We got to Fort William around 9pm on Saturday night and pitched-up in what was a very busy site (Glen Nevis Camp Site). Once we got settled and had a coffee it was quite dark and Lindsay noticed that there were lights on the the side of the Ben. Walkers coming down in the dark with their torches.
As it was such a clear night – although a wee bit cold – we spread a groundsheet out and lay under a blanket looking up at the stars (and Saturn) and watched for satellites. It was a lovely way to end a relaxing and fun day.
(We saw 2 satellites)
Sunday morning it was up early to get ready to meet our fellow walkers. We left the tent at 9 and met them in the car park of the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre. A 'before' picture was taken with the plan to take another at the top...or maybe the bottom...
We set off and soon split into 2 groups (unfortunately) so the chatting going up the hill wasn't going to happen. The tourist path was mobbed with kids and school outings and it wasn't a pleasant experience as it was just too busy.
We reached the point on the hill where the tourist path veers right and the walk to the Carn Mor Dearg Arete (CMD) goes off left. There we had a bite to eat with Caroline and David before heading off to the CMD and leaving C & D to fight their way through the kids!
The next hour was fairly easy and slightly downhill until we arrived in the glen at the foot of Coire Leis. Unfortunately this is the point where we missed the easier route up to Carn Dearg Meadhonach and instead walked further up towards the Coire until we decided to head straight up the slope to Carn Mor Dearg. This was easily the hardest part of the day (physically) as the steep boulder-strewn slope was steep and boulder-strewn!!
Stopping ¾ of the way up for a bite to eat provided excellent views of the Coire, the North Face of Ben Nevis and the surrounding hills, but me being a little nervous at this point concentrated looking at my feet....and Lindsay. I said to Lindsay that I didnt think I would make the peak and would skirt along just under it to the CMD but with her motivation I made it and was glad I did. The view was superb.
Only stopping briefly here (it was a bit exposed for me) we started off for the CMD Arete.
It wasn't as hard as I thought and I spent more time concentrating on where I was trying to get to than looking at the steep drops either side of me. We got about ¾ of the way across the arete when we came to a very steep, almost sheer, boulder crop which we couldn't see a way round. The wind had picked up by this time and neither of us fancied trying to find the correct way over this without help or seeing someone else do it.
We dropped down to a path below and to the left of it and followed it for 5 minutes or so and then it looked like a climb up what turned to be fairly loose boulders. Not fancying this either we retraced our steps back and looked again at climbing over it. The wind had not died down so we decided that as we were not sure of the way we would drop down into the Coire Leis and make our way back round.
This was easier said than done!
It took us about an hour to get to the bottom of the Coire (still way above the SMC Hut) and when we looked back up at where we came down from, we both wondered how we manged it.
After that it was a long walk back round to the tourist path and then down the side of the hill. We eventually made it back to our tent at 9:15pm – 12 hours and 15 minutes after we set off.
A long day with lots of ups and downs (literally).
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Friday, 10 December 2010
The Gig
To the tune of Hotel California.....
On a cold winter's evening
some metal bands to go see
parked the car 'cross the river
took a stroll to the SECC
As we got closer
A driving beat we could hear
I thought to myself at this point
Could be louder than I could bear
When we stepped in the place
The smell of food all around
Said to the kids I need to stuff my face
So the burger van we found
3 Quarter pounders did the trick
and 3 pints – 2 of coke
Just the 1 for me dont wanna be sick....
Welcome to the loudest gig for ages
Such a noisy place
Such a noisy place
Your ears will bleed at the loudest gig in ages
And your neck'll be sore, couldn't ask for more
The support band weren't much fun
Just a noise to me and Gem
Craig was lovin' it – he wasn't glum
And still I'm thinking this is too loud
Might hear again by the middle of the night
I can still hear them sing
Welcome to the loudest gig for ages
Such a noisy place
Such a noisy place
Your ears will bleed at the loudest gig in ages
And your neck'll be sore, couldn't ask for more
On a cold winter's evening
some metal bands to go see
parked the car 'cross the river
took a stroll to the SECC
As we got closer
A driving beat we could hear
I thought to myself at this point
Could be louder than I could bear
When we stepped in the place
The smell of food all around
Said to the kids I need to stuff my face
So the burger van we found
3 Quarter pounders did the trick
and 3 pints – 2 of coke
Just the 1 for me dont wanna be sick....
Welcome to the loudest gig for ages
Such a noisy place
Such a noisy place
Your ears will bleed at the loudest gig in ages
And your neck'll be sore, couldn't ask for more
The support band weren't much fun
Just a noise to me and Gem
Craig was lovin' it – he wasn't glum
And still I'm thinking this is too loud
Might hear again by the middle of the night
I can still hear them sing
Welcome to the loudest gig for ages
Such a noisy place
Such a noisy place
Your ears will bleed at the loudest gig in ages
And your neck'll be sore, couldn't ask for more
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Christmas
Time for a seasonal update on the ol' blog I thought to myself the other day – so here it is.
I was out shopping at the weekend – wandering through the streets and shops of a wee town along with all the other Christmas shoppers but something was tugging at my thoughts when I looked at the other shoppers....and I couldn't quite work out what it was until today.
I was happy and having fun.
I wasn't buying that much – having gotten the kids presents earlier – but the whole experience was light-hearted and fun.
I have to say I was shopping with a friend and I think that made the day what it was. The chat and the songs (generally the same one as it got stuck in my head – sorry Lindsay) made the day. The checkout operators and shop assistants we met were all smiling and didn't seem to mind my tuneless singing (I still think of it as singing).
It put me in mind of past Christmases when the kids were much younger and the mere act of buying and wrapping the presents – knowing the enjoyment it would bring – made you feel.....well how can I put it without sounding sappy......'warm and fuzzy' (failed on the sappy sounding front).
This time of year can be stressful for a number of reasons – be it thoughts of friends and relatives no longer with us, or the stress of how much everything is as well as any other number of reasons.
Stop.
If you take a minute, hour or day and think about why you are doing what you are doing, about the people you are doing it for, about the smiles, the thanks and the warm feeling you know you will have on Christmas morning, then that is why we do it.
I got that feeling early this year and I am truly thankful for it.
I was out shopping at the weekend – wandering through the streets and shops of a wee town along with all the other Christmas shoppers but something was tugging at my thoughts when I looked at the other shoppers....and I couldn't quite work out what it was until today.
I was happy and having fun.
I wasn't buying that much – having gotten the kids presents earlier – but the whole experience was light-hearted and fun.
I have to say I was shopping with a friend and I think that made the day what it was. The chat and the songs (generally the same one as it got stuck in my head – sorry Lindsay) made the day. The checkout operators and shop assistants we met were all smiling and didn't seem to mind my tuneless singing (I still think of it as singing).
It put me in mind of past Christmases when the kids were much younger and the mere act of buying and wrapping the presents – knowing the enjoyment it would bring – made you feel.....well how can I put it without sounding sappy......'warm and fuzzy' (failed on the sappy sounding front).
This time of year can be stressful for a number of reasons – be it thoughts of friends and relatives no longer with us, or the stress of how much everything is as well as any other number of reasons.
Stop.
If you take a minute, hour or day and think about why you are doing what you are doing, about the people you are doing it for, about the smiles, the thanks and the warm feeling you know you will have on Christmas morning, then that is why we do it.
I got that feeling early this year and I am truly thankful for it.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
1.21 Gigawatts!
I bought a car last month mainly so I could go and pick up my kids and bring them through to see me more often. As its an oldish car it has a tape player. As I don't use it that often I keep forgetting to change it with the CD player that I have.
When I drive the car around Glasgow, I listen to Rock Radio (96.3) and all is good.
However...
When I go and pick the kids up (or head down to Ayr) I leave the broadcast area and I have to resort to the tape player.
I have 1 tape.
The 1 tape in question is Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms.
I have listened to this so often now, I am starting to think back to the time I bought it and all the things that happened that year....
1985
I was working in the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) which in real-terms meant I handed giro's out to people everyday. I was a CO at the time having started the previous month during the Miner's strike.
The job sucked. Being swore at everyday in your job is just not what you call 'job satisfaction'. The good part to the job was that I worked in Portobello (wait for it – that's not the good bit) and that the office was described as a Social Club with an office attached.
I learned how to curl (curling is a great sport) took part in a pantomime as Bobby Spewing (we ripped the micky out of Dallas and I was knocked down by a Sinclair C5) and generally had a great time – before 9am and after 4pm. The bit in the middle was work.
I was playing rugby and cricket for Musselburgh in those days although I didn't really play either very well. I was a very fast athlete in those days (don't laugh) but couldn't tackle a fish supper!
The summer that year I remember as being a scorcher! Great for cricket! After 7 hours playing at the Top Park, Lewisvale, it was down to the Hole in the Wa' for several ales and eventually a fish supper (which I was able to tackle) and a stagger home.
I was really looking forward to Live Aid in July and left explicit instructions that my sister should wake me before 12 so that I could watch Status Quo start the whole thing off. She did wake me by saying “That's Status Quo on”
The minx!
Watched a bit of it and then off to play cricket. I remember catching a bit of Queen when we got to the pub and then recording Led Zep when I got home...and watching it through a drunken haze.
We at the MCC (Musselburgh Cricket Club) were huge supporters of the West Indies and that summer you would hear us shouting in mock West Indian accents “You gotta learn to bowl the slower ball man” and other phrases.....(you had to be there)
It was a year when Paul Hardcastle had a huge hit with N-n-n-n-n-n-n-Nineteen and Back to the Future was a box office smash.......
What else happened in 1985?
January
The first British mobile phone call is made by Ernie Wise to Vodafone.
February
After 6-1/2 years, the television series The Dukes of Hazzard goes off the air.
March
The first episode of popular soap Neighbours airs on Australian TV.
April
New Coke, a marketing disaster is introduced.
May
56 spectators die when a flash fire strikes a football ground during a match in Bradford, England.
June
Route 66 ceases to be an official highway.
July
The Live Aid benefit concert takes place in London and Philadelphia, as well as other venues such as Sydney and Moscow.
August
Japan Airlines Flight 123, a Boeing 747 jumbo jet, crashes into Mount Ogura in Gunma Prefecture Japan killing 520 in the world's worst single-plane air disaster. Four people miraculously survive.
September
Steve Jobs resigns from Apple Computer.
October
The "Achille Lauro" is hijacked by Palestinian terrorists.
November
According to ancient aztec mythology, the future saviour of the world would be born on this date. (Anyone know anyone born on this date????)
December
Shakin Stevens has the Christmas No. 1
Now I remember where I got the title of this blog from......
When I drive the car around Glasgow, I listen to Rock Radio (96.3) and all is good.
However...
When I go and pick the kids up (or head down to Ayr) I leave the broadcast area and I have to resort to the tape player.
I have 1 tape.
The 1 tape in question is Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms.
I have listened to this so often now, I am starting to think back to the time I bought it and all the things that happened that year....
1985
I was working in the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) which in real-terms meant I handed giro's out to people everyday. I was a CO at the time having started the previous month during the Miner's strike.
The job sucked. Being swore at everyday in your job is just not what you call 'job satisfaction'. The good part to the job was that I worked in Portobello (wait for it – that's not the good bit) and that the office was described as a Social Club with an office attached.
I learned how to curl (curling is a great sport) took part in a pantomime as Bobby Spewing (we ripped the micky out of Dallas and I was knocked down by a Sinclair C5) and generally had a great time – before 9am and after 4pm. The bit in the middle was work.
I was playing rugby and cricket for Musselburgh in those days although I didn't really play either very well. I was a very fast athlete in those days (don't laugh) but couldn't tackle a fish supper!
The summer that year I remember as being a scorcher! Great for cricket! After 7 hours playing at the Top Park, Lewisvale, it was down to the Hole in the Wa' for several ales and eventually a fish supper (which I was able to tackle) and a stagger home.
I was really looking forward to Live Aid in July and left explicit instructions that my sister should wake me before 12 so that I could watch Status Quo start the whole thing off. She did wake me by saying “That's Status Quo on”
The minx!
Watched a bit of it and then off to play cricket. I remember catching a bit of Queen when we got to the pub and then recording Led Zep when I got home...and watching it through a drunken haze.
We at the MCC (Musselburgh Cricket Club) were huge supporters of the West Indies and that summer you would hear us shouting in mock West Indian accents “You gotta learn to bowl the slower ball man” and other phrases.....(you had to be there)
It was a year when Paul Hardcastle had a huge hit with N-n-n-n-n-n-n-Nineteen and Back to the Future was a box office smash.......
What else happened in 1985?
January
The first British mobile phone call is made by Ernie Wise to Vodafone.
February
After 6-1/2 years, the television series The Dukes of Hazzard goes off the air.
March
The first episode of popular soap Neighbours airs on Australian TV.
April
New Coke, a marketing disaster is introduced.
May
56 spectators die when a flash fire strikes a football ground during a match in Bradford, England.
June
Route 66 ceases to be an official highway.
July
The Live Aid benefit concert takes place in London and Philadelphia, as well as other venues such as Sydney and Moscow.
August
Japan Airlines Flight 123, a Boeing 747 jumbo jet, crashes into Mount Ogura in Gunma Prefecture Japan killing 520 in the world's worst single-plane air disaster. Four people miraculously survive.
September
Steve Jobs resigns from Apple Computer.
October
The "Achille Lauro" is hijacked by Palestinian terrorists.
November
According to ancient aztec mythology, the future saviour of the world would be born on this date. (Anyone know anyone born on this date????)
December
Shakin Stevens has the Christmas No. 1
Now I remember where I got the title of this blog from......
Monday, 22 November 2010
Life is a Minestrone
I disagree.
Life is a rollercoaster. Period.
It was Mr Williams who sang
'You gotta get high before you taste the lows'
and I believe there is a certain truth in that statement. I feel you do appreciate the highs even more if you still have the feelings associated with the lows. It makes them even higher (if you know what I mean) and that feeling can be the best feeling in the world.
Conversely, if they occur the other way round – its bad. Real Bad. Bottom of the world bad.
It was only recently that I got my ticket and waited in line for the rollercoaster.
I have been on it now and experienced the sensations that both extremes bring and it has made me realise that my life for the past few years was flat, boring and uneventful.
I dont want to get off.
Life is a rollercoaster. Period.
It was Mr Williams who sang
'You gotta get high before you taste the lows'
and I believe there is a certain truth in that statement. I feel you do appreciate the highs even more if you still have the feelings associated with the lows. It makes them even higher (if you know what I mean) and that feeling can be the best feeling in the world.
Conversely, if they occur the other way round – its bad. Real Bad. Bottom of the world bad.
It was only recently that I got my ticket and waited in line for the rollercoaster.
I have been on it now and experienced the sensations that both extremes bring and it has made me realise that my life for the past few years was flat, boring and uneventful.
I dont want to get off.
Friday, 12 November 2010
I was bored waiting for the train....
I'm sitting in a railway station
Got a ticket for my destinationnnnn
Got to be at work by 10
Switch on my PC and think I'll then
Go for a coffee and a bacon roll
What to put on it, I think I know
Broooon Sauce
Its gotta be
Broooon Sauce
Broooon, like they do in Embra
Broooon, they don't do it in Glesga
Broooon, it was made to accompany
Sausage and bacon
Got a ticket for my destinationnnnn
Got to be at work by 10
Switch on my PC and think I'll then
Go for a coffee and a bacon roll
What to put on it, I think I know
Broooon Sauce
Its gotta be
Broooon Sauce
Broooon, like they do in Embra
Broooon, they don't do it in Glesga
Broooon, it was made to accompany
Sausage and bacon
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Biking
I love biking but heard something yesterday that highlighted the dangers of it. More of that later.
I think its the feeling of being in the open whilst travelling at fast speeds combined with the element of danger (for the same reason).
I also love the feeling of jumping on the bike and heading out with no destination in mind and seeing where I end up. I know I can do this in a car as well but its just not the same feeling of freedom.
Last year after I was made redundant, I took off on the bike for day-trips to different parts of Scotland. In practice this generally meant Perthshire – a place a really love.
The boring parts were having to be on the motorway to get near my destination, but once within 20 miles or so it was onto A and B roads and that where the fun starts. Gliding round corners, the odd burst of speed to overtake, thats where the fun is. That and the feeling of the air rushing by you and the feel of the sun beating down on you.
I did think there was something missing though, but couldn't put my finger on it.
I found out what this was when I was sitting outside the Loch Tummel Inn one fine afternoon enjoying the view and the local hospitality. A young biker appeared and sat next to me and we had a great chat about biking in Scotland and the area in general.
When he was leaving he put on his iPod and then his helmet and at that point I realised what was missing from my biking experience – music!
Now I do the same, and the feeling is complete!
Of course there are also bad points to biking – getting caught in a downpour and the road turning into a river. At that point you have to slow down or even stop as its not worth the risk. Pedestrians are another nuisance. They dont pay attention to the highway code and often run across the road without looking...Grrrr
The twice I have come off the bike were linked to those events.
The first was when the road was soaked and I was on a roundabout. I was going round to the '9 o'clock' exit (three-quarters of the way round) and as I got to my exit a tweaked the throttle to bring me back upright and the back wheel simply slid away.
I remember thinking 'hold onto the bike and spin round' as I there was a car right behind me. I lay there on the road looking up at the car which had thankfully stopped, with the lady who was driving cramming both hands into her mouth and a look of shock on her face.
Fortunately I was unhurt but the brand-new chrome exhaust I had just fitted was scrapped!!!
I was a wee bit shaky after that for a couple of weeks then settled down again.
This was on my Yamaha 250cc Virago – a lovely bike.
Recently I bought another Yamaha but this time a 535cc bike with a wee bit more power :-)
As was recounted on Facebook recently, I was filtering down the outside of a line of stationary traffic when some kids ran out in front of me. Ibraked, skidded and came off but thankfully missed all of the kids. Left me with a very sore left side though!
Yesterday.
Yesterday I heard about a friend of mine and colleague who was out on her bike at the weekend. It appears she was riding correctly when a boy - being chased by the police - ran across the road. She is in hospital and has head and leg injuries and we are all waiting to see how she is. Fingers crossed for a full and speedy recovery for both my friend and the boy.
I think its the feeling of being in the open whilst travelling at fast speeds combined with the element of danger (for the same reason).
I also love the feeling of jumping on the bike and heading out with no destination in mind and seeing where I end up. I know I can do this in a car as well but its just not the same feeling of freedom.
Last year after I was made redundant, I took off on the bike for day-trips to different parts of Scotland. In practice this generally meant Perthshire – a place a really love.
The boring parts were having to be on the motorway to get near my destination, but once within 20 miles or so it was onto A and B roads and that where the fun starts. Gliding round corners, the odd burst of speed to overtake, thats where the fun is. That and the feeling of the air rushing by you and the feel of the sun beating down on you.
I did think there was something missing though, but couldn't put my finger on it.
I found out what this was when I was sitting outside the Loch Tummel Inn one fine afternoon enjoying the view and the local hospitality. A young biker appeared and sat next to me and we had a great chat about biking in Scotland and the area in general.
When he was leaving he put on his iPod and then his helmet and at that point I realised what was missing from my biking experience – music!
Now I do the same, and the feeling is complete!
Of course there are also bad points to biking – getting caught in a downpour and the road turning into a river. At that point you have to slow down or even stop as its not worth the risk. Pedestrians are another nuisance. They dont pay attention to the highway code and often run across the road without looking...Grrrr
The twice I have come off the bike were linked to those events.
The first was when the road was soaked and I was on a roundabout. I was going round to the '9 o'clock' exit (three-quarters of the way round) and as I got to my exit a tweaked the throttle to bring me back upright and the back wheel simply slid away.
I remember thinking 'hold onto the bike and spin round' as I there was a car right behind me. I lay there on the road looking up at the car which had thankfully stopped, with the lady who was driving cramming both hands into her mouth and a look of shock on her face.
Fortunately I was unhurt but the brand-new chrome exhaust I had just fitted was scrapped!!!
I was a wee bit shaky after that for a couple of weeks then settled down again.
This was on my Yamaha 250cc Virago – a lovely bike.
Recently I bought another Yamaha but this time a 535cc bike with a wee bit more power :-)
As was recounted on Facebook recently, I was filtering down the outside of a line of stationary traffic when some kids ran out in front of me. Ibraked, skidded and came off but thankfully missed all of the kids. Left me with a very sore left side though!
Yesterday.
Yesterday I heard about a friend of mine and colleague who was out on her bike at the weekend. It appears she was riding correctly when a boy - being chased by the police - ran across the road. She is in hospital and has head and leg injuries and we are all waiting to see how she is. Fingers crossed for a full and speedy recovery for both my friend and the boy.
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