A pedal and a push

Today’s guest picture, taken by our son Tony at quarter to six this morning shows the sunrise in East Wemyss. Not perhaps technically the greatest picture because of the low light but definitely one of the best sunrises.

I didn’t get up quite that early (to say the least) so I missed any Langholm sunrise but it was still a pretty nice day when I did appear so I wasn’t complaining.

It was my plan to get out early on my bike but domestic matters intervened and then I was detained by a small tortoiseshell butterfly…

…and some beautiful poppies…

…so it was nearly coffee time before I left.

It really was a lovely day for a morning pedal…

…so it was a bit of a pity that my legs were definitely not in the mood for fun. I had to adopt a low gear and go gently to coax them round my 21 mile Solwaybank loop. Still, once I had realised that I wasn’t going to break any speed records, I settled down to enjoy the scenery and the ride at whatever pace I could manage.

I met a huge agricultural machine taking up most of the road as it came round a blind corner so perhaps it was lucky that I was going slowly. It was part of a team that was making silage and I enjoyed the sinuous lines of cut grass that had been created here.

Skylines were often interesting in their own way….

…and although there were no fresh developments on the new windfarm to report, there was a fine clump of orpines…

…and a very small bridge to keep me happy.

I got home in time for a late lunch and a look round the garden for more butterflies. There were several to see today which is heartening with no less than four red admirals on the buddleia…

…to go along with insects large and small on the daisies below.

It is fair to say that the garden was buzzing today.

A plan had been formulated for a visit to the moor and a walk up the Tarras Valley after lunch and while preparations were being made, I looked for bright flowers….

…and active birds.

We drove over the moor and down into the Tarras valley. The heather on the moor was looking very good but the sun and I couldn’t come to terms. I always seemed to be driving when the light was good, and whenever I stopped, the light went. In the end I stopped worrying about taking pictures and just enjoyed the views.

We parked the car at the handy car park and we set out to walk along the road beside the river.

I couldn’t pass the much photographed cascade without taking a picture…

…but there were lots of other things to look at too.

Mrs Tootlepedal is interested in the heathers and we saw examples of three sorts on our walk.

From left to right they are Erica Tetralix, Calluna vulgaris (common heather) and Erica Cinerea

It is a beautiful spot….

…with a lot of wild flowers about.

You mustn’t think that I spent all the time taking pictures. I lent a hand in the engine room too.

Sharp eyed Annie spotted a large beetle just as we got back to the car.

I took a final shot of Tarras Water….

…before we got into the car and drove up to the county boundary in the hope of meeting some of the wild goats of the moor. Once again we had to make do with the views over the moor as the goats were conspicuous by their absence.

When we got home, I finalised my butterfly collection for the day with a peacock…

…and went to look at the birds but got sidelined by the oxalis on the windowsill instead.

Then it was time for a sibling Zoom and our evening meal. This rounded off an active day.

The flying bird of the day is a siskin.