Thankful!

I suppose I should be thankful that the A83 at the Rest And Be Thankful is open again after the landslide last Friday. At least I didn't have to go the 29 mile diversion or the ferry route as happened last week.

The bad news, however, it is still closing at 4 o'clock when the workmen leave and remains closed overnight. All because a few tons of rocks and muck slipped off the hill! They have already blocked off one lane with concrete barriers and put up traffic lights, which is a sure sign there will be traffic control for some time to come. Last time it happened a hundred yards or so up the hill the traffic lights remained in place for about 18 months! In my view it is all down to heath and safety and Roads Department managers who are totally risk averse. Sure as fate the next landslide will be at a totally different spot where nothing has been done to mitigate the risk!

Today's blip is taken from the car park at the top of the Rest looking east towards Loch Long. In LARGE you can make out the A83 on the left of the blip with the landslide being hidden by the tree. Ironically, the gate you see gives access to the old A83, which comes up the floor of the valley and then climbs rapidly in a series of hairpin bends to the spot where the blip was taken. Now I wonder if the old road was ever closed because of landslides? It would be great if the old road could be used in the event of road closures on the A83. There again, I suspect those managers in the Roads Department would find some reason to say no!

Anyway, this was the only blue sky we saw on the road back to Carradale, so it has to be today's blip!

Finally, a huge big thanks to everyone for all the stars and favourites for yesterday's Starling Murmuration. Quite unbelievable given it was late evening before it was posted!