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This wasn't a bad day, at least the rain held off and the
north wind was quite invigorating. There was some damp ground
and a lot of mud which featured greatly in the expedition.
We had tem esplorers: Abbie, Alexandria, Allan, Amy, Amie
MacMaster, Benjamin, Charlie, JD, Sarah and Thomas with five
helpers: Chris, Joanna, John Evans, Philippa and Sandra with
Brucie and Stan as expedition watchdogs.
We started from Dalnabreac and walked across the triangle
of ground once used as a camp for tinkers, and then through
the gate and up the path known locally as the Bealach na Marbh
- it was originally intended to be a coffin route from Port
a'Bhata. We climbed a small hill and then crossed to the flat
hill where we looked at the old badger sett, now unfortunately
abandoned. The flat hill is a traditional rolling hill for
explorers and many of them took the opportunity of hurling
themselves down the steep slope.
Leaving the hill we made our way to the lochan where the ground
was very muddy and offered good opportunities for a major
mud fight.
Meanwhile the leader was progressing onwards and upwards towards
the rocking stone. When the boys first reached it they got
it rocking and booming well, but later it fell silent and
will need a little tuning before the next expedition. When
everyone had reached the stone we had our long-anticipated
break for Tunnock's Wafers.
Once refreshed we crossed another bog and went down the west
side of the ridge to the old lookout cave, into which every
explorer managed to squeeze, surely the most people it ever
contained.
While they were extracting themselves I went up the slope
to the site of an old barn owl roost which used to be a god
place for owl pellets. Benjamin and Thomas came up too and
managed to climb up and see into the crevice, which had a
recent nest in it. Thomas found an owl pellet, so that was
a definite plus.
Then we all returned to ground level and made our way across
the hill to the gate and back to the Pantry for lunch. The
only other excitement was a slow worm which hung around long
enough for Amie to get in a good scream, my ears are ringing
yet.
John
Dye
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