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Author Archives: Don

Yellow for CRF 250 Rally

Was heading out of Oban yesterday when – to my surprise that despite the odd blue bit in the skies above the electronic traffic warning sign on the roadside approaching Dunbeg gave it Large with ‘YELLOW WARNING – HEAVY RAIN DUE TODAY!’ It made a change from the usual rubbish on these signs – ‘Fasten Seat Belt’ – Deer Crossing Road’ – ‘Check Your Tyre Pressures’ – ‘Did You MacClean Your Teeth This Morning’ – ‘Stop Picking Your Nose and Flicking’ – plus other useless sound bites —

So-o – it was up through the lights onto Connel Bridge – I can remember when we shared it with trains which probably makes me too old to work a computer even. Could be something in that cos I have to click the Scroll key every time I want a capital B or N – no doubt today’s infant would know what I’m doing wrong on my old HP laptop —

No worries – being old has its blessings at times – especially lunch times and I’m on my way to a Benderloch cafe cum restaurant where they do pensioner sized portions for not-a-lot of dosh —

I can only think they have n’t paid their dues to the Man above —

for all the rain tagged in the YELLOW WARNING appears to have fallen on their carpark while I enjoyed my mini chicken chips and salad under their handily placed cover 🙂

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Posted by Don on August 23, 2017 in Honda CRF250 Rally, Isle of Luing, Motorcycling

OOps! My Favourite Vase —-

21 Aug

Bites the dust!

She reminded me of the wooden statuettes I bargained for at a stall on Cairo Road – Lusaka on a rare ‘away day’ from my job at the Kariba Dam back in the 1960’s —

Sadly they came a cropper along with my first marriage in the early nineties – could’ve been the same lively model for both vase and statuettes in fact as they are so alike – even down to the glass beads —

Now sadly the lovely if unusual vase I found in a junk shop cum cafe along Hadrian’s Wall a few years back is a gonner too thanks to our Seamous who can’t bear to look at the damage he caused while chasing a Danny-Long-Legs around the house —

does he look suitably contrite?

Not for long – he’s a proper tiger really —

king of the Bardrishaig jungle 🙂

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Posted by Don on August 21, 2017 in Isle of Luing, out and about, Seamus our Ginger Tabby Kitten, Wildlife

Honda CRF250 Rally to Aird Luing

07 Aug

Aird Luing – the high point on the southern end of the Isle of Luing – at a mere 65 metres it’s not particularly high but with sea in most directions the views are spectacular and the trail up and over is a class act.

Quite different from my Saturday ride on her down to the Green Welly at Tyndrum when I caned the lil beauty over the hundred miles or so there and back on the ‘big’ roads.

Having ‘obtained’ permission for this ride I didn’t want to blot my copybook by stampeding the famous Luing cattle that appeared to have laid claim to some of the track although many of the ‘flighty’ sheep scarpered no matter how quietly the jewel-like CRF 250 whispered past.

I guess it’s brightly coloured flanks were like something from outer space to a wooly-back on the bottom end of Luing.

And all too soon we were there —

having looked over to the dangerous Passage of the Grey Dogs twixt Scarba and Lunga and the wild Atlantic Ocean beyond on the way.

No danger on Luing – except from the Red mother cows –

but the wee Honda has a fine turn of speed when needed –

and took me down to Aird Luing and back without fuss or drama 🙂

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Posted by Don on August 7, 2017 in Honda CRF250 Rally, Isle of Luing, Motorcycling

Fishing from an Otter’s Toilet

15 Jul

There are times when a bloke feels he needs a holiday somewhere warm and sunny like down here behind the Kariba Dam wall —

To think that I fished for Tiger fish down here in the gorge below the dam almost fifty years ago – and water skied in the 173 miles long by 48 miles wide holding area above the dam back then. When I went looking for a photo to use in this post I found reports that the dam wall is in danger of collapse due to the plunge pool where the white water lands eroding and under-cutting the integrity of the whole wall.

All that water stored up behind has got to go somewhere and it is reckoned that 3.5 million souls could or would perish in the floodpath – I almost wish I hadn’t gone looking for that photo. The biggest danger to life back then were from rocks falling from the tunnel roofs as we constructed the North Bank Power Station after the dam had filled – from crocodiles while fishing from the bank in the gorge below and from the most dangerous wild animal in the whole of Africa – the flotillas of hippo in the still waters of Lake Kariba. The clear waters allow you to see the hippos ‘running’ at speed along the lake floor and their favourite food is the fibreglass boat.

Changed days – there is talk of a barrage complete with tidal powered turbines being placed here at home in Cuan Sound where I fished in the rain this afternoon. Judging by the amount of water that rushes through here at the ebb and flow of the tides there should be enough current to drive the things and give enough power to boil my kettle.

Well I enjoyed being out there in the fresh air – just as well for it won’t be fish for tea although I’m told the mackerel and occasional sea bream are running. The only thing I saw move in the water besides the kelp swaying in the currents was a lively seal which popped up next to me and gave me the eye for a while before the ebbing tide swept it onwards.

I won’t blame the seal altogether for today’s lack of fish – it was most likely down to my motley collection of tackle. I picked up my reggae beach bag in Jamaica several years ago and it now carries my growing collection of line spools – hooks – lures and other nameless things that don’t get chucked away until the smell becomes too much for the faint-hearted —

Back in the day when I fished in the Zambezi I carried a two piece twelve foot beachcaster everywhere I went.- it would hardly be worth the trouble getting it through security at airports now – changed days indeed. My lightweight 5 piece spinning rod which I came across in a tackle shop in Dumfries may not lob a lump of lead very far but it is much easier to live with.

Nope – I could blame my tools but I won’t – it was more than likely the local otter group that had beat me to it —

Judging by the many otter ‘poo’ piles I encountered not very far from the water’s edge as I trudged forlornly up the bank fishless on my way home they were a darn sight better at catching fish than I am —

They were all over the bank – some tidy —

and some just squirted out any old how —

Thanks to the seal and shitty otters frightening the Cuan Sound fish, I had more success at Kariba hunting Tiger Fish —

and that’s not me holding the thing – I’ve got more respect for my fingers than to put them anywhere near those teeth 🙂

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Posted by Don on July 15, 2017 in Isle of Luing, out and about, Wildlife

Weekend Wandering

09 Jul

With all that’s been going on since the wedding – flitting – trying to fit furniture from two houses into one and various bits n pieces – it hasn’t all been about counting spuds from the garden at Bardrishaig – or watering the sweet red pepper plants that appear to be flourishing on an upstairs – south facing windowsill —

Helen and I have spent a few hours out and about this weekend —

From a weather point of view Saturday was the best day and a couple of shots from Helen across Oban Bay set the tone —

On Sunday it was back to rain and reduced visibility – nevertheless we were on the road again – this time to the picturesque Glen Orchy which I have promised to show H for some time.—

Still very beautiful but I did struggle to remember it from my many previous visits by car and motorcycle over thirty years ago —

Probably down to the tree growth – as I seem to remember the river as being more accessible back then —

No worries – I did get a chance to wave to the camera —

Here I am – over here – the ijit in the green jaikit 🙂

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Posted by Don on July 9, 2017 in Gardening, Isle of Luing, out and about

Prolific Potatoes – 36-1

29 Jun

I’m like a kid in a sweetie shop when I go down the garden with my fork to dig up another shaw of my Bardrishaig Bard potatoes.

The tubers are filling out daily and the count this morning was 36-1. Yup – thirty six spuds from one seed potato.Perhaps that’s normal nowadays but I can’t remember getting anything like that when I was a schoolboy picking his ‘stint’ in the field while on his annual two week October Tattie Holidays.

Yields were undoubtedly lower back then but there was still enough to give me many a sore back from being bent over while trailing a heavy – sodden – mud covered wicker or wire mesh basket between my legs as I gathered the tatties that had been uncovered and scattered by the spinning wheel on the tractor-drawn tattie digger before it came round on it’s next circuit.

The quicker you could pick your stint – one of twenty or thirty marked out by the frightening foreman with pieces of broken branches across the drills depending on how many pickers there were – the sooner you could stretch your aching back.

It was all worth it when payday came at the end of the two weeks. That new pair of rugby boots might be achievable now or some other item of school clothing – anything to get away from the continual wearing of worn-out ‘hand-me-downs’ that came from being number three of four brothers in the family.

Ah – 1948 – the year after the ‘big sna’. I started school at Blair Athol that year and made the front page of the Scottish farmer while my dad was competing in a ploughing match with his two Clydesdale horses up by Blair Atholl Castle.

But it didn’t lead to a career in modelling unfortunately 🙂

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Posted by Don on June 29, 2017 in Gardening, Isle of Luing

While the Cat’s Away – the Mouse Will Play

28 Jun

and for once I don’t mean our Seamus – although he doesn’t always come home at night now either.

No it’s the new missus that’s gone south on a bit of biznez leaving my idle hands to get up to no good.

This time I was up at first sparrow fart – whipped the covers off the Honda 250 Rally —

slipped a rucksack on my back and rode over to South Cuan to catch the early (7.30 am) ferry to neighbouring Seil island and a quick blast had me over the Atlantic Bridge to the mainland and in Oban for 8 o’clock.

What’s the rush? The street’s are empty —

Seems nobody get’s up at this time – even the main newsagent where I’ve come for my weekly comic to keep up with motorcycle racing reults and gossip doesn’t open till 8.30.

Aha – I see a hint of movement behind Kronk’s coffee shop window – perhaps a stiff Americano-to-go will put my world to rights.

It must have been a twin-shot belter for I was soon along the front – cup in hand – checking out our new Council backed marina which is currently being constructed in the bay —

no – not that bay – nor this one —

but this one round the corner —

where the guys are setting the running posts —

which will allow the floating walkways to rise and fall with the tides — times like this I wish I was still working —

but all I need is the feel of grips in my hands and I quickly get over it —

Yes that ford was deeper than I expected on an Old Drover’s Road down in Wales about twenty years ago – it filled my boots —

when it drowned the spark plug on my tough old XT600 right in the middle of the crossing 🙂

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Posted by Don on June 28, 2017 in Honda CRF250 Rally, Isle of Luing, Motorcycling, out and about

Two Wheels to the Trig Point

28 Jun

I suggested to my ‘lad’ last time he was home that it would be nice to try a run up to the Trig Point that marks the highest point on the island. Him on his 300cc Scorpa Trials bike and mesel on the new CRF 250 Rally.

Bugger me if he didn’t just slip away and do it by hisel and came back with photographs to prove it.

I reckon he was getting his own back for the times I went off over the hills competing in long distance trials – leaving him to play and practise wheelies in the paddock on his Yamaha TY80. Here he is in the pic on the left giving the front wheel a little air up on a farm on Rannoch Moor about forty years ago.

He must have thought a ride up to the Trig Point was out of my league and that I would probably hurt myself in the process. We will see about that.

Most of the way up there was quite easy —

It was just on the last little bit —

that I had to take the bull by the horns —

and go for it —

But I got there —

without even raising a sweat —

Wouldn’t be surprised if he takes my bike keys with him to keep me out of trouble next time he goes back to the rig 🙂

What a day to be up there though —

and the way down was just as much fun —

and home without so much as a scratch 🙂

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Posted by Don on June 28, 2017 in Honda CRF250 Rally, Isle of Luing, Motorcycling, out and about

Tatties Galore at Bardrishaig

27 Jun

I expected the roe deer to be a nuisance in the garden in wintertime when food was short in the wild but our local population appear to have become domesticated and are regular visitors to our garden even now in mid-summer. They have trimmed our young Braeburn apple and Damson trees already and appear to be working towards our new – Pear – Plum – Cherry and Bramley’s.

Now with the wet season here any thoughts that our redundant snake-like water hose lurking in the shrubbery would give them food for thought has joined the pile of wishful thinking.

I should have left the orange glow Daleks around them – they may have been unsightly but they worked a treat while they were there.

The Tenderstem Broccoli patch barely slowed the roe deer down – it was gone in a night – decimated.

They have yet to show a taste for gooseberries but I have it on good authority that the birds are watching these fellas and unless I net them they will be nabbed by our feathered friends as soon as they ripen —

They may be sweet and tastybut these few brave berries won’t go far – so it’s just as well we planted some spuds.

They are growing great guns with the Marris Bard in the forefront —

The King Edwards aren’t far behind and we still have drills of Kerr’s Pinks plus another three potato varieties showing good growth —

The deer will need to be hungry before they make a dent in these fellas and unless someone introduces wild boar to the island —

we should be eating tatties from our own garden till Christmas at least 🙂

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Posted by Don on June 27, 2017 in Gardening, Isle of Luing, Wildlife

Honda 250 Rally on Wishing Tree Lane

26 Jun

A quiet Monday after what has gone before – time to take the covers off the CRF and go for a spin.

There’s a hill way over there I would love to cross —

But first there’s a spot of TLC to attend to – the final drive chain for instance – she looks to be on the dry side. I’m using Putoline Chain Lube on this bike – a first for me. I’m quite impressed with the flow from the aerosol and the job it does.

But – the CRF hasn’t got a centre stand and up till now it’s been a bit of a wrestling match to get the rear wheel off the deck – spin it and spray chain oil with my third hand – which I haven’t got. It’s probably why I needed a wife but they are seldom around when you need them —

No worries – a couple of wood blocks and my scissor jack did the lifting job just fine and set the 250 Honda up in the air quite safely.

Even the hill crossing turned out to be a piece of cake on the 250 Rally —

Some of the steeper parts on the far side had been torn up by tractors or four wheel drive vehicles but they were of little consequence to the CRF which just sailed up them —

I didn’t even bother switching off the ABS on the rear wheel for the long – loose surfaced downhill section with it’s occasional steep bits leading into tighter turns and cruised on down —