I’m lost!
Posted on 21 Jan, 2011 by Lynne Walker | Filed under Blog • Orienteering
I wanted to run somewhere different to the usual caravan park and across the road to the east side of Loch Loskin. The weather was settled so I suggested a visit to Ardyne.
On the way there I suggested to Paul that he might like to run from Innellan to Ardyne, giving him the opportunity for a longer run. After looking at the map he agreed so I dropped him there, part way along the eastern part of the Corlarach Loop. I drove down to Ardyne and left the car in the new(ish) forestry car park. The last time we had been here was February 2010 when Paul ran from the Kilbride car park in Dunoon and I just ran around the paths at Ardyne.
It was a pleasant day, the views over to Bute a little hazy. I shuffled up the path to the Chinese Ponds and then on up to the mast in the wood, following the path labelled ‘Clyde viewpoint’. I met Paul coming the other way here. I then turned, out to the track, up this to the north and then back along the paths to the car. Lovely paths.
On returning to the car I was a little surprised that Paul was not there. I stretched and then sat in the car – door open – reading the local paper.
I then hear my phone ringing, which was a little surprising as I did not think I had a signal when I looked earlier. It’s Paul “I’m lost, I don’t know where the car park is.” He said he was on the road and could see the breakwater beside Toward Sailing Club, so I at least knew the part of the road he was on.
I drove down the road a very short distance and saw this figure in black running along. Yes, it was him.
On later analysis he was not entirely to blame. He had the maps (1:50000 and 1:25000) visible on his iPhone but the car park is shown about 50m south of where it actually is now. So close, but so far away . . .
I am a level 4 orienteering coach and a qualified Assessor & Coach Educator. I have been orienteering for xx years and have coached on many foreign tours.