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Wednesday 2 September 2015

Braeriach walk & St Andrews paddle

This Scottish summer has been the worst for decades and a penicillin-resistance chest infection for the best part of July did not help. However, at the beginning of August things were looking up and on the 7th of August Roger and I walked in to the Corrour bothy reaching it around midnight. I had my Tarp tent plus winter sleeping bag and slept outside whilst Roger and Mike spent the night inside. Grey skies, 10 degrees or so but no rain on the morning of the 8th and after a month of inactivity I was keen...
 We walked up the Devil's Point where Glasgow Jimmy took a photo of us...
 ... walked over Cairntoul and Angel's peak to cross the young Tay near its source...
 ... to reach the summit of Braeriach. 
 Down into the Lairig Ghru where we first considered doing both Ben Macdiu and Carn a Mhaim but as poor weather was forecast we only did the latter.  
 We parted as Roger and Mike stayed another night in the Corrour whereas I left for Aberdeen. So good to spend again a day in the hills under big skies even if no summer was in sight. 

After a holiday in the sun another sea kayak weekend in Arisaig at the end of August was cancelled because of strong Westerly winds and poor weather. However, the other side of Scotland looked fine and so we went just a few miles South to St. Andrews to meet at the East Sands car park.
 Being out at sea in the sun is bliss...
 ... especially this summer. We paddled to Kingsbarns for a break on the beach. Paul and I also fished and caught mackerels and Pollack. 
 Here we are approaching St. Andrews marked by the ruin of the cathedral...
 ... and here we are landing...
 ... and here's the catch of the day. Most got 1-2 mackerels and Paul took the rest. 
We have grilled our Mackerel fillets covered in full-grain mustard together young potatoes and a green salad with lemon dressing. Was it good? Guess...
HW