Week 2 Tuesday

Where to start? Such an interesting (for us) day.

We had already decided not to sail today and it is still looking good for tomorrow with an early start.  Paid the harbour master who is another lovely man.  Then we made use of the lovely Pam's, from Visit Scotland's office, bus timetable and caught an omnibus to Castle Douglas.  People boarding asked the driver how his wife's pregnancy was going - lots of talk of baby's head engaging.  Whatever that means.  It does mean that there is a close community here, judging by the other conversations on the bus (well, what we could make out through the local brogue anyway).

After a brief stop in the Sottish Pantry for a toasted tea cake and tea we walked to Threave Hall and garden.  Greeted by lovely receptionists (there's a theme developing here) we were told that a new sculpture was being delivered that day and it would be lifted into place shortly.  So in between admiring the secret, alpine, conifer and walled gardens we kept hurrying back to scene of the sculpure lift so as to indulge another boys' obsession - large machinery doing stuff.

The sculpture weighs 7 tons - a piece of tri-coloured sculpted granite hewn from the Deeside sub-terrain representing St Francis of Assisi.  Lots of faffing and the artist fretting about hydraulic oil landing on the top of it.  Jolly good entertainment for us and the massed throngs of visitors (about 10 standing round some of whom should have been at work I reckon).  Look out for photos in the Scotsman if you subscribe.

On the nature front we also saw a goldcrest at very close quarters and Tufty's alter-ego, the red squirrel.

In some ways we'll be sad to leave tomorrow - we've enjoyed our sort-of-enforced stay and met some really nice people.  Everyone has been helpful and welcoming in Kirkcudbright.  I understand that some sailors are put off by the tricky approach up the river, but it's well worth it.