Stair

Tonight I am sitting in a cold bath in Stair as I write. As per the previous posting, "here be midgies".

I started today with fire in my belly and ended it with fire in my buttocks. It feels as if I've been butchered lengthways! That said, I'm pleased to report that yesterdays cold bath really did seem to do the trick for my thighs. Today I found a renewed ability to do combat with hills.

Lots of lovely scenery today and a fascinating conversation with a 71 year old drystone wall builder callled Steve, above the Waters of Ae. I'm a good listener am I, and Steve told me that a dry stone wall should always be half as wide as it is high. He also told me that it should have a large rock (a header - so not dissimilar to Flemish bond, but less regular), spanning the full width of the wall every 3ft (1metre) (this ties the two skins of the wall together), and inbetween the two skins of the wall should be filled with loose stones. Easy, how to build a drystone wall that will last 200 years in 3 sentences. Another alternative career if it all goes wrong.

Tomorrow we should be heading up the Mull of Kintyre - cue the Wings song!

Paul.