Surf's Up at Machrihanish

More summer fun as the heatwave continues.... The west coast of Scotland feels more like the med at the moment.  The only thing to do on a day off is get in the water to keep cool.  Wally and I took the wee ferry from Lochranza over to Kintyre and headed to Machrihanish with our boards (small and long).  We spent a blissful morning playing in the surf at the village itself, and then the afternoon at Westport. The surf was 3' and clean in the morning, a bit messy by the afternoon.  Perfect for me and my boogie board. We were back on Arran in time for dinner at the Brodick Bar and cocktails at The Douglas.

The Sleeping Warrior's Long Lie

With an improving forecast, Jude, Brian, Andrew and I decided to leave it late before setting off to do the North Glen Sannox Horseshoe, including a traverse of the famous Sleeping Warrior and the Witches Step. Despite our long lie, the mist hung low in the coire as we set off. The recent dry weather made for an easy crossing of the river and ascent of the boggy hillsides of Sail an Im, but the ridge above was disappointingly clagged-in and damp. What should normally be a glorious walk to the summit of Caisteal Abhail was soggy and cold with limited views, a bit of a shock after the recent heatwave.  Ever the optimist, I kept hoping for the promised break in the clouds- and eventually it came, as we began to negotiate the difficulties on the Warrior.  We lingered, enjoying the views, and let the rock dry before completing the traverse in perfect conditions.  Worth the wait!

Atmospheric but a little damp.

Before.....

And after!

Descending in to the Witches Step

Stunning views over the saddle and in to Glen Rosa

Isles of Bute and the Cumbries visible in the distance

The profile of the Warrior, slumbering since the ice age.

Golden days on Loch Shiel

This week I was was working for Shearwater Adventure on a Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition with a difference, exploring the remote beaches and hills around Loch Shiel, on foot and by canoe. Canoe instructor Paul Weller and I knew we'd landed on our feet when we saw the forecast for wall to wall sunshine and settled weather. This is a rare and wonderful thing in Scotland.  When it happens there is nowhere better to be. We were blessed with sunny days, deserted sandy coves, and a Scottish paradise on earth.

We put in at the top of the Loch, at Glenfinnan.

The first evening saw us camped right on the sand of a heavenly beach

The morning mist added a bit of mysticism...

Another day, another blissful beach stop...

We stopped that evening for a two day camp at the entrance to Glen Aladale.

The next day we explored the surrounding hills: highpoint Beinn Odhar Beag

The final morning was also misty and still.

Eerie paddling through the mist back to Glenfinnan

Barely a ripple.

Skipness, porposies, basking shark

A bit of speed blogging here.  I've a boat to catch in 15 mins!
Yesterday Wally and I paddled to Skipness for a delicious lunch at the seafood cabin.  It was a magic day, and on the way back we were treated to a swim-past by a pod of porpoises.  They came so close we could here their powerful breaths as they broke the surface and see their dark bodies under the water. Then, as if that wasn't enough, a close (too close) encounter with a basking shark in Loch Ranza.  The huge pankton eating fish seemed completely oblivious to our presence and swam right in to us.  Evasive action needed!

Tall ship "Thalassa"  in Lochranza

Barely a ripple on the water.

Looking back to Arran from Skipness

A bit underwhelming, but some photos of Jaws

Jaws, coming for us.....

Home

I lost a new friend this week.  He was someone that I barely knew, a fellow wanderer, with whom I shared two short work expeditions before he died suddenly, doing what he loved, on the hill. I don't wish to say much about this loss, he has dear friends and family who will be grieving deeply.  However, it did stop me in my tracks and make me think about what I'm doing, working away from home so much, "living life to the full" but missing out on the love of the people nearest to me, and the chance to return it.
I've lived my life without compromise.  I have cared little for financial gain, followed my dreams, and tried to live each moment to the full,  hitting that old cliche on the nose- "as if it was my last".  And yet in doing so it has meant that I have missed out on raising a family, and spent long weeks away from home. People envy me, my drive, my luck, my dream job, and everyone understands why I do it. But when someone I knew was taken from the world without warning this week, the only place I wanted to be was home.

Bliss

What do you do when you have a day on Arran between expeditions, you are tired, and the sun is beating down from a cloudless sky?  Get on the water, thats what! This was last Saturday, back from a Gold DofE Exped in Glenshee, and just before a Silver in the Kinlochleven area. Time to rest the legs, chill out, and relax in my sea kayak.  Wally and I paddled around Holy Isle at a leisurely pace, took in the sights, and were back at home in time for dinner and for me to catch the last ferry off the island.

Making for the Inner Lighthouse opposite Kings Cross

Moon jellyfish drifts past.

Looking back towards Arran's hills, basking in the sunlight.

The Inner Lighthouse keepers cottages, home to a closed Buddhist retreat.

Rounding the southern end of Holy Isle

Pasing the Outer Lighthouse

Gold Days in Glenshee

Oooops!  Its catchup time again.  At least it means I'm busy....
Its all a bit out of date now, but I've been out an about a lot this month with wall to wall Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions.  This one was a real treat- perfect weather, a great group, and a new area to me. We started from near the Spittal of Glenshee, and finished not far away, and over the course of three days explored the glens and hills of the area around Gleann Taitneach. We even managed a few Munros!

We climbed gently out of the Glen and over Carn a Gheoidh

Home sweet home, Gleann Taitneach

Blissful weather! Looking back down the Glen

Loch nan Eun

Big views on the way up Glas Tulaichean

Aspen in a remote gully.