Winter Wonderings

Firstly an apology for the month long gap between posts - the Epson wireless printer I spent some time installing has corrupted my net book causing it to crash every time it tries to log in to a wireless network - solutions on a postcard please. Despite much uninstalling, system restoring and the like the problem persists so this post is being sent via an older machine which saw much use in Oz and NZ and had been looking forward to its retirement.
Anyway the last month has seen my usual variety of activities whilst simultaneously tying up my late father's affairs - part of which involved trips to Yorkshire and London where Madam Tussaud's provided a surreal diversion on what would have been his 80th birthday. The spectacular and cavernous interior of Westminster Underground station placed us at the heart of democracy with the city transforming after dark in to a vibrant and colourful scene.

Back in Wales I enjoyed a long day walk in the waterfall country of the Brecon Beacons National Park meeting no one on a rare break from the torrential winter rains before assisting in the introduction of 4 novices to the joys of caving with a few hours spent in the Upper Series of Ogof Fynnon Ddu in the Swansea Valley. The team all enjoyed their experience and proved very competent with all of us appreciating the warm, dry and windless conditions that contrasted sharply with the conditions outside that made our return to coffee and cake in the van something of an ordeal.

Another almost spring like day last weekend saw a group of us enjoy several hours mountain biking in the Wye Valley combined with arboriculutural challenges as a large number of substantial trees had fallen in the previous week's storms. Excellent navigational skills from Dale saw us explore a range of tracks and bridleways and it will be an area to return to after in my case a surprising twenty year absence. Dovetailed in to all of the above were a number of forays to the bothies located on OS Sheet 147 to secrete coal and in one case food and gas to sustain us during our 6 day walk starting tomorrow.

3 of us are intending to link 5 bothies via various tops and tracks with the social interaction of the Wales Area Meeting on Saturday 1st March at Nant Syddion providing a welcome diversion. Spotty Spot HERE will track my whereabouts and the photos reached by clicking HERE cover the last month of meandering.