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A slightly overcast day, but with a light breeze to keep the
midges away - perfect for walking.
The explorers were: Amy Mulhern, Anne Maree, Charlene, Claire,
Heather, Laura, Karen, Margaret, Maxine, Robbie and Robert
plus Sheila (Heather was a visitor from Canada who had done
some walking in British Columbia and had seen grizzly bears).
The expedition started from Blain and the first part of the
journey retraced our route of the previous Briaig expedition
to the point where we joined the Silver Walk. Near the lochans
there were a great many baby frogs and toads. The explorers
saw the area where John believed the emigrant ship 'Allison'
had moored while the inhabitants of five local villages were
embarked in 1852' We turned left when we reached the Silver
Walk and carried on up the glen for a short distance, refreshing
ourselves at the stream on the way.
We then climbed the steep slope into the woods on the north
side of the path and John showed the explorers an old wych
elm tree which he believed to be the one from which Fergie's
father collected twigs almost a hundred years before, the
twigs were used in treating cattle disorders.
The next part of the expedition was a very strenuous climb
over Torr Port a'Bhata and round the coast to the village.
The members entered and examined every house, including one
which had 'SAORSA' (Freedom') written over the fireplace (a
recent inscription). The last inhabitant of the village was
a man called MacDonald who made lockets from local limestone.
The final part of the expedition was to have been a visit
to the black mill and the associated constructions, but by
this time several of the explorers were suffering from fatigue
and sore knees and ankles and it was decided to return immediately
via the Silver Walk and Briaig. The expedition arrived at
the Centre around a quarter to four, by far the longest trip
so far.
The Pictures
Anne Maree and Margaret each did a sketch of the lochans,
complete with leaves of water lilies floating on the surface.
Amy showed a wind-blown figure in the landscape. Charlene
and Heather did composite pictures showing several animals
seen on the trip, a large footprint in the mud and the big
building which some called the church. Laura drew a frog,
an eel and the fireplace with 'freedom' written on it. Karen
and Claire did little sketches of the frogs and toads, with
an extra sketch of ticks attacking Karen's hand. Robert's
picture was rather problematical, showing an old house, a
limestone locket and, I believe, a chest containing Bonny
Prince Charlie's lost silver.
John
Dye
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