Control hanging in Inchmarnoch for SEDS. Knee deep snow - even worse than yesterday, especially in the open. Focussed really well, and was confident with all the controls despite a contour only map. Another quality technical session. Hard work too, so decided this was enough.
SEDS trainng at Sluie.
Long warm-up - to the start, then took the camera-man up to the crossover point on one of the loops to film the athletes.
Ran the B loop - found it difficult to focus on the O whilst struggling through the snow. Much deeper than on the A loop.
Then picked up the controls on half of the C loop.
4 PM
Running32:00 [3]
SEDS training at Shooting Greens.
Impressed that everyone was up for some more. Ran down to the bottom of the hill to hang the last two trains courses, then back up the hill again afterwards.
Orienteering34:00 [4]
Hung the controls on the bottom two loops. Was really well focussed, as I was worried about the athletes catching me and knew that it was really tricky. Lots of problems with the map, but was well enough in touch to be able to ignore them.
Excellent technical session for me.
Hung a few controls in Sluie for SEDS. Very heavy going in the wet snow.
4 PM
Running25:00 [4]
Starting to get cabin fever. What s***ty c***py weather.
Had a blast along the railway in Aboyne while J did the shopping. Icy compacted slush underfoot with lots of ankle stress. Felt better for it.
Knee deep in snow again, so decided to try and reinstate the Dess dung heap loype. Unfortunately snow is distinctly Scottish in consistency and I was wading through treacle all the way round. Went back over part of it to see what it was like second time - much more skiable but not exactly nordic. Explored the possibility of turning L up APBs fenceline to the power line, but didn't have the energy to plough all the way through. Surprisingly tired!
Think heading up the glen could be a good plan. Hopefully been a bit colder there.
Final round of the DNC at Crathes. More snow (boring). Early start, so made tracks for everyone. Went pretty well until the last 2 controls when I managed to make some really dumb mistakes (getting on the wrong tracks). Fun though!
Even managed to get the car home after the curry, thanks to our friendly local Pole and Angus PBs plough.
Hey - what a brilliant day and I felt fantastic. Did 8 x 2' + 1' round Kingshill on tracks and paths. Still snow on the ground, but thin, well compacted and not too icy. Sun felt lovely, but the air was still coooold.