The Big Day Arrives…and Goes !

A bit of a lie in today, after a late night at the Pantomime,

and finding the nearest Church, St Augustine's http://st-augustines-church.org.uk/ for 11 o’clock mass. A nice church, full to capacity, with seemingly every nation on the Earth represented !

Then back to Kate’s for a leisurely breakfast, and reading the papers before going out for an early evening meal before the big show – to watch ‘The Iron Lady’, which I had been in as an extra last year in Manchester http://www.theironladymovie.co.uk/blog/ 

But, firstly the ‘pre show dinner’ at Wagamama in the town centre   http://www.wagamama.com/locations/showlocation/581   for a great noodle and spicy food meal, washed down with a lemon and ginger drink – great, and good value

Then off to the Cinema complex across the road, and as my niece Rebecca had appeared with the Muppets the day before in London http://blog.gosh.org/our-hospital/the-muppets-visit-great-ormond-street-hospital/ I couldn’t resist the opportunity to appear with them also !

After filling up with my pick and mix, and ice cream, in we went to try and spot me in the film…oh, what a disappointment ! – I couldn’t be seen anywhere, I knew where I’d been, but I must have ended up on the ‘cutting room floor’, although I think I saw my feet and back !

Ah well, it was a great film, and I could still say I’d been in a Hollywood Oscar nominated film !!- could even be a winner !

A Star on the Stage !

After a lazy day of reading the papers, watching Manchester United giving away an easy game to rivals Liverpool in the F.A. Cup – still, you’ve got to look after the scousers haven’t you ?, we set off for Shrivenham , to watch my eldest Grandson Ethan perform in a Pantomime..

We all had dinner at Gerard’s house, before strolling across to the Defence Academy Complex, very impressive it is !

To the Charles Grace Theatre, for ‘The Wizard of OZ ‘, a performance being put on by the ‘Academy Players’.

The theatre holding about 300 people was filled to capacity, as the lights went down, the stage lit up and the performance started..I waited, enjoying the performance, but really, waiting for the first appearance of Ethan, and he soon arrived ..his first role being the white coated ‘Doctor’ to examine the witch who was under the house ! Proudly proclaiming that she was the victim of a ‘Homeicide’ !! – jokes like that could have been written by me !- then they all had a sing and dance (as they do !) and off he went, to perform several other roles.

Ethan the brilliant Doctor appeared later as a citizen of the Emerald City, shortly after the arrival of ‘Elvis’ –yes, in the Wizard of Oz !, a winged monkey, with all his quick changes being done well.

The show was a great success , very enjoyable, and topped by watching Ethan enjoying himself so much on the stage, and giving a performance that brought tears to my eyes – Well Done Ethan, a star of the future , take another bow !

Returning the Car….

I had had use of Kate’s car during the Christmas , and what I thought may be a bad weather period, although it had only rained or been windy during this part of the Winter.

Now, Kate and Wayne had moved to their new abode in High Wycombe.

Wayne to his new station at RAF Benson http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbenson/

Kate, now ‘demobbed’ from the RAF, happily pregnant and blooming… wanted her car back !

So I had a pleasant drive down to High Wycombe from Derbyshire in sunshine, leaving behind a ‘snowstorm’ that hit the High Peak  just as I was leaving the village.. that was close !

It was a bit different than driving up to Elgin at the top of Scotland, although on my last visit there ( December 2011)to collect the car, I had been rewarded for my efforts by a ‘concert’ that they took me to, to see the Red Hot Chilli Pipers (not Peppers !) http://www.redhotchillipipers.co.uk/ –look and see what they put me through – followed by a horrendous journey home in a blizzard !

Well, I was welcomed this time by a curry ,chat and easy night !

You’ve Brought them Back with You !

 

Having gone all the way to Finland and back to see the Northern Lights, I thought I would be able to settle down and rest – No chance !

Everyone I met told me about the great displays of the ‘Northern 'lights’ being seen across the North of England and Scotland – I could have been there – well, I was ,only above them !

and

finally the last straw when I saw this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16681732 so decided to go up to my favourite , well nearest, dark sky location Mam Tor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mam_Tor – to see if I could see them over Derbyshire !

I got up there shortly after 10 p.m., on a fairly cool and breezy evening, not nearly as cold as Finland, but windier !

I was soon rewarded with several sightings of the unusual sky formations that I had seen in Finland and Sweden, I wouldn’t have realised had I not seen them the week before ! The ‘remnants’ of the Northern Lights were above Derbyshire, and I could work my camera better, so managed to get some pictures, although still not brilliant

still I have to keep trying, don’t I ?

 

 

and, eventually around 1 .a.m. the clouds rolled in and over..and Jotown was able to return to a comfy bed..

Surprising Sunday of Stupendous Sights !

I was up, packed and out of the Room for 9 a.m. for a day that was to reveal all… firstly Breakfast, return my Thermal suit and Boots, then hanging around before the coach came to return everyone to the airport. As I wandered around the complex in late morning I finally noticed a big ‘Red thing’ in the sky…the Sun ,finally! It popped up behind a hill, hung in the sky for a short time, soon disappearing behind the hills again, leaving mystery in it’s wake

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch was soon over, the coaches arrived and off I went across Finland, immediately into Sweden, passing through a frozen wasteland, in a snowstorm, as the coach hurtled along…with little other traffic on the road, and soon at Kiruna Airport, which almost looked closed..we seemed to be the only flight being dealt with..

Shortly after 5 o’clock the Jet2.com aeroplane swooped out of the sky, onto the snow covered runway, quickly disgorging it’s passengers, replacing them with us, and by just after 6p.m. it was ready to take off… de-icing of the plane, and runway, engines at full revs at the end of the runway, whilst it was tested for cohesion…and.. everything stopped ! The runway was too slippy, so would have to be cleared of the heavy snow building up all the time… again the plane was de-iced and we were at the end of the runway powering up, as again we were not allowed to take off, and had to go back to the Apron, then a passenger decided she was too frightened, and demanded to be ‘let off’ ! So the plane was returned to the terminal, as she was taken off the aircraft along with her husband and bags ! And again we all waited, watching the snow build up on the aeroplane and runway, wondering whether we would be able to take off !

Eventually just after 9 p.m. we were again de-iced and at the end of the runway, with the engine’s at full blast, and suddenly, the brakes were off and we shot along the runway, up into the snowstorm as all the passengers cheered glad to be on our way…the best was yet to come !

Shortly after taking off, and going through the cloud layer, the Captain announced ‘Those on the right hand side (me!) of the plane should be able to see the Northern Lights, followed a couple of minutes later by…those on the left side etc.. As I looked out the windows I could see the Lights in all their magnificence dancing and prancing in the sky..above,below and around the aeroplane – this is what I had come to see…brilliant As you can guess I wasn’t able to take these pictures, but it gives you an idea of what it was like !http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2093199/Aurora-borealis-A-glittering-gallery-northern-lights-past-seven-days-thanks-biggest-solar-storms-years.html A large solar storm had caused the lights to ‘dance’ in all their glory…and they were following us back to Britain, as the article shows !

We had over an hour watching the lights appear,dance,disappear all round, with the cabin lights of the aircraft off.. what can I say, a great end to the journey, and the rest of the journey home..…is a blur !

A happy Jotown returns home, to plan his next adventure……. wherever !

Last Gasps for the Lights !

It was surprising how quickly the week had gone, I was in to my last day, having seen bits of the Northern Lights, but not really the type of show I had expected, with cloud cover virtually all the time.

Not wanting to waste the day, I had an early lunch and set off with my trusty sledge – by now having worked out that the Red ones were the ‘fastest’ ! – up the hill again, for a final afternoon of sledging…. ready for anything, and shooting down the hill again and again, until finally nearing exhaustion, I sledged all the way down the hill, along the road, through the Hotel complex, and on the mini ‘mogul run’ created at the side of the Hotel, eventually being thrown up in the air by a combination of my speed and the big ‘bumps’..so crashing over and out…

At dinner that night everyone was wondering whether the ‘lights’ would put on a final show, so with great excitement I went out up to the top of the hill, to find that once again it was snowing,overcast,misty…and no real prospects of a ‘show’,so, that was it… I gave up and went to bed for an early night !

Winter Wonderland Wedding..

Another later start to the day almost missing the sun having almost come out during the late morning…a lunchtime breakfast after my late night night again, and after lunch…a walk into the nearby village of Karesuando, where a young couple from the Lodge were to get married ! I thought there had unusually been a large group of people, who seemed to always be separate , now, the explanation ! They had all come together, around 20 of them for the Nuptials in Sweden, and Reception in Finland, for a British couple – a truly International celebration – apparently the groom had proposed on a trip here last year,under the Northern Lights,as the Japanese would say, a truly auspicious occasion.

Most of the people from the Davvi Lodge seemed to be milling about near to the Church, in it’s serene beauty, with candles flaming along the drive to the front door, ready to see the Groom and best man arriving by Snowmobile

…. followed not long afterwards by the Bride and her Mother in a sleigh pulled by a Reindeer..all say Aaah !

I was then ready for a cup of hot chocolate and cakes in the Cafe at the Tourist Office..before working my way back to the Davvi lodge for dinner, looking forward to my nightime adventures..the lodge had been done up, again with candles on the drive to the Lodge, no doubt celebrating the wedding..pretty..or ..?After a warming dinner, I rested again, before donning my gear for another trip up the hill, going once without success, returning for a ‘warm’ and back again for a further couple of hours, eventually giving up around 2 a.m., although I did seem to be getting used to the cold, only –15C !

Brrrr…it’s cold, but Not Cold Enough !!

 

Firstly a great big ‘Happy Birthday’ to my youngest Grandson Lincoln, getting bigger (and cheekier!)

I was up bright and early’ish this morning, even though I had had a late night again, deciding that tobogganing was good fun, and I should enjoy it while it lasted. So I just mad e breakfast, and changing into my thermals set off from the Davvi lodge up the hill again, with my trusty sledge… and also my Muvi camera http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/vehos-muvi-adventure-oriented-camcorder-claims-to-be-worlds-sm/ ready to capture some ‘action shots’ as I hurtled down the hill ! It was again overcast, with a heavy sky, but the snow was crisp, and ready for action-and so was I

Soon flying down the hill, practising doing everything one handed so I could record myself, tricky eh ?

Really good exercise going up and down the hill, and not even crashing (too many times!), although at one stage a herd of Reindeer popped out of the forest to my left, across the hill and back into the forest…almost surreal…then flying down the hill, as a car came up towards me ! Kept me on my toes..

So having gone up and down the hill about 15 times ! I decided it was time for lunch, and shot back to the Davvi lodge, for lunch,and an afternoon snooze on the Reindeer skins !

After dinner in the evening I had decided to again go out early, hopefully to catch any early activity, then to return to the lodge , before venturing out again.. not quite according to the plan – I did go out early just before 9 p.m.,the sky was again overcast and cloudy, although there did appear a few breaks in the cloud here and there. Lot’s of other people had also come up on the ‘hill’ hoping for action, although I wasn’t sure.. Shortly after 9 p.m. the sky cleared quite a lot, and suddenly these very dark green, almost black formations formed all around, in most unusual shapes.. I couldn’t be certain it was the ‘lights’, but it ‘probably’ was ! These formations only lasted a few minutes, then the sky clouded over again.. so I waited, and waited…and was rewarded around 11 p.m. with the sky clearing again, and I was able to pick out many of the star constellations in the inky black moonless sky…Still no ‘lights show’ though,by now most people having left the hill for the warmth of the Lodge..leaving me almost alone to gaze upwards (and get colder and colder !)

Not wishing to miss anything, I stayed out watching the sky,missing my ‘warmth’ break, and excited as I was I didn’t notice the time flying by..it was soon midnight………. 1 a.m.,then almost 2 a.m. before once again the sky lit up, with faint spirals in front of me, warming me up with the visions …although still not a really strong viewing. I carried on watching as the sky again clouded over, leaving me to zoom down the hill on my sledge, all the way to the Lodge, it being almost 3 a.m. by now…and a hot bed and sleep beckoned

Snow Use, you’ll just have to have Fun !

 

So, having had an ‘early night’ I was up bright and early for Breakfast, and a quick look outside –this was taken at 10 a.m., and still quite dark. I had a cunning plan, to save money (my favourite !), but still have action on the snow, so kitted up with my thermal suit and boots, it being around -10C to –15C, I got a sledge from outside the Lodge, and up the road on the nearby hill…looked out across towards Sweden, and swooped back down on the sledge…this was going to be fun, all I needed to do now was …get some control !

Up, and down I went, time and again, getting better and faster as I went, until near the end of the morning I even tried some ‘advanced’ manoeuvres, as you can see… I was getting good !

Then it was back for lunch, and an afternoons rest, snooze,read and preparation for the nightime adventures again !

So, that evening, just after 830 p.m. I set off up the hill again, hoping to catch a glimpse of the ‘Light’s…nothing !

I stayed for a couple of hours, returned to the lodge for a warm, and went back out at midnight…up to the top of the frozen hill ! Again it was quite overcast, although occasionally there were small glimpses of clear sky, and as this was what I had come for…I was going to wait !

Lots of other people wandered up and down the hill, wondering whether there would be any sights tonight ?

Again, shortly after 2 a.m. the sky started to clear, and suddenly, the sky lit up, with what I can still hardly explain, but these bright lights appearing in the middle of the sky, splitting one way and another, joining again, and swirling around – it was supposed to be magical, and it was ! A pity my camera couldn’t capture anything !

I watched the amazing sights for almost an hour before they faded (as I did !), and set off for my bed, satisfied once more..

The Pattern is Set..

 

So, after my late night, or should I say early morning..I got into a routine that was to be the pattern for my week here at the Davvi Lodge..

I slept in until lunchtime, then joined the other diners for lunch, or in my case, Breakfast ! Seemed funny to be having soup to start the day!

Then after lunch I tramped down the hill, across the frozen River, which was the boundary between Finland and Sweden (pic taken a few days later…as I’d forgotten my camera !)and into Karesuando http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karesuando , with all it’s differing names, and called in to the local church, in all it’s snowy splendour

Then a very welcome cup of chocolate at the local tourist information (and Wi-Fi access)before heading back across the river to the Davvi Lodge. As I got back to the lodge, the clear evening sky was looking good prospects for later..

So, I had dinner, watched a film, and then around 9  p.m. I togged up with all my late night cold gear, and ventured out…to find it snowing !, and had ben for some hours, Oh Dear, the prospects of seeing anything tonight looked bleak, but I carried on, collecting a sledge and up the nearby hill.. to stand there freezing, getting snowed on..and seeing nothing – apart from snow falling ..eventually giving up just before midnight…and sledging back to the Davvi Lodge, and a hot bed !

Finding My Way Around Lapland

 

Although I was up bright and early for breakfast, and then outside for a view of the area…the sky didn’t appreciate my early efforts – this is how it looked at 9-15 a.m., it not getting bright until almost 11 a.m., and as I was to find out, it never really get’s bright at this time of the year, here in the Artic Circle. Still I had my Thermal suit and boots on, and trudged my way up into the forest surround the Davvi Lodge, working out my best spot for viewing the Northern Lights, having been told by the staff that the best ‘viewing’ time was around 2 to 3 A.M. !

As I trudged up through deep snow, I found my way up to the top of the nearby hill, and looked down,across the frozen river below, and into Sweden , which I would explore later in the week (probably!)

Then it was back , on a winding route through the forest, only getting slightly ‘lost’ several times…and back to the lodge for a hot lunch, and ‘icicle’ viewing from my room… then time to rest, before the evening/ night time activities commenced..

The rooms in the Lodge were red hot,even with the vent always open, comfortably maintaining 25C..far too hot for me, although the –10C outside temperature helped to cool me down !

After evening dinner, I had a look outside, the sky was overcast, as it had been all day, I decided to remain inside until later, reading a book, before I left around 11 p.m. for the top of the hill.

As I trudged up the hill, shortly after 11, I bumped into some other people, who said the ‘lights’ had already put on a ‘show’, albeit briefly, and everyone thought that would be it for the night, so were returning to bed !

Here’s some pictures from some of the people..

Although the pictures look stunning, the views in ‘real life’ were nothing like as spectacular !

 

Undaunted, I carried on up the hill, and stood ‘frozen’ to the spot, looking at a cloudy sky,until around 2 a.m., I was just about to pack up, and return to my bed, when I spied a star appearing in the sky, soon to be followed by several more, and almost as I watched the sky became clear, and stars shone everywhere… what was to happen I wondered

Then suddenly the sky started to light up, and lo and behold there in front of me the sky lit up with an intensive glow, and spirals of golden colour filled the horizon, twisting and turning as they went, one way, then the other, as if on a giant Wurlitzer..

I wish my camera (again a ‘lent’ pic) had been able to record my personal sights, sadly all I’ve got are black screens, and giving up on photography I stood in awe for well over an hour watching all these differing sights in the sky, above,around and below me..well, it had been worth it..

By now, as the intensity reduced to just the occasional spiral, or ‘cigar’ shape, and it being around 3-30 a.m. I decided to return to the lodge…Oh, I’d made one ‘excellent’ provision for my transport down the hill – a plastic sledge, which I used to zoom down the hill ,almost knocking over a couple who had decided to come up for a look themselves, so leaving them with my sledge I returned to my oven of a room, for a celebratory glass of wine,and well earned sleep !

In Search of the Northern Lights..

 

I had wanted to see the famed ‘Northern Lights’, or to give them their correct title..’Aurora Borealis ’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_(astronomy)

for some time, and as I had tried to work out this years adventures, my mind had wandered to these again. NASA had also predicted that 2012 was to be a ‘brilliant’ year for observing them.. so after doing a bit of hunting around, I found this trip http://www.transun.co.uk/arctic/arctic_adventurer at a price I couldn’t refuse ( on Travelzoo http://www.travelzoo.com/uk/ )… so packed my bags and set off for Manchester Airport, where the sun was shining blissfully..was this going to be just what I needed ? – clear skies …I hoped so

I flew with Jet2.com http://www.jet2.com/ and I must say, for a cheap airline they were very cheerful, friendly ,efficient and comfortable –highly recommended.

I was met at a snowy and dark Kiruna airport in Sweden, and immediately herded onto a coach for the 2 1/2 hours transfer to the Davvi Artic Lodge http://www.davvihotel.com/ in Karesuando, Finland. The scene from the coach was quite surreal…completely snow covered roads,trees..anything and everything covered with a thick blanket of snow, but vehicles still travelling at a reasonable fast speed..slightly unnerving !

On arriving at the Davvi Lodge, it was already 10 p.m. local time, but they still had dinner waiting, and after dinner…kitting out in a Thermal suit, and boots – now I was ready for anything- although the sky was overcast, and ready for bed, before a daylight reconnaissance  , and working out where to go, before the nightime adventure’s…in search of the Northern Lights

BMX’ing in Manchester

 

I was up bright and early, for the journey into Manchester, as I had promised to take my Little nephew to the BMX park at Platt Fields http://www.manchesterbmx.co.uk/WebPages/trackbuild.html I had never been BMX’ing, and wanted to see what it was like.

Firstly to collect Little Lol, then a big breakfast at a great Cafe’ in Burnage, before we set off for the track..

I remembered well Platt Fields Park from my younger days,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platt_Fields_Park when we all had to walk the 5 miles there and back on Sunday afternoons for the ‘Family Walk’ !- no wonder we were all tall and skinny (in them days anyway!) –Can you ‘spot’ me ?

So, back to 2012, and on arrival at the BMX track I was amazed at it, and to find that there were only 2 children using it… So, Lol was soon kitted out with a bike,helmet,and protective pads, all for the princely sum of £3-20 for 2 hours, and with his personal coach – Jotown…

I thought it may not be too easy, and to be fair with my lack of BMX knowledge, and Lol’s hesitancy…it was difficult at first as he couldn’t manage to get up the hills in the first straight, having braked on the start ramp…but, undeterred he went back up to the start ramp, and set off again, with Jotown running behind him ‘encouraging’ him up .. down, and round the bends. He managed to get round the lap, and then again and again and again…soon he was having a great time, and I wanted to ‘have a go’.

‘Do you think I should hire a bike and join you ?’ I asked

-‘No Uncle Joey, you’ll show me up ‘ !

So, with that I returned to be his personal coach, and timed some of his runs.

Although cold, it was sunny, quiet, and great fun ..so thanks Lol…you may one day be doing this !!…and I may be joining you

A Little Leg Stretch

 

As I had done very little to start the New Year, and the weather,although cold, seemed to be quite pleasant and fresh, I loaded the mountain bike onto the back of ‘Wally’ and we set off early for Parsley Hey

http://www.thepeakdistrict.info/derbyshire-cycling/parsley-hay-cycle-hire.php

where I parked ‘Wally’ and set off along the trail, intending to just cycle along the ‘Tissington Trail’ to Ashbourne (about 9 miles away), and return, which I thought would loosen the legs up quite nicely.http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/90486/hptisstrails.pdf 

So, off I zoomed into the cold and icy winds… and was soon enjoying the ride.

I was soon passing Ashbourne, continuing further to Tissington…trails end, and just before I turned around to return saw a sign >>‘Middleton Top and Carsington’>> well, I knew Middleton Top to be on the ‘High Peak Trail’, and a differing way to return, thought I would follow the signs, link up with it, and return to my start point >>>

Not quite to be !

I did follow the signs, ending up at Carsington Water http://www.carsingtonwater.com/ before I hit the High Peak trail, and worried that I may have missed my way… however I found Route 303… which eventually wound it’s way to the High Peak Trail…salvation !

I was then able to ride back along the rougher High Peak Trail, and my start point at Parsley Hey, where I arrived 4 1/2 hours after starting..with frozen feet, frozen cheeks (!)..and a warm inside !

So much for the ‘little leg stretch’ !

A round distance of about 34 miles..phew !

New Year…New Blog !

 

Hi everyone, and welcome to the start of another blogging year….

Following on from my previously ‘highly successful ‘ blogs !- well, at least they gave ME someone to talk to, whilst I was travelling around, and by great ‘demand’ I’ve started this blog, only this time I’m just going to continue….forever…or, my fingers wear out !

If you didn’t get chance to read my previous blogs…

here they are, enjoy, but don’t comment…as I don’t read them anymore, unless to refresh my memory, which is fading…

http://www.joetownandwallyontheroad.blogspot.com/

http://jotownandwallyontheroad2011.blogspot.com/