April 25 / 26 - Anglesey Weekend

Saturday 18th April - All Crinkle-y in the sunshine

Saturday morning and the alarm goes off at 7:30 - what on earth is that all about? Making sure that we would find a parking place at Cockley Beck is the reason for such madness, well worthwhile given the clear blue skies noted through bleary eyes...

We weren't the only ones enjoying tne sunshine: this little fella was basking in the middle of the road above Troutal when we surprised him...

Nearly had him for the dogs elevenses...

We were lucky enough to find a parking place (with only one big rock in it!) exactly where we wanted to be, just over Stockley Bridge at the bottom of the Hardknott Pass. Bruce and Dougal were raring to go, so off they went, dragging us along behind them...

Esk Pike, Ore Gap and Bowfell from Lingcove Beck

Soon enough we were gaining height and the panorama opened revealing the complete Scafell ridge across the Great Moss, Esk Pike, Ore Gap, Bowfell and the west flank of Crinkle Crags above us; one of the best views in the Lakes. Behind us, the flat valley bottom of Eskdale appeared emerald green and the Irish Sea vanished into the distant haze. Tough day, but somebody had to be there!

Eskdale, Corney Fell and the Irish Sea behind us

Cam Spout Crag, Scafell, East Butress, Mickledore and Scafell Pike across Pike de Bield Moss

When it turns hot Bruce pants: Sue just shrinks...

Tuesday 14th April - Waving, not drowning...

or, to put it another way, trying, not climbing!

Making the most of unseasonal Bank Holiday weather, Dave and I had planned a days climbing on Wallowbarrow, but, due to a bird-ban, headed toward Castle Rock at Thirmere instead. Given a lack of guidebook and familiarity with the crag, plan C saw us parking at Martin's farm under Shepherds Crag in Borrowddale. Oh how eager we were...

Kitting up below Crescendo there was a bit of banter going on, not just with the team heading up Little Chamonix, but also between us; this was our first time climbing together and, for us both, the first time climbing anything of a reasonable grade for, well, quite a while! Basing my packing on the Met Office forecast for Easter, I'd taken my kayak and paddling kit to Sue's for the weekend so to say that I was ill-prepared for a day cragging would be a little understated.

Anyways, Dave made quick time leading up the back of the big flake to the ledge half-way up the first pitch. Fired some gear in, pondered, poked, prodded and prevaricated. Then he brought me up to the ledge where I did the same. Climbing down was straightforward enough but the realisation that I was struggling at such a low grade was not! Off to Brown Slabs then for a warm up on a route that we would get up...

Straight up the middle crack; Dave led the first half, me the second. Not a problem, straight to the top. Happily I'd climbed in my trainers, so the slippy slidey descent around the back of the crag wasn't too traumatic (the rock shoes that Dave had loaned me had been trying to remove my toes from my feet until now).

Lunch over and onwards and, hopefully upwards. Ardus was occupied (plus I can remember the final, commiting move into the crack from the final traverse) so it was Fishers Folly. Not a problem; I'd soloed it and had good memories of bomber protection; good to go... Dave gave me the rope. My lead. Well; there was protection aplenty. It was holds that I couldn't find. Eventually, maybe 20 feet and 6 nuts later, I was downclimbing, protected by Dave from below. Soon Dave was up at the sharp end, finishing the pitch with a committing couple of moves and setting a belay at the top of the groove. My lead - the traverse across an overhang, long steps, little holds. It wasn't going to happen and so, after a quick(ish) abseil and packing gear, we were soon having a brew at High Lodore farm and discussing how our arms ached more than our legs. Or was it the other way around?

I knew that I had soloed it - but 33 years is quite a gap!

Sunday April 12th - Leven and Greenodd woods

Saturday 11th April - Coniston sunset

Well, if we'd started an hour later, it would have been sunset time-ish. Sue and I, early evening, clear sky, sunshine - boats on the roof and down to Coniston for an quick plosh on the lake.

I'm not certain why, but I couldn't fit my butt into the new i4, despite using all the outfitting from the old one. The seat is definitely an inch or so forward in the new one, but apart from that? Maybe it because it's a yellow boat? Or the fancy ratchet things pul the backrest too far forward? Despite the weather, the water was still very cold - at least when hanging from an upside-down kayak, mid-roll.

Sue paddling towards Coniston Old Man

Saturday 4th April - Big horizons at Silverdale

A quick jolly along the edge of the bay, Jenny Brown's Point and Silverdale.

With my tummy grumbling and head aching (I blame the pickles that came with the pie and peas at Dave's retirement bash on Friday night), we were off on a mission to UK Canoes in Lancaster. Not the most successful (they didn't have the kit I wanted!), we headed north and west intent on having a look at Trowbarrow, a limestone quarry with some good climbing, just outside Silverdale on the south side of Morecombe Bay. What we actually did was stop for lunch in the Wolfhouse cafe and gallery before stretching our legs along the limestone outcrops above Silverdale beach...

Heysham power station across the bay

I'm losing count of how many times this part of the world finds new ways to make me glad to live here. Even on an overcast, cold day, pheasant walking in front of us, swathes of daffodils and lambs pogo-ing in the fields, huge skies and even bigger horizons - I can't get enough of it.

Silverdale and Humphrey Head across Morecombe Bay sands

Sue and the boys decide it's time for home...

Thursday 2nd April - Maiden voyage of the good boat Shona

Well, on salt water anyway! Best part of 12 miles round trip to Whitehaven Harbour and back in bright sunshine, flat calm conditions. Not bad for 15 minutes from front door to on the water at St Bees, after work and the clocks having just gone forward.

A lobster boat gave me a few waves to play with from his wash and there were masses of seabirds, cormorants, oystercatchers and gulls (lots!) but, sadly, not a puffin in sight. Also had a moment of inattention which saw me establish that the Sirocco rolls easily enough, at least when empty... Wish I had taken the camera - the waterproof one!

First salt water trip - 12 miles, 2 hours paddling

28th & 29th March - Paddlefest at HPP

Two days of contrasts. Saturday - blowing a hooley, rain, sleet and time playing on the water, but not in the usual kind of boat that you'd associate with the National Whitewater Centre. Sunday - sunshine and relative calm; me in a canoe (yes - a canoe).

Saturday morning and Andrew took off going through as many demo playboats as he could get his hands on, while Sue and I were on for some sea kayak coaching, Sue in a 15' Easkey and me in my new toy, a 16' 10" Sirroco, the boat that I had only collected days before and, no, I wasn't aiming to be on the whitewater course! We spent a couple of great hours with Doug Cooper working on strokes edging and turning with Sue demonstrating her extreme edging technique (splash! - sorry, no camera!) and me doing my utmost to stay upright despite being pushed ever harder by Doug. After the session we popped into one of the show tents and bought Doug's book on Sea Kayak Handling from the man himself. Maybe next time we'd do things in a different order...

In the afternoon Sue took on a WWS&R session; very bravely as she'd been in the water at the start of her morning session and, wearing a wetsuit and neo top, had been wet all day. The highlight of the training was a trial swim and throwline rescue on the WW course - just as the heavens opened with some very heavy sleet. Sucking it all up, Sue headed for the wet stuff. Defensive then agressive swimming, take the line and onto the bank, slipping and sliding, but out of the water and she was ready for more. Instead, I had a word and pulled her off the session - hypothermia has no place in training and Sue's determination to complete the course was taking her in that direction!

Another fine day at HPP Paddlefest (photo from the 'net)

Back to the campsite, showers and into Nottingham for the cinema rounded the day off; fortunately the film was so good (Gran Turismo with Clint Eastwood) that we all stayed awake - just.

Sunday morning arrived as the worst of the weather left - the dogs were rather unimpressed that the water in their bowl had frozen overnight though. Not that they bothered much during the night, what with Bruce snuggled up at our feet and Dougal on top of our sleeping bags, bouncing every time one of us rolled over! Sue determined not to get wet at all, so Andrew and I had a blast in some demo boats (I have some serious thinking to do having had a shot in a small Habitat 74 - yep, the small one! - I'm liking it a lot, but have bought two boats this month already...)

Ain't she sweet, just floatin' down the creek... the Habitat 74

Hmm - it's the same colour as my Mamba so maybe nobody would notice if I did a trade? Not quite as tempted to think about buying an open boat, though me and the youth did have a blast playing in a double - once we worked out which was the front..

All too soon the weekend came to a close and it was back to Ulverston for an Indian and early(ish) night. A good weekend, Paddlefest and the National Student Rodeo rolled into one with plenty of exhibitors and a few bargains to be had. Maybe we'll be back next year, though doubt we'd get to see such a good movie...

Saturday 21st March - Whoap and the hound that howled

Sunday 8th February - A walk for the dogs!