Crap Weather and Car Calamity

Sunday and Monday had appalling forecasts. Phrases like: heavy persistent rain, walking conditions arduous and gusts of 50 mph, might suggest sensible people stay indoors. However we are not sensible people. Instead we looked at the map with two questions ‘what’s the easiest/quickest mountains we can get up in poor weather’ and ‘are they close to a tea room’….

The answer is Meall Buidhe followed by Stuchd an Lochain.

Meall Buidhe, raining at the start

Sunday’s trip up Meall Buidhe was largely uneventful, it was raining at the start, it rained at the top and it rain all the way down. The return along the ridge was particularly brutal, the wind whipping rain into our faces. The walk was certainly quick, up and down in 2hours 32 minutes we outperformed the 3-4 hour quoted by the guidebook. After a quick change we retreated to the tearoom for hot chocolates all round!

Ashley and Phil, questioning their life choices

False summits on Meall Buidhe

Monday was supposed to a repeat performance, same glen but attempting Stuchd an Lochain on the other side of the valley. It’s a lonely road to the top of Glen Lyon and about 500m from the very top of the road, all the warning lights came on in the car. It seemed I’d lost all power and the car just managed to keep juddering forward.

Since we were at the start of the walk anyway, we decided just to head up the hill and bag the summit (again I’m not sure if that’s a sensible person move). The thought of a broken car did slightly taint the walk for me, so not many pictures from Monday. In any case while less rainy than the day before it was rather windy.

Stuchd an Lochain, hoping it might all be OK

Returning to the car I was optimistic that it might have magically fixed itself while we were walking. I was wrong. After a few meters it was clear there was something really wrong. Since there is no mobile reception in Glen Lyon, we limped back down the valley. Poor Phil was subjected to me wailing ‘WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN TO ME?’ all the way. We returned to the Bridge of Balgie cafe, to beg for use of landline to call for help.

Unfortunately I’d naively assumed this car wouldn’t breakdown so didn’t have cover. I Joined the RAC by the roadside for only a mildly extortionate cost, and began waiting for help to arrive. Soon I was cruelly abandoned by Ashley, Phil and Ivanka, some rubbish about needing to catch flights, poor excuse if you ask me…

Loading up in Bridge of Balgie

Three hours later the RAC came to the rescue in the form of a mechanic from the Lix Toll garage, who after a quick look decided to put the Volvo on the flatbed and drive me back to Lix Toll for diagnostics. The pass around Ben Lawers is really quite scenic from the tow truck and the sun was just peeking out but I was in no mood to enjoy the view.

Lix Toll rescue service

At Lix Toll garage the issue was found to be the fuel injection system. Not fixable quickly. The RAC only tow 50 miles for new members, so the car got towed on to the Volvo garage in Stirling, and I was left to make my own way home form there. Another car bites the dust.

I think I may be cursed.