Middle distance event-Scotland

Yesterday was a day dedicated to orienteering and orienteering friends.
Having arrived in Inverness late on Tuesday afternoon,  we had only the website information for the event.  This meant that we knew the basics.. what time we had to start and how to get there being the most important.  We didn't know how long it would take us to get to the event, and didn't yet have our competition bibs -which we needed to be wearing at our starts.

As it turned out the travel time was a bit of a worry. I thought I had significantly overestimated the time and that we might be one of the early arrivals, but after hold ups on the roads coming in ( the entry to the event was along a single lane road) we finally made it to the open parking area along with hundreds of others. The way in was across the Earl of Moray's crop of grain ( wheat I think) through a section which he had reaped early just for this purpose to make a special pathway through.  Laid in  the open gap was hired track ( wooden planks) which the cars drove on so as  not damage the ground!
As we finally entered the open parking area we could glance to our right and see the castle up on the hill.
We parked as rapidly as possible,  grabbed our bags and headed up the hill with the many others also arriving.  Now Trevor knew that he had probably about 1.7 km to walk to his start. We had about 25 minutes up our sleeve before he needed to be on the track to the start.  There were many tents all over-club tents from UK and Europe, and personal shelters,catering, and shops.  There was also all the media and official requirements required for the World Orienteering relays due to be held that afternoon.

We quickly found a place to drop our bags that we could find again then went in search of the information tent. After some wandering in likely spots with no joy ( and time ticking) we asked one of the show keepers,who pointed us in the general direction and eventually ( after a little misinformation) we received our bibs, info brochure and genuine scottish slate coaster as a souvenir.
Now we knew Trevor's course number and confirmed that he had the 1.7km to go.We identified where that track started and tried to spot the finish  chute without success.
He was off on his way, leaving me to further investigations ( with about 45 minutes up my sleeve before I too had to head for my start).

The croquet lawns where the string course was finishing right by the castle! 

I took the chance to join a very long toilet queue, have a quick look in the shops, have a quick look at the string course ( following a castle theme on the castle lawns) and finally identify the finish chute before I headed off.I still had not seen a single Aussie that I recognized among the thousands and the crowd was just getting bigger and bigger.

Loo queue

The run to the start took us through some lovely scenic forest past walled garden
(And signs asking people not to urinate on the walls or hedges) to a remote track.

Starts were managed by checking chest numbers rather than names.

The map was much simpler in contour than those in Sweden had been and 1:7500 but held many depressions amongst the hills, making it very complicated to figure out where you should go, and what you should be seeing on the way.

I managed to make it round my course with only 2 small slip ups. (But still way too slow).

 My map. On the way to 4 I ended up too far to my right on the hill and had to turn and backtrack a little. On the way from 7 to 8 I took the safe over the hill option which used too much energy and which I messed up anyway, heading to the next spur along and then needing to reclimb my the hill to go to my control. Once again the Earl had kindly reapt a track through the field early so we could run through his crop to the start of our finish chute. 

Trevor was not so happy with his run, but was clearly unwell again in the morning, so this was not surprising.

The WOC relays were very exciting with big screen coverage and lots of cheering.  Our Danish friends were delighted with their results. Aussies a bit disappointed. It was great to see such a significant event happening in front of us.

The day was rounded off by dinner with Aussie orienteering friends -a nice relaxed shared tea.

Today has been a long drive to Skye via some amazing roads. I will try to,write a little in the morning before we head off again.