Susuki Camp - Beaver Creek

The journey back from Shannon, after a sad farewell, was long but uneventful. Chicago is often a bad first port of US call, but Shannon is the only ( as far as I know ) European airport which has a branch of US Customs and Immigration meaning you can check bags all the way through to final destination i.e. Aspen, and don't have to wait in line to go through Customs & Immigration in US.

3 days back only before Mary headed off to Beaver Creek ( 2 hours drive away ) for her second Susuki violin Camp. Hardly a camp and accommodation in Borders Lodge was luxurious. She was joined there by her cousin Gail from Tulsa and they quickly got into the swing of the hectic 8 till 6 daily schedule.

I had a couple more days in Snowmass sorting myself out and set off on the Tuesday by bike to join them.  A section of the Colorado River bike path, which I did last year, beside I.70 was closed due to flooding, so I decided , perhaps rashly, to set off over the high and remote Cottonwood Pass between El Jebel and Gypsum.  Set off early from Snowmass and fortified with a big breakfast at a favourite cafe in Old Basalt, I headed up the hill a few miles further downvalley getting to the top of the Pass about 3 hours later. Long descent , with a nasty sting in the tail of steep ascent in the middle, to Vail/Eagle airport and then Hwy 6 beside the Eagle River to Edwards where Mary and Gail rescued me as arranged. Only 6 miles or less to Beaver Creek but with a steep hill the last 2 which I'd have struggled with.  About 70 miles I think with 3 to 4,000 feet of climbing. Dirt road for much of the route over the Pass but well graded and dry and no problem for a touring bike. A mountain bike with  big fat tires and almost certainly I couldn't have made it due to the extra effort involved. And anyway I'd put that on the back of the Buick before Mary left a few days earlier for use in Beaver Creek.

Then 4 days with M & G in Beaver Creek, supporting their noble efforts among 200 or more 5 to 15 year olds, and between times exploring Beaver Creek on bike and foot. The venue for the 2015 Alpine Skiing World Cup and colossal investment being made to prepare right now.

Back on Sun pm and preparing for the historic first visit of my eldest and younger sisters Barbara and Ros later this evening.

If you click on this you might be able to read AWR Ranch! The No Trespassing sign was therefore more than a little ironic given AWR's ( my grandfather's ) active involvement in all things connected with Public Access and the Scottish Rights of Way Society

Half way up the long climb to summit of Cottonwood Pass

Almost at the top . Not one car passing in either direction in over an hour

M in the "play- in" with Randall in charge

Jam session with Scott Walker outside Coyote Cafe.  Holding her own - no question!

Beaver Creek in spate with late snow melt on way to Beaver Lake

Beaver Lake. One hour biking , 1 hour hiking.

From the golf course looking up the "Strawberry' side of the resort our lodge being the one slightly left of centre

Heading off for yet another class - 6th of the day ?

Bottom of the Birds of Prey downhill course. Summit is way above the very left horizon. Under two and half minutes is it they do this in?!

The freshly poured cement for the top tower of the new Centennial lift. Hope the engineers have done their sums right!

The top of the Cinch Express lift and start of the Men's Downhill course. Got here partly on mountain bike and hiked the rest. Fun. Nearly 4,000 feet of ascent

Hope to be back to spectate in Feb '15

Top of the Women's Downhill course a few hundred feet lower down

The two polished performers at the end of the closing concert. Do we spot signs of relief?

Roscrea - final visit?

It's been another hugely successful visit to the Ryan family as they prepare to make their big move to Ennis. Their vet practice due to open in Ennis during July and they've found a good house to rent near Drumoland and 10 minutes drive away from the new practice and Cormac's nursery.

Weather was brilliant and not just barbecuing but breakfasts outside! Lots of activity.

Back to Aspen tomorrow for a rest! 

Their new house as from next month ...

.....in the country but with children in this neighboiring house and the next one.

Role reversal !!

And not going to give it up

Back in charge. 

Note Granny Eye's new dress

 Hands full ! 

Father's day picnic in Templemore Park. Sign of tiring here. This says ' enough pictures'!

 2nd wind. Determination or what ? 

 This was a great game - to get a hug from Din Din at the end.

 Dead heat I had to call.

 The perfect troll bridge -'  to cross this bridge costs a lot of .......'

 As if they hadn't run far enough ! Iona backed out of this one .

 I drove Meghan in to Dublin at the end of this great day so she could meet at the airport her friend Anna and god daughter Ava and so she could sleep on the drive home . This at the house of Anna's friend Tara. Then a drive back to Roscrea and back to routine this Monday morning.

Back to Scotland for more Munro bagging

Mary flew back to Colorado from Shannon and the intention was that i'd stay on and help Meghan & Dennis with their forthcoming move to Ennis and the starting up of Dennis' new vet practice there. They're nearly there but not quite and consequently I decided to fly back to Scotland Mon to Fri while M & D working and kids with their child minder Claire.

Trip a huge success. Back to Roscrea again tomorrow after 3 epic days in the Highlands.

John, Meghan and Dennis before dinner at renowned Mt Juliet Hotel.

Meghan on 1st tee of Roscrea GC . Brushing up on swimg and etiquette for entertaining Hills customers at Adair Country Club. This was her first shot in over a year. And down the middle . Remarkable.

Roscrea station for the only train of the day heading East.

Took train Roscrea to Dublin with bike and got tour of Trinity Coll and Book of Kells. Followed by the obligatory Guiness Store tour and a good sample pint on the 7th floor.

And then back to Scotland

Johannes and I setting off in my hired car to Skye again.

Summit - Am Basteir. Went on in variable comditions to do Bruach na Frithe to complete tje Skye Munros. What a star Johannes was to get me over all of these.  

After returning to Inverness for another night wih J & J , I drove up to the very North dropping in to Bettyhill to see hotel owner Chris who saved my bacon in 0ct 2012 by opening his hotel for one very wet, cold, tired, and hungry LEJOG cyclist who was otherwise facing a second consecutive miserable night in a tent ! 

The first of the 2 most northerly munros I did - Ben Kilbreck- with a very comfortable night in the Altnahara Lodge. A long slog in and a few rivers like this one to cross. And v strong wind against me on way back

The 2nd - Ben Hope - a gem of a mountain without the long trek over 2 miles of boggy ground that I had the day before. This , looking due north with Loch Eribol at right.

90 odd still to go. Might be pushed! Will need to do better than 9 a year which is all I've managed in 2014. The difficult and remote ones though are largely behind me, so there's at least a chance. Knees could be a problem among others. Wouldn't be starter though without the help Johannes gave me on the Cuillins on those 3 days . Hugely grateful.

Asheville, UK and Ireland

 

Granny Eye was on great from when we visited her for a week in Asheville. Also managed another epic meeting for lunch with Martha and Dick in the delightful old town of Greenville  SC . We so appreciated M & D driving up from Atlanta. A much longer drive for them than for us from Asheville.

Mary , Dick and Martha

The highlight of the flight from Asheville to Edinburgh via Chicago and Newark was a lunch in downtown Manhattan with Carolyn during the long layover at Newark.Fun, fun, fun to catch up.

Mary and Karalyn

In Edinburgh we hit the ground running. Checked in to our one bedroom ( and pretty basic ) flat in St Stephens St, a sleep for a couple of hours and then Barbara kindly braved the traffic and the M8 to get me to Purdies to retrieve stuff from storage. With help from Johannes the next day we managed to clear it completely. Big relief. Then to recover our transport for the week - our bikes from the bike store at Jane's Appin St flat - and we were in business. A full week's activities from there on in per pics beneath.

Barbara's birthday dinner at Loch Fyne restauraunt at Newhaven

Max, Keith and Stu at Muirfield

Annabel at Hopetoun Garden Centre

Our house at Humbie Cottage - 1980 - 1990

The statue of Greyfriars Bobby and the pub behind it where Mary and I first met in 1972

With Keith and Fiona on Craighouse Hill

With Clarissa at 1 Albert Terrace

The GSR/NMR donated seat at Hiilend. This young couple ( professional dancers visiting Edinburgh ) on sitting down on ' the seat ' looked at the plaque and then at M & I coming up the hill and said to each other apparently ' i wonder if this is Mr & Mrs Russell coming towards us '!

Jane B was a star in helping us on last day to transport all our luggage to Waverley station ( while we biked with full panniers ) from Stockbridge to station and then helping us to load the lot on to the 10.30 train to Inverness. Met there by Johannes who was on the platform there to rescue us. Biked up to their delightful bungalow on Croft Rd on other side of the Caledonian canal with stunning views down the Moray Firth.

Enjoyed greatly seeing Jane's set up at Maggie's Center at Raigmore where she's settling into her new job.

A good bike ride to Nairn on the Saturday via the very impressive NTS Culloden, and train back to Inverness.

To Skye with J & J on Monday after work for Jane and straight to The Old Inn at Carbost after taking in a delicious fish supper at Broadford on the way. Carbost is home to the famous Talisker malt whisky and we were quick to sample it.

Tuesday dawned fine - a rare event in Skye. The girls had a bike ride out to Talisker Bay and beyond and J and I headed for Glenbrittle. Managed all 4 of the southmost Munros on the Cuillin Ridge with much encouraging , cajoling , hauling (literally) over some prerry perilous country incl the TD gap abseil. 

Following day , weather was horrific. J and I were successful though in getting to top of Sgurr nan Gillian. M played in session in hotel bar in evening and got a fiddling lesson  from Laura the next morning before we set off for Inverness.

Back to Edin airport next day via Findrack and Breamar. Good catch up with Salvesens and Astrid. 5.30 flight to Shannon , hired a car and with Meghan in time for late dinner. Kids asleep , but a lovely welcome from them the next morning. Thereafter , with m & d both working, the pattern is for us to have them all morning handing over to their carer  Claire after lunch. D' s vet practice in Ennis still set for  opening July 1.