le weekend

The weather wasn't particularly great over the weekend. Mary and I went for a few Pentland miles, but low level ones rather than high tops to avoid aggravating M's knees. 

fab cafe

After a great coffee and scone / cake at the Cafe we set off up the reservoirs and took a right turn at Maiden's Cleugh.

lots of mushrooms / toadstools about

Mary was road testing a new camera she got off the internet. She felt the Lumix was a bit heavy and it had been putting her off carrying it in a side pocket of the running vest she wears. This Canon is about half the bulk, and she hopes the step down in quality won't be that noticeable. We did a couple of side-by-side photos to test the quality. It (the Canon) is fine - better quality results than the waterproof Fuji but a bit less good than the Panasonics. It was well short of three figures and the quality is bound to reflect this. However it is very light and portable.

Threipmuir Res is nearly empty.

After the hike up to the stone stile we turned right and went over to Allermuir summit before retreating down and across to Castlelaw which we contoured round on the reservoir side.

this shot was taken on M's new Canon at full zoom - x8

standing beside her I took this on the TZ100 full zoom

although it is supposed to be x10 there is additional digital zoom

although not quite the same angle this is the same subject on the Canon

vs this on the Lumix. Given the 7 times price tag of the Lumix

I'm surprised there isn't more difference.

about 7 miles

Good run in the Pentos and the weather stayed dry which was something, even though a bit overcast. Sunday we decided to go for another cycle. Mary wanted to explore the cycle-paths she had been checking out and maybe join up a couple more - the North Esk circuit was the plan. However we didn't print out maps and it was more just a jolly and we'd follow our noses. Not a strategy I would be very happy with. Especially when the North Esk circuit wasn't terribly well signposted. 

bumped into Tyr who was telling us 

his parents bashed his eye with a stick THIS big

Craigmillar Castle

Not much in the way of flying things today. That common darter(?) was one of the few. I would slow when passing Buddleia bushes but there was little other than an occasional white. Where have all the commas gone?

Straiton Pond

So the camera didn't really come out very often. It was a bit grey. We went through Auchendinny and picked up the North Esk Circuit but then when it crossed the South Esk path we sort of took that and headed downstream for a while back towards town. Next time I will put the map into the Suunto.

railings at Bonnyrig

Autumn colours

about 28 miles, and NO cafes - must do better next time!