Photos: Rannoch Moor area.
Ian Smith
north" to see the what the recent winter weather had done so far. It's
been a wee bit chilly of late; even by my low standards of comfort. :-)
All pictures 1280x960px and c.800kB.
This is the first time I've seen Loch Tulla frozen over completely and
covered in snow. These pictures were taken from the well known car park
viewpoint up the hill (on the A82).
http://www.1r5.net/photos/loch_tulla_snow.jpg
and
http://www.1r5.net/photos/loch_tulla_snow_closeup.jpg
Higher up on Rannoch Moor of course Loch Ba was frozen over as usual. Only
seems to take a few days of frost. This time snow covered the ice, but I
still took my annual walk across to the middle. It felt slightly more
solid than last year.
In this shot, I shuffled over to an island about 3 metres high and 30
metres across. If you're wondering about my tracks, on first approach the
ice started cracking, so I detoured further round via thicker stuff as a
precaution. On the right is the boat house (visible from the main road),
which presumably contains fishing boats. One wonders what species of fish
live in these waters in such conditions?
http://www.1r5.net/photos/loch_ba_snow_sunset.jpg
This next photo shows the island from which the previous one was taken.
It's roughly the same angle as that picture from about a year ago, but
there wasn't any snow then.
http://www.1r5.net/photos/loch_ba_snow_islands.jpg
[Here's that old shot from last year. -
http://www.1r5.net/photos/loch_ba_frozen_towards_east.jpg ]
Back on the way home, stopped again this time to view the golden sunset by
Loch Tulla.
http://www.1r5.net/photos/loch_tulla_sunset.jpg
and
http://www.1r5.net/photos/loch_tulla_sunset_closeup.jpg
I thought it was worth the long drive anyway, just to glimpse an area of
such outstanding natural beauty. I never get tired of travelling this
route. We spotted a few deer here and there by the roadside. Or at least
they were easy to pick out against the snow; normally blending in with the
brown moorland. They seem to cope admirably with these low temperatures.
Today was somewhat below 0C, but it's probably been lower than -15C up on
the moor in recent days. Now I know some of our friends in North America
will laugh at how "warm" -15C sounds. :-)
--
Calendar - http://www.1r5.net
Fifeshire Floozie
Wishing you a guid new year and more lovely photies in your future
[and ours :)]
"Ian Smith" <ianin...@btinternet.com.removethis> wrote
Mary
news:O9TZm.33008$Qk7....@unlimited.newshosting.com...
> By way of relief from holiday cabin fever, today we took another trip "up
> north" to see the what the recent winter weather had done so far. It's
> been a wee bit chilly of late; even by my low standards of comfort. :-)
>
> All pictures 1280x960px and c.800kB.
Thanks for the photos Ian. Nicely done. I love the sunset ones.
Mary
Scotty
<ianin...@btinternet.com.removethis> wrote:
Super pictures Ian. I know it's not remarkable but sunset at 15h35, really!
I checked the loch on GE and there is a castle nearby: "Achallader Castle
is a ruined 16th century tower house under the shadow of Beinn Achaladair,
Its name is from Gaelic, meaning field of hard water".
Seems like it's always been pretty cold there!
Calendar - http://www.1r5.net
We're all taking strain from the economic situation but I notice you've
moved into the Railway Station. :-) Everything OK, I trust.
Glenallan
"Ian Smith" <ianin...@btinternet.com.removethis> wrote in message
news:O9TZm.33008$Qk7....@unlimited.newshosting.com...
> north" to see the what the recent winter weather had done so far. It's
> been a wee bit chilly of late; even by my low standards of comfort. :-)
>
> All pictures 1280x960px and c.800kB.
Pictures are very good Ian, and perfectly
complemented by the short narative.
Very nice indeed. I felt as though I was there.!
Cheers
Glenallan
-----------
Glenallan
The Phantom Piper
wrote:
>
> All pictures 1280x960px and c.800kB.
Very lovely photos - and I'm glad we didn't lose you through the ice!
Ben Nevis Next?,
The Phantom Piper
Ian Smith
wheesht ony mair an' gied us this:
> Thanks Ian. Wonderful as always.
>
> Wishing you a guid new year and more lovely photies in your future [and
> ours :)]
Thank you ma'am! And the same best wishes to yourself. :-)
Ian Smith
mair an' gied us this:
> "Ian Smith" <ianin...@btinternet.com.removethis> wrote in message
> news:O9TZm.33008$Qk7....@unlimited.newshosting.com...
>> By way of relief from holiday cabin fever, today we took another trip
>> "up north" to see the what the recent winter weather had done so far.
>> It's been a wee bit chilly of late; even by my low standards of
>> comfort. :-)
>>
>> All pictures 1280x960px and c.800kB.
>
> Thanks for the photos Ian. Nicely done. I love the sunset ones.
>
> Mary
Mary, thank you for the compliment. Glad you liked them.
Ian Smith
mair an' gied us this:
> On 28 Dec 2009 00:42:22 GMT, Ian Smith
Everything ok, honest! It's just a temporary arrangement. ;-)
Aye, the short days can be a downer sometimes. Though other places have it
worse than us. If you set my online calendar to "Tromso" or
"Longyearbyen", it soon becomes apparent how many days they don't even
have a sunrise. I'd like to visit both some day.
Funnily enough, I did take a picture of Achallader Castle yesterday, but
from a distance. You can see its remains just to the left of lower centre
(cars parked adjacent). In the background, up on the lower slopes of Beinn
Achaladair, is the West Highland railway.
http://www.1r5.net/photos/achallader_castle.jpg
Ian Smith
wheesht ony mair an' gied us this:
> On Dec 27, 4:42 pm, Ian Smith <ianinho...@btinternet.com.removethis>
Thanks. Not the first time I've been on thin ice. ;-)
Ben Nevis; have always talked about having a go. Next year looks far more
likely though. Since I began cycling a few months ago, managed to become
fitter at age 40 than I ever was at 20. I was really lazy at 20, by the
way, lol. Ok, Nevis only about 4400 feet, and I cycle 20 miles a day to/
from work (regardless of weather). Should be alright, eh? <gulp>
Ian Smith
ony mair an' gied us this:
> "Glenallan" <glen...@msn.com> wrote in message news:...
>>
>> "Ian Smith" <ianin...@btinternet.com.removethis> wrote in message
>> news:O9TZm.33008$Qk7....@unlimited.newshosting.com...
>>> By way of relief from holiday cabin fever, today we took another trip
>>> "up north" to see the what the recent winter weather had done so far.
>>> It's been a wee bit chilly of late; even by my low standards of
>>> comfort. :-)
>>>
>>> All pictures 1280x960px and c.800kB.
>>
>> Pictures are very good Ian, and perfectly complemented by the short
>> narative.
>> Very nice indeed. I felt as though I was there.!
>>
>> Cheers
>> Glenallan
>> -----------
Thank you for that. A compliment indeed from our resident master of
narratives. :-)
If you felt as though you were there, then I have succeeded. :-)
The Phantom Piper
wrote:
>
> Ben Nevis; have always talked about having a go. Next year
> looks far more likely though.
Oh hell, man: we wanted to see it before Hogmanay!
Get Going!
(I'll Wait For You Here),
The Phantom Piper
Fred J. McCall
:
:This is the first time I've seen Loch Tulla frozen over completely and
:covered in snow.
:
IT MUST BE GLOBAL WARMING!!!! ;-)
--
"Rule Number One for Slayers - Don't die."
-- Buffy, the Vampire Slayer
Scotty
<ianin...@btinternet.com.removethis> wrote:
Phew, that's a relief, glad to hear you've settled in well :-)
>Aye, the short days can be a downer sometimes. Though other places have it
>worse than us. If you set my online calendar to "Tromso" or
>"Longyearbyen", it soon becomes apparent how many days they don't even
>have a sunrise. I'd like to visit both some day.
No, I wasn't using your calendar, that was the time the piccy was taken.
>Funnily enough, I did take a picture of Achallader Castle yesterday, but
>from a distance. You can see its remains just to the left of lower centre
>(cars parked adjacent). In the background, up on the lower slopes of Beinn
>Achaladair, is the West Highland railway.
>http://www.1r5.net/photos/achallader_castle.jpg
Gosh, thanks. If anything, that's even more dramatic than the pictures of
the lake,
Scott
Ian Smith
wheesht ony mair an' gied us this:
> Ian Smith <ianin...@btinternet.com.removethis> wrote:
>
> :
> :This is the first time I've seen Loch Tulla frozen over completely and
> :covered in snow.
> :
>
> IT MUST BE GLOBAL WARMING!!!! ;-)
Well, they did say the Gulf Stream might shut down as a result of "climate
change". Time to buy shares in Scottish ski resorts...
Nebulous
<ianin...@btinternet.com.removethis> wrote:
Cracking phoaties Ian.
I particularly liked the footsteps on the loch one and the final one
with the sunset.
We haven't ventured out much yet - too busy with setting up a
trainset!
Neb
Nebulous
<ianin...@btinternet.com.removethis> wrote:
Given the precarious finances of some of them you could probably buy a
whole one!
Neb
Ian Smith
ony mair an' gied us this:
> On 28 Dec 2009 00:42:22 GMT, Ian Smith
Thanks! Fond memories of trainsets and Scalextric racing in my younger
years, but that fell by the wayside when I discovered video games and
computers.
Ian Smith
ony mair an' gied us this:
> On 28 Dec 2009 21:01:36 GMT, Ian Smith
> <ianin...@btinternet.com.removethis> wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:28:35 -0700, Fred J. McCall couldnae haud thur
>>wheesht ony mair an' gied us this:
>>
>>> Ian Smith <ianin...@btinternet.com.removethis> wrote:
>>>
>>> :
>>> :This is the first time I've seen Loch Tulla frozen over completely
>>> and :covered in snow.
>>> :
>>>
>>> IT MUST BE GLOBAL WARMING!!!! ;-)
>>
>>Well, they did say the Gulf Stream might shut down as a result of
>>"climate change". Time to buy shares in Scottish ski resorts...
>
>
> Given the precarious finances of some of them you could probably buy a
> whole one!
>
>
> Neb
That's for sure!
Josiah Jenkins
Nebulous
I thought we'd just agreed I was the bairn around here?
The girls got a trainset last year and devoted a lot of time to
building scenery. It was laid out on an 8' by 4' plywood sheet with
tunnels, bridges, several circuits and several trains.
It was looking really good when my son moved back home and claimed the
spare bedroom, meaning we had nowhere to keep it. This has been quite
an issue for them, one that didn't seem to have a straightforward
solution, particularly as they didn't really want to relay it every
time they used it and then pack it away again.
At Christmas they got this:-
We've spent pretty much the last two days attaching that to the roof
of one of their bedrooms, so they can play with the trainset and then
hoist it back up out of the way. It was a much more complicated
business than I expected. However it is now up and running, so they
can get to work rebuilding their layout.
Neb
Josiah Jenkins
>Josiah Jenkins <josiah-jenkins@somewhere_else.invalid> wrote:
>Nebulous <ja...@pigtail.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>>We haven't ventured out much yet - too busy with setting
>>> up a trainset!
>>
>>What did the kids get ???
>
>I thought we'd just agreed I was the bairn around here?
Hey, since the last we heard was that you were sookin' a bottle,
that's a given !
>
>The girls got a trainset last year and devoted a lot of time to
>building scenery. It was laid out on an 8' by 4' plywood sheet with
>tunnels, bridges, several circuits and several trains.
No photos ?
>
>It was looking really good when my son moved back home and
>claimed the spare bedroom, meaning we had nowhere to keep it.
I thought lesson one was, if they leave, change the locks ?
>
>This has been quite an issue for them, one that didn't seem to
>have a straightforward solution, particularly as they didn't really
>want to relay it every time they used it and then pack it away again.
I'd agree, there's NO fun in that at all.
>
>At Christmas they got this:-
>
>http://tinyurl.com/yzrlxng
Good thinking Batman !
>
>We've spent pretty much the last two days attaching that to the roof
>of one of their bedrooms, so they can play
Excuse me . . . did you say *PLAY* ???
Go find the carbolic soal immediately !
>
> with the trainset and then hoist it back up out of the way.
>It was a much more complicated business than I expected.
>However it is now up and running, so they can get to work
>rebuilding their layout.
What they on ?
UK, US, Continental ?
OO, Ho or N ?
I had a passing interest in this for around 40 years !
--
http://www.ian-stewart.eu
Nebulous
<josiah-jenkins@somewhere_else.invalid> wrote:
>Nebulous <ja...@pigtail.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>The girls got a trainset last year and devoted a lot of time to
>>building scenery. It was laid out on an 8' by 4' plywood sheet with
>>tunnels, bridges, several circuits and several trains.
>
>No photos ?
No I don't think there are, especially as it was never close to being
finished.
>>
>>It was looking really good when my son moved back home and
>>claimed the spare bedroom, meaning we had nowhere to keep it.
>
>I thought lesson one was, if they leave, change the locks ?
Actually looking after him at a distance when he was in rented
accommodation was probably more work than having him here!
>>
>> with the trainset and then hoist it back up out of the way.
>>It was a much more complicated business than I expected.
>>However it is now up and running, so they can get to work
>>rebuilding their layout.
>
>What they on ?
>
>UK, US, Continental ?
>OO, Ho or N ?
>
>I had a passing interest in this for around 40 years !
It's Hornby OO gauge.
To some extent its based on the Skaledale stuff,
http://www.hornby.com/brands/skaledale/products/
but they really are doing it the hard way, building all the houses,
station, school etc from materials such as cardboard boxes and paint.
It might not look quite as authentic. but it is going to be all their
own work.
They have bought some things, such as cars and animals, but they are
making or have made most of it. As I'm sure you will understand, even
at 8' by 4' that was a pretty big undertaking
Neb
Jeffrey Hamilton
Great pictures Ian, thanks for posting them.
I noticed you mentioning Scalextric and remembered enjoying those as a 'ute
myself. My grandson turned four on Dec 24th and I'm already considering
buying him a set for a future b'day or Christmas. Yep, granddad will gladly
get down on the floor and race with him, he of course gets the lorry, whilst
grandad will get the F-1 Ferrari. I wonder how long I'll have to wait
before he grasps the concept of braking for cormers or esses
?.........tee-hee.
cheers.....Jeff
Ian Smith
Our set had Mini Coopers and crossover sections. Hours of endless fun. :-)
--
Perpetual World Calendar - http://www.1r5.net
Josiah Jenkins
<ianin...@btinternet.com.removethis> wrote:
>On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:32:13 -0500, Jeffrey Hamilton couldnae haud thur
>wheesht ony mair an' gied us this:
>> Ian Smith wrote:
>>> On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:23:07 +0000, Nebulous couldnae haud thur wheesht
>>> ony mair an' gied us this:
>>>>
>>>> trainset!
>>>
>>> years, but that fell by the wayside when I discovered video games and
>>> computers.
>>
>> 'ute myself. My grandson turned four on Dec 24th and I'm already
>> considering buying him a set for a future b'day or Christmas. Yep,
>> granddad will gladly get down on the floor and race with him, he of
>> course gets the lorry, whilst grandad will get the F-1 Ferrari. I
>> wonder how long I'll have to wait before he grasps the concept of
>> braking for cormers or esses ?.........tee-hee.
>
"Ours" was a custom made 4-lane, 160 foot lap, job complete with an
electronic lap timer.
We used to run 6-hour endurance races some Sundays (10am - 4pm)
One car, four to six drivers . . . if it broke you had to fix it.
I saw a standard Scalex car burn out before it completed a full lap.
The motor didn't seem to like the 16v track power which the Pittman
and Mabuchi motors could handle.
I had a 30 foot lap test track set up in my bedroom
(This *was* before I was married !!!)
--
http://www.ian-stewart.eu
Cory Bhreckan
The wife didn't let you keep it?
--
"For the stronger we our houses do build,
The less chance we have of being killed." - William Topaz McGonagall
La N
I am reminded of what I just read on a friend's Facebook page:
"To all you guys playing in bands out there - What do you call musicians who
don't have girlfriends? Homeless."
pa da bim!
Don't know what made me think of that ... heheheh ...
- nil
Josiah Jenkins
No, the club lost the premises (it was demolished) so
I sold all my Scalex track and slot cars (around 24)
and bought Hornby OO railway stuff.
But I had traded all that in for American profile 'N'
gauge before I got married and kept it up until a few
years ago.
--
http://www.ian-stewart.eu
Cory Bhreckan
But not in the bedroom.
Ian Smith
Now that's impressive. I had a bog standard set straight out of the box.
At the time, could only dream of a setup like yours. I think we bought a
couple of extra track sections to make it bigger at one point though.