Ben Nevis from Torlundy

This morning I was called out at 3am. With time to kill afterwards and it being a gorgeous morning I did a painting of the Ben from Inverlochy. I was able to spend a bit more time on the picture than for my normal  rapid sketches ( see below). The above picture was done at home from memory and with the aid of a mobile phone photo.

Ben Nevis from Inverlochy-early morning.

Glencoe

Another quick sketch done during the WHW race last week . I added some of the colour at home . It's the view of Glencoe from Altnafeadth just before I started my duties as support runner on the grind up Devil's Staircase.

Run to Inverness and a Lecture.

There has been more glorious weather all week . On Wednesday I did a medium length run from Drumnadrochit to Inverness along the Great Glen Way. Got talking to a fast walker striding out in sandals , nut brown and bearded. He said now he was retired his main hobby was walking , he was aiming to do the 18miles to Inverness that afternoon; I was impressed.
Yesterday I went to a very interesting and entertaining talk by Prof Ted Cowan on Montrose and the Battle of Inverlochy.. He explained the intricacies of the political system of the time very well and gave us a portrait of of Montrose - a rather complicated character. I did a few sketches and scrawled some notes in the margins. In some lectures I find sketching makes the talk more memorable and helps me keep awake, although in this case there was no fear of falling asleep as it was so interesting . I run past Inverlochy Castle and the site of the battle on the way to work.

Audience at the talk in the library

Prof Ted Cowan

West Highland Way Race

Late last Friday night  the relative peace of a car park of a suburban railway station on the edge of Glasgow was disturbed by a sudden influx of vehicles . They disgorged a motley group of men and women ,many rake thin with knotted calves and knobbly knees. They were attired in everything from baggy shorts to lycra leggings, they carried small rucksacks or bumbags and each one had  a head torch. At precisely 1 am on Saturday 199 of them set off through the underpass and through Mugdock Park beyond . They were embarking on a great adventure , a 95 mile long adventure to Fort William. The 2014 West Highland Way Race had begun!

Very quick sketch from Bogle Glen Crianlarich, whilst waiting for my runner 

My beautiful and courageous wife was running as were a host of good friends and acquaintances. Each one will have a tale of struggle and pain of highs and lows ,elation and despair . Everyone who reached the steps of the Leisure centre in Fort William within the 35 hour time limit  is in my opinion  a hero. This is not an 'ordinary' 95 miles, this is the West Highland Way; every terrain from the road to Drymen , Conic Hill , the rocks and tree roots of Loch Lomondside, Telford's cobbles on Rhannoch Moor and the aptly named Devil's Staircase.  The winner Paul Giblin smashed his own record with an incredible, inconceivable  time of 14 hours and 20 minutes. He received a well deserved standing ovation at the prize giving.
 My wife struggled with sickness and nausea in the latter stages of the race but still came home in a very credible time of 23 hours 54 minutes . One of our friends had a very hard time on the Rowardennan to Beinglas section and we feared that he had dropped out. However he appeared out of nowhere on the descent to Kinlochleven ,  pale faced and eyes bulging he was going like a train . Despite our attempts to follow in his wake he was soon well ahead.
Another friend had several falls before Rowardennan . I found him sitting on the grass with a bloody knee and damaged shoulder, his arms black with midges . We stuck him in the car with the engine running and fan on  full to give him some relief from the midges and plied him with tea and offered paracetamol. I was sure that he would and probably should pull out as he was obviously in a lot of pain, however I didn't want to influence his decision either way. After catching his breath he decided to carry on despite the roughness and remoteness of the next section. What's more he finished ! I'm full of admiration for his mental and physical toughness .

Before the race in the Real Food cafe Tyndrum

There is much more I could write about what was for me a brilliant if exhausting weekend ( and I was only supporting my wife not racing). The prize giving was a wonderful emotional occasion , 3 runners received extra awards for 10 completions . Everybody who finishes receives a crystal goblet and the last finisher gets presented theirs by the winner of the race which I think is a really nice touch. Well done to Ian Beattie and his team for another excellent event.

The Lairig Ghru

Maldon from the promenade

Loch Avon

Some prints that I've just added to my etsy shop. Two are of the Cairngorms . Loch Avon is remote loch in the central Cairngorms with the Shelter Stone at one end (once reputed to have been large enough to shelter 40 brigands).
The Lairig Ghru is one of the main passes through the Cairngorms and an old drove route. This view is from the south in high summer.
The other print is completely different a picture of the Essex town where I grew up. It shows St Mary's church and  sailing barges moored on the hythe quay- a view that will have hardly changed in centuries . Sadly other parts of the town haven't fared as well with new roads , sprawling  housing estates, and superstores springing up everywhere. I love the old Essex with its ancient churches, quaint country pubs, marshes, fields and hedgerows but every time I go south it has retreated before the onslaught of modernity. Such is progress!

Summer weather

This week the weather has been wonderful. On Tuesday I went to Acharacle . Early morning mist started to clear as I drove off the ferry but still clung to the bases of the hills and in drifts on the sea loch. The blue of the water was a deep azure, it was breathtakingly beautiful.
Yesterday I had most of the day off and after completing some work e mails headed up into the Mamores. I find it incredible that I can leave work and the hill starts 10 metres from the office back door. From there I could run to Dalwhinnie which must be at least 40 miles away without crossing a single public road.

Ben Nevis from Banavie

. It was a hard grind up the first mountain ( Mullach Nan Coirean ) but once on the ridge it was great running with spectacular views of the Ben on one side and the Lairig Mor with the West  Highland Way far below on the other. I stopped on the ridge to do a pencil sketch which I coloured from memory back at home ( it looks a bit garish on the scan ) I climbed Stob Ban then descended into Glen Nevis. I intended to run back to town but then realised I would miss the train so got the bus instead.

Ben Nevis from the Mamores

Ramsay Round continued

Quick sketch of the mountains as I waited for the Ramsay Round runners. I didn't want to get too involved with my picture as I knew runners might come round the corner at any moment. the hill shown is Sgurr Choinnich Beag with the Aonach Mor / Aonach Beag plateau behind.

Waiting for the runners to arrive back at Glen Nevis Youth Hostel this morning. We had text updates during the night and it became clear that Mark was slipping behind his schedule however we were still hoping he would 'pull it out of the bag' Unfortunately he was about half an hour outside the magic 24 hour time limit, but what a tremendous achievement ! It's a shame that he won't go on the list of official Ramsay Rounders but he was very close. It is a phenomenally difficult challenge and few people manage it on their first attempt.

View of Beinn Na Lap from the railway bridge near Corrour ,this was sketched last year when I was reccing another part of the Round.

Ramsay Round

Today I have been helping some friends on their Ramsay Round .The Ramsay Round is a 24 hour challenge to run a circular route from Glen Nevis up the Ben across to Carn Mor Dearg then the Aonachs , Grey Corries ,Easains, 3 Munro's East of Loch Treig and the Mamores then back to Glen Nevis. The distance is 'only ' 56 miles but a muscle sapping twenty eight  thousand feet of climbing. In addition the terrain is very rough and rocky. It was first completed by Charlie Ramsay in the 70's. My job was to take some food and water up into the Grey Corries for the runners and then accompany them to Loch Treig. I was a bit nervous that I was late - it was hard work grinding up the hill with a rucksack full of supplies, the cloud was down as well making navigation slightly challenging. However in the event I  was fine and even had time to start a sketch of the mountains. Mark  and Euan were going well although slightly behind schedule. Fraser was struggling with the pace and had dropped back so I waited for him . I'm now back at home and have had food and a bath. Mark is still out there with a long night ahead and the whole of the Mamore range to do! He has to be back at the youth hostel by 8AM tomorrow to have completed the round within 24 hours .He has raised  £4,697 sponsorship for Spinal Muscular atrophy Support .
Pictures  and more news to follow tomorrow.

Yesterday we drove to Glencoe ski centre and ran across Rhannoch Moor and on as far as Tyndrum. We returned to Bridge of Orchy but the heavens opened so  we went to the pub ! The first sketch  is of the Bridge of Orchy Hotel as the rain started, the second the inside of the pub. We only did 27 miles but that's still a reasonable outing.

   Two new pictures which I hope to put on my etsy shop soon.

Glen Nevis

Here's a picture I painted this morning of Glen Nevis from the West Highland Way. I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out, it is from a photo I took a few months ago .

Waiting for the Corran Ferry

I managed to do some quick sketches this week . Here is a selection. I wish I had more time ; there are so many wonderful views and things I would like to paint . Everything is lush and green at the moment and there is a profusion of wild flowers many of which I sadly cannot identify. Running to work I cross a small marshy area near Inverlochy, you can smell the summer there - a heady brew of pollens and fresh vegetation. I love this time of year!

Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg

Early morning Fort William

Ben Nevis again

W.H.W. training

We both had Wednesday off so we did another long run , this time we got the train to Bridge of Orchy and ran back  from there.We were expecting bad weather but it turned out warm and sunny again- unbelievable! No time for any sketching as we needed to get the train home from the Fort. Unfortunately we were slow because I still have a sore back  having strained it coughing - I seem to be a bit of a hypochondriac  at the moment. However it was still a brilliant day out, the northern part West Highland Way really is a gorgeous route.
I did paint a two quick pictures this week , one loosely based on Loch Linnhe the other a made up view.

Loch Linnhe

West Coast Sunset