Just back from a trip to the Alps, it ended being far more social than active but it was great to catch up with everyone.
As I'm off to do this cycle trip through Jordan I really needed to get on my bike and do a bit of training. Sunday I was off on the Burma Road, this is a track from Carrbridge to Aviemore. We did it anti clockwise, which as I was delighted about. The slog up from Aviemore more would have been very hard work, it is 5oom vertical height gain but it was great to come down... woosh. The Burma Road is apparently names after the one in Asia for it's pink colour. Nice trip and not too hard from the Carrbridge direction. The climb is the same but the gradient is gentler. There is some wonderful wild country out to the west there and some wonderful views of the Monadliath hills.
Monday I was back out on the bike, this time just south of Nairn. We decided to go exploring and just follow the trails on the map, shame the map was not much use. A couple of the tracks just disappeared after you had got gone a fair distance along them. They just fizzled out leaving you in boggy ground. The bikes then had to be carried up a hill, through gorse bushes, ouch. Anyone watching must have thought we were just mad. FINALLY we got back to the road, what a luxury after the bog I had just been through.
25 September 2008
05 September 2008
Puddling about...
I'd love to tell yuo that I had a really active weekend but it just didn't quite turn out like that.
Saturday was a bit of biking, we cycled 24 miles as a warm up for Jordan but unlike the Jordan trip we managed 2 pub stops in the trip, can't say it was a hard cylce as half was on road. What wa amazing was the amount of fungi which are about at the moment, the woods are thick with them, great to see Fly Agaric, Sickner, Puffball, Inkcap, Boletus, Birch.......and loads more.. just amazing.
Sunday was a bit of a desk day for me as I really had to get stuff done at home (included blitzing the garden with weed killer as the weeds were waist height) and plan the Syria leg of my next trip... (more later ) Mark did offer to take me white water kayaking, but it really doen't appeal to me, bouncing bown a river on my head.
Monday I was off west to catch up with 'long lost' cousin Bob. Timing was perfect on the trip, we went for coffee on arrival and spent an hour in the cafe reading magazines and supping coffee whilst heavy rain passed through. Off for a paddle round Gairloch bay, loads of fish shoals jumping, I love it when they all jump at the same time. We arrived in at Badcharo just as it started to rain, so headed for shelter in the pub, the boys had a couple of pints and we headed back out across the bay, arriving back in Gairloch just as it started to get dark. We got the boats loaded and had just got into the hotel for a bar supper when it started to rain again..... perfect day!
Saturday was a bit of biking, we cycled 24 miles as a warm up for Jordan but unlike the Jordan trip we managed 2 pub stops in the trip, can't say it was a hard cylce as half was on road. What wa amazing was the amount of fungi which are about at the moment, the woods are thick with them, great to see Fly Agaric, Sickner, Puffball, Inkcap, Boletus, Birch.......and loads more.. just amazing.
Sunday was a bit of a desk day for me as I really had to get stuff done at home (included blitzing the garden with weed killer as the weeds were waist height) and plan the Syria leg of my next trip... (more later ) Mark did offer to take me white water kayaking, but it really doen't appeal to me, bouncing bown a river on my head.
Monday I was off west to catch up with 'long lost' cousin Bob. Timing was perfect on the trip, we went for coffee on arrival and spent an hour in the cafe reading magazines and supping coffee whilst heavy rain passed through. Off for a paddle round Gairloch bay, loads of fish shoals jumping, I love it when they all jump at the same time. We arrived in at Badcharo just as it started to rain, so headed for shelter in the pub, the boys had a couple of pints and we headed back out across the bay, arriving back in Gairloch just as it started to get dark. We got the boats loaded and had just got into the hotel for a bar supper when it started to rain again..... perfect day!
30 August 2008
Having too much fun to keep this up to date...
I've just realised that I haven't updated this for 6 weeks... wow
Well I've not been sitting about, except when I had to do some day job to pay for the lifestyle.
SO....
I've been paddling, great trip with Bob, my long lost cousin, we headed off round Lismore for 2 days, just fab, good weather, no midgies, amazing. The only downside was when my phone went for a swim, it still hasn't recovered
I then headed off to join Inverness Kayak Club for a weekend, doing some tidal stuff down south of Oban. A great weekend, you can read the report on
http://www.invernesscc.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=67
Off to France for a week with Mark, a very relaxed week, a bit of Via Ferratta and a lot of Scrabble
In between mountain and road biking, though I might not do another trip with the Cairngorm Road Club, I'll have to work on my fitness a lot to keep up with them
Despite some terrible weather I've been having a great time, just making the most of the dry spells
Well I've not been sitting about, except when I had to do some day job to pay for the lifestyle.
SO....
I've been paddling, great trip with Bob, my long lost cousin, we headed off round Lismore for 2 days, just fab, good weather, no midgies, amazing. The only downside was when my phone went for a swim, it still hasn't recovered
I then headed off to join Inverness Kayak Club for a weekend, doing some tidal stuff down south of Oban. A great weekend, you can read the report on
http://www.invernesscc.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=67
Off to France for a week with Mark, a very relaxed week, a bit of Via Ferratta and a lot of Scrabble
In between mountain and road biking, though I might not do another trip with the Cairngorm Road Club, I'll have to work on my fitness a lot to keep up with them
Despite some terrible weather I've been having a great time, just making the most of the dry spells
13 July 2008
Hectic ...
No fun out there at the moment, though off to have adventures next week. Off to the west paddling
17 June 2008
Great Paddling
A really quick post as I am in Shetland. Wonderful place, far more interesting and colourful than I had expected.
Arrived on Sunday and went over to Noss, what amazing cliffs and bird life. The Gannet colony was huge and lots of lovely Puffins. I am a sucker for Puffins. Yesterday it was off to the west and a late start to paddle Muckle Roe. This meant that the tide was out for the westerly section of the island so we could get into ALL of the caves. Just the most amazing caves, it is a bit strange weaving about inside the island... WOW
Today it was a bit farther north to Eshaness, along passed the Drongs, what an amazing coastline. The blowholes to the north of the lighthouse are just incredible.
Shetland is amazing not just from a kayak but from the land as well. Well worth a visit.
Off paddling tomorrow before heading on the 5pm ferry to Orkney for a couple of days
Arrived on Sunday and went over to Noss, what amazing cliffs and bird life. The Gannet colony was huge and lots of lovely Puffins. I am a sucker for Puffins. Yesterday it was off to the west and a late start to paddle Muckle Roe. This meant that the tide was out for the westerly section of the island so we could get into ALL of the caves. Just the most amazing caves, it is a bit strange weaving about inside the island... WOW
Today it was a bit farther north to Eshaness, along passed the Drongs, what an amazing coastline. The blowholes to the north of the lighthouse are just incredible.
Shetland is amazing not just from a kayak but from the land as well. Well worth a visit.
Off paddling tomorrow before heading on the 5pm ferry to Orkney for a couple of days
04 June 2008
bwaaa....
I've got a horrid cold, sneezing, coughing and spluttering.... doubt if there will be much action this weekend. What amazing weather we are having. Yet another lovely day today .... long may it continue
28 May 2008
Blazing Bank holiday
Whilst the south had a wet and miserable weekend, the west coast was amazing. Dave was suffering from withdrawal symptoms from Scotland having beeen back in Cornwall for a whole weekand, so he came back up for some great paddling.
Saturday we paddled into Knoydart from Mallaig, dodged up the coast to Tarbet, accross to the Kyles and down to Inverie. We camped on the Bivy site at Inverie and headed to the Pierhouse for an excellent meal, pints in the pub afterwards. The wind got up a bit in the morning making us regret the second round in pub as we bobbed about in an interesting sea! We headed for home in a nice lumpy sea with a following wind. I was much comfier in the new boat in these conditions than I had been in the Quest LV, Dave did find the LV a little challenging but that may have been the Jack Daniels coming back to haunt him.
I dropped Dave back at the airport on Monday morning, having had time to change my kit as I passed through home and headed off to Mountain Bike. It was a lovely afternoon, great weather though a bit windy. I joined up with Mark for the afternoon and we headed out of Inverness. 32 miles later and after far to many hills we got back, leaving Mark enough time for a shower before he headed out to work and I went home to collapse on the sofa, glad I was getting a rest tomorrow..... well I was going to work, which is much more relaxing than all this excertion.
Saturday we paddled into Knoydart from Mallaig, dodged up the coast to Tarbet, accross to the Kyles and down to Inverie. We camped on the Bivy site at Inverie and headed to the Pierhouse for an excellent meal, pints in the pub afterwards. The wind got up a bit in the morning making us regret the second round in pub as we bobbed about in an interesting sea! We headed for home in a nice lumpy sea with a following wind. I was much comfier in the new boat in these conditions than I had been in the Quest LV, Dave did find the LV a little challenging but that may have been the Jack Daniels coming back to haunt him.
I dropped Dave back at the airport on Monday morning, having had time to change my kit as I passed through home and headed off to Mountain Bike. It was a lovely afternoon, great weather though a bit windy. I joined up with Mark for the afternoon and we headed out of Inverness. 32 miles later and after far to many hills we got back, leaving Mark enough time for a shower before he headed out to work and I went home to collapse on the sofa, glad I was getting a rest tomorrow..... well I was going to work, which is much more relaxing than all this excertion.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
