Wednesday 24 November 2021

Too bedraggled?

It all started off so promisingly...

Gail was keen to investigate a new footpath she'd only just found out about. It goes through Kinloch Woodlands, a 3600 acre area of hill ground to the south of Shieldaig (half an hours drive from the Torridon cottage). The land is managed by a local charitable trust and a project aiming to regenerate native forest is underway.

Here's a map. The plan was to follow the path to Loch Dughaill,  indicated by the red dashed line. 

Please note - the map is 'upside down' with south at the top

A round trip of not much more than two miles. Easy peasy, right?

Except that before long the nice dry and well made track gave way to an indistinct path across rough and boggy ground...

Did I mention it's been raining a lot round here lately?

No photos were taken of the second half of the route, as we stumbled through the mire, teetered on slimy rocks to cross a rain-swollen torrent and at one point Gail had to carry me after my courage failed when faced with a stretch of hummocky marsh where you had to jump between tussocks of grass to avoid slipping awkwardly into the fetid mud. (The photo below, taken from the internet, is a good illustration of these conditions.) 

Shortly after we reached solid ground again Gail put me down but soon we turned back, with  the final descent to the Loch looking far from straightforward and Gail by now unwilling to tackle any further obstacles. To be honest, I wasn't sorry.

But can you believe that when a spectacular rainbow appeared in the sky near the end of the hike, Gail rejected my offer of my customary  'foreground interest' services on the basis that I looked "too bedraggled" and thus would spoil her photo...

Too bedraggled. What do you think?

14 comments:

  1. wow that was an adventure... fortunately you needed no boat to cross da wet land ;O)

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  2. Too bedraggled? No, of course not Bertie - you just look like a chap who has valiantly forged his way successfully through extreme difficulties. You should be proud of yourself.
    But next time Gail suggests something similar, I should turn a deaf ear if I were you!

    Love,
    Inca xx

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  3. Just a wee bit messy, Bertie, but if you had fun than it was worth it!

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  4. Hari OM
    Well, the views were definitely something, Bertie lad - but the thing is, if your undercarriage looks "bedraggled," then one has to wonder in what state is Gail at this juncture??!!! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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    Replies
    1. Gail's boots were still drying out two days later!

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  5. Oh my dear Bertie...that was a soggy mess. I'd be bedraggled too if my paws were covered in mud.
    But at least here was a rainbow at the end of the bogginess.
    Hugs Cecilia

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  6. that photo is gorgeous! that said you could never ruin a photo not matter how bedraggled you get. I say from this photo you look pretty good after all you went through. maybe just a tiny tad bedraggled... if i were there you and I could have waited at where the bad stuff started and let Gail go on alone..

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  7. Never too bedraggled. After all, the ground looked very bedraggled, and it got photographed!

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  8. That sure was a tough hike, Bertie. The rainbow picture sure is stunning but you could never ruin a picture, and only enhance it.

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  9. I have to agree, never too bedraggled!! What an adventure though, and with a beautiful rainbow reward!!
    xoxo,
    Rosy and the Gang

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  10. You and Gail are very strong and brave to face such a trek. We bet at leas tone of you rested well once you got home:)

    Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber

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  11. Oh Bertie...you always look so handsome to us... :)

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  12. The angels celebrated your great walk by rewarding you with a rainbow.

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  13. My goodness, that was a crazy walk!

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