Thursday, October 30, 2014

Everything Is Going To Be Alright

My second night orienteering event of the season was at the very challenging Dean Village. Some really tricky controls near the start with multiple levels to deal with. Got round most of them pretty efficiently. From control 8 onwards the course headed out to some much longer legs along the Queensferry Road.

Control 11 was a complex long route with a very nice route through the museum of modern art and behind it to cross the river. The glowing signage on the building and some smooth running suggested this was going to be a fine night.


Sadly it wasn't to prove to be so as the gates at the back of the museum were all locked and long alternative route via the Britannia Hotel had to be found.

The rest of the route through the West End was relatively straightforward but fairly length legs. Just over an hour long in total running time.


Sunday, October 26, 2014

Tinto Twin

Did just the day event at the Tinto Twin down at Happendon Wood near Biggar. The weather wasn't nice but the small area was pretty good and challenging. Was going OK until control 11 when I got a bit lost and then dropped and lost my compass. A bit worried for a while as I suddenly realised I had no idea which direction was which. Followed a few runners until I hit a small path and followed it until I worked out where I was (finding a control I'd been to before). Navigated back to the car park. First non-finish in a very long time.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Night Orienteering in Edinburgh City Centre

The Fight With The Night orienteering series for 2014/15 started with an Edinburgh City Centre course. Decided to give the long course a go which should be fine for urban courses but may be a struggle in the forest courses.

Started from the University Infomatics building and felt pretty solid running. Having orienteered in the city many times the courses are starting to get a bit easier - even in the dark.

For control 13 however my brain stopped functioning and I headed to wrong block altogether and started heading down a very dark and narrow close only to find a group of 4 junkies making themselves comfortable for the night. Not sure who was more frightened as I'm sure they weren't expecting to see some-one in bright green and yellow O-Shirt with a head torch disturbing their activities. After a swift retreat I realised how far off course I was.

Great fun and apart from ending up on the wrong level 3 times a reasonably good run.




Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Glen Tilt Munros

A second day out in the hills near Blair Atholl. A reasonably early start having stayed over in Pitlochry on Monday night. Left the car in the Glen Tilt car park with the thermometer at -1.5 degrees.

A long cycle up the Glen Tilt valley up to Forest Lodge where I headed up the steep hill towards Carn a Chlamain. It looked really close on the map but as ever seemed to be much further in practice.

Hit the wrong track on the way back and headed off on the alternative route for a while before heading across rough ground back to the intended trail.

A quick sandwich and drink before cycling further up the valley for the next 2 munros. A big horseshoe to do Braigh Coire Cruinn-bhalgain and Carn nan Gabhar. I had already done Carn Liath on its own with Max a few years ago. It was pretty long and tough making it round these two and around 4.30 in the evening before I got down to the bike.



An hours cycle back to the car.

Total distance around 33 miles in 8 hrs 45 minutes and 7000 ft of ascent.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Beinn Dearg 1008 m

A very remote munro indeed. I started from the Glen Tilt car park in Blair Atholl and got on the mountain bike for a long cycle out into the wilds. The track was good and the cycling pleasant on what was generally a steady and fairly manageable incline.


Reached a remote bothy after about an hour and a half and left the bike to start the serious climb on foot. An easy enough ascent with paths most of the way and as always somewhat further than expected to finally get to the summit.


The cycle back was fast - there must have been more ascent than I realised on the way up.

Total time for the journey was 4 hrs 47 min covering 19.75 miles and 3300 ft of ascent.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Walk from Milngavie

Nice walk along part of the West Highland Way and then back through Mugdock Park. Around 9.5 miles in total.


Sunday, October 05, 2014

SOSOL 2 at Tentsmuir

Tentsmuir is a fabulous forest on the coast between Dundee and St Andrews. A nice sunny day and nice clean forest with enough paths to make navigation relatively easy. Very runnable throughout. Very enjoyable.

Saturday, October 04, 2014

Les's Birthday Walk & Dinner

Les was celebrating his 60th birthday. Headed out for a walk in the Pentlands with Les and a group of his old university friends. The weather was kind and the rains disappeared and gave us a clear sunny afternoon.


Later in the evening we went out to Charwood for a very nice dinner. Steaks and Cranachan recommended.