Sunnegga, and a new project

 

I've just finished a Photobook for my 2007 TGO Challenge. Very satisfying!

 

Next, a book covering our trip to Zermatt in September 2018. It'll include images like the one above, selected at random, taken from Sunnegga, high above Zermatt.

 

Lockdown relaxation has meant a big increase in traffic here, but the paths were empty this morning for my (not)parkrun, during which I couldn't help but pause to snap the friendly heron, who seems oblivious to people passing by on the towpath.

 

 

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 17: 9 May 2009)

 

After a very easy 'Fowl Weather Alternative' day, on which we paused at length at Sourlies Bothy, where we provided tea for a rather bedraggled Robert Slade, we found ourselves in an idyllic spot near Lochan a Mhaim (NM906947).

 

 

From this pitch at 290 metres, we opened the door to see the mist rising, on what would prove to be a superb day in clear weather.

 

 

 

Sue could look out of the tent to admire a posse of geese overhead, or was that a bit later?

 

 

Flowers of the Bridgewater Canal in Timperley

Some snaps from the towpath today, to keep me entertained on my walk to see Darryl at the fish shop.

How many of the twenty (or so) flowers can you identify? I know some may have to be generic due to a lack of leaf pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There may be some help offered by previous postings such as this, or this. See also my guesses below.

 

It's just as well I took these pictures on my outward walk, as the council grass cutter had been in action by the time I went back, destroying many of these, and some more specimens that I was going to snap on the way home. A shame. Recently we saw someone rescuing caterpillars from a razed patch of nettles that were doing nobody any harm, but the council's giant lawnmower had taken exception to them.

 

Completely unrelated, here's a picture for Conrad from this morning's bike ride. Probably where the council lawnmower men hang out.

 

 

However dubious this place looks, it does sell good beer!

 

Flower guesses, from the top:

Hedge Bindweed

Umbellifer (Cow Parsley?)

Saw-wort

Bramble (x2)

White Clover

Ragwort

Yarrow

Hawkweed

Dandelion

Buttercup (probably Meadow)

Wood Avens (aka Herb Bennet)

Trefoil

Crucifer

Ox-eye Daisy

Red Clover

Herb Robert

Dog Rose

Tufted Vetch

Goosefoot

 

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 16: 8 May 2009)

 

2009 saw me enjoying my third Challenge, accompanied again by Sue, on her second event. We used the Hilleberg Nallo tent again, ideal accommodation for this event.

 

We caught the ferry from Mallaig to Inverie, where we lingered at length before a fairly short walk over the Munro summit of Luinne Beinn to the 680 metre col at the head of Choire Odhar.

 

Our camp was at 680 metres (NG871001), and proved most comfortable, especially compared with Robert Slade's nearby bivouac location, we later discovered.

 

After quite a few sliding noises, it was no surprise to open the tent to a snowy scene, with our Fowl Weather Alternative being needed as a traverse of the Knoydart summits didn't seem wise.

 

 

We had plenty of time for more pictures of the snowy scene, before heading off down to the valley.

 

 

 

Sunday 1 January 2006 - Bow Fell

 

Here's a relatively recent archive, with some pleasing images. Click on the image above to access a slideshow. This posting is principally for Nick, to whom I have recently copied 'archive footage' despite his not being present on the trips concerned.

 

New Year's Day 2006 - Bow Fell (Sue's Diary Entry)

After a night punctuated by fireworks and text messages, we were away from Balmoral Drive at 8:00 with Andrew. The grey clouds which delivered last night's rain had mostly dispersed, giving a nice pink sunrise.

Hardly any traffic and it took just two hours to reach the Old Dungeon Ghyll where we met Nick and Daniela. The direct route to Bow Fell was chosen as Andrew has been ill recently. But that's ok, as I hadn't used that route before.

The wind was cool but the mountain was clear, and we soon warmed up climbing the manicured path. Few others were around.

 

 

 

Around 11 am, we stopped in a sunny spot for tea and caramel shortbread / brownies.

 

 

 

The path became more icy as we approached the Three Tarns col, where the water was frozen.

 

 

 

 

 

The final climb to the summit was snowy and steep. A little cloud obscured the sun, and with the keen wind, more clothing was needed again.

 

 

 

A short pause on the top for photos, and to pick out Blackpool Tower and the Isle of Man, and nearer, the tops of Scafell Pike and Scafell were just hidden in cloud.

 

 

 

A quick lunch in the lee of the wind on the top, then across Bow Fell's tops, following rabbit prints in the snow.

The path down to Angle Tarn was icy, so care was needed.

A yellow rescue helicopter made repeated visits low over the neighbouring crag, its door open to search below. After several attempts to find what they were looking for, the chopper left, leaving silence once more.

Angle Tarn, with its patchy ice, was a suitable place to finish the flask contents, before heading back down another immaculate path, created to prevent erosion in Rossett Ghyll.

 

 

 

 

The hillsides here were golden brown from the bracken.

The Old Dungeon Ghyll provided pots of tea for punters inside and out, and we finally headed for home at 4:20 pm, as it got dark.

 

 

Here's our route. We started at 10:15, lunched on Bow Fell 12:40 to 1:00 pm, and were back down by 3:30 after about 5 hours of walking, 13 km with 850 metres ascent.