Walking and biking with local kids

On Sunday we had a great day walking up Croidh-la and on to the Corbett of Meallach Mhor. It was a brilliant day and the views were superb. On the way down, an Adder slid out in front of us and posed for a photo before leisurely slithering off.
Yesterday was our first day of work since before the lockdown and it was a walk up Creag a'Ghreusaiche with some of our local children. On the way up, we sometimes stop to look at the sad remains of a Scooter! Today we had a morning of biking with a few more. We had been a bit nervous as to how things would go but we need not have worried. The kids were brilliant, all happy to be out with friends and enjoying what we were doing.

Wheel building

We have been getting out on our bikes as well as still helping out with jobs for neighbours ie painting galvanised gates. Our oldest bikes which we still treasure, needed new rims and we decided to do the wheel building ourselves. We looked at the cost of wheel truing jigs but did not like the look of the cheaper ones so made one ourselves. Fortunately, we always have angle iron, steel, brass, aluminium around and we had a pair of old roof bars too. Put all this together with a magician on the lathe and you end up with a wonderful precision instrument. Then when I was getting on with the main lateral and radial truing, Ian was making us a dishing tool. It was a brilliant project to have, totally absorbing.
Now we are looking forward to getting out with some of our local kids next week walking and biking!

Glen Fernisdale

Every now and again we have a bad day when we worry about what the future holds. We are lucky that we have some savings to fall back on but they will not last forever! We then think about the fact that we are both healthy and can enjoy where we live as lots of lovely places are only a bike ride away such as Creag Dubh where we often come across the wild goats. It has also been good that we have had the time to help folk with jobs they have wanted to do but cannot do themselves for whatever reason. One thing we have done recently is visit Glen Fernisdale which makes for a great easy bike circuit for us from home. It follows General Wade's road from Etteridge through to Ruthven and has a pleasant remote feeling. We last did this 19 years ago and wonder why we have not been back!

Having fun

During this week we have again visited our local hills as well as getting out in our canoes for the first time in ages. We also helped a friend by fixing his swing seat during which time we unfortunately disturbed some wildlife although these cute characters were quite happy running around chasing each other in the sunshine completely ignoring us!