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It has been particularly frustrating over the past few weeks trying to get the next series of geology field trips up and running. I still have two trips to do with the previous class! Anyway, Saturday's forecast wasnt too horendous so we decided to go for it. Carsaig was the place again - best place I reckon for a "first trip" with a new class - it's easy walking, well OK, its a bit muddy... and the distances arent too great.

Everything went very well, the weather behaved and we found loads of good stuff among the rocks. Lots of wildlife to spot as well.

Only got a few pics of the day - didnt actually manage to photograph anything new, so rather than duplicate pics, here are just a few of folk having fun:



This is what the sea looked like - and yes, that IS a colour picture. Mind you it WAS dry, so cant complain



Entire class asked to stand behind the waterfall while I took a pic.



Yes, it looks like a seal, but it is actually a boulder on the beach!!



Happy geology students at the end of the day!


And just as an extra, here are some pics of the waterfalls in Aros Park the day before - it was HEAVING down all day and the waterfalls did what waterfalls do when you get vast amounts of water - quite impressive so it was.







If there was sound with these pics, you would be deafened....

See you soon!

JW (MM)

It was back to Iona for a couple of days work there. Lovely weather, beautifully clear with a gentle north wind and a real feeling of Spring in the air. Just the sort of day that would be great out and about on te rocks or up high among the hills.

Instead it was all about Office 2003, XP or Vista (actually, that is no contest. Avoid Vista like the plague - industry commentators are starting to call it "Windows Me II" ) plus the usual fun with Email and broadband.

Anyway..

After work on Monday evening, the weather was still nice and the sun looked great as it set in the west, the low angle light showing off these ancient rocks at their best. Hoipefully, if the weather behaves we will have a geology trip here on Saturday. Fingers crossed

Here are some pics:


Ben More and A' Chioch seen from the roadside on the way to Iona. Still a bit of snow up there.


Bac Mor, or the "Dutchman's Cap" seen from the North end of Iona


The sun sets in the west.


The rocks here are Torridonian sediments (further west are the Lewisian, much older) The bedding in the rocks is quite fine here and looked well under water



A geological dyke runs approximately east-west here, and it has weathered out like a little canyon. This pic is the view west (lighting wsnt great, but you get the idea) The dyke rock itslef is very dark, almost black.


And this is the view looking along the line of the dyke to the east, towards Mull. Sand fills the "trench" of the dyke. There is a boulder of Ross of Mull granite in that pic as well.


This is the view over towards Mull again, the setting sun lighting up the cliffs

On the way back to Tobermory later on Tuesday, I took the coast road round by Gribun - I have never worked out if it is actually quicker or not (as opposed to going the other way through Craignure) but I reckon the views are better.


Beinn nan Gabhar from the bridge near the shore


Ben More again, in the cloud now and looking quite wintry up there.


Beinn Fhada from near the road. A great hill, an excellent walk on a great day. Thoroughly recommended! In this pic you can just see the layering in the basalts.


The sun goes down in the west


And this was the sunset seen form Lochan na Gualaine Duibhe near Tobermory. Looks a bit like the trees are on fire!

Anyway, that was that - good to get out and about in some decent weather again. Hopefully, if all goes well there will be a geology trip to Iona or the Ross of Mull on Saturday.

Maybe see you then!
Cheers!

MM (JW)

Well yesterday was the Equinox - goodbye to Winter and Hello to Spring. And as is often the case, it is pretty stormy right now - serious winds and disrupted ferry services.

I took a quick trip up Cnoc Fuar above Tobermory for a quick look round. The wind was seriously strong and coming from the north. Blowing a hooley as they say. Cnoc Fuar is both an extremely well named and also an extremely badly named place.

1) Bad first - the correct name for the hill is Meall an Inbhire. It just gets called Cnoc Fuar which is nearby I believe

2) Well second - no matter what the weather, season, time of day (or night) it is always cold up there. Always.

The views were quite nice although it was hard to hold the camera steady

Here is the Cal-Mac ferry:



And here is Kilchoan:



And this is 'S Airde Beinn, with nice heaped up clouds above it:



So that was today's windy stroll. Geology trip for tomorrow is looking a bit iffy because lots of people have got visitors for the holiday. Easter? Bah! Humbug!

Anyway, its probably going to be too wild and windy anyway.

Come back soon!
James (MM)

PS: I was visiting a client just at lunchtime and saw that the weather out on Tobermory Bay and Calve Island looked rather impressive. Here are some pics:


Calve Island close up


Wild and sombre looking Ben Hiant!