Saturday 27 February 2010

Dog days

Goodbye to Chilli,

& Hello to Gus.

Jimjams taking it all in her stride,


Sleepng dogs lie.



Tollie Path Run

Anna is going to seek the sun for a week, so we are looking after her Westie 'Gus'. He runs with her so we took him on our long run today, perhaps his longest yet, approx 19 miles .

The snow had stopped and the roads were clear, but the wind was cold, so we wrapped up well. The first 4 miles from our home was on the main road that eventually goes to Ullapool, its hilly, but we managed to run it all. Then we headed for the wilderness trail that runs down to Loch Maree (the Tollie Path), it was snowy and icy so we had to walk a lot.

On the start on the Tollie path Once we reached the top of the pass we could see Loch Maree in the distance, still icy and slippy, we both had a few moments (falls). It was very cold here and our hands suffered a bit.
Once we dropped to the Loch we ran along forest trails to the main road, there was a long climb up the road to the cattle grid where the road becomes a single track one, we ran past Loch Bad na Sgalaig which was frozen (pic below)

We ran past another trail which we have enjoyed walking / running


And finally we left the road to run in our local woods 'Flowerdale', it was still snowy but quite good to run.
Finally we ran the last mile home along the road, it was now sunny and we had lovely views of Skye. A good training run for the Marathon and a very tired dog (& humans).












Thursday 25 February 2010

Inverness Airport







The school had a trip to London this week, Andy drove them there in the sunshine on Tuesday, but had snow and strong winds for the second trip on Thursday. Its a return trip of 160 miles from the school and on the other coast. The flight was delayed by 40 mins and it was a slow careful trip back in driving snow. Home safe at 7pm and everybody enjoyed the trip to the debate in Parliament and the trip on the London eye during the evening. time

Monday 22 February 2010

Another sunny, cold day following a night of -5c

Gairloch beach
Clisham 2619ft on Harris in the far distance. Carn dearg youth hostel under the trees on the right, Longa island to the left

A casualty of the harsh winter?


The road north

Up past Tollie loch towards poolewe
An Teallach rising in the distance

Aultbea

Inverasdale, beyond Isle Ewe
Fishing boat leaving Aultbea harbour

Aultbea from the road above


Aultbea scenes

Past Aultbea pier to the Torridons in the distance
Isle Ewe, in the middle of Loch Ewe

Anglian Prince, coastguard boat, moored in Loch ewe off Aultbea.


Very cold & bright

The Torridons from above Tornaig
Loch Maree & beyond from the Tollie car park.

The sunset warns of the forecast -6c tonight.


Sunday 21 February 2010

Late sunbeams


Greylag geese settling for the night




Plenty of deer about today







Sunday views

Loch Kernsary, note the deer in the right foreground.
Across Loch Maree.

Close up of above pic.


Sunday views

Looking back along Loch Maree from the Ard Lair jetty where we broke our run for some refreshment.
Looking in the other direction, across the lake & towards Kinlochewe at the far end of the loch.

Earlier view from the path above the loch before we descend to Ard Lair. It's hard training up here, but someone's got to do it.


Sunday run

Icicles along the side of the path at Kernsary.
Burn flowing beside the path with the Torridons in the far distance.

More icicles.


Sunday run

We decided to go for it today as it was so beautiful & not too cold. Andy & Anna at the wooden bridge starting the Kernsary estate path. Gus keeping an eye on things.
Beinn Arich Charr dominates this part of the run.

Gus enjoys a cooling dip.


Saturday snow

Jamilla peruses the white stuff outside, which has disrupted our plans for a long run with Anna. A few inches fell this morning & warnings of severe road conditions & very low temperatures inland have persuaded us to opt for a local dog walk instead.
Max is untroubled by the weather!

Friday 19 February 2010

Friday walk

From the harbour, fresh snow on the hills.
Clouds rising over Lonemore

Jimjams taking a break on the beach.


Chilli wants to play.
Another overnight dusting of snow was soon gone thanks to the sunshine. Same again forecast for tonight & it's already very cold (7pm).