The last couple of weeks

The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind in lots of different ways. Back home in Scotland over Christmas and Hogmanay (new year) playing in the snow and ice and am now in Australia with my sister (more about that with the last photo). My couple of weeks in Scotland culminated with a great two day ski trip above Loch Callater, lots of snow, my first time on Tele skis and even a warm fire in the lodge.

Bob, Lucy and Robin about Loch Turret on the day of new years eve

Bo

The crew at Hogmanay - Clare, Bob, Ann-Marie, Me, Ruaridh, Lucy, Robin and Ali (the other one) in Robins kitchen

The host in the kitchen again

Bob in the col between Ben Vorlich and the Stuc a Chroin

Looking North towards the Cairngorms on our two day ski trip above Loch Callater

Toby and Ruaridh (with ski boots) inside the very fancy lodge where we were rather surprised to be invited by the bill the caretaker for a couple of drinks and a sit by the fire.

On the top of Ben Dubh on the second day - Ali, Ruaridh, Toby, Robin and Me

Cant have been that cold - Toby going for a run in his ski boots

Skiing in on the first day

Ruaridh with the Cairngorm Mountain range behind

Ali and Robin hit the real snow line.

So now I am out in Australia with my sister Anna after her husband Nick passed away a week ago. He had had a particularly tough battle with cancer over the last 6 months and was remembered this week both in a service in perth and a "paddle out" down near Margaret River. The above photo is of 80 surfers taking to the water for a moment of silence to remember Nick at his favourite break, North Point, near Gracetown. It was a beautiful day to remember a great guy who fought so hard to the end. For me it has been amazing to see my family together (after 6 years), to get to know Nicks family and friends a bit better, to remember nick and continue to see some of the places and people he loved. My dad and I are now here for another 2 weeks hanging out with Anna and enjoying a bit of sun (when its not too hot!)

Glades part 2 - The Ten Thousand Islands

Last course of the year and last real work for me for a while. This time we decided to head to the northern end of the park to the "ten thousand islands". This area is known for its beauty and was really amazing with white sand beaches and lots of birdlife. The weather was a lot colder than the last course and and really turned on the last day with lots of rain and some cold wind.

The "portage" to get to the boats on the last morning with a very low tide.
Mangrove sunset on the last night.
Canoeing
Phil (one of my co-instructors) deep in thought at lunch time.
We saw dolphins pretty much every day but this is one of the few decent shots I got.
Another long walk through the mud at dawn on Pavillion key in the gulf.
Birds at dawn
One of the vets eating dinner on the second night
The final camp.
White pelicans taking flight from a sand bar.

Now I have one more week of work attending the Florida All Staff Training before heading back to Scotland and the snow.

The Everglades take 1

Just back in Key Largo, Florida after a week long Vets course in the Everglades. It was great to put some big mile days in in the canoes and see the beauty of the Glades again. That was until the bugs turned up near the end pushing us to launch early from our solo site at the Gulf of Mexico (shark point) and paddle our last 30 miles back through the night chased by "no-see-ums" (midgees). The wildlife in the everglades is definitely one of the highlights for along with the challenge of trying to stay comfortable in

humid conditions while mosquitos and midgees try and eat me alive (I still itch all over).

"Tony the trash Gator"

"Tony the trash Gator" watches the Vets as they discuss what they would do in a fight with a gator - my moneys on the vets.
Evening meeting on a "chickee" There is not much land in the Everglades national park so its either chickees or "boarding up" (basically making a raft out of the canoes)
Paddling up the Roberts River.
My co-instructors Jinky and Alex catching a nap on a chickee at lunchtime
Two White Ibis take flight (thanks Ann-Marie for correcting me on my bird identification!).
Roberts River Chickee at sunset.
Sailing across the edge of "whitewater bay" headed for the gulf of mexico - if we hadn't found a following wind this would have been a very long day.
The Suns rays as we cross Oyster bay headed back inland on our last long paddle through the night.

Now I have a couple of days to hang out in the Keys before one more Everglades Trip. Hoping for some better dolphing shots this time

Bob and Clare Taylor

Thought I would throw a few photos up on here so people should be able to click and it will download to your computer (Actually that does not appear to be working but they should still download somehow!).

Not too many proper weddingy ones as there was proper photographer with a couple of very big cameras, but some funny ones the people might want (i have tried to leave them in their large format though this may be an excuse to sit in the coffee shop longer). Next up maybe some skiing and climbing then back to work again in the mighty everglades.

English people should not be allowed to wear Kilts
Iona and Sue at the top of the poleThe Scottish Mafia
Kilts and Hawain Shirts - hopefully someone got better photos of this
Sue and Iona on top of the pole
Clare throwing the Bouquet - Iona and Stu let me know when the wedding is!
For the Island Crew
Maybe it should just be Bob who is not allowed to wear a kilt
Ninian and Fraser on stage (I love the drunken lean toward Fraser)
Ceilidh Dancing
Robin at speech time
Waiting for the Dancing to start
The lovely couple on top of the pole

A stolen shot from behind the proper photographer
Two models who turned up - Ha!

Climbing, Driving, Climbing, Driving

I dont really want to think about how many hours I have spent in my van recently but it has definitely been worth it, First up a drive up to Vantage from Eugene then over to Smith and back and then a rather random decision to drive to Red rocks. (for the non americans - eugene to red rocks is 7 hrs each way and eugene to red rocks is close to 17hrs each way). Vantage was amazing with mainly good climbing condition, occasionally it would threaten to rain but still be dry on the rock, red rocks was surprisingly warm with some usualy suspects floating around (Paul, Sarah, Stu, Erin, Ruth, Megan, Baume it was great to be there if only briefly).

The Adventure mobile parked up below the feathers
Evening sun on the rocks

Paul and steve hanging out after a long day
Steve "blue steel" baume cruising on balls wall

Paul "jet sendler" Trendler cruising.
Walking in
Me climbing Black Magic