Kippford

Today's the day ........................ to check the icons

We woke up to sunshine on this first day of the New Year - a rare treat in recent times.  So I took myself off for a walk along a bit of the Solway coast between the small villages of Kippford and Rockliffe.  Quite a few people had the same idea - but it's an area that seems to cope with its visitors very well, while at the same time keeping its own very distinctive character.   

At any rate, everyone was very friendly and just happy to be out enjoying the fresh air.  You might just be able to see some brave souls above, who were in for a swim.  I walked as far as the famous Hawthorn Tree (see extra) which looked to have survived the ravages of another year's weather without difficulty.

By the time I was driving home, the sleety rain had begun to fall, so I thought I had better go and check another iconic structure in that part of the country. The Wicker Man in his usual seasonal garb also looked to have survived, to stand another year.

All was well with the world ......................!