Saturday 31 January 2015

05:45 a windy night in Scotland. I'm just having my first coffee before setting off for a walk round Loch Freuchie.

When I set off it was dark, snowing & very windy. There was distant sushine later, but none on me.
11:20 passed through St Fillans & now at east end of Loch Earn. Some sun but very cold & windy.
The car is being battered side to side by the wind.
The A85 along north side of Loch Earn has the most incredible number of car parks.
16:10 just finished enjoyable walk along old abandoned rail tracks north of Glen Ogle.

Friday 30 January 2015

09:35 Now at Shap M6 on my way to Scotland for a couple of days. The Cumbrian fells look lovely in the snow especially the Howgills.

10:45 now at Moffat for pee break.
12:05 at Bonnybridge adjacent the Antonine Wall about to do short walk to Rough Castle.
13:25 just finished wonderful short walk along snow covered embankments of Antonine Wall & Rough Castle Fort embankments.

15:00 at Broxden, Perth to get diesel. Can't see any snow north of here.
16:45 in Aberfeldy to visit General Wade's Tay Bridge opened in 1735. When built it was part of his network of his military roads across Scotland.

Wednesday 28 January 2015

20:10 at Chorley Sub Aqua Club meeting in Chorley. First time doing a projected show about diving in the old days in Scapa Flow & excavating the 1675 wreck of the first Royal Yacht Mary.

Tuesday 27 January 2015

05:55 Dark & drizzle on my morning walk.
10:45 waiting for first haircut of the year.
11:45 haircut done, now at cinema to see American Sniper. It's not a film I'd watch based on the title but its had good reviews.
Watched the film but it wasn't my kind of film.
Life doesn't come to you, so go to it.
18:50 In Nelson to do a gig for Nelson Camera Club.

Monday 26 January 2015

14:04 returned courtesy car to Enterprise Chorley. My own car back from repair just after 13:00
19:20 doing evening gig about Bolivia to Fleetwood Travel Group.

Saturday 24 January 2015

After an enjoyable walk to Chorley this morning I'm being greedy & having a lovely evening walk along another part of the canal. I've just leant against the lock gates & they've started to open. So so leaning on the other side to close it.

Friday 23 January 2015

Reached Edinburgh Waverley Rly Stn 09:50. Managed to catch 10:08 Manchester train heading for Preston.
11:09 leaving Lockerbie. It's pouring down.
11:20 Very gloomy & overcast.

Thursday 22 January 2015

Good camp last night. Today cycled via Falkirk Wheel, Bannockburn battle site, over Kincardine Bridge & Forth Road Bridge. Good camp by shore with view of Forth Rail Bridge.

Wednesday 21 January 2015

Now on 06:40am Preston to Glasgow train with my bike. I'm not sure this a good idea!
15:05 All paths & cycle routes around Glasgow frozen snow & ice. So moved to plan B & kept to roads. Overcast & sub zero but roads OK. Now camped west of Falkirk Wheel.

Tuesday 20 January 2015

At 05:36 had great view of ISS pass over in dark clear sky.
Apnother great view of the ISS at 07:10

Monday 19 January 2015

06:00 On my morning walk & it's -5degC. My breath billows as clouds steam in my head torch.
19:10 at Chorley Photographic Society meeting. Recently switched to new venue at St Mary's Club, Devonshire Rd. This is where I first joined CPS in 1972.

Sunday 18 January 2015

Has been quite cold. Defrosted the fridge overnight. Left the milk outside in the snow to keep it fresh.

Saturday 17 January 2015

19:55 Out for an evening walk. The temperature has plumeted and the lanes & pavements are sparkling with ice crystals & very slippery.

Friday 16 January 2015

08:10 Being greedy again & going for a 2nd walk this week. In Threlkeld, Cumbria. Cloud, rain & snow.

Thursday 15 January 2015

06:05 On dark morning walk. Clear sky but not too cold. Lovely view of Moon & Jupiter.
19:15 doing gig tonight for Northwich Photo Society. The car park is very dark & nobody here yet.

Wednesday 14 January 2015

08:50 Snowy drive to start of my planned walk but had to turn back cos of drifting snow. Now in Bowes by A66 about to walk along valley bottom.

Monday 12 January 2015

05:55 It's dark, very windy & raining for my morning walk.
19:45 At Foxfield, Billington nr Whalley. About to do gig for Red Rose Ladies group. Last here in 2013.

Friday 9 January 2015

Forecast is for high winds but not too bad here on my morning walk. Earlier news said lorry blown over on M6 Cumbria.
Stornoway wind gusting to 113mph
17:00 just back from doing gig in Bolton. Horrible dark and wed drive back through rush hour traffic.

Thursday 8 January 2015

My gig tonight in Northwich has bewn cancelled. So I'm being greedy & having another day walking on the North Pennines.
13:45 Just visited the amazing Bowes Castle near Barnard Castle. It is 12th century & built unside the site of a Roman Fort.

Tuesday 6 January 2015

Now on Cotherstone Fell, Co Durham about to start a walk. Amazed I've got signal.

Monday 5 January 2015

First meeting of the year for Chorley Photographic Society. It's at a new venue, St Mary's Club off Devonshire Rd. The main downside for me is there are secure facilities to park my bike & I can't bring it inside. Tonight I've had to come in the car, so no drinking. Not that I do much at the Society meetings.

Friday 2 January 2015

Yesterday morning I woke up in my tent on a mountain top. This morning I was in my own bed and now out on my morning walk.
08:30 a very novel experience this morning. Went into a McDonald's for breakfast for the first time in my life.

Thursday 1 January 2015

From Hurst Hill I have a great view of the new year firework displays. Also very noisy.
05:15 was hoping to photograph Winter Hill TV mast at night but its thick mist outside the tent.