Crash,Bang,Wallop !

Wednesday 13th October 2010

A good nights sleep in the pitch dark area of the Carbisdale Forest, and having rose early I set off before 9, firstly for nearby Bike trails in Balblair Forest, which I arrived at before 10 o’clock, and quickly changing set off on the ‘blue run’ for a ‘warm up’, I must be getting used to the Scottish trails as I had done this one within 30 minutes of arriving, even following the painted arrows across,and down the rock slabs again!

I then decided to do the harder route, graded ‘Black’ severe, for bikers ‘up for a challenge’ ! which I followed,mostly ,up the hill, and around the top viewpoint,looking over the Loch below.. and then the real fun (if you can call it that),started, whistling down the hillside on some very technical features,Rock hard and Candy Mountain,most of which I managed,crossing long stretches of planking set well above the ground,and hurtling downwards I felt like a teenager again ( I know, not long ago!) and just as I neared the bottom, on a relatively easy section…Craaaash !!down I went, however, managed not to injure myself too much, and carried on regardless..finishing off on the Ceilidh trail, and time for a rest…phew!

But, not before posing for another snap !

Then it was off on the Road towards the mountains, still waiting to be climbed. En route I called in at the Falls of Shin, where you could see Salmon leaping up the waterfalls,on their way back to their birthplace  ..brilliant, I saw 2 salmon jumping, not sure if they made it, but they beat the camera ! Imagine having to jump up there, having already swum up lots of other waterfalls!

I carried on towards Lochinver, calling in at Rosehay forest, where there was the Sikha bike trail, but, as it was raining I decided to give it a miss, and continue… I arrived at Ichnadamph, where you could hear the Deer stags ‘roaring’ on the hillside (impressing the women!) and continues to Lochinver, where I arrived mid afternoon, calling in at the tourist office, for a new map, and weather forecast ( looking good), and carried on to the car park at the foot of Stac Poilladh, however arriving there nearly 5p.m. meant I had to settle down for the night, to climb it tomorrow !