Eilean Arrain....the Isle of Arran

 Seen from the mainland...one evening from Ayr Beach, another afternoon from Culzean Castle.

We must get over there soon. I have never been there.

Apple juice and relaxing

 A good 7am start, and straight after breakfast the apple juicing started. I have four different types of apple, the Hannahston windfalls, probably a tree grown from a thrown apple core. Apples from Auld Byre hedgerow, wild apples we think..but they grew bigger this year..probably because fewer fruit set.  A red apple which looks very much like Kidd's orange red..only a small carrier bagful this year instead of three big bags and more last year and a large carrier bag of apples from a friend.scabby but good for juice.

With breaks to let the juicer cool down..it is about twelve years old!....and pressing the pulp from the juicer..by the end of the day I had a maslin pan full of juice.

That is just under half of the apples done!! I am aiming to make more than last year as we have almost finished last year's pressing, having been using it sparingly over the last month or two.

The juice has now gone through the muslin again and is sitting in a lidded tub to settle out the fine apple pulp that is still suspended in it. Bottling tomorrow evening.

This afternoon we both had reiki treatment followed by a chip supper, eaten as we watched the street lights begin to come on over the water on the Isle of Arran.

Nice and relaxed...and no cooking or washing up!!

Working round from nearly south to northish!

Breathtaking.

No cooking tonight!

A chip supper and watching the sun set from Croy, over Arran

sunset

over Arran

We had a short ride last night,thinking to get one in before the rain....still no rain here...

Girvan sunset

 Ailsa Craig..not looking today as if its 11 miles offshore..

 Snow on Goat Fell on the Isle of Arran

 looking South...

then walking North along the prom, you find the old Gentlemens' Club Pavilion and bandstand now sadly closed up.

 Fishing boat heading out from Girvan Harbour, then past Ailsa Craig

 Seeing the sun set on the left...midsummer you watch it set over the Isle of Bute, to the right of Ailsa Craig on the right of the picture

 and goodnight until tomorrow.

on Maybole Shore...

Walk before supper. The sound of water eases the Pirate's tinnitus and lifts our spirits.

More Cross!!

Today we had a day out at Irvine Beach park watching and helping at a cyclo cross race, one of a series throughout the Winter in Scotland.

Ailsa Craig from above the beach

Looking towards the Carrick Hills

and over to Arran.

Meanwhile.....yer be Dragon!!

and bikes......

The Pirate used to compete in many cyclo cross races, so felt sad that he couldn't ride himself. Present problems plus the state of his shoulders due to accidents while racing on the track now prevent it.
On the other hand he is enjoying helping others practically and passing on knowledge as well.