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Once again, it was far from perfect walking weather, but we
got a fair turnout for the darkest expedition of the year.
Seven explorers: Benjamin, Caleb, Caulay, Fern, Rowan, Sam
and Thomas, seven adult helpers, Andy, Claire, Corinne, Howard,
Pamela, Philippa and Sharon and two well-behaved dogs, Honey
and Ellie.
We started off looking at the Cryptomeria and Douglas Fir
trees near the Camas Torsa picnic site and then moved over
to the burn which we followed up the hill walking under the
larch trees. We stopped at the old stone road bridge under
the Hydro Board wayleave and the explorers spent some time
investigating the perfect corn kiln on the west bank of the
burn. Pushing on through the drizzle we passed several of
the old boundary walls of the crofting land.
We had a forecast of sunny spells and I was heartened to see
sunshine at the top of the hill, hoping to get a nice expedition
photograph with the aerial in the background. However, by
the time everyone reached the top the sky was black and it
was snowing, so the pictures have a rather stormy look. We
retreated to a group of big trees for a wafer break and Honey
did a bit of engineering on a small drainage ditch.
Then it was time to go back down and I picked a different
route through the forestry, finding some nice cultivation
ridges on the way. At the bottom I failed to avoid a group
of fallen trees and then ended up with a steep slope to go
down. Everyone but me got down well but I executed a fine
swallow dive off the rocks. Fortunately I was wearing my hat
and fortunately I landed on a nice soft patch of moss but
unfortunately the moss was growing on a hard boulder. I ended
up getting a plaster at The Pines before we all met up at
the Pantry where Sheila was on hand with soup and toasties.
I have picked out Benjamin's nice sketch of Honey working
in the drain.
John
Dye
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