Final day away so packed up and left the cottage in the early morning and parked in the nearby church car park and headed off for a very nice ride to Glencoe. Some nice sections near Duror and around Glencoe. Coffee and Chocolate Cake when I finally found somewhere open. Drive home in the afternoon getting home around 4 pm.
With somewhat improved weather attempted another munro hike again with limited expectations of success. Initially quite a nice path up from the start near Loch Creran. Not a lot of energy in the legs but happy to make slow and steady progress. Got up the high summit ridge but still a long way to go to the munro with significant ups and downs to get through. With weather worsening and low visibility decided to head back.
Another day with very low cloud cover so back on the bike again for a nice figure of 8 loop along Cycle Route 78 on the outward journey then back along the coast from Oban and then along the edge of Loch Etive after the Connel Bridge.
Coffee at Costa and lunch at the Wetherspoons in Oban. Found myself totally knackered on the last bit of the cycle home.
Headed out early to get the best of the weather which was for the most part not too bad. Low cloud that would make a munro difficult but not to bad on the low coastal roads. The Cycle Path 78 from Ballachulish to Oban is really excellent making use of old railway lines and keeping me off the busy A road. Port Appin looked really nice and cycle round the headland there. 30 miles and 2 hr 45 min moving time.
With some free time in the diary Colin headed off north for a 4 night / 5 day break in the Highlands. Stayed at a nice Air BNB in Duror called the Old Byre.
The first day was a three hour drive up to Glen Etive and another kind of attempt to climb Beinn nan Aighenan. The last attempt was coupled with other summits but bad weather and lack of visibility put a stop to it. Expectations were low this time as the weather was forecast to change for the worse in the afternoon. Initially it was fairly pleasant and a decent path up to the ridge although very steep at the end. The weather did indeed change with strong wind and heavy rain. Totally soaked by the end and Glencoe was absolutely dripping with water as I drove through on the way to AirBNB.
Some good seats just outside the splash zone at the front for this fun show of visual comedy.
Cherry very much enjoyed the Peaky Blinders dance show. Colin found it OK.
A busy day as planner at the Interlopers Come and Try It event at Braidburn Valley. Many visits over the past 2 months to the park and to the housing estate at Oxgangs. A really nice area in the small park and the housing estate has surprisingly nice little bits of nature and views to the Pentlands.
We had around 100 runners at the event and the weather turned out to be surprising pleasant and warm.
On event day I started about 9 am and finished putting out around 12.30. After helping set up did some time at the start and then some time putting away all the stuff. All went well with the courses and overall a a pretty good experience.
