22°C, bright and sunny. Light SW.
I rode with MapMyRide+! Distance: 25.16km, time: 01:16:28, pace: 3:02min/km, speed: 19.74km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1718709494
I’ve listed today’s rides separately because of their different character. Firstly a short one on the race bike and then to work on the cross bike. Finally, I returned along the canal.
Total, about 42 miles.
I rode cyclocross (Jake), with MapMyRide+! Distance: 23.57km, time: 01:22:41, pace: 3:30min/km, speed: 17.10km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1715620499
Still not fully recovered, but it’s time to ride after two weeks.
20°C, fair summer’s day.
The wasps have been busy. This bulging paper nest was not visible one short week ago.
Wasps’ nest
23°C, clearing to blue sky. No real wind.
I have a wasps’ nest in my house. It’s actually in an air-brick to the front room. Last year, I blocked the air-brick because ivy was growing through into the room right behind my stereo.
I discovered the nest yesterday when trimming a sapling Ash tree which is trying to establish itself next to the house.
Early in the morning, strange scratching sounds house can be heard from behind the stereo. Moving closer, you could clearly hear buzzing.
I presume they were warming themselves up for the day, or even cooling the nest because the sun shone on the vent.
This presents a problem- what to do, if anything, about it. Continue reading
24°C, nil wind, nil cloud and simply a perfect day.
N+1=5 what have I just bought?
[Insert paragraph where I justify another bike.]
I have test ridden it and it fits well.
23°C ,cloudless blue, perfect day.
What a day to get a cold. I have so much to do here at home. Garden, marking and decorating.
At least this may explain why the last few days hiking were not as energetic as normal. Often, I get back feeling that my stamina is indefatigable. Mike R. had a cold mm last week’s expedition. That’s where it came from, no-one else has one.
More:
My partner pointed out that I have just been on a very demanding (physically) course, in bad weather where I get cold and wet. With all that on top of wind, rain and lugging a heavy load, the expedition was lead by a guy who had a cold.
It’s not surprising then…
Up to now, I have found air crash sites while hiking. Remote mountainous areas are a threat to low flying military pilots. Our intended camp was confirmed when we found aircraft wreckage by a small lake. We all pitched together by some crags.
On Mull, a Dakota; Dark Peak, a Lancaster and the Carneddeau, a Camberra.
This picture was taken on the Dark Peak near Kinderscout. The plane was well scattered such that I only saw one engine and some pieces of fuselage. The engine was a radial, possibly a Hercules.
RAF Camberra , here is a turbine engine of the type common in early post war jets.
This next shot shows what I think may be a tail pipe, also from an engine.
12°C, cloud from 50m, strong wind 40mph at 900m.
Heavy pack was a drag on this climb. But to walk in a group, I was not left behind even though my bag was the heaviest (at 18kg).
We got to Foel Grach and I took the navigation from there to the next summit. 40mph wind and rain was quite a force away from the shelves of a wall. Paths are, however; easy to follow up there. Jenny navigated to the next summit which has a mountain rescue shelter that we recovered in for a while.
Descent to the lake also offered some respite, although the wind dropped, gusts were stronger.
Our intended camp was confirmed when we found aircraft wreckage by a small lake. We all pitched together by some crags.
I was glad to climb in and change into some dry clothes.
Night navigation: u that was hard. Wind, hill fog and bouts of rain made visibility poor at best. We had to figure where we are at any time from the slope of the land in a circle 20m around. Occasionally, you can use a arch as a landmark, or grass but that’s all. But, it is actually enough.
Two obstacles were tiredness and the visibility. If only there was a clear sky above.
I think I did okay.
Mike, the trainer thought so too. However, I have a few problems to solve:
Poor vision in rain,
Keeping warm,
Feeding in the night.
Day 1; micro-navigation,
Day 2: moving on steep ground. We climbed Pen-yr-ole Wen by the route from Llyn Ogwen. Our tutor demonstrated how a rope could be used on the scrambling section to get a group of novices up.
Day 3: steep ground practicing with ropes. Tried out several belaying types and the Sth African Abseil method. That one could be very useful on solo trips. Then we climbed up to L Tryfan ( the one by the Llanberis track).
Day 4: Confidence roping and river crossing in Nant Gwynant.
Day 5 & 6: expedition. This 36 hours of my life deserves a separate post.
Creag a’Mhain, (m), 947m,
Druim Shionnach (m), 987m;
Aonach air Crith, (m), 1021m;
Maol Chin-dearg, (m), 981m;
Sgurr an Doire Leatham, (m), 1010m;
Started with cloud at 800m with some breaks. After tricky path finding up Drochaid an Ullit Ghubhais it got easier, though steep. Once on the ridge, paths were easy to find despite no visibility. Concentration was needed to keep a track on location. Ahead lay a string of summits and bealachs. With visibility no more than 30m, other techniques were necessary to keep your position in mind. At 12.30, I pulled the storm-bivvy bag out and climbed in to read the map and eat sandwiches. These things are amazingly warm, even by myself.
On the next summit, a guy appeared out of the mist heading my way. He was James, a real Munro bagger. He had 90 odd and was keen to get as many as possible today. He suggested we walk the whole ridge together to his car and he could drop me back at Cluanie Inn. That’s not much more than my planned walk and I’d get 7 munros ‘ticked off’.
Part of the ridge, from the road.
Finally, the skies started to break on approach to the last climb. The bonus munro would be free of hill fog. Better than that, the light sharpened revealing fine views south into the deep Glen and even out to sea. Skye could be seen and possibly, Rum.
Feeling tired and thirsty, I hoped for an easy descent. But no, the rounded boulders underfoot would require concentration all the way down from 900m to the river. On another day, that would have been fun. I will have to come back.
Micycle 