Satmap Active 10

www.microlodge.co.uk

It's been a glorious Saturday weather-wise, and so hard to believe that just 6 days ago I was caught in a blizzard up Ben Chonzie.
I took a stroll up West Lomond with the intention of testing out the new satnav in a location I'm very familiar with.
I had downloaded the route as a gpx file from the excellent 'Walk Highlands' website and stuck it into the unit which was a very easy task.   The return leg was on a track I had never used before, so it was a good test.

I'm so impressed.  The unit tracked me to the route within 15 feet, and had it been whiteout conditions, I would now be very confident that this piece of kit would get me safely off the hill.  I'll still carry map and compass, but I can see them being stuck in the rucksack as backup rather than the main method of navigation.

From the reservoir.

Well, early to bed tonight and up at stupid o'clock to drive to Crianlarich, do a couple of Munros, then back up to Loch Ness for a day.

Good news just in from the Willows in Abersoch.  Their Hobbits are getting excellent bookings in.  Hurrah!

Also got my invitation in today for Garys wedding, so I guess I'd better get the kilt aired out for that.  

No doubt he'll also be wanting time off work leaving me home-alone whilst he jaunts off on honeymoon.

Never mind, I'll have the dog in the workshop to keep me company.

Beware of age

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It's my birthday today, and I came across this list from my old mucker Andy who I know from our 'oil patch days' out in the Middle East.    Cheers mate!!!

You're getting old when.................

1. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
2. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
3. People call at 9PM and ask, "Did I wake you?"
5. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
7. Things you buy now won't wear out.
8. You can eat dinner at 4 PM.
9. You can live without sex but not without glasses
10. You enjoy hearing arguments about pension plans.
11. You have a party and the neighbours don't even realize it.
12. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
13. You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who
walks into the room.
14. You sing along with elevator music.
15. Your eyes won't get much worse.
16. No one expects you to run into a burning building. 
17. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to
pay off.
18. Your joints are a more accurate meteorologist than the
national weather service. 19. Your back goes out more than you do. 
20. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't
remember them either.
21. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to a manageable
size. 22. You can't remember where you read this list....

SECC Camping & Caravan Show in Glasgow

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Well, it's that time of the year again.

Tomorrow sees the start of the Hobbit builds for the SECC show and the start of the building season.
We're looking forward to also assembling the units that are to be heading down to THE WILLOWS  in Wales, who were voted Welsh campsite of the year last season.

Crampons and Axes

www.microlodge.net

Had a week of 'googling', and it looks like camping pods and the whole concept of pod camping seems to  be taking off throughout the UK and Europe.  It's surely going to be an interesting few years to see how big it will go.

Well, I managed to get out to the hills this Sunday with 'Big Davie' for company.
I take my hat off to him though. He threw up 3 times, and was on his hands and knees on a few occasions crawling up the hill...yet still stuck it out and made it to the top.
He also managed to be within 2" of a self-inflicted vasectomy whilst trying to show off by jumping a barbed wire fence that ripped right through his 2 layers of trousers and has left a lovely 4" cut in his groin area.
I think the way I clutched my sides and rolled around laughing indicated that I was a tad unsympathetic to his injury.

All dressed up and nowhere to go.

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Well, as expeditions go, even Sir Edmund  could never have been better prepared.
Everything ready to go, new Scarpa mountain boots, crampons, ice axes, rucksack, survival bag, latest gps and compass, ord survey maps, route planned..............everything but Sherpas.

Can't get the car to the end of the road......

Snowed in.

Wonder what's on TV

Winter bookings

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Well, good news from Kinlochleven. It seems their Hobbits are booked up every weekend through into next year.
On the minus side of course, it scuppers my weekend get-away plans.

We've been busy in the workshop making some long overdue alterations and got the office refurbished at last.