Down by the River

Dog Days III

Getting out with the dog has been one of this year’s small pleasures. Its made 2020 a bit more tolerable.

We all need a moment of escape.

With the current news headlines, I get the feeling that I’ll be needing more walks in early 2021.

The End of the West Highland Way

This little scene made me smile. It was a quick photo grab as i stepped out of a shop in Fort William. Some people really do love their dogs and these two Shelties could tell that a choccy doggie treat was coming their way even as the man started to reach into his pocket. Maybe they’d just had quite a long walk.

The impressive statue of the walker signifies the end of the West Highland way, a 96 miles (154Km) walking route from Milngavie to Fort William described as the Scotland’s premier long distance route. Indeed the route goes through some terrific Highland locations such as the shore of Loch Lomond, Rannock Moor, Glencoe and Glen Nevis before finishing in Gordon Square, Fort William.

And to prove you’ve actually done it…. well you can get a West Highland Way Official Souvenir Passport and have it stamped along the route at one of the many Passport Stamping Stations.

Down by the river

There is nothing like a walk alongside a river, especially if it’s at a place like Durham. The town was just too busy to be a pleasant experience so I decided to head down to the peace and quiet of the river.

Down by the river bank autumn was starting to make its mark though the trees have yet to be totally transformed into the golden colours. Another couple of weeks should see the reds, browns and golds start to appear. It will look wonderful.

Walking along the path beside the wear I noticed that most of the other people were young couples, obviously students at the university, holding hands and totally wrapped up in their own world, slowly walking into town. A tiny bit of me was envious for that young, care free student life again.

A rowing team were being put their paces by a coach on the river bank, shouting out something about oars and rowing technique. The team listened and then slowly turned the boat around, setting off again leaving fantastic ripple patterns, where their oars entered the water, in their wake.

After they’d gone I turned and headed for the town once again.