This afternoon the temperature reached 18c, which Grey Granite thought to be too hot for Rufus to go for a walk, so this evening, when it was cooler they, along with Grey Granite's friend Yvonne (Grey Granite and Yvonne are in training for the Moonlight Prowl next month) decided to explore a new section of 'The Line'. They joined the line at Invernorth and walked South, passing Rathen Station and eventually reaching the intersection with a minor road from Cortes to Lonmay. This proved to be a delightful stretch of line, bordered with gorse, broom and wild roses (not yet in flower) and with good views over gentle rolling countryside. Along the bed of the line are many violets and patches of Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata) 'We ca'ad it myrrh' in Violet Jacob's eloquent poem. Grey Granite was delighted to see several lapwings in their characteristic tumbling, flapping flight above a damp stubble field close to the line. This ground nesting species, once common in the North East is in decline across Britain due to changes in farming methods which, alas, are destroying both habitats and nests.
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