Today’s guest picture comes from Mary Jo from Manitoba. She had ventured into Alberta when she took this picture of a bridge made especially for wild animals to cross a major road in the Banff National Park. She says that this is a very good idea, as running into a passing moose is not a good experience for either the moose or the driver.
We had a cool but sunny morning here, and when I drove down to Canonbie with our neighbour Margaret after breakfast, we saw our countryside looking at its best.
We were going to have our booster Covid vaccination and the flu shot at the same time. The village hall was being used as a vaccination centre, and we were greeted and treated very promptly. After the obligatory 15 minute sit down to check for immediate bad reactions, we were able to drive home, and arrive in plenty of time for a brief pause before we met again for coffee.
After coffee, Mrs Tootlepedal went off to combine a bit of business with some shopping and I took some flower pictures . . .
. . . and found that some busy buzzing was coming from green bottle flies on the big daisies.
Then I clipped a bit of hedge at the back of the vegetable garden and went back in.
It was too good a day to sit inside all afternoon though. I didn’t think that I ought to go cycling in case I suffered from a reaction to the vaccination. Falling off with a dizzy spell is never fun. However, when walking, you can always sit down if necessary, so I went for a walk.
I followed Walk 8 of the Langholm Walks project, starting from the Kilngreen, walking past the Lodge Walks and up on to the Baggra . . .
The Esk with Timpen in the baclground 
The Lodge walks 
View from the Baggra
I walked along the Baggra, stopping to admire the cladonia lichen, went down over the High Mill Brig, and then along the track beside the Ewes Water . . .
The Baggra 
Cladonia Lichen 
Ewes Water running freely
. . . until I got to the little bridge over the Ewes at the old shooting range.
I didn’t cross the bridge, but turned up through the woods on to the open hill, passing some fine fungus under the trees as I went.
The ground on the hill was remarkably dry after our recent rain, showing just what a long dry summer we had this year. All the same, it was quite hard work going up the hill, and I was happy to stop and enjoy the view.
The route follows a very straight wall up to the road to the White Yett, and it doesn’t look too steep from the bottom, but when you look back down from near the road, you realise why you are breathing a bit harder than usual.
When I got to the road, I kept going uphill and took the track from the MacDiarmid Memorial to the Monument.
On my way up, I was able to look down on the town tucked into the valley below . . .
. . . and when I got to the Monument, I looked over the wall at the patchwork of commercial forestry across the moor. . .
. . . and up towards the north. There I could see in the background the portion of the moor that the community buy out group wants to buy next to add to the section already purchased.
It was chilly standing on top ofWhita in the north westerly breeze, so I didn’t stay to enjoy the views for too long before heading carefully down the face of the hill towards the town.
I was careful not to rush as there are many opportunities for the unwary to slip and slide, especially towards the top of the hill, so I kept my eyes firmly on where I was putting my feet.
Once I was able to pause and look around, I did so.
Castle Hill ridge 
Trees around the Castleholm 
Poplars beside the church in the Buccleuch Park
As I got down the hill, the track became easier . . .
. . . and by the time that I got to the Kirk Wynd, I had leisure to dawdle and enjoy more lichen and fungus.
The light was beginning to fade as I arrived back at the Suspension Bridge . . .
. . . and when I got home, I found that Mrs Tootlepedal had come in from working in the garden.
The day was rounded off with our regular family Zoom which had some lovely pictures from Hardwick Hall taken by my brother Andre. This was followed by a second helping of Mrs Tootlepedal’s apple sponge with custard at our evening meal.
I didn’t have a moment to look at the birds at the feeder today, so instead of a flying bird of the day I will have to make do with a sitting bird of the day.
Mr Grumpy looks as though he’s beginning to feel his age. My knees feel for him.
Tootlepedal's Blog 
It’s remarkable how many ways Mr. Grumpy can fold up.
It is indeed.
I love those views! The fungi are looking properly pleased with the weather, especially the Cladonia with their red caps. Cladonia was my mother’s favorite lichen, as it is mine.
Mr. Grumpy does look as if he is feeling a bit old today. He does seem to be enjoying the sun.
More heavy rain today. The grass has gone green again as it does every autumn.
We are in for another rainy spell, but as we need it, I shouldn’t complain.
That does look like quite a hike following the wall, but what a wall.
The views were grand. It was a beautiful day for a walk by the looks.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a heron do that. I wonder how he gets back up. He looks a bit arthritic.
It was a good day for a walk and oddly enough, my knees felt better when I had finished than when I started.
You just never know what nature will do for you.
My knees feel for Mr. Grumpy, too. Beautiful picture of the fly on the daisies. Good that you and Margaret had your boosters.
We were very happy to get an extra layer of protection with cases here running very high at the moment.
I envy your beautiful walks and how you capture both the big vistas and small close ups. How many years have you been watching Mr. Grumpy? Our herons are much shyer.
Mr Grumpy is well used to getting snacks from visitors to the Kilngreen and a local man used to provide food at a regular time for many years so he is not a shy bird.
Great header picture and lovely countryside views on your walk. I hope Mr Grumpy is in good health.
Glad about the jabs.
Fine views from the top of the hill.
It is good to see the community buy-out group expanding their scope. Poor Mr Grumpy
The part under consideration was always in their original plan. They ran out of time to do the fund raising.
We also have some “eco-ducts” here in België, a good and safe sollution for the wild animals to cross the highway.
Thanks for the nice pictures you made of your hike.
The heron has a strange way of sitting 😉
The heron looked very awkward, I agree.
Hello TP, What a fabulous post jabs walk in glorious weather. You’re blessed with stunning scenery to be able to reach that summit from your door. Say hello to Mr. Grumpy when you next see him, from a similarly monikered chap,
best wishes
Julian
The ability to be out on a hill in a few minutes is the best feature of living in Langholm. There are a lot of other good things too of course.
Mr Grumpy doesn’t look to comfy.
I agree.
Poor old Mr Grumpy.
I am glad to hear the buy out group has its eyes on acquiring more land.
Poor old Mr Grumpy, our old cat Tipsy looks that miserable when sat out waiting to come in from the cold. Good to hear the wild animals in the National Parks of Canada have the sense to use bridges. Sadly, I see a good deal of roadkill down here, foxes, squirrels and badgers. Probably the most recent generation failing to negotiate the busy roads. Which I have to say seem to be so much more busier than pre lockdown days. Where is it going to end, my son is a driving instructor, and he averages three or four passes a week. So that’s 12 new drivers a month and new cars on the road. He is just one of many driving instructors. Soon the roads will be jam packed. Despite, COP(OUT)26. CHEERS.
We need to stop spending on new road building at the very least.