Bridge of Orchy, Scotland. 11-17 August 2003
This year Polevault
could not find suitable accommodation for a Meths meet and it was decided to
book the Bunkhouse at the Bridge of
Orchy Hotel for a week.
So it came to pass
that some wise men and their long suffering wives (or is it long suffering
husbands) arrived at the hotel for a weeks walking in the Glencoe Area.
The weather was
excellent, except that on the first outing to a mountain called Stob A’ Choire
Odair it rained. In fact it was so cold and wet that it was pointed out to
Johnathen, Gladys’s son that he had better get off the mountain as he was
looking decidedly white in the chilly wind. Thankfully his colour returned at
the bottom of the hill. That was when, arriving back at the car park that the
full might of the Scottish Midge was felt with the worst attack by the little
devils that most of the party had ever experienced.. So much so that a calming
draught of ale had to be taken in the Inveroran Hotel on the way back.
Our next conquest was
to be Beinn Achalader, this was achieved in excellent weather the rain having
moved on. We had tremendous views into the head of Glen Lyon, down Glen Etive
and Glencoe and at one point we were looking down on the low flying aircraft in
the glen below. Valerie, Verena and Mike Petzold decide to bag another hill
while Polevault and Mike Mossford decided to head back the way we had come (we
would be in the pub before the others). They eventually arrived back at approx
8.30pm just in time for dinner. The hotels in the highlands are very tourist
orientated by not serving meals after 9.00pm.
A rest day was in
order after two fairly hard days so a trip up to the gorge at the head of Glen Nevis
the scene of past Meths glories was the tonic that was needed. Mike Petzold did
not fancy this so went on an expedition to the mountain of our first day to
sample himself the Scottish Midge.. I believe he was not disappointed being
driven off the top by a concerted attack by the mighty midge.
Polevault and Valerie
left on Saturday morning leaving the two Mikes to tackle Sron na Creise &
Meall a Bhuirdie. It is recommended that these two hills are best climbed in a
anti clockwise direction but as this was Meths meet they were tackled in a
clockwise direction (Enough said).
For those that
attended it was a good meet with excellent weather, good company, and convivial
evenings in the bar.
Wise men: Polevault, Harpic, George Wallace,
Mike Petzold, Ian Mason.
Long suffering wives: Valerie Scott, Val Wallace, Verena Petzold ,
Gladys Mossford + Kara , Sadie Mason.
Click here
for an account of last year's Scottish meet.
© WDYFO, 2003