White Water Rafting in Sierra Nevada

This week our grandson Tommy is 14 so Fraser took him into the Sierra Nevada Mountains for a White Water Rafting Trip. They were accompanied by a friend of Fraser’s and his sons.

The trip lasted several hours and included a lunch stop.

Some of the rapids were very severe.

This is the start of the most exciting and dangerous section of  Middle Fork American River.

At this point most of them were sent headlong into the river with the exception of Tommy and the 2 Instructors. Tommy loved every minute of the adventure. He is real outdoor boy who loves skiing, surfing and now rafting.

A Walk From Tweedbank Station

Back on the Tweed for the last section of the walk. A perfect day in excellent weather and in good company.

Two thirds of our way through the walk we stopped for lunch in Marmions Bistro in Melrose and enjoyed a lovely meal. We then headed back to Tweedbank Station passing The Greenyards on the way, the home of Melrose RFC and looking in splendid condition ready for the annual 7s tournament in just over a weeks time.

The Chain Link bridge from the path.

Back across the Tweed and this time on the Chain Link bridge

More Rape Seed oil crop

The highest point of the walk with fine views over the Tweed valley

Hawthorn Blossom with Rape Seed Oil in the field.

It was all uphill on this section

This section of the walk is on the Southern Upland Way and the Border Abbey's Way

Everywhere we went there was Hawthorn Blossom

The Last of the Summer Wine Walkers, Tom, Niall, John, and Ken.

The river Tweed near Tweedbank Station and the start of our 5 mile walk. Tom, Niall, and myself met John and Ken off the Edinburgh train at the station and set out on this 5 mile walk. Unfortunately Martin was unable to join us as he woke this morning with a heavy cold and decided it would be better to stay at home and recover. The river is low but I have seen it lower in the past. 

 

Last Day of our Family Holiday

On our last morning at the Holiday House in Seahouses I went with Fraser, Leslie and Elliot to the beach for a last walk. It involved crossing this stream on the way back and Leslie managed to get her feet wet.

Elliot took this photograph. If he had taken one more step back he would have fallen over the edge onto the beach

The Graham family. It's been such an enjoyable holiday with plenty of activities to keep our Californian family active. 

At the front entrance to The Jesmond Dean Hotel where we had a wonderful afternoon tea. We should have been at St. James Park to see Newcastle United play Manchester United but they changed the fixture to Sunday for TV purposes and by the time it starts Fraser and family will be flying over the Atlantic. It was a big disappointment to everybody.

The Afternoon Tea which was brilliantly presented and tasted wonderful. 

 

A Beach Walk at Low Newton

We headed to Low Newton for a 4 mile walk along the beach and back through the sand dunes. Gaye and Fraser only did the beach section as the dunes were too steep for Gaye. 

Fraser looked after Gaye and she enjoyed the beach walk as the tide was out and the sand nice and firm. It’s been a fabulous week and it’s so nice to be together as a family, especially with Fiona joining us as well. 

Leslie with our American grandchildren Eleanor and Elliot. Tommy is missing as he is on a school trip to Washington and New York.

Fiona and Leslie had a paddle in the North Sea

Among the sand dunes and Huts

After this Fraser and family went to Bamburgh Castle. This seat is the same seat their granny Sidne sat in on a visit in August 2016 as in photo below. Sadly she died three years ago but so loved her visits to UK

A Family trip to Farne Isles

On the boat to the Farne Isles with two of our grandchildren Elliot and Eleanor

The Graham family on Inner Farne

As its early in the season this was the only one sitting on a nest we saw.

The Puffins have only been here a few days and they are cleaning out their nesting burrows

Loads of Guillemot's

This was taken on Brittania in Leith on Wednesday. I have loads more photos of Farne but the Wi-Fi in our holiday house is not good and it takes an age to upload them.

 

Graham Family Kayaking on River Coquet

This Kayaking trip on the River Coquet was booked some time ago and we couldn’t have chosen a better day as the weather and tides were perfect.

Elliot and Leslie in the double one as he was only 10. He did really well and paddled for over 2 hours.

Fraser paddling like mad.

Some of the group setting out. There were 10 people on it plus 2 instructors who were excellent.

On the way back after over 2 hours.

Leslie and Elliot finishing. 

A visit to Alnwick Gardens

Our planned trip today was to Alnwick Gardens just 20 minutes down the coast. The weather was again magnificent and quite warm at times in the sheltered parts of the garden. This archway will be green in another week or so.

This is the Cherry Blossom orchard and it is just beginning to bloom. It will be beautiful in another week or so.

Gaye with Fiona and Fraser and loving every minute of being in their company.

Among the Daffodils

Another archway

Looking down from the top of the fountains

Grandson Elliot enjoying all the ponds and streams

These blue flowers looked great but the photograph does not do them justice.

The fountain display comes on at regular intervals but I missed it and didn’t bother to wait another half hour or longer for it to come on again. A lovely afternoon and everybody enjoyed themselves. Apologies as the photos are not larger but our Wi-Fi is not great and photos are slow in transferring to my Laptop so this blog is loaded from my phone.