Thursday 9 January 2020

2019 in Review

April 2019 saw us celebrating our Silver Wedding Anniversary, so we hired a campervan to have an adventure in Scotland. We spent a lovely few days on a whirl wind trip around Scotland.
 After the second half marathon distance in April
 Dornie Castle
 Silver Anniversary
 Schiehallion


 Stonehaven beach
 Cnoc Poll a' Mhurain
 Farrmheall

 The start of the Ghost Train Walk

 Loch Quoich
 From the first of three Munros, Carn Aosda


 Carn Leac Saighdeir
 Kelpies
 Mayar
 Driesh
 Clachnaben
 Geallaig Hill
 Loch Muick
 Ben Alder Forest


 Warth Hill
 Free mackeral
 Creag Dhubh
 Meall a' Chrasgaidh
Tap o' Noth


 Mither Tap
 Cul Mor

 Meall an Fheadain
 Falls of Kerkaig



Little did we know that we would be the proud new owners of our own van, Ellie, the following month. David sealed the deal and collected her whilst I was completing my 7th Challenge in May and he came to meet me so we could spend our first night together with her just a little south of Corgarff.

I had a successful and enjoyable Challenge, partly because I am much fitter, we had completed half marathon training mid-April, in fact, we ran the distance twice in two weeks.

Since May, we have tried to get with Ellie about once a month and we have had great fun and climbed many more hills than we usually get to do together. We were very pleased to have Ellie when David agreed to Assess a Gold Duke of Edinburgh group in the Ben Alder Forest when the weather was utterly dreadful and camping would have been no fun whatsoever. We have also been tourists around Scotland and had our first van meet with Mick, Gayle and Bertie in Inshriach Forest. Ellie has been a wonderful addition to our lives.

In June, we took part in the Ghost Train Walk, an over night walk on the Summer Solstace following the Dava Way from Grantown-on-Spey to the Dallas Dhu Distillery. We have walked the route together before when it first opened in July 2007, and I did the first Ghost Train Walk in 2009 with friends, so this was our first long distance overnight walk together and we had a great time.

In August, we took Conall to the Junior International Air Pistol and Rifle competition at Bisley. He had a good time and is doing well and gaining confidence. It is very strange to be there with just Conall though. There will be many more and much bigger competitions for him in the near future.

In November we were treated to a two night stay at Fonab Castle for our anniversary, which was quite an experience, but the weather was not conducive to walking, so we sheltered at House of Bruar in between fancy meals.
 The view from our room at Fonab





So, we are really looking forward to many more Adventures with Ellie in 2020 and I am hoping for another successful crossing on the Challenge in May.

Wishing all of you the very best for 2020.

Due to having to edit this post in Blogger, the photographs are randomly placed.

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