It was a beautiful morning: sunny (almost), mild (almost), dry (for the next two hours). I decided that I wouldn't need to don my waterproofs and could enjoy my walk in the woods with just a light windproof jacket over my shirt and light fleece (not really midsummer attire). So off I set on a walk through the Castle Grounds. I have a great choice of routes depending on the weather and the direction of the wind and, possibly, the driven rain. The trees can be a great source of protection and one doesn't want to be tramping across a wide open stretch or along the waterfront in the rain with the gale in your face driving the rain under one's hood and hat and down one's neck.
A number of people have commented on the lack of trees on Lewis and some have asked what my walks are like. I've posted some photos from my walks in the past but I decided today that with the trees in full leaf I'd give you the full works just to show that I really can walk in the woods.
The walk. Clockwise.
The following photos are shown in the order of the walk
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| Speedwell (I think) |
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| A few rhododendrons are still out |
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| The Ninth Hole |
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| Monkey Flower, Mimulus guttatas (?) |
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| Across the golf course going North |
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| Along the Willow Glen |
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| Leaving the Willow Glen and returning South |
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| Add caption |
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| Looking North across the course |
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| Along the river towards the harbour |
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| An alternative path that I didn't take. |
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Along the harbour side
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| The Woodlands |