I did manage to get some exercise in during the week which was a pretty good job, given all the highly calorific food we consumed.
Monday, 12 March
One great thing about going on holiday with my folks is that I could leave Ruby with her whilst Duncan and I went MTB riding together, something we can't usually do on holiday.
Today, we went over to Glen Trool so I could have a go at a trail centre for the first time as there's a really nice blue loop there which is for 'moderate' riders.
It was a bit chilly when we set off but after only half a mile or so, we were already stopping to remove layers. It was a beautiful day so we stopped a few times to take some photos.
I really enjoyed the descent and felt like I was going really fast until Duncan flew off in front of me making me feel like I was standing still. Still, looking at Strava I'm nowhere near the slowest on any sections, always being in the top half which will do for me, given that I'm a very nervous MTB'er.
Total distance - 6.5 miles
Tuesday, 13 March
We went out again on the bikes this morning, this time to do the blue loop at Kirroughtree. Right from the start, this one seemed a bit harder. The singletrack climb had lots of tree roots and switch backs, which the Glen Trool one didn't so I was a bit nervous about what the descents would be like. I was right to be nervous as they were pretty frightening in places. There was one bit which was rocky and had been slightly blown out by bad weather and, even though Duncan told me it was fine, it just looked too steep and scary for me so I walked down it. What a wimp, can't even do a blue loop properly!
A bit later on, we came to another steep descent but this time, even though I bottled out of it at first, once I got a good look at it I decided to man up and give it another go and I did with no problems.
Further on, there was a route diversion as a lot of trees had come down during the 'beast from the east' a couple of weeks ago so we had to follow some diversion signs. We then saw a sign for the red route diversion (up to this point, all of the blue route had also been red route) and I told Duncan he should go that way and have a fun descent so he did and I continued down the fire road until I got to the blue route diversion sign. I had a fun descent but, when I got to the bottom, I couldn't see any signs as there were trees all over the place and things were obscured so I ended up following a green route sign in the hope that it would just get me back to the visitors centre which, luckily, it did. Duncan then arrived about fifteen minutes later.
Enjoyed it, but I prefer Glen Trool, which I found much faster and more fun.
Total distance - 6 miles
Wednesday, 14 March
We drove over to Glen Trool again today but this time I went for a run rather than a ride. I followed the yellow walk markers which is a 4.75 mile loop, however, due to a diversion, I ended up doing 5.5 miles.
I found it really hard work as I haven't run for two weeks but I managed it even though I did feel a little stiff later on in the day.
Total distance - 5.4 miles
Friday, 16 March
Last day in Scotland today before going home tomorrow so I went back to Glen Trool to do the blue route again on my own as I really need to gain more confidence on the MTB. The weather was much worse today then it was on Monday as it was blowing a gale and raining a little. It felt much harder work because of the strength of the wind but I didn't stop as much as I did when I was with Duncan on Monday so I got round a lot quicker, however my Strava segments show me as mostly slower which I'm blaming on the wind. At one point, when going round a downhill bend, the wind blew me off the track into the side!
Still had lots of fun on the final descent again and can't wait to come back here. I really do need to go out on my bike more when I'm back home, I just find it quite difficult as there are very few bridleways straight on my doorstep.
Total distance - 5.8 miles
Sunday, 18 March - Two Crosses LDWA Challenge
I signed up for the Two Crosses event a few weeks ago, knowing that I might be tired from my holiday but, after a week of terrible eating, I really wanted to do the event, although it was really snowy so I was worried about driving there. Thankfully, Jim L offered me a lift which was much appreciated as I probably wouldn't have got there otherwise and I would have missed a treat!
The weather conditions today made last year's rain feel positively summery! The snow and wind were very, lets say, bracing!
I started off working with Gordon S and we commented on how long it felt like it had taken to walk the first couple of miles compared to on past events. The organisers had decided that everybody had to do the shorter 17 mile route today, as they couldn't get people to one of the checkpoints on the longer route. Nobody seemed to mind as it was very cold out, with thick snow everywhere. By the 'posh' checkpoint (it has a cheese board don't you know!) I decided to put an extra top on together with my waterproof trousers as I knew it wouldn't be long until we were up on the open moorland and it was likely to be chilly up there. Whilst there, I noticed that my shoelace had taken on some balls of ice which, as the walk progressed, got bigger and bigger, however I didn't take any photos of it at its biggest as my hands were too cold.
As we approached the checkpoint at Orrell Cote Farm, there was a huge snow drift across the lane. The people ahead of Gordon and I had stopped to ask us if they were going the right way as it didn't look as though anyone else had been through that way. There were no footprints or anything. It was the right way though and it must have been that the snow just kept driving over, covering up all previous prints. The gentlemen kindly let me lead the way through, but it didn't take long before I sank up to my waist in it. A couple of the others followed and tried to swim their way through the snow whereas I decided to climb over the barbed wire fence onto the bank at the side and walk along that, which others also decided looked like a better idea. It was, until I had to climb back over the barbed wire fence to get out and tore a hole in my Berghaus waterproof trousers!
At the checkpoint at Orrell Cote Farm, I continued on, thinking Gordon was behind me but he wasn't. I waited a couple of minutes but he didn't show and, as it was cold, I decided to plod on with a few of the others who had been walking the same pace.
After trudging across a moor, we came out onto the road and headed up towards the maggot farm and this is where I motored on ahead and left everyone else, which probably wasn't a good idea given that I would now be walking a long way over open moorland on my own.
The weather up here was horrendous! It was blowing a blizzard. Thankfully the route across the open moorland to Bull Hill had been marked with flags as it would have been pretty difficult to get across otherwise. It was so bad though that I couldn't see where I was going. I had to lift the peak of my hood, try to locate a flag through my snow battered eyes, then put my head back down and trudge towards it then quickly do the same thing to find the next flag. It was so hard to see across because the snow was just whipping into your eyes. Kev L had said to me before we set off that he had brought goggles with him and I thought that was a bit overkill but now I realise he is a genius!
Eventually, after a long trudge on my own, I arrived at 'the naughty corner' checkpoint, where they only serve alcohol. I opted for a very welcome nip of navy rum.
When I carried on I realised that I hadn't drank very much on route because my water bladder had frozen up. The alcohol also won't have helped with my hydration and, after a while of trying but failing to warm up the water in the bladder tube, I decided to instead eat some snow! Don't worry, it wasn't yellow and was picked from some snowdrifts off the path. I know it's dangerous to eat snow as it lowers your core temperature but, as I was moving quickly, I knew it wouldn't be a problem.
I was also now very aware of the ice lump on my shoelaces which had got huge and kept banging on my toes. It was really annoying but I couldn't break it off so just had to endure it.
I finally got to Peel Tower and could see some other walkers in the distance so I got a wiggle on to try to keep them in my sights as the next part of the route has changed from previous years so I wanted to make sure I didn't go wrong, given the snow might have covered some of the tracks.
I found my way through OK though and it was nice to finally be out of the biting wind and on the way back to civilisation.
Not much further to go now and I made my way though the woods and around to the golf course with a small group but then left them when we got onto the old railway line back to the finish and got a wiggle on.
The weather today, especially up on the moors, was truly arctic but I absolutely loved it! Really glad I managed to get there.
Makes you feel alive!
Stats:
Total running distance: 5.4 miles
Total cycling distance: 16.3 miles (MTB)
Total hiking distance: 17.2 miles
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