That’s two night walks in three nights. Notice I say ‘walks’, not hikes, given that it was pitch black as you have noticed. Question is, can you recognise where I walked to? Hint – I was there only a few days ago. Yes, you’re right, this is Gansey Bay near Port St Mary. I walked to Port St Mary and back on Friday evening to attend an incredibly interesting talk by Neil Morris on Manx Birdlife, and I walked round Carrikey bay only a day or two prior to that.

I had really set out to buy a pint of milk and post a letter. I had had one of those days when I really couldn’t be bothered to get dressed, and had spent most of it in my jimjams knitting Christmas stockings and watching Formula 1. It was time I got out and aired those legs.

It was a very pleasant evening, not too cold and certainly dry, and in any case I was wrapped up warm. Having popped in at the Coop, I smuggled my carton of milk into my coat and went for evening walk onto the beach at Port Erin. There was no moon and as I don’t believe in using torches unless absolutely necessary I did splosh my way through several puddles and trip over the occasional pebble. The tide was quiet tonight. I walked up to the breakwater and noticed in the far distance a greenish light appearing every few seconds and I realised this must be a beacon from a lighthouse in Ireland!

It was just too nice out there to go back home immediately so I followed the main road from Port Erin to Gansey Bay, along Beach Road towards Port St Mary and back to Port Erin along the top road (Truggan Road). I was out altogether for about an hour and a half (distance 5 1/4 miles) and feel so much better for it.

Looking at nature today was like looking through a dirty window; the air was full of dull grey particles castinga shadow over everything, and the light was very strange. I had been to Douglas and having finished my errands called in at Peel, and Glen Maye. It was not worth taking photos at Peel because of this leaded air, coating the landscape in murk. Glen Maye is one of my favourite walks no matter what season and no matter what the weather, but I wasn’t prepared the surprise I got. After all the murk of Peel, it was as if nature had been spring-cleaning and had dusted off all the leaves from trees, and blown away all the dust and dirt, opening up the normally overloaded canopy so that I could see right up to the sky. In the summer months when the leaves adorn the trees in plenty, it is a much more closed and very green experience but today it was light and airy. It was a little slippery underfoot but still the magic of the glen pulled me in. You could almost imagine the fairies springing out from the undergrowth at any time.

As I walked along the river bank, it crossed my mind that when my time comes, I should like my cremated ashes to be sprinkled on this water, which would then wind their way down the river, through narrow gulleys, some sneaking into little holes in the banks, some going at speed others going slowly, all gradually making their way to the beach and expanse of sea. It would be like I have completed my journey, but not just yet. I have a life to live first and lots of walks to report on :-).

This is only a short walk, but as usual I found interesting rocks to clamber over to get a new view or to see rock formations I have never seen before. It was just perfect for a short afternoon stroll. We haven’t had much rain lately, but even so I could hear the waterfall thundering below well before I reached it. Here are some photos from this walk:

I set off to Douglas for an appointment as the sun was coming up and was back in Port Erin by 11.30 having walked a couple of miles around Douglas and another mile home from Four Roads as for some reason the bus decided to drop me off on Church Road outside Southlands. It was beautifully sunny and I had plans to have an early lunch, do my marking, get on a number 28 to the Sound and walk back over the cliffs.

By the time I had finished despairing with psychology students who write overlong, onerous essays, the sun had gone in and I didn’t have time for my little venture, so instead I walked from home through Port Erin up to Bradda East, on to Bradda Head, followed the coast path back to Port Erin, up to the breakwater and then back home – a surprising distance of 5 miles. I am really glad that my back is not objecting to exercise as it makes such a difference to my quality of life. On the way, I met Dr Blackwell and we had a chat about gannets, which prompted me to do some research when I got home, as he raised the question of ‘how do gannets know where the food is in order to dive so precisely’? He made the point that the water is hardly clear and many fish do not disturb the water significantly, so it was a bit of a mystery. I was tempted to answer that it might be something to do with patterns of light, but as I had no good reason for thinking this, I kept my thought to myself. However, it appears there may be something in it. Firstly, gannets have binocular vision which gives them a clear focal point. Secondly, “birds that plunge-dive or strike at fish perform visual detection and location of submerged prey from the air under complex optical conditions, including variation in the reflection and refraction of light”. The article I quote from here actually goes on to talk about how gannets have different eye structures to ourselves and in air the cornea of gannets is more responsible for focusing than the lens, whereas the lens which is spherical comes into play when the gannet is underwater. If this topic interests you, you can read more about it here: http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/279/1745/4118

Sadly, I did not see a gannet – it out of season for gannets, but I did see a Little Egret on Port Erin beach, the first time I have seen one there.

I also saw the fairy house that has been placed on the nook opposite the Milner Tower. It’s rather a shame it has been placed on a grotty wall rather than rock, but it is quite cute. It lights up at night apparently.

The light and clouds made interesting patterns over the Calf and Milner Tower. I still haven’t found a basic camera that can produce easy natural photos like my i-phone. I hope your enjoy these photos:

There may be more tomorrow as I have another trip to Douglas, followed by my flu jab, and if time, I shall have a trip to Dhoon Glen, which I have still never visited!