#leanachan forest

I woke to the sound of frost being scraped from a car window.

Spooks love of the tracks at Nevis Range seem to know no bounds.  I just turned over and went back to sleep while he went and woke up the birds in the forest.

Once the sun popped over Ben Nevis around 9am, it was time to get the shades out.

And the coffee on - well, around 10.30am...

Then it was time to liven up the snowdrops.

I spent ages on them.  When Horizontal came home, I asked him if that was better.  He couldn't tell the difference and said they still looked half dead.  He said it was because their heads were still hanging down!!!  Does he not know what a bloody snowdrop looks like?????

Despite being happily ensconced in painting - especially as I had hauled everything into the house, out of the icy Dental unit - I did go for a walk.

Before going to back to pleitering about with paint.

It didn't slip my mind that I'd said I was going for a run today, so I told Spook I was going to run around Leanachan Forest tonight.

 He laughed and said I'd need to take a friend as I'd be too scared.  Not a chance -  I am a changed woman. However,  as his bike was still in his van, he came with me - just in case it all go too much for me.  Not that we were together for long..

as he disappeared into the night at high speed.

What's to be scared of?

I'd hoped to see fireworks, but I just heard a lot of bangs.  Tha't Spooks light in the foreground.  We crossed paths a couple of times.

24hrs+ of marshalling at WEMBO - on a dry autumn night in the forest - is much, much easier than cycling round it.  I couldn't believe the good grace with which the athletes did this, not to mention the phenomenal effort they put in.  The course was reported to be excellent and the most difficult of the series so far - between Italy, Australia and Scotland.  The climbing involved meant that 19 laps equated to having climbed the height of Everest.

23 countries were represented - this was the first lap, led be an American, who held that lead for a while, but was eventually over taken by the Australian - Jason English who flew in on Friday night, and flies home tonight,having not been able to get time off work.  Perhaps if you are going to have jetlag, you may as well work it off cycling 26 laps of the forest, in the likelihood that you will sleep all the way home.

As a marshall, trying to recognise flags on number plates and think of as many languages to say "well done" in as possible, proved limited.  We did learn some Welsh though (thanks Ricky Cotter), so it was educational, as well as the flag identification, many of which I knew fine....

And their neighbouring rivals....

And some I was less familiar with, even though we've been hearing quite a lot about them recently...

Carolina was a gorgeous person, and along with the goodwill of the other competitors, helped to make this a special event.

Obviously the unsung heroes make it special too......

Competitors wanted to get as many laps in before dark fell, so it was a busy track far into the dusk.

While my marshall and camping companion got some medical help to blow up the soft furnishings so that we would be as comfortable as possible for the long night.

The rain fell in only one plop throughout the whole 24 hours, but we were treated to a shaft of rainbow just moments before...

By which time we were set up for the night.

The cyclists went past us, under the tunnel, further up the track on a continuous climb until they reached the topmost part of the course before the long descent, which brought them back over the same tunnel.

We were feeling no pain by then.  Climbing Kev had prepared curry and rice, served with poppadums, mango chutney and salad.  It was delicious.

And the general ambiance brought us plenty of visitors throughout the night.

Even romance was in the air, when the moon came out....

I wasn't sure if I should be going home and leaving them alone - but that's Climbing Kev for you - an incurable romantic.

With a wee bit of sleep here and there, dawn finally approached - many of the riders had kept the pace up all night, and there was always someone coming past.

Dawn did also bring a bit of a stroppy, devil may care attitude from the marshalls though....

Not quite the attentive - nor romantic - souls of the night now.

Pain was kicking in as they just kept pushing on and on.

The view salved some of the pain - and the roving marshalls kept up all night to make sure everyone was as safe as could be.

Having fun was never meant to be part of it.

And riders were even able to raise a smile on their last laps - many having had no sleep.

The kettle stayed on most of the night.

The fire pit barrel of the washing machine, took on interesting hues in the sunlight.

And the marshalls maintained a professional and well groomed appearance, right to the very end.....

Once the sun was over the yard-arm, it was gloriously warm.  Probably too warm for the last couple of laps.

There were many winners at this event - I would say probably everyone who was involved in it, such was the pleasure.  

But I would like to give the last word to Carolina of Catalonia, who was the last rider to cross the finish line, though not the last - coming top in her category.

The best of luck to you and yours in Barcelona next week.