Another Fine Day in Edinburgh!

This morning we met Neil's Dad for coffee at Waterstones on Princess Street. After coffee and a few purchases we walked through the Princess Street Gardens which are so nicely kept. After dropping Dad off in Colinton we proceeded to Livingstone for some shopping. Oh my! It's huge here with all the big chains. We quickly had it down to the stores we wanted to visit. Tonight we went out for Thai Food - it was very good. Tomorrow we are planning to run in the morning up Arthur's Seat and will see what the afternoon brings. The weather was so clear and warm early this morning it always amazes me how the clouds and wind roll in and it was quite chilly tonight.

First Day in Edinburgh

St. Giles Cathedral

A city view from our run today. Another View!

Charles and I on the run...the broom was in full bloom and odour!

The Clubbiedean Reservoir

We decided last night that we would wake up when we wake up! Great plan as I think it helped us recover somewhat from the journey. It was about 10am before we were up. We went for lunch at Charles and Jane's which initially was to be brunch but due to our tardiness it was lunch time! We then went and had a good visit with Neil's Dad. He is 82 and lives on his own and does incredibly well with the daily chores of living. The house is very tidy. Not a thing out of place. Oh to be so disciplined and tidy!! His flower pots were all planted with Geraniums and Dizzy Lizzie's and his Lemon Tree in the conservatory is plentiful with lemons! He showed us all the new fittings in the house and the new books of late. We came away with a few books, magazines and a map of the WHW (that was in one of the newspapers??) It's actually a great map to see the entire route at a glance. Many of the maps have it divided into many pages. We went back to join up with Charles for a run. He took us on his Sunday 10km loop that went past Torduff Reservoir and some familiar paths I have been on over the years. Neil and I did a count of how many times I have been to Scotland. We came up with 16 times. So yes some of the trails are familiar! :-)

After the run Dad joined us for dinner at Charles and Jane's for a nice evening. Nephew Jack is looking great and just finishing his last year at school. School play to attend on Wed night!! (we were here last year for the play!) Charles and Graeme will be our crew again this year. We all feel a bit more prepared than last year knowing the challenges we will face and having plans to support those challenges (my feet!!) I recall Dario stressing to me that the North Americans find the terrain so hard on their feet. He was so right! Tomorrow it is a shopping day! ;-)

Arrived in Edinburgh

The Flat!
The Flat - Fraser Suits

The Bank of Scotland Building on the Mound

Out for something to eat

The travels went very well. Flights and connections were on time and bonus the luggage came with us! We both slept like logs on the flight from Vancouver to London which really passed the time. We were only awake for the dinner and breakfast - funny that! Once we arrived in Edinburgh we proceeded to pick up the car at Avis. How come the only line up is with Avis? Maybe we should try Hertz, Enterprise, etc...perhaps Avis markets to us foreigners more?? I guarded our mounds of luggage (shoes!) while Neil made his way through the que. We located the car in the lot and we discover it doesn't really have a key...something that locks onto something somewhere?? Oh my...it took us about 10 minutes to find it...then something about the emergency brake and the clutch...soon we were in gear. All in control now! We had a nice tour around Edinburgh as we tried to find the way to St. Giles Street to our flat. Lots of road construction that threw our memories but we finally found our destination. Great flat on the 7th Floor overlooking it all! We wandered around and picked up some groceries at a Sainsbury's close by. We stopped in for some nibbles and drinks in a few places close to the flat. The bars were hopping tonight with the World Cup Soccer between England and the USA. A few things that always jump out at me when I visit Scotland...

1. The number of people partying on the street (having a good time!)

2. The number of people dressed up in fancy dress partying!

3. The toilets at the pubs and restaurants are miles underground, I saved a
lady going head over heels tonight as we descended together

Tomorrow we are meeting up with family for brunch and a run on the Pentlands with Charles. It's great to be here!

Last Blog from Home!

Last night Craig drove out to meet Kitty and learn how to give the old boy his meds (Kitty that is!) Craig is all set to move in! I think him and Kitty will get along just fine. ;-) We then met friends at the Black Sheep for a farewell dinner. Great to see everyone. When we were saying good bye in the parking lot they were scheming up a WHW party at our place starting at 5pm Friday evening which will be the start time in Milngavie (1am). I just challenge them to stay awake as long as we do!! Time to zip up the cases and hope we haven't forgotten anything. I have never packed so many pairs of shoes. 3 pair of runners packed, I am wearing another pair of runners for the flight, a pair of flip flops for afterwards and a pair of casual shoes. Shoes really take up a lot of room - what am I going to do if I buy a few new pairs for work in Scotland? Could be an entire suit case full of shoes on the return!
We went out for a good 1.5 hour run this morning anticipating the long journey. We are flying "World Traveller Plus" with British Airways which gives a bit more leg room. Chad managed to check us in and reserve our seats from the pub last night on his "i-touch" 24 hours before the flight departs. Fingers crossed for an uneventful journey. Next post from Edinburgh!

Countdown to Departure!

Kitty in the dryer!

Final preparations are underway to get out the door! I was off work today to prepare for Friday's departure. Laundry, house cleaning and last minute purchases took place today. Neil was planning to get home early tonight ... it did not happen! We managed to get out for a run on the hill behind our house - 1:45. Tomorrow is packing day and orientation for the house and Kitty sitter followed by a gathering of friends at the local pub. Friday we plan to run in the morning as the flight is an evening flight from Vancouver arriving in London mid day on Saturday and then onto the shuttle to Edinburgh. Looking forward to our week in Edinburgh prior to the WHW.

Vancouver 100 - We did Vancouver 50km.

Heather and I on the Boulders

Neil taking a photo from above!

Look Way Up!

Coming Up Black Mountain

Rock Face of Black Mountain

Snow!

Lots of Roots and Steep

We are almost there...just a few km's to go.

The Vancouver 100 is a Club Fat Ass Event hosted by our running buddy RD Craig Moore. It takes place on the same route as the Knee Knacker 50km which follows the Baden Powell Trail in North Vancouver. The full distance of 100km is the Knee Knacker in reverse first for 50km and then you come back and do the same 50km again. With it being a Club Fat Ass event you can customize the distance. We chose to do 50km in the same direction the Knee Knacker goes (good Knee Knacker training!). We were organized and out the door by 7:30am with drop bags strategically packed with water, Gatorade, food, dry socks etc...We dropped a bag at Mountain Highway and saw RD Craig first thing. He had sent the majority of the pack off at 5:06am. Next stop pick Heather up - she is going to do "some" of it with us today. Next stop Cleveland Dam where we find a nice bush and deposit the drop bag. We drove to the parking lot at Nelson Creek which is the start. We were on our way at 8:56am. I haven't been on this section of the Baden Powell for a few years and it was quite enjoyable. The first climb is Black Mountain which is steep at times and has some boulder fields and rock faces that go straight up! Once on top we started to hit the mud and then the snow. Heather was up there last weekend and said the snow had really receded in a week. Of course travelling on deep snow at this time of year for any distance means the dreaded post holes will at some point happen! Yep it happened - nicely scratched shins - ouch!! Saw Neil and Heather fall through a few times as well. We came upon the down hill ski area at Cypress Bowl still deep in snow where the Olympic Snow Board and Ski Cross took place - it was great fun running down the ski slope. We came upon a group participating in the event going in the opposite direction. Once into the Bowl I was sure thank-full that Glenn had water there! I drank more than I anticipated...it was a warm day! Next stop Cleveland Dam where our drop bag is. Heather, Neil and I were really enjoying the day and all feeling good. As we approached Cleveland Dam I could tell I was in need of some food and fluids - especially some sports drink since it seemed to be quite warm. We find the bush where the drop bag was placed and oh my...no bag!! We looked in all the bushes in the area and could not locate the bag. We soon realize it has been taken! Yikes...we required food/water and I was planning to change my socks for preventative foot care. Plan B...where's the nearest food/fluid?? Grouse Mtn Chalet - there is a Starbuck's - let's go!! Unfortunately it was mid afternoon and most of their food was gone! We did manage to purchase water and a cookie each. Once back on the Baden Powell my feet start to hurt. OK - I get it - not enough electrolytes...aka...sports drink and yes my feet are soaking wet from snow/water and sweat. Neil and Heather were very patient as I stopped and tended to my feet a few times. Oh...thankfully our next drop bag at Mountain Highway was there and I drank 1.5 bottles of Gatorade and wow did I and my feet feel better. Another foot care stop at the top of the Seymour Grind before heading into Deep Cove for the finish.

Heather made it all the way with us! She was talking of stopping at Cleveland Dam, Lynn Canyon, Hyannis and Lilloet Road but kept hanging in there and did very well to the finish. the heroes of the day were Wendy and Josh who were trying to find us out there and they had awesome food and fluid! Darn...we missed each other! They were waiting patiently at the finish and wow did the fruit/chips and coke taste great! Wendy drove us to our one surviving drop bag for pick-up, Heathers place for drop off and our car at the start! It was a long day but a great day out there on our feet. What a great event...hmmmm...V100?? Neil says it is one of his favourites the year he did it. I think it is up there on my favourite 50k's! Thanks Club Fat Ass and RD Craig for hosting! We were out there for a good time...not a fast time...total time on feet about 10:30.

Alouette Mountain Run

That was a big tree!

This is a big rock!

I always chuckle when I see this sign - Maple Ridge is a long way away!

Neil at the Look Out.

The streams were full.

Running up the mountain

There is a memorial to a local man who died at the age of 22 descending Mount Logan (Canada's highest mountain) The family have made a great picnic spot - it is so well maintained with fresh varnish on the picnic table.

Lots of these rock formations since the Olympics!

Enjoying the seat and the view!

This is the memorial picnic table with the plaque in the center of the table.

Andy...is it you building these?? Andy runs here often.

Andy...did you build this one too??

Neil's trip to the West Coast Trail was cancelled due to poor trail conditions and weather. Another adventure was on for him leaving Saturday night back Sunday night but the work demands were too great this weekend. I could feel the pressure building - Thursday night he was late getting home, Friday night he was late getting home and Saturday morning his phone started ringing with farm visits required. I spent Saturday booking our August vacation - 4 nights in London, 4 nights Paris, 4 nights Tours France (Neil is speaking at a conference) and 1 night London. I was disappointed to learn that the hotel we always stay at in London is no longer there! It was a great place, good location, staff were the same for years (Freddie was the best concierge) and fairly reasonably priced (OK a little pricey ;-) but worth it!) The Sheraton Belgravia is no longer!

Once Neil arrived back home - now into the early evening - we went for a run in the pouring rain around Hayward Lake - just over 2 hours. It was getting dark and the misty rain clouds made it even darker. I was glad we snuck that run in. Today we went up Alouette Mountain to the lookout. We started at the Horse Corral and went up the Incline Trail and then up the road to the lookout - back down on the trail and then retraced our steps. 3 hours 15min. Next weekend is the Vancouver 100 which is the KneeKnacker route twice. We are planning to do 50km in the direction that the KneeKnacker goes - from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove. It is a Club Fat Ass event so you can "customize it". We thought we would start in the afternoon so we will take in some night running for the last few hours to check out the headlamps etc...

I started to think about what we ate last year on the WHW. M & S British Ham and Cheese sandwiches were my favourite! I think I had half a sandwich each time we saw our crew. I recall baked potatoes being offered at one of the stops and wow was it good. Crisps, chicken noodle soup and coke also go down well. Last year I recall sipping on coke for most of the second half. ;-) Neil said he liked the M & S sausage rolls. We are both good eaters (obviously) during an ultra event - this year I will try and compile a list of everything I eat.