Graham Family in Montana

Our American family are on a short holiday in Montana and are visiting Glacier National Park. They like adventure so first day is a Pony Trekking expedition in the mountains of the National Park. Our granddaughter Eleanor provided these photographs. 

The scenery is magnificent. Montana is about 1.5 times the size of the UK with a population of just over 1 million so there is plenty of space.

The rivers flow off the glaciers

Leslie, without a safety hat but looking very comfortable on a horse.

Thomas is 14 and is now almost 6ft tall. He loves the outdoor life and adventure.

Never thought I would see Fraser on a horse but he enjoys the outdoor life and despite a heavy workload manages to spend a lot of time on weekend adventures with the family.

Fraser, Leslie, Thomas, Elliot and Eleanor. A great way to see the National Park from the back of a horse.

 

Langholm's two British Lions

 

This superb photo was taken by Stan Wilson and is of Billy Steele and Jim Renwick. They both played many times for Scotland and also toured with the British Lions. Billy played as a teenager for Langholm and then joined the RAF from where his international career was launched. Jim from Hawick played for Langholm after his International career had ended but he played for half a season to help us when we were facing difficult times. They are both friends of mine as I was in Billy's class at school and I have walked on long walks with Jim on a number of occasions. They are both great characters and were pictured together at The Flapping on the Castleholm today. On a day when The British Lions won a series in Australia it is worth praising this pair of great players who played for the love of the game and were never paid for their efforts unlike todays players.

Common Riding 2025

I didn't take many photos on Common Riding Day but its worth showing what I did take. Unfortunately they uploaded in the wrong order so they are not in the sequence they should be. One day I will get the hang of this, but I think its to do with my Mac Laptop being very old and not updating as it should. This is the Spade Carrier crossing the Ewes with his helpers.

Spade Carrier Gordon Reid cutting a sod at the Kilngreen

With my friend Bruce Latimer who comes to the Common Riding most years from his home in Hastings

The Cornet and Right and Left hand men at the pump in Buccleuch Square

 

The Cornet and what a good job he made of this task.

The bands play such an important part in the day and this is the Brass Band in front of the Cornet

The parade on its way up Thomas Telford Road with the only emblem at this stage of the day being the Barley Bannock and Salt Herring carried by Bruce Park.

A Weekend in Reeth

For the last 14 years we have annually visited Reeth in Swaledale for a girls reunion with Gaye, Sandra, and Margaret who were all together at Dough School in Glasgow many, many years ago. Sandra and her husband Bob have a holiday home in Reeth and its an ideal place to meet up for the weekend. 

I love the many fields with dry stone walls enclosing them.

The river Swale and its very low as they have had a very dry summer and hose pipe restrictions are in place in the area.

This is The White House where my cousin Hilary (our Bridesmaid 53 years ago) lived and now her daughter Meg and their family live there. 

Reeth on Friday evening with the village green full of parked cars

We passed this wall with a plant growing on it when on our walk on Saturday morning

Bob and Margaret (Bob & Sandra's Bridesmaid) on our Saturday morning walk along the river Swale. The dog is called Ruby and she is a lovely dog and quite a character.

Sandra, Gaye and Margaret friends for over 55 years

Myself and Margaret on our Friday afternoon walk along the Swale. It was very hot and humid.

Myself and Bob with Ruby

Margaret and Bob with Ruby. Sandra and Gaye were exploring the shops in Reeth while we went a 4 mile walk. It was a smashing weekend with wonderful hospitality and really lovely meals provided by Sandra.

A Few Days in Blackpool

Over 40 years ago my friend John and I took our children on a day trip to see Blackpool Illuminations and it took so long to take John's car along the Promenade to see the lights I said I would never be back in Blackpool again. Curiosity got the better of me and Gaye and i headed there for a few days break this week. This is the sea shore across from our Hotel and the route of my morning walk on Tuesday morning.

The tide is in and there were very few people about, but a few people fishing from the Promenade

It looks a lovely day but it was blowing a very strong wind

On Tuesday evening after our evening meal we visited this small Ice Cream Shop as Gaye fancied a small Ice Cream. He had stayed open an extra hour as it was lovely and sunny. Gaye made her Ice Cream last for ages so we witnessed how busy he was in the time we sat in his shop.

On my Wednesday morning walk from the Hotel to North Pier this Pizza box had fallen of somebody's bike and in no time loads of Gulls were fighting over the contents and one of them unfortunately killed by a passing car. The Gulls are a real pest and you would soon get your food pinched if the see you eating on the Promenade. This is the Tram lines and we travelled all over Blackpool on the Trams. The service was excellent and the staff so helpful and polite.

On Tuesday we caught a Tram to Fleetwood for their weekly Market, which is quite famous. There were loads of stalls and it was very busy, but loads of Tat as well.

On my way to North Pier with the Cenotaph and Blackpool Tower in front of me.

North Pier. I did not walk along it as it was too windy

This was taken from South Pier on Wednesday morning. We took the Tram from outside our hotel and the wind had dropped so we walked along the pier. Nothing but Gin Bars, Proseco Bars, Sports Bars and Junk Food Stalls. Not a decent Coffee Shop anywhere.

Gaye was desperate for a Coffee and Cake and we eventually found a Starbucks.

One of the rides on Blackpool Pleasure Beach.  

My Tuesday morning walking route with the tide out now and nobody on the beach despite the weather now being warm and sunny. Everybody was in the Junk Food Cafes or the Bars. We had originally planned to stay 4 nights but we came away a day early as we had seen enough. We enjoyed ourselves, but Blackpool is not the place it used to be and has a huge drug problem these days. Our Hotel was excellent and the staff were pleasant and helpful. The Trams are brilliant and their staff are excellent as well. This time we can definitely say "We won't be Back"

 

A Walk to Dog Island

It has been at least 25 years since I walked on Dog Island at Broomholm so for our Thursday walk we decided to pay it a visit. Charlie was last there during Covid and its a good few years since Mike was last there. There is a good path from The Green Door on the Tarras road (B6318).

Mike and Charlie on the bridge which is quite good condition.

The view of the river Esk from the footpath

One of the Dog graves on the island

A nice waterfall on the path to the island.

A huge fallen tree blocking the path on the island.

 

Walking the John Muir Trail in Edinburgh

On Wednesday 2nd July we visited Edinburgh to join up with friends and for The Last of the Summer Wine Walkers to walk the John Muir Trail for about 5 miles. The logistics of this were a bit complicated but we all managed to meet up at Brunstane Railway Station at 10.39am. The weather was awful but the 6 men set of on their walk while the 4 ladies headed to Sandria's house in Portobello for Coffee and Scones and a good blether. 

On the promenade at Portobello at the start of our walk with the rain pouring down. John was the bravest with no coat, but at the end of the day he was still dry.

The beach at Portobello and I am advised that all this sand has been imported.

We arrive in Musselburgh. The plan was to head out of Musselburgh and walk through the Golf Course and Racecourse. The Golf Course at Musselburgh is reputed to be over 500 years old. 

This is Fisherrow Harbour in Musselburgh.Today Fisherrow Harbour is a haven for pleasure boats, along with Sea Cadets craft. Like the other small harbours on the Firth of Forth Fisherrow declined quickly with the dwindling of the Herring Stocks. We left Fisherrow Harbour and headed out to the Golf and Race courses but by this time the rain had got much worse so we decided to turn back and go to our chosen lunch stop at The Ship Inn back in Musselburgh.

We arrived at the Ship Inn a bit earlier than planned and had time for a drink before the ladies joined us for lunch. This was excellent and served very quickly. Despite the awful weather we enjoyed the day in excellent company with loads of good humour. We caught a bus back to Brunstane Station and in no time at all were at Tweedbank and driving back to Langholm by which time the sun had the cheek to break out.