Almost 4 Months of Lockdown and a Heatwave and a Flood

Its been a week of two weather halves with the first half of the week glorious weather and high temperatures and the second half of the week loads of rain culminating in floods on Sunday. This was my very early morning walk on Wednesday and Langholm Parish Kirk without the trees in front.  

Langholm Lodge on Monday morning. It would have made a superb country hotel if they had not knocked down the big middle section after the war. 

The Ha-ha in front of Langholm Lodge

On Wednesday morning I enjoyed a trip up to Springhill to see David and Alix Stevenson for morning coffee in the garden. Alix had just returned from a walk with my two favourite dogs Bowman and Ruger and they always finish a walk with some games on the lawn. Despite his advanced years Bowman is still very enthusiastic in catching a rubber ring. 

Bowman catching a rubber ring 

All set for another go. 

A very happy Bowman

On Thursday I had my first walk as a group of three people in over three months. I joined Mike and Charlie to walk round part of Walk 8 in the Langholm Walks Booklet. It was chosen as it was easy to keep socially isolated on the walk but I have to admit its not easy and you occasionally forget. This is the lane at Bagra and it was full of wild flowers and Mike as always gives us instructions on how to identify them.  

Mike explaining a particular wild flower. It was the warmest day of the year and very humid but a most enjoyable walk in excellent company and finished off with a lovely cup of tea in Mikes garden thanks to Alison.

My Friday walk took me to my regular 3 mile circuit of Canonbie. This is the lane from the high road above Canonbie down to the village.

My favourite bird The Dipper 

The Esk from Byreburn Bridge

My Skippers Bridge walk on Saturday spotted the first fisherman of the year near the Bowling Club at Codgie

Sunday morning after a night of heavy rain and the rivers are high. The Ewes and Wauchope are running much faster than the Esk so maybe it will come down in flood later in the day

The Esk and the Ewes

The Wauchope which mostly is the first to come down in flood.

The Ewes from the Sawmill Bridge

The Esk from the Duchess Bridge

The Esk and the Wauchope

A family of Goosanders sheltering from the flood with Mum standing guard. There was another family just down from this one and in total there was I think 15 young and the two Mums. This family is 8 young.

This is the second family with Mum and 7 young

I photographed them when I set out on my walk and again when I returned and this time some of them had moved into the river but they were soon back on the banking.

Week 10 and a Birthday

Last weekend the garden took a bit of a beating from high winds and my Peony Rose took a battering but Gaye managed to get them staked and they are looking beautiful. 

For the first time in 8 weeks I headed out of the town for my morning walk which was from Hollows Bridge round by Canonbie. I love a Beech Hedge and this is a beauty

I came back via the Maverick Bird Hide which is now closed due to all the trees being felled. Hopefully we can re open it sometime again in the future.

Another Beech Hedge and a lovely tree

On Thursday it was my 73rd Birthday so on a beautiful evening we were able to have a glass of Whisky and Wine with Tom, David, and Alix and sat in the garden for an hour at safe distance from each other. 

A most enjoyable hour

David and Alix returned home on their Electric Bikes

On Thursday at 10.00pm The Langholm Monument was Illuminated for an hour in honour of the NHS.

Fiona and family had bought me a 500 piece Jigsaw as a Birthday Present so I have managed to complete it in 3 days doing about 4 hours per day. The last time I did a Jigsaw was in 1992 when we were in Skye for a week with Fraser and it rained all week so we did a huge Jigsaw.

Canonbie Walk with the Glovers

Many weeks ago I had been asked by Marion Glover to select a walk for her Dumfries Walking Group in the Canonbie so we met John and Marion at Canonbie Kirk this morning and took them round part of the Langholm Walks - Canonbie Walk for about 7 miles. The Group are coming to walk here on 4th August. Not all of the Last of the Summer Wine Walkers were available today but John and Tom managed to make it. 

Two John's and a Marion with Charlie the dog. 

We met this chap near Rowanburn  and he asked to be introduced to Tom. 

Marion and Tom had to do some shopping in Scotland's smallest shop. The cake Tom bought did not last long as 15 minutes later we had all finished it. At the end of the walk as we went past the Deed Nook Pool Charlie had to have a dip. We finished the walk just as Liz Findlay was opening the Canonbie Kirk Community cafe and enjoyed Tea and Cake. 

The Canonbie Walk Yet Again

We had planned a walk along the River Annan but Tom had to put signs up for the Langholm Rotary Club Canonbie Umbrella Walk on Saturday so he insisted we helped him with this. Once again it caused many arguments but Tom managed to get his own way almost all of the time. I hope Langholm Rotary Club appreciate how much work he has done in preparing this walk. 

John and myself at the Meeting of the Waters after having cursed Tom for the last 2 miles but its just water of a Duck's back and it certainly makes for an interesting walk.

The final set of way markers where to be honest none were needed as there is no other way to go but then as usual Tom wins the argument. 

A fallen tree across the path so I will send this to the Access Officer at D & G Council to see if it can be removed fairly soon.  

Another land slip at the Dead Nook Pool 

As always at Canonbie we time our walk to finish in time for the Community Cafe opening and enjoy Tea, Scone, and Cake for a very reasonable price. 

Checking out the Canonbie Umbrella Walk route

Its almost time for the Langholm and Canonbie Umbrella Walks so Tom decided we should check out the Canonbie route as he is once again in charge of it. We were joined by David and Bowman and Ruger for the first time since New Year's Day as of course David has been in Barbados for almost 2 months. The dogs are great company with Bowman taking the lead and never straying from the route while young Ruger covers twice the ground and is constantly disappearing, but never for long. 

The dogs go for a swim in the Liddel

Tom and Bowman check out the seat placed there in memory of Alastair Davies and recently moved to a safer spot due to flood damage to the ground nearby.  

Canonbie Kirk with the last remnants of last weeks snow still in the field.

Another paddle for the dogs this time in the Esk

H & H King should get their people to learn to spell. Well spotted David. We finished our walk with a nice lunch in the Whiteshiels Cafe.