Tuesday 27 July 2010

My experience!

Well what can I say - thank goodness I packed the essentials - wine and cider. Once I got over the embarrassment of the journey and put the sign out saying 'Sold out of ice creams' I actually had a good time. I especially liked the fact I could use my straightners in the comfort of my own van. When are we off again?
Leigh

Turned out OK

Truly does the Bish speak words of wisdom with his top tips.

In my usual manner of JDI ing, the Mem Sahib's first venture was...inteteresting.
A camp site on top of a steep (2nd gear all the way) 1 and a half mile hill and the pub at the bottom. No shop or bar facilities at all on the campsite and nearest food shop that might be open when we arrived about 10 miles away.

Dragged her on a coastline hike of 10 miles on Saturday - arrive at aforementioned pub tired, hungry and looking forward to local fare only to find fully booked - so beans in the van it was!

Still she did say she enjoyed the weekend and was smiling most of the time so all's good.

3 Top Tips for Smithington

1) Look in the right place for the fuel filler cap key

2) Check whether the camp site has on-site food

3) Always have reserve supplies on board


Tips freely given by Bish, look out for further toptips...

Sunday 11 July 2010

Scafell done

Relections

The last 24 hours now seem a blur. Living them was intense. In simple terms I walked about 22 miles. 11 miles up to achieve a total vertical height above sea level of about 2 miles and 11 miles down all in driving rain in the space of 12.5 hours. I sat in a crowded VW with 7 other people plus gear for 10 hours from Snowdonia to Fort William. What a smell! And in total had 4 hours sleep. I ate a fried breakfast and then grazed on crisps chocolate energy bars nuts bananas sandwhiches and water. Would I do it again - no. Did I enjoy it - yes.

3 peaks done

The 3 mountains up and down completed in 12.5 hours plus 10 hours driving that's 22.5 hours. Target was 24 hours. 11 started only 4 finished and I was the oldest. ROCK and ROLL

Ben Nevis

Bloody long. It also hurts.

Saturday 10 July 2010

Scafell pike

.. It hurts

Snowdon done!

Snowdon

3 hours 15. Pouring rain and gusting winds. Deep joy. One down two to go. Good news no blisters bad news I am a little tired. Good news I am 45 minutes ahead of schedule. Bad news I am soaking wet. Good news had a huge fried breakfast. bad news 4 hours drive to next one.


Friday 9 July 2010

Empty Glass

Blackthorn

I found a pub selling the golden delight. There is a god :)

Bangor

low cloud and rain - deep joy. Cider required urgently!

Roadkill

Traffic jam A56. Bored. Fellow hikers discussing football - why? Totally tedious, however I reckon over the last half a mile I have seen 2 badgers, a fox, rabbit, a sheep (yes a sheep) and a big something I can't recognise.... All dead on roadside. But no hedgehogs I guess they teach them the green cross code up here. Could be I am on the trail of a serial killer (or just a bad driver).
Still no sign of my sherpa - I hope he wasn't the big something I couldn't recognise.

Warrington

...Not a place to rush back to. Some strange trekking types have picked us up and we are on way to the hills. Where is my sherpa?


Doh!

... I mean Edmund Hilary. Tensing was the Sherpa. B#gger


happy hiking

Well I am on a virgin train heading North. Feeling nervous but looking forward to conquering the biggest hills in the british isles. I wonder if Hilary Tensing felt nervous about being on a virgin train? I think I need a sherpa