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Alien Abduction
Fifteen runners gathered in the Megget dam car park for the Circum-Meggetation run around the Megget Reservoir. We were in luck with the weather, with plenty of blue sky and sunshine and excellent visibility to the distant hills. We started up the road and soon turned onto the hill track towards Foulbrig. From the crest of the track there was a stretch of heather bashing on a compass bearing before finding one of the fences that were to guide us over a large part of the journey. The pace was relatively slow and relaxed and didn’t seem to pick up much when we got onto better ground so everyone could enjoy the journey.
We passed around the head of the Manor Valley then followed the track towards Dollar Law. Once onto the crest of the ridge we had a lovely grassy ridge run for several miles over Dun Law and Cramalt Craig. In the distance to the west we could see Tinto Hill and Culter Fell. There were still many big patches of snow on the hills and we could see the remains of a cornice on the side of Broad Law. The wireless mast on the top of Broad Law guided us on the steep climb to the top of the hill. By then we were getting hungry so we stopped for lunch in the shelter of the wireless station. Matt Davis joined us briefly for a chat before running off to conquer further hills.
As we later moved off, we saw the strange sight of what looked like a spaceship moored on the top of the hill. There was then a long downhill run to the farm at Meggethead. At this point John decided to go back by the road but the rest of us crossed over the road and onto the track round the head of the reservoir towards Winterhopeburn. We didn’t quite climb the hill of Muckle Knees but it was nearly a hands & knees climb up the steep slope out of the valley. From the col at the top we could see a newly-built track off to one side but decided to stick to the original route down into the valley and up the other side to Goole Knowe. From there we had a last ridge run over Syart Law before the final steep descent back to the Megget dam.
I nearly forgot to mention – as we passed the spaceship on Broad Law we were confronted by Aliens intent on abduction. Owing to an interplanetary misunderstanding they abducted our Jelly Babies instead of us. We were able to escape and get back to our cars, safe but hungry. We made amends by stopping on the way back for coffee and cakes in the new café in Innerleithen. A good day was had by all.
Nigel Rose