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Reports 2006Reports 2005Reports 2004Xmas 2004 Celebrations at Mill Cottage Shetland by Tom & Winnie McDonald
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CLUB REPORTSSoaked at the Smiddy - 2005We left East Kilbride at 7.00pm having picked up Alison and hit the road good style, not even slowing traffic at Cumbemnauld could hold us back. Up to Glen Etive we thought for the seasons 1st bothy trip to join in planning days out on the hill, expeditions etc, i.e. eating and drinking. We got down into Glen Etive just after 11.00pm 4 hours after setting out, all the supper had been eaten, the fire had gone out - great start to the weekend. Saturday dawned bright, a wee breeze and the prospect, based on weather
forecasts of a good day. A group of us set off for Beinn nan Aighenan,
while another went for Ben Starav and a third for Beinn Trilleachan. Shortly
after setting off the promised weather vanished and a storm took over
giving us wind, driving rain and hailstones for the next 7 hours. As testament
to clothing technology the Paramo wearers came home bone dry while the
Gore Tex wearers got soaked. Sunday morning dawned grey and dull and windy so we all gradually arose to prepare a wee breakfast (except David who had several) the made our way slowly down the road in more driving rain. Well done to Sam for another great bothy trip. We are all looking forward to our next outing. David Jamieson
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As
we sped up the road we saw an ambulance and cop car ahead but they disappeared,
so no worries there then. We were in high sprits as we got to Locheamhead
only to be stopped by the site of the back of the ambulance with the lights
on. We were told "road closed, pull over and wait". David can't
sit still so checked the road map, a quick burly down the road to Creiff
up to Aberfeldy and then back along the Loch to Killin would get us to
Lix Toll at the other side of the jam. Janet and Alison thought maybe
worth waiting to see if it cleared but David was having none of it. A
70 mile detour and 1.5 hours later saw us at Lix Toll, fully 4 miles further
up the road from where we started! The road was still closed so good decision
again!
All
came back around 3.30 - 5.00 pm. A roaring fire was started, a brew
put on and a bit of cake was had. It soon became apparent that nobody
was planning an outing on Sunday as large meals (or many meals in
Davids case) were devoured, before copious draughts of Ale and wine
were downed and a sing song was entered into, led by our two new
bothy minstrells - Sandy and Andy (step aside Jim and Alan).