Blethering Blonde

Catstycam

2012-01-30T21:38:00.000Z

It was strange but familiar being south of the border. Nearly two years since the last visit, tsk tsk. We were very fortunate that a friend on Outdoorsmagic had arranged the accommodation (and the eating arrangements) for the weekend staying at the Bury Jubilee Centre at Greenside meaning the walk in was substantially shorter - result.

The weather was as ever not what we ordered but certainly paid a significant part in the days adventure. With forecasted gusts of 70mph doing Helvellyn by the edges just wasn't on the cards. Catstycam was the chosen destination so off we went.

Yes it was a tad blowy as we headed up the path but it wasn't until we reached the eastern ridge that we started feeling some of the force of the gusts. It gave a whole new meaning to the statement "BRACE, BRACE"!!!! This should be a really easy gentle stroll up the slopes to the top but we spent most of our time trying to remain upright. No summit photos for this hill as we were too busy crawling back down. Kirstin and Steve did manage a very impressive flying display at one point. Thing was we were all still giggling away during our severe buffeting as Geoff Monk would say.

Helvellyn & the Edges

The nice easy ridge that was a tad windy

The as near to the summit shot as we could get

Steve & Kirstin where they landed after being taken for wee blow

Steve sky diving

White horses on Red Tarn

De-brief in the bunkhouse later revealed that we had 2 hat casualties and a varied bruise collection from how we had a hit the deck at some point. Great to be out :-)

What be this place..........

2012-01-19T23:35:00.001Z

Strange stuff going on in deepest darkest Ayrshire. We are planning a weekend in the hills. It has been way too long since our last proper foray into them there hills so I'm just a wee bittie excited about it. It's also south of the border. A friend has sorted out accommodation in a bunkhouse at Greenside so we'll be part way up the hill for our start in the morning. Suspect this will be a more gentle affair compaired to the conquering of a new Munro back in November. That was jus a bit too ambitious and caused problems for a fair few weeks. So here's to gentle wanders.

Goldenberry Hill

2012-01-15T19:36:00.000Z

We had such high hopes for today. The weather bods were giving it blue skies all round. They forgot to tell North Ayrshire that. Not to worry, we were only planning a wee wander so it was off to the local HuMP to show our visitor a not very well kent part of the region.

Within half an hour we were on top of Goldenberry Hill. The hill has a great viewpoint. It sits above Hunterston Nuclear Power Station with unrestricted views north, west and south of the Firth of Clyde. Disappointingly the cloud was obscuring Arran Argyll, Bute and definitely no chance of seeing the Arrochar Alps. Poor Kate has been to our wee part of Ayrshire twice and is yet to even get a glimpse of Arran. We had a mess about on top and then got talking to a couple who had approached from the north east. The decision was taken to descend in this direction but to cut in just before the power station to loop back via Portencross. It didn't quite work out that way though...........

Kate, Steve & Craig on top

Steve's turn to top the trig

And then showing us his impressive take off ;-)

If you go down to the woods today..............

Hunterston Power Station

We went over the fence and followed a wall that we thought would take us down at the edge of the woods at the northern end of the Three Sisters cliffs. What we actually did was follow the wood back to a point about 100m west of the summit of Goldenberry Hill. Ah well you can't beat a nice wee wander in the woods.

So back to the car and a short drive down to Portencross for Craig to perfect his stone skimming. All in all, not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Fresh Air Fix

2012-01-08T11:52:00.000Z

It's been so long since I've been out on the bike. I also had the perfect excuse for making it a bike outing rather than a hill one - I had a new bike to test out :-) I was very fortunate to do a swap of mountain bikes with my dad. He had treated himself to a Trek 6000 back in September but wasn't getting on with the geometry of it due to his arthritis in his spine. So he got my old Alpine Bikes Ben More which has done a fair few miles and been my trusty commute to work bike for a few years and I got the shiny new Trek. Think I did very well out of it.

Trek 6000 2011 Version

For this outing Steve decided he'd try out my Cube Nature as the GT has been playing up and we haven't got round to sorting it out yet. As always, the weather man had quite got it right. There were more showers than we had been promised (none) and the wind was a tad more fierce. The route planned wasn't that ambitious anyway so off we set down the NCR 73 heading for Seamill, we knew where we were having lunch. So off we went into the headwind. As we reached the section which is sandwiched between the Firth of Clyde and the railway the evidence from the recent storms was increasing. There has been a lot of coverage of this section on the TV as it makes a good shot with the waves crashing over the trains. Then came the fly in the ointment, ROAD CLOSED. Fortunately for us, the storms had damaged the barriers so we were able to sneak through and saw what had caused the closure.

The lure of The Waterside was strong so on we pedaled. Riding along the shore was certainly exhilarating and bloody hard work so we were more than ready for refuelling when we eventually got there. Afternoon tea for two :-)

The Afternoon Tea For Two taken on an earlier visit with Craig

With 2/3rds of our feast eaten we asked for a doggy bag for our leftover cakes to take home for later. Needless to say the journey back was a breeze, taking half the time to get back. Verdict on the bikes. Steve loved the Cube. I'd better watch he doesn't try and acquire it!! As it's been way too long since I've been on a MTB I did struggle with the geometry so will need to keep tweaking it. Other than that it was a great ride for first time out. Fingers crossed the weather stops being so naff so we can get more fresh air fixes.

Ardeer Beach

2012-01-03T20:54:00.000Z

Weather has been so naff that we've been keeping close to home. We had high hopes for these few days round the holidays only to be mightily disappointed. Cabin fever was setting in big style. Time to make the most of what's on the doorstep during a brief weather window of opportunity. We were really glad not to have left it to today. You gotta love winter storms, not!!!

Much of the Ardeer Peninsular is off limits due to what used to go on there. For those not in the know Nobel made dynamite here as it was the perfect place to test it in the sand dunes. It has however a fantastic stretch of beach so off we went to see how the waves were doing. It proved to be an exhilarating wander.

Steve on Ardeer Beach

Graffiti Ayrshire style, the slightly altered Rabbie Burn

Ailsa Craig peaking through the swell

Arran is out there somewhere

We went all the way along to Irvine Bar and even had a wee peak at the now closed teletubby land of The Big Idea.

Irvine Bar

The Big Idea

Looking over the River Irvine to the Harbour

We would loved to have wandered around more but we were a wee bit under pressure due to the time and the tide, not having headtorches and the tide was coming in. Ah well, just another fun outing for Morley & Smith :-)

Playing with the tide

Last glimpse of sun

That Was the Year That Was

2012-01-02T22:25:00.000Z

2011 turned out to be not what I expected at all. Months of very slow rehab from the microfracture surgery had totally changed my everyday existence. I had to face the reality that my days on the ward floor were over and I was at the mercy of redeployment. I am thankful I am still in employment and even more thankful that I am fortunate to have been temporarily redeployed into the health improvement team, an area I have always wanted to work in. Every cloud and all that......

It's still unclear what the prognosis for the knee is as it takes about 18 months to know whether the microfracturing has fully worked or not. Next review is the end of February, who knows what will happen then. The advice given the last time was to keep trying to increase activity but not hammer it. Following doctors orders included the dreaded gym, lots of cycling and gentle re-introduction to the pointy things. The cycling has been great for introducing me to places I may well have never gone. I now have my cycle touring list of places to go. The joys of lists. Gentle re-introduction to the hills is very much still ongoing. It's been a one step forward and 5 steps back on that front, more so after being on Frank's Munro Completion. It was great being back on the hill, especially with a group of friends who haven't been out together on the hill for a long time. Nice to have a new Munro to add to the list though not so nice to realise it may be a very long time before the next one is ticked off. It's back to increasing the distance on low level walks and ticking off the wee hills until the knee can manage the big boys again.

So here we are now in 2012, wonder what fate will deal me this time.

Ullapool, a gateway to special places

2011-09-13T23:04:00.000+01:00

I've been a bit slack when it comes to updating the blog lately, tsck, tsck, naughty me. That's the trouble when everyday life gets in the way. Anyways time to blether about our summer hols.

It's not our first visit to Ullapool and I suspect it wont be our last. The difference this time was the addition of young Master Morley joining the gang for his first trip to the far north west. He wasn't the only one getting their first taste of this majestic area as Sandy, Louise & Daphne had decided to join us for a long weekend and we had Jamie & Nicky backing us as seasoned travellers to the area for the week. We were lucky enough to get Crofton House again for our base. It is such a fantastic house that easily absorbed the gear hoards and has everything that you need, a real home from home.

Assynt is a hillwalker's sweetshop that keeps on giving every time you visit. A week is never enough to satisfy as there is always more you want to do. This week was no exception. The weather fairy we'd booked decided to only show face a couple of days but we made the most of it with only one day totally rained off - not bad for a Scottish summer ;-)

First day was a showery affair so we decided to head for Culag Woods in Lochinver with an additional raid on the Lochinver Larder for their gorgeous gastronomic delight pies. We love these woods for the variety and entertainment you get wandering round them.We were all acting like big kids messing about on all the fun things. It also has a great viewpoint towards one of my favourite mountains, Suilven. It was only the midges that forced us off that bench. We finished the day off with a wee ticky tour on the backroads on the return to Ullapool.

With the prospect of another showery day we decided to pay a visit to Gruinard Bay for Steve and Jamie to re-enact a scene from our last visit to the area in 2009. We certainly didn't have the glorious sunshine of that day but hats of to the boys for being daft enough to get their kit off on this not so summery August day. It really is a gem of a beach and well worth a visit whatever the weather. A wee drive further west to Gairloch to get warmed up in The Mountain Coffee Company with the adjoining Hill Billy Bookshop is always a great way to wile away a few dreich hours.

I decided to be sensible on the Tuesday and forego a wander up Stac Pollaidh to save the knee for other things. Inside I was gutted as this another of my favourite mountains, wee in stature but massive in all other aspects. It turned out that the rest of the gang were turned back by the weather though they still had fun. With Wednesday a total washout we were all a bit stir crazy by Thursday but thankfully the weather fairy had decided to appear.

Sandwood Bay for me is a magical place. Not the easiest place to get to. Starts with a very scenic drive to Blairmore then a four mile meander to the beach. I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story. It certainly made up for the less than perfect weather we'd had until that point.

We still had so many options for our last day but it was the Bone Caves near Inchnadamph that won out. It was really interesting to see back into history, Great fun for Craig who loved crawling through all the various nooks and crannies.

The holiday was over too soon and we hadn't even scratched the surface of what Assynt has to offer. Yes "we'll be back" in our best Arnie voice.

Staycation

2011-08-17T00:26:00.000+01:00

Much has been made of this "staycation" phrase. Some of us have been doing it for years. We're just back from yet another amazing week in Ullapool, details to follow. Suffice to say we all had a great time even though the weather wasn't what we ordered. It's all about what you make of it.

Flamborough Head

2011-08-03T10:04:00.011+01:00

We were back down in Yorkshire recently and we had a rare day where the brothers Morley could have a day out. We even got good weather. I'd never been to Flamborough Head before so we headed north. Steve had it in his head that we should pick up lunch en route from 149 in Bridlington who had recently won National Fish & Chip Shop of the Year. Best laid plans and all that. We got there only to discover that it had just closed. The good luck fairies must have been with me that day as they opened the door to my pathetic peering through the window. They didn't have any fish left but chips were good enough for us but they very kindly offered us what was left. What a result as we came away with fish patties, sausages and fritters. Thank you very much 149 :-)

Next stop Flamborough Head where we were greeted with blue sky and sea, gorgeous. We got ourselves comfy and had a fantastic view to tuck into our unexpected lunch which lived up to its reputation. It was time to go for a wander and enjoy this rugged coast.

It was really quite frightening to see at first hand the destructive effects of coastal erosion even when it is so beautiful. The seas were relatively calm during our visit but it got my imagination going as to how wild a storm could be up there.

As we were up that way, we decided to pop down to the RSPB Reserve at Bempton Cliffs. I had been promised that I would see puffins. What a sight that was. There were at least half a dozen of them among the thousands of gannets and gulls flying in and out of their little holes in the cliff. Absolutely mesmerising. Most of the time I can barely tell one bird from the next but this stoater of a bird just keeps you staring at their gorgeous get up.

I suspect that my next visit may not have as good weather but I hope that I'll still be able to see these wonderful animals in these glorious surroundings

Motorist V Cyclist

2011-08-01T21:46:00.000+01:00

This article in the Guardian Bike Blog certainly rang true with a few things that have been happening to me recently out on my rehab cycles. I've been riding a bike for over 30 years. During that time I have used it as my main method of getting to work which I've always referred to as "playing with traffic". In all that time I've been lucky and only had three accidents, two of which were due to motorists. The third was me being too aggressive going round a roundabout which was at the bottom of a hill - not big or clever and certainly wised me up to slowing for such things.

What I have noticed over the years is that there is an ever increasing attitude from some motorists to cyclists. There is also the minority of numpty cyclists out there who pay no regard to the rules of the road that get me just as irked as the motorists who refuse to give us the respect we deserve. So many times I have heard the argument "why should cyclists be allowed on the road coz we don't pay road tax". It doesn't square up as there are only a small minority of cyclists like myself who don't drive and it certainly doesn't justify running us off the road.

The majority of my cycling has been in and around cities, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London. Cycling in London was certainly entertaining with me moving faster than the majority of cars a lot of the time. It was the one thing that I noticed most when I moved back to Glasgow a few years back. My commute to work was via a busy route heading for the Clyde Tunnel and even though it was meant to be a 30MPH it didn't feel like it. I regularly took my life in my hands dodging the pot holes with the cars whizzing past. Now I'm down in deepest darkest Ayrshire speed is certainly a big danger, that and narrow country roads. I don't know whether it's just me getting feart in my old age but I'm quite glad that I live so close to part of the National Cycle Network. It certainly makes my cycling more enjoyable.

I'm hoping that at some point soon there will be a sensible debate on proper recognition for cyclists and their safety before too many others are needlessly killed or injured.

Five Ferries Tour

2011-07-31T10:10:00.009+01:00

It's been a while. No excuse really other than getting on with stuff and ignoring other stuff, including this blog. So for those still interested here's something that I discovered to be very good value and a great day out,

CalMac's Five Ferries Tour. You wont find it on their website. I only discovered it when I picked up the Arran Timetable and there were details about it. Car plus four adults £90 for 5 ferry trips. After doing a wee bit of research into timings of ferries I figured this would be a great day out for us and friends that were visiting from London and I wasn't wrong. So ticket booked and off we headed on our tour of the extended Firth of Clyde plus extras.

Ferry No. 1 Ardrossan to Brodick

Ferry No. 2 Lochranza to Claonaig

Ferry No. 3 Tarbert to Portavadie

Ferry No. 4 Colintravie to Rhubodach

Ferry No. 5 Rothesay to Wemyss Bay

I'll let the pictures tell the story but suffice to say I loved seeing parts of my great wee country and stumbling upon the Seafood Festival in Tarbert was a real bonus. I'd recommend it.

Testing the limits

2011-06-22T00:30:00.000+01:00

Summer solstice, summer drowning. I'm sure Noah is hiding round here somewhere with this glorious weather we're having!!! Good job I made the most of our one day of summer last Tuesday. So here's the story.

Arran is right on the doorstep and it's been way too long since I last was there. To be honest, the only times I've been there have been to get into the hills so the rest of the island is still pretty much a mystery to me. No hills this visit, I was going to be on my bike. Many cyclists aim on a visit to Arran is to go all the way round the island but at nearly 60 miles and with some significant climbs that are way beyond what I'd be capable of doing. My aim was to get to Lochranza, Stage 1 of a future plan. The ferry over was fairly busy which was nice to see. I took advantage of the onboard cafe. Yah for a square sliced in a roll. Soon enough we were at Brodick and we were off.

Goat Fell from Brodick

This north east stretch of Arran's coast is familiar ground to me but the views I'll never tire of. On my left Goat Fell is ever present soon giving way to its other mountain neighbours as you continue north. On my right there are lovely rock pools, bays and harbours. Food for my soul. Then comes the hard work - the climb up the Boguillie Road. I knew it was beyond me but I gave it a bash. Surprise surprise, my knee didn't like it. I sat myself down and enjoyed the view before slowly walking up the rest of the hill. The ride down Glen Chalamadale is an adrenalin junkies dream but for a fearty like me it was quite daunting. Before too long The Arran Distillery soon comes into view, I had reached Lochranza. Time for lunch.

Goat Fell from Corrie

Corrie Harbour and it's sheep

Looking into Glen Sannox

North Glen Sannox

Boguillie Road

Fortified by a fantastic buttie from The Sandwich Station it was time t head back if I wanted to make the 1640 ferry. It was then that one of the other cyclists I'd met on the ferry over. He'd quite enjoyed his circuit so far. I let him go ahead as I knew I'd be walking back up the Glen. I'm sure the motorists who passed me must have wondered what I was on as I was singing at the top of my voice, you gotta love AC DC for keeping you going.

Lochranza Bay with the castle

Glen Chalmadale and that never ending climb

What I had forgotten about was the head wind that was ever strengthening. It was sapping. I made it to the ferry. First stop was the cafe to purchase items supporting the local economy. Bliss.

Well it was a great day out but I did push it, something my knee wasn't too happy about. The rest of the ticky tour plan will have to wait, probably a good job seeing as the weather isn't looking to improve anytime soon. Ah well, I'll just have to continue to dream and plod on.

Siezing the day

2011-06-14T22:01:00.000+01:00

The weather forecast was just too good to ignore. Arran here I come..........................

Fun Times

2011-06-12T23:04:00.000+01:00

Been helping out Jennifer get her stuff together for her Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition. It's been entertaining as well as frustrating. They've got a great route through the Cairngorms starting with the Larig Ghru. It's even got a camp spot at 670m.

The frustrating bit wasn't so much about kit choice, she's borrowing our stuff, it was the food. I suppose feeding teenagers even in normal living conditions can be challenging but this takes it to another level. At least she's not heading into the wilds with Pot Noodles but she's got a combination of pasta packets, cereal bars a selection of sweeties. I did manage to persuade her that pitta bread and Primula is actually quite good for hill food. Ah well so long as they enjoy themselves

Undulations

2011-06-03T23:01:00.002+01:00

I decided to make the most of yet another weather window of opportunity. This time I was going to be a wee bit adventurous and do a section of the National Cycle Network that I haven't done so far. It's still part of Route 7. I swithered about which direction I should tackle this but in the end decided that for logistical reasons it would be Lochwinnoch to Kilwinning due to the fact that the trains are only one an hour and I really didn't fancy hanging about to wait for a train at the end of this ride as I had no idea how I would do on it. The reason for the slight apprehension, this section has undulations!!!!! The rehab up until now has not involved any real hills of any description on foot or bike so this was going to be a real eye opener. I knew I could do the distance but was unsure how the knee would take going up hill. Only one way to find out and I do have to get those quads back to full functioning to load bear.

It all started swimmingly. The section out of Lochwinnoch uses disused railway and would have been a doddle except for the strong headwind. I used the excuse of stopping for a photo of Barr Castle to catch my breath and take in the scenery. On restarting I took a much more measured pace after all there were hills coming up.

To be honest the hills weren't really that bad, its just the combination of being very unfit and not used to the whole uphill thing that meant that during the section from Glengarnock and Kilwinning I ended up walking up two of the steeper hills. Something to gauge my progress on. So this may have ended up being a lot harder a session than initially intended but the endorphins made up for it :-D Fingers crossed there's no major kick back

Windy Hill was indeed windy

2011-05-29T20:00:00.000+01:00

Well the weather man said that the afternoon was to brighten up with showers for North West Scotland. Mmmm what to do. Time to cross the border into East Renfrewshire to see just how windy it really would be on Windy Hill.

As we were driving up to Clyde Muirshiel Park it started to look quite ominous. The weather man was wrong. The heavens opened. Thankfully by the time we parked up the shower had been blown over and there was even a patch of blue sky, so off we headed. It really is a cracking wee wander, just 1km to the top and they have a lovely woodland poetry trail to keep you entertained too.

Soon enough we were out the wood and we could tell the wind was really picking up. It was with no great surprise that we were finding it a challenge to remain upright. What I hadn't expected was for my buff to get blown off my head!!!! We had an entertaining time watching these kids having a great time getting blown over.

It may have been just a wee wander but it certainly blew the cobwebs away, just what I needed :-)

Dodging showers

2011-05-28T20:05:00.000+01:00

Yet another weekend where the weather is dictating all too much what to do and where to go. Frustrating is putting it mildly. We decided to stay local so it was bikes out and we headed for Eglinton Park. It really is quite handy being so close to the National Cycle Network as it means you're not having to worry about traffic when the wind is gusting a tad more than you feel comfortable riding in. It was nice to get some fresh air and amazingly we didn't get wet.

Limbo

2011-05-26T15:40:00.000+01:00

Was a very strange day yesterday. Bit reminiscent of Groundhog Day. I had my 6 month post op review by my orthopaedic consultant. Went pretty much the same as the 3 month one. See you again in 3 months. If only bodyparts were as easily replaced as worn out gear.

Stormy weather

2011-05-24T10:22:00.001+01:00

Felt like one of those storm chaser bods and the photos don't really do it justice. Sometimes you just have to go out there and feel the power of nature.

Goldenberry Hill - baby steps

2011-05-23T23:40:00.001+01:00

The weather has been dreich for yonks and I was starting to get a bit stir crazy so we grabbed that very narrow weather window of opportunity before we got engulfed by even more stonkingly dreich weather. The latest physio regime is to maintain my baseline to minimise any aggravation so it was time to bag another local HuMP with the perfect distance Goldenberry Hill.

There is limited parking on the road at Ardneil Farm but we were fortunate as there was only one other car there. It was very blustery as we set off and knew it wasn't going to ease off. There is a good track practically all the way to the top which you can't miss due to the mobile mast station (allright for those on Orange) There is a gate to climb over but nothing too strenuous.

Well it was entertaining trying to remain upright and that was only at 140m. Thank goodness we weren't any higher. There is actually quite a lot occupying the summit of this wee hill other than the mast station. To get to the trig and the very nice cairn you have to negotiate the electric fence and the locked gate in the very nicely constructed stone wall. From that highest point you do get a very nice perspective on the Firth of Clyde and the Ayrshire coast along with very different views of Ayrshire's industry in Hunterston Powers Station and Terminal.

Before too long we were back at the car. I had taken it at a very slow steady pace, had been using my poles and the knee didn't appear to be squealing too much except on uneven ground or any twisting movement. Fingers crossed for no more setbacks. As we were about to get into the car we spotted some windsurfers who looked like they were having fun, brave!!!

East

2011-05-22T21:34:00.000+01:00

The yearly gathering of Steve's past and present work colleagues was here once more but there was a change. For the first time we were in the East. We were taking advantage of the fact that Ryan now works for Sport Scotland which gave him access (and a wee discount) to accommodation at Glenmore Lodge.

It was a bit of a shock to realise that it was winter 2007 when I was last in the area. So many places not enough time and all that. With the knee still not hill fit in any way shape or form I needed to do some research before we went on what my flatish cycling options were. It turned out there are many, though not always so flat. The weather was the next thing, blustery showers were forecast. That altered the plans for the rest of the gang with them deciding to go for a wee jaunt up Meall a Bhuachaille and I decided to have a look at the trails round Loch Morlich and the Rothimurcus Estate.

Looking over Loch Morlich to Meall a Bhuachaille

I wasn't sure what to expect but was very pleased to find that the trails were very well maintained hardpack which meant the Cube would be fine. There was some signage but as I hadn't bothered to pick up the leaflet with the cycle trails I was guessing at what way I should be going. (Note to self to pick up the leaflet.) It was great to see as I pootled along that there were a fair few others enjoying these trails including families with kids. The trees kept me dryish when the showers came through but I did feel sorry for the wedding party whose photies were spoiled at Loch an Eilenn when the heavens opened. There was sun though too which looked lovely glistening through the trees.

Cairngorm Club Footbridge

Loch an Eilenn

Castle ruins Loch an Eilenn

It was time for part two of my plan, catching up with Maria at The Mountain Cafe. No trip to Aviemore is complete without experiencing the food in this very busy and friendly place. Job done :-)

A Wake For The Wild

2011-05-09T21:39:00.000+01:00

The election may be over but now the battle really begins. With the SNP planning to make Scotland the pioneer of renewable energy like many others I have grave concerns on what this will mean for Scotland's wild places.

Alan Sloman has organised a "Wake For The Wild" in the hope that more people are made aware of what more windfarms could mean for some of our most beautiful wilderness. So if you are able to join him I'm sure he'll be pleased to see you.

Chchchchanges

2011-05-05T11:42:00.000+01:00

The lack of posts isn't due to general tardyness. I'm in the middle of sorting out a huge mess of kit and other such stuff. That's what comes from moving house!!! I don't think I can hide my gear problem any more. I'm not sure when it happened. I remember my first proper outdoor kit which amounted to a pair of Zamberland all leather boots worn all year, a Low Alpine triplepoint jacket in orange, Craghopper baselayer and trousers along with a high street shop orange fleece to complete the ensemble. My rucsac was used for everything, not just hill trips. Oh how things have changed.

Getting ready for an outing to the hills was certainly a lot simpler back then. It does beg the question, do we have just too much choice of kit now? I admit I love having shiny new stuff which plays a large part in the gear mountain in what was the dining room but I'm finding it very difficult determining what must stay and what can be re-distributed. In the meantime I'll just make sure it's easy enough to find while Steve is wondering if he can open a gear and bike shop..................

Unmissable offer

2011-04-24T22:05:00.000+01:00

Not something a normally would consider doing but a friend has decided to do a very generous thing which someone might fancy taking up the offer. There is currently an ebay auction with all proceeds going to Cancer Research for a lovely cottage in Aultbea. There's more info on the cottage here. It's a fantastic area to be based for Fisherfield, An Teallach and Torridon. So if you fancy a bargain whilst donating to Cancer Research then get on ebay.

The view over the Minch from the cottage

Thought provoking in so many ways

2011-04-19T12:24:00.000+01:00

A Tweet came through from Andy Kirkpatrick's Twitter feed that made me want to follow the link

A Blog inspired by a one legged man going into a brothel

So I followed the link to read this post. So many things in this post got me thinking about the assumptions that we place on all aspects of our life.

Good luck Andy for getting some sponsorship for Karen and for the rest of the disabled sports people out there

Snap

2011-04-18T20:14:00.000+01:00

Looks like someone is on my wavelength. I'd thought about having a cafe.......................

Stalled

2011-04-13T00:12:00.000+01:00

The body really is quite a remarkable thing. Mine however has a tendency to surprise me and not always in a positive way. It's now 5 months since my op and unfortunately for me, my knee is still not playing the game the way it's meant to. All involved are trying to remain positive as after all it is still early days.

The annoying thing is that any activity more than what most of us active peeps would regards as a taster is still causing such acute inflammation in the joint that the ice pack is my permanent companion. Not really an ideal situation. The walking is totally frustrating as even a wander round the shops still seems like a major expedition. Being able to go for a wee pootle on the bike so long as it's flat as a flat thing and I take my time is at least keeping me sane - ish. It really is quite fortunate that there is a few sections of nice flat National Cycle Network nearby and some glorious coastal views that are never the same to keep me from wearying. So fingers crossed that I'll wake up one morning and my body will have decided enough of this carry on.

Getting Topical

2011-04-11T00:08:00.001+01:00

There is a topic that appears to be in the news practically every day at the moment, some of that possibly due to the fact that there just happens to be an election coming up. Oh am I sounding cynical............................

The topic is renewable energy though in Scotland's case that might as well just be labelled as wind power. I'm not professing to be an expert on this or anything but. i just want others to have a wee think about it and what it means for the whole of the UK.

What pricked my attention was Alan Sloman's post on his blog about a proposed windfarm. I thought about my surrounding area and what impact the windfarms around me have had. I'm in the central belt and you can't drive too far without coming across one in this populated corridor. The biggest is Whitelee on Eaglesham Moor with 140 turbines. I can see it all the way from the windfarm at Ardrossan on a clear day. OK some of these are in areas that spoil the view but I take the attitude that this is the central belt. This is where most of the energy is required for and although they spoil some views sacrifices have to be made to give us what we demand.

I do however draw the line at putting these windfarms into areas where its impact on the areas natural beauty far outweighs any energy and economic benefit. Some of this is borne out in the John Muir Trust Report on the efficiency of this renewable energy, something that the Scottish Renewables disputes. But I am cautious when reading any of these reports as all data can be presented in such a way to attempt to win any argument. What I do know is that wind power is not the sole answer. As ever its an all eggs in one basket approach from all quarters.

For me it's about learning from the past to make the future better. Yes we need to look at renewables but we also need to look at what we already have working and making it usable for the future. It might not fit into the new green agenda but we have carbon fuels that need to be made more efficient and we have nuclear power which also has it's place in this debate. It's also about minimising the impact on those areas of wilderness which we will never get back and mostly for the benefit of those who live no where near it for them to care. So make sure you ask the canvassers when they come chapping on your door what their party's take is on this topic and get your views heard.

Gear Austerity

2011-04-04T23:40:00.000+01:00

There's not been much gear talk on here recently mostly due to me not having been out on the hills to wear stuff out. OK I did go spend a significant amount on my lovely new Cube Nature but I really don't know enough about bikes to give a proper review of it on. Suffice to say I love the bike and have enjoyed my wee pootles about on it. Really looking forward to when I'm fit enough to go on a proper expedition with it.

You'd have thought that with a new bike that I'd be off getting new kit for it but the truth is that a lot of the stuff I have does just as well on the bike as on the hill. Certainly the Paramo Velez Adventure Light is marketed as a multi activity item and it has been doing the trick on the colder days I've been out on the bike. Helps too that is a lovely bright orange. My Buffalo windshirt fits the bill too. There is one that's cycling specific but mines is just the standard one. Both have really useful front kangaroo pockets and side zips for venting, a must on the bike. Even my preferred hill footwear is used on the bike. The Saucony Progrid Xodus 2.0 are narrow enough that they don't cause any issues with the toe clips and are comfy like slippers if I do find that I have to walk when I can't cycle up the hill.

Paramo Velez Adventure Light & dhb 3/4 bib

Buffalo Windshirt

The only thing that has had to be purchased is the never flattering padded pants. The biggest problem has been finding the women's specific stuff that is anywhere near realistic size wise and doesn't make you look even more stupid after all lycra aint the most flattering. The item that I have found to be the most comfy was bought as an experiment. It might not be a well known brand and is only available through Wiggle but I'm pleased with my dhb 3/4 bib tights. The bib aspect does take a wee bit of getting used to but the added comfort makes it worthwhile. That being said I'm more a fan of the baggy 3/4 style shorts so will be keeping an eye out. Need less to say I'm sure there will end up being some other stuff bought at some point.

Trying to revive memories

2011-04-03T00:21:00.000+01:00

With the knee still restricting activities we hadn't planned anything for this weekend. The weather was supposed to be rain slowing to showers but we were pleasantly surprised when we got lovely sunshine. The urge to get out and about was itching away at me so I persuaded Steve that a drive in a southerly direction would keep us amused for a wee while. I had a hankering to go see a place that I hadn't been to since I was a wee girl.

Being from Lanarkshire we don't have anything in the way of beaches so summer holidays always meant day trips to the Ayrshire coast. My memories of these days out are somewhat hazy though I do have one vivid recollection of the seagull that stole my fish from my lap as I ate it on Ayr front!!! Girvan was the destination, somewhere I remember being taken but not a lot else. So off we set taking the scenic route.

View of Arran from above Dunure

Dunure Castle

Naval manoeuvres in Firth of Clyde

The first thing that strikes you as you stand on Girvan seafront is the huge lump of Ailsa Craig. I've never been over though Steve has. He'd told me it's an entertaining crossing but worth it. As we wandered along the front we were entertained by a huge flock of starlings having a feeding frenzy on the beach, not something you see every day. It was quite bracing along the harbour wall. The weather had started to revert to the forecast that we were expecting so we didn't spend a huge amount of time in Girvan. The sad thing was that it didn't bring back any memories at all. It made me wonder how in this modern age places like Girvan actually survive as even in this very short visit we hadn't seen much to keep us in the place, not even nostalgia.

Starlings having a feeding frenzy on the beach

Portencross

2011-03-30T00:25:00.000+01:00

Found yet another gem and although not right on the doorstep it's close enough to start making this a regular destination for a pleasant wander. It really is a compact wee package that has just about everything.Portencross is a wee hamlet at the end of a single track road. It's on the Ayrshire Coastal Path but has a couple of things that make it quite unique.

The first is the very obvious Portencross Castle which, unlike many, has been restored and is in use. There was a party when we were there today, not a bad venue. It does get opened up to the public but we'll have to wait a few more weeks before we get the chance to see inside. I love the fact that it has a bench up on its ramparts next to the flagpole with the Saltire for you to appreciate the views over the Firth of Clyde to Arran, Bute, The Cumbraes and beyond. It also has a gorgeous way bay right next to it that when the tide is out has fantastic rock pools to go play in. Last week we were treated to the unusual sight of a couple of divers wandering into the water at this bay - very James Bond ;-)

So far we have only explored around the path that goes north towards the second thing that makes this unique, a nuclear power plant. The path is lovely and flat and it's only a couple of km but there is so much to keep you occupied. The first is obvious, the views out to Arran and Little Cumbrae are hypnotic. There is a jetty that, once you ignore the huge hole in the middle of it that gives you an airy walk onto it, makes you feel even closer to them. As you look back south you might be lucky enough to glimpse Ailsa Craig.

This little package just keeps giving. As you are walking north you can see the cliffs known as the Three Sisters but to be honest, they look even better when you are heading south. At the foot of these cliffs is yet something else that will keep you occupied, a lovely wee wood. This is probably the best time of year to appreciate this wood. The first thing that hits you as you enter it is the refreshing smell of wild garlic. It's everywhere making the place look like it has a carpet of green shag pile on steroids - stark contrast to the mostly still bare trees that remind me of The Ents from Lord of the Rings. The way that these trees manage to climb up the cliffs has me mesmerised. Craig of course couldn't resist climbing as many of these trees as possible and even got himself so comfy on one that he could have fallen asleep on it - kids!!

We also had lots of other things to look at. Spring flowers were showing face, daffodils and primrose giving the yellow contrast to the green shag pile. Let's not forget the animals. We had ladybirds, bumble bees and butterflies keeping us company as we meandered through their wood. Up above we were treated to an as yet unidentified bird of prey (ie the standard bloody big bird) causing mayhem with the gulls while the oyster catchers on the rocks squacked away.

As we wandered back to the car still in glorious sunshine feeling sorry for those on Arran which was now shrouded in cloud we wondered where the last 4 hours had gone. I have a very funny feeling that this wee section of the Ayrshire Coastal Path may just be affected by a timewarp, one which we shall continue to explore and enjoy

What the....................??????

2011-03-26T17:37:00.001Z

I thought it was slightly amusing when I saw this the first time. But now as this now almost daily event continues I am starting to wonder what this gull is getting out of knocking the hell out the patio window.

Poor Jimmy the gnome is puzzled too....................

Cumbrae

2011-03-22T20:12:00.002Z

With the pootling about on the bike on the flat going OK I decided to set myself a goal. In fact it was going to be a double goal but more on that later.

To most of us who live in the west of Scotland at some point during our childhood we'll have been "doon the water" to one of the Firth of Clyde seaside resorts. I've always referred to the Isle of Great Cumbrae as Millport, which is the main settlement on the island, but there is certainly a lot more to Cumbrae than its town. The island lies just off Largs in North Ayrshire with a 10 minute ferry ride to make it all the more exciting. Even better, cycles are free :-)

The first goal of the day was to cycle round the island. It's 10.25 miles of mostly flat road and my guide book said it should take approximately 1hr 30m. ................mmmmm wonder how long we'd take? It was a tad nippy as we waited for the ferry at Largs so I ran into the cafe to pick up some coffees to keep us warm on the crossing over. What I hadn't expected was the fact that it's a new ferry since I was last on the island over 10 years ago and it has a very nice enclosed observation deck something that the old one lacked. It meant that when we reached Cumbrae we still had coffee to drink as they were still too hot, so we sat at the slip and watched the ferry head back to Largs.

Traffic jam Cumbrae style

Steve with the coffees

The MV Loch Shira heading back to Largs

And we're ready for the off

Soon we were off heading to the north of the island. It was a wee bit windy but not so bad to cause any real problems. Before too long we were stopping to look at the birds on the shore line, take photos and look out for seals. This would be the pattern of events for our whole journey round.

Oyster catchers and eider ducks Stinking Bay

Oyster catchers sunning themselves at Stinking Bay

Geese at Skate Point

Swan getting a drink at Fintry Bay

Large bird flying above Cumbrae

The west coast of the island is a lovely revelation of sandy bays interspersed with rocky ones and the views over to the Isle of Bute and Arran are constantly catching your attention, hence we had lots more stops to take it all in. As we rounded the southern tip Little Cumbrae comes proudly into view. It's now privately owned so gaining access to it is somewhat difficult which is a shame as I'd love to have a wee explore. Before we new it we were hitting the town.

The views of Bute and Arran opening up as we go along

Scary face in the bushes

Looking out west from Bell Bay

Steve at Sheriff's Point

Little Cumbrae

Welcome to Millport with Hunterston A in the background

Millport Bay seems timeless. It's been over 10 years since my last visit but it looks unchanged with its fine array of Victorian "big hooses" looking over the Ayrshire coast. Once we'd had a wee wander it was time for goal number two.

Millport seafront

Earlier this month I had mentioned a list of HuMPs that caught my attention. Well, Cumbrae just happens to have it's very own HuMP Barbay Hill. It was just too much of a temptation. How could I ignore this summit after all it's only 127m with the trig just 20m from the road. Bit of a no brainer. So we headed out of Millport taking the anticlockwise route up to the top of the island. Boy this was hard work and before too long I was pushing the bike. The knee may have been coping fairly well with our slow meander on the flat stuff but it really didn't like the hills despite the bike's excellent gearing. It was worth it though as the views from the top were fantastic. OK it wasn't blue sky but we could see right over to Ben Lomond & the Arrochar Alps to the north as well as having fantastic views over to Bute and Arran. Fantastic. It was all downhill back to Millport

The final pull up to the top of Barbay Hill

Looking north towards the Arrochar Alps and Ben Lomond still with their winter hat on

Steve & I on top of Barbay Hill with one of the Glaid Stones behind

Moddy Arran & the tip of Bute

Trig point on Barbay Hill

Ailsa Craig just visible on the horizon

We had planned to go see the Cathedral to the Isles on the way back into Millport but Steve was going so fast he missed the turning so that'll just have to wait for the next visit. It was time to complete the last part of the journey round the island back to the slip. And there was one last amazing site to be seen on this east shore, Lion Rock. Well impressive geological dyke formation.

Back at sea level at Kames Bay

Lion Rock

We were back at this slip in perfect time for the ferry back to Largs, four hours after we'd arrived - a tad out on the book time. My knee was feeling it but what a magical day out. To finish the day there was only one thing left to do. We were in Largs after all so that must mean fish, chips and ice cream at Nardini's. Yum yum

The fantastic Nardini's Cafe - worthy of a visit anytime in Largs

Cumbrae

Kryptonite for the supermoon

2011-03-19T20:45:00.001Z

If only.........

Cloud is being a total spoilsport here. Not even getting a peak of it.

Ach well, can't have everything. The link below is very informative though about the whole supermoon thing. Thanks Prof Brian Cox for directing me towards it

Kryptonite for the supermoon

Every picture...................

2011-03-18T21:57:00.001Z

I've been getting used to looking over to Arran but today was a wow moment as the hills were free of cloud and they had their winter hat on still. Well worth sitting back and soaking up the view.

Lunar perigee

2011-03-17T15:29:00.000Z

If you believe some of the press you'd think that the world is about to end this weekend. OK there are some pretty catastrophic events happening at the moment but blaming the moon is just a bit much. So it's time to hope that the lovely UK weather behaves itself and we can get a chance to get a close up view. And for those who are lucky enough to be out in the wilds enjoying it, I'm not jealous.......................... much

Moon shot taken on 16th March 2011 1722

Getting the HuMP

2011-03-13T22:40:00.001Z

Whatever type of personality you are, at some point during your life you'll have a tick list. I have some friends who can't get through a single day without compiling and ticking their lists. Others are a tad more conventional with their wish lists. Then I have some hillwalking friends who are ticking that ultimate hill list The Munros. That ain't me.

There is however a list I have discovered that has pricked my imagination and suits my nonsensical personality - The HuMPs. I came across this website http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/ by accident but I was totally sucked in in seconds. I ignored the lists for the Munros and Corbetts but had a wee poke about in the County Tops page to satisfy my curiosity that I had managed to climb to the top of all the counties that I had lived in bar one of the London Boroughs though I do dispute the one for Edinburgh as it's 12 miles from the city centre in the Pentlands and out with what I thought was the city boundary.

Then the HuMPs page really sucked me in. What a great idea to compile a list of hills with a hundred meter drop all round whatever their height is. As there are a few of them and it does take a wee bit of patience to get to the area you want to look at. Turns out I have already done a few. So now I am compiling my own modified version of HuMPs to add to my "must do hills" knowing fine well that the likelihood of me ticking them all is about the same odds as me winning the lottery. Still, it's something to aim for..................

Tinto one of Lanarkshire's HuMPs and one of my first hills

Flatlands

2011-03-09T00:20:00.000Z

A weekend trip to catch up with Steve's family led to a wee exploration of the flatlands of the East Riding of Yorkshire. It's been getting a wee bit of media attention with the South Riding fictional drama that has just finished on BBC.

Spurn Point was the destination but the 5km walk from the car park to Spurn Head was not on the cards with the still grumbling knee and the lateness of the hour for when we eventually got there. So we just soaked up the scenery and the sunset. The tide was in so we weren't treated to the views of the ever changing clays and sands but there were loads of birds flying over keeping us guessing as to what they were. Yes we had forgotten the bins too - doh! Kilnsea is the last village before Spurn and there we were surprised to find an old defence bunker which was disappearing into the estuary. With the sun going down it was time to head north back to Hornsea. Next visit we'll be better prepared to explore properly.

Getting your outdoors online

2011-03-03T14:50:00.001Z

There was a new website launched the other day UK Hillwalking. It's sister site is UK Climbing. It's early days for it so I'm not going to pass any comment other than their front pages are very similar.

Years ago we didn't have these online resources. We relied on guide books, magazines and clubs to get our outdoor knowledge and meet people to get out on the hills with. Oh how things have changed. I look back at how I got my introduction to the hills. My first exposure was through school but it wasn't until I was invited to join the work hillwalking crew that I got properly into it first time round. The advice they gave me was based on their experience and the knowledge that they had amassed from the clubs they had been in, people they had walked with as well as from books and magazines they had read.

Go forward a few years after a long break from all things hills and I wanted to get back into it. I started looking for info. It was 2003, we had the internet. My first stop was still to look for any clubs or groups at work but I was in London and at that time there was nothing near where I lived and I couldn't persuade any friends to regularly join me. I started buying outdoor magazines to see what they were saying to get me up to date on the latest thinking. It was the chance comment of a friend who mentioned a website that had a lot of outdoors info and they had meets that I could go to if I fancied it. So I checked out Outdoorsmagic. I don't recall there being anything much else of a similar ilk available back then so after lurking on it for a while, getting my knowledge up to date, I took the plunge and started posting on the forum.

Here we are in 2011 and we have a very different picture. There are now a vast number of sites offering all sorts of information in all manner of formats. In fact when you do a Google search you are swamped with so many sites that you could spend weeks trying to sift through them.

But what is it that attracts us to certain sites and not other? I admit I have my favourites most of them are listed here on the blog so I wont repeat them. This is not exhaustive as I have many sites that I dip in and out of when I'm looking for specific things. For me one of the biggest things is the ease of use and pleasant look of a site as much as the content. I have given up on a few of the bigger sites, Live For the Outdoors being one, as they are just so frustrating to use. Others I love for the info they provide, such as Walk Highlands and Scottish Hills though I must be honest and say that I don't tend to look at much more than the routes info. www.hill-bagging.co.uk may be a list site but it's given me ideas for stuff I'd never considered before. Then there are the blogs - where to begin. PTC does get my top billing. He does it so well. I do find that I have to limit what I look at as before I know it the day has gone. It's my new version of the Sunday papers.

In this ever competing market it's going to be really hard for any site to please everyone as we all have varying tastes and needs from our outdoors online media. And what about the print media? Who knows what the next evolution will bring. Suffice to say I wait with interest.

Fine line between pleasure and pain tested

2011-03-01T11:13:00.000Z

The Doc said "get on yer bike" so I did :-)

The suffering today is worth it

Exploring on your doorstep

2011-02-28T00:21:00.000Z

I've been spending a lot of time in Ayrshire post op as it means I can get out and about with Steve being my taxi - thank you ;-) Irvine and The Three Towns, Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston, aren't really known for their picturesque coastlines. Ardrossan is better known as the ferry port to Arran. Saltcoats was a bustling seaside resort from the 50's to mid 70's which just doesn't stand a chance in competing with what we look for now. Stevenston was once dynamite town but that's all but gone.

There are still treasures to be found. We took Craig to Irvine Beach Park this weekend. It was a wasteland until 35 years ago when it was redeveloped to save the dunes from erosion and for local recreational use. Steve hadn't been here for years and Craig had never been so it was a "Dora the Explorer" outing as Craig described it ;-) Heading first to the wee loch gave the opportunity fotr Craig to check out the skate park before we were bird spotting. It wasn't just gulls.

Craig feeding the swans

The birds....... the birds...............

Next was taking a "Morley Path" heading for the stone creature over the undulating hills. The sculpting of the hills is great for kids and dogs as they can run up and down, great way to tire them out ;-) They'll also be great for sledging down when we get that rare coastal snow. It was really pleasing to see lots of people out and about using the place. It wasn't just dog walkers, families were enjoying the play areas as well as the beach and there were even some art students using it as their backdrop for a film shoot. And no wonder with views on this sunny day.

Steve & Craig off exploring

Looking back to The Magnum Centre and loch

Steve walking towards the stone dragon

Father and son

Stone dragon looking over Irvine Beach to Arran

Irvine Beach

Hazy Arran from Irvine Beach

It was tinged with a wee bit of sadness as we headed back to the car looking over to the now closed The Big Idea

Last stop was the Harbour arts Centre for a wee post wander refreshment and de-brief of the day. General consensus, twas a grand day out and all on the doorstep.

Wummin Specific

2011-02-21T23:48:00.000Z

A survey from Trek on my views about "women's specific" things initially had my hackles up but I decided the only way things might change is to complete the survey. I've had a bee in my bonnet about the whole women's specific issue for a good while now though mostly about the tokenism attached to it. However it does have a few strands.

To begin with I know I am far from what could be considered as standard sized for a female but its a bit much when every female you know has a gripe about the fit of outdoor gear. With the press now reporting that the average size is 14 in the UK now, it's somewhat disconcerting that this equates to a size large for most manufacturers and that's before you take into consideration the cut of the gear. More annoyingly, is when you do find a manufacturer who's cut fits your sizing and you like their kit, you buy it and when it wears out you go back to get a replacement to find they have totally changed their cut. Aaaaaarrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh. Women are not alone in this though as I have many a male friend who also complains of this same problem. Some companies are better than others at dealing with the issue that a "one size fits all" is not the way to go while others pay lip service and you end up in a shapeless tatty sack - not attractive and certainly not functional. I'm sure like many others out there, we find no fun trailing round the gear shops searching in anticipation for something that fits.

This brings me onto my next gripe. I have been fortunate to be able to see workbooks for some of the gear companies so know that the range they are producing bears no resemblance to what we actually see in the shops. I can fully appreciate that in this financial climate that carrying the full range is not an option but carrying just one or two options in pastel colours or pink aint the way to get most of us gear monster women to buy the kit. The guys also have the same issue though not quite as badly. OK there are not as many women as men buying kit but when you go into a shop to find less than a 1/8 of the gear is for women yeh I get narked.

Getting back to one of the questions from the Trek Survey that started all this off isn't actually about gear but whether there is a need for women only such as the Trek Dirt Series Programmes. It reminded me of a discussion on Outdoorsmagic that certainly gave a lot of insight into this subject from both sides. I know why such programmes have evolved. The spectre of driven, competitive, intimidating personalities kinda takes the emphasis off of what you're there to learn. That's not always the case in mixed groups though I do know of some horrific stories. I also know of some in all female groups too. Thankfully that has not been my experience. I've been to a Chick's Unleashed event and really enjoyed it but no more than any of the mixed group ones. So for this part of the survey I had to say I think it says more about your confidence as a person in company whether you might need a gender specific event along with your confidence in the instructor who is pivotal for ensuring that everyone; whether that's the larger than life competitive driven or the wee mouse hiding at the back, is given the opportunity. I feel very fortunate that I have had very supportive and encouraging male and female friends who give me the confidence to do things.

I'm not professing to having the answers to sorting out this conundrum but I do know that the Outdoors Industry could do with having a few more females involved at the decision making end to get the voice heard. Any vacancies...............................................

Knoydart - the photies

2011-02-18T11:00:00.001Z

Thought I'd share the rest of the Knoydart photies

One step forward ......................... 100 steps back

2011-02-17T22:22:00.000Z

I've never been a very good patient (typical nurse) but had been quite proud of the fact that I had remained calm and followed the plan for the longer than initially anticipated recovery from them poking about with my knee, that is until now.

Once I had got over the shock of being severely limited with all activities for 3 months, I figured that once that time was up I should be back on the hills a couple of months later. Best laid plans and all that........................ I saw the Consultant a couple of weeks before the end of the 3 month minimal load bearing D-date who gave the go ahead for physio and for starting some low impact stuff like an exercise bike and slowly to increase my walking. I was so excited. The physio and I had a long chat at that first assessment where I did admit to her I had a tendency to try and run before I could walk - if only!! It looked like my range of movement was still OK but what I needed to start working on was some muscle strengthening and stretching for the quads and hamstrings, deep joy. Being the good patient I started my exercises straight away, dutifully doing them every day, icing afterwards and in between times doing a wee 5 minutes on the exercise bike. I even got the pedometer out to start recording exactly how far I could walk. Wey hey we have lift off :-)................................... 4 days later Houston we have a problem.

The knee was smarting so I increased the icing and got back on the paracetamol. I was hoping when I went back to the physio that we would discover a reason for this, sort it and carry on with the rehab. If only. She was as puzzled as I was. The knee was more swollen and tender but what to do? We decided on continuing with the plan we were already on and she'd assess me again in 10 days. So I persevered. I had a really good day where I managed, very slowly, 3 miles only to not be able to walk to the loo without extreme pain for the next 3 days. Ggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Well the latest on the ongoing knee saga is I need to be assessed by my surgical team to determine whether something further needs to be done. That's scheduled for next Wednesday. The physio is stumped but wants me to continue with the exercises to see what one really aggravates it. One of her theories is could it be where my hamstring attaches into the joint niggling it. We'll see what the verdict is next week. Meanwhile keep taking the medicine.

Knoydart - It never disappoints

2011-02-16T00:16:00.000Z

I knew before we left that we were likely to have a good time on Knoydart. I think I was slightly anxious about how some of the others who'd never been before were going to find it. I needn't have worried - they loved it.

It's not the easiest place to get to but access now is much improved to my first visit back in 2001. We'd organised a boat charter with Knoydart Seabridge to get us over and what a laugh that was due to the slightly rough sea conditions but we made it over safe and sound though Jamie did get a wee bit wet from sitting out.

Ian from Knoydart House was waiting for us when we docked at Inverie and the gang soon got the hang of how to unload a boat Knoydart style into the waiting trailer. It was hilarious when we got to the house. Poor Ian was trying to fill us in on the salient points on how things work but everyone was giddy at the luxury that we had walked into. Maria was like Tigger bouncing about the place. Steve and I had last seen the place a couple of months before they had finished the build but were still gobsmacked at how stunning it is. Jackie and Ian had thought of everything. This really is a 5 star place.

The house is so gorgeous that you could quite easily not bother to venture out but there is the draw of a Knoydart institution that we had to introduce the others to, The Old Forge. We trotted the 2 minutes down the hill to find a few of the locals having a game of Killer Pool and before long we were joining in. With the real ale flowing well, the craic was flying. As always it was a very entertaining night.

Next morning was also entertaining. The hill for conquering on the agenda for those not on the injury list was Sgurr Coire Chonnichean, the Corbett that towers over Inverie. Eventually the others left. Steve and I went for one of our favourite wanders along the shoreline of Inverie Bay to Long Beach and out to the graveyard on the Kilchoan Estate. The views were moody due to the cloud but enchanting and that was before we had the joy of spotting the eagle flying overhead or seeing the herd of deer grazing in the same field as the coos.The gang had enjoyed their four seasons in one day on the hill too having done the circuit from Mam Uidhe up to the summit and along the ridge coming down onto the track in Gleann an Dubh Lochain.

Inverie Bay

Sgurr Coire Chonnichean from Long Beach

Kilchoan Estate buildings

Curious deer

Curious coo


Meall Buidhe from Inverie Graveyard

My Knoydart eagle

With it being winter we had been organised and put a special order in with The Old Forge for some hand dived scallops for dinner whilst those not into such delicacies tucked into locally sourced venison burgers. Magnificent as ever.

The four seasons weather on Sunday saw only Maria being brave enough to venture up high to tackle Meall Buidhe, her 60th Munro. Meanwhile the rest of us were just loving chilling in the house. It's huge full height window gives a view that has you mesmerised watching the weather unfold in front of you. Eventually we did all venture out with Jamie, Nicky and Kirstin exploring the bay and Steve and I went west out to Glaschoille. Amazing how we all managed to meet up again in The Old Forge. Need for a hot chocolate was the excuse ;-) It being Sunday meant the need for traditional Sunday roast kindly supplied by The Old Forge. Retiring back to the house for the hot tub was just the icing on the cake though we were the ones getting a wee bit icy with the effects of windchill on those parts not in the hot tub!!

View from The Old Forge window

With Jamie, Nicky and Zoe having to head back on the Monday our depleted band regrouped talking over the plans for the rest of the week. Knoydart has a lot more to offer than the obvious Munros something that all of us were planning to discover. Maria decided her "rest" day would be to cycle the only road on the peninsula out to Airor. We weren't surprised when she got back to inform us she'd continued onto the landrover track completing the circuit of the west of the peninsula.

Tuesday was my birthday. A day that I am normally up a hill. Not an option this year but I wanted to get out an explore. There is a very good landrover track that takes you all the way to Inverguseran on the NW coast of the peninsula. The views that you get as you you wander along remind you of just how rugged and massive the hills are. The line of the ridge starting on Sgorr Coire Chonnichean all the way along to Ladhar Bheinn and back down into Gleann na Guiserrein draws your attention for the first half of the walk while the view over the Sound of Sleat to Skye grabs you the rest of the way. There may have been a lot of high hazy cloud but we were still fortunate enough to be able to see all those wonderful hills. We were also treated to multiple sightings of the fantastic golden eagle but no matter hoe hard I tried I couldn't get it on camera.

Ladhr Bheinn and Coire Torr Asgail

The hills of Skye

Strange rock formation at Inverguseran

Looking north from Inverguseran

While we were having our extremely leisurely stroll Maria and Kirstin had been attacking the slopes of Beinn Bhuidhe another classic Corbett with a kick. The snow conditions near the summit meant it would have to be conquered another day but they still had a great time. Needless to say it was champagne in hot tub that night.

Beinn Bhuidhe peaking above The Old Forge Knoydart

Steve & I enjoying the hot tub

Our numbers were slowly diminishing as Kirstin headed off on Wednesday to catch up with her other half Iain who was busy getting his winter days in fr his MIC assessment. It really was a dreich day but we weren't too disheartened as we knew the weather was going to be good for our last day. While Steve and Maria hit the hills I went up the road to Airor. I'd been advised by my surgeon and physio that I could try some cycling so taking it very easy I headed west to explore yet another area of Knoydart that was new to me. The road undulates through some rocky crags before it all opens up out to the Sound of Sleat as you head towards Doune and Airor. I was stopping every two minutes taking pictures as Eigg, Rum and Skye were looking so majestic on this blue sky winters day. I even got a low fly past from the RAF while I sat having my lunch.

Heading west

Looking back to Inverie

Eigg and Rum

Looking down to Airor

Spot the RAF big bird from Airor pier

As clear as I have ever seen the Cuillins

Sun going down over the Sound of Sleat

I wasn't long back when Maria appeared. I was a wee bit surprised as there was no Steve and their original plan had been for them to meet on the summit of Ladhar Bheinn and come down together. Maria had gone for the big day out going up Sgurr Coire Chonnichean going right round to Ladhar Bheinn while Steve had headed up from Falloch. Maria filled me in on the change of plan as Steve had decided to continue along the superb ridge. When he appeared 10 minutes later we were a tad surprised but he'd only gone along as far as Beallach Coire Dhorrcail and dropped down into Coire Torr an Asgail back into Gleann na Guisserein. I was green with envy at their day out but I know I will experience it myself sometime.

Our long day out meant we missed out on the film night that was being held in the Village Hall but we enjoyed yet another top night in The Old Forge before having one last dip in the hot tub. Our week was over way too soon.

It's always a gamble going somewhere off season but for me I prefer it. For me this trip to Knoydart was a bit like being Lucy going through the wardrobe returning to Narnia meeting friends old and new.Til next time..............

Sunset on Inverie Bay

Magical

2011-02-14T00:31:00.000Z

Inverie Bay

Words and lots more pictures to follow

Knoydart - Familiar ground

2011-02-03T00:27:00.000Z

We're off to Knoydart on Friday, weather permitting!! This place has had a magical pull on me since I first discovered it back in 2001. That first trip was a wilderness taster to get me ready for a tramping trip to New Zealand. I really was a novice back then and I had the huge backpack to prove it. Carrying it from Inverie over to Barrisdale Bothy was not the most enjoyable experience I had had in the hills.Neither were the ferocious midges or the 10hr beasting on Ladhar Bheinn. It didn't detract from the fact that the place had grabbed me and I knew it wouldn't be my only visit.

It was five years before I had the chance to go back, this time it was an "organised "affair staying at the Foundation Bunkhouse. There were 24 of us from the club all with varied plans of what we wanted to do but the weather wasn't playing ball at all. It was typical west of Scotland stair rod rain that kept coming for 3 whole days. It was a May Bank Holiday so we weren't the only tourists there. There was a stag party who had there tents washed away at Barrisdale and decided to retreat to the village. The Old Forge welcomed us all. We made the most of their great food and excellent beer soon getting to know the locals, well we were spending a lot of time in there. We did offset our excesses by having the pleasure of participating in the first ceilidh of the season, oh how you have to be fit for a good ceilidh. No hills on that visit but what I did get was to experience a fantastic community. I promised not to leave it so long to the next visit.

December 2008, I was looking for something a wee bit different for Steve's birthday Accommodation on the peninsula is not always the easiest to get. People love the place and will book early to go back, partly the reason why we've tended to go off season. Knoydart Lodge had a special offer on but it was the scallops wrapped in bacon for breakfast that sold it for me. This time the weather gods had given us something special, we had snow down to sea level. It was the first time that I had walked on a snowy beach. The hills looked magnificent. Ladhar Bheinn was the target but with short winter days and long walk ins it wasn't to be. This was a hill I wanted to properly enjoy so it could wait for another visit. Again the community welcomed us in, spooky when someone remembers who you are from just a couple of visits years apart. What fun we had at the first "film night" in The Pottery Tearoom munching venison stew and deep fried Mars bar while watching Still Game and Restless Natives with a "carry out" from The Old Forge, magic.

Blue sky winter's day Coire nan Laogh heading towards Ladhar Bheinn

Sgorr Coire Choinnichean from An Diollaide

Sgorr Coire Choinnchean, Luinne Bheinn, Meall Buidhe, Beinn Bhuidhe

When we started discussing where to go for our spring/summer escape week I had a very short short list and we were lucky enough to find that we could get accommodation.It may have been late June but again west of Scotland weather meant limited hill time but what we did was magical as ever.

Lord Brockett's Monument

Looking onto Loch Nevis from the ridge of Sgurr Coire Chonnichean

Sitting outside The Old Forge

Heading down into Coire Odhair

It was during that trip that we got a sneak peak at the still being constructed Knoydart House. I had been following Jackie's blog of the build so knew what this luxury house was going to offer. I so wanted to stay there. OK February aint the best time to fully experience Knoydart but I wanted to go there for my birthday and some friends decided they'd like to join us. The still recovering knee means no hills for me but camera is ready for hopefully capturing some of the special wild life they have there. So praying for that weather window of opportunity to get over and who cares about the rest of it as I have made enough goodies to stop us starving, we have a pub that knows we are coming with scalllops at the ready and that hot tub has my name on it

Weekend Wanders

2011-01-30T23:53:00.000Z

It was one of those winter high pressure days that meant it was dry but grey. We just had Craig this weekend as his big sis was supposedly studying for the impending prelims - oh how I remember that torture of teenagedom!! Now the boy is easily pleased but he was really looking forward to going to the RSPB Reserve at Lochwinnoch. Not too shabby a set up especially for kids with lots of interactive stuff though I do think the soft toy kola pinned high up in the tree could be quite frightening for some kids. Us - we just laughed a lot. We made up stories about why there were numbers on the bird boxes and why there were trees with branches cut off as we headed to the loch side and the hides.

Being someone who can only spot the very big and very obvious I relied on Steve telling me where to look and what I was looking at. I'll never make a wildlife tog but it was fun taking the photos with my wee point and shoot.

Castle Semple Loch

Shag

Shy whooper swans

Hunger was gnawing at us but we made sure we bought some nice stuff to put in our bird feeders as we had our own wee bird family to provide for before we went in search of cuppas and cake. The sunset over Ailsa Craig distracted us first though :-)

Craig looking out towards Ailsa Craig

Beacon next to Horse Island & Ailsa Craig

Ailsa Craig

Caw Canny

2011-01-26T22:32:00.000Z

Three months of limited load bearing said the doc. February 7th is the magic day for the end of that period. It's the start of the next phase and I've been getting ready for this. Using the exercise bike has been a bit of an eyeopener. So far trying to move off the entry level programmes for anything more than 5 minutes is not happening. I'm not going to stop, I just need to keep going with what I can manage and wait for the improvement to come. The carrot of the new bike sitting in the garage waiting to be taken out on the road for the first time is a not too shabby incentive.

The other thing that I've been doing is making me look like an absolute numpty at the pool by using an Aquasprinter Belt. Hydro therapy is well known to be the best for rehab in non load bearing injuries but with the the knee the way it is, standard swimming is a no no. This is where the belt comes in. So long as I can get deep enough water, I can "jog" away until enough is enough. It's giving both my lower and upper body a workout as the most efficient method is very similar running.

Photo from the manufacturers of the belt in action

Just one wee problem, finding a pool that's deep enough and empty enough for me to perfect my unique doggy paddle without the rest of the public users of said pools getting p#ssed off with me chopping up the pool. Oh to win the lottery and have a hoose with ma ain pool.......................

I now also have proper physio to add to the rehab list. Had my initial assessment today. The good news, I appear to still have the strength in both pins. The bad news, I have lost significant tone in important muscle groups that stabilize the knee which may explain some of the ongoing issues. Now I have a dozen exercises to do to try and rectify the imbalance. Next session is Monday and who knows what that'll bring. My physio needs to speak to my surgeon to tailor my rehab after all this wasn't a straightforward repair.

I suspect that I shall be reminded that it is still early days so caw canny indeed.

The Outdoor Bug

2011-01-24T22:50:00.000Z

I grew up in Lanarkshire. My first "hills" were playing on the piles of iron ore in Ravenscraig Steel Works. I should have paid more attention as they were great practice for handling scree but sadly I was as wimpy then as now on the stuff. I got my first proper hill day out whilst on a school trip to Wiston Lodge. I can vividly recall the four seasons in one day on Coulter Fell along with that unrelenting feeling as we were dragged up Tinto Hill. It didn't really grab me then.

Ravenscraig

Tinto approaching from Wiston Lodge

Next I'm a student in Dundee, more interested in causing political mayhem and drinking but the urge to go up The Law would happen at least once a year during my 3 fuzzy years. It still wasn't grabbing me.

It's not that I didn't appreciate what the outdoors had to offer, I even toyed with the idea of trying to get a job working outdoors. I was fortunate enough as part of the 80's government initiatives to get us layabouts off the unemployment figures to work on a project surveying the wildlife in East Kilbride's Calderglen Country Park. Entertaining when you don't know that much about wildlife but very enjoyable. When the funding was pulled I got punted over to Strathclyde Park though this time the job was to work out what people were using the park for - an eye-opening experience!! When reality hit that trying to get a job in this field permanently was as rare as a dodo I reverted back to the career path of nursing. I continued to get my outdoor fix from cycling to work and the occasional wander escaping the city to the highlands.

It was a good few years later before I had what could be regarded as my first proper adult hill experience. It was someone's bright idea after a party that going up Ben Lomond was the way to blow the cobwebs away. I do remember enjoying the view as I plodded up the tourist path before the hangover started to hit and the clag came in. My first non view summit on Ben Lomond. Not long after that some work colleagues decided a wee outing up The Cobbler could be a fun day out. My memories of that day are still so vivid. The weather was awful but we still went out. The laugh I had when I commented about how I was working hard as my glasses were constantly steamed up only to have my friend point out that no that was the mist causing the lack of visibility. It was no wonder that we ended up way of course. That day went down as my first non ascent of The Cobbler. The joy I felt when I peeled off my wet through totally inadequate kit to sit by the fire in The Village Inn looking up to where we had been. The bug had got its first real in.

Ben Lomond from Succoth

The Cobbler

My move to London had a strange effect. It wasn't like I stopped getting my outdoor fix as I was running and cycling in some pretty spectacular surroundings. Not many folk can have their usual training route going through Richmond Park and Hampton Court Palace. But something was missing. A visit back to see the olds combined with a wee ticky tour of my old haunts fired up the bug. Soon all the visits back north were engineered to try and get near some hills. The bug had really taken hold. Preparation for a tramping trip to New Zealand had me in planning frenzy. I had gone from being the very occasional wanderer up a well trodden hill to craving wild isolated spaces. The West Highland Way and Great Glen Way were soon ticked off that ever growing list. This bug was turning into a beast consuming the majority of my leave to satisfy it. It was injury that stopped it in its tracks with a huge jolt.

Ben Lomond New Zealand

me enjoying New Zealand hills

Sunset over Ngauruhoe

Stress fracture of the tibia, not the type of injury that any outdoorsy person wants to be told they have. Eventually after I got to the sports medicine specialists at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, the two years of only being able to go swimming were coming to an end. The bug was itching away at me. My physio kept me on a tight rein as we progressed but the day he said ok to go play on something other than The Downs had me heading straight back to my favourite and yet unconquered mountain.

Things had changed since my last attempt, there was now a nice path making the initial ascent a lot more pleasant. Some things hadn't though the weather was still crap and as visibility went down to non existent, The Cobbler summit would have to wait for another day. In the meantime the bug was back with a vengeance. Every free few days had hills pencilled against them along with all the logistics attached to escaping London. The notebook that started off as an aid to recording what effect my hill days had on my still recovering leg soon had entries from all over Scotland, England and Wales.

Looking over Derwent Water

Scrambling in Hassness Gill

Shy Snowdon

Pen yr Ole Wen above Llyn Idwal

Now, I'm back in Scotland. I have the hills on my doorstep. I am now fully appreciating what was always there but didn't know it. When I talk to my parents, who are Lanarkshire born and bred, I ask them why we never went north. It was really sad to hear that they felt is was unfriendly and a rip off.OK I could see where they were coming from as like all areas that rely on tourists of any kind, there are people who will try to exploit it. That has not been my experience and I hope that it will continue to be the case.

So here I am once more, stopped in my tracks by injury. Yes it's frustrating but I know that I'll be back out there eventually. In the meantime I have my photos to remind me of the adventures and I'm planning many more.

Coire Mhic Fhearchair

Redpoint Bay

An Teallach

Glamaig

Schiehallion

Rehab Incentives

2011-01-15T22:57:00.000Z

Realising that the bike might be the best way to go for me getting my outdoors fix while the knee is still subjected to minimal load bearing got me looking at what I realistically might be able to do and what my bikes were capable of. I needed no excuse to start looking at new bikes though I did start with good intentions by evaluating the two bikes that I have. My Alpine Bikes Ben More is my commute to work grunt bike that give me my pre and post work exercise fix, is very solid almost tank like but not something that you want to go any distance on. My GT Avalanche 2.0 (mines the 2008 version but can't find the link for it) was the insurance replacement I got for my nicked Trek. It wasn't what I really wanted and I've struggled with it. The brakes have never felt right which has meant I've not really used it that much. The tyres on it are also crap puncturing every time I took it out, not fun.

Initially I had my sensible head on looking at what was needed to get the GT to my liking as it really is not too shabby a bike. The search started with tyres and looking at the fact that I was going to be doing more on roads and hardpack than any proper off road on said bike with this dodgy knee. That got me onto planning some wee adventures on said bike and how a rack and panniers may also be required to aid these adventures. Slippery slope. Nagging away in the background is the fact that the GT is a mountain bike. The subliminal messages were working as next thing I was recalling a conversation that Bobinson et al had been having about cyclocross bikes and the surfing took on a new pace. Before I knew it I had a list of potential new bikes. Again, I was trying to be good by looking to see what was in the sale but was struggling to determine what size of frame I would require for these hybrid/cyclocross bikes. After contacting Bobinson he suggested that we go on a fact finding mission. Suddenly this wee online exercise was taking legs and feet and my credit card was starting to sweat.

Bobinson had directed me towards Freeflow Bikes site and we were heading to their sister shop Craig McMartin Cycles on Glasgow's southside to get a shufty at the shortlist of 3 bikes I had come up with from looking at the Freeflow website. There was much deliberation and discussion with the very knowledgeable and helpful staff.

And the winner is the Cube Nature. My size wasn't in stock so now I am patiently waiting for the boys from Freeflow to call and tell me its in. The laugh is though, the knee isn't ready yet for me to try it out on a bike outdoors so when it does arrive I'll have to contain myself until it is. Not a bad incentive to keep in there with the rehab :-)

Write off

2011-01-10T10:00:00.001Z

As time is going on reality is eventually kicking in and I am now resigned to the fact that I wont be out in the hills proper this winter, bugger. It's the first winter since I got back into walking in 2005 that I'm not getting my winter fix.

I have to be sensible coz if I mess up my rehab from the microfracture surgery it's a lot more serious that just not getting out to play in the snow for one winter. I have a daily reminder of that from my mother as her knee op wasn't so straightforward either. By the time she was 50 she had been "invalided out" of work and now at 67 has had both knee joints partially replaced. Oh the joys of osteoarthritis. Enough of this depressing stuff.

So what to do? The main crux of the rehab is minimal load bearing for 3 months so even doing the simple everyday things like getting up and down stairs or wandering round the supermarket have proved a challenge. Being able to determine whether my rate of recovery is on par with "the norm" has also proved a challenge as the stuff I've found via " the tinternet" (dangerous I know) is so varied. Here I am 9 weeks post op still not able to do more than a snail's pace and getting very frustrated. My surgeon who thankfully understands the psyche of the fresh air freaks being an extremely enthusiastic road cyclist himself, had said that I could try an exercise bike. After persuading my dad to give he his exercise bike - thanks grumps - I have been very gently re-introducing myself to something other than sitting on the sofa.

In the meantime I have my photos from all my previous winter wanders and those of my friends recent adventures to give me something to aim for.

Gadgets

2011-01-09T00:48:00.000Z

It's been entertaining the last few days as Steve has been toying with the idea of updating his phone. He'll admit that as far as technology is concerned he is sceptical about it after all," what's a phone for - to make a call!!!!" As he'd asked me about what I liked about my phone, a Sony Ericsson X10, I started to think about all the things that I use it for in both everyday life and when I'm out and about in the middle of nowhere. It's made me realise that my phone today has just about made redundant several items that I always carried.

The first thing that got chucked out the pocket was my trusty Walkman MP3/Radio. Music goes everywhere with me. I don't always need it on but knowing that I can put the earphones in and get a blast of what takes my fancy or try and listen to whatever someone is drivelling on about on the radio that might constitute as news is like a comfort blanket to me. Having the ability to combine it with the phone and now be able to have enough music for a week is just perfect (ignoring the whole battery issue in this for the moment). Gone are the really old days of cassette Walkmans where you made up tapes to take with you on wild camps, now I'm really showing my age.................

My camera is the next item that, although not totally replaced by my super duper phone, I know that should I be so blonde as to forget to pack the camera I'm not stuck. It doesn't take as good a photie but I have picked my phone because it does have a reasonable camera that takes no too shabby a shot. The real upside of the phone's ability to take a photie is also its social networking capabilities that allow me to be a totally annoying so and so to my friends who aren't with me sharing the moment. Now who'd ave thunk that a couple of years ago!!

The item that has most surprised me in my switch from the old ways to the new technologies is my trusty book. A bit like music, I've always got a book on the go. Being a total bookworm as a kid and hours frittered on public transport are to blame. It was the main reason for me carrying a handbag and you'd always find one in my pack. That is no longer the case. I haven't totally given up on the trusty paperback or occasional hardback but since I discovered Kindle I find I no longer have that manic panic as I run about trying to remember which room I have left my book in. I started looking at Kindle after a friend had bought the reader but as I didn't want to carry something else I was well chuffed when I realised that there was an app for the phone. Even better, there were lots of free books too - result :-) Like my visits to a conventional book store I spent hours flicking through what was on offer. I downloaded a couple to see how it worked. I quite enjoyed reaquainting myself with Winny the Pooh :-) As I was in the middle of a book I parted with some pennies to download it and picked up where I'd left off. Here I had the best of both worlds, a book to curl up with on the sofa and a gizmo to pick up anytime, an absolute godsend when you're stuck on public transport.

These are the main things that I've allowed to be taken over by that thing called a phone. I know it can do loads more especially when it comes to usefulness in the outdoors in the way of GPS, mapping and compass along with alerting you when the weather is going to turn - just a wee bit too much for me at the moment.And like all things they have their limitations, mostly the battery usage and the requirement for mobile signal. I'm happy with how it is my entertainment and communication device and takes up significantly less space allowing for other luxuries. Time to go put on the shuffle and see what musical delights await me :-)

Irvine sunset taken with the X10

Coffeeshop Canundrums

2011-01-04T23:59:00.000Z

With no chance of getting out to play in the hills over the festive break next best thing is getting together with the gang to gab about everything and anything. Now the venue for this has to be just right and fortunately Tiso Glasgow Outdoor Experience has the right mix - a cafe that doesn't get narked at you when you spend hours sitting drinking coffee and eating cakes then causing chaos when you try and remember what you had when you go to pay and a gear shop to walk it off round whilst fondling kit and talking more. I'm sure it has its own time continuum as many a day has disappeared while I've been in there.

We had not a bad wee gathering with Sandy & Louise, Scott & Marion, Steve & I and Gordy and all of us confessing to not having been near a hill for a minimum of two months. There was discussion on kit, injuries, pending nuptials, weans and plans to get oot in some way or another.

So after spending an afternoon in good company I managed to walk out the shop without purchasing anything but with several things to do lots of web searching on for future purchase. Now where do I find the best info on front sus hybrids that are within my price range..........................................

Aint life strange...........

2010-12-20T17:24:00.002Z

Lots of things have made me think that life is strange over the years. Some have even made me go out and investigate why the strange thing happens being the nuts & bolts type of gal that I am. Others I thankfully realise are not worth the waste in energy to do anything about. In revisiting the 80's classic "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" I quite like the idea of its simplicity that we are part of an experiment to find the question to the ultimate answer of 42.

Much better than trying to work out all sort of other answers & questions ......................................

Keeping busy

2010-12-14T21:14:00.000Z

There is a list a mile long of things I should be dealing with while I am incapacitated but even though I can't get out to play, I still can't bring myself to do them. Who in their right minds wants to be filing paperwork or sorting through wardrobes to see what really needs chucked.

I found a great distraction - making a calendar for ma mammy's Christmas present. My parents, being typical of their generation for Lanarkshire, don't really know their home country so I make sure they get to see my photies and at least get a wee peek at what they've missed out on. The only trouble was that I have thousands (and I really do mean thousands) of photos so it took me a wee while of systematically ploughing through them to find the best that I have managed to take. After whittling down to 134 the panel of judges, ie me and Steve, picked out the 12 that made the cut for mammy's calendar.

Next step was deciding on the company to produce it. With so many out there now offering these services for not only calendars but cards, posters, mugs, photobooks, you can very easily get overwhelmed with it all and with all the little extra costs that manage to creep in as you get deeper into the transaction for some of them. Watch out for the hidden upload costs.

Being a typical blonde, I couldn't make up my mind so plumped for 2 different companies with two different styles. The first batch appeared today and I have to say I am impressed. I just hope my mammy is too.

Torture

2010-12-07T23:28:00.000Z

My knee started giving me a bit of jip a while back, I ignored it but when an orthopaedic consultant colleague of mine noted my limp I let him have a look at it. A scan showed a cartilage tear. It needed to be sorted so on the 8th of November I went in for my arthroscopy. Best laid plans an aw that............................

That simple cartilage tear was easily rectified but I also had an area the size of 10p that was devoid of any cartilage - not good. My surgeon performed a process known as microfracturing to stimulate regrowth of the non existent cartilage. All being well it should prevent me from needing a knee joint replacement for a good while. In the meantime I've got to be careful with my recuperation.

So here we are 4 weeks later with some of the most amazing snow and I canny go out to play, especially not with the way even the pavements are at the moment.. I haven't been totally stuck inside since the op. Steve, my carer ;-) took me for a wander along a snowy Salcoats beach

I forsee some low level alternative re- entry routes being developed

Haglofs Matrix 60

2010-10-16T23:19:00.000+01:00

It's been a while since I've been wild camping so there was much faffing about with gear and I hoped that I'd chucked everything into the crate before we headed north.

It was the first outing for the Haglofs Matrix 60. I'd bought it for winter backpacking but needed to test run it. I'd pondered long and hard before buying this pack. At 1650g its not the lightest one around nor the heaviest. The features that sold it to me were the twin compartment for separating the gear, the quality of the build and the way it carried and that was before I took it out to play. Yes there are a couple of features that I would have preferred, like hip fin pockets and slightly deeper wand pockets but these ended up not being an issue in the end.

Onto how it performed. Packing it was actually a pleasure as you could easily stash in the lower compartment practically all the camp stuff. The only thing I couldn't squish in was the Jetboil. It has a rather nifty internal compression set up too as well as the internal divider that can be removed. That left loads of space in the main compartment for the warm clothes and grub which was able to be well compressed too with its side and top compression straps. The closure on the main compartment is nice and bombproof too. The floating lid is easy enough to shoogle about to where you want it. It's got an internal zipped pocket as well as the cavernous top pocket. I "pimped the pack" by adding some Radlight Endurance Pouches which worked a treat.

All packed & ready to go

Next, the carry. The shoulder straps and hip fins are nicely padded as well being very easy to adjust. Back length for me was perfect so no need to adjust anything. First impressions when you put it on fully loaded (approx 11kg) is nice and comfy and you're not conscious of any significant weight. That feeling continued as we trundled along for the 6km and 400m of ascent to the camp spot. Result. I didn't take it up with us for our summit trip the next morning but going with how it carried on the way in I would have been happy to take this over more rugged terrain than the path out from Mamore Lodge to Sgurr Eildhe Mor. The journey back was also a pleasure. Definitely a very nice carry.

All in all I was impressed with the Matrix 60. It's going to do what I need it to do. It's made of pretty rugged material and the quality of build is good so should last a long time. Let's hope I get enough opportunities to use it.

10/10/10 10:10am 1010m

2010-10-14T17:21:00.000+01:00

As far as whacky ideas go this is a fairly tame one but Kate and I liked the idea of being on a 1010m hill at 10:10am on 10/10/10. This had come about after we realised that we'd missed out with Stob Ban 999m as we'd done it on the 5th of September 09 instead of waiting to the 9th So the search was on for a 1010m hill. There are 4 in Scotland and the list was wittled down on the merits of location and ability to wildcamp. Kate had to be back in Cardiff on the Monday so Sgurr Eildhe Mor was the hill that ticked all the boxes.

So here we were over a year later and a few others were interested in this quirky outing, queue Zoe, Maria, Ben and David. By this time Kate and I were both on the injury list so we were taking the leisurely approach while the others were on a bagging mission. After a spot of lunch in The Ice Factor we parked up at Mamore Lodge with blue sky above. We were pleasantly surprised to spot a rather big bird circling above. Not being a twitcher or able to get the best picture we still have no idea what it is. Anyone any suggestions?

While we were getting ready to leave I filled Kate in on my little plan for Mamore Lodge should I win the Lottery. It is such a magnificent place and it's a real shame that it's not being used at the moment. Now when I win the lottery................................

As we headed up the track there was a very obvious north south divide with the weather. Glencoe was shrouded in haze and low cloud while ahead of us we had blue sky. In the sun it was very pleasant but the wind was certainly gusting. By the time we reached Coire an Lochain we knew we might struggle to find enough sheltered space for us all and marveled at the Atko that was pitched at the north end of the bealach. After wandering about for 45 minutes trying to decide where the best camp spot would be, we decided that it would be better to head down towards Alt Coire Bhinnein especially as the winds were to get stronger overnight. Someone else had the same idea too but we found an area next to the stream that took our two Terra Nova Voyager Superlites. We were starting to wonder where the others were. The original plan was for us to rendezvous and camp on the narrow spur of land between the two lochains. With Kate and I deciding to drop down we kept looking out for the others. Zoe and Ben were coming off Sgor Eildhe Beag but we'd not seen them before we dropped down. Maria and David had gone over to Binnein Beag. They appeared at our camp spot just as the sun started to set. Next thing we saw was someone waving from the top of the bealach - it was Ben. Maria and David decided to brave the wind and head up to where Zoe and Ben had camped. We arranged to meet at 8am for the summit bid.

Looking back down Loch Leven

It was an interesting evening and night. The temperature dropped like a stone once the sun had gone down and even though it was a SE wind it had a real nip in it. Before too long Kate and I had retreated to our tents. We were kept entertained by the rutting stags who at times sounded very close. I'm sure I heard the clash of antlers a couple of times. I was also somewhat perturbed when someone came past my tent saying "oh shit" at 130am - guess they might have wanted to camp where we were.

No magical sunset or sunrise pics from this wildcamp outing but that wasn't the purpose of the trip, we were here to do a numbers thing. We found the rest of the gang on the spur of land between the two lochains. Tents were still intact. We had 300m to climb so we left all the stuff and wandered up. Our timing was a little off, we were 30 minutes too early so we faffed about taking photos and munching Curly Wurly's.

Typically, none of us could agree on when it was 10:10am as all our watches and phones gave us different times. Not to worry, at least we were on the top long before the actual time and left well after. More photies though the haze meant we didn't get the full effect of the views. Ah well, mission accomplished.

Sgor Eildhe Beag & Coire an Lochain

Lookibg down to Coire an Lochain from summit ridge

Maria on Sgurr Eildhe Mor ridge

Kate enjoying the view

Official time and altitude keeper

Mission Accomplished

Once back at camp I remembered that I hadn't carried out my wee experiment for gourmet camp food - popping corn. Jetboil was fired up, oil heated and first batch into the pan - it was yummy. For some reason the second batch didn't pop and burned the bottom of the pan. Something I will try again as it was a nice wee treat that really weighs nothing. With everyone all packed up we headed back to Mamore Lodge. The journey back to Weegie would not be complete without dropping into Crafts & Things Cafe Glencoe for coffee and chocolate cake along with popping into The Real Food Cafe. We settled for hot chocolate the as were had dinner waiting for us back in Weegie. Now, what to do for 11/11/11..............

The Stalker Meets the Stalked............

2010-09-22T01:32:00.001+01:00

When I started reading "The hills are stuffed with Swedish girls" last year I would never have guessed that ten months later I'd be standing at the top of the Devil's Staircase having a natter with the author.

It's been quite a year for Richard Happer. He publishes the humorous love story of three blokes wandering the West Highland Way but before he knows it he's in the poo with Ordnance Survey. He came up with the "Justice for Jonesy" theme to defend his book and it just seemed to set my imagination on overload with madcap ideas to get more publicity so I started sending them off to Richard, posting on the blog and generally blethering about it at every opportunity - probably just a wee bit OTT and the last thing that the poor bloke expected.

It all turned out OK as OS stopped being total jobsworths and dropped their legal action and Richard had managed to get a second edition for which he decided to have an unusual signing at the top of the Devil's Staircase. Well surprise, surprise that sent me onto imagination overload again and poor Richard was getting inundated with my witterings again. It's probably at this point I realised that my behaviour was verging on the obsessive stalker.

To say that I was a wee bit apprehensive about meeting Richard was an understatement, made all the worse by my Outdoorsmagic mates who were coming along to the signing also calling me a stalker. The bloke was a star and even when confronted by 5 larger than life characters all wanting their book signed in the typically Scottish mizzle he just kept smiling. He wasn't even phased when we were all wanting photos taken. I suppose that's the breaks when you're a media slave ;-)

One of the main things that I have taken away from this experience is just how committed you have to be to make your dream happen. Richard had told me how it had taken three years to write the book and when none of the mainstream publishers were interested, it was down to him and some mates to see what they could do. It's great that it has happened and hopefully this means we will get some more adventures from Fitch, Wentworth, Macrae and Jonesy.

Weekend Madness

2010-09-17T12:18:00.000+01:00

Well the weather isn't looking as blue sky as I would have wanted but hey ho so long as its no torrential rain we wake up to I'll be happy.

I'm looking forward to catching up with some old friends and eventually meeting some virtual ones too this weekend, for not just the standard hill weekend as we'll be going to the "book signing with altitude..."

I suspect it may be an entertaining one.......................

Morley Python

2010-09-13T14:51:00.000+01:00

For once all were in agreement, a wee hill jaunt followed by refueling at The Real Food Cafe. It was nearly derailed before it got off the ground as the weather was looking pants. More scouring over the maps - the hill was decided Scron nan Colan.

Quite entertaining to be told off by the 16yr old doing her DoE that I didn't have proper footwear on :-D Very soon after she was also commenting on how great it was to be walking with a small pack. Oh from the mouths of babes.................

Elaina, Craig, Jennifer & Steve all smiles at the start

It turned out to be a great wee hill. OK not the prettiest as its scared by the remains of a led mine but the views more than made up for it. The weather didn't play ball with getting the photo ops but I figure this is a stoater of a spot to get the Lui group.

We still had fun in between the showers and thoroughly enjoyed the post walk nosh up :-)

A book signing with a difference...........

2010-09-08T17:58:00.001+01:00

No point in me wittering on, here's the story direct from Richard Happer, the author of The hills are stuffed with Swedish girls

a book reading...

............ with altitude

To celebrate the launch of the new, OS-friendly second edition of his wildly funny novel ʻThe Hills Are Stuffed With Swedish Girlsʼ, author Richard Happer will be holding a very unusual book signing in Glencoe.

Date: Saturday 18th September
Location: Top of the Devilʼs Staircase
Time: from noon
Refreshments: yes, sausages 

 So whatʼs the book about then?

Three lovesick men (and their cat) who head into the Highlands in search of the mythically hot tourist girls who will surely cure all that ails them.

But maybe they find something deeper than that in those wild, romantic and very rainy glens..........

And what do people think of it?

“I am a member of staff at The Clachaig Inn in Glencoe, and I've just finished reading your
book. I'd just like to say it is a serious contender for the most entertaining book I've ever had
the pleasure to read, and it has been the subject of a great deal of jokes and banter for the
last week or so. A hugely enjoyable, believable and very touching read. Many thanks from
the depths of Glencoe!” --James Roddie

So come on up for a chat, some literary laughs or even just a sausage buttie. Hope to see you for hill-top fun on the 18th!

richardhapper.com

the-hills-are-stuffed-with-swedish-girls.com

Needless to say there are a few of us who will be going along to this and are planning to make a weekend of it. All the details of that on the Outdoorsmagic thread. Hope the weather plays ball

Sgorr Dearg & Sgorr Dhonuill and a randoms weekend

2010-09-06T23:05:00.001+01:00

When a friend asked if we wanted to go up to Glencoe for the weekend we didn't need to be asked twice. The fact that I was working til 8pm did but a wee bit of a dampener on things but I soon escaped and before I knew it we were in The Real Food Cafe for an impromptu meet up with ptc* and Joyce as well as catching up with Sarah the owner of the RFC.

We weren't sure whether Zoe & Maria would still be in The Clachaig but figured it would be criminal not to go in for a pint before bedtime. Well they were still there and it looked like they had accumulated the first "randoms" of the weekend. The craic was very entertaining, when you could understand it. The guys were also planning to do some Munros the next day though 2 of them had never done any whilst the third was a Munro Completer - we were already wondering whether they would achieve their aim for the day!! Before last orders were called we retreated to our various accommodation with the plan to meet the next morning to find the Outdoorsmagic newbie Dave who was joining us for our assault on Sgorr Dearg & Sgorr Dhonuill.

It was looking like is was going to be a cracking day. We found Dave and he wasn't immediately scared of by us four wittering on. Steve and I had done these hills as a horseshoe a few years ago from Ballachulish but today we were heading up from South Ballachulish to the beallach. They have made massive improvements to the path through the forest which made our ascent a very pleasant experience.

Heading up the forest track

If you go down to the woods today.........

Heading up to the beallach

When we reached the beallach we had a discussion about which one to do first. Sgorr Dearg won the toss and off we trotted. The sun was still shining though the wind was starting to pick up. The view from the top was stunning as ever. So many hills just open up in front of you down Glencoe, over the Mamores towards Ben Nevis, out to Ardgour, down Loch Leven and Loch Linnhie.

Looking over to Mamores & Glencoe from Sgorr Dearg

Zoe, Steve, Maria & Dave on summit of Sgorr Dearg - great clouds

Zoe with Ardgour in the background

Lunch was scoffed and back down we went. The final push to the summit of Sgorr Dhonuill is a lot narrower than that of Sgorr Dearg and rockier. Nice to get some hand on rock again :-)

Sgorr Dhonuill

Dave & Maria looking back over the Ballachulich Horseshoe

We were soon on top where we got in to conversation with our next two "randoms" of the weekend. We were discussing whether it was to be a return by our ascent route or to go off on a wander to the west. Never being one for liking going back the way we came we wandered off to the west with Joe and his dad Stephen joining us on our wee adventure.

Heading west off Sgorr Dhonuill

Steve looking for the route down ;-)

Our descent coire

It ended up with Steve and I heading down at the first beallach which had a cairn at it into a loose scree gully. It was inevitable that my rear would make contact with the ground on this section. To the others, who had gone a bit further along before heading into their own scree gully, it must have looked treacherous as they seemed relieved when we joined up before heading back to yet another nice path back to the car park. For me it was just another entertaining descent ;-)

Last look back at Sgorr Dhonuill & our route down

The randomness of the weekend continued to entertain that evening back in the Clachaig with the band for the evening Rusty Nail adding its own special mix to the experience. Cracking time was had by all - isn't that what its all about?

All the fun of the wedding :-D

2010-07-10T11:00:00.000+01:00

Our mates Jamie & Nicky are getting hitched today and we are really looking forward to being there with them to cerlebrate this event. So no hills but I suspect plenty of thrills and spills

Aw ra best :-))

Blowing the cobwebs away

2010-07-08T18:50:00.002+01:00

No excuses, except not enough hours in the day has kept me from updating the blog.We have been getting out though not as often as we would like especially in that unprecedented dry spell. Oh to win the lottery ;-)

We had a great trip to Gairloch which included getting up Slioch and gave me more ideas of hills that I want to do in that area. I suspect I'll do Slioch again as it was a crackin day oot :-D

There was the slightly earlier than usual trip for Steve's work crowd where we ended up on Sgurr a Mhain via the Devil's Ridge. As ever an entertaining weekend made very comfortable with our stay in The Glencoe Hotel.

Our few days in Lochcarron gave me more food for thought on areas to explore as we did lots of beachcombing and wandering up hills that might not get the same attention now its no longer a Munro.

We even had a camping trip south of the border to Newton on Rawcliffe North York Moors for a change to catch up with Steve's family and old school chums as well as the influx of geese on Hornsea Meer that nearly had us for dinner.

Oh for more days to wander and blow the cobwebs away..............................

It's not just about the hills...........

2010-05-05T23:53:00.000+01:00

The main purpose for the weekend get together did involve a hill (more on that later) but as we were all a bit tired from the long drive north to Gairloch, the decision to wander around the area and enjoy some coastal stuff after a long lie was a unanimous one.

There are so many gorgeous beaches on the far NW coast of Scotland but high on my list to go visit was the lighthouse out at Rubha Reidh. I'd spotted it when we were searching for accommodation for the weekend and was pleasantly surprised to find you could stay there, even hire the whole place. I quite like the idea of staying in a lighthouse :-) It was a bit on the windy side which meant we had some nice swell action going on. There are some really interesting rock formations too to explore and clamber across and that kept us all amused for a while.

Rubha Reidh Lighthouse

Me exploring the rocks

Kate checking out the large cleft

What can I say - Nicky, Jamie, Steve & Kate playing on the rock

We eventually decided that our stomach's needed attending to and had already sussed out what was in the area so it was back to the hamlet of Melvaig and the Melvaig Inn. What an interesting place. Lots of quirky retro music and toys along with a dart board and pool table to keep you busy. There were also some unusual bits and bobs around the place that are certainly talking points. Well worth the visit.

Scary wabbit......

Next stop was Redpoint. Weather was getting duller but we still managed to get some views over to Skye as we wandered along the beach comparing the size of the shells we were finding.

We finished the day off with the most fantastic dinner at the Badachro Inn - oh how I love seafood.

Evolution

2010-04-26T00:08:00.001+01:00

I had an interesting conversation with a colleague at work the other day that made me realise how far my interest in the outdoors has developed over the years.. He came to me looking for advice as he and a few friends are doing a sponsored Southern Uplands Way jaunt next month. None of them are regular walkers but they are all keen to experience the outdoors.

I'm quite envious of the obvious excitement he is experiencing at the planning of this adventure and at the same time worried for him and his friends hoping that they don't overload themselves with kit and kill themselves trying to walk with it all. When I see him at work this week I shall have a list of the essentials they need in the pack and the luxuries that make the long walk more bearable. I'm instantly taken back to my first few backpacking adventures which I have fond memories of but also vividly remember the pain attached to these also. I just hope I can ensure that this will be the start of something good for them rather than en endurance event for a good cause.

Sgurr a' Mhaoraich

2010-04-22T22:32:00.001+01:00

The story of this adventure will seem familiar if you have read PTC, Sandy and Phil's blogs already but I thought I'd write up my thoughts anyway. Apologies for the repetition and delay.That thing called work that finances my gear habit and excursions has been demanding way too much of my time and energy but hey ho.

Loch Quoich is an area that is virgin territory for me. I had looked at in wonder from the South Glen Shiel Ridge last year but it still hadn't made it onto this years "must do" list. When I got the email from PTC outlining the options for a weekend adventure this was the one that most took my fancy. The drive up was very familiar until we turned off at the sign saying Kinlochhourn. The light was fading fast but I could see there were lots of very interesting hills in here that will need to be explored at some point. We parked right at the start of the stalkers path onto the ridge up Bac nan Canaichea. Its a well maintained path so there were no difficulties even though we were walking in the dark having set off at 930pm. The sky was clear so we were all trying to pick out the stars, looking for shooting stars and tracking the satellites. Then some cloud started coming over and I had to succumb to putting the red light on in the headtorch. This initially did me quite well until the ground got a bit more undulating and my depth perception was non existant, bloody nystagmus and astigmatism. This slowed me down a bit and eventually I had to put the white light on. We were initially planning to camp near the wall that disects the ridge just after the summit of Sgurr Coire nan Eincheallach but when we came across a really nice flat plateau at around 800m with a snow bank perfect for water purposes we decided to pitch there for the night.

We were soon set up, stoves were on and the food was out to refuel before bed. Amazingly I was still feeling very awake despite it being well after midnight. Our stars had disappeared under cloud which was a shame but it was a lovely still night with not even a whisper of wind. I eventually retired to the tent about 130am lying there listening to the music shuffle on the phone before drifting off. I woke a couple of hours later with a cold bum - I should have taken either the Downmat 7 or my PHD Down Trousers - but soon drifted off again after strategically placing my insulating jacket. When I next peaked out the tent at 515am the sun was already teasing the sky with tinges of orange. I opened the fly of the tent a little more and repositioned the pillow to make the most of it. PTC chuckled at me when I let out a "wow" at one point. Eventually around 6am we were all awake and exiting our various sleeping quarters to get the full effect of the sunrise. We all wandered over the ridge to get our various pictures of the scene and grab our own private moments with it. Hunger then got the better of us and the stoves were on for breakfast cuppas. We exchanged banter over how we'd slept and our thoughts on the sunrise. Perfect apart from not getting an inversion. Hey ho, we can't have it all ways

First peak out the tent

The boys enjoying the view

The perfect spot

We regretfully packed up and started up the rest of the route. We all agreed that we had found the perfect camp spot and were glad not to have pushed on for the original destination. When we reached the top of Sgurr Coire nan Eincheallach we were rewarded with a fantastic view of our intended peak and there was snow!!!!! The 360 degree views that we were getting were just getting better and better. To our north the Glen Shiel and Kintail hills, to our south Glen Kingie and Knoydart. Its an intersting undulating craggy little ridge with some entertaining rocky bits that we had fun scrambling over. We enjoyed taking our time drinking in the views and the feel of the mountain under our feet. Before too long we were on top ooing at ahhhing at the panorama. I couldn't get over how far we could see. Torridon, Cairngorms, Ben Nevis looking majestic and Skye out west. We set up camp on the summit for cuppas and sticky gingerbread muffins. Again none of us really wanted to move but we needed to keep going.

The wall

Nice grippy rock to play on

Summit of Sgurr a Mhaoraich looking towards Ben Nevis

Our route off was down to Bealach Coire a Chaorainn then onto Am Bathaich before dropping into Glen Quoich. The route down to the bealach still had a fair bit of snow on it. The first section was perfectly angled for some sliding down. I just couldn't resist. The next was not so forgiving. The angle was a lot steeper and the snow more consolidated so crampons on and I followed the steps made by PTC, Phil & Sandy for me. When we reached the bealach we were able to see the next stage, working our way through the rock bands and grass terraces to the summit of Am Bathaich. It turned out to be easier than I first thought. The rest of this wee ridge down gave us some intersting rocks to play on and oggle at the strange letters that were on some of them. Soon enough we were on the stalkers path down into Glen Quoich, not the most exciting part of the day that's for sure.

Entertaining snow slope

Approaching Bealach Coire a Chaorainn

Heading down stalkers path to Glen Quoich

One more obstacle to negotiate before we were on the path back along the loch side, Allt Coire a' Chaorainn. PTC wondered if this would be a "Blondie stopper" I certainly wouldn't be able to cross it the same way the boys had as my balance is so crap I'd almost certainly fall in trying to rock hop. So the socks were off, the boys chucked some more rocks into the gaps on the river bed and off I went. That last 4km along the loch inlet really drained us all so we were really glad to eventually get back to the car 22 hours after we had left it. Irn Bru was graftefully consumed, fresh clothes donned and into the car as the sun was setting once more over Loch Quoich. A cheeky deer tried to stop us from leaving by standing in the middle of the road staring us out. We won. As we headed back to the main road we had the sudden realisation that we may have a problem. The road south of Fort William was due to close at 9pm. The race was on PTC's trusty stead was ever so slightly overloaded but despite his best efforts, within the law of course, we reached Spean Bridge at 858pm, no chance of getting south on the A82. We were off on a tour of Scotland heading over to the A9. By this time we were all craving proper food and we debated where we were likely to obtain some. It is really disappointing to realise that this country doesn't cater for those who find themselves needing food after 9pm on a Sunday night. We travelled 130 miles from Loch Quoich before we found anywhere open, the services at Perth where the selection was limited and delayed as the staff were changing shifts. We were soon back on the road and I eventually put the key in the door at 1am.

This was certainly a weekend that will put a smile on my face every time it is mentioned or comes into my thoughts, even with the sting in the tale.

Thanks boys :-))

For those who want to see more photos (of which there are many!!) you can find them here.

My name is Elaina & I'm a gearaholic.................

2010-04-19T00:45:00.001+01:00

This weekend has turned out to be a no hill zone due to my knee being grumbly after last weekend's adventures and a heavy week on my feet at work. I should have been using the time to catch up on the domestic stuff that I have been ignoring for ages but that aint any fun. I used Saturday to catch up on the much needed sleep that my body craved and then confirmed my ongoing knee grumbles with a walk along the canal. My wee brain started wondering what distraction I could come up with for Sunday other than doing the dreaded housework. I had a sudden flash of inspiration - a visit to Escape Route could be on the cards to check out the Haglofs Matrix pack that I was considering. OK Pitlochry aint round the corner but Steve doesn't mind driving especially if we can stop off at The Real Food Cafe.

This was my first visit to the store but it had come highly recommended by Phil and PTC. As we walked in Steve started shaking his head and saying "oh no". I had walked into Haglofs heaven :-)) I didn't know where to start. I spotted the packs behind the counter and asked if they had the Matrix 60. I could see by the look on the staff's faces that my luck was out. It was at this point I started cursing PTC & Phil for misimforming me. We began looking over the stock that they had and trying on some other but none were suitable for the job I wanted. I decided to have a look at the rest of the lovely Haglofs kit and found to my delight that they had wummins versions of a lot of the range and in my size. I was getting giddy by now. I found the Lizard Shorts and just had to try them. I was over the moon when I came out the changing room as they fitted perfectly. What I wasn't expecting was to hear this voice say "they had better not be the ones I had asked to be put aside for me". It was Phil. He'd been working up in the area and had come in to get his prized Lizards. I started shouting at him for luring me to this place under false pretences. I soon got over that and before I knew it Phil and myself were going through all the lovely kit with help from Peter whilst Steve stood looking on wondering how to deal with two gear freaks who were bouncing off one another.

Peter then gave us a lovely cappiccino. Now this is what I call shopping. Before I knew it I had a pile of stuff that I wanted Lizard Shorts, Lizard Top, Box Cap along with some Sealskin socks and an amusing sunhat from Animal. I needed to get out before I spent any more money. I didn't quite make it. Somehow I just needed to order the Lizard top in the lovely purple as well as taking home the black one.

The shop had stayed open way later than they were supposed to. We really needed to go but not before Peter had said he'd get in the Matrix in red for me to try. Thanks staff at Escape Route for exceptional service and I hope not to cite you in my application for bankruptcy ;-)

Wildcamping Kit

2010-04-18T01:35:00.002+01:00

Apologies for the delay in getting this out. That thing that finances my gear habit and excursions has demanded way too much of my time and energy for my liking. Anywhoose, last weekend's adventure had me pondering over many items of kit before we headed out. I don't go wildcamping enough to be fully confident in my choice of kit but hopefully that will change the more I get out.

Tent

I really only have one backpacking tent my Terra Nove Superlite Voyager which I have had for 4 years so it aint the lighter version available now but the 1.7kg original version. It's luxury as a solo tent and not too shabby for sharing either. But this was being left at home as I had been given a Big Agnes Fly Creek to play with for the night. I was very impressed.

At less than 1kg fully packed you hardly know it's in the pack. It's a inner pitch first and considering that I had never seen it before and I was pitching in the dark it went up very easily and quickly with no major hassles. It's got a rather unusual pole design in that it has a hub that splits at the front to form the porch support. I'm used to a front entry tent but I did have to think hard where I was putting kit as the entry is on the narrow side but still very workable. The porch is certainly large enough for you to cook in and if you can sit cross legged you're soted. I prferred the lying on stomach approach which was very comfy. Although very narrow at the footwell there was still space at the side for my pack and plenty space around my head for stff I wanted nearby. It's narrow footprint makes it a perfect wildcamping and I certainly had a comfy enough night in it.

Pack

I knew that I probably needed a larger pack than my usual choice of the Macpac Amp 40 to get the extra winter gear accommodated. On a whim I rushed to the local gear shops to see if any had an OMM Vilan 45+10 returning home to find that although this is a very nice pack it didn't allow for any more gear than my Macpac Amp so it has gone back to the shop. That meant I had to use my old Gregory Zpack. Another piece of kit about 5 years old that has now evolved to be a better pack. It is a comfy pack and carries very well even when fully loaded. My main gripes with this old pack are the lack of easily accessable side and hip pockets. I have added some Decathlon pouches to the hip fins but it looks messy and they move about too much. I see the latest version, now 55L capacity compared to 50L, has rectified that. For this foray my old Zpack did what it needed to do.

Sleeping

I have recently taken delivery of a a PHD Minim 500 sleeping bag, a bargain in their sale. I knew it would do the trick perfectly.It's got a temp rating of -10 a drishel outer in this lovely "gold"

What I ended up dithering over was what mat to take. I had bought an Exped Downmat 7 short for winter but decided as the weather was not going to be that bad I would risk taking the Thermarest Neoair which is just so super comfy. I also had my Decathlon pillow and my PHD down booties. I had a little thermometer with me so when I was woken up with what turned out to be a cold bum, I checked and it was -2C. Maybe I should have taken the Downmat. Other than that the combo worked very well.

Other Stuff
The only other area where I had a wee quandry over was what spare clothing to take. My insulation layer was decided purely on aesthetic reasons. I wanted to wear my lovely mango coloured Haglofs Barrier Windstopper. It weighs a third more than my PHD Yukon and is no where near as packable but is very toasty and the colour is just so easy to see on the hill.

I had packed my PHD Ultra Vest but it didn't come out at all. I had also wondered about whether or not to put the PHD Down Trousers in. I decided not to. It may have helped with the cold bum issue and Phil certainly seemend nice and comfy wandering about camp in his in the morning so they may well be considered for other camps. Everything else packed was pretty much the same as always. Jetboil for cooking, Travel Tap water filter, Platypus hydration system, Alpkit Gamma Headtorch, Buffalo windshirt, Haglofs Oz, Kahtoola Steels and microspikes, Camp Corsa ice axe.

I'm still not sure how my gear nearly filled a 50L pack while Sandy managed to get his into a 35L. I'll just need to keep tweaking.........

“Instructions on how to engineer an epic out of a daywalk”

2010-04-14T11:44:00.001+01:00

I've nicked the title for this post from PTC who has written up the weekend's events to perfection as serialised here in Camp Freddy and Camp Coffee . A wee overnight wildcamp with PTC, Sandy and Phil on Sgurr a' Mhaoraich which turned out to be one of the best hill experiences I have had.

I shall put something together properly when I manage to get through the 395 photos I took and my energy levels get to a stage where I sort of make sense. Hopefully that wont be too long ;-)

Preperation

2010-04-09T23:05:00.001+01:00

At last, a week of work torture is over. I badly need a hill fix to rejuvenate this bruised and battered soul. PTC has formulated a plan that sees four of us going off to play up high in the dark near Loch Quoich. I'm sure this trip will do the trick perfectly.

My body is weak at the moment so I'm sitting here going through what kit to take in my head rather than getting it all together. It has been way too long since the last wildcamp for me to be able to easily recall all that is required. This will have to be rectified. Bed is calling. I shall be dreaming of my sleeping quarters for tomorrow night ........................ :-)

Beinn Ime

2010-04-06T10:18:00.000+01:00

I needed a hill fix but had the ususal post work hangover. Destination Arrochar, Beinn Ime. There were a couple of options on the table, doing it from Butterbridge possibley taking in the Corbett Beinn Luibhean or a nice easy meander from Succoth. It would be decided on whether there was space in the car park at Succoth. There was space and as I had done nothing but sleep in the car on the way there we decided to take the easy option.

As you'd expect from a holiday weekend, it was mobbed but we had chosen the less frequented hill. It was looking a bit murcky as we approached but thankfully for us the weather didn't appear to want to touch our hill. It's great in that area around Bealach a' Mhaim, the views of the surrounding hills are just majestic.

Beinn Ime

Beinn Narnain

Ben Vane

We hit the snowline around 750m and its the type of snow we like, not to wet and hard enough to be able to take your weight. Bliss :-) This was where I started cursing the fact that I had forgotten to lift the camera and Steve had left his at home too. I was praying that the shots I was taking with my Nokia 5800 would turn out. I couldn't see the screen so it really was just pointing and hoping for the best. Thankfully they worked. The views from on top were phenominal.

On the route up we'd been recceing potential sliding, sorry Easter egg rolling areas after all that was why we had come up the hill ;-) You're never too old to follow traditions.

Tradition

2010-04-05T15:42:00.004+01:00

Easter Sunday, a day to go up the hill and roll your Easter egg down. Then again, maybe just go for a slide myself as well as my egg :-)