Been busy decorating room for imminent arrival of junior.
Work in progress:
Work in progress:
Saturday, 21 July 2007
Friday, 20 July 2007
Tour de France Rider Clips Dog
Been a bit busy decorating junior's room (pictures to follow imminently) and watching the Tour de France (which incidentally had two days in England this year) recently, hence the lack of activity here.
The other day a big yellow dog decided to cross the road as the cyclists passed. This is what happened:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0dzMp61G5w
Not as spectactular as the big crash just before the finish in Ghent last week:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ8L6cg00oo
The other day a big yellow dog decided to cross the road as the cyclists passed. This is what happened:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0dzMp61G5w
Not as spectactular as the big crash just before the finish in Ghent last week:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ8L6cg00oo
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
The 2007 Corrieyairack Challenge # 2
Far more of a Challenge (with a capital 'C') than expected, but we made it. 68th position for me (4:47:28), 76th for Adrian (4:54:27) and 106th for Lidster (5:34:52) out of the 148 who completed the mountain bike event. Team position: 17th out of 28. Not a bad effort for the Lidster who barely even knew what a bike was until a few weeks ago.
The three of us at the start (left: Lidster, centre: me, right: Adrian):
Action shot of the Lidster enjoying the first half mile before starting uphill. Sadly things went badly for him from here on.....
Adrian approaching the summit of the pass:
Adrian negotiating the descent. Inconveniently, the track had been slightly washed away, so the ride down consisted of negotiating football-sized boulders on what was left of the track and making up our own route down as we saw fit.
Essentially an enjoyable day out. Scotland seems to be just one big adventure playground!
The three of us at the start (left: Lidster, centre: me, right: Adrian):
Action shot of the Lidster enjoying the first half mile before starting uphill. Sadly things went badly for him from here on.....
Adrian approaching the summit of the pass:
Adrian negotiating the descent. Inconveniently, the track had been slightly washed away, so the ride down consisted of negotiating football-sized boulders on what was left of the track and making up our own route down as we saw fit.
Essentially an enjoyable day out. Scotland seems to be just one big adventure playground!
Friday, 15 June 2007
My Death Forecast
Click here for my projected age at death:
http://www.bored.com/deathforecast/result.php?record=1786789
http://www.bored.com/deathforecast/result.php?record=1786789
The 2007 Corrieyairack Challenge # 1
Savage terrain, precipitous gradients, impenetrable jungle, unfathomable canyons...........it's extreme, it's a bike ride and it's been and gone.
What is it?
43 mile sponsored bike ride.
One of the less demanding parts of the route:
A slightly more demanding part of the route:
When is it?
30 June 2007.
Why is it?
To raise money for disabled adults to participate in outdoor activities.
Where is it?
From Fort Augustus (by Loch Ness) to Kincraig in the heart of the Scottish Highlands:
Will Supplementary Breathing Apparatus be Required?
Not quite, but the route does cross the Corrieyairack pass along the highest mountain road in Scotland (as I discovered today). The summit is at 2526ft (770m). The summit is suitably equipped in case a nightstop should become necessary:
http://www.corrieyairack.org/
What is it?
43 mile sponsored bike ride.
One of the less demanding parts of the route:
A slightly more demanding part of the route:
When is it?
30 June 2007.
Why is it?
To raise money for disabled adults to participate in outdoor activities.
Where is it?
From Fort Augustus (by Loch Ness) to Kincraig in the heart of the Scottish Highlands:
Will Supplementary Breathing Apparatus be Required?
Not quite, but the route does cross the Corrieyairack pass along the highest mountain road in Scotland (as I discovered today). The summit is at 2526ft (770m). The summit is suitably equipped in case a nightstop should become necessary:
http://www.corrieyairack.org/
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
Aran Islands Excursion
Some pictures from a recent holiday excursion to the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. The islands are a popular tourist destination and have a number of ancient archeaological sites.
The main island of Inishmore has a population of approximately 900 and is nine miles long. The smaller islands of Inishmaan and Inisheer have populations of approximately 250.
We stayed on Inishmore for two nights and spent a few hours visiting Inisheer.
Each island has its own airstrip with regular flights from Inverin, Co Galway.(http://www.aerarannislands.ie/).
Inishmore Airstrip.
Aran Direct (http://www.arandirect.com/) and Aran Island Ferries (http://www.aranislandferries.com/) serve the islands from Rossaveal, Co Galway and Doolin Ferries (http://www.doolinferries.com/) serve the islands from Doolin, Co Clare.
Kilronan Harbour, Inishmore.
Pier House (http://www.pierhousearan.com/), our B & B on Inishmore, conveniently situated in Kilronan (Inishmore's 'capital').
Hannah on bike (popular form of transport on Inishmore).
An old monk's or hermit's shack, Inishmore.
Ruined church, Inishmore.
Looking northwest from the western end of Inishmore.
Lane and fields, Inishmore.
Inishmore (Dun Aengus fort visible on southern [left hand] clifftop).
Dun Aengus Fort, the principal archaelogical site on Inishmore.
Hannah at Dun Aengus.
Views from Dun Aengus.
Looking east.
Looking south (on a clear day, you can see Mount Brandon, Co Kerry - 65 miles away).
Looking southeast; Cliffs of Moher (Co Clare) in the background.
Looking northwest.
Inisheer Harbour after quite a rough 45 minutes on the ferry from Inishmore.
Inisheer.
Hannah concentrating on not being seasick on the ferry back to Inishmore.
The main island of Inishmore has a population of approximately 900 and is nine miles long. The smaller islands of Inishmaan and Inisheer have populations of approximately 250.
We stayed on Inishmore for two nights and spent a few hours visiting Inisheer.
Each island has its own airstrip with regular flights from Inverin, Co Galway.(http://www.aerarannislands.ie/).
Inishmore Airstrip.
Aran Direct (http://www.arandirect.com/) and Aran Island Ferries (http://www.aranislandferries.com/) serve the islands from Rossaveal, Co Galway and Doolin Ferries (http://www.doolinferries.com/) serve the islands from Doolin, Co Clare.
Kilronan Harbour, Inishmore.
Pier House (http://www.pierhousearan.com/), our B & B on Inishmore, conveniently situated in Kilronan (Inishmore's 'capital').
Hannah on bike (popular form of transport on Inishmore).
An old monk's or hermit's shack, Inishmore.
Ruined church, Inishmore.
Looking northwest from the western end of Inishmore.
Lane and fields, Inishmore.
Inishmore (Dun Aengus fort visible on southern [left hand] clifftop).
Dun Aengus Fort, the principal archaelogical site on Inishmore.
Hannah at Dun Aengus.
Views from Dun Aengus.
Looking east.
Looking south (on a clear day, you can see Mount Brandon, Co Kerry - 65 miles away).
Looking southeast; Cliffs of Moher (Co Clare) in the background.
Looking northwest.
Inisheer Harbour after quite a rough 45 minutes on the ferry from Inishmore.
Inisheer.
Hannah concentrating on not being seasick on the ferry back to Inishmore.
Lochnagar Expeditionette
Recently accompanied Lidster on an expeditionette up Lochnagar in the Balmoral Estate, Scotland's 21st highest mountain (3789ft - 1155m).
Lochnagar summit.
Lochnagar loch.
Descending towards Loch Muick.
Lidster appreciating scenery adjacent to waterfall.
Lochnagar summit.
Lochnagar loch.
Descending towards Loch Muick.
Lidster appreciating scenery adjacent to waterfall.
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