Great Gable and Neighbours
I was working in Bowness on Friday so I took advantage of this and headed for Buttermere to bag 5 wainwrights while I was over that side of the country. I set the tent at the Skye Farm campsite and did my usual boycott of the Fish Inn and had a filling homemade chicken pie at the Bridge hotel.
The weather wasn’t great so we headed for Honnistsr slate mine and set off towards Grey Knotts, the cloud was covering the tops and the wind was high but hey Ho. Brandreth was the next top and then Green Gable. Getting up Great Gable was a pain in the cloud and on the way back down I lost the path and ended up dropping down some scree and then having to head back up towards windy gap. On the plus side i managed to practice some Bear Grylls scree sliding skills.
The last top of the day was Base Brown and we made a total hash of the descent, losing the path again and having to scramble down some dodgy ground down into Seathwaite. Good day out but rustiness with navigation skills made the day a lot harder than it should of been, thank god for memory map on the iPhone which saved the day a few times.
Adjusting to a new pace of life – Cleveland Way Day 1
So things have changed a lot in the last 12 months meaning my time has now become more precious than ever. No more can I just decide to disappear for a week into the hills, a promotion to the big league at work means I now need to plan my personal time well in advance to make sure I don’t leave this hobby of mine behind for the rat race.
With this in mind I have devised a cunning plan that will let me hike the Cleveland Way in 4 days and still have time to chill with my little clan at the same time. With my base set at Osmotherly camp site in our glorious new caravan I intend to break the walk into 4 very long days over and fit it around family time on selected weekends. It kind of goes against my goal of through hiking all of the national trails but a compromise had to be made. I will still carry my full kit which some might think is a little perverse considering I wont be using my tent but it makes me feel like i have tried to stick to my original ideals even with the new format.
So Day 1, back end of May I set of from Helmsley at 7am knowing I had to cover 30miles or so to get to my destination in Carlton to meet with the family. I thought I would be more or less walking alone and I was for the first section of the walk which takes you up to the top of Sutton Bank, weather was good and I was moving fast after a long lay off. I think I reached Sutton bank at 9am and there was a huge charity walk heading off along the national trail. They had an hours head start on me and they numbered about 100. I have walked this section of the trail many times so i decided to sack the usual photo/relax points and just plough through the trail.
The weather took a really bad turn for the worst at abut 11am and it turned really windy with rain lashing in constantly. By the time I reached osmotherly I was chilled to the bone. I popped in the Queen Catherine for a bowl of soup in front on the roaring log fire and warmed up for an hour. The walk between Osmotherly and Carlton is a lovely walk when the sun is out but I had no such luck with the weather and was soon back in the heavy cloud with rain whipping up the escarpment of the North York moors into my face. Sometimes hiking isn’t fun and this clearly wasn’t. By the time I reached Carlton bank I couldn’t even be bothered to stop and wait for my lift so I just jogged down into Carlton to meet Tom, Leanne and her family in the Black Bull Inn for dinner. They menu was Thai food, the beer was cold and I was happy that I’d battered in some 33 miles and managed to keep the rest of the clan happy at the same time.
Next up Carlton to Saltburn when my diary sees fit.
awanderingknight – Meet the Outdoor Bloggers
Name – Ken Knight
Blog – awanderingknight
Twitter profile – kenknight
Age – 44
Home Town – Ann Arbor, MI
Where do you spend most of your time outdoors? Mostly in the States. If I get out for weekends it is almost certainly going to be somewhere in Michigan. I manage to get a few backpacking trips in per year and also do a fair bit of day hiking sometimes with those trips being organized by a third party company.
Where did outdoor passion come from? . I am not really sure I have a good answer for this. I have been a day hiker for much longer than a backpacker and I did that with my parents. However, my backpacking experience really dates back to a first 5 day trip on the Appalachian Trail with two friends including one who was attempting a thru-hike a little over a decade ago.
Favourite spot to camp ? While I certainly enjoy campsites that have good vistas I think I care most that the site have good access to water and not feel overwhelmingly crowded. This does mean that the classic “Caravan campgrounds” are low on my list of places to be unless, of course, I am doing a car camping trip. I certainly have stayed at some campsites that I would be happy to return too like Lane Cove on Isle Royale; Death Canyon Shelf in Grand Teton National Park; places in the High Sierras are almost always attractive; and, many others that I return to year after year but more because the area is fun to visit rather than the specific campsite such as Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore or Nordhouse Dunes especially in the winter.
Favourite hill? I don’t think I have a favorite hill.
Biggest achievement in the outdoors ? That’s a tough one. I’ve done some very long trips in the past like The Great Outdoor Challenge in 2008 and 2010. I’ve done some very lengthy stretches of the Appalachian Trail. At some point I want to take a big whack at the Pcific Crest Trail. There are many places outside the United States I want to visit and given the amount of effort some of those will entail they could qualify as a biggest achievement in the outdoors too.
Any burning desires ? I do intend to do the TGO Challenge again though I want to do it with a group. I’d like to tackle more of the North Country Trail here in Michigan and elsewhere. The NCT lacks the eye-candy of western trails and in many places the hilliness of a trail like the AT (which has more elevation change than the longer PCT) is still a trail worth exploring. Other long-distance trails in the US area also of interest. I am not against going off-trail but those types of trips definitely will be with others.
Boots or trainers ? Typically I wear a shoe more akin to a trainer than a boot. In milder weather a shoe like the Keen sandal is a favorite though I wish the sole were a bit grippier. I’ve had a soft spot for some of the very light trainers like those from Innov-8. In colder and/or wetter months I do tend towards more of a boot perhaps with a waterproof lining though on the whole I’ve had limited success with such linings.
Down or synthetic ? Down. Some of my puffy clothing is synthetic but overall I feel down is a far better choice even when the weather gets in that horrible temperature range just above freezing and you start to get freezing rain or sleet instead of snow.
Ale or lager ? Ber is good in most forms.
Going up or down? I prefer going up but that is probably because going down requires more use of depth perception which I do not possess.
Trail or TGO ? While I have done the TGO Challenge I don’t subscribe to TGO or Trail. Nor do I subscribe to Backpacker.
Compass or GPS ? I carry a compass but am not against the use of GPS as long as you understand the limitations. I think GPS is a very useful tool.
Other blogs you like to read ? This is a list that is probably too long to cite. Many UK-based hikers have some fine blogs like Alan Sloman and M&G; Hendrik Merkel (sp) from Finland is worthwhile reading; and, of course, numerous US-based sites exist that I enjoy for gear reviews as well as trip reports like Backpacking Light and Section Hiker to name just two.
Funniest thing you’ve seen on the hills ? Probably some of the trail dogs that I’ve met over the years. The mid-sized dog that I met 11 years ago in southern Virginia who had a magically vanishing limp that only appeared when his owner was in view. By following that strategy the dog managed to get his owner to carry his gear for several day as the rest of us who knew the truth kept the dog’s secret.
Favourite bit of kit ? Well I seem to have a lot of backpacks so I suppose that they lead the way. I’ve a definite soft spot for my Goosamer Gear Mariposa and I suspect my new Murmur will become well used. I also like my Mountain Laurel Design Trailstar.
Favourite tipple ? What is a tipple?
What do you like about blogging ? I enjoy sharing my experiences and trips with others. Of course to really do that I get to play with some pretty advanced electronics which is always fun.
Give me your best outdoor relatedt rant? To be honest I am not sure I have a big rant. Perhaps my biggest complaint about the outdoors is the encroachment of noise-pollution into the wilderness. For example, you could be trekking through the Grand Canyon and the solitude is shattered by the sound of a helicopter flying overhead. Or snowshoeing through the deep woods in Michigan you are pulled out of your reverie by the sound and worse smell of a group of people zooming by on their snow machines. While I understand that motorized travel in the wilds is important especially to the rural economies that are in thise regions I still find them irritating. I actually am far less bothered by the fact that communications has become far more ubiquitous in the backcountry. I suppose a cell tower in the back woods can be an eyesore but as long as I don’t hear a person talking loudly on their phone or the trills of notifications I am not bothered by such technological intrusions. In fact, I have taken advantage o such technology to share aspects of a trip in a near real-time fashion. I don’t want people to adversely affect the habitat of the wildlife that is already living out there (i.e., keep roads down) in the backcountry.
Something good about the outdoors ? YOu have the chance to explore and see something new every time when you go outdoors. You also, if traveling with others, have a chance to deepen relationships with friends in ways that you aren’t likely to be able to do when staying in a familiar and comfortable place like your hometown.
Favourite sports team? That’a a toughie. Of course, being a non-European it sure isn’t going to be a soccer (sorry, football) team. I’m definitely more of a baseball fan and I suppose these days the Tigers have to be a favorite but that’s more because I have lived in Michigan for 20 years now.
Thanks Ken, just for your info a tipple is a UK term for a alcoholic drink, if my memory serves me correct you enjoyed quite a few Whiskies when we bumped into each other on the TGO challenge.
Tookiebunten – Meet the Outdoor Bloggers
tookie bunten
Name – Tookie Bunten, technically it’s really David Bunten but your more likely to get a response if you shout Tookie.
Blog – walkwithtookie.com
Twitter profile – @tookiebunten
Age – A young looking 34
Home Town – As I always say, I’m a Ayrshireman (Cumnock), living in Lanarkshire (East Kilbride), working in Glasgow.
Where do you spend most of your time outdoors? A fairly even split between Ayrshire and Lanarkshire these days.
Where did outdoor passion come from? Mostly my parents and family, we would always go walks all over the place. We had a caravan but before that a tent or the loan of a Caravanette and went away for weekends and holidays. Galloway, the Borders, Sutherland, Argyll. You name it and I’ve probably been there, even south of the wall. The Lake District, Wales, Norfolk are few that stand out in my mind. Also living in the countryside helps. I was never more than a 5 minute walk or bike ride from hills, woods, rivers, open fields. I enjoyed exploring and was given a fair bit of freedom to roam, get dirty, soomin wet wading burns, sook water from puddles, fishing and the like when I was younger. I joined the Boys Brigade as an Anchor Boy and stayed through to Company Section. I got a greater access to the outdoors through them and to more activities. My eyes were opened to more than just walking. The brigade had their own mini-bus, canoes and kayaks. That got me more weekends away. My first experience of sleeping in a bothy and the West Highland Way. Doing the DofE through them as well. All the skills I learned through them for the outdoors. The list goes on, it just added up to great time and I think that is why I have a passion for the outdoors.
Favourite spot to camp? I wouldn’t say I have one. Maybe it’s a case of too many to choose from? This years would be below the Shelter Stone in the Cairngorms. It was a great weekend with great company.
Favourite hill? All of them but if pushed, I’ll probably say Blackcraig at New Cumnock for any number of reasons or the Merrick in Galloway because it was my first ‘big’ hill.
Biggest achievement in the outdoors? Nothing that I would consider worthy compared to what some of my peers have done, are doing and continue to do.
Any burning desires? To paddle round and camp on some of the smaller uninhabited Western Isles. Always been a dream to do that one summer or over few. Another would be to cross Scotland on foot a bit like the TGO Challenge.
Boots or trainers? I’m a convert to trainers just need to find a suitable pair for the winter. Best decision I have made in regards to outdoor gear. My feet are so happy these days.
Down or synthetic? Coming from the West of Scotland; synthetic, it likes the rain better but I do have some down gear.
Ale or lager ? Both. I’m a card carrying CAMRA Member. I’m not a spirit or wine drinker. I haven’t acquired a taste for wine and spirits is another story altogether…
Going up or down? Definitely down. I’m a shorty, 5′ 7″ in old money, on a good day after being on the rack. It can be really hard work constantly bouncing my knees off my chest climbing up hills.
Trail or TGO? Neither. Couldn’t actually tell you the last time I bought copy, it’s been that long. Much prefer reading blogs.
Compass or GPS ? I would say compass, I’ve not had one of them let me down yet but a GPS is seriously handy and quick, even the one on my phone.
Other blogs you like to read? As many as I can. I love seeing the outdoors through others eyes. Currently my google reader has 92 feeds in its ‘Outdoors’. It’s great inspiration.
Funniest thing you’ve seen on the hills? A guy walking an inflatable sheep with a tartan leash….
Favourite bit of kit? My Inov8 Roclite 315s. To my feet they feel like slippers.
Favourite tipple? That’s a hard one, Arran Ale springs to mind straight away not the Blonde, Dark or Sunset versions you see in Tesco but the original blue labelled plain old ale. It’s hard to get but well worth it. However I do have a real soft spot for a Miller; a MGD, Genuine Draft. Milwaukee’s finest. Ice cold. I think my CAMRA membership card just went in flames there…
What do you like about blogging? Everything. Sharing my experiences, sharing in other people’s experiences. Also it’s a great community. Everyone is welcoming and happy to talk, whether it’s trips, gear or just to have a good laugh.
Best rant? I’m not really a ranty person, well I don’t think so but I can get a good one going about all those folks that are blinkered by the Highlands…don’t get me started.
Something good about the outdoors? Something; everything is good in the outdoors, even the rain. Just being outside that’s good.
Best joke? Have you heard about the oyster who went to a disco and pulled a mussel?
Football team? (Glasgow) Rangers
Many thanks Tookie, hopefully i will get my arse across the boarder again soon and join you for a Munro. If any other outdoor bloggers fancy being involved in this feature just let me know. The next blogger in the series hails from the US of A.
Mike Knipe aka Northern Pies – Meet the outdoor bloggers
The second in the instalment of meet the bloggers comes from a good friend and fellow FC Hiker the leg end Mr Mike Knipe, one of the UK’s most active bloggers/hikers.
Name – Mike Knipe aka The Pieman
Blog – Northern Pies – www.northernpies.blogspot.com
Twitter profile – None
Age – Don’t be so cheeky, young man
Home Town – Earby in the West Riding of Yorkshire
Where do you spend most of your time outdoors? In the Pennines, mainly North Pennines.
Where did outdoor passion come from? She was a nurse from Halifax. Ooooooer… Family picnics on the moors – what’s that hill over there Dad? “That’s Ingleborough, son….”
Favourite spot to camp? Upper Glen Feshie amongst the scots pines and the wild thyme.
Favourite hill? Don’t be silly
Biggest achievement in the outdoors? TGO Challenge Leg End +
Any burning desires? Did I mention the nurse from Halifax?
Boots or trainers? Boots
Down or synthetic? Mainly down
Ale or lager ? As long as it’s in liquid form….
Going up or down? Up
Trail or TGO? TGO
Compass or GPS ? Neither, either or both
Other blogs you like to read? Loads – I specially like blogs from people just starting to explore.
Funniest thing you’ve seen on the hills? Blowing up an ancient rambler with some flash gun powder whilst trying to make a new foothold in a rock step in Buckden Gill – he started climbing down just as the fuse….. And the odd thing was that there was a big flash and a white cloud and he didn’t seem to notice. It seems that this kind of thing happens to him all the time.
Favourite bit of kit? me old akto….
Favourite tipple? malt scotch (any…)
What do you like about blogging? I like to write stuff….
Best rant? There’s very little point in asking me to just rant, straight off without any actual reason. I mean ter say, you can’t just switch a rant on and off like a..er.. like an on and off switch at will. They have to come naturally. They have to have a trigger. Like a bad experience on the A1 involving an old lady in a Ford Ca and a Pikie’s Truck full of borrowed scrap metal or somebody nicking into that parking spot that you’ve waited ages for that lass with the pram and all the shopping to finally get her fucking arse in gear and get home to make her man’s tea. And then you find that the bloke who’s nicked your spot has “HATE” tattooed on his knuckles and supports Hartlepool United. And he calls you “Bonny Lad”.
Nope, sorry, I can’t just turn it on.
Something good about the outdoors? Its outside. Not inside. It’s windy and there’s birds singing and stuff….
Best joke? I had a crazy dream that I weighed less than a thousandth of a gram. I was like, 0mg!
How do you kill a circus? Go for the juggler! (Christmas cracker joke)
Cheers Mike, full of wit as ever from the man who classes crossing Scotland like popping out for a pint of milk. More in the series of Meet the Outdoor bloggers can be found here.
TerryBnd – Meet the Outdoor Bloggers
This is the first of many “Meet the Outdoor Bloggers” feature that my little blog will be featuring. The idea is simple, a place were you can learn a little about the queer folks that make up the Outdoor Bloggers in the UK and abroad (yes i do know a few). The format is a simple questionaire, hope you enjoy, first up TerryBnd.
TerryBnd
Name terrybnd
Your blog terrybnd – hiking and wild camping in the UK
Twitter profile terrybnd
Age 34
Home town Nottingham
Where do you spend most of your time in the outdoors? Peak District National Park. It’s my office, if you like. I used to go backpacking all over England and Wales but since I’ve gained much of my video work in the Peak Park, consequently it is now where I spend most of my time. I regularly spend more nights in a tent on the moors than I do in my own bed at home! Fortunately, I have a very understanding (hill widow) wife.
When/where did your outdoor passion come from? Two key things spring to mind. My grandfather was a farmer and also a gamekeeper for parts of Sherwood Forest. I was never happier when spending time with him out in the woods, taking in flora and fauna and so on. I’d often make shelters in the woods or on hills too! Needless to say this had a profound effect on my upbringing. Then when I was 12 yrs old, I paid the Lake District my first visit and was awestruck by it’s majesty and beauty. I just wanted to run and head out onto all the hills and take in the views.
I recall one trip out in horrendous conditions atop Fairfield looking south over Windermere just as the cloud parted and the weather gave some respite. In those few minutes it flicked so many switches emotionally for me that til this day continue to do so whenever I’m in the outdoors.
It was only in my 20’s that after several poor attempts at camping out in woods and dales with cheap Argos camping gear that it dawned on me that there was much better equipment available for spending nights out on the hills. And I’ve never looked back! I get cabin fever if I don’t get out and about in all weathers. It can drive my wife absolutely bonkers – but with it forming part and parcel of my work now, we’ve both generally accepted how things are.
For sure, I feel like the luckiest man in the world at times – but equally I’ll miss home and my family and be desperate to pack up and head back to suburbia. It’s a double-edged sword really.
Favourite spot to camp? Ah, that be telling! I have several in truth. I love Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales, for example. I adore the geology, it’s visual and underfoot character, it’s history and of course it’s stupendously fine views to all points of the compass. Many times I’ve spent the night up there.
There’s a couple in the Lakes and in Snowdonia too. And another two in the Peak District – but I’m just not telling!
Favourite hil/mountain? Each to their own – but I’ll publicly say Ingleborough. I can’t really fathom why to be honest. But it keeps calling me back. But I wouldn’t like to say it’s my favourite per se. I love all hills and mountains. And most of them are not the grandest or most dramatic either. It’s about more than that for me in the outdoors. Atmosphere, views and so on. Some of my favourite places are deemed small in height but often they afford the best views in my opinion. So, what ever floats your boat really…..
Biggest achievement in the outdoors? Getting married to my wife in the Lake District and a few days later taking her on our first and only wild camp together! It’s a long story that one…..
Any burning desires/plans for the future? I want to enjoy more of Scotland, first on my wishlist is the Moffats. Otherwise to compensate this desire I’m taking part in the TGO Challenge in 2012. Otherwise to continue doing the work I do in the outdoors – just make more money!
Boots or trainers? They both have their place. More often you’ll see me in trainers though.
Down or synthetic? Again, they both have their place. But it’s down for most things I do.
Ale or lager? Ale of course! Though I’m partial to a cold can of lager from time to time – otherwise it’s ale all the way. Why not? A large range of flavours (and silly names) and often a good pint is served in the best pubs. It’s a British institution ale and thankfully it’s a growing market too. It’s managed to shed that old, grumpy, bearded man bitter image and more landlords take care of their ale now (as opposed to serving off pints).
Going up or down? Both. I always plan the easiest gradients – even if it means following sheep tracks.
Trail or TGO? TGO all the way. I used to enjoy Trail but find it’s very moreish in the past couple of years with recycled ideas and articles. Besides, I see it this way – Trail have staff that are journos first and (maybe though debatable) outdoors lovers second.
TGO, have staff where they’re genuine lovers of the outdoors and are journos second. And you can see the difference it makes in the features and reviews too. I like TGO for being able to talk about controversial, contemporary and relevant issues with our hobbies and interests such as windfarms.
Trail just pussy foot round such issues – it’s childish in comparison. Even it’s tone and style is somewhat of an insult to any normal persons intellect. “10 hills to do before you die” and other such silly headlines. However, they do it well – albeit being part of a big organisation (Bauer) which is always an advantage for mags on shelves, eh?
TGOs recent revamp hits a sweet note I think. It doesn’t alienate the regular veteran readers and is more accommodating or appealing to folk who are new to outdoor pursuits. It’s the winner on most counts in my opinion.
Compass or GPS? Compass. I’m know fan of GPS. Unnecessary expense in my opinion. Map and compass win every time – though a GPS for a quick grid ref is excellent if caught out in a white out, for example. In which case, there’s software out there that costs nothing to let you know your position via the GPS on modern mobile phones.
Other blogs you like to read? I like reading most blogs in truth. Each to their own. I wouldn’t like to say names as it would appear to be favouritism. I love them all and the outdoors blogging community overall. There’s some great and interesting folk out there make no doubt. Whatever your thoughts and opinions of blogging and bloggers – there’s something for everyones taste out there.
Funniest thing you’ve seen in the hills? Many things to be honest. I suppose one is when me and a few friends went on a wild camping weekend in the Lake District – a send off for a friend who was moving away. Awful weather had cleared to reveal a fine and sunny evening, too many drinks were had and the next thing I know is I’m in a race on a fellside with a friend – naked. Yes, you read that right. It was a childish, macho dare and goodness knows what anyone would’ve thought if they caught sight of two grown men running naked up the flanks of Nethermost Pike. I’ll say no more to save me embarrassment!
Favourite tipple? You can’t beat a pint of Thwaites Wainwright Ale, Coniston Bluebird or Caledonian IPA after a long day in the hills. Otherwise at camp I enjoy a bottle of port. Though it has to be said – some will say I’m not particularly fussy with what I may enjoy as a tipple in the pub or on the hills at camp. My attitude to the latter is if I can’t be at the pub after a long walk outdoors, I’ll bring the pub with me.
What do you like about blogging? I enjoy the community side of it all mainly and of course reading what others get up to on the weekends out and about. Differing perspectives on places and kit interests me too. I just enjoy sharing my experiences really.
Give me you best rant.
Here: http://terrybnd.blogspot.com/2011/11/wild-camping-tents-storms.html
And here: http://terrybnd.blogspot.com/2011/09/great-outdoors-and-blogging.html
Now tell me something good about the outdoors. The scenery, ever changing moods of the landscape and peace and tranquility. Cliche – but true.
Finally tell me you best joke. Too rude to mention, I’m afraid!
Thanks Terry for your comments, you can find all the Meet the Bloggers posts here.
Monkeys are customer centric
Just a quick post to say the guys at PowerTraveller have the right attitude when it comes to customer service. My Powermonkey charger stopped charging my iphone4 a few weeks back, a quick email was sent and a reply came back a few days later. Apparently the tip on the iPhone charger stopped working because of a software upgrade. I was sent a replacement chipped tip and everything is working great again.
A few of my blogging mates use these for outdoor uses, haven’t heard a bad report back yet. Top marks go to the tree swingers !!!
Lyke Wake Walk
I’ve always wanted to do this walk since my dad hiked it for charity many years ago when I was just a wee lad. The walk itself is a 40mile slog starting in Osmotherly and ending in Ravenscar via a high moorland route across the North York Moors.
When Paddy rang me up to see if I fancied it my reply was “when”?, and so a plan was hatched and without a thought it was upon us. Now as you may of noticed I’ve been a little lapse with my blog for sometime, mainly due to the fact it’s hard to write an outdoor blog when your not actually doing anything in the outdoors. With my new job now going extremely well I can announce the return of the adventures of ukmase.
We used Cote Ghyll campsite in Osmotherly as our base and I brought along the Outwell Nevada tent for some luxury, it easily fit 3 people and 2 dogs. We hampered down for an early nights sleep but I was hardly slept thanks to Pepper being a little excitable.
We set off on the stroke of midnight in true dirging tradition and headed of into the dark, cold moors that lay before us. The first part of the walk follows the Cleveland way for some 12 miles, the ground underfoot is great but there is a lot of ascent involved. It was quite breezy on the escarpment of the NY moors but the sky was lit with a perfect array of stars.
After a quick hot brew stop near clay bank we were soon at Bloworth Crossing, from here we struck off into the heart of the moors following an old railway track. The mist rolled in the second we left Bloworth Crossing and it was the thickest mist I have ever seen, I was struggling to make out the puddles in the track, I must admit I was glad to have Paddy with me, manly because my head torch battery ran out and secondly because I would of been shitting myself if id been walking solo.
By the time we had reached the road which the lion inn sits on it was just getting light, however the mist was that thick we missed the lion Inn which was our meet up point with Gill and the chance to pick up some food. This was the low point of the walk, Pepper was hungry and I only had jelly babies to give her. Anyway we struck off out into the moors again with empty bellies.
The path now turned into ruin and we were soon splodging through bogs, I would recommend changing into wellies for this section. The going was really difficult and sapped a lot of my energy, at some point we crossed the North York Moors railway and Ella Beck just before our last check point for a very well deserved rest break and some hot soup. Pepper looked knackered and I covered her with my coat but she soon jumped up when we headed back out for the last stretch towards Ravenscar.
The last section seemed to take forever and we were moving quite fast, it was dark for the last 15 minutes of the walk and by the end i was pretty weary. It took 18 hours and a lot of hard graft on some of the sections. I swore never to do it again but I’m starting to think a few weeks on that a summer crossing would be nice and a lot quicker. Well done to Paddy and Pepper and thanks to Gill for supporting our crossing.
I did this walk in non waterproof innov8 trainers, no issues really but it did mean on some sections I had very cold and wet feet mainly due the continuous bogs which never gave my feet the chance to warm up and dry out but on the plus side I wasn’t having to lug big heavy boots for 40 miles.
Its good to be back in the thick of it.
Buttermere Marathon
I camped at Skye Farm campsite, £8 per night, basic but in a great location and two pubs within 5 mins walk. Very uneven pitching ground for larger tents so beware.
My plan for the day was a route called the Buttermere marathon and what a great route this is. Highly recommended to anyone willing to go a little bit further to secure a few more hills. We had lucked out on the weather but a cool breeze made the going a lot easier.
The walk starts by taking a high path alongside the lake, it’s a long slog over boggy ground to reach Great Borne but the summit is easy enough and has great views to take in. After Great Bourne head to Starling Dodd, the wind on top of this hill was incredible considering how low the wind throughout the rest of the day. The climb to Red Pike gives you a chance to see the whole route laid out and we took the opportunity to shelter from the wind and eat lunch. We had covered quite a bit of ground but the best was still to come.
From High Crag you get amazing views of the ridge that leads to High Crag which beholds an amazing vantage point for viewing Haystacks, Wainwrights favourite hill. The only downside to the full day was the scree slope that descended High Crag but once past this annoying feature it was pure joy heading towards Haystacks.
Haystacks itself is a hill I had read plenty about and the Innominate Tarn was just special, I must come back here for a wild camp, quite literally stunning. We spent half and hour just taking in the surroundings in the warm sun.
There was one more Wainwright left to bag but Woodstock was looking a but tired so Paddy & Gill headed on down. It was a fair old slog up to Fleetwith Pike but again I was rewarded with an amazing view over the valley. I had plenty left in the tank so I jogged down to the valley and to head back to the campsite via a lakeside path rather than the road.
Trust me this walk is so great you must try it, 17 miles, 7 Wainwrights, 9 hours, job done.
Before I end my blog post I would just like to draw attention to the absolute muppet of a landlord from the Fish Hotel. I will never return to this pub again after customer service that beggared belief. Instead I would advise you head to the Bridge Hotel were the food was amazing with hospitality to match. Night night.
The Coniston Fells
With a dull ache in the legs from last weekends hike I decided to bag all the Coniston Fells in one push. Coniston Hall provided the campsite for the weekend and the sun was in full force.
I was set off from the campsite and this added 3 miles to an already big day out in the hills. The route I decided on took in the Wainwright summits of Weatherlam, Swirl How, Great Carrs, Grey Friar, Brim Fell, Coniston Old Man and Dow Crag. The sun played a big part in the day and I was so glad I took a baseball cap with me as I would have burnt to a crisp.
This route is one of my favourites so far in the Lakes and comes highly recommended, I took a slightly different route up to Weatherlam ignoring the guidebook (Walking the Wainwrights) and taking in Kennel Crag which is a very interesting feature to play about on.
Dow Crag and Buck Pike also floated my boat and I will be coming back for a wild camp at either Blind Tarn or the summit of Kennel Crag.
Fitness wise I’m happy with the steady progress I am making and nailed the route in 6 hours dead with plenty to spare in the tank. 16 miles, 4400 feet and 7 Wainwrights, job done.
Head of Langdale
A few months away from the hills was needed to make a big push with my new job. But I couldn’t wait any longer so I set off for Langdale on Friday with my trusty walking partner Pepper laid on the backseat of the motor.Friday night was spent in the ODG, the Cumberland sausage was a real let down and I don’t understand why they changed the old recipe. On Saturday I woke early, cooked breakfast and packed my gear into the car. We set off around 8:30am and the clouds were covering a view of the tops. The pull up to Pike of Blisco showed my lack of mountain legs and we were treated to a cloud inversion of sorts at the summit. Unfortunately that was the last view I would see until I was back in langdale valley.
Cold Pike didn’t cause any problems but navigation across the top of Crinkle Craggs was a nightmare, even so Pepper did rather well for a dog and quickly picked up the art of scrambling. Bow Fell was next and I must return here to tackle this in full winter conditions. Esk Pike was next and Angel Tarn looks like a top place for a wild camp. Pepper got thrown in the tarn after she decided to roll about in a pile of mud, lessons were earned by the young pup.
One more Wainwright completed the days bagging and it was quick stroll up Rossett Pike. By the time I reached the valley the sun was out and I took a quick video to capture the setting.
Legs are aching now which means one thing, I need to get my arse in gear with training for the Welsh 3000 challenge in July.
Danby – The Moors Centre
Thomas cutting loose
We headed to Danby in the heart of the North York Moors to check out the Moorland Outdoor Centre. The weather was hardly great but we picked up a Moorland quiz for 50p – excellent value when it makes a day trip into an adventure for a 6 year old.
After completing the quiz we took a stroll over to the remains of Danby Castle about 30 minutes walk away. There was plenty of mud to splodge about in, shame the castle was shut though.
The moorland centre itself has plenty to keep children happy and Thomas loved the indoor climbing wall for under 8’s. A bit on hang time later and we headed to The Jolly Sailor for a pub lunch with lovely home cooked chips. Good day out despite the dismal weather.
Hanging Stone Leap
I have been meaning to do this challenge walk for a while now so waking up with a hazy Peroni hangover at 6am I decided to get my arse in gear and head off out for a big hike.
The Hanging Stone Leap is a yearly challenge event and GPS details can be found here at this excellent site. I opted for the 24 mile option in keeping with where I want my hiking to progress to this year.
8:30 am saw me waved off by Leanne and Thomas, Pepper joined me again and we headed off in deep mist. The first part of the walk head’s out of Guisborough southwards and climbs up through the woods to Highcliff Nab a rocky outcrop with great views over Guisborough. Some heather moorland scenery took us all the way to Kildale, here is the splitting point of the two walks (9miles&24mile).
I headed South East through Baysdale and past the picturesque Hob hole. This is the first time I have headed this far into the NY moors and it offered a landscape of rolling heather moorland. I must set aside some time to explore the inner reaches of the moors instead of sticking to the escarpment. I had reached just over half way and I was getting hungry, setting off on a big hike without food is a mistake I wont be making again!!
Great Hograh Moor was particularly boggy and my Sealskin socks failed. I must remember to write-up a blog post slating this product. The converted homes at Baysdale Abbey made me slightly jealous of their superb location, maybe its time I called the estate agents. I was glad to pick the Cleveland Way back up as my iphone was down to 10% battery due to a lack of planning and the memory map application was my only means of navigation. I was soon back to Kildale and ready for the last leg of my journey.
The final part of the walk takes in 3 of the best areas to view the Tees Valley from Captains Cook monument, Hanging Stone and Roseberry Topping. However the latter was a final tester in the legs before the easy stroll back into Guisborough and the Rugby Club which marks the end of this great walk.
This is a great walk and has numerous aspects to keep you amused along the route. I was particularly impressed with Great Howgarth Moor. The terrain includes small country roads, forest tracks, National Trail and boggy heather stomping. It took me just less than 8 hours which was bang on my target of 3mph. Its nice feeling the strength building in my legs again and the after effects didn’t have me hobbling around the house.
Not many pictures due to forgetting to juice up the iphone.
How not to hike a National Trail
My first ever attempt at a National Trail was back in July 2008. I hiked for three days along the Cleveland Way and reached the coast before quiting because of a foot injury. I learned plenty of lessons from this trip although i came close to quitting hiking altogether after my failure to complete the trail.
I wont bore you with too much detail but here are a few areas i got totally wrong, hopefully other people thinking of doing a National Trail can learn from my mistakes.
Pack weight
I carried far too much weight and although i had no problem carrying the pack, the weight eventually caused a foot injury. The 70 litre pack I usedwas full to brim.
- FOOD This accounted for most of my weight. I had opted to take army ration packs which are extremely heavy compared to a say a wayfarers meal, but carrying 5 days worth of food was stupid, I could have easily bought food on the trail each day. Planning your restocking points is vital when thru hiking.
- WATER Each day I would fill up my 3 litre platypus with water which seems like madness now, a bit of planning each day on refill points would have saved me lugging an extra 2 litres of water.
- CLOTHING Carrying 3 changes of clothes is a luxury hikers cannot afford.
- EQUIPMENT – My 2-3 man tent was twice the weight of a solo tent. Down sleeping bags are half the weight of the cheap bulky synthetic bag I carried.
Planning
Dont under-estimate the effects a thru hike can have on your body if you are not prepared.
- TRAINING – I thought I could just turn up on the day and get straight into hiking, 20+ miles per day. If you are going to do high mileage you need to train and the only way to do this is by putting miles on your feet.
- MILEAGE – Unless you have trained to walk long distances I would not recommend hiking over 15 miles in a day. Think about adding a rest day to play with and keep it in the bank just in case you need it.
- RESTOCKING Plan where you need to stop to restock supplies you could also think about sending a parcel ahead to pick up on route.
- NO YOUR LIMITS And stick to them, you’re not going to get any extra recognition for hiking a trail in 5 days when your body can handle it in 7. If you want to push yourself do some extra training preparation.
- WHICH TRAIL Dont go for a big hike for your first National Trail try something shorter like the Wolds Way or the Hadrian’s Wall.
I hope you found these tips handy, they will be second nature to experienced hikers but I hope they find their way to a beginner who may find them useful.
Normal service resumed
Osmotherly to Roseberry Topping is my favourite section of the Cleveland Way, so it seemed the obvious choice to restart my hiking adventures after a slow Christmas period.
The high winds of the previous night had dropped so off I trotted with Pepper my trusty walking partner. We gained height out of Osmotherly and were soon hiking along the escarpment of the North York Moors.
Dropping down from Carlton bank i popped to my favourite cafe for a breakfast bun. Lord stones cafe is a great place to stop for refreshments, the cafe is built into a rocky outcrop and is well worth a visit.
The Wainstones on Hasty bank are a hot spot for climbers but today a sea king helicopter was using it to practice flying manoeuvres. Pepper had her own tricks to practice and I taught her two new commands and she managed to walk past several sheep without tearing off in a mad frenzy.
The hike into Kildale took it’s toll on my legs and feet, I started to feel tired after 20 miles but I knew I was lacking fitness after my long flu lay off.
A lot of people where enjoying themselves around Captain Cooks monument especially Pepper who found a few dog friends to chase about. By the time I reached The car park near Roseberry Topping I was ready to call it a day and I was glad when Leanne turned up to take me home.
It took me exactly 9hrs to hike 25 miles with numerous ascents and descents. 3mph average is a good start considering there was 4776ft ascent. I took 3 – 15 minute breaks and carried a light pack. I am aiming to train myself to be able to handle a National Trail with a a daily mileage of 25+ miles per day.
Kit wise the inov8 320s fit well into the faster/longer approach. The race pro 30 pack is great as a day pack, i am still wondering if its big enough for thru hiking. The last thing I want to do is get sucked into the realms of the gram counters.
FC Hikers 2nd Birthday
Time flies past and already its the 2nd anniversary of the FC Hikers. Its been quite a busy year for the guys and gals of Team FC which included several meet ups, a team of 4 completing the TGO Challenge , 5 National Trails being knocked off and many other mini adventures.
Quite a few people ask me about the name, Fight Club Hikers, it sounds like we are a crazy bunch of mentalists who battle it out on the hills of the UK. But the name itself came about as a wind up on the LFTO forum. The name goes against the kind of mundane stereotyping of folk who enjoy the outdoors, heck nothing winds we up more than the old adage of ramblers with wooly hats and flasks of tea.
Anyway a few people thought we were trolls stirring up trouble on an internet forum and hatched a plot the would see us all barred for the forum. To be fair we did play a few wind ups on that forum but it was all harmless and always in good humour. Mind you at the time if you dared to share a differing opinion from the all-wise and powerful Trail magazine team you were instantly labelled a trouble maker and we actually ended being barred from the LFTO forum. We took a lot of shit from others but it kind of bonded our friendships and actually motivated us to get out there and let our feet do the talking instead of sitting around glued to our PC’s arguing about whose got the best tent or which waterproof is the best.
Were not a secret club more a group of mates who enjoy getting out into the hills and having a good drink afterwards. We don’t take ourselves seriously and always try to have a laugh along the way. We bounce ideas off each other and more than often then lead to little adventures in the outdoors. That’s it really – FC Hikers, take us or leave us.
ANYWAY less of the history and more of the present. We met up at the Lakes over the weekend for our 2nd anniversary bash (any excuse to hit a pub). In attendance were Titanium Dude, Buzzingirly, Peter Crawford, Wibble69, Darksy, Pieman, Der Alte plus the 3 dogs Woodstock, Millie and Pepper.
The Swirral camping barn was our base camp for the weekend and we started to arrive at 3pm on the Friday and the beers were flowing by the time Paddy and Gill turned up at 8pm. It was good to see Darksy again who I met on my first ever forray into the hills about 4 years ago. Wibble arrived in style by getting his car stuck in a ditch, it took a few recruits from the Travellers Rest pub to free it. Pieman turned up clutching a box of red wine which made him an instant hit with Gill. We spent a cold night in the barn plotting our route and basically sharing banter into the small hours of the morning.
Waking up we were greeted to a snow-covered lakeland, brews and breakfast was consumed and we headed into the hills wrapped up well in winter gear. The walk itself took us up to Sticks Pass, Stybarrow Dodd ,Raise, Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, Dollywagon Pike and back to The Travllers Rest pub via Grisedale. Darksy took an alternative route via Swirral edge. It was a prefect day for winter lakeland walking and we were treat to some amazing scenery from the uppermost slopes.
After the walk we headed into the Travellers Rest pub and spent the night filling ourselves with ale and fine food, Der Alte turned up after making a perilous journey from down South. Plans were hatched for new adventures and last orders were soon being called. We trudged back to the barn and I drifted off to sleep to sounds of others snoring.
Hope you enjoy the pictures.
A report on Piemans blog http://northernpies.blogspot.com/2010/11/helvellyn-weekend-with-fight-club.html
Great Glen Way Day 5 – Drumnadrochit to Inverness 18 miles
We pooled all our food and made a hearty breakfast, Paddy had the thankless task of raising Gill from her pit. I decided to head it Drumnadrochit and track down Nessie. A local shop owner told me to try the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre and I have got to say it was really interesting, plenty of actual facts disproving the myth rather than pandering on a legend. However escaping the gift shop was another story all together.
Paddy & Gill hooked up with me after the Nessie visit but I decided to push onto Inverness alone as I wanted a bit of solitude and to really motor along the track. The guys didn’t take offence, they have been hiking with me long enough now to understand I need my own space every now and again.
The hike out of Drumnadrochit was a slog uphill through a pine forest, which then turned into open moorland with great views of the surrounding areas. This is without doubt the best part of the whole Great Glen Way and even the Old Drovers road was good underfoot. I reached the outskirts of Inverness around 5pm and finished my walk at Inverness Castle at 6pm. Inverness was just starting to get lit up for the night so i waited in a real ale house and ate Haggis for the first time.
Paddy & Gill joined me at 8pm and we celebrated the end of another long distance trail before heading back to the hostel. Mental note – never let Gill book a hostel ever again. I got stalked by a homeless bag lady and it looked like a homicide had taken place on my bunk bed the previous night. The Highlander Hostel gets 1/10 for me.
Final thoughts on the Great Glen Way
- Its a perfect winter long distance trail and even the harshest weather would struggle to hanper your efforts
- The last section to Inverness is without doubt the best days for hiking.
- Take your time to explore Inverness, Fort Augustus and Drumnadroichit.
- Morags Lodge in Fort Augustus is a really great hostel to stay in.
- 4-5 days is the best option for a crossing, although i might try a 2 day attempt nextyear.
Hope you enjoyed my little report, now what shall i do next, any ideas ?
Great Glen Way Day 4 –Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit 14 miles
A great night’s sleep in the hobbit village meant I couldn’t wait to get started and a crisp morning’s frost was the first I had seen for a while. Invermoriston’s local post office provided me with breakfast and we spent some time chatting to the owner of the Clog & Craft shop. The falls of Moriston and the old Telord Bridge were the main points of interest in this sleepy little village.
Today’s hike actually involved some ascent, a huge 1970ft, please ignore my sarcasm here, but the Great Glen Way is as flat as a pancake. It did mean though that we enjoyed the best views of the trip so far and we actually bumped into a few fellow hikers who were hiking the full trail but in the opposite direction.
We took our time today and enjoyed the views, we even stopped for a hot soup break at lunchtime and basically chillaxed. Some days it’s just nice to swanker along the trail without a care in the world leaving all your troubles behind you. By the time we reached Borlum Farm Caravan Park it was just starting to get dark. We pitched up and made a hearty meal before heading into town.
The Loch Ness Inn provided us with a few pints and the Poachers Inn was our last stop before heading home. Unfortunately Gill in the space on 15 minutes became inebriated and it took a huge amount of effort and patience to get her back to the campsite in one piece. The last two photos tell there own story. Gill has now been demoted to the B-team of drinkers whose ranks include lightweight Larry, Shirley Shandy and Peter Pissedabed.
Great Glen Way Day 3 – Fort Augustus to Invermoriston 8 miles
A well planned short day meant even the worst hangover would struggle to knock us off course with our schedule for hiking. As it turned out a few headache tablets and a shower were enough to shake off the previous nights excesses. Morag’s Lodge is well worth a look for hikers, one of the best hostels I have ever stayed in.
Today’s hike was pathetic in distance terms and we laughed at the thought of people tracking us on the social hiking web site. The walk itself followed Loch Ness although we rarely had a good view because of the conifer forest blocking our view.
After the gruelling slog (hangs his head in shame at the distance) we reached am excellent Loch Ness Holiday Park that had a new addition to its accommodation that we took an instant like to – Hobbit Village. The Hobbits are little log structures and offer a fridge and kettle and enough space to sleep four comfortably on built-in-beds. Each lodge is named after a character from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, ours was named Shelob though thankfully it was free from spiders.
I spent the evening learning to fish on the Loch but only managed to catch a rock, still it was a great way to finish the day.
Great Glen Way – Day 2 Gairlochy to Fort Augustus 23 miles
I woke about 6am quite chilly and decided to get up and about rather than dwell in my tent. I made brews for everyone to kick start the day. After breakfast we packed up and headed out back onto the trail for what would be our longest day of walking on the whole trip.
The day started by walking along the banks of Loch Lochy to still winds and open skies. Just past Clunes we stumbled upon a quite magical area of woodland called The Fairy footpath that had been created by local school children over the last 3-4 years. We spent about an hour wandering around the grottos and displays made by the children, the troll prison was my favourite display. The footpath is just off the actual national trail but you can easily spot it if you keep your eyes open for the huge red spotted mushroom.
Laggan was the next stop and the Loch was perfectly still as we worked our way along the Great Glen. Laggan lochs is the berthing spot of a special pub / riverboat called ‘The Inn on the Water’, rotten luck meant it was closed on the day we passed. Just a mile further along the trail is an outdoor centre which we stopped at for a swift pint to break the day up.
We still had 9 miles to go and time was getting on, my best attempts to hire a boat to take us to Fort Augustus hade failed miserably so we pushed on along Loch Oich which is the smallest of the three lochs. Loch Oich provided a quite stunning sunset backdrop to the end of our day, looking back at the pictures I took it was a quite magical time.
When we reached Fort Augustus the chippy was just closing but we managed to refuel before heading to Morags Lodge. This hostel is a very lively place and perfect for some Saturday night revelry. Quiz nightstarted with a test of strength for one member of each team, holding a pint of water above your head for as long as possible. I saw off the competition from the fellas but an Australian girl had the beating of me, I wonder if she worked the land back in Oz because she had biceps to tame a crocodile. I introduced Paddy and Gill to a favourite drink of mine Distaronno and by the time I headed back to my room I was well quite merry to say the least. I awoke the next day with a space hopper beside my bed and no recollection of how it got there.
Great Glen Way – Day 1 Fort William to Gairlochy 11miles
Two late trains meant I arrived at Glasgow queen street with a whisker to spare. Paddy and gill joined me for the final leg up to Fort William but the cloud spoiled what should of been a very picturesque train journey.
We arrived in Fort William at 16:00 and the rain was lashing down, waterproofs on, buddy beacon set and we hit the trail. The walk out of town was uneventful except for a great view over the loch.
The area of Caol provided is with sustenance in the form of sausage and chips. Back onto the trail and darkness closed in as we wandered past neptunes staircase which is a series of eight canal lochs at Banavie.
If I had night vision I would describe the broad gravel track that flanks the Caledonian canal on the way to Gairlochy, however I skipped eating carrots at school and have paid for it ever since.
We reached Gairlochy caravan park about 20:40 and pitched up, hot chocolate and brandy capped off the days events.
Reading the twitter messages before bed made me laugh nearly as much as Paddy thinking his new toy is faulty. Hehe never leave your neo-air unattended , some tricky man might let some air out.
Great Glen Way – LIVE
On the 22/10/10 I will be setting out on the 73 miles long-distance route from Fort William to Inverness that is the Great Glen Way.
I will be attempting for the first time a new concept in blogging which will allow you to share my progress live on a map with embedded tweets, photos, blog posts and audio clips.
This has been made possible with a great new site http://new.socialhiking.org.uk/ who have developed the idea into its current form.
You can check my progress out by clicking on the link below – if you have a twitter account you can join in by leaving replies to my tweets @ukmase
http://new.socialhiking.org.uk/maps/os/ukmase/Great-Glen-Way/500
Brecon Beacons lastminute.com
An opportunity cam about to visit the Brecon Beacons last week but it meant i had very little time to plan anything and had to look to google for a walk. So without a map (shock horror) I set my satnav to Neuadd Resevior. When I arrived it was raining heavily and I wondered if it really was a good idea to head out without a map.
The quick pull up to Graig Fan Ddu warmed the legs and i managed to catch up to two walkers who I joined for the day, Richard and Ted had come prepared with a map. The walk took us around the valley taking in Cord Du, Pen y Fan and Cribyn. Cloud ruined the first part of the walk but the cloud lifted on Pen y Fan and revealed some quite stunning views of the Brecon’s. The landscape is unique and I hope the photos do the area the justice. I will be back again to visit this area, its well worth a look !
TGO Challenge Day 14 – Heatherhaugh to Stonehaven and THE END
This is the final blog post of my TGO Challenge, I hope I havent bored anyone to death but i’ve tried to keep the typing to a minimum and concentrate on the amusing bits of our crossing. So far the last time….here we go
Breaking camp for the last time we all actually managed to be ready at the same time, it only took 14 days but we were now a tight unit of super experienced hikers, erm okay.
The walk to Stonehaven was mainly through conifer plantations, finding the right route can sometimes be tricky as the tracks constantly change each year. After an amazing crossing weather wise Scotland had one final trick up its sleeve, in the middle of a lovely hot sunny day we were hit by a hail shower that took us all by surprise(see here for the weather forecast).
Freakish weather aside the walk to Stonehaven was pleasant enough and seeing the coast gave us all the energy we needed to reach our goal. When I reached the coast I broke off from the others and splashed about in the waters of Stonehaven, it’s a great place to finish and the setting couldnt have been better.
We stayed at the local campsite with a few other challengers and headed off to find some drinking establishments. Waking in the morning the real world came back with a bang, some local vagabond had stolen a persons bike from the campsite and ruined the guys weekend, it’s no fun attending a cycling event without a bike.
We caught the bus to Montrose, sitting on the top deck lets you take in all the sites of the East Coast finishing points and gives you plenty of ideas for future crossings. We headed for Challenge control and with a handshake from Roger Smith it was all over. We hung around challenge control for an hour and then our thoughts turned to the evenings events.
The local campsite at Montrose was a big let down but seeing all the other challengers more than made up for it. At the challenge dinner our table flowed with banter and wine. Our new friends Ken and Shap joined us at our table. Gill made an emotional speech to all the challengers and I had to wrestle her away from Roger after pulling the short straw with Pete and Paddy.
Back at the campsite Mike Knipe joined us for the last wee-nip of the crossing and it was late, real late when I put my head down for the night. And so ends my account of the TGO Challenge 2010. I will be back, but not in 2011, other challenges beckon and I now have a more the able side kick in my son to continue the fun. I hope someone reads this and decides to sign up for the Challenge, I had an amazing time and the spirit of the event lives up to every inch of its reputation.
Whats next for me….The Great Glen Way in October then who knows !!
UKmase 