Christmas Bus Meet & Meal              

Well Happy New Year to you all. Sorry about the delay in posting the bus report – I’m still suffering from writer’s droop due to the festive season, but enough of my sufferings.

Clambering out of the bus first and heading for the dizzying heights of Carn Loch nan Amhaichean, all 697 metres of it, were John Henderson, George Herraghty, Dan Moysey, Derrick Harman, Brent Craig and One Nighter Whitelock.

Shadowing them as far as Strathrannoch, the Anthill Mob’s Chugga-Boom ground to a halt, laden I fear with illicit booze. The gang, comprising of Zippy Morrison, Penelope Pitstop Duncan, Clyde Duncan, The Hooded Claw Lee, Drum-Dum Beattie, Pockets MacDonald and Muttley Forsyth no doubt raised a tot or two.

Photo by John Henderson

With John, Derrick, Dan, Brent, George and One Nighter now chilling on the summit (literally), the Anthill Mob were still apparently partying down at Strathrannoch.

George decided to stay on the summit for a while to take advantage of the clarity and take a few pictures. Meanwhile, John, Derrick, Dan, Brent and One Nighter descended, heading for Black Bridge and ultimately the Aultguish Inn, in the vain hope it might be open – which of course it wasn’t. The Anthill Mob eventually made the summit themselves and then headed back to Inchbae Lodge, with their hostage George.

Leaving the bus at Loch Glascarnoch were secret agents Brian Fraser, Stewart Watson and Desmond Cormack. All I can divulge is that their goal was supposed to be Beinn Liath Mhor a Ghiubhais Li, but their actual movements were obviously intended to be Top Secret as their diary entry appears to have been written in invisible ink. This paragraph will self-destruct in ten seconds.

Bob Weeks settled for an anti-clockwise traverse of Meall Doire Faid, which proved to be tougher than it looked, with plenty of deep snow on the top and melt water running over ice-covered rocks. The long road walk was a pain, but a far better prospect than sitting in an open fronted bus shelter for two and a half hours.

Moe Milton, Larry Asher, Bill Lindsay, Wednesday Lawson, Malcolm Campbell, Ray Harron, Julian & Pam Shaw, Corinne Ferguson, Ken Ross, Paul & Jo Chappell, Sandy Murray, Dave McLean, Maggie Paterson and Fiona Cunninghame headed for Lochivraon Bothy, armed with a bag of charcoal for the fire.

Photo by Ken Ross (published on BBC Website – well done!)

Ray, Malcolm, Moe, Wednesday and Bill had more on their minds though than an afternoon at the bothy and made Creag Rainich their goal. Larry and Corinne tried in vain to stay with the Creag Rainich boys, but soon relented and settled instead for some more millionaires’ shortbread back at the now cosy bothy. Sandy Murray wandered up onto the East top of Creag Rainich, before finding the thought of millionaires’ shortbread and mince pies so overwhelming that he had to succumb and head back to the comfort of the bothy himself.

Photo by Andy Lawson

At the end of an enjoyable day, the bus gradually refilled with contented walkers and made its way to The Priory Hotel in Beauly, for what turned out to be an excellent meal and a superb venue.

President Dan provided a witty speech, with interesting reference to club history and The Hooded Claw Lee presented Drum-Dum Beattie with The Order of The Golden Boot, an award he thoroughly deserved.

Photo by Andy Lawson

This coveted award is presented for services to stupidity to which there were many nominees including myself.

Dave Whitelock