After last week-end out with The Intrepids I was reminded of the song sung by the late John Denver – Some Days are Diamond, the chorus goes like this:
“Some days are diamonds, some days are stones
Sometimes the hard times won’t leave me alone
Sometimes a cold wind blows a chill in my bones
Some days are diamonds, some days are stones”
Life can be like that, this year due to health issues around me I felt that the days were stone and very few diamond days. However, this cannot be said for Saturday and Sunday 11-12 October 2014 both those days were definitely diamond.
Saturday 11/11/2014
On Saturday the Intrepids went to Drummond Castle Gardens a spur of then moment decision. We had planned to go to the Hermitage at Dunkeld but the weather forecast for Dunkeld put us off. Instead a quick search of the Internet brought forth Drummond Castle and its formal gardens. My blog on that visit can be found here. Everything went right on that trip, company, weather and the place. Even taking the one track road, as suggested by TomTom SatNag did not dampen the day, it just added more humour. We were taken aback by the formal gardens and plan to revisit next july, although I suspect it may well be sooner, like Easter :) 
We stooped at the Birdhouse Bakery Café in Muthill (pronounced Muthhhh-ill) were we enjoyed a simple lunch which filled us up so much we did not have dinner that evening.
Sunday 12/10/2014
The Hemitage
Sunday, it was sunny, warmish, well warm for Scotland in October and we were heading out for an Intrepids trip. Our first stop was the Hermitage near Dunkeld, a walk through the forest to the Black Linn Falls. Last time Susan and I visited the Hermitage was in January 2013 and it was snowing. This would have been our fourth or fifth visit and on those previous visit I saw possible shots but it meant scrambling down banks and over rocks, which a little voice from the past said I was too old for that lark. Somehow on this visit I felt different, I ignored that little voice and scrambled down those banks and over fallen trees to get those shots: 
We made our way to the falls and past again I was clambering over rocks, swept down trees to get shots, some of which worked others failed. I was really enjoying myself. We completed the 1.5 mile circular walk before we headed to Aberfeldy and a late lunch.
Glen Lyon, Bridge of Balgie and Ben Lawers
After lunch we did not want to go straight home, so acting on the suggestion by Susan to go via Glen Lyon then Killin we headed off on the second half of our adventure. Glen Lyon is a very long glen as Wikipedia has it “Glen Lyon (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Lìomhann) is a glen in the Perth and Kinross region of Scotland. It is the longest enclosed glen in Scotland and runs for 34 miles from Loch Lyon in the west to the village of Fortingall in the east”. Whilst the glen my be scenic the road is a driver’s challenge, single track with few passing places. Sid did well at one corner, two cars came round a bend slightly over the line, Sid swerved to the left and we passed with a whisper of a space between us and the two cars. I don’t know how the other drivers felt but we were very thankful for Sid’s quick reactions and reflexes. 
Still we did not dwell on that for long, we were recycled teenagers, or as the sign at Dumbarton Castle had it “Super Adults” and we were on the town. Finally after many twists, bends, ups and down and facing belligerent sheep we arrived at Bridge of Balgie – the junction where those going to Killin turn left over the mountains via Ben Lawers, those continuing Glen Lyon carry straight on, we would be tuning left. If we thought the drive through Glen Lyon was adventuresome the drive over this part of the mountains was just as much fun. 
We were heading into real belligerent sheep country and what is more sheep with horns! Ha, we are the Intrepids, nothing frightens us (much). I was just thankful we were in Sid’s little white Suzuki Swift as I thought the belligerent sheep would think it was a bigger and more belligerent sheep. : and keep away – it worked :) We passed Ben Lawer Dam: 
Stopped at the newish Ben Lawers parking area (now that the old NTS visiter’s centre has been demolished) for a short break and to admire the views of Loch Tay before we continued to Killin and a rest stop.
killin and the Falls of Dochart
I love the description from Killin web site “Killin – where the mountains meet the loch” how true. This has to rank high as one of my most favourite places to visit and to photograph. Like The Hermitage there were shots I would love to have got but lack of confidence, uncertainty of mobility plus the flow of water discouraged me from making such attempts. This time was different. I have never seen the water flow so low, the river had narrowed to the deep central channels exposing the wider rockbed and if one threw caution to the wind one could get this shots. 
Well, I did throw caution, not only me but Sid as well, we clambered down the rocks, over boulders to get our pictures. In my mind I heard that snotty little youth from yesteryear grinding his teeth and no doubt swearing to boot. I could feel his rage at this recycled teenager daring to clamber over rocks and swept down trees. Venturing into his domain and not one for older folks. Sod him I thought and happily took my photos that I so longed to take. Eventually we lost the light and my last shot was of the sunset: 
Making our way home from such a great day out the words of “Some Days are Diamond” came into my head – I had two such days with my partner Susan and my good friend Sid.
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