Not being a sailor, like Captain Paterson, I can only describe the boat as being almost like a landing craft. We all stood at the open bow end as the boat swiftly departed the harbour in a strong wind and rough seas. Almost immediately we were struck by the waves coming over the front and the landlubbers wisely departed to the rear behind the wheelhouse. Stewart collected the £10 fare on arrival at the new pier at Inverie otherwise the notes might have ended on Sgurr Na Ciche.
Kev Butcher was there with his landrover to take our gear the mile to the Old Byre Bunkhouse.
Andre discreetly tarried with one or 2 smart ghits while the others left to see if Lindsay was in the Old Forge Pub. This resulted in us not finding him but Andre and Co. successfully getting a lift and leaving the others to walk to our residence! Andre and I had stayed in the Byre in 2004. It doesn't come cheap (£25 per night) but is superbly equipped and laid out. We were the only occupants. Lindsay joined us there having booked accommodation for £14 for one night in the nearby Foundation Bunkhouse which also took Gus his dog (previously called Haggis). Probably an appropriate change of name as Steve repeatedly said he was going to eat Haggis for his meal. Lindsay had incidentally walked in from Kinlochhourn over the previous 2 days. The Loch Hourn path he described as being in a hellish state. Lindsay was forced to camp (£3 per night) on the Saturday night as the bunkhouse was full with a wedding party booking.
Unusually, after several whiskies which I was glad I declined, we set off for the pub. The Forge was the usual sociable place. Some older guitar guys were soon playing with Dave joining in on the bohran. After a couple of hours Willie was fast asleep and his car companions, Bill and Stewart, weren't much better so we decided to depart about midnight to save ourselves or Willie for the big day on Ladhar Bheinn. Waking him up was not easy and getting on HIS jacket was really difficult. Firstly keeping him vertical was dodgy. He then managed to put on a very smart jacket which belonged to Steve ! Eventually we found his under the seats and he got it on inside out. Thereafter we departed “home” in pouring rain.
The next morning surprisingly everyone was ready to depart at 9 a.m. for Ladhar Bheinn. So we set off and steadily walked over the good track to the ruin at Folach in Gleann na Guiseren. The cloud was at about 2000' or so the W ridge of Ladhar Bheinn but it was dry overhead. The climb up onto the W ridge is a lot further than it looks and was the hardest bit of the day. We then, pretty spread out, rose up the ridge into cloud. Most of us got to the top (not the trig) about 1 p.m. including the 2 successful compleaters. Unfortunately once a few photos had been taken it became obvious that the weather was getting much worse with an increasing gale and sleet. Sadly this led to the opening of only one champagne bottle. The cork neatly directed at Stewart by Andre.
None of us dallied long in the conditions and we struck back down into the fierce wind and driving rain. The cloud had dropped about another 1000' in no time and we all got pretty pissed of wondering where the precise descent was, as the cairn is not on the ridge. While I knew 4 others had passed me, I could not find them. So I just took out my compass and headed south and caught up on Steve as we descended easy grassy slopes till we eventually broke through the cloud at about 800'. Much to our surprise the others were away above and behind us on the more difficult descent of the crap path. We all met up at the Folach ruin and another bottle was swiftly dispatched in now dry and calm conditions.
Soon we were back at the Forge; being soaked outside, we deemed it necessary to have a wet aperitif of a couple of pints for our insides. Later some of us had an excellent meal in the pub and we all had a few drinks. Bruce decided to chat up a young girl, while allegedly reading Robin's article on the wall and finished in no time parading about in her mink jacket – he said he had always wanted to wear one ! The band was playing again and well after midnight Willie proceeded to give us his solo version of the Thornton boogie for the benefit of the gallery We all made it back though to the Byre again in pouring rain. Lindsay says he was sober when he arrived at his tent in the dark but fell on top of it breaking one of the poles which is now under repair at the Dave Neave Tent Clinic.
On the Sunday once the early rain had cleared Lindsay departed to walk the 15 miles to his car at Kinlochhourn while the rest of strolled about in the sunshine. On a pine branch 30' above the road, incongruously, we spied a pair of discarded walking boots – too wee to be Willie's but mebbe they would fit Stewart ? Then it was a few beers in the halcyon refuge of the Forge before the boat at 5 p.m. and much too soon we were back to the reality of the mainland after a most enjoyable trip.
