Purple Thistle

[EddieH]

I have just looked at the PT website.

The weekend looks AWESOME

For those who have not been their barebones organisation does not mean poor and inadequate. All the important things including locating a good campsite are well done. In 2005 they even managed to find one without midges when 500m away there were plenty
Don't wish time away, but I cannot recommend it highly enough, oh and the terrain will be far less rough than Glen Affric.

[Mrs H]

We've certainly got it on our calendar - are entries open yet and any plans to make the Oban race part of the Nopesport Urban League?

[brooner]

Entries opening soon, in the next week or so we hope, along with fuller details on the whole event, prices etc.

The Oban race won't be part of the Urban League, its going to be quite a low key affair but it should still provide some great racing, and warm you up for a Saturday night party!

Glen Affric wasn't rough, just tough, you must be showing your age Eddie

[mike g]

From the Purple Thistle website:

Event Centre: Oban Caravan Park, Gallanach, near Oban

By Train: By rail, the journey takes you along the world-famous West Highland Line. ScotRail runs twice daily trains from Glasgow Queen Street Station to Oban.

Cool. But surely you can travel directly to Gallanach by train? - just change at Portincaple Junction and take the branch line through Lochgilphead. Or so it says in The Crow Road.

[brooner]

Just thought I'd give this a bit of a bump.

We spent Friday & Saturday over in Oban, tagging control sites at Kerrera and Creag Mhic. We had a great day out, seemed to be one of the few places that didn't suffer from much rain, so we had great views out over the islands from Kerrera every time we came over the top of a hill. The new map looks good, and the courses are looking rather tasty too - something for all levels (or as much as possible, as there are very few tracks on the island!). Over at Creag Mhic it looks as delightful as ever, I haven't actually run there since the British in '96 so it was great to be back there (although its a shame I won't be competing!) and it is going to be a brilliant challenge whatever your level of orienteering.

In other news, I know of a few folk who would like a lift either around the events or from the central belt, and we'd like to know whether there would be enough demand to justify us hunting out and hiring a minibus from Glasgow or Edinburgh. If so drop me an e-mail: brooner at purple-thistle.co.uk.

[Mrs H]

So! are you going to get the Oban race to replace the one at Lincoln that isn't happening in the Urban League? Otherwise some poeple might not get their full quota of races in and it makes the weekend even more attractive

[brooner]

So! are you going to get the Oban race to replace the one at Lincoln that isn't happening in the Urban League? Otherwise some poeple might not get their full quota of races in and it makes the weekend even more attractive

Most likely not (although don't take my word on this!), as the addition of a Saturday night sprint to the PT was only ever meant to be as an additional bit of fun and added value, it is going to be pretty low key and that is not what we wanted from Urban Orienteering.

Also, Eddie there seemed to be a distinct lack of Midges around our campsite for this year, I don't know how we do it

[Big Jon]

All the west coast midges are full and bloated after feeding on the LAMM competitors

[brooner]

Entries are starting to flood in now, including participants from foreign lands such as New Zealand, Spain, Canada and England

Here's some more enticement:


Campsite looking towards Kerrera


View over towards the campsite from Kerrera


Kerrera Sunset


Not much to slow you down here

[swat]

Looks like good water-skiing terrain in that last photo.

[geomorph]

Fantastic scenery.
inspiring terrain
I love the camp site on the golf course.

For the good of all - except the one person who will now finish last - I'll not be there.

My last 4 forays into western Scotland have resulted in record local downpours, including one which lasted (so it seemed) the whole two weeks. Should now be great weather on 23 & 24 Aug

Enjoy.

[brooner]

plug plug plug...

just a reminder that entry prices go up a little come the 31st July, so get your entries in soon and join the already record numbers heading for the PT this year.

[greywolf]

have you warned the ferryman he may be a bit busier than a normal saturday ?

[Mrs H]

I'm gutted we won't make it to the Purple thistle - or anywhere else over the bank holiday as the younger Miss H - on crutches now for 3 months - has her long awaited post MRI appointment with the consultant on the 26th.

I hope you all have a totally obantastic time

[brooner]

Shame Mrs H, but to be honest we're starting to worry about getting this many people over to Kerrera! I think the population of the island will have increased seven-fold on the 23rd!

Anyone wanting to enter really must get them in by the 15th as we're going to be really strict on this and will be loathe to offer late entries, as we're going to have some fun (erm) logistics to deal with!