Ben Macdui: Excuses, excuses, excuses

I am disappointed.

You will remember that this weekend I was supposed to be climbing Scotland's second highest mountain, Ben Macdui.

Oh but the humans had so many excuses...

Hail and sleet predicted above 900m. Only 30% chance of cloud free summits.  The other two members of the party exhausted after a twenty plus mile hike across boggy wilderness the day before Gail and I arrived. Sore and arthritic toes. Wobbly knees. The list goes on.

So Ben Macdui lay hidden in the mists while I was taken on damp low level rambles through the ancient Scots pines of the Rothiemurchus Forest and to Loch an Eilein.

Which was all quite pleasant, I suppose, if lacking the thrill of a proper mountain expedition.

Before we left, Gail insisted on this photo in Aviemore, sort of as consolation for my wee Scottie pal Dui, since we did not get to photograph his actual mountain.

No, it's not good enough, is it?

Rest assured, I'll be back!

PS from Gail: As not uncommonly happens in Scotland, the clouds did finally clear from the hills just as it was time to head home. On this picture, taken from the car, Ben Macdui is the distant peak towards the left. 

Strutting my stuff at Cruden Bay

PS It looks like the Ben Macdui expedition is ON for Saturday. Weather permitting…..

A letter to Gail's friend Sally and a suggestion

Aberdeen,

22 June 2014.

Dear Sally,

Re: Aviemore weekend

I gather you are coming to Scotland with a friend next weekend, and Gail and I shall be driving over to Aviemore on Friday evening to meet up with you both for a couple of days of hillwalking.

Oh you can't imagine how much I am looking forward to this. I am fairly bouncing with excitement already.

I hope you don't think this presumptuous of me, as I realise you may already have planned the weekend activities, but I was wondering if I might make a suggestion?

You see, I have a blogging pal in Australia, he is very young laddie, a wee Scottie pup, and his name is Dui, after the mountain Ben Macdui. Now I have been looking on the map, and I see that a walk from the Cairngorm Ski Centre up to the summit of Ben Macdui might be an option for Saturday, provided your friend is the energetic sort. (Gail has told me how you, Sally, cycled all the way across the USA last year, carrying a tent and stuff, so I have no worries on your account).

Oh it would be so special if we could walk up there together, and you could take loads of photos of me at the summit and I could post them on my blog to show Dui what 'his' mountain looks like.

Gail says she thinks it is a good idea, provided the weather is OK, but that we should probably tackle the 'straight up and down' route rather than longer alternatives which, although appealing, might be too tough on my paws.

So how about it anyway?

You know, if you want to do something else, that's fine by me too, so long as I am included.

'Til Friday,

Toodle pip!
Bertie.

My furs and Shetland sheep furs

Over by the cottage in Torridon last weekend, I spotted that the local residents - the ones I am not allowed to chase, and must wear a lead when near to - had recently been to the hairdressers.

At least some of them had.


The neatly shorn Shetland sheep belong to our neighbour Julia, a very clever and creative lady. I know several of my readers are into knitting and stuff, and they might like to visit Julia's lovely blog, where you can learn about the wonderful things she makes with her sheep's wool.

The Red Roof Croft House, by Julia Marsh

Seeing the sheep gave Gail the idea it was time to 'strip' me of some of my furs too.



I suggested that surely my furs are at least as valuable as a sheep's and maybe Julia would appreciate them as a gift and use them to create something special?

Gail just gave me a 'look'.

And put the ball of precious Bertie fluff straight in the bin.

I ask you.