Out at last

A few weeks ago, we finally managed to get so hill time, exploring an area we don't visit too often.

We went back to Capel-y-ffin (Last visited February 2007) to walk a 13 mile circular route taking in a boring bit of Offa's Dyke Path, the fantastic views from Hay Bluff and the serious stomp up Lord Hereford's Knob (or 'Twmpa', but that isn't half as much fun).

From Twmpa, it was a pretty gentle stroll along the ridge of Tarren yr Esgob to the Blacksmiths Anvil, (which is disappointingly just a waymark stone that doesn't even look remotely like an anvil). Rain started picking and by the time we reached the steep drop down the Tarren yr Esgob cliffs, it was pouring heavily and we were immersed in a full blown thunder storm. The forecast had predicted it, so we were prepared, but they got the timing wrong.

We didn't bother with waterproofs as we were soaked anyway and it was a warm day, so soggily,  it was straight to The Skirrid Inn, the oldest pub in Wales in which more than 100 people were hanged in the stairwell. It's a favourite with ghosthunters and has been visited by Yvette Feilding and her team. As it was a Bank Holiday weekend, the place was teeming with people scaring the shite out of each other. Apparently, there was a group coming later that evening and they would spend the whole night sitting in the bar, drinking strong coffee and tweaking the dials on there monitoring equipment.

Anyway, a spookily good (but uneventful) meal and a pint or two later and we were aquaplaning back down the valley to Swansea, still a little moist but with that happy 'fresh air 'n' a pint' glow about us.

This time last year

On the 1st of July 2007, Alan, myself and Pete started the last leg of our Cambrian Way adventure, leaving Maentwrog and crossing the Moelwyns via Cnicht and dropping into the fleshpots of Beddgelert for the night.

This last week was about the same time a Sheffield went under water along with most of the UK. Pretty wet.

 

Here is how the day went...

Had an absolutely filthy day crossing the Moelwyns today. We had planned to camp wild a few miles short of Cnicht and tomorrow, climb Cnicht and then drop down to Beddgelert.
We had pretty heavy rain and gusting winds that actually knocked poor (skinny) Pete off his feet a couple of times. We decided to skirt Moelwym Mawr and drop down the pass just north of the 770m peak.
I haven't seen weather like that since Cairngorm about 20 years ago!
Once we dropped out of the cloud the waterproofs came off and we have not had rain since.
We are in the fantastic FE campsite in Beddgelert and my tuna spog' is in the cozy, we have tumble driers on site and the world is a better place.
We are now a day ahead of schedule, so we are going to explore the Aberglaslyn Pass tomorrow and have a day hiking around the area around the town.
Pete had a bit of a tough 1st day - I had totally forgotten about aching shoulders!

You can take a look at our trip here. I have now started getting the photos together and will slowly start popping them into the blog entries. May be useful for others who are panning to walk the Cambrian Way.

My Bookshelf

I have been meaning to do this for a long while, so today I did.

Here is a shot of my outdoor book collection (plus a few that share this particular shelf). A click here should show it larger.

Each and every one is worth having. I sold my copy of Jardine because it was not.

GPS Art

This is fascinating and well worth a few minutes of your time - it's all theory, but someone soon is bound to have a go.

http://biggestdrawingintheworld.com/drawing.aspx

 

Thanks for this Tim.

Well here we are...

...half way into May and there is a distinct lack of hill action here.

 

Alan and I are planning to walk the Beacons Way this summer, a couple of days at a time as we are seriously lacking brownie points after last years escapades.

We just can't seem to get it kicked - we are both busy with our prospective businesses and Al is particularly hopeless at answering emails! We'll get the walking kicked off soon and a couple of overnighters this summer. I have a Jungle Hammock to try out!

I have been spending the last month or two re-learning photography and have been bribing my kids with the rare delights of chocolate to pose for me... it's actually starting to come together. I used to illustrate for a living and it's been years since I picked up a pencil or paint brush, but I hooked up with a dear old buddy (Hi Dai), who has turned into an amazing pro photog since we last spoke several years ago. I think I may have found my art again - what a bloody relief, I thought I was destined to spend the rest of my life running a creative business and not doing anything creative.

Have a look at my Flickr folio - just the kids at the moment and screaming 'newbie', but it is keeping me out of trouble!

It's been a while...

Sorry, it's been a while since I last posted. Work is crazy, the garden is going crazy (big veggie plans this year - tom's, sweetcorn, carrots, runner, French and broad beans, red onions, various salad crops and asparagus), the kids are filling loads of time (brilliant fun!) and I am having fun with my new camera.

This is my eldest, taken this evening.

So what's been happening?

Cookie has started his trip, that'll be worth keeping an eye on.

It's finally getting warm enough to do stuff outdoors (we had our first BBQ this weekend)

I can see that the outdoor bloggers are starting to plan trips.

Pablo's doing loads of cool stuff as usual.

Bob's got loads of new kit including the brilliant toasting forks from Light My Fire. These got loads of use in the Cowell household last year.

Go and buy one for each of your family now if you want them to love the outdoors as much as you do.

Summer's coming :)

Everest photos

Some early Everest expedition photos are available to see online.

Some fantastic stuff here at the Bentley Beetham Collection.

Via The Goat.