The Metabolic Transformation of DonnyW

You may wonder what I’m up to now that I have “retired” from the pressures of a fast paced industry which was making little money. Well, wonder no more as I can assure you that I am delighted to be out of the rat race.



I admit that it is a bit premature for some as I am only 56 years old and have no money income what'so'ever. However, if you have been following my blog, you may realise that I consider my wealth is my good health and also my love of the outdoors.

I’m not really one for materialistic possessions simply because I believe my happiness stems from my freedom. Possessions tend to bog that down. Example, if I had an expensive car, I would only worry about leaving it parked somewhere as I went boating for a few days. I doubt if many would be interested in stealing my 10 year old Toyota so I have little worries abandoning it for a week or so.

I do have a few savings that will keep me going for a while in my simplistic lifestyle, but I also realise from my pervious boating adventures to the wilderness of Scotland, that I must fish for the mackerel or collect the shellfish to fill my belly on the lean days. It is all part of the challenge that I enjoy so much.

So at the moment I’m learning to “fish” to hopefully supplement my savings. Im doing this by setting up my own web site where I hope to start fulfilling a life long dream of being a self sufficient artist and photographer. Its early days yet to know if I will succeed, but a caterpillar has to turn into a cocoon before it can become the butterfly. I think of myself as the cocoon in the metabolic transformation to fulfil my dreams. I am also quite positive about my self survival.

Its still very much under construction, but you can see my web site at the following link...

http://uniqueartisticcreations.artweb.com
.

Finnich Glen and the Devils Pulpit

Finally I arrived at the bottom of the old stone stair case where a rusty metal bridge crossed over to a ledge and pathway which lead down to the bottom of the gorge.



I have never been in such a place as this before. The gorge walls towered vertically above me for almost one hundred feet. The width was around twelve feet at the narrowest part. The walls were made of red sandstone but were covered in vibrant green moss and other lichens. The burn was in spate after the heavy rain we have been having lately. Huge trees were jammed in the narrows.



Due to the depth of the gully and the dense woods on its banks, the light was soft and diffused giving the place an eerie, unworldly feeling. It was a perfect place to take photographs. I wished I had brought my tripod as there was hardly enough light for hand held shots.



The water was blood red which added to the atmosphere and feeling that this surely was a place where faeries, goblins, dwarfs and orcs would live.



I paddled around a little in the icy cold water but didn’t go far. Then I saw what I had come for. Ahead of me was the Devils Pulpit. That is the name given to the rocky outcrop on the gorge floor. I had seen enough. It was time to get out before Old Nick himself came looking for me.



Back at the top of the gorge, I edged forward to look down into its depths. From here, I could see why it is so dangerous. Not only are the stairs in a very slippery condition but the edge of the gorge was soft muddy earth. I had chosen a spot where there was a bit of a slope ending on a level platform before disappearing into the abyss below. I slipped several times trying to get back up the slope. Had it been at the edge.. I may have met Old Nick quicker than I wanted.



However I will say..the place fired my imagination and Im certain I will get some good paintings from my adventure. It is also like a magnet.. I feel the pulpit drawing me back already..next time with my waders and a tripod.

Finnich Glen or was it Wonderland ?

I have a few home chores that I want out the way first, then I hope to start concentrating on my paintings. I was surfing the net looking for locations that could possibly inspire backdrops for some fairy tale pictures. That is when I found out about Finnich Gorge. It was on Alex and Bob’s Blue Sky Scotland Blog so thanks for that guys. I never knew such a place existed, yet I live only twenty odd miles away.

Yesterday I went to see it for myself. Did I get inspired ? Read on and you will find out.

It was a funny kind of morning..It was bright when I left the house and I was full of anticipation of seeing the Gorge and wondering what I would see there. As I got closer, the sky started to darken and some thunder rumbled in the distance. I climbed over the barbed wire and wall. It is to keep people out as it is considered to dangerous a place for the public ?



There was a magical feeling in the woods behind the wall. Huge ‘shrooms grew out of the trees and although it is winter time, there was a vibrant green moss everywhere. I thought of Alice in Wonderland when I saw the fungi. “Eat me” they seemed to say.



I resisted the temptation, but I think it still put a spell on me. The undergrowth seemed to start whispering to me as it swayed in the breeze “come over here.. “ “this way..” “come over here ..”



I followed the whispers wondering where they would take me... “down here Donald ..down here ... “ I looked down in amazement. I was standing at the top of the rabbit hole that Alice fell down.



I edged forward very carefully and discovered an ancient flight of stone stairs descending deep into the ground. The top of the stair was guarded by an old tree Ent. You can make out its face in this photo.

It whispered. “Curiosity killed the cat Danald” I ignored it and passed under its ancient boughs. The staircase was very very steep and disappeared round a dark corner far below.



The steps were very slippery with green slime and wet leaves. After descending for what seemed to be forever, they became very narrow. A waterfall was pouring down them and at one point..the steps were folded into a flat slope..like some kind of deadly trap. I edged onwards slowly but surely, ever downwards .....



High on the mossy walls, far above me, I could just make out the inscription “ DIE” .It certainly is a very atmospheric gorge.



Sadly, I think someone did die, at least if he is not buried under this fallen step, he will be forever remembered in the depths if this remarkable place.



To be continued ....

The Trossachs and Loch Katrine

Because Loch Katrine is in Scotland, it is not always lovely blue skies. In fact, more often than not, the cloud is down on the hills. I still enjoy cycling round the loch in those types of days as the sense of silence and solitude is greatly magnified in the mist.

The road is quite hilly around the Portnellan area but you do get some nice views of the loch from here, assuming the mist is not too thick.



Jutting out into the Loch is the old grave yard of the McGregors. Of course Rob Roy McGregor is not buried here. His bones were put to rest at Balquhidder which is not far over the hills as the crow flies but a fair journey by road.



The water level in the loch has been raised by the water board on three occasions, and on each occasion the engineers had to protect the graveyard by walls and raising the level of the island.



Just before reaching Glengyle,there is another old boathouse on the loch side. The days of numerous boats are long gone as water sports are discouraged on the loch due to it being the main Glasgow City reservoir.



Glengyle house stands on the site of the croft where Rob Roy McGregor was born. Without doubt, he would have known every inch of the area but the present day loch may not have been familiar to him as the water levels have been raised by dams.



Rounding the north end of the loch offers some fine views along its length.



Finally the road reaches Stronachlachar where there is a pier and a cafe. From here, after a coffee, you can either return by boat if you have timed it right, or do as I do and cycle back the way you came.



There is something magical and almost Victorian about cycling round the loch in the off season when the many tourists have long departed and you are left alone with your imagination.

The Trossachs, Loch Katrine and Meall na Boineide

I have always been attracted by this view of the steep rocky slopes of Meall na Boineide from the sheep sheds at Portnellan on Loch Katrine. I often wondered what it would be like trying to scramble my way to the top.

If Im not inspired to paint a view, I will often explore it to find all its possibilities. Eventually, one day I stopped and studied the hillside and decided to see if I could get to the top. The deep ravine between the rocky flanks looked like the best line of attack.



I parked the bicycle out of view behind the sheds and started up a rough track to find the best approach to the hill. The track took me round the back of Meall na Boineide which looked just as steep and rocky as the side seen from the sheds. My mind was made up, it was onwards and upwards through the ravine.



The grass was steep and I am glad the bracken had long died back. Im not sure how easy it would be fighting through it in summer time or how slippery the grass would be if it was wet. However it is certainly possible on a good day. At one point I had to scramble up a little waterfall , but it was no more than two hand holds in height then I was past the crux.



Looking back down the ravine, I was a little disappointed with the lazy haze. Im sure the views over the loch would be great on a clear day.



At the top, I now had clear views over an un named valley I had never seen before and then onto the south face of Stob a Choin. This was Rob Roy country and I imagine he knew every inch of these hillsides. He was born at Glengyle which is only a mile from here.



My curiosity of Meall na Boineide was satisfied, now everytime I pass the sheep sheds, I know its possible to get to the top via the ravine and Im happy to continue on my way without stopping.

The Trossachs and Loch Katrine (continued)

If anyone was wondering where I have been and why I have not posted for a while, it is because I was on “garden Leave” at my work. I thought garden leave was supposed to be "take it easy time" and unwind before finishing for good, but nope, for me, it was not to be. It feels like the company wanted me to dig their garden before leaving, which I did because I was always a conscientious worker. Im no longer a worker as I left at the weekend and now for the first time in many a year I think Monday’s are wonderful :-D

To get back on track, I will continue with my photographic tour of Loch Katrine.

Sadly, autumn has not turned to a bleak wet winter but there was the odd nice day before the mist descended. After passing the boathouse, there are one or two unusual trees beside the loch side. I was attracted to this view with Ben Lomond in the Background



So I painted it too



Try as I might ..I just couldn’t get an inspirational composition from these old trees, so they are a picture yet to paint.



Ben Lomond looks lovely across the loch with a little sprinkling of snow on its summit.



As do the Arrochar Alps from this view point.

The Trossachs and Loch Katrine

A little further along the loch is a small point jutting into the loch where there are a couple of benches and picnic tables.



The views from here are lovely especially on a clear sunny day. It was this view that inspired the following painting.







Looking back to the road and picnic area from the end of the point.



From the point is a view across to a small boat house.



Where there is a very scenic beach of pebbles.