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There was a forecast of heavy rain but we were lucky and it
didn’t start until we were on the way to the Blue Parrot.
After a few light expeditions in the winter we were back to
our normal numbers, with seven young explorers: Benjamin,
Fern, Frederik, Jonathan, Robbie L., Rowan and Thomas, seven
adults: Christoph, David S., Michael, Pamela, Philippa, Sam,
Sharon and Sheila with Ellie and Pollaidh as the official
expedition dogs and Stan as the self-appointed unofficial
dog, pathfinder and stick-fetcher.
We drove to the Arivegaig car park where we were met by Stan,
eager to get the show on the road. We examined the first frogspawn
of the year, some of which seemed to be fairly close to hatching.
The young explorers were getting a bit ahead by the time we
reached the Gorten gate and the party reassembled with the
aid of the Acme whistle.
We then set off inland, following the burn until we reached
a rather tricky crossing point, involving a rather undignified
lift for Pollaidh. She soon put the embarrassment behind her
and was eager to explore the fine park area behind the ash
trees. The adults crossed the park while the young explorers
followed the river, so only the young ones had a chance of
walking under the magic tree and I don’t know if they
got a wish.
At the top of the park, the going got a bit rougher and we
had to do a bit of climbing through the wood to get to the
next stage. This was a flat area with a big patch of dead
bracken on the left. I explained that the bracken was growing
on an old cultivated field and thought we might find the remains
of a house at the top of it. We climbed up the hill and there
was the house. Many members were ready for a break here but
we pushed on and up until we got to a crossing point, now
used by the deer but certainly once part of a well-made path.
This was a convenient point for a stop for wafers, and then,
although the crossing was quite close to a big waterfall,
we found it safe enough to pick our way over the rocks to
the other side.
By this time Pollaidh was racing about like a young dog and
many of the adult helpers were slowing down a bit. However,
we were now at the highest point and it didn’t take
long to climb down along the forestry fence to the flat area
with a good view of the waterfall, where everyone assembled
for the official photographs, many of which were taken. After
a short rest for some, and some rough games for others, we
found a gap in the fence and navigated our way back down through
the woods to the Gorteneorn track, which took us to the gate,
and then the car.
There were some ambitious drawings this time and I have picked
out Tom’s view of a tree-climbing interlude –
it was just as scary as it looks.
John
Dye
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