5 Star for Trip Advisor.
Two days of 5 star forecasts and not a blink of sun was had.
Stephen and I headed north to spend the time in the playground of a certain Mr Shepherd. We rendezvoused at Lagan under a decidedly heavy looking sky. Much coffee was consumed before we ventured to launch and proceeded to the landing field swiftly. Shower avoidance.
An evening of good food, wine and banter later, Wednesday dawned bright. A much more promising looking sky but with an awkward set of wind and thermal parameters from which to fashion a doable task. Ever resourceful Tony set a goal flight. Launch at Creag Meaghaidh, turn-points at Laggan and middle of nowhere then goal at Forres.
It's not a long walk to a launch but it is an energy sapping piece of terrain. Turns out also that Tony prefers tricky river crossings to bridges. It felt like we left the carpark as teenagers and arrived at launch as pensioners. The truth will out. Two pensioners and a part time worker go flying.
It's been a funny old year, the weather reality turns out to be quite unlike the forecast, once again. Cloud and a south westerly rather than southerly and sunny.
What unfolded was a very slow sunless scramble Spey-wise on a task that was very nearly done, with Tony and I falling short and Stephen making it all the way to Inverness. Another grand day out.
A grand two days in fact with our host. 5 star for the trip advisor, but only 3 stars for Rasp.
Is it not a ridiculous premise that brings us together for such fun. Defying Isaac with dental floss and plastic sheets. It is actually quite mind blowing.
Quote of the trip: -
Overheard as Stephen and I coffee'd at the Dalwhinnie truck stop. Three Muslim holidaymakers enquired if there were any pork products in the full Scottish breakfast.
"It's aw pork, it's aw pork, it's aw pork, it's whit it is". The proprietors mastery of customer care was somewhat exposed. The Scottish tourism industry has a way to go, it seems.
Best news of the trip: -
The awakening continues. Bren is now responding to stimulus.