Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Rainbow Rock


Rainbow Rock, Rhinns of Galloway


Leaving Slouchnamorroch Bay, we continued our paddle past cliffs that plunged straight into the sea. Just offshore huge blocks were inclined to the same angle as the cliffs.


With increasing tidal assistance we made our way round Crammag Head and found ourselves under the rocky ramparts of Dunman Hill. Two millenia ago, ancient Britons held a hill fort on its southern flanks.


On the north going flood tide (this is looking south) the sea builds up behind this gap and you shoot through the gap like a river rapid.


Far beneath the summit of Dunman lies the "Y" cave.


We stopped for a second luncheon of Christmas cake, just south of Portdown Bay, at the stunning Rainbow Rock with its folded strata.

17/02/2008

3 comments:

  1. As I view your very nice photos of Scotland I can't help but see very similar geology to that of NFLD and long to have your weather.

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  2. Stan - you do have Scotland's weather! I believe it will be on July 23rd this year, but I may be off by a day or two...
    But you're right. Scotland's winter weather and light angles makes for interesting photography, not to mention paddling opportunities.

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  3. Hello Stan, as I understand it, Scotland started life as part of the coninental shelf of Laurentia, somewhere south of the equator. Laurentia moved north and banged into Baltica and Avalonia becoming part of Pangaia. Most of Laurentia then moved off to the west creating North America but leaving a little piece behind, what we now call Scotland. It seems reasonable to suppose that some rocks may indeed be identical!

    Our warm southerly current, the Gulf stream does make Scotland an all year paddling location, despite the country being further north than Newfoundland (it lies between 54 and 58 degree north). However, we have no icebergs!

    :o)

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