Dec 31st Dumfries House Adam Bridge

Today we went to Dumfries house, principally to get lunch and then a walk but the café was closed so it became walk first and lunch elsewhere. There are many points of interest in the estate but the Adams bridge is special. The bridge was designed to give visitors, by horse and coach, a great view of the house as they crossed the bridge on arrival. Tree planting means it no longer has this view of the house. The bridge is circa 1700's and has been somewhat damaged over time and twice restored up-to a point and apparently there are plans to bring it back to its full glory. In the summer evenings a nice spot to look over and watch the trout rising.

Adam Bridge looking away from the house

Dec 30th Storm Frank arrives

The winds were intense last night but had worse. The rain has been incessant during the night but eased this morning. High tide and the water surge due early afternoon. The waves are starting to crash over the promenade at Troon, could be an interesting afternoon. Much better news, I got a fitting for my new road bike, photo next week.

Storm Frank Troon

Dec 29th Blue skies but storm Frank approaching

Wow actually got a round of golf in today, the 1st for about 6 weeks and actually played ok. Very windy but dry and just nice to be out. Some blue skies showing along with threatening clouds building up as Storm Frank is due to hit us tonight, not so whoopee as storm force winds and all night/day rain forecast.

Storm Frank building up

Dec 28th Troon bay a dull day

No real respite this month, still mild but damp and grey. It feels like the clouds are almost touching you. For a change a walk around Troon Bay.

Troon Bay

Dec 27th Shewalton wood trees no more

A walk in Shewalton woods today shows the devastation caused by deforestation. The bare area over the water was a wood. These trees contained plenty of wildlife including deer, buzzards, foxes and all the small woodland birds. Now it is just a mess with no sign of any replanting. It will take nature a long time to do anything with this.

Shewalton wood trees no more

Dec 26th Boxing day water treat for the horse

I managed to get in a short walk along the beach before the family arrived for more festive mayhem. A nice day with quite a few people around but my attention was taken with the horse and rider enjoying the water, the dog was wiser and stayed on the fringes.

Horse and rider enjoying a water stroll

Dec 25th Xmas cake can now be eaten

The tradition in our household is that the Xmas cake does not get cut before the big day itself. Mrs B always does a fine job with the cake and it usually brings me a few days of drooling as I want a piece now. When the gang arrives on Boxing day it get devoured and sent home with visitors when they are leaving which means only a small amount for my expanding waistline, just as well. 

Xmas cake

Dec 24th Storm Eva approaching

It was not just the sky that was stormy, you can include our household as we found that the freezer in the garage had blew destroying all the pre cooked food for the family Boxing day get together. A blustery walk along the shore to clear the negative vibes was needed. Storm Eva is gathering, very windy yet again and the clouds over the bay are beginning build. Hopefully the forecasts are right and Eva just passes us by.

Storm Eva clouds Irvine Bay

Dec 23rd Visitors

Another bright but breezy day. Delighted to report another first to the bird feeders a rare male blackcap. Now been with us for about 4 days so wonder if it staying put for the winter. Talking of small things a family visit and this grand-daughter not really wanting her photo taken but more interested in the hidden sweets. didn't take her long to suss it out but happy memories.

Dec 22nd Windswept but blue skies

Another great day for the surfing fraternity but not great for the rest of us. Positive was the rain disappearing by 10am and we had blue skies. A nice day for a walk so long as you could stand the very strong gusts. I was only wearing a light rucksack and the wind hitting it was so strong it tried to turn me around, weird. All the grass was blown flat by these incessant winds.

Bleak windswept north shore

Dec 21st Indoors day fly tying

The weather was brutal today with constant rain and 50mph winds, an indoor not an outdoor day. I don't normally start my fly tying until the New Year but I needed something to occupy the mind and tying a few suspender buzzers was the choice. Not the best quality fly tying but these buzzers were very successful this year, the fish don't seem to know they are home tied.

Suspender buzzer

Dec 20th Lonely Beach

The forecast was for yet another grim day of high winds and rain. I managed to get out just before the rain came on. As you can see not many other people around today, one lonely figure out walking his dog.

Empty beach

Dec 19th Surfers Barassie Bay

Finally a day with no rain forecast until evening but the sting in the tail is the extremely strong winds. I was intending to cycle but ruled that out, too hard in this wind. But the wind is a must for these guys. There must have been around a dozen of them and an impressive sight it is.

Surfers Barassie Bay

Dec 18th New coat please

I managed to get a walk in this morning before the weather deteriorated into our now usual wind and rain. Up by the marina I saw this boat awaiting repair, colours are a bit faded so I presume it is going to get a new coat of paint.

Awaiting paint job Troon marina

Dec 17th A dirty train

Today it is dull, dark, grey but thankfully still mild. I went for a walk through Shewalton woods. Within the woods there is a railway line servicing the paper mill and wood yard. My path crosses the railway line but today was the first time for many a year that a train was actually sitting at the crossing with its engine running. Once upon a time it would have been nice and clean, now it is just a dirty machine, a dull memory for a dull day.

Dirty train Shewalton

Dec 16th North shore Troon helicopter practice

The weather is still damp but very mild. When out for a walk along the shore the rescue helicopter appeared and spent time carrying out a trial rescue at sea. You can just see the winchman at bottom of shot, sorry but too far away to get a decent snap. Only a few weeks until HMS Gannet helicopter stood down and this one takes over.

Dec 15th Gailes pony

Back to a damp but mild day. A walk near Gailes and I was surprised to see the ponies still in their field, hardy little beggars. They were all chumping away happily on hay so I thought I would focus my snap of the day onto a portion of it's face, worked out all right.

Gailes pony

Dec 14th Frosted berry Western Gailes

First thing this morning the frost was still with us and this nice little berry covered in frost on the golf course represents the day well.

Dec 13th Arran floating mountains

Today was certainly the coldest of the winter so far with a heavy frost coating everything. We went for a walk and we were greeted with this great view of the peaks of Arran apparently floating above the sea harr. What a memory.

Arran from Barassie floating mountains

Dec 12th Xmas tree

Now that we are back it is time get organised for Xmas. The grandkids are visiting so it is the decoration of the tree that is the priority and a good job done by all.

Dec 11th Back to reality Prestwick in the rain

Well, well, after a great two weeks, sometimes cloudy always warm and only one session of rain, and that was during the night, back to reality in a wet and cold Ayrshire. I had to pop into Ayr for some messages and on the way back I decided to go down to the beach at Prestwick to see the views. As you gather the promenade was empty apart from tidal debris, a cold grey scene. And to compound issues I had thought that the car was not driving smoothly so looked around and noticed that I had a deflating rear tyre, yahoo. Thankfully got back to BJ's who sorted it. Welcome home.

Prestwick promenade

Dec 10th Final memory Tenerife

The islands most popular export commercial activity has been bananas and the lower slopes are populated with the 'fincas' growing bananas. Tomatoes is the second largest crop but my favourite sun growing plant is always the orange. In the UK these are brought across frozen and it is really hit or miss if you get a good tasty juicy one. Across in Tenerife they are grown locally so are at the right time are as good as you get. In the hills the locals all seem to have at least one orange tree in their small holdings and right now they were in season and they were good.

Tenerife orange in a smallholding

Dec 9th Evening surfers at Varadero

An evening walk along the rocky shore front at Varadero and the surfers were still out on the water., the two black shapes in the water are them. They set up camp here in all sorts sleeping arrangements, proper camper vans, tents and the back of pick up trucks. I thought this picture was more suited to monochrome with the light fading. My days of roughing it like these surfers are past but good luck to them.  

Dec 8th. Garachico

Today was another trip to real Tenerife with a visit to the historical town of Garachico. This is a stunning place that most sun tourists will never see and that is their miss. It is also one roller coaster of a journey as we climb up the mountains to take the most amazing corkscrew descent, one unlike many of us will have experienced. The view is taken from above looking down on the amazing town, it's new marina. Quite stunning, give it a go.

Dec 7th. Teide peaks in the evening sun

We were returning from our early evening beer and caught this view of our apartments with the peak of Mount Teide catching the last of the evening sun. A couple of days ago the top was snow covered, reminding us of home!! But tonight it looks like it has melted and although it is not in focus etc it is still a nice memory.

Dec 6th. Guia de Isora

If you want to see the real Tenerife you need to abandon the coastal areas and head inland which usually means driving upwards into the hills and mountains. Guia de Isora is a great example that is easy to get to. We took the turning twisty drive up from Playa San Juan, 9 kilometres that seemed a lot longer. Guia is a cultural centre as well a thriving little town and one of the many starting routes for hillwalking. The inglesia is a focal point of the town, give it a visit.

Dec 5th. Evening sunset Gomera

We were enjoying our teatime drink at a nice bar overlooking the sea and the beer was interrupted by the cracking sunset over the island of Gomera. Not quite West of Scotland sunset but nice all the same. Now another jarra.

Dec 4th El Rincon de Juan Carlos Los Gigantes. A gourmet meal never to forget

We have eaten here 4 or 5 times in the past and had really good food but like a lot of places over here the menu doesn't change so we stopped for a few years. This time they offered a 10 course tasting menu which was very different so we decided to give it a try. Between booking and eating they were awarded a Michelin 1 star. The 10 courses become 12 on the night, accompanied by 5 matching wines if you choose, what a fantastic experience, you cannot describe adequately how they can get so many flavours in a small dish. A night never to forget.  At this time of the year you have to eat indoors, around 10 tables but if you are over summer or Autumn the tables in the small courtyard are the ones to have.

Des 3rd Santiago del Teide beautiful church

We always drive up to the village of Santiago del Teide, which sits in rugged mountain terrain and take one of the many walks around the area. The village itself has one of the most beautiful churches in its centre, go inside as its beauty is not in the exterior but a stunning interior that begs you to sit down, take in the ambience and look around and I am not religious.

The walk we took today went up the Valle de Arribe and you come across this excellent 'inglesia' standing in splendid isolation. I cannot comment on the interior as it was locked but a lovely surprise.

The village has plenty of cafes and restaurants to relax after your efforts.

Des 2nd Los Gigantes from Barcelo hotel

Today was the hottest day so far which began with my usual walk/jog, more sweater than usual. More walking until lunch then sun bathing, forgetting the crap Scottish weather. Coming round the walkway at the Barcelo hotel there is a simple but nice view of Los Gigantes and the cliffs.

Dec 1st. Playa San Juan boats in the harbour

A strange day that started well but turned very breezy with a strong chop on the water which saw all small craft stuck in the harbour for most of the day. We had a good walk around the area as despite the wind it was still warm. Popped into cafe Vitamen and had the hamburguesas especial for 2.50 euros you will never look at a Big Mac again, superb value like eating a full breakfast in a bun, fab. This is a working harbour and if you are in at the right time you might see the tuna being unloaded.

30th Nov. Surfers at Varadero

The rocky dusty track from Varadero to Alcala is a favourite for the surfing brigade. A lot fewer of them around today but still over a dozen. This snap shows a couple waiting in the water. For minutes it looks flat calm then out of nowhere come about 5 or 6 big waves in a row and the fun starts.



Surfers at Varadero