Not Such a Bore…!!

A quick visit down to Buckinghamshire for the twins first Birthday ( yes, time has flown !!) saw me heading down through the Midlands, and stopping en route in the Cotswolds.. at Coaley Peak http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=48284&p=0 looking down over the River Severn, and the Cotswolds.. so although I’d passed through the area many times, I hadn’t actually sopped there..until now !

I was fortunate as when I got there, I heard that the next morning would be an opportunity to see the ‘Severn Bore’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severn_bore, so setting my alarm for 6 30 a.m. I settled down for the night, and after a chilly sunrise, was ready at the side of the River Severn, along with lots of other people, just after 8 a.m. to await the first ‘5 star Bore’ of 2015…slowly but surely the waters seemed to stir around the River bend in the distance,and then the roar of water, as it came crashing up the River, from the distant sea ….sweeping up the bank as it passed – some, although not many people were out on the river surfing the wave, or riding it in canoes – very chilly !  The wave was soon passed, everyone went, and I was left to wander along the bank watching the water levels rise , quite significantly, at times flooding out onto a nearby side road, and certainly swamping the river defences !

I meandered along for a time, as the River covered my tracks, creating instant pictures as I looked and watched the debris being carried up…and later back down the river !

Having wandered around the area for the morning, and had lunch, it was time to get going, and travel across to Marlowe, for the main weekend event !

A slightly chaotic weekend ensued, with lots of fun…sickly vomiting children…balloons…cake …and Grandad Jotown looking after his little ones…so no photos yet …I may get some, which I’ll add, otherwise it’s just to wish Jacob and William ‘ Happy Birthday ‘….1 Year old !

I stayed until Sunday, then battled back, through the snow of Derbyshire, to get home… before more icy/snowy roads stopped me … a quite different weekend !

Fun…in the Sun !!

Another couple of days at home, doing what needed to be done, until the temptation was too great – the snow was still on the ground, there were prospects of a sunny day, so what could I do ? – give in , obviously and head up to the hills to see what was going on…although up early to se the sunrise, I took my time getting ready, and wandered up into the hills mid morning, even so, frightening the ‘local sheep’ !! who eventually found a gap in the world to disappear through ..! I’d got to the base of Williams Clough, my normal ascent route, however today, I’d decided to go and have a ‘mooch’ at Kinder downfall, which I knew to be frozen, although whether it was in great ‘climbing’ shape, I was to find out ? As I meandered up and along the river that flows from the downfall,it was very pleasant, deep powder snow, and dripping water frozen along the banking, and me jumping back and forth, as I tried to keep my feet dry –although the nice sunshine would have dried me out !

Up and up I danced, as I neared the frozen downfall, and impressive from the distance..(even more so from underneath !) even managing a look behind me occasionally, viewing the Alpine looks of home..

I eventually found myself beneath the mighty frozen Kinder Downfall, and looking up at all the icicles ‘flowing’ down… I looked up at the enticing ice sculpture…really  ‘tempted’… good job I’d not brought my axes with me, I’d have ended up in trouble !

I arrived just after some climbers, and happily sat under the overhanging rocks ( so making sure that softening ice crashing down, didn’t land on my head !) and watched whilst they climbed up the ice away from me..and I ate my sandwiches and a nice hot drink .

I followed all the moves up the thin hard ice, all the time wishing I was there, until eventually … success !, whilst on the main fall, some other climbers had started, but soon found the ice to be crashing down all around them, and were beaten back…

great views and excitement all round, although having sat in the afternoon sunshine, listening to the crash and ‘thump’ of ice falling, it was time to go – I’d been there for over two hours ! A last survey of the scene, stamp my frozen feet, and back down the gulley, ready to head back up onto the plateau, to hopefully catch the sunset…

I soon warmed up, and I had to make my own trail up through the deep snow, traversing the hillside, up,up and up to the top, which was a lot harder than I expected ( but did warm me up !) As I broke out onto the plateau, I was greeted with another Alpine sight, and I soon wandered around to the top of the frozen downfall, ready to catch the sunset, from my favoured spot – you can go anywhere in the World, but sunset …(especially in the snow )

from Kinder downfall has always been special to me …( I even slept here once..) What more do you need ?

I kept traversing the plateau, watching the ever changing sky and scenery, with a fierce wind blowing in my face, as the warming sun had disappeared .. and I soon had frozen cheeks ! What great fun I thought as I slipped and slid down the rocks off Kinderlow End, my only slight miscalculation being the Full moon was hidden behind the clouds  and no head torch with me… Ooops ! I did make it down safely though, and clunked my way home for a satisfying bath – what a great day, real ‘fun in the sun’ !!!

Lazy Sunday Afternoons…!

It had been a busy Sunday, I hadn’t even managed to read the ‘Sunday papers’… but the heavy snow was still lying all around me, the hills were plastered in the white fun stuff, the sun was shining… and a clear sky forecast for the evening… what to do ? –the sensible option… ? yes, get ready, and climb up on to Kinder to watch the sunset , should be spectacular !, and that’s what I did, meeting lots of people on the way down, as I headed upwards after 3 pm., and getting quizzical looks from them, as if I’d lost my marbles …!! The snow was really deep as I climbed up through Tunstead, towards Kinderlow End, and glances backwards confirmed the prospect of a clear sky for sundown… I looked over towards Kinder downfall, with hardly a soul in sight…I was ready to enjoy myself …as I looked all around me, I was taken back to my days on the Camino, as my shadow was really strong beneath me, stretching out across the hill

I’d better get a move on though, as stopping so much was holding me back, and I might not get there in time, although it looked like the sky was developing just as I anticipated.. as I got to the top of Kinderlow End, I was able to see the moon already out in front of me, whilst the sun was going down behind my back, can you spot them both ? Just as the sun was going down, some cloud came across the horizon, and spoiled it, although it was still worth it to be up there, wind in my face, snow beneath my feet, and the glory of the world spread out around me ! As it then got darker, and I got colder, I thought I may as well go for a wander, under the almost full moon, and the stars already twinkling in the sky above me..up past the trig point on the top of Kinderlow, and then across the plateau, towards the distant downfall, with views over Greater Manchester and Cheshire stretched out before me.. and the moon casting it’s eerie glow all around with the ghostly shape of an arrow,formed by the distant reservoir, encouraging me onwards, or as we said in Spain ‘Ultreia’ !!

All too soon I’d crossed the plateau, and came upon Kinder downfall, although I couldn’t see much, as the dark chasm dropped beneath me, and no real view of it – I could hear the river still gushing over the top, so I knew it hadn’t frozen completely…I did find a picture of what it looked like the next morning here… http://fstoppress.com/vr/kinder_001/ what great views, and what adventure… although in reality, not yet climbable.. I decided to head for home then, by retracing my steps across the plateau, and down the icy, rocky and treacherous Kinderlow End.. mainly done glissading down the chute ! The stars were out all around, and the nice floodlight of the moon to guide me on my way… down, back into the silent village and home… Now, wasn’t that better than reading the papers !!??- Always !