OL at Lochgoilhead

Another orienteering event! The drive to Lochgoilhead (say it like it's spelled) took about an hour. We picked up a friend, Niall, on the way and headed over through Inveraray and around Loch Fyne and then south on a little windy road to the head of Loch Goil. We saw some logging activity where the trees had all been taken out of one area and the trees along the edge that were left exposed to the wind had blown over, their huge flat mats of roots gaping upwards into the air very strangely.

The event was just in town there on the loch and we ran on a new map. Boggy, hilly, and fun! I have to say I enjoyed the controls on stiles and old fallen walls. Those are such interesting features from my perspective. I ran the orange course and did very well--I came in second but only by 18 seconds. Results at http://www.ecko.org.uk/

One of the most exciting things about the night, though (after a 2 hour Ecko club meeting), was that we stopped in Inveraray where there was a fish & chips shop still open--after 10:00 p.m. by this point--and I ate my first haggis! And it was really good! It was in a sort of fast-food form, sausage shaped with fried breading around it. It came with chips and they were hot and delicious. The haggis was yummy--hearty, meaty, slightly spicy and greasy but pleasant tasting and filling and hot, which was important. I'd definitely eat it again and I wouldn't necessarily have to be starving to enjoy it, either.

The hot meal made the rest of the drive home much more enjoyable and Niall and I struck up a terrific conversation about all the wonderful things that the Community Regeneration office is doing around Lorne (the Oban area). This is the office that runs the literacy program I'm volunteering for and they have tons of other programs as well for adult learners and people who need assistance with various things. It's a great group to get involved with and I'm very excited about the possibilities!