Yesterday I mentioned the fires that are ongoing in the West especially Wester Ross and as I headed to Elgin there was a gorse fire near Hopeman the smoke filled the air. The firemen were on the road sorting out water for the fire. The firemen were busy as it was all over Scotland it is a sad few days as lots of wild life and habitat will be gone. It is worth having a look at some of the fires on the West in Torridon , Skye and other places on the web tragic to many, The fire services are working so hard and so many are voluntary especially in rural areas and we should never take what they do for granted.
I was involved in fighting forest fires in Wales many years ago it was a scary time. I was with the RAF Valley MRT and seeing a tree explode is frightening. These were the days before health and Safety ! We learned on the job then.
1980 Forest Fires North Wales near Betws – Coed.on the other hand The weather is great just now but the fall off the bike means I have bruised ribs so no exercise this week just walks. Its painful but I am a bit of a wimp just now. Despite the fall we ended up having a grand day out on Sunday from Kenny’s Castle near Beauly. We started as only Kenny can do up some steep hills, where I fell of could not get feet out of cleats( they were loose and now sorted) by Stuarts Cycles Forres thanks for your help and another lesson for me. Then Kenny who had never been this way took me cross country where I had to carry my bike, sore ribs and all. Navigation was never his forte even as a mountaineer
I followed blindly. So I have sore ribs a cut hand and winging. Anyway we ended up with a coffee in Tiso in Inverness no sympathy from Kenny and then a superb cycle over the Inverness Bridge to the old road at North Kessock a stunning cycle. No cars and fields of flowers and smells of wild garlic and a view of the Beauly Firth.
One of the loveliest cycles ever and few cars. Even a bit battered it was wonderful and Kenny nearly became human for 12 miles. We had a great stop at Kenny’s favourite cafe in Beauly “Biagiotti” for tea and cakes ( I like this bit) He was becoming more human and then off via a variant by the Beauly Denny power station then round the hills and home.
By now the ribs were sore but after a great meal I headed home. Lots of lessons leaned and thanks to Kenny for the weekend. The ribs will take some time.
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