Todays threatened rain did not eventuate and it actually got quite warm, especially for those of us who took the tick hazard warning seriously and wore full body cover. Many of you will remember that Australian orienteer Hugh, came close to death after contracting a tick borne infection whilst orienteering in Europe.

The map was fine, the terrain squishy and all things you expect of orienteering in Scotland, but what was with the 2.8km walk to the arena across the wild moors and glens only to return to a main road where rescheduled busses were dropping off competitors. Original instructions had the bus and cars at the same point but then they change their mind and didn’t tell us. (IDIOTS)

And this is just to get to the arena.

We arrived exhausted in the arena and caught up with Christa and Rudi our orienteering friends whom we had met in Venice a couple of years ago, Rudi was very envious of our new club tent.

Catching up with Rudi and Christa in the new DROC tent.

We went out on our courses and the maps are here but neither of us want to talk about it.

I walked 2.8km from parking to arena, 1km to the start, 4.2km on the course and then 2.8km back to the car.

The only good thing is we got free tick removal gizmos.

A careful study  of tomorrows programme has revealed that the organizers were drunk at the time of planning. If they think that 0.5km from parking to arena, 1.8km to the start and then 1.7km back to the arena from the remote finish is  their idea of fun, they can un-think it. Not going. The Beatrix Potter museum is just over the road.

Speaking of Hugh, I found the poor bugger only 300 metres from the car park, going back to the arena to get his car keys from the rego tent.

Ticks do your head in.

Pete.