Dec 31st The last one Barassie gloomy day

Today is the last day of the year and it is the final entry for this blog. The blog began with a weather snap looking out to sea from Barassie with Arran in the background. It only seemed appropriate that the final one should be a similar shot. After all the good weather this afternoon has been a wet, blustery afternoon with some bursts of light. Good bye 2016 and a Happy New Year to all for 2017.

Grey gloomy view from Barassie

Dec 30th Enterkine Viaduct

As I walked under this magnificent viaduct I was struck by the similarity to the Finnieston crane snap published a few weeks ago. They are also similar in that both are relics of Scotland's industrial past. This viaduct, over 150 years old and still in use. Used as a passenger and freight route another great example of Victorian engineering.

Enterkine Viaduct

Dec 29th Green fields of December!

The undoubted memory of this winter has to be how unwintery it has been so I make no apologies for another reminder snap. I walked past this field and was struck by how vibrant green and spring like it looked, we are just after Xmas. It is probably a traditional winter barley crop or suchlike but it did stand out as unusual to me.

Winter greens

Dec 27th Buzzard

After the Xmas business and too much time indoors it was a short walk up to the woods to clear my head. At this time of year buzzards are looking for ground food including things like worms. They sit patiently on poles and trees, low down, staring at the ground for their prey to move and are relatively relaxed with people around. Common now but still a raptor.

Buzzard

Dec 23rd Storm Barbara approaching

So far we have missed the new Storm Barbara but I suspect we are going to be hit soon. The clouds are building up over Arran, lookout. In Troon we live in a micro climate where the surrounding countryside gets a lot more rain than we do but not this time.

Storm Barbara approaching

Nov 29th Salmonds Legacy

Whilst walking along the beach today, the air purity was so good that I had a fantastic view of the Paps Of Jute many miles away. However, the view was so good that I picked up on something I have not spotted before, wind turbines. They are probably on the Campbeltown peninsula and not on Jura but still a spoiler. A photo of them would not have worked as the distance is too far but I only needed to swing the camera to the Dalry hills ahead of me to see one of the hideous and despoiling wind farms in our area. Bye bye to my SNP vote, environment v landscape, not convinced.

Wind Farm Dalry hills

Nov 20th Cycle cross

In the distance I could see a lot of activity on the Stone Dragon hill at Irvine so curiosity made me detour from my chosen path. It turned out to be a leg of the Scottish cyclocross championship. The course meander up and down the grassy hills as well as through the dunes. As a cyclist I could only admire the fitness required to complete the course, a hard, hard event.

Cyclocross Irvine

Nov 15th Autumn Colours again

Well you guessed it, after the cloud cover last night spoiled the supermoon for most of Scotland, today after 10am the clouds disappeared and a crisp sunny autumn day developed. A wander in the woods nearby and I spot this menage of colour, the fading brown and orange maple leafs and the bright green ivy leaves. An autumn contrast to bring a smile to my face.

Autumn Colours

Nov 8th Prolific Ivy

When out my walk I could not help notice how prolific the ivy was over a short stretch. Also known as climbing ivy it has a destructive reputation for 'strangling' trees but apparently this is not the case. Just enjoy this attractive autumn flowering species with its veined leaves.

Ivy

Nov 7th A good place for lunch

A very nice out of the way cafe style for coffees or lunch is Langholm farm close to Troon. Many residents do not know of its existence but many do as by 1pm on a Monday I was very surprised that every table was occupied. Usual stuff but if you have a West Scotland sweet tooth the homemade pineapple cakes are to swoon over.

Langholm Farm

Nov 2nd Scenic War Memorial

It is that time of the year with Remembrance Sunday due soon. War memorials have floral decorations and poppy wreaths. However, my focus for this one is the outstanding location. On the western side of the island of Great Cumbrae with the Isle of Bute in the foreground and Arran behind it. A stunning and very quiet place to be remembered.

War Memorial Cumbrae

Oct 25th Western Gailes selfie

Out for an afternoon walk along the golf course and stopped for a drink at this water font. Took a photo and got a selfie image on the shiny handle to turn the water on, surprised.

Selfie Western Gailes

Oct 24th Think the kids will like this

Out for lunch today at a new venue and what a surprise. Not only was the food very good, the atmosphere very pleasant and the staff top drawer. But we also found this play area beside the carpark. No doubt will be making a return one day with the kids. Boswell coaching cafe/restaurant Auchinleck go for it.

Top kids play area

Oct 23rd A lovely day for a cycle

A crisp blue sky morning, ideal for a good bike ride along the Ayrshire coast so long as well wrapped up, full gloves not fingerless. Very enjoyable.

Prestwick Bay

Sep 27th Beach hazard

It is sad that a beach is allowed to become neglected to the extent that it becomes a danger. The local beach between Barassie and Irvine is 3 miles of relatively unspoilt coastline. Because it is a boundary between South & North Ayrshire councils and money is tight it is no longer cleaned except by the tide. However the occasional stuff like this degraded iron pipe is a hazard to the public. At high tide you sometimes do have to get over this obstacle or get your feet wet.

Beach hazard

Sep 21st To eat or not too eat

I noticed this handsome mushroom popping up in the grass at the side of a secluded road. It looks very much like one of the mushrooms I get in my mixed Tesco bag for my stir fry. It can probably be eaten but I will still to the supermarket.

Mushroom

Sep 19th Sunflower

I was out my morning walk on a bright Autumn morning and I was surprised to see this peeking over a neighbours fence. I associate sunflowers with the Tour de France rolling past sunkissed Provencal fields but in our climate in Barassie, never seen before. But here it is and yes it is pointing at the sun.

Sunflower

  

Sep 11th Foraging natures harvest

Went out today with the intention of collecting some fresh brambles. I have been away so missed the best of the season but was fortunate to find a patch still in good condition. I picked these two punnets and could have got more except for the wasps. I was not the only one after a free meal. I had to be very careful as almost put my fingers on a bramble already occupied by a feeding wasp. They were not the least interested in me but the sheer numbers made the picking awkward. Still enough for 2 bramble and apple crumbles.

Brambles

Aug 31st Last day of summer....Ringlet

It is appropriate that the last day of summer brought a small hour of sunshine amongst the very strong winds battering the west coast. Surprisingly on my walk today I caught this Ringlet butterfly briefly enjoying the warmth, good luck it is going fast.

Ringlet

Aug 30th Sea

I posted recently about a tee name in South Uist but locally this name is not special because of its name but because of the quality of the golf hole. A shortish par 3 on Western Gailes, that is all carry and should be straightforward. But deep bunkers protect the hole and when the wind blows, which is all the time, tough, tough, tough. One of my all time favourite golf holes.

Hole 7 Sea Western Gailes GC