It’s been too long really since I last blogged on the expedition later this year. I could claim that it was because I have done nothing in preparation except maintain or maybe increase my levels of fitness
by playing squash; a lot of squash. Frankly that would have been boring for non-squash addicts. However, it would also be a lie. I have just been a little, well actually a lot, lazy.
In August last year I did some actual hill walking. I had a lovely day with my two daughters, Lily 6 and Natalie 5, on Ben Wyvis. Not the most challenging of hills, but it was good to get some height into the legs. It was also refreshing to have such a lovely day for it.
by playing squash; a lot of squash. Frankly that would have been boring for non-squash addicts. However, it would also be a lie. I have just been a little, well actually a lot, lazy.
In August last year I did some actual hill walking. I had a lovely day with my two daughters, Lily 6 and Natalie 5, on Ben Wyvis. Not the most challenging of hills, but it was good to get some height into the legs. It was also refreshing to have such a lovely day for it.
Guy and I did Ben Wyvis several years ago, eleven to be precise. It was Guy’s first ever trip to the Highlands and we had a glorious day on Beinn Alligin on the Saturday, real t-shirt and shorts weather. However, Sunday was brutal with horizontal rain and sleet. It’s perhaps a sad reflection
on me that I can recall the date not because of the hills, or the great company (Robert Woodcock and Richard Craig provided the hilarious entertainment for the weekend) but for the fact that Celtic beat Hibs 3-0 to lift the Scottish Cup on 26th May 2001 and I was racing back to the car to get back to see it.
There are many other tales to be told of that weekend, but in respect for the living and the desire to keep this as a family friendly blog, I will take the 5th!
Guy waxed lyrical on the Saturday about how beautiful Scotland was and that he found it amazing that such a place existed in the UK – I often wonder if in retrospect if the weather had been reversed whether he would still feel the same.
In addition to Ben Wyis I climbed Conival and Ben More Assynt sans the rug rats. I had a great day there on my own, the weather was pretty decent and by pure chance, as is often the way in Scotland, I bumped into a fellow walker and chatted for the day. Interestingly he had been to Skye and done several of its Munros and gave me several good pieces of advice. Or at least I hope it’s good!
Firstly get a good pair of gators because the scree can often be so deep it goes over the top of your boots. Normally if scree does that then it’s bad enough, but his second piece of advice made it even more pertinent – “if you want to rob a bank, do it straight after your trip, because the scree and other rocks are so sharp you will have no fingerprints left – or get a decent pair of gloves!” I am not sure I have the wherewithal to rob a bank, certainly not straight after this particular jaunt….
After I returned from holiday it was back to my usual fitness regime of several hours per week of squash, coupled with daily sessions on the Wii Fit Plus (I am a huge fan I just wish they would sponsor us!!!!) paying attention in particular to my upper body strength. My fellow walker on
Assynt mentioned this to me too. I have even gone one step further and joined a gym – it’s a by-product of the newly refurbished courts where I play in Luton as much as anything but I certainly intend to try and put some muscle on my puny body over the coming weeks.
The only other thing I did in relation to the trip was read a tremendous book about Mallory’s attempt to conquer Everest. A truly outstanding book which I would wholeheartedly recommend and thank you Guy for gifting me a copy. The irony is that it puts our impending efforts somewhat in the shade, albeit the thought of vintage brandy or champagne does have it’s appeal!
For those of you who have indulged in looking at what is in prospect for us in June you will know
that there is some proper climbing to be done and with that in mind we have booked ourselves on a course to learn the basics at the Mile End Climbing wall. It won’t be the same as the real thing, for instance it won’t feel quite as daunting when the prospect of a fall doesn’t lead to almost certain death! Hopefully, it should give us the basic moves and rope techniques to improve our chances of surviving and completing the expedition.
The trip does seem to be getting ever nearer now especially as we have now booked our accommodation, now it’s the time to try and get some sponsors and raise some funds for a great charity and a great cause.
Giving is easy just click below to make individual donations or drop me an e-mail if you want to give direct. The amount given will initially be collected in the LDS Junior account and then, once the collections are complete, 50% will be handed over the Rett UK Please be generous.
on me that I can recall the date not because of the hills, or the great company (Robert Woodcock and Richard Craig provided the hilarious entertainment for the weekend) but for the fact that Celtic beat Hibs 3-0 to lift the Scottish Cup on 26th May 2001 and I was racing back to the car to get back to see it.
There are many other tales to be told of that weekend, but in respect for the living and the desire to keep this as a family friendly blog, I will take the 5th!
Guy waxed lyrical on the Saturday about how beautiful Scotland was and that he found it amazing that such a place existed in the UK – I often wonder if in retrospect if the weather had been reversed whether he would still feel the same.
In addition to Ben Wyis I climbed Conival and Ben More Assynt sans the rug rats. I had a great day there on my own, the weather was pretty decent and by pure chance, as is often the way in Scotland, I bumped into a fellow walker and chatted for the day. Interestingly he had been to Skye and done several of its Munros and gave me several good pieces of advice. Or at least I hope it’s good!
Firstly get a good pair of gators because the scree can often be so deep it goes over the top of your boots. Normally if scree does that then it’s bad enough, but his second piece of advice made it even more pertinent – “if you want to rob a bank, do it straight after your trip, because the scree and other rocks are so sharp you will have no fingerprints left – or get a decent pair of gloves!” I am not sure I have the wherewithal to rob a bank, certainly not straight after this particular jaunt….
After I returned from holiday it was back to my usual fitness regime of several hours per week of squash, coupled with daily sessions on the Wii Fit Plus (I am a huge fan I just wish they would sponsor us!!!!) paying attention in particular to my upper body strength. My fellow walker on
Assynt mentioned this to me too. I have even gone one step further and joined a gym – it’s a by-product of the newly refurbished courts where I play in Luton as much as anything but I certainly intend to try and put some muscle on my puny body over the coming weeks.
The only other thing I did in relation to the trip was read a tremendous book about Mallory’s attempt to conquer Everest. A truly outstanding book which I would wholeheartedly recommend and thank you Guy for gifting me a copy. The irony is that it puts our impending efforts somewhat in the shade, albeit the thought of vintage brandy or champagne does have it’s appeal!
For those of you who have indulged in looking at what is in prospect for us in June you will know
that there is some proper climbing to be done and with that in mind we have booked ourselves on a course to learn the basics at the Mile End Climbing wall. It won’t be the same as the real thing, for instance it won’t feel quite as daunting when the prospect of a fall doesn’t lead to almost certain death! Hopefully, it should give us the basic moves and rope techniques to improve our chances of surviving and completing the expedition.
The trip does seem to be getting ever nearer now especially as we have now booked our accommodation, now it’s the time to try and get some sponsors and raise some funds for a great charity and a great cause.
Giving is easy just click below to make individual donations or drop me an e-mail if you want to give direct. The amount given will initially be collected in the LDS Junior account and then, once the collections are complete, 50% will be handed over the Rett UK Please be generous.
