Beacons Break

After a long but pleasant journey south I have been catching up with friends and family during a fortnight spent largely around the Brecon Beacons. An enjoyable week's farm sitting reminded me of the pleasures of 'The Good Life' but also the commitments whilst also giving me the opportunity to sort out the van, have a spring clean and refresh kit for the trip over to Ireland on Saturday. I have booked a place for the HUBB meeting in Enniskillen - link here which should provide information and inspiration after which I will explore the north and west coasts before collecting friends from Dublin for a week in the Wicklows.
A good training ride for the Beast over the Gap road followed by a favourite walk over the Carmarthen Fans reminded me that sometimes you don't have to travel very far to be impressed - remarkably it is a decade since I last walked those tops in the summer. To mark my apparent return to irritatingly sound health I will be raising funds for Brecon War Memorial Hospital who were instrumental in promptly diagnosing and reacting to the drama of six months ago - cheque donations gratefully received - email me if you need my Coventry address, or thrust cash at me when I next see you - always a good idea! The event takes place on the 9th of September and will be reported here in due course.
I hope to continue posting in Ireland and will produce a more substantial range of  photos shortly - meanwhile a few humble offerings appear here. 
Erratic if not exotic locations available courtesy of the Spot here

Final Week

The climb up Ben Mohr on the hottest day of the trip brought some respite from the heat and offered memorable views across most of the Uists, north to Harris and east to Skye and Rhum floating on a mirror flat sea. Eriskay was crossed in a flurry and the final few days spent on Barra. Whilst small the island has lots to offer and I enjoyed a good half day kayaking around the bays and islands to the north with heron nests seen at very close quarters whilst seals observed us warily. The remarkable sight of flights using Traigh Mohr beach as an airstrip was a  highlight followed by a walk up the island's highpoint Sheaval for more panoramic vistas.


Three static days on a small campsite next to the sea gave me a respite from driving and allowed me to explore pretty Vatersay on two wheels - empty beaches and warm sunshine combined with a cool breeze made for perfect conditions.
Unfortunately too much use of the CD player gave me a flat battery this morning forty minutes before I was due on the ferry - fortunately my power pack and the 12v charger from the generator soon had me going but I have resolved to wire said machine in to the second battery to prevent a re occurrence, one of a long list of minir tasks to be completed between milking the chickens and counting the carrots next week.
A calm crossing to Oban was enlivened by a practice launch and recovery of the ship's fast rescue RIB and I now begin the long haul south after a ten week trip that has restored my own confidence in my health, allowed me to enjoy some of Scotland's finest in generally excellent weather and come up with a framework for the next year before another big trip begins in 2013.


Pics here and locations here.


There will be a break of a few weeks whilst I am in Wales but late June sees me off to Ireland so I hope to start blogging again once over there.