My second time at this race which does 2 complete lengths of the beach and measures in around 4.3 miles. It was quite wet today with the beach quite damp underfoot and light rain during the race. A little bit faster than 3 years ago. Just 2 Carnethy Hill Runners at this race which is run entirely below sea level.
The next day we opted for a pleasant flat walk along the Great Glen Way from Fort William to Neptunes Staircase. A very pleasant walk in what was still cloudy weather but mainly dry. A nice stop at the cafe at Corpach. Got a bus back into Fort William.
Then the long drive home in the afternoon.
We drove up on the Friday and did a short recce of the parking and the start of the next days route. Staying at a nice AirBnB called Nevis Croft.
On Saturday we set the alarm for 6 am and started the walk at 7 am.
A very nice 10k style hill race with a very long runnable downhill to the finish - around 5 k continuance.
07/08/26 - Flamenc Oh! - Assembly Rooms - 4/10
08/08/26 - Gaudi: God's Architect - the Space at Surgeons Hall - 6/10
10/08/26 - Tomatoes tried to kill me but banjos saved my life - Summerhall - 9/10
11/08/26 - Alegria Flamenca - Alba Flamenca - 10/10
17/08/26 - Dracula: Lucy's Dream - Pleasance at EICC - 3/10
19/08/26 - Tom Waits War Songs - Subway - 7/10 ; a bit too noisy at times
22/08/26 - The Distance - Summerhall - 9/10
27/08/26 - Lyse Doucet in converation - McEwan Hall - Ed Book Fest - 8/10
Last saw him play 10 years ago at The Pleasance with Max. This time he had an electric guitar (well 2 actually). We had good seats up on the balcony. Pretty good show. Maybe went through the well known songs too quickly at the start and a less chat than I remember last time.
First time doing the new longer version of this race. A really nice route and a fair bit of runnable trail as well as some steep bits. 10k, 426m climb, 1 hr 9 mins. Reminded how pretty Falkland village is.
Yet another sunny day to enjoy in this long warm summer. We set off at 11 am to Lauder where we stopped at the Flat Cat Gallery for a light lunch. A nice cafe.
Then onwards a short distance to Carolside Gardens for a very pleasant wander around the compact but very well designed gardens. Roses a major feature of the garden and we were a couple of weeks late for them to be at their very best.
Tea and biscuits on the lawn.
Worth a return visit in late June in a few years time.
The crew for this trip was me, Warren, Mark, Glenn and Tim.
Staying again at the Birkenhead Premier Inn which worked well and the good air con was very welcome o on what was a heat wave weekend of 30+ temperatures every day.
On Friday the boys had all arrived before me and spent some time in Liverpool. I met up with the crew at the hotel and we visited Sawasdee for Thai dinnerand the Glen Afric brewery before the boys needed an early night.
On Saturday I managed a run in the morning before we heads to Liverpool to do the Beatles Story. Then drinks and late lunch at the Baltic Market. We wandered on the Grapes before deciding we needed a break from the heat at the hotel. Dinner was another visit to Sawasdee and then we watched the England v Norway game at Gallaghers pub.
On Sunday I again managed a run before we headed to town to visit the two cathedrals. Very different but both great in their own way. Great views from the rooftop of Liverpool Cathedral. Lunch at Love Lane Brewery. Then a long walk via White Star pub to Blackstock Market for dinner and a newcomers comedy show between 7 & 9 pm. Got an Uber back to the hotel before we had a last drink at the Brass Balance.
A pleasing run at the challenging Dollar Hill Race on Saturday afternoon. Have run much less this year due to concerns about heels so very nice to run a tough race over 2 hrs 15 mins without any issues. Slowest time ever at this race but still felt like a pretty good run.
In the evening we went to see David Sedaris at Usher Hall. He was pretty good but maybe better in small radio doses than in a live "concert" setting.
Final slightly shorter route and helpful tailwinds made this a welcome easier day.
Stopped in Gullane for a nice Coffee and Scone and then a less good tea and sandwich in Dunbar.
It wasn't the most exciting of routes although this was partly because much of it familar to me. I had chosen the cycle version of the John Muir Way and there were a number of instances where the route choice was not the most interesting option with the designated route favouring easy terrain over perhaps rougher but more interesting choices.
Day 1 felt a bit longer than I enjoyed. The next two days were about right. The days immediately afterwards I was knackered by it.
The trains worked very well and definitely a very good option for future trips in Scotland.
Train out to Falkirk and a ride back from there to Edinburgh. Again a pretty familiar set of trails.
A reasonably early start to get the train from Edinburgh to Helensburgh - just over a 2 hr journey. Arrived in Helensburgh to a fairly cool and cloudy outlook.
A Saturday run in the Pentlands doing a Carnethy 5 route sticking to the main paths. Pleased to be on pretty good form and joints holding up pretty well.
One of the best hill races in the calendar. Lovely riverside route with a wet river crossing. Scramble to the top of the Law without the assistance of a rope for the first time. Have been struggling a bit with heel issues this year so pleased to get round the 10k with 300m climb route in around 1 hrs 5 mins without any discomfort and feeling reasonably strong at the end - 158% of winning time.
A couple more urban orienteering events on 31 May at Cumbernauld and 7 June at Eyemouth. Good orienteering - Cumbernauld particularly good with the complex urban housing estates.
Cycle around both afterwards to explore the areas.
Not so enjoyable this week. Rust belt America and the impact of factory closures on working class America. Written around a decade ago. Felt very old and nothing new to say anymore.
We both very much enjoyed this show. Ricky Ross on piana and vocals for the short musical interludes. The Blue Brazil is Cowdenbeath Football Club. Based on the book by Ron Ferguson.
After the wedding we had a Sunday afternoon and a Monday morning and early afternoon to explore Poznan. We were staying at the Moxy at the airport so after taking the hire car back we took a bus into town.
On the Sunday we visited the area around the Park Mickiewicza and the Castle and then visited the Enigma Museum. Nice relaxed town. The Enigma museum was pretty good but let down by aspects of the technology and maybe just a bit too much.
A nice pizza at Trattoria Franscesca.
On Monday we wandered around the centre and then across the river to Srodka and the Catholic Cathedral. Nice brunch at Lavenda Cafe.
Another fabulous wedding day - lucky us getting two wedding days!
The Wedding Venue was Weranda Home, Slawica around an hour from Poznan.
A lovely outdoor ceremony - great food - dancing - DJ to the small hours. Perfect.
We walked with Hannah to the City Chambers which had a lovely wedding suite for our small ceremony with immediate family and best man. A lovely service with bride and groom both looking splendid. Lots of photos taken.
Then a slow wander to Princes Street Gardens for some pics.
Then a few drinks at Tiles - under Max's new office.
And then a very nice dinner at Hawksmoor.
A lovely day!
Trip to the Carron Valley to try out the MTB course and add some additional miles around the loch. The Red route was pretty decent and and easy red as I could largely manage it taking any easy options available on the way down. The forest roads around the loch were a bit of drag and felt like hard work. Managed to stay 95% traffic free.
