tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91332037824017439692024-03-12T22:52:40.228-07:00Mal & Marion TabbMalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.comBlogger450125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-72449525213685566082021-05-24T10:28:00.009-07:002021-05-24T10:28:59.031-07:00A Day At the Crag<p><span style="font-family: arial;">We are back in our previous bloggers dilemma of time pressure! The current workload is very agreeable to us but it doesn't leave very much time for writing. As such to keep things ticking over this month here are a few photos from a recent Canoes, Mountains & Caves Community Event at Great Wanney in Northumberland. It was another of those days that the Community is all about - an eclectic mix of folk who have rarely climbed, to those who are really quite talented; an age range from three years old to sixty years old; just a great social vibe!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Over the past few months we've enjoyed a number of great days out climbing in Northumberland, its our intention to write more fully on them when time permits but for now here are a few images from our last visit.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3Qwv_kN6S7GIBwbWZsdtDZTHLJznSmyybHhVnV3yf7GetjCZGMd6GHnD26TaWogmZfW8qxgo88bGf_Ko9EURJcbFZ2sjyR0tdcVwx3EtQ5SSkKX8b8HnP5zS6HPG1sdmVNIUi_GJxIw/s2048/P5150002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3Qwv_kN6S7GIBwbWZsdtDZTHLJznSmyybHhVnV3yf7GetjCZGMd6GHnD26TaWogmZfW8qxgo88bGf_Ko9EURJcbFZ2sjyR0tdcVwx3EtQ5SSkKX8b8HnP5zS6HPG1sdmVNIUi_GJxIw/w640-h480/P5150002.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_qfAGL8BiBX6lTcfYMo6PxXyQqpJRnEMhlba1PXfj0zTjTWPmtSn0qiFxBqVpm20FkHIvugUers_uRPl8xqOoCc-tNRG2VH6i3GXQuZZGQ7CqLBF5mQdAl9CcEM35nU5ad0F6w1CeE8/w640-h480/P5150032.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHR2EkQgF7YmdZfSG1nuskpA2iunrx82V_tZFsT7VlPX25wDvFK88GABG2PQVHljmOF8FHo-qgfwma98ViirzYnzTCZMl52Tu8Enq4kY2mXx-pCsgYlgFoczK9TpBwOEsY9JXyxZATsOQ/s2048/P5150044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHR2EkQgF7YmdZfSG1nuskpA2iunrx82V_tZFsT7VlPX25wDvFK88GABG2PQVHljmOF8FHo-qgfwma98ViirzYnzTCZMl52Tu8Enq4kY2mXx-pCsgYlgFoczK9TpBwOEsY9JXyxZATsOQ/w640-h480/P5150044.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><b>Mal</b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-2875690308148580182021-05-08T06:25:00.002-07:002021-05-08T06:25:47.243-07:00Early May Weather<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAZC5gVzmZbIecY2l_0bGTQqaAPiOHvnncWWFvbz49z7BDfkyC4wo04ZvL6D0PwCin6VoxjwjsQmvI4pMXmNTQNPUOwA9fqJkitxA8SYcFmxRU0frNIfEdVaHdETFHaZAcPx9yQsYfLQ/s3872/DSC03959+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAZC5gVzmZbIecY2l_0bGTQqaAPiOHvnncWWFvbz49z7BDfkyC4wo04ZvL6D0PwCin6VoxjwjsQmvI4pMXmNTQNPUOwA9fqJkitxA8SYcFmxRU0frNIfEdVaHdETFHaZAcPx9yQsYfLQ/w640-h360/DSC03959+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The early May weather in 2021 has been unseasonal to say the least!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our last <a href="http://maltabb.blogspot.com/2021/05/canoe-journey-loch-tay-river-tay.html" target="_blank">post </a>which covered a canoe trip to the Loch Tay area over the period 01-03 May made several references to how cold the weather was. High pressure dominated over most of the weekend producing largely settled conditions but the air temperature was at times Baltic. The journey home from the Highlands on Monday saw a front move through which brought strong easterly winds accompanied by sleet, snow & rain depending on altitude.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Moving into the middle of the week high pressure continued to bring calm but cold conditions. On Thursday we headed out for some caving in Upper Teesdale. The early morning drive in was superb with snow covering much of the higher parts of the North Pennines. On our walk in it was pleasantly warm when the sun came out but when the sun went in the wind once again had an arctic feel to it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Moking Hurth is a relatively small but interesting cave and it was good to be back there, it was Marion's first visit, unfortunately we didn't have very much time available for a thorough exploration so a return will be needed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYjZP8KVcahb-HwDai_9H_LmSGW5X__EoGkq0cBuj92bNFEtJ3PXTs2PswrOwSDtjzsT3ao1L7MLquUQnO0nqorPCs3jZcD5WSzDwdCXKb9mrRFWWoY7Mu8LeV9618ha1EsDwBitap2Y/s2048/20210506_090437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYjZP8KVcahb-HwDai_9H_LmSGW5X__EoGkq0cBuj92bNFEtJ3PXTs2PswrOwSDtjzsT3ao1L7MLquUQnO0nqorPCs3jZcD5WSzDwdCXKb9mrRFWWoY7Mu8LeV9618ha1EsDwBitap2Y/w640-h480/20210506_090437.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZ2uY58_Kky7wCIlIkKU_FnoDSem8Z4DUTvk34wufPrbYXQp6hAFfYEsxe93zRnc6yx0iw3YzfF0C7EpSAgZ7zVnAcZmFD-xjKEKWSoekSxaExw9QTZS9lLYOoqBW6ESYqDvW7gcrK60/s2048/20210506_090742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZ2uY58_Kky7wCIlIkKU_FnoDSem8Z4DUTvk34wufPrbYXQp6hAFfYEsxe93zRnc6yx0iw3YzfF0C7EpSAgZ7zVnAcZmFD-xjKEKWSoekSxaExw9QTZS9lLYOoqBW6ESYqDvW7gcrK60/w640-h480/20210506_090742.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04fczDO4Olqzny3t6QXXpf8Dterh27Ezt86Cqp43cYNALSeNP1Vztjau0z5Hf6qPPdvptVo0iJjsbS8ldv2W2ggRwS83WkUvx5UA5jP_SPU6rXekxHdWxVbCtWPBWvXMcHUYd_9bATE8/s2048/20210506_102959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1862" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04fczDO4Olqzny3t6QXXpf8Dterh27Ezt86Cqp43cYNALSeNP1Vztjau0z5Hf6qPPdvptVo0iJjsbS8ldv2W2ggRwS83WkUvx5UA5jP_SPU6rXekxHdWxVbCtWPBWvXMcHUYd_9bATE8/w582-h640/20210506_102959.jpg" width="582" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Today (Saturday 08th May) has seen us postpone a day of family canoeing in the Lake District: its rained heavily all morning with accompanying south westerly winds gusting up to 30mph. Although things look set to remain a little unsettled through the planned busy week ahead temperatures are set to climb out of single digits to something resembling the May average for Northern England.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPg7hzrXROtZhCwMrbOF0hLrooeHlxiMUuzUIr92OQBNbY6vHRyZlkAtqqGfd66xW5b4ODons0O7jJlSiBy3VhJDXhgzclRxeDwJBsPlPEASQxA8Ql0f1PNx7i7QoSYEWNO-8EjPjR9E/s2048/20210508_103006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPg7hzrXROtZhCwMrbOF0hLrooeHlxiMUuzUIr92OQBNbY6vHRyZlkAtqqGfd66xW5b4ODons0O7jJlSiBy3VhJDXhgzclRxeDwJBsPlPEASQxA8Ql0f1PNx7i7QoSYEWNO-8EjPjR9E/w480-h640/20210508_103006.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><i>Mal</i></b></span><p></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-60662561411691228702021-05-04T10:34:00.002-07:002021-05-04T10:34:29.400-07:00Canoe Journey: Loch Tay & The River Tay<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJKZRomiUGAjDvhMTc61uxIMmOfFIWZqNjjKeAiW4fwRnC2YFDMkmsTh-MixWR_1Dd8nx9Jkz5zsOscWF7KLK5knkQGmPnHiVUPaqGkzmbBg3Dfxqqsff0ePSQXnoOFxxVNWF9B5m_is/s3872/DSC03914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJKZRomiUGAjDvhMTc61uxIMmOfFIWZqNjjKeAiW4fwRnC2YFDMkmsTh-MixWR_1Dd8nx9Jkz5zsOscWF7KLK5knkQGmPnHiVUPaqGkzmbBg3Dfxqqsff0ePSQXnoOFxxVNWF9B5m_is/w640-h360/DSC03914.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The vast majority of our extended open canoe journeys are organised and operated through the Canoes, Mountains & Caves <a href="http://maltabb.blogspot.com/p/community.html" target="_blank">"Community Programme" </a>. These events are usually fully booked up within 24 hours of us advertising them around "The Community" and this one was no exception, we'd hoped to be away doing something similar at Easter but restrictions did not allow, as such when we tentatively rearranged for the May Bank Holiday in the hope that Covid guidelines would allow just about all of those booked for Easter swiftly transferred across to the new date. As such on a damp, cool Saturday morning we met: Alistair & Iain; Maccy & Helen; Simon & Amy; Andy and Ian outside Killin Outdoor Centre. After a range of last minute items were purchased from local stores we set off to an arranged access point to Loch Tay in the area of Ardeonaig.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The earlier wet weather gave way to sunny intervals and the vehicle shuttle down to Aberfeldy was completed. We set off in flat calm conditions across the loch overlooked by Ben Lawers and its surrounding subsidiaries all capped with snow whilst banks of misty cloud lingered just beneath their summits. In the sunshine the air felt warm but returning cloud brought a chill that didn't feel much like May!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmp9v_WgFRTODiKFy9RSYkRq34zN0GhsPpfzSRp_tnYDX0Aswo1ryKhVpQtDHp0EeCXW9298pOMqJ5FCYODLCl9clJ-tYhyF2hWRlEAtvFV4tak8K5vpjBKn7NRZ4TQeoZI5qEmUcQ10/s3872/DSC03916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmp9v_WgFRTODiKFy9RSYkRq34zN0GhsPpfzSRp_tnYDX0Aswo1ryKhVpQtDHp0EeCXW9298pOMqJ5FCYODLCl9clJ-tYhyF2hWRlEAtvFV4tak8K5vpjBKn7NRZ4TQeoZI5qEmUcQ10/w640-h360/DSC03916.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">There are one or two excellent wild camping spots on the north shore of the loch and we were delighted to find our planned target occupied by just a solitary fisherman for the night, the area was plenty big enough for us to share without us compromising his quest for solitude. The entire party had, rarely for a "Community" trip, all opted for tents on this occasion and we were quickly set up along with a communal tarp area for eating and socialising later in the evening. A late afternoon arrival allowed time for half a dozen of us to head off up the loch for a short paddle with unladen boats, however, a freshening wind ahead of a sharp shower curtailed this slightly and we returned to cook. Evening meal choices were varied but the Masterchef winner was undoubtedly Mr Johnson with his pan fried duck breast, asparagus and some sort of French beans!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There was much local dry firewood and as food was completed and darkness fell the evening saw "The Community" at its finest with much outdoor, socially distanced conversation and good humour continuing until late!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyHfSTwAmk9Vg-iIVp5qj_mKdTLS2DiD4Q9PKLebsEi1sLlpIiyflX9mi2HMMi6cvY65yr6VUMzn1xXL5t1HmR4x6NRrpULcXJLOX1NEG44O03NshVZfVPSun6NPr_hYCB-rbylg1gWA/s3872/DSC03919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyHfSTwAmk9Vg-iIVp5qj_mKdTLS2DiD4Q9PKLebsEi1sLlpIiyflX9mi2HMMi6cvY65yr6VUMzn1xXL5t1HmR4x6NRrpULcXJLOX1NEG44O03NshVZfVPSun6NPr_hYCB-rbylg1gWA/w640-h360/DSC03919.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwFSON1T1Pg0JvLGhCtNEqAN3dOBSFGghTJsJbnWirpRcvN8l83YgE2BeOjr_8-F8ROLeJ6kfmfdxhwj9E3f3lHG7uBYMvB1hrG_plx5wYQVpI4pkPGFdYk0rpVI3Vb9juW5Tfrnttxw/s3872/DSC03926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwFSON1T1Pg0JvLGhCtNEqAN3dOBSFGghTJsJbnWirpRcvN8l83YgE2BeOjr_8-F8ROLeJ6kfmfdxhwj9E3f3lHG7uBYMvB1hrG_plx5wYQVpI4pkPGFdYk0rpVI3Vb9juW5Tfrnttxw/w640-h360/DSC03926.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JC7Xzewe0OZNhUy0PPutNneuGMD2MEeKTiI6l3I9fXd49sOm3mmzGxt-28Sl8ConAMuojraIyW61k63WvIAVZ66E8iqT9F5ynK_Hdx2yXglKtPNMbJa14v6WqRV-H9sQBDPukoP-TA8/s3872/DSC03927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JC7Xzewe0OZNhUy0PPutNneuGMD2MEeKTiI6l3I9fXd49sOm3mmzGxt-28Sl8ConAMuojraIyW61k63WvIAVZ66E8iqT9F5ynK_Hdx2yXglKtPNMbJa14v6WqRV-H9sQBDPukoP-TA8/w640-h360/DSC03927.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmfOK0lXPcPKf4Hgr_YaqKtjV_xClzQUduHTCDvGLshsbr2ZkjrbrIJUkcTjZvcGH_GTHg_4eze3g8x2Cft5G3rPYTOJzFOOI1DJ8Ogdsy-tvXBVAaXtliTn1nk7xy61xC4msWIi6oig/s2048/P5010013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmfOK0lXPcPKf4Hgr_YaqKtjV_xClzQUduHTCDvGLshsbr2ZkjrbrIJUkcTjZvcGH_GTHg_4eze3g8x2Cft5G3rPYTOJzFOOI1DJ8Ogdsy-tvXBVAaXtliTn1nk7xy61xC4msWIi6oig/w640-h480/P5010013.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLh_vYNQbOxznY2-pA448BE6Ynd-CqFkGSxQYlv21NhGAo0AYIJJDh3bVIiy7rHN01iJh7iKO5GKXnt655JsoS_pE1RVv3sByCblxvUvhIgnG4wy62zcaPoiIvDCuvM24xksIdTAHRHE/s2048/P5010017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLh_vYNQbOxznY2-pA448BE6Ynd-CqFkGSxQYlv21NhGAo0AYIJJDh3bVIiy7rHN01iJh7iKO5GKXnt655JsoS_pE1RVv3sByCblxvUvhIgnG4wy62zcaPoiIvDCuvM24xksIdTAHRHE/w640-h480/P5010017.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The night was a cold one, I slept well in a brand new <a href="https://alpkit.com/products/skyehigh-900" target="_blank">Alpkit SkyeHigh 900 sleeping bag</a>, Marion less well - feeling the cold slightly and now thinking that a new sleeping bag should be on the "wanted list"!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It was a bright sunny morning with just the lightest of breeze which aided our journey in an easterly direction towards Kenmore. Most of us dispensed with a layer for this leg of the trip, however, by the time we had reached the abandoned village of Lawers where we stopped to explore the sunshine had once again left us and the temperature plummeted. Despite having completed this journey on about seven previous occasions I've never stopped to explore Lawers, in fact to my ignorance I didn't even know it existed until this past weekend - its history including accounts of the mysterious Lady of Lawers is now on my reading list! Anyway, we continued on up the loch in mixed but fairly still conditions in the direction of Fearnan where we stopped for lunch. Below are some of the sunnier moments from the morning paddle</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGK2_GOt3cJe9PAcq5uJRRpmtY_JpDXEMQtCbsQy4hnZthDiV2KloaQBwd3FhNrGaHc2bVeM0lL9IIKaVurRcdS7k6wDNTR5BmVR34E8ej19rbYU-i_bU4SK_5SZ8Rc95Yt-jRPF7Ve0/s3872/DSC03939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGK2_GOt3cJe9PAcq5uJRRpmtY_JpDXEMQtCbsQy4hnZthDiV2KloaQBwd3FhNrGaHc2bVeM0lL9IIKaVurRcdS7k6wDNTR5BmVR34E8ej19rbYU-i_bU4SK_5SZ8Rc95Yt-jRPF7Ve0/w640-h360/DSC03939.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ10kxQDaULRdzqJCySoUDHZlF4PM-wgTUvKbLDC_jB_bspoEvG8z4xrxOn4FuhPY48Q1bvdoy6UwmvmAWm9rLMVsrKOL0a1FEJYe318VCMTxiV5cGNB3VnDTbMpnO3t5otSXBF12qH5Q/s3821/DSC03943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1658" data-original-width="3821" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ10kxQDaULRdzqJCySoUDHZlF4PM-wgTUvKbLDC_jB_bspoEvG8z4xrxOn4FuhPY48Q1bvdoy6UwmvmAWm9rLMVsrKOL0a1FEJYe318VCMTxiV5cGNB3VnDTbMpnO3t5otSXBF12qH5Q/w640-h278/DSC03943.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0B5AFqFSwg7rZ_AYlVn__uDs98ketcuv9jdwLD7l-_Chyphenhyphen1ZlNRuP3Mkmi9mVQmRC2JBgK2QKtuXJtsMNSMg304aHBrhf-XzViV5Gxc6DWEX8KZ8OJpgnlb9v0jFjEPSTkDyCrbet-eik/s2048/P5020026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0B5AFqFSwg7rZ_AYlVn__uDs98ketcuv9jdwLD7l-_Chyphenhyphen1ZlNRuP3Mkmi9mVQmRC2JBgK2QKtuXJtsMNSMg304aHBrhf-XzViV5Gxc6DWEX8KZ8OJpgnlb9v0jFjEPSTkDyCrbet-eik/w640-h480/P5020026.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3hdOIx4r2IWAPAmBqKRLJMh7t9aQTiatgmUscVwEbzeVgk02bpj79TMJyvyGRabhDUStAYG8wKxT-kqpzeXw4-qt1248-P77tIfLIQxZZtU95CNSKhP7sKGb3kr_EBagI5zLHx2r34U/s3872/DSC03949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3hdOIx4r2IWAPAmBqKRLJMh7t9aQTiatgmUscVwEbzeVgk02bpj79TMJyvyGRabhDUStAYG8wKxT-kqpzeXw4-qt1248-P77tIfLIQxZZtU95CNSKhP7sKGb3kr_EBagI5zLHx2r34U/w640-h360/DSC03949.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The more leisurely pace adopted on this trip allowed opportunity for wildlife observation, more specifically the bird activity was intense with a highlight being a Sparrow Hawk attempting to take a smaller bird from the water in a frenzy of activity and noise! Whilst eating lunch at Fearnan it was great to enjoy a short conversation with a local sailor about how the wind can behave on the loch, good knowledge! It was around four o'clock when we arrived on the island just offshore from Kenmore after paddling around 10 miles during the day. The island is another great camping spot and we were blessed to have it to ourselves for the evening. Another few hours in front of a roaring fire with good food and more conversation was enjoyed by everybody and it was nice to receive a visit from <a href="http://maltabb.blogspot.com/2021/03/following-on.html" target="_blank">Beth Wallis</a> who paddled out to visit us, great to catch up and even more local knowledge to be absorbed! From leaving Fearnan the temperature had noticeably dropped even further and as we looked back down the loch the snow line on the distant Ben More had descended markedly down the mountain - it was very cold for May and the weather forecasts, with some variability in their precision, were all predicting a rapidly deteriorating picture for the following day. As such the plan was hatched for an early start for the river section from Kenmore to Aberfeldy.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkopgX-XcJugIWMk0pnStnZHM6JlYSaiUnXWyD-HbYsVkyq86Yw2Pe4wbyXWiSEhL-A85CURT7TLtOwmFMow9dN2fiyGkFJ4LWzej0wZGgPzw0VgBOCiMlRAkDQZRW-WPF-tjlxmZnPI/s3872/DSC03959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkopgX-XcJugIWMk0pnStnZHM6JlYSaiUnXWyD-HbYsVkyq86Yw2Pe4wbyXWiSEhL-A85CURT7TLtOwmFMow9dN2fiyGkFJ4LWzej0wZGgPzw0VgBOCiMlRAkDQZRW-WPF-tjlxmZnPI/w640-h360/DSC03959.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Up on the final morning for six o'clock we were on the water before seven thirty. The temperature continued to hover just above freezing and the breeze had changed direction to a south easterly. Its only a short paddle under the bridge at Kenmore to pick up the River Tay. The river level was low at just 0.5m on the Kenmore gauge but there was adequate water to get down with only minimal scraping. The highlight of the trip is undoubtedly the Chinese Bridge rapid, maybe 250m or so of excellent grade 2 water which although less bouncy at this level still provided great entertainment for us all. We continued on down to Aberfeldy in ever deteriorating conditions as the wind increased in strength adding chill to the already cold air. Its interesting to note the extent of beaver activity on the Tay, which is now extensive on the river and evident on the loch itself.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqO2GAPZM1OpfHCV9UNigeechdqAxiACTIQuHdLD69nQTnEfk6Y0k4uHTSIvmXGULifI2LGdTqICKkn0dNlx9yv_UplNi43Y2Fzl6HvhOdoZ0l1Zp9IcJiPE3u8jFvRZTYHZ0si66Fm8/s2048/P5030045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1227" data-original-width="2048" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqO2GAPZM1OpfHCV9UNigeechdqAxiACTIQuHdLD69nQTnEfk6Y0k4uHTSIvmXGULifI2LGdTqICKkn0dNlx9yv_UplNi43Y2Fzl6HvhOdoZ0l1Zp9IcJiPE3u8jFvRZTYHZ0si66Fm8/w640-h384/P5030045.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCZSypxL-EN7xRmf-0Zaug86de6aXMpnQ9TXLSCJaKAUhCO2A7vEwczQPRh0OrAFAUtgaIZFd1CWMpkJNMXWjAdEEghf-IB8sTu_u_jOwnhq3IyssunDIjvtD-XdoNag2bA6AsLKZeec/s2048/P5030046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="2048" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCZSypxL-EN7xRmf-0Zaug86de6aXMpnQ9TXLSCJaKAUhCO2A7vEwczQPRh0OrAFAUtgaIZFd1CWMpkJNMXWjAdEEghf-IB8sTu_u_jOwnhq3IyssunDIjvtD-XdoNag2bA6AsLKZeec/w640-h382/P5030046.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxsccG6G5HBNbfEt2B0PKpofcd3UY0k5kSLsQji3gLzGx6AwXWjbSBTEkk50tpG-IPgfXJMC2GlZeZCEJrstdOkLkv9D0jjVSP1u0y4So6qbYCZ_rvArChbfSk55XlwYB71s5HgQLX_w/s2048/P5030051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxsccG6G5HBNbfEt2B0PKpofcd3UY0k5kSLsQji3gLzGx6AwXWjbSBTEkk50tpG-IPgfXJMC2GlZeZCEJrstdOkLkv9D0jjVSP1u0y4So6qbYCZ_rvArChbfSk55XlwYB71s5HgQLX_w/w640-h344/P5030051.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QdWyHrWFpIQa9DFkoxwmO7NItNhLZ3HNFngq8wI3HHkiLNYPQyRGl2P2pQtHKX2Ba9CQeGSkxgU5TGzsQS85Qs9bP0aeJYBMhcBpK4Xy8MATBiiJ7SWgXnh_LiZoCzBJIyDYaU4R5uU/s2048/P5030052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QdWyHrWFpIQa9DFkoxwmO7NItNhLZ3HNFngq8wI3HHkiLNYPQyRGl2P2pQtHKX2Ba9CQeGSkxgU5TGzsQS85Qs9bP0aeJYBMhcBpK4Xy8MATBiiJ7SWgXnh_LiZoCzBJIyDYaU4R5uU/w640-h480/P5030052.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgObjJ7qqLCEkILesHUdjBZjlVMjyUE1eSLH4-OIXkxEiE_CuFxZ27IT2MewnHBynnbVIaoY4psRFEMkFGCLob7XJSqrp9jGL4xsq18DrFhJDh967H5UuC5-bhbxTW0iHtdPuQZBP6VlM/s2048/P5030059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="2048" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgObjJ7qqLCEkILesHUdjBZjlVMjyUE1eSLH4-OIXkxEiE_CuFxZ27IT2MewnHBynnbVIaoY4psRFEMkFGCLob7XJSqrp9jGL4xsq18DrFhJDh967H5UuC5-bhbxTW0iHtdPuQZBP6VlM/w640-h326/P5030059.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We were off the river before ten thirty and heading off on our various onward journeys.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">What a great few days an opportunity to re-connect with real people; re-connect with our created environment; sharpen old skills and learn new ones, so good to be a part of this "Community".</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><i>Mal</i></b></span></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com2Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-81884207598600176062021-04-25T10:28:00.001-07:002021-04-25T10:28:09.192-07:00Alum Pot - Just a Few Photos<p><span style="font-family: arial;">After a very lean year for caving during 2020 its been a real highlight of the last few weeks, as we have emerged from lockdown, to get back out caving with friends. Its always a joy to "lead" folk underground but the more relaxed atmosphere that accompanies a social time in the outdoors is always both welcome & enjoyable. Yesterday as the dry, sunny and settled weather continues Marion & I headed out to Alum Pot with: Andy -J, Maccy & Simon. It had been a while since Maccy had done any SRT and Simon was on ladders so a few pitches and a chance to soak up the sun down at "The Window" was the plan. The Yorkshire Dales was busy with walkers; bikers; and there were plenty of other cavers out too. We entered Lower Long Churn through the Diccan entrance and descended into Alum Pot in two separate parties via the Dolly Tubs pitches and on further down the pot hole.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Below is the story of the day in photos:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfUsCOJ9T7kLDkPF-Ja98j-3-N2VFN2xD48jrOD-ktew3JgjKsgTWg7x6pBHOo7mQ7Jb4hPBncltIAki3ddseMb_qy_TIsIvYPMaw_hJrOrZAWjP5Yv7NQMP2fmfGeFyPYYj59ASbxdg/s2048/P4240033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1698" data-original-width="2048" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfUsCOJ9T7kLDkPF-Ja98j-3-N2VFN2xD48jrOD-ktew3JgjKsgTWg7x6pBHOo7mQ7Jb4hPBncltIAki3ddseMb_qy_TIsIvYPMaw_hJrOrZAWjP5Yv7NQMP2fmfGeFyPYYj59ASbxdg/w640-h530/P4240033.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOoPh7e1eb85Tv6HvjLkRd2Fa-Ijc75CP9uSG94jN27NetmawnDkbOm6CvbwXGu0MAh5fl-E1hdjHa42wjtBXaiLCVgfhAeT2gbOeEqw-3txCOai39dFD5FgjNw1Bwpw4rLQSjxGCzxw/s2048/P4240005.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/AVvXsEhyOoPh7e1eb85Tv6HvjLkRd2Fa-Ijc75CP9uSG94jN27NetmawnDkbOm6CvbwXGu0MAh5fl-E1hdjHa42wjtBXaiLCVgfhAeT2gbOeEqw-3txCOai39dFD5FgjNw1Bwpw4rLQSjxGCzxw/w640-h480/P4240005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUL1V5z0eIp8RwvudXqBSH7MhZpjB9Yg_ztvtXLu1s5VQbguBrchUa-JnBGYIp-FrBdQ-qqijZJqFSMhN4SXnjYglK_rglvPOoJQyWwdZbrNTk8RSrlYL92jP1PF2DJl5FUc801nMG4nw/s2048/P4240014.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/AVvXsEiUL1V5z0eIp8RwvudXqBSH7MhZpjB9Yg_ztvtXLu1s5VQbguBrchUa-JnBGYIp-FrBdQ-qqijZJqFSMhN4SXnjYglK_rglvPOoJQyWwdZbrNTk8RSrlYL92jP1PF2DJl5FUc801nMG4nw/w640-h480/P4240014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYA_ZNwhumbAzJ7SEu3Whj4tjbndkomebbXuC5DwxbdCYmd0wJfj1WLuI3w9wXveLMbba0AFRze2FRCmedmZyPveSEWQNYjo-055VGldQl4ikYi_B3Knt4s8V6__-lTm1LFKA-yOVLZ0U/s2048/P4240099.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/AVvXsEiYA_ZNwhumbAzJ7SEu3Whj4tjbndkomebbXuC5DwxbdCYmd0wJfj1WLuI3w9wXveLMbba0AFRze2FRCmedmZyPveSEWQNYjo-055VGldQl4ikYi_B3Knt4s8V6__-lTm1LFKA-yOVLZ0U/w640-h480/P4240099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><i>Mal</i></b></span></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-92050304417624277942021-04-22T10:33:00.001-07:002021-04-22T10:33:15.107-07:00"Big-ish" Day in the Mountains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WttlI9tKwjnVqfi3EvHAgGahDj3QdoFUgL66YTln22epEgOWvFzZHPfcr9MaaPlvPvRR9PNTFUtQJa36SZAjnkkdaSNEhvLrlVuA-qkp-A9DxLBEymb_SFVdbYvgsVdgsewDrSdRzCI/s2048/P4210091+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="2048" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WttlI9tKwjnVqfi3EvHAgGahDj3QdoFUgL66YTln22epEgOWvFzZHPfcr9MaaPlvPvRR9PNTFUtQJa36SZAjnkkdaSNEhvLrlVuA-qkp-A9DxLBEymb_SFVdbYvgsVdgsewDrSdRzCI/w640-h326/P4210091+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Yesterday was our second trip into the Lake District in order to climb mountains since the end of Lockdown 3.0 the fine Spring weather was forecast to continue so it all looked good! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We often find ourselves in conversation with folk on the subject of a "Quality Mountain Day" and try as often as possible to make our days in the mountains fit the criteria of such. Mountain Training suggest a number of key features that a QMD should possess and some of those that we think are particularly relevant in our planning as a provider of this sort of day out are:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">- the need to plan / design a day rather than simply copy what others have already put out there</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">- to journey / navigate away from well trod paths</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">- to create opportunities for ourselves or others to increase knowledge / practise skills</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">- to ensure safety</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">- to spend more than five hours on the journey</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">- to climb a substantial mountain</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Yesterday's journey, in our opinion, fitted the bill quite well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Our trips down to the Langdale are fewer & further between than those to the more northerly Lake District Fells simply because of the travel time involved. However, a good weather forecast; the opportunity for a relatively early start from home and the knowledge that mid-week in April would surely offer a less crowded space than what is likely to come in the summer holidays all contrived to motivate us!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_rC284yx4JaCr37X19Pcv1RHphpSFtguG2WQHYJWW7D818m1RHK6K05eRQWugNywaM9Gss8q9ZBb5AwNJqDMAsWLk0D1Q6PuXClBIyErtrkSnnQJF_a-29ApmtYB7u9RDHk3MY6djz4/s2048/P4210041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_rC284yx4JaCr37X19Pcv1RHphpSFtguG2WQHYJWW7D818m1RHK6K05eRQWugNywaM9Gss8q9ZBb5AwNJqDMAsWLk0D1Q6PuXClBIyErtrkSnnQJF_a-29ApmtYB7u9RDHk3MY6djz4/w640-h480/P4210041.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The plan was to do a round taking in: Pike o Blisco; Cold Pike and Crinkle Crags with a bit of "off-piste" navigation and maybe a little steep ground work. As such we arrived at Sticklebarn at 09:30 and were on our way about ten minutes later. There was a bit of a road walk down to the gate of Stool End and then a sharp left up the lane; uphill before leaving tarmac and following the path alongside Redacre Gill, it was a steady ascent crossing the gill before the ground gradually levelled out for a while and Pike of Blisco summit came into view. There were a few rocky steps to negotiate before finally gaining the summit at around 11:30, an hour and threequarters after setting off.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENLor0FDPQR66mTnZ4ciXxOqF9Pu7AkdSpwY3WKA8Me0ePN7dA5K4MsYOBBkOKAUY4br5QCtIXoNzMUU6FjhyphenhyphenARBVW2xBNSNF0PrjigApyRajYqGikNSLpEa6wQ76ZF7fKZcCy1AYNXw/s2048/P4210003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENLor0FDPQR66mTnZ4ciXxOqF9Pu7AkdSpwY3WKA8Me0ePN7dA5K4MsYOBBkOKAUY4br5QCtIXoNzMUU6FjhyphenhyphenARBVW2xBNSNF0PrjigApyRajYqGikNSLpEa6wQ76ZF7fKZcCy1AYNXw/w640-h480/P4210003.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnkNlBF5w00zNBfdMK7QrnQQAjsiVKHEzLxocLd4cHaKA4ddp2J6Dy6axq2ayNlZ6d9g0swACxJiFSoAPhBaEeKyi9XtqPN3M-lu-22BCgWUV2ReN_v07BEfD0WJfBvLXVuY-J03E20o/s2048/P4210010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnkNlBF5w00zNBfdMK7QrnQQAjsiVKHEzLxocLd4cHaKA4ddp2J6Dy6axq2ayNlZ6d9g0swACxJiFSoAPhBaEeKyi9XtqPN3M-lu-22BCgWUV2ReN_v07BEfD0WJfBvLXVuY-J03E20o/w640-h480/P4210010.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6Ur9E7pVhCvJNL_X44Fv5yJjjvWcBRPxe29_C5GkltwSlcf2yxNrIfo51WX_hu0UaW-CiWhWjF6e6KOfzo8GYXVZmoatgpaEeAN7Jaql7Bu0YqJMFyQ5tgxMZ4Zv73bZl0SSZikODHo/s2048/P4210012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6Ur9E7pVhCvJNL_X44Fv5yJjjvWcBRPxe29_C5GkltwSlcf2yxNrIfo51WX_hu0UaW-CiWhWjF6e6KOfzo8GYXVZmoatgpaEeAN7Jaql7Bu0YqJMFyQ5tgxMZ4Zv73bZl0SSZikODHo/w640-h480/P4210012.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiMyIQyaGIokTfUnAonPPLW5j2TMQky9GuGfVwoRjvuJVBb42T3LyIVQdhhopqC4iP4bPDVORDRIzRUffRFyaxPgzOJK2ioyQnAUG0yCbRog_SRij6Z5PqZaKLBoUVxYZHYyqcJCLbwM/s2048/P4210020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1653" data-original-width="2048" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiMyIQyaGIokTfUnAonPPLW5j2TMQky9GuGfVwoRjvuJVBb42T3LyIVQdhhopqC4iP4bPDVORDRIzRUffRFyaxPgzOJK2ioyQnAUG0yCbRog_SRij6Z5PqZaKLBoUVxYZHYyqcJCLbwM/w640-h516/P4210020.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Despite the high cloud not having cleared to the extent that either the Met Office or mwis had forecast the summit views were excellent and the protection offered from full sun exposure welcome. We plotted a slightly off the beaten track route to Cold Pike by descending over a series of rocky steps to Red Tarn, this worked really well with the navigation being easy in these conditions and what would undoubtedly have been boggy ground being quite firm after the dry early Spring weather. Eventually the main path from the Wrynose Pass was intercepted and the summit of Cold Pike gained shortly afterwards.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvG9ZQFmd8OCqemmK7XPHJzSyDSH8pxWmWZM38kyS56Mytnm-RxSf1S6TtpldJOQNJIPf9q4UP63vXuk3qio4N0LRVvPWr0PVbM0Kszck4yk_sQvhPnyPEjoweq3AVlQl7Gd9DsaJ1-T0/s2048/P4210025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="2048" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvG9ZQFmd8OCqemmK7XPHJzSyDSH8pxWmWZM38kyS56Mytnm-RxSf1S6TtpldJOQNJIPf9q4UP63vXuk3qio4N0LRVvPWr0PVbM0Kszck4yk_sQvhPnyPEjoweq3AVlQl7Gd9DsaJ1-T0/w640-h438/P4210025.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6bmUCNUGFwiC0ilAFIvZ2ZALT0ZvCweK4zT6g8a17UnxT6GjZp2Q1cvarulIcRaZMpnbgS7mu-5LeFk_gk3b-OXQzxapoaP9Ae7JJGsaNubPJ4Lo-wgIwv_4IAuwOe7T2lDEv33v81A/s2048/P4210026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6bmUCNUGFwiC0ilAFIvZ2ZALT0ZvCweK4zT6g8a17UnxT6GjZp2Q1cvarulIcRaZMpnbgS7mu-5LeFk_gk3b-OXQzxapoaP9Ae7JJGsaNubPJ4Lo-wgIwv_4IAuwOe7T2lDEv33v81A/w640-h360/P4210026.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7nD3626anIlEIoOLJubnzXFiDHCljyPkhLgjcXSuRCR-IxM6E_03SSkC797zmCTsr1ug-xf8alRUR3dZhKgZhZfTrBYK9m1QmAMMQWPuT8IG_n0LnKO8vwSMkb9falK99Mq22uKTvXA/s2048/P4210043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7nD3626anIlEIoOLJubnzXFiDHCljyPkhLgjcXSuRCR-IxM6E_03SSkC797zmCTsr1ug-xf8alRUR3dZhKgZhZfTrBYK9m1QmAMMQWPuT8IG_n0LnKO8vwSMkb9falK99Mq22uKTvXA/w640-h480/P4210043.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Next up was the obvious route to Crinkle Crags, I've only been once before and they didn't disappoint on a second visit: high, rocky and with superb views. The traverse across them was the highlight of the day, even on this popular section the number of folk we saw only reached a total of ten! Viewed from the vantage point of Crinkle Crags Bowfell was an outstanding spectacle (see photo at beginning of this post). A brief stop at Three Tarns reminded me of a wild camp here some sixteen years ago when doing Mountain Leader Training, a great night with temperatures down to minus eleven degrees and a night navigation exercise on Bowfell and Esk Pike!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZW6pSEcrqqepplkDg_bOwPJND1vLIx0v_deWFIL49PdE45aDui1A9NkseH1bjJ3A6cVCCZSO5BgTr_jl6N2t4NLHofgjU2kNxmf2c9TpLcXaPy6ypXfPDEU6lycwgdjnE78EIoGcWtO0/s2048/P4210065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZW6pSEcrqqepplkDg_bOwPJND1vLIx0v_deWFIL49PdE45aDui1A9NkseH1bjJ3A6cVCCZSO5BgTr_jl6N2t4NLHofgjU2kNxmf2c9TpLcXaPy6ypXfPDEU6lycwgdjnE78EIoGcWtO0/w640-h480/P4210065.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlgS6EwnNKRYGSidZLwGBFgVXlh5vy3tlnhb3xDUjPtG81PPtjhcQ2x94uJstxp5VN3LIX4l4lsvC3vD-lT_-WI_V6pRU6FMWtJH9R0dKXgL3eGJ4FLyYrbD3bw46Vmv06jksdh7fKFk/s2048/P4210068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlgS6EwnNKRYGSidZLwGBFgVXlh5vy3tlnhb3xDUjPtG81PPtjhcQ2x94uJstxp5VN3LIX4l4lsvC3vD-lT_-WI_V6pRU6FMWtJH9R0dKXgL3eGJ4FLyYrbD3bw46Vmv06jksdh7fKFk/w640-h480/P4210068.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-bFABFkb8-bBw4ECmc0VAu6D2jZyjOpBNDxK8paSYRQrumy0qqK4vokL5T6-QA9vsg7GSScVTMEHsdrmd05fRk8CmA570ijIr2Kn2CXd6cmXleNmpQdcrqVnTIymaKhO9QDTK93mMMM/s2048/P4210071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-bFABFkb8-bBw4ECmc0VAu6D2jZyjOpBNDxK8paSYRQrumy0qqK4vokL5T6-QA9vsg7GSScVTMEHsdrmd05fRk8CmA570ijIr2Kn2CXd6cmXleNmpQdcrqVnTIymaKhO9QDTK93mMMM/w640-h480/P4210071.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXc-pveP4zmy-gOAfoiJ0xXZnyq2LCGTcZWVNzLfjZpMQlVWHcHDQeqXF3QcEfj19dmNbQXuGCHJdctDA-vd-kYssJFLGQCgMN3dbH_IXMU-s87OWNfcotXsB0rCOggyF_BLwEP0CbdM/s2048/P4210078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXc-pveP4zmy-gOAfoiJ0xXZnyq2LCGTcZWVNzLfjZpMQlVWHcHDQeqXF3QcEfj19dmNbQXuGCHJdctDA-vd-kYssJFLGQCgMN3dbH_IXMU-s87OWNfcotXsB0rCOggyF_BLwEP0CbdM/w640-h480/P4210078.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JoCg3bP7j__WiTz8meftq9UnEctMK679ZT0ZEmyRCUxojz6oA8Xhi3lQkb-9lFw0YgcbnlzP2dGUf80uaQk5m-D5l4yAVji69w47aDCEFTZzQsmTDFzKDHdexLBLzBswPs-mMKDrcAo/s2048/P4210107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JoCg3bP7j__WiTz8meftq9UnEctMK679ZT0ZEmyRCUxojz6oA8Xhi3lQkb-9lFw0YgcbnlzP2dGUf80uaQk5m-D5l4yAVji69w47aDCEFTZzQsmTDFzKDHdexLBLzBswPs-mMKDrcAo/w640-h480/P4210107.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbmv7KwxHbmTUAv0jerbZHJikgrIPQ3ZsRLLsR0AEAV5VdHXiUkaGXnVbmnDU-5BaBHhse1s65Q13uCpmul5SaIMz69tF5Jm7mpfcugKO4n6PoLxNomySXaiitBYGUkb1mQ2QhcxpO5U/s2048/P4210108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbmv7KwxHbmTUAv0jerbZHJikgrIPQ3ZsRLLsR0AEAV5VdHXiUkaGXnVbmnDU-5BaBHhse1s65Q13uCpmul5SaIMz69tF5Jm7mpfcugKO4n6PoLxNomySXaiitBYGUkb1mQ2QhcxpO5U/w640-h480/P4210108.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Our descent from Three Tarns was via "The Band" in ever clearing skies and brightening sunshine. It was good to be able to view everything we'd done through the day from this perspective. With only having done one previous day out in the high fells since the end of lockdown we were feeling pretty fatigued and flat ground for the last fifteen minutes or so back to the van was welcome.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We were out for just about eight hours and the total distance covered on this route was a little over 10 miles.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><i>Mal</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">- </span></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-58171851134321014462021-04-19T09:14:00.001-07:002021-04-19T09:14:31.649-07:00Photo Catch-Up<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Things got quite busy towards the end of the school Easter holidays, so here's a very short photo catch up from: a day of "Silence & Solitude" canoeing on Ullswater; sport climbing in the North Pennines & a spot of Weardale caving. The April weather has been very kind, a predominantly northerly airstream has brought much cool but dry and sunny weather to the North West of England which has been much enjoyed. I'm sure Marion will want to say a bit more about some of these days but for now its just a few photos!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTbNEKEcKmFqB47x6d3G5n3VcZxw_kIJULYJ8SgKKhAFEPcu9h72db-VGlHKjsGM_3X9muyTOBjmGUKIcHXmKAn_k5bgwp7AQ1lh4YiwrUkQWJ9bei3twr8XaiQjcqlptOjOlh26dTkI/s2048/P4150004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2048" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTbNEKEcKmFqB47x6d3G5n3VcZxw_kIJULYJ8SgKKhAFEPcu9h72db-VGlHKjsGM_3X9muyTOBjmGUKIcHXmKAn_k5bgwp7AQ1lh4YiwrUkQWJ9bei3twr8XaiQjcqlptOjOlh26dTkI/w640-h380/P4150004.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ39wqf9clSaVKvNRIk1QPjHXJV2f0HHPlB-rl9d5s2tArDHhnP20TCmDanTkZKjEA06Knvx7Q6IvhQuKEHg0KZ0E05E387DbOr6v_srfjXFnK6RUaa8gLqbHJFkQFBY4xVxIrkArtOsc/s3872/DSC03890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ39wqf9clSaVKvNRIk1QPjHXJV2f0HHPlB-rl9d5s2tArDHhnP20TCmDanTkZKjEA06Knvx7Q6IvhQuKEHg0KZ0E05E387DbOr6v_srfjXFnK6RUaa8gLqbHJFkQFBY4xVxIrkArtOsc/w640-h360/DSC03890.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82TNviVKNVGWiTnkWVSYr9ci81HBz3OHixiUADFAxES8i3KVSNYStV3at24yRSlkCCfLNPGxe8mj55wu1kdgNxcz0ZYSpCzpNzy2hyphenhyphenKGBy4SIcpAGeZgAmRDxTl3su7lDv3fyAQ6rEWc/s3872/DSC03863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82TNviVKNVGWiTnkWVSYr9ci81HBz3OHixiUADFAxES8i3KVSNYStV3at24yRSlkCCfLNPGxe8mj55wu1kdgNxcz0ZYSpCzpNzy2hyphenhyphenKGBy4SIcpAGeZgAmRDxTl3su7lDv3fyAQ6rEWc/w640-h360/DSC03863.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabK_oNKnL47zC4yOzO88EoI6f-a9m_N05M9uDuzrZJNz6EIPAy2KIZkbsivnNss5Ecje1iDp7dfjIq_a0rcGM03FuYrbrg8lU8A3PKsF-UDDxAfniy9OCdQzqute9R4uNNC3Lr2TmFM4/s1080/174004813_816399429277155_6948691956478835405_n%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabK_oNKnL47zC4yOzO88EoI6f-a9m_N05M9uDuzrZJNz6EIPAy2KIZkbsivnNss5Ecje1iDp7dfjIq_a0rcGM03FuYrbrg8lU8A3PKsF-UDDxAfniy9OCdQzqute9R4uNNC3Lr2TmFM4/w640-h640/174004813_816399429277155_6948691956478835405_n%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwInnwv9eAZ1OUoP5JAfvdUxyPrvg23c_JbQ7YdFgg873DUDT2gnmLHvb8Tj4Ri7re_H89pI4onvOe8fhg5qjb8jRLnEQ9HH9z6uLHJLjQooSOxoCsPyksrDBU011HANT2bC36VQVFq3g/s1080/173966962_794882797808063_5932042928062389085_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRUklHPJk8kYXWkZLivae_6vl5oSBAEIOINpt0zWw6mMS51B0EKwfAttWgtJNyNc_wfpfwd2aSjmkukWlFrS0qBPg2s7cXP_jcDnsaL_gp00uM8crdPcHpWyZdkywbd3-5dDP1hfrviE/s2048/P4170024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRUklHPJk8kYXWkZLivae_6vl5oSBAEIOINpt0zWw6mMS51B0EKwfAttWgtJNyNc_wfpfwd2aSjmkukWlFrS0qBPg2s7cXP_jcDnsaL_gp00uM8crdPcHpWyZdkywbd3-5dDP1hfrviE/w640-h480/P4170024.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGVUBckEOqgKTuS4Y0jF_EdsWaSWdxH337dWS7LIEHOE-M116aFYEmBdEEsp6qLJXaTMwc9s7AGV7Q4coX1vCSalH3b9D8tkffydWmU3X1IZG9SdrE8j83EEzl3LyKpVO2AzuYmdZc4o/s2048/P4170015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGVUBckEOqgKTuS4Y0jF_EdsWaSWdxH337dWS7LIEHOE-M116aFYEmBdEEsp6qLJXaTMwc9s7AGV7Q4coX1vCSalH3b9D8tkffydWmU3X1IZG9SdrE8j83EEzl3LyKpVO2AzuYmdZc4o/w640-h480/P4170015.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEcIc_J9emn6alW_oBoKQjx-pSlJfp10ZiDvpiTE24MLZKNaUzf0TwCJJ5gNmW6LqgFaC1ksLayE1_M9Lxs-ViUxuGth7T_RCDzxtSJutmDACCAULZKQP08PWcmURdHRj5oLrVrK5ZCs/s2048/P4170002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEcIc_J9emn6alW_oBoKQjx-pSlJfp10ZiDvpiTE24MLZKNaUzf0TwCJJ5gNmW6LqgFaC1ksLayE1_M9Lxs-ViUxuGth7T_RCDzxtSJutmDACCAULZKQP08PWcmURdHRj5oLrVrK5ZCs/w640-h480/P4170002.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><i>Mal</i></b></span></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-5847453872870165312021-04-16T11:48:00.002-07:002021-04-16T11:48:29.007-07:00Bouldering With Grandchildren!<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Over the past 12 months or so we've spent quite a bit of time at various bouldering venues across the North of England: Lake District; Yorkshire Dales; Northumberland etc (and at indoor walls pre-lockdown). The simplicity of turning up with nothing much more than a crash pad; climbing shoes; a guide book & whatever other comforts might be required for the day has an appeal to it. We've seen others out with quite young children, so when a day looking after the grandkids coincided with some dry warm sunny weather we took the opportunity.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0Aa-lOue8qJ4Anzba0ptinLliOUTj-vduQjIUQA1dP0mt3DvPyLDOpL_98xz31qlsl_vXuoJiHVv8TRahzkIBv9PUps7lVxuomDVqkLZA0nkShSXmxZt-f0ejpwNj1WbXWqs9jX_RTc/s5184/IMG_2879.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0Aa-lOue8qJ4Anzba0ptinLliOUTj-vduQjIUQA1dP0mt3DvPyLDOpL_98xz31qlsl_vXuoJiHVv8TRahzkIBv9PUps7lVxuomDVqkLZA0nkShSXmxZt-f0ejpwNj1WbXWqs9jX_RTc/w480-h640/IMG_2879.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We are blessed to have Carrock Fell boulders just a short drive away - it seemed like an obvious venue choice. There were a few folk about but parking remained plentiful & we headed for the "warm up" area in the Central Group of boulders. Evvie is 10 and Iris 6, they both had a great time! The morning passed quickly with a mixture of scrambling about on the boulders; weasling between them & generally larking about!! Carrock's Gabbro can bite a little but it also provides outstanding traction even for small feet that aren't wearing climbing shoes.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I6340X-GfGA0MkDruwhLODCC_5xKzj2Lp8ug77I0wnC4i8dkn2S93KnLDantX_O61tklu7Jku0l7oMmjFEwe3D9-YC1_4f6w_gjMXuv1PhWhDp02bP8RdhS6wZq3v6t0ZawQdtHKdK4/s5184/IMG_2869.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I6340X-GfGA0MkDruwhLODCC_5xKzj2Lp8ug77I0wnC4i8dkn2S93KnLDantX_O61tklu7Jku0l7oMmjFEwe3D9-YC1_4f6w_gjMXuv1PhWhDp02bP8RdhS6wZq3v6t0ZawQdtHKdK4/w640-h480/IMG_2869.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There was much triumph and no mishaps!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jzl4hlVgctr_1rlsxFvnVVTo3F1L55KzOD2XBDus0fKtDSjMC4nzCflkwF0KRb5pLXmkzvSjD5fhRjrwHzq56rTbjWRNVOJusuDF5CyNpc87aF1azoRK6i0fIOWYUYpzv08pJFzKHNg/s5184/IMG_2874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jzl4hlVgctr_1rlsxFvnVVTo3F1L55KzOD2XBDus0fKtDSjMC4nzCflkwF0KRb5pLXmkzvSjD5fhRjrwHzq56rTbjWRNVOJusuDF5CyNpc87aF1azoRK6i0fIOWYUYpzv08pJFzKHNg/w640-h480/IMG_2874.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We were sufficiently encouraged by the success of the morning to consider this as a potential venue & activity from a work perspective.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgyNVC0oUbFM_nKBQoBhgolFqKrzvOrfdqNT6HnMxueO_3a7haLlqgmoVzzgT2XziWKHWo6Zo9kgqT9IvrvpQCz8ke95QM-v1XOxMeJwaKy_OL1L55hB-h7sc_-0P_Mxr0k7vxSdaIN4/s5184/IMG_2884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgyNVC0oUbFM_nKBQoBhgolFqKrzvOrfdqNT6HnMxueO_3a7haLlqgmoVzzgT2XziWKHWo6Zo9kgqT9IvrvpQCz8ke95QM-v1XOxMeJwaKy_OL1L55hB-h7sc_-0P_Mxr0k7vxSdaIN4/w640-h480/IMG_2884.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hc_c4VO8eRFDYjMyL6gPBfhMzyUDMMoHpBeDa8-oa-mdr_r0rrr5JQrB3xfIFEznKFhppAD4sgGfMFiBCHmIjGeyeeq1ku1Ql_tyC8r6qAJmGhjpUwfN7wHFSGaXtUYR-MrAbFMGYkQ/s5184/IMG_2915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hc_c4VO8eRFDYjMyL6gPBfhMzyUDMMoHpBeDa8-oa-mdr_r0rrr5JQrB3xfIFEznKFhppAD4sgGfMFiBCHmIjGeyeeq1ku1Ql_tyC8r6qAJmGhjpUwfN7wHFSGaXtUYR-MrAbFMGYkQ/w640-h480/IMG_2915.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTKjHsweEb0is2mjoAxfuHL32Lvwn-A8WSFK6s4FjUa7ZTvtfimAbkJs6sp4kricOpO6LONy02oau1kHY2IiXj1F090kgb8G_qRNJ5HYJ0nVs_OPKfhDI644DW_LsA8OpU3jRpts7Rlk/s5184/IMG_2916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTKjHsweEb0is2mjoAxfuHL32Lvwn-A8WSFK6s4FjUa7ZTvtfimAbkJs6sp4kricOpO6LONy02oau1kHY2IiXj1F090kgb8G_qRNJ5HYJ0nVs_OPKfhDI644DW_LsA8OpU3jRpts7Rlk/w640-h480/IMG_2916.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As little people began to tire (ever so slightly!) it was even possible to get a couple of climbs in ourselves with Maz breezing up Frustration Slab & me feeling quite pleased with myself with a first attempt success on White Streak at F6a+</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilqo-_2tWsWGk8nZdiEi22YKXrpXH9sTTnpo0uPFYzCo19SNx70bmSRtvJlhCskmTTMtKw_lr-MyFOP_7aD7bw6gg0gTgIIvM5qYHpojAiCnI81BejYVL30iH_tbsEhDxNYJn0B96buo/s5184/IMG_2899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilqo-_2tWsWGk8nZdiEi22YKXrpXH9sTTnpo0uPFYzCo19SNx70bmSRtvJlhCskmTTMtKw_lr-MyFOP_7aD7bw6gg0gTgIIvM5qYHpojAiCnI81BejYVL30iH_tbsEhDxNYJn0B96buo/w640-h480/IMG_2899.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfF7hgUM-L-L5oXvicB0p4Ws0etoA6QvLrHZaNwYfjiRzOwcjFG_d3QLP9Go-BlycAnVnW9TwpgJgsWGYzV5mxa8cr4zj_ZXaABDKJiMdV-P1HzYZ_88lmdY4iz8ZHXjjLjotswhtDrs/s5184/IMG_2911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfF7hgUM-L-L5oXvicB0p4Ws0etoA6QvLrHZaNwYfjiRzOwcjFG_d3QLP9Go-BlycAnVnW9TwpgJgsWGYzV5mxa8cr4zj_ZXaABDKJiMdV-P1HzYZ_88lmdY4iz8ZHXjjLjotswhtDrs/w640-h480/IMG_2911.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><i>Mal</i></b></span></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-84106218905292042632021-04-12T11:32:00.003-07:002021-04-12T11:32:58.421-07:00Vaccination 2<p><span style="font-family: arial;">In a similar vein to the recent post "<a href="http://maltabb.blogspot.com/2021/03/vaccination-day.html" target="_blank">Vaccination Day</a>" this is more of a diary entry to commemorate a significant day & moment in time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On Saturday 10th April 2021 both Marion & I received our second dose of the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine. It was organised via our GP surgery, we went into the vaccination room together and emerged no more than five minutes later - an incredibly efficient process with zero fuss & faff! For Marion the second dose came just five weeks after the first and for me just over four weeks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In many ways we see science as now having played its part in building a new foundation for UK society to go on and build its "new normal". Our prayer for both ourselves and those we share this country with is that we carefully, considerately and intentionally go on seize the opportunities afforded to us to grasp an improved version of reality.</span></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-56552507029959218722021-04-09T13:19:00.002-07:002021-04-09T13:19:25.118-07:00Wandope & Whiteless Pike - Lake District North Western Fells<p><span style="font-family: arial;">It was February 2015 that we last wrote up a day out in the Lake District Fells on the <a href="http://maltabb.blogspot.com/2015/02/winters-day-on-glarmara.html" target="_blank">blog</a>! It feels like a very long time ago, similarly as a result of UK Lockdown 3.0 its over four months since we last ventured out together for a day in the mountains - so it was good to be back!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9UFXy2d8gogaPAVOOGEr1syD_CMPZ6fuoHyznOX02HvPdFroIXKlwPTveuOgoyBEb1V3B34H-Mw03qhMeRYcDD-LmxXafbGOlBrvJQqR7LivbM4FHsPg4b11Y1wl5yyXyG4Y_9c3xo0/s2048/P4090056.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9UFXy2d8gogaPAVOOGEr1syD_CMPZ6fuoHyznOX02HvPdFroIXKlwPTveuOgoyBEb1V3B34H-Mw03qhMeRYcDD-LmxXafbGOlBrvJQqR7LivbM4FHsPg4b11Y1wl5yyXyG4Y_9c3xo0/w640-h480/P4090056.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Details:</b> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Wandope & Whiteless Pike from Buttermere via Mill Beck</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Marion, Charis & Me</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Approx 5.75 miles</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Bright sunshine; blue skies; keen northerly wind; no precipitation; great visibility</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We set off quite early from the National Trust car park in Buttermere which was already moderately full before 09:00 am. The weather forecast for the day was a fine, dry and bright morning with the chance of snow and hail showers developing in the afternoon (they never materialised).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm not sure how well trod the Mill Beck valley is but unless the footpaths have recovered from last summers heavy footfall it has the look of a "path less travelled". We didn't see a soul until we reached the summit of Wandope. Anyway it was a pleasant steady ascent crossing Third Gill before starting a much steeper section at Addacomb Beck.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwLQcnTl5SnCtnya2Gx-082OI2LDZEq74RFu0IsfgvqX4bQ77gOg9qVIUVJkjhnwqOjgnhWIZKGmrX-FDqLr7kLhTCs16GKiicmfY-QloHwmdUqjmIQtZAz4Hf1mf6yTbxP_Jg23jsDs/s2048/P4090009.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwLQcnTl5SnCtnya2Gx-082OI2LDZEq74RFu0IsfgvqX4bQ77gOg9qVIUVJkjhnwqOjgnhWIZKGmrX-FDqLr7kLhTCs16GKiicmfY-QloHwmdUqjmIQtZAz4Hf1mf6yTbxP_Jg23jsDs/w640-h480/P4090009.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiph6ZbNFVzlYM8t_7czMkqqpVuHN5tNpKWyGBDoAGPvLiXFQWPXdbWR6WT27-T7Wrob1CycH0dYyeKgSsQGrf4cwSpMqTmEeUz314kVydyyrpl69uv_5haQvVdwf32Sght9EPTgZl3o/s2048/P4090006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiph6ZbNFVzlYM8t_7czMkqqpVuHN5tNpKWyGBDoAGPvLiXFQWPXdbWR6WT27-T7Wrob1CycH0dYyeKgSsQGrf4cwSpMqTmEeUz314kVydyyrpl69uv_5haQvVdwf32Sght9EPTgZl3o/w640-h480/P4090006.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The ascent following the line of Addacomb Beck was a joy, the path fades in and out (its possibly much less apparent when the bracken is growing) and often has a bit of an off-piste feel about it, navigation is never a problem as firstly the beck and secondly the distinctive ridge feature that lead up to Wandope summit are easily followed handrails. We diverted into the magnificent Addacomb Hole - a beautiful high valley with a look of a place visited relatively infrequently. Its a fairly steep pull up the ridge to Wandope summit from which the views across the whole of the Lake District were superb, the summit itself though was not one of the more impressive in the area!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPHqz8E4CqcYyO3pcOz0ShKxHqaOiLULpY0Q1gW5eRu_PYFfyK-Ckgk2kmU81rXswxAdhKSuRtKfq3HogAe_RmwdgE86q_TmRUuKVu4EJlcSSxQjk8e9cUs4gjB6Ks89qliCUJuEZDJM/s2048/P4090035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPHqz8E4CqcYyO3pcOz0ShKxHqaOiLULpY0Q1gW5eRu_PYFfyK-Ckgk2kmU81rXswxAdhKSuRtKfq3HogAe_RmwdgE86q_TmRUuKVu4EJlcSSxQjk8e9cUs4gjB6Ks89qliCUJuEZDJM/w640-h480/P4090035.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwQQHChOWiCVRlpYkEAhBeE7AT8MLcR7-gcITmBZE2DR-nW4xv6t_NxBh4ZGWNxHuAKxgLRZc_7ZFhA0M-fGPg7c4FZB7WqjexmivQ04JZkPdSozKWInUfNTwGEh8164eV_72qRvTkSk/s2048/P4090040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwQQHChOWiCVRlpYkEAhBeE7AT8MLcR7-gcITmBZE2DR-nW4xv6t_NxBh4ZGWNxHuAKxgLRZc_7ZFhA0M-fGPg7c4FZB7WqjexmivQ04JZkPdSozKWInUfNTwGEh8164eV_72qRvTkSk/w640-h480/P4090040.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovCK9SmfRInrvF-XOdB-UjrRmmhmjIvVlONYX1S9lUohF43OwPVUlf-jjEoP5eOC4ui_CsRB4_86O2HRVMerO6k0oPVUqrVqbGWa2LtFhebUl2XoMLxAagVkot0AFfcSSOrjZOL2X3CE/s2048/P4090046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovCK9SmfRInrvF-XOdB-UjrRmmhmjIvVlONYX1S9lUohF43OwPVUlf-jjEoP5eOC4ui_CsRB4_86O2HRVMerO6k0oPVUqrVqbGWa2LtFhebUl2XoMLxAagVkot0AFfcSSOrjZOL2X3CE/w640-h480/P4090046.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Our descent was via the main summit ridge, across Whiteless Edge (above Third Gill), with another sharp pull up on to Whiteless Pike for more outstanding views in all directions.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzMqxpf_qCsMQRUUxduhCs_kOvH1d8K2y4Z86hrK77RiByAQEU0uCfzcCWmmATDu-n_pSfS-EOrsbl5ywpIiDlvYA-klOVYbEqBD7T-W6otHD2nvJGYGauFkAq3zHwybA6kQHjMZ0JfY/s2048/P4090055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzMqxpf_qCsMQRUUxduhCs_kOvH1d8K2y4Z86hrK77RiByAQEU0uCfzcCWmmATDu-n_pSfS-EOrsbl5ywpIiDlvYA-klOVYbEqBD7T-W6otHD2nvJGYGauFkAq3zHwybA6kQHjMZ0JfY/w640-h480/P4090055.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wtEu07Px9ymxWNQ-oLsmnShma9IvDn_yjn56k89DG0Htgq4fdnQXtPwAYwKugHnmpHk9mdfSpBujlpmbW-xxNXfMPwE3S_usulmwhkd7CwU4k0F3YmSB60csUGqNeuQAXwWaU4lMkzQ/s2048/P4090062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wtEu07Px9ymxWNQ-oLsmnShma9IvDn_yjn56k89DG0Htgq4fdnQXtPwAYwKugHnmpHk9mdfSpBujlpmbW-xxNXfMPwE3S_usulmwhkd7CwU4k0F3YmSB60csUGqNeuQAXwWaU4lMkzQ/w640-h480/P4090062.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8e2T0OLaWjH4MI9S1gChIVBC71K47hvfklvXTkNFiV_7YFyC9f4etVivIfkySXt4oKVcxbhqVjgoFd6BOHzla9EEiqv7nfO7F4g_nIxuFLb2sUpIZizEqphfjZaYAv6L7OsH2exXKwo/s2048/P4090063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8e2T0OLaWjH4MI9S1gChIVBC71K47hvfklvXTkNFiV_7YFyC9f4etVivIfkySXt4oKVcxbhqVjgoFd6BOHzla9EEiqv7nfO7F4g_nIxuFLb2sUpIZizEqphfjZaYAv6L7OsH2exXKwo/w640-h480/P4090063.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The way down from Whiteless Pike towards Buttermere is initially quite steep but levels out over Whiteless Breast and its a gentle finish back down into the village.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcNuXm2n1-CM_doEtWiJYYhZxv5eQU5DVAUhSuI2o0pI_QqNL0DDVZTOL4yeZAgMi-_q5iTT7vxMaPSTNKtLFHUTpgeDunT9CQpAQOmB6TguojNEon6num9V55THysQiYPSjckrF4YyA/s2048/P4090074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcNuXm2n1-CM_doEtWiJYYhZxv5eQU5DVAUhSuI2o0pI_QqNL0DDVZTOL4yeZAgMi-_q5iTT7vxMaPSTNKtLFHUTpgeDunT9CQpAQOmB6TguojNEon6num9V55THysQiYPSjckrF4YyA/w640-h480/P4090074.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTVeYWn7DaQzaLbyKTg_UDaUnBXSxugRKLmMTg20P-0ghKtE5W0Iwe_T9_Xjstub7X8TYxFRtRVYaTTkSjOwbtCU1LqxK-qvkq_w62sHvfGe1pZGH5WD1F9PgUdY0q1nhbW6xJk-1kJ8/s2048/P4090076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTVeYWn7DaQzaLbyKTg_UDaUnBXSxugRKLmMTg20P-0ghKtE5W0Iwe_T9_Xjstub7X8TYxFRtRVYaTTkSjOwbtCU1LqxK-qvkq_w62sHvfGe1pZGH5WD1F9PgUdY0q1nhbW6xJk-1kJ8/w640-h480/P4090076.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><i><b>Mal</b></i></span></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-26761578616398869512021-04-05T10:56:00.009-07:002021-04-05T10:59:07.017-07:00Easter Paddling<p><span style="font-family: arial;">A total of 138 days had elapsed since last paddling a canoe, possibly the longest gap in 30 years of canoeing and kayaking! Post lockdown comeback day was Good Friday and a day of 1:1 coaching on moving water at a site on the England-Scotland border. Conditions were near perfect with bright sunshine; little wind - possibly another six inches of water is all we could have asked for.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKH78rLKmknxeVD9HO7ovoD3_w3kT0tNoepjF9QeYmIBakwz_T_9iCVAYy-N-12MwszQpNi9_0sHD3DNfKgutcy2LMKzIO83VN8Fmv4Ln4KynEMQLLcbNuNc1rdAOtn4dlIiylvimyWI/s3060/DSC03735.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="3060" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKH78rLKmknxeVD9HO7ovoD3_w3kT0tNoepjF9QeYmIBakwz_T_9iCVAYy-N-12MwszQpNi9_0sHD3DNfKgutcy2LMKzIO83VN8Fmv4Ln4KynEMQLLcbNuNc1rdAOtn4dlIiylvimyWI/w640-h442/DSC03735.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg119i3CM_3XmvIi39IKfnUwrbKBF5onkn-cfqm98VWuYXbStD_7xW8WOF6JbugqizggW7afQGGtQ5MbXZiY4H7t2fpeMtMh9ImIvVpAsdiqf48UQhflbn4T3dGQ4JJdTRpiPhVEbIGsLE/s3604/DSC03772.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1763" data-original-width="3604" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg119i3CM_3XmvIi39IKfnUwrbKBF5onkn-cfqm98VWuYXbStD_7xW8WOF6JbugqizggW7afQGGtQ5MbXZiY4H7t2fpeMtMh9ImIvVpAsdiqf48UQhflbn4T3dGQ4JJdTRpiPhVEbIGsLE/w640-h314/DSC03772.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83rMpfglKjGWKaPYDLqbkdQPnHLKGfJug3dIijifGErHOamX4jFaS5dc1fA7izGZnx-zyElbCLNS3GcP6LQZWRysGUhMIuf26jGlXb67wWdUurjcZG2qnkkqTb4B3U6e_7h8n81YzoL0/s3230/DSC03688.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1748" data-original-width="3230" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83rMpfglKjGWKaPYDLqbkdQPnHLKGfJug3dIijifGErHOamX4jFaS5dc1fA7izGZnx-zyElbCLNS3GcP6LQZWRysGUhMIuf26jGlXb67wWdUurjcZG2qnkkqTb4B3U6e_7h8n81YzoL0/w640-h346/DSC03688.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We should have been away on our annual Community Easter Canoe Expedition from Good Friday until the middle of this week, unfortunately for the second year running Covid had its say and we were unable to go. Most of the team who were due to be on expedition opted to head out for a day of "mellow touring" on a section of river Marion & I had never paddled before. The trip was essentially through the tidal section of the river and provided a mixture of urban & rural scenery - it was also Charis' first ever river trip paddling a kayak, she did well! Amongst the seemingly inevitable debris that seems to mar our urban rivers we saw: Kingfishers, Heron & Redshank. It was very much not our usual day on the river but nevertheless a really enjoyable trip.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrifJ_NAdIS1HAXdUwOpoHNOQs5VRyqeE_KjMBxIQl-n8T6czPtSbgNZKDA_gICxmbOLrc_nwS1lp-xIs95Tu0W5Mzu7CA5i-otLVQlwkSxN7rM2Jtd9K-VPtCF5EKhj20BphW5QpRvk/s2048/P4030004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrifJ_NAdIS1HAXdUwOpoHNOQs5VRyqeE_KjMBxIQl-n8T6czPtSbgNZKDA_gICxmbOLrc_nwS1lp-xIs95Tu0W5Mzu7CA5i-otLVQlwkSxN7rM2Jtd9K-VPtCF5EKhj20BphW5QpRvk/w640-h480/P4030004.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6IeSMCFUVcSmomvi0VaGmXO7ioPjdbR0M-cz74l_X-smSlqv0T5voueu0xaWf2IfDCN4vNsYnozHGSNcWZuxXaa8CDGiCmNfHbbHKFcPXhW-jgzZk7ugCjavoLgvQHPLJ4lXz3g4T_c/s2048/P4030010.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6IeSMCFUVcSmomvi0VaGmXO7ioPjdbR0M-cz74l_X-smSlqv0T5voueu0xaWf2IfDCN4vNsYnozHGSNcWZuxXaa8CDGiCmNfHbbHKFcPXhW-jgzZk7ugCjavoLgvQHPLJ4lXz3g4T_c/w640-h480/P4030010.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPVSJMRVwa6qAd563qnlYdarO0NnhCQoKsyuytZ-ergVTOrgMMuHd_4lEVOhHo2EYULwYFtGMxI2MkeBKRv2krTBcti_lgWv3_Hrh7ozRxVllqExWlJ2HUPelVhVLiRXnXJVs69F2T_s/s2048/P4030030.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPVSJMRVwa6qAd563qnlYdarO0NnhCQoKsyuytZ-ergVTOrgMMuHd_4lEVOhHo2EYULwYFtGMxI2MkeBKRv2krTBcti_lgWv3_Hrh7ozRxVllqExWlJ2HUPelVhVLiRXnXJVs69F2T_s/w640-h480/P4030030.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLqoH66WM4WuKOCwcgABnNdHh20EDCMALKDieZs0UoWEeM6lomloi-qtPwSz30s2KtxV48TUkIn4xcIGjYg_49QtDf3Q1XGTaen3PdvSMPS7xqKPfiKVbKu5aLlCmlr6Bg6D2kHMiUnI/s2048/P4030029.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLqoH66WM4WuKOCwcgABnNdHh20EDCMALKDieZs0UoWEeM6lomloi-qtPwSz30s2KtxV48TUkIn4xcIGjYg_49QtDf3Q1XGTaen3PdvSMPS7xqKPfiKVbKu5aLlCmlr6Bg6D2kHMiUnI/w640-h480/P4030029.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos3VDsv_MDqjLQ-QnFaL99d2oKDKRMBcuUF1EsGBdr02H7iPnwPZtp195IDd8PhLKIhB10kCcE63eIOdjt27NSbpCrPMHVN85DTV7HRWcRxnDPr7W5co5JYZygwe0i2x78jD-0cwarNI/s2048/P4030076.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos3VDsv_MDqjLQ-QnFaL99d2oKDKRMBcuUF1EsGBdr02H7iPnwPZtp195IDd8PhLKIhB10kCcE63eIOdjt27NSbpCrPMHVN85DTV7HRWcRxnDPr7W5co5JYZygwe0i2x78jD-0cwarNI/w640-h426/P4030076.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RYW_bNwGpLom6WurOFuXQGuZ8JPefmZwzCY2t2eR5FLToNAWbDey2CjCzF_uuRiNJHPDXV-IOaMfQqwMHiiXf2oOH4pYQriD74LZsc5kSJ2AttaVaE_zooTAbMkHfrZqE3n6XJXcOuU/s2048/P4030063.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="2048" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RYW_bNwGpLom6WurOFuXQGuZ8JPefmZwzCY2t2eR5FLToNAWbDey2CjCzF_uuRiNJHPDXV-IOaMfQqwMHiiXf2oOH4pYQriD74LZsc5kSJ2AttaVaE_zooTAbMkHfrZqE3n6XJXcOuU/w640-h476/P4030063.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><b>Mal</b></i></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><br /></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-71660250769878557902021-04-01T12:27:00.001-07:002021-04-01T12:27:11.977-07:00First Week Back<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The period of time between around mid-November when we last worked and now has been by far the longest period of my life in which I haven't worked. The biggest issues on a personal level in dealing with lockdown(s) have been the restricted freedoms faced and the lack of purpose that work brings (there are certainly plenty of other things that bring purpose into life, however, not working has been a real challenge from this perspective).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We made the decision a couple or so weeks ago that in order to be ready for work resuming this week (29th March 2021 was named as a key date for relaxing of certain English restrictions with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic) that some preparation would be necessary eg. checking venues; being fit enough and making at least some effort to ensure that skills were up to scratch. This was a difficult process to manage and carry out in a responsible manner, it certainly couldn't be achieved by "working at home" as such we endeavoured to keep contact down to no more than one other person; keep anything we did as local as possible and obviously conduct all of our activities outdoors. There are a few photos at the foot of this post from this preparation phase.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway, the 29th March 2021 came around and we found ourselves out caving twice in the first three days of the week. They were events of a very different nature with Monday seeing us out with two folk who hadn't spent much (or any) time underground before, whilst the second activity was with a much more experienced individual. The weather also had its say with the first day following immediately after a period of heavy rain - with all the challenges it brings to caving - whilst the second day (evening) saw settled high pressure in control and a mild dry evening for our visit to Alum Pot. Both events went off extremely well and it was a pleasure to be back up and running again. There are a few pictures below that capture the nature of the first week back & some more later from our short time of preparation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPsyJCFKND2037Ox8KzXqIai6hnCFZwgDCr-ixJVg2qvQzMVoEY6nhNTj3jGrQZd-aDDJcAjyUrzyn1L_kX7CUIj6JQMTlv-4G2MsAPoKSgiiaEHNzp3vyDacB03t7Y4JuKaTp4oCH4g/s2048/P4010034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPsyJCFKND2037Ox8KzXqIai6hnCFZwgDCr-ixJVg2qvQzMVoEY6nhNTj3jGrQZd-aDDJcAjyUrzyn1L_kX7CUIj6JQMTlv-4G2MsAPoKSgiiaEHNzp3vyDacB03t7Y4JuKaTp4oCH4g/w640-h480/P4010034.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjap9HwT1NMWKdopFzYcKFM3IVTB1E1rbEx8tBgaCjhT5PZCWKKFM7Re9TIQOWLRgAhl15yAyYEkdvzwSKR3fBB3WTDy0xd-vQX_SBJdPwWVhuYKo8KAJ_J0dOB6uhdRyYki_iuFmvza0I/s2048/P4010092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjap9HwT1NMWKdopFzYcKFM3IVTB1E1rbEx8tBgaCjhT5PZCWKKFM7Re9TIQOWLRgAhl15yAyYEkdvzwSKR3fBB3WTDy0xd-vQX_SBJdPwWVhuYKo8KAJ_J0dOB6uhdRyYki_iuFmvza0I/w640-h480/P4010092.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2bLZCrcrLS0A63V7U119qIW8DH3FkPIHc2nTi8neYyYLfVH0gUigMsYCAK1ItPco8i6jYCzj7bsGvTXgJiXss8yBLZu9QhoEuFsuyChsA-Ytga8EvzwBANj2GnALqnqR6c9wrDAkwH4/s2048/P4010007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="2048" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2bLZCrcrLS0A63V7U119qIW8DH3FkPIHc2nTi8neYyYLfVH0gUigMsYCAK1ItPco8i6jYCzj7bsGvTXgJiXss8yBLZu9QhoEuFsuyChsA-Ytga8EvzwBANj2GnALqnqR6c9wrDAkwH4/w640-h322/P4010007.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolluGStiT7pXRQ5vTjUe5ICZzR1s0UohzWFfP_b6qBa4tdh9o51IJt_eGZXP0vJTJ4gLdjVfeIww_oy-MIb4wkjO3J9J_cOXDccAaljozIGglW83MKUhAPuoi4mAgZBVTyuwpJPBPQOQ/s2048/P3290021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolluGStiT7pXRQ5vTjUe5ICZzR1s0UohzWFfP_b6qBa4tdh9o51IJt_eGZXP0vJTJ4gLdjVfeIww_oy-MIb4wkjO3J9J_cOXDccAaljozIGglW83MKUhAPuoi4mAgZBVTyuwpJPBPQOQ/w640-h480/P3290021.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnf-VDSJYGrP8qTGo1WrrOQggF-WaT4SMq4ePIjgbNprmyPZbafIM12JZAMyBNK65OTqNq_ANtSiTfMKqG-Ve3y14LeFcyf3_zdAm0SlaDGnuez2IPcy-SrHsj1NYvdbi1f-sVmYQTddQ/s2048/P3290062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnf-VDSJYGrP8qTGo1WrrOQggF-WaT4SMq4ePIjgbNprmyPZbafIM12JZAMyBNK65OTqNq_ANtSiTfMKqG-Ve3y14LeFcyf3_zdAm0SlaDGnuez2IPcy-SrHsj1NYvdbi1f-sVmYQTddQ/w640-h480/P3290062.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The following images capture some of the preparation in the days leading up to 29th march 2021</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBASWhxviGenQ-DORa-Kiw4f0AIaqh7tqUUwv1p_Byr5KD9mSmPv2hognqGOF4cAyHFx98XTFBtj7wCp0KnmjZN64gKiBZHN5ZKFqiCEDQ6cE9svFTJhp2dKvrMacJTXvWR5tNGh8HqU/s2048/20210323_122853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBASWhxviGenQ-DORa-Kiw4f0AIaqh7tqUUwv1p_Byr5KD9mSmPv2hognqGOF4cAyHFx98XTFBtj7wCp0KnmjZN64gKiBZHN5ZKFqiCEDQ6cE9svFTJhp2dKvrMacJTXvWR5tNGh8HqU/w640-h480/20210323_122853.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rx57QSmACOooftgft2IA2Kgo6rSHcJxSfhbjhdzYIROux8eVAUZ6UdAof5upmIyomXWvhg8gT8fwrooXlFhm7wG4oj_nGay1z0YaWAvk7oXuv9ghXGLVfg6k-WArCQROFLKzC2JPNAs/s2048/P3190045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1401" data-original-width="2048" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rx57QSmACOooftgft2IA2Kgo6rSHcJxSfhbjhdzYIROux8eVAUZ6UdAof5upmIyomXWvhg8gT8fwrooXlFhm7wG4oj_nGay1z0YaWAvk7oXuv9ghXGLVfg6k-WArCQROFLKzC2JPNAs/w640-h438/P3190045.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRYwYaDbYOampwbWbQQNopWXTDbeH3NKxKktG65W07PF9-4Tct3UKYtxmtoMzv0ADxJEIIU4CLgK6y7qKk9KFMEHQlEPqiB5HSwq1EeLQSlaA6zlM9txtqJo556P40EBWiGSBDzsesAM/s2048/P3190027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRYwYaDbYOampwbWbQQNopWXTDbeH3NKxKktG65W07PF9-4Tct3UKYtxmtoMzv0ADxJEIIU4CLgK6y7qKk9KFMEHQlEPqiB5HSwq1EeLQSlaA6zlM9txtqJo556P40EBWiGSBDzsesAM/w640-h480/P3190027.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1wMleDs3ohs0jtLCww2XT576Qrhsr1J834fmKRLyhUMioqCth8FZ1AUhMr0gizK0KsGe__uINagL0MOdmeRQbwAGVB8K6hftWJT0WJhKor9zGAb9GO3y53U5rOiQgvAtRDuLtkHTD1c/s2048/P3120028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1wMleDs3ohs0jtLCww2XT576Qrhsr1J834fmKRLyhUMioqCth8FZ1AUhMr0gizK0KsGe__uINagL0MOdmeRQbwAGVB8K6hftWJT0WJhKor9zGAb9GO3y53U5rOiQgvAtRDuLtkHTD1c/w640-h480/P3120028.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkN7KjKFHBKqiQfhW6ha6aPZQwsrZmKwkw5FBDG4wzD743dibwh3hKAsDA-4uNrmd6xZ2DHdV1B4gcGRmJtCZH53ml7sT0s-z5tZyUTw0qx9ElLRQQb9LhpVp1KWPL2OZ7uM15Ywvqwg/s2048/P3170006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkN7KjKFHBKqiQfhW6ha6aPZQwsrZmKwkw5FBDG4wzD743dibwh3hKAsDA-4uNrmd6xZ2DHdV1B4gcGRmJtCZH53ml7sT0s-z5tZyUTw0qx9ElLRQQb9LhpVp1KWPL2OZ7uM15Ywvqwg/w640-h480/P3170006.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><i>Mal<br /></i></span></b></span><div><br /></div>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-346491500153731862021-03-28T05:22:00.002-07:002021-03-28T05:22:49.118-07:00Some Thoughts to Consider ...<div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Marion & I have been attending <a href="https://www.elimcarlisle.org/" target="_blank">Elim Community Church in Carlisle </a>for about seven years now and we've been part of the leadership team for maybe five of those years. During the last few months I've had the opportunity to share some thoughts & insight from the platform on two occasions, the most recent being this morning!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">If you fancy taking a look there's a YouTube link below, a decision to watch the whole thing will probably need a pot of coffee, if you decide to watch / listen only to the message it starts at just after 42 minutes and lasts just over half an hour - you'll still probably need at least a cup of coffee!!</span></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/mBnVejIxQhs" width="480"></iframe></div>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-89521866845470259982021-03-20T04:43:00.003-07:002021-03-20T08:59:35.109-07:00Following On ...<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Following on from Marion's last post: <a href="http://maltabb.blogspot.com/2021/03/march-month-of-women.html" target="_blank">"March - The Month of Women"</a> we've got a short video featuring Beth Wallis, "Coach Life: Coaching for All - Gender & Ethnic Diversity". Beth is a good friend, Marion & I have both known her for around 10 years: freelancing & often working together on various paddlesports events. Beth is based in the Central Highlands now where she offers paddlesports coaching & journeys amongst other things through her business Elizabeth Wallis - Outdoor Activities (<a href="http://www.exploreconnectenjoy.co.uk">www.exploreconnectenjoy.co.uk</a>). Check out the video its well worth a watch!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="378" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IZJxSlhzERs" width="454" youtube-src-id="IZJxSlhzERs"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-8703462062138373512021-03-10T13:19:00.004-08:002021-03-10T13:23:43.088-08:00March - The Month of Women<p><span style="font-family: arial;">March has
already marked International Women’s Day and Mothering Sunday is just around
the corner; both of these occasions are wrapped up in what has become known as
Women’s History Month - all put in place to highlight and celebrate in some way
the ‘achievements’ of women, not just in the here and now but also through the
mists of time.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As I consider ‘women
of achievement’ a number of names and faces pass through my mind, from Rosa
Parkes to Spine Race Champion Jasmine Paris with a host of politicians, activists,
sportswomen and charity workers all jostling for position in my thoughts, but the
one that seems to want to stand out is the single figure of an African woman transporting
her jar of water or basket of produce.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In her
surroundings she will be a woman of ‘achievement’ as she takes the journey to
find the basics of life to keep those around her nourished and well looked
after.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This in turn
brings thoughts of how as a young woman my image of myself was about wearing
those ‘hats’ of being a wife and a mother, decisions and choices were made around
achieving that ‘goal’, even though as I reflect there was a part of me that wanted
to fight against the stereotypical – the fear of being the only female in an
otherwise male dominated ‘O’ level woodwork class led me to the misery of music
lessons that ended in failure; a perceived notion that as a female officer in
the Boys Brigade I was only good enough to attend to the ‘motherly’ duties
meant I didn’t take the opportunity of the time to grasp hold of the more ‘gritty’
outdoor pursuits that have since become a way of life.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">My fight was always with myself, fear and
what I understood, even in those ‘New Romantic’ days of the 80’s, to be the way
ahead as a female.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On many
occasions Mal has talked about the untapped, pent-up potential that he saw in
me and as I write these words what stands out is that all those years ago there
was a different person fighting to get out, held back by a host of negative
mind-sets (some nurtured, some formed by circumstances, others from my own
misconceptions and fears).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So where am I
now as a ‘fifty something’ standing on the precipice of what can often be
classed, for many women, as the ultimate challenge and change leaving behind
those ‘child-bearing’ years?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, I am a
woman: whose voice, even when it may not be right or agreed with, is allowed to
be heard without constraint or disregard; who after years of not understanding
or appreciating has come to an affinity with self-value & worth - learning
to forgive and love herself; that desires to live in the fullness of life that
she was created for – being creative, audacious, gentle and successful.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And what of those
successes?</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In amongst the
moments, where no awards ceremony would roll out the red carpet, there have
been many achievements, beyond the everyday getting up and doing life, that ‘the
young girl from the Midlands’ would never have thought would appear on a roll
of honour – those trips through mines and caves that enabled the attainment of
a Local Cave & Mine Leaders Award in 2018, 50</span><sup style="font-family: arial;">th</sup><span style="font-family: arial;"> birthday year; visits
to numerous crags and climbing walls for work, fun and training, culminating in
a Rock Climbing Instructors Award being obtained in ‘pandemic year’ 2020; miles
of fells that have been trod, through wind, rain, snow and sun as part of a
journey to accomplish the 214 Wainwrights of the Lake District; the paddling of
canoes on both open and white water that have also led to days of being out in wild
places on expeditions that have tested both the mental & physical; and then
there have been the countless lives, from every age & corner of society, that
I have had the privilege to speak words of hope and encouragement into.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVR7jSg_i5pmmBdGr6VyXErd5q4yFjMUiNeX8_Gpxow8OAtSqBlUQ-4qcqliMBUbZualOnyN_Odc5LmSbddiusEePEgv5Cbt1LJExpFCSIUDqILp08H2R9_UVes4qXCXvItfvAdLsIcw/s2048/P6010273+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1661" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVR7jSg_i5pmmBdGr6VyXErd5q4yFjMUiNeX8_Gpxow8OAtSqBlUQ-4qcqliMBUbZualOnyN_Odc5LmSbddiusEePEgv5Cbt1LJExpFCSIUDqILp08H2R9_UVes4qXCXvItfvAdLsIcw/w520-h640/P6010273+%25282%2529.JPG" width="520" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHUm-YP3_dPsN8ZssiroVMUF_Mg0vEmTkAtqyAFN6K8es3eZBYBO-mNcGI-khIG3WbPRmM_YLfPguFuQxjYFkD0V8qa0VFO6km5Ino5btd3hKKQx4frmZ2n9uZyPqC1e9yoK8Kcz5CXk/s2048/P4170196.JPG" 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/AVvXsEgcHUm-YP3_dPsN8ZssiroVMUF_Mg0vEmTkAtqyAFN6K8es3eZBYBO-mNcGI-khIG3WbPRmM_YLfPguFuQxjYFkD0V8qa0VFO6km5Ino5btd3hKKQx4frmZ2n9uZyPqC1e9yoK8Kcz5CXk/w640-h480/P4170196.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/AVvXsEjgmP9dAUfNJvzxXroZoX15WDxN31CzfKDl5v-1lArtDBmVjVZ235g-COqd8WMNH2doVTazXXGj_qp1Xs7Q3wLWMl835Y5qDC5kgWJJasnU0hZX02MhyQB0KJWd-ltdZJREsSeAgNO-07s/s2188/DSC00471+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1630" data-original-width="2188" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmP9dAUfNJvzxXroZoX15WDxN31CzfKDl5v-1lArtDBmVjVZ235g-COqd8WMNH2doVTazXXGj_qp1Xs7Q3wLWMl835Y5qDC5kgWJJasnU0hZX02MhyQB0KJWd-ltdZJREsSeAgNO-07s/w640-h476/DSC00471+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1UEzyQUiSmrpZ8oZkULfmKnEKLhXiwINr585wYE3Yq89Ce2rEu_1FfzZu1Dc1EHLx7PPG2hFDeC9gd4rRQGea1h1VCwua-M2ZJSuyDuj1bWpMPdc1ui6WONMuRTheFVhW-qMHkuadkM/s2048/P7160042+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1841" data-original-width="2048" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1UEzyQUiSmrpZ8oZkULfmKnEKLhXiwINr585wYE3Yq89Ce2rEu_1FfzZu1Dc1EHLx7PPG2hFDeC9gd4rRQGea1h1VCwua-M2ZJSuyDuj1bWpMPdc1ui6WONMuRTheFVhW-qMHkuadkM/w640-h576/P7160042+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQgAtWhexlJpbYKhDxwOZNWftF8qrS3Kzf_dDXtNB5dGO5qL18Dgi8RmoNsR4l4U46VpBcR1Rn-BwniErXyHez_yBMiy9WYYBAhbqiW_bKca-_mn3isUNFJBr1_qOh8IssYswY3KAz3k/s2048/P6240075.JPG" 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/AVvXsEhjQgAtWhexlJpbYKhDxwOZNWftF8qrS3Kzf_dDXtNB5dGO5qL18Dgi8RmoNsR4l4U46VpBcR1Rn-BwniErXyHez_yBMiy9WYYBAhbqiW_bKca-_mn3isUNFJBr1_qOh8IssYswY3KAz3k/w640-h480/P6240075.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">As for the ‘hats’
of wife and mother, well, with a few tears here and there, they have been
stretched and re-shaped over the years, making room for the welcome addition of
‘grandchildren’ and leaving me having learnt the lesson that I can take these
off every now and then and just wear the ‘hat’ of Marion – no labels, no roles –
just the person God in his wisdom, grace and love created me to be.</span></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><i><b>Marion</b></i></span></div>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-63421828695825526032021-03-08T12:31:00.001-08:002021-03-10T12:12:58.319-08:00Vaccination Day<p><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a little bit more of a diary entry than a blog post but we thought it would be good to mark the occasion!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Last Thursday (04th March 2021) Marion received her first dose of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford%E2%80%93AstraZeneca_COVID-19_vaccine" target="_blank">Oxford Astra Zeneca</a> Coronavirus Vaccine at the doctors surgery at the north end of Carlisle. Earlier this evening I received mine! The latter necessitated a drive down to Ulverston and a visit to the Glaxo Smith Kline vaccination centre, to all intent and purpose it was the first time we have left Carlisle since before Christmas so it was quite a road trip. We drove down via the coast and had fish and chips in Ulverston, I think its the first time either of us can recall having been there - its a pleasant town & we hope to go back. We drove home through the familiar roads of the Lake District, it was only around six thirty to seven o'clock in the evening - we've never seen the area so deserted!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Its hard to imagine that from its beginnings (for us) almost exactly a year ago, that a Covid-19 vaccine has been developed from scratch; tested; approved and successfully distributed to over 20 million UK citizens - quite a scientific & logistical feat!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We spoke of <a href="http://maltabb.blogspot.com/2021/03/a-wind-of-change.html" target="_blank">A Wind of Change</a> in our last post, hopefully we have both taken a further step towards "new normal"</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><i><b>M&M</b></i></span></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-46592336119481571122021-03-05T06:06:00.003-08:002021-03-05T06:06:36.501-08:00A Wind of Change<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1xnmjjYpyBIYuQJ4AaPrfpbPNnogQ5A4bg94jX3-ryw-cOkoKG0rURST9yKo2M874OjmOwBSC1DvxdLZLcm6D6xSzh24Ux-79eawIYDDCdeUJgHxkgC5Wtl0nWvPZCtBCxaOMtmPiis/s2048/P6180073.JPG" 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/AVvXsEjz1xnmjjYpyBIYuQJ4AaPrfpbPNnogQ5A4bg94jX3-ryw-cOkoKG0rURST9yKo2M874OjmOwBSC1DvxdLZLcm6D6xSzh24Ux-79eawIYDDCdeUJgHxkgC5Wtl0nWvPZCtBCxaOMtmPiis/w640-h480/P6180073.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Looking across the Valley from Gibson Knott</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We got a new weather station as a Christmas present last year & its been interesting to observe the various readings each day, it appeals to the geek in me! There isn't a facility to record anything statistically without writing the values down, however, it seems to me that the period from late December until around about now has been defined overall by quite light winds, the screen indicates that as I write the wind speed is just 4 km/hr from the SSE. Maybe this actual season of light winds will change, maybe not but there are signs of a welcome wind of change beginning to blow in society at the moment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I don't mind admitting that the last week or so of "Pandemic Year" has been the hardest, whilst absolutely acknowledging that others have sadly fared much more badly than ourselves: our "Lockdown 3.0" effectively started in mid-December when Charis' school was closed due to virus issues. Marion's positive test just before Christmas extended the self-isolation period and National Lockdown 3.0 started early January. At the time of writing its just over 100 days since we last worked - for me at least this have never happened in a working life that has spanned 44 years. Marion's unexpected few days in hospital over the weekend (we are deeply grateful that she is now home & well) and subsequent days of convalescing have further added to the general malaise of "Lockdown Life"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">However, this last 24 hours has seen something of a "Wind of Change" begin to blow, a change of spirit maybe? Marion received her Covid vaccine yesterday and mine is booked for Monday, the vaccine programme is beginning to look like a great success! On the same day Charis returns to school for a Covid test and will resume lessons on Tuesday. Our work diary was already showing encouraging signs of recovery for late Spring / Summer and more bookings have been added, not in a torrent, rather a very steady encouraging flow - we are delighted!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Our "Community Programme" has always been a feature of working life that has been very close to our hearts, you can find out more information on it <a href="https://canoesmountainscaves.com/community/" target="_blank">here</a>. From next week (08th March 2021) we will be re-starting it on a 1:1 basis and folk have begun to get in touch already, we see it as a real opportunity to begin to re-connect and start to re-build a sense of wellbeing amongst the "Community". This will be followed by the full programme, working in groups of six, starting back up from 29th March! Its very much our prayer that we are indeed able to look forward with much optimism to the months that lie ahead.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There are a few images of the Community in action below.</span></p><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/AVvXsEiywHoCJ2-mCdoJuPJSZ8nTM_z8-CJ0a0aNXs56aU-D1h0L0g-jO3OpmVqK102u3zSNSKFgk3Y12ukfloILGMeN-LimJ52AxMF2is93bCupS0mXeV4PC0-mxPGxS45Q1Pe8QE3dlCpwlnE/s960/50722880_2055083814549054_4998438615022305280_n%255B2%255D+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywHoCJ2-mCdoJuPJSZ8nTM_z8-CJ0a0aNXs56aU-D1h0L0g-jO3OpmVqK102u3zSNSKFgk3Y12ukfloILGMeN-LimJ52AxMF2is93bCupS0mXeV4PC0-mxPGxS45Q1Pe8QE3dlCpwlnE/w640-h360/50722880_2055083814549054_4998438615022305280_n%255B2%255D+%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/AVvXsEi6EJaCHCdQMY-hyBbNZLwRi4OVbGfm90uZTqjWnx-asA-SbNAWIDmbdH_SQnL_ZR8M_0jKoPqYuJ-nhRT5duL1bW16VgG5xZkW1fzXgODNkye6gG2kZV9aBju4sQ4El5qaQQJVw9kKUtc/s2048/PA050048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1578" data-original-width="2048" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EJaCHCdQMY-hyBbNZLwRi4OVbGfm90uZTqjWnx-asA-SbNAWIDmbdH_SQnL_ZR8M_0jKoPqYuJ-nhRT5duL1bW16VgG5xZkW1fzXgODNkye6gG2kZV9aBju4sQ4El5qaQQJVw9kKUtc/w640-h494/PA050048.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVh1hDkT8dJW83G7lxVbDIMse0UdXF7Rd9zahEujIghybblvNv-2s_GgBUdaEYhMHCQEuvEiUCXBKhRQR5UXaE2N3TKeISeymPwNAGvgzE2ct-tA9eeVrOoRj2RX7fvoPsMBP448BnnM/s2048/20201212_144248.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/AVvXsEhjVh1hDkT8dJW83G7lxVbDIMse0UdXF7Rd9zahEujIghybblvNv-2s_GgBUdaEYhMHCQEuvEiUCXBKhRQR5UXaE2N3TKeISeymPwNAGvgzE2ct-tA9eeVrOoRj2RX7fvoPsMBP448BnnM/w640-h480/20201212_144248.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Mal</span></i></b></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-61959736730650513282021-03-03T06:01:00.003-08:002021-03-03T06:05:22.016-08:00Recent Readings 1 - Enjoying Life<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Marion is kicking us off with what we hope to be the first of many 'book reviews' on the blog:</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">2021 has seen me re-reading a book, in collaboration with a friend, that
I first read around 10 years or so ago and as I re-visit it, can see in many
areas the impact that its content has had on me...they may have been slow
incremental changes, but I’m thankful that I can see manifestations of desires
in my heart and answered prayers from my first reading. It is also evident from
the pages that I turn that the journey is still in progress! The book is by
Joyce Meyer and has been re-titled from its early issue to Enjoy Your Journey:
Find the Hidden Treasure in Everyday.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8G28UgWQG-s1JjG45vEJoQ-Y6x2KfR-g1V-UFu1_bkI4dJNlBtzgLq82t-zOm_cUyY5ji-sb1mMuzw4OugBe-9Jv5tI3xMd6VwEP_VoEueXB0HpWBj9GAysHyTtrZCj_Lqt8KcYU6SY8/s2048/20210302_211609.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8G28UgWQG-s1JjG45vEJoQ-Y6x2KfR-g1V-UFu1_bkI4dJNlBtzgLq82t-zOm_cUyY5ji-sb1mMuzw4OugBe-9Jv5tI3xMd6VwEP_VoEueXB0HpWBj9GAysHyTtrZCj_Lqt8KcYU6SY8/w640-h480/20210302_211609.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Finding myself
unexpectedly in hospital for a series of tests, I thought putting this into
practice might prove challenging, particularly with no visitors allowed in
Covid times. However, as the following
account portrays my concerns were unfounded as once again the spirit in these
writings over-ruled and brought blessings of growth.<br />
<br />
My first 24 hrs were a bit of a whirlwind. In amongst the plethora of questions
from the medical profession, and messages pinging back and forth from
family & friends, I found myself in a place of opportunity to relax and put
my feet up.<br />
<br />
On being moved to a window bed the view was described as 'of the car park' but
it didn't take me long to realise that making a slight adjustment and lifting
my eyes just even a little that the view beyond the car park, and the city
buildings was a place I enjoy being in - the fells.<br />
<br />
After a first night in a room of my own with limited noise I was warned, with
much apologetic manner, by the nursing staff of the intensity of bleeping that
I would hear from monitors now being on a ward. As I lay ready to sleep
listening to the random chimes from one place or another down the corridor I
heard something familiar in its rhythm - the ringing of church bells, heralding
hope and celebration.<br />
<br />
Having seen programmes and heard stories of MRI scans – confinement and noise -
I mentally prepared myself for this experience in terms of seeing it as another
'underground' adventure. I entered the machine using the techniques I've often
suggested on trips in tight places - thinking of some favourite things and
closing my eyes to be in a familiar (and for me safe) dark place. The 15
minutes or so of time that followed took me to a place of: praise &
thanksgiving; re-calling numerous Smallcleugh Mine moments; and being in the
music room of a contemporary composer whose own musical creation was
giving off images of a sculptor chipping away to produce a beautiful piece of
artwork of their own.<br />
<br />
In a ward with very demanding, difficult and heart wrenching situations my eyes
were drawn to the hospital staff, from auxiliaries to doctors, many of whom I
am sure have their own life challenges beyond the hospital setting, working
their day with such humour, humility, compassion and generosity of
spirit. (This left me with such admiration and a prayer for them, that as
they have regard for the weak they would know Gods spirit of freedom in their
own times of trouble, and his blessings of protection)<br />
<br />
On my return home, my thoughts take me to how often the ‘hidden treasure’ can
be missed simply because of our own negative emotions, or the words and actions
of others that have taken our thinking to a place that is less than the best,
and rob us of the ‘life in all its fullness’ that we were created for and
intended to live.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">References: Psalm 41:1 ; John 10: 10</span><br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><b>Marion</b></i></span></span></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com2Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-77927034176895428502021-03-01T03:33:00.002-08:002021-03-01T03:33:18.147-08:0001st March 2021<p><span style="font-family: arial;">So its back to real time blogging for us now!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On one hand, in this continuing "Pandemic Situation", its hard to imagine the calendar has already clicked to March. On the other hand February seemed at times to be dragging interminably! The restrictions and a perspective that we would try to conduct our exercise from the front door have led to much local discovery over recent weeks which began with the continuation of a cold spell from the Christmas period and snow on the ground (a relatively rare occurrence in this particular part of Cumbria) and ended with warm early Spring sunshine yesterday.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Our local wanderings have involved a couple of visits to <a href="https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/wreay-woods" target="_blank">Wreay Woods</a> a beautiful diverse area managed by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust on the banks of the River Petteril. We caught it for the first time on a cold, clear and snowy morning at the end of January.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6xa-HS7aSsfiuhPdA06jhX_1KXQf-gzpLoOlLChHKu3RGm_qHpuLx1V3-w8owZJTY8MXimTrnhrcJ3xF3Ezyaau0iBjeWwFWRnOYXJhyphenhyphen6cJ0Ntdl0v_OSpQWzAaqB5V1x29MWmbZgOE/s960/137288238_3619566721434081_607615629210326462_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6xa-HS7aSsfiuhPdA06jhX_1KXQf-gzpLoOlLChHKu3RGm_qHpuLx1V3-w8owZJTY8MXimTrnhrcJ3xF3Ezyaau0iBjeWwFWRnOYXJhyphenhyphen6cJ0Ntdl0v_OSpQWzAaqB5V1x29MWmbZgOE/w480-h640/137288238_3619566721434081_607615629210326462_n.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcunIKYSkY8i4bzwtP4aWPE4uzuIEkLboeXPUZdTzxw47M2GIG3wN_GUDK3NUyUx1G-e8iVc8GyDFYttZD9j4CjjTsH5ytFjfmk3ZsTkgcLDuyb5CxKZ0LSPtCztorISbO-ysmXg42T28/s960/137027641_3619566904767396_6577297862831088930_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcunIKYSkY8i4bzwtP4aWPE4uzuIEkLboeXPUZdTzxw47M2GIG3wN_GUDK3NUyUx1G-e8iVc8GyDFYttZD9j4CjjTsH5ytFjfmk3ZsTkgcLDuyb5CxKZ0LSPtCztorISbO-ysmXg42T28/w480-h640/137027641_3619566904767396_6577297862831088930_n.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Maz & I in Wreay Woods on a cold, bright & snowy January morning</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In fact the Petteril valley which can be accessed in 10 minutes on foot from our front door has been a real blessing through lockdown its been a joy to observe the river as it runs its course through times of flood, when the flood plains work hard and also through drier spells when the energy of the water drops revealing more of the river's sandy banks and rocky bed. Its also provided a rich source of educational resources for home-schooling activities with grandchildren from bridges to impromptu flow rate experiments (aka pooh-sticks!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhH_ISY7yQj_GMLrXcGA_1-KhJitYtSPNaqJlvDe_VDTIIY02Wr-3wSQgTmeq0OKjJNNl7dTEvd4vibyNjeV5qm3M1T6VGH-v4D4IEM6orllBsV3_zo5tm9RVcaJycwUtv3eGoSt5fog/s1600/IMG-20210201-WA0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhH_ISY7yQj_GMLrXcGA_1-KhJitYtSPNaqJlvDe_VDTIIY02Wr-3wSQgTmeq0OKjJNNl7dTEvd4vibyNjeV5qm3M1T6VGH-v4D4IEM6orllBsV3_zo5tm9RVcaJycwUtv3eGoSt5fog/w640-h480/IMG-20210201-WA0006.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Pooh Sticks on the bridge</b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bK5pwcqFgHYykSnlnVOlEckvGv8AY2Jb7mhMVjqiXAGvf-T42T8HiAiqda0beIO_VaWB_ZDoU1_AwNhp1g_CpDTqfDdk2OFD5Yenf_BSgrDHdW9XDiPhy4fgilDzPD6_61ZJsrHhqKs/s2048/20210202_110646+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bK5pwcqFgHYykSnlnVOlEckvGv8AY2Jb7mhMVjqiXAGvf-T42T8HiAiqda0beIO_VaWB_ZDoU1_AwNhp1g_CpDTqfDdk2OFD5Yenf_BSgrDHdW9XDiPhy4fgilDzPD6_61ZJsrHhqKs/w480-h640/20210202_110646+%25282%2529.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Shapes & paper bridges at home!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A slightly different direction takes out to the far eastern edges of the city where the Eden approaches the urban environment as it passes under the M6. We visited on a Baltic cold day when the air temperature was still two degrees below freezing but the easterly wind gave a feel more like ten degrees below. Again this area is a haven for wildlife with an extensive array of birds observed albeit from a distance. We bumped into friends who told of us otter sightings in the area too. The walk that day was long and slightly disappointing in that a circular route out to the east is not possible.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfl48Yzaa-34MJkqWhRUbMNOUCFnWktm-6NdIQYIyM5qDnwr_bFXExGgD_C-5GJG0SKu7nPqlPd0MNwf7_VZiQpRfFJ1oewJX6xom280RLjq6svvNVBQla18OAboUBF9EZJy0Qjm5ImGs/s2048/20210213_113529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfl48Yzaa-34MJkqWhRUbMNOUCFnWktm-6NdIQYIyM5qDnwr_bFXExGgD_C-5GJG0SKu7nPqlPd0MNwf7_VZiQpRfFJ1oewJX6xom280RLjq6svvNVBQla18OAboUBF9EZJy0Qjm5ImGs/w480-h640/20210213_113529.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>River approaches city as the Eden passes under the M6</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">February, however, closed itself out with some very welcome early warm Spring sunshine and its encouraging to see our fruit trees coming into early bud. These gave us much enjoyment through Lockdown 1.0 in 2020 and last years' harvest was good!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hopefully March will see a return to activities beyond the Carlisle city limits!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEouKVsA3_7lInxSH1JY9dH2r3tS-oqEvNc2_hMnL6v-RcmRMaNILtqYsXhZrtqPIeLhUdmuTY0NBkYcgdrny7WeFV3zEJMUyjhxRlJoYDAjzHba9CKPdYvwk-b_bRoNK3rxQUs7WMSI/s2048/20210301_110813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEouKVsA3_7lInxSH1JY9dH2r3tS-oqEvNc2_hMnL6v-RcmRMaNILtqYsXhZrtqPIeLhUdmuTY0NBkYcgdrny7WeFV3zEJMUyjhxRlJoYDAjzHba9CKPdYvwk-b_bRoNK3rxQUs7WMSI/w480-h640/20210301_110813.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Early Spring signs of life from one of our pear trees</b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-44049660649503058522021-02-27T07:44:00.001-08:002021-02-27T07:46:01.200-08:00Canoe Trip: Galloway Forest<p> <span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Date:</b><span><b> </b> 29-31 October 2020</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Team:</b><span> Simon & Amy; Ian-T; Adrian; Andy Johnson; Marion & Me</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So, this is the last catch up instalment before we make an attempt to get back to "real-time" blogging!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVw_-hhEbX4llM-3-mlUrn4zAa8znBhURhYrD0sa-8LU7mqbkq2YBwWADAXy7TsZhwfUHMCxIiQ1PowWZvq4WBYq6TLgEJJVN-NPOKFHZknlGsTdlPUZ70CLBwPfq4MlsNBgi7be2AvAs/s2048/PA310084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVw_-hhEbX4llM-3-mlUrn4zAa8znBhURhYrD0sa-8LU7mqbkq2YBwWADAXy7TsZhwfUHMCxIiQ1PowWZvq4WBYq6TLgEJJVN-NPOKFHZknlGsTdlPUZ70CLBwPfq4MlsNBgi7be2AvAs/w640-h480/PA310084.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Marion & Andy as we utilised a temporary raft for crossing one of the lochans</b></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Even if someone was to read this specific article in 25 or maybe 50 years time there'd be no mistaking or forgetting that 2020 was "Pandemic Year", writing at the end of February 2021 there remain only the first green shoots of recovery as the vaccine roll out programme proceeds.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As such 2020 was very much a year with a difference, the early Spring canoe trip had been cancelled and although there was much time spent paddling, climbing and trekking in the high fells the whole shape of the year was very different. This was the backdrop to us trying to squeeze a late extended trip into the year. I'd long been looking at a few trip reports from the Galloway Forest area: descriptions such as "Little Canada" were intriguing and the travel distance from our North Cumbrian base is relatively short, indeed we had already ran numerous micro-expeditions on Loch Doon with school and Community Groups.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We arrived at Loch Doon castle car park late afternoon on the last Friday of October half term, Marion and I being the last to make it, as usual underestimating travel times when towing the canoe trailer! Our initial intention had been to make an evening start, however, torrential rain and gale force winds, which had been well forecast, forced a makeshift first night.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIxfxLN3od5Io2BgutYPb0B1d3PP0FpE0I5MsSg339LQ4SPGho7GEMBwHQx32f90mI8JkT85Za1A8OnevoftcdfXagSiez6qAOThEi8T7VNr-E98WB_ftRyCWFTW4D1XD9xcNQzSqx2Q/s2048/PA300031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIxfxLN3od5Io2BgutYPb0B1d3PP0FpE0I5MsSg339LQ4SPGho7GEMBwHQx32f90mI8JkT85Za1A8OnevoftcdfXagSiez6qAOThEi8T7VNr-E98WB_ftRyCWFTW4D1XD9xcNQzSqx2Q/w640-h480/PA300031.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>First night we ever camped in the new van</b></div></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Saturday morning couldn't have been more of a contrast to the previous evening: a mirror calm Loch Doon; blue sky & sunshine! We set off from the castle car park heading back towards the dam in good spirits. It was good to welcome Simon & Amy on their first "Community Trip" - a father daughter combination with Amy being our youngest ever extended trip member!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLslAKxODtDe-8w6lNcALbuobiMDMP2Pb2LNVEi03TjZkgdTDcXZ71eN_IyrLSZNktcwcR-5gL54OY2KMvwf88yMQLtezDmxWrDdiArA_8Sa23nTC-Zoh0X8N1jdw4MfYT4JR4mZ4TFew/s2048/PA300037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLslAKxODtDe-8w6lNcALbuobiMDMP2Pb2LNVEi03TjZkgdTDcXZ71eN_IyrLSZNktcwcR-5gL54OY2KMvwf88yMQLtezDmxWrDdiArA_8Sa23nTC-Zoh0X8N1jdw4MfYT4JR4mZ4TFew/w640-h480/PA300037.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Z2IgRE6VSkyothprzoAVDcF3scRyF0iNPTpujhDwIZ7RwTUQDfAw6BMg-99O_l7FHd8N5IxoxHaxazalPH1LJlwXGmh4QJLQqVoCQWelL0E98eZQl4MA82ALps8npuCtzQ-n01Xexzg/s2048/PA300043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Z2IgRE6VSkyothprzoAVDcF3scRyF0iNPTpujhDwIZ7RwTUQDfAw6BMg-99O_l7FHd8N5IxoxHaxazalPH1LJlwXGmh4QJLQqVoCQWelL0E98eZQl4MA82ALps8npuCtzQ-n01Xexzg/w640-h480/PA300043.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueETiOYjJPXEQM7OtUF_5cV81umjlAZqek3SZOiD3jd4Fyz7E4kiDd3-sVc-K4TySryq9amu6r6DtIvWFX-vkXMy3cDmuGCN72Uolv8bPtEa3rtg6d4bUk7VXFvJM1SzLKaKVNB6rFYQ/s2048/PA300052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueETiOYjJPXEQM7OtUF_5cV81umjlAZqek3SZOiD3jd4Fyz7E4kiDd3-sVc-K4TySryq9amu6r6DtIvWFX-vkXMy3cDmuGCN72Uolv8bPtEa3rtg6d4bUk7VXFvJM1SzLKaKVNB6rFYQ/w640-h480/PA300052.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Beautiful morning on Loch Doon</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We fratched around for a while looking for the best place to start our first portage, which was just under 2km mainly on forestry track, up to Loch Finlas. We opted to do a short section on the single track road which runs down the side of Loch Doon in order to avoid a carry over rough ground and although crossing a few contour lines the uphill portage wasn't too demanding.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfYdyTL5XEeWWUZR7cSkQF49DTaWDV9ib2ugjdOT8Z2VIhkMdOGgUoQ-Ju9iGnbysAr3EPU0MAi3mJ0ZdPhV7Y8vuS6euCkbv8JowOVJmrTk8hxPU1Ug0BslNCmNKThfQiKS-KobiYpo/s2048/PA300058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfYdyTL5XEeWWUZR7cSkQF49DTaWDV9ib2ugjdOT8Z2VIhkMdOGgUoQ-Ju9iGnbysAr3EPU0MAi3mJ0ZdPhV7Y8vuS6euCkbv8JowOVJmrTk8hxPU1Ug0BslNCmNKThfQiKS-KobiYpo/w640-h480/PA300058.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxqMIzXWKKW5eN1rtZtmDTpTgttd8V8D38TbNsKNn8_d7BTfeNdbLdZdUYYInTjnLhN6sJFQ4sQFdgmNBrt4JDiRG5CZ1DkteYNYSZHv8p6jjk4OE13zr62h44yKPfD0I0zI25o-HiPA/s2048/PA300061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxqMIzXWKKW5eN1rtZtmDTpTgttd8V8D38TbNsKNn8_d7BTfeNdbLdZdUYYInTjnLhN6sJFQ4sQFdgmNBrt4JDiRG5CZ1DkteYNYSZHv8p6jjk4OE13zr62h44yKPfD0I0zI25o-HiPA/w640-h480/PA300061.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FFxdxNWr_OwIlFKtRc4WTOi-vHnk6OypiMH0peFmqxZECBGRYRXOYw76nXGB_4P2X9sXmgPziKduMMv0BFCVQndHaSLw7J02xPGg_SWReNGz0NILWjEq6icKNw32mX4S8NNAAGKHNx4/s2048/PA300065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FFxdxNWr_OwIlFKtRc4WTOi-vHnk6OypiMH0peFmqxZECBGRYRXOYw76nXGB_4P2X9sXmgPziKduMMv0BFCVQndHaSLw7J02xPGg_SWReNGz0NILWjEq6icKNw32mX4S8NNAAGKHNx4/w640-h480/PA300065.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Various stages of the first portage</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Loch Finlas was a beautiful place to be, there was a fresh breeze directly in our faces, manageable but in order to make things a little more comfortable for the solo paddler we used painters to make a temporary raft, its a very short portage across a short section of (Water Authority?) road on into Derlach Loch for another 1km paddle. The landing from this lochan and subsequent 1.7km generally uphill portage is a strange part of the trip, the various water works in the area both old and new don't sit well in an otherwise pleasant forested landscape.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ir_ftXk6LSYkQSfw0gIL4NZtKBJaH3GBuWnBqvitOE22RhJ2tob_Qr3p8JYA6hVofH4y50-6I87e5fufl4RS00118-dqs-hsUb7lxSWlfg9T3nMjXh5vVXuFrJGzMjDQ35d_5AaRssk/s2544/PA300075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2544" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ir_ftXk6LSYkQSfw0gIL4NZtKBJaH3GBuWnBqvitOE22RhJ2tob_Qr3p8JYA6hVofH4y50-6I87e5fufl4RS00118-dqs-hsUb7lxSWlfg9T3nMjXh5vVXuFrJGzMjDQ35d_5AaRssk/w640-h310/PA300075.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPZI7Ad9zS9Wsz7ZIwbtI_WPM9q1692m9qVHaobwhOEYodJYmREGqUtFXgf2c5lxFGaZmYWDY37mmPBh6DD9QG6hNv799gsYPyRGdLKY8ERe91k2EQj6qlXmuOBvVZbhotHHnc180R60/s2048/PA300081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPZI7Ad9zS9Wsz7ZIwbtI_WPM9q1692m9qVHaobwhOEYodJYmREGqUtFXgf2c5lxFGaZmYWDY37mmPBh6DD9QG6hNv799gsYPyRGdLKY8ERe91k2EQj6qlXmuOBvVZbhotHHnc180R60/w640-h480/PA300081.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Loch Finlas & "The Bit In-Between"</b></div></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The late afternoon portage from Derlach Loch to Loch Bradon wasn't my favourite part of the day, in contrast though the arrival at Loch Bradon and subsequent crossing of it just above the dam was superlative. The bright sun, occasionally interrupted by passing cloud produced an incredible light the green forestry background producing a dark band between the shimmering lake & the at times azure blue sky. As if to add to the suggestions of "Little Canada" we were rewarded by the sight of a float plane landing & taking off next to us, none of us had ever been so close to such a spectacle!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn1tVTBN4lZEjP3eiT5ESU2jYbsZdLegMxoMDO37dD3lnmlLoVc2W_5-faEimZCJHXFCZvQEGE4oK6XRpThn9vE-q1LKA_PNm5zOr6ePQXnPdKSJEOkMr3ns9kgJk7lELK1YQxoVW6dI/s2048/PA310086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn1tVTBN4lZEjP3eiT5ESU2jYbsZdLegMxoMDO37dD3lnmlLoVc2W_5-faEimZCJHXFCZvQEGE4oK6XRpThn9vE-q1LKA_PNm5zOr6ePQXnPdKSJEOkMr3ns9kgJk7lELK1YQxoVW6dI/w640-h480/PA310086.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuw0qsMaQRs7vAfb3Ky4TkiiPqkHSHoMeFCep6j6HbOSg2IwgMRIBrx-0JwV0VKusH4YnvcQks-UAt_dEKcL-k4MOLf8pR2OJHsE8enV3DN-SSP66tEnawdsTjcY4Buv94WLP_vAK108/s2048/PA310096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuw0qsMaQRs7vAfb3Ky4TkiiPqkHSHoMeFCep6j6HbOSg2IwgMRIBrx-0JwV0VKusH4YnvcQks-UAt_dEKcL-k4MOLf8pR2OJHsE8enV3DN-SSP66tEnawdsTjcY4Buv94WLP_vAK108/w640-h364/PA310096.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Loch Bradon</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Our selected exit point from Loch Bradon, was with hindsight an error, opting to cross some rough ground in order to access the forest track for the next portage was hard work! A better choice would have been to paddle across to the Forestry Commission car park and take a slightly longer portage down the track. It was hard work crossing the rough country, however, the trolley portage through the conifers under the light of a full moon was a first for me and a memorable experience. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7U3nwEn31R-76kY8Gld9f-44_Bobs2aSpV9-qR3NBSBhuH3_hHLBCUZsTliPJtLQJdYx7cYn-rzfz4rmWcmMWPAsnDu-ZRoBxtk9p82dnXURgMeUu4eoQvW_Eu5qIicAQVqQJqPCAPaE/s2048/PA310110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7U3nwEn31R-76kY8Gld9f-44_Bobs2aSpV9-qR3NBSBhuH3_hHLBCUZsTliPJtLQJdYx7cYn-rzfz4rmWcmMWPAsnDu-ZRoBxtk9p82dnXURgMeUu4eoQvW_Eu5qIicAQVqQJqPCAPaE/w640-h480/PA310110.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Portage by moonlight</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The conditions were still fine as we pitched our tents around a small leisure area in the middle of the forest just shy of Loch Riecawr - it was a comfortable night. However, we went to bed knowing that a weather system was forecast to be coming through with dubious timing. It was our hope, based on the forecasts, that it might come through late morning or even early afternoon. Sadly, the more pessimistic forecast proved to be correct and the wind speed was already well on its way towards the predicted 50mph by the time we had got up, it was accompanied by monsoon like rain! As such rather than our planned crossing of Loch Riecawr & descent of Carrick Lane (which we had hoped to paddle and line where necessary) we reluctantly went for the option of a 4km portage back to our vehicles.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhkOeCD_2syqsb2ekdN06zHsHTpr8el8Sq3Dw-O0r5hDK4dPe9RqfHq81ZSCwxYHZFuUa9me0B3OaTzOw3NZ2hEXaw5x1MLElv6qm3Jgt0xH8rUqUiX_JXn1CNRHORyw5xM4bmGE5nCU/s2048/PA310123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhkOeCD_2syqsb2ekdN06zHsHTpr8el8Sq3Dw-O0r5hDK4dPe9RqfHq81ZSCwxYHZFuUa9me0B3OaTzOw3NZ2hEXaw5x1MLElv6qm3Jgt0xH8rUqUiX_JXn1CNRHORyw5xM4bmGE5nCU/w640-h480/PA310123.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Miserable final portage in the storm</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The portage was a good call, the wind speed increased rapidly and a closer view of Loch Riecawr revealed it to be un-paddleable in the conditions, similarly Carrick Lane (the river flowing back into Loch Doon would have been a challenging prospect even with unloaded boats. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">This is an interesting area to journey through by open canoe and there are several possible combinations for trips of varying duration. Being prepared to portage is essential and there will be too much portaging for many. I have read one or two accounts of folk not feeling entirely welcome in the area, we experienced no such problems although it should be said we didn't encounter many people. Given its proximity and diversity its definitely an area we will consider visiting further beyond simply paddling on Loch Doon</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You can also find an account of this trip on our <a href="https://youtu.be/Tfd5RMd-4pw" target="_blank">YouTube Channel</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div><br /></div></div></div>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-74142409314242539122021-02-27T03:54:00.002-08:002021-02-27T07:53:37.459-08:00Canoe Trip: Ardnamurchan, April 2019<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Date:</b> <span> </span>Easter 2019</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Team:</b> Maccy & Helen; Andy Johnson; Adrian; Thompa; Alex Mc; Tom; Ian; Marion & Me</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_Ep93d6pMdDcccOkPDn9rOoeExSD2yeRr70CduALi-6gQ2Fo5pNzcu8t8LTk28nxTkcEnwMfvIJ35x4t27nh1UIujKA98FuSzq_5vb_CJ1h5b16CiW9TfLnQxuPOtdvtVqJupFtpdRI/s960/58420168_10161583677140103_6521405946277658624_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_Ep93d6pMdDcccOkPDn9rOoeExSD2yeRr70CduALi-6gQ2Fo5pNzcu8t8LTk28nxTkcEnwMfvIJ35x4t27nh1UIujKA98FuSzq_5vb_CJ1h5b16CiW9TfLnQxuPOtdvtVqJupFtpdRI/w640-h480/58420168_10161583677140103_6521405946277658624_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Two Hobos Sitting on a Canoe</b></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Marion & I headed up to Strontian with Alex & Tom - I love the drive to this area: quick visit to the Green Welly; Corran Ferry - all good! We were to spend the first night camping at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SunartCamping" target="_blank">Sunart Camping & Cycle Hire</a> which is a great spot. After eating at the <a href="https://ariundlecentre.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ariundle Centre</a> we met up with Andy, Thompa, Maccy & Helen at the <a href="https://www.thestrontianhotel.co.uk/" target="_blank">Strontian Hotel</a> for a couple of drinks - it was a great start to the week!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Ian & Adrian arrived on cue bright and early the next morning to the already well forecast issue of high winds - South Westerlies gusting well over 40 mph. Stood at the car park in Strontian considering our options it was great to bump into Colin Skeath (of canoe circumnavigation of Britain fame) - we chatted about our plans and Colin offered us some useful local insight. Maccy, Adrian and I ran the shuttle down to Lochaline, our plan had been finalised, we would go with our initial intentions and broadly speaking: Paddle Loch Sunart from Strontian to Carna; hang a left into Loch Teacuis; portage to Loch Doire nam Mart; line on to Loch Arienas; paddle the River Aline & Loch Aline. The high winds were to rob of us of any meaningful progress on the first day and we simply waited for the right tide to make a short hop to an island just off shore for our first night camping. The time spent there on this first day was excellent: talking; cooking; a bit of canoe sailing and even a bit of snorkelling on the lea side of the island!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_N4HsLqvGr16TWv3VNDfZa_DH8gpHDwuUU70Wsz101362WyY42X7wIimzfDHBJBEPmOygUdMnMl84qe80RwOk1e1DiWdkxH1O2VSQnB8vOmX0OOY2tdKZy7XS7r6lRfolkn9r6hakFU/s2048/P4150080.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_N4HsLqvGr16TWv3VNDfZa_DH8gpHDwuUU70Wsz101362WyY42X7wIimzfDHBJBEPmOygUdMnMl84qe80RwOk1e1DiWdkxH1O2VSQnB8vOmX0OOY2tdKZy7XS7r6lRfolkn9r6hakFU/w640-h480/P4150080.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Good Times</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The morning dawned with what was still initially about a force three wind blowing straight down Loch Sunart from west to east. The tide was right so we headed off on an open crossing straight over the loch to pick up what lea we could from the higher ground to the south before heading west, whether the wind dropped a little or the strategy just worked progress was absolutely fine and we paddled down the loch with curious seals swimming close by and porpoises spotted too. We made swift progress down to Carna and made the left turn into Loch Teacuis around slack water.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGdxiJ-ZrJVnsxNBc1Le34_iP6VmDAmq-IemMwJcEzEVjiouoroHWJK0BivHl7MkR8TQiVMfqikkHnNGfWVgFpe9mA5IywzaY3mYjL158pj-EAKbgZuiQNrpJTmaSoC9BD4ZXP14tU2w/s2048/P4160093.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGdxiJ-ZrJVnsxNBc1Le34_iP6VmDAmq-IemMwJcEzEVjiouoroHWJK0BivHl7MkR8TQiVMfqikkHnNGfWVgFpe9mA5IywzaY3mYjL158pj-EAKbgZuiQNrpJTmaSoC9BD4ZXP14tU2w/w640-h480/P4160093.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Ad & Thompa heading down Loch Sunart</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Loch Teacuis remains a gem of a secluded place, although in the 14 years that I had been away I would have to say that the fences and gates which have appeared at the head of the loch & the extensive de-forestation that has taken place do detract from its former appearance. We paddled down the loch with the benefit of an flooding tide and had some further encounters with the local seal population, progress towards the end of the loch was swift and by mid afternoon we were searching for a campsite. Previously camping in the woods close to the edge of the loch had been a very agreeable experience, unfortunately much of this tree cover has now been torn down leaving behind it the devastation which is sadly so commonplace with forestry operations. We finally found what could only be described as a rank, dank, minging area of woodland - some chose to pitch tents and hang hammocks, Marion & I along with Ian chose to make our calculations and take our chances in the inter-tidal margins. Marion & I electing for the slightly more risky option set an alarm for something around 4 am which was about half an hour before high water - just to make sure we didn't get flooded out. The picture shows how close we cut it!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1X4A46YeS23qWoRd4gKuBYkv-pdtJDUHQcirZ5F8zz-BZgJWIVyyjorL-3SSkcVpwda1HctEJRvEDLgGfk-J-izidFcJ1DHpTYdnMUAwqsGf0eP8_cy_GU2gDEpP9zFjHX9o0inVDeM/s2048/P4170135.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1X4A46YeS23qWoRd4gKuBYkv-pdtJDUHQcirZ5F8zz-BZgJWIVyyjorL-3SSkcVpwda1HctEJRvEDLgGfk-J-izidFcJ1DHpTYdnMUAwqsGf0eP8_cy_GU2gDEpP9zFjHX9o0inVDeM/w640-h480/P4170135.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>About a metre to spare at high water!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkTROYX3V4itRPuXNU3riKkLgr0J0zN_opAIbvyTl7KqBYj_2rBsPTZ-xTjUXl5jzpgxixd406xxDgS_e8-32nut4Bfj75vcpGwi2OPb7sxCOZEnPCNKCj5qTGTl-6Yg92A1xwQHmwjw/s2048/P4170142.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkTROYX3V4itRPuXNU3riKkLgr0J0zN_opAIbvyTl7KqBYj_2rBsPTZ-xTjUXl5jzpgxixd406xxDgS_e8-32nut4Bfj75vcpGwi2OPb7sxCOZEnPCNKCj5qTGTl-6Yg92A1xwQHmwjw/w640-h480/P4170142.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Ian's tent the following morning - looks safer but there wasn't much in it!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wednesday morning was sunny with only the slightest of wind and we made short time of arriving at Kinloch Teacuis. This was to be the start of our only portage of the trip - up on to the single track road for a mixture of trolley portage and carrying to the tussock grass above the lochan of Loch Doire nam Mart in order to be afloat again. It was by now a pleasantly warm early Spring day and under bright blue skies the portage could have been worse!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtCuTNhcCMm6r8Hov_xx6PCzRK18DKodTvdQRH_F1GY_gpoYA1dWM9R2nfiySCCIfsGQ-j2edynD3iyuigA4bcJtnyf3UFVSaBxLDbJei3rnXvWH3Ijl5Wn-ArUTqq2K6QS-7DBaejE4/s2048/P4170196.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtCuTNhcCMm6r8Hov_xx6PCzRK18DKodTvdQRH_F1GY_gpoYA1dWM9R2nfiySCCIfsGQ-j2edynD3iyuigA4bcJtnyf3UFVSaBxLDbJei3rnXvWH3Ijl5Wn-ArUTqq2K6QS-7DBaejE4/w640-h480/P4170196.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAraLBcafnf0BgVUlNV2zea3m0RKpDSkKXyNno7M-7tsdHXh9yuaY08zE8Q9lNCD1Hk2QJKM4TlOEJZZR5Ch5pHUG6ROn9F_YTiWl9eSiNEaeO9icfKuyA9L9VHVpLvbdeFXH2usrT5Nw/s2048/P4170183.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAraLBcafnf0BgVUlNV2zea3m0RKpDSkKXyNno7M-7tsdHXh9yuaY08zE8Q9lNCD1Hk2QJKM4TlOEJZZR5Ch5pHUG6ROn9F_YTiWl9eSiNEaeO9icfKuyA9L9VHVpLvbdeFXH2usrT5Nw/w640-h480/P4170183.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The hard road!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">By the time we had reached the edge of Loch Doire nam Mart and spent a little time re-fuelling the wind had freshened considerably to possibly a Force 4/5 in our faces and it was a bit of a pull across this lochan. Our exit point was a small burn not much wider than a canoe where a combination of lining on painters and a little wading precluded the need for any further portage. Arrival at the stunning Loch Arienas still presented us with a windy outlook, as such we opted to paddle only a short distance to an excellent sandy campsite where we cooked mussels collected on Loch Teacuis.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUffQpxrPd48YODGD1Se0HAM8w7rjM-8Y0DQ1eMU11jjBJvwSvEtWPoT0F9clhJvqac40NYu-XTwyF6N2IwKG84gk7NmvvnFpWDVhF1duSdyPPrOS7jt3Zj8xDG9WVxEaTxv2GTz-1_I/s2048/P4170226.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUffQpxrPd48YODGD1Se0HAM8w7rjM-8Y0DQ1eMU11jjBJvwSvEtWPoT0F9clhJvqac40NYu-XTwyF6N2IwKG84gk7NmvvnFpWDVhF1duSdyPPrOS7jt3Zj8xDG9WVxEaTxv2GTz-1_I/w640-h480/P4170226.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Me close to the end of the burn!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thursday morning was once again heralded with blue skies and sunshine, the wind having dropped right off we headed across this beautiful loch to the source of the River Aline. I've paddled the river a couple of times and known it to be a pleasant run at around grade 2. However, on the day it was empty and a combination of paddling where we could, guiding on painters and pushing and shoving was necessary. Again the warm sunshine made for positive conditions. Close to the end of the river we stopped for a late morning lunch, I had a bit of whisky left so took in an impromptu Maundy Thursday last supper - it was quite poignant in this environment & to be sharing it with good friends.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3v9N9CebBnGPXVlw7w7ftvCYVcWKCuEIpxC1_07qpJ4jd-QkLvA0Yukgf2qv2MSYCzUqfQd_Djf5DvIit-SYILMFL9gcCo6M-KDzuWPylDqpJT7corEeAcFdZa37d6hqwbBJKWVdlEI/s2048/P4180293.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3v9N9CebBnGPXVlw7w7ftvCYVcWKCuEIpxC1_07qpJ4jd-QkLvA0Yukgf2qv2MSYCzUqfQd_Djf5DvIit-SYILMFL9gcCo6M-KDzuWPylDqpJT7corEeAcFdZa37d6hqwbBJKWVdlEI/w640-h480/P4180293.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Maundy Thursday, whisky with friends</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The final exit of the river into Loch Aline is quite an interesting point. I've only ever been here at low tide when the drop is substantial and as such have lined down, however, I do have friends who have encountered the same location at high water and paddled this section. Once again the former was the situation on the day & so we enjoyed lining our laden craft back into salty water.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQnRojcKMtB5ZqJGFDeWVby1_cXb7pxs0lkjZ3M2ugz5NqkbHPnjyenajQBM6U8EWSxAJSiL1cyH48-Ko3u3PpOVhAjL9SIurbQMlSNzGWvOhYemZGM69scWJmDps2t87R6hs0XU08Lg/s2048/P4180317.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQnRojcKMtB5ZqJGFDeWVby1_cXb7pxs0lkjZ3M2ugz5NqkbHPnjyenajQBM6U8EWSxAJSiL1cyH48-Ko3u3PpOVhAjL9SIurbQMlSNzGWvOhYemZGM69scWJmDps2t87R6hs0XU08Lg/w640-h480/P4180317.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgGC6WlnanumzlJAg9DH_AfK9NSECRIY3RhAweh1hnmVS2Q4CxQcrgzXeInB4Tj2eYi0_QlsoVAbleBrjPleSp6Th8mN2tMKdon2cgHzuS9yadHrgaRpTh88daQ_wTAAg7-9G_6rUF-Y/s2048/P4180325.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgGC6WlnanumzlJAg9DH_AfK9NSECRIY3RhAweh1hnmVS2Q4CxQcrgzXeInB4Tj2eYi0_QlsoVAbleBrjPleSp6Th8mN2tMKdon2cgHzuS9yadHrgaRpTh88daQ_wTAAg7-9G_6rUF-Y/w640-h480/P4180325.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Ian, Helen, Alex & Tom at various stages of the approach to the final drop into Loch Aline</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The tide had turned by the lime we were organised and afloat again so although pretty windless, progress was a little slow on this last afternoon of the trip as we lazily passed large moored steel vessels in the harbour. After sorting the shuttle a few of us opted to stay an extra night at Sunart Camping, as such another night in the Strontian Hotel was in order! It all worked out pretty well as it enabled us to drop Thompa off at Glasgow airport on the way home for his onward trip to Poland.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yet another splendid few days in an outstanding canoeing environment, a trip with everything!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tNJgFv7wtTcskuuRiS8PNBTwGd9zd7vF2XzUWUwFO6S_jtQDN2U_iGRXVqBtAK1WkHGQoY1SIbHXdIhuMbGz29jbochyf9t8LinH5llKzuM9eZeY2myZDFlS3caUBhtxnYIqBsCAnf4/s2048/P4180357.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tNJgFv7wtTcskuuRiS8PNBTwGd9zd7vF2XzUWUwFO6S_jtQDN2U_iGRXVqBtAK1WkHGQoY1SIbHXdIhuMbGz29jbochyf9t8LinH5llKzuM9eZeY2myZDFlS3caUBhtxnYIqBsCAnf4/w640-h480/P4180357.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Maz & I in the presence of a large vessel at the Loch Aline quayside</b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You can also find an account of this trip on our <a href="https://youtu.be/6aJmsq2wNrg" target="_blank">YouTube Channel</a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p><br /></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293134.31389688744747 -38.089180999999996 75.471049112552535 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-36379743301540127502021-02-25T06:59:00.003-08:002021-02-27T07:54:20.522-08:00Canoe Trip: River Spey, May 2018<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Date</b>: Late May Bank Holiday Week, 2018</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Team</b>: Dave Magnall; Sam Garton; Ian Tulloch; Brendan Robson; Andy Johnson; Maccy; Marion & Me</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuRojk0vVFWwMDNy-XKgm1CI58kdZovpHA4Zf3weYZn9jVBt__Vbm3PmSvY12HPBZrIs78m5Z9UWhNgjBmsxcOGOsKNIGwrmlCmQ2lP65JV9ppxAvhNx_iWPJSDRddNF_7lGPve3gsso/s3872/DSC02184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuRojk0vVFWwMDNy-XKgm1CI58kdZovpHA4Zf3weYZn9jVBt__Vbm3PmSvY12HPBZrIs78m5Z9UWhNgjBmsxcOGOsKNIGwrmlCmQ2lP65JV9ppxAvhNx_iWPJSDRddNF_7lGPve3gsso/w640-h360/DSC02184.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I guess for many open canoeists a "Spey Descent" is regarded as a classic, one for the tick list.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We'd never done one before so there was much anticipation! The weather was good when: Dave, Sam, Marion & I set off from Carlisle for the long drive up to Aviemore - none of us had anticipated though that we were heading into a spell of late May weather that would literally be as good as it gets for North East Scotland with temperatures set to hit 31 degC during the course of the trip.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The group assembled in Aviemore; the shuttle to Spey Bay was completed and conversation enjoyed with another group of two (paddling tandem) who were setting off to complete the same journey.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXy5n6w2didEh3ptUK2iRVj6MWpvuwiaWt49K9EWsZ8Fx7mT_UXeVcfzowLoyczubggteYylh4Xt-W9GZxkE49rZ9RWGI9NT5V9FgBVpwrsNs3lay6nS7LaBf6_xWBVsKmMDmVLUxekOI/s2048/DSCF9137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXy5n6w2didEh3ptUK2iRVj6MWpvuwiaWt49K9EWsZ8Fx7mT_UXeVcfzowLoyczubggteYylh4Xt-W9GZxkE49rZ9RWGI9NT5V9FgBVpwrsNs3lay6nS7LaBf6_xWBVsKmMDmVLUxekOI/w640-h480/DSCF9137.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Marion at the Aviemore get on</b></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Although, as might be apparent in one or two of the pictures, the river was on the low side we generally didn't find it too low for the journey intended. However, I would imagine that for anyone departing a few days later they might not have agreed with this statement. Memories, almost three years on, suggest that the early stages were a very gentle float down slow water with only the occasional riffle. It was mid-afternoon before we got underway on what was to be a journey of approximately 60 miles and we didn't paddle all that far before finding a suitable quiet pastoral spot in which to camp for the first night. Perhaps the only dimension of this trip that I didn't enjoy as much as I usually do was the camping, which although absolutely fine, lacked an aspect of wildness that I personally long for on extended canoe trips.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazHV3DAsqmpE4laytFbVOFMJkpn2FCSMNqCiocmvLjaWeR9WFmeyPS4qW0_EOcPZCNWj5_I7v1xAQGM5_NxdO5uwvwyQLkkC3ISiFJkZJkxHvQQnlgdf7Ua_KE_Ke-Pg_iA07j8DVfwc/s2048/DSCF9154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazHV3DAsqmpE4laytFbVOFMJkpn2FCSMNqCiocmvLjaWeR9WFmeyPS4qW0_EOcPZCNWj5_I7v1xAQGM5_NxdO5uwvwyQLkkC3ISiFJkZJkxHvQQnlgdf7Ua_KE_Ke-Pg_iA07j8DVfwc/w640-h480/DSCF9154.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Brendan enjoying a late afternoon float on the first day</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjQUNhJB5Z3Hc-4lJTOhinyfWcmYmW7tYKGBHK-d78F2M9khMg7BgXgWjTzII8GHTWI7Os2mfaogZYfBwpLq1UjgO6fvXQzL5vkCgFzkKdgx_4zq7VYP5NnbnqUnwk4kMxpPuYVdM8EU/s2048/DSCF9156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1789" data-original-width="2048" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjQUNhJB5Z3Hc-4lJTOhinyfWcmYmW7tYKGBHK-d78F2M9khMg7BgXgWjTzII8GHTWI7Os2mfaogZYfBwpLq1UjgO6fvXQzL5vkCgFzkKdgx_4zq7VYP5NnbnqUnwk4kMxpPuYVdM8EU/w640-h560/DSCF9156.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;">Ian; Maccy & Andy-J with patches of snow still visible on the hazy Cairngorms</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Day 2 dawned bright, warm & dry and we made good progress. It was on this morning stretch that we had an interesting incident when Dave & Sam's boat caught a (just) submerged wooden bridge stanchion, pivoting it on to a second one and pinning it with the inevitable capsize. All was well but the boat was well and truly pinned, taking much effort with ropes and ultimately a vector pull to free it. Dave and Sam were fine but their kit had been well lashed in place and half an hour in what was effectively a washing machine had to lead to some breakthrough, there was certainly some wet kit to dry out at the end of the day. There were one or two other wet moments of the trip in the very final stages but thankfully of no consequence with respect to folks' kit!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lovDeS_pzIUGgUenMN0Y7e79Grtrx5OEo9NEoP-XvhF3Am9S4Ll4JyVQKOypalx4fOtdbKp_MT2kfVSasuT10gvDg3ZDQpTzGdSCGu7eAG7rdfqsVMXSSb9as3mAlWCel5D1n6R_v20/s2048/DSCF9247.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/AVvXsEj8lovDeS_pzIUGgUenMN0Y7e79Grtrx5OEo9NEoP-XvhF3Am9S4Ll4JyVQKOypalx4fOtdbKp_MT2kfVSasuT10gvDg3ZDQpTzGdSCGu7eAG7rdfqsVMXSSb9as3mAlWCel5D1n6R_v20/w640-h480/DSCF9247.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Pinned Canoe!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The "White Water" section below Grantown and taking in Knockando and the "Washing Machine" was my favourite part of the trip, although as mentioned above the level was low, all the rapids were runnable and everybody negotiated them just fine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGposLHbUaWIrwr5xybZCrf6xLAD50dJkPjj5LeeONm1-rgPSEZSIQTewmcnCQ9dT7M2aeZB1PAIKDD1-yH2-ffWfLOuoJ1tJVvyOwU15o71qAPgl8hizNYvMZfi6ki3lyvhNAXhaKfsA/s2048/DSCF9267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="2048" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGposLHbUaWIrwr5xybZCrf6xLAD50dJkPjj5LeeONm1-rgPSEZSIQTewmcnCQ9dT7M2aeZB1PAIKDD1-yH2-ffWfLOuoJ1tJVvyOwU15o71qAPgl8hizNYvMZfi6ki3lyvhNAXhaKfsA/w640-h386/DSCF9267.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzUYzS_lgfp4oxt91VKBx3hxbdzHaDrLK9rSZBsALVZwA7aGxSgE8-6a_ASOAqebT6wXJHjOwn0Ny6yOIKBZOywB1zp113rlEeBAgX6MkSaWPnh8x9jmXEkQSzIFMmMZnxlgGxGYk90Y/s2048/DSCF9268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzUYzS_lgfp4oxt91VKBx3hxbdzHaDrLK9rSZBsALVZwA7aGxSgE8-6a_ASOAqebT6wXJHjOwn0Ny6yOIKBZOywB1zp113rlEeBAgX6MkSaWPnh8x9jmXEkQSzIFMmMZnxlgGxGYk90Y/w640-h480/DSCF9268.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-NBV785T7QpDnP6RQoKXyQxQHzf0QJj-8PmKf2w-EOYFs8CnkWUafRVFGauqvRkMP5NcdjLIwYo5s0oDGb36hBXqnGHYa18n8NqZl3WHY8InllrIX2s00puI8wx10Fp-LclTfbyTdz0/s2048/DSCF9269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-NBV785T7QpDnP6RQoKXyQxQHzf0QJj-8PmKf2w-EOYFs8CnkWUafRVFGauqvRkMP5NcdjLIwYo5s0oDGb36hBXqnGHYa18n8NqZl3WHY8InllrIX2s00puI8wx10Fp-LclTfbyTdz0/w640-h480/DSCF9269.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Maccy & Andy at the Washing Machine</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As always one of the best aspects of the trip was the socialising enjoyed each evening: questions & answers on the meaning of life with Marion; the occasional camp fire at the edge of the river (essential to keep the midges at bay!); swimming and since we were on Speyside passing distillery after distillery the odd wee dram! It was great to be able to share the river without any issues whatsoever with many anglers, we took the strategy of letting each angler know we were there and discussing which way past them would work best for each party - it was another agreeable and pleasant aspect of the journey!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLkD9qyoo5wRlzByVAkiBByhmwvTu_7Z47MwHGpkMTgUGgxF8RnJrOOiD1wqnekDqFo4MA27twaSENF26MQI6Z45RIb4JO1cSkxFfgVaGEwNtpPnDKGLg19NWHmvJ36YlXvwLYhdTf5M/s2048/DSCF9288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLkD9qyoo5wRlzByVAkiBByhmwvTu_7Z47MwHGpkMTgUGgxF8RnJrOOiD1wqnekDqFo4MA27twaSENF26MQI6Z45RIb4JO1cSkxFfgVaGEwNtpPnDKGLg19NWHmvJ36YlXvwLYhdTf5M/w640-h480/DSCF9288.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Group lunch stop somewhere around Knockando(?)</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After the excitement of some white water the river slows, flattens and widens as it continues its journey to the sea. Bridge after bridge was paddled beneath & many were photographed, we also made an extended stop at Aberlour on the last but one day for refreshments of various kinds - I think Ian might have visited the distillery. This certainly wasn't the most physical canoe journey that any of us had ever been on!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1cmgL_4Ip8IcRvUFh10MOmVcVLP2cUWfT0_hNnW6vK3pKslXeiaJ7g4DlGFY2bNFUbrDCZyd1ls2ps0-83eJBdIaaj2pZIXmnWnwqTSQv9eULSSUmJ1vaCQ7oigegPXrp1QgK67GyaA/s2048/DSCF9234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1cmgL_4Ip8IcRvUFh10MOmVcVLP2cUWfT0_hNnW6vK3pKslXeiaJ7g4DlGFY2bNFUbrDCZyd1ls2ps0-83eJBdIaaj2pZIXmnWnwqTSQv9eULSSUmJ1vaCQ7oigegPXrp1QgK67GyaA/w640-h480/DSCF9234.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlicLb22fgc8dyrkUyM8deAShgT6LCLaWFR0sFGgnSMtBDReTOQoifcpBwy-Yllja0-G5dh1o5U8UEw-etG9TuyC5JTsRnDzzsh5l_20txQXU527PP5Gm_47Zmcf3wbzVs0dusJlFMZo/s2048/DSCF9345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlicLb22fgc8dyrkUyM8deAShgT6LCLaWFR0sFGgnSMtBDReTOQoifcpBwy-Yllja0-G5dh1o5U8UEw-etG9TuyC5JTsRnDzzsh5l_20txQXU527PP5Gm_47Zmcf3wbzVs0dusJlFMZo/w640-h480/DSCF9345.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEVpP5Kk25cPYc0Ynr1g5cWZJbqpgsKgCvytVdATupEo_SInCNElPLdZ23StJiASfTR3c1bM4a3lShX5icnKWGgdJeSXzaxWMXIGI6BalYyommmHmbrBGob-FWhQnFuQAz5oHfi2Y9C0/s2048/DSCF9378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEVpP5Kk25cPYc0Ynr1g5cWZJbqpgsKgCvytVdATupEo_SInCNElPLdZ23StJiASfTR3c1bM4a3lShX5icnKWGgdJeSXzaxWMXIGI6BalYyommmHmbrBGob-FWhQnFuQAz5oHfi2Y9C0/w640-h480/DSCF9378.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Spey Bridges</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The total trip time for us was two part days (first & last) plus two full days, beyond the man-made there was some fine scenery to be experienced as the journey drew to a close but the vista of Spey Bay and the North Sea was a sight to behold on a fine sunny afternoon. Quite a memorable end to a few days of memory making!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHYe4PWqFOX9rSSXRiWoS555mJjh5BEWmoMj7PmLJZKiE8aki5z4kzKxK39kswanlNkU7uBEnrY2VFuH0rqUTTEs7CFnYSK3gtdWJ5c3mKzrNtOWV_RC-UJBP793rPeyr-_eJyLKWeu8/s2048/DSCF9381+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="2048" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHYe4PWqFOX9rSSXRiWoS555mJjh5BEWmoMj7PmLJZKiE8aki5z4kzKxK39kswanlNkU7uBEnrY2VFuH0rqUTTEs7CFnYSK3gtdWJ5c3mKzrNtOWV_RC-UJBP793rPeyr-_eJyLKWeu8/w640-h436/DSCF9381+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIOzfszY0uY3-kXIK925OhwrfQT2qRhpj-c8Pcqp1_RqFtJAyVggPy8cPbGL9n3LK5KATyQwlbObLIThFDyyfsGT26ctBZgjNexgTNU9ev6ofQVijKzN1V-7IBhfj0vcpLWPGn-2ULfA/s2048/DSCF9384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIOzfszY0uY3-kXIK925OhwrfQT2qRhpj-c8Pcqp1_RqFtJAyVggPy8cPbGL9n3LK5KATyQwlbObLIThFDyyfsGT26ctBZgjNexgTNU9ev6ofQVijKzN1V-7IBhfj0vcpLWPGn-2ULfA/w640-h480/DSCF9384.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TFA_LdvA9P5xoC-DN2hfZQpaQiiAff2wzau2e3FcrJKyqFUfTPjAidufpMX9Z8XfhJ5jvzvIfwOF_5Ty9gejO3-KtF8H0cbpgxXTYoDODvAPZRdiq9yQGxLwY1OMI70ihBV6jGZVzTA/s2048/DSCF9387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TFA_LdvA9P5xoC-DN2hfZQpaQiiAff2wzau2e3FcrJKyqFUfTPjAidufpMX9Z8XfhJ5jvzvIfwOF_5Ty9gejO3-KtF8H0cbpgxXTYoDODvAPZRdiq9yQGxLwY1OMI70ihBV6jGZVzTA/w640-h480/DSCF9387.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Spey Bay - Journey's End</b></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You can also find an account of this trip on our <a href="https://youtu.be/44RgobuZdE8" target="_blank">YouTube Channel</a></span></div>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-70010150144242900222021-02-24T12:17:00.002-08:002021-02-27T07:54:54.538-08:00Canoe Trip: Inverpolly Nature Reserve 2017<p>I<span style="font-family: arial;">n order to try to make our Blog catch up a bit more complete we thought it would be a good idea to write up a few of the more memorable events of the "missing years" and as such have decided to complete a trip report each for the most "outstanding" canoe journeys we undertook in 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020. So here's the first one: Inverpolly Nature Reserve, April 2017.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNYvM19UfdinTDMpcPyCmt9W9E-uWcc_6TkpKAuuEFB2aNgEi-EV80QDOIkPvCcWHQ2eA95bDsGO5G5EBekIKmT4Y_F4OxkaLaR3DJMuH-RmpOYAgJO6EmOFLuyyk8pf_ObleN-lBUio/s2048/18076918_1354909221233187_1676045717657200450_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNYvM19UfdinTDMpcPyCmt9W9E-uWcc_6TkpKAuuEFB2aNgEi-EV80QDOIkPvCcWHQ2eA95bDsGO5G5EBekIKmT4Y_F4OxkaLaR3DJMuH-RmpOYAgJO6EmOFLuyyk8pf_ObleN-lBUio/w640-h480/18076918_1354909221233187_1676045717657200450_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Adrian & Paul on Loch Veyatie with Suiliven in the background</b></div></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>April 2017</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Team:</b><span> Andy Johnson; Maccy & Helen; Ian Tulloch; Adrian Wintle; Paul Hebden; Marion & Me</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After the long drive north from Carlisle and meeting various team members on the way we arrived at Elphin late afternoon with the earlier lead grey skies having given way to a bright, dry and sunny Spring day. Whilst folk unloaded gear from vehicles Ian & I completed the shuttle enabling us all to get on the Ledmore River, at the point at which it crosses the main A835.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It was just a short float down the Ledmore River, in almost windless conditions, before we entered Cam Loch. The paddle on Cam Loch was equally brief as we came to the interesting feature of the loch on which we were paddling emptying into Loch Veyatie, the place we wanted to be, via a sizable waterfall. This presented us with our first compulsory portage which was thankfully short and straightforward.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_CNJNH-Ko9tBKVxeqzv05ykzRdbI3fUXNAU9ulxuUzuUnoTnh1sNRFfeIZNpxSYVmRIB1GqriFpwca8iVv4JbdbO5cA1OFhXtxIDVNFnK30Ua5bIl9WMgcSdtRgrzYa-ihbV05e_GFM/s2048/17917701_1354909064566536_1433461168921610206_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1743" data-original-width="2048" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_CNJNH-Ko9tBKVxeqzv05ykzRdbI3fUXNAU9ulxuUzuUnoTnh1sNRFfeIZNpxSYVmRIB1GqriFpwca8iVv4JbdbO5cA1OFhXtxIDVNFnK30Ua5bIl9WMgcSdtRgrzYa-ihbV05e_GFM/w640-h544/17917701_1354909064566536_1433461168921610206_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Andy-J & Maccy back on the water having just portaged the falls connecting Cam Loch & Veyatie</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The early evening paddle on Loch Veyatie was sublime with near perfect conditions in the shadow of the towering bulk of Suiliven. I can't recall now how much farther we paddled that evening, it was only maybe for an hour before we found what Bill Mason would have described as an A1 campsite on the south western shore of the loch. Tree cover is quite sparse in this part of the world but there were a few about around this particular campsite so as we pitched our tent others set up hammocks & tarps for the night. We cooked; lit a fire at the water's edge; consumed the odd dram and enjoyed good conversation until after dark.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypfn8IWydE6RrtZv01CrwoXS9XhhHNP1GlS-s6PrlJ-Q6EUlQlPRX8LJkmu-OZPYidnAwdJpinCymWkcqkvqVJsz0HXni5RQ1UcdlPkkE1sPhWuBviVS-Bdl4WGCi7POgZZNKji0-RQA/s2048/18077297_1354909397899836_4416630020294023709_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypfn8IWydE6RrtZv01CrwoXS9XhhHNP1GlS-s6PrlJ-Q6EUlQlPRX8LJkmu-OZPYidnAwdJpinCymWkcqkvqVJsz0HXni5RQ1UcdlPkkE1sPhWuBviVS-Bdl4WGCi7POgZZNKji0-RQA/w640-h480/18077297_1354909397899836_4416630020294023709_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>First night's camp on the shore of a windless Loch Veyatie</b></div></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The following morning dawned a little less bright but nevertheless dry and with only the lightest of winds. This allowed us to make good progress North and West on Loch Veyatie and into the Uidh Fhearna River. The river wasn't high by any means but certainly contained enough water to grant us a clear passage to the south eastern end of Fionn Loch by around about lunchtime. This marked the start of the first of our "serious" portages, the plan being to head across to Loch Scionascaig via Na Tri Lochan (presumably "The Three Small Lochs"). There were one or two contour lines to be gained, across tussock grass, and so the sequence began: short uphill portage; short float on a lochan; short up hill portage; short float; across to the final lochan and a downhill portage / slide to the shore of Loch Scionascaig. It was hard work but a good division of labour naturally evolved amongst us with some carrying bags and others boats - the portage was hard work but didn't seem to take too long!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6j1iYB9y0wQOwOJOLVKbk_DyjE8usJv2riEN6jPCjAIXwWihPdgoXpjR5IOz1K6K_Gj_6vVKob4_SN20XpTapJxAxVT6YUzTOLE239qcAPM9aCFWmTTbKK9xAmfmYFGdZCcO3VGul-S0/s2048/17917614_1354910367899739_7863204704930904487_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6j1iYB9y0wQOwOJOLVKbk_DyjE8usJv2riEN6jPCjAIXwWihPdgoXpjR5IOz1K6K_Gj_6vVKob4_SN20XpTapJxAxVT6YUzTOLE239qcAPM9aCFWmTTbKK9xAmfmYFGdZCcO3VGul-S0/w640-h480/17917614_1354910367899739_7863204704930904487_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I<b>an and Helen on the Na Tri Lochan Portage</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGow1dqrLDP4anin3D72i1fTCcFt7dWW7jtp4h5KjvZacq0mkPqy7d7tiEQ3JphTSaXima4nZPZ3mt9Z67cx5Y93Q08fN68QDc-zQou24yfkg9pvKevbip39t836bE53P-SQFhS5hx5s/s2048/17917400_1354919657898810_3095722904778215335_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGow1dqrLDP4anin3D72i1fTCcFt7dWW7jtp4h5KjvZacq0mkPqy7d7tiEQ3JphTSaXima4nZPZ3mt9Z67cx5Y93Q08fN68QDc-zQou24yfkg9pvKevbip39t836bE53P-SQFhS5hx5s/w640-h480/17917400_1354919657898810_3095722904778215335_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Marion at the start of the portage</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By the time we were afloat again on Loch Scionascaig the wind had freshened slightly and we opted to make a relatively short journey to Boat Bay in order to camp for the night. Once inside the bay's protective harbour conditions were flat calm and we found a "marginal" campsite on the South West shore of the bay - the whole scene was really quite idyllic!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFrmeanoo1IQi3GYhM3_6Oy35NM_FtS_9JYvdFaa7C6UVHA33TYJY23PRljjfooVgTkROzYthRUiS3nbNpn2O94wOUUpORhWpM9QFVlc1OVKzPc0ShqXq4AH03l4ov7O2UhNHOe2U6J4/s2048/18056292_1354913681232741_8199206690271100272_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFrmeanoo1IQi3GYhM3_6Oy35NM_FtS_9JYvdFaa7C6UVHA33TYJY23PRljjfooVgTkROzYthRUiS3nbNpn2O94wOUUpORhWpM9QFVlc1OVKzPc0ShqXq4AH03l4ov7O2UhNHOe2U6J4/w640-h480/18056292_1354913681232741_8199206690271100272_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Boat Bay</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Once again on departing Boat Bay the following morning conditions were favourable. We headed for the area of the Polly Lochs and probably hadn't adequately accounted in our planning for the differences in level between these small areas of water. As such we managed the short "cascades" between them by dusting down our "Trad Skills" and lining the loaded boats from lochan to lochan. We had a very competent team who enjoyed the challenge immensely!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PQC29T6Jb1soEx_ALNd_dVtWQSr3mBsgYWg9yr0LuGVrNw4lAnRlnpN24YukvEI2iKSWBYMsycuvIuSCFGl6GImZ47hADJTfAgt2atAGIQ88It7w-q1-Lqq5dTN_BjErC7bjU7vXoQw/s2048/18055864_1354917027899073_4168252934691257329_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PQC29T6Jb1soEx_ALNd_dVtWQSr3mBsgYWg9yr0LuGVrNw4lAnRlnpN24YukvEI2iKSWBYMsycuvIuSCFGl6GImZ47hADJTfAgt2atAGIQ88It7w-q1-Lqq5dTN_BjErC7bjU7vXoQw/w640-h480/18055864_1354917027899073_4168252934691257329_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Adrian & Myself lining a Mad River Explorer 16 on the Polly Lochs</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After completing the Polly Lochs we arrived at our next objective, the River Polly. We'd planned to paddle this river down to the Fish Farm but unfortunately it was empty! A little progress was made by wading and a little more lining in places where the volume of water increased due to various constrictions in the river but progress was tortuous!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0K2YkN_ptZylJ-T6k8s390NdSBNmmH9KHnwOQTpQZpkWbtQGO6gB-GkADvUmAjc2yT_TG6Zw460zMwK0qguQTu3xHLI_m9T3F_7NW1-Pz3s1iAhPum-aa3b4_6oyFKdv0IWrSiUYxXM/s2048/18056506_1354919287898847_3530104904647089170_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0K2YkN_ptZylJ-T6k8s390NdSBNmmH9KHnwOQTpQZpkWbtQGO6gB-GkADvUmAjc2yT_TG6Zw460zMwK0qguQTu3xHLI_m9T3F_7NW1-Pz3s1iAhPum-aa3b4_6oyFKdv0IWrSiUYxXM/w640-h480/18056506_1354919287898847_3530104904647089170_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Andy-J & Myself lining on the River Polly</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There was a point at which the river came close to a short track which lead on to the single track road. We opted to leave the river at this point and extend our planned portage to Loch Bad a' Ghaill by an additional kilometre. We always knew that this would be the longest and hardest portage of the trip, up and over a watershed, a total distance of maybe approaching 4km with our extra addition. This is hardly the most populated corner of the UK but it must have made for an interesting sight for the occasional driver that we met and had to give way to either on the side of the road or in one of the many passing places.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUfm3NU1KLP7qqxt4FbCigCAnUxynjhLaJXEFX1cIFUFK8W-cnRsNLcg6v-DM_ii859wfB4kzBuSqTKhkJpSwuPqmBFii3mjBvuLnjIgmp_ShpSEBULrE7heny7Um6WEqAEvA9zAjse4/s2048/18055636_1354921914565251_8183431318700426201_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUfm3NU1KLP7qqxt4FbCigCAnUxynjhLaJXEFX1cIFUFK8W-cnRsNLcg6v-DM_ii859wfB4kzBuSqTKhkJpSwuPqmBFii3mjBvuLnjIgmp_ShpSEBULrE7heny7Um6WEqAEvA9zAjse4/w640-h480/18055636_1354921914565251_8183431318700426201_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Adrian & Paul taking the strain</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Our descent towards Loch Bad a' Ghaill although very welcome was heralded by a marked increase in wind speed and by the time we got back afloat again conditions had deteriorated to a F5 Westerly wind, fading light and a persistent drizzle. We headed directly for a small bay at the far South Eastern end of the loch and pitched tents for a sub-optimal night's camping in now driving rain. There was little socialising on this evening with everyone cooking in or close to their tents and taking the opportunity for an early night.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Conditions were no better the following morning: still wet and with a wind that had begun to gust up to F6, thankfully still behind us. Rather than try to paddle back out on to Loch Bad a' Ghaill we portaged the short distance across the headland and launched directly on to Loch Lurgainn.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCOypZ8iDw6gGCtFQySnSmKXyl21U4soB1H4qx5IQF6MiZ6ezUcdwPy_iL0-xvkNT-UZGRHuFNVPuJ3rCppy5MApzXXq5TD7cC-vZ9VB_H0J1AdcI68aQqYnGSRC9N7qkxLkzVx1BkSI/s2048/18077440_1354921731231936_3417384422116675110_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCOypZ8iDw6gGCtFQySnSmKXyl21U4soB1H4qx5IQF6MiZ6ezUcdwPy_iL0-xvkNT-UZGRHuFNVPuJ3rCppy5MApzXXq5TD7cC-vZ9VB_H0J1AdcI68aQqYnGSRC9N7qkxLkzVx1BkSI/w640-h480/18077440_1354921731231936_3417384422116675110_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Portage to Loch Lurghainn</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On Loch Lurgainn conditions were pretty grim, the wind hadn't relented at all and the light despite it only being late morning was poor. We made a windy crossing to a headland adjacent to a large island. Before ultimately gaining some shelter in the lea of the headland as we jagged back slightly north to end our journey early afternoon at the foot of Stac Pollaidh. The mountain is quite an edifice rising up from close to the loch with much of its sandstone having been washed down over the millennia to add to the many red sandy beaches in the area.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpT2Q7Qgm98HTA5kg4vnfrvLtaYV-NPIvSRrODfVGx1ckkGYGIgiy6VA7lRoUFNxOSblMxA5VHAuAQyddczRSGEOeEGMFPrZgcm8yFFZUefPYHjmG_IJqWa-xkVI8eLVShy41P3wy5Zo/s2048/18076523_1354926091231500_6212086520815815045_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpT2Q7Qgm98HTA5kg4vnfrvLtaYV-NPIvSRrODfVGx1ckkGYGIgiy6VA7lRoUFNxOSblMxA5VHAuAQyddczRSGEOeEGMFPrZgcm8yFFZUefPYHjmG_IJqWa-xkVI8eLVShy41P3wy5Zo/w640-h480/18076523_1354926091231500_6212086520815815045_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Andy-J and Maccy crossing Loch Lurghainn in poor conditions</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsKUa5ZECnIhEIBmqxu5BcTPtFnjFqtgfJtH7Cm5v2w921ZkXnfopGyug1NAjpUuhigHIXRF5IQSjYikAmA0Y0O33NpJBUMQcZGU41bBMCPYQ3V03YDym_pF0jcA_Jw8XSqbrr2IilTo/s2048/18076895_1354922247898551_1691758328091395385_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsKUa5ZECnIhEIBmqxu5BcTPtFnjFqtgfJtH7Cm5v2w921ZkXnfopGyug1NAjpUuhigHIXRF5IQSjYikAmA0Y0O33NpJBUMQcZGU41bBMCPYQ3V03YDym_pF0jcA_Jw8XSqbrr2IilTo/w640-h480/18076895_1354922247898551_1691758328091395385_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>A bit more of Loch Lurgainn's wildness</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We finished the trip in significantly different weather than we started and opted to spend another night with an element of wildness by camping amongst the trees that sit between Loch Lurghainn and the Stac Pollaidh car park, it would have been nice to be a little more remote but we heard little from the nearby single track road and celebrated the end of the journey well with our remaining supplies - bolstered by one or two additional items from Ian's car which was only a few hundred metres away on the car park!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This was an excellent trip - one of the best we've done!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMndLKl05usFGyLVxs_zu9VDPY7y-I-lvaPSvoDgaj4XxbC_3G2jKX8Wu5pKkR63965Pt_ubMD0vcXg1Uofm6iolRiEfq0zbU20rbaswC9Pdg23nk_WOifDMH4NVdf5frv7HMlhFsyiEw/s2048/18077120_1354931651230944_6488381880007592291_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMndLKl05usFGyLVxs_zu9VDPY7y-I-lvaPSvoDgaj4XxbC_3G2jKX8Wu5pKkR63965Pt_ubMD0vcXg1Uofm6iolRiEfq0zbU20rbaswC9Pdg23nk_WOifDMH4NVdf5frv7HMlhFsyiEw/w640-h480/18077120_1354931651230944_6488381880007592291_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Final night's camp at the foot of Stac Pollaidh</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrOqRH-zuIYcc8Z5_0xm9v6zLAVy-LlUMmpO-hKA3ojtGk82BghEGtZ3lxPw95jhI_CF4suQrDMc3WuoOgVoyu7ZEz8SbX6P43xqWVy82jQR6S0EZHMf-aMTnCTxF9cFc6j__4Ss5woA/s3872/DSC02151.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrOqRH-zuIYcc8Z5_0xm9v6zLAVy-LlUMmpO-hKA3ojtGk82BghEGtZ3lxPw95jhI_CF4suQrDMc3WuoOgVoyu7ZEz8SbX6P43xqWVy82jQR6S0EZHMf-aMTnCTxF9cFc6j__4Ss5woA/w640-h360/DSC02151.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Rough outline of our route</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>You can also find an account of this trip on our <a href="https://youtu.be/U3hoXzw8mSQ" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a></b></span></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-20082837868359888812021-02-22T07:52:00.001-08:002021-02-22T07:52:18.513-08:00Monday Inspiration<p><span style="font-family: arial;">We've missed spending our customary amount of time out and about in the Lake District; North Pennines and Scotland this past few months and similarly we are realising how much we've missed posting here for some time!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For a little Monday inspiration here are a few images from some of our recent social media posts:</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlxehYRoFAC9XnGBRpZy9vWbNpSyUlnjLprE6l6mCvlqt7UDhaNkVskcJSc26n7wR3USKQVxY5TSZfho3LnKVFK8Cwep3rd1BYti91_vFoC_HK1r0Cfwp2DeZURjDmpMf5o4xe8OOP_c/s2048/PB040001.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/AVvXsEiMlxehYRoFAC9XnGBRpZy9vWbNpSyUlnjLprE6l6mCvlqt7UDhaNkVskcJSc26n7wR3USKQVxY5TSZfho3LnKVFK8Cwep3rd1BYti91_vFoC_HK1r0Cfwp2DeZURjDmpMf5o4xe8OOP_c/w640-h480/PB040001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ullswater, Autumn 2020</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Nz0jmpxtgGV_h5lpwS4IjlIflOTPCOSCixbmUkLMX7yB_8NIarxODx-lOHECFw0qB3uDXDZ-poV29jqPYsC17GZu3JhD7hSLRmg5gfO1-iO5CAmSpZSlWeRPvd8snIEgw198d0OnTEE/s2048/P3050010.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/AVvXsEg8Nz0jmpxtgGV_h5lpwS4IjlIflOTPCOSCixbmUkLMX7yB_8NIarxODx-lOHECFw0qB3uDXDZ-poV29jqPYsC17GZu3JhD7hSLRmg5gfO1-iO5CAmSpZSlWeRPvd8snIEgw198d0OnTEE/w640-h480/P3050010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">View From Cat Bells, Early 2020</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Hm-YejSL4Wi00X2tU9j2NyYNTrwuetXaScRTJziB3c3QUc-MRmnA7dAmTDa_oiSAgqwrKuvjuN2DSYLWBbzqFvSHRgUpDq4bNvVPj0Hg34kqn8XDpu09yu7Q0QK8Z9bxegZib6Rkgxs/s2048/P1250044.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/AVvXsEj0Hm-YejSL4Wi00X2tU9j2NyYNTrwuetXaScRTJziB3c3QUc-MRmnA7dAmTDa_oiSAgqwrKuvjuN2DSYLWBbzqFvSHRgUpDq4bNvVPj0Hg34kqn8XDpu09yu7Q0QK8Z9bxegZib6Rkgxs/w480-h640/P1250044.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yorkshire Dales, Early 2020</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-41585341425961379322021-02-20T08:23:00.002-08:002021-02-20T08:23:58.026-08:00"The Pandemic Year" (So Far)<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sat at home, late February 2021, following our local morning walk "from the front door" UK Lockdown 3.0 seems to rumble on interminably. Looking back a year, by this time it had become clear that we were heading for a season that most of us had never before experienced. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Our year had started well, the calendar was full from the beginning of March onwards and we'd enjoyed plenty of time at the climbing wall through December, January & February.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbYPjvb5-W0U7TNd38QCO3mOgswD7JBhZUkPqaA7BaHFU4PFOcxCSysjJ8mz19SfCTqXZOi1ZJE1Cc2UzwEuLm_qbBiTe1aIx-61YwPQWav5kcHfuFR8Xld6lXPXodTxWhSuQybC2Wgg/s960/87939956_2789646871092741_9029739569527914496_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbYPjvb5-W0U7TNd38QCO3mOgswD7JBhZUkPqaA7BaHFU4PFOcxCSysjJ8mz19SfCTqXZOi1ZJE1Cc2UzwEuLm_qbBiTe1aIx-61YwPQWav5kcHfuFR8Xld6lXPXodTxWhSuQybC2Wgg/w210-h373/87939956_2789646871092741_9029739569527914496_n.jpg" width="210" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">At home we were preparing to have a new bathroom fitted as one of our "winter projects" and mid- March was busy mainly with freelancing engagements for local outdoor centres. We'd commented on how much we were enjoying the above average amount of time being spent in the Lake District Fells working with groups.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">In the days leading up to UK Lockdown 1.0 we spent a day out together on Ullswater in the canoe and a day in the Northern Fells with Charis climbing High Pike and Carrock Fell. From memory March 2020 was a cold but fairly dry month.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">On 10th March 2020 Coronavirus showed its face at Charis' school when a teacher returning from a half term holiday in Northern Italy sadly tested positive, by the 12th March school closed (not to open again for many weeks) and on 23rd March the first Lockdown began. Marion was unwell right at the start of this period: fatigue, new persistent cough and a high temperature. We'll never know whether this was "the virus" or just "a virus" as widespread testing was yet to become available, however, she recovered and nobody else was affected. The un - seasonally warm, sunny and dry weather made the early part of April feel like some sort of surreal novelty - an unexpected and unplanned break from "normal". Early morning exercise; short local walks and bike rides became the norm we even ran our cancelled Easter Canoe Trip "virtually" from the back garden!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSTHtPQ5tUWLymxD3JtdbsK7Ucex3Zk5DQdErVtqtqW6YX5oucTexGfjUsJglU8ufbkrNq27ZfI8oPpWIRmsANfdvtnBd7X4eoXV1oeb549TV9q9C2b-tEgpVhfhuz-1x5y81hb5M2aY/s2048/P3210018.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/AVvXsEhUSTHtPQ5tUWLymxD3JtdbsK7Ucex3Zk5DQdErVtqtqW6YX5oucTexGfjUsJglU8ufbkrNq27ZfI8oPpWIRmsANfdvtnBd7X4eoXV1oeb549TV9q9C2b-tEgpVhfhuz-1x5y81hb5M2aY/w640-h480/P3210018.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">High Pike Summit, with Charis, on a cold windy March day 2020</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfQ8Ym7i9Fa3QEu8D9j7sjoDKZPcw1gOJiw9rChVr7pOPhgbXFTiy1buaYZpek-q80AG_-8Ynq15OfBjQUMo6KZD0xZ5C-QeUUVggpC7L6amHQMw4vh8MIO6PamjckWWhQ3BKUminuxg/s3872/DSC02062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfQ8Ym7i9Fa3QEu8D9j7sjoDKZPcw1gOJiw9rChVr7pOPhgbXFTiy1buaYZpek-q80AG_-8Ynq15OfBjQUMo6KZD0xZ5C-QeUUVggpC7L6amHQMw4vh8MIO6PamjckWWhQ3BKUminuxg/w640-h360/DSC02062.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiXIo3O7nukbyhTOU80dMdULpmK5YtVuDJAMHIZyHbaFdk7IRCDAUpmfudeES-iahItXWFWtpTLvYunP_paT_Tj3TT2gofFfTkP0derMiM_H69Mcr6ohF7BRF64_53zfXwEqxvFFm-wY/s3872/DSC02098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiXIo3O7nukbyhTOU80dMdULpmK5YtVuDJAMHIZyHbaFdk7IRCDAUpmfudeES-iahItXWFWtpTLvYunP_paT_Tj3TT2gofFfTkP0derMiM_H69Mcr6ohF7BRF64_53zfXwEqxvFFm-wY/w640-h360/DSC02098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEynrOMbmwsm5CcHPbYeT31bjeY0RJosDL9zqHS9RJXLGrbUK8FOixuedozhlE5rcdFNUOdM_5h85rUa20IgEcgUQE3KKOLxWJMBEYZB9KbwYogQ0aMAIYFpEk1AOL9wle3YTc95KxFTM/s3872/DSC02130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEynrOMbmwsm5CcHPbYeT31bjeY0RJosDL9zqHS9RJXLGrbUK8FOixuedozhlE5rcdFNUOdM_5h85rUa20IgEcgUQE3KKOLxWJMBEYZB9KbwYogQ0aMAIYFpEk1AOL9wle3YTc95KxFTM/w640-h360/DSC02130.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Virtual Expedition, April 2020</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Novelty that it was I don't mind admitting that by the middle of April I was climbing the wall and the weeks that led up to a relaxation of restrictions later in May were often a frustrating time.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">However, the good weather continued and evenings spent in the open canoe on Ullswater and a day on Sands rapids on the River Eden heralded the beginning of at least a temporary "new normal"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKB7GIyRI0B3fEMBkN1QEQ9vZrenqtCA90pO2U43o7wPzyPpyCLX9mNMiq1NkpIQ14fwfQRuphDqHkGLEu9FqBFov3nFaJCmbdV6lUkctcMbfRxNMl2UCfxJR2yb9qpTyiKlts_aX_RwI/s3872/DSC02487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKB7GIyRI0B3fEMBkN1QEQ9vZrenqtCA90pO2U43o7wPzyPpyCLX9mNMiq1NkpIQ14fwfQRuphDqHkGLEu9FqBFov3nFaJCmbdV6lUkctcMbfRxNMl2UCfxJR2yb9qpTyiKlts_aX_RwI/w640-h360/DSC02487.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMrsHKAcwlFkUW18pp_KEZxDJzzOlPZHD0QAGVfVAhd0Ax6PVbdY4M8xngFlSgQTj0wOrHh4ZL_5c9IcyzzzCei5T3mjjmTmQKguL46gRPozE7rooNqI17WNinfzT1Qf6ZdiHLRuVNUY/s3872/DSC02406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMrsHKAcwlFkUW18pp_KEZxDJzzOlPZHD0QAGVfVAhd0Ax6PVbdY4M8xngFlSgQTj0wOrHh4ZL_5c9IcyzzzCei5T3mjjmTmQKguL46gRPozE7rooNqI17WNinfzT1Qf6ZdiHLRuVNUY/w640-h360/DSC02406.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Evening on Ullswater & Day at Sands Rapid, May 2020</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Still no work at this time but as restrictions eased further we began to get out in the fells on a regular basis - this was to be one of the highlights of the Pandemic Year as Marion went on to add a total of 54 new Wainwrights to her tally before Lockdown 3.0 ultimately curtailed all out of town activity. Days on Steeple & Pillar; Blencathra; the Far Eastern Fells and even the North Pennines were much enjoyed. We even became geriatric boulderers - a day on the sandstone of St Bees in baking June sunshine with dolphins swimming in a mirror calm sea was special!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWJWerZFgx5XrdLvYUovXzyr2dc6pyFJTWAXVmeuE2R8rhZarzFQqi2-7bXNuTWfI7QGgjHym6ZEBOff1x8IqqWo7FtOf_w_TaFev9MfRK-WBsz8O8hGuyBJNSyUXfHa82p1cndRcmyM/s2048/P6240079.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/AVvXsEivWJWerZFgx5XrdLvYUovXzyr2dc6pyFJTWAXVmeuE2R8rhZarzFQqi2-7bXNuTWfI7QGgjHym6ZEBOff1x8IqqWo7FtOf_w_TaFev9MfRK-WBsz8O8hGuyBJNSyUXfHa82p1cndRcmyM/w640-h480/P6240079.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Marion on Pillar Summit</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOW_5vKnncJSBJGoLQpcE2-qpMt5N3kHg16aiMBsoQEmZT8Lk2IBx_GOReWyaZauNabWTrRMfgnR9MJiXX0CfFZC-UbFzdb9mfYfIIm3w1Z5A-Rao3u4mNGy6WzVZNS3GWoDrgtcXApA/s3872/DSC02823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOW_5vKnncJSBJGoLQpcE2-qpMt5N3kHg16aiMBsoQEmZT8Lk2IBx_GOReWyaZauNabWTrRMfgnR9MJiXX0CfFZC-UbFzdb9mfYfIIm3w1Z5A-Rao3u4mNGy6WzVZNS3GWoDrgtcXApA/w640-h360/DSC02823.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">St Bees in the Sunshine with Andy Johnson, June 2020</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">July thankfully saw the re-start of our Community Programme - it was so good to be seeing folk and catching up again; late July marked the start of possibly the busiest time our business has ever known as the "Great British Staycation" gained momentum. We've never seen the Lake District so busy, it wasn't always pleasant but the injection of finance was welcome from a work perspective. This all continued, punctuated by a significant birthday & Marion qualifying as a Rock Climbing Instructor - what an achievement(!). Lockdown 2.0 in November effectively ended our working year. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZUIj4_xJriQTBdws-VfNPoPcQy2iLb3SAohKkhRsFA6zjnk9vCzjBZAFS_PSiJ32yxUH3za7oFBBZf-u7nERXyVEbEkdoLB-mgRuj5MYZ-qAxphZ3XaccSbAe60ZdsUPC7syOPf_hN4/s2048/P8080061.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/AVvXsEhTZUIj4_xJriQTBdws-VfNPoPcQy2iLb3SAohKkhRsFA6zjnk9vCzjBZAFS_PSiJ32yxUH3za7oFBBZf-u7nERXyVEbEkdoLB-mgRuj5MYZ-qAxphZ3XaccSbAe60ZdsUPC7syOPf_hN4/w640-h480/P8080061.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Community Micro-Expedition (Andy-J, Thompa & Maccy), August 2020</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3gff6o7LmZPX81tPiOIzEhIKri8qdXktvrn6RhXeR3MlHABOZgruTjHvasvvog2iLXOukmothNf-2sPGXpcVeruYvYVJKBRyTXG5C6f9UBs8RW9xXi_dGXuAdcnxJuctLT3a-TAj3uw/s3872/DSC03489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3gff6o7LmZPX81tPiOIzEhIKri8qdXktvrn6RhXeR3MlHABOZgruTjHvasvvog2iLXOukmothNf-2sPGXpcVeruYvYVJKBRyTXG5C6f9UBs8RW9xXi_dGXuAdcnxJuctLT3a-TAj3uw/w640-h360/DSC03489.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Foundation Safety & Rescue Training Course, Scottish Borders 2020</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBObpjTVY_NjUkG3rEqodlN7TTl8YnQdCjkmdgkP58ZT5EcTTpShfofbrbBTZro5Mj5VgG1ctt-rOo2y3NtLn1uOpaYdRjnp6SEtgCxtDOS5dk7uXiiPfXOB-y_MS0iaFzypOdd9WS8o/s1440/120187904_3329450523779037_4615015622972775236_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBObpjTVY_NjUkG3rEqodlN7TTl8YnQdCjkmdgkP58ZT5EcTTpShfofbrbBTZro5Mj5VgG1ctt-rOo2y3NtLn1uOpaYdRjnp6SEtgCxtDOS5dk7uXiiPfXOB-y_MS0iaFzypOdd9WS8o/w476-h640/120187904_3329450523779037_4615015622972775236_o.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Marion's last day of prep for RCI Assessment, Twistleton Scar, September 2020</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgh3Q7DprOzWPIzOK_7ZkVsYvgjPQ4NSG0b8WTsuiL3GE3XUEO4_u27iwWbTDGxC9mi5V2T9_ZCJk7Yhw1Bz5xOXetQnv8vG4iQw807in6rDY4eA4tkpzdY3s2xhqghz7J72NmL3_Jw3s/s960/120764135_10102626918338628_5677332488944271943_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgh3Q7DprOzWPIzOK_7ZkVsYvgjPQ4NSG0b8WTsuiL3GE3XUEO4_u27iwWbTDGxC9mi5V2T9_ZCJk7Yhw1Bz5xOXetQnv8vG4iQw807in6rDY4eA4tkpzdY3s2xhqghz7J72NmL3_Jw3s/w480-h640/120764135_10102626918338628_5677332488944271943_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pandemic 60th Birthday Celebrations, It was great to get to celebrate at least with the Carlisle contingent of the family, October 2021</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So, what of the rest of the year? It was a real joy to work with Rock UK's scaled down Instructor Training Programme for a few days in autumn & to get away on expedition with them to Loch Awe. Wintery days in the fells proved as enjoyable as Spring and Summer. Christmas saw us all self isolating after Marion's positive Covid test on 21st December (thankfully only mild symptoms were experienced) & January saw us back in Lockdown. What a year!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">However, we thank God that we and all our family are well but recognise that this has been a difficult year for many. We will be forever grateful for the support and blessings provided by friends, family, clients and colleagues throughout this "strangest of times". We now look forward with much anticipation to: vaccination; an easing of Lockdown 3.0; and hopefully a "new normal" somewhere on the near horizon!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, that's it by way of a catch up, we'll try to post with greater frequency - thanks to everyone for reading!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_E04yzP_gfG0yHjJhNj_pQYYbTfHdDlEtPtm0yVXCycu8Ykf4VNKU9CM9Ec-5LuDfM5VIaj9Nxpz7PLqn8DgBjF1G-DfXqy0aHTki_d9BMUi1uo2andwsf-C4-P-4WyPP0pYBMGO_GXw/s2048/20201120_114140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_E04yzP_gfG0yHjJhNj_pQYYbTfHdDlEtPtm0yVXCycu8Ykf4VNKU9CM9Ec-5LuDfM5VIaj9Nxpz7PLqn8DgBjF1G-DfXqy0aHTki_d9BMUi1uo2andwsf-C4-P-4WyPP0pYBMGO_GXw/w640-h480/20201120_114140.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Loch Awe, Autumn 2020</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKADAtNd6ckAZUGiquksSIeTJWDIKRexOVd1dm4yY93lt2wL8Tq0ksFMAazy47X3bBHZoMNNwRPO72NDtWwtpCUmUC0EPFcFYq_7qYFS5ey2RpIy5qeEHXPTETHHo8Bibhjkau51Chjs/s2048/PC070018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKADAtNd6ckAZUGiquksSIeTJWDIKRexOVd1dm4yY93lt2wL8Tq0ksFMAazy47X3bBHZoMNNwRPO72NDtWwtpCUmUC0EPFcFYq_7qYFS5ey2RpIy5qeEHXPTETHHo8Bibhjkau51Chjs/w640-h480/PC070018.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Far Eastern Fells, Autumn 2020</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0Carlisle, UK54.892473 -2.93293126.582239163821157 -38.089180999999996 83.202706836178848 32.223319000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133203782401743969.post-49951225965401264702021-02-20T05:58:00.000-08:002021-02-20T05:58:23.535-08:00Bridging The Gap!<p><span style="font-family: arial;">It came as quite a surprise to us both when we clicked through on a link to the blog and saw that nearly five years have passed since we last posted! We were perhaps even more surprised to see that the visit counter had clicked on to the heady number of 94, 221! Thank you to all those folk who have dropped in on the page.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A lot of material has been posted in the meantime via our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/malandmarion/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> & <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mal_mariontabb/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> feeds (we've also started a new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeBhTl34HGokDN60JbRu4-A?view_as=subscriber" target="_blank">YouTube</a> channel) but we thought it would be nice to get a bit more out in a longer format through this site, we are not sure that we'll get back to the level of posting that once was but as the pandemic continues to roll on there's plenty of opportunity - so we'll see how it goes & try to enjoy the journey!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ8tgRQGIDNBjQOMFleQYZYtMUTKs1soNMjFbOEULs2IX4ozHwCz6A9eDDmiZSiIVRzSKaJxtundUd6b9r1KwjBV40622OJlDwGWv6qI3doylHtik34bDxhRMeHQDOD5DF52ZnFNqMAM/s3872/DSC01887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3872" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ8tgRQGIDNBjQOMFleQYZYtMUTKs1soNMjFbOEULs2IX4ozHwCz6A9eDDmiZSiIVRzSKaJxtundUd6b9r1KwjBV40622OJlDwGWv6qI3doylHtik34bDxhRMeHQDOD5DF52ZnFNqMAM/w640-h360/DSC01887.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Marion on Ullswater</div></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The "missing years" have been a time of much blessing and we have been grateful for each day. Work has been plentiful (until the pandemic!) and its been a joy to be able to spend as much time as we do in the created outdoor environment - work, leisure & life itself continue to merge into one!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It would be impossible to give a concise summary in a sensible number of words of every high & low of the last few years so we've decided to try to tell a story in pictures of some of the highlights from the period 2017 - 2019. The "Pandemic Year" being worthy of a post of its own!!</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ha-NO6KonZOaXN5Eof47oEr0nIjRSEOU6Svl_CZIrcnwi6Y32V0yoHra_y9jLEdLjvbMJcHTI0-clGH1-xVmO5libgVN8VGcgZzJgCgmr_El8qB03L_PsKXrDxq88lI0yCcBGV49beU/s2048/18056292_1354913681232741_8199206690271100272_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ha-NO6KonZOaXN5Eof47oEr0nIjRSEOU6Svl_CZIrcnwi6Y32V0yoHra_y9jLEdLjvbMJcHTI0-clGH1-xVmO5libgVN8VGcgZzJgCgmr_El8qB03L_PsKXrDxq88lI0yCcBGV49beU/w640-h480/18056292_1354913681232741_8199206690271100272_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Boat Bay, Inverpolly 2017<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3V1upiNyKrSupW4dnnQ0lHf78DL7BmWsU7cU19Z48ijiQ0622F7KZQH_kUylaU6FGaq5OnZaQcCQZ7bcgQMVxfvoXFoLP5hrWsTaWfXRjIQBZHI3MZhhdrAUfDgs1GHKE-j4U9b3KRJ8/s2048/DSCF9267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="2048" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3V1upiNyKrSupW4dnnQ0lHf78DL7BmWsU7cU19Z48ijiQ0622F7KZQH_kUylaU6FGaq5OnZaQcCQZ7bcgQMVxfvoXFoLP5hrWsTaWfXRjIQBZHI3MZhhdrAUfDgs1GHKE-j4U9b3KRJ8/w640-h386/DSCF9267.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">The "Washing Machine" River Spey 2018<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsUyXIkPERMibzaQmMRsjhBaNP2zUbxKAnEtjyZU1aR5SkeU_sMuWzH6aYTXiuY2vQL0FaKCEQNep1moeaMmO_zGyD8VG_a-gw3z5Ryy7RTPXxjv6S6OxtVtOGS3kEOV9zelsXZoDEgE/s1536/87835953_2796088867115208_568726929247567872_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsUyXIkPERMibzaQmMRsjhBaNP2zUbxKAnEtjyZU1aR5SkeU_sMuWzH6aYTXiuY2vQL0FaKCEQNep1moeaMmO_zGyD8VG_a-gw3z5Ryy7RTPXxjv6S6OxtVtOGS3kEOV9zelsXZoDEgE/w640-h640/87835953_2796088867115208_568726929247567872_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Scaffel Pike, School Charity Event, July 2018</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguq2BB1Qha4orXKYcyM5_MExjB2Yc1agh74T0L46FrlJrO_PiXRYQ2HQNB7E0ApgbJynUQCoMnU5Oobf2APnMXzeK9vyAzZ2ok0tIhW6aNDAqiyqk-X5OhBkZiTrUS39edn6_UtA2Gwo4/s2048/P4180317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguq2BB1Qha4orXKYcyM5_MExjB2Yc1agh74T0L46FrlJrO_PiXRYQ2HQNB7E0ApgbJynUQCoMnU5Oobf2APnMXzeK9vyAzZ2ok0tIhW6aNDAqiyqk-X5OhBkZiTrUS39edn6_UtA2Gwo4/w640-h480/P4180317.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">River Aline, Morvern Peninsula Canoe Trip, 2019</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYkyyHBNrvUlBn_u1VZZJGQLQW1cSnkDkSgDRQcmf-XrcsmMuKQRVCsRUA9KLHfLQ2fEgaXoMOOqQFMOLRsCVKzAgbNqmgEvb-PfI1mpSEVF7MCakW6D6_K7D08P__RzhrIKzNFmvC0Y/s2048/P7030032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYkyyHBNrvUlBn_u1VZZJGQLQW1cSnkDkSgDRQcmf-XrcsmMuKQRVCsRUA9KLHfLQ2fEgaXoMOOqQFMOLRsCVKzAgbNqmgEvb-PfI1mpSEVF7MCakW6D6_K7D08P__RzhrIKzNFmvC0Y/w640-h480/P7030032.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Striding Edge, Helvellyn, School Charity Event, July 2019</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXBuEPIyJZMtIQKD37MmWTEsvAAKrr4rVZuAQq9fVFKPYik6X2zl9B3CURtMC5NOJ7Tqtatpa8RVHg7DFqQP5P62utJDWe5gMwZG4l4weMpeyWPrkJ9AgvF9gxGVkhHQYmq_l4wltvP4/s2048/PB300081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXBuEPIyJZMtIQKD37MmWTEsvAAKrr4rVZuAQq9fVFKPYik6X2zl9B3CURtMC5NOJ7Tqtatpa8RVHg7DFqQP5P62utJDWe5gMwZG4l4weMpeyWPrkJ9AgvF9gxGVkhHQYmq_l4wltvP4/w640-h480/PB300081.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Heron Pot, Yorkshire Dales, December 2019</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The short visual story above gives only the most fleeting glimpse of all that went on between 2017-2019 suffice to say that there was a strong theme of: Canoes, Mountains, Caves, "Community", schools work, youth & family work. We also spent many days freelancing for other outdoor providers around the Lake District & Scottish Borders. We could have written several posts on all the amazing times spent working with <a href="https://www.ventures.org.uk/" target="_blank">Ventures</a> Christian Youth camps, especially <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cricciethpfc" target="_blank">Criccieth 2 Pathfinder Camp</a>! There's just too much too tell - we should have kept up better!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Malhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473186839894751451noreply@blogger.com0