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A good straightforward expedition, even if we left one member
behind! The day was not hot but the rain held off and the
midges weren't bad. We had a seven explorers: Benjamin, Caleb,
Caulay, Fern, Matthew, Rowan, Sam and Thomas, with Claire,
John Dove, Pamela, Philippa and Sharon as adults. Ellie and
Honey were the official expedition dogs and Stan attended
in an advisory capacity.
Before we started, everyone visited the Acharacle churchyard
to see the grave of Wee Tobermory, a traveller who died at
Refollan fifty years ago.
We drove to Arivegaig and got on the long track to the Singing
Sands. Everyone was in very good form and we made excellent
speed to the forestry gate and were able to count a good few
wood ant nests by the roadside as we climbed the hill.
I managed to locate the right point at the top of the hill,
the birches are growing fast and the corner now looks totally
different to ten years ago. Anyway, I left the path with a
group of stalwart explorers while the remainder of the expedition
stayed on level ground. We negotiated the wood and climbed
over the rocks and eventually reached the cave which Wee Tobermory
used to use for overnight stops. When we got to the cave the
explorers found Tobermory's mug and eggcups - he used to get
food from the local crofters.
Then we scrambled back to the track and continued to the Singing
Sands. It had been raining the day before and there wasn't
a peep out of them (they only sing when it is dry). Our arrival
coincided with the landing of a group of visitors who had
sailed in on a converted trawler, perhaps they didn't find
the beach as quiet as they expected. Anyway, a good deal of
running about and splashing was done and there were some pretty
wet explorers in the group when we left the beach.
We took a diversion up the stream and had a look at a fine
old house in the woods before returning to the track and then
to Arivegaig.
Unfortunately Ellie had become engrossed in chasing waves
on the shore and decided to stay there with the visitors and
had to be fetched back later, showing no remorse at all.
John
Dye
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