The Moffat Springs To Life

[SELKIRKTOMOFFATEER]

Afternoon folks!

Well, I have been low level snapping now for six years in the Moffat valley and last year hit an all time low. Out of 24 visits to the Moffat, I struck 19 blanks saved only by a Hawk or two for the remaining days other than one when I got a three ship of Gr4s late on in the year.

This year however, things have started rather well by Moffat standards and in my two visits so far this year I have had a total of 6 Gr4 passes, 1 Harrier and a Hawk. By no means a day in the loop but then it never has been.

Here are a few shots for now.....

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/biggles819/moffat13sqn001.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/biggles819/moffat13sqn008.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/biggles819/moffat13sqn002.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/biggles819/moffat13sqn007.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/biggles819/moffat13sqn003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/av8-images/GR4043MOFFAT.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/av8-images/ZG862MOFFAT.jpg

Thanks for having a peek and to all those finding their way back to the S to M!!! :)

Andy

[Jumping_Jack]

:D WOW! Love the 'overhead' shots!

[VinRouge]

What glass do you use for those photos focal length wise?

[El Grifo]

Yep spill the beans !!

Kit, ASA, settings tracking focus whatever whatever.

Being an ex-borderer, I would dearly like to know the location.

Harbottle was always my favoured spot.

Ken It ??

[VinRouge]

F 5.6, 1/800 frame speed, ISO 400, 420mm for the 3rd tonkka down! ;)

[El Grifo]

You been skankin the Metadata me Lad ??

Must give it a try :ok:

[El Grifo]

Yeah, a bit slow tonite !!

Last Shot, Harrier, 1/640 @ 6.3, 200asa, 630mm equivalent, Nikon 300s

Pretty good for a non full-frame sensor.

Rock-on Andy :ok:

[Dan Gerous]

"Being an ex-borderer, I would dearly like to know the location."

It's at a place called Eldinhope which is just East of the Gordon Arms Hotel. Flying has definately picked up after last year, when I had 30 odd blanks in there. So far this year only had one, but have succesfully managed to not be in there when the F3's paid a visit.

If any of you Two Winged Master Race types are at a loose end tommorow, I'll be in there.:ok:

[Charley]

Great pictures.

As an aside, is the RAF doing away with squadron markings/flashes these days? Is it a Herrick-related thing maybe? Hope it's not inappropriate to ask...

[El Grifo]

So if you are heading up Yarrow you take a left at the Gordon Arms crossroads right ??

Or Wrong ?

Do they blast through the slot towards the Hotel ?

Its hard to remember the geography. I have been away for 16 years.

I remember Eldinhope Cottage.

[Dan Gerous]

El Grifo, you turn left at the Gordon Arms, go approx 200yds, over the bridge, park up. Climb the wee slope through the trees, and head back East through the fields and up the hill about 1/4 mile. Most traffic goes over the Hotel and onto St Marys Loch, but sometimes they turn left up the valley at the hotel, and on the rare occasion turn right into the paddy slacks towards Innerleithen.

[El Grifo]

Hey ma boy, ye have the parlance " Paddy Slacks" or as the French prisoners used to say "Pa des Lacs"

Hail smilin Morn :ok:

[Dan Gerous]

El Grifo, I was out today and I thought I would get a pic of the Gordon Arms for you, but some knob got in the way.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v382/toom317/S-M100316-07.jpg

I wasn't aware of the paddy slacks being the Pas De Lacs. I live in Hawick, but come from Edinburgh originally. Have you got any idea how it got that name?
Danny

[El Grifo]

That'll be "Teribus n, Terioden, aw the Hawick men fled frae Flodden" in that case.

(never say that in a Hawick pub)

Yeah I will check 100% the historical context, but the general tale is that there were many French Prisoners held in the Borders in whatever War was being fought (someone from Pprune pls fill in the gaps)

They were effectively held out of the fighting in a fairly liberal fashion around the Innerleithen and Walkerburn area and were allowed a free rein to wander.

One of their favourite spots was St Mary's Loch and the Loch o' the Lowes.

The route they took became the Pa' des Lacs (a basterdisation of Path to the Lakes) which has now transformed to Paddy Slacks.

Another excellent shot Dan.

Back in the Borders later this year, will look ye up in "Dirty Hawick"

Cheers
El Pailmerk frae Gally

[neildo]

Amazing pics mate, the tonka with no.043 on the tail looks especially clean and crisp (both photographically and the fact all the exhaust crap appears to have been cleaned off)...which is nice :cool:

[El Grifo]

Yep Dan,

Napoleonic War Prisoners and "Pas des Lacs" is the story :ok:

[Pontius Navigator]

Great pictures.

As an aside, is the RAF doing away with squadron markings/flashes these days? Is it a Herrick-related thing maybe? Hope it's not inappropriate to ask...

Probably cost. It may have been left out of the Serco contract :}

[anotherthing]

Watch your mouth laddie, you're outnumbered... another Teri here (tho now living down on the south coast and admittedly owning a house on Melrose Road in Gally).

Great Phots by the way

[Warmtoast]

Love the pics.

What's the thing that looks like a depth charge hanging off the fuselage? It's not very pointy for high-speed flight when compared with the other attachments adorning the aircraft.

[Green Flash]

Toast

Targeting/recce pod. In this case, it's a LITENING (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LITENING_targeting_pod)