Day 103 of the End to End was a beautiful day, the sort of day the makes End to Ending so uplifting. Quite different from yesterday when I was battling a sore throat and feeling grotty. We had stopped in Fortrose and bought some donuts for 11s. These were the most excellent donuts and led to me thinking we should add donuts to the list of important End to End foodstuffs.
The walk started at the Red Rock Trails car park and the path went up through the woodland. Tasty wild raspberries and blueberries filled the holes left between the donuts.
I was soon back on the road and walking towards Cromarty, meeting Bob about half way. Coming round the corner at Eathie Mains Farm I walked into a cloud of Painted Lady butterflies, which completely amazed me. From then on, all the way down to the village, there were almost more Painted Ladies that we could count.
Yesterday I saw 8 and thought that a lot. Today it was 126 at least. I did read yesterday that several thousand had been seen on the Isle of May, which is about 120 miles south of us.
It wasn’t just Painted Ladies though. I also saw 26 small tortoiseshell which surprised me. Among the 7 different species seen altogether there were also Red Admiral and Speckled Wood. The large thistles seemed particularly popular plants for them all. All of which made this peak butterfly day so far.
We had a brief walk round Cromarty which is the departure point of the ferry I shall take tomorrow. There were good views across the Cromarty Firth.
A warm sunny evening meant we got all our washing dry back at the hostel. The fresh farm produce they sell, fruit and vegetables, means we ate well, of course.
From Psalm 50
God says ‘I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine’.
Tonight, I write to the background drone of many bees. The countryside is alive with insects, so many butterflies I was struggling to count them! Later a couple got disorientated in the the poly tunnels at the farm. I cupped my hands around them and guided them outside. One sat on my finger for a few heartbeats before flying off towards the lsetting sun.
God grant a quiet night and a peaceful end.
JAL 29.07.2019
Day 103 of the End to End, Red Rock Trails car park to Cromarty.