Can this be the End ?

Saturday 23rd October 2010

I awoke to clear blue skies,     and could see a gentle dusting of snow on the lower hills, what a difference from yesterday !

Perhaps I should have waited a day ?

After  a leisurely breakfast, and packing up I left Glen Nevis and headed for the Nevis Ski Gondola, where the famous ‘Witches trails’ bike routes were http://www.ridefortwilliam.co.uk/trailsdb.asp?trailId=1– I had decided on a last day of activity before starting my journey home…

I started with the gentle blue ‘Broomstick trail’ which plunged down the hill, and sadly back up again..warming me up nicely for the ‘World Champs’ red route…I was ready, and off I zoomed through the forest, up along boardwalks, and jumping over rocks, it felt a lot harder today, than previous, perhaps my legs were still feeling the effects of yesterday!

Undaunted I continued around the trail, at some quite fast speeds (downhill !), until eventually I roared back into the car park, for some much needed grub !

Having tanked up, I was ready for the next one ‘10 Under the Ben’ and as I got to the start gate ! shock, horror – it had been closed, which was a pity as I’d decided to do it…so what did I do.. I tried to catch a gondola for the ‘red downhill route’ –closed for the season ! I went back to the only other red route available, the ‘World Champs’ again, only this time I went on a higher, more tortuous route, my legs screaming at me to take a rest… and whilst taking a short break and photo stop found that I had gone grey ! 

It must be the moisture (sweat) gathering on my locks, and shining in the afternoon sun !

Again I swooped down the trail, over new and old obstacles, managing to jump many that I’d not dared before – well it was my last day!, until eventually collapsing into the car park !

Its all over now…or is it ??

I then travelled into Glencoe, where I had booked into the campsite for 2 nights, intending to visit the world famous ‘Clachaig Inn’ for beer,food and music..

I walked from the campsite, the couple of miles along the pitch dark A82 to the Clachaig, http://www.clachaig.com/p/v/whats-on/october/to find an Autumn Beer Festival in full swing, and the place was heaving..

I managed to get a seat between 2 couples, who didn’t quite know what to make of this sweating hulk who’d just landed between them – it being roasting in the pub,compared to my freezing cold journey there..

It was a good night, with a hot beef chilli and Nachos for my evening meal, washed down with a few!  pints of Beinn Dearg http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=corrections2010beer, along with a rousing Celtic group form Dundee, who finished the night with the rousing and  obligatory ‘Loch Lomond’ and ‘Flowers of Scotland’ with people standing on chairs,tables and anyone else !

I then accompanied by the starry twinkling sky, returned to the campsite, and the warmth of Wally ( I’d left the heater on),  for a good nights kip !