Scarred on the 'Red Run'

Monday 6th September 2010

Well, I started off the way I intended to carry on...at 'Cowboy time ' (anyone know what the time was ??) and headed off up to Ambleside, where I got to my favoured outdoor store.. Gaynor Sports at Ambleside (link already on), where dissapointedly I couldn't get my favoured 'Nuptse' down jacket at the advertised price (t'internet only !), but got an even better Mountain equipment jacket, at similiar price...hopefully this one will last out the winter, unlike last years one, anyway I've got a new down jacket for the 'cooler weather'

Funnily enough whilst in the shop, I heard an assistant, trying to impress a woman from Birmingham,about which 'wet wether' jackets to get - I told him not to be so miserable, the sun was shining and would do all week !

So when I picked the down jacket to purchase, he said ' I have made everyone miserable haven't I ?!'...

From Ambleside, and a steak pastie from Greggs ! I went up to Grizedale forest , where I ended up paying an extortionate £5 to park for 4 hours !, and £1 for a rubbish 'trail map'...however..

Then I went on the North Face mountain bike 'singletrack trail' http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/ourwoods.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandCumbriaNoForestGrizedaleForestParkGrizedaleVisitorCentreTheNorthFaceMountainBikeTrail

which actually was quite good fun...the pictures would have been great, if only I'd remembered to take it with me ,doh....

I flashed round the, for me, quite tricky course,only coming off a few times,

twice being into the thick brambles aside the track, leaving thorns in places you wouldn't want ! Going over various built up obstacles, and rocky trails.

I finished the course in a creditable 2 hours, the target time being 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours...so pretty average then, not bad for an old geezer.

Having dusted myself down on the car park.....a sparse eaxmination revealed 'only' 1 cut elbow, both forearms scraped and scratched (and a sweaty !!!)..I didn't cry though !

From there I went to Whinlatter forest, to have alook at their trails,

and then drove to nearby Keswick, to find a campsite, and got the last pitch on the CCC Keswick sitehttp://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=2951, where I convinced them I was over 55 ...and so ,finally got my 'age discount'....finally after over 5 years being a pensioner...I've got an age reduction !!

I nipped into nearby Keswick, had Cumberland sausage,chips...and 2 pints of Cumberland ale...to start the journey properly...

I just managed to get back to the campsite, before the Heavens opened,and the rain thundered down for the night !!

Me ? I slept soundly after a hard day !

The Last 'Sit Down' Meal

Sunday 5th September 2010

What more can I say,

may be a while until I return to this !

On the Road Again

Sunday 5th September 2010 Well, that's it...summers over, got the house painted, done everything I intended to do....So, off travelling again in the morning. I'm staying in the UK this time, going up to tour around Scotland. Initially I'm spending a couple of days in the Lake District, going to buy some gear in Ambleside, http://www.gaynors.co.uk/ go biking on some trails in the Grizedalehttp://www.forestry.gov.uk/thenorthfacetrail and Whinlatter forests http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7tpbnz, then intend to travel to the Galloway Forest Park http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/space/article6887233.ece, which is a designated 'Sky park' due to the darkness of the night sky, hoping to see some great star shows... Then up to St Andrews ,Scotland http://www.standrews.co.uk/for Thursday 9th September...ready for the Airshow at RAF Leuchars on the Saturday -http://www.airshow.co.uk/ Kate has promised me VIP show tickets ( provided I don't tell anyone !).. as it's the 'Day that noone forgets,but not everyone remembers !!?? I expect to be away till end October 'ish, weather and fun dependent, could be shorter/longer... and I hope to be able to find enough web connections to keep my blog 'up to date' Send any messages you want !! Keep smiling

Home at Last

Hi everyone I've had the weekend in Germany, watched my first World Cup game !! and driven all the way home on Monday I'll update my adventures after my son Joseph's wedding on 3rd July ! Keep smiling Jotown

Artwork by David...Very Impressive !!

Recent visitors should have now sen the impresive artwork done by my son David.. Fantastic, and well done David, it's a brilliant start to the blog...my only contribution was ...posing for the camera !! Any artwork needed by anyone, I can introduce David to you...for a small fee !!

Germany calling ...and I didn't even know the World Cup had kicked off !

Friday 25th June 2010 I'll have to fully update my blog when I get home...next week. Briefly in the last week I continued around Molina de Ledro, near Lake Garda in Italy... the 'free music festival' was washed out,it poured down all weekend, but managed to finish my books, and doze... Then it brightened up Monday. so tackled a (what I would now describe) fairly gentle Via Ferrata from Briecesca, Tuesday took a nifty climb on the road bike in the hills, nearly wiping out a mountain biker, who didn't bother to look behind him as I was about to whistle by him at 30 mph, and he decided to wonder whether his path meandered all over the road - like him- anyway a wonderful 2 wheel slide, bald patches on both tyres...and wonderful judgement...managed to avoid him..and keep me upright !! and it was supposed to be an easy day ! Wednesday a great, and aptly named Via Ferrata 'Ernesto Che Guevara'was tackled in ferocious heat, and blinding sun, up a 1200 mts rock face, of sheer limestone, draining every drop of fluid from my body.. and testing the endurance of the mighty 'Jotown', who having completed this feat...promptly got lost on the way down, and ended in the wrong valley...a $25 euro taxi ride saw me back with Wally !! Thursday and Friday saw me travelling across the high mountain passes from Italy, into and across Austria, and then up through Germany,arriving in Munster early Friday afternoon, (thanks to TomTom) for a weekend with Grandchildren Ethan and Elijah, and their Mum Sarah..whilst Dad Gerard was 'swanning'in the Dessert heat of Afghanistan !! Of course it's only when I got here that I realised why all the cars were sporting the German flags...it's England V Germany Sunday afternoon ... should be an interesting weekend !!

Still on the Road...and having fun in the Mountains..

Hi everyone sorry I've not been able to update my blog, internet connections, and greedy campsites prevent me at the moment from telling you all that has happened..!! I've survived though... Since my last blog.. I've had a few days on the Cote D'Azur where I cycled into st Tropez, met up with Jackie and Joan, frinds from Home, and got cooked dinner from them - thanks ! Also had a day sightseeing in Monaco/ Monet Carlo... I then headed up into the hills behind Nice, and Monaco, and had 3 great days frightening myself to death, doing different Via Ferrata routes...and staying out 'wildcamping' in the mountains, at very isolated spots, including various sights as the 'fireflies' dancing in the woods at night ! Great..and left just in time before all the torrential rains and flash floods in the area...well done Wally ! I then travelled to Italy, and stayed for 3 days with Lynne,(Susan's childhood friend) her husband Fabrizio and daughter Elizabeth, who all treated me like Royalty, fed me, took me sightseeing around Chiavari,took me to a very good 'Michelin' restaurant...and most importantly..did me washing ! Thanks to you all.. I've now travelled to the Lake Garda area, and am staying at Molina de Liedro, which I will use as a base to do some Via Ferrata's around the area, after the weekend Music Festival (free!!) which takes place around the area.. Then by next Friday 25th June I should be with my Grandchildren Ethan and Elijah, and their Mum Sarah,in Germany ...before travelling home on the ferry on the 28th June (now booked !!) I'll be able to tell more next week !!