Rescued peonies and a bike ride

I went out in my PJ’s and wellies to rescue the rain bombed peonies. The midges were out in force. If I did any gardening later, I thought, it would be full midge jacket and Little She Bear's homemade midge repellent on the only bit of exposed skin, my hands.
Homemade midge repellent made from bog myrtle leaves (picked up the hill), vegetable oil and tree resin. It’s good.

After I'd done the grocery shopping, Toad and I went for another cycle ride on the Loch Long side of the peninsula. It was good to see quite a few sailboats out, including a couple with black sails. Pirates, Toad said. 😉

I stopped on an uphill bit. This was above me.

Isabella Campbell's shrine

The 60–90% threat of rain hung over us most of the afternoon but we decided to go for a walk anyway. It didn’t rain. We did a little wander along the shore at Garelochhead noticing a swan family near the McAuley Burn bridge and Biting Stonecrop in abundance among the broken shells atop the sea wall.

Then as we were leaving Garelochhead on the Rosneath  Road, we decided to stop and go explore up the path signed to Isabella Campbells shrine. I’m not sure about the shrine bit but anyway something to investigate and which we never had until today. It is a small fenced place beside the burn where she ussd to pray. Someone keeps a votary candle there.

 I soon realised that this was probably the hill path that the dog Amber and owner, whom I’ve met in my Garelochhead wanderings, go up to get muddy before coming down for a splash in the sea. It proved a lovely path, not so muddy at the moment, with lots of common spotted orchids and some huge old trees, both oak and ash.

I noted the Whorled Caraway leaves among the spotted orchid ones.

There were some good views down to Garelochhead  and down the loch. We could see the field that’s just south of our garden but the light was poor for photos.

It’s a place to go exploring with my grandsons when they are next here.

Beyond a fence into what I suppose is MOD land there was a rusty sign the colour of which Toad, with his new enchroma glasses, really appreciated! 😁

Sweepings

A barrow of driveway sweepings. Food for peonies, which are doing well this year with eleven flower buds. In former years the maximum has been three and sometimes none at all.