Scottish Spring

After a relaxing and productive fortnight in Devon I headed over to Pembrokeshire to get the good news from my GP that they were happy for me to have a 3 month prescription freeing me to travel further afield with a repeat appointment and further blood tests not due until June.

A stove was collected and delivered to a bothy near Dolgellau where an excellent weekend's weather enabled us to remove the old one, sort out the flue, source new pipes and leave everything ready for the next visitors.

On the Sunday I met with my parents in Bishop's Castle for mail and departed for Sheffield the next day. A friend and I then spent three perfect days walking above Grassington including a long day over to Malham Tarn with a return via Gordale Scar. The superb scenery, empty space and glorious sun combined with good company and two excellent meals to make for a perfect break.

After going our separate ways I travelled via Coverdale to Swaledale and then explored the lead workings high above Arkengarthdale before spending the night near the Tan Hill Inn whose cosy comforts were enhanced by a talented harpist.

Less than four hours driving the next day had me past Glasgow where queues of motorists were searching for fuel and in the early afternoon I crossed from Gourock to Dunooon on the ferry.

A peaceful spot opposite Bute saw me ready to catch another ferry from Portavadie to picturesque Tarbet where a two hour walk in the forests and hills above the village offered wonderful views of the complicated coastline. A fellow passenger was a keen sea kayaker and had just retired with a plan to visit NZ at length next year.

The busy Kennacraig to Islay sailing was full at lunchtime so I could not travel earlier than booked so I took myself around part of the Kintyre Peninsula enjoying more wonderful views of the two islands I shall spend the next ten days on.

Some pictures should be here and the SPOT may be found via here - although the link has been playing up.

Devon's Delights

After 3 months of largely occupying the van I have recently had the chance to enjoy a comfortable bungalow in the quiet village of Galmpton near Brixham. Despite having visited nearby Dartmoor in previous years and explored the coastline to both the east and west this area was new to me.

The Dart Valley's attractions were a revelation with Agatha Christie's home at nearby Greenway sitting in magnificent grounds which led to the small jetty from which local ferries linked to Dittisham and Dartmouth. This access to sheltered waters enabled a friend to join me for a test paddle from Totnes to Dartmouth with favourable tides and high pressure - conditions which allowed him to paddle the dramatic coastline from Brixham, round Berry Head and in to Kingswear the following day.

During the week I attended to a number of tasks on the van - a replacement fridge was fitted and some plumbing and wiring rerouted to facilitate the installation of an underslung waste tank. A new bike rack that will allow me to access the fresh water fill point without removing the carrier or bikes was ordered and fitted - being higher and mounted on just one door it also removes the need for a light board which will simplify things and avoids the need for heavy lifting.

A TV bracket fitted in the roof space added a touch of sophistication and following a full service the trusty bus is now ready for my drift north to Skye over the next month.

Another friend joined me for the weekend during which we enjoyed a fourteen mile walk following the route of Greg's paddle from the swooping coast path but taking almost 3 times as long and then on Sunday walking along the valley to Dartmouth and returning by ferry.

In bright early morning sunshine I explored the empty expanse of Slapton Sands - used for training prior to the Normandy landings almost 70 years ago but now a haven for bird life before carrying on to spectacular Start and then Prawle Points. Salcombe's Sharpitor provided a final walk after a perfect day with good views of large vessels entering the Channel or heading for Plymouth further along the coast.

A day's gardening and housework has left the premises spick and span so tomorrow sees a leisurely return to Wales for badminton, a GP appointment and then a quick trip in to a bothy near Dolgellau to deliver a replacement stove before heading up to the Yorkshire Dales.

Photos of the last fortnight appear can be found here and I hope to get the Spot locator reporting in during the extended Scottish trip.

The slideshow casts back to the charms of Japan.

Spring Tales

Following the successful trek in Cumbria I revisited the northern Pennines en route to Sheffield and then Coventry and made the decision to retrace my steps at leisure en route to Scotland in late March.

An enjoyable weekend in Bristol included a walk through the Avon valley spotting a pair of deer and admiring a substantial heronry with a dozen or more pairs of the large birds roosting high in the bankside oaks. A pedal in to Bristol gave me a chance to enjoy the old docks and wharves which have been substantially improved and redeveloped over the 22 years since I left for a new life in Wales. A whizz round the mountain bike trail at Ashton Court was my first proper foray on a mountain bike since December which I found exhilarating and reassuring. We also found time to diagnose a broken rear spring as the cause of much rattling beneath the van - as the fridge had also expired I returned to Coventry to pick up a new fridge and an underslung waste tank from the excellent CAK tanks and a spare spring from home.

Raglan Castle provided an interesting diversion en route to Brecon although the flat light didn't show off the spectacular ruins to their best.

Whilst hanging out in the Beacons the second spring also gave up the ghost - considering the terrain and mileage covered fully laden in Oz this was not unexpected and the last renewal had been 4 years and 75,000 miles ago. Thus I decided to entrust their replacement with the main dealer in Swansea before heading north to mid Wales for a very productive scaffold training session at Nant Rhys bothy. A mix of Spring like weather prevailed and the two dozen of us learnt a lot which should hold us in good stead for the planned re roofing in October.

Our Spring meeting went well but a planned motor rally on the Sunday required most people to make an early start to avoid the race so the traditional Saturday night celebrations were curtailed somewhat.

With a departure planned for Monday I decided to wander down to enjoy the spectacle before returning to the now deserted building for a tidy up before dozing in front of the stove as a blizzard and thunderstorm disturbed the otherwise silent location. Surprisingly given the remote location a phone signal was available so a few arrangements for the imminent fortnight in Devon were made before I retreated to the van for the night. The presence of a nearby wind farm and the mobile signal caused me to reflect on how different life at this old farm would have been when it was a family home and how important the work of the MBA is in ensuring that these abandoned properties do at least remain as welcome refuges for lovers of the few remaining relatively wild places of Britain.

Pictures at this link and a slideshow looking back to South Australia a year ago (just to convince me it wasn't all a dream!).

Cumbrian Capers

Our impressive friend on the left provided barn security on the small holding of friends in Carmarthenshire who kindly invited me to stay for the weekend before 10 weeks after my initial admission for angioplasty and having built up with walks of varying length and intensity I drove to the Lake District to rendezvous with three friends from the the bothy scene. The previous week's cold spell (-8C whilst overnighting in Brecon) was easing but Rydal Water still held a sheet of ice as we began to ascend the eastern fells of Langdale after the two hardiest souls had spent a memorable night in an old slate cavern.

Despite the cold wind and lying snow we enjoyed good weather and views across Lakeland as we reached the tops of Sergeant Man and High Raise before a steep drop off in to Langstrathdale for a meeting with the fifth member of the team and a windy but spectacular overnight stop.

Wednesday started with a steep climb in slushy conditions to Esk Hause where the wind break provided shelter for a brew before we took the well used route through to Sty Head Tarn.

Here three of us were fooled in to an ascent of Great Gable with full packs but were amply rewarded with spectacular views across Wastwater to the snowy bulk of Scafell Pike before dropping down to Windy Gap and ascending Green Gable.

Brandreth was passed en route to a hut above Honister slate mine our second stop for the night where I decided to tent again and the others occupied the slab floor in the well camouflaged stone building.

Our final day was spent dropping down to the mine workings before climbing once more to the small tarn below Dale Head and with rain threatening hastening our descent in to the Newlands Valley for a brisk walk out to Keswick for the bus back to Rydal.

All in all an excellent few days in good company with very reasonable weather for the time of year and location - being unused to carrying a full pack I found the going tough at times but not beyond my abilities although the prospect of a few rest days off this weekend appeals.

My next post should appear after the bothy weekend in early March - in the meantime photos of the trip appear at the link here .

Emails from various friends around the world have been gratefully received and plans for next year and beyond are slowly coming together ........... details to follow over the next few months.

Mid Winter Update

Well a couple of months have elapsed since the pre Christmas cardiac and relationship dramas so I figure an update is overdue.

Whilst Sarah seems determined that we should remain apart my recovery from the skilled intervention of the Morriston cardiac team has been steady and sustained. I have lost 10 kg and reduced my serum cholesterol from 7.5 to 2.5 largely through a healthy but varied diet that whilst it lacks the goodies I used to enjoy has been surprisingly acceptable. Whilst both my GP and Cardiac Rehab nurse advised me to ease off on the exercise a little the surgical follow up was reassuring although there remains a strong indication of coronary artery disease in two other pipes so future issues and interventions cannot be ruled out. However I am giving myself the best chances and am inspired to make the most of the new and unexpected opportunities offered so am filling up the 2012 diary steadily.

A week in Sheffield with a long standing friend combined stout walks on the Derbyshire tops with the cultural delights of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Hepworth Wakefield. This was followed by a memorable weekend in Shropshire to celebrate my brother's 50th birthday - bopping till 4 am and more laughter than I can remember in ages.

A memorable winter's day climbing Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons was followed by a 3am drive to Bristol for a flight to Salobrena in southern Spain where 3 of us were royally hosted by a mutual friend in his comfy villa. The sights and sounds of an admittedly familiar foreign country combined with warm sunny days whilst Britain shivered convinced me that the sooner I am back on the road in Europe and beyond the better. We picked several carrier bags of fresh oranges and returned all too soon to a frozen Bristol airport.

Over the next couple of weeks I will be back to Pembrokeshire for meds, completing a multi-day walk in the Lake District and heading to Bristol for a long weekend before some bothy training days in mid Wales in early March.

A few weeks in Devon may precede a couple of months in Scotland as I have the annual walking week around Easter - this year we stay on Skye - followed by work parties south of Ullapool and near Cape Wrath.

Beyond that I am leaving things flexible for the summer but will post regularly.

Having replaced the mislaid camera a new set of pics appear here and the slide show looks at our location a year ago - Tasmania.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

With 2012 under way and a noticeable gap since my last post I thought an update was long overdue so grab a drink, sit back and relax..........

After meeting Mary from Perth in London and enjoying a few touristy sights including the impressive London Eye we left for our planned two weeks in the Lake District during which we enjoyed the excellent company of various good friends.

Unfortunately on our return Sarah decided following some disagreements that we did not have a future together - something which upset me very much following two such enjoyable and close years on the road together.

As we only rent a one bedroomed flat I moved out in to the van but a few days later following several weeks of feeling odd was admitted to Brecon Hospital as an emergency following a heart attack. A memorably dramatic transfer over the Brecon Beacons saw me arrive in the Regional Cardiac Unit at Swansea for angioplasty and insertion of a stent - an almost identical procedure to that endured by Prince Philip over Christmas.

Following excellent care both there and at Carmarthen Hospital I was discharged home - Sarah and a friend were kind enough to chauffeur me and a good mate from Bristol came to mop my brow for a few days whilst I also packed up my final belongings.

Once fit to drive a week later I set off for the Elan Valley where I joined fellow bothy members to look at new projects in the first snows of winter before driving in stages to Hythe near Dover where the long awaited replacement roof for the van was fitted by the excellent Concept Multi Car.

This has transformed the vehicle which has now become my permanent home whilst sadly Sarah and I disentangle our affairs and I hope to resume foreign travel in 2013 assuming I make a full recovery and can come off most of the pills.

For 2012 however I have made substantial dietary changes so have lost a stone in the last month, resumed various activities and look forward to a fresh start with the usual enthusiasm. The generous support of a number of friends has been very much appreciated during this unsettled and unsettling episode - thank you everyone.

The outcome of my MI could have been far worse so I am very grateful for that - anyone fancy South America in 18 months time??

Managed to mislay my camera as well so no pics this time but the slideshow changes now to a selection of pics of the old bus out and about.

I will finish for now by wishing you a Happy 2012 - please keep in touch.

Future Plans

Remarkably considering the tough 40,000 miles of our trip down under the van passed its MOT without requiring any work so we are now looking at getting it ready for our next major trip.

The main issue is the canvas roof which has suffered much wear and tear and needs replacing - we are seeking quotes for a fixed roof which would give us a little more space as I can then raise the various units a foot or so, more insulation and an even quicker set up time plus it will be more suited to the wetter weather we expect on future trips.

Meanwhile Sarah is enjoying her time at the stables as well as socialising with friends and family whilst I spent a week in the Cambrian mountains assisting in the ongoing restoration of a bothy for the use of walkers and cyclists. Renamed 'Aberstan' for the purposes of an ongoing military exercise we were joined mid week by the troops with their decoy tanks and other kit - four fit lads made short work of the normally arduous task of returning our mixer to the roadside, assistance which was much appreciated.

We plan a trip to London to meet up with Mary from Perth who made us so welcome there and then head to Cumbria for a fortnight prior to the Christmas celebrations - our first at home in four years.

A few pics appear here, SPOT is on hold and the slide show returns to North Island New Zealand