Expedition
195 - 5th July 2008
The Singing Sands |
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This was one of the only visits to the Singing Sands when
the weather had been dry enough for them to sing, but there
had been a shower at Gortenfern just before we arrived and
they couldn't raise a squeek. Otherwise, the weather was good
and some of the adults actually went swimming. We had four
young explorers, Fern, Robbie, Rowan and Zack, more than balanced
by ten adults, a visiting team of Catherine, Frank, Jo and
Roy, and John Dove, Pamela, Philippa, Richard, Sandra and
Sharon, with Ellie & visiting dog Poppy.
We set out along the long track in fine form, stopping for
a few minutes to hear how the postie was shelled by accident
in the second world war, and also to have a look at the power
station, but it wasn't working that day.
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We passed the forest gate and got to the top of the hill where
we found a group of three big nests of wood ants. These happened
to be quite close to the cave of the tramp, Wee Tobermory,
whose grave we had looked at in Acharacle before setting out.
After a bit of climbing through the woods we all reached the
cave and I took a picture of the explorers. Incidentally,
the cave seemed to have been tidied up a bit, Tobermory's
cooking utensils were neatly piled up with his egg cup next
to them, thank you whoever.
Everyone took a different route back to the track, Poppy found
the best way, and we set off again towards the beach. When
we got there the sun was shining. While some senior members
of the expedition went swimming, the young explorers busied
themselves in one of the streams. All too soon it was time
to leave and I once more tried to enthuse the expediton in
the fine growth of club mosses near the gate, with limited
success.
Here we did a slight detour into the woods to look at one
of the best of the old deserted crofts, still with lintels
and a piece of an old cauldron. Then it was back on the track
for the long walk to the cars, we had got quite a long way
when it was realised that an important toy had been left at
the beach, so Richard and Rowan set of to retrieve it. They
both came running back very shortly after, clearly having
had good breakfasts that morning.
In spite of our hurrying, we were a bit late back to the Pantry,
but the explorers still had the energy to complete some drawings.
I have picked out Zack's view of the cave, clearly showing
the ants' nest nearby.
John
Dye
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