Loch na Ba

We did manage to have 2 days of phoneless bliss in between quite a manic few weeks of work by paddling out on Loch na Ba to find a grand campsite with a lovely remote feel. Looking forward to more days like this! Since then we have been on Ben Nevis for Maxad, had a couple of days at Alltnacriche, another couple of days on Loch Insh and some evening Archery with Robert Gordons school. Plan

ning for a weekend with Reach4Reality now.

River Beauly and others

Working for Kushi on Thursday and Friday with 16 Dutchmen. Paddling and camping on the River Beauly. Weather was superb and the group enjoyed themselves. A lovely river to paddle. Saturday we went for a journey on Loch Duntelchaig with two lovely couples, first time we have ever been able to go so far on the loch, all because the weather was superb yet again. Followed this with weaselling and abseiling. Sunday and we were at Creag Beag, Kingussie with two of our Active Kids. They climbed 7 routes, 2 or 3 times each so were quite tired by the end of the day!

More canoeing

More work with Skillforce groups and schools as well as a group from Crossreach, so lots of canoeing, walking, archery and climbing. Often, it is not appropriate to take photos even if it is just because one person does not want this, we always play safe and put the camera away. We did have a group of three ladies for a Ben Nevis walk last Saturday, the weather was superb and they really enjoyed the easy pace we went at so that they could take in the scenery and take lots of photos. Weather not quite so kind on Sunday when we met up with Anna, Fiona, Norma, Louise and Daisy for some canoe practise on Loch Insh to help them prepare for The Great Glen Canoe Trail which they are doing for SIMBA. It was good training for them though. Hope to get out with them again soon!

Skillforce and Star Youth Club

More Skillforce at Cummingston on Friday climbing and abseiling, then rafted canoeing all day with the Star Youth Club, just got away with the weather both days!

Team Building

Ian has been at Cummingston whilst I have been at Glenmore Lodge with a group of people from Corporate Services who were having a couple of days to get to know each other better. We were asked to provide some Team Building activities to help with this. Archery and Orienteering was included too. They were a bit rushed for time but it went well!

2* Paddlesports

On Sunday we ran a 2* Paddlesports course for folk from Alltnacriche. It was great fun if a long day, but we did want to make sure everyone was happy with where they were at and we needed time to swap ideas and discuss relevant paddle topics. Fiona is off to do a Foundation Safety and Rescue course shortly and we are all hoping to get together after this for a day of rescue scenarios.

Zumba on Ben Nevis

I was guiding (for Maximum Adventure) a lovely group of 5 last Saturday on Ben Nevis and Ian came too for the crack! The weather was glorious and the company fantastic. Only two of the group knew each other beforehand but by the end of the day we were all the best of friends. At the summit, Lorna, a fitness and Zumba instructor performed a Zumba routine to get into the records book for the highest performed in Britain. Before she did this, she had us all dancing as a warm-up which was great fun! Another one of our group, Nikki (Mzingaye) had been writing a poem on the way up describing what was going through his mind, and he sat quietly at the summit reading this to us. It was very moving and almost tear jerking, a very special moment. This day will take some beating!!