Neil's blog

On Saturday, the choice was between getting the ferry over to Arran & climbing Goatfell, or driving 90 minutes beyond Loch Lomond, to climb the Cobbler. I’d never climbed the Cobbler & Alistair Lygate, my hiking buddy, had been up Goatfell recently, so we plumped for the Munro (Scottish mountain over 3,000 feet).

Had we gone to Arran we’d have seen for miles as the sun shone brightly over head; alas, though only about 40 miles as the crow flies from Goatfell, the Cobbler was enshrouded in mist & teeming with liquid sunshine. It didn’t dampen our spirits though & we managed up & down in great time, able to listen to Celtic beating Killie 3 – 0 in the car, “Saved by The Bell!” Were it not for Cammy Bell, the Killie goalie, it could have been 30 - 0!

But I digress! The deep golden colours of autumn were rare, the scenery (what we saw of it) spectacular, & we had a right guid chin wag on the way to the summit & back. Our arthritic knees were a little stressed, but we managed, & praised the Lord amidst mild conditions & the wet fresh air. God is Good!

And to put icing on the cake, or a flag on the summit, low & behold, who should we meet on top of the Cobbler!?! By ‘Eck’ it was ‘Big EK’, none other than, fellow elder & good buddy, “Euan Kenedy’!!! He was up with 3 of his work mates for a jant in the hills!

As you’ll see in the photo, we were fair chuffed to bump into each other! As the King said in Psalm 133

1 How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron's beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.

3 It is as if the dew of Mount Hermon (Cobbler)
were falling on Mount Zion (God’s People).
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

PTL!