Frantic Friday

We had a Duathlon for some kids from the Special Educational needs schools in Cathkin Park on Friday so it was an early start to get the course set up for the schools arrival at 10am.

As the school arrived I had to leave to go to another meeting, this one was interesting as it was with George from Brooks Tacticom.

He has a new toy that links a radio with a GPS unit allowing you to see where everybody is on your frequency.

This being released soon and i will have pictures to show.

After that I had to fight my way through the Friday M8 traffic to get back and pack up the course load bikes and drop them off at the appropriate schools.

Then drop the van off pick my car out and get the hell out of dodge for PTC HQ.

We thought that we would be heading out arround 2pm so had chosen Bridge of Orchy as our destination.

I arrived nearer 3pm and by the time we had posted parcels and sat in traffic we were blasting up the A82 at 4pm.

A quick re think and we arrived at the back end of Beinn Ime for an ascent of the NFA route (No Fecking About).

The weather was a 3 day stable high pressure that was about to move, hence the Friday night-er.

As I changed into my Haglofs Kazoos and Azer top and we were ready to rock.

The sun was already getting low sending out amazing patters in the haze.

Despite the light packs the steep incline was taking its toll and we were soon soaked in sweat as we paused to take in the views.

The clear blue skies spurred os on as we ascended the slope.

The usual banter of kit chat resumed between breaths and PTC spilt as much of the beans as he could about the new things to come from Montane,Haglofs and OMM.

Exciting times for new kit.

The sun was getting lower as we looked west taking in the hazy vistas (and getting our breaths back )

On reaching the summit we looked for a space to pitch the tents.

The wind had picked up making it cold as we carefully pitched our tents to ensure a good view of the sunrise and to make sure we did not have a repeat of the tent destruction trip.

It was cold as I climbed into the Seedhouse and I realised that the PHD bag would of been the right choice not the top bag !

I looked on as PTC donned his down boots and mitts as we waited for the water to boil for a brew ! it was 8pm already.

PTC gets hit by the streak of lightning for being all warm and smug !

I slept with all my kit on with my shells as a pillow, I wouldn’t say I was warm and my feet were bad.

I am sure I dreamt of my PHD bag at one point as the wind picked up outside.

The tents were better pitched meaning they did not get destroyed, the seedhouse done well probably being helped by PTC Laser comp taking the brunt as it rattled and rustled.

I stuck my head out at 5.30 to see if we were going to get a sunrise.

All I could see was mist and cloud !

I went back into a doze till about 6.30 when PTC came back from his early morning summiting.

Stoves on and the debate of when to leave and the usual chat of ” how did you sleep” and “man that Laser comp make a noise in the wind”

Then we got a brief glimpse of the sun !

PTC whent back to sleep as I ate my breakfast and hunted for the mango in the Expedition foods Hot cereal start.

After a bout of slash like air guitar whilst standing on a rock in front of the tents a started to pack up.

The tents looked good despite the wind and the exposed site.

The windchill was harsh but the Kazoos still worked well.

We packed and headed down the hill quickly to get out the biting wind.

Maybe a wee bit too fast as both of us took some impressive falls on the slippy moss !

So much for the high pressure !

We played about on some boulders like a couple of kids exploring!

We also took some Trail like shots almost as if to distract us from the fact we were heading home !

Is that GT ?

Once on the path we warmed up and layers came off as we neared the car and all the poor bastards that were heading to the top !

We stopped off at “the wummin in the windae” at Arrochar for butties and coffee.

We stared at patches of blue sky opening and closing on the hills wandering if we had left too soon.

A couple of guests found us as we sat taking in the weird feel of Arrochar.

High pressure ! bah ask Frank Haden about high pressure !