Wednesday 18 Feb 2015 - Summer's Coming!

Tonight for the first time this year I was home from work in time to go far a walk up Dunnydeer Hill before night fell. This is not a massive achievement as form the front door of my house to the top of the hill and back is a 40 minute walk at most and the climb is only 123 metres though its a great way to get some air in your lungs and on a sunny evening like this it gladdens the heart to get out and realise that Spring is taking over from Winter.

Approaching Dunnydeer Castle ; Flinder Hill is the rise on the left at similar height

 

The trip to the top is straightforward and at the top there is the ruin of Dunnydeer Castle a 13th century tower house (possibly the oldest in Scotland) that is built within and of the older prehistoric vitirified fort (one of several in the area which include Tap O Noth and the Mither Tap of Bennachie) in which it stands.

 

Flinder Hill from Dunnydeer - I suspect a 400ft Wind Turbine might be a tad noticeable!

Just 5 years ago you could see no wind Turbines from the top of this modest hill. Now, sadly there are at least 13 visible wind Turbine Sites (either multiple or single) easily visible and a planning application to put another approximately 400ft high on Hill of Flinder - itself the site of a possible prehistoric hill fort(see photo) - 400ft is the height of Dunnydeer itself above the surronding landscape so this planned eyesore will tower over this wonderful ancient Monument.

We already have some of these - at east these ones are low down

 

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Book Review Faint Echoes, Distant Stars: The Science and Politics of Finding Life Beyond Earth by Ben Bova Pub 2005 – completed 30 January 2015

I bought this book having read a review in ‘The Economist’ however being a bit of a berk this book was not in fact the same one that had been reviewed - Doh!  Never mind.  It turns out Faint Echoes, Distant Stars: The Science and Politics of Finding Life Beyond Earth was written back in 2005 rather than 2014 so it is a little out of date – in particular with the number of extra solar planets that have been discovered since it was written – there now being more than 4 times as many as in 2005 and we now have direct evidence of much smaller extra solar planets than the ‘hot Jupiters’ that had been seen up to that date. So science has moved on since 2005, nevertheless this book is a good introduction to the subject of the search for and possibilities of finding life beyond Earth.

Bova starts with quick rattle through familiar history of how the realisation that the Earth was not the centre of the universe became accepted only relatively recently in human history.  Bruno’s execution for the heresy of pointing it out and Galileo’s forced recantation of the same assertion just a few years later are the starting points.  The book then canters through the formation of the Solar system and each of its planets and the important moons.  From here the move is made beyond the Solar System to the Comets and thence to extra solar planets which had been a new discovery as late as the 1990s before when some theories of solar system formation indicated that it was a very rare event indeed – of course this is no longer the dominant view. 

The book looks at the development and possible sources of life on Earth, though for me too much credibility is given to Hoyle’s theories of life (and diseases such as the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918) being seeded from space.  The truth is far less prosaic.  From the available evidence (and so far we have only one practical laboratory – Earth itself – it seems likely that where the conditions for life (defined as chemistry able to reproduce itself from simpler materials) to exist i.e. the 3 Pre-requisites of – Carbon; Water (or other solvent); Energy – then life will develop it seems almost inevitably.  The development from Exo-biology which sought to understand what non Earth based life might look like from a narrow base to Astro Biology  a much more multidisciplinary approach that has taken learning from the very recent the discovery on Earth of extremophile life (that capable of living in extremes of temperature or acidity or even sterility) is discussed with clarity.  The discovery of extremophiles provides a good reasons to believe that life may   exist in places previously thought to be completely inhospitable such as deep underground say on Mars or  at the bottom of deep oceans, such as under the ice of Jupiter's moon, Europa.

There is good discussion around the search that is being made for Extra-Terrestrial intelligence from the Viking missions to Mars in the 1970s to the setting up and running of SETI (both Radio and Optical SETI).  Note that there needs to be a different test applied to extra-terrestrial life and extra-terrestrial intelligence.  There are many millions of species on Earth that clearly meet the definition of life but only one that can be defined as intelligent and technologically advanced enough to actively search for life beyond our planet.  It is worth noting that in the 4.5 billion years of the Earth’s existence, mankind has been living in cities for only around 4000 yrs and has developed modern scientific methods only in the last 400 years.  We have had radio for only 100 years and, though not mentioned in the book but now being realised, the human race, to an observer is now becoming quieter as radio becomes less common and fibre-optics and cable type transmission technologies replace radio.  It is possible that a radio civilisation will in its whole lifetime tranmsit to observers for only a tiny part of that lifetime.  For me Bova’s assertion that life is as much, and as widely distributed, a part of the Universe as the stars, is a given though proving intelligent life is widespread is likely to be a much harder task.

To those who wonder why, like Fermi, if there is so intelligent life out there why have we not seen any yet there some good ripostes are including the one that I have just made that even intelligent life may or may not be technologically advanced enough to be discovered given our own technology.  The fanciful ‘they might already be among us’ discussions that are recounted are superfluous given a complete lack of evidence and for me detract from the book’s seriousness. 

A large part of the book’s premise is the effect of politics on the search for life; the book I thought I was getting would have dealt with the effect on human political systems of discovering extra-terrestrial life but as I’ve said already I didn’t get that book!  Instead the politics this book deals with is the politics of the US government with its changing spending priorities dictated by ill-informed politicians playing to an audience.  The same political processes in other country’s space programmes is not covered in any meaningful way though US withdrawal from a French programme after 2003 (remember the ‘cheese eating surrender monkey’ rhetoric) is covered and blamed on French resistance to the Iraq War.  Changing priorities in ESA are also covered.  A big miss made more notable by the time since publication, is the arrival of China and India as space nations.  

Bova is a realist regarding politicians at least in the US system:

"Politicians make their decisions for political reasons, not scientific. The first question a politician asks when faced with a decision is, ‘How will this affect my chances for re-election?’"

Political interference in NASA plans is noted as far back as the 1960s.  The removal of exploration programmes between different NASA facilities (notably between JPL in California and Ames in Iowa) is shown to be driven by the search for Savings AND Pork!  Many politicians have been scornful of ‘expensive’ space exploration and in order to promote themselves as champions of the taxpayer examples highlighted Senator Proxmire who stupidly bestowed upon SETI one of his "Golden Fleece" awards (these were given monthly to projects Proxmire viewed as self-serving and wasteful of taxpayer dollars) and Nevada Senator Richard Bryan helped to persuade Congress to cut SETI projects from NASA's budget.  Fortunately SETI has been saved by private citizens and philanthropists such as Paul Allen.  Regardless of Bova’s criticism though the US taxpayer (followed by the private sector) has funded Space science far more than any other taxpayers and I do think the US should be thanked for the huge additions to the sum of human knowledge that has come about as a result.

The book finishes with a poignant tale of the death currently being observe of a distant main sequence star.  As an analogy for The Sun this star and its planet’s death is being watched and the same fate awaits us.

In sum, this book is a little too simple if you have knowledge of the subject but nevertheless is an easy read that links its concepts well.  It is certainly dated – many many more extra solar planets have been discovered since it was written some of which are close to Earth size and within their star’s habitable zones.  Cassini has discovered liquid lakes and a gaseous atmosphere on Titan where some Astrobiologists insist the pre-requisites for life are available though liquid nitrogen replaces water as the solvent liquid.  There are new players in the exploration field notable China and India.   Private sector space flight is a reality for mucking about in low earth orbit that will allow NASA to free up spare cash for deep space robotic missions.

 

Titan - Saturn's Atmospheric Moon

My favourite book

Flood Tide by John Ridgway – Completed (for the 6th time) 4 May 2015

This is undoubtedly my favourite book bar none. I have now read it 6 times (though its 16 years since I last read it on a 16 hour flight aboard an RAF Tristar from Mount Pleasant Falkland Islands to Brize Norton). It is this book (along with the Ridgway’s later ‘Then We Sailed Away’) that has inspired the 2nd part of my life including my decision to leave the RAF in 2001 in order to follow my own path. Though my life possesses little of the adventure that is recorded here some key concepts that I have taken from this book are Self-Reliance; Positive Thinking; ‘Being is better than having ‘ and don’t be afraid to borrow from the future.
Written in 1988, during a then record breaking 203 day non-stop circumnavigation (beating the previous record by 30 days), the book tells the story of how the Ridgway’s settled in Ardmore and of the first 20 years the John Ridgeway School of Adventure. This however is not simply an autobiographical work as it is Ardmore itself and the dwindling community of crofters then living there that are the real stars. This cast changes as the older generations of crofters die or move away but life is brought to the community by the new influx of people to support the Adventure School in particular Lance and Ada Bell and the various instructors on the annual courses. The book has a wide cast of characters.

Ridgway tells of how the Adventure school s set up with the help of Rod Liddon and his wife in 1968/9 from where it moves to the early courses that are run and the Liddon’s departure. In addition to the running of the Adventure School a living was extracted from the land by Ridgway and his neighbours crofting activities ranging from peat-cutting to fishing to setting up one of the earliest Salmon farms in the Highlands and eventually to the acquisition of a flock of sheep.

The story of the adventure school courses and of the crofting life is complemented by the stories of the winter adventures that Ridgway carried out in order to ‘recharge the batteries’. These trips are covered in other books by the author however sufficient details are here to provide a taster for each of the trips recounted which are:

1970 First expedition to the furthest source to mouth of Amazon. On this expedition John met Elvin Berg (who would be burned alive by Shining Path terrorists in 1985)
1972 First crossing Gran Campo Nevado Ice-cap, Patagonia, Southern Chile.
1973 English Rose V, 32-foot sloop. Winter family sailing voyage Ardmore to the Spanish Sahara to give Rebecca Ridgway an adventure prior to leaving for boarding school
1977/78 English Rose VI, 57-foot ketch Whitbread Round World Race.
1979 John and Marie Christine’s Himalayan journey in Nepal
1980 John and Marie Christine’s preparation for and running of the New York Marathon
1983/4 With Andy Briggs, in English Rose VI, a then record 203-day non-stop sailing circumnavigation of World
1985 Peruvian expedition into the Shining Path infested Apurimac Valley. Planned to celebrate Rebecca's completion of school on this expedition led to the discovery of Elvin Berg's fate and the discovery of his 6 year old daughter Elizabeth who would be adopted and taken to Ardmore by the Ridgways.

It is now 27 years since I first read this book and it has lost none of its appeal . It is the only book I have read 6 times and there is a reason for that – in short it is a fascinating and inspirational tale. Although it is well complemented by the 1996 ‘Then We Sailed Away’ it is a shame that John Ridgway has not written a sequel as this book draws you into the lives of those mentioned and it would be nice, though perhaps painful, to discover what happened to the residents at Ardmore as the book closes in 1988. I do know that John and Marie Christine retired in 2003 and that Rebecca now runs the adventure school but its hard to believe that the hyperactive Mr Ridgway has simply sat with his feet up and slippers on for the last 12 years!

Book Review The Journey in Between by Keith Foskett Completed 7 January 2015

‘The Journey in Between’ is an account of Keith ‘Fozzie’ Foskett’s 2002 walk along the Camino de Santiago de Compostella. Foskett started his 1600 km walk from Le Puy en Velay making his way to Santiago de Compostella and beyond to Finisterre – the most Westerly point of Spain.

I started this book in May 2014 and only finished it many months later not because it is a difficult read but because it is an easy and enjoyable one. I enjoyed dipping in and out as Fozzie made his way along the route taken by thousands of pilgrims since at least the 9th century. Foskett is not a Pilgrim in the conventional sense as there is no religious meaning in his Journey though his completion of it helps him realize that it is not the start or finish of any trip that is important but ‘The Journey in Between’, hence the book’s title. This realization, recounted at the end of the book is what leads him to evaluate what he wants from life and forms a framework for his later lifestyle. As Fozzie says ‘It gave me the tools, the wherewithal, the people and the insights to make sense of my life. To realise there is a journey in between, and to enjoy it’

The story of the journey is told with humor and recalls key sights, sounds (particularly the snoring of other travelers in the many refuges along the way) and fellow travelers found along the way. Foskett seems to be a lot luckier with the ladies than I but perhaps it’s the spiritual nature of the journey that unlocks this potential – he’s certainly inspired me to give it a go!

In summary an enjoyable and gentle traveller’s tale well worth getting hold of.

Last Flight of 2014 Aberdeen to Perth in Cloud and Turbulence

In the afternoon of 31 December and with just a few hours of 2014 left Alex and I decided to take ZV to Perth for some VOR approaches using the PTH VOR and an old Jeppesen plate. We knew Perth airfield would not be busy and would be closed from 1500 so homing to the beacon would not be an issue though we would need to make sure Dundee was aware of our intentions.

The airfield winds at Aberdeen were reasonable light though the winds at 3000 ft were 220 40kts. We re-fuelled ZV to full before the trip (a good thing as we would be airborne for 3 hours). The plan was for me to fly to Perth, carry out 3 x approaches then hand controls to Alex for 2 x approaches before recovering to Aberdeen where Alex would get in a 3rd approach though an ILS rather than a VOR this time.

We took off at 1400hrs in bright sunshine, Alex looking cool in his sunglasses, but as we climbed to 1500 ft I levelled off to stay below a layer of cloud and then - wallop we were hit by some pretty heavy turbulence, heavier than I had experienced in a small plane before. Slowing to below 100 kts to protect the airframe I requested a climb to 4000 ft which was allowed by ATC but which now made us IMC. We had been in cloud for30 minutes before Alex realised he was still wearing his sunglasses - he looked cool in his Aviators thaough I am sure it was a darker cloud for him than for me.

The strong headwind not only slowed our groundspeed to 60 kts but also caused mountain wave activity within our cloud thereby requiring constant power and attitude adjustments. On leaving the Aberdeen Zone we were handed over to Scottish who provided an excellent service for the rest of the flight until re-joining Aberdeen some 2 1/2 hours later. With Scottish we were able to get a traffic service plus co-ordinate against any Dundee Outbounds.

On the transit flights to and from Perth we had planned to carry out some PFLs but our IMC status precluded this so it was a simple case of homing to PTH using the VOR and GPS. My 1st approach was planned, and briefed with no issues we broke cloud at 1400ft with a DA of 970ft. I tracked to the Missed Approach point and that is where it went wrong. Firstly I did not fly out for long enough given the strong wind meaning I would be outbound on the procedure sooner than I had allowed for; secondly I DR'd my position rather then reset the inbound heading on the VOR dial which meant that I ended up arcing rather than going overhead directly. Thirdly I did not allow sufficient wind correction for the outbound track. These errors combined to push me east of the inbound heading rather than west so quick abort and climb to 3000ft to reset was required. Lessons were learned immediately and applied for the next 2 approaches which went fine though the cloud base was notably decreasing and visibility becoming much murkier. On my final Approach Alex took over at the MAP to fly the missed approach and then to do his 2 approaches. The 1st of which was done straight away before we had to spend 10 mins circling at 1000ft in the gloom to allow 2x movements from Dundee to clear. Alex then carried out his 2nd VOR and from the missed approach headed back to Aberdeen.

The return flight was also IMC and mountain wave activity was again significant though our ground speed was much faster at 160kts. Again as we approached Banchory we received some severe buffeting that threw us about quite a bit. Being IMC Alex requested an IFR recovery to ILS. We were told to make our own route to the ADN and then were vectored to the ILS for a smooth landing at 1800hrs. We wished each other a good new year and then went our separate ways.

In doing my log book that evening I was pleased to see that I had exceeded my 2014 Resolution's target of 40 hours and had logged 51 hrs 20 mins for the year

Jolly Boys Micro-Adventure to Bute 21-23 November 2014

 

Alex and I had planned to visit Bute for a weekend of walking and relaxation earlier in the year but other commitments had got in the way. Taking this to probably be my last chance to get a micro-adventure in for 2014 we viewed the weather forecast after a week of dull skies and rain and decided to make an effort to fly across to Bute last Friday and to stay at Alex’s holiday home for the weekend before flying back on Sunday.

The weather in Aberdeen on Friday morning was much better than at any time over the past 2 weeks. Nevertheless there was still a lot of moisture in the air with an easterly wind off the North Sea. This meant that we could fly VFR to Bute but we would certainly encounter a good bit of unstable cumulus on the 1st leg between Aberdeen and Perth.

Meeting up at 0700 we were at the Airfield before the early morning traffic became too busy. This gave us plenty of time to prep the aircraft and ensure fuel tanks were brim full. Tie-down pickets were placed in the back of the aircraft and bags loaded in the bag – along with 4 pints of Ossian Ale we were taking along for Saturday Evening’s pre-entertainment something to be drunk whilst watching a couple of episodes of Blake’s Seven.

We decided that this time Alex would fly the leg out and I would fly the return leg so for now I could relax and enjoy the view. Take off was at 0815 and we were on our way via Loch of Skene towards Perth. With plenty of moisture in the air there was low lying fog in the Dee Valley around Banchory and we went into Cumulus after Alex had requested higher clearance (to 4000’) which we were not to emerge from until almost at Perth.

 

 

From Perth the weather improved markedly with not a cloud in the sky for the rest of the journey and superb views in all directions. We routed south of Auchterarder’ in order to avoid any possible parachutists at Strathallan, to Loch Lomond and then vie Helensburgh to Bute coming down to 3000’ and eventually to 2000’ as we arrived at Bute. Views over the island were excellent although there was haze to the South and Arran, though close, was mostly obscured from view by mist and haze – we knew there was a warm front approaching and due to reach Bute by 1400 so suspected there was a lot of moisture in the air ahead of the front which was obscuring views to the south.

 

Before landing we flew over Port Bannatyne (where Alex’s holiday home is located) and then circumnavigated the island anti-clockwise flying between Bute and the small island of Inchmarnock to the west. After overflying the airfield to assess wind direction and length of grass (to confirm we would get out again!) Alex landed us on RW 09 at 1020. As we exited the aircraft we found the source of the disconcerting creaking noise we had been intermittently hearing all the way – the end strap of Alex’s rucsac had been trapped in the door and slapping the side of the plane in our slipstream.

This arrival time was too early to get lunch at the Kingarth Hotel so we took the path from the airfield through woods and past some still fruiting Blackberry bushes, to Kilchattan Bay – the tiny village at below the bay that names it. Here we went into the Post Office and had a mug of coffee each whilst chatting to Trish – who was looking after the shop for now. In just 20 minutes we obtained a wealth of local gossip – noting with sadness that there had been 3 funerals in this tiny place in the previous week. It was not all bad though as we found out that the young German shepherdess who lived in the farm outside the village was a champion sheep dog breeder and had sold one of her latest pups to someone in America and she was baking a cake. We met this young lady herself and she was a delight to talk to. The honesty of Island folk was also attested to as someone who had found a wallet lying in the road brought it into the PO whilst we were there and was able to find the wallet’s owner. We were enjoying this microcosm of island life but an event of greater importance was looming – it was opening time at the Kingarth. So quickly back to the airfield to collect our kit from ZV then the short walk past the graveyard and into the Kingarth Hotel for 2 pints of real ale and a lunch of lentil soup followed by the ‘Kingarth Burger’ (2 x burgers in a Ciabatta with onions, relish and Stilton) - there are other things on the menu but I can never see past the burger! By 1300 we were replete and able to catch the bus into Rothesay the island capital where we could grab some supplies and catch up on local news at Brechins. The bus ride takes only 20 mins or so from the Kingarth.

In Rothsaay we grabbed more food – a scone - and a Coffee at Brechins which is a Coffee Shop/Restaurant/Music Shop! The owner is instrumental, if you’ll excuse the pun, in organising the annual Bute Jazz festival and is an active musician in the West of Scotland music scene – this was to catch us out in the evening when we were trying to find a good eatery only to find that the Restaurant was closed that evening due to the owner having a Musical Engagement. Still for now it was a fine place to stop before catching the bus on into Port Bannatyne.

On reaching Alex’s place we sorted out our kit, took a walk along the shore in the gathering gloom and then the rain (from the advancing front, started initially quite heavily. ‘Hobgoblin?’ said I as we passed one of 3 pubs in the Port (one of these opens only rarely – local rumour being that the owner is a retired MI6 agent). The pub we stopped at was next to the Post Office and has recently been bought – we certainly found the new owners to be very friendly and providing some fine bottled ales (Hobgoblin gold being my choice for now) with plans to take in some of the New Bute Brewery cask ales when the brewery is able to ramp up production.

View from the house on Saturday morning

After a couple of pints we wandered back to the house and got ready to walk back into Rothesay for dinner at ‘The Waterfront’ which is a delightful eatery, serving excellent food, opposite the ferry terminal. The walk is around 35 mins so we arrived wet and hungry only to find that this week The Waterfront was closed, never mind let’s try Brechins. As I have already said this too was shut. After wandering around for a bit more in the rain – finding Harry Haw’s full – we decided we can’t go wrong with an Indian so entered the ‘Prince of India’ and were proved wrong. It appears you can go wrong with an Indian! Well we ate and then grumpily walked back to the Port to watch some Blake’s Seven and drink the Ossian before retiring

After heavy overnight rain we woke up to find low cloud outside so plan for the Day was to take a walk into town for Brunch in the morning after which we could pick up some bacon for Sunday’s breakfast and then in the afternoon to follow the West Island Way to the fine beach at Ettrick Bay. In Rothesay we found a scone and coffee in Brechins was sufficient to satisfy our hunger and enjoyed the walk into town and back.

 

At this time of year the sun sets early so we got going quickly in the afternoon to walk to Ettrick bay. The 1st part of the walk follows the West Island Bay with the last mile or so separating from the walk. As we approached the Bay the sun was low on the horizon and the cloud form the morning was breaking up. The beach was clear of people except for one man who was walking his Alsatian and Scotty Terrier – these dogs racing after each other in and out of the sea. A heron was trying to fish but gave up after being chased once too often by the Alsatian. For our part, we retired to the Café at the beach for a piece of Victoria sponge and a coffee. Some discussion was had on which rout to take back to Port Bannatyne but given the gathering gloom and our dark clothing the longer route which would bring us out on a pathless road was decided against and instead we took the same route back as we had used to get to the bay.

Given our inability to find an eatery on Friday night we were a bit glum about our chances for Saturday, but what the heck we’d walk back to Rothesay. Well Alex had managed somehow to miss the Excellent Ghillies restaurant on Friday night we found it right next door to the Prince of India – the site of so much disappointment on Friday! Here we got a table for 2 no bother – the table in the corner was crowded with several ladies of our era who seemed to be enjoying a few bottles of ‘old lady petrol’ (white wine) and were having a whale of a time. In addition there were several others in the room. The Restaurant had a ground floor and a 1st floor – we stayed on the former and were glad of it as just as we finished our starters (Scallops with Black Pudding and Prawns – to die for) the 13yr old Beth Swan and her parents arrived and for the rest of the evening we were all entertained by Beth’s excellent singing – both accompanied by her father and solo. Beth was an amazingly confident young woman and sang with great gusto. We ended up staying to listen to her for a good 2 hours after we had finished our meal. Beth has a Facebook page – ‘Beth Swan Sings’ – for anyone interested in finding out more.

Eventually we had to leave to walk back, in fact given our extended stay at the restaurant it was more of a stagger than a walk. Nevertheless we did get back and managed a final episode of Blake’s Seven to end a very peasant evening.

Sunday dawned bright and still. We knew that Friday’s weather front had cleared into the North Sea by now and we would easily get back to Aberdeen in great weather. All we had to do was to wait for the Sunday service Bus to take us back to the Kingarth. A gentle stroll to the Port in the morning was followed by Bacon sandwiches and packing up of kit. The Bus arrived at 1255 and we were back at the airfield in plenty of time to pre-flight and a final ‘pit-stop’ occaisioned by Friday’s dodgy curry. This was my leg and despite the grass of the airstrip being very wet we were airborne (this time from 27) by the time we had covered ½ the length of the runway. There was some cloud at about 1800ft as we headed west so I levelled at 1500ft and given excellent visibility all round decided to circumnavigate Arran before setting route for home.

At Arran the hill tops were a good 1000’ above us but we had great views of the 3 Corbetts and of the Witch’s Step. Aas we got to the southern end of the island I had to descend to 1000’ due to a squall but on setting course for Bute again the cloud cleared completely and I climbed ZV to 2000’. Bute itself was cloud free. Although there was some low cloud covering Glasgow it was not on our track and as we cleared Loch Lomond the cloud disappeared entirely for the rest of the rout allowing a climb to 4000’. Again we steered clear of Strathallan where this time we knew for certain that parachutists were active. From Perth we headed direct to Loch of Skene – bisecting the gap between Mt Battock and Clach naBen on the way. After an hour and a half of flying in fantastic early winter sunshine we touched down (annoyingly long ) just before sunset at Aberdeen.

 

 

TGO Challenge 2015 - I got in

It was with delight that I opened my mail yesterday to find that I had been offered a place on the 2015 TGO challenge – particularly after having had to pull out injured in 2014 (which I promise to write about once the disappointment has subsided!). This year my knee gave up on me but as can be seen from other posts here I have been out on the hills since and have had some good days out – though less under canvas than planned – though Bob Cartwright’s latest series of podcasts (see http://www.theoutdoorsstation.co.uk/) ought to provide some inspiration to get out for a few more nights in the next couple of months). Still that’s enough about 2014. Thinking ahead to 2015 its great to see some old friends are also on the challenge so looking forward to seeing Carl Mynott and Andy Howell at some point along the route.

Thinking of routes – this is an easy one. Work commitments will mean a ½ day on the 1st Friday starting out from Shiel Bridge and with a short day putting me close to Sgurr na Sgine provided snow is not an issue. Day 2 should take me over Sgurr na Sgine and Sgurr a’ Bhac Chaolais and then to camp out of the wind for a shortish warm up day. From here it will be over the South GlenShiel ridge to Ft Augustus then the Corrieyarack pass to Kingussie before going into Glen Feshie to reach Braemar . After Braemar it will be to Loch Callater to Jock’s road and on to Tarfside via Glen Clova. Plenty of folk make a dash for Montrose direct from Tarfside but I plan a much more scenic finish (provided there are no more bulldozed tracks for windfarms and ‘sports’ shooting) via Mount Battock to the Fetteresso forest to finally finish at Dunottar castle. Total distance will be around 290 km and ascent should be around 11 427m.

I am not a ‘kit wallah’ but for anyone interested my tent shall be a Mini-Peak 2 with an ookworks groundsheet. Pack is an Osprey 50 litre job and bed will be a Thermarest long. Cooking will be done with a Jetboil Flash.