Elterwater Walking Weekend

29-30 NOVEMBER 2008

Two days of stunning winter weather in the Lake District at Elterwater Youth Hostel with the Glenmore Walking Club. A day in Langdale on Sat - Pike of Stickle, Harrison Stickle, Pavey Ark, High Raise and Stickle Tarn finished nicely off with a few pints of beer in the New Dungeon Ghyll. Sunday was a cracking plod up the main path to Skiddaw, with amazing views down to Keswick and Derwent Water.
Photos

Ambling in Arisaig

17-21 NOVEMBER
Moira and I spent 5 days chilling out in Arisaig, and nearby, at a friends' house. Easy walk for 7 or 8 miles on Tues round the road south of Arisaig Bay; lazy day on Wed; on Thurs a scenic 3 hour run along the north Loch Morar shore from Bracorina to Tarbet (where Sir Cameron MacKintosh has a home) and back; and on Fri a wander up Glenfinnan to the foot of Streap.




More photos on FLICKR

Tinto Hill Race

SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER
4.4 miles, 1500 feet climb





My 15th completion of this classic Lanarkshire hill race. A bit of a blowy day, hard work into the wind on the way up. Turning at the top it was the usual adrenaline blast downhill, catching a few but letting club mate Scott get past. Finished strongly in 68th place of a record 260 finishers, so well chuffed at that.


Course Records
Men: J Brooks 29:58 (1995)Women: A Mudge 33:43 (2003)

1 Jethro Lennox Shettleston H 32.18 MS
2 Prasad Prasad Clydesdale H 32.41 MS
3 Henry Blake Shettleston H 33.31 MS
14 Angela Mudge Carnethy 36.14 FS

43 Don Reid Westerlands 39.47 MV50
55 Graham Kelly Westerlands 40.38 MS
65 Scott McKendrick Wester 41.35 MS
68 John Donnelly Westerlands 42.01 MV40
169 Elsie Riley Westerlands 48.53 FS
191 Johnston Orr Westerlands 51.17 MS
219 Pauline McAdam Westerla 54.14 FV50

RESULTS
PHOTOS
MY PREVIOUS TINTO TIMES
1987 41m 12s
1988 39m 35s
1990 41m 30s
1992 42m 30s
1993 37m 43s
1994 38m 53s
1995 36m 35s
1996 37m 10s
1997 41m 38s
2002 39m 23s
2003 39m 30s
2004 38m 59s
2005 39m 40s
2006 41m 46s
2008 42m 01s

Meall Ghaordaidh

SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER
A beautiful day with the Fife Crew in Glen Lochay bagging the Munro Meall Ghaordaidh.
PHOTOS

Trig's Trek

SATURDAY 1 NOVEMBER
Nearly 80 friends and family of Simon Triger went up Ben Nevis in memory of Simon. It was a lovely site, as we all snaked up the north side of the Ben, in one of Scotland's glorious wintry days. In fresh snow we gathered at the CIC huts for lunch, photos and a toast to celebrate Simon's life. There were canoeists, hashers, climbers, and runners (a few sporting the coveted Westies hat) and several who cross dress, so to speak. It was a great day, thanks to Katy for all her organising. A few of us also wandered up Carn Mor Dearg afterwards.
PHOTOS

Loch Ossian Weekend

18-19 OCTOBER
We reckon this was the 19th Westies trip to remote Loch Ossian for a weekend of wetness, windiness and general merriment.
Muffy's Report =
It was my 17th Westies weekend at Loch Ossian and I wasn't disappointed. The rain poured down, the wind howled (or was that Charlie), the stags were rutting (was that Charlie too?), the hills were alive, the curry was great, and the banter was as irreverent as ever. There were only two women (Ellie and me) and Chris, so John B and Drew joined us in the women's dormitory. They also brought several tractors with them, with engine trouble, or so it sounded. There was a guest appearance by Brian Bonnyman (welcome back, it was great to see you). But after he lost his Jenga crown (mastaaaa...) to Manny, it may be another decade before we see him again. John H baked a loaf of bread (yes, a loaf of bread!) on the Saturday, after he had whipped up a pot of soup. We will be chipping in for his fare from NZ next year, in order to do the catering. I hate to say it, but the food was some of the best this year - definitely inversely proportional to the number of wimmin. Most of us managed round the loch on the Sunday, in appalling weather, though tired legs and a force 10 gale meant a few LO virgins didn't make the hour and all I can say is that 17 years have been very cruel to my time.
Photos

Simon Triger - a friend sorely missed

I was given the tragic news on Friday that my fellow Westie runner, Hasher and good friend Simon Tiger had died in a climbing accident. Passing the news on to people was not nice, and not something you want to do for such a good guy.It's taken a few days to feel up to putting anything down in writing. The incredible positive vibe that he gave to everyone around him is how we will all remember him. I recall him bouncing down the street in Glasgow to the first Hash House Harriers run he attended, and from then on he cheered up all our lives when we were with him. He became an important part of every circle he was in and words are difficult to express the sadness I feel at his passing. Many kind words have been said on the Westies website which shows the kind of person Simon was and how he affected all of us. I know he would want us all to remember him in the great way we are all already doing, and not to feel too sad for him. May you rest in peace Simon.

JOGLE DAY TWELVE - Boscastle to Lands'End

TUESDAY 29 JULY - BOSCASTLE TO LANDS END - 95 MILES 2200 METRES
TOTAL = 1048 MILES & 19 000 METRES ASCENT

Yes, we did it we did it we did it!!! Well, Francis certainly completed the full journey of 1195 miles as it turned out and I managed 1048 in my 11 days.

Leaving Boscastle I was worried about my sore achilles and mild hangover, but on the steep winding ascent out they both seemed fine thankfully.We passed by Camelford and Bodmin, crossed between Newquay and St. Austell and through Redruth (ASBO capital of the south west apparently!)and St. Ives before bombing along full of adrenaline through St.Just on the coastal road to our final destination.
It was with tears in my eyes that we swooped into Lands End about 6pm, after battling a headwind and more wee winding lanes. It was an amazing adventure and with so much to try and remember and absorb. My very few scant words here cannot do justice to the amazing scenery, views, pubs, cafes, hostels, thatched cottages, windy lanes, vast Scottish mountain scenery, idyllic villages etc. that we encountered. A huge big thanks to Francis for his navigation and friendship throughout, and to Florence, Sally and Eleanor for their support. And, of course, not forgetting Gordon without whose bike, panniers and shoes I obviously could not have completed it.

FRANCIS'ACCOUNT=
The weather remained fairly kind for the last day, with just a few showers, and we enjoyed our final day's cycling in Cornwall. We travelled through lots of narrow lanes again and made one final coffee stop before heading along the coastal route around the north coast to reach Land's End via St. Just. The owner of the cafe had obviously seen it all before but was very encouraging and local small boys obviously knew what was going on because two groups of them shouted things such as 'Well done' as we passed.

As we negotiated the coast road, a strong breeze caused us to drop through the gears until we were almost in bottom gear whenever the road turned inland and then blew us along at top speed each time it turned and headed towards the sea. At St. Just, there was a final 1-in-6 climb before we put our heads down and started flying along towards the finish, taking it in turns to go at the front and pedal into the wind.

Sally and Eleanor were ready to receive us at the finish and a few tourists were almost as excited to find that they were there at just the right time to see someone finishing the run. One group was so pleased that they put their hands into their pockets and donated £20 on the spot.

I now have a great example of systematic error for use with my A level groups because each day proved to be longer than my measured distance. My original plan was to cycle 1000 miles in 10 days, averaging 100 miles per day, but, after being reminded that I am not as young as I used to be, I planned a journey lasting12 days. It's a good job that I did this because we have still ended up cycling 100 miles per day and, as John has pointed out, could have completed the journey in 9 days if we had selected one of the standard, 900-mile routes.
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