I took the #41 bus to the last stop. Almost there and I asked the driver about the wooded valley I had seen on the way. It was Crammond village and I stayed on the bus one stop on its return journey into Edinburgh and then walked down. Down to the village, down to the sea.
The cafe was closed – it closes at 4.30pm, but the path by the River Almond led a couple of miles up to where it met the road at Gamekeepers Lane to catch the #41 back into Edinburgh.
And on the way up the river I saw this and thought how some sights in nature just wrap themselves up in a ball of loveliness and make you stop.
To see a larger version of the photo, click on it.
What a lovely little spot you have found. It sounds like it was rather hidden, and not visited much by casual strollers. Is it a large area, or just a tiny spot? The photo reminds me of the C&O Canal near Washington, DC, along the upper Potomac: mostly deserted and peaceful. Good for birds!
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Well I was the only one on the path the whole way, so yes, maybe it is hidden. There was a small waterfall as well – maybe four metres high. I looked out for dippers on the rocks but didn’t see any. I am not sure if the flow of the river was as fast as they like. Are dippers an American bird as well?
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Being on the north-east (Great Lakes’ Basin) portion of the continent, I’d never heard of Dippers before; but apparently they are – an “American bird as well”, that is – but appear to be much more common in South America than in the North and even then, only in the West (up in The Rocky Mountains, I’m assuming…) So, are you fairly up into The Highlands then, David?
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Oops, forgot the link, sorry!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipper
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Lovely calm water or cam, as my GranMa would’ve said… ; )
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We are about an hour’s drive from the gateway to the highlands. I’m trying to think whether I associate dippers with higher ground. I think the association may be that they like slightly faster-flowing water, and that’s more likely to be in the higher ground. I saw your link and yes, it’s the white-throated variety that we have. I love their full, round bodies – they are just delightful.
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Not sure why, but waterfowl (more often than not ) always seem to be enjoying themselves and it’s contagious: )
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No mortgage, no food bills 🙂
It rained here today – no surprise there even if it is summer – and just as I came along our street I saw a blackbird taking a bath in a puddle and it was flapping its wings and covering itself with water. No heating bills either…
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Is it any wonder man learned to fly?
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What to do if offered a superpower of being able to fly or to be able to speak all languages?
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I think I would choose flight. That way I could fly to different places and learn the language and customs of each country at my leisure… Just imagine, a lifetime of learning and adventure: )
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Yes, nature really presents some lovely spots, and unexpectedly too. This photo is so full of peace.
Interesting to read your conversation with Deb about the Dipper. I didn’t know what bird it was, but when I clicked on the Wiki link, and saw the picture, I suspected it was what we (in Swedish) call Strömstare. A quick googling confirmed that 🙂 … so now I know.
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I put Strömstare into Google Translate and it says Dipper, but I’m guessing that the first syllable in Strömstare means ‘stream’ and that the word actually has a more descriptive meaning?
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Yes 🙂 the ‘stare’-part means Starling. So … Stream Starling LOL
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Nice name 🙂
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