Arran

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After the climb (and the last climb was a muddy and steep terror) the reward.
Loch Garbad.

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Me with hat hair.
And hot from climbing, climbing, climbing. And not falling over.

Quick word here about the biker.
It turned out he was really nice. Some sort of Scandinavian. Or Dutch. Well, not British anyway.
I glanced behind on the last hill to see how far I'd come and bugger me if it's not my nemesis carrying his bike up the track!
At that point I did stop thinking of myself completely and wonder if he was just as disappointed as me to find someone else in a reasonably remote location.

Anyway, by the time he got to the top, I had already disrobed to an extent, had taken my photos and was ready to descend. We exchanged a few sentences and I realised he was a proper human being and not an annoyance. He was in fact quite charming.

He buzzed past me on the way down saying "Unt here comes der eazy part!" I thought - yes for you it is, I still have to work out how not to roll down the hillside! I resisted asking for a backie though, the man had an iron sphincter to take the way back on two wheels.

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As I walked back down the hill (yes, it did feel like a mile on the way back - just not on the way there) it snowed. As I descended it became sleet and then drizzle. Waterproofs back on. Collected by Limey.

That eve we had marinated chicken with slightly undercooked roasted carrots, then went back to the Social Club.
Limey wanted to check how things had ended up the night before, and see how it was doing after the jubilee of the opening night. Gave me a chance to sit in the bar, which was packed stiff the night before.

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Pool room, and dog in a bar.
See, Bruce? I can do dogs too.

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Safes used as part of bar furniture. Steampunk/ Torchwood look.

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Something else safe - Mr & Mrs Limey.
I have to say it's not a great picture of Mr Limey.
He is more handsome than the photo shows. I've never thought Limey comes across as her best in photos either, but I changed my mind when I saw her wedding photos. Okay, she was sublimely happy, but the camera caught her beauty that day too.

[Griff]

Thanks so much for giving us a peek in. Look like good folk.

[Clodfobble]

Good to see you, Mr. Limey! You have a lovely wife.

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Thanks to all for comments.
I'm still going I'm afraid...

Thought I would show you my accommodation.
The Limeys have a wonderfully comfortable sofa bed. Far better than the one we have here, despite the fact Mum uses it damn near every night.

And cats, cats of course.
And me.

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BTW - none of my teeth are grey OR black.
It's a camera glitch I have been aware of for a while.

No, really.
You can ask the Dwellars who've met me. My teeth are not American-perfect. They are uneven and they are naturally a shade of yellow. But I was told years ago that the colour of my teeth suggested they were stronger than average. And to date I have had no fillings, no teeth extracted and no toothache ever.

But okay, they don't look good in some photos.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Fantastic job of;
1- documenting your trip with excellent pictures,
2- letting us share not only the look, but feel, of Arran,
3- giving us a glimpse of the Limeys, and their cozy home,
4- the lovely Collie.

It's funny, I noticed the safe under snacks at the end of the bar, a couple of pictures before you showed the two safes. I love the look of old safes, but it made me wonder why Arran has a surplus to donate to the club. Are people upgrading to bigger/stronger safes, or is the island getting safer(no pun).

It appears the Limeys have settled into the type of community I remember from my youth, where everyone knows everyone, and are willing to share what they can. It's nice when that's the norm rather than the exception.

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Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

It's funny, I noticed the safe under snacks at the end of the bar, a couple of pictures before you showed the two safes. I love the look of old safes, but it made me wonder why Arran has a surplus to donate to the club. Are people upgrading to bigger/stronger safes, or is the island getting safer(no pun).

Honest answer is that people have higher tech ways of storing money/ valuables these days. Whimsical answer is that they know in a small community someone will notice sudden wealth and they'll find themselves burned in the next Wicker Man festival.

It appears the Limeys have settled into the type of community I remember from my youth, where everyone knows everyone, and are willing to share what they can. It's nice when that's the norm rather than the exception.

It is wonderful, but the Limeys put in the work too. You can't just luck into a place like that - Limey has given time and expertise and her training in finance free of chrage. She is a very good organiser it's true, so it may come naturally, but she has made the effort all the same. Also true of Mr Limey.

Many of you will know or guess what he does, but Arran being a small place it's important to me to respect their privacy. He is a known face and deservedly so. Limey is also known online, which is why she is very careful to keep her name private, or at least not on record here.

Glatt, I may be partly responsible for your view of Arran!
The few photos I have taken have been in December or January, and I have never ventured further than the coast road, usually after dark. I knew Arran was forested of course, but it's hard to get the full picture if you only see it travelling at just under the legal speed limit

Gosh I have to go in summer. The place is like an Enid Blyton setting. It cries out for long skirts and plimsolls and drinks on the terrace. Oh, scratch that. I'll have lashings of ginger beer instead. And while we're at it I'll skip the casual racism too (a ref to Ms Blyton, not to anyone on the Cellar)

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So. Back to Arran.
My trip to Blackwaterfoot.
I went there with Limey the day I arrived, and she dropped me off this time as well.
Plan was to walk to King's Cave.

Blackwaterfoot in general.

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More water.