The Cobbler

This weekend , and old German Dundee Uni friend was across for a visit so we went for a walk up The Cobbler by Arrochar. We set off to Queen Street to make the 8.30 train but missed it by a minute (thanks phone app!), so after a coffee and a walk in town we got onto the 10.30 train then walked up and around the Cobbler, via the mid-path scramble and the ridge off the left most peak, threading the needle on the middle peak along the way.
It was another scorcher of a day but we had a good time and watched the guys climbing and soloing on the way down, who were going well, with some guy climbing hard.

A great lead up Rest and be Thankfull by some guy

It's easily do-able to take a trip up it, make a pub stop and then make it to the station for the half 6 train back to Glasgow. Plus by taking the train you get the lovely views over the lochs on the way back which you miss on the road (as well as the comedy drunken neds getting on closer to Glasgow)!

The Cobbler is always worthwhile in any weather I find!

Today we biked up to Luss which was nice and got the train back to mine so Nina could make the train to Edinburgh to fly back to Germany. Always nice to catch up with old friends and get out and about.

A not so great second!

Cathkin Thursdays

For the past few weeks some of the guys from work and I initiated post work mountain biking at Cathkin Braes every Thursday for a few laps of the new Commonwealth Games Cross Country MTB track. Cathkin Thursdays - with catchy titles like that it proves we don't get paid for nothing!

Now for the past few months I've been enjoying cycling the 24 mile round trip primarily on the road bike, which turns out to be far more rewarding than the car and almost 40 mins faster than public transport! I've been getting pretty fast, and tracking it on the phone via Strava and seemingly doing quite well compared to others; though I'm only really slightly interested in my own times out of all of it! Therefore coming in on the MTB is a bit more of a chore, though I somehow have a few Strava personal bests on some sections on it?! Nevertheless it does make a solid excuse for not being able to keep up with Adam and Andy when they shoot off on the laps given their commutes are half mine. It has nothing to do with the fact I'm rubbish! haha.

The track itself is great fun and packed full of tricky technical sections with rocky flats, fast jumpy downhills and rocky steep uphills. Not bad for a 5km loop! The Commonwealth and proper races there must be great if you're any good! I've heard of 14 minute laps being done, beating my 18 min ones by a fair bit when we turn that into 3 laps!!!

One day I'll get the last steep uphill and not fall over the bars as often!

Not Cathkin (as I don't have a pic), but here's Cav leading the British Road Race Championship in Glasgow back in June!

Unfortunately next week will be the last foreseeable Cathkin Thursday as we move offices to Eurocentral :( Bad times.

Return to Auchinstarry

Tonight Brian and I headed for an after work trip to Auchinstarry for a bit of trad climbing. I slinked off from work at half three to make the most of the weather and cycle back without too much traffic.

Brian was leading all night as my head for trad is still a bit all over the place still after March. It was nice to be back on the rope again and I had a really great night, as did my skin thanks to Tesco Value factor 20 suncream, which turns out to be the best midge repellant ever! Good accidental work there Tesco.Unfortunately for Brian I put it on before I left so he didn't fair too well!!!

Nevetheless Brian lead some cracking routes and has rapidly become a good solid and safe trad climber. We started on the 3* HVS Promontory Direct which is the classic of the crag, and after a few sketchy hand jams (his first ever) he was at the top crack and up and over. I followed up and enjoyed the moves, thinking it was a great lead.

We then moved round and did VS Red Lead above the water which is again an amazing route. The gear is good where you need it and it feels like proper climbing all the way across. The traverse out to the belay rock spike is interesting too... especially when you realise you left your phone in your pocket!

Some guys on Red Lead from top of Midas

Brian then lead his first E1 Midas Touch, placing a dodgy first nut but better gear above. Another great lead. We then abbed down and went up the VS Mastalgia to get back up and out by around half ten. A great evening out and great work from Brian.
I'll hopefully be back in the trad game properly soon enough!

Dumby Nights

Brian and his Gorilla nemesis

Over the past two weeks with the cracking Spanish esque weather I've popped up to Dumby after work with Brian and a few others. Despite the scorchio weather we've still managed to get a few new problems done and got a bit further with others. Primarily on those on the northern sides of the boulders in the shade. I'll have Mugsy yet!

The school of half shoe on climbing

I did manage to do all the slabs on the sea boulder I've ignored until now as well as Physical Graffiti and Home Rule.