Behind her back....

On Monday we went for a trot around the 'Gramps'.

While Gail was lining up a shot of Aberdeen's offshore wind farm...

Yours truly took the opportunity to sneak off for a wallow in a nicely muddy pond.

Apparently Gail found this episode less funny than I did.

More tramps in the Gramps

It was a lovely bright day, with the air fresh and clean, the trees bursting into leaf and all the birds a-twitter. So instead of completing the usual morning circumnavigation of Duthie Park, Gail announced, half-way round, and with the carefree spirit of the newly retired, that perhaps we might continue on south across the river and go up to Kincorth Nature Reserve, locally known as the 'Gramps'.

You'll remember we've been up to the 'Gramps' before. However this time Gail decided, undeterred by her scratchy experience in Durris Forest last week, that we should investigate some of the less well marked paths and this took us into an area of gorse covered heathland in the southwestern corner of the nature reserve. 

Fortunately the path was wide enough that the protective properties of my wiry coat were not called into action despite the profusion of prickly gorse bushes, and after a while we found a farm track leading into a housing estate. 

Gail seemed underwhelmed by the prospect of a walk through the maze of rather dreary local authority housing, but I had spotted something interesting and encouraged her to continue onwards.

Look, we have Clerk Maxwell Crescent,

Boyd Orr Avenue,

and Dugald Baird Square.

Of course you will already have worked out that these streets are all named after eminent scientists and medical professionals with a connection to Aberdeen. What better place for a Boffin to explore!

We eventually found our way round to the periphery of the 'Gramps',

and finally back into Duthie Park, completing our morning circuit about two hours later than planned.

Look, here's the route. (We are thrilled to learn that at least one local friend has been appreciating these little maps and might even be using them as the basis for lockdown explorations of their own!)

Making the most of things

I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to bring you any more scenic pictures of the Scottish Highlands for the time being at least. New government orders are that we're to start walks from our home in the city and avoid all 'non-essential' travel. Apparently driving me inland to the hills is deemed 'non-essential', but Gail says I'm not to moan, lots of folk are having a much harder time than we are just now. And it's true, we do have plenty of nice open spaces, reachable on two or four legs, to explore.

So on Saturday morning Gail led me through Duthie Park, across the King George VI Bridge over the River Dee, up Provost Watt Drive in Kincorth to an area of heathland known locally as 'The Gramps'.

What did we see?

In the park, lots of runners, and some past their peak crocuses.

Along Provost Watt Drive, examples of Aberdeen's unlovely 1960s housing schemes.

From the Gramps, a fine view north across the city and environs,

Then a wildlife pond scummy with frog spawn.

Blue sky appeared momentarily,

Then a storm moved across and, with faces battered by hailstones, we hastened home, photography forgotten.

Gail and I want to send love and (virtual) hugs to our blogging friends all over the world. And please, to those of my fellow pups who, like me, live in a single human household, do allow your human to give you extra cuddles as they'll be needing you more than ever for company.