Grandson Tommy wins Soccer Trophy

Our American grandson Tommy was playing for his Saratoga under 15s Soccer team in a big tournament in San Diego CA at the weekend and his team played 4 matches in two days and won the tournament. A great achievement for their team and he is looking very pleased with himself. They won a tournament in the autumn last year to qualify for this one.

A Walk From Stow Railway Station

A lovely walk today from Stow railway station up the Gala Water valley. This was the view looking south from the highest point. When we left Langholm it was misty and 3C but a slow journey with 8 sets of roadwork traffic lights eventually got us to Stow Railway station to meet our friend John of the Edinburgh train. In Stow the mist had cleared and it was now -3C and the mist had frozen leaving everything white. A beautiful sky but taken looking into the sun so not a great photo.

One of the many country tracks as we contoured round the hill.

John and Tom as we are about to leave the road and climb the hill. Notice Tom's nice new hat from a friend who decided the Tea Cosy hat had served its time and a change was due. 

We gained height and then contoured round the hill. It was a beautiful morning and the railway and river were down below us in the valley.

This is the remains of a farm called Old Cragend.

A deeply rutted track and a lovely small wood of Pine trees ahead.

Now back down in the valley and after a short stretch on the A7 we crossed Gala Water and the railway line to follow the very quiet B road on the other side of the valley to head back to Stow station.

Over the new footbridge and under the railway bridge.

Heading back into Stow

The train from Tweedbank heading back to Edinburgh

The ruins of Old Craigend from the other side of the valley.

Looking across the valley and the first part of the route we had come.

It took us 2 hours to walk the 4 miles, but we were in no hurry and the conversation was excellent. We had hoped to have lunch at a Cafe in Stow, but it was closed as the heating had broken down so we headed back to Galashiels and had a nice lunch in a Cafe there. We dropped John at Gala Railway Station and Tom and I were back in Langholm by 3.00pm and john back in Edinburgh about the same time. A grand walk in good company and in cold but lovely weather.  

 

 

Graham Family Christmas 2024

The American Graham family spent Christmas in Utah. They drove 750 miles from Saratoga in California to Mendon in Utah, where Leslies's father Carlo lives. They spent a day at Beaver Mountain near Mendon and the kids enjoyed a days Snowboarding while Mum and Dad skied.

Plenty of snow

Tommy on Beaver Mountain and below the base of the Mountain resort


A nice walk to Weetsdale on Christmas eve

The top of the hill at Weetsdale where we watched the Red Arrows from a few years ago

St Mary's Lighthouse and a lovely coastal walk on Boxing Day

Blyth in the distance

Granny is now much smaller than our grandchildren

Leo is taller than me and Hannah is the same height

In Mendon Utah Carlo with his 3 daughters, Leslie, Sandra, & Nancy

 

Meeting John at Lockerbie

On Wednesday Tom and I met up with John at Lockerbie Station for a last minute organised walk on Eskrigg Nature Reserve. It had been planned as an exchange of Langholm calendars for John. We used to walk every Wednesday and John would visit Langholm to see his mum when she was alive, but now it’s much less frequent although still most enjoyable. 

Posing for photos on a nice seat half way round Eskrigg.  

The view towards the creamery. A lovely walk in great company. We had a nice lunch in Cafe 91 and then John got the train back to Edinburgh and we headed home.

Back Walking Again

This was my first Wednesday walk for over a month as a bout of Achilles Tendonitis has had me confined to just very short walks for over a month. Today with Tom I walked a 4 mile route down the Esk at Longtown via Arthuret Church. This looks to be a new seat in the form of a war memorial.

Arthuret Church which is always worth a look round 

The old Waverley Railway Line which we passed over on our walk

A nice long lane taking us away from the river Esk.

Walking in England nearly always brings Private notices. It always makes us realise how well off we are in Scotland being able to walk anywhere as long as we adhere to the Country Code and respect property. We ignored this sign as it was on a country lane that was surely a right of way and of course we never do anything to cause a problem. 

One of the many ponds next to the river Eskdale.

We argued at length about this raised path, which initially I thought was part of the old railway line, but in the end Tom was right and it looks as if it has been for flood prevention.

The raised banking that we decided was for flood prevention.

A well pruned tree in Longtown. The walk was about 4 miles and despite to poor visibility it was great for me to get back walking again. 

 

Boy's Day out at Melrose

A few weeks ago John and I planned a day out at Melrose and a walk on the river Tweed. That day arrived and what a glorious day it was. Tom and I met Martin, John, and Ken at Tweedbank Station on the train from Edinburgh and we headed to Melrose to start our 4 miles walk.

This is just past the Greenyards Rugby ground the home of Melrose

 This is the Greenyards and in my opinion the most beautiful sighted rugby ground in the country. 

The main square in Melrose. It was a very busy day in the town with loads of visitors.

We soon headed up river and this is the footbridge we will cross at the end of our walk when we return down the other side of the river.

It was a perfect day. Cold at first and no wind but in the sun it became quite warm

There were a few fishermen about but none using the boats

The fastest flowing bit of the river

One of the fishermen just above the footbridge

Heading up river

The footbridge from the other bank near the end of our walk

Time for a rest and a posed photo. Tom, Gavin, Martin, Ken, and John. Good friends for many years and in the case of John and myself for 66 years when I moved to Langholm from Rowanburn and we ended up in the same class at school.

Tom and Ken bringing up the rear. Ken used to love bringing up the rear with Peter Bart-Smith who sadly died in April and they talked mostly politics so Tom is taking over Peter's roll.

These sheep were enjoying the shade

Ken and John, both retired pharmacists.

A lovely stretch of calm water

After the walk we visited a walled garden and orchard next to Melrose Abbey

Martin wanted to see the Apple trees

Still plenty of Apples on them. We enjoyed a lovely lunch after our walk and then took the Edinburgh contingent back to Tweedbank railway station for their 3.20pm train back home. A perfect day out in good company.