Update – because I should really.

So it has been a nice couple of weeks off. Hot from my walking trip up to Helvellyn we headed southwards to the seaside for a bit of Camping. Though the sounds of the beach at Durdle Door are now a memory.

So as you can see it was quiet warm (actually the days where fine, just the evenings went a little chilly).

The nice bottle of Red I took helped the evening pass….

I was going to do a wine review, but I couldn’t be bothered. Anyway I didn’t have a decent glass. Was drinking this from a free Coke glass I got from the motorway services.

So a good time was had, we did come home a day early as the wind was picking up in the evening. Plus Rachel was missing Jazz 🙁

So time for a couple of me pics

Me at Durdle Door……

Me at Portland Bill

Decision made, it was……

……Helvellyn.

Very enjoyable day. Started early, woke up at 05:00, left at 06:00. Drove at a very economical 60mpg. Eventually got to Glenridding park around 10:00.

Started the walk…..

The usual, me pose

Me

View of my feet, showing just how narrow it is.

Me

Spent about 8 hours walking, as a consequence it’s only a partial update as my feet, legs, knees, shoulders (bleedin heavy bag), arms and head all ache. Even the skin on may face aches (though that’s probably the varying degree of warmth, the Arctic winds battering my face.

My first Wainwright walk though!

Indecision time again

(and actually I haven’t updated anything for a while)

Holiday time, spending 2 weeks not in the office. Which is nice. Anyway, so I had plans for a bit of Aircraft Photography at the Bwlch (Wales), however despite it being really nice weather it seems the RAF has deserted LFA7 for this week. Which to be honest is a bit of a pisser, still I’m up for a walk somewhere.

Being a novice at this walking lark I bought the ‘Wainwrights TV Walks’ book, mainly cos I’ve seen the TV show with Julia Bradbury. As I intend to do more walking my camera kit will be much much lighter. After all for landscape I really do not need the 300mm nor the second body. So a 5D, 15mm, 17-40, 24-105, 50mm is all I really need. The rest of the backpack can be dedicated to food and clothes. Though sort of tempted to take the tripod, but that’s probably not required as I doubt I’d get much chance for slow shutters with harsh light at the moment.

So the kit is ready, but where do I go. I’ve got all the regional maps for the lakes, but really don’t want to take on something I can’t handle.

First in the book is Helvellyn, it looks a nice climb, 2,700 feet in 5 miles. Very popular, which might indicate it’s a bit more accessible to fell walking noobs like me. Downside is it looks a pain in the arse to get too from the M6. So that kinda knackers most on the OL5 map (and probably 4 as well). Pity I liked the sound of this one.

The next location: Far Eastern Fells, sound more promising

High Street, mmm again looks too far away. But is it? Probably not. After all when I visit Wast Water that is the other side of the lakes from where I start, so this and Helvellyn are probably easier to get to than Scafell.

Looking at the map, suddenly Helvellyn and High Street are achievable, High Street is closer to Shap which in turn is much close to the M6. So two of the apparent distant walks are quite easy to get to. My usual trip to Scafell, takes me through Ambleside up the Wyrnose and Hardknott Pass. This part of the journey is normally about as long as the previous part from Birmingham. The advantage for Helvellyn is rather than going to Ambleside I can just turn at Windermere. Patterdale is about 5-6 miles away so could probably get there in about half hour! (from Windermere)

Of the two so far High Street looks the shorter walk, approx 3 miles. Also from Hartsop it’s 3 3/4 miles. So heading towards Patterdale now gives me 2 options.

Next location is the Central Fells, again looking at the map they are all within a close proximity to each other. Still this is probably too far westerly for my trip.

Still plenty more of Lakeland to explore, but at the moment I’ll still a couple of possible locations. Now I must remember to buy a flask.

Decision, mmm well if I made one that that would mean changing the title of the post. Stay tuned

Win3

Costières De Nîmes – Rouge. French Connection Classics, half price at Tesco (about £4)

Win3 - See what I did there

(Was trying a zoom burst, but had to stop as late night stroboscopic flash upsets the dog)

First taste comes across as bitter, but then the fruit starts get noticed. Not the sort of wine to rush, seems a glass can last an hour or so. Probably a little too fruity for my liking. It has a strong taste, which sits heavy. One wine I’d probably not like to burp back up.  The bottle states it’s ideal for roasts, inclined to agree with it.  Washed down with beef and gravy it would most likely be less strong.  Tested with cheese and biscuits it’s not too bad.

Kebablog rating (out of 5):

Wine #2

35° South, Cabernet Sauvignon – Shiraz. Half price at Morrisons the other week (around £4).

35° South

A wine from the southern hemisphere. In fact from Chile’s ‘wild’ southern region. Where ever the fuck that is. Apparently it contains ‘Sulfites’. Maybe a wiki search will tell me what the hell that is, still I guess as they are boasting, it can’t be bad. At least it doesn’t boast: contains ‘ASPARTEME

A nice fruity wine, it has a dry taste but nice. Accompanied my Davidstow cheese and biscuits well.

The label boasts of cherries and tobacco, with note of black pepper, hints of olives, blackberries and chocolate. To be honest I can’t taste any of them. It gives a nice warm sensation as it goes down, so maybe that’s the pepper.

Still overall a nice well balance wine. Would be very nice with a beef dinner.

Kebablog rating (out of 5):