Skip to main content

Expensive Day

Twas a mad day of gallivanting all over Weegieland yesterday to get on top of the "To Do" list. Always a challenge when doing it with a combination of own steam and public transport. Was quite amazed when it checked out to be nearly 40 miles worth!

First port of call was to get the bike into Alpine Bikes for a service as I'd had enough of the gears slipping and the breaks being not the best. At times I wish I had the ability to tinker and sort them myself but know that getting the time would be the biggest hurdle. I've had this bike for a few years but have only really used it for the commute to work and the occasional foray off road. I should really get out on the bike more but like everything else there aint enough hours in the day to fit it all in. There's also the fact I'm a bit of a scardy cat offroad..........................

So off down the Forth & Clyde Canal towpath to drop it off. I've done the route to the west out to Balloch a few times but have yet to go any further east than Kirkintiloch. Yet another trip to add to the list of things to do.

Next was out to Rutherglen to see my lovely optician. My eyesight issues are frightening to most high street opticians but David has been keeping check on my eyes for over 15 years. It was a good news bad news situation. My nystagmus had been giving me cause for concern, especially as it slows me down so much on descent but he said its stable and that my continuing to do these challenging hobbies is stopping it from getting any worse :-) Don't get too excited peeps as it aint gonna make me any quicker getting down off the hill though!! The bad news came in my reading vision is getting worse meaning a new set of specs for me :-( As my lenses are so specialised to deal with my very long sightedness, astigmastism and nystagmus adding in the reading thing just put them into the bank loan category. Ah well its only money

Back into town to then get out to Darnley and pick up my hopefully repaired Nokia 5800. I'd heard great things about this phone being all singing and dancing allowing fairly good usability for all things phone & tinternet. Pity mine kept switching itself off in the middle of stuff. Lets hope the repair solves the problem. It says i can even update my blog from it!! ;-)

Finally on the last leg. Just had to get back to the city centre and pick the bike up. "Houston we have a problem.................." News from Alpine Bikes aint good. It appears the gear issue is due to a knackered cassette which will need replaced with all the trimmings. My credit card will be feeling a bit used and abused this month.

Good job I'm not looking to buy any other expensive kit this month ;-)

Labels:

Comments

  1. Gordy31 August 2009 at 13:08

    Hope the bike repairs aren't too expensive. Meet you at the Falkirk Wheel on the canal path for a picnic one of these days.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Elaina31 August 2009 at 13:57

    Not as expensive as a new bike!! Falkirk Wheel, aye that sounds like a plan - we'll just need to co-ordinate diaries!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous6 September 2009 at 19:32

    My sympathies.

    I had to fork out for glasses this month. I've only needed reading glasses...up until now and am coming to terms with my first pair of varifocals. These were fun when I wore them for the first time whilst standing on the edge of infinity on Sgor Gaoith. Interesting experience.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Salomon Mission GTX Boot

I've had these on a few times now and so far they are just what I've been after to get me through the winter for most of my days out. Salomon describe them as being perfect for "light hiking" - take that whatever way you want ;-) They come in at 1210g for the pair and feel fairly easy on the feet. They've handled saturated grassy stuff without me applying the famous arse plant (so far!!). They even seemed to be OK on rocky stuff too. Where I have been really impressed with them is how they handled the snow on Na Gruagaichan. It was hard enough that we were kicking steps. This was easy enough for Steve in his Scarpa SL's and Iain in his La Sportiva Nepals. Initially I followed their steps then decided to give it a go myself. I occasionally had to kick a couple of times on some of the really hard stuff, probably more down to my poor technique than the boot, but they managed well on the cover we had for the ascent. As my balance is rubbish I decided to apply
Post a Comment
Read more

Creag Meagaidh MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Creag Meagaidh has been on the to do list for so long. The past couple of years have seen us have to abort at least three attempts at the last minute because conditions weren't for us. So were we going to get it done this time................. YES  The weather bods said mostly dry with a risk of potential showers later in the day.  It was warm so even if it did rain it would be warm.  Off we set having smothered ourselves in factor 50 and Smidge. Warm they said.......... baking I said!!!! We had decided our ascent would be via Coire Ardair and The Window to ease us into the walk on a good path.  It felt more like a slow roasting.  It is a gorgeous walk out to Coire Ardair on a very good path but as soon as we were out of the forest the heat and humidity kicked in.  When we reached Lochan Coire Ardair there was only one thing on my mind, getting my boots off and getting in.  It was at this point I began having major doubts as to whether we would get this done. Bre
Post a Comment
Read more

Mullach Clach a'Bhlair

Our ascent of Geal Charn Mhor had given us food for thought on what was to be our next hill target.  We'd had notions on either Braeraich or  Beinn Mheadhoin but the lack of winter equipment and uncertainty on the true extent of the snow cover put those ideas on hold for the time being. So maps were scoured and the Glen Feshie hills were winning out.  Steve had already done both Munros, Rob and I had done one (though not the same one) and Kate hadn't done any of them.  A cunning plan was hatched that meant we could all start at the same point but we would split into two groups.  Rob and Kate would head for Sgor Gaoith while Steve and I would go for  Mullach Clach a'Bhlair. The Glen Feshie Estate have done an amazing amount of path work which makes the ascent up Coire Fhearnagan to the beallach an absolute pleasure.  We hit the snow line around 700m but thankfully it wasn't too steep.   The traverse over to Mullach Clach a'Bhlair required a w
Post a Comment
Read more