Pangaea and Mini BAR

Did you see Arty's Special Blogville Announcement this week that he and Dory, along with Murphy and Stanley, are organising a Mini BAR retreat in Oregon this August?

I wasn't able to go to the BAR (Blogville Awesome Retreat) in Indiana last year, 'cos I live on the wrong side of the Pond.

The idea behind a Mini BAR is that small groups of Blogville citizens can organise local meet ups, to make the travelling easier. 

Of course, to your geologically minded Bouncing Boffin, alternative solutions sprang to mind.

Oh but what a shame it is that we are not living around 270 million years ago, when all the continents - yes, even Australia - coalesced into one huge land mass called Pangaea and one could have travelled by automobile or railway train (had those forms of transport then been invented) from Scotland to Sydney via Seattle without once having one to dip one's paws in the briny or, horror of horrors, board an airplane.

It is of course perfectly possible that, at some point in the next few hundred million years, the world's tectonic plates might realign themselves such that our continents all come together again. (Just think how many walls Mr Trump would then have to build...)

However, the truth of the matter is, at least as far as Europe and North America are concerned, the direction of travel is not just now in our favour, with Iceland pulling itself apart at a rate of centimeters per year for the foreseeable future.

Hmmm.

Reluctantly I have to conclude that the prospect of seeing my dear non-European friends in the furs is remote indeed.

Anyone for a Mini BAR in Scotland? 

We can guarantee a warm welcome at Aberdeen railway station.

Slight delay in setting off for Nottingham this morning...

Priorities all wrong...

Really, how could Gail go swanning off with her colleagues, geologising in the far north of Scotland and abandoning me in prison when we should have been in intensive training for the big dog agility relay event near Edinburgh this coming Saturday?

This relay business is very complicated you know. So much could go wrong, and I don't think Gail has practiced the baton passing thing anything like as much as she should have done.

Oh dear, yes, I am worried that Gail, with her distorted sense of priority, is going to let the whole team down.

And by the way, I hope everyone realises I am going to get VERY UPSET if forced at any point to stand too close to my team mate Manchester terrier Maddy, who, frankly, I find irritating.

What's even more irritating is that Gail is trying to make out she was doing me a kindness by making me stay in prison boarding kennels while she was away, saying at least I had a room to myself, unlike if I had come with her to Helmsdale.

Helmsdale Hostel - outside

Helmsdale Hostel - inside

And perhaps you can tell me just why these localities are so worth visiting that one would miss a vital training session and jeopardise the future success of the Deeside Devils dog agility team.

Caithness flagstones and tidal swimming pool, near Wick

An infestation of geologists at Dwarwick

Ammonite bearing rock on beach - Portgower

Windswept geologists by Dunnet Head lighthouse

Cliffs:  west from Dunnet Head



No? Beats me too.

PS Many thanks to Gail's colleague Quintin, for photos 4,5,7, and 8. Quintin has a sideline in pet portraits, see: http://www.quintindavies.co.uk/

All dressed up and no place to go

So I saw "Caithness Field Course" marked on Gail's calendar for 17-19 August.

Yippee, another geology field trip! I had so enjoyed the previous jollies educational excursions to Lossiemouth and to the Isle of Skye.



I put on my hand-knitted sweater and searched out my geological hammer and my specially designed hard hat.

I checked the weather forecast and decided a scarf and my new winter jacket might come in handy too. So there I was, all kitted out and raring to go...


...Only to learn that this trip is…..gulp…..how can they do this to me….this is...

A "NO DOG FIELD TRIP"

It gets worse.

Yep. You guessed.

Prison here I come.

Now I know why Gail was being so nice to me last weekend, buying me doggy ice cream at £2.99 at tub, and so on.

Guilt.

I wonder how she can live with herself.

It's not just about the mountains

Bertie, Loch Maree, Slioch and the basal Torridonian unconformity

Here are some other important elements of the perfect weekend in Torridon. (You'll need the sound turned on.)

Listening to the birds singing in the cottage garden:

Noisily anticipating adventures with friends:

Monitoring the crackly wood-burning stove:

Motoring along single track roads with Robbie* on the car radio:

*Listeners to BBC Radio Scotland will be familiar with veteran broadcaster Robbie Shepherd's long running traditional music programme, the essential soundtrack to a Sunday afternoon drive in the Highlands. 

Skye: the full story

OK, now that it has been officially been announced that Gail's employer has been bought by, well let's just call them 'LR', I can exclusively reveal my real role on the recent geological field trip to Skye.

Yes indeed, I have been carrying out a secret commission on behalf of the new owners to assess the true value to the company of these excursions.  The context is that, regrettably, there is in some senior levels of management a degree of cynicism about the business justification for such trips and a suspicion that geologists just like to be paid for swanning off to scenic locations and pontificating about rocks.

I must emphasise that I have taken my task here extremely seriously, given the high likelihood that my findings will strongly influence future company policy.

My report takes the form of responses to a series of questions that were posed by the high heid yins at LR. 

Q: Can you state categorically that the subsurface team were not just out for a three day jolly on company time?

A: Believe me, if it had been a 'jolly' they would have chosen somewhere with better weather.

Q: Will this trip help our subsurface staff to advise on finding and exploiting reserves of oil and gas?

A. Absolutely yes no question about it. Oh I could say so much about this. Gosh, where do I start?  I mean, between you and me, I had hoped that we were going to be spending our time tracking down dinosaur footprints and ammonite fossils, and hearing exciting stories about exploding volcanoes etc. etc, but the truth is that it was all about looking at features within the sandstone beds and inferring their lateral continuity which has important implications for modelling oil fields, and about how you could judge a rock's permeability by observing the rainwater soaking into the sandstone but forming puddles on the basalt and how examining the vertical changes in a rock succession in a cliff can help you predict what's happening in the same age rocks many miles away and that when interpreting cores from oil wells you need to have a picture in your mind what the rocks look like at a larger scale and oh you know, whatever...

Q: Does this sort of expedition offer staff opportunities to develop their creativity and problem solving capabilities? Perhaps you could give us an illustration?

A: Oh I most certainly could. Let's say, for example (a purely hypothetical scenario you understand) that you have a dog on the field trip who is a teeny weeny bit impatient and tends to bark if kept waiting by the car while everyone is faffing around putting on their weatherproof clothing.

Well, maybe someone, Simon perhaps, says "I have an idea how to shut him up. Let's put some of those pebbles from the dolerite dyke into an empty water bottle and shake it in his face next time he utters a sound. He won't like that at all, and will stop barking in an instant". And you know what? The theory was tested and found to be most effective.....

Q: Can you explain how field trips foster teamworking and communication skills?

A: When you are standing in a 25 mph wind and horizontal rain, important lessons about communication can be learned. For example, that if you want anyone to hear what you are saying you need to stand up wind of your audience and shout loudly. 

And of course, crossing a stream in spate can, as referred to in my previous post, involve inter-species teamwork, especially when one participant is frightened of fast flowing water...

Q: Is it safe for our staff to take part in field courses?

A: I can't believe that this question was even asked. Did no one read my earlier posts regarding appropriate protective helmets for ALL mammalian participants? The fact that in some (OK all) of the photos taken in the field I am bare headed is testament to the toughness of the typical terrier skull, and in absolutely no way to be construed as a negligent approach to HSE. 

Q: We are keen as a company to promote technical excellence at all levels. Was this goal met on the field trip?

A: Oh I could have stood there for hours listening to our esteemed and inspirational field trip leaders Jim and Iain giving us the benefit of their in depth knowledge of the geology of Skye. 

In fact, oh yes, I did...

Q: Finally Bertie, would you recommend that this field trip be repeated next year?

A: Well now let me see. It is best that geologists are exposed to a range of different environments, to broaden their experience. I feel that perhaps what is needed is for this team to follow up with a study of  modern day carbonate formation. Such as happens, you know, in places like the Caribbean...

I would be quite prepared, despite the inevitable hardships, once again to review the quality and value of the educational experience. 

Please?

My hard hat decision

Well of course I knew all along that I had a brilliant, creative and safety conscious pack of bloggie pals.

You'll remember, of course, my post earlier this month, when Gail put in a plea for designs for a hard hat that I could wear on the forthcoming geological field trip to the Isle of Skye. Something to protect my precious noggin from falling rocks when loitering underneath unstable cliffs etc.

It is customary in these circumstances to say that the response has been  overwhelming. And that indeed is the case, as you can see from the comments on that 8th August post.

Being a systematic kind of a fellow, I noticed that the entries received fell into three broad categories, and I am going to discuss these below.

By the way, I hope no-one will be offended by my pointing out shortcomings of aspects of the suggestions. I mean, they were all brilliant in their way, and much appreciated.

But the first category comprises ideas proposed by those of  you who seem to have mistaken Scotland for a hot, dry country, and suggested designs either with ventilation holes or poorly suited to wet conditions. So thank you very much Molly, Dip-Dip and The Bridge, Jazzi, and Asta, all of whom put forward some variant of an upended small colander, but really I doubt there will be a danger of overheating on Skye at the end of August, and all those holes will just let in the rain. Likewise, papier maché based designs, as proposed by Frankie Furter (who generously provided detailed instructions that even Gail might have been able to follow) and Craig, have been ruled out due to the poor protection afforded by wearing a soggy pile of shredded newspaper and flour on one's head. Craig patriotically suggested a Saltire as decoration, but good heavens, what would Alex Salmond say if our national flag ended up a gooey morass?

Rear view of tea packet design

I regret that Gail and I have also had to rule out our friend Auntie Yam's ingenious suggestion, pictured left, for similar reasons. Although she is Scottish, this wonderful lady lives in India and it may have slipped her mind that thin cardboard is not proof against her native climate. Anyway, please do visit Aunty Yam's blog to see the tea packet based hard(ish) hat design in all its glory. The ear and nose flap detail is particularly impressive. Should any of you happen to be travelling to an arid country where the falling rocks are not very heavy (pumice perhaps?) then you may find this one comes in very handy.

Christmas hat

Pippa's Christmas hat, another possibility, is beyond question most attractive (at least when worn by Pippa) but somehow it just does not seem right for August.

Moving on to the more climate-appropriate ideas, a number of you worked the 'small bowl, upside down' theme and this comprises the second - and perhaps most successful - category. Gail was impressed with Daisy, Bella and Roxy's practical suggestion that an enamel bowl could double as a water/food dish, but was concerned that such a dish might not stay in place on my head for long should I go bouncing over rocks, scrambling down cliffs etc. Finn too suggested the dual use container. Amber da Weenie and Wyatt both addressed the attachment problem, proposing a plastic bowl tied in place with a ribbon or strap. (Being mindful of my appearance, I was particularly pleased with Amber's comment that the bowl should be 'nicely coloured'). Madi and Mom's carefully thought out design (pers. comm.) combined an upside down cup and with a coffee filter to provide the brim. Outstanding!

bike helmet

Our third category is 'ideas for hard hats one could buy on the internet'. Now I appreciate that many of my friends here are taking a realistic approach given Gail's lack of craft skills, but after much agonising, I have concluded these must be disqualified, as being counter to the DIY spirit of the exercise. So Gizmo's batters' helmets, and the helmets specially made for dogs on bikes (Sally Ann and Andy, Pip, and Bonnie and Kenzie) have been ruled out, as, with some regret, have MaxMom's utterly wonderful South African 'Makarapa'.

Makarapa

I will say that I queried Gail's apparent reluctance to spend money on my personal protective equipment, reminding her that her employers, who after all are paying for the jolly intensive field course, say that 'safety is the number one priority'. After a lengthy negotiation, we agreed an initial budget of not more than two items purchased from Poundland.

But then Riley in New Zealand delivered a googly in the form of the inspired suggestion which I am going to quote in full:

I'm not sure what size your head is but perhaps Gail could get you a large cricket box (yes I do mean the guard with air holes that batsmen wear), as if it can take the full force of a cricket ball it should cope with small rocks. Gail could shop via Amazon (if she doesn't want to explain to sales assistant why she needs one), choose you a bright colour, add some straps, a bit of extra padding inside and your name. 


Box (in USA, 'athletic cup')

Both Gail and I agreed that this was such a brilliant example of lateral thinking that we might stretch the rules and budget to include the purchase of a 'box'. I would have been happy to settle for a second hand one on eBay, thinking it might smell rather interesting, but Gail, to my surprise, insisted on shelling out for a brand new box, and even went to some trouble to locate this item in an Aberdeen sportswear shop. (By strange coincidence, the customer in front of her, a young Pakistani male, was purchasing the identical piece of equipment, although we think probably not for the same intended use...)

Well in the end it has proved extraordinarily difficult to chose the optimum design of helmet, thus Gail (with my help) has agreed to put together three possibilities, taking a pick and mix approach to some of the amazing ideas that you, my friends, have supplied.

1. Plastic bowl tied on with red ribbon.

2. Enamel bowl, with bubble-wrap liner for added comfort, black ribbon.

3. Cricket box, tartan ribbon and bow.

Please help me select which one to take to Skye next week....We have a Saltire flag sticker, all ready  to decorate preferred option.


PS I reserve the right to decide that Sweet William's 'no hat needed for such a tough terrier' suggestion (I paraphrase) was in fact the most appropriate of all....

Hard hat needed + I kissed a CAT!

So much has been going on here of late that I haven't found time to tell you all about the Works Summer Outing I went on with Gail a couple of weeks ago.

It was an unusually warm evening for a stroll along the seashore at Stonehaven (15 miles from Aberdeen and just south of the Highland Boundary Fault). Some of Gail's colleagues were, gasp, actually wearing shorts...

And yes, you've guessed it, we were there to look at rocks. Silurian, since you ask. My observation is that some were slippery and some were sharp on the paws.

I am hoping for easier terrain on the forthcoming Skye field trip.

Oh and I hope that the company Health and Safety guy Mr Medler (yes, really) doesn't see this post.  

 

I mean of course I would have worn a hard hat had a suitable one been provided.

When we gathered to pose for the customary group photo (before heading off for the pub) I found myself sat next to a lovely and lickable lady.

 

But imagine my horror when I learned that her name is cat KAT!!!!

PS from Gail: I am wondering if any of our creative friends in Blogville can think up a practical design for a hard hat /protective headwear which Bertie can wear when he joins the Isle of Skye geology field course at the end of this month? If you have a good idea (using everyday materials), please either post it on your blog and leave a comment, or just leave a comment describing your design. I shall post links to any blog which takes part, and shall attempt to replicate the design I deem most suitable and take photos of Bertie wearing it on Skye. Deadline is Monday 26 August.

A flurry of emails (you couldn't make it up)

First a confession. I was so anxious about this Skye geology field course* business (see 4 June post) that I hacked into Gail's work emails. I found this exchange between Gail, her boss Alison and course leader Jim. 

What a relief to find out that someone has been taking my needs seriously...

Gail
 We will be staying in a bunkhouse with 4 rooms so everyone will be sharing.
I'm wondering how this affects Bertie's sleeping arrangements
 Rgds
 Jim


Hi Jim

Thanks for thinking of Bertie!

Tricky on many levels. Alison has already volunteered to share with me and Bertie, but presumably there would be others in the room too. And for this reason many bunkhouses won’t take dogs. If I had my car Bertie could perhaps sleep in there – a familiar environment, although I have never tried him overnight in it.

Cheers, Gail.

Gail
 I suggest that you take your car. We have hired 2 MPVs so I don't think it would be a good idea to have Bertie in these.
Ali 


Ali
Do you have a list of attendees? Depending on number of females you, Gail and Bertie could have one of the rooms. Alternatively the adjacent hotel may have a room we could hire for Gail.
 Mhairi - Please check if bunkhouse in the  hotel takes dogs
 Rgds
 Jim
Sent from my Blackberry

Bunkhouse are ok with it and once we get the final list we can canvas the girls and see what they think. 

Hopefully no one will mind. 

Ali

Sounding promising...

Gail.

from:   Alison   Sent:   Fri 6/7/2013 1:28 PM  To:   Gail   Cc:   Subject:  Bertie a definite go go - 5 ladies do not mind sharing with him.

Folks

This e-mail is to confirm your attendance on the Skye fieldtrip 1^st-3^rd September.......................
.........................We are also to be joined by a very special guest – geology hound Bertie who is a seasoned field tripper (no hard hat requirement).

Any further questions etc. just yell.

Cheers

Ali.

Ali, Jim,

That's great.

Bertie has promised to show his gratitude at being included in the field trip by providing a report on the proceedings in his own inimitable style...

Cheers,

Gail.

* I am under firm instruction always to refer to this excursion to Skye as a field 'course' in order to emphasise that it is a serious training exercise and in absolutely no way whatsoever to be considered a company 'jolly'...

Observe. Describe. Interpret.

"He's brilliant. He's been a star. Every field trip should have a Bertie."

These words from Jim, the leader, at the end our our two-day geological excursion to Lossiemouth are still singing in my flappy little terrier ears.

Oh I can't tell you how much fun I had, I am so, so grateful that I was allowed to take part. To show just how happy I am, and that I learned lots, I am going to present this report according to Jim's rules for geological field work.

So first you will have an observation (in the form of a photo), which I shall describe carefully and only then shall I propose an interpretation.

(1) At CoveSea East, the first outcrop

Description: The leader Jim is standing in front of some sandstone cliffs discussing the rocks with three members of the field party. A small handsome terrier is on the move.
Interpretation: Rocks are very fascinating, for sure, but sometimes one must attend to important sniffing business.

(2) Further along the shore at CoveSea

Description: In front of the cliff, some of the geologists are looking at the rocks and others are admiring a handsome wee terrier.
Interpretation: Geologists may need a break from struggling with the concept that back in the Permo-Triassic Scotland was a desert with dunes and all.

(3) At Hopeman

Description: The field party  relaxes besides colourful beach huts. There are no rocks in sight.
Interpretation: It was that time of day when stomachs were starting to rumble. Oh and I absolutely must point out Victor, the nice geologist on the left in the green shirt. Apparently back in his homeland of Romania, he too has a fox terrier.

(4) Interesting sedimentary feature

Description: A handsome wee terrier, for once sporting a lead, although this is not attached to a human, is standing on some wavy rocks.
Interpretation: The fact that many of the field party had taken a photo of this feature even before I stood there tells one that it must have a particular geological significance. But who could argue that the feature is greatly enhanced by the presence of a handsome wee terrier, and not just because he is providing a 'scale'? (Shoulder height 42 cm, for the record).

(5) Art work

Description: Handsome wee terrier sitting in front of a concentric pattern of differently coloured pebbles, arranged on the shore near Hopeman.
Interpretation: Geologists can be a tiny bit philistine, just possibly, as none of them came over to look at what most would consider a rather attractive human artwork.

(6) A demonstration

Description: Jim is kneeling on the beach with a small red bucket in his hand, in front of some failed sandcastles. A handsome wee terrier is also present.
Interpretation: The notion that this is 'serious field work' stretches credulity. Does Jim truly expect me to buy the line that he is attempting to demonstrate an important principle of soft sedimentation? I think that the short video below says it all, really.

(7) At the Skerry Brae hotel, Stotfield

Description: Handsome wee terrier is resting on the only bed in a basic but comfortable hotel bedroom. His food and water bowls can be seen bottom right.
Interpretation: Keeping the troops entertained during a long day out in the field is an exhausting business. Oh, and I wonder where Gail is going to sleep?

(8) The next morning at Burghead

Description: An encounter between geologist Iain and wire-haired fox terrier Bertie, half way up a sandstone rock face.
Interpretation: Iain proposes that these rocks are different from the ones we saw yesterday, in that the sediments appear to have been transported by an ancient river, rather than being part of a system of wind blown dunes. Bertie is not yet convinced.

(9) A closer look

Description: Bertie joins the other geologists for a closer look at the rocks.
Interpretation: You know, Iain could be right. Isn't geology just intriguing? Yes, those larger pebbles must have been transported by water not wind, don't you think?

(10) And a little bit of history

Description: Fox terrier examines a sign telling all about the history of Burghead, site of possibly the largest Iron Age Fort in Britain, where the native Picts gathered to defend themselves against the marauding Viking hordes.
Interpretation: Warring tribes? Marauding hordes? Well the rocks here may speak of a different environment in Northeast Scotland in times past, but frankly that sounds just like Union Street, Aberdeen on any Saturday night...

(11) More interesting features at Clashach Quarry

Description: Geologist, with can of Irn Bru in left hand, is pointing at what look like tyre tracks on a slab of rock. Handsome terrier inspects.
Interpretation: Conclusive proof here that this field trip is taking place in Scotland, as nowhere else on earth would Irn Bru be considered a potable liquid....Oh and the 'tyre tracks' were apparently left behind by some Permo-Triassic reptile dragging its tail across the sand. The 'eye of faith' will also detect the ancient beast's paw prints. Wow!

(12) A new role?

Description: Wee fox terrier stands confidently besides leader Jim, in front of some knobbly, partly crystalline rocks at Stotfield Bay.
Interpretation: This has the look of a promising partnership doesn't it? Wire-haired fox terrier has proved his worth as geological field assistant, one feels.

(13) And finally

Description: Gail is standing in the main street in Lossiemouth, holding a cone of Miele's vanilla ice-cream. Fox terrier is sitting by her, patiently, but with tail wagging furiously.
Interpretation: It is the end of the field trip. Fox terrier knows that he has played a blinder, having been on best behaviour throughout, and has every expectation of being rewarded with a tasty fragment of ice-cream wafer.

(14) Yes! Result!