We planned a weeks holiday. We thought maybe two weeks, maybe bikepacking, then events unfolded and we realised we would need to take time off in November unexpectedly so we decided to take just one week in October. Amazingly we decided on Glencoe quite quickly. The allure of the mountain bike park was strong for Rob and I was so happy to spend a week in Glencoe, I love that place so much.

The weather has been utterly still all week. Exceptionally so. There has been much sunshine too, "noticeably warm".

We climbed the ring of steall day 1. Wowzer. It was an epic day, so steep the whole way!! the ascents were crazy steep, the descents the same and not much in between ha!! 5 munros. It was just completly mesmersingly beautiful. We laughed so much as we initially took the wrong path and were chatting away with some other walkers. We had to back track. Going the wrong way for a bit was just stunning though, hard to describe but the sun was starting to burn through the cloud hanging low on the hill, silhouettes of trees, the drops of dew hanging off the long grass just glistening as the sun started to wake everything up.

So then up , up , up we went. Relentless. Yet completely ridiculous views starting to appear. The huge buttress of Ben Nevis started to appear in front of us as the cloud rolled back. In the distance we could see mountain peaks starting to appear through the cloud, it was completely other worldly. A blanket of cloud and then peaks. Every now and then a brocken spectre appeared in the cloud, a spherical rainbow, mesmerising!

We kept moving most of the day, it ended up being a 10hour epic walk. When we got to what we thought was the last peak we realised we still had one more peak to climb! Crikey, this was tough! Our thighs were burning, not sure by that point what was harder the ascent or the descent. Each descent required so much concentration it was so steep and bouldery! There were two more exposed parts, one called the devils ridge. It was the first time I had seen Rob visibly afraid, we laugh now as he would just crouch low to get through those parts,

At the foot of the last descent we thought we had about 3k to walk, it started to get dark, what we didn't know was it was very boggy in parts and we still had a river crossing , or two! Rob braved the steel bridge, I waded through the river! then, wow , just wow we came across the most incredible waterfall. The car was a bit further on than we originally thought, but what an incredible day, unforgettable! Sooooo grateful.

We did a gentle cycle up Glencoe valley the next day, enjoyed a nice lunch sitting outside at Craft and Things.

Tuesday was hitting the Glencoe mountain resort - it was a brilliant day, chairlift up then multiple times down the red route, challenging for me but I loved it! There was a cloud inversion at the top , it was so warm up there I had a lovely rest time reading my book sitting outside the moutain cafe- then the views opened up lower down as the day progressed. When I shut my eyes a few days on I still see that view, utterly breathtaking. The sun in the valley, the cloud lingering framing the lower mountains, so totally immense, again, other worldly

On the Wednesday, Rob took himself and bike up devils stair case, over to Kinlochleven and then back up and over again, wow. I did a 14k run called the two Lairigs. I totally loved the adventure, heading out myself - the sensational views again just blew me away, several times I just stopped , sat and took time to take it all in. I thinks it is the immensity of it, it is how helpfully small you feel surrounded by these giant mountains. The only sounds are the gushing rivers and the calls of the stags which at some places was almost constant.

On the Thursday we spent most of the day at Ben nevis lower trails bike park - great fun exploring again and some time for me to read a bit whilst Rob explored the more technical trails.

Friday morning we continued our reading in James and pondered re submitting to God and what that means. Rob prayed and said he was so proud of me as his wife and my heart for people. That really touched my heart to hear him say that.

We did the Ballachullish horseshoe walk that day. Again, wow, steep steep up, and then super scrambly. It was misty and a bit scary, but when it started to feel scary going back looked more treacherous than continuing up tne steep rocky slope with zero buffer if we fell. Then when on more of a sure path we walked steadily to the summit enshrouded in mist yet the sun was starting to try and burn through the cloud so as you walked higher it strangely began to feel warmer. I loved the peace up there, peace of mind too we were safe! and then enjoying despite not being able to see a thing! The descent was again steep and took some navigating through bogs, chopped trees, mossy holes in the ground and hopping over rivers. It took our entire attention again, we both agreed that it partly what has made these walking days so good!

Our reading in James on our final day reminded us our life is but a mist. Helpful!

Clothe ourselves then in truth and resisit the devil to stop living from our old sinful selves with thought patterns that hold us up as less and more than what we are.

What refreshment from being in the mountains everyday, vision and perspective restored.

What joy to switch off phone for a few days other than message mum each day

To then find such an inner stillness again

I am enjoying learning scripture and focusing on that in my mind in the in between moments, moments of fear rising,and Persevere, persevere, persevere.

On return I asked Rob what he wanted to bring from holiday into our day to day life. He said without hesitation, adventurous spirit (he wants to climb the ring of steall each year; dancing in the kitchen and the practice of focusing on the path, not looking too far ahead and getting overwhelmed by what is perceived to be ahead.