ANNUAL REUNION. Strathyre, Scotland. 10-14 August 2005
After weeks of
organising, the Meths annual reunion took place with a record 29 members
attending. As always, in Scotland, the weather plays an important part. In previous
meets it has been cold and miserable, but this year it was fine, fair and
surprisingly dry.
The format of the meet
followed the usual guidelines, pitch up on Wednesday, three peaks on Thursday,
something on Friday (the AGM night), a free day on Saturday, then all WDYFO on
Sunday.
For the Thursday walk
Polevault had recced a nice ridge walk climbing Ben Ledi (879m), then along the
ridge passing Lochan nan Corp (the loch of the corpse) over Stuc Dubh (662m)
and onto Ben Vane (821m), then a steep and rough descent eastwards into Glen
Buckie, then back to Strathyre, and the pub and a well deserved quaff of ale.
This was achieved by 25 members in glorious weather. From the summit we could
see as far as the Galloway Hills, Arran, Skye, the Nevis Range and many more
too numerous to mention all in all a great day out. Not all completed the walk
— our Life President had had enough after Ben Ledi so Polevault guided
him off the hill down the Stank Glen and back to the car.
On Friday apart from a
small breakaway group who climbed Meall an t-Seallaidh (809m), we all climbed
Ben'An, a small but steep mountain at the head of Loch Katrine. Again it was
another sunny dry day and we were rewarded with magnificent views down Loch
Katrine and over the Trossachs. It was not a long day so some of us headed off
to the Laide Inn for a pint or two of the local ale.
Polevault had arranged
for a set dinner for the AGM and this was enjoyed before the AGM commenced.
Saturday dawned with
more typical weather, low cloud and drizzle, but this soon cleared with the sun
breaking through. As this was a do-what-you-like day some waddled off to tour
the Trossachs and sample the local meat pies. Others took a trip on the steamer
that goes down Loch Katrine while some climbed Ben Each (813m). The day ended
with a meal in the Lade Inn to bring an end to the meet and to celebrate Rupert
Roshcnik's 65th birthday. A suitable celebratory cake with candles was produced
and a great time was had by all.
Sunday arrived and
those that were left said their fond goodbyes and so the meet ended. Hopefully
everybody enjoyed themselves, with a relieved Polevault heading home for a well
earned MGT.
Participants: Jack Bannister, Antonia Tolhurst,
Stuart Halliday, Valerie Wallace, David Harrison, Judy Harrison, Gladys Kara,
Christopher Leslie, Rhoda Leslie, Stuart Leslie, Bridie Macklin, Michael
Macklin, Ian Mason, Mike Mossford, Christina Petzold, Mike Petzold, Verena
Petzold, Rupert Roschnik, Sally Roschnik, Brian Sayers, Jane Sayers, Peter
Tolhurst, George Wallace, Pauline Ward, Stephen Ward.
©
WDYFO, 2005