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Another week more lockdown and the usual restrictions. Looking on the bright side things are improving on the virus front and hopefully it won't be long before Queen Nicola let's us loose.
The plan was hatched last week whilst on the 'more interesting' Lowther Hills, the major obstacle as usual was the weather. Tommy was free Fri/Sat/Sun so surely it wouldn't be difficult to get one decent day - wrong. We had scorching weather right up until Thursday and then thunderstorms were forecast for Fri/Sat and just a grotty showery day on Sunday. So we opted for Friday as that was the best of a bad bunch. The weather was to get worse from about lunch time onwards so an early start was on the cards. I arranged with Tommy to meet at the start at about 8am, he was going to drive up the night before and sleep in his van. I arranged to meet George and Parminder at Hillend again at 6.45 and head through in another convoy.
We missed the turning just before the dam and eventually discovered where we went wrong and met up with Tommy and his hoard of midges. Getting kitted up didn't take me long and we were soon on our way.
Our plan was to follow my previous route and that worked a treat although locating some of the 'actual' summits was challenging - no trigs, a few cairns but not many on summits.
Parking area
Looking along the road, we turn right once over the cattle grid
The way ahead, follow the wall/fence, Comb Hill in the distance
Looking back, we didn't spend ages getting ready as the midges were looking for their breakfast
Gaining height, the going was really tough, long damp grass and it was very humid
Looking across towards our 2nd hill
George leading the uphill charge, which was actually a plod
Summit of Comb Hill, Parminder wasn't overly impressed
Part of last weeks stroll
Follow the fence
Was almost, but not really tempted to head across to the only trig in the area on the Donald top of Rodgers Law
Was too slow to get my camera out for the wild goats
Really atmospheric when the cloud swirls about
Not exactly a huge cairn on Ballencleuch Law, not sure if Parminder took out his camera, somehow doubt it
George demonstrating how to climb a fence, luckily without barbed wire
The northern and more interesting Lowthers
Plenty of rounded rolling hills
Looking back, more cloud
Cracking shot across to the other Lowthers again
Typical Borders walls and fences
Tommy about to call Max back before he turns into a sheep dog
Time to follow the track for a wee while before the exciting summit of Wedder Law
Our resident teenager bringing up the rear
George on gate duty, doubt if he will get a tip
Wedder Law summit is a bit off piste and is marked by absolutely nothing
Looking westish
Down then up towards what would be our final hill Gana Hill
Max rooting around, Daer Reservoir in the distance
One of the biggest cairns and it wasn't even the summit
Summit of Gana Hill
Daer Reservoir zoomed and looks quite close
We would descend on the shoulder to the right
Looking back, we came down the shoulder which turned out to be quite a good and easy descent
Daer Reservoir from the opposite end to the dam
The long road back to the vehicles
Another tough day and am sure my colleagues will agree, our lack of fitness was very evident. We probably could have managed the seven, but we would have paid for it in many ways. Firstly a good soaking and the even longer walk back from Queensberry would have been absolute torture. The main reason we altered our plans was the threat of thunderstorms and the skies were getting darker by the minute.
I have to say the walk back from Gana Hill worked out a treat and the company made the time pass much quicker.
Another drawback about cutting short our day is we have to visit the two in the future, but they can wait. Once this weeks grotty weather finishes hopefully we can get out again. Sunday looks like the best day and the target will be the Dun Rig horseshoe.