Munro bagging can be hard on the knees. A combination of sodden ground, steep tussocky slopes, and strong winds took its toll on Saturday. The round of Beinn Achaladair and Beinn a’ Chreachain was a great, if tiring, day out. Twelve miles, and 1300 metres of ascent & descent in rather mixed weather (for which read rain, wind, and cloud), had left me with a twinge in my left knee — one I’ve come to recognise as the beginnings of ITBFS. If ignored (something I’ve done too often in the past), this rapidly becomes debilitating, and puts the hills out of bounds for a good six weeks. Not what I want with a trip to the Alps lined up in the week ahead!
On more than one occasion, I’ve embarrassed myself my mislaying, forgetting, or otherwise losing track of some important item or other, resulting in unwanted stress, and potentially costly reparations. Driving off having left my walking boots behind in the car park at “The Green Welly Shop” (and yes, it’s been rebranded as “The Green Welly Stop” now) at Tyndrum is a particularly fine example.