River ayr weekend

This weekend had been planned  by Scott and Lucy to run the river ayr way. Scott was  doing it to see how his injury was going to stand up to 44 miles of running and Lucy wanted to have a look at the route and find out any awkward parts. I was just going along as support driving Scotts car and meeting up at various check points on the way.

We set off early saturday morning to meet up with Lucy at the start of the river ayr  way at Glenbuck . Lucy arrived complete with her dog "kipper" who was not too impressed at starting the run and he promptly jumped into Scotts car and refused to come out. Lucy did manage to get him out after a brief tussle and plans were put in place to meet up later. We had met up with another runner who was going to see how he would get on and his partner was also driving in support so that would be company for me at check points.

The first couple of meeting points worked quite well and I think Lucy was pleased to be able to run without carrying lots of "fuel" in the bum bag. I think she was even more pleased when Kipper decided that he had run enough and she could leave him in the car with me.
I set off to the village of Sorn with a dog that didn't know me and in a strange car, I didn't have to worry about him as he promptly looked at me lay down on the back seat and went to sleep.

After we left Sorn the other runner and partner stayed behind so now I had "kipper" for company. Arriving in Failford managed to get him out of the car for a walk but then after returning to carry on up the road he promptly pulled back to the car so I let him back in and from then on no way was he getting out. I think he had thought he had run and walked enough for the day. Lucy and Scott arrived a little later for a drink and food stop before heading off on their merry way to the coast.

At the next bridge I pulled over to take a couple of photographs when the couple who had started at the same time pulled up . He had done his running for the day but was taking the chance of getting a photo with Lucy and Scott. Right on cue they ran down the river bank and over the bridge where the requested photograph was taken.

The next stage was not too much fun as it meant driving through Ayr to find the finish . This was not going to be easy as I have never been in the town before. I just headed to the sea front and parked as near to where I thought the finish may be. I thought I would have a walk with the dog and get a coffee but he wasa not going to budge out of the car which limited my movements. I was saved after not to long by a call from Scott on his mobile as they had finished and were only about 100 mtr away on the sea wall. We all met up and went for a carry out and Scott and Lucy got changed before we headed back to Glenbuck. After saying goodbye to Lucy and Kipper,  Scott and I still had to find somewhere to put our tents ( we had planned to camp out that night ). As our first option was full we took pot luck and headed south where we managed to get a couple of spaces to pitch the tents in the "holiday park " at beattock. The saving grace of the place was it's own bar and reasonable priced  beer the down side was screaming kids and very merry adults, We headed off to a nice coach house we had spied on the way in and had a very pleasant night killing a few drinks then returning to the tents later.

Sunday :-
After crawlng out of the tents the next morning the "coffee " fix was badly needed so we quickly packed up and headed off in the direction of Moffat seeking the required cafe. We were in luck and had coffee and food vegi Scott scrambled egg and I just could not resist the famous morning bacon butty.After more coffee and a call in the shops we headed off towards the Grey mares tail for a mind clearing walk.

Parking at the start of the trail we headedoff up the track joining a gaggle of other families doing "the walk". My very slow plod got me to the top while scott was shooting off taking photo's. We thought of looking up a geocache but the gps died on us as I had not put new batteries in it.

It was abit damp and misty at the top but still a very nice walk which was far enough for me . Scott still feeling quite good after his 40 odd miles yesterday was going to "run" up White Coomb so off he disappeared while I retraced my tracks back down to the car. I had only just reached the car when Scott came bounding down the track passing very suprised "walkers" using it , arriving back the first words were "yes Brilliant" so I gathered he'd had a good run.
We headed off in the direction of home but wanted to find somewhere to sit and get the stove on for fresh coffee. Eventualy we settled on St mary's loch and moving away from the crowds found a nice quiet spot along the loch. We had folding chairs / stove / fuel/ water/ soup / crusty bread. and sat for a very pleasant hour looking over the loch. The final part of the journey home was in the direction of very dark clouds and it was not long before we hit torrential rain which the wipers could just cope with.We were both glad to arrive back at Scott's flat (forgot to say he was driving today ) after what had been a great weekend and it was hard to think we had only left the his flat the day before we had managed to get a lot in and great fun.

                                                     

Blog revival

Well I got back to up dating the blog after a couple of months of inactivity. June was the month that Scott won his Scotland vest for Ultra running

He had worked very hard to get to this level of fitness then the gremlins struck and he picked up an Injury a few days before making his first appearance for Scotland. With nothing to loose he gave it a go but after 50k his quads froze solid and through gritted teeth and some help from the English team Physio just managed to stagger round for several more hours in agony to finish the 100k.I was very proud of him and as some of the other team members said if Scott had dropped out they would have done so as well.

I can assure all that after that epic run the ale ran freely that night and the holiday booked for the week after was looked forward too.

One Week Later :-
We all set off for Lochcarron in the west highlands, Scott , his mum, myself and Midge the dog. A cottage had been booked a while ago over looking the loch and near to hotels (for drinks ) and shops (for drinks )

A good time was had by all even the old "Westie" had a second "childhood". Scott did a few Munro's but had to run several miles to reach them. We did a walk together for so far before he ran the "high" road and I walked the "low "road , the weather was great and loads of video and photo's were taken

 The above photo was one of the many taken on the walk, and yes the ridge on the right of the photo Scott ran up and I walked to the east well below the tops.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12383912@N04/sets/72157624417992362/
More photo's of the first walk on this link.

We did more walking on other days and Scott and mum walked up the hill behind the cottage one evening and had a good wonder about. I did one more walk with Scott and we set off together this time he had the camera and I took the camcorder. After walking together for a while Scott headed off on his run to tackle some Munro's in the distance, I walked at a steady pace filming the area. I did have a fancy at having a go up one of the hills which was said to have the best Munro views . I set off over a "wire" bridge and followed a stalkers path towards the top , I did get it all wrong and thought the first peak I saw was the top but it ended up only being about a third of the distance. It did take me ages but I was chuffed to make it to the cairn at the top and I did film the views which were as good as they said. It was very windy so I did not stay long as I was meeting Scott at the bottom of the hill . To put things in perspective Scott by then had run miles and had been to the top of three munro's while I had managed the one hill (865 mtr) we had walkytalkies and had kept in touch when we could so i headed back down to meet Scott.

             

"My " hill in the distance from Scotts lunch break.  The wire bridge at the bottom of "my" hill

Family weekend Loch Lomond area

Eldest daughter Shirley and family, Paul , James and Mathew were on a flying visit from Australia so we planned a complete family get together over Loch Lomond area. We booked up three log cabins on the "bonny banks" all next to each other for a good social long weekend. The weather was fantastic for the time of year and we had temperatures of 20 degrees.

Lots of beer and wine flowed and it is safe to say a good time was had by all. We had the old dog Midge along and he just lay in the sun on the veranda

The sunsets were fantastic and sent an orange glow over the water and hills. It was not all just sitting around and a few good walks were taken up the hills and a little geocaching took place. Scott went his usual running up the trails and took some great photographs while up the hills. I have posted a series of photographs on flicker which are available to look at but will add a few more on the blog as they say a picture paints a thousand words. (well I say )

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12383912@N04/?saved=1

Easter day out

Scott and I had arranged to have a day / night out in one of our favourite places ie the Trossachs.
Had booked a B&B for saturday at our final stopping place which as usual for us was Killin by Loch tay.
The idea for the day was quite simple we would drive to callander and Scott would have a "training " run to Killin using part of the route 7 cycle path. I would drive ahead and supply the odd water bottle as required but the points we could meet up were not too many over the 22 mile + route. We have done this before  with me on a bike and Scott running but this time I took the easy option as the only way I could stay in contact was in the car as he leaves me for dead even if I am on the bike.

The weather turned out to be good for the "run" so we set off from home to Callander our starting point at which time Scott headed off up the old railway line which is a great cycling / running / walking track.

 I did manage to get ahead at a few parts of the route and took a few photo's of Scott enjoying himself on the track.

The track went one side of Loch Lubnaig and I had to stay on the A84 up to Strathyre. The snow level was a lot higher than the previous days so the path was fine for the run. I went ahead to strathyre and had a walk round while waiting for Scott to turn up but the way he was moving I knew it would not be long and I could see he was enjoying a good run. We had planned a break at Balquhidder at the "old library" coffee shop so we met up as agreed for a nice coffee before Scott headed off for the last half of the run. I only met up with Scott once more after that break as the track was only available to me at one crossing point so I took a few more photo's before heading off to Killin for our final meeting place which was the old pub at the Falls of Docart.

I had gone ahead to the B&B parked the car headed back with dry clothes for Scott at the falls pub. Scott managed to get a prime seat by the log fire so we had a good few hours enjoying the hospitality on offer  after more wine and food and a walk round to find some live music we ended up very late at the B&B for the night.

loch leven trail

Have been getting stir crazy so set off to walk round Loch leven from Scotlandwell to Kinross. Packed my bag flask of coffee and headed out via bus to the 'well. Walked via portmoak and looped round the turf fields and headed down to the loch side. I got a "shock" after walking all the way down there to find "path closed" signs as they were working on it. I just didn't fancy walking all the way back again so headed down the path anyway. After about 1 mile came accross one man on a roller flattening the new surface so I just walked off the path round him. I did a little bit of geocashing on the way and had a look at a small ruined church that I never knew exisited. Another disapointment came when I reached the last leg of the trail that too was closed off and was directed round the golf course and into town. I must admit that I felt cheated out of my walk round the loch so just had to kill time in the pub while waiting for the next bus home.

Cupar

Well we walked round to the car and sat in to warm up and a quick coffee before walking a short distance to the start. The run was completed and the only comment I can make is "when is 6+ minute miles called jogging ?? At least it looks like no lasting "damage done and on the whole it was a good day out so here's a couple of photo's.

cupar 5 mile

Have been having a very lazy time the last week but had a target this weekend. Scott came over as he was intending to run the cupar 5 and I would be bag man as he was going to run over to Cupar from our house in Leslie .
This would be a 15 mile "warm up" to get to registration in time for the start. I was a bit concerned as we had snow "again" through the night and I thought it would be one hell of a slog to get to the race.He set off and I followed later in the car complete with dry clothes and a flask of coffee. I was amazed as after only three miles heading from home the snow had gone at the lower levels so not as bad as I had feared. I got to Cupar well before he was due in so parked near the start of the race and walked back into town to the YMCA where registration was being held. I know I don't run anymore but still get that "tingle" milling around before the start, it's nice as well to be greeted by some of the runners who know me through Scott. The lad arrived a little later than expected looking completely knackered and shivering like mad, (he had admitted to a sore throat on getting up in the morning). I said don't run but that was a waste of time he was putting the training miles in so was running or going to jog it.