IT WAS TORRID ON THE WEST COAST

Once again, we went away for a weekend in November. The Saturday dawned bright and full of promise in Inverness. You can tell that from this picture of Sharon reading the P and J  on the deck with the blue sky above. It wasn't like that in Torridon!

 Here we are making our way west, with the grey clouds and the rainbow giving a hint of what was to come.

 And so we arrived at The Torridon Inn, where we were greeted by our leader for the weekend. Before we started waking, Hugh decided to make a point. No-one can remember what it was but it must have been important.

Then it was into the waterproofs and off to find our first walk.

And it certainly was DAMP!

Some of us started up the hill - but that was the wrong direction!

After half an hour looking at the damp map, Hugh took us in the right direction - I think.

We soon got a view of some water that wasn't falling out of the sky.

 Trudging through the woods, Dave looked back to check that I hadn't turned around and head back to the car. I was not totally soaking by then, so had decided to persevere - the wisdom of that decision I would question more than once that day. 

Not only was it wet, it was windy as well!

Occasionally, the clouds and mist would part to allow another view of Loch Torridon.

It looks dry overhead in this photo, but it wasn't.

Nor was it underfoot!

A slight detour off the path took us to this ruin - we were getting pretty wet by now

  - not that I want too labour the point!

This was almost a nice view.

Mussel ropes, strung like a pearl necklace across a neck of water. I was getting delirious by this point in time.

 Something to bough under - some more gracefully than others.

At least there was some wildlife to look at! Almost.  

And then, Salvation! A bothy that was open! Just the place for lunch.

Here we  are getting a bit drier and enjoying being out of the rain.

It was still pouring outside as you can see from the view out the window.

It was enough to turn some people to drink!

Someone suggested that the bothy was rebuilt by a group from the north of England and there was some evidence of that.

 The lunch photo.

The bothy as it used to be.

And so, up towards Balgy Falls.

Swirling water.

Aren't they all!

A damp Loch Damh.

A Russian submarine on the loch?

A wee boatie on the shore - perhaps it was used by spies from the submarine.

Could it be Bob and Carol, Ted and Alice? No it's Bob and Sue, Charlie and Sharon in room 29 at the Torridon Inn - and very comfortable it was too.

After a very pleasant dinner at the Inn and a tortuous game of darts, the next morning dawned quite reasonable.  I went down towards the boathouse where some of us had walked the day before. I didn't as I was too wet and probably got better photos on the Sunday.

There's nothing like a long exposure on a Sunday morning.

A new friend - or is it tomorrow's dinner?

There really was some blue sky.

After a fine breakfast, we were off to Shieldaig for the Sunday walk. Hugh had not dried out his hat and clearly felt that a plastic bag was the answer - well it wasn't.

I know how he feels.

Looking back to the village - note that it was getting a bit grey again.

The local swimming pool - not too attractive for diving or heavy petting.

Something we have seen a lot of at Caley Park - the ball in the back of the net!!

Some nice old ruined crofts - just to remind us that we weren't the first to be here.

Advancing rain clouds.

Nearly a view of the hills.

Another map-reading triumph for Hugh!

Susan praying for an early decision on which way to go.

A fish farm - or perhaps another Russian submarine.

Jim and Jacque going the easy way.

The rest of us going the more rewarding way.

A diver - or a submarine's periscope.

The really awkward bit of the more rewarding way.

The novel approach to the really awkward way.

Dave helping the more infirm members of the group.

Just to prove we all made it down although Susan was still a bit unsteady on her feet.

Jim and Jacque watching and giggling from afar.

Susan seems to have found a pet rabbit.

A rainbow brightened the day for a little.

And then we carried on......

....to a really tricky bit - so much so that there was a chain to hold onto.

But the views were worth it.

Even better - one of the local Sea Eagles turned up right on cue.

And the sun tried to get out.

And the eagle came back.

A nice cottage under the mountains.

A seal basking on the rocks as we got back to the village for a bowl of soup and some sandwiches at Tigh an Eilean.

Once again, we had a great time away and thanks to Hugh and Pam for the organisation and to everyone else for the good company.

In between this walk and the previous one, Sue and Charlie had another grandchild - a little sister called Mollie for James. Congratulations to Wayne and Ailie and well done all. Here are the happy family.