Kayak Racing

I've been back in the racing mode for kayaking lately.

Glasgow Edinburgh Challenge along the canal.

Then down the River Dee in Aberdeenshire in a K2. 

I'm enjoying this new paddling. The training has been good too.

Summer 2015

Well there was not much of a summer here in Scotland. I think summer was a Wednesday. The weather has been rubbish. Here are the best bits.

New Bike

Sea Kayaking in Orkney

Biking with the girls around Loch Morlich

Canoeing with the girls on Loch Morlich

Camping with Colin the Campervan.

f800GSA

Last week was a great week for getting out on my BMW 800 GSA. I covered over 300 miles and was on some of the best roads in Perthshire. The sun was out as was the rain at times.

South Side of Loch Tummel.

I had lots of brew stops and enjoyed the riding. 

Glen Quoich in Deeside.

Deeside.

Loch Rannoch.

North Side of Loch Rannoch.

Scheihallion.

Some of the views were amazing. Scotland really is an awesome place.

Pitmedden Forest.

Dirty.

Happy Cam.

Land Rover Trek 2015

Some of the best pics from Land Rover Trek 2015

Thanks Louis for being an excellent Team Mate and never giving up taking us to 3rd place overall!! Experience never to be forgotten.

dreaming

Bein Ghlas

Another ski tour today up Bein Ghlas this time. Just west of Ben Lawers. We did have a bit of trouble getting there sliding off the road and having to jack the car up to get it out the ditch. Not my car I would like to add.

When we did get up there we were rewarded with sunny weather and snow conditions that were pretty good.

We could see for miles.

3.5km ski back to the car. Another happy day up the hills. 

Spittal Mini Tour

Had a great day skiing today. We left the house around 10am and got stopped at the snow gate at the Spittal of Glenshee. It was not a surprise. It was on the traffic report. We knew the staff at Glenshee where working hard to get the lifts open for the afternoon. So we picked a route from the Spittal where we could see the gates from and skinned up, hoping to get a lap in before the gates opened. 

We skinned for about an hour and a half and from the summit of Creag an Dubh Shluic we could see the gate was open. 

So we skied lovely soft snow back to the car. 

That was not the end of our day. We got our half day passes and did laps on sunny side until the Tiger got the better of us. 

Up to the top of Claybockie then we skinned up to the top of the Tiger for a ski to finish. 

Good day was had. 

Winter Boating

River levels have been great the last few days. The storms have brought rain and wamrer weather so a bit of snow melt and heavy rain has put rivers into condition.

I got to play on the Tay yesterday at my favourite wave Wee Ecc. 

The winds the last week have been horrific and I'm a bit bored of them now. I wish they would die down.

Vanlife Adventures ordered!

I have wanted a van for personal use for years. I drive them almost every day with work and I love the high seating position and the versitility. Finally I plucked up the courage to go for it.

So in a couple of weeks time we will have a 2009 VW T5 with 43,000 miles on it. It is in currently in panel van form. ie we have a blank canvas. I don't think we are going to go for a full camper conversion. More like a day van multi use van set up. side windows will be the first. Seating for six, Sleeping options, yes. Removable seats for toys to go in. Swival front seats for socialising. Thule Roof Rack.

I will be sorry to see the Freelander go, but it is time.

So to celebrate I went kayaking.! The Braan really does deliver for an afternoon blast. It was not too cold and the river was on the rise.