Fitness��������������������������������������������������������������������������

Jane Meek - Body Control Pilates & Feldenkrais

Online classes will continue into the Summer. Contact Jane for details of face-to-face Pilates classes in Blanefield and elsewhere, 07759 182236 or email janemmeek@gmail.com

Tall Trees - Lindas Body Control Pilates

Linda is teaching via zoom. Contact for more details and updates - 07758 496820 email@talltreesaberfoyle.co.uk

Dancercise with Yasmin

Low-impact daytime classes especially designed for Active Seniors/Beginners Mondays 10am - McLintock Hall, Balfron Tuesdays 10am - Buchlyvie Village Hall, Fridays 10am - Killearn Village Hall. Adult Dance Fitness -Energetic class for all ages and levels. Thursdays 7pm - KIllearn Village Hall. For more info and to book, please call or email Yasmin 07979856837 yasmin@throthegrapevine.co.uk

Zumba with Jane

Everybody Welcome, Saturdays have returned to live classes at Village Club Strathblane 10am-11am(£6), Sunday 9.30am-10.30 virtual classes(£5) Just send an e mail via Facebook to get added to the groups and for updates. Tel 07968 968944

Shona Nicolson Zest Fitness

Circuits Tues 12.15pm - 1pm , Kettlebell Classes Thurs 12.15pm - 1pm, Personal Training, STRONG Nation, Jogscotland Mums on the Run buggy fit group. Westerton Farm, Killearn, 07725 332893 info@zestfitnesstraining.co.uk www.zestfitnesstraining.co.uk

Dragon Spring

Taiji & Qigong with Suzanne Lin Jensen. Classes at St Andrew’s Church Hall Milngavie & Bearsden Cross Church. Contact for more details and to book 07979 860754, susanne@dragonspringtaiji.co.uk

Aspiral

One to one tailor made Gyrotonic sessions. Suitable for people from all walks of life regardless of age or physical ability. Contact 07500 213473, lorna.aspiral@gmail.com

Groups • Children Corporate Groups Group & Fun Days

Bespoke Campsite available for booking

Take advantage of our equipment hire experience, we hire all equipment including Canoes!

Kinlochard, nr Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire FK8 3TL 01877 387750 0845 6437089 lo-call rate info@gocountry.co.uk Bookings Online Only www.gocountry.co.uk

WATER PARK WIPEOUT COURSE Age 12 and over only

Water Park • Kayaking • Fishing • Canoeing Archery • Clay Pigeon Shooting

Stand Up Paddleboards • www.parklife Canoe Cliff Jumping scotland.co.uk |

As if not busy enough running his businesses, including Endrick Property and Drymen Bakery & Deli, David Mackie is back from the High Passes trekking adventure in Nepal, including a visit to Base Camp at Mount Everest. This trek is the latest in a series of walks through some of the world's most scenic and unspoilt places. David was given the idea from a fellow walker whilst climbing Ben More by Crianlarich. To prepare for the trip, David carried ever-increasing weights in a backpack. He found that moving from 6kg to 8kg and then 20kg was more effective than gym work. However, despite the preparation, nothing can prepare you for walks at altitude, with the body having to function on 45% less oxygen. The first daunting part of the journey was the landing at Lukla Airport in the Himalayas, described as the most dangerous airport in the world due to its short and angled runway. David was fluid about his plans, happy to trek to locations recommended by people he met in the mountains. One such location was a weather station called Pyramid, which monitors climate change. Initially funded by the Italian Government, Nepal's Government has since taken on to carry on the work, now subsidised by offering rooms for people to stay at the top of the world. As Base Camp was only a 10 hour round trip from the Pyramid, David and his Nepalese friend, Tanka, headed there in search of some rocks and a wander through the ice pinnacles. On arrival, they

unusually had the place to themselves for photographs, which included David wearing a kilt and Drymen T-Shirt! David loved the adventure, with the only dislike being crossing three glaciers, not helped by creaking noises making the crossing quite tense. These adventures aren't for the fainthearted, and at one point, a glacial ridge they'd just walked across crumbled into nothing. Along the way, David met lots of interesting and genuine people. Some monks even blessed him at the 500-year- old Upper Pangboche Monastery, where a Yeti hand and skull are held. With one young Monk offering to play badmington In addition, David encouraged people he met to walk the West Highland Way and often wore some of the branded clothing for the trek that his shop in Drymen sells to walkers.

A sign of a good holiday is the planning for the next one. So, what's next for David? At the top of his list are the Forbidden Kingdom in Nepal and Mount Damavand in Iran, the highest volcano in Asia Fancy going? A selection of David's amazing photographs of this trip will undoubtedly tempt you.