Bridge Jumping on the Dee River

This week, I took my Young Men out on the River Dee to jump off of a bridge. The bridge is about 30 minutes from the house. It is called Cambus O'May. Originally built in the early 1900's, it was re-worked in 1988.

The river here is wide and fairly deep in the middle.

This is the view looking upstream.

This is the view looking downstream towards our house.

We used this rock (under the bridge)
to put our blankets and cook our hamburgers.

My 4 YM with the old man--getting ready to jump.

The view from the bridge was fantastic. It also made me reflect on why

an old man like me needs to jump with the kids.

It didn't look that far down until you get over the edge and look down.
It is probably about 18 feet down to the water.
Give me just a few moments to get up my nerve.

Video proof that I did actually jump.
The current where we jump in is strong.
It takes a little effort to get out of the current and onto the rock.

Simon, Jordan, and me getting ready for a multiple jump.

Simon and Angus--team jumping. (Jordan backed out)

I survived. The water was pretty cold but well worth it.

Jordan needed to be calibrated.

Swimming in the river.

The end of a fun activity.
We came, we jumped, we got cold--we survived.
There will definitely be another trip back to the bridge.

Surviving the Storm - Corrour Bothy

The powers to be decided that the YM camp out was a go. They sat in the car for an hour or so waiting for the rain to stop blowing sideways. Set the tent up in the rain. Slept pretty good. Hiked a hike that was supposed to be maybe 6 miles . . . ended up about 15 or 16. Hiked through some sun, rain, bogs, rocks and hills. Survived with a few blisters and some sore muscles. Got home around 10:30 p.m.

I took this picture yesterday when the rain started.
You really can't tell how bad it was coming down.
It was raining in sheets, sometimes sideways.

Here is our tent trying to dry out.
Every piece was soaking wet, although Bud stayed dry in it.

Now I know why Scottish people have clotheslines -
to dry out their tents!

Bud found me some pictures on the internet of where they went.


They hiked to the hut in the back ground.
Enlarge the picture to see it better
It is called Corrour Bothy. They crossed at the bridge.

A picture of the bridge over the River Dee.
This is in the Highlands near Ballater.

Corrour Bothy
A bothy is a sheep herders hut.

P.S. Bud got an email today (5/18) saying the hike was actually 20 miles! Bud also told me I could tell you that one kid from Edinburgh got to the top and couldn't go any further. He laid down and started crying. Turns out he had been in the hospital for meningitis two weeks earlier. Mountain rescue had to come and get him. Two other leaders also had to be helped down with the help of mountain rescue.

Camping with the Young Men

Bud is supposed to go camping tonight with the Young Men in our ward (church). All 3 of them! It is actually a multi-stake activity. He just sent me this email -

Three weeks of rain set to fall in just 36 hours

Weather warning for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

By Lynn Kernan
Published: 15/05/2009

WEATHER WARNING: Rain was set to batter Aberdeen.

A SEVERE weather warning was today issued for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Up to three weeks’ worth of rain was predicted to fall in the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire area in just 36 hours in some parts of the area.

And gale-force gusts are expected to batter the Grampian region.

The Met Office today warned persistent rain would fall across the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with places like Ballater and Braemar to be worst affected.

Forecaster Nigel Bolton said: “Eastern parts of Scotland are to get some very wet weather indeed.

“Not only are we looking at heavy rainfall but also strong winds as well with gusts up to gale force in parts of Aberdeenshire.”

The weather alert was issued today warning that outbreaks of rain could be “severe” and “persistent”.

Parts of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire were forecast to be hit with up to 60mm of rain.

Winds were expected to reach up to 50mph, while the temperatures are to remain low at around 8C to 10C (46F to 50F).

The wet weather was to replace a dry, warm spell that Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has enjoyed over the past few weeks with temperatures hitting 18C (64.4F).

Mr Bolton said the UK was to be hit by the wet spell and expected it to last until tomorrow.

“The whole of the UK is very unsettled at the moment,” he said.

“The rain will continue through the whole day and overnight and it doesn’t look as though it is going to stop raining until the end of tomorrow.”

They are supposed to go to Ballater. One of the hardest hit areas. Hmmm I wonder if it will get canceled. Whether it does or not won't affect me . . . I will be in my nice Sleep Number bed, sleeping blissfully! ( I hope they cancel! I'm not that cold hearted!)