Ellie's Trip to Hintertux

Finally managed to persuade Ellie to share a few photos from her ski camp in Hintertux.

Friday, Cycle With Ellie

Julie was off to pick up Isobel from her hockey camp near Perth so the three of us went to Poppies for coffey and then Julie headed south whilst Ellie and I went to try out a new circuit.  We parked at the Sealife Centre and then cycled south on the new cycle path towards Connel and then headed along the Bonawe road past Ardchattan priory before turning left and climbing over the col to Barcaldine and then along the cycle path back to the Sealife Cantre.  Ellie did a stirling effort on the hill up to the col, sea level to 161m in a mile and a half. You can see Loch Etive in the background in the photo above.  The road comes straight up from the loch to where she is stood on the col.

Wild and Windy Walk at Seaview With Ellie

Thursday saw Isobel heading off to a hockey camp down at Kilgraston so Ellie and I decided to head out for a walk on Thursday morning.  As you will see from the photos it was somewhat wild.  We went over to Seaview on Seil to look at the waves and walked round to Cuan Sound.

Tuesday October 20th, Cycling on Luing

Monday was a bit of a washout thanks to a leak on the farms water supply pipe successfully draining the water supply to the houses as well!  Took most of the day to sort it all out.  Tuesday saw a visit from our old friend Pete Davis.  Julie was still hobbling a bit thanks to a sore knee so Pete Isobel , Ellie and I cycled round to the Luing ferry and then gave Pete a tour of all the roads on Luing heading down to Toberonochy and Blackmill Bay and then returning to Cullipool.  As we were in the vicinity it seemed rude not to call in to the Atlantic Isles Centre for some sustenance prior to catching the ferry home!  We can recommend the hot chocolate!

First Day of October Holidays, Cycling at Crinan.

Had a fabulous first day of the holiday down at Crinan.  Clear blue sky and no wind to speak of.  We started off by doing a bit of fuelling up at the tea shop at the basin and then cycled the length of the canal toepath to Ardrishaig and back, 18.5 miles in total.  Needless to say we were so hungry by the time we got back we just had to go back to the tea shop for a second helping!

Hintertux

Ellie is the only one with her back to the camera half way up the steps!

Ellie is spending the first week of half term out in Hintertux in Austria at a pre-season ski racing camp.  She flew out from Edinburgh on Saturday and spent yesterday doing slalom training and then giant slalom today.  Fantastic weather judging by the photos.  I am so jealous!

Sporty Girls

Another busy weekend for the girls.  Isobel was down in Glasgow at the Inter District tournament representing the North of Scotland.  She was sharing the goalkeeping duties and played two and a half matches. Unfortunately the North team were heavily outgunned so she had a very busy time but on the positive side, plenty of opportunities to show her skills off to the Scotland selectors.

Here are a few photos.

Whilst Isobel and Julie were down in Glasgow Ellie and I , the stay at home crew, were not exactly lazing around.  Ellie had hockey practice first thing on Saturday and then it was off to Alford for a quick practice prior to Sundays skiing activities.  She was practicing one of the tests they have for the performance squad that involves jumping over gates laid across the mat.

Sunday morning was the first session of the dry mat season.  Here are a few pictures.

Following a morning skiing at Alford it was a brief lunch and then off to Aberdeen for the SSSA dual slalom race where Ellie was heading up the Robert Gordons B Team.

Busy Saturday

Been a busy day today, an early start to deliver Isobel to school at 8.30 to catch her coach to Braemar for her silver Duke of Edinburgh expedition.  Thankfully, after a few early showers the forecast is good if a little chilly.  Had a little bit of a panic when we found there was no compede but a lightning trip to Sainsburys and back solved that one, Ellie jumping on the bus just as the door was closing!

After that little panic it was up to Countesswells to deliver Ellie who was keeping goal for the S3 A team against Morrisons Academy of Crieff.  A 2-2 draw was a fair reflection of a very tight match. Robert Gordons twice being in the lead only for Morrisons to then peg them back.

After hockey it was home for a quick bite of lunch then of to the ski slope for some practice.  Ellie has races at Hillend in Edinburgh for the next three weekends, Craig McFie, Scottish Schools Dry Slope Championships then finishing off with the Scottish Dry Slope Champs in four weeks time.

And to top it off, it was the first outing for her birthday present from the summer, a brand new pair of boots thanks to Grandma and Grandpa!

Last Day of Holiday

Saturday was a fabulous day with wall to wall sunshine.  Isobel fancied a look at the new Slate Islands Heritage Centre where Ellie Julie and I had been earlier in the week so we all cycled from home to the Luing ferry and then round to the centre at Cullipool.  Julie spotted them preparing fresh lobsters for the evening menu and, shameless as ever, asked if they could spare a couple, and we were left finding space for two lobsters in our rucksacks, all for £14!