Getting ready for 2012

I’ve put this into a separate page because it covers more than an e-mail’s worth.  I’d really like your feedback to help me fill in the remaining gaps, or move others around.  Please look on this as a Xmas cracker with lots to keep you entertained over the festive period when you have time on your hands(!)  Any comments are welcome – positive, negative, requests – you don’t have to be a “regular” with us … I just like to hear from you.

With Andre’s help we now have a “2012 Outings” page, with some gaps still to fill, and some links to description pages missing.  Ideally I’d like you all to select the walks you’d like to do and add your names as soon as you can – don’t wait for me to ask a few days before each walk. I hope you find the program contains enough choice for you.

The gaps.  I have a few ideas for what to fill them with but there isn’t room for them all – so you can help me.
Clachaig – our series of winter weekend away has been popular before, and lucky with weather.  Think about this one soon before it books up.
Black Forest – There has been virtually no interest in this foreign trip so, with some regret, I am calling it off.  I apologise to the few who were interested, but you are now free to plan your summer without this question mark over early June.
Mull – Our trip there September 2011 was cut short by ferry cancellations, but everyone there felt we should come back – perhaps to the same hotel.  How do you feel about that?
Other island / weekend destination – previous to Mull, our late summer weekend have included: two stretches of Southern Upland Way, and a night in Broadmeadows youth hostel; isle of Arran; and Braemar.  If not a return to Mull in 2012, do we want a weekend somewhere else?  …any preferences?      
Water of Leith – We did this long walk in October 2010 and all who went enjoyed it.  Would you do it again?  If you missed it last time, would you like to?  There are options to shorten the distance by joining part way.
Carfraemill – A pleasant way to spend a Sunday is to walk the 8 miles from Yester to Carfraemill, have a rest, a pub lunch, a drink, and walk back.
Pentlands – We’ve done a few walks there, from some shorter circuits between hills to the whole ridge out to West Kip.  A return there anyone?  If so, which?
A “slow munro” – this is an idea stolen from another club.  Many people don’t like slopes, and think they cannot go up hills.  The idea here is to pick a gentle(ish), short(ish) hill and take plenty of time over it.  Going at a pace slower than the slowest means no-one hurts.  Anyone interested?
“Munro a month” – I hope to continue with these more energetic walks for those who enjoy them.  None shown yet in the webpage but I’ll add a mix of mid-week and weekend dates.  Remember it is always possible to suggest extra outings  – you don’t have to stick to the random dates I include.
Also for the energetic, we have managed a couple of outings to more distant hills (Skye and Torridon) by making a weekend of it.  It would be good to try this again – I’d like to hear from you if interested, and also any suggestions for where we might go.
Other wacky ideas – we’ve tried some odd things with mixed success.  The midsummer midnight walk almost froze us.  A two day walk with a bothy night had a reasonable interest, but in the event only three of us went …  I wonder why?  Have you any other ideas we might try?
BBQ – Last two years we’ve had a BBQ in our garden in September.  Next year, however, we are away in September, so when would suit?
Pub nights – I’m leaving them off the outings list to keep it shorter.  However if you want to meet for a drink and a chat, go to the Royal Mac at 7.30 pm on the third Tuesday of the month.  Attendances have dropped off since this started – so if you want it to continue you know what to do!

And finally, in case you don’t know, Trevor and I have been accepted for the TGO Challenge 2012, and Pam and Jenny are close to the top of the reserve list.   So it looks likely the four of us will be backpacking our way across Scotland for two weeks in May.  Spare us a thought!