tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56560901274910699472024-03-17T21:49:44.857+00:00Far not fastTravels by foot, bicycle, or motorhomeGeoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.comBlogger242125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-13048009462310330382022-11-28T15:51:00.002+00:002022-11-28T16:01:42.808+00:00A wet, windy wanderMy friend Chris suggests a couple of night's backpacking, away from our home in the Peak District and leaves it me to choose. After some thought I suggest a couple of nights in far eastern Cumbria, setting out from the little town of Sedbergh.<div><br /></div><div>It's late November and a couple of hours up the motorway sees us early-lunching in a Sedbergh cafe. Fortified, we set off uphill, Baugh Fell in our sights. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOE3RuWdZ4bZPmnPQcW375r5EpAuPUiVrVoRmxRMZ4Cb1Mjs_9S0HTdnEtOtFxOdxODectrEqZ5Pv1kgq64w9pdwA99m0N2ks1i_J7Z6-8iy1PTfQ77VZ0O-EZZVZRiflUgGnAtgRUrNl8xYx8HbROqViI66eBIuiZ3eZBMLY_ZzrKVhu43Omb6vouiw/s4000/20221125_124108.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOE3RuWdZ4bZPmnPQcW375r5EpAuPUiVrVoRmxRMZ4Cb1Mjs_9S0HTdnEtOtFxOdxODectrEqZ5Pv1kgq64w9pdwA99m0N2ks1i_J7Z6-8iy1PTfQ77VZ0O-EZZVZRiflUgGnAtgRUrNl8xYx8HbROqViI66eBIuiZ3eZBMLY_ZzrKVhu43Omb6vouiw/w640-h480/20221125_124108.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpGyw5Lb8NR8s3VJcbDQx-aiHuEStUiIaJBM5vRmHCs-XBHZJGOZobs5ojdklziRskRjwvHt0UB3mGGeWE1DRTsQuB55ZGFx4RfosO03kksO7gqrFZ1LrV8IqE9D6A7GT9WZAF-Sg-Pu-xcNVexFhwoIYU4a4IoD64I2kKhta8jyF87OL0lon9TvrNw/s4000/20221125_124115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpGyw5Lb8NR8s3VJcbDQx-aiHuEStUiIaJBM5vRmHCs-XBHZJGOZobs5ojdklziRskRjwvHt0UB3mGGeWE1DRTsQuB55ZGFx4RfosO03kksO7gqrFZ1LrV8IqE9D6A7GT9WZAF-Sg-Pu-xcNVexFhwoIYU4a4IoD64I2kKhta8jyF87OL0lon9TvrNw/w640-h480/20221125_124115.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We're lucky...it's a dry day and we're soon plodding up the open moor towards the steep incline to Garsdale Pike. We stop for a break and Chris makes a brew.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkY5ixZrNkxxwGfk4f2zfr1tqIPL5Als5N_kpLmdDeUztGWeyPllKkIjlFKz0FfDFs5gxgfGIqLzdQxfXATdY_TVaWJgKLh7UPy0PMizLO30mROTw5CYnCnwiWb_p7hkFBF-LZYQouX--sQG10eoGYXyJcytIPX-q3lxu_mAqhzINZSZz6DSVwN7lXg/s4000/20221125_140712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkY5ixZrNkxxwGfk4f2zfr1tqIPL5Als5N_kpLmdDeUztGWeyPllKkIjlFKz0FfDFs5gxgfGIqLzdQxfXATdY_TVaWJgKLh7UPy0PMizLO30mROTw5CYnCnwiWb_p7hkFBF-LZYQouX--sQG10eoGYXyJcytIPX-q3lxu_mAqhzINZSZz6DSVwN7lXg/w480-h640/20221125_140712.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9yogSue520AgnHQ1JhB90gmAIzgHPlXfPDHs6yT_0Rp_h0TGH-hAul_yNYbz-yxI21OWLltzmoUSz87sZ14i4padBXDe43FOc_FUx5-BWTy7yLXoBvoGsg643r0wZhezqxRGTf-TVtTX7rb6f_3tP66HS-7BVp65PfdDUsJm99OExgvnI5Ed_Db0uQ/s4000/20221125_140737.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9yogSue520AgnHQ1JhB90gmAIzgHPlXfPDHs6yT_0Rp_h0TGH-hAul_yNYbz-yxI21OWLltzmoUSz87sZ14i4padBXDe43FOc_FUx5-BWTy7yLXoBvoGsg643r0wZhezqxRGTf-TVtTX7rb6f_3tP66HS-7BVp65PfdDUsJm99OExgvnI5Ed_Db0uQ/w480-h640/20221125_140737.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>It's almost four by the time we arrive on the plateau near Tarn Hill Rigg. There are many tarns up here but it's a wild, desolate place. </div><div><br /></div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiNRkTkyY-u31GGZEgcpdGQx-zH9RIo15XoUDXvmsORmzozrotxAvHmcs7aarT0gnMKks58UNXcaIw-oP5HU7475i0xtdZUqka46yk0qg6eNzVzXukw_m7Hpauy1MwZnt24FXfPNH0kSVZOMKkE2gX1sKrVqtJV5r0etW3zufD9BBY0hQb_QGlLXpwg/s2640/20221125_153011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="1980" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiNRkTkyY-u31GGZEgcpdGQx-zH9RIo15XoUDXvmsORmzozrotxAvHmcs7aarT0gnMKks58UNXcaIw-oP5HU7475i0xtdZUqka46yk0qg6eNzVzXukw_m7Hpauy1MwZnt24FXfPNH0kSVZOMKkE2gX1sKrVqtJV5r0etW3zufD9BBY0hQb_QGlLXpwg/w480-h640/20221125_153011.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ri168WBpD5cN5B4AuECJC8QnZFp1aFvFYhKTmQXi1a1iJIVITy5U96GZVYAvM_QdmWz_LLeHFpvkYT1X39hieoh3Lcqb0Zt9HL2wEBI1p32tBaYZWw57fUWP8xnrw55mMm68_tbVF0HOO7_zcV41DsHgJitzRtQ-LDUsX2vaOBOBOpKHsGpflq4YNg/s4000/20221125_153834.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ri168WBpD5cN5B4AuECJC8QnZFp1aFvFYhKTmQXi1a1iJIVITy5U96GZVYAvM_QdmWz_LLeHFpvkYT1X39hieoh3Lcqb0Zt9HL2wEBI1p32tBaYZWw57fUWP8xnrw55mMm68_tbVF0HOO7_zcV41DsHgJitzRtQ-LDUsX2vaOBOBOpKHsGpflq4YNg/w480-h640/20221125_153834.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We've been following a track so far, but here we turn off piste to find a camp. By the time we've settled on a spot we need headtorches to pitch. The ground is very wet and it's tricky to get to a nearby tarn for water. Luckily, our MSR Guardian purifier only needs a shallow supply to function.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>What with one thing and another, it's only the second time I've used our Hilleberg Nallo 2, but it's straightforward to erect, being a classic tunnel design. With water filtered I'm settled, in dry clothes, preparing food and drink</div><div><br /></div><div>It's a night noisy with wind. I'm estimating around 30s with gusts of 40mph.</div><div>I have a settled night though, relishing the fact it's been a while since I've been in a tent. This has been a busy year, for all sorts of reasons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXeewBivjqeRxYt3cjr_IJ5rbaOBt_Xmct8RqcN7CRFf1hMd_xHoVLKaAFFIXHbK5cY8CYbbWg8Ofo7OjUpgLZ4ZsveFdtqpPxJccjYa7j_LREJhpQAxxbvTdDms_1Qcyv5LE9_MbnfcL6IL6Lm7WtCWceAeJa6nUbJcDUFiUD0ycRhUB62FZW307Zw/s4000/20221126_083021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXeewBivjqeRxYt3cjr_IJ5rbaOBt_Xmct8RqcN7CRFf1hMd_xHoVLKaAFFIXHbK5cY8CYbbWg8Ofo7OjUpgLZ4ZsveFdtqpPxJccjYa7j_LREJhpQAxxbvTdDms_1Qcyv5LE9_MbnfcL6IL6Lm7WtCWceAeJa6nUbJcDUFiUD0ycRhUB62FZW307Zw/w480-h640/20221126_083021.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthrFu0v7rGMq0WB9ondE1Mf3iKkjZ26ilH_hHrKk1JhTO7-rb-3ZZF--NZt2HHl8Z0K7JFRXCq0aed-CsOL7SSI5kC6S1AvPJRYwowUSJowjjEuEggL28ZEFF-5buMdDuHGsd2dw81No-zkwWqfP0SFSywpxZAeQPo5ez0M4LAXJDGDJ3JBZgN-Sf0Q/s4000/20221126_092911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthrFu0v7rGMq0WB9ondE1Mf3iKkjZ26ilH_hHrKk1JhTO7-rb-3ZZF--NZt2HHl8Z0K7JFRXCq0aed-CsOL7SSI5kC6S1AvPJRYwowUSJowjjEuEggL28ZEFF-5buMdDuHGsd2dw81No-zkwWqfP0SFSywpxZAeQPo5ez0M4LAXJDGDJ3JBZgN-Sf0Q/w640-h480/20221126_092911.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvZ6lgFPVPrCXFuiI2bS6nIgzr4oNkixzb3w5iPqm9gr2GCC78LEUpvAVcSJeWmLDb_dTjQCtk68SVI9PW6jGEjL3kzBmgYJ4R0_wU_BkBV0Ef1yU3TrggzJ43FPeW9Jm16blTjY068bI1iE9yCgu93mBacb_LzWbmbl22zmjS-pdcww8zcOg96UQ1A/s4000/20221126_092920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvZ6lgFPVPrCXFuiI2bS6nIgzr4oNkixzb3w5iPqm9gr2GCC78LEUpvAVcSJeWmLDb_dTjQCtk68SVI9PW6jGEjL3kzBmgYJ4R0_wU_BkBV0Ef1yU3TrggzJ43FPeW9Jm16blTjY068bI1iE9yCgu93mBacb_LzWbmbl22zmjS-pdcww8zcOg96UQ1A/w640-h480/20221126_092920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We've around seven miles to cover the next day, so agree on a lazy departure at 10am. Having reached the edge of the plateau of Baugh Fell we set out across pathless moor down a broad spur to Rawthey Gill Foot. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dkDS-Fh4c8sOLhfOS4DluKZNaITjH5cH4xKbf37hPVAvqdQqnK9GeN7ooBiEVjwZSIfW80EpiauVP3WrlVVWRB6NJxz7cijiw3aXVJ430a7eD-4GzBHRrlonSvU33shQCmug8HhUioK8Ov9jMSzvN1XdHw_5mqntAjjsDf6W5Oi-1prTQpXLLmlvug/s4000/20221126_103313.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dkDS-Fh4c8sOLhfOS4DluKZNaITjH5cH4xKbf37hPVAvqdQqnK9GeN7ooBiEVjwZSIfW80EpiauVP3WrlVVWRB6NJxz7cijiw3aXVJ430a7eD-4GzBHRrlonSvU33shQCmug8HhUioK8Ov9jMSzvN1XdHw_5mqntAjjsDf6W5Oi-1prTQpXLLmlvug/w640-h480/20221126_103313.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3jgR49jLTO-wMMzgfhmXyXkguE-1pQYT33opyn_f1A4sq2wnacs-sC1tdCXpqOLncv1971StKhcZ52fBnRUTWjudVYkqZgmbJIMgkCk1aftXVozVhvcX-swWXnRPn5AfLpJCVd62MuV0uJ6GAUIOEBBLF91yIk49OHdQfqB9Ws3GprEGRAzpmR74gw/s4000/20221126_103321.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3jgR49jLTO-wMMzgfhmXyXkguE-1pQYT33opyn_f1A4sq2wnacs-sC1tdCXpqOLncv1971StKhcZ52fBnRUTWjudVYkqZgmbJIMgkCk1aftXVozVhvcX-swWXnRPn5AfLpJCVd62MuV0uJ6GAUIOEBBLF91yIk49OHdQfqB9Ws3GprEGRAzpmR74gw/w640-h480/20221126_103321.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknrlaJQJl8zge8GdW3hIykljAf7DE0mySFJY8Ze4sdJTaSFQxDfLm6g5tto7kfbM9rbWC_vlJlttYH-4MLKmK79p9UWMtCoexCegUy9qZD6dMdnhVLIFYvEvCCkw6u13Zltouue2kQT91xe_kwe3de0o5_6ajNA3MX8s4AXUe1WqRpWcth4pdEp5LgQ/s4000/20221126_112338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknrlaJQJl8zge8GdW3hIykljAf7DE0mySFJY8Ze4sdJTaSFQxDfLm6g5tto7kfbM9rbWC_vlJlttYH-4MLKmK79p9UWMtCoexCegUy9qZD6dMdnhVLIFYvEvCCkw6u13Zltouue2kQT91xe_kwe3de0o5_6ajNA3MX8s4AXUe1WqRpWcth4pdEp5LgQ/w480-h640/20221126_112338.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVqYjD2HKtE-9hMSw80JBLGPd3hlcQCOMHLjwA-wOYLjwokJtWHhJIqquBBdd1OChcBrFTnUJ8-o8ZXXyBeJnmG_d1WfR-sfOn9gmt7mNY8GkBYm4sRP2MJv1XLOcm01So29z2H_Z3QyoxkndrqXiIAnTAhyn6bscZEq4Jgh7mG0a6l2BN46tizuNMQ/s4000/20221126_113917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVqYjD2HKtE-9hMSw80JBLGPd3hlcQCOMHLjwA-wOYLjwokJtWHhJIqquBBdd1OChcBrFTnUJ8-o8ZXXyBeJnmG_d1WfR-sfOn9gmt7mNY8GkBYm4sRP2MJv1XLOcm01So29z2H_Z3QyoxkndrqXiIAnTAhyn6bscZEq4Jgh7mG0a6l2BN46tizuNMQ/w480-h640/20221126_113917.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We've had only the vaguest of phone signals, but Chrissie manages to send me a screenshot of the Met Office weather forecast for Wild Boar Fell, our final destination for the day. It shows constant heavy rain for the whole day and windspeeds in the 40s with gusts as high as 62mph later that day. But, at the moment, it's dry and not especially windy. So, disregarding a safe exit along Wainwright's Pennine Journey route in the valley, we agree to continue and climb the easy slopes up to Holmes Moss Hill, where we break for lunch.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_CYpNanA3UsGvVNwfHhlWmZUdRAMto9UsdaB62hZiykwfsYnh_CQ7us7oug89chHXdpFvpo8BrJOS6SzrHu7pdPs5lPcUjnQiZrtMFSdcfYhVXiTC0cx7bEi7D0l-eDuj4pU89YaUY52mIAEXlSonWdkPglJo5osJpsN6VpDi0MMKET-wBV--3uk3w/s4000/20221126_122521.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_CYpNanA3UsGvVNwfHhlWmZUdRAMto9UsdaB62hZiykwfsYnh_CQ7us7oug89chHXdpFvpo8BrJOS6SzrHu7pdPs5lPcUjnQiZrtMFSdcfYhVXiTC0cx7bEi7D0l-eDuj4pU89YaUY52mIAEXlSonWdkPglJo5osJpsN6VpDi0MMKET-wBV--3uk3w/w480-h640/20221126_122521.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>Chris likes brewing coffee for lunch. I'm far too lazy and since I'm slower than him, I leave him to it and begin the steady slog up to Swarth Fell. I find it bloody hard. Takes me almost 45 minutes until we meet up again to rest in the shelter of a wall on the summit. It's getting a little windier now, but it's on our backs as we walk.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9Ykr-ZZMq9LfD-7sI37ZhMGqy1SMpOKKnih7t-NcAXWriTeKxdBkxBLY4dyDXa4ZgS4K0QR15YH-v1fw7Jrl2HSUmI1WcqXFsJsxco45e7BLQtNvxGBSmTrZORkGxfK-xIk9-EF4JihTr2ouFdUtR9nwB6h9o7RWUs1UJmxCUy5c0s0u76IZ3TVnxQ/s2640/20221126_134612.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="1980" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9Ykr-ZZMq9LfD-7sI37ZhMGqy1SMpOKKnih7t-NcAXWriTeKxdBkxBLY4dyDXa4ZgS4K0QR15YH-v1fw7Jrl2HSUmI1WcqXFsJsxco45e7BLQtNvxGBSmTrZORkGxfK-xIk9-EF4JihTr2ouFdUtR9nwB6h9o7RWUs1UJmxCUy5c0s0u76IZ3TVnxQ/w480-h640/20221126_134612.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div> </div>It's only a couple of miles now, to the summit of Wild Boar Fell. We eventually find the summit shelter and, with the briefest of pauses, Chris spots a worn trod heading vaguely in the direction of Sand Tarn, our planned camp spot. The wind still doesn't feel so bad. At the edge of the plateau we catch sight of Sand Tarn and find we can easily pick our way down the slope towards it.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTnmlZtXDk-uwM8owhS_SgqyNVytZF9o3XbD3zG5Yp9K9Hae7iNEaqCdY9nsuhaI-jp_lbTMlTf71iDLMhj1NFAnboFLsdwkUVK-DqD7808oUS5iJePIBSbhIkZz-OY4uU7mLA7cmFaJdzpyXTMue7g6f0H4HCVmQc-t_iUs5_RBHEeMolzRx7K-EoA/s4000/20221126_150350.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTnmlZtXDk-uwM8owhS_SgqyNVytZF9o3XbD3zG5Yp9K9Hae7iNEaqCdY9nsuhaI-jp_lbTMlTf71iDLMhj1NFAnboFLsdwkUVK-DqD7808oUS5iJePIBSbhIkZz-OY4uU7mLA7cmFaJdzpyXTMue7g6f0H4HCVmQc-t_iUs5_RBHEeMolzRx7K-EoA/w640-h480/20221126_150350.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Having got down there, we set about finding the best place to pitch. Only now do I begin to think it feels quite windy. I find a place, away from the worst exposure beside the tarn. I filter water first then begin to erect the tent. Positioning the tail into the wind I fix the two rear pegging points, using the MSR groundhogs we've used with all our tents for many years now. Setting the two poles, I'm just about to insert the first into the sleeve when the tent rears up into the wind. One of the two pegging points has come loose. I can't see the peg so quickly re-fix it with another. The rest of the erection is straightforward but I can't see the missing peg anywhere. Not sure if it flew out of the ground or the metal ring on the tent just came off it, not being under any tension, leaving it in the ground.<div><br /></div><div>I settle into the routine of organising my kit inside the tent. Once sorted, I make a brew and devour two Eccles cakes. It's now around 4:30 and darkness has fallen. Not until I've eaten an excellent Adventure Foods goulash, followed by semolina and jam, do I begin to notice that the wind seems to be steadily increasing, so before settling down properly for the evening I go out and re-tension all the guy lines. It's only now starting to rain, despite this morning's forecast.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I watch a Louis Theroux documentary (with Bear Grylls) I realise I can't hear it, with the volume on maximum. So I dig out my earphones. I enjoy the video and only after it's finished do I really begin to focus on how loud the noise in the tent is, and just how much it's buffeting in the wind.</div><div><br /></div><div>As the evening progresses the wind continues to increase. By 9pm the noise and movement of the tent has become quite alarming. With a good phone signal, I check the latest forecast, to find there are gusts of up to 70mph forecast on Wild Boar Fell, just 50m above us, by 10pm, with steady speeds around 47-48mph. Slightly worrying. Lying on my back, watching the fabric of the inner tent billow wildly is quite unsettling, and I begin to ponder what the outcome of this onslaught might be. I try to sleep but the noise is ridiculous. Earplugs make little difference.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">So, the relentless saga of sitting out a serious wind in a tiny tent continues. I start to wonder if I have any options. Without my wind meter I can only make a sensible estimate of the actual windspeed. I think it's at least 50mph and I have enough experience over many years in mountain rescue to know that walking is difficult, if not impossible, in such winds, especially with a backpacking load. So, I reckon packing up and moving to lower ground is not really an option. I have to trust in the tent, which is one of the best lightweight ones available. But I am worried. As a compromise I decide to pack as much of my kit as possible into my rucsac, so, if the worst happens, at least I won't lose lots of kit to the wind. I contemplate fixing a broken pole. I've done this before, but not in these conditions. and wonder if it would be possible. </span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The noise makes sleep impossible. I see 11pm and get the latest forecast. The wind is due to ease by about 3am. I begin to think that the tent has withstood these conditions now for at least four hours and hope it can continue to hold for four more. At some point I realise the zip on the inner door is not fully closed. For some reason, I peer through it to see the front door on the fly fully open. There's no damage and I zip it closed, this time remembering there is a small toggle at the base of the zip to lock it closed.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next thing I remember is waking at 2:45. The wind has eased. The danger has passed. I drift back to sleep to be awoken by my alarm at 6:30.</div><div><br /></div><div>I enjoy a relaxed breakfast and check Chris is ok. I find that one of the two front guys has come loose, the peg lying on the ground nearby. Otherwise the tent is fine. Despite searching, I never find the peg lost last night.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmm4xuflcYo2KeHDZpNdfEOyiI9W-gNIrC9IMQd3Y-rRCXhE0F19lq703VIk9OgObpC2Q9GoDNMLxO0KUjHdn_2wHcD6vJe54JvFaOeojQQj1oi_q9WbQKrqQQAy89xZaJGCyO6czeD1ZgsihQ6fF2UjPTRgNIHrC9IlNLHiZsYwnNJKCFxzema-Elw/s4000/20221127_081144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmm4xuflcYo2KeHDZpNdfEOyiI9W-gNIrC9IMQd3Y-rRCXhE0F19lq703VIk9OgObpC2Q9GoDNMLxO0KUjHdn_2wHcD6vJe54JvFaOeojQQj1oi_q9WbQKrqQQAy89xZaJGCyO6czeD1ZgsihQ6fF2UjPTRgNIHrC9IlNLHiZsYwnNJKCFxzema-Elw/w640-h480/20221127_081144.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our walk back to Sedbergh, mostly along the valley, is uneventful, save for a couple of amusing fords...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUL_TyDOsr0wd8qpebYzkM_vEykBxR13LVAacm-QwhOLk3RUBo03I2om5m2wp7m8lECxQJJSNtzf2ORF-5REAlTty3dBQeUSsi1-1ly-k5jtf-vl9oN5tttY6xvgsDTTRthe-Iv70JbmVIBK4Moe2pL9_LGq5yecTrUsNHEVpYQJVcsLRJX6-KqLfutQ/s4000/20221127_111706.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUL_TyDOsr0wd8qpebYzkM_vEykBxR13LVAacm-QwhOLk3RUBo03I2om5m2wp7m8lECxQJJSNtzf2ORF-5REAlTty3dBQeUSsi1-1ly-k5jtf-vl9oN5tttY6xvgsDTTRthe-Iv70JbmVIBK4Moe2pL9_LGq5yecTrUsNHEVpYQJVcsLRJX6-KqLfutQ/w480-h640/20221127_111706.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>...but I'm seriously tired by the time we reach Chris's car. We enjoy a late lunch in the cafe again and drive back home to Derbyshire.</div><div><br /></div><div>Chrissie and I once spent a night in a Terra Nova Voyager at 12000ft, below the summit of Mt Whitney in the Sierra Nevada, California. We sat through a terrific lightning storm, striking the jagged peaks all around. I've always considered that to be the worst night I've ever spent in a tent. But now, I think it was this night at Sand Tarn.</div><div><br /></div><div>Could we have done anything different? Yes. I think we could and should have gone down to lower more sheltered ground to pitch. Maybe we'd have been better escaping down the Pennine Journey route at lunchtime, given the forecast.</div><div><br /></div><div>In any event I've no wish to repeat such an experience. I reckon, henceforth, I won't choose to camp with a forecast of more than 30mph, gusting maybe in the 40s.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, this is easy to say and not quite so easy to do on a long journey. We had one very windy night on our Kungsleden trek in 2019, when we double pegged the rear of our Terra Nova Polarite 3 tunnel tent.</div><div><br /></div><div>We learn though by experience and I now have a better knowledge of the strength of our Hilleberg Nallo.</div><div><br /></div><div>Smile, and have fun!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-56666396156043023762021-05-15T14:25:00.000+01:002021-05-15T14:25:30.107+01:00How many dogs do I really need?Chrissie and I have two beautiful dogs; a red boxer and a chocolate labrador retriever. I also have another dog, who mostly lurks in the dark recesses of my consciousness. This one's most definitely Black (with a capital B). Most of the time he remains hidden but, over the past few weeks he's been creeping out of his hiding place, nudging me. I'm known as a dog lover, but I can't say I love this one.<div><br /></div><div>Four years ago I wrote <a href="https://farnotfast.blogspot.com/2017/12/depression-and-me.html">this</a>. It's perhaps best to give it a quick read to understand where I'm coming from here. I've had a long battle with depression and, in recent years, I've mostly won. But right now I feel I'm on the losing side. </div><div><br /></div><div>For some time now I've begun to notice unhappiness as my default mode. On the face of it I've nowt to be unhappy about. I have a loving wife, two gorgeous soppy dogs, a wonderful daughter and son-in-law and two beautiful grandchildren. But, that's not how depression works. It defies logic. It ignores all the positives in your life and builds any negatives into great, big, hulking monoliths which overshadow everything good. I wake in the morning feeling there's no reason to get up. I list problems in my head. I don't look forward to doing the things I should enjoy. I just can't be bothered, with anything. Life has become a chore. </div><div><br /></div><div>I feel low. I want to cry.</div><div><br /></div><div>Having been here before, I recognise the problem. I know the signs. So, after much thought, I phoned my GP a couple of days ago. And after the briefest of telephone consultations I'm now on anti depressants again, for the first time in around seven years. I have every expectation that this will help realign the stuff that's going wrong in my brain. I can't pretend I really understand how it works but, in the past, it always has. The drug takes a couple of weeks to show its effect though.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's not just me suffering either. Chrissie has to handle the effect of living with someone who's low and miserable all the time. She knows me so well but it's not easy for her.</div><div><br /></div><div>Right now, I'm trying hard to fill my time. I have absolutely no doubt that the pandemic has a part to play in how I feel and I'm pleased to say that I'll be going over to see my Dad in Wetherby on Monday, and, since this coincides with the re-opening of restaurants, I have a booking for lunch in one of his favourite eateries. I've not seen him for months. Next Saturday, Abi, Dave and the children are coming for dinner, INSIDE! Again, the first time in months. It will be so lovely to have them all here.</div><div><br /></div><div>As before, I write this in an effort to break the stigma of the concept of depression and anxiety. They are valid illnesses and can be as disabling as a broken leg, maybe even more so, being so difficult to understand. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ironically, its the end of mental health awareness week right now. So, if you too meet with the Black Dog, I wish you the strength to better understand what's happening to you. Go easy on yourself and talk about it to someone. Similarly, if you know anyone who suffers, treat them with kindness and compassion and do your best to understand.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've added pics of the things in my life that still can make me smile.</div><div><br /></div><div>Love and peace to you all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5CvTrARRpQDEvrW2VdtMJX3yuGGIzR_8MZWQ1-cb0XeIeu_s2KGPhGmJRkNsbR5WgTPnTFlFn4o6UQFyPrx0O9QowonNdUY9Lxl3BYYYvrcUP2How_29u6zH-CihR0ms4Vd56F1mbOWO/s4000/IMG_20210201_111639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5CvTrARRpQDEvrW2VdtMJX3yuGGIzR_8MZWQ1-cb0XeIeu_s2KGPhGmJRkNsbR5WgTPnTFlFn4o6UQFyPrx0O9QowonNdUY9Lxl3BYYYvrcUP2How_29u6zH-CihR0ms4Vd56F1mbOWO/w480-h640/IMG_20210201_111639.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpEXUgSdpbs84NoDlqnjw-7aBstoDK7-k-O8-hwGE5gKXG9h4WZdQgRq45pgyUjp7-uvyhmmhr97qe9Z2hg4pv35ObSO_LGI5xQniGEmGPhilUzurHE3QNl4AfDi5lr2t1y9x8OdxN6Rl/s1024/IMG-20201225-WA0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpEXUgSdpbs84NoDlqnjw-7aBstoDK7-k-O8-hwGE5gKXG9h4WZdQgRq45pgyUjp7-uvyhmmhr97qe9Z2hg4pv35ObSO_LGI5xQniGEmGPhilUzurHE3QNl4AfDi5lr2t1y9x8OdxN6Rl/w640-h480/IMG-20201225-WA0007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-74364157135276824642021-05-01T16:35:00.000+01:002021-05-01T16:35:35.041+01:00Wild camping in High PeakI don't bother much with blogging these days but, with recent developments, I felt compelled to take to the keyboard. We're just back from a motorhome trip up north and, whilst we were away, some new legislation came to light, via Twitter.<div>Before I go further, if you're in any way interested in wild camping, it's perhaps best that you read <a href="https://www.highpeak.gov.uk/article/1973/Public-Spaces-Protection-Orders" target="_blank">this</a>. Having read the page, which is short, click on the link to "Wildfires PSPO" and read that carefully. Again, it's only short.</div><div><br /></div><div>You'll se that this order is primarily written in response to recent wildfires on the moors up here in the north of England. There was one on Kinder just last week. In an effort to avoid this happening again High peak Borough Council have put this order in place, referring in particular to the misuse of barbecues, fireworks and Chinese lanterns. Most of us would agree that this is laudable. There's no need to use such things out in the countryside, and, during the pandemic, there have been lots of instances of their inappropriate use, leading to some appalling fires. However, whoever drafted this law has taken it further and included in the prohibition, "Using any article or object which causes a naked flame and thereby poses a risk
of fire without the prior written consent of the Borough Council." This description clearly covers the use of ANY kind of camping stove and even a match or lighter. This, in turn, effectively makes it illegal to cook using a stove whilst wild camping.</div><div><br /></div><div>Remember, wild camping in the Peak District is not actually illegal. Rather it is a matter of civil trespass between the individual camper and the landowner. It is not an offence in itself. I shouldn't need to remind regular wild campers that, if one is asked to move on by an agent of the landowner, one should do so.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, in short, for the three years commencing the 16th April 2021, it would certainly appear that using a stove in the hills of the High Peak area, has become illegal.</div><div><br /></div><div>In light of the above I'd like to make a number of comments.</div><div><br /></div><div>1. The area defined is, basically, open areas within the boundary of High Peak Borough Council (HPBC), NOT the whole of the Peak District National Park. For your information, here is a map showing the boundary of HPBC. I apologise for the quality of this image, it was the best I could find. But you may notice that the northern and north eastern edges mirror the boundary of Derbyshire. where it adjoins West and South Yorkshire respectively. So, at the moment, there are areas of the Peak District Park which aren't affected. Unfortunately, or fortunately (depending on your standpoint) Chrissie and I live in HPBC!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxps0eDJ63gKVvZaTKdzNhWGlWr14WzXsoJwhI5SD5FsetHINqkLQRV94BB3DhCsxidSLk7eQfBs-BPz0Bneifd9edp-di1PpkMzNd6c66EbxzVsKls6UUjBxdTKN0SR69aBOMjphfkAJ/s320/high-peak-constituency-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="277" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxps0eDJ63gKVvZaTKdzNhWGlWr14WzXsoJwhI5SD5FsetHINqkLQRV94BB3DhCsxidSLk7eQfBs-BPz0Bneifd9edp-di1PpkMzNd6c66EbxzVsKls6UUjBxdTKN0SR69aBOMjphfkAJ/w554-h640/high-peak-constituency-2.png" width="554" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>2. It is an offence, in the area covered, to be in possession of a barbecue, fireworks or a lantern using a naked flame, but, importantly NOT a stove. So, there'd be no problem passing through this area with your normal backpacking kit. It is an offence to use the stove though.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. In my opinion, wild campers are not the intended target of this legislation, but we are hit by, if you will, the collateral damage. There have been instances reported recently of landowners' agents, seeking out wild campers and asking them to move. To my knowledge this has happened on Bamford Edge and, I believe, Stanage Edge. I believe Bamford Edge to be privately owned (I may be wrong) rather than National Trust. These areas are very close to roads, which makes them very easy targets for both campers and landowners' agents. In contrast, folk who are well out of the way, are unlikely to be bothered by anyone. It may well be that, once the foolish people using barbecues, fireworks etc have got the message, then life will calm down again. I'm not actually aware of any instance of a true wild camper starting a fire and I don't believe any agency has the resources to completely police and eradicate wild camping. However, there have been reports of people accessing moors via popular roadheads (eg by the reservoir gates from Hayfield) carrying backpacking kit being challenged by rangers, reminding them that wild camping is "not allowed". </div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, some general thoughts.</div><div><br /></div><div>Given the spirit of this legislation, it's entirely possible it may also be applied by other council areas. Indeed, it wouldn't surprise me.</div><div><br /></div><div>As regular wild campers, we have all played a part, perhaps, in influencing others to try the activity. There are huge numbers nowadays, whose main focus is to go out, purely for the sake of camping for the night, rather than as part of a linear or circular, multi-day journey, which was, arguably, the original purpose of wild camping. Many seek to find places as close as possible to a roadhead, bringing its own problems, as referred to in point 3 above and, often, leading to the overuse of some locations.</div><div><br /></div><div>Chrissie and I have a real passion for longer backpacking adventures, but we do keep our camping skills honed by short, one or two night trips on our local patch.</div><div>Over the years we have found ourselves sharing camp spots, previously known only to us and it's startling how quickly this information spreads. I can think of one place, which I found in my local wandering a few years ago, where a recent visit revealed the remains of fire ring. When I first went there, I saw no evidence at all of it ever being used before. As a result of all the above, we've now decided to stop sharing information about camp spots, preferring instead to encourage others to find their own. Find places less frequented and you'll probably be unaffected by any of the above.</div><div><br /></div><div>So far, I've avoided commenting on the legislation on social media. We already tread a precarious path as wild campers in the Peak District, so have no real weight to argue against this order. I did consider carefully before writing this, but I don't really think it will make our status as wild campers any worse. I still believe there aren't the resources to stop it completely. Folk reading this in Scotland, the Lake District and Dartmoor should remind them selves how lucky they are. Note that this order stays in place for three years but the legislation allows for it to be extended indefinitely. I'd long hoped I might live to see Scottish-type access here in England but, right now, I feel doubtful.</div><div><br /></div><div>In conclusion, I'm publishing this because I don't think enough people are currently aware of the situation, so please feel free to share it. It's quite important to know where you stand with the law, if challenged. I was surprised when I first read it only a couple of days ago, especially when I noticed it came into effect around two weeks previously, with no local publicity that I'm aware of. My own take is, I won't be out camping in the affected area for a while, maybe until the end of the summer. I prefer to see how it goes for now.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd be interested to hear any constructive comments.</div><div><br /></div><div>Take care all, and keep safe.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-76151043586898550292021-01-24T14:34:00.002+00:002021-01-25T15:37:43.162+00:00SOLD! Terra Nova Southern Cross 2 tent<div><div>NOW SOLD! </div><div><br /></div><div>We have a tent for sale. It has a bit of a back story.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>We bought a Southern Cross 2 a few years ago, as a replacement for a previous Terra Nova model which was no longer available. It had been out for a year or so and won at least one award for its innovative design. It's fairly unusual in that it has two crossed poles, the transverse one in a sleeve and the other, supporting the tent with hooks. It has two doors and two porches, so great for keeping wet kit out of the way. It's a good, strong, two person, four season tent which we used in all conditions, including heavy snow, with no problems. We've mostly used it, backpacking, as a one person plus dog tent, but I've found it great for cycle touring, giving plenty of room to bring all my bike luggage inside the inner.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back in 2018, prior to my 5 week cycle tour across France, I had an accident with a very powerful torch, which I'd been sent for review, burning a hole in the groundsheet. I won't go into details, other than to say that the torch manufacturer agreed to replace the tent for us at no cost. Before that happened I repaired the hole and took it with me on my French adventure, using it for over 30 consecutive nights without a hitch.</div><div><br /></div><div>We bought the replacement when I returned, in July 2018. This new tent is the one for sale. It hasn't actually had a lot of use, partly because, in 2019, Chrissie and I had a long journey through Scandinavia, where we used our bigger, 3 person, Terra Nova tent. I hardly need to mention how little we did in 2020! I did use it for a week long cycle tour of the Caledonia Way in the spring of 2019, in rotten weather, without a problem. </div><div><br /></div><div>These pics are from my Caledonia Way cycle tour. The Southern Cross is the larger, paler tent.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBc3Sb4cEkNTRjmMOiJS2kCXwQcYA9RksSTy-Eg2fWjy3qAXwdz6YHb1H9khJ89ongn_lT5nbAa9vA7_TpttuMscB1Dt2D1vliVDw2ygplTNcHdoZSUq_wzk4GTznFYnQkpe2lMHTz6hmK/s2048/DSC_0013.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBc3Sb4cEkNTRjmMOiJS2kCXwQcYA9RksSTy-Eg2fWjy3qAXwdz6YHb1H9khJ89ongn_lT5nbAa9vA7_TpttuMscB1Dt2D1vliVDw2ygplTNcHdoZSUq_wzk4GTznFYnQkpe2lMHTz6hmK/w640-h360/DSC_0013.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQNCK33LYPEqFd_5dmh0SKGwjmuKHgJKVFBOIrwg118dJhoPgFIrQhQBrEn4WdYZwJGeygKxIdlP10ftaVtq0yw3Hopyp7rwfge1DybMYkMCj7CAI6B4xyu382zydZ10jjRJEyMrHQlRs/s2048/DSC_0026.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQNCK33LYPEqFd_5dmh0SKGwjmuKHgJKVFBOIrwg118dJhoPgFIrQhQBrEn4WdYZwJGeygKxIdlP10ftaVtq0yw3Hopyp7rwfge1DybMYkMCj7CAI6B4xyu382zydZ10jjRJEyMrHQlRs/w640-h360/DSC_0026.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmz3lT0VQv5nPSDpJX83pmwdXCtrm_6TdpMr0l6Oj_LPkG6tlAo4klluOB9vCdh9NEiUj8V381SYgM-8S7Br-g_aN6TT03d5ucvp-cVgm8kFM_Rt50VFLEXNaYzd8-5Z9EYvHU9AVTpcqL/s2048/DSC_0034.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmz3lT0VQv5nPSDpJX83pmwdXCtrm_6TdpMr0l6Oj_LPkG6tlAo4klluOB9vCdh9NEiUj8V381SYgM-8S7Br-g_aN6TT03d5ucvp-cVgm8kFM_Rt50VFLEXNaYzd8-5Z9EYvHU9AVTpcqL/w640-h360/DSC_0034.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFSoE8IGeZ_ggp7A_a92w8jak8cyoFAtf9Ar9a1X3FeKYQ8sHn_b-4aGCPvvSl9d0zg0AIsDTXaQaO-AYx_klZjXXskFjrpxp0RfiMxaTKADeVXXtNMB3kCEW3U829Oji778D1Xbqa-WK/s2048/DSC_0043.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFSoE8IGeZ_ggp7A_a92w8jak8cyoFAtf9Ar9a1X3FeKYQ8sHn_b-4aGCPvvSl9d0zg0AIsDTXaQaO-AYx_klZjXXskFjrpxp0RfiMxaTKADeVXXtNMB3kCEW3U829Oji778D1Xbqa-WK/w640-h360/DSC_0043.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>However, Chrissie did use it one night last November, pre lockdown. It rained very heavily, with 40mph wind gusts, and the tent flysheet leaked from the transverse pole sleeve, so much so that Chrissie decamped and came home (she was very local, thankfully). We contacted Terra Nova about the problem. They asked us to send the flysheet to them and, having checked it, they re-taped it all, free of charge. We have the "receipt" for this, which can go with the tent, to the purchaser.<div><br /></div><div>As I write, Chrissie slept in the tent last night, in our garden, in snow, and for added certainty we've just given it a hammering with our hose pipe, focusing on the seams, to make sure it is indeed watertight. It is.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over the past 12 months we've been swapping our tent collection to Hillebergs, including buying two, two person tents, an Anjan 2 and a Nallo 2, which is the only reason we're selling the Southern Cross 2. We also have a Southern Cross 1, for solo use, such is our confidence with these tents.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, in short, it's a lightly used, good quality tent and we're asking £450 for it, including postage and packing. If you go on the Terra Nova website, you'll see that their rrp is £700, and they're also not expecting any more in until late February/early March. There's been a real demand for decent backpacking tents recently, so you'd be struggling to find a new Southern Cross 2, for sale anywhere. This is also true of Hillebergs incidentally.</div><div><br /></div><div>Please don't insult us with a silly offer. We're happy to keep the tent as a spare if it doesn't sell. You can never have too many tents.</div><div><br /></div><div>Contact us via Twitter at either @GeoffCrowther1 or @chrissiepebbles. Chrissie is on Facebook at Chrissie Todd Crowther, as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you're not in the market for this tent, we'd be grateful for any shares of this advertisement. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers all!</div><div><br /></div>Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-15093188173654535352020-12-22T17:55:00.002+00:002020-12-22T17:55:57.568+00:00A year of minimalist adventures, 2020What can I say about 2020? Not much that you haven't already thought yourself. But, I have kept reminding myself, and Chrissie, how lucky we are. We're retired. We live in a beautiful area. So no real financial worries and, really, plenty of time and space to get out. But it's still got to me.<div><br /></div><div>Nevertheless, I do seem to have squeezed a few adventures in.</div><div><br /></div><div>We saw January in with James and Dale with a van trip to Troutbeck Head, involving walking, mountain biking and a visit from our pal Pete Dixon.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXftaobPLQnPFQteXHfO7Q99dL6ZRY4VIPerkCv78wlOvhI2xoF_O_Q4N7grieuA7l3DWJgwQyjgV7ijQ1Vb5HTxNgia70oZozBmcQJClPLrSHWEm_gsf0CjgHElhiAXblrEjkwN2LKgE/s2048/Jan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXftaobPLQnPFQteXHfO7Q99dL6ZRY4VIPerkCv78wlOvhI2xoF_O_Q4N7grieuA7l3DWJgwQyjgV7ijQ1Vb5HTxNgia70oZozBmcQJClPLrSHWEm_gsf0CjgHElhiAXblrEjkwN2LKgE/w640-h360/Jan.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv40ATpZau-5d1snDXEQYlxVB9F1S822pdPpCcRZ6aorNqQ1L_dhR4fVo4rVduULg0BMvOUpTfItTT3ZamRuUPozGstMCpuplRvyZusmUn6S3dpm7sEii7GUthM8TX-vMc1Psb_adDzPKl/s2048/Jan+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv40ATpZau-5d1snDXEQYlxVB9F1S822pdPpCcRZ6aorNqQ1L_dhR4fVo4rVduULg0BMvOUpTfItTT3ZamRuUPozGstMCpuplRvyZusmUn6S3dpm7sEii7GUthM8TX-vMc1Psb_adDzPKl/w640-h360/Jan+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In February, Noah had a long-awaited overnight stay with us, while Mum and Dad shot into the local maternity unit and returned with a little brother, Ewan.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2D67Es_Wn-Yxp8QO0gtWFl1lg9bklusT_cRsC7ZkfytlI8lS8V5hp-i0dZplG2M9bw208uPdaJtxSjCRxs_8ot3T6-Gas7LjIkmhuUX7WFIhG6_GuV_kmgOMHn2srlCEa7-by3SCQgPD/s2048/Jan+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2D67Es_Wn-Yxp8QO0gtWFl1lg9bklusT_cRsC7ZkfytlI8lS8V5hp-i0dZplG2M9bw208uPdaJtxSjCRxs_8ot3T6-Gas7LjIkmhuUX7WFIhG6_GuV_kmgOMHn2srlCEa7-by3SCQgPD/w640-h360/Jan+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqc0icfUDZpDq9FrddMpsCVOcOCQnE_zsKl12kSjaE3WavWZuW_r5RznCurJG0AQTYhlT8WNGd7q-W6lssYrH8vFci7P8530ayYIsdA7AwgYB4_87__7_0G9_tD26NmtYkx9vrgRNIi5x8/s1599/Jan+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1599" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqc0icfUDZpDq9FrddMpsCVOcOCQnE_zsKl12kSjaE3WavWZuW_r5RznCurJG0AQTYhlT8WNGd7q-W6lssYrH8vFci7P8530ayYIsdA7AwgYB4_87__7_0G9_tD26NmtYkx9vrgRNIi5x8/w640-h360/Jan+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In a brief respite from grandparenting, Islay and I dashed up a favourite hill for a camp...<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKu3J3sFseRqrJJpKF4oCnu857lChGeVm_JQcji9rcs7I8HKe02PGEUZngXPNneFf2E5xfxf2IPpyl7bYtdhXMJqiEV7Bdlzp__iP5kxlgLmC3PSGL46lnIp06u8Q8sj1OdxoKtDOhzom1/s2048/Jan+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKu3J3sFseRqrJJpKF4oCnu857lChGeVm_JQcji9rcs7I8HKe02PGEUZngXPNneFf2E5xfxf2IPpyl7bYtdhXMJqiEV7Bdlzp__iP5kxlgLmC3PSGL46lnIp06u8Q8sj1OdxoKtDOhzom1/w480-h640/Jan+4.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>...and at the end of the month Chris and I met up with James for a long day's mountain biking down in the White Peak.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHk0l2DEIuWr30hKZAJaKpD-iS9v1yU9hHcsCE0r3jNNArlJJ9iwp8FxalFbQJwOgLokTDWvWtuYOS9Z9BExkqSbGVDqmX87m2-5vT3UVITTWMpKXXTxnEEIKSKXhIAs4b3Lfl1xxgv9R/s2048/Jan+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHk0l2DEIuWr30hKZAJaKpD-iS9v1yU9hHcsCE0r3jNNArlJJ9iwp8FxalFbQJwOgLokTDWvWtuYOS9Z9BExkqSbGVDqmX87m2-5vT3UVITTWMpKXXTxnEEIKSKXhIAs4b3Lfl1xxgv9R/w640-h360/Jan+5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In February, blissfully unaware of what was ahead, Chris and I jetted off to Gran Canaria for a week of backpacking. On the second night we were hit by a wild calima; a ferocious sandstorm from Africa, which destroyed Chris's tent. We spent the rest of the week as somewhat uncomfortable tourists, by the ocean.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvZRgnWTucJscPYhrogyyRAv39eK_n8KcR6m5VQkrO_Geun_0PIS3yvcSBHNK8KoAmS6wXJ1QE7qlk6aPcM7ffOrWEgoNxnjkURivUul1A46Myj125z5ObzhelAnE8kHmVO4rGghDWklF/s2048/Feb+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvZRgnWTucJscPYhrogyyRAv39eK_n8KcR6m5VQkrO_Geun_0PIS3yvcSBHNK8KoAmS6wXJ1QE7qlk6aPcM7ffOrWEgoNxnjkURivUul1A46Myj125z5ObzhelAnE8kHmVO4rGghDWklF/w640-h480/Feb+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWsAZNYLHklCD0Z2EIa0Zah5yZlO9vSpvoh1wcqo3gVUI7NHaSA0N0ObQpkaVY4b_LmvLEvNbS9J10usr8fuGjrf99S88k9dyeJJCwGKQO4PmvWyuJqMCd1ZczTrabI5XwdV5uzeAPbRz/s2048/Feb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWsAZNYLHklCD0Z2EIa0Zah5yZlO9vSpvoh1wcqo3gVUI7NHaSA0N0ObQpkaVY4b_LmvLEvNbS9J10usr8fuGjrf99S88k9dyeJJCwGKQO4PmvWyuJqMCd1ZczTrabI5XwdV5uzeAPbRz/w640-h360/Feb.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>In March, more and more news emerged of a virus from China. Noah began getting used to life as a big brother and Chrissie and I set out north in the van. In Barnard Castle, we watched more information emerging on social media and began feeling slightly guilty for travelling away from home. After just a couple of nights we returned home...and the first lockdown began.</div><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtL2IJQebOypKlK3-oYsyXW6oteiWZ_PZZOLKzPLrz7qxdc6kBn5D6tx0i6iU1NwvmEjVNUG_J6Aj0lQTfo0JMHcaTzMe9z-Am6pSdIyLkDQM55WzcOZxIq3tywPMDpxY9Nqx5o4wNrCP/s1599/March+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtL2IJQebOypKlK3-oYsyXW6oteiWZ_PZZOLKzPLrz7qxdc6kBn5D6tx0i6iU1NwvmEjVNUG_J6Aj0lQTfo0JMHcaTzMe9z-Am6pSdIyLkDQM55WzcOZxIq3tywPMDpxY9Nqx5o4wNrCP/w480-h640/March+%25282%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxkN3UL1y2caeCXHn1eO2thyhZHoRxT0TbaB67bfT_2CXSX9DsOpyzt-4SwHhAiBNypaD73sxgXsA09jd_RYlkoZRaArI0AFFiZWKJLBEltMesTPW69t99XTPL0Nh0JsDhDMMAOZsm0Ug/s2048/March.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxkN3UL1y2caeCXHn1eO2thyhZHoRxT0TbaB67bfT_2CXSX9DsOpyzt-4SwHhAiBNypaD73sxgXsA09jd_RYlkoZRaArI0AFFiZWKJLBEltMesTPW69t99XTPL0Nh0JsDhDMMAOZsm0Ug/w640-h360/March.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>April saw us in a world of Skype calls with daughter, son in law and grandchildren. We were thankful for good weather, and life in a village on the edge of the Peak District hills. We never missed a day out with the dogs.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjPndGtVoRneAXJBlA4Y_XXmCJDHZKRzKGBKe5JW2AV6gZY986lW9DpmsqB1USQNCTr5kqpGh2mGKOoJ0XI0OJJWkrQyO3-2qDCI-VhpJyg82XcjH10ska8JRUWU3EHvB6Au4SFnD5_AS/s2048/DSC_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjPndGtVoRneAXJBlA4Y_XXmCJDHZKRzKGBKe5JW2AV6gZY986lW9DpmsqB1USQNCTr5kqpGh2mGKOoJ0XI0OJJWkrQyO3-2qDCI-VhpJyg82XcjH10ska8JRUWU3EHvB6Au4SFnD5_AS/w640-h360/DSC_0300.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">May brought the possibility of garden meets. But Noah was felt to be too young and boisterous to understand. So he stayed home with Daddy while Abi visited with Ewan. In the latter part of the month, I sneaked out for a camp with Islay. This was around the time, accommodation opened and overnight stays were again permitted. All a bit irrelevant to solo backpacking though. </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27hPs712XNroLdxQT4sDkrjV3xAYXvyo0944tkyTIxIci81IQrHbLgWyvOsXup05C14XOl8G_arH-4xmSOFajSoW0Whcq-ujKtREf_7Z3fRVgYla_60cfs_BGBgk68ZpRMA0EdeyQUP0e/s2048/May.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27hPs712XNroLdxQT4sDkrjV3xAYXvyo0944tkyTIxIci81IQrHbLgWyvOsXup05C14XOl8G_arH-4xmSOFajSoW0Whcq-ujKtREf_7Z3fRVgYla_60cfs_BGBgk68ZpRMA0EdeyQUP0e/w480-h640/May.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQy_FRySajJciRBdsdtpiyHyVjUZLY0aYityCk3d9Vq0jHJOB5N2XoymGISauMqCu-IQNSIkPxiibZ2zJ5gwRJ_96gdXUbVv_-RwZIpFYilgW_i_QFi-MTxoPtnVSJaUeq0x9ui5p0tzgj/s2048/May+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQy_FRySajJciRBdsdtpiyHyVjUZLY0aYityCk3d9Vq0jHJOB5N2XoymGISauMqCu-IQNSIkPxiibZ2zJ5gwRJ_96gdXUbVv_-RwZIpFYilgW_i_QFi-MTxoPtnVSJaUeq0x9ui5p0tzgj/w640-h360/May+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Chrissie had been suffering with Lyme disease for some time. The GP's antibiotics didn't help. So in June she was referred to Sheffield's Hallamshire Hospital and given a three week course of intravenous antibiotics, which I was trained to administer, at home, each day. It did work, thankfully.</div><div><br /></div><div>On one night, Islay and I slept in the van, on the drive, just for fun.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xH4EjaCyNRAyTxpt1qoMZDzLl4ZYKyk5WSfByazqhDjB5mqd4AqDlYxmOPlr6hgo1pzjgs5lccKXxatw8Gt8AwQ66rGeE6E1tvQWd0JlcriXDjKV6LY0vO537Cm1_1APgr7Ujdj5SLoB/s2048/June.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="2048" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xH4EjaCyNRAyTxpt1qoMZDzLl4ZYKyk5WSfByazqhDjB5mqd4AqDlYxmOPlr6hgo1pzjgs5lccKXxatw8Gt8AwQ66rGeE6E1tvQWd0JlcriXDjKV6LY0vO537Cm1_1APgr7Ujdj5SLoB/w640-h590/June.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0FgizznFYIVNp2OZeYHPa5MlcDPxKUebnobZSoWPBcC1bhr_XVNTrdYUdorfLAuWSumJe4P1LQ0avELixe0YHj9qu7vA3fQznpkRviTBZC6WMkxO0RXt_MN-87c56ajiDIwW4MN3BVAU/s2048/June+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0FgizznFYIVNp2OZeYHPa5MlcDPxKUebnobZSoWPBcC1bhr_XVNTrdYUdorfLAuWSumJe4P1LQ0avELixe0YHj9qu7vA3fQznpkRviTBZC6WMkxO0RXt_MN-87c56ajiDIwW4MN3BVAU/w640-h480/June+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>In early July, Dale and I took a two night trip around Kinder and later in the month I drove up to the Lakes for another two nighter with David Williams and John Sanderson. For the Lakes trip I used the Hilleberg Ajan 2 which we'd recently bought.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLbJs83l0TSoMPOstY_iqZZnquYB7Qb8WV3U9zbm_80cKQr8F8Ce5v-MDcN7ITB3xtT9wDHMgK2kppebtq1hWkALa_lR2LyTYRewJd5WupB4kUPzxlGC9nbD_Pz-eotNqIILYSaFqQ_Tn/s2048/July.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLbJs83l0TSoMPOstY_iqZZnquYB7Qb8WV3U9zbm_80cKQr8F8Ce5v-MDcN7ITB3xtT9wDHMgK2kppebtq1hWkALa_lR2LyTYRewJd5WupB4kUPzxlGC9nbD_Pz-eotNqIILYSaFqQ_Tn/w640-h480/July.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPHOz1sgsdOYjYH2VKADYXu2w8r2gTNgxEYHeTSkLBS4hPpSbwozWqIVPYooBUAVb0veMHcwiJkcM-X0_-JGCicKTEsdG9m28c4A5P6CmWRxS7PKmHsx3qVXabgVLaMWTGcEpdu4rtjGs/s2048/July+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPHOz1sgsdOYjYH2VKADYXu2w8r2gTNgxEYHeTSkLBS4hPpSbwozWqIVPYooBUAVb0veMHcwiJkcM-X0_-JGCicKTEsdG9m28c4A5P6CmWRxS7PKmHsx3qVXabgVLaMWTGcEpdu4rtjGs/w640-h480/July+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2JfZOZoF6bX2Rru5rlhXG1hHRMW9v7PbB0nilDNY_o2DqenXYUWqarTwrAKn0U4jwUYkINS8R-GjcDauRC7DYtYsFYknxb38jlCdgMvIYFUVQ59lXOEQ5A1vCIItvlmqLX9Gv8zd_rWI/s2048/July+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2JfZOZoF6bX2Rru5rlhXG1hHRMW9v7PbB0nilDNY_o2DqenXYUWqarTwrAKn0U4jwUYkINS8R-GjcDauRC7DYtYsFYknxb38jlCdgMvIYFUVQ59lXOEQ5A1vCIItvlmqLX9Gv8zd_rWI/w640-h480/July+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>August saw the first and last visit (for now) from Abi, Dave and the children. Then we finally got away in the van for a trip to North Yorkshire, where we met up with James and Corrina. From there we drove over to Barnard Castle (which we've known for much longer than the t*** Cummings) where we enjoyed fish and chips on a stroll into the town.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7YxsmNNJV648agTrJkjlgvYsKAa5XX6RiU7HEEoOwZwkJVPf9UTUqmHLXobnt6oMCxUZH2sZfxFlrKmfPNEUNSMggIBhfaqt0d8yLtCtxgRk65cFOWsfrKO3MSu9pd1WxSfijtGnvgmK/s2048/Aug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7YxsmNNJV648agTrJkjlgvYsKAa5XX6RiU7HEEoOwZwkJVPf9UTUqmHLXobnt6oMCxUZH2sZfxFlrKmfPNEUNSMggIBhfaqt0d8yLtCtxgRk65cFOWsfrKO3MSu9pd1WxSfijtGnvgmK/w480-h640/Aug.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnyj0r1jMutTxmWr5djcygQ1repr0nGuzgC0oG8thabQi_j94VzCUfGAIQGIlq_uonT41M8FVga0sMAfF4TCDPrfRflXMjbXvvn_1EiK4Whf2bEPdMihwdwtDOq2m-GQZiGGzhe862ujG/s2048/Aug+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnyj0r1jMutTxmWr5djcygQ1repr0nGuzgC0oG8thabQi_j94VzCUfGAIQGIlq_uonT41M8FVga0sMAfF4TCDPrfRflXMjbXvvn_1EiK4Whf2bEPdMihwdwtDOq2m-GQZiGGzhe862ujG/w640-h480/Aug+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HSfgLM2O_KffJNQM9QefHraI6pv4jkudPxtIZGk947ZpVdTAOkvLniu5n5HroNF89sG-Sp-Jv-1plKHqBRbOnsX5vrJU9_NImTD_ElgLioyqR42kbjx_a6hZtTfUfC0OCY4Y06Z8VX_f/s2048/Aug+2+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HSfgLM2O_KffJNQM9QefHraI6pv4jkudPxtIZGk947ZpVdTAOkvLniu5n5HroNF89sG-Sp-Jv-1plKHqBRbOnsX5vrJU9_NImTD_ElgLioyqR42kbjx_a6hZtTfUfC0OCY4Y06Z8VX_f/w640-h480/Aug+2+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmsi1xT5XgaIGJc5JMoXUV-ARsQVExrs69H0DeyFGeHaqZGimJbXYR8nbkoYgj79BPQyF_stgOHssg8UrcBf5nfr77ABiSQ2COP298b92qdzCFLm3HDbKfzRHPmv-J-h1Nwdpqmitm_eJ/s2048/Aug+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmsi1xT5XgaIGJc5JMoXUV-ARsQVExrs69H0DeyFGeHaqZGimJbXYR8nbkoYgj79BPQyF_stgOHssg8UrcBf5nfr77ABiSQ2COP298b92qdzCFLm3HDbKfzRHPmv-J-h1Nwdpqmitm_eJ/w640-h480/Aug+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In mid September Dale and I had another two nighter in the Peak District heat. We bought another Hilleberg; an Ajan 3, to use for the two of us and with dogs (we've yet to try this out) then Chrissie, Dale and I went up to Bellingham, near Kielder for a week of walking and mountain biking. Once Dale left, we crossed into the Scottish borders for a week or so of fun. Chrissie rented a mountain bike and was hooked!<div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysume-8F5HmxH5EGRJ2ro6QC9BjkGFeQY2F0NeLCap4nT3NdJ9JyDrOYyDeQiT_E-xOwXbqrQ54HEVofFNf3mujIJuuSeCapmW-d9fEI2UXvWsiDevtUd4B-HlLfgy5MlfTA7PqGR-Ube/s2048/Sept.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysume-8F5HmxH5EGRJ2ro6QC9BjkGFeQY2F0NeLCap4nT3NdJ9JyDrOYyDeQiT_E-xOwXbqrQ54HEVofFNf3mujIJuuSeCapmW-d9fEI2UXvWsiDevtUd4B-HlLfgy5MlfTA7PqGR-Ube/w640-h480/Sept.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzqnziRYPDtgI2yv78enNCGYla79KGAJBUUFCtU8ftqIKRj-P01Jfl8QaKoZJBycdhenyDK3ZXSy8MVcMJqdPMFhDjWYKCS4F1AvAdymYukEOjtGIOUqXax9uvt9hl9O5OcA6ql_hvMRk/s2048/Sept+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzqnziRYPDtgI2yv78enNCGYla79KGAJBUUFCtU8ftqIKRj-P01Jfl8QaKoZJBycdhenyDK3ZXSy8MVcMJqdPMFhDjWYKCS4F1AvAdymYukEOjtGIOUqXax9uvt9hl9O5OcA6ql_hvMRk/w640-h480/Sept+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP069sv2T5MWAVmDil98RBittgy-jZnlcfU-B4MymSvt2r4mnyHN8i-ABm5Z5MlEb2OLD5VXuFH7YtDbTpwhIaZz123uAtzBTrOiNoHTnYFMKLZOAvn6ckKKXQDorseOG8bFmgZd9B7qXC/s2048/Sept+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP069sv2T5MWAVmDil98RBittgy-jZnlcfU-B4MymSvt2r4mnyHN8i-ABm5Z5MlEb2OLD5VXuFH7YtDbTpwhIaZz123uAtzBTrOiNoHTnYFMKLZOAvn6ckKKXQDorseOG8bFmgZd9B7qXC/w640-h480/Sept+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDAML5460FnTMgZFYc8JI9gHumnPVcxIke_DG7TtLXzmUTyrw8ssdvFKN80MX7kXr3Z3UisH6HMWvMlRnznJNd7YUNtesrY3Ry4DzAZOuz8DqgGwkKZTTZ7YWgkqirH_NDTwV-4BrPk0i/s2048/Sept+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDAML5460FnTMgZFYc8JI9gHumnPVcxIke_DG7TtLXzmUTyrw8ssdvFKN80MX7kXr3Z3UisH6HMWvMlRnznJNd7YUNtesrY3Ry4DzAZOuz8DqgGwkKZTTZ7YWgkqirH_NDTwV-4BrPk0i/w640-h480/Sept+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1JiLvSy8TMeazV68wrmY8bkCwm5j85e4gMiL3qzZXvQhb1LZciC78jcRcnq4Uqv8BGqp4bs8xs6Wi_Ikzn6gAyR1KCqjGyOR4mqQHw26XSiJ_w9Yd4PcU1q9lN9z_1WtmMGvxMarzhlf/s2048/Sept+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1JiLvSy8TMeazV68wrmY8bkCwm5j85e4gMiL3qzZXvQhb1LZciC78jcRcnq4Uqv8BGqp4bs8xs6Wi_Ikzn6gAyR1KCqjGyOR4mqQHw26XSiJ_w9Yd4PcU1q9lN9z_1WtmMGvxMarzhlf/w640-h480/Sept+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8nqsVDveCco1KenEr1Cqg0xiA07YnL8H_-WFMtZchBQ_Qwuv_2IaAGPspFAlaONzpLDUxy5_oEhXCFbY0wYif6hfL1WVBW2HY7CG3tlTeioSIiBVJK_jfZ2nfYn02Of7J1-Nl-J9UJxy/s2048/Sept+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8nqsVDveCco1KenEr1Cqg0xiA07YnL8H_-WFMtZchBQ_Qwuv_2IaAGPspFAlaONzpLDUxy5_oEhXCFbY0wYif6hfL1WVBW2HY7CG3tlTeioSIiBVJK_jfZ2nfYn02Of7J1-Nl-J9UJxy/w640-h480/Sept+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Home again in October, Chrissie bought a mountain bike and we began exploring local trails together. At the end of the month we spent a couple of days at Teversal, when Dale joined us for solo rides, staying well within, then current, rules, whatever they were.</div><div><br /></div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bzT8OA1UnFlLHIyODwKhMn9dMh-jMYkLwmBvY8k4VOa8W5y3s9zAPHEhrGd_YaYlcol5fcY-k3GV7mvTqLH_G_ihqX4sLfjZEXTgqji8AYJS_hTxTIWC_C2nhGlgJ_99be_91EbRpxuZ/s2048/Oct+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bzT8OA1UnFlLHIyODwKhMn9dMh-jMYkLwmBvY8k4VOa8W5y3s9zAPHEhrGd_YaYlcol5fcY-k3GV7mvTqLH_G_ihqX4sLfjZEXTgqji8AYJS_hTxTIWC_C2nhGlgJ_99be_91EbRpxuZ/w480-h640/Oct+1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeIaYFEvi4Kc0cJOX3o2AcHU0tKM6397EaCj6h1k8N35TP9mvv2lFL9LLBhnGwI12NkuFiO7veL4fLgd54ZbyF4HxqYWqTslHCP-N6O2J5xoFDJJkw8bKnCfv4QK0_qI1WTibe73LwK1X/s1814/Oct+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="1428" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeIaYFEvi4Kc0cJOX3o2AcHU0tKM6397EaCj6h1k8N35TP9mvv2lFL9LLBhnGwI12NkuFiO7veL4fLgd54ZbyF4HxqYWqTslHCP-N6O2J5xoFDJJkw8bKnCfv4QK0_qI1WTibe73LwK1X/w504-h640/Oct+2.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDq-ex0HFgOHiP4t3zc_e2DiqAUY9xrAEBYqb5RLq-pfYEVmawf6UpGe2saMgOaA7Z9wvt6elA7kObLuePKj0T-ejDbBQ-tpd3lByu1UbMvBFdNkS6EF8zDmtc-xYyJJ2hF6hDFvxJ7eKD/s2048/Oct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDq-ex0HFgOHiP4t3zc_e2DiqAUY9xrAEBYqb5RLq-pfYEVmawf6UpGe2saMgOaA7Z9wvt6elA7kObLuePKj0T-ejDbBQ-tpd3lByu1UbMvBFdNkS6EF8zDmtc-xYyJJ2hF6hDFvxJ7eKD/w640-h480/Oct.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PjQ_tMUAYQIqrbqCgn9sJ6AQMPWhq4y60KvCNt-XoWjhit5yYWW8MeYNXMmfMa2vsUi7AOAit2eIX52CXcVxztT6AEfZvwJTxK7nnTXcEbZynCIoSRS4E3PbcQhe0fswrD28DjLx-L9H/s2048/Oct+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PjQ_tMUAYQIqrbqCgn9sJ6AQMPWhq4y60KvCNt-XoWjhit5yYWW8MeYNXMmfMa2vsUi7AOAit2eIX52CXcVxztT6AEfZvwJTxK7nnTXcEbZynCIoSRS4E3PbcQhe0fswrD28DjLx-L9H/w640-h480/Oct+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>November brought Noah's third birthday, which we couldn't join him for, but we managed a playground visit before the next lockdown hit.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMCzRP7Yp9-AoJBrbzH6r3gOWiFeDTtUhTZvXY64KL9gABimKrKsLGrIlFI3m_xKQaXgSvK0PYBwY7hmeuADfhlvRN4xF7Nr7CjqdN4Y4GWffBE3-jRjMHP9tkXaYFgPNrLR1nePUOnHX/s1024/Nov+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMCzRP7Yp9-AoJBrbzH6r3gOWiFeDTtUhTZvXY64KL9gABimKrKsLGrIlFI3m_xKQaXgSvK0PYBwY7hmeuADfhlvRN4xF7Nr7CjqdN4Y4GWffBE3-jRjMHP9tkXaYFgPNrLR1nePUOnHX/w480-h640/Nov+1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmpYYwyRARP8Kcl7oYGPaJBU6g3GCicNFzksNhF93zMi-fBTZ1z5WlXVXPvMSgVs0JzaLrnobgoYlko3PFNY-nm71LBd-z8Pv2dVCo_EMJ_QnrQcpTdOBJSF8KxPblVm4r8etUHgcCa3Z/s2048/Nov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="2048" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmpYYwyRARP8Kcl7oYGPaJBU6g3GCicNFzksNhF93zMi-fBTZ1z5WlXVXPvMSgVs0JzaLrnobgoYlko3PFNY-nm71LBd-z8Pv2dVCo_EMJ_QnrQcpTdOBJSF8KxPblVm4r8etUHgcCa3Z/w640-h596/Nov.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Which, finally brings us to December. So far this month we've had snow, which came and went very quickly. And Chris persuaded me to have a local camp while he tried out his new Hilleberg Enan.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOml656TQFGvP0_kr434tAiQaA8ONXcXdwThvDRx9BA3Joqm2I7NidYB14QfaulKXE5FCqgGyd-K3l6uKOxMUzzxJDYL1dGm_e_EHR4HxoEmY6093IAb0rhdDUS-wMJudWN0pLMPAwbaK/s2048/Dec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOml656TQFGvP0_kr434tAiQaA8ONXcXdwThvDRx9BA3Joqm2I7NidYB14QfaulKXE5FCqgGyd-K3l6uKOxMUzzxJDYL1dGm_e_EHR4HxoEmY6093IAb0rhdDUS-wMJudWN0pLMPAwbaK/w480-h640/Dec.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGHPgpN2_RnTHny_Z8Me-cqRZc8vR0E5q2VMSpmaO5gqIUJqmt0wxFmdeKAdye-4U56KFS2prMVKRn3GkhjbajWqUDY9BKR-zvcOWE2mSls9miFD_x1b3zN0OiQgfXyvRfcrGr1dJNG2F/s2048/DEc+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGHPgpN2_RnTHny_Z8Me-cqRZc8vR0E5q2VMSpmaO5gqIUJqmt0wxFmdeKAdye-4U56KFS2prMVKRn3GkhjbajWqUDY9BKR-zvcOWE2mSls9miFD_x1b3zN0OiQgfXyvRfcrGr1dJNG2F/w640-h480/DEc+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>As I write we've just had a Hilleberg Nallo 2 delivered. Yes, I know, it's the third Hilleberg we've bought this year. Blame boredom. I may well be out again next week for a trial camp, so keep your eyes peeled for an update to the year.</div><div><br /></div><div>As Christmas approaches, if anyone knows the current rules, please let me know. Me? Confused? Look, I had a tooth out yesterday. It may have affected my brain...</div><div><br /></div><div>Love and hugs to you all and I truly wish you the best for Christmas, and a much, much better year in 2021.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-25072460239635278812020-07-27T15:33:00.000+01:002020-07-27T15:33:15.465+01:00A Lakes backpack, as lockdown easesI haven't writ anything on here since the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic and, I'll admit, everything feels weird.<div><br /></div><div>I'm off to the Lakes to meet with <a href="https://twitter.com/FellBound">David</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/OverthehillsB">John</a> for three days in the Cumbrian hills. En route I visit my Dad at his home in Wetherby, for the first time since February. That feels strange. After a lazy lunch I head off north to David's place. I haven't seen David in months, I can't remember how long. But we're in regular contact either online or by phone, so we've been keeping up with each other. But now, it's the second time in a day where I'm in someone else's home for the first time in months. Weird.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyoldhow. We eat, drink and catch up. Sharing general grumpiness. As usual. And later John arrives, having journeyed up from Yorkshire. We've not met before but it's immediately obvious that John's a likeable guy. David plies us with a most delicious single malt before we retire.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the morning, following an eventful breakfast (I won't mention the eggs, David), we're off on the short drive to Askham where we set off on our journey.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's drizzly, but there's so much chatter between the three of us I hardly notice it, as we stride out across Askham Fell. It's easy walking. We pause at The Cockpit, a stone circle of indeterminate age and significance.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKHlPQ88Ib7O4ycWb7BuCRfpliODFabBlclCPLRdwFN_EgNhrzET9zmwByGPA9IGbzfRUt9nNro0bkByBrfh_95rXPy8pGOMkKJL9xn0oVahzXpmZrVaF1NNX1rsKyP28hvAXI0zUclio/s2048/IMG_20200723_115653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKHlPQ88Ib7O4ycWb7BuCRfpliODFabBlclCPLRdwFN_EgNhrzET9zmwByGPA9IGbzfRUt9nNro0bkByBrfh_95rXPy8pGOMkKJL9xn0oVahzXpmZrVaF1NNX1rsKyP28hvAXI0zUclio/w625-h469/IMG_20200723_115653.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>John has a reputation for being a very fit, hard walker but he's clearly sympathetic to the older bones of both David and me and patiently tags on behind us as we set the pace.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our route drops onto a broad, grassy bridleway below Auterstone Crag and we stop for lunch. There are fine views across Ullswater.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5J-d-gE1-35Zt4cuxkwUj_ALPbAFsfm7OlYisS1KOLVaBzf6xveDcdNnAcB1aWudG5_DlcaHFB1vIA_rz7dPZbSuATfuN8EQlh4Q0tUlLXwvneeQiUCtn1VQuX_UroyVwDW4_B5b_wul/s2048/IMG_20200723_120949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5J-d-gE1-35Zt4cuxkwUj_ALPbAFsfm7OlYisS1KOLVaBzf6xveDcdNnAcB1aWudG5_DlcaHFB1vIA_rz7dPZbSuATfuN8EQlh4Q0tUlLXwvneeQiUCtn1VQuX_UroyVwDW4_B5b_wul/w625-h469/IMG_20200723_120949.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Passing above Howtown we have a short stretch along tarmac, where we see this road sign, topped with a crown. Not sure of the reason for this. Anyone know?<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHV79MyqUwNpSBbHKP8fJlz8UC1WI56nD6Y6Sorv6zu2WH-cSfHHwLP85IGKjfE8zofyEoMp9gMKgwdHj-B_N78WYp9M5vp-jVk02BrY0movPLCFYy_-mYXYhFJ6EQkpp6mi1IRlE8mw9/s2048/IMG_20200723_143412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHV79MyqUwNpSBbHKP8fJlz8UC1WI56nD6Y6Sorv6zu2WH-cSfHHwLP85IGKjfE8zofyEoMp9gMKgwdHj-B_N78WYp9M5vp-jVk02BrY0movPLCFYy_-mYXYhFJ6EQkpp6mi1IRlE8mw9/w625-h469/IMG_20200723_143412.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Leaving the road, we begin a diagonal climb towards High Dodd. The rain has stopped and we all remove our waterproofs.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhonQfaQT2c4DxoxHY4iz3yvKiEh8MznX6yYjSabmUsixzRZ-4xGynqWURwIfXGmndisAEyF53TQ1tYq6QsfojOBCxM55gNfeUnFHz_Gyq8dL-95DAzyuYhyphenhyphenp7lZSj2l-XET6CZ9ATAmjc/s2048/IMG_20200723_153523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhonQfaQT2c4DxoxHY4iz3yvKiEh8MznX6yYjSabmUsixzRZ-4xGynqWURwIfXGmndisAEyF53TQ1tYq6QsfojOBCxM55gNfeUnFHz_Gyq8dL-95DAzyuYhyphenhyphenp7lZSj2l-XET6CZ9ATAmjc/w625-h469/IMG_20200723_153523.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It's steep in places, and eventually brings us out on the coll of Low Moss, just below the summit of High Dodd. We're looking around for a potential camp site. David asks if I'm up for the quick ascent to the summit. It's another 40m of ascent and I just can't be bothered. David is amazed, being an inveterate collector of tops. </div><div>It's all good natured banter but he doesn't seem to understand that, nowadays, I'm just happy to be out enjoying the hills and camping. Hence, John and David turn to head up to the top, while I tramp across the grass towards a spot we think looks ok, in search of water. I'm soon filtering from a stream and, strapping my water container into my sac, I climb up to the agreed spot. I wait before putting up my tent to ensure my compatriots are happy with the location. They're soon here.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibT1fiuY98Iuq7ey09_8F-pyLHG_rGL79LSJBTIkj93JQ8IFr4dfVX3TR_GD2x5y8kghyphenhyphenMbK1u_CS3pGBDlHILNSpU_BC-ZADCBSLcheqJMUk3xenrn6yYVTfmFXyzAqTmuLd9g4ksIhd6/s2048/IMG_20200723_160501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibT1fiuY98Iuq7ey09_8F-pyLHG_rGL79LSJBTIkj93JQ8IFr4dfVX3TR_GD2x5y8kghyphenhyphenMbK1u_CS3pGBDlHILNSpU_BC-ZADCBSLcheqJMUk3xenrn6yYVTfmFXyzAqTmuLd9g4ksIhd6/w625-h469/IMG_20200723_160501.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I have a new tent with me. In the never-ending search for the ideal shelter, Chrissie and I have bought a Hilleberg Anjan 2. I've tired of sleeping in one person tents, finding them claustrophobic. The Anjan 2 is a light, two person shelter, for, Hilleberg say, three season use. It weighs 1.8kg, including pegs and bags. It's a classic, Scandinavian tunnel design. I'm well used to erecting tunnel tents so it's pitched quickly. There's a fair breeze blowing and I'm just slightly nervous of over tightening the rear of the tent against the wind. I'm sure I'll get used to the best way to pitch it, with time.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFDP1IfYqBcX05cRivy6iMMrUxSESe5XzvKIAW-rCk4I9a8qVwC0LuJ9PcdcIi6076PuO-O5qGUxzNiU_JNy6PEJtR3q_FKM7IBgZ2WLgrMmYBcCl_VqAnUOr5E-EsQqzbIElT16wMILz/s2048/IMG_20200723_163831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFDP1IfYqBcX05cRivy6iMMrUxSESe5XzvKIAW-rCk4I9a8qVwC0LuJ9PcdcIi6076PuO-O5qGUxzNiU_JNy6PEJtR3q_FKM7IBgZ2WLgrMmYBcCl_VqAnUOr5E-EsQqzbIElT16wMILz/w625-h469/IMG_20200723_163831.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiij0f8AC6QEl1j9IZs-q83OAkUUyXsiqkvC-OavO3o4Ag2X9SHJ7n8UrJck_jGOaDhLckCXT_p4DL2TOum8L4fDDtCTGm47jL3UKNnUncK-c3G3SDtcWczW3Oo5crfN5k2pJBtc5A8GhI4/s2048/IMG_20200723_163911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiij0f8AC6QEl1j9IZs-q83OAkUUyXsiqkvC-OavO3o4Ag2X9SHJ7n8UrJck_jGOaDhLckCXT_p4DL2TOum8L4fDDtCTGm47jL3UKNnUncK-c3G3SDtcWczW3Oo5crfN5k2pJBtc5A8GhI4/w625-h469/IMG_20200723_163911.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLkN4v8BWFcLwnNfLYVThBQAH37o5Oixl1nsnYT8fER6VK0bvRSCJ6qp2SI0N5H5sB5T6_nen4Ie1aaaAW0ENnKo6hEJc36Q75QIXkEWAIe25pPRmGWhnrloScNfqcvPkwECKpFsAmEDS/s2048/IMG_20200723_164002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLkN4v8BWFcLwnNfLYVThBQAH37o5Oixl1nsnYT8fER6VK0bvRSCJ6qp2SI0N5H5sB5T6_nen4Ie1aaaAW0ENnKo6hEJc36Q75QIXkEWAIe25pPRmGWhnrloScNfqcvPkwECKpFsAmEDS/w625-h469/IMG_20200723_164002.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQtdTpz3__6i6hme9o3xFPB3MdrSLLUImLCbLMETk8UzVVmAZD0YEJzLI7Cigi0K1-mqJfegGCfWVnTosPUBWs8XaK4whcfujdN5_fUtnEOconOMnLdJzbkQ5Vv6Yr0xXRHNuKHyTDexS/s2048/IMG_20200723_164024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQtdTpz3__6i6hme9o3xFPB3MdrSLLUImLCbLMETk8UzVVmAZD0YEJzLI7Cigi0K1-mqJfegGCfWVnTosPUBWs8XaK4whcfujdN5_fUtnEOconOMnLdJzbkQ5Vv6Yr0xXRHNuKHyTDexS/w625-h469/IMG_20200723_164024.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It's turned into a warm, sunny afternoon and I'm reclining on my Thermarest chair kit, waiting for a brew.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDB4D0tNionUDve1YoH8wpq42EQyNr9AuB84Hulkz-P4wKW4GGEJ1pB8YN_J_PnK-0lBxFOC84qso_G_aMywMNsf7j-BREFcpIFV8qnbdNVfelTw3dTmr15dqyjggo35ZuRmlUvdE9qey/s2048/IMG_20200723_164353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="781" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDB4D0tNionUDve1YoH8wpq42EQyNr9AuB84Hulkz-P4wKW4GGEJ1pB8YN_J_PnK-0lBxFOC84qso_G_aMywMNsf7j-BREFcpIFV8qnbdNVfelTw3dTmr15dqyjggo35ZuRmlUvdE9qey/w586-h781/IMG_20200723_164353.jpg" width="586" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgTcSbM-UxMvuCg2J-XEer1MbijZdcCQU9OublbtMnAWpUo35rmtMeLFpS3Ktj9FEXPvx4ykWNbAXJMtahKc2EMwNyeF5fboLyfNguvs4amK3NdxgOig4qblphyY3OE_dkNQtiOL1Y25O/s2048/IMG_20200723_165921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgTcSbM-UxMvuCg2J-XEer1MbijZdcCQU9OublbtMnAWpUo35rmtMeLFpS3Ktj9FEXPvx4ykWNbAXJMtahKc2EMwNyeF5fboLyfNguvs4amK3NdxgOig4qblphyY3OE_dkNQtiOL1Y25O/w469-h625/IMG_20200723_165921.jpg" width="469" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWMW53SPIOg9IHTihNR2P6kgTf7f5IGTShCa_m5C_UbR-ke1YuSbn46zOFtcJroD-nFBCARR0f4lZUTzf_Iyjw_avEQz27w7NYQihibbrc33c01YQ9vmz0U3UhAuzG3OJNGUGDO03e30W/s2048/IMG_20200723_170944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWMW53SPIOg9IHTihNR2P6kgTf7f5IGTShCa_m5C_UbR-ke1YuSbn46zOFtcJroD-nFBCARR0f4lZUTzf_Iyjw_avEQz27w7NYQihibbrc33c01YQ9vmz0U3UhAuzG3OJNGUGDO03e30W/w625-h469/IMG_20200723_170944.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The inside of the tent feels massive. More than enough space for two, it'll be brillant for camping with my lab, Islay.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv6vUer8xHIFFWrxQ4PZ8-cI5PkLS12q1ZpLWuF4eI3cb2HpTVpcF-vzajvr3TsACN8VAH0skMTNdQWdoBqma-nr05gUEC-FKHH8y-haLb3IKouW_hnSiVhJW5XbJX8GOb2G-uePVoROQ/s2048/IMG_20200723_172017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv6vUer8xHIFFWrxQ4PZ8-cI5PkLS12q1ZpLWuF4eI3cb2HpTVpcF-vzajvr3TsACN8VAH0skMTNdQWdoBqma-nr05gUEC-FKHH8y-haLb3IKouW_hnSiVhJW5XbJX8GOb2G-uePVoROQ/w469-h625/IMG_20200723_172017.jpg" width="469" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I dine on noodles fortified with curry soup and pepperoni, followed by semolina and jam. David has converted me to this most delicious of desserts.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5a8P264aG3dMhHyLpgWtUW_vV2zE8yzIh2ez8J_Z5e0XM_3VrUT-qFY2p8elfPKDwCpSRRGgiuxjT0J91udXXLagtXNP12fRmALfJf-qOgn_g9tUZA1XlJ7UoPHzUGk-yEcyjfLbl4avo/s2048/IMG_20200723_191608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5a8P264aG3dMhHyLpgWtUW_vV2zE8yzIh2ez8J_Z5e0XM_3VrUT-qFY2p8elfPKDwCpSRRGgiuxjT0J91udXXLagtXNP12fRmALfJf-qOgn_g9tUZA1XlJ7UoPHzUGk-yEcyjfLbl4avo/w625-h469/IMG_20200723_191608.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div> </div>Chrissie and I have been using these screw top containers for around 25 years and I'm sad to see my coffee one has a split lid.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSw6OAdNQprEJaRTpHiiJIdNTSih1tFVLbb4uw0w3LeL9J_RnHuNLBmSfqSBoL3lk5S3IDas11yqhjvifoVZ6zYqD0UC4chG8JJ7F480krFg70kUmkTZc8blAWH_Paw6VFKozXsaZZW-MQ/s2048/IMG_20200723_193541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSw6OAdNQprEJaRTpHiiJIdNTSih1tFVLbb4uw0w3LeL9J_RnHuNLBmSfqSBoL3lk5S3IDas11yqhjvifoVZ6zYqD0UC4chG8JJ7F480krFg70kUmkTZc8blAWH_Paw6VFKozXsaZZW-MQ/w469-h625/IMG_20200723_193541.jpg" width="469" /></a></div><div> </div>Clouds begin to gather as we settle in for the night, but it's still dry.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWyNMzoMz1VXD4V4eNAu_XsDPyfWhoHSHi7aDw9Yp4gbtsPrpQevK8_8luqpQRMHlWXp2T_MNwNK7Dt9BZ6nFyB_EuYX9Wzwoyfw_UaJfY82-SMjesC7nlKeA0jaRNjJGhUP1FPPG309V/s2048/IMG_20200723_194814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWyNMzoMz1VXD4V4eNAu_XsDPyfWhoHSHi7aDw9Yp4gbtsPrpQevK8_8luqpQRMHlWXp2T_MNwNK7Dt9BZ6nFyB_EuYX9Wzwoyfw_UaJfY82-SMjesC7nlKeA0jaRNjJGhUP1FPPG309V/w625-h469/IMG_20200723_194814.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx23shlZDmOi6p1Pbh5FfzpMYp_Zx4rIijdS_59lbidvbJpiUhhoSuT2lm5_fIEID9qfBhF745nySX9q7SyPK-znBI_a0F2-_DDVEnXwyuOLLU773Rn87TiwxPmVOgJZCtuQzWbpU2Gw_N/s2048/IMG_20200724_081853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx23shlZDmOi6p1Pbh5FfzpMYp_Zx4rIijdS_59lbidvbJpiUhhoSuT2lm5_fIEID9qfBhF745nySX9q7SyPK-znBI_a0F2-_DDVEnXwyuOLLU773Rn87TiwxPmVOgJZCtuQzWbpU2Gw_N/w625-h469/IMG_20200724_081853.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's still fine in the morning and the forecast is good. By 9 we're packed and off. </div><div>We're on the summit of Place Fell before too long, it's an easy ascent from our camp.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQ4CvKomSqWescKia86oKq2ohR3iGjXYWLQUbp8lDZ4yqwQpggyANeWtalO0IIrK_pOB1d2AmooD1atb-dXY_UgzRUYv1DrtHjB-u6FhMIplbqfkTG7chUIU9fh2QWBgZ2HZpuhlaITRZ/s2048/IMG_20200724_093858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQ4CvKomSqWescKia86oKq2ohR3iGjXYWLQUbp8lDZ4yqwQpggyANeWtalO0IIrK_pOB1d2AmooD1atb-dXY_UgzRUYv1DrtHjB-u6FhMIplbqfkTG7chUIU9fh2QWBgZ2HZpuhlaITRZ/w625-h469/IMG_20200724_093858.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Then it's a descent to Boredale Hause and a steady climb past Angle Tarn before we stop for lunch above Satura Crag. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnQpew-eE4C3fwDgM6WOnqYJ0SJF7VTubTSp2hHeovCtfhKYh9E4-wH9N9-J-h530SrCt1-6tGX6Neorm0DzmteZ-mWvFUBbaodDx9gEUM87U5qIeIA7YBHLmZELaqWiv2X3hRKNfMYLw/s2048/IMG_20200724_094502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnQpew-eE4C3fwDgM6WOnqYJ0SJF7VTubTSp2hHeovCtfhKYh9E4-wH9N9-J-h530SrCt1-6tGX6Neorm0DzmteZ-mWvFUBbaodDx9gEUM87U5qIeIA7YBHLmZELaqWiv2X3hRKNfMYLw/w625-h469/IMG_20200724_094502.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulOth8w5Swy0qc3St3J0ivz9FrhyphenhyphenpUeqMfWtOBDqsFvhKoX6H66SkqQOo8j0yemBYu-Z2vrrNbIKO_ssPT5ZXKaOftYvmYw6uacJWj0uBuVmoFUp3EM_MwVoCeq_U1tb2MegFS4-KVvSk/s2048/IMG_20200724_094548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulOth8w5Swy0qc3St3J0ivz9FrhyphenhyphenpUeqMfWtOBDqsFvhKoX6H66SkqQOo8j0yemBYu-Z2vrrNbIKO_ssPT5ZXKaOftYvmYw6uacJWj0uBuVmoFUp3EM_MwVoCeq_U1tb2MegFS4-KVvSk/w625-h469/IMG_20200724_094548.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We bypass Rest Dodd, which suits me just fine, as well as The Knott. I seem to remember David forcing me up both these on a previous trip, but I may be mistaken. In any event, it's a fine walk, on a fine day, in good company. </div><div><br /></div><div>I forget to take any photos as we take the turn towards High Raise. Along the way, John makes the short detour to take in Kidsty Pike and David realises, to his horror, that we've just missed the summit of Rampsgill Head. Am I bovvered? Guess the answer... Wainwright would've hated me. </div><div><br /></div><div>We tick off High Raise, Red Crag, Wether Hill and Loadpot Hill with David dismissing my pleas for an early camp by a perfect pool on the way. There's rain forecast for the next day and he's keen for a short walk back to Askham. I suppress my sobs and carry on and we descend from Loadpot Hill to find a camp spot on the west side of the broad moor. We pitch tents, then John and David head off in search of water as I quietly collapse on my mat.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's quite windy and, following Hilleberg's recommendation, I pitch the tent with its front into the wind. It feels counter intuative but is suggested so that the rear fly doesn't blow onto the inner. It does work but I still think I prefer tail into the wind. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBwZtNGEAKyQjkma_qhFd6Nh83JOapHBkm-w7NsyKTJY1g0EcIvww7HBLeAuHw0YAsSv87-JYk78tlvgqexDVnC11enwB-QrpvGEUkn5bt7jwzzWL-cw3htx_73sapWLbYYwssCCKId-B/s2048/IMG_20200724_162954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBwZtNGEAKyQjkma_qhFd6Nh83JOapHBkm-w7NsyKTJY1g0EcIvww7HBLeAuHw0YAsSv87-JYk78tlvgqexDVnC11enwB-QrpvGEUkn5bt7jwzzWL-cw3htx_73sapWLbYYwssCCKId-B/w625-h469/IMG_20200724_162954.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRbV4COHOM6or4GaMJ-oDuoBoIr7DTaEiVjVd7fNUHGsrnYVrOdASSaaFcDOq57EG84oHR0lHf6bB9dt3zlcVzMawY8GUVhViVfQ4QUZ0Q4PHePI_6Cxyb30CPkCpvZVhhIrZoj3qFG_z/s2048/IMG_20200724_164147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRbV4COHOM6or4GaMJ-oDuoBoIr7DTaEiVjVd7fNUHGsrnYVrOdASSaaFcDOq57EG84oHR0lHf6bB9dt3zlcVzMawY8GUVhViVfQ4QUZ0Q4PHePI_6Cxyb30CPkCpvZVhhIrZoj3qFG_z/w625-h469/IMG_20200724_164147.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsVFhJhreLHxT4RIKtrslGWyKZD843Z-lPmvEvbdFj_sL25izcrhCKtu6N1Y5obgvHO1_QjgZ9GTmCDEr3-QeTYL2zQWtjuE431SojCgVOj4SyD8jG4K-rfpDOoXs3MXvlErIW_NtPirw/s2048/IMG_20200724_164206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsVFhJhreLHxT4RIKtrslGWyKZD843Z-lPmvEvbdFj_sL25izcrhCKtu6N1Y5obgvHO1_QjgZ9GTmCDEr3-QeTYL2zQWtjuE431SojCgVOj4SyD8jG4K-rfpDOoXs3MXvlErIW_NtPirw/w625-h469/IMG_20200724_164206.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It rains heavily overnight and we estimate winds up to 30mph. The tent holds up well, though there's a lot of noise, as there would be with most shelters.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's heavy drizzle as I awake and a rainbow follows the line of Ullswater below us.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfslfve56iLs-hYbjCiJT_GJnFf3OJ_eyY7iMq7A70vLm-Meux75OIgasGi3mGvIuOpXhc3hHiTBxZkYXFs5o4a8A2W-_abBJqaa7ZW5CthwaLjd5BKRuLbrM5qChB6WeRL0LkV6qtV4Zy/s2048/IMG_20200725_074534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfslfve56iLs-hYbjCiJT_GJnFf3OJ_eyY7iMq7A70vLm-Meux75OIgasGi3mGvIuOpXhc3hHiTBxZkYXFs5o4a8A2W-_abBJqaa7ZW5CthwaLjd5BKRuLbrM5qChB6WeRL0LkV6qtV4Zy/w625-h469/IMG_20200725_074534.jpg" width="625" /></a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zaBACXL7pxvkORbbM6DQ52WJ7qltZAcuJmWGwHRUtD_gOvupj5jonKScEz0SY47qQW5JO-pUgTQsOPB6TZWF52sEVqv1gE6xpGlR0PZLb9EOqHww9-B2xiOguWmaLKECL_Sq4J0T0i6Q/s2048/IMG_20200725_074537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zaBACXL7pxvkORbbM6DQ52WJ7qltZAcuJmWGwHRUtD_gOvupj5jonKScEz0SY47qQW5JO-pUgTQsOPB6TZWF52sEVqv1gE6xpGlR0PZLb9EOqHww9-B2xiOguWmaLKECL_Sq4J0T0i6Q/w625-h469/IMG_20200725_074537.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLIzEJaxdRsUO2NBAyv2rmV_-vdJzUKG8F9FK3I9bD-ya7B6mNFQs8pZGhTWTY73WSXVluJLbv60o7sjulil8fkTb6jCMmX5oMCrvwCGBxm6-q_OvPqjQKOFV_RhRHLpf668FEg41FKHP/s2048/IMG_20200725_085731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLIzEJaxdRsUO2NBAyv2rmV_-vdJzUKG8F9FK3I9bD-ya7B6mNFQs8pZGhTWTY73WSXVluJLbv60o7sjulil8fkTb6jCMmX5oMCrvwCGBxm6-q_OvPqjQKOFV_RhRHLpf668FEg41FKHP/w625-h469/IMG_20200725_085731.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And once packed we're off across the grassy moor to Arthur's Pike (which David sneaked in while I wasn't paying attention) and White Knott, I think, before rejoining our outbound route to Askham. The rain soon cleared and we were waterproofless once back in the village.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, it's a return to David's for lunch and "debrief", before we separate for John and me to wend our ways south.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to David for his superb hospitality as ever, to both John and David for really good company and, especially to John for his consideration and patience with two old farts.</div><div><br /></div><div>A splendid little trip!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-4685479063265852482020-07-18T17:10:00.000+01:002020-07-18T21:39:23.268+01:00Summer sale, July 2020It's a while since we had a sale and it's long overdue. We have a number of items eating up space in our gear room, some of which are a little offbeat, which we offer here for your delectation.<br />
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First up a Vango F10 Xenon UL2 tent. We've owned this for just over a year and it's seen little use. It's a sturdy, roomy, two person, budget backpacking tent which would, perhaps, suit someone trying out backpacking and wild camping for the first time. Easily large enough for two, it also makes a great one-plus-dog tent. It's undamaged except for the very slightest bend in one pole section, which is barely visible at all once the tent is erected, but can be seen when the pole is out of the tent. I can confidently say it doesn't affect the tent's performance in any way.</div>
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<a href="https://www.freshairjunkie.co.uk/products/vango-f10-xenon-ul-2-person-tunnel-tent-alpine-green?variant=11990628466724&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2019-09-20&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign" target="_blank">Here's</a> a link.</div>
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And here are some pics.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQg6hpygFXq1BELLdMfNi7ybyh5bqoEI9H12z4cfB73CPlLAks6XtVywoK4dKkwe-zvN4hF2-QcMdL3V_68tnJRrBbn79IkTBKd3LKZ0faSYh5Q6MPOy67rKz5uIMQ1hXnPc_fT4VHXWWg/s1600/IMG_20200718_160031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQg6hpygFXq1BELLdMfNi7ybyh5bqoEI9H12z4cfB73CPlLAks6XtVywoK4dKkwe-zvN4hF2-QcMdL3V_68tnJRrBbn79IkTBKd3LKZ0faSYh5Q6MPOy67rKz5uIMQ1hXnPc_fT4VHXWWg/s640/IMG_20200718_160031.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQYISk18haysOid_GKiSUpi-B6tV9muG-3X6REsDfmao6D3A9IImxS8wKDl4x6obddOtGNZZRE-zT3tlON8L0weHywYK_bLSnV-7DGpQYr7g0uMfMOlH8OaFepu1gX62_Ne5t8VanyJHs/s1600/IMG_20200718_141859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1559" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQYISk18haysOid_GKiSUpi-B6tV9muG-3X6REsDfmao6D3A9IImxS8wKDl4x6obddOtGNZZRE-zT3tlON8L0weHywYK_bLSnV-7DGpQYr7g0uMfMOlH8OaFepu1gX62_Ne5t8VanyJHs/s640/IMG_20200718_141859.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here are two photos showing the bend in the pole and the same pole, once the tent is up. As I've said, it's not visible once erected. If it really bothers you, you can buy a repair kit <a href="https://www.tentspares.co.uk/force-10-xenon-ul-2-xenon-ul-2-tent-pole-repair-pack/" target="_blank">here</a>, but, frankly, I reckon it's unnecessary.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq71t0VqACQ3hZN1mbC1Dc3dKGG7ZUJAPPo830iz_f2f4zez7QWaKOQ8yZHlKNyTwG_1ABQ8rThSSimkaMblU0Ww5e80TbYEguK6oi2Rq8uLOOYzGspdZq5Zxhq_-iwLa1DMqtcm4hM05T/s1600/IMG_20200718_141036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1600" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq71t0VqACQ3hZN1mbC1Dc3dKGG7ZUJAPPo830iz_f2f4zez7QWaKOQ8yZHlKNyTwG_1ABQ8rThSSimkaMblU0Ww5e80TbYEguK6oi2Rq8uLOOYzGspdZq5Zxhq_-iwLa1DMqtcm4hM05T/s640/IMG_20200718_141036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWTqvek0nGcHjuMdgfFyz4P4pb4mWozWsArQ-WYA8OCrJmQwQx7nlLuvjSPj1D0TpGQSR_jxFJZzHrcNW0SP15i2lhMRPuRArXhTrPyBTmQY2jHqV-Xc3JzZQoXsFUgtGNtzXa9IubKmH/s1600/IMG_20200718_151905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWTqvek0nGcHjuMdgfFyz4P4pb4mWozWsArQ-WYA8OCrJmQwQx7nlLuvjSPj1D0TpGQSR_jxFJZzHrcNW0SP15i2lhMRPuRArXhTrPyBTmQY2jHqV-Xc3JzZQoXsFUgtGNtzXa9IubKmH/s640/IMG_20200718_151905.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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You can have this for £150 including p&p.</div>
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Next, a Terra Nova Competition Tarp 2. I bought this for my French cycling epic in 2018 and used it just twice, so it's as good as new. <a href="https://www.outdoorgear.co.uk/Terra-Nova-Terra-Nova-Competition-Tarp-2-sku51910701.asp" target="_blank">Here</a> is a link to the description. It's 290mm x 248mm and weighs 337g.</div>
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Here's a photo of it in its bag. </div>
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Yours for £50 including p&p.</div>
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Next, a Jetboil Fluxring frying pan, for use on a Jetboil stove. <a href="https://www.absolute-snow.co.uk/V/Jetboil_Fluxring_Fry_Pan_Cooking_Camping_Pan_8_BlackOrange-(135924)" target="_blank">Here's</a> a link again with the full description. It's in its original packaging. You need an easily available, inexpensive adapter, to use this on a Jetboil stove. This has been used a couple of times but is as new, save for the very slight marking on the non-stick surface, which can just be seen in the pics, here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTRMx4RaefkJQdf5TNS0HjcWd6FuGE909rwG0UtjuewWtwV3Jhv3ZT_O3a6jVbheRJ6qGwaORIBoJjM5nyjGsdfCy2jHEbUqN0Yfjx0eOUc0WvThDqyxtB7qGJC720IMGY61YGFs9SFbq/s1600/IMG_20200718_153006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTRMx4RaefkJQdf5TNS0HjcWd6FuGE909rwG0UtjuewWtwV3Jhv3ZT_O3a6jVbheRJ6qGwaORIBoJjM5nyjGsdfCy2jHEbUqN0Yfjx0eOUc0WvThDqyxtB7qGJC720IMGY61YGFs9SFbq/s640/IMG_20200718_153006.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0GHTX5Qr9NGd29EEcA6DijHS7T1pvDXpbgXWyzYdHUlgEp1PGfKsNwTCE4-ZKXPMyU34Nd_2qwMdCer_Dxez39JTgkGLpCX5tekbLfYYx_6FPH8nZkpjwdVQKxX_Nnt9LG1gRZWzjFQg/s1600/IMG_20200718_154556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0GHTX5Qr9NGd29EEcA6DijHS7T1pvDXpbgXWyzYdHUlgEp1PGfKsNwTCE4-ZKXPMyU34Nd_2qwMdCer_Dxez39JTgkGLpCX5tekbLfYYx_6FPH8nZkpjwdVQKxX_Nnt9LG1gRZWzjFQg/s640/IMG_20200718_154556.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEnNNx3PSPH7pTA39wgEgZd3o66aPZO0CcObV5WH32SlJujFyqmiTGXgfPYfhlpRsJhA1u0GzZBHjBG5BMF4R08h6lUQz5od1G1zDk7Npag4Obk3L35hQHCJdDv1R9y5FyPueKci3lk1U/s1600/IMG_20200718_154630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEnNNx3PSPH7pTA39wgEgZd3o66aPZO0CcObV5WH32SlJujFyqmiTGXgfPYfhlpRsJhA1u0GzZBHjBG5BMF4R08h6lUQz5od1G1zDk7Npag4Obk3L35hQHCJdDv1R9y5FyPueKci3lk1U/s640/IMG_20200718_154630.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPKuG5SPQlGrAMy-naQGWrIhegWzdF0Xyr52Ju4-YO10cuRW_wjDXJQcFyX1Ad-CNtHBRB__Uaf572hqtJRDWeheqXe_DY1Omi3IqB_s-ntoqjwLoRohq2JDfwsKIymsNmeQcqlkBQtxP/s1600/IMG_20200718_154635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPKuG5SPQlGrAMy-naQGWrIhegWzdF0Xyr52Ju4-YO10cuRW_wjDXJQcFyX1Ad-CNtHBRB__Uaf572hqtJRDWeheqXe_DY1Omi3IqB_s-ntoqjwLoRohq2JDfwsKIymsNmeQcqlkBQtxP/s640/IMG_20200718_154635.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The pan's your for £25 including p&p.<br />
Edit: the pan is now sold.</div>
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Next up, a Multimat, inflatable pillow, which can be attached by included velcro, to a sleeping mat. <a href="https://www.outdoorgear.co.uk/Multimat-Self-Inflating-Cushion-Pillow-sku52116501.asp?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzvKL5__W6gIVzuvtCh2K5gSZEAQYASABEgJgW_D_BwE" target="_blank">Here's </a>a link.This has never been used, hence the self adhesive velcro strip is still there, protected by glossy paper, as from new.</div>
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Here are some pics.</div>
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Yours for £7 including p&p.</div>
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Now for a couple of motorhome/campervan/caravan/camping items.</div>
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First we have four Lafuma chairs. These are from the short period when we had a large motorhome, before we downsized. They are very good quality, steel framed chairs with woven polypropylene fabric, so safe to be left out in the rain. They're all as new, the only sign of use being very minor marking to the stove enamelling on the underside of the legs. Hardly noticeable. <a href="https://www.outdoorxl.co.uk/lafuma-fgx-xl-folding-chair.html?prl=92-12372x144-3472" target="_blank">Here's</a> a link.</div>
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Here are the pics.</div>
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You can see the new price from the link. We'd prefer to sell these as a pair or, preferably, the four. So, 2 for £50 or 4 for £90. But we're not posting so you'd need to be able to collect. Sorry.</div>
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Finally, one 6kg, refillable Gaslow bottle. Again, this is from our big motorhome. It's been used for 2 years and is now about 5 years old. These things are pretty much indestructible and guaranteed for 10 years by Gaslow. This has the type 2 valve on it, to connect to another type 1 bottle. I know it's a longshot for anyone wanting one, hence it's a bargain price. It's also full of gas. <a href="https://gasproducts.co.uk/gaslow-r67-6kg-refillable-cylinder-2-with-level-gauge.html" target="_blank">Here's</a> the link and here are a couple of pics.</div>
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You can have this for £70, but again, it needs to be collected.</div>
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If you're interested in any of these items, you may contact me by sending a comment to this post, or an email direct to me at geoff.kmrt@btinternet.com or contact me on Twitter @GeoffCrowther1 or Chrissie at @chrissiepebbles</div>
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There are some bargains here, so don't delay...</div>
Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-64124451792067557922020-03-01T15:33:00.000+00:002020-03-02T10:02:30.071+00:00Hiking the GR131 on Gran CanariaIt's February, 2020. Cold and damp weather prevails.<br />
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My friend Chris sends me a text, asking if I'd like to join him hiking the GR131 across Gran Canaria at the end of the month. After a touch of Googling I agree.</div>
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The route is described in Paddy Dillon's "Walking in Gran Canaria". Technically it crosses each of the Canary Isles (Chris hiked across Tenerife last year) but, on Gran Canaria it's not yet waymarked as the GR131, rather it's a series of linked, local routes which ARE waymarked. It's about 56 miles.</div>
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Chris has found a GPX track online and, having bought a hiking map to use on Viewranger, I soon have the track visible. I also, for completeness, buy a paper/plastic version of the same map, see <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gran-Canaria-Tour-Trail-Super-Durable/dp/1782750517/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=54823923482&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwffYvJb55wIVQbDtCh0JTgI4EAAYASAAEgJ2nvD_BwE&hvadid=259118803199&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1006740&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=2842733887079256041&hvtargid=kwd-316333446403&hydadcr=5554_1830092&keywords=gran+canaria+tour+and+trail+map&qid=1583062266&sr=8-1" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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We fly out on 20th February with Jet2.com, leaving on a cold but dry morning from Manchester. Four and a half hours later we land in the warmth of Las Palmas airport and a bus takes us into the city and a pleasant Airbnb apartment in the suburbs. We wander out for pizza and beer before retiring.</div>
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In the morning, a half hour walk sees us onto the 8am bus to Puerto de las Nieves. It's a beautiful morning as the sun rises over bustling Las Palmas.</div>
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In Puerto de las Nieves we enjoy coffee and croissants in a cafe then set off, at around 10am, on our hike. Our route will take us 6 days, with 5 nights camping in the wilds. Wild camping is, technically, illegal but, anecdotally, folk do it anyway. Chris stocks up on food before we depart.</div>
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After a short road walk out of the small town we pick up a zig-zagging, stony trail uphill. It's around 23C but there's a slight breeze coming in off the sea. We're told there's no running water in the wilds, all of the drinking water coming from desalination plants. Hence, we're carrying 2 litres of water each. It's also not easy to buy gas for stoves on Gran Canaria so we bought meths from a hardware store in Las Palmas and I bought a mini Trangia stove especially for the trip.</div>
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Today's route is around 7 miles but involves around 1250m of ascent. The first 600m are straightforward. Lots of switchbacks with easy gradients.</div>
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After a couple of miles our route strikes away from the broad track and begins traversing steep, open slopes. I find the exposure a little unnerving so take no photos. This vertiginous section is noted in our guide book. Chris encourages me along, kindly.</div>
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After a mile or so of this traversing, our route turns and becomes a very steep, but wider track as it tackles the further 600m or so of ascent. The gradient is ferocious. As commonly happens, this photo doesn't adequately portray the steepness.</div>
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We crest the hill after almost 6 hours of climbing (including breaks) and enter a forest, where the trail undulates at an easier angle. </div>
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Shortly before our stop for the night we pass a couple of reservoirs, which I'd spotted in my planning. Chris goes to take a closer look.</div>
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And, eventually, we emerge onto a track, which takes us to a picnic area (there's a road up to here). Further on there's one of a series of free, forest campgrounds with toilets and water. Provided you obtain a free permit, you can use these, but my research revealed this one, at Tamadaba, is closed due to a large wildfire here back in August 2019. There are, however, taps at the picnic area and a friend was here at Christmas and used these very taps, having driven up. But, when we arrive, the taps are shut off! Bugger!</div>
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Chris valiantly offers to walk back the half mile or so to the reservoir, with my water filter, preferring that I stay with our kit. We find a spot on a rise in the forest and make camp and Chris goes to fetch water. It's still, slightly cloudy and quite cool, so it's not long before I retreat to the warmth of my sleeping bag to prepare my dinner.</div>
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It's now Saturday 22nd February. A bright, beautiful, mild morning up here, high in the forest.</div>
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After a leisurely breakfast, we set out again. As Chris packs I notice how many of the trees are burnt around their trunks, to a height of maybe 1 metre or so. Clearly we're on the edge of last summer's wildfire. </div>
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The trail rises slowly through the forest and, ironically, we cross two thin streams, each of which we could easily have filtered water from. Oh well...</div>
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We've around 5 miles to walk today, before we arrive at the village of Artenara. Here, we can get water and we plan to resupply and, hopefully get a meal. We have another mile or so to walk after the village, to a planned wild camp. By eating in Artenara we'll need to carry less food and water.</div>
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It's a beautiful day for hiking. The sky is clear blue. It must be around 21C but there's a wonderful cooling breeze blowing, just enough to make the walking feel comfortable.</div>
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The trail parallels the road for a while, sometimes crossing from one side to the other. The occasional car passes, though not enough to intrude on our peace.</div>
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At a roadside viewpoint, a raven entertains us with its antics, bouncing in the breeze.</div>
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We leave the road for a stiff climb over the hill of Brezos at 1335 metres, before dropping down to a track which takes us into Artenara.</div>
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In the village we replenish our water at a tap then head off to find the only shop. It's around 2pm and the shop closes at 2:30. We buy supplies for the next couple of days. It's two days to the next shop. Then, we find a popular looking restaurant where we dine on a late lunch of rabbit stew, along with several drinks...</div>
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It's a little after 3 when we shoulder our packs again, now loaded with 4 litres of water each, to see us through the evening and into the next day. Oof!</div>
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We climb unbelievably steep steps through houses clinging to edge of the hill where Artenara sits. After a while we hit a pleasant, zig-zagging path again and, within an hour, we're at our chosen camp site. We wander around, seeking the best pitch, before settling on a small terrace, just hidden from the track below.</div>
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There's a noticeable breeze blowing as we pitch our tents but I manage to site my Thermarest camp chair just inside the door of my tent, out of the wind, as we settle down for an afternoon brew. My mini Trangia hasn't much of a windsheild though and runs out of meths before water for our brew has boiled. Chris makes an attempt with his stove, which has a better windshield, and manages to get the water to almost boiling. But it's enough for coffee, and some delicious cakes we'd bought in the shop.</div>
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We chew the fat, putting the world to rights and supping more coffee.</div>
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We have a good phone and data signal and Chrissie forwards me a message she's received from Norma Keohane. She and her husband John are experienced backpackers and multi TGO Challengers. They live, partly, on Tenerife, where they are right now. Norma knows where we are and is concerned. There's a calima on the way from Africa. I've never heard of a calima, but it seems it's a not uncommon phenomena hereabouts. A warm, powerful wind, carrying sand from the Sahara. It can last from 2-3 days, sometimes up to a week. Chris and I realise that this explains the sky, now dulled as you can see in the two pics above. The wind doesn't feel too bad though. We're in a bowl, providing a modicum of shelter.</div>
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Before retiring, I check the guys on my Hilleberg Enan. One of the main pole guys is secured around a large boulder, around 10 inches in diameter.</div>
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And so to bed... </div>
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It is probably the worst night I've ever spent in a tent. The wind howls and rattles the tent. It's warm though, and I strip off my sleeping kit and unzip my bag, using it as a quilt instead. Midnight passes before I finally put earplugs in and, eventually, drift off to sleep. </div>
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In the morning the wind is still howling and buffeting the tent, frequently flattening the sides. </div>
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I open the door on the fly and stick my head out. Both our tents look ok. I call out to Chris and we both remember a night we had in the Howgills a few years back. Interestingly I was in the Enan then too.</div>
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I attempt to boil water for coffee with the door open and just about manage it, by creating a windshield of boots and water containers, but it takes a lot of fuel. When it comes to a second brew I close the door, then worry about the flame licking around my pan, inside the porch...but I manage.</div>
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Having breakfasted I feel an urge and head out into the wind with my toilet kit. Digging a hole and managing to bag toilet paper is challenging. I'm almost blown over at least once. </div>
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Returning to the tent I switch on my phone. Chris and I both have messages telling us the calima has made the UK news. All the island airports are closed and the ferocity of the wind has led to locals being told to stay indoors. As Chris emerges and we begin to discuss options a gust of wind picks up his MSR Carbon Reflex 2 tent and throws it around 3 metres. We both dash to grab it. There are tears across the fly and inner, a snapped pole and guying points have been ripped off, leaving the pegs still in the ground.</div>
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We endeavour to ensure everything is secure inside what remains of the inner as Chris grabs his rucsac to begin packing.</div>
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I turn my attention to the Enan, which still stands firm. But the guy secured by the rock has come adrift and the other pole guy is frayed down by the peg. It's holding, but won't last much longer. I'm soon inside the tent, packing.</div>
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As I pack I'm considering options. I look at our guide book. We're at around 1400m. Four miles up the trail is a bus stop which can take us to Maspalomas, our intended end point at the south of the island. One mile back along the trail there are buses from Artenara down to Las Palmas. Ahead is a climb onto more exposed ground. Behind is a descent with known, mostly sheltered ground. We have one, one-person tent between us. I have a spare guy line to replace the damaged one. We could use it for two, without the inner, but it wouldn't be fun with winds like this blowing under the fly. And should we really be out in these conditions, with more height to gain and more exposure? I don't have my wind speed monitor with me, and it's hard estimating such things. It's all too easy to exaggerate. But, at best, I reckon winds through the night were around 40mph gusting to 50mph. At those speeds walking is difficult at best, dangerous at worst. My mind is made up.</div>
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With the Enan still standing I emerge. Chris is close to finishing packing and I begin, carefully, to take the tent down, ensuring firm pegs remain until it's flat. I'm also careful not to bend the solitary pole. I manage.</div>
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We have a brief discussion and it doesn't take much to get Chris to agree to my suggestion. We go back to Artenara and catch a bus. Chris walks up to a nearby ridge to see what it feels like. He can barely stand up there. But Chris wants to get some shelter and repack his bag. Fine. We drop into some trees, by a wall. There's shelter, of sorts. As Chris repacks his bag I check the internet again to see if buses are running (it's Sunday) and where to. As I watch, a gust picks up dry earth, 100m away and hurls it at us. We both shield our eyes against the onslaught. </div>
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And, as soon as we're able, we head off...back down the trail...into the wind. Waymarking signs have suffered.</div>
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It takes us about 40 minutes to get to Artenara. As we pass through the streets and houses there's debris everywhere. Here a pile of prickly pear leaves, there a tree branch, here broken roof tiles...</div>
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Chris retains his sense of humour.</div>
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As we enter the village I'm just considering coffee when I see folk standing at a bus stop. Chris suggests going straight there. He's right. A young backpacking couple, who passed our camp the previous evening, are there. They too had a difficult night in their tent. They tell us the bus to Las Palmas is due in 10 minutes. </div>
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Soon we're seated for a ride down precipitous mountain roads. It takes around an hour and a half. The driver is a hero. He makes good progress, slowing for each tight bend, always alert. He steers skilfully around downed trees and foliage. At one point a branch falls right across the road, only 10 metres ahead of us. He brakes, hard, then rolls safely over the thin branch and leaves.</div>
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Now we're back in Las Palmas. Lunching in surreal quiet in a park cafe on a stupendous sandwich, washed down with refreshing beers. Although it feels quite calm down here, the sky is brown.</div>
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I manage to book three nights in an Airbnb in Maspalomas, our last night there being already booked. And, after an hour long bus ride we're in the tourist resort, ensconced in a small, but comfortable apartment...reflecting.</div>
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For what it's worth, both tents are three season shelters. There's really no way we could have foreseen such a weather event. We heard it was, "the worst in years" and one person said he'd been in Maspalomas for three years and seen nothing like it.</div>
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And that's how our 6 day hike became 2 days.</div>
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We're neither of us beach holiday types, feeling like fish out of water down here amongst the sun-seekers. But we manage to amuse ourselves, spending one day walking east along the coast, one day west and the third exploring on rented bicycles.</div>
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Thankfully the airports opened again by Monday (I think) and most of the backlog was cleared by our booked flight on Thursday.</div>
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I'll leave with a few pics of Maspalomas life.</div>
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These ones are from Monday. The sky was still cloudy with sand but the worst was over. The guys spent all day vacuuming sand from the bottom of the pool. The bright blue shows the bit they'd cleaned.</div>
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These are from Tuesday as we walked across the Dunas de Maspalomas. The sky is noticeably clearer.</div>
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And by Wednesday, the effects of the storm had pretty much gone.</div>
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And there's a link to Chris's excellent YouTube video of the trip <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asbTtemywx4" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Another thread in life's tapestry eh?</div>
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Smile!</div>
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Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-30153420959587341022019-09-22T18:26:00.002+01:002019-09-23T17:29:41.007+01:00Kungsleden, part 2. Kvikkjokk to Abisko.Refreshed after a break of three days, we set out from Kvikkjokk on a rainy morning. It's day 13 and raining, but the forecast is good. It's a lousy trail underfoot. Very rocky and tree roots abound. But by afternoon the sun is shining and we find a camp spot and wash the filth off our gaiters and overtrousers, hanging them in the sun to dry.<br />
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Having rejigged our plans (see part 1) we now have 20 days to complete our journey, which means we can slow down. We have two zero days available and have booked two nights at Saltoluokta STF Fjallsation (luxury) and also two nights in mountain huts which we can use anywhere between here and Kaitumjaure (prebooking gives a discount). Incidentally, our YHA membership, which cost us £40 has given us, not only discounted STF rooms but also daytime access, which would otherwise have cost us about £10 each time we stopped at a mountain hut during the day. This access allows you to use the self catering kitchen during the hours of 11 till 3 when you're passing by. YHA is a member of Hostelling International which gives reciprocal rights with the STF.</div>
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On a fine mountain day, we pass Parte and head up up into the hills. During the steep climb the tip and basket pulled from one of Chrissie's poles. We can't find them. But we do find a fine camp site, just before a zany, high bridge. It begins to rain as we get the tent out, but it's soon up....and the rain stops!</div>
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It's a wonderful walk, with views down into Rittak valley and up into the mountains of Sarek. We drop down for a boat crossing of Laitaure. We have to wait 3 hours for a scheduled crossing, but we enjoy chatting with Octavia, from Brazil.</div>
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The crossing is windy. We're glad not to be rowing the 4km. The hut is very busy so we camp instead of using one of our hut nights. Stock is not bad in the shop, but we part with about £90 buying food for just three days and two nights...</div>
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It's just 5 miles across the fell to the next boat crossing, but there's a steep climb and it's hard underfooot again so it takes us around 5 hours. The open fell is fabulous.</div>
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There's a boat waiting just as we get there, a helpful young Swedish guy having pre-booked our places by telephone. </div>
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On the other side of the lake is the Sitojaure hut, where we decide to spend one of our hut nights. It's very nice. By chance, we have a private, two bunk room. There's a university group in and they make sociable company as we dine. My evening meal is a curious mixture of instant mash, chickpeas, salami, squeezy cheese and chilli flakes...which is surprisingly tasty.<br />
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The hut kitchens are well organised. With no running water there are buckets filled from a nearby water source, with ladles and, once washing up is done, dirty water goes into separate buckets labelled "slask" under the counter. Fresh water buckets must be refilled once emptied and slask buckets emptied, at an appointed place, once filled. Lighting is by candles, cooking by gas hobs. There are wood burning stoves everywhere, including dormitories and these often heat drying rooms. There's usually a cupboard with food left behind, from which you can help yourself.<br />
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The morning is chilly. Chrissie almost slips on ice on a boardwalk. Up over a beautiful, wide open fell we go. We meet Germans, backpacking with two lovely dogs. I'd repaired Chrissie's pole with a rubber tip we used for flights, taped on. It's lasted a few days now. We camp high, in a fab location.<br />
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In the morning, it's an easy hike down to Saltoluokta Fjallstation, where we've a room for two nights.<br />
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In the last pic you can see the ferry coming over from Kebnats. We'll be on that in a couple of days.<br />
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The fjallstation is great.No sooner have we checked in than we dive into the lunch buffet, scoffing greedily. When we go to our room there's the previous occupants luggage still in there. Back at reception we're upgraded to better rooms with bedding and towels (normally extra).<br />
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We enjoy the break. At our breakfast and lunch buffets we chat with the warden from Aktse, who's finished his term there and has been walking out. He's very friendly and seeks us out each time we're in the dining room. Chatting with a local is very enlightening and he enjoys our tales of backpacks around the globe too. We exchange emails. He's interested in coming to the UK.<br />
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From here, we have the final, 13 day section, where we know we'll be unlikely to have any phone signal nor power. We'd be relying on our two, 20000ah Anker battery packs. Up to now we've used just one, regularly recharging it at hostels etc. We set off again, with the ferry across the lake, to a bus. This is an accepted part of the Kungsleden, jumping up 17 miles of tarmac to Vakkotavare roadside hut. We lunch here, then climb a big hill to a wonderful camp where we chat with some mature Swedish hikers. One comments on the lightness of Chrissie's load saying, "When I was a young man I used to carry around 24kg, but, now I'm 77, 16kg feels about right." What a hero.<br />
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We continue over the pass, down to the final boat crossing. This time. we get there a couple of hours early, put up the flag as instructed and the warden comes straight over. Lovely man. We camp at the hut, Teusajaure, knowing there's a stiff climb after it.<br />
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Sadly, supplies are seriously lacking in the shop...<br />
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Next morning we tackle the steep climb, but only a few miles, to Kaitumjaure, where we spend our second, pre-booked hut night. It has been very hot today. The only one where I removed my gaiters and rolled my trouser legs up.<br />
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I do some laundry in our bowl, using cold water...<br />
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Chrissie, has a self-confessed meltdown about food, supplies being poor again at the hut shop. The warden tells her, in 15 years in the role, she's never seen it so bad. This northern section of the trail is particularly busy. They have food, just not what we need. Little for lunch. No biscuits. No chocolate. No sugar for our porridge. Bleurgh! Seems they have NO mechanism for restocking. Some faceless bureaucrat at the STF decides how much they get for the season... Ridiculous.<br />
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We're now headed up the Tjaktjavagge, a valley which will take us three days to walk (not including an upcoming zero day). We're getting onto familiar ground now, having covered some of this route, in the opposite direction, back in 2016.<br />
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Our camp is just short of the Singi hut, which we pass by next morning.<br />
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En route to Salka, we bump into Matt Holland. We know he's in the area. Matt's an online friend who we've never met before, despite regular contact. He endears himself by saying he'd first come here, inspired by us.<br />
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The next picture illustrates the state of the trail hereabouts. When we came in 2016 it was nowhere near as wide, nor worn, as this. Can't help but think the Fjallraven Classic, an event bringing around 2000 folk to the area for a few days every August, isn't helping. I fear when I hear rumours of a similar event being proposed in the UK. Suffice to say, I'm not a fan of adrenaline fuelled "challenges" in wild places. And don't get me started on toilet paper...<br />
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Bidding the reindeer farewell, we carry on up the valley, camping at the foot of the Tjaktja Pass, which we'll tackle when fresh in the morning. Despite the photos it's a wild evening. I double peg the windward end of the tent, linking the pegs using the cord loops. The wind and rain wake us in the night, but our trusty Terra Nova Polar Lite 3 holds firm.</div>
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The morning is calm. We climb the short, steep ascent to the pass, at 1150m, the highest point on the Kungsleden. The north side of the pass is a wild, barren landscape of rock and river.</div>
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Our first 20000ah Anker has lasted 7 nights. That's keeping two phones, used for photos, navigation and Kindle, charged. We've just 5 nights left before "civilisation".</div>
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Down the valley, over a very long bridge, we arrive at Alesjaure hut and our final resupply. Again, stocks are low. No biscuits. Hardly any sugar. But wait, there's been a helicopter delivery of...tortillas and...wine gums. Which idiot authorised that selection?</div>
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We camp a short distance from the hut to avoid the £28 fee for camping.</div>
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It's September now. The weather is changing. There's fresh snow on the tops. Nights are cold and we set off well togged up in the morning. It's showery but the rain sets in. As we try to shelter from wind every rock has toilet paper behind it!</div>
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We're on short days, not wanting to arrive at booked accommodation in Abisko too early, causing extra expense so, in the rain, we spy a good spot for the tent and stop, despite only covering about 3 miles.</div>
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On a calmer morning we to begin to drop towards Abisko National Park and find a good camp just before the boundary, camping being permitted in only two places within the park, one being at Abiskojaure hut ie expensive. It becomes noticeably warmer as we drop altitude now.</div>
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It's a pleasant wander down to Nissonjokk, a free camping area not far short of Abisko. We eat noodles...again. Hoping for better tomorrow. The final camp of our trip. We even have a visit from reindeer.<br />
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We're both feeling relaxed and philosophical as we walk the final couple of miles into Abisko. The sun is shining. We have views back to the mountains. We discuss what we'd change re gear we brought...not much...and then thoughts turn to home...and the dogs. A small herd of reindeer wander across the path, right in front of us...as if to say farewell.</div>
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We chill overnight at a nice place in Abisko. Despite no reasonably priced restaurant, the supermarket comes to our aid and we picnic in style in our room.<br />
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Next day, we hook up for a few minutes with our friends Pete Dixon and Lee Taylor who are on a train outbound for their own trip. The train stops for 10 minutes at the station close to us and they jump off to catch up. Amazing!<br />
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<br />
And in the afternoon, our long journey home begins...but wait... there's more. On our final night, at a hostel in Kiruna we finally see the aurora borealis. Just phone pics but who cares.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1as4eR5B0-ZqFPA-stTStKzBBFi40sDQ6T_bhl02xSxmIFNL2Sf5aKQtQtQUIcw2BGG3VxH6JI5t_qXHNBi2eZb6tV08G2z6Dm1_BzBBvtALga8-_iyOKgfD-e9NcM0cKRKh8A1nLAVk/s1600/DSC_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1as4eR5B0-ZqFPA-stTStKzBBFi40sDQ6T_bhl02xSxmIFNL2Sf5aKQtQtQUIcw2BGG3VxH6JI5t_qXHNBi2eZb6tV08G2z6Dm1_BzBBvtALga8-_iyOKgfD-e9NcM0cKRKh8A1nLAVk/s640/DSC_0344.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
32 days travelling. 6 zero days. 26 days walking, all save about 6, without rain. 21 nights in our trusty tent. We've walked about 180 miles...around 2/3 of the Kungsleden.<br />
<br />
Plenty of highs and lows, figuratively as well as in altitude. What an adventure!<br />
<br />
Smile...<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-23726295818182124932019-09-22T14:06:00.000+01:002019-09-22T14:06:31.518+01:00Kungsleden, part 1. Hemavan to Kvikkjokk.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It's late in the day and overcast as we
disembark from our flight to the tiny town of Hemavan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We unwrap our rucsacs and pack the flight bags and a
couple of spare shirts into a parcel to mail to our final destination, five
weeks away. Then we set off up the road to the small shopping centre. But
there's a power cut, so not only are we unable to post the parcel, we can't
buy gas. First hiccup. In the end we buy gas from the nearby STF hostel and
Chrissie persuades the security guard, who hails the lady from the post shop,
who in turn guesses the weight of the parcel and sells the required number of
stamps. Then, we're off...<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
... to our first camp, not too far up the trail.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I awake in the morning to realise I've developed a cold.
Bugger!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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We pass our first STF hut and progress up the spectacular
glacial valley of Syterskalet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The valley is long, but we eventually hit a pass at its
head and emerge onto a wide open landscape and our next camp.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As we set off again I wash my snotty hankie in a stream and
attach it to my pack, hoping it will dry. My new, dry one is sopping within the hour. Fortunately I have two others. This scene is to be repeated over the
next few days as my nose continues to run and drip. But the weather is dry, if
dull, and the scenery breathtaking.</div>
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We cross an archipelago of small islands, scattered across the lake of Tarnasjon, via seven bridges...<br />
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<br />
...before camping by the shore on a delightful summer evening.<br />
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We stop at the Tarnasjo hut to resupply. It becomes apparent that no remote hut has the stock the STF claim on their comprehensive website. Sometimes it's no sweet stuff, sometimes nothing for lunch. This becomes a problem as our journey progresses.<br />
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Leaving the hut we climb over a moorland area, filled with lakes, before reaching a high pass to camp. The weather deteriorates.<br />
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We drop down to the Serve hut and buy snacks. The warden forecasts poor weather for a week! We find a signpost on the trail. It tells us Ammarnas (the first village we'll encounter since Hemavan) is 25 km via the Kungsleden, over a mountain, but 20 along the valley. After some discussion, in light of the poor weather, we choose the shorter option, wondering if we might make the village that afternoon. This proves to be a BIG MISTAKE. The level route along the valley is some of the hardest walking we've ever encountered (including the Lake Superior Trail, which is a whole other story). The undergrowth is dense and the frequent boardwalks, are covered in slimy vegetation remains, making them so slippy we just can't stride out. The 20 km takes us an afternoon and a morning before we emerge into Ammarnas and a hostel.<br />
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We wash all our clothes and fill the room with drying laundry. Beer is welcome.<br />
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We decide to take a zero day and pig out on the hostel's breakfast buffet, cooking dinner in the self catering kitchen. There's a supermarket in the village which allows for sensible resupplying.<br />
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So, on day 8 of our trip we set out again. It's a fine, sunny morning as we trek down a few miles of tarmac. Heading uphill it begins to rain. The trail is flooded as we trudge into the mist. I feel crap. A heavy load? Tiredness? Maybe the lingering effects of my cold? At times like this Chrissie's resilience shines through. We pitch the tent in pouring rain in a just-big-enough space in the forest. As I settle into the dry, sorting our gear (my regular duty) Chrissie filters water (her regular duty). We're 2 miles short of our intended camp for the day. The first time we've been behind schedule. We both know the knock-on effect this will have. We don't want to use up all our spare days yet. We need regular zero days. We have flights booked for our return home. With hindsight our trip should've been open ended, but we already had the pups in kennels for five weeks. Longer seemed unthinkable. I'm knackered but Supergirl returns with a plan.<br />
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After some discussion, upset and tears, we agree to return to Ammarnas in the morning and aim to travel via buses to Kvikkjokk, nominally the halfway point of the Kungsleden. Fortunately, we have a good 4G and can see that this will take two days of travelling with an overnight in the town of Jokkmokk. We also reckon that, if we take another day off at Kvikkjokk STF, this should jump us past this spell of bad weather, as well as giving me time to recover.<br />
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We're back in Ammarnas by early afternoon and find another hostel with a room. I now have a nasty cough. Feeling low, I consider going home, but Chrissie pulls me round again and we double check bus times, eat a brilliant burger and chips in a cafe, and book rooms in Jokkmokk and Kvikkjokk.<br />
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We're up for the 7 am bus to Sorsele.<br />
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Ironically, it's a gorgeous morning. We've a five hour wait in Sorsele before the bus to Jokkmokk. We make good use of the supermarket by the bus station, breakfasting and lunching in the sun.<br />
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The STF hostel in Jokkmokk is a delight and we find a superb pizza (and beer) before settling for the night.<br />
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Next morning we enjoy another fab buffet breakfast, chatting with Swedes and a German guy at our table, sharing travel tales. The bus to Kivikkjokk is not until 3 ish so we repack our sacks, ruthlessly junking stuff we feel we don't need. Shampoo, baby wipes and extra Mosiguard are donated to the warden to go in her "help yourself" box. Leaving our sacks at the hostel we take a walk around Jokkmokk and lunch in a cafe.<br />
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And, after a couple of hours on a bus, we're on familiar ground again at Kvikkjokk STF. We were last here in 2017.<br />
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We spend a day and two nights chilling, cooking, chatting with fellow travellers and preparing for the rest of our journey. I'm still coughing but, life is good.<br />
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More to come in part 2...</div>
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Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-61186068950600498062019-07-16T14:05:00.001+01:002019-07-17T09:15:50.999+01:00The Kungsleden, pre trip overviewThree weeks from today, Chrissie and I will be flying from Manchester to Stockholm, via Oslo. We'll spend the night in a hotel close to the airport and, the following morning, we'll fly north to the small town of Hemavan. Here, late in the afternoon, we will begin our trek of the Kungsleden, the King's Trail, which ends around 270 miles further north at Abisko, crossing the Arctic Circle along the way.<br />
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Traditionally the walk is done north to south but, having seen the beauty of the northernmost section, we decided to end there.</div>
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We've walked a couple of short sections of the Kungsleden already on previous trips and been sufficiently enamoured to want to tackle the entire route.</div>
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Although we have lots of backpacking experience we've never tackled anything this long before, primarily because of our precious dogs. However, after lots of debate, we've decided that, for once, they'll be fine left in the care of a very trusted local kennels.</div>
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We've allowed 31 days for the hike, including three zero days (when we'll take a break) and one spare day, just in case.</div>
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As ever, we'll carry all we need to camp along the way but have planned a couple of nights in hostels. </div>
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The STF (Swedish Tourist Association) have huts along much of the route, offering a variety of accommodation from basic hostels to full service ones, with showers and restaurants, at a couple of roadhead sites. Many have small shops and we'll be using these to resupply on our journey. Hence, unlike our previous forays north when we've carried up to nine days' food, we'll set off with the lightness and luxury of only three days' supplies.</div>
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There are several lake crossings along the way, at least one of which we'll have to row. Many have a motor boat service, for a considerable fee. The rowing boats have a system whereby, with three boats available, at least one must always be left on each side. Hence, if you arrive at a point with one boat on your side, you are obliged to row over, tow one of the two other boats back and leave it, before rowing across again, thereby crossing three times. We're hoping for the sight of two boats on our side. Fingers crossed.</div>
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This trip's been long in the planning but, just recently, we came to the conclusion, given the events of the past twelve months, that we'd like to try to raise some cash for Kidney Research UK. Hence, we set up a Justgiving page last night. You can find it <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/geoffandchrissieskungsledentrek" target="_blank">here</a>. Already, thanks to a lot of kind folk out there, we've had several donations, for which we're both extremely grateful.</div>
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Our good friend Jamie contracted chronic kidney disease in 2017, leading to my donating a kidney to him earlier this year. The good news is, we're both fully recovered now. The bad news is, there are thousands of others suffering with this horrible illness. The work of Kidney Research UK is vital in finding ways to treat and hopefully eradicate this disease in the future. Please donate if you are able.</div>
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We'll stay in a hostel in Abisko for a night at the end, before a train journey to Kiruna, another night's accommodation and flights home. The entire trip will take five weeks.</div>
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Wish us luck. We hope to be posting on Twitter along the way, when coverage is available. For now, you'll have to make do with a few more pics from a previous Swedish trip.</div>
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Smile!</div>
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Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-22440085700354734912019-06-10T21:42:00.001+01:002019-06-10T21:42:11.003+01:00Cycling the Caledonia WayThe weather's dreich. The forecast poor. Dale and I are ensconsed in Agi's Airbnb in Ardrossan, sipping beer, playing pool, contemplating the start of our Caledonian Way adventure tomorrow.<div>
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Day 1, 28.2 miles (not including ferries)</div>
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In the morning we fuel up on Agi's full Scottish, including haggis and black pudding. A fine start. But we leave for the ferry in full waterproofs. One of Calmac's finest vessels whisks us over to Brodick on Arran and, by 12:30 we're rolling along the road towards Sannox and the start of our first climb of the trip. We battle over to Lochranza, pausing to congratulate ourselves at the head of the pass. Then it's a mad, freewheeling ride down to await our next ferry, over to Claonaig. There's thick fog as we hit Kintyre, the ferry sounding warning blasts on its horn as we approach the dock.</div>
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The weather's brightened and we head over the Kintyre peninsula and up to Tarbert for a late coffee and cake. </div>
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Then, doubling back, we follow the quiet road round Knapdale. Spotting an empty field we walk our bikes through a gate to set up camp for the night. The farmer, passing, stops to check us out. We give her lots of northern flannel and she leaves happy...ish.</div>
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Opening my kitchen pannier I discover the screw top has popped off the jar of pesto! What a feckin' mess. Fortunately, most remains in the jar and I mop up the oil in the bottom of my pannier with loo roll and wipes before procurring dinner.</div>
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Day 2, 32.4 miles</div>
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Morning brings damp. Waterproofs again. It's a rolling route round the coast of Knapdale with a decent climb over to the A83 alongside Loch Fyne. Along the way we find a second breakfast at Port Ban's cafe. It begins to rain a little. We cycle into Lochgilphead along the first section of the Crinan Canal and settle into the town's campsite. The Co-op provides good Indian instant meals and a nice bottle of Merlot and we dine splendidly thanks to the campers' room complete with microwave and kettle.</div>
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Day 3, 43.7 miles<br />
It's Tuesday and we start the day with bacon butties then onwards along the Crinan Canal again before crossing Moine Mhor to our first cafe stop of the day in Kilmartin. These cafe stops become a feature of our trip and second breakfasts are the norm.<br />
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Today is a long day of tough climbing. Four significant hills test us. I resort to pushing at least twice, my fitness, post op, not quite restored...at least that's what Dale says. He's kind to me.<br />
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It's a tough day as we climb and fall on the road beside Loch Awe, the reward being many beautiful views along the way. We lunch at another cafe in Dalavich before hitting the final climb before Taynuilt, where we resupply for dinner. Our wild camp is in magnificent Glen Lonan.</div>
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And yes, there are midges!</div>
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Day 4, 39.6 miles</div>
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We awake to rain, which lingers ALL day. Our route takes us north to Connel then follows a cycleway shadowing the A828 all the way to Ballachulish, save for just 2 miles on the busy road. Second breakfast today is at Benderloch.</div>
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Today's weather is truly foul. I take few pictures. The cycling, thankfully, is easy. We have an excellent lunch at a hotel near Kentallen before heading into the rain again to the Corran ferry and a great wild camp on the north shore of Loch Linnhe...in the rain.</div>
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Day 5, 20.7 miles</div>
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An easy day. But we still set out in rain, off up the loch to the small foot passenger (and cycle) ferry from Camusnagaul. We're early, and quite cold by the time the small boat pulled in. The two locals who join us are as friendly as the ferryman and, in no time at all, we're lunching in a warm cafe in Fort William.</div>
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After resupplying in a supermarket we're off to join the Caledonian Canal for the next section of our journey, along the Great Glen Way, to a wonderful wild camp at Gairlochy Locks. We share our dining table with backpackers from Switzerland, Germany and Australia. There's much chat and amusement and the afternoon has seen fine, dry weather.</div>
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Day 6, 37 miles</div>
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This is the big one. The day dawns with sunshine. The route along the Great Glen Way takes in forest tracks along Loch Lochy and a disused railway by Loch Oich before reaching Fort Augustus. It makes for very enjoyable cycling, though we're glad of the hefty tyres on our touring bikes. Second breakfast is at a small cafe at Laggan Locks.</div>
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It's a shame the designer's of these gates along the railway line cycle route didn't consider heavily laden touring bikes!<br />
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The big event of the day follows our lunch and resupply in Fort Augustus. NCN route 78, which forms the whole of the Caledonia Way, takes the B862 up the south side of Loch Ness. Sadly this involves a climb of some 1200ft and 5 and a half miles. On my 2015 LEJOG I came this way and it was billed as the hardest climb of the entire route. Dale laps it up but I shove the bike for two or three steep sections. Dale, valiantly keeps me company. Bless him. After about 75 minutes we reach the summit, a milestone on our trip, before a final dash down to our campsite on the shore of Loch Ness at Foyers. We enjoy a celebratory meal of haggis, mash and peas accompanied by some fine ale. We share our dining table with Rob, an accomplished cycle tourer on a three week tour of the highlands.<br />
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Day 7, 22 miles<br />
Our final day is a straightforward route into Inverness where we tuck into pizza and beer before taking the train back to Ardrossan via Glasgow. By evening we're back at Agi's, tired but elated.<br />
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A fine trip. 7 days and over 230 miles from the west coast, right through the Great Glen to the east coast of Scotland.<br />
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Many thanks to Dale for his good company and tolerance with my "far not fast" pace.<br />
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I think my recovery is complete.<br />
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Smile!<br />
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Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-8367996814444651832019-04-07T18:24:00.000+01:002019-04-09T17:20:29.520+01:00Kidney donation, part 15As I write it's operation day plus 6 weeks and 5 days.<br />
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I'm pretty much recovered. The sensitivity around the wound area has gone completely now. I pulled some tiny, straggly remains of stitches out, from one of the smaller scars, with tweezers a couple of days ago. They're supposed to dissolve. I still get the slightest of aches around the large scar but it's barely noticeable. I no longer seem to be experiencing the tiredness, though I'm told this can linger. I've been driving for a couple of weeks too.</div>
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I'll not pretend I haven't had some ups and downs since I last wrote. Aches, sensitivity, tiredness and generally feeling frustrated have all figured, but the fact remains, everything has gone according to plan.</div>
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We're just home from 10 days in the Dales in our motorhome. During that time I've carried my normal daysac on walks. I'm still not rushing things, even though I was told that I could do pretty much whatever I wanted after 6 weeks. Hence, the walks were no more than about 4 to 5 miles, but did involve a bit of uphill. I also enjoyed a few short rides on my road bike, the longest around 10 miles but including some short, sharp climbs. I could feel my lack of fitness so that's my priority now, to get back to bike and hill fitness. I've a cycle tour planned with my pal Dale in 8 weeks time so that'll focus me on getting out as much as possible on a bike. We also have a very short, overnight backpack coming up in 3 weeks, when I need to carry all my kit for wild camping. I reckon I should be fine for that. Plus, of course, there's the small matter of our 5 week backpacking trip on the Kungsleden, Sweden, in August.</div>
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Since I last wrote Jamie's clinic visits have reduced from twice weekly to once weekly, which is really great. As far I can see he seems to be progressing well, given he has much greater issues to deal with than I. We had a lovely chat on the phone a couple of weeks back, once we'd both got to a point where neither of us was dissolving into tears. We've both been feeling quite emotional. I'm really looking forward to getting together with him in the future.</div>
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The end of this journey will come, for me, when I'm back to my normal fitness. I will though, have an annual check to make sure I'm ok. For Jamie though, it will carry on for the rest of his life as he is continually monitored to make sure his new kidney is performing as it should be and he's in good health. But he will, I hope, regain an otherwise normal life. I think he expects this to be later this year, probably late summer. Join me in wishing him the very best of luck.</div>
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Meanwhile, I'll leave you with a couple of images from our Dales trip.</div>
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To read the whole story go to my kidney donation page which you can access on the left side of this blog.<br />
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Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-15965030811496135792019-02-27T11:26:00.000+00:002019-03-23T13:44:13.652+00:00Kidney donation, part 14It's now operation day plus 8.<br />
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My admission into hospital last Monday was not without problems. I never got the call to go in, as promised, and instead ended up researching the correct ward on the internet and phoning them direct, twice, before they agreed I could go in. On arrival Chrissie and I were left, out of sight, in a day room for 45 mins before I was taken to my bed. Having now spent four days there I can begin to appreciate the understaffing on wards and why I wasn't attended to straight away.<br />
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The operation, early on Tuesday,was successful, though I wasn't quite prepared for how rough I would feel once I came round. There is proper focus on the statistical risks of the operation but it would probably come over quite negatively if you were told just how shit you'd feel. However, that lasted only for a day or so before I began to feel a bit better. To be fair it was mostly discomfort, rather than pain.</div>
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I'd awoken with a drip into my left hand for self-administered morphine, a catheter to allow draining of urine, a drain from one of the wounds in my tummy and a mask providing oxygen. Phew!</div>
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All of these were removed on Wednesday and I was able to get up and go to the loo. Laxatives helped restore my bowel movements and I began wandering up and down the corridor on Thursday, glad of the feeling of exercise. My appetite was poor though. I managed only a small amount of food at each meal.</div>
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Each day prior to Friday I was visited by my transplant surgeon, a different surgeon stopped by on Friday. Every day I saw a member of the transplant coordination team, who are all specialist nurses, and Dr.Anna, my researcher for the follow up I'd agreed to. All of this made me feel very well supported. I referred earlier to understaffing. None of this being a criticism of any individual. My experience was that all NHS staff work hard in strained circumstances. There's lots of waiting though for stuff to be done and it was nice that the transplant coordination nurses and Dr.Anna often stepped in to perform tasks in lieu of ward staff, for which I was very grateful.</div>
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On Friday morning I was told I'd probably be able to go home but there then followed a long day of waiting for a blood test result, analysis by the ward doctor and waiting for medications to take home. As a result, I eventually left with Chrissie at around 7:45pm.</div>
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Every day since coming home I've managed a short walk through our village. Slowly at first. Yesterday I walked around a mile and a half. This is allowed, walking being self-limiting. I'm not allowed to carry a rucsac, nor to cycle until I've seen my surgeon in about 3 weeks from now.<br />
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Yesterday Dr.Anna picked me up and drove me back to MRI for another mri scan, blood and urine tests, this being part of the post op research. Anna is very kind and gave me lots of encouragement.</div>
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Today, all my pain has pretty much gone. I took only two paracetomol yesterday morning. My appetite's still not good. Something's affecting my taste buds. Coffee, which I love, tastes crap as did the one beer I tried on Saturday night. Bleurgh! I'm not enjoying my home made bread either. </div>
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My main sensation is weariness. I'm in bed by 9pm but managed 10pm last night, after episode 3 of Shetland, which I'd been looking forward to.</div>
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Forgive my grumblings. I'm just trying to give an honest picture, particularly for readers who might be taking a similar journey. In short, I've survived and am improving every day. Being discharged three days after the op gives a better technical answer as to how well I am. This unseasonal weather is helping too, making my wanders through the village a delight.</div>
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But, more important than all the above, is my friend Jamie. I can't speak in detail of how he is, though we're in regular contact, but his operation was a success. He was expected to be in hospital for two to three weeks following the op but he went home yesterday, after just seven days! My/his kidney appears to be working well but he has to return to a clinic on Friday and again each week to check how things are going and, critically, for any signs of rejection. But, Jamie is off dialysis...for the first time in around 12 months. I'm very pleased.<br />
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Since coming home I've cried often, usually as a result of seeing Jamie's progress. My emotions are heightened right now, but I do feel positive for both myself and Jamie.</div>
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As always, I wish Jamie well.<br />
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And God bless Chrissie who is pandering to my every need at the moment.</div>
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I'll finish with some positive images of the last few days, when I've been out and about and visited by our precious Noah. The Sunshine Squad (aka Pebbles and Islay) are never far from my side, oozing healing love from every pore.<br />
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To read the whole story go to my kidney donation page which you can access on the left side of this blog.<br />
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Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-89580183736345120592019-02-18T08:39:00.001+00:002019-03-23T13:43:28.664+00:00Kidney donation, part 12AYeah, I am a bit superstitious, I never miss bidding good morning to solitary magpies, hence titling this "part 12A".<br />
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We're pretty much there. For me it's the end of a 9 month journey, but for Jamie it's been considerably longer...well over a year.</div>
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I had a great weekend of walking and camping on Kinder with my pal Dale, which successfully distracted me from the job in hand. Thanks Dale.</div>
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We'll take the dogs for their daily walk this morning then, this afternoon, Chrissie and I will await a phone call, twixt 3.30 and 4:30, to tell me to go down to Manchester Royal Infirmary. I trust that's a formality cos Jamie's already ensconsed in Cardiff University hospital...preparing and waiting.</div>
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Chrissie will drive me down and tomorrow my operation is scheduled for 8:30 in the morning. I fully expect to be out of it for much of the day.</div>
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I'm nervous. Who wouldn't be? I have confidence, though, in the expertise of the renal transplant team in Manchester; the most experienced in the UK.<br />
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The operation involves three to four small cuts to allow access for tools and a camera, one being larger for hand access and removal of the kidney. Technically it's a laparoscopic hand assisted live donor nephrectomy.</div>
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Following the op my kidney will be transported down the motorway system to Cardiff. Jamie's op is scheduled for late afternoon.</div>
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Poor Jamie's been on dialysis pretty much every day for the past week and he'll be on it for all of his hospital recovery, two to three weeks. And, of course, Jamie's operation is significantly more complex. He'll receive "my" kidney but his existing two will remain in place.</div>
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Best guess, I'm hoping to be home by the weekend, but that depends on my post op recovery. There will then follow several weeks of careful rehabilitation to ensure my wounds heal well.</div>
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Many thanks to all who've been kind enough to give me moral support on this journey. Whilst I'm not seeking bouquets, I do really appreciate it. Special thanks to Chrissie; I couldn't have got this far without her support.</div>
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Next time I update on here it'll be post op.</div>
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I wish my friend Jamie well. </div>
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Wish us both luck. Hold us in your thoughts.</div>
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Gratuitous happy pup pics to make you...</div>
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To read the whole story go to my kidney donation page which you can access on the left side of this blog.</div>
Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-78241514411950771452019-02-17T15:05:00.002+00:002019-02-17T15:05:52.161+00:00It's Spring...in February!Regular readers will know I have an appointment at Manchester Royal Infirmary tomorrow for an operation on Tuesday, so I'm pleased when Dale asks if either us fancies a camp this weekend. This'll be my last chance for a while.<div>
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It's been mild and dry all week hereabouts, so we head out for a fairly high camp on the south western slopes of Kinder. Islay's with us and she enjoys bimbling about and helping Dale as we stop to filter water en route.</div>
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In a short while we're up at our chosen spot. Despite the lovely weather there's nobody here. Islay plays in the grass as we erect tents.</div>
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No sooner is the tent up than Choccy Paws is in her bed. For the very first time it's her ultralight Woof Bag, made with love by Chrissie. I relax with a brew.</div>
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Here's the ultralight Woof Bag packed in its compression sack. It weighs around 400g and proves plenty warm enough for Islay when she's wearing her fleece pjs, in a night seeing a low of around 5C. For more information see <a href="https://woofbags.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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It's a beautiful evening. There's a view down to Manchester, which makes me pensive about my upcoming stay there.</div>
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The night is windy. The flapping of tent fabric and a racing mind make for a fitful night's sleep.</div>
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Morning dawns bright and blue.</div>
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We decide on a route round the western edge path before returning to Hayfield. On the way, Islap poses at the Kinderlow trig point.</div>
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Again, it's bright and dry. Islay receives lots of compliments about her pannier carrying skills.</div>
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By lunchtime we're home. Coffee, cheese on toast, cake and chatter. Then, it's back to thoughts of coming days...</div>
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Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-25297019607808828012019-01-28T17:22:00.001+00:002019-01-28T17:22:55.506+00:00January on BleaklowIt's a January weekend. The forecast is not the best. Rain, cold, windy and some snow.<div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/Chrisw00dcock" target="_blank">Chris</a> has come over from North Wales to join me for a camp, so I'm committed. We drive over the Snake Pass. Earlier in the week we had a dump of snow around here but the whole lot's been washed away by rain.</div>
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Chrissie drops us off and we set out on the track up to Alport Castles, stopping briefly before we hit the top of the landslip for a quick bite. Once we hit the top the wind increases. As we approach the nameless trig point on, sort of, Westend Moor I measure the strength as being around 30 mph gusting to about 48. With an actual temperature of 2 to 3C windchill was around minus 7C.</div>
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I took this picture for my friend Jamie, who hopefully will receive one of my kidneys in three weeks' time. On our last outing in the hills together I brought Jamie on a similar trip and have photo of him right here...on a MUCH nicer day.</div>
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It's a westerly crosswind, making walking difficult. But we press on. I'm pretty sure my planned campsite will be sufficiently sheltered, being down in the bottom of a bowl...in a secret place.</div>
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There's a little drizzle but we're actually dry as we hit camp. As predicted, there's nothing more than a light breeze at my chosen spot so we have no difficulty erecting shelters.</div>
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We filter water and make brews before the predicted rain comes in and hatches are battened down. At this time of year, wild camping is a solitary experience once tents are up and weather closes in. I settle to brews and snacks and reading on my Kindle app. Then it's dinner followed by a film courtesy of Netflix; Good Will Hunting, which I've not seen before. The closing performances from Matt Damon and the inimitable Robin Williams have me in tears.</div>
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I've brought my "winter" sleeping bag. More and more I'm finding my lighter, three season bag will take me down to minus 2C. The forecast was no lower than that. In my usual sleep attire I'm soon sweating as I bed down. I remove my clothing and I'm still too hot. I open the zip from top and bottom and I'm still sweating. It eventually cools in the small hours but I vow to continue experimenting with my lighter bag unless it's seriously cold. For those interested, my three season bag is a Rab Neutrino 600 and my winter one is a Rab Expedition 800 (no longer made). But remember, we're all different and, no matter the spec, what's warm for one may be cold for another.</div>
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This weekend, the forecast is remarkably accurate. There's heavy snowfall for a couple of hours between around 1 and 4 in the morning. At some point I wake and knock the substantial accumulation off the tent. Again as predicted, the morning dawns clear and dry. We've around three inches of white stuff on the ground.</div>
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Morning temperature is hovering just above freezing.</div>
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Once packed, we're off on a familiar route along a stretch of the Pennine Way over Snake Summit and Featherbed Moss to Mill Hill. Once again it is pretty windy on the exposed paths.</div>
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We're back at Crowther Towers by mid afternoon and I note that my Skywatch recorded the highest windspeed of the weekend...</div>
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...and we stayed dry!</div>
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Another trip over, in good company. </div>
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Excellent stuff. Cheers Chris.</div>
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Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-77799163377453349812019-01-13T15:39:00.001+00:002019-03-23T13:42:21.053+00:00Kidney donation, part 12Back in May last year, when I decided to offer Jamie one of my kidneys, I knew it would be a long process but I did hope it would be completed by the end of the year. It has, however, taken a little longer than I anticipated, but we're almost there.<br />
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Last Tuesday I cycled into Manchester for the final time on this journey. I had my routine pre-operative assessment; bloods, urine, weight, height, blood pressure, ECG and a long questionnaire. All seemed to go well.<br />
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I also had the first in a series of MRI scans to begin my part in research I've agreed to, looking at the performance of the remaining kidney following transplant.<br />
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Typically, on the last ride there, I had a puncture, thankfully only minutes away from the hospital.<br />
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I've just finished packing the car for the journey down to Swansea tomorrow. This really is the last step before I go in for the op. I have an Airbnb booked for tomorrow night, not wishing to make the 200 mile drive twice in a day. I'm looking forward to having dinner with Jamie and his parents in the evening.<br />
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On Tuesday, I'm off to Morriston Hospital in Swansea. Jamie tells me it's not the best place to park so my road bike's in the car and I have a bit of a circuit planned for the morning, taking in the hospital. The folk at the Airbnb are happy for me to leave my car there. First I'll meet Suzanne, who was my first contact in this journey back in May. She will take blood samples for a final cross match with Jamie before the operation. After this I'll be meeting Jamie again and we'll have an appointment, together I think, with an independent assessor to check that the donation complies with the Human Tissue Act, crucially that no payment is involved. I believe we both have to sign a declaration.<br />
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And, hopefully, that's that. Next stop will be my admission to Manchester late on the 18th February in preparation for the operation the following morning. I'm expecting to be there for 3 or 4 days ish. It all depends on how I am. Jamie's operation will be that same afternoon after my kidney has been hurried down the motorway system to Cardiff, where, I'm sure, he'll be waiting excitedly.<br />
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Thanks for reading and following this journey. Find previous posts by clicking "older posts" at the bottom of this page or working your way through the menu on the left side of the page.<br />
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Thanks for all the kind messages to both of us along the way. Next time you hear from me on this subject the op will be done. Let's hope for the most positive of outcomes so Jamie can re-engage with his love of the outdoors and an active, enjoyable life.<br />
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Here's a daft pic from my Channel to Med ride last summer as an added incentive to my friend Jamie.<br />
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Live live to the full and...smile!<br />
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To read the whole story go to my kidney donation page which you can access on the left side of this blog.Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-24897982719698872782018-12-22T17:54:00.001+00:002018-12-22T23:39:55.513+00:00A year in the life...We're nearing the end of 2018 and it's been a busy year here at Crowther Towers. I've finally managed to wild camp every month through the year. I'm including spending a night in a bothy in November...cos it's my rules and, in any event, I'd already managed a full 12 months before then, starting in, I think, August 2017. So there!<br />
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So here's a quick run through with some pics starting in January when Chrissie and I saw the New Year in with our pal James up in Kielder with the motorhome, visiting a bothy on a day hike, wearing the daftest of expressions...</div>
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... we also spent a night with the pups up near the summit of Brown Knoll...</div>
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...and I had a cold night with James on Kinder in the snow again.</div>
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In February I had another snowy camp, this time with Dale in the Ashop valley...</div>
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...and a Ghost Camp with Chrissie, Dale, James, Gordon and the pups on Kinder.</div>
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March was a very busy month. David christened his new touring cycle with a short overnighter with me at the C&CC Delamere Forest site...</div>
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... Dale and I had a two night trip over Bleaklow and Kinder...</div>
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...and we swapped our motorhome, again, for a much smaller one. More sensible for us.</div>
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April was time for another Ghost Camp on Kinder with the same gang as February, plus Reuben.</div>
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In May I had a superb, two night, cycle tour through the Peak District with Dale, including a wild camp, this being a shake down for my BIG ADVENTURE in June and July.</div>
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I also, in May decided to offer a spare kidney I had kicking around to my friend Jamie who was on dialysis and suffering with chronic kidney disease. This led to months of testing and a date for the transplant on February 19th next year.</div>
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I was due to leave for France in late June and knew it was unlikely I'd be wild camping so, for the sake of completeness, I dashed out with Islay, on a warm evening, to a favourite local spot to ensure I had a June wild camp before I left.</div>
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Then in late June I left home with my bike and set off on a route from St Malo on the English Channel to Nice down on the Med. It took almost 5 weeks and was the hardest physical challenge I've undertaken, so far. Here's a few snaps along the 1100 mile journey.</div>
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An utterly amazing experience.</div>
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Once home in July I made time to squeeze in another Kinder wild camp with Chrissie, Dale and the pups.</div>
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August saw an unbelievably idyllic camp near Brown Knoll with Dean...</div>
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...and we found time for a few motorhome/caravan nights in the Dales with James and Corrina.</div>
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In September I enjoyed two nights with David on a Buttermere ish two nighter in the Lakes. It was a delight.</div>
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I managed three wild camps in October. The first was a quick dash up to High Spy with Islay,</div>
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...the second was a visit with Chrissie, David, Moss and the pups to the sabre crash site,</div>
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...and the third was a first taste of snow for this winter with Islay and Dale on Kinder again.</div>
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November was time for another Ghost Camp. This time the usual crew were joined by Mike for a wintery jaunt up to Greg's Hut on Cross Fell. The first night I've ever spent in a bothy, though I've visited loads.</div>
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Finally, this month, December, I spent a night up on Red Screes with Pete Dixon, in atrocious weather...</div>
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...and just this week Islay and I had a camp on Brown Knoll again followed by a fabulously sunny descent down into Edale.</div>
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And that's about it. </div>
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I've missed a few short motorhome trips. We've not done any long ones this year due to so many things going on, not least lots of health checks for the transplant. Please keep me and my friend Jamie in mind in February, primarily for a good outcome for him.</div>
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Chrissie's had a bad time with plantar fasciitis, leading to her being forced to drop out of this year's TGOC, but thankfully she's on the right side of this now.</div>
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Next year, after the operation in February, I'll be focused on recuperation and getting hill fit for our BIG TRIP of 2019, walking the whole of the Kungsleden in northern Sweden. This should take us 4 to 5 weeks and will be in August/September.<br />
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We've shared lots of camps with friends this year and that's been especially enjoyable. My sincere thanks to all of you. Please know, your friendship is valued so much. Where would we be without friends?</div>
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I wish all of you out there a happy Christmas and the best of years for 2019. I hope it brings all that you wish for.</div>
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Finally, I couldn't leave this round up without a pic of the special little man in our family, who turned one year old in November. Here's one of my favourite recent photos of Noah, showing off his very first pair of shoes. Chrissie and I are very much looking forward to spending Christmas day with Abi, Dave, Pepper, their lovable flat coated retriever and, of course, Noah.</div>
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Smile!</div>
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Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-45366217006124037222018-12-17T17:01:00.000+00:002018-12-17T22:12:05.887+00:00Final camp of the year, prob'lyI reckon some o' these posts get a bit repetitive... repetitive. So, I'll keep the words down here (not in any way tryin' to compete with Dale).<br />
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Suffice to say, Islay and I dashed up to, what's becoming, a fave spot near Brown Knoll. It pissed down overnight, but we were snug in the tent. Quite mild, about 4C, falling to 2C in the morning. </div>
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And the morning brought the most glorious weather. Little wind, relatively warm and sunshine. A perfect autumnal day, cos it could not be described as winter, despite Christmas being barely a week off. We followed the edge path, then descended via Grindsbrook. Chrissie picked us up in Edale then lunch in Hathersage.</div>
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Here's the pics.</div>
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Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-13610856007664365522018-12-02T19:39:00.000+00:002018-12-02T19:39:00.239+00:00December in t'LakesI've been trying to get together with Pete Dixon for a camp all year. Stuff's always got in the way.<br />
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Finally we manage and I trundle up the motorway in the van, to stay at the Caravan and Motorhome Club site near Grange over Sands. It's Friday afternoon. The weather is "changeable" 😊.<br />
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Saturday morning comes around and my chauffeur, Pete arrives. It's raining. Looks well set in. We procrastinate with a brew.<br />
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But, eventually, we feel we can put it off no longer and set out for Ambleside.<br />
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Pete is one of a handful of outdoor friends I really admire. He's a very, very experienced backpacker, out camping year round. He has a wealth of knowledge but doesn't shout about it. Ask though and he'll happily share well-considered thoughts on all things to do with travelling in the hills. He also has a great sense of humour. In short Pete's bloody good company.<br />
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He knows the Lake District better than the back of his hand, so it's no surprise that Pete drives straight to a secret parking location on the outskirts of town where we leave his fine automobile before heading out into the hills.<br />
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It's still raining.<br />
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Pete has decided Red Screes is the place to aim for on such an inclement day and we're soon plodding steadily up a broad track towards Scandale Pass.<br />
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We pause for lunch. It's still raining. Pete is convinced this is my fault.<br />
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We pass a massive group of students, looking several kinds of miserable as they head downhill. Then, hitting the pass, we strike uphill to the summit.<br />
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Pete stops to get water from a running stream, assuring me that, with my fancy purifier, I can use the small tarn near the summit.<br />
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It's still raining, but I manage another photo.<br />
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And, sure enough, there's the tarn, where I grab water. Then, only a couple of hundred metres away, we find a good pitch.</div>
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It's still raining. That fine rain, that wets you through. Once ensconced in our shelters we ain't moving.<br />
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During dinner prep I manage first, to knock over half a litre of boiling water then, second, to knock over my burning Jetboil stove. It flares before I can turn it off. Thankfully neither of these silly accidents causes any damage. But I feel daft. I should know better.<br />
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I enjoy some downloaded tv before retiring to a good night's sleep.<br />
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In the morning, just as I wake I hear movement in Pete's shelter. We communicate with shouts.<br />
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It's still raining.<br />
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By 9:30 we're both fed and packed.<br />
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It's still raining<br />
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Pete snatches this great photo. We both look like we're enjoying ourselves 😂<br />
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We trudge through the mist, downhill. And, in the fullness of time, we're back at Pete's motor, peeling off wet gear. Then, it's back to the van for a lunch of bacon butties and coffee.<br />
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It's been crappy weather<br />
... and great fun<br />
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Thanks Pete. Here's to the next time... and maybe better weather.<br />
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<br />Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-65841775764010778592018-11-28T14:22:00.000+00:002019-03-23T13:41:50.793+00:00Kidney donation, part 11Today's a milestone.<br />
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Had a phone call this morning from Suzanne from the transplant team down in Swansea. She's been busy looking at dates and has proposed 19th February for the operation. This thing is gonna happen! With this in mind she's hoping to arrange for Jamie and I to meet the independent assessor in the week beginning 21st January. The assessor has to have their decision in, that all is ok legally, at least 10 days before the operation. She's also hoping to take bloods (I believe for a final cross check with Jamie's) on that day, when I'll be travelling down to South Wales. The bloods have to be taken within 6 weeks of the operation.</div>
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This afternoon I had an email from Janet in Manchester confirming the above and she has already said they can fit in with 19th February. My operation will be performed in the morning in Manchester, Jamie's that same afternoon in Cardiff, my kidney having shot down the motorway on blues and twos.</div>
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So all is looking good but subject to final confirmation. I meet with the transplant surgeon in Manchester on 12th December.</div>
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I feel today's the right time to share some thoughts with you all.</div>
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I made the offer of a kidney to my friend Jamie having discovered he was on dialysis three times a week. With Jamie's agreement I decided to blog about the process. It would be easy to think I was doing this to draw attention to myself, inviting accolades for my action. This isn't the case though. My desire, really, is to raise awareness of the plight of those suffering from chronic kidney disease and the effect this has on their lives. Jamie has been deprived of the ability to enjoy outdoor pursuits like cycling and hillwalking. He's unable to drive long distances and can't venture far from his dialysis centre in Swansea. It's also true that the dialysis is merely keeping him alive, not healthy. He needs a new kidney. Without someone like me offering a kidney he'd have to wait, in a long queue, for someone to die.</div>
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Each time I post on here and Twitter I receive lots of positive comments and praise. I've been called a hero. I'm not. I'm just an ordinary guy trying to help. It's not unusual for me. Close friends will, I hope, recognise my willingness to help folk, usually in a very small way. I hope this kindness has a ripple effect, prompting others to do likewise.</div>
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I spent 27 years of my life as a mountain rescue volunteer. I loved the idea of helping folk I didn't know, giving assistance without reward. But here's the thing. There is a reward, but it's hard to explain, because it's a feeling, a sensation you get, having done some good. </div>
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It won't surprise you to hear that Jamie's thanked me more than once for my actions. It's completely understandable. I'd do the same. I can only try to reassure him that I'm happy to help and he doesn't have to express his thanks. I'll get my reward when I can share the outdoors with Jamie again. When we can sweat and toil up a hill together, or maybe flog up a climb on bikes. That shared experience will be a joy.</div>
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I feel like I'm rambling. My thoughts are a little clumsy. I hope you get the drift of my feelings. </div>
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So, to end for today, I ask just this. Can you help someone as you pass along the way? Can you too be a good Samaritan? It may not be giving someone a kidney but the smallest acts of kindness can bring light to the life of the receiver. </div>
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Be kind to others. There cannot be too much love in the world.</div>
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Smile!<br />
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To read the whole story go to my kidney donation page which you can access on the left side of this blog.</div>
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Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-47344407748248892462018-11-26T16:57:00.001+00:002018-11-26T16:57:40.980+00:00It's Greg's, not Gregg's...We're pitched in the van at Galliber Farm, near Long Marton, not far from Appleby in Westmorland where Islay was born. Dale's arrived just after us and Gordon's tent is already pitched. He's gone to t'pub for dinner. It's dark. Around 6:30pm. James and Mike are due around 10.<div>
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Our plan is, tomorrow, to walk up to Greg's Hut, a bothy close to the summit of Cross Fell along the old corpse road from Kirkland to Garrigill. Another in a continuing theme of Ghost Camps. Blame Chrissie...</div>
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By 10 we're all assembled in the van, sipping beverages.</div>
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Come morning we have a lazy start. </div>
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By 11am we're away, on a plod along the road towards Kirkland, where the bridleway up t'ill begins.</div>
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The sun is shining. We're each carrying 2kg of coal and plenty of insulation. We know there's bin snow on t'tops.We're hoping to socialise in the warmth of the hut before retiring to tents.</div>
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The track steepens. The sun disappears as we cross into the snow line.</div>
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I'm suffering with the weight but chivvied along by the kindness and consideration of my friends. With hindsight, I may not have been the only one struggling but I'm the one who vocalises it. Never could keep my gob shut.</div>
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In time, the hut appears as a welcome sight in the gloom.</div>
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As soon as we're inside, James sets to work on the stove and the fire begins to crackle.</div>
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No-one can work up any enthusiasm for tent erection. The ground around is not the best anyway. Instead, we organise our kit, lay out mats and sleeping bags on the sleeping platform and begin making brews.</div>
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First out of our sacs are the dogs' <a href="https://woofbags.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Woof Bags</a>. As soon as they see them on the end of the platform they're in and snuggled down. It's been a tough walk up for them both, carrying their panniers.</div>
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In contrast to the final slog to the hut, the atmosphere is cosy and convivial and we spend the evening laughing, eating and supping whisky...and some vodka we found left on a shelf.</div>
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Plenty of spirits see us through the evening...</div>
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Part way through the evening we hear someone at the door. It's a young bikepacker, Sam, en route from Peebles to Penrith. We welcome him in, make sure there's space for him to sleep too and he's soon attempting to dry very wet shoes by the stove.</div>
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It's a truly memorable evening, spent in great company. Strangely it's the first night I've spent in a bothy. I frequently camp near them but prefer my tent. I've always said if I was ever in a group I'd consider sleeping in one...and here we are. It's a first too for Pebbles and Islay and we're proud of how settled they are in their beds. They bark when Sam enters, but only briefly. They're soon snuggled down again.</div>
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The night is not so cold. We all seem to sleep quite well, given the inevitable toilet excursions through the night. Pebbles' snoring is the source of much hilarity (we're well used to it) but it seems she has a rival in one member of our group.</div>
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Morning is dank and gloomy again.</div>
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We breakfast around a freshly lit stove before packing.</div>
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James, Mike and Gordon want to head up to the summit of Cross Fell and descend by a different route. With the dogs we're happy to avoid more snow so head down by our ascent route. Dale joins us.</div>
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As we stop for lunch, Islay poses proudly with her panniers.</div>
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And after a long trudge along the road we're back at the site shortly before the rest of our group.</div>
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The evening's spent consuming chilli, beer and cake, interspersed with daft attempts at humour. A damn fine end to a short trip. </div>
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Friends are worth more than gold...</div>
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Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-14362714579927748242018-11-15T18:07:00.001+00:002019-03-23T13:41:11.789+00:00Kidney donation, part 10The story rumbles on...a bit like Brexit.<br />
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It's been over 6 weeks since my last visit to Manchester Royal Infirmary. The day after that last trip I had a 24 hour blood pressure monitor fitted at my GP surgery and the results were fine. It seems, like many others, I suffer from "white coat syndrome" meaning I react, without even realising it, to my blood pressure being taken by a health professional. Oh well.</div>
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The six week wait was the normal queue for a CT scanner. They're clearly in constant demand. So today I had a CT scan of my abdomen along with an X ray of the same. During the scan I was injected with a fluid dye, via a canula, to show up the blood vessels which serve my kidneys. This will enable the transplant surgeons to make a final decision as to which kidney to use.</div>
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After these two procedures I went in search of my transplant co-ordinator, Janet. I managed to find her for a five minute chat where she was able to tell me the nephrologist, Dr.P., has now referred me to the transplant surgeons. We're now in the final stages of this long journey. Next up will be a meeting with the surgeons for a final run through with me before fixing a date for the operation. Janet still thinks we're on track for this to happen in January. </div>
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Once the date is fixed, Jamie and I will both meet the independent assessor to make the necessary legal checks ensuring no payment is being made for the donation. There's no hold up here though, because this meeting will only be set up once we have a date for the operation.</div>
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I was pleased to be able to phone my friend Jamie this afternoon with these positive updates.</div>
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The waiting continues but I feel we're getting close to a conclusion now. It can't come too soon. Jamie has had a number of dialysis sessions where he's suffered from a serious drop in his blood pressure. Not good.</div>
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On a more positive note, it was great to meet up with Jamie a couple of weeks ago when he came up to Manchester for the day. We had a most enjoyable visit to the Imperial war Museum North. Not the best quality photo, but it's the spirit of it that matters.</div>
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Thanks for reading. Please keep you fingers crossed for us. I hope you enjoy this pic of me, prepped for my scan today. Smile!<br />
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To read the whole story go to my kidney donation page which you can access on the left side of this blog.</div>
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Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656090127491069947.post-75647229569650413952018-10-27T14:55:00.000+01:002018-10-27T14:55:09.392+01:00Winter is comingIt's late October. Dale's allowed me to join in with a camp. Technically it's autumn, but the forecast is for around minus 2C overnight on Kinder with a 23 mph wind. Snow is forecast for mid morning the next day. So it's on the cusp of winter. It's Friday. The clocks go back on Sunday.<br />
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We head towards Edale Cross with our sights on a high, exposed camp. By 5pm we're settled and a brew is on.</div>
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Islay's had a Bonio and is snuggled in her bed.<br />
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It's cooling fast. My Skywatch is outside and I can see it falling. 1.9C, 1.8C...</div>
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I prepare a dinner of cheapo Batchelor's spicy arrabiata pasta with a chopped Pepperami chucked in for good measure. Delicious. To follow, on David's recommendation, Bird's Instant semolina. I've brought a dessertspoon of blackcurrant jam in a placcy bag and it makes a really tasty pudding. Islay tucks into her food with gusto.</div>
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I watch a couple of episodes of Fargo, series 3, on Netflix, before retiring. There's ice beginning to form on the tent. It's just below freezing. Islay has her fleecy PJs on and her insulated jacket too. Hunkered down in her camping bed (to buy one see <a href="https://woofbags.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">here</a>) she feels toasty warm.</div>
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As the night passes I wake a couple of times. In the early hours I check my Skywatch. It's minus 2C and the wind speed is 26mph. In these conditions it's comforting, listening to the wind, secure in the knowledge that all my kit is combining to keep me safe, warm and comfortable. I'm in my Rab Neutrino 600 bag, wearing some Rab long johns, a Montane Allez microgrid top and my Bridegdale liner socks. I'm supremely comfy but I think, for me, it's on the limit for this, my spring/summer/autumn bag. When colder I'll use my Rab Expedition 800.</div>
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I check Islay each time I wake. Despite occasionally squirming out of the cover of her bag, she's warm. I cover her again anyway.</div>
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I wake just before 8am. There's ice inside and outside the flysheet. But it's dry. The wind has dropped.</div>
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Islay and I breakfast in bed then pack up. It's begun to snow...as forecast. By the time I leave the tent, there's a thin covering. Islay plays in the snow while I drop the tent.</div>
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By the time I've packed the tent my fingers are numb inside my fleece gloves. Once Islay's panniers are on and I've adjusted my rucsac, I don my old, faithful Extremities winter mitts. As we begin to walk my fingers warm quickly.</div>
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We head towards Kinderlow End. Islay is loving dashing about in the snow. I love to see her so happy.</div>
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With a thin covering of snow we use poles to ease the steep descent off Kinderlow End. A slow pace keeps us safe from trips.</div>
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A first outing for my deliciously loud new Dijon, Rab Torque pants.</div>
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Home again, Chrissie, Dale and I muse about further trips over bacon and egg butties.</div>
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Winter is coming. Life is good.</div>
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Smile!</div>
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Geoff Crowtherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.com10