Grim up North

Is The truth out there?

No snow for me this weekend. Not that I didn't try. Came down to
Cardross on the previous night to get a head start. Forecasts had been
promising more settled conditions and even sun. I awoke to a grey
morning with the trees swaying in the garden.
Straight on to the webcams to see what state the mountain was in.
Grey, with no sign of movement. Winterhighland was saying all lifts
were open. Skiscotland had one closed. However on the web cams I could
clearly see the two top lifts were not running. At some points they
even turned the webcam away from the lift. None of the websites
updated conditions either obviously making sure they didn't put anyone
off.
Maybe I'm a synic but something funny was going on. I ended up not
going.

Sent from my iPod

Glencoe Saturday 24th January

From Glencoe 24th January 2009

The day started with a very snowy drive from Cardross. The worst stretch being between Tyndrum and Rannoch Moor.

By the time I got there it was 10.40 and the carpark was full. luckily I had mum's Ka and managed too squeeze it in a small gap (at an angle).
It was a bit blustery but a lot of snow had fallen. The week before the mountain was bare. Snow continued to fall through the day and some of my best runs were under the Cliffy. The Main Basin was great too.
Not as much snow as this time last year but it was soft and spreadable.Spring Run was in good condition too it must be said, however since the top T-bar was dismounting early there was a wee walk up and across.
Apart from queues and the new £30 lift ticket conditions were good. Plenty of soft stuff.
The drive back was through blizzards yet again. Much worse in the dark. It was reported on the news the following day that 9 climbers were caught in an avalanche on Buchaille Etive Mor that day. 3 were sadly killed. This was only 1 kilometer away, the next mountain along from the ski area.

Sent from my iPod

Boston Dynamics Big Dog (new video March 2008)

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1czBcnX1Ww

Sent from my iPod

Canvas

What about one of these as a canvas filler?

These are just mock ups I did in photoshop for ideas. Got inspiration from a painter called Pam Carter.

Linn Park

Took a walk to Linn Park today. This is the second largest park in Glasgow, full of history and wildlife. It is the location of Cathcart Castle and the viewpoint where Mary Queen of Scots watched the battle of Langside before fleeing to England. It was a soft day and the 1.5 mile walk is one I should have made sooner. The park is huge with the river Cart flowing through. Birds include the usual mallard, wren, tits, robin, sparrowhawk even a dipper was spotted. Light was at a minimum so didn't get many shots. However on the walk home along the river a kingfisher was glimpsed in the dusk, the second time I've seen one on the river!

The Freeze Sets In

Things are cooling down nicely. Hope we're getting enough white stuff on the hills. Been snowfall in Glasgow and this morning risked life and limb going to work on the frozen canals that were Glasgow's pitiful cycle paths.