The Lemonfool my pic of the day thread

[scotia]

I got slightly wobbly crossing a motorway last week, as the footpath had a fairly low handrail. Total drop - erm about 15m ?
Here 'tis
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.45737 ... 312!8i6656

It can be a problem. A couple of years ago a driver found themself on the high level motorway bridge over the Tay east of Perth - and had to stop driving, sit down in the floor of the car, and phone for a rescue.
But back to Suilven - no excuse - Sheila Hancock in her eighties made it to the top when playing the lead in the film Edie.
Mind you, I have never managed further than the loch to the south side of Suilven where brown trout await.
And I won't be there this summer - our booking has been switched to June 2021.

[swill453]

Nothing prepares you for your first sight of the route up Suilven, if I had thought the going tough until then, as you crest the final ridge and gain sight of the start of the climb up Suilven, across Loch a’ Choire Dhuibh, it takes your breath away. “Bloomin heck” was my mate Andy’s outburst (this is the polite version).

I prefer the actual walk description from Walkhighlands - "The ascent of the gully might look intimidating, but it is merely a very steep walk requiring care and effort."

Scott.

[kiloran]

Eeeh, you wouldn't get me up there...

There's a fairly easy route up, and it's only 731m high. The hardest part is that it's a 6 mile walk from the nearest road.

(Not that I've done it, but it's on my todo list.)

I posted my pic of it from a distance on this thread earlier viewtopic.php?t=4836&start=620

Scott.

You could have an overnight stay at Suileag bothy, then it's an easy walk to Suilven

https://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/both ... s/suileag/

--kiloran

[AleisterCrowley]

Its only 3 hours from the house, but my plan was to head over the afternoon before and wild camp in its shadow.....and perhaps try to make an ascent for dawn.

Don't think i could manage it just yet - baby steps to overcome acrophobia, not in at the deep end

Wild camping Snorvey? Proper stuff, with a 3x3 tarp and some paracord ?

[kiloran]

You could have an overnight stay at Suileag bothy, then it's an easy walk to Suilven

https://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/both ... s/suileag/

--kiloran

What happens when you get there and it's quite full? Do people willingly 'budge up' or are you banished to the outdoors? My only experience of a bothy is Ryvoan and that was only a tea beak stop.

If they are "real" hillwalkers then they are usually very amenable to squeezing more in, and I've been in bothies where it's been distinctly cosy.
I do hear stories from time to time of low-lifes taking over a bothy for drinking parties and forcibly turning people away, but I imagine that's only a potential problem in the more accessible bothies in the summer. I would think Suileag is sufficiently isolated for that not to be a problem, but I would always advise having a tent with you.

And check the MBA website to see if the bothy is closed for any reason (workparties, stalking, etc)

--kiloran

[AleisterCrowley]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNDQCrS8pBU

Suilven by drone

[kiloran]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNDQCrS8pBU

Suilven by drone

Brilliant. Assynt really is a stunning area. My favourite part of Scotland

--kiloran

[AleisterCrowley]

It does look lovely - not sure I'd be happy with my 'boots on the ground' up there...
OK rope me up and I'll give it a go.

[AleisterCrowley]

heck, I'm tempted - but worried I might end up 'crag frozen'* on the difficult bits, with a subsequent mountain rescue /helicopter retrieval (would make good photos though)
Not sure my fitness is up to it either - not many hills to practice on in Berkshire - although I can happily walk all day with no problems

*locked in place, rigid with fear, unable to move

[dealtn]

heck, I'm tempted - but worried I might end up 'crag frozen'* on the difficult bits, with a subsequent mountain rescue /helicopter retrieval (would make good photos though)

Been there, but no helicopter sadly.

[AleisterCrowley]

More detail required, if you are happy to share as a warning to us amateurs

[UncleEbenezer]

It's that time of year again. Time to start frequenting ones swim-spots. This old favourite is a couple of miles downstream from me. By no means my nearest, but a lovely approach.

[swill453]

On social media #lastnormalphoto is a bit of a "thing" at the moment. The last photo you took before lockdown.

This is mine. In South East Spain on Saturday 13th March, a spectacular walk along the Aitana ridge. The highest point was 1540m. Unfortunately the weather wasn't as great as the rest of our holiday, though not too bad. By the time we descended and returned to our Airbnb the lockdown had been announced and all the bars etc were already closed. We returned home 2 days later.



Scott.

[swill453]

BTW I think the point is to illustrate life before social distancing. However my pre- and post- photos haven't changed much

Scott.

[UncleEbenezer]

BTW I think the point is to illustrate life before social distancing. However my pre- and post- photos haven't changed much

Scott.

If your subject matter is intrinsic - like most of what gets posted here - I wouldn't expect much change. Though I did wonder about yours: it doesn't look like a winter-season snap, but of course spring comes earlier in the med - so long as you're below the snowline.

Social-style photos - the kind that are meaningless if you don't know the people involved (and very boring after the first one or two even if you do) - are where you'd expect changes. And perhaps journalistic photos, taken to tell a story.

[swill453]

If your subject matter is intrinsic - like most of what gets posted here - I wouldn't expect much change. Though I did wonder about yours: it doesn't look like a winter-season snap, but of course spring comes earlier in the med - so long as you're below the snowline.

The last 3 years we've had a three week break in late February and early March in southern Spain or Portugal. You risk a few days inclement weather, but it's been mainly perfect walking weather.

The snowline tends to be about 2000m at that time.

Hopefully will be able to do it in years to come as well.

Scott.

[scotia]

Another beautiful day, so we decided to take a longer walk to the fishing loch. On the way we watched geese grazing in a field near the loch



and there also have been new additions to the neighbouring cattle



and the boats remain peacefully anchored



perhaps not surprisingly , there were other club members and wives at the loch - some tidying up the garden around the club Howff, and one brave soul was inside, giving the Howff a spring-clean.

Currently we Scots have not been let off the lead by our First Minister (wee Nicola) to go fishing. But the feeling is that if she doesn't relent soon, she may become an endangered species. And its the wives that seem to hold that view most strongly - its high time they got their husbands out of the house!

[UncleEbenezer]

Currently we Scots have not been let off the lead by our First Minister (wee Nicola) to go fishing.

Do you fish for sturgeon?

[scotia]

Currently we Scots have not been let off the lead by our First Minister (wee Nicola) to go fishing.

Do you fish for sturgeon?

I usually carefully return most fish species, but maybe a good bang on the head would be more appropriate for a wee sturgeon. So far the opportunity has eluded me.

[UncleEbenezer]

A view of the town.

We don't all have the same everyday views. Here's one of here ...