|
The weather was poor: midgy and with a thin rain, but there
was a chance it would get better, so we, or most of us, put
on some midge repellent and set off. The explorers were: David
John, Frazer, John Donaldson, Iain, Kathryn and Robert, with
two French explorers joining for the first time, Andreas and
Marie, plus Sharon.
We started off from the Arivegaig parking place and walked
southwards through the woods by the river and then climbed
up the hill to Aird Iain. On the way, John showed the explorers
some of the flowers and also the appearance of the wood, which
indicated that it had been used for grazing for over a hundred
years. Although the route was very rough, there were gateways
in the fences which showed it was a long-established path.
We found some interesting insects and had a look at some insectivorous
plants and two orchids. Finally we got to the top of the wood
and saw some of the walls of the old croft, but by this time
Marie, who wasn't used to such rough country, was running
out of steam and the rain was no better so we went back to
the bridge.
Sharon and Marie went back while the rest of the team looked
along the shore at the old shoreline track which was once
the only way to reach two of the Arivegaig crofts. We saw
hundreds of cast shells of small crabs and the boys rescued
a jellyfish and put it back into the sea.
When Sharon returned we took the cars along to Gorten and
looked at the tadpoles before taking a walk up the old track
past Gorten House. We got right into the oak woods before
the rains started really pouring and John decided to abandon
further exploration. On the way back to the car most of the
explorers went into the old kennels at Gorten and set up a
frantic barking and howling. Then we all went back for drawing
and lunch at Mave's.
The Pictures
Marie summarised her view of the expedition in a simple picture
showing a bent tree, a stream and a lot of rain, Kathryn showed
the Arivegaig Bridge with a butterfly in the water, which
lain and Robert had rescued earlier. tain also showed the
bridge, plus the two cars going down the track and the kennels
with dogs inside. Robert, Frazer, David John and John Donaldson
all showed views of a lacewing which David John found in the
woods. Andreas made a painstaking picture of a round-leafed
sundew. John Dye
|
|
 |
