Saturday Walk for Andy

Andy is going on a Mountain Leadership course once the school breaks up for the Summer hols, so a day out in the hills to test gear and navigation seemed like a good idea. The first stop was some old ruined buildings, probably very old as it said a fort on the map.

Several years ago hundred of trees were plnted in the local hills to recreate the lost forest that once was here, they are all native trees to Scotland and are now just getting a bit bigger.

Lots of water up here in the hills

And more lochs

A view of home just a mile away.

The Ducks of Flowerdale

On Friday we went for a short evening walk and found the ducks waiting for a waitress to take their order at the Old Inn.

This is normally where we see them, by the river

Wet in Wester Ross

While the North west of England is facing a hose pipe ban, we are still getting our squally showers.

Max & Nibs on holiday

Max & Nibs on holiday

Can you guess what it is yet?

3 minutes before midnight yesterday

Barry's day in Gairloch

Lunch at the Millcroft Hotel, following a morning at the local school

Getting a warm at the fire before his chilly run tonight - Gairloch to Poolewe.

Meeting up with old & new friends at the western end of Loch Maree. (Woody2run - on the left - carried Barry for the leg of the relay up to Gretna.) LOA came all the way from Anglesey, our own friend Anna, Andy & Tri-chick from Glasgow

The handing over of Barry the Baton at Poolewe, Anna tells Trichick that she must ensure his safe arrival at Ullapool.

Coastal relay

This is a relay run going around Mainland UK, started in Blackpool several weeks ago & has arrived in Wester Ross. The main character is Barry the Baton who is carried around the country by anyone daft enough to do it.. Here we are collecting him at the Kinlochewe hotel to take him back to Gairloch. Fiona, Andy, Carole & Margot - Barry's in the middle!

Margot & Barry on the old road towards Kerrysdale

Margot , Fiona & Barry alongside Loch Maree

Happy to be nearly finished, above Gairloch beach. 19 miles down, 1 to go.

Coastal relay

Slioch as a backdrop during our leg of the coastal relay tonight

Further down the road, Fiona carrying Barry.

Carole & Andy going well past Loch Maree

Barry with a well earned pint tonight.

Gairloch 10K

Runners arriving for the start of the race, outside 2Lochs radio station.

Locals, folk who'd travelled from lots of Scottish & English destinations & a lady from Germany (I think).

Before the start of the first Gairloch 10K road race. The weather was kind to us last night as we set off on the road towards Sand. Out beyond the houses, where locals & holidaymakers came out to see the sight of 50 runners racing up the coastal road. Past the water treatment works, past the youth hostel, Carn Dearg, past the field study centre & the straight past the campsite. Here, the first of the fast ones started to pass us on their return. Hey, that's Andy in 3rd place! well done - hope he keeps going ok. Then I'm past the halfway water station & into the wind. Superb views of the Torridon mountains as we retrace our steps, hard going up the hill to the youth hostel. More people seem to be out on the way back & kids on bikes are cheering us along.

At last, the downhill mile to the finish & it's over. A great crowd to welcome us back & a welcome drink of water.

Back to the Millcroft for results & prizegiving. Andy stayed in 3rd place 42.35. Margot made 51.43 (25th) & 1st LV55. First lady in was our JogScotland runner, Carole B in 46.27 (10th overall). Friend Anna, coasted along in 1.04.05.

A great event, thanks to Andy O'Sullivan for organising everything & friend Ian B for taking the pics before he & Ann did the timekeeping/place recording.

Man at work

Sunday sightings

Bee exiting a rhododendron

Hated by many, they are really beautiful flowers. Enlarge this one to see several "ET's".

Sunday sights

Bluebells on Knock Farrill, near Strathpeffer

Broom is wonderful this year

Cloud inversions on Skye

Bloomin' lovely

Despite the lack of sunshine & warmth which we are experiencing, the plants are getting on with it.

Kayaking trip

We took to the waters at Badachro on Sunday as it seemed so nice.

The intention was to circumnavigate Eileen Horrisdale, but as we rounded the west end & into the loch proper, it suddenly didn't seem too good an idea.

A large swell was getting up & the wind was stronger than it had been, so Margot bottled it & we returned to the calmer waters of Badachro bay.

We mooched around the islets & seal hauls, managed to spot 3 seals basking in the sunshine before heading back to try out Gairloch's newest restaurant -Na Mara. It got the thumbs up!

Sunny Sunday

Merganser just off the beach

Sailing down the Minch

Gairloch hotel

Please throw something!