Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Common Sandpiper
I went for a walk last night again down by the Wharfe from Barden Bridge. Among the usual birds (dipper, goosander, sand martin etc) I was lucky enough to see green woodpecker, greater spotted woodpecker and a pair of common sandpiper I love waders and it was great to see these neat, elegant birds back for the summer
It's been a while since I went to see the Laund Oak so I took the back way home to pay my respects. I spotted a tawny owl in another nearby oak and wondered if the tree was one of the ancient Laund's offspring? It's nice to think it might be
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Jackson 5
I was feeling a bit 'flat' again after my trip to Turkey but this seems to have lifted my spirits
Monday, 11 April 2011
Willie Wife Moor
I cannot believe how quickly my trip to Turkey went! In much the same way as the weekend before this one flew by and I ended up over in Istanbul, I've now been home, spent a weekend based in Keswick in the Lakes and then returned to Yorkshire and the office
Turkey was a great trip. Hard work with really long days but useful for the business, and fun. I landed back at Manchester Airport mid-afternoon on Friday. After a quick mug of tea it was down to Barden Bridge for what's becoming my regular end of week birdwatching walk. Stef had Friday off so I had company for a change, which was lovely. Highlights of the evening were sand martin (lots along the river), dipper, red-legged partridge and a pint of Raspberry Blond in the Craven Arms after the walk!
On Saturday we went up to the Lakes and met Geoff and Linda before walk / jogging over Beck Head to Wasdale, then recceing leg 4 of the BG in perfect conditions. I bonked horribly climbing Great Gable (when am I going to learn you can't keep going for seven or eight hours on a Mars bar?) but was fine again after eating near the summit. A quick shower in the B&B (Clarence House, recommended) preceded our now usual evening in Keswick (Dog and Gun followed by Lakeland Spice)
On Sunday we parked at Dunmail, hacked up to Dollywagon Pike over the excellently named Willie Wife Moor, reversed leg 2 as far as Sticks Pass then turned round and ran back. We had a peregrine pass directly over our heads on the long initial climb onto the ridge. A real treat!
I was tired at the start of the day and we spent more time walking than you could on a round but we both flew up the dreaded climb of Fairfield. I've been over leg 2 maybe eight times now but somehow got us completely lost coming back down from Seat Sandal. In spite of a long detour and dropping down right into Raise Beck we still managed 26minutes back to the car
Totals for the weekend were around 30miles and 13,500ft of climb. I'm sure I've never been fitter and I'm just starting to get excited about having another go at the BG
Stepping Razor
This came into my head this morning at 6.30am during the dreaded 'Monday morning after a great weekend' shave
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
The Bosphorous, a mixed grill and a bit of a tan
Several day's of spring Lakeland weather have left me looking relatively brown and healthy. Gone is that horrible grey February death pallor, now replaced by a bit of a tan; the kind generated by plenty of scree running and sunshine. It feels ironic then that I'm sat in my hotel room in my big old Rab fleece
I'm staying in the Hilton hotel overlooking Basiktas football stadium and close to the Bosphorous. It's still very much winter here and it's been like being transported back a couple of months in time
The hotel is fine and virtually next door to our partners' office. Today we had what turned out to be an eleven hour day with a very quick working lunch. I was tired when I got back around 7-30pm but a mixed grill, three Efes beers and a plate of profiteroles and ice-cream with warm chocolate sauce seem to have revived me. Well, them and my cosy favourite fleece
Time flies by
I'm not sure where the last few days have gone! One minute I was arriving home from work in good time on Friday afternoon prior to heading to Keswick and now it's Tuesday morning and I'm in a hotel room in Istanbul. Below is a quick summary of the last three or four days:
On Friday evening me and Stef drove up to Keswick, checked into our our B&B, Dollywagon had a couple of pints in the Dog and Gun, nipped in the Old Keswickian for fish and chips then went back into the Dog with Nigel from the FRA forums
After breakfast on Saturday we met Nigel again along with several other friends at the Moot Hall, drove to Threlkeld, ran back down to Keswick then did leg 1 of the Bob Graham. I felt awful all morning and thought I was going to be sick around Great Calava. Eventually I came round and sudddenly I was going really well from Mungrisdale Common up onto Blencathra. I took Doddick down with Nigel and Trev, Ken descended Hall's Fell, whilst Stef, Bill and David came down the 'Parachute'. On landing Stef said she wanted to do some more climbing so went back up Hall's Fell with Ken and then descended Doddick, while I had a nap in the car. In the evening it was back to the Dog and Gun and then Lakeland Spice
On Sunday at 10am it was time to meet again at the Moot Hall before running out to the foot of Catbells, over the ridge to High Spy, down and back up to Dalehead, then the flying descent to Honister before finishing off back up and over leg 5 to the Moot Hall. Me and Stef were pleased especially with climbing comfortably up from Honister in 31minutes, which is way ahead of 23hour schedule time
The weather while we were out was fantastic all weekend, the B&B great (our landlady allowed us to use the shower on Sunday teatime before coming home, which was very kind), and the company and craic was great. Many thanks for a memorable weekend to Bill, Ken, Nigel, David, Trev and Gavin from the forums, plus Liz who we met on Dalehead. Dave A off the forums was also out recceing and we had a chat at Honister before climbing back up to Dalehead. I logged over 36miles and just under 11,000feet over Saturday and Sunday to give a third consecutive 10,000ft week
Yesterday I flew from Manchester to Istanbul (my first every visit to Turkey) and last night had dinner with our business partners here. I'm around until Friday morning and again the time looks like going very quickly as we have plenty to do!
Friday, 1 April 2011
The Dog and the Spice
Me and Stef are going up to Keswick this evening for a weekend of BG recceing with friends from the FRA forums. We've arranged to meet in the Dog and Gun this evening, and essential weekend pre-hydration will no doubt take place
Our plan is to park in Threlkeld tomorrow, run back down the disused railway to Keswick then do leg 1 back to the cars. Various descent routes from Blencathra will be taken (I'm a 'Doddick Fell, get down safely and save your quads' man, Stef wants to try the 'Parachute'). Beer will no doubt be taken again tomorrow evening and a visit to Lakeland Spice is also on the cards
On Sunday we're going to run out of Keswick on the Cumbria Way over to the foot of Catbells, reverse the Anniversary Waltz finish over High Spy and Maiden Moor, then pick up leg 5 at Dalehead. Whether we drop down to Honister to do the whole of leg 5 remains to be seen
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