Thursday, 27 September 2012
Monday, 24 September 2012
Hello again.
Hi folks!
We are back, the walking boots have been brought out of the cupboard the batteries recharged and we are walking again.
But, first of all, absolutely fantastic news! Our total at the moment is over £6,500! With gift aid still to be added on to that and money still coming in. Who would have believed it, everyone has been so generous it has surpassed our wildest dreams. So a huge thank you to each and everyone of you.
Now back to Sunday and eight of us headed out onto the hills again this time Broad Law, walking up from Meggat Stane. Have to admit the Meggat stane is not quite what I had expected - a bit on the small side- but the walk up onto Broad Law was wonderful. The rolling hills of the Borders at their best and the wind, very chilly. Autumn is definitely here but at least the sun was shining and it was dry. Not like tonight! Hope the house doesn't blow away!
Up on the top there were countless windmills in the distance glinting in the autumn sun while St Mary's Loch and the Meggat Dam could be seen in the other direction and even home territory Skelfhill Pen in the distance.
On top there was the space ship i.e. the navigational station which provided a welcome shelter break for lunch. All in all no cobwebs left before we got back to the cars and if we hadn't rosy cheeks when we started certainly had at the end.
Thankfully the new hosts at the Gordon Arms ensured we got a warm welcome when we dropped in on a session on the way home.
Cracking day.
Where next?
We are back, the walking boots have been brought out of the cupboard the batteries recharged and we are walking again.
But, first of all, absolutely fantastic news! Our total at the moment is over £6,500! With gift aid still to be added on to that and money still coming in. Who would have believed it, everyone has been so generous it has surpassed our wildest dreams. So a huge thank you to each and everyone of you.
Now back to Sunday and eight of us headed out onto the hills again this time Broad Law, walking up from Meggat Stane. Have to admit the Meggat stane is not quite what I had expected - a bit on the small side- but the walk up onto Broad Law was wonderful. The rolling hills of the Borders at their best and the wind, very chilly. Autumn is definitely here but at least the sun was shining and it was dry. Not like tonight! Hope the house doesn't blow away!
Up on the top there were countless windmills in the distance glinting in the autumn sun while St Mary's Loch and the Meggat Dam could be seen in the other direction and even home territory Skelfhill Pen in the distance.
On top there was the space ship i.e. the navigational station which provided a welcome shelter break for lunch. All in all no cobwebs left before we got back to the cars and if we hadn't rosy cheeks when we started certainly had at the end.
Thankfully the new hosts at the Gordon Arms ensured we got a warm welcome when we dropped in on a session on the way home.
Cracking day.
Where next?
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
West Highland Way Photos
As there are so many photos from our trip thought the easiest way to share them would be giving you a link to a picasa web album containing them all.
All the photos!
Hope you enjoy them!
All the photos!
Hope you enjoy them!
Monday, 6 August 2012
We did it!
Teviothead Trekkers have completed the West Highland Way ... according to the official certificate all 97 miles of it!
Just where on earth do we begin! After what was an absolutely fantastic week it seems almost impossible to be back home and now trying to give you a snapshot of our amazing adventure in a few paragraphs and photos. Everyone agreed it was wonderful, the scenery was varied and frequently breathtaking and every day different. The weather exceeded our expectations and just proved the long distance forecast isn't always right, and even the midges only tortured us a few times and weren't nearly as bad as we expected.
We were joined on our adventure by Andrea from Italy, bestman at Sarah and Matteo's wedding, and for the final four days by Will Roberts not forgetting the company of all the other trekkers we kept meeting along the way especially Alisha from California towards the end of the week.
Day 1. The start in Milngavie was a bit of a surprise in that no sooner had we went through the official gateway than we appeared to be in the countryside and Mugdock wood. Everyone agreed it was much nicer than wandering along streets making our way out of town. The consensus of opinion at the end of Day 1 which took us from Milngavie to Drymen was that it was a good 12 mile walk but a nice gentle warm up for the trek that lay ahead. There was an odd shower or two but that didn't dampen the enthusiasm or spirits. We were pleasantly surprised but grateful for the freshly made scones and tea which greeted us going through the wood where there was a table with an honesty box in aid of charity. Only problem was the midges knew exactly where to find us so we didn't linger for long. But what enterprise!
Likewise later on in the day the freezer with the ice creams and the two young girls with the traybakes most welcome. We made a wee diversion at one point for a look in at Glengoyne Distillery but apart from that it was good going all the way to Drymen and the Winnock Hotel. Our first day ended with a good sing song in the hotel bar where the music and recitations were appreciated by Welsh and Dutch visitors.
Our journey had truly begun.
Day 2 and the sun was shining as we set off from Drymen to Rowerdennan which saw us get our first glimpse of Loch Lomond and our first real climb up over Conic Hill. The steep climb was certainly worth the effort for the views from the summit were spectacular and the tricky path down to Balmaha took us through a lovely wood. At least we had the right footwear on unlike some of the day walkers we met heading upwards!. Don't think wedge sandals and plimsoles were the best thing to wear but at least they were out making an effort!.
We were very envious of all the sunbathers and swimmers making the most of the last day of July as we heading along the lochside but unfortunately we couldn't linger as the youth hostel at Rowardennan was our destination. A wonderful day and we really felt we were on a highland walk.
Day 3 and what a difference a day makes. It was pretty wet when we left the hostel heading for Benglass Farm and their wigwams so the suntan cream was put away and the waterproofs came out the rucksacks. This was definitely a challenge clambering over rocks and paths, squeezing between boulders and negotiating waterfalls and streams in full flow or searching for Rob Roy's Cave. Some of the group certainly didn't have this as their favourite day while others loved it. Fun, exciting, scary, challenging, exhausting and without doubt spectacular! We had certainly seen the Loch in all moods. Amazingly Inversnaid Hotel welcomed us and all other walkers in for a stop at lunchtime even in our drookit state. A very welcome stop. Just before we reached the wigwams, the sun started to come out as did the midges but we had survived. Various folk had advised us to go to the Drovers Inn so we set of there for supper complete with guitars etc. Well! This place is something else, like it has been plucked out of a different century or film set. Stuffed animals, collections of eggs, pictures, artefacts, maybe we should have been telling ghost stories instead of singing. But a good few pounds was added to the sponsorship with the busking in the bar and the food was good. Quite an end to a memorable day.
Day 4 and Benglass to Auch with the sun on our backs. Once again the views on this day were spectacular and lovely woods towards the end. We even managed to cool our feet in the River Fillan at lunchtime before stopping briefly in Tyndrum. After sussing out our accommodation for the night in some chalets we headed out of the village and walked a further 4 miles to Auch after which our bag/transport wizard ferried us back to Tyndrum. This was good thinking as it meant when we started the following day it wasn't with an instant climb. Fish and chips rounded another successful day.
Day 5 was another glorious day although the midges were rather vicious in the morning and prevented much dillying and dallying as we went on our way but nothing was going to stop us from admiring the scenery on this day. With our headstart in the morning due to the previous nights extra bit, the cameras were out when we came across some Highland Cattle cooling off in the stream as we set off. If we were in awe of them just what must the foreign walkers have thought. Our goal today was Kingshouse taking us through some picture postcard landscapes. The walk to Bridge of Orchy was beautiful but the climb up from it was magical. As our Italian friend described it " just layers and layers of green". After a brief stop at Inveroran Hotel, Telford's Road took us towards the indescribable wilderness of Rannoch Moor. Peace perfect peace. Everyone was rather relieved that it wasn't a replica of Wednesday's weather or there would have been no shelter from the rain and the views would have been hidden by the mist. Our first glimpse of Glencoe when we came round the corner at the top was memorable. Absolutely fantastic. And as we sat with a refreshment in the Kingshouse Hotel at the end of the stretch, everyone agreed it was a day never to be forgotten. From there we were ferried to Glencoe Youth Hostel just what we needed a bed for the night!
Day 6 and Saturday was our shortest day at only eight miles - think the longest was 16 - and after being taken back to Kingshouse we made our way to Kinlochleven. It was no walk in the park however, but a walk along the hillside before tackling the Devils Staircase. It was a scorcher of a day and while we found it hot, hate to think how the runners who were running from Tyndrum to Fort William felt as they passed us en route upwards and downwards. The walk to the top for us was maybe challenging in the heat but once there it was like being on top of the world. The majestic mountains in all directions - words can not describe. In some ways the long descent down to Kinlochleven seemed harder going underfoot but all arrived safely to be welcome sight of Hobbit Huts! Obviously a favourite haunt of midges. This was definitely the worst the midges had been all week but thankfully the end was in sight or should that have been sadly the end was in sight.
Day 7 The last day :( saw us heading from Kinlochleven to Fort William with waterproofs on for only the second day. Someone obviously had been looking after us this week as far as the weather was concerned. In someways this was maybe the least picturesque of the days but there were still some views to take in when we remembered to stop and look. And often some of the nicest views were behind us although there had obviously been a lot of felling going on and some of the woods on the map were no longer green.As we neared the end and got sight of Ben Nevis we knew we were on the home straight and it was good to see the welcoming party at the Nevis Centre car park before the final couple of miles into Fort William and the official end.
We had arrived. The official certificate stated we had covered 97 miles in seven days. Along the way we had met numerous friendly people including Alisha who accompanied us part of the way and joined us in the evening, Bert from Belgium,a lovely German couple whose names I will hopefully remember tomorrow, the cheery Geordie crowd (hope the blisters are ok) and others we kept meeting/catching up now and again who always greeted us with a smile. As a group we had great fun got to know each other much better and hopefully at the end are all a wee bit fitter and have certainly got the walking bug.
A HUGE thank you Ronnie and Julia for the planning and organisation, not only for this week but the training walks beforehand, we couldn't have done it without you.Thanks to you we know we are all a lot fitter. To John the bag/transport man who made sure everything we needed was in the right place, ferried us about and still had time to run up 11 Munroes during the week! Thanks to Will for joining us and helping with the ferrying it meant a lot to us that you came. Also Bob , James and Walter for the help with transport and medals!
Lastly all our supporters and sponsors we are thrilled with how much has been raised we know it isn't all in yet but we are definitely over £4,000 so many many thanks. When the going got tough your generosity was the thing which inspired us to keep going.
There will be more comments and photos going up in the next couple of days so apologies it isn't all tonight but somehow the brain as well as the feet need a wee bit of rest.
Just where on earth do we begin! After what was an absolutely fantastic week it seems almost impossible to be back home and now trying to give you a snapshot of our amazing adventure in a few paragraphs and photos. Everyone agreed it was wonderful, the scenery was varied and frequently breathtaking and every day different. The weather exceeded our expectations and just proved the long distance forecast isn't always right, and even the midges only tortured us a few times and weren't nearly as bad as we expected.
We were joined on our adventure by Andrea from Italy, bestman at Sarah and Matteo's wedding, and for the final four days by Will Roberts not forgetting the company of all the other trekkers we kept meeting along the way especially Alisha from California towards the end of the week.
Day 1. The start in Milngavie was a bit of a surprise in that no sooner had we went through the official gateway than we appeared to be in the countryside and Mugdock wood. Everyone agreed it was much nicer than wandering along streets making our way out of town. The consensus of opinion at the end of Day 1 which took us from Milngavie to Drymen was that it was a good 12 mile walk but a nice gentle warm up for the trek that lay ahead. There was an odd shower or two but that didn't dampen the enthusiasm or spirits. We were pleasantly surprised but grateful for the freshly made scones and tea which greeted us going through the wood where there was a table with an honesty box in aid of charity. Only problem was the midges knew exactly where to find us so we didn't linger for long. But what enterprise!
Likewise later on in the day the freezer with the ice creams and the two young girls with the traybakes most welcome. We made a wee diversion at one point for a look in at Glengoyne Distillery but apart from that it was good going all the way to Drymen and the Winnock Hotel. Our first day ended with a good sing song in the hotel bar where the music and recitations were appreciated by Welsh and Dutch visitors.
Our journey had truly begun.
Day 2 and the sun was shining as we set off from Drymen to Rowerdennan which saw us get our first glimpse of Loch Lomond and our first real climb up over Conic Hill. The steep climb was certainly worth the effort for the views from the summit were spectacular and the tricky path down to Balmaha took us through a lovely wood. At least we had the right footwear on unlike some of the day walkers we met heading upwards!. Don't think wedge sandals and plimsoles were the best thing to wear but at least they were out making an effort!.
We were very envious of all the sunbathers and swimmers making the most of the last day of July as we heading along the lochside but unfortunately we couldn't linger as the youth hostel at Rowardennan was our destination. A wonderful day and we really felt we were on a highland walk.
Day 3 and what a difference a day makes. It was pretty wet when we left the hostel heading for Benglass Farm and their wigwams so the suntan cream was put away and the waterproofs came out the rucksacks. This was definitely a challenge clambering over rocks and paths, squeezing between boulders and negotiating waterfalls and streams in full flow or searching for Rob Roy's Cave. Some of the group certainly didn't have this as their favourite day while others loved it. Fun, exciting, scary, challenging, exhausting and without doubt spectacular! We had certainly seen the Loch in all moods. Amazingly Inversnaid Hotel welcomed us and all other walkers in for a stop at lunchtime even in our drookit state. A very welcome stop. Just before we reached the wigwams, the sun started to come out as did the midges but we had survived. Various folk had advised us to go to the Drovers Inn so we set of there for supper complete with guitars etc. Well! This place is something else, like it has been plucked out of a different century or film set. Stuffed animals, collections of eggs, pictures, artefacts, maybe we should have been telling ghost stories instead of singing. But a good few pounds was added to the sponsorship with the busking in the bar and the food was good. Quite an end to a memorable day.
Day 4 and Benglass to Auch with the sun on our backs. Once again the views on this day were spectacular and lovely woods towards the end. We even managed to cool our feet in the River Fillan at lunchtime before stopping briefly in Tyndrum. After sussing out our accommodation for the night in some chalets we headed out of the village and walked a further 4 miles to Auch after which our bag/transport wizard ferried us back to Tyndrum. This was good thinking as it meant when we started the following day it wasn't with an instant climb. Fish and chips rounded another successful day.
Day 5 was another glorious day although the midges were rather vicious in the morning and prevented much dillying and dallying as we went on our way but nothing was going to stop us from admiring the scenery on this day. With our headstart in the morning due to the previous nights extra bit, the cameras were out when we came across some Highland Cattle cooling off in the stream as we set off. If we were in awe of them just what must the foreign walkers have thought. Our goal today was Kingshouse taking us through some picture postcard landscapes. The walk to Bridge of Orchy was beautiful but the climb up from it was magical. As our Italian friend described it " just layers and layers of green". After a brief stop at Inveroran Hotel, Telford's Road took us towards the indescribable wilderness of Rannoch Moor. Peace perfect peace. Everyone was rather relieved that it wasn't a replica of Wednesday's weather or there would have been no shelter from the rain and the views would have been hidden by the mist. Our first glimpse of Glencoe when we came round the corner at the top was memorable. Absolutely fantastic. And as we sat with a refreshment in the Kingshouse Hotel at the end of the stretch, everyone agreed it was a day never to be forgotten. From there we were ferried to Glencoe Youth Hostel just what we needed a bed for the night!
Day 6 and Saturday was our shortest day at only eight miles - think the longest was 16 - and after being taken back to Kingshouse we made our way to Kinlochleven. It was no walk in the park however, but a walk along the hillside before tackling the Devils Staircase. It was a scorcher of a day and while we found it hot, hate to think how the runners who were running from Tyndrum to Fort William felt as they passed us en route upwards and downwards. The walk to the top for us was maybe challenging in the heat but once there it was like being on top of the world. The majestic mountains in all directions - words can not describe. In some ways the long descent down to Kinlochleven seemed harder going underfoot but all arrived safely to be welcome sight of Hobbit Huts! Obviously a favourite haunt of midges. This was definitely the worst the midges had been all week but thankfully the end was in sight or should that have been sadly the end was in sight.
Day 7 The last day :( saw us heading from Kinlochleven to Fort William with waterproofs on for only the second day. Someone obviously had been looking after us this week as far as the weather was concerned. In someways this was maybe the least picturesque of the days but there were still some views to take in when we remembered to stop and look. And often some of the nicest views were behind us although there had obviously been a lot of felling going on and some of the woods on the map were no longer green.As we neared the end and got sight of Ben Nevis we knew we were on the home straight and it was good to see the welcoming party at the Nevis Centre car park before the final couple of miles into Fort William and the official end.
We had arrived. The official certificate stated we had covered 97 miles in seven days. Along the way we had met numerous friendly people including Alisha who accompanied us part of the way and joined us in the evening, Bert from Belgium,a lovely German couple whose names I will hopefully remember tomorrow, the cheery Geordie crowd (hope the blisters are ok) and others we kept meeting/catching up now and again who always greeted us with a smile. As a group we had great fun got to know each other much better and hopefully at the end are all a wee bit fitter and have certainly got the walking bug.
A HUGE thank you Ronnie and Julia for the planning and organisation, not only for this week but the training walks beforehand, we couldn't have done it without you.Thanks to you we know we are all a lot fitter. To John the bag/transport man who made sure everything we needed was in the right place, ferried us about and still had time to run up 11 Munroes during the week! Thanks to Will for joining us and helping with the ferrying it meant a lot to us that you came. Also Bob , James and Walter for the help with transport and medals!
Lastly all our supporters and sponsors we are thrilled with how much has been raised we know it isn't all in yet but we are definitely over £4,000 so many many thanks. When the going got tough your generosity was the thing which inspired us to keep going.
There will be more comments and photos going up in the next couple of days so apologies it isn't all tonight but somehow the brain as well as the feet need a wee bit of rest.
Sunday, 5 August 2012
Made it!!
All the walkers have arrived in Fort William in one piece, and are now enjoying a well deserved bath and rest before their journey home. More in depth tales of their trekking to follow.
Friday, 3 August 2012
Day Five under our belt...two more to go!
Hi Folks,
Sorry for the delay in getting in touch, but we have been rather busy and the access to internet has been patchy! But we have had the most fantastic five days so far. We are tonight at Glencoe Youth Hostel having just completed Day Five and are now more than half way,
There will obviously be a fuller update when we get back home but suffice to say "It has been brilliant".
We have had a few showers on day one, wall to wall sunshine day two, continual rain day three, sunshine day four and even hotter sunshine day five.
We have been diverted through woods, detoured to a distillery, enviously watched folk sunbathing and swimming in Loch Lomond one day only to find ourselves scrambling over boulders and battling through waterfalls the next, complete with waterproofs. We have wandered through beautiful birch and oak woods, been continually amazed at the views which awaited us around the next corner or over the next hill, and admired nature's wilderness of Rannoch Moor today.
The entertainers amongst us have added to the sponsorship by getting the guitars out at night with songs and recitations going down well. Even the Drovers Inn came alive to the sound of music!
Now that place needs a blog all of its own.
Hopefully the next two days will be just as good. The midges have been bearable... just but the main thing is we are surviving.
Can't wait to tell you all about it. In the meantime I am afraid after 16 miles today, a shower now beckons and a wee dram and some food.
PS. Thank you to all our generous sponsors. You are amazing it certainly keeps us going and makes the blisters all worthwhile,
All pics and more details to follow asap.
Sorry for the delay in getting in touch, but we have been rather busy and the access to internet has been patchy! But we have had the most fantastic five days so far. We are tonight at Glencoe Youth Hostel having just completed Day Five and are now more than half way,
There will obviously be a fuller update when we get back home but suffice to say "It has been brilliant".
We have had a few showers on day one, wall to wall sunshine day two, continual rain day three, sunshine day four and even hotter sunshine day five.
We have been diverted through woods, detoured to a distillery, enviously watched folk sunbathing and swimming in Loch Lomond one day only to find ourselves scrambling over boulders and battling through waterfalls the next, complete with waterproofs. We have wandered through beautiful birch and oak woods, been continually amazed at the views which awaited us around the next corner or over the next hill, and admired nature's wilderness of Rannoch Moor today.
The entertainers amongst us have added to the sponsorship by getting the guitars out at night with songs and recitations going down well. Even the Drovers Inn came alive to the sound of music!
Now that place needs a blog all of its own.
Hopefully the next two days will be just as good. The midges have been bearable... just but the main thing is we are surviving.
Can't wait to tell you all about it. In the meantime I am afraid after 16 miles today, a shower now beckons and a wee dram and some food.
PS. Thank you to all our generous sponsors. You are amazing it certainly keeps us going and makes the blisters all worthwhile,
All pics and more details to follow asap.
Monday, 30 July 2012
Made it to Glasgow
Sunday, 29 July 2012
And they're off!!
Friday, 27 July 2012
Three sleeps to go!
Well the excitement is mounting! Bags are getting packed - or at least various items of clothing getting looked out and strewn about the house in little piles. The midge nets have been unearthed and given an air and the boots waterproofed. What more do we need? Suntan cream? That might just be a bit optimistic going by the forecast but they have been known to get it wrong. Flapjack has been baked - only problem might not be much left by the time it reaches the car so maybe have to replenish supplies tomorrow. The sponsorship has been rolling in fast so a huge thank you to all our supporters. Hopefully we might be able to get online and give you a wee update on our progress as we go along, modern technology and energy permitting. If not there will definitely be plenty of tales to recall once we are back. So wish us luck and if anyone wants to be at Fort William a week on Sunday to hopefully welcome us, or join us on any of the days, you would be most welcome.
Monday, 16 July 2012
Help!
Sorry, last update got cut short very suddenly because there was an sos to go the clipping shed with midge repellent! There were swarms, torturing a captive meal of two shearers who couldn't escape. So, we will see if jungle formula, avon so soft, or the little blighters win. Got a horrible feeling that I know who is going to be the victor in this battle. Can someone please tell us it will not be as bad as this in two weeks time! If there is a record for the fastest walk of the WHW we could very well be challengers to beat it. Roll on sunshine, wind, garlic, sweaty socks.... whatever it takes to keep them at bay.
How many sleeps to go?
Hi everyone, sorry been a bit quiet on the blog front. Think everyone has been very busy, doing own thing this past week. But, preparations seem well in hand and the order is in for the magic midge repellent that will keep us nice and soft. Wonder if Avon sponsor people..... Plan is to do the Three Brethern walk again next weekend for those who are available. The sponsorship just keeps on rolling in thank you all very much.
Sunday, 8 July 2012
The hat!
Been a query, someone wondering if Pat's hat was with us yesterday. Certainly was even made an appearance out of the mist!
There was even another head with us too!
There was even another head with us too!
And Donald explaining how big it was!
Halterburn walk
Well with only three weeks to go we had a cracking circular walk in the Halterburn area near Kirk Yetholm today. It was pretty wet underfoot, the mist continually encased us with one minute the views breathtaking and the next completely out of sight. Despite this however, it was a fantastic walk and showed off the rolling Border hills in all their moods. High up on the Penine Way we even managed to have one foot over the line into England for a photo shoot! We were joined today by Julia's friend Hilary and hopefully we have another addition to any future trips into the hills. Somehow, the weather didn't really matter today as the climbs were gradual and often hidden out of sight until we were almost upon them but once on top well worth the effort. The views were spectacular and between the blankets of mist you could see for miles and miles. We didn't go quite as far as the Schil but thought that would keep for another trip. Instead after ascending White Law we climbed up over Latchly Hill, and then Wild Goose Hill where there was a huge cheer when reception clicked in and we discovered Andy Murray had won the first set at Wimbledon. Then the final hill Sunnyside awaited us before the amble back down to the cars. We encountered several walkers completing the Penine Way but unlike them we didn't get a free half pint in the hotel in Kirk Yetholm. Of course we only looked in to see how the tennis was getting on after we had finished. A great day out in beautiful grassy countryside lots of laughs along the way and even a cherry stone spitting competition thrown in.No guessing which photo that is! Maybe in a few years time there will be some cherry trees dotted about the hillside. Great patchwork of little shelterbelts already scattered about the landscape. Well not sure if there is another group walk before the WHW but it is all getting very close. But, one thing is for sure we will definitely be returning to the Yetholm Hills for another walk in the future.
Friday, 6 July 2012
Three weeks to go!
Right now I'm not sure what month of the year it is! It is howling a gale, absolutely chucking it down outside, and you can't see any distance down the valley for rain and mist. Summer - you really must be joking! And just to test the sanity Ronnie is planning a walk near Halterbun in the Yethom area on Sunday, high up on the Penine Way to the Schil. The trouble is there is no turning back now, the sponsorship is amazing and we are just a drookin' away from the £2,000 mark. I suppose it might be an easier option than watching the Wimbledon Tennis Final. Well done Andy Murray. Wonder what the reception on these fancy phones is like up in the Yetholm Hills. By the way it seems that Pat's hat has some competition on the mascot front as her wee dog Talla is bringing in the money for us. Well done Talla, maybe Paul will be suggesting we take a canoe with us if this weather continues! Thanks for all the support and hopefully the camera will be waterproof on Sunday. CT
Friday, 29 June 2012
The dreaded beasties!
It is 8.45 a.m.! and I have just come in from planting some leeks - yes I know it is a bit late, but at least I won't have to water them - and I have been eaten alive by midges.
I am fast coming to the conclusion we need danger money for doing this walk next month (four weeks time in fact) if the midges are going to be as fearsome as the Teviothead ones. Maybe summer will have arrived by then and it will be too hot and sunny for them. Some of the team have even put themselves through the agony of doing trials with various sprays/creams etc but so far haven't come up with the winning formula other than midge nets. Yes could be interesting, maybe next time we decide to do a walk it will be pre or post midge time of the year. Hopefully fit in a walk over the weekend just to test the waterproofs again.
I am fast coming to the conclusion we need danger money for doing this walk next month (four weeks time in fact) if the midges are going to be as fearsome as the Teviothead ones. Maybe summer will have arrived by then and it will be too hot and sunny for them. Some of the team have even put themselves through the agony of doing trials with various sprays/creams etc but so far haven't come up with the winning formula other than midge nets. Yes could be interesting, maybe next time we decide to do a walk it will be pre or post midge time of the year. Hopefully fit in a walk over the weekend just to test the waterproofs again.
Sunday, 24 June 2012
Day 2 & Teviothead circular walk.
Having survived a lengthy walk yesterday,( Saturday) today it was home territory and a Teviothead circular walk in Ian Landles & Alan Brydon's "Walking in the Land of the Reivers " book. Starting at Carlenrig Farm this takes you up along the road, past Hizzy's Cairn down to the road to Blackcleuch before you take to the hillside. Now this is definitely not one for dainty shoes, or the faint hearted as it is pretty rough going up on the hillside. Tussocks and bog by the bucketful! But we are on a mission. This was some serious training for the task that lies ahead and hopefully having conquered this, the West Highland Way will be nae bother. Up on the top of Rowantree Hill the views were fantastic with Skelfhill Pen in one direction, Hislop Farm down in the valley behind, The Wisp, Ruberslaw and even Cheviot looming in the distance. But it was watching the weather which was just as big a challenge as the ground underfoot. Once again the black rain clouds circled round about us and we seemed to escape the worst. While we covered a fair distance, Pat's wee dog Talla covered three or four times as much and was once again great entertainment. Right along the top past the sheep stell and mast we battled on before heading down to Falnash. There, consensus of opinion was to leave the second loop up round the Henry Scott Riddell Monument for another day. Another good walk under our belt. Different, definitely challenging, but well worth the effort. Nothing beats being at the top of a hill, blowing away the cobwebs, knowing you have made it and it is all going to be in aid of a good cause. Thanks to all those who are following our walks and supporting us by dipping into your pockets. We really do appreciate it. The support we have received from so many people has been amazing and we are well on our way to making it to £2,000.
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