A Trip Back In Time To Isle Martin…

I have been meaning to get back to continuing with this blog for sometime, but until now it obviously has never happened.
Better late than never, here is my return…

Friday 15th August saw me and a few others head out for a day trip to Isle Martin.
If Isle Martin sounds familiar to some of you, well it is the one which I saw on a daily basis when I lived at Ardmair.
And Friday 15th saw me return to Ardmair and set sail for Isle Martin…

There were five of us and we arrived at Ardmair Bay to meet our Captain and his Isle Martin Ferry ‘Auk’.
When we had left home, the clouds were breaking and blue sky and sunshine were poking through.
When we arrived at Ardmair, it was grey, misty and wet! Typical good ole Scottish Weather.
This however did not dampen our spirits.
Hoods up, leggings on, we boarded The Auk.
(Actually, when I say ‘Leggings on’, there was one person of course who had forgotten theirs, yes Dear Reader, it was I).
It is a short 10minute crossing to Isle Martin, not quite a mile, but with so much to see around you you’ll wish it could go on for a little while longer.
And John (Captain of the Auk) has a wealth of knowledge to share with you and as you near the Isle pier, he points out the few buildings on the island.

These buildings were our first port of call (As it was still raining).
We visited the Old Mill House & Information Point, the Macleod House and the Art Exhibition!
Then the New School and the Isle Martin Micro Museum were you take a step back in time and imagine what life use to be like. It was fascinating, but we wish we had more time booked that day to take everything in.

Hoods back up, it was time to explore the Isle.
We took the trail up from the Croft House and just as we neared the edge of the Trees, the rain cleared.
It was an easy walk to reach what is called the Back Beach.
I held back and just stood and soaked it all in, priceless.
There was a short path to the left and it took you to the well designed Shelter Bench and the perfect place to break out the pack up and exchange pleasantries with a Dutchman.

Due to me stopping to take photographs on every other step, I would find myself walking alone and just taking every moment in. Grey the day may have been, but it was truly stunning.
I then began to climb uphill and make my way to the Seawatch Point.
Here I watched some Seabirds and unearthed the 300mm I had in my backpack (I was shooting with the Olympus OM-1 mk ii today).
There were some Common Shags on the rocks further up the coast and in the sea breeze I managed to photograph them. Not much else at that point, but given the time of day and weather this was not surprising.
But I got a great view of Rhue Point Lighthouse and some boats passing by and the Summer Isles.
It looked and felt quite Autumnal, but for me that was fine, just perfect walking.

Heading back from the Seawatch Point, you have a choice of trail to take. Sadly not enough time to make the summit, loch and Dun Canna viewpoint, but I decided on a lower hill trail which would take me back down to the houses.
And … I got lost! How I managed this, I just do not know, there are markers along the trails, but somehow, I just could not locate the one I needed!
I looked at my watch and a moment of panic hit me; I was not going to make it back in time for the return Ferry!!
I texted my husband Alistair…

“Up the hill. On me own. It’s a bit boggy. I’m a little bit lost”.

He swiftly responded with …

“How on earth can you be lost, it is only a small island. Only You!”

He then sent another message … (Please read in a sarcastic mans voice)…

P.S. I best call search and rescue!

I put me phone back in me pocket, deciding he needed no more messages from me to humour himself with!

And then I just stood for another moment and my heart skipped a beat, there just across the water to the mainland was my old home at Ardmair.
I decided to message Alistair again and tell him that I could see the place where we first met in person.
“Great” he lovingly replied (Again, insert sarcasm).
I turned round and retraced my steps back downhill to the trail I started off on.

I was going as fast as I could to make the pier in time, but it is fair to say that, after some time off, I certainly wasn’t that fit anymore!
I make it to the houses and home straight and could see The Auk approaching the Isle and the rest of my fellow travellers waiting on the pier.
Captain John & The Auk and I reached the pier at the same time.
It was time to say farewell to the wonderful Isle Martin.
We lifejacket up and I hand my backpack & camera to John.
I get one foot in The Auk, with the other still on the pier and then…
I felt the boat move and just for the slightest moment I was doing the splits over the water of Loch Kanaird!
Amongst the laughter my fellow explorers pulled on the ropes to bring the Auk back in.
And before I knew it we were sailing back to the mainland, with chatter of when we were going to return and to enjoy the bit of sunshine which was just beginning to light up the odd patch of land of the surrounding hills and there was the mist lifting off my old neighbour Ben More Coigach.

I had taken a step back in time today and in more ways than one and it was just a fantastic day.

There are so many photos I could show, yes, even from a misty day like ours was, but I do not want to spoil things for future visitors.

I saw the following words written on a leaflet in the information centre;
We are sure a visit to Isle Martin will captivate and inspire you

And I can say it certainly will and I hope you come away with the memories we did.

Karen x

P.S. It’s good to be back

*The Shelter Bench & Time For A Sandwich*

*A Tree and Rocks and another outstanding View*

*Simply Stunning Scenes, It truly was a day to remember*

A Game of Toads …

Don’t run over that random stone in the road!
Chances are, that in some areas over the last few weeks, it has been Bufo bufo aka The Common Toad AND more likely than not, the random stone, wasn’t one Toad, but Two!
The much smaller Male Toad, on top of the larger Female Toad.
And this is known as travelling in Amplexus.
Basically, it is mating time and they are en-route to their breeding ground.
You will even get Triple Amplexus, two males.
And on the odd occasion, the Female may well have picked herself up & kissed a Frog.

The breeding ground, can vary, Garden Pond, Lake, Woodland Pond, Roadside Ditch etc
If you see the surface bubbling away, then you may be lucky to see dozens of Toads underneath, in Amplexus and Spawning away.
You may hear them too, but for that fantastic sound, then nighttime is the best.
We have a few Amphibians in the garden here at Tulloch and you can here them at night, but, the best sound comes from the Forest Pond, on a still night, it is incredible to hear Bufo bufo echoing across The Glen.

Over this last month, we have seen many on our travels, I never tire of this time, Nature and Spring are waking up.
I will give them a helping hand across the road if I think they are in great danger.
Oh and remember to keep your Dogs away from them!
Sharing a few Toady images for you
– Karen – x

Lurking Under The Surface

Watching For His Mate

Triple Amplexus and a Passer By

Just Hanging Around

Nearly At The Pond

In Amplexus

Watch Where You Step!

At The Roadside

Going Through Changes …

Christmas and the eve of New Years Eve has given me some time for reflection, the changes life has brought in 2018 and the changes which lie ahead for 2019.
And Christmas is a quiet affair this time, just doesn’t feel like Christmas to be honest. The absence of my dear Father is probably greater than ever.
Boxing Day Morning, took a phone call from one of our closest friends, who sadly broke the news to me of another old friend who passed away on Christmas Eve, he was just 46 years old, could have knocked me over with a feather and my thoughts are with his family.
2018, I will not be sorry to see you go, though yet I hang onto you, for you are the last time I spoke to Dad.

And there have been other big changes too!
When I hit half a century in August, it was also the start of another new era…
I now have a new camera (Hope you are sitting down), am now shooting with an Olympus! (For those interested – OM-D E-M1 Mark II)

No, I did not think that I would be saying that either, but there you go.
To cut a long story short, I haven’t totally said goodbye to Nikon, have still got one body & lenses, but the D5 & the D800 have gone to new homes.
I was in two minds about all this, but am absolutely loving using The Olympus (McOly), once I got my head around the menu system (Still doing that ha ha), it is a breath of fresh air and a joy to use and you may not realise, but you’ve been looking at Olympus images for the last couple of months now.
I scoffed when my Camera Dealer was prepared to bet me that I would leave Nikon within 6 months, he wasn’t far wrong and am looking forward to shooting more with it.
I will then see what happens when Olympus upgrade & Nikon release the Z8!

Nature has changed this year at Tulloch too, Curlews were drastically down in numbers this time and there are less Deer this season, as yet not the usual amount of visitors round Tulloch Garden, hopefully we will see some once proper winter arrives, just so mild the now.
We are usually so lucky to have thousands of Geese flying over, now they’ve been flying south of Kindrogan summit, with only the odd skein passing over us.
Fieldfares arrived early, then them too absent again.
One solitary Brambling feeding here for 10 days now and one Siskin, who, is a few weeks early.
Pleased to report that some healthy looking Greenfinch have reappeared, though some Chaffinch now seem to be carrying a similar illness to Trichomonosis and here is some Info from BTO
Christmas Day afternoon, about dusk, feeding & bedding up the Tulloch Menagerie , when a Woodcock flew low over the house & paddock, fantastic!

I will leave it here for now, with a song choice to match and I wish for better changes for us all in 2019, walk your life & make it count.
I’ll be seeing you next year – Karen – x

Kelly & Ozzy Osbourne – Changes

The Dunnock & The Holly

Sunrise

Floods

Walking Alone …

Sunday Morning: Had a terrible nights sleep, got up, laid breakfast out for guests etc. Stood with Morning coffee listening to the birds, few seemed to be at the feeders. -2c, felt like -5c, the air fair pinched. Felt like I was going to cry, but chest aching and tight, just couldn’t.’

Ach, needed to clear head, so took an early walk down to Glen Brerachan.
Was probably a first, but I did not take Barclay or the McNikon!! But did take the Coolpix and Olympus for an outing. The odd car passed, think they must have been heading to the slopes, other than that, twas just me and nature, could breathe, bliss!
On my return home, the tame sheep spotted me walking boots and made a beeline for the laces! (Note to self: Order more Parsnips)!

I would take myself to bed in the afternoon, still no sleep came.
Barclay took his bone upstairs onto the landing, so come actual bedtime, he was stood been all protective of it and giving me a wee growl! And am sure he was trying to push me back down again. Had to bribe him with a Denta chew!

Monday: Wow, a beautiful start to the day, even though it was -6c. Clear to begin with, the most lovely dawn chorus and the most gentlest of snow flakes fell for a minute. Sun begin to rise and clouds began to appear.
Lots of chores this morning and busy.
A few hours later, I notice the Ducks were awol again!
Unbelievable!! The Ducks have discovered Loch McBasil, has only taken them 4 months!

Midday and fresh snow began to fall, lasted all of 5min, then it was a milder afternoon.
So much for the blowing snow which was forecast.

The strangest thing, found my Olympus lens cap in the log shed tonight! How on earth! Nae idea, there are something’s I just don’t question.

Had hair cut, so hopefully that will cure the hat hair for a wee while!

Saw good Quentin Tarantino thing today, where Kill Bill was referenced in Pulp Fiction.
Brilliant! Will have to tell Dad. Went to phone him, stopped and realised.