The weather forecast was for heavy rain and strong winds, so if Brian had suggested a long breakfast with the papers at the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar who would I be to say no.

Dave Reynolds arrived with David Foster and Ingrid, Jimmy and Ruth Stevenson appeared and Tim brought Janet Gaywood in his very sexy Peugeot. Jimmy and Brian bought parking tickets despite the decision to move to the visitor centre’s car park having already been taken.

Despite puppy eyes from Janet, she had no takers for Beinn Ime, I imagine this was due to the proposed 50mph winds and the 500m cloud base. So, on two route cards, we set off up The Brack.

The path is better lower down and gets very wet at the top. My new Scarpa summer boots gave me mixed messages. One wet foot and one dry foot, "a partial success professor". Brian had decided against gaiters and regretted it when he went ankle deep in a particularly glutinous bit of muck.

Much chat involved Brian’s upcoming trip to Nepal with Dave Webster, Isobel and Dave Broadfoot.

We descended off the back to avoid the worst of the steepness of the ascent. This involves following the crest of the ridge going south but inevitable by the time we dropped out of the cloud we were a little off course, so we had to correct by ascending up over the hump. Still we made it safely even descending through some forestry clearing operations in Coilessan Glen.

Brian and I decided to skip the pub, people to see, things to do. However, on our way down Loch Lomond side we passed some Lamas escaping from a gate (asylum Seekers?). So we did a U-turn and went back to report them. The chap seemed unconcerned but went off to round them up.

Gordon

PS

Further to the day John Anderson completed his Corbetts in Glen Dessary with the Capelrigg Club from Tulloch Bunkhouse. Congratulations!. Elizabeth and Mary Cox got their second last Corbetts and sadly Hugh Bourhill passed away after a long illness. Hugh was a gent and much loved club member. He will be sadly missed but fondly remembered.