Scaling new heights!
Posted on the 5th September 2008
The Creativity Works Director, Graham Harding, took time out for a personal adventure to Scotland this summer, and the words of Crowded House, 'Four seasons in one day' certainly rang true. Rain, sleet, cloud, sun, mud and more set the background for an inspiring set of experiences. Here's how it went...
The 3 day music festival in Inveraray was the focus of the trip, but I decided to meander my way there and enjoy life. Enroute, I stopped for a rainy night camping in Langdale Valley, deep in the Lake District and a wander to check out the local pub. Note, it's always good to carry a torch... zero artificial light in the valley means dark really is dark! The next day, tent packed I set off for a walk in the Langdale Pikes. A little lost on the top in clouds and rain meant I descended into the wrong valley having walked somewhat further than expected... but hey! .... it tested those navigational skills!
Onward to the Connect Festival the next day, and 3 days of fabulous music and thick, gloopy mud the consistency of porridge followed... mental note Scotland is so wonderfully green because it all gets watered so regularly! But note again, a festival in the grounds of Inveraray Castle is magical and has to be recommended.
This bedraggled and wet person almost chose to drive home at the festival end, but no... a good talking to myself meant I continued northwards. And how glad I was...
The Scottish west coast drive is wonderful, Fort William is, well, Fort William and there I faced one of my life long wishes; the chance to walk up Ben Nevis. A night's sleep, a drive to the start of the path and a stare upwards and then just under 4 hours later, the summit was reached, the clouds parted, the rain stopped and the sun came out! What a wonderful view and a truly inspirational moment.
Wow!
A drive back down the M6 through some of the wettest, biggest, loudest rain possible brought me back to the office and suitably inspired, it is time to turn my attention to help The Creativity Works scale new heights!
