Thursday, November 26
Pen-y-Pass Cafe closure
Planning to drop into the Peny Y Pass cafe as part of a forthcoming trip to Snowdonia?
Well don't. It has been shut for refurb & a new tenant.
Coming hot on the heels of that monstrosity on top of Yr Wyddfa closing its doors for the winter that hopefully will result in more route planning to include Pete's Eats in Llanberis.
That's assuming recent reports of financial trouble haven't hit that well liked establishment as well.
Sarnies anyone?
Labels: Wales
Sunday, November 22
Flooding - bring it home
Like you I've heard & seen the news reports about the Cockermouth floods. Whilst there is considerable disruption & damage, there is a niggling temptation to wonder if the press reports have concentrated on the more extreme, TV friendly, areas.
Over on the Mad About Mountains are a range of snaps covering Keswick town centre. And for those that have spent long hours waiting outside Booth's Supermarket for a bus/coach link, or stayed at the YHA - the pictures tell the story with far more personal impact.
A range of scenes from today around Keswick, and yesterday from Latrigg.
Bad. But bearing in mind how things looked like when it was really raining, the situation could have turned out much worse.
A big well done to all the rescue services concerned.
But lets not forget efforts of the MRT whose Basecamp supporter's site updates on Facebook illustrate the long and arduous activity the teams of volunteers, pulled in from many areas, have been involved with over the last few days.
Time for a donation. Or better still join Basecamp?
Labels: Lake District, Mountain Rescue Team MRT BASECAMP, Mountain Rescue Team(MRT)
UK Walking - Take a new look at youself?
So. Back in front of this fag ash littered keyboard. Once more banging down on random keys with a vague hope that something literate, informative, perhaps even entertaining, pops up on your screen to brighten up your day.
Well somebody out there may benefit from my increasingly occasional wittering.
There's not a lot to report from the Great Outdoors at present. Well not as far as this Blogger is concerned.
A recent job role change means I now see far more of the UK during the hours of daylight. Which for one such as myself who hates Autumn's shortening days - well it must be a bonus.
On the down side, any sights I do see are part of a rush from one area of the UK to another. 60-70 hours weeks. Long & frequent hands-free telephone conversations whilst driving. A continual juggling of people, places, and e-mail catch-up 7 days a week. The result? An inevitable disinclination to spend any of my brief free time sat in front of a computer.
I'd hoped the thinking time during long drives would prove productive with article ideas & reflections.
In fact my day to day existence has become such a pressure pot that the 'me' space, source of my creative side, has quietly slipped into dormancy. A reaction to a semi-exhausted body, and a mind full of business matters and related chaff.
A certain lifestyle madness has now slipped into the driving seat. Temporarily.
But I can see the little bugger smirking back at me. And I do know its game, from past encounters.
I have ways to overcome & defeat it, given time.
But for the present I let it steer, awaiting that moment when my internal energies get to grips with the situation and come out kicking and spitting. To strike the interloper in the goolies, and send it packing, bent double and moaning loudly in defeat.
Its not all doom & gloom.
Over the years I've learnt to take the knocks of hard times by keeping an eye out for small benefits along the way.
A short chat about the Wicklow Mountains area with someone who lives on the edge of the National Park, provides personal insight about the Wicklow Way. Later a few minutes of flight wait time at Dublin Airport is used to confirm a direct coach connection from the airport - a trip of around an hour.
With potential for free air travel to Ireland, Powerscourt Waterfall looks a tempting visit.
At another location, the tedium of a long and complex business meeting is lightened by the view of sunset crossing the Cleeve Hill range, an area previously unknown to me. That evening a few minutes on the Internet reveal possibilities for evening sorties in the new year, once the days draw out once again. Once more, any travel costs courtesy of my gadabout wanderings.
Local knowledge, easily provided, is always a useful guide. Even if the people supplying it seem to take their area for granted.
And don’t we all?
With the sea a couple of miles away, a choice of river systems, and the New Forest ten minutes drive, I've been guilty of taking the same approach at times.
I know why that state has come about. But perhaps the saying "Travel broadens the mind" has some unusual spin-offs on this occasion?
True my seemingly constant journeying is reinforcing my long held belief that there is so very much to do outdoors in the UK. Mostly with easy access.
So maybe its time I took a new look at my own back yard once more?
But enough for now. This pesky note, originally a short courtesy jotting on my recent lack of Blogging activity, seems to have once again spawned a life of its own in trying to run off to play with thoughts and words, as the story unrolls.
Time to switch off the monitor; Power down the pc; And pick up a good book to escape into far from electronic temptation, and tired cliché ridden entertainment.Labels: walks
Friday, November 20
Freaky Friday
Nothing to do with walking, but lots to do with how we perceive the world around us.
Watch this clip, concentrating on the GREEN dot in the middle
Motion Induced Blindness - More amazing videos are a click away
Now replay it watching the YELLOW dots.
Weird!
Explanation here and thanks to the Derren Brown Blog for spotting (ahem) it
Explanation hereLabels: media
Saturday, November 14
Blow you Bugger Blow
Early breakfast at Avon Beach, Mudeford.
The short walk from the clifftop parking spot down to the café is accompanied by a steadily hazing of vision as my spectacles slowly coat with a mixture of sea spray, salt and sand. All whipping onto the land as the wind leaves off pushing surf up onto the shoreline, and turns to other games to play instead.
A group of Oyster catchers, seemingly oblivious to the elemental force, busily bob along the tidal sand, looking for their breakfast. At times one takes to the air, making only a short distance, before quickly returning to earth. The desire for flight lessened today by the effort required to maintain it.
Warm inside the café we watch as the birds continue their hunt for tide borne bonanza. The fry up arrives.
Dog and myself for once alone at this usually busy spot. We wander along the ridge that of St Catherine's Hill, Christchurch.
As we pass by the twin mobile telephone masts the steady thrum of a plane is heard as it passes overhead. I pause to watch the sway of the thinner tower, rock embedded at the foot, but the upper section flexing as it bends so easily to wind whim.
The plane continues to fly overhead. What still?
I realise it’s the sound of the wind resonating the mast struts of the towers, with an irregular drumming as gusts bounce off some of the bulbous equipment bolted high above.
A personal orchestral offering - courtesy of Mother Nature and BT.
I love the change of perspective that the natural world can bring out in the everyday world.Labels: nature
Monday, November 9
Mountain Rescue Services - Call-outs on the rise in 2009?
October's Mountain Rescue magazine dropped onto the doormat a few weeks ago, but it was only the past few days that I found time to sit down and peruse it at leisure.
As a member of Basecamp, the MRT Support Club for England & Wales, this comes as part of the membership package and is always an interesting read. Content is geared (naturally) towards MRT personnel, but there is usually a couple of items that catch my interest as a non-MRT reader (See July's piece concerning mobile telephone access to emergency services)
The latest issue was no exception with a report that Keswick MRT calls hit 100 in late August, an increase of 77% compared to 2008, and a 66% increase in alerts. North Wales also experienced a 20% rise over 2008 figures.
Whilst exceptional, this is not necessarily the pattern across all MR Teams.
But given a 14% increase in the number of individual team involvement call-outs across the Lake District area as a whole, prior to the August Bank Holiday, its clear that the demand on some MRTs is in danger of becoming untenable. Particularly for the many volunteers who freely give of their time, and live with the disruption to their personal & work life.
Basecamp proffers one solution, suggesting increasing awareness amongst groups on mountain activities.
I've a few more radical ideas concerning individual responsibility, self-assist, common sense, and unnatural hiding places for improperly used mobile phones.
But perhaps its better I resist the temptation to go into detail.
Well for the present, at least.
Labels: Lake District, Mountain Rescue Team(MRT), Mountain Resuce Team MRT BASECAMP, Wales
Tuesday, November 3
TGO 2010 - The Big Day?
Blimey - I've been away from an Internet connection for only a couple of days & then I come back to a deluge from the outdoor sites buzzing with details of those who made the draw for next year's TGO Challenge.
And those that didn't.
Regular readers may perhaps have spotted that in general I'm not particularly renown for moving with the crowd.
But rather than be left out perhaps I'd better say, just for the record ..... I also did not make the cut for TGO 2010.
Think my chances would have improved if I'd filled out and posted the entry form?
Come on folks - where's the can-do independent spirit of the wildcamper gone these days?
Sort yourselves out now
;-)
Labels: TGO Challenge
Sunday, November 1
Wet Weather Wonder
For once last night's weather forecast was correct. Hardly difficult when it looked like the whole of the UK would be covered by one rather large raincloud.
So naturally time to head for one of my local secret spots - a New Forest waterfall near Burbush car park.
As this only appears for a very short time with heavy rainfall its not a spot likely to become over populated with hordes of tourists, especially during the summer holiday months.
Hence the reason I can let you in on this particular secret.
The pool, usually a dry shale track, once more acting unwittingly as an outflow water course, before heading off westwards down along the old railway track.
On this occasion I clambered up to the top of the waterfall, to confirm the source of the water.
Heavy rainfall on the heathland above used to drain away naturally. But a heathland fire a couple of years ago somehow compacted the ground with the result that the small tracks are now channels for the excess water, leading to form deep pools at the edge of the heath. Which inevitably tips over the heathland edge and down onto the track below.
Once again I realise that I should get a a better camera phone for these sort of on the spot snaps.Labels: nature;, New Forest
All site material © John Hee - ask before you snatch
Well don't. It has been shut for refurb & a new tenant.
Coming hot on the heels of that monstrosity on top of Yr Wyddfa closing its doors for the winter that hopefully will result in more route planning to include Pete's Eats in Llanberis.
That's assuming recent reports of financial trouble haven't hit that well liked establishment as well.
Sarnies anyone?
Labels: Wales
Flooding - bring it home
Like you I've heard & seen the news reports about the Cockermouth floods. Whilst there is considerable disruption & damage, there is a niggling temptation to wonder if the press reports have concentrated on the more extreme, TV friendly, areas.
Over on the Mad About Mountains are a range of snaps covering Keswick town centre. And for those that have spent long hours waiting outside Booth's Supermarket for a bus/coach link, or stayed at the YHA - the pictures tell the story with far more personal impact.
A range of scenes from today around Keswick, and yesterday from Latrigg.
Bad. But bearing in mind how things looked like when it was really raining, the situation could have turned out much worse.
A big well done to all the rescue services concerned.
But lets not forget efforts of the MRT whose Basecamp supporter's site updates on Facebook illustrate the long and arduous activity the teams of volunteers, pulled in from many areas, have been involved with over the last few days.
Time for a donation. Or better still join Basecamp?
Labels: Lake District, Mountain Rescue Team MRT BASECAMP, Mountain Rescue Team(MRT)
UK Walking - Take a new look at youself?
So. Back in front of this fag ash littered keyboard. Once more banging down on random keys with a vague hope that something literate, informative, perhaps even entertaining, pops up on your screen to brighten up your day.
Well somebody out there may benefit from my increasingly occasional wittering.
There's not a lot to report from the Great Outdoors at present. Well not as far as this Blogger is concerned.
A recent job role change means I now see far more of the UK during the hours of daylight. Which for one such as myself who hates Autumn's shortening days - well it must be a bonus.
On the down side, any sights I do see are part of a rush from one area of the UK to another. 60-70 hours weeks. Long & frequent hands-free telephone conversations whilst driving. A continual juggling of people, places, and e-mail catch-up 7 days a week. The result? An inevitable disinclination to spend any of my brief free time sat in front of a computer.
I'd hoped the thinking time during long drives would prove productive with article ideas & reflections.
In fact my day to day existence has become such a pressure pot that the 'me' space, source of my creative side, has quietly slipped into dormancy. A reaction to a semi-exhausted body, and a mind full of business matters and related chaff.
A certain lifestyle madness has now slipped into the driving seat. Temporarily.
But I can see the little bugger smirking back at me. And I do know its game, from past encounters.
I have ways to overcome & defeat it, given time.
But for the present I let it steer, awaiting that moment when my internal energies get to grips with the situation and come out kicking and spitting. To strike the interloper in the goolies, and send it packing, bent double and moaning loudly in defeat.
Its not all doom & gloom.
Over the years I've learnt to take the knocks of hard times by keeping an eye out for small benefits along the way.
A short chat about the Wicklow Mountains area with someone who lives on the edge of the National Park, provides personal insight about the Wicklow Way. Later a few minutes of flight wait time at Dublin Airport is used to confirm a direct coach connection from the airport - a trip of around an hour.
With potential for free air travel to Ireland, Powerscourt Waterfall looks a tempting visit.
At another location, the tedium of a long and complex business meeting is lightened by the view of sunset crossing the Cleeve Hill range, an area previously unknown to me. That evening a few minutes on the Internet reveal possibilities for evening sorties in the new year, once the days draw out once again. Once more, any travel costs courtesy of my gadabout wanderings.
Local knowledge, easily provided, is always a useful guide. Even if the people supplying it seem to take their area for granted.
And don’t we all?
With the sea a couple of miles away, a choice of river systems, and the New Forest ten minutes drive, I've been guilty of taking the same approach at times.
I know why that state has come about. But perhaps the saying "Travel broadens the mind" has some unusual spin-offs on this occasion?
True my seemingly constant journeying is reinforcing my long held belief that there is so very much to do outdoors in the UK. Mostly with easy access.
So maybe its time I took a new look at my own back yard once more?
But enough for now. This pesky note, originally a short courtesy jotting on my recent lack of Blogging activity, seems to have once again spawned a life of its own in trying to run off to play with thoughts and words, as the story unrolls.
Time to switch off the monitor; Power down the pc; And pick up a good book to escape into far from electronic temptation, and tired cliché ridden entertainment.Labels: walks
Friday, November 20
Freaky Friday
Nothing to do with walking, but lots to do with how we perceive the world around us.
Watch this clip, concentrating on the GREEN dot in the middle
Motion Induced Blindness - More amazing videos are a click away
Now replay it watching the YELLOW dots.
Weird!
Explanation here and thanks to the Derren Brown Blog for spotting (ahem) it
Explanation hereLabels: media
Saturday, November 14
Blow you Bugger Blow
Early breakfast at Avon Beach, Mudeford.
The short walk from the clifftop parking spot down to the café is accompanied by a steadily hazing of vision as my spectacles slowly coat with a mixture of sea spray, salt and sand. All whipping onto the land as the wind leaves off pushing surf up onto the shoreline, and turns to other games to play instead.
A group of Oyster catchers, seemingly oblivious to the elemental force, busily bob along the tidal sand, looking for their breakfast. At times one takes to the air, making only a short distance, before quickly returning to earth. The desire for flight lessened today by the effort required to maintain it.
Warm inside the café we watch as the birds continue their hunt for tide borne bonanza. The fry up arrives.
Dog and myself for once alone at this usually busy spot. We wander along the ridge that of St Catherine's Hill, Christchurch.
As we pass by the twin mobile telephone masts the steady thrum of a plane is heard as it passes overhead. I pause to watch the sway of the thinner tower, rock embedded at the foot, but the upper section flexing as it bends so easily to wind whim.
The plane continues to fly overhead. What still?
I realise it’s the sound of the wind resonating the mast struts of the towers, with an irregular drumming as gusts bounce off some of the bulbous equipment bolted high above.
A personal orchestral offering - courtesy of Mother Nature and BT.
I love the change of perspective that the natural world can bring out in the everyday world.Labels: nature
Monday, November 9
Mountain Rescue Services - Call-outs on the rise in 2009?
October's Mountain Rescue magazine dropped onto the doormat a few weeks ago, but it was only the past few days that I found time to sit down and peruse it at leisure.
As a member of Basecamp, the MRT Support Club for England & Wales, this comes as part of the membership package and is always an interesting read. Content is geared (naturally) towards MRT personnel, but there is usually a couple of items that catch my interest as a non-MRT reader (See July's piece concerning mobile telephone access to emergency services)
The latest issue was no exception with a report that Keswick MRT calls hit 100 in late August, an increase of 77% compared to 2008, and a 66% increase in alerts. North Wales also experienced a 20% rise over 2008 figures.
Whilst exceptional, this is not necessarily the pattern across all MR Teams.
But given a 14% increase in the number of individual team involvement call-outs across the Lake District area as a whole, prior to the August Bank Holiday, its clear that the demand on some MRTs is in danger of becoming untenable. Particularly for the many volunteers who freely give of their time, and live with the disruption to their personal & work life.
Basecamp proffers one solution, suggesting increasing awareness amongst groups on mountain activities.
I've a few more radical ideas concerning individual responsibility, self-assist, common sense, and unnatural hiding places for improperly used mobile phones.
But perhaps its better I resist the temptation to go into detail.
Well for the present, at least.
Labels: Lake District, Mountain Rescue Team(MRT), Mountain Resuce Team MRT BASECAMP, Wales
Tuesday, November 3
TGO 2010 - The Big Day?
Blimey - I've been away from an Internet connection for only a couple of days & then I come back to a deluge from the outdoor sites buzzing with details of those who made the draw for next year's TGO Challenge.
And those that didn't.
Regular readers may perhaps have spotted that in general I'm not particularly renown for moving with the crowd.
But rather than be left out perhaps I'd better say, just for the record ..... I also did not make the cut for TGO 2010.
Think my chances would have improved if I'd filled out and posted the entry form?
Come on folks - where's the can-do independent spirit of the wildcamper gone these days?
Sort yourselves out now
;-)
Labels: TGO Challenge
Sunday, November 1
Wet Weather Wonder
For once last night's weather forecast was correct. Hardly difficult when it looked like the whole of the UK would be covered by one rather large raincloud.
So naturally time to head for one of my local secret spots - a New Forest waterfall near Burbush car park.
As this only appears for a very short time with heavy rainfall its not a spot likely to become over populated with hordes of tourists, especially during the summer holiday months.
Hence the reason I can let you in on this particular secret.
The pool, usually a dry shale track, once more acting unwittingly as an outflow water course, before heading off westwards down along the old railway track.
On this occasion I clambered up to the top of the waterfall, to confirm the source of the water.
Heavy rainfall on the heathland above used to drain away naturally. But a heathland fire a couple of years ago somehow compacted the ground with the result that the small tracks are now channels for the excess water, leading to form deep pools at the edge of the heath. Which inevitably tips over the heathland edge and down onto the track below.
Once again I realise that I should get a a better camera phone for these sort of on the spot snaps.Labels: nature;, New Forest
All site material © John Hee - ask before you snatch
Over on the Mad About Mountains are a range of snaps covering Keswick town centre. And for those that have spent long hours waiting outside Booth's Supermarket for a bus/coach link, or stayed at the YHA - the pictures tell the story with far more personal impact.
A range of scenes from today around Keswick, and yesterday from Latrigg.
Bad. But bearing in mind how things looked like when it was really raining, the situation could have turned out much worse.
A big well done to all the rescue services concerned.
But lets not forget efforts of the MRT whose Basecamp supporter's site updates on Facebook illustrate the long and arduous activity the teams of volunteers, pulled in from many areas, have been involved with over the last few days.
Time for a donation. Or better still join Basecamp?
Labels: Lake District, Mountain Rescue Team MRT BASECAMP, Mountain Rescue Team(MRT)
UK Walking - Take a new look at youself?
So. Back in front of this fag ash littered keyboard. Once more banging down on random keys with a vague hope that something literate, informative, perhaps even entertaining, pops up on your screen to brighten up your day.
Well somebody out there may benefit from my increasingly occasional wittering.
There's not a lot to report from the Great Outdoors at present. Well not as far as this Blogger is concerned.
A recent job role change means I now see far more of the UK during the hours of daylight. Which for one such as myself who hates Autumn's shortening days - well it must be a bonus.
On the down side, any sights I do see are part of a rush from one area of the UK to another. 60-70 hours weeks. Long & frequent hands-free telephone conversations whilst driving. A continual juggling of people, places, and e-mail catch-up 7 days a week. The result? An inevitable disinclination to spend any of my brief free time sat in front of a computer.
I'd hoped the thinking time during long drives would prove productive with article ideas & reflections.
In fact my day to day existence has become such a pressure pot that the 'me' space, source of my creative side, has quietly slipped into dormancy. A reaction to a semi-exhausted body, and a mind full of business matters and related chaff.
A certain lifestyle madness has now slipped into the driving seat. Temporarily.
But I can see the little bugger smirking back at me. And I do know its game, from past encounters.
I have ways to overcome & defeat it, given time.
But for the present I let it steer, awaiting that moment when my internal energies get to grips with the situation and come out kicking and spitting. To strike the interloper in the goolies, and send it packing, bent double and moaning loudly in defeat.
Its not all doom & gloom.
Over the years I've learnt to take the knocks of hard times by keeping an eye out for small benefits along the way.
A short chat about the Wicklow Mountains area with someone who lives on the edge of the National Park, provides personal insight about the Wicklow Way. Later a few minutes of flight wait time at Dublin Airport is used to confirm a direct coach connection from the airport - a trip of around an hour.
With potential for free air travel to Ireland, Powerscourt Waterfall looks a tempting visit.
At another location, the tedium of a long and complex business meeting is lightened by the view of sunset crossing the Cleeve Hill range, an area previously unknown to me. That evening a few minutes on the Internet reveal possibilities for evening sorties in the new year, once the days draw out once again. Once more, any travel costs courtesy of my gadabout wanderings.
Local knowledge, easily provided, is always a useful guide. Even if the people supplying it seem to take their area for granted.
And don’t we all?
With the sea a couple of miles away, a choice of river systems, and the New Forest ten minutes drive, I've been guilty of taking the same approach at times.
I know why that state has come about. But perhaps the saying "Travel broadens the mind" has some unusual spin-offs on this occasion?
True my seemingly constant journeying is reinforcing my long held belief that there is so very much to do outdoors in the UK. Mostly with easy access.
So maybe its time I took a new look at my own back yard once more?
But enough for now. This pesky note, originally a short courtesy jotting on my recent lack of Blogging activity, seems to have once again spawned a life of its own in trying to run off to play with thoughts and words, as the story unrolls.
Time to switch off the monitor; Power down the pc; And pick up a good book to escape into far from electronic temptation, and tired cliché ridden entertainment.Labels: walks
Friday, November 20
Freaky Friday
Nothing to do with walking, but lots to do with how we perceive the world around us.
Watch this clip, concentrating on the GREEN dot in the middle
Motion Induced Blindness - More amazing videos are a click away
Now replay it watching the YELLOW dots.
Weird!
Explanation here and thanks to the Derren Brown Blog for spotting (ahem) it
Explanation hereLabels: media
Saturday, November 14
Blow you Bugger Blow
Early breakfast at Avon Beach, Mudeford.
The short walk from the clifftop parking spot down to the café is accompanied by a steadily hazing of vision as my spectacles slowly coat with a mixture of sea spray, salt and sand. All whipping onto the land as the wind leaves off pushing surf up onto the shoreline, and turns to other games to play instead.
A group of Oyster catchers, seemingly oblivious to the elemental force, busily bob along the tidal sand, looking for their breakfast. At times one takes to the air, making only a short distance, before quickly returning to earth. The desire for flight lessened today by the effort required to maintain it.
Warm inside the café we watch as the birds continue their hunt for tide borne bonanza. The fry up arrives.
Dog and myself for once alone at this usually busy spot. We wander along the ridge that of St Catherine's Hill, Christchurch.
As we pass by the twin mobile telephone masts the steady thrum of a plane is heard as it passes overhead. I pause to watch the sway of the thinner tower, rock embedded at the foot, but the upper section flexing as it bends so easily to wind whim.
The plane continues to fly overhead. What still?
I realise it’s the sound of the wind resonating the mast struts of the towers, with an irregular drumming as gusts bounce off some of the bulbous equipment bolted high above.
A personal orchestral offering - courtesy of Mother Nature and BT.
I love the change of perspective that the natural world can bring out in the everyday world.Labels: nature
Monday, November 9
Mountain Rescue Services - Call-outs on the rise in 2009?
October's Mountain Rescue magazine dropped onto the doormat a few weeks ago, but it was only the past few days that I found time to sit down and peruse it at leisure.
As a member of Basecamp, the MRT Support Club for England & Wales, this comes as part of the membership package and is always an interesting read. Content is geared (naturally) towards MRT personnel, but there is usually a couple of items that catch my interest as a non-MRT reader (See July's piece concerning mobile telephone access to emergency services)
The latest issue was no exception with a report that Keswick MRT calls hit 100 in late August, an increase of 77% compared to 2008, and a 66% increase in alerts. North Wales also experienced a 20% rise over 2008 figures.
Whilst exceptional, this is not necessarily the pattern across all MR Teams.
But given a 14% increase in the number of individual team involvement call-outs across the Lake District area as a whole, prior to the August Bank Holiday, its clear that the demand on some MRTs is in danger of becoming untenable. Particularly for the many volunteers who freely give of their time, and live with the disruption to their personal & work life.
Basecamp proffers one solution, suggesting increasing awareness amongst groups on mountain activities.
I've a few more radical ideas concerning individual responsibility, self-assist, common sense, and unnatural hiding places for improperly used mobile phones.
But perhaps its better I resist the temptation to go into detail.
Well for the present, at least.
Labels: Lake District, Mountain Rescue Team(MRT), Mountain Resuce Team MRT BASECAMP, Wales
Tuesday, November 3
TGO 2010 - The Big Day?
Blimey - I've been away from an Internet connection for only a couple of days & then I come back to a deluge from the outdoor sites buzzing with details of those who made the draw for next year's TGO Challenge.
And those that didn't.
Regular readers may perhaps have spotted that in general I'm not particularly renown for moving with the crowd.
But rather than be left out perhaps I'd better say, just for the record ..... I also did not make the cut for TGO 2010.
Think my chances would have improved if I'd filled out and posted the entry form?
Come on folks - where's the can-do independent spirit of the wildcamper gone these days?
Sort yourselves out now
;-)
Labels: TGO Challenge
Sunday, November 1
Wet Weather Wonder
For once last night's weather forecast was correct. Hardly difficult when it looked like the whole of the UK would be covered by one rather large raincloud.
So naturally time to head for one of my local secret spots - a New Forest waterfall near Burbush car park.
As this only appears for a very short time with heavy rainfall its not a spot likely to become over populated with hordes of tourists, especially during the summer holiday months.
Hence the reason I can let you in on this particular secret.
The pool, usually a dry shale track, once more acting unwittingly as an outflow water course, before heading off westwards down along the old railway track.
On this occasion I clambered up to the top of the waterfall, to confirm the source of the water.
Heavy rainfall on the heathland above used to drain away naturally. But a heathland fire a couple of years ago somehow compacted the ground with the result that the small tracks are now channels for the excess water, leading to form deep pools at the edge of the heath. Which inevitably tips over the heathland edge and down onto the track below.
Once again I realise that I should get a a better camera phone for these sort of on the spot snaps.Labels: nature;, New Forest
All site material © John Hee - ask before you snatch
Well somebody out there may benefit from my increasingly occasional wittering.
There's not a lot to report from the Great Outdoors at present. Well not as far as this Blogger is concerned.
A recent job role change means I now see far more of the UK during the hours of daylight. Which for one such as myself who hates Autumn's shortening days - well it must be a bonus.
On the down side, any sights I do see are part of a rush from one area of the UK to another. 60-70 hours weeks. Long & frequent hands-free telephone conversations whilst driving. A continual juggling of people, places, and e-mail catch-up 7 days a week. The result? An inevitable disinclination to spend any of my brief free time sat in front of a computer.
I'd hoped the thinking time during long drives would prove productive with article ideas & reflections.
In fact my day to day existence has become such a pressure pot that the 'me' space, source of my creative side, has quietly slipped into dormancy. A reaction to a semi-exhausted body, and a mind full of business matters and related chaff.
A certain lifestyle madness has now slipped into the driving seat. Temporarily.
But I can see the little bugger smirking back at me. And I do know its game, from past encounters.
I have ways to overcome & defeat it, given time.
But for the present I let it steer, awaiting that moment when my internal energies get to grips with the situation and come out kicking and spitting. To strike the interloper in the goolies, and send it packing, bent double and moaning loudly in defeat.
Its not all doom & gloom.
Over the years I've learnt to take the knocks of hard times by keeping an eye out for small benefits along the way.
A short chat about the Wicklow Mountains area with someone who lives on the edge of the National Park, provides personal insight about the Wicklow Way. Later a few minutes of flight wait time at Dublin Airport is used to confirm a direct coach connection from the airport - a trip of around an hour.
With potential for free air travel to Ireland, Powerscourt Waterfall looks a tempting visit.
At another location, the tedium of a long and complex business meeting is lightened by the view of sunset crossing the Cleeve Hill range, an area previously unknown to me. That evening a few minutes on the Internet reveal possibilities for evening sorties in the new year, once the days draw out once again. Once more, any travel costs courtesy of my gadabout wanderings.
Local knowledge, easily provided, is always a useful guide. Even if the people supplying it seem to take their area for granted.
And don’t we all?
With the sea a couple of miles away, a choice of river systems, and the New Forest ten minutes drive, I've been guilty of taking the same approach at times.
I know why that state has come about. But perhaps the saying "Travel broadens the mind" has some unusual spin-offs on this occasion?
True my seemingly constant journeying is reinforcing my long held belief that there is so very much to do outdoors in the UK. Mostly with easy access.
So maybe its time I took a new look at my own back yard once more?
But enough for now. This pesky note, originally a short courtesy jotting on my recent lack of Blogging activity, seems to have once again spawned a life of its own in trying to run off to play with thoughts and words, as the story unrolls.
Time to switch off the monitor; Power down the pc; And pick up a good book to escape into far from electronic temptation, and tired cliché ridden entertainment.
Labels: walks
Freaky Friday
Nothing to do with walking, but lots to do with how we perceive the world around us.
Watch this clip, concentrating on the GREEN dot in the middle
Motion Induced Blindness - More amazing videos are a click away
Now replay it watching the YELLOW dots.
Weird!
Explanation here and thanks to the Derren Brown Blog for spotting (ahem) it
Explanation hereLabels: media
Saturday, November 14
Blow you Bugger Blow
Early breakfast at Avon Beach, Mudeford.
The short walk from the clifftop parking spot down to the café is accompanied by a steadily hazing of vision as my spectacles slowly coat with a mixture of sea spray, salt and sand. All whipping onto the land as the wind leaves off pushing surf up onto the shoreline, and turns to other games to play instead.
A group of Oyster catchers, seemingly oblivious to the elemental force, busily bob along the tidal sand, looking for their breakfast. At times one takes to the air, making only a short distance, before quickly returning to earth. The desire for flight lessened today by the effort required to maintain it.
Warm inside the café we watch as the birds continue their hunt for tide borne bonanza. The fry up arrives.
Dog and myself for once alone at this usually busy spot. We wander along the ridge that of St Catherine's Hill, Christchurch.
As we pass by the twin mobile telephone masts the steady thrum of a plane is heard as it passes overhead. I pause to watch the sway of the thinner tower, rock embedded at the foot, but the upper section flexing as it bends so easily to wind whim.
The plane continues to fly overhead. What still?
I realise it’s the sound of the wind resonating the mast struts of the towers, with an irregular drumming as gusts bounce off some of the bulbous equipment bolted high above.
A personal orchestral offering - courtesy of Mother Nature and BT.
I love the change of perspective that the natural world can bring out in the everyday world.Labels: nature
Monday, November 9
Mountain Rescue Services - Call-outs on the rise in 2009?
October's Mountain Rescue magazine dropped onto the doormat a few weeks ago, but it was only the past few days that I found time to sit down and peruse it at leisure.
As a member of Basecamp, the MRT Support Club for England & Wales, this comes as part of the membership package and is always an interesting read. Content is geared (naturally) towards MRT personnel, but there is usually a couple of items that catch my interest as a non-MRT reader (See July's piece concerning mobile telephone access to emergency services)
The latest issue was no exception with a report that Keswick MRT calls hit 100 in late August, an increase of 77% compared to 2008, and a 66% increase in alerts. North Wales also experienced a 20% rise over 2008 figures.
Whilst exceptional, this is not necessarily the pattern across all MR Teams.
But given a 14% increase in the number of individual team involvement call-outs across the Lake District area as a whole, prior to the August Bank Holiday, its clear that the demand on some MRTs is in danger of becoming untenable. Particularly for the many volunteers who freely give of their time, and live with the disruption to their personal & work life.
Basecamp proffers one solution, suggesting increasing awareness amongst groups on mountain activities.
I've a few more radical ideas concerning individual responsibility, self-assist, common sense, and unnatural hiding places for improperly used mobile phones.
But perhaps its better I resist the temptation to go into detail.
Well for the present, at least.
Labels: Lake District, Mountain Rescue Team(MRT), Mountain Resuce Team MRT BASECAMP, Wales
Tuesday, November 3
TGO 2010 - The Big Day?
Blimey - I've been away from an Internet connection for only a couple of days & then I come back to a deluge from the outdoor sites buzzing with details of those who made the draw for next year's TGO Challenge.
And those that didn't.
Regular readers may perhaps have spotted that in general I'm not particularly renown for moving with the crowd.
But rather than be left out perhaps I'd better say, just for the record ..... I also did not make the cut for TGO 2010.
Think my chances would have improved if I'd filled out and posted the entry form?
Come on folks - where's the can-do independent spirit of the wildcamper gone these days?
Sort yourselves out now
;-)
Labels: TGO Challenge
Sunday, November 1
Wet Weather Wonder
For once last night's weather forecast was correct. Hardly difficult when it looked like the whole of the UK would be covered by one rather large raincloud.
So naturally time to head for one of my local secret spots - a New Forest waterfall near Burbush car park.
As this only appears for a very short time with heavy rainfall its not a spot likely to become over populated with hordes of tourists, especially during the summer holiday months.
Hence the reason I can let you in on this particular secret.
The pool, usually a dry shale track, once more acting unwittingly as an outflow water course, before heading off westwards down along the old railway track.
On this occasion I clambered up to the top of the waterfall, to confirm the source of the water.
Heavy rainfall on the heathland above used to drain away naturally. But a heathland fire a couple of years ago somehow compacted the ground with the result that the small tracks are now channels for the excess water, leading to form deep pools at the edge of the heath. Which inevitably tips over the heathland edge and down onto the track below.
Once again I realise that I should get a a better camera phone for these sort of on the spot snaps.Labels: nature;, New Forest
All site material © John Hee - ask before you snatch
Watch this clip, concentrating on the GREEN dot in the middle
Motion Induced Blindness - More amazing videos are a click away
Now replay it watching the YELLOW dots.
Weird!
Explanation here and thanks to the Derren Brown Blog for spotting (ahem) it
Explanation here
Labels: media
Blow you Bugger Blow
Early breakfast at Avon Beach, Mudeford.
The short walk from the clifftop parking spot down to the café is accompanied by a steadily hazing of vision as my spectacles slowly coat with a mixture of sea spray, salt and sand. All whipping onto the land as the wind leaves off pushing surf up onto the shoreline, and turns to other games to play instead.
A group of Oyster catchers, seemingly oblivious to the elemental force, busily bob along the tidal sand, looking for their breakfast. At times one takes to the air, making only a short distance, before quickly returning to earth. The desire for flight lessened today by the effort required to maintain it.
Warm inside the café we watch as the birds continue their hunt for tide borne bonanza. The fry up arrives.
Dog and myself for once alone at this usually busy spot. We wander along the ridge that of St Catherine's Hill, Christchurch.
As we pass by the twin mobile telephone masts the steady thrum of a plane is heard as it passes overhead. I pause to watch the sway of the thinner tower, rock embedded at the foot, but the upper section flexing as it bends so easily to wind whim.
The plane continues to fly overhead. What still?
I realise it’s the sound of the wind resonating the mast struts of the towers, with an irregular drumming as gusts bounce off some of the bulbous equipment bolted high above.
A personal orchestral offering - courtesy of Mother Nature and BT.
I love the change of perspective that the natural world can bring out in the everyday world.Labels: nature
Monday, November 9
Mountain Rescue Services - Call-outs on the rise in 2009?
October's Mountain Rescue magazine dropped onto the doormat a few weeks ago, but it was only the past few days that I found time to sit down and peruse it at leisure.
As a member of Basecamp, the MRT Support Club for England & Wales, this comes as part of the membership package and is always an interesting read. Content is geared (naturally) towards MRT personnel, but there is usually a couple of items that catch my interest as a non-MRT reader (See July's piece concerning mobile telephone access to emergency services)
The latest issue was no exception with a report that Keswick MRT calls hit 100 in late August, an increase of 77% compared to 2008, and a 66% increase in alerts. North Wales also experienced a 20% rise over 2008 figures.
Whilst exceptional, this is not necessarily the pattern across all MR Teams.
But given a 14% increase in the number of individual team involvement call-outs across the Lake District area as a whole, prior to the August Bank Holiday, its clear that the demand on some MRTs is in danger of becoming untenable. Particularly for the many volunteers who freely give of their time, and live with the disruption to their personal & work life.
Basecamp proffers one solution, suggesting increasing awareness amongst groups on mountain activities.
I've a few more radical ideas concerning individual responsibility, self-assist, common sense, and unnatural hiding places for improperly used mobile phones.
But perhaps its better I resist the temptation to go into detail.
Well for the present, at least.
Labels: Lake District, Mountain Rescue Team(MRT), Mountain Resuce Team MRT BASECAMP, Wales
Tuesday, November 3
TGO 2010 - The Big Day?
Blimey - I've been away from an Internet connection for only a couple of days & then I come back to a deluge from the outdoor sites buzzing with details of those who made the draw for next year's TGO Challenge.
And those that didn't.
Regular readers may perhaps have spotted that in general I'm not particularly renown for moving with the crowd.
But rather than be left out perhaps I'd better say, just for the record ..... I also did not make the cut for TGO 2010.
Think my chances would have improved if I'd filled out and posted the entry form?
Come on folks - where's the can-do independent spirit of the wildcamper gone these days?
Sort yourselves out now
;-)
Labels: TGO Challenge
Sunday, November 1
Wet Weather Wonder
For once last night's weather forecast was correct. Hardly difficult when it looked like the whole of the UK would be covered by one rather large raincloud.
So naturally time to head for one of my local secret spots - a New Forest waterfall near Burbush car park.
As this only appears for a very short time with heavy rainfall its not a spot likely to become over populated with hordes of tourists, especially during the summer holiday months.
Hence the reason I can let you in on this particular secret.
The pool, usually a dry shale track, once more acting unwittingly as an outflow water course, before heading off westwards down along the old railway track.
On this occasion I clambered up to the top of the waterfall, to confirm the source of the water.
Heavy rainfall on the heathland above used to drain away naturally. But a heathland fire a couple of years ago somehow compacted the ground with the result that the small tracks are now channels for the excess water, leading to form deep pools at the edge of the heath. Which inevitably tips over the heathland edge and down onto the track below.
Once again I realise that I should get a a better camera phone for these sort of on the spot snaps.Labels: nature;, New Forest
All site material © John Hee - ask before you snatch
The short walk from the clifftop parking spot down to the café is accompanied by a steadily hazing of vision as my spectacles slowly coat with a mixture of sea spray, salt and sand. All whipping onto the land as the wind leaves off pushing surf up onto the shoreline, and turns to other games to play instead.
A group of Oyster catchers, seemingly oblivious to the elemental force, busily bob along the tidal sand, looking for their breakfast. At times one takes to the air, making only a short distance, before quickly returning to earth. The desire for flight lessened today by the effort required to maintain it.
Warm inside the café we watch as the birds continue their hunt for tide borne bonanza. The fry up arrives.
Dog and myself for once alone at this usually busy spot. We wander along the ridge that of St Catherine's Hill, Christchurch.
As we pass by the twin mobile telephone masts the steady thrum of a plane is heard as it passes overhead. I pause to watch the sway of the thinner tower, rock embedded at the foot, but the upper section flexing as it bends so easily to wind whim.
The plane continues to fly overhead. What still?
I realise it’s the sound of the wind resonating the mast struts of the towers, with an irregular drumming as gusts bounce off some of the bulbous equipment bolted high above.
A personal orchestral offering - courtesy of Mother Nature and BT.
I love the change of perspective that the natural world can bring out in the everyday world.
Labels: nature
Mountain Rescue Services - Call-outs on the rise in 2009?
October's Mountain Rescue magazine dropped onto the doormat a few weeks ago, but it was only the past few days that I found time to sit down and peruse it at leisure.
As a member of Basecamp, the MRT Support Club for England & Wales, this comes as part of the membership package and is always an interesting read. Content is geared (naturally) towards MRT personnel, but there is usually a couple of items that catch my interest as a non-MRT reader (See July's piece concerning mobile telephone access to emergency services)
The latest issue was no exception with a report that Keswick MRT calls hit 100 in late August, an increase of 77% compared to 2008, and a 66% increase in alerts. North Wales also experienced a 20% rise over 2008 figures.
Whilst exceptional, this is not necessarily the pattern across all MR Teams.
But given a 14% increase in the number of individual team involvement call-outs across the Lake District area as a whole, prior to the August Bank Holiday, its clear that the demand on some MRTs is in danger of becoming untenable. Particularly for the many volunteers who freely give of their time, and live with the disruption to their personal & work life.
Basecamp proffers one solution, suggesting increasing awareness amongst groups on mountain activities.
I've a few more radical ideas concerning individual responsibility, self-assist, common sense, and unnatural hiding places for improperly used mobile phones.
But perhaps its better I resist the temptation to go into detail.
Well for the present, at least.
Labels: Lake District, Mountain Rescue Team(MRT), Mountain Resuce Team MRT BASECAMP, Wales
Tuesday, November 3
TGO 2010 - The Big Day?
Blimey - I've been away from an Internet connection for only a couple of days & then I come back to a deluge from the outdoor sites buzzing with details of those who made the draw for next year's TGO Challenge.
And those that didn't.
Regular readers may perhaps have spotted that in general I'm not particularly renown for moving with the crowd.
But rather than be left out perhaps I'd better say, just for the record ..... I also did not make the cut for TGO 2010.
Think my chances would have improved if I'd filled out and posted the entry form?
Come on folks - where's the can-do independent spirit of the wildcamper gone these days?
Sort yourselves out now
;-)
Labels: TGO Challenge
Sunday, November 1
Wet Weather Wonder
For once last night's weather forecast was correct. Hardly difficult when it looked like the whole of the UK would be covered by one rather large raincloud.
So naturally time to head for one of my local secret spots - a New Forest waterfall near Burbush car park.
As this only appears for a very short time with heavy rainfall its not a spot likely to become over populated with hordes of tourists, especially during the summer holiday months.
Hence the reason I can let you in on this particular secret.
The pool, usually a dry shale track, once more acting unwittingly as an outflow water course, before heading off westwards down along the old railway track.
On this occasion I clambered up to the top of the waterfall, to confirm the source of the water.
Heavy rainfall on the heathland above used to drain away naturally. But a heathland fire a couple of years ago somehow compacted the ground with the result that the small tracks are now channels for the excess water, leading to form deep pools at the edge of the heath. Which inevitably tips over the heathland edge and down onto the track below.
Once again I realise that I should get a a better camera phone for these sort of on the spot snaps.Labels: nature;, New Forest
All site material © John Hee - ask before you snatch
October's Mountain Rescue magazine dropped onto the doormat a few weeks ago, but it was only the past few days that I found time to sit down and peruse it at leisure.
As a member of Basecamp, the MRT Support Club for England & Wales, this comes as part of the membership package and is always an interesting read. Content is geared (naturally) towards MRT personnel, but there is usually a couple of items that catch my interest as a non-MRT reader (See July's piece concerning mobile telephone access to emergency services)
The latest issue was no exception with a report that Keswick MRT calls hit 100 in late August, an increase of 77% compared to 2008, and a 66% increase in alerts. North Wales also experienced a 20% rise over 2008 figures.
Whilst exceptional, this is not necessarily the pattern across all MR Teams.
But given a 14% increase in the number of individual team involvement call-outs across the Lake District area as a whole, prior to the August Bank Holiday, its clear that the demand on some MRTs is in danger of becoming untenable. Particularly for the many volunteers who freely give of their time, and live with the disruption to their personal & work life.
Basecamp proffers one solution, suggesting increasing awareness amongst groups on mountain activities.
I've a few more radical ideas concerning individual responsibility, self-assist, common sense, and unnatural hiding places for improperly used mobile phones.
But perhaps its better I resist the temptation to go into detail.
Well for the present, at least.
Labels: Lake District, Mountain Rescue Team(MRT), Mountain Resuce Team MRT BASECAMP, Wales
TGO 2010 - The Big Day?
Blimey - I've been away from an Internet connection for only a couple of days & then I come back to a deluge from the outdoor sites buzzing with details of those who made the draw for next year's TGO Challenge.
And those that didn't.
Regular readers may perhaps have spotted that in general I'm not particularly renown for moving with the crowd.
But rather than be left out perhaps I'd better say, just for the record ..... I also did not make the cut for TGO 2010.
Think my chances would have improved if I'd filled out and posted the entry form?
Come on folks - where's the can-do independent spirit of the wildcamper gone these days?
Sort yourselves out now
;-)
Labels: TGO Challenge
Sunday, November 1
Wet Weather Wonder
For once last night's weather forecast was correct. Hardly difficult when it looked like the whole of the UK would be covered by one rather large raincloud.
So naturally time to head for one of my local secret spots - a New Forest waterfall near Burbush car park.
As this only appears for a very short time with heavy rainfall its not a spot likely to become over populated with hordes of tourists, especially during the summer holiday months.
Hence the reason I can let you in on this particular secret.
The pool, usually a dry shale track, once more acting unwittingly as an outflow water course, before heading off westwards down along the old railway track.
On this occasion I clambered up to the top of the waterfall, to confirm the source of the water.
Heavy rainfall on the heathland above used to drain away naturally. But a heathland fire a couple of years ago somehow compacted the ground with the result that the small tracks are now channels for the excess water, leading to form deep pools at the edge of the heath. Which inevitably tips over the heathland edge and down onto the track below.
Once again I realise that I should get a a better camera phone for these sort of on the spot snaps.Labels: nature;, New Forest
All site material © John Hee - ask before you snatch
And those that didn't.
Regular readers may perhaps have spotted that in general I'm not particularly renown for moving with the crowd.
But rather than be left out perhaps I'd better say, just for the record ..... I also did not make the cut for TGO 2010.
Think my chances would have improved if I'd filled out and posted the entry form?
Come on folks - where's the can-do independent spirit of the wildcamper gone these days?
Sort yourselves out now
;-)
Labels: TGO Challenge
Wet Weather Wonder
For once last night's weather forecast was correct. Hardly difficult when it looked like the whole of the UK would be covered by one rather large raincloud.
So naturally time to head for one of my local secret spots - a New Forest waterfall near Burbush car park.
As this only appears for a very short time with heavy rainfall its not a spot likely to become over populated with hordes of tourists, especially during the summer holiday months.
Hence the reason I can let you in on this particular secret.
The pool, usually a dry shale track, once more acting unwittingly as an outflow water course, before heading off westwards down along the old railway track.
On this occasion I clambered up to the top of the waterfall, to confirm the source of the water.
Heavy rainfall on the heathland above used to drain away naturally. But a heathland fire a couple of years ago somehow compacted the ground with the result that the small tracks are now channels for the excess water, leading to form deep pools at the edge of the heath. Which inevitably tips over the heathland edge and down onto the track below.
Once again I realise that I should get a a better camera phone for these sort of on the spot snaps.Labels: nature;, New Forest
So naturally time to head for one of my local secret spots - a New Forest waterfall near Burbush car park.
As this only appears for a very short time with heavy rainfall its not a spot likely to become over populated with hordes of tourists, especially during the summer holiday months.
Hence the reason I can let you in on this particular secret.
The pool, usually a dry shale track, once more acting unwittingly as an outflow water course, before heading off westwards down along the old railway track.
On this occasion I clambered up to the top of the waterfall, to confirm the source of the water.
Heavy rainfall on the heathland above used to drain away naturally. But a heathland fire a couple of years ago somehow compacted the ground with the result that the small tracks are now channels for the excess water, leading to form deep pools at the edge of the heath. Which inevitably tips over the heathland edge and down onto the track below.
Once again I realise that I should get a a better camera phone for these sort of on the spot snaps.
Labels: nature;, New Forest
All site material © John Hee - ask before you snatch
