A looong ride, rain, Nimis Est.... and motivation.

Pants forecast today and I was still in bed ignoring the small boy bouncing on me at 8am. I could have stayed there and hidden indoors all day but I've got some tricky friends to live up to as examples.

One had a knee op that took a year to recover from a few years back. A couple of weeks ago she came second solo female in a 4 day race (foot, bike paddle and swim) Coast to Coast across Northern England and then a week later 3rd in the Helvellyn triathalon. It's hard to stay sedentary when you see your buddies doing that......

So what to do? Another pal of mine (a teacher and outdoor instructor.... one of the best educators I've ever met) has a motto; Nimus Est Numquam Satis. Roughly translated this comes out as 'excess is never enough'- he lives by this in work, play and the consumption of gin and red wine. So if I'm going to play I'd better go totally overboard.

I'd never done it but I know its possible to cycle a loop around Ardgour: from Glenfinnan you follow the east coast of Loch Shiel, then a pass to cross, drop down to Strontian and on round to Corran and round the head of Loch Eil. A not very close look at a map makes this seem to look about right.

It's bucketing down, I need to refit my bike computer.... it would be so easy to give up.... my in laws are 70ish and still in Mountain Rescue teams, taking holidays to tramp in New Zealand or walk the John Muir trail (carrying everything of course), leading as hard as me on rock and when they come to my house they always do more DIY on each visit than I ever have.... better not let a little job stop me.

Glenfinnan seems an awful long way from Corpach and the traffic is not the most cycle friendly on the Mallaig road. I've been soaked to the skin since half way to the monument... I could just do a wee day out to the electric bothy and go home.... But I was introduced a couple of years ago to one of the 2 guys who decided to run the Bob Graham, drive to John o' Groats, cycle a tandem to Lands End and then get driven to the start of the Devizes to Westminster kayak race to do that- it was all for charity of course (see the http://theepictri.com/). No short cuts there. Best got on with it hadn't I.

20 km fast off road down Loch Shiel- awesome. Ahead of me 300m climb in 2km. I could turn around to avoid that climb and reverse my route. But I saw a paralympic competitor with no legs speaking on TV this morning. He said you just had to play the hand you are dealt and get on with it.... of course he and the other athletes like him choose to not just play the hand but bet their shirts on it making the most of everything they've got. The climb it is then.... and no you can't rest however long it goes on or steep it gets.

Whizz down the far side to Strontian and its still raining. Committed now, got to keep going. Crank up the tunes, use the bits of old road and enjoy the home bakes from the Sunart Cafe.

Corran ferry. Time for a break. Could take the ferry and go via Fort William- that would be shorter. I call Jane and let her know what I'm up to. "You're doing what? How far? Do you want a lift?" I've never met Karen Darke but a friend rode his bike with her as she hand cycled 1400km through the Himalayas. I reckon I've got another 50km in me.

Quieter road now I'll keep the speed up around 25km/hour and look its stopped raining for the first time all day.... 90km....100km....110km... a night heron every 2km for 20k, keeping up with a buzzard flying ahead and just above me down an avenue of drooping birch. But its pouring again...I'm at the junction with the busy main road. I could call home for that lift.

Or I could just fix a silly grin on my face and enjoy being soaking wet, covered in gravel, having a butt that feels like I've been kicked by an elephant, being cut up by cars and lorries that undoubtedly view me as a right nuisance and knock out the last 11km home.

We only pass this way once... may as well make it count eh? :-)

Bunkhouse Bouldering

Today I was working with new students from the Adventure Studies Department at West Highland College. The day was based around a series of challenges (bouldering, mountain biking and paddling) that they completed in mixed teams from the different courses in the department.

I set a challenge involving accurately reading routes (so it wouldn't be based on difficulty) for the 6 different teams at Alan Kimber's Bunkhouse Bouldering wall and the group were lucky to get the only dry day of the week.

Wet in Lochaber

Yesterday was day 2 of an SPA Training and today I was running a CWA Assessment. The mountains wont have been much fun at the moment as we have had torrential rain in Lochaber.

Another climbing wall based day tomorrow which looks to be a shame as it might be the only dry day this week!

Damp morning, dry afternoon and CPD pre winter.

Today was the first full day of an SPA training i'm directing for 4 candidates. We spent a wet morning at Kingussie Crag before it turned into a drier more pleasant afternoon. We looked at personal climbing skills as well as avoidance of and solving the sort of simple problems that can occur in recreational climbing. At the end of the day we switched to examine simple rigging for group situations.
Allen Fyffe of MLTS was out moderating me today- one of the periodical visits we providers get from MLT officers to ensure we are still working to National Guidelines and running appropriate courses.

looking ahead to winter there is an excellent looking seminar taking place at EICA-Ratho at the end of October on Avalanches. See here for further details.

The Ben Race

A big yellow cab

Mike getting a lift with the RAF

Dropped off on the zig zags

A bit wet

Runners

Today I went out with Mike to help Lochaber MRT marshall for the Ben Nevis race. Well done to local lad Finlay Wild who won in the wet and cloudy conditions. We spent the race at the 4000ft contour giving verbal support and the odd drink and bit to eat to competitors. Good effort to all participants.

MIA Assessment Day 5

The fifth and final day of the Glenmore Lodge MIA Assessment I was observing today and I think my head was a fried as the candidates. We spent the morning looking at their ability to coach navigation above Glenmore before final discussions and results. Well done to all the candidates for their efforts over this complex and stressful 5 days.

I've learnt a great deal about the assessment process at this level and the level of detailed attention the Assessment Team bring to this week. Fascinating stuff for me to be involved with as my own next professional challenge- lots more to learn!

MIA Assessment Day 4

Day 4 of the Glenmore Lodge MIA Assessment and it was an early start for the drive to Glencoe. 1 candidate went to Buachaille Etive Mor whilst the other 3 were all working in the main part of the Glen. I followed one team up Dinnertime Buttress before dropping back down and reascending the excellent but relatively rarely climbed B-F route. We had fine weather and some great mountaineering.

As an aside the popular Gleann Dubh-Lighe Bothy in Lochaber has unfortunately been completely destroyed in a fire. Read the BBC report here.