Happy Christmas from Scotland.
Copyright SJE2005

Minor change

Made a minor change to the way my links work on the side bar by adding a bit of detail about the Blogs to which I've linked. S.

Yet another way to Blog.

From the Benderloch website. I don't usually use Internet Explorer to view web pages, but when I was running it today I noticed some new buttons at the top of the page. One of them was to Blog the page via the Hello program - so this is it. When you click the small image above the link will open the web site, which can be navigated in the usual way.

ADDED LATER.
I tried this procedure on another blog with a newspaper's online front page.
This also links direct to the site - in this case the newspaper site. The interesting
(and possibly useful) feature is that the thumbnail on this page retains the
original 'picture', while the link takes you to the current edition. So it could be used as
another way of bookmarking or checking for website page updates.
Copyright SJE2005

Sunset 3 Dec 2005

December sunset. The hills of the Isle of Mull seen from North Connel. I'm looking over the runway at Oban Airport - the pale tarmac behind the bushes.


Another picture from the same viewpoint. Dunstaffnage Marina is in the centre. Oban is behind the hill below the sun. The land to the right is the island of Kerrera.
SJE© 2005

Loch Creran Sunset.

As the sun was going down - around 3:45pm today - we had a drive around Loch Creran, a few miles to the north of Benderloch. The snow on the hills had been looking good in the bright sun earlier, but I'd missed that as I was busy. But it meant we saw a glorious sunset and took lots of pictures. Edited highlights here! This view is looking east up the loch towards the Glencoe hills. Even to the east there is a hint of pinkness.

We went to the head of the loch and took this ...

...from the bridge where the river enters the loch. We're a few miles inland but the waters are still tidal - in fact the road gets covered at the highest tides.

Then we drove back down to the (newish) bridge at Cregan where we saw this view down the loch.

The low dark line of land juts out from Benderloch / Barcaldine (on the left) and Loch Creran joins Loch Linnhe off the right of the picture. The farthest hills, merging into the cloud, are on the Isle of Mull.
SJE© 2005

Snowy pix

Every Blog from Norway to Spain seems to have been posting pictures of the snow this past weekend, so I thought I may as well join in! This was the view of snow covered hills towrads Glencoe. There wasn't much excitment in the original so I adjusted a few levels in Photoshop to produce this. I just need to find a use for the picture now... Below are more pictures taken around the village of Benderloch on Friday 25 Novenber 05.

The view looking from Ben Lora Forest over Tralee Bay towards the Isle of Mull.


Sheep grazing with the Morvern Hills in the background.


Cold sheep and cattle.


A little bit of hay? - "Thanks, mooooch appreciated!".


Gorse in full bloom.


...and perhaps not a day for the beach.

SJE© 2005

More snow pix

Looking north-west over Benderloch 25 Nov 05.


To the mountains on the far bank of Loch Linnhe. Village car park (with yellow snowplough) and the Ben Lora Cafe. The railway station would have been in this view forty years ago. (Just thought you'd like to know that!)


"I'm just popping onto the roof to sweep off the snow". Work must go on, regardless of the weather! This gentleman has been re-roofing the cottage this week.


Ford Spence Court and Beregonium hill.


Ben Lora Forest and the Lynn of Lorn Nursing Home.


Munros Shop and Ledaig Motors from the car park.


Munros - "The Pink Shop".


I went part way up Beregonium Hill and took this view over the village. St Modan's Chuech on the left; Ceum-dhun-Righ houses (where I live) with Ben Lora Forest behind.

SJE© 2005

The road through Benderloch at 9am 25 Nov 05 with snowplough heading north.

St Modan's Church (and the back of our house on the right edge of the picture).

SJE© 2005

November snow.

Part of our back garden at 9pm.
They've been telling us all week that there would be wintry conditions from today.... The snow showers duly arrived.... We don't get much snow here - I guess its because mountains to the north and east shelter us and as we're by the sea the snow doesn't last long. But its not common in November. At the moment its pretty but really only a light covering. There's probably more in the hills and maybe it'll be good for the ski-ing at the weekend.

An hour or so later - car is getting a comfort blanket!
SJE� 2005

Christmas lights are on in Oban. This is a tree which gets decorated every year on Rockfield Road near the town centre.
(Hand-held shot.)
SJE� 2005

The roadworks are now nearly complete. The bus stop layby is ready - wonder if they'll erect a full size bus stop now? The mini one is still lying there. Kind of appropriate for a 'layby'? (Once again this pic was taken from a moving car - see earlier posts.)
SJE� 2005

Benderloch website.

Posting this to rport that benderloch.com is back on-stream.
I'm still unable to get email via the site, or to FTP it but things are looking up!

Mid afternoon along Keil Crofts, Benderloch.
SJE� 2005

Yet another Blog

I've started another blog - not much there yet - click
SteVesArt

Stormy weather ahead!

An Atlantic low pressure with associated stormy weather is forecast for this evening. At 3.30 this afternoon it was already getting a bit rough in Oban bay. These picture of the main road through Oban were grabbed by my passenger as we drove home from town.

In the best journalistic traditions the photos are grainy, lopsided and out of focus!

Not the best of days for a stroll, but if you're on your way home from school and have your camera phone ... anyone for a dance?



I've cut this to exclude the car dashboard etc. The dark stuff on the road is seaweed.

The white building on the left is the Esplanade Church of Scotland. The one above the school bus is the Corran Hall and Library.

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A couple of views taken when almost home, looking over Tralee Bay. I posted some views from around the same spot a few days ago.


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SJE� 2005

Benderloch Website

Apologies to anyone currently trying to access the Benderloch.com website.
The server is down and the site unavailable. I have a mirror of the site running at
www.benderloch.net
until the main site can be restored. Steve.

Onwards and Upwards!

At about 2.30pm today I acheived the target I had set myself of reaching the Eagles Eyrie viewpoint on Ben Lora before Christmas. Its a steep, stiff walk and I wouldn't have made it without the support of my friend Tom. (He's in red; I'm in white.) Below are some pictures I took on the way up. Its gone colder today, and this morning the hills towards Glencoe had a dusting of snow.

This is from the middle viewpoint. I had reached this far a few weeks ago - the first time up the hill since my two hip replacements. Home is just out of sight behind the conifers.

Took a rest about half way up. This view looks south to Ledaig Point (the triangle jutting out at the entrance to Loch Etive.)

The path, though wide enough and well gravelled, gets pretty steep as it climbs past this waterfall. I don't recall seeing the fall looking as good as this before, but there have been major timber works in the forest in the years since I was last here, so quite a few views have changed.

And thanks to the time delay feature on my wee digital camera I was able to get this shot at the Viewpoint. Tom, in trademark wellingtons and carrying umbrella; his dog, Kerry; and me, wondering where I left my stick (its on the fence, Steve; doh.)
SJE� 2005

An afternoon of contrasting light.

(Click on pictures to enlarge)
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It had been a lovely afternoon so J sent me out to photo the Church against the autumn-tinted forest in the low-angled sunlight. Good in theory - but as soon as I ventured outside the sun was occluded by a dark cloud approaching from Mull.
So I walked to the viewpoint and captured this rather uninspiring view over the bay. A bit 'dreek' as we say.But sitting there I spotted some interesting pictures within the scene. So here goes...
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Turning to my right the waves are breaking over the rocks.
The far beach is where I was photographing on Friday.
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Getting down low to capture some foreground.
I zoom in on the Mull cliffs and expose for the lighter part of the sky.
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Zooming out again to capture the whole of the cloud.
You can see curtains of rain sweeping in from the right.
The wind was about Force 7.
(Its worth clicking this one for the full effect. I think its my favourite shot from today, but realise some may find it more disturbing than dramatic. S.)
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And before I leave the viewpont I zoom in on breaking waves and catch the sunlight reflecting in the water. I almost made it home before the rain arrived.It was a good downpour, but 10 minues later it had passed!
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SJE � 2005

Good day for cloudscapes.

Taken around 4pm looking south from Tralee beach,
Benderloch. I sharpened this picture a little,
but left the one below on a soft focus as I think the effect
is more pleasing.

(Reminder - you can click the pictures to enlarge.)


Looking over Tralee Bay towards the island of Kerrera. A shower is moving in from the west. The lighter items in the foreground are surfboards ... maybe someone is being optimistic?
SJE � 2005

Still picking blackberries

The blackberries are still pickable - even in November. This bush is by the beach, facing south, so getting all the available sun but also the winds. The berries were very juicy and just fell into my palm. Will be adding them to our homegrown apples for a crumble pie tomorrow. Yummy!

(PS - yes, this is the identical view to the picture published Oct 14. Honest - count the leaves!)
SJE � 2005

First signs of autumn.

Ben Lora Forest

Picture taken from our front doorstep. Autumn colours starting to appear. The low sun seems to add to the depth of this picture.
SJE � 2005