Fun Weekend

On Tuesday my good friend Chris Gingles (that's his real last name!) finished his Doctor exams, therefore, no more studying!
So this weekend we were going tae have some fun. On Saturday Chris, his wife Racheal (The Gingles) and I went tae Rothiemuchus tae the clay pigeon shooting range. Dispite not holding a gun since I as 17, I think I held my own! Competition was hot as it was doon tae the last few clay tae decide the winner....turned oot it was Chris by two clays! Good job Gingles.

After 50 rounds we went tae the mountain cafe tae plan oor climbing day on Sunday. It was decided (as Chris and Racheal were both novices) tae climb fingers ridge and descend Ficael ridge.

After a large coffee and a brownie I was buzzing. For someone who doesn't drink caffeine, and doesn't process sugar well, you could say that both of my eye's were twitching!

We then decided tae bike up High Burnside (the woods at the back of Aviemore) tae burn off, what I can only imagine the same as a very large hit of smack!

It did the trick, I went home after and crashed.

Sunday, Fingers ridge was taken! Bugger....The Genie? VS? not Diff, I'm sure they will be fine...will I leading in trainers, no chalk, and with Chris that learned how tae belay 60 seconds before the route? Oh well, lets see!

The climb went well, all three were cursing until I got tae the hard pitch, and it started tae rain, shit. No prizes for air miles as most might know from me, and with that, and all my 'aid climbing isn't climbing' rants, it made sense then. Lots of sense!

We all topped oot not long after and was sitting on top in the sun with sandwiches and smiles all round. It was then time tae retire for a well earned burger and a dram!

Fun weekend? one of the best! Photo's will follow at later date.

Where's my mojo?!

Don't worry I'm not dead. I've been shite with my blog but that's it. I have seemed tae have slipped into a funk, with training anyway. I just can't seemed tae get motivated tae train. Not indoors anyway. I've been going tae the gym tae keep my fitness up, but I feel like I'm missing something with it, well I know what it is, it's the feeling of movement on the rock.

Since my last post, I've done other things with my life than climbing, my relationships have changed, I've sold my van and replaced it with a motorbike, and moved house twice. Slight mid life crisis? Maybe?

Does this shitty weather help? No? Is that a good excuse? No, not really? But I'll use it all the same! People tae get motivated with? Now that would make a big difference. It's funny, certain times of the year or places you go, you either have not enough people tae climb with or too many, or not enough money tae get aroond and the weather is shit.

I know one thing that has put a stop tae blogging, even if it useless crap that even the unemployed wont want tae read, is that I lost my bloody camera months ago, and I've never got roond tae replacing.

The mission is on! The right cheap camera will be found. Training will resume, the weather will change, but that winter coming through. The motorbike will be locked away and a small cheap car will be bought (much saving is needed). I'm moving again, now tae the birth place, the home in my heart, Edinburgh! Where the wine flows like beer, and the snow falls like rain! I will return tae Aviemore, just in time for the next big winter, I feel it in my waters, this one is going tae be a beast.

For yous that read this, and keep checking my blog, thanks and I will not let you down! Pictures and funny story's are on the horizon!

Till next time, happy climbing, and be safe.