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Another super day and a very good turnout, people kept arriving
even after we'd started. By my count we had twenty-three explorers,
eight adults and three dogs, my apologies if I have missed
anyone out: Abbie, Adrian, Aeneas, Alasdair, Alexander, Alexander
Donaldson, Alexandria, Allan, Calum, Carol-Anne, Chloe, Chris,
Donald, Jamie, John Donaldson, Lucy, Nicole, Peter William,
Robin, Robin D., Rona (from Duror), Ruby and Sarah; with Andy,
Becky, Chris, Dot, Gary, Hamish, Peter and Philippa; plus
Ellie, Toby and two dogs whose names I didn't catch.
After taking the explorers up mountains and down caves, this
was one of the most dangerous expeditions simply because we
have to walk on the main road for some of the way. After a
careful start we reached the low road and started along, counting
the funerary cairns as we passed. Enthusiasm for cairns was
pretty low at the start but everyone got keener as the numbers
went up. This time we got a total of 83, but I still think
we missed one or two.
When we got near Austin's Croft we crossed an easy part of
the fence and went up the soggy field, stopping for a photograph
at a little knoll. I didn't cross the fence since it was barbed
wire, later I found out Donald knew a safe bit but I forgot
to ask him. We climbed up the hill and took a breather on
a flat area which looked as if it might have ancient hut remains.
One more climb and we reached the Dalilea road junction and
two more cairns.
We called in on Doris Parrish, who was surprised to see so
many of us, and the explorers went into the old Poor House
to see the big map she has on her wall.
Carefully walking down the road we assembled at the Crooked
Bridge where a witch was said to grab unmarried men as they
went by, but I don't think any of the boys got grabbed. We
left the road and climbed back into the oak woods where we
had a wafer and a rest.
I missed the good rolling hill and everyone carried on to
the Fish Rock, which convinced some more than others, and
we got another picture in the last of the sunshine.
After that it was a walk back to the road where we looked
at the remains of another old building. Finally we were back
in the cars and off to the Pantry just as it started to rain.
John
Dye
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