Crampons and Axes

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Had a week of 'googling', and it looks like camping pods and the whole concept of pod camping seems to  be taking off throughout the UK and Europe.  It's surely going to be an interesting few years to see how big it will go.

Well, I managed to get out to the hills this Sunday with 'Big Davie' for company.
I take my hat off to him though. He threw up 3 times, and was on his hands and knees on a few occasions crawling up the hill...yet still stuck it out and made it to the top.
He also managed to be within 2" of a self-inflicted vasectomy whilst trying to show off by jumping a barbed wire fence that ripped right through his 2 layers of trousers and has left a lovely 4" cut in his groin area.
I think the way I clutched my sides and rolled around laughing indicated that I was a tad unsympathetic to his injury.

All dressed up and nowhere to go.

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Well, as expeditions go, even Sir Edmund  could never have been better prepared.
Everything ready to go, new Scarpa mountain boots, crampons, ice axes, rucksack, survival bag, latest gps and compass, ord survey maps, route planned..............everything but Sherpas.

Can't get the car to the end of the road......

Snowed in.

Wonder what's on TV

Winter bookings

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Well, good news from Kinlochleven. It seems their Hobbits are booked up every weekend through into next year.
On the minus side of course, it scuppers my weekend get-away plans.

We've been busy in the workshop making some long overdue alterations and got the office refurbished at last.

Walking in a winter wonderland

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Got my feet in snow for the first time this winter season.
As you can see by the pic, all the girls beat the guys to the summit, until I arrived and did the David Bailey duties.
We came across a guy at the top who had carried a 30ft antenna all the way up there to send morse code messages to his chums. My offer of a loan of my mobile phone was met with suitable scorn.

Ah well, some folks think we are just as crazy.
Then it was off for the club 'high tea' and lots of strawberry tarts before heading home for hot bath and early bed.

Shoot the weather girl (part 2)

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I can't believe the bbc got it so wrong again.
So much for clearing up and sunshine.
We had sleet and torrential rain in Glencoe and a foot of snow at 2 1/2 thousand feet.
The A82 was flooded, but luckily traffic was light.

The Willows, Abersoch, Wales

www.microlodge.co.uk

We would like to extend a warm welcome to Anna and Miles, owners of The Willows in Abersoch.

Their site has  received the prestigious award of  'Best Place to Stay in Wales' (Caravan & Camping) 2010. 

Follow this link to their website.  http://www.the-willows-abersoch.co.uk/index.htm

Gary gets to go up North

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I was in the huff as Gary got to go up to Kinlochleven with the latest batch of mini-hobbits last Friday, but changed my mind as soon as I saw the weather forecast. Torrential rain.  Luckily, the weather for me over the weekend was fine and I managed to visit 'The Bunnet Stane' on the Northern slopes of the West Lomonds.

However, I may make it up to Glencoe this weekend coming and have a go at the few of the Mamores before the onset of the snows. Luckily, I'm all kitted up now as my crampons came, so I'm ready for the ice.

Tip for the day, don't try out your crampons on laminate flooring as the gouging marks are nigh impossible to disguise, and don't allow your cat to dance around your feet as the risk of perforations in the tail are high.