WHW 2017

A comprehensive set of photos recording adventures and misadventures courtesy of Gordon is now on-line here.

We had an earlier than usual start this year, not helped by road closures which delayed our bleary eyed start at Milngavie. Sandy Hayden took the brave pill and started us off on this years relay, followed by a turbo charged Michael Mullen who handed over to the day tripper Frances Maxwell who had to rush back to attend a wedding in EK. Andy Henderson had the first longer leg and while the rest of us used our combined intelligence to play" get the frisbee out of the tree" in Balmaha, Andy had the opportunity to see the sun rising on Loch Lomond from Conic Hill.

Sandy took another early leg, showing her return to form and handed over to George Stewart at Millarrochy Bay. George is in training for his support role in the WHW race in a few weeks time and this deceptively steep leg saw him finish strongly to hand over to Davie Watt, waiting like a coiled spring to run the legendary lochside leg.

The Caledonian Challenge was  on this weekend and this combined with  the holiday weekend meant that both the running route and the driving routes were busy. The drive round to Benn Glass farm became a bit of a race and we arrived just in time for Davie to hand over to Joanne McAvoy. Davie looking slightly the worse for wear after a fall while dodging the tourists ambling along  the lochside.
Joanne had a strong run in the blistering sunshine despite tending to a dazed Andy who had accompanied her on the leg and had bumped his head on one of the tunnels under the railwayline. It was an eventful day so far and the first aid kit had been well used already.

Eddie Reid turned on his marathon power to beat the bus to the road at Ewich where Kenny Leinster dragged his battered legs to Tyndrum to set Russell Couper on the path to Bridge of Orchy. Russell has had a few weeks to recover from his London Marathon exploits and his good form was evident in his strength on this leg. Jim Holmes had a fast run on the steep climb up and down  to Inveroran and handed over to a vasly improved Gordon McInally who had a  strong climb over the Rannoch Moor and finished strongly as he descended down to Blackrock Cottage for a well deserved drink.

Following Eddie's example Jim Holmes had a quick sprint to The Kingshouse handing over to Colin Banks who had a consistent run through Glencoe to the Devils Staircase where Gerry Mullen was waiting to run this leg for the 47th time. Gerry delivered as ever and while awaiting his arrival Eddie briefed Allan McLellan on his high route to the wilderness that is Lundavra. It should come as no surprise then that while we were engulfed in a cloud of midges Allan was knocking on doors, and asking strangers the way to Fort Willam. Not content with getting lost, when he appeared he was bloodied and bruised having had a tumble on the long  route to the middle of nowhere. As we all scanned our watches and worked out if we would have time for a swim Geo Ferguson had a storming run on the final leg.

This wasn't our fastest running of the WHW but we were all relieved to reach the Ben Nevis hotel and have a good meal, a refreshing drink and the chance to relive the highs and lows of a long tiring day.

The breakfast at the Ben Nevis never fails and we all did our best to ensure there was food left before heading south with a quick stop to watch the downhill mountain bike race at Glencoe.
It was a tired bus full that arrived in EK, the journey enlivened by tales of Colin's  aspirations in the property market.

Good running, good weather and good company. Another hard work and fun weekend for Calderglen Harriers.
Kenny