| Yet another big expedition:
eight explorers, Caleb, Calum, Caulay, Chris, Donald, Jan
Hendrik, Nicole and Robbie L.; eleven adults, Andrea, Christina,
Corinne, Gary, Heather, Howard, John L., Nick P., Nicky L.,
Philippa, and Richard L.; plus four dogs, Ellie, Mojo, Roo
and Suzie.
We took a little time to park and get sorted out and, before
we set off, the expedition heard about the Jubilee trees and
the amazing escape of the breakdown truck through the wood.
This is an unusual expedition in that it starts downhill,
which doesn’t feel like an advantage when you have to
climb to the car park at the end of the day. By the time we
left, most of the boys had worked off a bit of excess energy
running around and we all made good speed through the sitka
and up the hill where we stopped to look at the fine recessed
platform on the left of the track. When we got to the stile,
Ellie and Roo showed off by walking up the steps and jumping
the fence but Mojo and Suzie used the dog gate, along with
some of the explorers.
When we reached the first fork, we took the left path and
carried on climbing, stopping at a viewpoint for a picture.
Soon there was another fork and we took the left again, a
super track which led right to the top of the hill. I had
chosen Ardmolich because it was sheltered from the forecast
southwesterly gale and we certainly felt the force of the
wind at the top. However, it was a good place to stop and
the older among us found a sheltered spot for a wafer break.
Not wanting everyone to get chilled, I set off fairly soon
back down the hill where we followed the path to eventually
rejoin the Silver Walk. We spent a little time trying unsuccessfully
to find an old stone bridge we had visited in 2000 (Expedition
No. 47). The path followed a course along the high tide mark
and at one point, those among us without wellies had to take
to the woods to get round a flooded section. This was a tricky
place, with some of the stones covered by slippery seaweed
but nobody fell.
We carried on for a bit, while I wondered if we could possibly
reach the old mill, but then Robbie discovered an interesting
little cave and this proved to be a good point to turn and
start the hike back to the cars. Fortunately the tide had
dropped by this time and we had a dry route.
This was a tough expedition, I have it on good authority that
at least one explorer fell asleep on the drive back to Acharacle.
Certainly, there was no spare energy left to produce a printable
work of art at the Pantry. The picture shows the expedition
with Kinlochmoidart Farm in the background.
John
Dye
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