Merry Christmas!

We've been up to heaps of things this year. The last few weekends have been a bit slack, and it's been a while since we went away on holiday so it feels like we haven't done much lately. But when I looked back through the photos it reminded me of just how many great things we've done since we came back to Scotland in January. Here is a selection of our favourite things we've done together this year (in no particular order).

Our trip to Wales. We had a lovely (almost) week in Wales. We also had a great time at Ele and Steve's wedding but unfortunately don't have any decent photos of that!

The Edinburgh Rugby Sevens

Our only overnight "tramping" trip this year, combined with a ride on the West Highland Railway.

Going hillwalking with our workmates

Going south for Easter. We spent time with Sylv's family and got to see the Roman Baths in Bath

Our trip to Germany for Jonno and Claudia's wedding, where we caught up with lots of friends and family

As well as lots of wee things a bit closer to home.

Cycling around the Isle of Arran

It started out with a bit of a public transport mission by taking our bikes on trains from Edinburgh - Glasgow - Adrossan Habour, followed by a 50 minute ferry ride. Then we were off on our bikes! We toured around the road that's in red on the map to the right, starting from Brodrick and going clockwise. With a total of 100km it only took about 2 hours cycling the first day and 3.5 the second. We also got incredible weather (including a fantastic tail wind up the west coast) and it was a fantastic trip.

We particuarly enjoyed our B&B in Blackwaterfoot, including a delicious pub meal and a beautiful sunset. We also did two walks: the first a coastal one to a cave that Robert the Bruce apparently hid in and the second to the Bronze Age standing stones on Machrie Moor. We thought these were just as impressive as Stonehedge, particularly since they are so remote and relatively unknown.

Since Mark was the only one with panniers he got to carry all our stuff. Holy Island in the background.

Beer from the Arran brewery and an Arran sunset

The highest point on the ride. We could hear (and see) stags roaring all around us as we biked up this road.

Some of the stones on Machrie Moor

Ireland

It's been a while since my last post, and in fact it's been a while since I visited Ireland with my folks. For that reason (and because two of our most avid readers were on the trip with me!) I'm going to keep the writing brief and just show a few of my favourite photos.

The Giant's Causeway, of course!

Glendalough, very pretty and home to religious sites dating back to the 6th Century

The round tower and monastery remains at Glendalough

Hore Abbey, the remains of a Benedictine Abbey viewed from the Cistercian Rock of Cashel. Apparently they didn't get on very well and the Cistercian Archbishop was always trying to get rid of them!

Traditional music in Doolin.

The folks as we went for a morning stroll at Monagh Mor, a wee fishing village.

A hill

Cool (random) graffitti in Derry

One of a series of murals depicting the Troubles in Derry, painted by the Bogside Artists

Some of the coastlines were rather spectacular.

Estonian & Lativan adventures

I arrived in Latvia at Riga airport late at night by myself, navigated my way to a hostel and awaited the arrival of Julian and Jana the next day. We hired a huge 9-seater van and made a bee-line straight for Estonia. We picked up a vocal Latvian hitch-hiker on the way.

The purpose of my trip was the World Rogaine Championships (http://8wrc2008.rogain.ee/) in Karula National Park, southern Estonian. For the uninitiated, this involved 24 hours of running/walking/navigating in a team of two (I was in a German team with Jana) to visit as many points as possible spread widely through Estonian bog across a 1:40,000 map. There were heaps of tracks, which mean the course was long trudges followed by brief and terrifying dives into the forest/bog to collect controls.

Jana and I were very pleased with our 70km mission throughout the 24 hours over what was for us pretty unusual conditions. Julian & Em went much further, but were still thoroughly beaten by many Eastern European teams that just seemed to excel in the terrain. Even Chris & Dennis struggled and came 2nd instead of retaining the title.

Following on from the rogaine Julian, Jana, Chris, Em and me had 10 days to explore Estonia and Latvia before I was due back in Riga. We hadn't quite predicted that it would never get above 10 degrees so we'd planned to camp, which we did for the first 5 nights before wimping out and staying in hostels or cabins from then on.

In terms of adventures, we had plenty, including my first attempt at mountain biking with clipless peddles, rowing around a lake, getting lost in Estonian bog (on a tourist track) and bush-bashing for an hour to find a road that was still 3km from our car, exploring Tartu, Tallin & Riga, going to a KGB museum, drinking Riga Balsam (the local poison) and summer bobsledding on a real bobsled track.

Above: our luxious cabin and enormous van

Right: boardwalk Estonian style

Right: Jana with a friendly local kitten

Below: Julian and Jana about to be pulled back up the hill in the bobsled Julian and I mountain biking

I was pleasantly surprised to find Estonia & Latvia are incredible modern and friendly countries. There was cellphone reception everywhere and free Wifi was available in the most obscure places. Things are still pretty cheap too - get in while it lasts!

Aonach Eagach

On Saturday, we (Ben Low, Mhairi and I) headed up to Glencoe for a scramble that Mhairi and I have wanted to do for some time. A scramble is a cross between walking and rock climbing but no ropes or hardware are required if you're confident enough. Basically a good day out! The weather forecast was a bit gloomy but the day ended up being pretty good really - the photos speak for themselves.

The Aonach Eagach traverse takes in four peaks, two of which are Munros, so I have added a couple to may tally. It is claimed to be the most exposed ridge traverse in Scotland outside of the Cuillin Ridge of Skye. Certainly there are some airy bits!

Ben and I met Mhairi at Glencoe, where she had already been on some crazy biking/hiking mission. Check our her blog (the link's on the right) to see what adventures she's been up to!