S
Simon Brooke
Guest
I had to go to a meeting the other side of the ridge this
evening, and instead of taking the road bike and going the
longer (but quicker) route round the end of the hills, took
the Cannondale and went over the top. Going out (early
evening) was very pleasant, warm sun, cuckoo calling on the
hillside, amazing colour in the wild flowers this year.
But coming back was exceptional. In the last of the
gloaming, with a whole different set of birds calling -
the whaup and the peewees and all the birds you expect of
a moorland night. And then, quite unexpectedly, in a
little haugh of rough rushy grass and heath and stunted
willows with taller woods behind, a nightjar. I didn't
actually see it, although it was very close, but the sound
is utterly distinctive and I would call it a positive
identification - although it's the first time I've ever
heard one in Scotland.
And then up and over the pass and the long winding track
down in near darkness in my highest gear with the lumis
carving a swathe of light, showing up the potholes and the
boulders and the gravel washouts - a total blast.
--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke)
http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; killing [afghan|iraqi] civilians is
not 'justice'
evening, and instead of taking the road bike and going the
longer (but quicker) route round the end of the hills, took
the Cannondale and went over the top. Going out (early
evening) was very pleasant, warm sun, cuckoo calling on the
hillside, amazing colour in the wild flowers this year.
But coming back was exceptional. In the last of the
gloaming, with a whole different set of birds calling -
the whaup and the peewees and all the birds you expect of
a moorland night. And then, quite unexpectedly, in a
little haugh of rough rushy grass and heath and stunted
willows with taller woods behind, a nightjar. I didn't
actually see it, although it was very close, but the sound
is utterly distinctive and I would call it a positive
identification - although it's the first time I've ever
heard one in Scotland.
And then up and over the pass and the long winding track
down in near darkness in my highest gear with the lumis
carving a swathe of light, showing up the potholes and the
boulders and the gravel washouts - a total blast.
--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke)
http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; killing [afghan|iraqi] civilians is
not 'justice'
