C2C and Parkinson's YP event.

0500 start at Nairn for the Nokia Coast to Coast event.  Competitors run from Nairn to Cawdor, pick up their bikes and cycle to Fort Augustus, overnight there, following day continue cycling to Fort William, dump bikes then walk/run part of the West Highland Way to the shore of Loch Leven, canoe across to Isles of Glencoe Hotel.  Finish.  A tough event, however, the elite competitors did the whole thing in a day!!

Nurse Ann giving the runners a bit of a morale boost as they arrive at Cawdor Castle!

Riders about to pass under the A9, heading for the back roads along the south side of Loch Ness.

Dave parked up the motorbike and came for a sit in the ambulance for a short break, he'd been to see a casualty called in by one of the route marshals, a rider had got soaked in one of the heavy showers and was feeling too cold and tired to continue, Dave ensured that the competitor was wrapped up warm in the marshal's car and on the way to full recovery before leaving the marshal to take the guy back to Nairn where his car had been left.

Dave's about to shoot off up the road to get towards the front riders leaving me to leapfrog the tail end riders and aim towards the middle of the group where I would park up again and wait for most of the riders to go past before moving back through the group again.

 Above;  Nice day for a bike ride!

Right and below; Cold and damp at  the top of the big hill, not far to Ft Augustus, showers and hot food!!

About to start the downhilly bit towards Ft Augustus and the end of day one!!

Bu**** it!  It's a real pain when these things happen!!

Day two was the job of shadowing riders through to the Ft William transition point where they dropped their bikes, put on hill footwear and headed off along part of the West Highland Way finally dropping down to the shore of Loch Leven and paddling across to the finish at the Isles of Glencoe Hotel.

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Parkinson's Younger Person Event.  Venue: Stirling Business Centre.

I wasn't sure that I should have been going to this event at all but was told I was "young at heart"!  So I went!!
In the pic Catherine Crawford (P UK's Boss in Scotland) is ensuring that we keep our noses to the grindstone!  We were discussing various Parkinson's problems e.g. 'Out and about', driving, shopping, public transport.  'In the home', the kitchen, stairs, bathroom.  'At the Doctors', how to get the best from your appointment in the short time available.

There were ample coffee breaks giving plenty of time for 'networking' or chatting to the 'Babes in blue'!

Dinner was a grand affair, excellent food, you can see we'd cleared our plates, and finished the wine, I guess we'll just have to adjourn to the bar.

At one of the 'breakout' sessions.  Dance for Parkinson's
The lady in yellow is a pro dancer who has developed a series of dance exercises designed to promote better awareness of movement and mobility.  Here we have the movers and shakers (literally) about to do their thing!!

Saturday afternoon, well fed and fully coffee'd out the event was coming to a close.  A good time had by all, despite the 'Parkey' faces! and a great effort put in by the volunteers and staff from P UK.  Thanks!  Hope to see you next year.