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| A snow covered Ben Nevis |
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| Some people were taking this relay very seriously... |
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| Carb loading |
It is the 1st
of May, the May bank holiday, summer is just around the corner. Repeat ad
infinitum to improve general mood and positivity. And it still didn’t work as I sunk knee deep into the snow,
shivering as any sense of feeling rapidly departed from my fingers and I
surveyed the wide panorama of a winter landscape with snow topped mountains
while being buffeted by a bitterly cold wind. At least I only went knee deep
into the snow, Robin was attempting full body submersion at that point. Still
it could be worse, we consoled ourselves as we watched a group of mountain
bikers pushing their bikes through the snow. I was very thankful that I hadn’t
been too complacent with regard to the amount of kit that I was carrying as the
dark clouds were gathering ominously overhead.
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| Setting off |
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The Corrieyairack
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| It is a long winding track that gradually climbs |
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| Dark clouds gathering |
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| The view from the top of the pass |
This leg of the GGEHW relay started at the official start
point of the Corrieyairack pass just outside Fort Augustus and we followed the
relentlessly climbing track for 8 or 9 miles with little incident despite
Bert’s desperate attempts to find a shortcut on what is a point to point course.
On the face of it navigation was going to be a piece of cake, just follow the
wide track as it criss-crossed under a line of large electricity pylons making
its way South East to Garva Bridge. All well and good – except there was a
distinct lack of any pylons apart from the ones in the distance. My anxious
glances at the map increased in frequency to approximately one every thirty
seconds as the pylons seemed to stretch further and further away in the other
direction, however the geographical features all fitted what was on the map.
Turning a bend in the path we came upon a digger with a pile of twisted metal
lying it front of it – Our missing pylons! The moral of the story being that
swish new OS mapping software that you only purchased last week does not
necessarily equate to the latest most up to date maps. Oh well, long sigh of
relief, at least I wasn’t being a navigational numpty.
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| Our missing pylons |
The descent was uneventful but, cold and tired, Robin and I
made the decision to stop at the first car park and Bert didn’t seem massively
inclined to carry on alone. The cold had got to all three of us, in fact Bert
didn’t seem to manage to warm up until the following morning and I hadn’t been
feeling too good all day, even before the run, so the cold nearly finished me
off and I certainly didn’t feel human again until a copious amount of whisky
had been poured down my throat later that night.
This year’s Mules World Record attempt followed the Great
Glen way and then loosely followed the route of the East Highland way starting
in Fort William and finishing in Newtonmore, as to our exact route chief Mule
Allan has forbidden me from revealing the details – I could tell you but then I
would have to kill you. This way it will remain a world record on this route
lasting from now until eternity which, as we all know, is a very long time.
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| Mules role of honour |
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| The compulsory startline photo shoot |
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| And that was before the start! |
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| Don't get too comfy now, theres some running to be done |
So to cut a long story short after the compulsory photo
shoot in Fort William, Bert and Mule Meister Eric set off on the longest 3 mile
route in history. After a few worried glances between the waiting Mules they
appeared at the changeover point on the canal to hand over to leg 2 runners Ali
and Cath. Apparently Eric knew a short cut they had followed.
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| And they're off |
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| The Caledonian canal |
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| Ben Nevis in the distance |
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| You don't need the map, just follow the canal! |
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| And eventually they appeared |
I liked the look of the second leg along the canal, very
scenic, although by all accounts the gravelly paths are a bit of a nightmare to
run on. I contented myself with watching the boats pass through the system of
lock gates while I waited and drinking tea and eating cake provided by Eric and
Lynda.
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| A triumph of engineering |
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| The tuck wagon |
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| Just what what I needed |
Ali and Cath handed over to Robin and Geoff and they took off into the
trees. After another wee scenic drive we met at the next changeover point while
Simon warmed up nervously. I had previously done this next stretch as part of
the old Great Glen relay and I remembered it being quite flat. I was reliably
informed by Simon when he finished that it was most certainly not flat….funny
how the memory plays tricks like that. Ho Hum.
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| Leg 2/3 changeover |
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| Leg 3/4 changeover |
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| Well it seemed to be flat at the start, dont know what he was complaining about... |
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| Happy Mules |
By now it had got a little bit warmer and the sun was out so
I was still hopeful that the weekend would miraculously metamorphose into one
of the gorgeous hot sunny weekends of previous Mules relays rather than the sleet
and snow of the previous week and the during the drive to Fort William the previous evening.
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| Karen waiting for Simon |
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| A floating pub! Result! |
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| Movie Memorabilia |
Simon was handing over to Karen at Laggan Locks and at one
point it looked as though the lock keeper was going to be opening the gates to
let a boat through which may have added a little bit to Simon’s time but the
boat moored up on a pontoon a few yards from the lock. Disaster was averted and
the threat to the Mules record attempt passed. At Laggan Locks Bert and I made
the fantastic discovery of a bar and coffee shop on a boat and decided it would
be a shame not to make use of it. The boat was full of memorabilia such as
swords used in Hollywood films and model boats and I sized up the range of
beers somewhat mournfully while making a mental note that this is a place that
I need to go back to.
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| I think he enjoyed his run |
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| Are you sure you know which way to go Karen? |
Simon finished his leg very speedily, running alone as the
rest of us didn’t fancy an 8 mile burn up Alf
Tupper style, and handed over to Karen who promptly headed off in the wrong
direction. Swiftly retrieved and re-directed and Karen was on her way and we
started the drive to the next checkpoint. And promptly headed off in the wrong direction.
Despite being “temporarily mislocated” we reached the next checkpoint in time
to see Karen hand over to Geoff.
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| Memorising the map |
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| Chief Mule and timekeeper |
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| Karen was very quick on her leg... |
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| and handed over to Geoff |
Chief Mule Allan had decided that it would be a good idea to
give us a little history lesson and as we were heading in the vicinity of the
old and now sadly defunct Invergarry - Fort Augustus railway line this was
topic number one.
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| The route of the old Invergarry - Fort Augustus railway line |
History lesson number two was imparted at the next
checkpoint, the start of the Corrieyairack pass otherwise known as General
Wade’s military road. Wade was appointed Governor
of Fort William, Fort George and Fort Augustus in 1733 after a programme of
building work he carried out as Commander
in chief of His Majesty’s forces, castles, forts and Barracks in North Britain.
Some 240 miles of roads and 30 bridges were constructed as part of this
programme to link the military garrisons at Ruthven, Fort George, Fort William
and Fort Augustus. After about the 8th mile of steady ascent I was
feeling very sorry that he hadn’t had a bulldozer or JCB digger available.
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| It really isn't that warm Geoff! |
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| The start of the Corrieyairack |
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| and the climbing begins |
After the Corrieyairack leg of the relay it was Eric’s turn
on the biking leg, following the little roads over Garva Bridge, through the wide
valley of the Sherramore Forest, Garvamore, Spey Dam and Laggan. This is all
still part of General Wade’s military road but they have tarmacked it along
this part….at least I’m fairly sure that the council have and General Wade didn’t.
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| Garva Bridge |
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| Mule Meister Eric turns the relay into a duathlon |
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| A scenic route |
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| undulating and into a strong cold headwind |
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| Making new friends |
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| By now it was getting pretty chilly |
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| Eric arrives |
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| and sends them on their way |
The next changeover was at a mystery location near Laggan (details not revealed as per Chief Mule Allan's orders) and by now the
temperature had dropped and there were some very cold looking Mules hanging
around. I wasn’t envious of Eric at all as he was pedalling straight into a
head wind the whole way and a cold headwind to boot. Cath and Karen were down
to do this next leg and were joined by Bert and Geoff who had decided to do it
on his bike which sounded like a way of making life quite difficult for
yourself. After they had all set off up the hill Allan, Simon and I went round
to Eric and Linda’s house to attempt to warm up slightly before heading down
the Glen Road to the car park to await their return. Simon wandered off along
the Glen to see if he could spot them while I remained in the car still
shivering. After a wee wait Geoff appeared first and carried on to Newtonmore
and eventually the others appeared with stories of their adventures including
Bert’s failed attempt to stay on his feet while making a river crossing. I wish
I’d been there. With my camera.
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| Glen Banchor |
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| Geoff was first to appear |
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| shortly followed by everyone else |
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| nearly there |
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| Finished! |
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| Simon enjoyed his stroll |
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| A bit soggy are we, Bert? |
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| The final Mules charge into Newtonmore |
Ali jumped out of the car to join them for the final Mules
charge back to Newtonmore and the rest of us scurried back to Eric and Lynda’s
in the hope of hot showers as Robin and I had yet to stop shivering after our
Corrieyairack adventure. Eric and Lynda provided the cold and hungry mules with an enormous spread of food and wine. Originally it was to have been a BBQ but I can't say I was heart broken not to have to go back outside into the cold and instead enjoyed being curled up on the sofa nursing a wee dram. Anyone would think it was still winter.
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| Recovery was swift |
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| Compliments to the chef |
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| Personalised pudding! |
True to form by next morning a plan had been hatched for
next year’s Mules world record attempt but I can’t say any more. I could tell
you but then I would have to kill you.
