Luing & The World Stone Skimming Championships

Linda was somewhat perturbed to find that Danny Bonduce

 was still paddling to the Island using his Bass 

and wouldn't make it in time to join her.

Las Ramblas Ramblers (Stone Skimming Division) head out on the Annual Pilgrimage to 

Easdale Island  for the World Stone Skimming Championships.

Marion,Neil,Linda,Andy,Jill,Kevin,Kay,Haddie & Bob

arrive with time to take a ramble on the neighbouring Island of Luing.
Sean what weather precautions should we take?

"Well Lasramblas Easterly winds could make for a bitter cold wait for your throw
also heavy rain could affect the majority of the competition".

Ferry Over to Luing

"I should be able to see Danny from up here"

Linda,Alfie & Jill

Search for the perfect skimmer

Neil,Alfie & Sam

Kevin,Alfie,Bob & Haddie take a break

Alfie shares his technique

 Easdale is the smallest permanently inhabited island of the Inner Hebrides. It was once the centre of a thriving Scottish slate mining industry, and one of the disused quarries forms a perfect arena for the World Stone Skimming Championships.
The championships are held every year on the last Sunday in September. Anyone of any age and any level of skill can enter. Each competitor is allowed 3 skims using specially selected Easdale slate skimming stones.
For a skim to qualify the stone must bounce at least three times - it is then judged on the distance achieved before it sinks.

Neil And Elton are such good friends they have pet names for each other 
Neil calls Elton "Reg" & Elton Calls Neil "Suzie".
One day he'll turn up Neil until then here's the Song he wrote for you

Steve & Trish with the assistance of Gillian & Angus
 provide the competitors with a
hearty Breakfast in the delightful  Garragh Mhor

The Best B&B

Ferry over to Easdale



Las Ramblas enter the arena



The hollow Mountain String Band prepare to entertain 

Let competition begin

"Stone Skiming isn't Stone Skimming unless Chas
 has failed to live up to his expectations"
Alfie

Time to head back to Ellenabeich for the presentation of the Budgie

The Coveted Trophy

The Oyster Bar 

Budgie winner Kevin is congratulated 
by members of the Royal Dutch Stone Skimming Association

Kevin protects the Budgie from International invaders

2011 Budgie Result

 

Kevin = 43mtrs

Bruce = 30mtrs

Neil = 27mtrs

Sam = 0mtrs

Andy = Shoulder Injury 

Alfie = 19mtrs

(boys 10-15)

2011 Puffin Result

Jill = 11mtrs

Marion = 0mtrs

kay = 0mtrs

 

Team

12th  Las Ramblas = 190mtrs

Why not visit the Dutch National Team

http://www.keilen.nl/

We highly recommend

http://www.garraghmhor.co.uk/index.html

if you are visiting the area

Jings Crivvens Help ma boab !!!!

 the Canny folk at Waverly Books ken how to Increase sales

Revise and Expand an Old Title to include a photo of

Las Ramblas Ramblers (Stone Skimming Division)

Dunblane

Muddy Waters called asking if he could join us as he loves walking in Scotland

after all arrangements were made 

we headed out to Dunblane but the only sign of him was underfoot

Gillian,Alison,Bruce,Marion,Neil,Sam & Alfie 

take a stroll in Dunblane.
Sean how's the weather for today?

"Light winds & clear skies make for a beautiful day for a stroll around Dunblane"

The earliest evidence for Christianity on the site are two cross-slabs of the 10th to 11th centuries which are preserved in the cathedral. Incorporated into the later medieval building, but originally free-standing, is an 11th-century bell-tower, whose height was increased in the 15th century. The nave and aisle less choir are 13th century. Dunblane did not have a rich or extensive medieval diocese, and the cathedral is relatively modest in scale, but its refined architecture is much admired, as is its setting overlooking the valley of the Allan Water. After the Reformation, the nave of the cathedral was abandoned and soon became roofless and used for burials. The choir was retained as the parish church. The nave was re-roofed and the Cathedral provided with new furnishings by Robert Rowand Anderson between 1889 and 1893.

 Dunblane Cathedral is remarkable in having retained more of its late-medieval choir stalls than any other Scottish church building (except King's College Chapel, Aberdeen), and also is noted for its organ. Further fragments of medieval woodwork from the Cathedral are displayed in the town's museum, formerly the Cathedral Museum, situated nearby. Though still used as a parish church, the building is in the care of Historic Scotland. To the south of the cathedral are some stone vaults of medieval origin, which are the only remaining fragment of the bishop's palace. Adjacent to the Cathedral, Scottish Churches House was (from the 1960s until its closure in 2011) a centre for ecumenical study and the former headquarters for Action of Churches Together in Scotland.

The town was a royal burgh and part of Perthshire until the 1975 abolition of Scottish counties.

Route

Dunblane Cathedral

Neil uses every clue to make sure he is first to arrive

Sam & Alison

Pig

Striding out toward Ashfield

Sheep

Gillian hides in the shame that she may have got us lost again

Allan Water

Marion & Gillian require Alison's help with a tricky obstacle

Time to descend on The Village Inn for a bite to eat 
http://thevillageinndunblane.co.uk/default.aspx

A Saunter along the Clyde

Robert Wyatt failed to turn up as arranged 

at the new Transport Museum 

he did however send this song to make up for his Tardiness 

Marion & Bruce take a stroll along the river Clyde on a free Monday
Sean should we take an Umbrella?

"No need for any protection today lasramblas its going to be glorious".

The Clyde is a short river, little more than 100 miles long, rising in the Lanarkshire hills. Upstream it flows swiftly with spectacular stretches, such as the Falls of Clyde, near Lanark. At Glasgow the river was a shallow estuary with sandbanks and islets known as inches. Downstream, in deep water, Dumbarton Irvine and Greenock were the main ports, with Port Glasgow established by Glasgow merchants in 1662. The Clyde Waterfront project covers 13km of the river from Glasgow Green  in the centre of Glasgow, down the river as far as Dumbarton. 
There are plenty of opportunities to explore along the riverbanks, Glasgow Green provides a welcome green space in the heart of the city and is one of the country's oldest  parks.

Route

Transport Museum 

The Glenlee reflection

Bells Bridge & The Squinty Bridge

The Armadillo 

The Finnieston Crane

Tradeston Bridge 

Suspension Bridge

Coffee's @ The Peoples Palace

Templeton's Carpet Factory

Glaswegian Seagull weaned on Tennents Lager

The Limekilns Trail, North Third Reservoir

Avril had invited Bjork along 

but she got lost, don't feel bad about it Ms Guðmundsdóttir

It took us three attempts to find the right path.

Gillian,June,Avril,Marion & Bruce

head out to Bannockburn for a gentle stroll
Here's Sean with some weather advice


"A stunning day in Stirlingshire may result in a touch of dehydration
 so make sure you have a decent Pub in mind for the end of the walk".

Route

Gillian begins to think we have gone the wrong way

This looks better !

Avril strides out in a confident manner

Heading to the Reservoir

Lime kilns and Marion's Dinner

Meanwhile Linda & Neil Independent ramble in Sweden

Everything under a Pound !!!! no wonder Linda is a Blur

All this and change from a Tenner

Drumpellier Country Park - The 7 Falls

Brinsley Schwarz is a fan of falling water so had planned to join us but he was delayed by an over enthusiastic audience demanding an encore in a Paisley Pub

What could be better when having a Free Monday than an Independent Ramble? Answer two Independent Rambles, I had decided to finish the Gleniffer Braes walk interrupted by Gillians lost handbag, Marion however wanted to go somewhere with a cafe so we headed out to Drumpellier Country Park.
Sean what's the weather got in store for us?

"well Lasramblas it's going to be a lovely day after a slightly overcast morning".

Sorry you couldn't make it Brinsley here's a selection of what you missed.

Drumpellier is a country park situated within North Lanarkshire Council, to the west of Coatbridge. The park was formerly a private estate. The land was given over to the Burgh of Coatbridge for use as a public park in 1919, and was designated as a country park in 1984. Drumpellier Country Park covers an area of 500 acres and comprises two natural lochs (one of which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, lowland heath, mixed woodlands and open grassland. The Monkland Canal lies towards the southern perimeter of the park. The lochs and the canal attract a large number of water birds, both resident (such as swans and mallard ducks)and over-wintering migrants, and the loch shores and woodland floor provides an abundance of wild flora. The woodlands are also rich in bird life, small wild animals and many types of fungi.

The lochs at Drumpellier are part of a chain of kettle ponds formed towards the end of the last ice age. As the glacier that covered most of Scotland slipped down towards the sea it churned up great tracts of land. This created the great lochs, such as Lomond and Linnhe, and also include Drumpellier's Lochs, Woodend and Lochend.

Route

Mute Swan and Cygnets

Coot

Greylag Geese

Yellow-Legged Gull

Black headed Gull

Great Crested Grebe

                                                         

Time For a bite to eat The Tea House on the Loch, Gartcosh
http://teahouseonthelochgartcosh.vpweb.co.uk/Home.html
A mighty fine Bacon & cream Cheese Bagel and Marion seemed pleased with the Vegetarian Breakfast
couple of Coffee's then head over to Paisley.

Keen blaws the wind o’er the Braes o’ Gleniffer.

The auld castle’s turrets are cover’d wi’ snaw;

How chang’d frae the time when I met wi’ my lover

Amang the broom bushes by Stanley green shaw:

The wild flow’rs o’ simmer were spread a’ sae bonnie,

The mavis sang sweet frae the green birken tree:

But far to the camp they hae march’d my dear Johnnie,

And now it is winter wi’ nature and me.

Yon cauld sleety cloud skiffs alang the bleak mountain,

And shakes the dark firs on the stey rocky brae,

While down the deep glen bawls the snaw-flooded fountain,

That murmur’d sae sweet to my laddie and me.
‘Tis no its loud roar on the wintry wind swellin’,

‘Tis no the cauld blast brings the tears i’ my e’e,

For, O gin I saw but my bonny Scotch callan,

The dark days o’ winter were simmer to me!

Robert Tannahill

Route

Marion lost in a Fern Jungle

Ben Lomond from Gleniffer Braes

Waterfall 

And another

Two More

All This liquid and not a drop to drink

better head of to The Three Judges for a Pint or two.

http://www.threejudges.co.uk/three-judges/home/three-judges.html