To tell you the truth, Russ, though I was once very anti-guns (in the sense of others carrying them) I am coming round to the idea that it isn't such a bad concept after all, my carrying one. In fact, the older and more spaced out I become the more it seems to have a divine logic to it - the gun, that is.
Well, I took myself out after lunch after all, bag over shoulder and tripod in hand; should have stayed home. Like Brenda sings into my ear right now: sweet nothin'! The problem was the clouds allied to the concept of the tripod. I hate the bloody three-legged things and though I have two, a huge Gitzo as well as a much lighter Slik, it's only the little Slik that I can still carry further than ten yards. And, in poor weather, and with the 500mm, it's a waste of time. As I found. I suspect the Cat will remain in its case until the sun comes back, whenever. Carrying a single, fitted, hand-holdable lens is far more reasonable a concept. Which is back where I was.
Glad to say the fish I almost had yesterday turned out to be rather nice today, so not everything was lost after getting out of bed.
Rob C