Powfoot

… and Annan 

Another grotty day and still wanting to have a go at the BSBI new year plant hunt I set off for the one bit the met office suggested might be dry. Like yesterday though, it wasn’t. I had my reservations but was enjoying listening to Raising Hare on the radio and so carried on regardless. It reminded me of the therapeutic importance of William Cowper’s pet hares.

I had thought the coast might offer the chance of finding something in flower and so went down to Annan harbour and the day then took an unexpected turn. I was press ganged aboard La Malouine (extra). There was no-one about in the dismal weather when I pulled up alongside this tall ship but a face suddenly appeared at the window and out popped 84 year old John who beckoned me aboard. He was in the middle of showing me around the boat when the ship’s captain, Roy, arrived. It was all a bit bizarre and fascinating how it all came together … from being born in Poland, serving time as an icebreaker, a rather long and nefarious period in its history of drug running to being abandoned in St.Malo and to Roy buying her and doing her up. A random collection of folk seem to crew from time to time and it seems to sail mainly along the west coast, over to Ireland and up to the Scottish islands. Roy does work with the local schools and so they let him park up in the harbour overwinter.

Determined to find at least one plant in flower to add to the BSBI app I went on to Powfoot and boldly braved the wind and stinging rain to record gorse (lots of), a damp depressed dandelion and a rather scabby maritime mayweed. Not breaking any records … but hurrah!