Sat-Nav

No - I'm not referring to the little box that people stick to their car windscreen and then drive up the motorway with a little arrow on the screen pointing 'straight on'.... I've discovered more adventurous walking possibilities by using a hand-held GPS device. Here's mine...

The screen here (sorry about the refections!) is just showing the 'trip' display, which can be set to show a number of different readouts. I've set mine to show (from the top) how far I've walked (4.51 miles) the Grid reference of where I am (NG 22097 38334 in this picture - enter that into http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm to see where I was...) , the time of day, how long I've been on my trip, and (just out of sight) my elevation above sea level.

There are five other screen views which can be scrolled through - the whole lot is controlled by only four buttons, so it's easy to operate, and it's waterproof and shockproof too.

The website I've linked to above enables me to plot a route for a walk on the ordnance survey map, then upload the route onto the eTrex. A display on the eTrex screen then shows me the route which I follow as I walk, and it's accurate to just a few metres. It also keeps a record of where I have actually been, so when I get home, I can download my 'track' from the eTrex to the map on the computer. I can also press a button which puts a 'waymark' onto my track. I do this when I take a photograph, so when I am looking at the map when I get home, I have a pinpoint accurate record of where I was when I took each photo.

It's the best £70 I've spent in years (plus the annoying £15 for a cable to connect it to the computer) but it has enabled me to confidently set out for walks through this kind of pathless country...

...to discover this kind of scenery...

Sue is building up her walking stamina, and will be joining me for some longer walks soon!

Pattern of Life

The summer visitor season is well underway, and Sue and I have settled into our Saturday routine of 'turn arounds', when we both travel to our slightly scattered properties to change beds, vacuum and polish.

This year, I am looking after Rowan Cottage at Broadford, because I also tend the garden of the cottage next door on behalf of the absentee landlord. On a Saturday, I can often get the lawns cut at both Rowan and 'number 4' (next door) as well as the 'turn around' at Rowan.

Rowan Cottage

Sue looks after Aird View near Portree, and then we both return to Roskhill to service the apartment at the Barn, which we share.

Aird View

Hopefully - our weekdays are not disturbed by our tenants - though it is handy to be living here when little things go wrong - like the toilet seat which fell apart at the Barn last week, or the lighting fuse which blew at Rowan...!

Sue in Kent again

Sue has set off from sunny Skye to rainy Kent this afternoon for her regular visit to her Mum and to catch up with friends. I have been left with a looong list of jobs to do... :o( ...but the weather is great, so I'll keep smiling! :o)

It will be my turn to travel south at the end of July, to Jan's wedding, where I will catch up with a few people I haven't seen since leaving Kent. I will then go on to my sisters and to Val's in Devon via friends in Southampton. More of all that anon.

.... More Wild Flowers

.... Sue here again after a long absence!   Yes I've still been taking the photographs but overlooked putting more here on our blog!   Here are some taken during one of my Roag walks a week or so ago when the sun was glorious and scenery even more stunning!  Below is a clump of campion - the first I've seen here on Skye!

.. and here below we have some marsh marigolds resplendant in the brilliant sunshine!

On the way back I stopped at the small bridge over the stream

running into Loch Bracadale and took in the view!

Still water reflects the clear blue sky on this warm May afternoon and ....

... finally Basil soaks up the sun in our garden afterwards!  Bless him!