boats), one with a green MEDIA flag, were tied up on the main pontoon.  CNN was there to make a film.  It is going out in August.

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The blah photo I took above is Largs monument to the Battle of Largs against the wild Norsemen in 1263 and a Photoshops funky pink bird stilt walker from the seaside throng of folk who headed doon the watter for the day.

* Speaking of which ... when I went on to Google just now to see exactly how to spell "jeeling" (which means fiddling around or in Scotland they say "footering") I came across only one hit ... none other than John's title for a Flickr photo he took in Norway "Jeeling Aboot on the Water" here!  

SCHOOL'S OUT

It's Friday and time to down tools.  This afternoon Iain and I took Ishie (6) and Alastair (5) out to Mugdock Park for some Get Rid of Some Energy Time.  The place was looking its very best with kids' play facilities e.g. assault courses, activity park, and the paths and dog-walking areas all in good repair.

 

 It is high summer with all the trees and bushes in lush green and the little waterfall and burns all running well.

 

 

 Here's a wee monkey in a tree.

Grandpa and the 2 children in the woods beside the loch.