Kinpurney observatory

Kinpurney observatory, originally uploaded by lusobrandane.

I decided to take my physiotherapist's advice and go for a long and demanding (for me, at least) walk. Apparently the trouble that I have been having with my sciatic nerve (caused by a 'prolapse' apparently) - trouble that has had me laid up for the best part of a year, and walking with a crutch for almost six months - is down to poor posture and lack of exercise. Which seems odd, since the sciatica only became chronic after I had begun exercising on a sustained basis.

Nevertheless, 'ours is not to reason why', and all that, and the professional told me to walk until I felt 'the burn' - as only then would I be starting to burn up the excess fat that has collected in worrying amounts on my body.

Before I was laid up, I liked walking up hills - not Munroe size hills, you understand, but the much more gentle hills that are to be found within walking distance of my house. The Sidlaws... that kind of hill. That being said, however, when I was younger, fitter and a foot thinner, I did like trekking up Goat Fell and even did the Arrochar Alps, including at least two Munroes. Anyway, I digress.

On medical advice I decided to have a go at Kinpurney Hill. Now, Kinpurney Hill is not a tall hill. At just over 1,000 feet, it is little more than a bump in the ground. But. Yes, there is a but. It is a slog, with the last two thirds of the climb being on a 1:2 gradient across moor and marsh, while the first third is through a small, undulating quagmire of a wood.

I am not complaining, though, although at times I wondered if I was going to have the stamina to make it (well, I have been laid up for almost a year). It was hard going, but I made it and - small triumph that it was - I was pleased with myself for doing it. My leg held up well... and while I am beginning to feel it a bit now, I am not sure if I have aggravated my back or if I am just experiencing the normal reaction to the unaccustomed exercise. Time will tell.

Apart from the obvious health benefits, the climb was motivated by a desire to take some photographs. Accordingly, I trekked up carrying two cameras, a tripod and six lenses... not to mention a coat, jersey, flask and packed lunch. I must have looked as if I was about to embark on an expedition! Half way up and I was regretting my decision to carry so much photographic equipment with me (well, it is quite heavy).

It wasn't until I reached the observatory at the top of the hill that I realised that I had left my ND grad filter at home. And it wasn't until I got home that I realised that I had left the camera's ISO setting at 800. I always manage to remember to manually set the white balance, now I must get into the habit of checking the ISO setting too! Despite these lapses, I did manage to salvage a couple of shots, so all was not lost.

Watching:
The Orcs qualifying for the next round of the Champions' League.

Reading:
The Herald