tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87573575101115687202024-02-07T05:12:26.337-08:00Foreign WatersForeign Waters is the blog of Simon Wiles and Cheryl Robinson. So all our friends can keep up with our adventures.Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-56681220083472944432010-05-03T13:48:00.000-07:002010-05-03T14:33:53.056-07:00Nepal, Easter 2010<p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">Just back from a recent trip to India and Nepal. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px"></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">The plan was to fly into Delhi, then travel overland to western Nepal. This was supposed to be easier and cheaper than flying into Kathmandu! </span><br /></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">Many hours driving, and a long tedious (5hrs) border crossing later, we were finally in the kayaking shangri-la of Nepal.</span><br /></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">Our group was larger than the normal. 15 of in total, of which 7 would head to the Thuli Bheri, whilst the others paddled the lower sections of the Bheri. Upon completion of those rivers, we would all re-convene, and paddle the Karnali together.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467149051863555410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQhNxMZerkMiWwuLA5gLStDX5GZlmsh3MisuixjL5hsA1d9m2VJWWtfamWSgtks3kQxBPG6H8YFMRkhVAFfGuRA42XxjDUc92Inyq5Oex_KXQQ3LSGpGYClRvMK6o3A5-D_vSPMBfOBAc/s400/IMGP3224.jpg" /> </span><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px;font-size:78%;" >The Thuli Bheri is a river none of us had paddled before, but one with a great reputation as a multi day classic. Described as day after day of read and run grade 4/4+. It takes a lot of effort to get to however. The journey we had already undertaken was just the start. From our staging point in the small town of Surkhet we boarded our charter flight, and headed up into the mountains for the 40 minute flight to the town of Jupail.</span></p><p><br /><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><span style="font-size:78%;">Hiring some reluctant porters, we eventually made our way down to the river.</span> </span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467149419106371842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrR9H70JoVI6YwMwFK-OHqvUyffouCje-Ca7CP0qk8bKXIkn6p36knOLqXpe1H7m9vQgffJSiotT_cl9yDeFiOG3yDic74z0zALAwfpCu_nHZO1EyLPNMMExMfOp__Jr71Tr5y4c_1ZW_P/s400/IMGP3249.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467149073854777410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XcCewx1CJS1mP6CjEmj8mmEunLy3j55edbVod9aA8R1NVEiML_CIlc_xKdPFZZrrGaBP8iO9TDT1w_beanpzvIk_RIgIdI1Ym5ZtwaXKE8Qf3co37nycEiZ6_lilMBtB43EQEVkPHUjm/s400/IMGP3247.jpg" /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">For the next 5 days, we paddled some of the best whitewater in the world. Through open valleys, and deep canyons the rapids just kept coming. Most of it was on the limit of read and run. Others however involved inspection, or worse, the dreaded loaded boat portage.... The river had everything, low volume creeky pool drop, continuous screaming non stop kilometer long rapids, big volume hole dodging. All too soon the river was over, and the next stage of our adventure started. The river extraction...</span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467149424603315666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEins3cbTapc_rFySsqiiI2cK1q0y-wWSUIibqKiFx-6UXPSEC_Dhf3rpQgV4UgSH3-Jj0bmdwDGeqXcpqZ0AzIlfV3XM-7aRkdgYWQe0IO88ei66mHeYt9yCbDh2vva6ubjhh34gRNNvkZh/s400/IMGP3266.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467149430698456642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoJzfWmbsBv6viSM-fS_GbYA8FU1NlTSy6BFXMpyNIIowJM57dAhbpuWpojUg6F_3m4vDIyO8NNwJbcMtELHeHCeXc4W0Ekmx7EZ6_3R-A0-3I0iVJL8K9QaqI1Zzp5Qf_pu8WjKTOQb9/s400/IMGP3293.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467150470998526322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MgIzkJoWm8e2vamMF7Radz5Fyfzf3lmNmUEju-mTJqv9vLiFOPgLkjgjrOGfViy3OE6-ij16tM0IbqIiue2vo-OprSMBjk-0kfyhRxQOaIqXWZ7VTOiqOx034X6SR-Hr9_DE-mbxlqx6/s400/IMGP3315.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467149441647182850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURLwKYVwDT2GsYs-3vvR7SYjOX-KQM_ydZlMRcNo-qoXC6J5bqZwD6ifm-3Uo02ur8xU6-6IzN7mMiT78tUG-otyoEY-7pIHuYjsfCS8oOgsPapDKjL6uDceWAEPUsPi7o-qTjxC_iO-5/s400/IMGP3305.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467149451459333090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuM7_BtJJwkqj6wTvAnpvEdJ_Id3IKc84lkMHQb2sWbLl1JhgT9Fs8PwE26bDwJBrl5-1IbnOdCxEkZ2D7av42yC7dWHzqOKLNAKw1v-so3pcoKFVRu5OWy6h0NjXojJOZV8hudGYWrRp/s400/IMGP3310.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467150486853179122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnqIfqlpG0hgzOQmRCnTauUByQU_QVvfI9GcwZ7oyiYQvk6Nkrs50_d9GDq6QdWkMridMO0CGkySs5RV9tRcX-17XOUVw-8qpBMRJvHEctKivLlVXEDtqhEfnJAcvanbbJOaigvBzGUj3/s400/IMGP3322.jpg" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8oISlq4vYKLCv1wAXlWgTHIf-mz_uj-c26S_h-XUU1ydmw4_RU_UkvhW-cjjW5i09U9ObPOaW3nJUbafgesIAgvE9YTdZzMEoyllkN-C4IN_QxbgSI2rrIishpbHqF2fFiOLEbqlOMlz/s1600/IMGP3338.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467150502329304802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8oISlq4vYKLCv1wAXlWgTHIf-mz_uj-c26S_h-XUU1ydmw4_RU_UkvhW-cjjW5i09U9ObPOaW3nJUbafgesIAgvE9YTdZzMEoyllkN-C4IN_QxbgSI2rrIishpbHqF2fFiOLEbqlOMlz/s400/IMGP3338.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrDRZryBJbBXN2IM6nO2c8qOl-OVKA_bC8X5oUmbtGwrhesZCULa_JWFW1Wi4xjG9nu5-E3m9egT986clfwkZrrmhhBokhzD23fIyahajPDCZOfAowq9paRspk3Av6NGYjiOQy6PO3Bsj/s1600/IMGP3327.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467150495636108162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrDRZryBJbBXN2IM6nO2c8qOl-OVKA_bC8X5oUmbtGwrhesZCULa_JWFW1Wi4xjG9nu5-E3m9egT986clfwkZrrmhhBokhzD23fIyahajPDCZOfAowq9paRspk3Av6NGYjiOQy6PO3Bsj/s400/IMGP3327.jpg" /></a><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">Unfortunately information was a little sketchy about where our section of the river ended, and the road began... No doubt there are some very confused locals on towns along the river... Eventually, we found a town that we hoped would have a bus that may go somewhere where we wanted to go (this is Nepal...) but we had to wait until the morning, only to find the bus would only take us part of the way. But somehow, despite all Asia could throw at us, we made it back to Surket that very next day (three buses, and one porter carry later).</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ku7AgletDPofMNALKQ5rcV_aPf_Zb_jYRxwH6vlUyO53Wcc_RX1nBOopfM9ZzOnqCea-tQ25EbwyoFJBfg0XqIjbnrcBPBVV3q0G1fs0qSHur9xNUUdNQ59EUgp4Xeo_X0t06sAmFQd8/s1600/IMGP3345.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467150506432236882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ku7AgletDPofMNALKQ5rcV_aPf_Zb_jYRxwH6vlUyO53Wcc_RX1nBOopfM9ZzOnqCea-tQ25EbwyoFJBfg0XqIjbnrcBPBVV3q0G1fs0qSHur9xNUUdNQ59EUgp4Xeo_X0t06sAmFQd8/s400/IMGP3345.jpg" /></a> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">Comparing stories, the other group had just as much excitement on and off river, but without even pausing for a rest day, we re-stocked, and headed off to the Karnali...</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">Mark and I had paddled the Karnali before, dubiously engaged as safety kayakers for rafting companies, who ran the Karnali as a 9 day trip. We would be aiming to spend 5 days on the river, with less faff loading and unloading rafts each day.. We would have a particularly large group of 15 paddlers though.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">The Karnali was a definite warm down from the Thuli Bheri, and a definite step up from the Bheri, a change of pace for both groups. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZvKWmByyeJ19ftNmbj1pEB3apHlxq4lBFzel-MyyqN1eFD27J-N6dipW_aebT-OvzoeDcCYINfo772SyRsS5TXqG0cgMMMTPe7-puAp0MtAmOp7lvazv5lZyEiEJqnfmxawM-7iw7Z75/s1600/IMGP3349.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467150997087004242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZvKWmByyeJ19ftNmbj1pEB3apHlxq4lBFzel-MyyqN1eFD27J-N6dipW_aebT-OvzoeDcCYINfo772SyRsS5TXqG0cgMMMTPe7-puAp0MtAmOp7lvazv5lZyEiEJqnfmxawM-7iw7Z75/s400/IMGP3349.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7894m_8nv5REMd2-7yVi5s0_FFsfYpiOt9V38EhWXPnYYMZ1AxmxhXlAPtwPkd-Dpvlaky52H2L_LvzK3l8T1ms8JRf5f61VO8p9QmQEyujE6HzovBy27irJVsz2nYUhx1w-_iXISzIZG/s1600/IMGP3348.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467150992742277938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7894m_8nv5REMd2-7yVi5s0_FFsfYpiOt9V38EhWXPnYYMZ1AxmxhXlAPtwPkd-Dpvlaky52H2L_LvzK3l8T1ms8JRf5f61VO8p9QmQEyujE6HzovBy27irJVsz2nYUhx1w-_iXISzIZG/s400/IMGP3348.jpg" /></a> <span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">We spent three days over the classic big volume water grade 4 section. Enjoying the great camping beaches and jungle scenery. The last day on the river is mostly flat, and this was a long day paddle before reaching the dubious pleasures of Chisopani, the take out town.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><br /></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">From here we headed to Bardia National park for some R&R. The park is famous for Elephants, Tigers and Crocodiles... We only saw the Elephants, Rhinos, Monkeys and Crocs.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwN3PKUwx6TTfU6cnpn2ch41PepvAIoOxVbEyFuSkF2fJgKgZGCr44oBTbxkUxcCTMbjtnMEMjhmbFrT21PJIsE_ZEC54lfn835_MPvAL1nkyfN3PgFlZCJ1V9Wt3GIFfjbBRy7IuCTv2I/s1600/IMGP3427.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151493679012130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwN3PKUwx6TTfU6cnpn2ch41PepvAIoOxVbEyFuSkF2fJgKgZGCr44oBTbxkUxcCTMbjtnMEMjhmbFrT21PJIsE_ZEC54lfn835_MPvAL1nkyfN3PgFlZCJ1V9Wt3GIFfjbBRy7IuCTv2I/s400/IMGP3427.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzRkLPcnmBZLy4h1FoSgq7LNyNPj7ZruCM_ocmN40tvmav6_ylRFWeTl2HMpUt_fmdiWOn9qzvfOkCR-WgtIbBEmBELQ7zmUmuUG8syhJGKKZ7OLEgY91BB0QSQPeZ2re21qMdIZ99nyG/s1600/IMGP3393.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151463946550146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTdB7XfJ_nvSYZwrk_zKaPn1IZ_ioWbUpcq8KK8cQDo1D7UETS57htbCvgGJTdhVSTBpFofmSftlJD2RV7uyRzopMgnLvb6cCP1UFndOF0eLNkT-EJb1Yoj9shJKkPPq906PgcPwsYVfT/s400/IMGP3379.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTth4Y3uk_BGHIxYPv3yLUd9_wcSVT2-QAkOm9EGhkzVHcoGImvptQSJjji_5k89e9Un3Zwy-XALSSSYzqk2E8YN7pTf8wU44G_ebksmUpu_Ds57NeEtustDZ5BEieBAFOVWd6GI16w99K/s1600/IMGP3374.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151450781746274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTth4Y3uk_BGHIxYPv3yLUd9_wcSVT2-QAkOm9EGhkzVHcoGImvptQSJjji_5k89e9Un3Zwy-XALSSSYzqk2E8YN7pTf8wU44G_ebksmUpu_Ds57NeEtustDZ5BEieBAFOVWd6GI16w99K/s400/IMGP3374.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_Zpwo6XyhQgthh7UCqK3yrqB-gaBpEHo8W1G92d7enU7kal9ffg0EhdHqcrq_B7p-QcdU3Qw2ImPutf55xcROJ_82xLglO6lKnrrbGXEU31nIyeKJeYYr17R7rInfoszLKpV6et_WOWC/s1600/IMGP3373.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151025324782050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_Zpwo6XyhQgthh7UCqK3yrqB-gaBpEHo8W1G92d7enU7kal9ffg0EhdHqcrq_B7p-QcdU3Qw2ImPutf55xcROJ_82xLglO6lKnrrbGXEU31nIyeKJeYYr17R7rInfoszLKpV6et_WOWC/s400/IMGP3373.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMpU9dGqAyyVs_Q2_y1mTRG15AcqbYjRFbjiaIuoVBchn5txK_P7SQuh94Bvo2coygvKGsEOcl8q-UrCYRaqzk6vDgAvb34k0MFeoOvpuQUAYRWZRnqfgrclt9ys5poyJFfGeJckSmwbn/s1600/IMGP3369.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151016336769266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMpU9dGqAyyVs_Q2_y1mTRG15AcqbYjRFbjiaIuoVBchn5txK_P7SQuh94Bvo2coygvKGsEOcl8q-UrCYRaqzk6vDgAvb34k0MFeoOvpuQUAYRWZRnqfgrclt9ys5poyJFfGeJckSmwbn/s400/IMGP3369.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kSyVBuD9q_SO9bYCzY7mxEqyIab0fXNp4LWGShz-_0tixB8A65NEcY1xN5wiQKqSw9Wd_TvYpqeY56TUO17UEnf0YbaukVbvZ0AVraHmOfQFmJPhFMmSw876XlyqkUW3Led-KvXSMyFA/s1600/IMGP3363.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151003381545682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kSyVBuD9q_SO9bYCzY7mxEqyIab0fXNp4LWGShz-_0tixB8A65NEcY1xN5wiQKqSw9Wd_TvYpqeY56TUO17UEnf0YbaukVbvZ0AVraHmOfQFmJPhFMmSw876XlyqkUW3Led-KvXSMyFA/s400/IMGP3363.jpg" /></a> <span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">Our trip was nearly over. The dreaded border crossing still took 6 hours, and we got back to Delhi to find that we would be staying a little longer than expected, thanks to the Iceland Volcano crisis...</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><br /></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">9 Extra days in Delhi. Unfortunately, Delhi was in the grips of a 45’C heatwave. The entire city is a dusty hot construction site prior to the 2010 Commonwealth games, that the city is somehow supposed to be ready for. Good Luck Delhi!!.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px"></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467149031322957938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmN_ev44gl7ROQfvw4pko8BPdx7DV1km2OGIVwkwCS7qpgNfqevsimwB6-zWZH7ACksD7M6L4_ZvAMdcNBmFORl-PMTXn4DQHyXkt82Ts51IBeezIuP9j5B9ASxDI185HgC5qLbNhX3gau/s400/IMGP3207.jpg" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467149039373452402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzgJm6oPB_Z9ypAyKemrwIDP_Qah4uyAMI07p8JUCFTxuRraHFrz1DBhwqQ9Awh9BDCp9KvakEQdiSmPGygTsonEzdwTOHZzdC2W3psGvNDs_1euzwMZUyfYP6oRlez_vLzXSV-0BpPOy/s400/IMGP3209.jpg" /></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">Our days were spend alternately visiting the airport, trying to advance our expected repatriation date, and taking in the delights of the city and surrounding areas. Delhi has alot to see, but the temperature, demonstrations, bomb scares, and terror threats subdued our enthusiasm for straying too far from air conditioned hotels and restaurants.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMZlRUtFojgsb4gOdbnXLIMbRq8K7sKbJHPMMbRgNuNb50cRVRInHopHGP3nosc_3rdbPSWIkNFT-iU1a83VOyfOIynktfzpygT2cnaGnbbgcnhu2S_iigQtyd0wOBXI8sU4Prb_Jzdco/s1600/IMGP3617.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467152660225151618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMZlRUtFojgsb4gOdbnXLIMbRq8K7sKbJHPMMbRgNuNb50cRVRInHopHGP3nosc_3rdbPSWIkNFT-iU1a83VOyfOIynktfzpygT2cnaGnbbgcnhu2S_iigQtyd0wOBXI8sU4Prb_Jzdco/s400/IMGP3617.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwRKQINsc-ei0K4FdC6oMTMC4LPMWJXBNYBGP6hAA5QkDQgayP22JGTmVYLrhDt4C-qJw4u8RJ8EhTY7u7fgWCd-cNvKPX2RU8qj7bF4HzmnKHWISYp5Mj-AdRUsORCZTlrbD2oMjcek5/s1600/IMGP3610.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151926818865442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3_WePJU2RYFZkP7_EBmMahOKqdjZifGcq0X81DJfx8fb7E7D5xMQC5SOKMcxRopq001w8TExVx7EDSB1RA4BsqsrE914207_wkoe6A4ircn4QNyWP6wMHNOSUEDg64lLMhJvx03bAv2y/s400/IMGP3480.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuD2iQGBzDdI0hyphenhyphenOoEhLtUTkCMvTLvX_4hN0jYBK3HKnA519_FrL0mE8G2gfzdnDp7RsJKJ3V0ApUSYEpnjwXucxOwWNrukCCvMb9HHBo-S0vbkcOW2an72fEk7j0YIy_OJjOnEVaEjenk/s1600/IMGP3477.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151920912769346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuD2iQGBzDdI0hyphenhyphenOoEhLtUTkCMvTLvX_4hN0jYBK3HKnA519_FrL0mE8G2gfzdnDp7RsJKJ3V0ApUSYEpnjwXucxOwWNrukCCvMb9HHBo-S0vbkcOW2an72fEk7j0YIy_OJjOnEVaEjenk/s400/IMGP3477.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwqzGEt_DuhSaHel-Ws586E8Mq_bmapTAWQgMZWFgcyBb6GUHD-JcHnfl64tuNZ8pQ0J8jAneLqx1_Nv_8m_FXdLpsBtmKLlYtSeaK_cizTbOPidkvYOS0B1oXc2dk4kdp80UQ0HlNi9n/s1600/IMGP3475.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151910017936018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwqzGEt_DuhSaHel-Ws586E8Mq_bmapTAWQgMZWFgcyBb6GUHD-JcHnfl64tuNZ8pQ0J8jAneLqx1_Nv_8m_FXdLpsBtmKLlYtSeaK_cizTbOPidkvYOS0B1oXc2dk4kdp80UQ0HlNi9n/s400/IMGP3475.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPMUhQM-hj9cJ_Dn4V9okmre0nAGRWgjifkbRKckzWk34Jcps9bG2NxrllUCbwFfUgB4yXcWwqcsAIF3MtfrVoLbJVas-I2A6UHxXmeh1DgllCxxefk1NfPTPq03GkwUaRbaDHI9oJfGy/s1600/IMGP3465.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151903698710882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPMUhQM-hj9cJ_Dn4V9okmre0nAGRWgjifkbRKckzWk34Jcps9bG2NxrllUCbwFfUgB4yXcWwqcsAIF3MtfrVoLbJVas-I2A6UHxXmeh1DgllCxxefk1NfPTPq03GkwUaRbaDHI9oJfGy/s400/IMGP3465.jpg" /></a> <span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">Home at last, what a trip.. Great kayaking, fantastic time in Nepal, and can’t wait to go back (Kathmandu flights, casino and steakhouse please!). India, well at least we’re not planning on going back now we’ve seen the sights...</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">I’ve never appreciated British climate, until now. Clear crisp air, refreshingly cool temperature... Lovely.</span></p>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-77728689038043001332009-12-22T07:13:00.000-08:002009-12-22T07:24:23.525-08:00Goodbye Chris<div>Some pictures of Chris enjoying a classic Mawdach and Gain river weekend in North Wales.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTfcrpX0wJRaElVFkcoYxpAzY_bwQHUMV47E5VVyHYxyyC9Ob1IxIaguPGnIA_0YxRe2xt792K-OWCfXpknKGg_Z9UqhAyBVJzL1i4Xf3MwbmAa13ZyNyrGpETQn0-95kuQ1t2tDW-5fT/s1600-h/DSCF1143.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTfcrpX0wJRaElVFkcoYxpAzY_bwQHUMV47E5VVyHYxyyC9Ob1IxIaguPGnIA_0YxRe2xt792K-OWCfXpknKGg_Z9UqhAyBVJzL1i4Xf3MwbmAa13ZyNyrGpETQn0-95kuQ1t2tDW-5fT/s400/DSCF1143.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418080288582226466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAurj1yxxxeN_GS8T0mnvG2GqeuGusqD7FKGHjwtP1sujjxbEACP8obU9SHUR3IJYa05ykFMiAePumChOBUURERp6Ug9yy7VzlwlgFB3-IFTEsAbiXpO-Iu2mPt6tjUIjJ1Ihus8KQ0Uh/s1600-h/DSCF1137.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAurj1yxxxeN_GS8T0mnvG2GqeuGusqD7FKGHjwtP1sujjxbEACP8obU9SHUR3IJYa05ykFMiAePumChOBUURERp6Ug9yy7VzlwlgFB3-IFTEsAbiXpO-Iu2mPt6tjUIjJ1Ihus8KQ0Uh/s400/DSCF1137.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418079657003512770" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Goodbye Chris, we will miss you.</div><div><br /></div>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-5017950152061258722009-11-03T12:44:00.000-08:002009-11-03T13:08:11.944-08:00Dartmoor Boating<div>Had a great days boating on Sunday with good levels in the South West... Highlight was either the Plym in good water, or the Dart well over the ledge... No photos from the Dart, as Chris didn't hang around long enough to take photos..... Paddlers Chris W, Kev and Jim Green.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzTKpMuf6en8GC_unQgQOcKJhbSJlTBGBIU5L9iY40qdVEd8oy1j_EjxbuZ6P_4fZcIFMBMYBKqAVbhW2WHBchZ2nJsG_G00w1X7wTtd-YyW6HUnu6-bMIwEwejSyyTDFB0fl6ZWbczah/s1600-h/IMGP2112.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzTKpMuf6en8GC_unQgQOcKJhbSJlTBGBIU5L9iY40qdVEd8oy1j_EjxbuZ6P_4fZcIFMBMYBKqAVbhW2WHBchZ2nJsG_G00w1X7wTtd-YyW6HUnu6-bMIwEwejSyyTDFB0fl6ZWbczah/s400/IMGP2112.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399986489643435938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGUrTCu8j1rEBI78tO8EUkKV60rABqms1aX-QRTOty4zJoTl9U_TFsQhJohuOuQXebJOk_qfxMLO5BzFtyfjzVSIFTXi7P4S4xfLbeMESCfyHZRWmj54XDvzWuzlsfpNBMUCVuxnWN-VL/s1600-h/IMGP2111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGUrTCu8j1rEBI78tO8EUkKV60rABqms1aX-QRTOty4zJoTl9U_TFsQhJohuOuQXebJOk_qfxMLO5BzFtyfjzVSIFTXi7P4S4xfLbeMESCfyHZRWmj54XDvzWuzlsfpNBMUCVuxnWN-VL/s400/IMGP2111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399986487258771122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEV1wWQK0qJrG9YgsbWp9N0IXlptMsyam7clTsLLVUJOCNFxMNuIlKD_IKLNhsFTUDTp6mTisC6IWUuvSdTY1yslilV5_ks2IVFfERP6vP-zRCOKv6YNUAiMmtaX5HqjLk8m8sSVfjf1R/s1600-h/IMGP2120.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEV1wWQK0qJrG9YgsbWp9N0IXlptMsyam7clTsLLVUJOCNFxMNuIlKD_IKLNhsFTUDTp6mTisC6IWUuvSdTY1yslilV5_ks2IVFfERP6vP-zRCOKv6YNUAiMmtaX5HqjLk8m8sSVfjf1R/s400/IMGP2120.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399986478138417250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOhu7mE20rt2OdwaPxiDb1LD0DtsuSnLqrUtX0xcMKaPgGBf1ES-vAZbFfJlpKmu2T2GJAwmMkpqPTQIL9BV8tDF-6Q6ZVaI4NEHMjTjRbP7riL5qxCgv13ep3gOtpImeEGUt2MD8R5oS/s1600-h/IMGP2116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOhu7mE20rt2OdwaPxiDb1LD0DtsuSnLqrUtX0xcMKaPgGBf1ES-vAZbFfJlpKmu2T2GJAwmMkpqPTQIL9BV8tDF-6Q6ZVaI4NEHMjTjRbP7riL5qxCgv13ep3gOtpImeEGUt2MD8R5oS/s400/IMGP2116.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399983878278029458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD17124KZDgcSMfdqfW5VdWJ1iqEGwuj5ZMIvWM-sV5CKBS7rD4Mh_wow5PZBpBYsAOQoCv1UjpUwN9jqZHBhABPHfG8Q2ngxfna0GYuhxg0pJg6renhPnnaeS7fuSW4_LQESpnC1f5qgK/s1600-h/IMGP2104.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD17124KZDgcSMfdqfW5VdWJ1iqEGwuj5ZMIvWM-sV5CKBS7rD4Mh_wow5PZBpBYsAOQoCv1UjpUwN9jqZHBhABPHfG8Q2ngxfna0GYuhxg0pJg6renhPnnaeS7fuSW4_LQESpnC1f5qgK/s400/IMGP2104.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399983875702430578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4YPY7AJUECPymBRNYoXLG2rvK_aaQR9jliAfO6Q12JurotbegiFDv0oJKpKoSA15tc6ikGQ-AmxTvzIY4GRnTlw5TQUr93uPWcSuYuWu-iClBn7aTQD1uUJ3M_ykeOkbgPlZoGJNsejB/s1600-h/IMGP2099.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4YPY7AJUECPymBRNYoXLG2rvK_aaQR9jliAfO6Q12JurotbegiFDv0oJKpKoSA15tc6ikGQ-AmxTvzIY4GRnTlw5TQUr93uPWcSuYuWu-iClBn7aTQD1uUJ3M_ykeOkbgPlZoGJNsejB/s400/IMGP2099.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399983871466130962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgc2ZYef0AWOpMu8SluAFau8OkoRErptyhW-lvocZvJgwx13KCfc-CyZruBf9ivpGQB4NmhikZDtzU_9aQrVf4_8w2pvfCXyLHYNUgGx9lK4uZEA1wvZ72MYkDF7VqJCgh-Lb0BlnEe8WC/s1600-h/IMGP2093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgc2ZYef0AWOpMu8SluAFau8OkoRErptyhW-lvocZvJgwx13KCfc-CyZruBf9ivpGQB4NmhikZDtzU_9aQrVf4_8w2pvfCXyLHYNUgGx9lK4uZEA1wvZ72MYkDF7VqJCgh-Lb0BlnEe8WC/s400/IMGP2093.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399983862158869650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFwEinitQlxXHyWXQNLC0gmVroWIYCaHWvw259Phq3Vot8TXcZxs0YDHvBWIYQ8qSzU73ALwKbPM4gLmH8_ECvuIGygXcbQZ8mzrD4OMyLMxKkdkvVdqLzJMNg9axIXXsyGqMowONRVxK/s1600-h/IMGP2090.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFwEinitQlxXHyWXQNLC0gmVroWIYCaHWvw259Phq3Vot8TXcZxs0YDHvBWIYQ8qSzU73ALwKbPM4gLmH8_ECvuIGygXcbQZ8mzrD4OMyLMxKkdkvVdqLzJMNg9axIXXsyGqMowONRVxK/s400/IMGP2090.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399983858139756274" /></a>Jim was a Plym virgin, and I had only paddled it in dog low levels about 10 years ago. Kev and Chris were Plym regulars, so was good to have them along to show us the lines... Well we tried to keep up with Chris anyway.....<br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-23158937038132980722009-09-21T11:52:00.000-07:002009-09-22T11:06:39.018-07:00Romaine.<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div><p>Just back from the amazing Romaine river in Quebec. This is an amazing wilderness run that holds dozens of high volume classy rapids. Only access is by floatplane, which drops you 130 miles from the nearest road, <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384001464054046578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_aWJ-G99ePm9PZUGLZcVwPQyyJhEPRvDcJEx8tlh5xJgGSeQ9btuxXD-78YMfFLKe3sjQUsJuagTPeChtofWlKaVahEftewz7eCtNx1rJFtC3NWfdzwQiSQ3FcnaqLg2Do1vtqKdt0gz/s400/IMGP1945.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384001447923940706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDYLCkPdiCODXrjpDgNG5W5DsXoLyJC4ekJE0pgMDCXitPPzywf7LSNRrjI9AUT87fkCylvNLnNn0EU1eueJr5xhwhOSxhctjFK1VUFXjcKPIefDEioe6CKjZZbZarfMRwaNHigWRDt78/s400/IMGP1953.JPG" border="0" /> After the Magpie river a few years ago we got the taste for multi-day high volume runs, and the Romaine is similar. Large drops, interspersed by short, or not quite so short pools.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384029943802035890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXT_RdW499As8ezhnCGMO5tDzGARl7AxcB_ATuWCI1nFhdP-X1ntAWVPbcPQp1IMwmwsfEBRYkVP2mgjBrN-xR_j9uDyxXo_uxpSkajA398jBKr7Y9QGvF4FYVHMKb5uJV4BbnOT27hblG/s400/IMGP1978.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384029931550592050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEA-uoHYQ4jPcO41ziBeOU1FExsJ6PdgihILl0Nc3c1PlPY8IzkFxkyaqRnIvMSelf7BuNQe_hJ9Piur0noVWGQZHIRAsFA-0PKvNlxt0HtBqDWGkF8qebPtoRrryHN9rNblr5ICaBB5B/s400/IMGP1976_2.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384001473759158706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCg0cGIpomTCzEJyI6qyUe5acFhq7T-WIP9SRoAYr23Xx-onJ27X6bjvbE9PHSoKHzOnuwICem-iKmxNev3X4NY3o7TLvm2DJqmRg3PCfFmeflynms9J2CwLoSUFykRi70tVJvxvwIk5eb/s400/IMGP1967.JPG" border="0" />Our team consisted of 3 uk boaters, (myself, Mark G and Kevin), Jay (from all over) and Max and Eric from the US. All except Jay had been on our Magpie trip.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384029936696579602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8vkniOb58XeHiDvvUJ6g30KAsIIUdB_4ioIosmlPTzoU_B79G3eaN1w3W8m_VeG3T3XsX_-ChBMcJ8M-Rtsl4_ia6ydlAHRyvP4G0ptZA3P_hNDPAD0BvXnfU5nw3fugVCi3JYsgMi8f/s400/IMGP1976.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384001481900665842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFOUrGLg7yB2HtgJZIAg2RlJZF-IjpqtrWTnl1fpLlfATCOzLZ4jb8zibwdwhnjix9Ab9rpbi4V6y5aPJOq8DPvoLyZQU4Al5WLUIIlTPFTnnYGPQnaih_GrnxvCgsDOi-vixTc3wFCbk/s400/IMGP1973.JPG" border="0" /></p><div style="text-align: center;">(Kev had let his toenails grow on this trip)</div> <p></p><p>The weather started off all too well. Bright and sunny, we even got a bit sunburnt by the end of the second day... The Third day started to get cloudy. Just after lunch on Midday Max probed a large sliding drop, and popped his shoulder out, swimming a nasty runout through some rocky channels. Unfortunately his boat never made it out.... Together will all his food and camping gear.... An afternoon spent trying to retrieve the boat was not rewarded with anything except rain that night.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384029951428417058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggw4Xls3pfnRgUM6T433Q0TVLBdvWnVw3sxcsGKHZ_fsVK0SuMC6gZ4l3nA2mNX9o1rJqMVcUZQiSilHKUrjCEepIFgL3TaF0tInT6Y2-mpttHmEtNPD-ih5Gk-hEFfiBlgRcJTSPOvlu3/s400/IMGP1985.JPG" border="0" /> In the morning we decided Max should hike out down the river.. We knew there were Dam construction sites along the river, and hoped we could reach one soon... It had also got quite cold. We were much faster than Max when we were on the river, so decided he had to come with us, rather than us wait for him... So we rafted up and floated him down the river whenever possible. We covered alot of distance, but not as fast as if we'd been boating normally.... </p><p>Nearly two days of this, and we see signs of activity... Helicopters ferrying loads to the dam sites...A short chat later, and we have arranged Max a flight out of the river...<br /><br />Almost straight after this, the big rapids begin again... High volume drops of all types... The drops kept coming for the next two days, then some long flats until the new bridge site and Grandes Chutes... One quick portage later, and many blueberries, we were at the end of the whitewater... We hoped to sprint to the takeout that night, but the portage had slowed us, and the evenings were dark early...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384029962655484706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQA_KLrOREOOIpn0fikWsAThnr8Df8VeHmWTCA3J6kyr5ZKZZAVpkACCGn3Wan0AgvlqARvejn6JyUFuHQ2hcE7x6bgKR_V9a9m7_OhPh84IqyclFAeFfncfnvwOPr94enSn5_DKOoK36R/s400/IMGP1993.JPG" border="0" /><br />The next morning, after the coldest night on the river, we persisted downriver into a stiff headwind.... We tookout at the first trail we could find, and headed south to the road.... 2 hrs later we were discovered by some gruff hunters, who warmed to us, and towed our boats to the floatplane base... We were out!!!!.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384031017445576562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImzfqjUDCBs-Bh4eP0sUX5QuLGG45kEX6sM3c-LRv4DQlCq-K2JMoE1Xa8OhSOklrqvMHd-NSNJr_jNO6MQzAhvQb2ZaWhmTgneFL98sl2VKebROq5Yx4qz4SkNj4CwuX7IK6V1PLXTrD/s400/IMGP1995.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384001457257393506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBaCR_CH3C4eb8L2Nbr2Ba7CGunVzQtYCR-RNOUMwws3DPgf_lDqWBZ2KWQJh9E9jmsmM71V9B-3_W3jDXTcRP4jUufBRZ8kXVhVYkNAIEfQNd3zovXuvfKGxwG5KmtKY4c_SQ8F6ihS1/s400/IMGP2009.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p align="center">(The Roche River falls, nearby)</p>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-72774805310812550532009-05-11T12:15:00.000-07:002009-05-11T13:56:11.298-07:00The new improved HPP!<div>A couple of friends and I headed to Nottingham for the new and improved HPP, eager to see what modifications they had made to the course.<br /></div><div>We weren't disapointed! All the old favorite spots remain, and they have created several new ones.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334667499419414722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtBqmbZ_U4VcLa9s6vDSS7-7Vsi0P-DVJEtKJ73m4hW_72g_VbnWxwOFO5sOnIN9j72uOCtibpe7_XXAZSZOVgQwjUh6EP3cO9T1ipfssDZ84kpwygq8ocx5Xpp6SQlQrATZXGAOi0Rl_/s400/IMGP1052bost.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauTzjdFF5fGDQK3oRzZ8iyf0_Uh8R_dwp99wJ84JIwZnE7ewVxRBc3V-09Rhsh6BeoSiaTTM6F177Pj5HtTbygv1uU62a2lVk3fzXG236F5EDwHD3wEH2Y1hGdlZIuXi2k2vjxHX0ic6w/s1600-h/IMGP1103sm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334647778775702050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauTzjdFF5fGDQK3oRzZ8iyf0_Uh8R_dwp99wJ84JIwZnE7ewVxRBc3V-09Rhsh6BeoSiaTTM6F177Pj5HtTbygv1uU62a2lVk3fzXG236F5EDwHD3wEH2Y1hGdlZIuXi2k2vjxHX0ic6w/s400/IMGP1103sm.jpg" border="0" /></a>The inlet wave remains as good as it always was.... Shame some of the kids take 5 minutes for each bloody ride<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334667504758777954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoicGRQ4OzBnImrzgxae8vwrVDqB24GZXREtefdAMCc79XjwmkkUZAJU4MmSbWMg9q1Kaqi9_ivgML8emr1hTI0R6Mei3-QpoDSxrj1ldfpX-5essyUZj_wSwjBpp9VYx8B5aGwsICb0J4/s400/IMGP1060bost.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>A new hole has been created below the inlet wave, above where the cheese block used to be. Theres great eddies to get back up to this hole. Theres a small feisty pour over just below this too. The cheese block is now gone, but that was no real loss...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334647543491567234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3iFceZfTVaHJzhkTb2uZakPTe4J7AyidYayhMjetVpuCYd-m36n1T699BJKRom-wB5XYaZJE-krq1Qd4Xpym2_B4OwepLc8NeW7LbJMgB9aJYkmpzHbKf8bb1nJKf2BhN1SQEYy7pADb/s400/IMGP1078sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334647549638148546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gAdTTWawSDLPVBVmxLK-Ea7wyRi8SqOgZ6anXLWNjDSkqPdJNH_lyHp3rPnSdnzUTbTysXFCZbd65xO0d1LTcHwZQlSpwSmiEihngTPItPm96F-bJXkouzp9p-l79ZriiEnUzIWk_nuc/s400/IMGP1079sm.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>The hole under the bridge seems a bit deeper now, and seemed to give much better rides now.</div><br /><div>The old looping pool wave is very fast and not very stable, and you can't really stay on. There is a vicious recirculating eddy river right. River left eddy seems pretty similar to how it was.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334647552961892962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEduLWKr-5ncOFYcfHJqQl2RNK2IqTNciS1PpuaRKr9ylVhRZrTHuqzkYZFUr1QL_xBoLE8g_zo9bCfNnJstu8I74iIB1Wgr5fB7DGBCKfXEwyEiO73nkrxo71hK7JYsoYI7L0MtAdK2s/s400/IMGP1080sm.jpg" border="0" /></div>Plughole seems the same, Muncher too. Seems like its deeper in the muncher now, and they've made a great eddy on river right of the muncher so you now can get back on if you blow off river right (as I always do).<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334647555273788850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Iawk46jwDl0lDf1kOfBmYg2CkXz7GqvFAKjknfrQ7D8WAimcRKXNjGRmAmVJeOW317BK0HVEq7X2cDa6o6FkFjfXOuEq5VXUdtLPPABSjWYvnyrMpbGhnTwWzfktw2wu1TzCeqN9DnHB/s400/IMGP1083sm.jpg" border="0" />Note the new eddy in the foreground....<br /><br /><div><br /></div>The bottom of the course has had some major surgery too... Below the Muncher, a small wall is built, only allowing a small amount of water to rejoin the return route back up to the main muncher eddy. You can pull yourself over this wall easily.<br /><br /><br /><div>Down below here, one of the best new features.... Instead of the island, there is a nice sticky hole. Probably now the stickiest spot on the course. The hole is a little grabby, but theres a good tongue on each side to escape<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334647559675253890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqZGRzyOMwFirNNuBNMiHB4zCGfKCQsIqfk1id5fYNqHauvFJ9ahPikvHEDtz47pc2VWyVA6BWlCK8ESO3eSzA9JaDc_UKi24GRc_D6iRDc_2-a3fgQCW-FQV8qSnrTiNihjHBYy0WCGc/s400/IMGP1088sm.jpg" border="0" /></div>Nice eddies allow good repeat runs.... then down to the final hole.<br /><br />This used to be pretty unpleasant, but is now much improved. A couple of tongues now seem to have made the hole a bit more wavy and great fun.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334647776201806530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36-tXalKf8aEwhdAV-LTajKNP-srlArJ9jgjye0bn6DzEfhYH1O7Q1t3o76-7jacw721GCqnGcQMHgXXSU1JwYzwWoHQBaKs0cmaVByWeGjK2ker2Nbd_XT-xjgUnXCoIsKhZYq20JqqC/s400/IMGP1100sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Unfortunately, no conveyor belt to take you back to the top, but you can't have everything!!. The new HPP is definitely a place I'll be spending more time. A couple of the spots could do with a little tuning, but hopefully the modular layout will allow this, and improve what is already so much better than it was....<br /><br />And if that wasn't enough, Hooters is pretty close. (The only Hooters in the UK). All you can eat wings for 7 quid on Monday nights!Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-65518148331665050062009-05-11T12:11:00.000-07:002009-05-11T13:22:45.397-07:00More biking<div>LLandegla is our local biking centre. The normal route is a 20 mile circuit, with a mix of single track, and forest roads. Theres also a couple of man made obstacles, and boardwalks.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2h_2I2P54JQRLHZp5amoWfxP_Nts3jKmqGNNdrhodPqUlhxz42TMmYT7ON4zk1ve66zU7OI-TNUrlo0m32L4-6K1ZFOJDMAJ8MiaK-5KX9cQRBHq0X-1wqs5FTnrYrJA7JWUkOgpj0Gb/s1600-h/IMGP0891bik.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334647201903014226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2h_2I2P54JQRLHZp5amoWfxP_Nts3jKmqGNNdrhodPqUlhxz42TMmYT7ON4zk1ve66zU7OI-TNUrlo0m32L4-6K1ZFOJDMAJ8MiaK-5KX9cQRBHq0X-1wqs5FTnrYrJA7JWUkOgpj0Gb/s400/IMGP0891bik.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9tjhZ-BM03kYvsN1YVfDMnr_THnpAdySjg_pKwzuAhtWGETq19KE-WgQ0mCJ5k6jQWHcu9jPj0dS3I2rvq3zMzMSHakZGTBCbKUM0IJfs-vxIdweHDdpOi0elDn1eLETvwIkxAE0Acw/s1600-h/IMGP0882bik.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334647191266968210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9tjhZ-BM03kYvsN1YVfDMnr_THnpAdySjg_pKwzuAhtWGETq19KE-WgQ0mCJ5k6jQWHcu9jPj0dS3I2rvq3zMzMSHakZGTBCbKUM0IJfs-vxIdweHDdpOi0elDn1eLETvwIkxAE0Acw/s400/IMGP0882bik.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSjAFSacUtNoCrebU9mD3A86wbVIznjU-OkWV_0UPg5zKRjCt66fXh2-2_KsZqBSS9KJwYTrIPNCefuaOtTMCsSJBA1iNGTPmnjt1YaNgJ42rcW7YAmdVXiGh1BHgXpFcJaNQMSFNR9A/s1600-h/IMGP0895bik.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334647031128528050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSjAFSacUtNoCrebU9mD3A86wbVIznjU-OkWV_0UPg5zKRjCt66fXh2-2_KsZqBSS9KJwYTrIPNCefuaOtTMCsSJBA1iNGTPmnjt1YaNgJ42rcW7YAmdVXiGh1BHgXpFcJaNQMSFNR9A/s400/IMGP0895bik.jpg" border="0" /></a>It can get pretty busy, and theres a good chance of someone breathing down your neck on some of the longer sections..<br /><br /><br />Dunstall Park is the Wolverhampton horse racing track. A work evening out took us there recently, where we had a great night out... Cheryl even picked a couple of winners!!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GmG7720EUg5SIcu2IHF-gFfsMFph8ExKaULKDsHu-6b7gJ2D2RHQXC2ebNcttNQ33Wbj6SzLgyTcFWWBP3MmqwnIQSVghFhgK6Ni09Qe_rYJiw1xZHFs_r550_5UqgAdKsSYUzPwipU/s1600-h/Race+Night+08rn.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334647019616458962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GmG7720EUg5SIcu2IHF-gFfsMFph8ExKaULKDsHu-6b7gJ2D2RHQXC2ebNcttNQ33Wbj6SzLgyTcFWWBP3MmqwnIQSVghFhgK6Ni09Qe_rYJiw1xZHFs_r550_5UqgAdKsSYUzPwipU/s400/Race+Night+08rn.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvLCzhCqLMkHHaPWUpF7nB_KCRowd74YFGeoe02hP8xD63g8IRInHY_oEp4uH9jGluhQNTMmoeTcJ5zoAEmOU6QHiVV5siq4MfygbgEH_HzKlpxRWCGhUADIJY5IvBYJieSnKzvdXUA8/s1600-h/Race+Night+04rn.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334647019998275474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvLCzhCqLMkHHaPWUpF7nB_KCRowd74YFGeoe02hP8xD63g8IRInHY_oEp4uH9jGluhQNTMmoeTcJ5zoAEmOU6QHiVV5siq4MfygbgEH_HzKlpxRWCGhUADIJY5IvBYJieSnKzvdXUA8/s400/Race+Night+04rn.jpg" border="0" /></a>We'll definitely be going back for another night at the races!</div><div><br /></div><div>Some friends biked the entire South Downs way last summer... It was raining, and I'm a fair weather biker (much rather be boating), so missed out it.... Part of the route runs through Queen Elizabeth country park, so we thought we'd check out the biking there, in preparation for a potential South Downs Way trip this summer.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwzA0W-eA14NY-xa10z8IicgLilwBAhDfvqq65RH9XK2HBqaSPQ4Mt37IWDxIdU25oxWc88H0SAMW3Hh30HK5Vo89biMWR1B0ZCzuuSEfaYKGTGEy50DLFzse06bSe2Uucj4W7AjfodU/s1600-h/Queen+Elizabeth+Country+Park+11bik.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334647016475275282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwzA0W-eA14NY-xa10z8IicgLilwBAhDfvqq65RH9XK2HBqaSPQ4Mt37IWDxIdU25oxWc88H0SAMW3Hh30HK5Vo89biMWR1B0ZCzuuSEfaYKGTGEy50DLFzse06bSe2Uucj4W7AjfodU/s400/Queen+Elizabeth+Country+Park+11bik.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkBcbb42zGN-Oz7LRJzypnh5U6t7t_bnWZuqhyh09n0aRw4OKxnIJtFWt8s21_gKmoALip3xQQdIx_96oXEzy095R2riPgzRPCdJu1A7biKmrm-VyZQrBXbwmDrQb4eqZgyjN2Lf7MfU/s1600-h/Queen+Elizabeth+Country+Park+10bik.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334647015863256658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkBcbb42zGN-Oz7LRJzypnh5U6t7t_bnWZuqhyh09n0aRw4OKxnIJtFWt8s21_gKmoALip3xQQdIx_96oXEzy095R2riPgzRPCdJu1A7biKmrm-VyZQrBXbwmDrQb4eqZgyjN2Lf7MfU/s400/Queen+Elizabeth+Country+Park+10bik.jpg" border="0" /></a>QE park has some nice routes, but they are pretty short, maybe only 3 miles.... Looking forward to doing the South Downs way this summer though!!! <br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-1392664281495745162009-05-11T12:06:00.001-07:002009-05-11T13:14:14.480-07:00Still no rain<div>With no water in sight, we decided to do some Easter Weekend hiking in Snowdonia. It was a first ascent of Snowdon via Crib Goch for Cheryl and Paul, and I convinced them that it was a nice easy walk.......</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334645579032838962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHip5qiMo_q3eAOAT5KToTe8nTmJ9-oR0tKZdsoQGfPx0G1a1zCsyR8iG2IFaBmSG-vr9ewxxQhMFG5f16aAlVrpmgTCDXH4p-7jzZ29C-AZkzeKDE5wGTL2AOBBD3HgMhG_zijb2u6tw/s400/IMGP0906snow.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypoH99t8YOPlhTlMK83QdRley1BB6YNyNppl5HOdcpCcfEOm3zSSDaqkqeIJTmjuileoYB5BATjzHMpeqWpT0bmfVrlovTfmcupopXSqUu3Wfm9_DAlcdsBWT_iWIIS4_QEbDEXb3Jh4/s1600-h/IMGP0908snow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334645579843441938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypoH99t8YOPlhTlMK83QdRley1BB6YNyNppl5HOdcpCcfEOm3zSSDaqkqeIJTmjuileoYB5BATjzHMpeqWpT0bmfVrlovTfmcupopXSqUu3Wfm9_DAlcdsBWT_iWIIS4_QEbDEXb3Jh4/s400/IMGP0908snow.jpg" border="0" /></a><div><div>I think they didn't know what they were letting themselves in for.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgr-PkS79JfJkdp4fIfh-2M0b-Dm8bEtG4tSH4Nr_wogzrraTrb0u4CDR8JawyGy1zehDjGokNKRMSNMQNphPDZQTJSLAykNhLvSj9dGF1_XFJI2MwUVAp_iZhi4Psakd5VW5WGKvLxM/s1600-h/IMGP0909snow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334645585812059730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgr-PkS79JfJkdp4fIfh-2M0b-Dm8bEtG4tSH4Nr_wogzrraTrb0u4CDR8JawyGy1zehDjGokNKRMSNMQNphPDZQTJSLAykNhLvSj9dGF1_XFJI2MwUVAp_iZhi4Psakd5VW5WGKvLxM/s400/IMGP0909snow.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334645898828263362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVv1Pq2u3c4la0Ili9ZvhAvgsOql-zO7MqnPAUtufZUNpAQ2Z9lU9B_xKIWg4puFsewWcKwdVCEU-FoRTAiNcV95NCwt-UDtxP-MxzP2b4urAyuDicij5jmUXAvBQhMnKnqLw9_ziawAA/s400/IMGP0913snow.jpg" border="0" /><div><br /><div>Its a fantastic scenic scramble, definitely requiring good balance and some handwork in places... The Easter crowds had mainly chosen the easier routes so it wasn't too busy, and we had great weather for one of the most scenic climbs around.....</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD12428BT5ianxpsZr4McS359CVFAtlOi7_yyMDwurzkpdOv34kvxNuGu7m-SqmF6IL7hzQPJ0rOAevXPWGxfEBUkBlpzkVuTwnJmSwbjQiJxfQ9y27WKaY5-sD9zOuzEleeAK0yOVtr0/s1600-h/IMGP0918snow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334645903766591266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD12428BT5ianxpsZr4McS359CVFAtlOi7_yyMDwurzkpdOv34kvxNuGu7m-SqmF6IL7hzQPJ0rOAevXPWGxfEBUkBlpzkVuTwnJmSwbjQiJxfQ9y27WKaY5-sD9zOuzEleeAK0yOVtr0/s400/IMGP0918snow.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3IXBMk8PDD5wLqgmyyjMHwtYVxK2vGY_bP31qo_opir1JEOxjkyvGAaYDt7MIVfrsCbfUxBPU37DKg3pBrF2phupoD3Y7qwSxPtEvnxDKbnNN1TlndPgz9P4eEb_-n-u5v9Y4Mu2UrQ/s1600-h/IMGP0915snow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334645904018695682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3IXBMk8PDD5wLqgmyyjMHwtYVxK2vGY_bP31qo_opir1JEOxjkyvGAaYDt7MIVfrsCbfUxBPU37DKg3pBrF2phupoD3Y7qwSxPtEvnxDKbnNN1TlndPgz9P4eEb_-n-u5v9Y4Mu2UrQ/s400/IMGP0915snow.jpg" border="0" /></a><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnKGI5JkgUbL2e1AEL2xdS-T64JD-JvCG50ULk3_7Y-ESlZpoAi3zArNegts5Q_rB6lzLVwJmfaZar3PDU7Y5uU-GjmWwoK48FVFuex5GBCpr0gEdX4aSqL83u-lWAuiK1Is6CnFPW4c/s1600-h/IMGP0911snow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334645587921917362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnKGI5JkgUbL2e1AEL2xdS-T64JD-JvCG50ULk3_7Y-ESlZpoAi3zArNegts5Q_rB6lzLVwJmfaZar3PDU7Y5uU-GjmWwoK48FVFuex5GBCpr0gEdX4aSqL83u-lWAuiK1Is6CnFPW4c/s400/IMGP0911snow.jpg" border="0" /></a>The crowds at the top!<div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-58292298862862503062009-02-23T11:36:00.000-08:002009-02-23T11:46:46.023-08:00Lake district low water desperation boating<div align="left">We had a visit to the Lakes scheduled long in advance, surely something would be running in mid Feb, prime UK boating season....</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Well no... Pretty much everything in the Lakes was dry, so it was the fallback option ... The mighty Kent!!! </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">The lowest I have ever paddled it, it was a bit scratchy in places, but all the gorges were worthwhile, and was probably the only place in the lakes that had any water. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Cheryl and I were joined by Goodsy and Jonny Laud... Good to see Goodsy has 'retired' the Queen Mary......</div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306080154855191650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0atFt2Lputp6EZl546MTgWAzmiL4KpJiHJz8qyKRC3vbMoQjKdCZXqC9TvvGLHjobW7HkPquBKZn7uF37Q0-sROS7gP6GbpqXP7WKAgw-sfQVmfnIW0glTuOJc1J2l45KArM-NIGdTs/s400/IMGP0861sm.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br />Heading into the first Gorge below Prizet bridge</p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306080159340032642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHpFtlR4QMCVlCn8nPnzENwER-MQ0HmDnCW3w4w85QFK95ULbRrwVzdURuJQqNCknWjUIUsmCM6KfZ6pN3fkVjmHANz6OnpZGRlFTaHLQQIzTH8r2ANmn54kQIM3K8MkamUQMaDk8NNQ/s400/IMGP0862sm.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">The first slot<br /><br /></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306080168314280722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicEoKaF-YR0dzSHaV4kxXgJFfmksoDGxFRQ7rhjsk_KzsHFwRCpBc4TCMxgUb6o-ryKKI8_MJJF6CZLuoE4RxTwlRtLyg-Wc4f_G1ZZa9KgBNhavoYJNX2-yUtYoexvFCnINNEFHWyiQ/s400/IMGP0865sm.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">The upper gorge</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306080166152011506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9Y6sYKEJWLui3DO0rcl6zjvTU4snEzmWoErnz5Kv9Debd8lzkX029rG1uY38fEv3Cyt8_Wy_f_3CJlrQ0IG0XnxZ-Y_kvm6OIMQqOZ54PTPqVEf-N7_iPiYeDik0KZilOWYfVoiHyGA/s400/IMGP0868sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306080170917331106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvrmDlXgbCHdaMbUNly-BOU701X7ZBwpd8YnKdJSfw3_pqx0EP-jC2QOQiq98HD2Bs0B0qA4sRVfMqYzCV_8qWV3GwTA7pdocAmfaG8jLgQlDpFQ0XEZ2d4P3BJFy5llRxzQAJggDEVY/s400/IMGP0871sm.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Force Falls.....<br /></p><br /><p>So the river was low, but at least it was paddling, and hopefully the next time we're up there we'll catch it at more classic levels...</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /> </p>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-39776235057851254812009-02-23T11:20:00.001-08:002009-02-23T11:33:16.540-08:00Snowboarding in Tignes<div align="left">Suffering a lack of the white stuff, we headed out to Tignes in the French alps. Luckily plenty of snow had fallen just prior to our arrival!!! Tignes has a great reputation for off piste, and it didn't dissapoint.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306075932537522626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiShLyc_KfzxjhASqhzWk6Yb2vbc8PJPmUAVmIG72Sd3vVuhFzW_tnQNiXR9XzpjRn_hRqmh66umz14MK07RL04KlvOgYhPZ6XaRhIUPGN_tu6AWBMWxa3dOJVLpK1DTxR2DnZBo_A9E/s400/IMGP0670sm.jpg" border="0" />The view from the Hotel was just stunning...</p><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306075934618248546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyXxHsYK9f7LYNWwe8zRkWKB9vh_TfIP4_2UzfIHXZB3civTLk8F1cF8uCDMpGY74m9OkDSG_cxw-pTdsj9GWfywOHD2EDN8UUIj_jqAj2pKJqM5PAIU9Vu2ozCbjAdpyVlWfP_q9Eio/s400/IMGP0698sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306075938521794290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYHjqOYzvybr0WAcIzs8F10FXg9LnYg0HfxRAXM8oWMndNGo2NN3dnOeFo4Wm9ISE5cAvaMpGhBOEG-wLOoMQFJL35sp-sKmB0_d73WDPZyAhCwdfFoio4z6EqoBIoVBWwRgS-oIx7xM/s400/IMGP0707sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">Beautiful hidden valley gorge run.<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306077496272366402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_nLqQAzZh_H_lauXiWDzbz2QnQua47D_3ZtGEIjyTP8jybhfdrC2hbbsFgWX5t5DD8EMeh2WqNYpOp0ULE76FZRIjpqaak_OhvoUe_o7xBlUyZ2iBcUzegRsjLVSMN5CTmyMq4YCbVs/s400/IMGP0704sm.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br />Andy finds the only tree on the mountain....<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306076224086364402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHAfDeqoL5PmGghElYdM-aI2AMQzxefWWQ-pSDafWmwEYiuYRe91laq2Bs8NG40waUGpraetDjXitBpp3ySuHFi76OHKT8w0_JTXYnvzdlpGQ96a_hDlUkXirzHf1PH143YwzdqCrka4/s400/IMGP0730sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Miles and miles of Open snowfields and glaciers, and onlya few draglifts.</p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306075943177994226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBhQHUE5w1jPhR9lW6X1M92ZFNfm18XPYv-LMW0UuTZH4IoM2kzJXlqMQRz1Gk6N9-08wXP5OEZGPSncKgL7O_6yr-7tT9ArAD0LKs0Mkp0CrDX0_p7nFSB_XrxXMHkr6_38NbOig1so/s400/IMGP0724sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306076230249107938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhos3JaAKVBNuqX98AxXa0Q6eBLUfutmFvUovFcDUUwY25fbeoRO5dyI5Um0ZX-ybrSY3wPvR_gOpAoHqTW4FPaK9Od9YbLseKd9WlMkrBJSUXlZTfMAiDf4f_4p0zAAgAxhxFk1CmBcTQ/s400/IMGP0803sm.jpg" border="0" /> Park action from Cheryl </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306076226510916610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2WLUb_txbdXqiWmVNlI3GuA7nIcmZzWRHE-svwYHLa8R6izlc-dUuRXdycsNRhtt72shiz1vzLaPR0_2QR27oy_3rC1FekbOxbKSSpXd7EQ6SfWqE_3738poopZt0UMHEDYDpr0tSGI/s400/IMGP0782sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306076226129859746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAchlVReZ-scSJ_smvU7jte-M28ER5yVcoioFyGJ352P25KiIilcS8wVz4_4MVAtnPJQGatxIwOOwSvG9tUAygR1bSvVna7sBMFhaBtUp3MhlyrXaOGxcKRdCen9oYrJo9ogBC4SzmHQ/s400/IMGP0745sm.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Some serious off piste, and exploration.... Huge mountains to explore... Thanks Andy and Steve for joining Cheryl and Simon!!</p><p> </p>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-43624591421825038852009-01-04T07:58:00.000-08:002009-01-04T09:15:31.650-08:00Xmas and New Year in the Lakes</div>This year we spent the holidays in the Lake district at Cheryl's parents. Hoping to do alot of boating, we were a little disappointed by the cold and low levels. We did get a couple of days kayaking in, but then had to opt for some great hiking and biking too....<div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Xmas day boating on the Leven was followed by a boxing day run down the Crake. The lake fed runs were the only things with any water in them.... Heres a pic of Cheryl's dads van, with matching Kayaks.. I have just got a new Pyranha Karnali.... Hopefully I can take it to the Karnali (in Nepal) sometime soon!!!</div><div>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkGVSsTQj0W99LT-nVCBv2UIn1GJbH7lWzTCL5ScrsgM40LWmL9794rtt8ZqDPOFDYDOhIZfKNVrvhdVylhm5GVOu4sQeaNe6MpeBhJ66Iq2Z-A_0HoHdCPEdOwFNL1YEp0dXOyHnMeY/s1600-h/IMGP0490.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkGVSsTQj0W99LT-nVCBv2UIn1GJbH7lWzTCL5ScrsgM40LWmL9794rtt8ZqDPOFDYDOhIZfKNVrvhdVylhm5GVOu4sQeaNe6MpeBhJ66Iq2Z-A_0HoHdCPEdOwFNL1YEp0dXOyHnMeY/s400/IMGP0490.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287473516824537906" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXXozdGdC5Ofs6wvetQ8YDrz0h5M2aABt8ib4WuEDAuBpSK2vf1vfth7BzVvpEMGxgPfTA27WW3Tv1UuiwcUVLvtAUTXUIuErXlfUuUknEoKDoTPwGVXQqLJodUFwbJstfJ7Q6qUy0WI/s1600-h/IMGP0489.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXXozdGdC5Ofs6wvetQ8YDrz0h5M2aABt8ib4WuEDAuBpSK2vf1vfth7BzVvpEMGxgPfTA27WW3Tv1UuiwcUVLvtAUTXUIuErXlfUuUknEoKDoTPwGVXQqLJodUFwbJstfJ7Q6qUy0WI/s400/IMGP0489.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287473506727824050" /></a>
<br /></div><div>Some of the best biking around in the Coniston Valley and Grizedale forest.</div><div>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_hbZwmRgio6uSIr7XNgWAfQUgrgUXnwDxynbsI53iulIDssTsFrxtvDIw6ZjFMiqYWyaytsrvCkX-AmI4Vi8EBZ9C1ckX47luISJwpJZlJOqc2DJkw3F7BLnkzGP66-fjMHAFt6HgqY/s1600-h/IMGP0514.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_hbZwmRgio6uSIr7XNgWAfQUgrgUXnwDxynbsI53iulIDssTsFrxtvDIw6ZjFMiqYWyaytsrvCkX-AmI4Vi8EBZ9C1ckX47luISJwpJZlJOqc2DJkw3F7BLnkzGP66-fjMHAFt6HgqY/s400/IMGP0514.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287476482867520482" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iInfflg7H5YabkdGDbQUH0-vw2fty-dgRicVHP5al0-_Ly1JcGVd9c5m26WyT7wlh98vStndJzcsCZYhVyxBRQfJToZjs_Tet_WyspcpgosWi0nUNh3BSAXLyX0UvoFaxURh4h_OI1E/s1600-h/IMGP0503.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iInfflg7H5YabkdGDbQUH0-vw2fty-dgRicVHP5al0-_Ly1JcGVd9c5m26WyT7wlh98vStndJzcsCZYhVyxBRQfJToZjs_Tet_WyspcpgosWi0nUNh3BSAXLyX0UvoFaxURh4h_OI1E/s400/IMGP0503.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287473509917559346" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyL2KH4guO7xZ6hhvmsyh_tLZW1d9JnM9MUrGWI6UPEtO07UfvdJrXZt8heIi5DYacyaf5lydMsW9Ckz7iJcauIk7ZdLChDLSLMcyKr-QcRD_rMiGi32TZoV9HXHJWYdHfvOMKfi5wM0/s1600-h/IMGP0509.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyL2KH4guO7xZ6hhvmsyh_tLZW1d9JnM9MUrGWI6UPEtO07UfvdJrXZt8heIi5DYacyaf5lydMsW9Ckz7iJcauIk7ZdLChDLSLMcyKr-QcRD_rMiGi32TZoV9HXHJWYdHfvOMKfi5wM0/s400/IMGP0509.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287473500252642834" /></a>
<br /></div><div>We hiked up Coniston old man... Started in the mist, and eventually climbed above it to spectacular views....</div><div>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLG1JrWsD0oOmjuvcUaJrBDih6mt_yiDPcGKWtqFaLzQXtJkvBPccVuzpB4WLzA_PP4G9ZFjR5JMmtGwzXf5s0YItuhqoiztHAz7sFH0XlCAA5ZbNIHv5uQatA5kwVQkrFuDnB_iNA_IY/s1600-h/IMGP0550.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLG1JrWsD0oOmjuvcUaJrBDih6mt_yiDPcGKWtqFaLzQXtJkvBPccVuzpB4WLzA_PP4G9ZFjR5JMmtGwzXf5s0YItuhqoiztHAz7sFH0XlCAA5ZbNIHv5uQatA5kwVQkrFuDnB_iNA_IY/s400/IMGP0550.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287478811290304690" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Sed1ikQDlAzCuxj8cTxWg5odqLRB6kGkkrOKs1NAQtRKsvWqnQHf3Z0vB9DF6QgvVf4mgsHE0RUNPhBwkDxmd2zZtSTtKL_TbInVceQ32xOIW43E3Vl9_Dic8B8Yc-y_amtaZjYHogI/s1600-h/IMGP0549.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Sed1ikQDlAzCuxj8cTxWg5odqLRB6kGkkrOKs1NAQtRKsvWqnQHf3Z0vB9DF6QgvVf4mgsHE0RUNPhBwkDxmd2zZtSTtKL_TbInVceQ32xOIW43E3Vl9_Dic8B8Yc-y_amtaZjYHogI/s400/IMGP0549.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287478801701343602" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwv6M04_mjn0FjH12cGzyw0Pa9B0btaYqhkTR37Z5OzxcRdzVZqZEPtcpnoXY8TP0mxfjH83c9WDYP0FjtbOyAAcLwvpVwRehBtk3H2O_h2OnTEnEtRQdalF8PrXbto0PzAsYte57S9LY/s1600-h/IMGP0548.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwv6M04_mjn0FjH12cGzyw0Pa9B0btaYqhkTR37Z5OzxcRdzVZqZEPtcpnoXY8TP0mxfjH83c9WDYP0FjtbOyAAcLwvpVwRehBtk3H2O_h2OnTEnEtRQdalF8PrXbto0PzAsYte57S9LY/s400/IMGP0548.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287478796253012546" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2ngM5juOF9ElKJNL-ppPEswRyDR3odnrHiO_0Af6KNWQmRLfY_ZxPGxfa3pVq6H4wRFCDHSaNefwJQrOvL-ohSyzHpxuFuuzaoN9_8iF16hTw9R2pIopWWU81DZ7zsIwMlkmh0p-ygA/s1600-h/IMGP0545.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2ngM5juOF9ElKJNL-ppPEswRyDR3odnrHiO_0Af6KNWQmRLfY_ZxPGxfa3pVq6H4wRFCDHSaNefwJQrOvL-ohSyzHpxuFuuzaoN9_8iF16hTw9R2pIopWWU81DZ7zsIwMlkmh0p-ygA/s400/IMGP0545.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287476529197779218" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOknQXD0J9_P0KqSqxMIXhqFvxWfoxuN1kHFQ1qB7Xq7KPSlUiTx_XryPUmpOY1bhv09M0b60UiifkdZeBA9BHdA1BkQVuuDZPYvqu670P_TG1zSL2bPMyYaRnUk5amj2pidAY8qL4YE/s1600-h/IMGP0533.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOknQXD0J9_P0KqSqxMIXhqFvxWfoxuN1kHFQ1qB7Xq7KPSlUiTx_XryPUmpOY1bhv09M0b60UiifkdZeBA9BHdA1BkQVuuDZPYvqu670P_TG1zSL2bPMyYaRnUk5amj2pidAY8qL4YE/s400/IMGP0533.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287476515329146050" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72k4jI-Wyfo5VuddJDBLUOAIoUauD9qCxpUZ73bGhzNsEhby3JJDuK-ExaqjrAVuSCkAfljkFa6tFmYark7m0fMTUvAuOtNqsKN_z9-2SNuXAqgaC3wIN0mJQWmz_S22BiFu5dlCOExc/s1600-h/IMGP0529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72k4jI-Wyfo5VuddJDBLUOAIoUauD9qCxpUZ73bGhzNsEhby3JJDuK-ExaqjrAVuSCkAfljkFa6tFmYark7m0fMTUvAuOtNqsKN_z9-2SNuXAqgaC3wIN0mJQWmz_S22BiFu5dlCOExc/s400/IMGP0529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287476506626011298" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19mi01Nh5IEME_T7rcrYSW4DfEbWDSYVc-ciHU4c160DXpcSbXCGitcGcKezGeVQlhrMZcuqPXIvmvVsNZ_Cz0XjHY5cUPoSdvvV1sXArMzydgmgB9NiH0G4VbLZ1kTInfzrP4L-qhhQ/s1600-h/IMGP0519.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19mi01Nh5IEME_T7rcrYSW4DfEbWDSYVc-ciHU4c160DXpcSbXCGitcGcKezGeVQlhrMZcuqPXIvmvVsNZ_Cz0XjHY5cUPoSdvvV1sXArMzydgmgB9NiH0G4VbLZ1kTInfzrP4L-qhhQ/s400/IMGP0519.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287476500076468210" /></a>
<br /></div><div>Returning back to our place in Wrockwardine, it all looked very frosty and Christmassy....</div><div>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHp-VLZRx0X0iimH70fYQ9dqjHk-_txVPQMQf0Qtf3jvMgEh01tkvsmDYUI3bRqGKLRbje21OYvJmYTyHvj38siyQbsZINdIYzq-yVrRLMw-sOZGhdhyphenhyphenWyBTQ6iSQBsCldbOUhr-TLX8/s1600-h/IMGP0554.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHp-VLZRx0X0iimH70fYQ9dqjHk-_txVPQMQf0Qtf3jvMgEh01tkvsmDYUI3bRqGKLRbje21OYvJmYTyHvj38siyQbsZINdIYzq-yVrRLMw-sOZGhdhyphenhyphenWyBTQ6iSQBsCldbOUhr-TLX8/s400/IMGP0554.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287478815598294034" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-kctkRhe1PndCCeO6jOoeOFUyPLyXyoTCIg_RGNy1hsgoBSu4AUPpowxDO-920Cxi_q6B1qj64lyxnznoLPMRLawJyski6tHf7aeV1O0SacBTzbG_YcFiErKtS6IUgfLzI9g5ETWEFE/s1600-h/IMGP0481.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-kctkRhe1PndCCeO6jOoeOFUyPLyXyoTCIg_RGNy1hsgoBSu4AUPpowxDO-920Cxi_q6B1qj64lyxnznoLPMRLawJyski6tHf7aeV1O0SacBTzbG_YcFiErKtS6IUgfLzI9g5ETWEFE/s400/IMGP0481.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287473492321452370" /></a></div><div>
<br />Cheryl's pillow just wouldn't stay still....</div><div>
<br />Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-21893081896555265902008-12-20T09:44:00.000-08:002008-12-20T09:49:47.389-08:00Happy Holidays<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvENOWcRUQmD5IyZ1j4y2Xm6mhmVyZrjUBeR_hbdboRTyQXlaQ5rMBNeQV-neFww0ysrLd-qUmT5pAVk9cheUW0aK9M5mXoo-X5UcHJ8OsalFBKbuXiGoQU0ykoAW-j5qufZ2dUbsm6Y/s1600-h/IMGP0464.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvENOWcRUQmD5IyZ1j4y2Xm6mhmVyZrjUBeR_hbdboRTyQXlaQ5rMBNeQV-neFww0ysrLd-qUmT5pAVk9cheUW0aK9M5mXoo-X5UcHJ8OsalFBKbuXiGoQU0ykoAW-j5qufZ2dUbsm6Y/s400/IMGP0464.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281930788597085778" /></a><br />Merry Christmas everyone, and a happy new year!!!!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-24952536187447671972008-11-02T11:18:00.000-08:002008-11-02T12:50:43.905-08:00Wedding season!<div align="left"> Its been a busy summer with no less than three weddings in the last couple of months, all with associated stag and hen nights... Even with these hiccups in the kayaking calendar to work around, we've been able to get out onto some great rivers in North Wales, and managed to make good use of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">biblical</span> flood conditions in the Lakes recently.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">First up was Robs Stag do... A great weekend in North Wales, Biking, boating and drinking. Rob did exceptionally well to be actually mobile and able to paddle the next day(with some persuasion)</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264155393509610770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUo8hCs2W06vQKOpCuIUoTsvbCcLjmKy1PPP-X_6t76gTjVWzzFDEmFgjzLCrZIhZMtaW3iKY22unrSul8YYDLkSaEnbuiOkzV5qbYJcwNfjA6WHZhU2INXAa5Tj5TLFZVQCTKTneDdo/s400/IMGP6232.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">He's normally a bit slimmer, but that is his normal biking gear</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264155401469282178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgS31s0mbi1volAB2HRh3tncdg95iCAy_buwJYiSSdkgo_OEzJqgLy9pwLLKGXaSgY7y0B1ZORNDgEnEyb9Eo12PiC9X1cpR18lsBt8uYcMZXguFUjZa58pzfOGcNaYy_AZzOAoQlDLY/s400/IMGP6239.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">The big <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ramp</span> at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Llandegla</span></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264154149649201618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiSRqve229lQDDBPb5n-HOmbCOLeayLb8H76cCn40LGcRxh2rOgBNhHaPcTQAxeVXM8zkdNSEzoT3OyVVIg3tsrprESaWhGANugLlkdBnIiPfPYw0GVcMGRoSqV3uyJdVK1Bkbhm68Dw/s400/IMGP6231.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Mr Box head made an appearance later that night, or the night after.....</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264155412106042994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BxDTJOiorJWZaFkHlv3U717-9-l4q5GPzRDMcrLRxeSD2B5xUwvRMsEp-460KapNrouXeQASlMX-xihMKKYxPOP5iCAQbWDcbgDhCi0r-BDKC8lY6IpHtadNPoaT0A9TcCvKg5EByfQ/s400/IMGP6257.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Rob looking <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">surprisingly</span> well, and able to kayak the next day (a major achievement)</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264155416333169042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2YBz7XgHjUM3VncjgfsETkgyBOAB8Jp-eRqovm5oyVnLNanew7Y3TIq8zu99cElLxzsMikPlXvX8qYs3q6w7SfKm_P5nHrKeEcf6sTB4PxsKGa50XB4EQv5H19BoHA1gEqONL5Nh44c/s400/Si&Cheryl.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center">The day of the wedding!<br /><br /></div><div align="left">The Wedding was also a great event. Congratulations Rob and Bub.<br /></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Next up was my brother Mark and Hannah. A great day out in London for the Stag do (no photos survive), then a fantastic night down south for the wedding at a great venue. </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264151250417445682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvuW832S_EgL4dcFvS94GDzBmxG8iLLNBK2Edz37wUo7CfPYQ0Mil2s2fw5p1jzkk0I7oLZUoN6CdtDFKPEORL67-Yp-HXy3tnefdK2BT4qkNCRUIqt91gStleYaXk52pQBXlfvxTjxs/s400/DSCN7196.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Dad and Mark</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264151251933234994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJn5VF2yqjVF6wiTHA4lxpNUlqOaye51B20wX6JuAsO0dIThgJuF7aCJzivB6fJEa-y-HyrucxnJ0ebCKrx0nCQzAciLjzv77JhsUVCxsIvRysffUw6MbfQqJKkytrtAfhQpkpoiV8zr0/s400/DSCN7214.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Hannah and Mark</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264151244553109266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_bb9HAgksTXjVnr-jGUZHj78e6pHTeUlfjNXm0mC-sJsa_SeQTGPbgA7e8FWRiCAz1sf93LkKwmyQSAsK_qt8MYaReLbUPim5Big5-8PI9hyNrIopprdMtq9CDAU95u2fnlfH5iZgfk/s400/DSCN7172.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Granny <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Wiles's</span> Wedding cake spectacular</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264151261890971346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbepObNl6gbQaOGT-JqhLhNgdPr2FX9iBYIe0vgJELPhyF7TCELRlrvGFQ-PmnKfVI9LJupnmWYhYF366IwTe2wmWW0raxozzvFzWMGAbKFtC90WajbKrxHW2rNIpodAhg1BgEcQyZNY/s400/DSCN7437.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264151267839101618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pNWzS-6ow4bq2efk6dMYJGO5cJKm0Uy5_Ra378EY7OxtIjk8M1JQfCSGpeadr2So1K2L8mP_hkT3kdJiFCACV49DYMjwWHCXkh4NtKNRuvM-gHDVIj632UY4yX9SnbuHFbgx-whGJT4/s400/DSCN7439.JPG" border="0" />End of night shots!!<br /><br /><div align="left">Finally our good friends Damon and Ashley from Vermont. What better excuse to visit our favorite place in the world. We managed to arrive just in time for hen and stag dos, then had a week to see what we are missing in Vermont, before the Wedding. Unfortunately it was pretty dry which meant no Vermont <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">creeking</span>, but we did get to hike and visit all our favorite restaurants. Thanks to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Jonny</span> for putting us up again. We did have to go home to the UK but hopefully we'll be back soon....<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264152452054021522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CCyo1clAzyap8uv64lXNceEWy4BKqFut9DvDOoTA7wmpTS68_qm_YNYKSU2uCUlEHrLABi5_PZMNxyxrCp6dSniHnM2MEiYyfmn7t-bFzEcWIjeKbcKmsDqolVOPTRIYLAyOQTjTRyM/s400/IMGP0048.jpg" border="0" /></div>Stag do survivors photo - morning after in Montreal!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264154143264388306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoxRfKMvX0ECVzUbmZg23W410dm3fDSrRtSZJeqXnIMk2gGV9RGb73ViPxbLRU8oobTHKiPJDRRRSe7RcHdQuZA6o36NAtPoTONjoY8dUA5C3QnrtZ16ZWK_8ukw1xr3HNfriNHv8AjA/s400/IMGP0173.jpg" border="0" /><br /> Cheryl and Damon<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264161377566143090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlji6Vfbf5dnMBdv_OED9ml5MzvU-fYlm_jnjPE8P5uFyx6Yd3hWFIPClEJRgh5JDZbKOdzFmv_GKnDiGmQ0JTqAhX-h6pB4fpIYGGlsCzfcKzfNt9Dna5BAiisMfdoJQQafDjVtyQfc/s400/IMGP0169.jpg" border="0" />Simon and Ashley</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264154124388889602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfEQsYS2K0CE07ApRJfjJZFE5G6tlVPhlPRGdiUh9aJAy9x-BtArbFYBDkkgbBka7UEtBEGgZ6fVsSGAR1RY6gFia_4Ya70mMA_od58zKccbgqJ1sYYPxjoksRd3kgav_SwXsky2rYx4/s400/IMGP0153.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">And finally Cheryl and Simon</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264152439301646674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7K8IXyAav2_v80kzApOZvUe4UapNVO2g9j_jIXhpexpU7w8Siv3aAteSV6bgTZDceKHLrOSDUYV3Tc6o8kbwNGj9zko_6VOFUBgfQQGS3iWRfAMXRlUQuhmOhtWF_dXRy8dU-TfOFNo/s400/DSCN7473.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">We used to work just by that chimney!!</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264152440600623442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXmkOdAyTRndLU0X8yhBnHpKLC0TSei0SIQpGHG6ShjB9SgfYbnWIkbHD-i93UZ29BfMASCoQCXPDA36IJYTi8EP21rF4Y_rvuIpP-mxoDD_jnv1eKZEcKpNjICV28NKdLUE7QjuPe10/s400/DSCN7536.jpg" border="0" />Hiking Mt Abe, near Bristol VT</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264152468143862130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAkY_o4BuRoShXpUrjOp6-LCHPWJapfmm1etWMoqZ69I223ZspoR_eb2AKPVmHqL69wE-v6T5lF1qSNtJVuw3E6duPWl709W9RmMtt2axm7E3g5EQktjzWJgwWeaySq1eRb23PUR9IU0/s400/IMGP0064.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264152455942258898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHCGJtsZqi7kuMadJVe7YMKezL_J0oDjDNz1bF6HeSc3fNc10uAjyotDAj-SDN0ltE_Jg_rpyfs5BdJ9ub4cADkMXceqwYRBg81s3i8rkduF3s38A-UZzZkMhvNkaDSQG8qcV1hrUbdU/s400/IMGP0055.jpg" border="0" />Beautiful Fall colours!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264154116392964914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAZ8XQNeZlRPWXrMwnzQeOFvPwrGpda8HtICZe-4XU-tYyJtIiA6PMhJHZH_qrPU6WihYYoEnXEroe1kaZlYQhPaL7ypveYOCvZErfDr0CTgHfv7jIEXSKGqwc_XbsY9R7Xg8JOlmlnI/s400/IMGP0067.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center">Hiking with Ed</div><br /><br /><div align="left">The weekend after we got back to the UK, the heavens opened. As huge amounts of rain fell, we headed up to the lakes, and found great conditions. We paddled some new rivers, as well as some old favorites. I think that certainly Welsh and Vermont ditches have some rivals for the 'most manky' award in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Wasdale</span> beck! (it was great really!) It was great to catch up and paddle with Mark and Heather after so long too!</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264161402433647906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi111NGz9eao1hTQqlj6kandh1r6HLTMXxB2F1ICGNKEs-ZEhy_h5LfDVISm-0quvBpMUHGoQ-kcwFpqf9-dp-Sig1YY3w2FMqLU0Wh90RRmX7OWG_MOdh5l003WrAFYuNhQorXzSgGOFY/s400/IMGP0223.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="left"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Backbarrow</span> falls - no head room!</div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264161398283480642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXntwysxG9Hg6TzznxPfNPXeM6djwYSE3VIZQSkePloRBX5yuxOnliCH8k4NTarAfb4Ho57quu0tEHxFEeQ1h4XIfmh09QswhA5f9M9-z-wOpFnt7USJLFS4VbBAXnfJ_uBZhgFFz8s9s/s400/IMGP0218.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Duddon</span> rockiness</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264161387705053698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiZ5-RNuA_Sia0bGwPTcg1lXi3k5ZK9enCJ16jxiOwvsRF-nCCuWJHP220lP5gH3DCr7FaqfxTHnn0q8wEsIxKW4ps_m9Ctnvb52Ndn8ibKHc5-RduqxYxWJD-Bq6QWrz62zd6Tpb5y4/s400/IMGP0213.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Birks</span> Beck - scary low bridges and wire fences!!!</div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264161385499267266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCSesonBm7_YP_0PpWfRzgqomBc_g7_pUzBiLBkexsrD-RLKC0gpWEhr5mf0r64W0mv2hdPWTGG4mH-QWHllPR8_U33HkW-xM4N5KwieFldA9fGEk5OzDt5UVPhd2GEtrmrvE-I0X1QQ/s400/IMGP0209.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Wasdale</span> beck - steep with relatively few fences (2)</p>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-8051323611082351262008-08-18T12:48:00.000-07:002008-08-18T13:42:13.099-07:00Summer rainsWe've been having a pretty wet summer. So lots of things have been running.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Hurley weir on two gates. Good fun, but it was on three gates when we left home! </div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235955473490311762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6k8RAskvvqHuwkve8ktAcFMbsnnhmkqvA_c6c5lxq3UQpbFORXkbiHXNB_uox_GB2tsO_bNUIkdePTxo5JZJxYg-q8wL97htU-t-0qO9owsGESc8ahDxweTa9pl4g-u3-ndpMI9WJ_g/s400/IMGP6206.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235953788499124210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnAcMWSMPqhXmdJhQRK9bX9xbZWPuovAfCBEhBihjcNjTkPLwLOTLCdFwnbFcxIpU2WwUTypCvh7AZsqBaKly2o3ljOGztI01zw4mu-vHObumjd6Bp_fuYKQYPIQFBkjdegXjeILIHSg/s400/IMGP6210.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Some of the North and South Wales Classics, have been running. I've finally got on the Fairy Glen! definitely one of the best runs in the UK. </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235960094071692994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkBgAhVCWLe0wQ8JpeQQBM5fErode9GyeLFXG7SSMYuq0fdC1CDLjvEPl05fZqNXOCMinaAQ2RpkoF0SP0Jiv7HNGCtOrN-fFIwnrmiA8Gk5CGctkf7VM94Ug9VTm3Vslds4AsmZepTA/s400/Fairy+Glen+10th+Aug+15.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235960082429273954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVl4-eLyoR7EUUdNVgne6UW98Nrq83lWyWsRFJhRAaLpAcHJGIScbnj_CT3FDADgSA_24PoYvoguxceTdqtQ4FG5YdkdSZtZ10VEc_rGK_baHrAYTrQYHshQhtAkLJyw6x0aQ13bp-nA/s400/Fairy+Glen+10th+Aug+10.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>We also got to visit a phenomenal 'artifical kayaking spot'<br /></div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235953791416586002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZgMcdraxjKKwJybDjnXjf0KRArFUhnHMLc18Dly_pLwufaZrCbf22MtATNjnGoqXj__pgVBkXvCH2IHRyN7KCfvsMazjA3frCvvCJ60lyZ_4lRuNtGQ9Akqfnx_mCcZV8FnC_ovqlsY/s400/IMGP6212.JPG" border="0" /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyKgiyxbB6u1mpsX9zc7USvqTuianxUrpWWjruhgJjrqAeXvgwjVvbX3Suhgxz61iHtnD_wUZBYlFR_X6oiNQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Great fun, but the flat bottomed boats seemed to have a lot more speed than the lead boat (solo).</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div></div>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-41311609968258655452008-08-15T13:36:00.000-07:002008-08-15T13:45:45.266-07:00Shrewsbury WeirJust been down to Shrewsbury this afternoon, to check out the weir. Looked ok, maybe a little sticky on the far side, but looked fun. Hopefully be back with the boats before it drops out.<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRSa77ZKwc6aTfX1CJNZbW9OLr5XfkrCTShw4ggc_cEobHUtdalvufK3v1o2y54NrmzmQJZJCiW4z9RsSnGlCsiwrQqBDUCfMFLcPJ_VngrsWygGk58Vy2ME6uZ2ruhXG5PbbxBqhhkE/s400/IMGP6199.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234847989782492786" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUL_KNWo-f11CEfEUAcjC9VtL-9tvyJkTkrYkqwOtzAQKlUXLbLUxrlvjc-3EyA_qk1N_mqujU2XbFFOreHHpVBI3NfOSlX0wJeFRe5lysMqo7A3nt3GWKYlujTG5RHlMNJQqzRLN5UFE/s400/IMGP6200.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234847992250706898" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkp_rtXILA4BIPJAu4Kx7QFcjJ8C7fby6GS92chv3_gHnPvT4PyouLZ3bJgHKqUzewiJWs4E55Ucn2RB_QX0wYQQ5eKy_J0jU7KTeTduIBGh4k3ezMou9fPQV_EOu7UiMILH0-vXYeR0/s400/IMGP6202.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234848014997737858" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFPgildTxAX1qQmcSkQ8bCKCyP70rTdRaV1HUwMy4I-hTOOCSBZGYBUn9TO1t7EBs71U2QZV3Y9h9X7A4JzGN6Vpnxu94Yhud28VXqytJ-J-FM3aoe6ZBy2WtHoGJhFGvcnYUKYzx6WY/s400/IMGP6203.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234848020533364658" />Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-57941445596825928252008-07-20T10:22:00.000-07:002008-07-20T10:42:48.518-07:00Austrian Alps<div><div>We're just back from a week in the Austrian Alps. Kev, Cheryl and I headed out to Stefan's house in Southern Germany. From there we made plenty of day trips out whilst we sheltered from the torrential rain. We paddled many lesser known classics in the region, mostly in beautiful steep sheer walled Bavarian gorges. </div><div> </div><div>Highlights were the Brandenberger, Lammer and Salzach gorges. In places these fully enclosed and roofed by chockstones!</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225149345195722242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTFi5gMjiYifN0V1JPMV8JSM4SPZcABzdtRp1Xy-_DDIzAvoLOmsZf3hgfY-Qlin0U53KpUOj8mGKfc-UNLt8HmV4YJkR6oVJ7_9jAtm1bqdXu-4t1_re2HVQC0ziFh1HAD4w6pIBy74/s400/Lammer+01sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225149352175675474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRPjot7JiRsAl6aZPVD7wAmzSl6ofnG_AvuzmjIiGmIimL1zoC-UM12i6KUbY9ZoJPlt4oEGlA6IQvpTWYbc_C8j7rPPuTIJCRxm2nIjEbxnlupIeRu5XPm68rEFGBHs1gwqhf2ql66w/s400/Lammer+06sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225148829926802466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCsivq2xfHCBEbbEDwifTBjCH2tA1NQqrSwZ34C7nT6fGgYXEI9D_W9_Om-RXnTiFwrjUr6OLFdXWiVKq82f2QF1s4J-srCJAqms4rHsRPE5-qr3VeBT18FdpMgKJS4TsxhFTN1JL7Ik/s400/Brandenberger+12sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225148836072379330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh6j4fKEHo1fNS0wGeydPdXSt4kcr2sDvcVG91TgP-2kNHeIDAKDqSosORu_YK7SwN1kseskM1H51MUPItmz-SBdmX4szOfOqdMD3dCE2LyMpDVSnTlyhKL73WMDtDfpxGzI_UoixopE/s400/Brandenberger+22sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225148841506772482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcexCb56D3vd8meuvMvCXAozZN2k-A1eLHoExvMQeAn1RPWnAN5aH_AHMXeTXlDikxRldiWW5-gPvGvHCULxoHqE79fuL1Nwveqb_F3-J6qXdAB7iOjUISDkoJsWK0Gg-RCXAyfayt-u8/s400/Brandenberger+23sm.jpg" border="0" />Kev in contemplative mood.<br /><br /><div>The Brandenburger had handy inspection walkways and bridges throughout the most difficult gorges, which came in very handy. We made a highish water run, and a repeat the following day!. Locals run the whole river in an hour or so after work, it took us about 4 hours!!!</div><div> </div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225148830300757442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1lzBN1Zag1NDg4aA0JFTDxaOF-4maqBkwnLfzSRNHeTOrht_Wn7SpgxDmmAZnrh9UDANn8vo1uOFo6pWEYmu3ULnGFCXsWs8brgvi56pTrwsEv_rnB4C4pn2Y6ynEKdVxWkVjHSV8DM/s400/Brandenberger+14sm.jpg" border="0" /> <div>When the rains finally stopped, we headed out to Landeck for some of the classic Austrian runs., the Imst Gorge, Sanna, Landeck Gorge, Lower Oetz.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225149354605756882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gtQJAHvDMcdk2Ur8JmiRZCSu0ctbp-tHU54Afj89-B3gxJxHBjajg2HHsJBt8o2xgOW71oP1gt5SCxEyQbTbDZ6jlyHFtdnCX3AtNqhuzSihTlZHclgmxNUEhvAmU4DHwfwMGXGFCIE/s400/Landeck+Gorge+03sm.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225149348889097666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWNusUQvqGNTR7KROtKk4zcz9nyhVIR5CPjEW4-KLOO5cTi1BGwziwwd0T8fNMQDma5GwtuL0TGiLUvphCie1D7lbCKmuIUMYDoepMZX1ZPu0i-DUO820Aqq-Fo6R7DEvfQTql5shtnI/s400/Landeck+Gorge+02sm.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>I had visited the area about 10 years before, and was amazed at the runs that we had paddled back then... They are still really good classic alpine runs... We had more water this time, certainly, and this made river choice very important. Many of the runs in the area were too high, due to more rain! and it made the decision easy to stay in a nice guesthouse in Oetz rather than rough it camping!</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225150129790794082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hQfhCmuSp0NGECfIByy67I5-b6NEdaMF-kygTWtUXDZd5Zkhl5F8Wvu0FMAXQaFO_zJl9fArq0wBiuT4p0oVXm67XydkXo_tTVd1O7CwhZ7wwe79P9DYuT-ZhHZjOc6C2rvhKR__Za8/s400/Oetz+Wellerbruecke+Falls+12sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225149359104666514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJbF0KCKxDTLF9IN6gZoz0eSoqRGIkspQw15M6n62hCkAgbIb_UHCWwDVAI-QxSR9CbmSJVSdW8wiVbVn4nApoC_n-BucAEk9NeZur-QVQ56uus2DUQJJ2XT0b-fYFuaN4nZ7748TBLw/s400/Oetz+Wellerbruecke+Falls+02sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Hiking up to inspect the Wellerbrucke on the Middle Oetz. Very scarey and steep!</div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225150128627576514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvyVfY_KewPtC2MJyCs6ojodIPtE6WReSLLI8rIovZtncvRfSdI2Zuu1QCTKRWZILfDRh3u24Jl-luELW-jfjtLUKvhQ-gm8GimpqtVRuYqxmVcB0w9iE6JuZX_vzf85_Edf71WnJZsA/s400/Stephans+House+02sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225150132075375666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRo0AW-79OGly3u6lM7KNA6IHGWFbJZNkd_6yqInTU7GJ-_Xz1xuqSl0Bb0FwLUQGlpPom-bkMoLDV7lk0U3cMDXLs36Mc7c9XrvvAETDkV7fY8nGcSPaNzDatLK0QhJlMC3IO_apcbMU/s400/Stephans+House+07sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225150133962075394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2ndRbqinMOWdH1Ni2RPHwnBHwxLf772E8u06HiWn9tUNn9EOimwC3FuENt-suYncUNHnI8rN5d66guQ1iTp_4ZRX0VFgEFKxyMG9eI_Kj9KGb-vCZwmQBKc1fEBaGBGDNw-ppqEny4w/s400/Stephans+House+09sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>Thanks to Stefan for putting us up, at his lovely place, and for BBQing so well! </div></div>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-78608864097365811512008-07-20T10:02:00.000-07:002008-07-20T10:22:24.125-07:00UK boating and biking<div><div><div>When the weather gets drier in the UK, we still have a few options available for weekend fun. As well as the Tryweryn, there are at least two more artifical courses which are worth paddling at. Holme Pierrepoint is the oldest artifical site in the UK, but continuos tweaking means that the features are still suitable for pulling off all the latest moves (or at least those we can do). You do have to keep an eye out for rafts and nasty pointy slalom boaters.</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225145882412182706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SOsSoA7jPb4NjgVpRVS-uk4-eYpnebD1fCaV_Hnlb6q9mC3tQ5-EfpJ8_1pFpVOsEOAhnkCeju95j8N2ViA_ieSn8vpB5CsRTl-7qJNpcsNgIWBlZFGkkC7hh84G-eD7047RV8P2Jpw/s400/HPP+11sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225145881383407458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUwmkoQQSatt0c_N0a6x4PCDfjSepFqCS2sI5ptWFil17AgkOebaO6zjMBMRBRA20x_5d2PwEsHfSXa3EW96Hb1lb6Dr9Fs8Tx53D0y0-37dLbzU8k-QHA7y-Fnx8fSjk5A0YXlfs7mU/s400/HPP+26sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Teeside is a bit further away, and dependant on the tides, but again worth heading too when all the rivers are too low. It has an exceedingly sticky final drop, making for some very entertaining viewing.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225146238490324450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQdxeDOwqG_rTxdTUoRkNbq4JfKa-GySuQxmudp_TMipriIaRX0Z8t-im98DyG3ajAiu9Av6dfwJzKCYVE4_iuZxDK3nod3IDstLBXnco5Qtmb-zGzXq8REj29oM-89amYEAHWXA6RnY/s400/Tees+03sm.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225147177494198274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1b7OH-T15CbO9Thn6T4-56Kj9dYV586t90LbkCJSHKh3m4BMshx0I2a2rau0W7tuRof-YD9YK0D7bJNsxYnvKBoKrXlSLNPP_mQkfKs1JX1J8_79kCMXEm0ClZaHYmJnlREDuz31hGM/s400/Tees+02sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Failing that, we have some great local biking right from our door.... Up to the Ercall and Wrekin.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225145883236724994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvKc3JYmQ-u1dMW1rOxLE7WRqnRo7aLwxa8F9oKjc0vlLdFEje6ZjwRREZ5zfP6j3Kw0KUcp_2-OfERt2tKP2Ke33HS084gAonorFhPbfeAVpUzq842vdfhBeTSWQiIul3QpmYD7lPwY/s400/IMGP5932sm.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225145882624041218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjby0MNWZtfTkhTbFVzsb7A-EHXks9ZInAeEUOegXShm-K5zIea4VsNYJwepYJBnfiuFccbZ0Oh1MaNnoy1zWdu64QYaI37FAANSSn3-A14mUv5Xo-x09txefWA8ONUZbJFxW_Fmckn7Cs/s400/IMGP5935sm.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>We've even been known to take a weekend off now and then......</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225145888367592610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMmrD8Z9HEph7rKIvsFgpwes7DRWrLWAqFNOY1rNdjP-v2UFdJZuV8AVuUcUY9-Sd9LX8KgryW5Lrx5wFry8pcqZaaORZps0krBOFqXlcgF6YjX9iG9l5ma0IYAF6G9pcQNzdDmrprfo/s400/IMGP5939sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div></div></div>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-66829292265028684172008-06-09T13:15:00.000-07:002008-06-09T13:39:53.035-07:00Little Green FingersWe have spent the last so many weeks tidying up the overgrown acres of our new home. Its been a lot of graft, digging, weeding and planting.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209980664247074258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCn-f41yoEegOyYqdtUrU8npC2o_8B6bjrZzpEs-ZNkoVcSTYcaKoKf4nAkA3mNnTzGhG03SXMInF2orfFlQuUxoTWz_alyyrNujP71kd204jv1R9tGJn25eXSZwS7q6flwzVdd92rbI/s400/Garden+as+of+090608+01.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209979392491362738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdmhKcix-ZQAjiLVuziyQ_eSRtt_APxaaceok00FqIvd3Yc2QSkCSQCqGM3Bmv2jwYZeVyfO-SEVpstRug4f0ogz3YSLtMwOKa_xdxPkgIA9ukRCnSN8pTXmy2wO2Sf9cjLZzWBe6bRw/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+01.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209980259910911266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0ApnxVqLabB6WKLb1XA3EFHgyZ3pET1IpAJtyhRtkPS2X79bUhjrfXNF2AY4Ec4rG3KNQJFCPxjkCpvd1AAaOANgjbx6Y6HZPDcMBpToIfcLOo9QK8vjaNv9_sXRd4HZtPgH7DNNPno/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+22.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209979406773639378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQohrg2_LoyXo60ljvQm0qgk_hna4ep2NQW-nD-h1O-MZGOQnPZUijcCkQWlPvFEbWxVId2Fua6Of1u1IPLeMOS1NcCPL6SaVdHFaVMFvFqUf8NBK5kE0n39l6mwbprIIwvxrRjgVnmM/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+02.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209980284693031138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSBhd7jJxCgvWy7q5Wqg9OgnE1dlM-1s7VqSMWQRucsiwScO8CthYGi8Ptb5NTYHLAzlH4QgDzSxkdgZqYZjYUFZU9qtkeQ2Vwz9HwPqTJpDi13lrVlEib5OVgLPS91PXM6pAZe71LB8/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+23.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209979811888239042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTv-ckhwlLb1yTuKicqBvXAOW3QlnMmJcT8rxDJT0HyDNrQw9RDOFQ_15qslyd0nGhLL5BTosgtj_ybXU2wW65HAMMLV-1U1GGpRDQ0H3hLT5f12AKLbaXl6JiKI4dhrm1v9gVRX17huQ/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+11.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209979434352536594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Og_9p2MhaVbqqs-3Od-nbPs-7QmrEFQluTRECDFooHj87_tf_yd4zyKiJ0wgbNtFxuNCKUAC5-23nklD6QWwT3DcX2bHAhn6EK-OTgxv9u34hwzJ_B808nuXkyxob8pba3GR0Fe0MDI/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+07.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>We now have a huge vegetable plot, which has numerous types of things growing, we have a beds containing, Herbs, onions, beans, salad leafs, potatoes, pumpkins, strawberries and another that contains a whole variety of crops. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209979822200097586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGGBV0s3Rk8-DITox0RZJptksyZJuknW1gveEPd5uJjX0jw6g3nKvfLFoJyv1xffLQl7FD3N1I7Fsog1liNmFoqBmy6Rmv3yWrVVs3KQ39eeCakom_aQXB3Zz_vF5wsemI3GZh9NsLwE/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+12.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209979836366387618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3oxmXzqekNLJ54mMZADGiDvoB64-dT27-CaGCPyz8ZQ44mtSCCH2I0GgP1Q3pR83rB2wGvHY9NQQGl9yfLHf7l_UN04GMBLdQsLROEJLuunoIvXbBZU20o6nQSOMclrdE4dCLgcKENA/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+16.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209979824668690018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeVs8Nk2Pi6TpNMPnaNfd1TUk4l-xKuKuAD8_oziWhLqVXcWRyD_nKQmmLdpCiOPO5CSFSAYd4zYPfmG12Zf4yf7rntViLsEkMlZPXgRomAglb3-xGl-Ns9iaTLEnT4YFFpSnnEpfqNM/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+14.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209980235092041218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3Q806ZW3UM0lrLZxMIld_VKAA_uEY-oMaN_KKKJnyYjNOUeJ-thi3zl7DeYh2AKiOa7LlFxezVL6a8GVVgQpNpG20tf74cZl1KJBtOaZD8mGIK31EGvF4xH82t0KhibMG3uBm-OeZB0/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+18.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209980198443516098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgra0p5FKYyo_AKiaGI3Rw96Qiw0oK2lmY9lNqjOY8U8GJjMJ8jwEvXLj347JKVwZ5tS7CaZYrVqpEAhsY9XkfUwSFz1yvOIhZO6nGXUWnKHq3deWZc6BuVATuB3Rj-gcPEGaeD8SDxFCU/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+17.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209979805999481490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9Ld6OJuvZKyPfdMzPrgD5zWMMMoHWUXAWGVyL64VWHoSfUR1P0oeoZL86qbK1_ymhMRKh-TODGiShHWR28WJBSSht1C2X-rG3Ex1GlvuCM3kpjN9PJMLPHthpjQVaurwncbptEtxnMU/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+08.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>A Green house that resembles the little shop of horrors. </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209979423843202002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWf-GGBG0eu2EzLuJxHXRpOwXmPCurtNEO5NgPzIQCf4slAucDKrYA9RgdWMFWHlbc0Wy3wqNJi2GHLlbcqb4sxDFZB6hRDvGnQaHB4veUlUvfro2brn0TinVS49GUNXl8wNxqsvRcLaU/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+03.jpg" border="0" /><br />We have had our first produce, Mushrooms which are growing in abundance in a box under the sink. (I have a great Mushroom soup recipe)<br />We are now at a point where the garden just needs general maintenance and continued seeding of plants to ensure continuous supply of vegetables. </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209980869094432786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRH3N43bPB1RzNuXa9YNMRFbhHsKs43GCm3Cz4x5r-lJEPc3doFghTKol-mJApn2G3JxW5sQI90aj0xNasM98kRkGk9EGaHjA2YfK3h82rwiLEEahKfLhoSyNYfjz7c_vxxFOU6S8qBLc/s400/Garden+as+of+090608+17.jpg" border="0" /><br />Yesterday for the first time since moving in we were able to sit relax and enjoy the evening sun without worrying that there was work to be done in the garden.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209980672465160114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXUWQJFxvH4tQMJUQCdN5BoUn_oY837hDHGxmTkLrTXWq62sKDHX5TEnlBqZD2xnCWIDyFeHCEkKg9ywNBx3uAqKZOba8B-_mMLIKcz6M4vCI1Y8PyV52zHAH_1hDkDhDwK3G9BvQxPA/s400/Garden+as+of+090608+03.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209980677563115906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFmEwuETozdEp_lBh-1MxUzOA8Tluo7XcEhFGXgQb2TGJkJZ1P1bvUSWqCKd5amLtGfWmBjYLgZCD_N6mx1GJLO8dGxpNE-Y7ZFX39XS4TbSZ_9-HkXne2TmppPt4ISkkzH2X6EsGUMQ/s400/Garden+as+of+090608+06.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209980657545780178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxhAaJu9W20jIvQuxTEG3T9tW9SFbA0xtsY34FE32E-k4HBgl7OD6HAuL1GFl_uNO5yXL5ze0dMZz1kAyOdQexAaKslpdJgvLrD8IFu-SFwIPEK6IzLNNNQuuIHoiN3XULXd5TBchnQY/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+28.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209980302210243954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2oiVO01o_7NRD_JxRlqfV7f2Q-vZANg4cLJrbi17OIXFdjgaiIAuS45tJ1PQzQjuzZiWA_2U87ZRMWmjhvs2Effna2mQa_mEki4u5fP3FFCgbRpf8GVFq8T2ZulIN0gz_XXOvY54lbQ/s400/Garden+as+of+040608+26.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209980864254823090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixB_dV1hEDzaZXGyKWOru-VJxe7ZhLuI9hoDoKPCCW3pcr9Hbb0x6irQyuPvbk3d9zLlXxk_84J6txnTC_7LrQu9BZTr92F31cbNnWllWSdbsBCsnvF4V9zwyncIDx2G0VW_inl8x5t0E/s400/Garden+as+of+090608+15.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209980679382489794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSow-x0Xp2lCBMEvzsh8Ov_KKfOMgBGF5VANW3aEr8_mauNC_IPgwjV7xFuFFBRDPnPZt6lF8xUp7DJvf7A0r3AFrVzYfbZ-BodDhGX3zhQC__Q5mLzJ3UWVVqPZCB3Ce3D747FCHuwQ/s400/Garden+as+of+090608+12.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-66339625382998163282008-06-02T13:36:00.000-07:002008-06-02T13:56:57.524-07:00Wales and WinkworthBank holiday weekend, unfortunately the weather didn't come through, and we ended up postponing our Snowdon plans due to high winds. We still headed to Wales,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207386975646104450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSxkbLv6wb46a-dqSKuuqwlnVBBxdT89gE2vZeRzv_oZY6NIo-AGsXb3tfv9LNfFPlQbTpTR4dyVe-_7SOdF7i7ZeldIwlYFO1kYXAqD581eOhOfZxaLY0B9BkXpyW8_9MSVdcP7J9XU/s400/Arran+Benllyn+04sm.jpg" border="0" /><br />and were joined by a few friends for three days kayaking on the Tryweryn and even found time to hike in the rain and wind. It did stay fairly dry whilst we were on the river though.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207387637071068114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMB-DEh9KA_VKWuzd7e0QXL0Pa4oMX-dGuSBY42DORdDu1l80OrDHMGolyw8tIletPlJzKA4eWjBHHmeRn0YpgfPCGSikerLSKHXDk9AakImy_fE6JOQFjVeazlcrWWWF0bBtn3pur-Q/s400/Tryweryn+May+Bank+Holiday+43sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207386988531006386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0f7HA7RJYWNxCxJWMp9KWeZiV_g1LaQBsTrXv9u3yEw9kXU22B2qmEmSE-pkyTGYxeYHqEgbeCz-MoT9YQYJ9zqHHqF16aiw-3qUwiBZqAGqEhDhXpLiniZ4OBUP_tM2z_Uu_7HikPs/s400/Tryweryn+May+Bank+Holiday+29sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207386992825973698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRyVl9mTK6KYPBBXp2NNHqSvSZ-zfIzlWLH9YOJXy8Lox-f_cyX6NuemXI_xymgwxuVDaIysYlYQPCD9kKAmFDRCPJVa3c0Q17RBoIKBSxvoinTkw9a-ahDWWPqzuSL5Z8PV7VYcgnvM/s400/Tryweryn+May+Bank+Holiday+38sm.jpg" border="0" /><br />Andy and Kev showed us how to maximise enjoyment on the Tryweryn, I've never caught as many eddies in a short river.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207389282043542578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs95sT2fQryuNC4ZJ0Ox8JnmEYOl478CQXBg4ut5GXRh1_-wgSfzeaN5htxEkGCrrAQDDl4Dm2Q7TQc9oZJg3uG8zmuKFJrXD4jcHHcu86HNE7eomsdHggL27m22DdcWcoN_9mqw42KvQ/s400/Arran+Benllyn+08sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Between kayaking, we found time to climb a nearby hill, well most of us anyway, before retiring to the local pub to dry out.<br /><br />Last weekend, we headed down south to meet up with Simons siblings and cousins, plus assorted small children, many of which we'd never met. We had a lovely picnic at Winkworth Arboretum, a National Trust property <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207387667135839218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjEdHANpdXHNLDFa4to22aL8K3h3j3dk8tiXhXSWJAM50qKpcvk_Fvxs6_hxlXDZo2nepfAlJFCu_Uf2zT0u6mfrs8qlPiJh2Ro6SuQg1lyfv6_J_zQQoOd1CQPEqNC5wPV8Wnm-zmfQ/s400/Winkworth+18.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207387662840871906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLW6ManQSKtTgle-NxiLOzqHiNKmHXzgIJnzO7lCEpd1DUDIgg0YOCX5g5aC2TNX9SPuvfiSKhov4bcvOnzSaKTX0PQrypOdsPrtJPtSepfJBhvxqtAHLHb_zhYco2cqOUCtXElS1DVM/s400/Winkworth+10.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207387675725773826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Z9IcpytpfC2jSPwueMS5dzJOvwRO7Ehr6xs_AOU3NK1RD4NfvI2MPKjs9Crw_rpGhyphenhyphenJhiekPnALoSoQsTtB0IkyOsvEm-4ZOt5tncpnagK7spJm46Ri_Z5B7vkOJP49OpkbRq6BbaJ0/s400/Winkworth+45.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207388710812892194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2Fabe4GVr1co3HC_B6AxwBzgZwD6F_SPR1y28M-GRsV6JSjuXf3xq0GApsBX_uYiJg3gSDBqWPUCBSJWXCEgjdfkdo4byuFvbkGcVclcwEGIspN7gA8ArcBTrjZF5ps16DPxQvRxITE/s400/Winkworth+76.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />followed by a BBQ at Owen's house. Propane beats charcoal any day!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207386988531006370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gRpmn1cMzgISRegwI0lPkNZOLGg_CrB1P51hCI3vHJcJRnSfRTnmyAqBAnJ9OPX7MuPfej0Y8CGDV7vKHnFGo7ViuYxofB45p_TVUuCnFcgoUN42tXVKE8fBEbl-WC68s5saCWeGqxw/s400/BBQ+03.jpg" border="0" />Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-26852325283163007522008-05-15T11:20:00.001-07:002008-05-15T11:43:56.700-07:00Green fingers and Wet feet..We still haven’t got internet at home (thanks BT and Sky!!! why oh why is it so difficult!!!!) so we apologize for the lack of updates…<br /><br />We have now fully settled in to our gorgeous cottage in Wrockwardine. The Garden has proved to be a monstrous task.. even more so by Si leaving for a week to go to the Alps…more on that later. <div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200671721176866626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_H7vIYKYYGb_Ca8tif3AoSVMPPY_wdc8A4gKj-c3hGIm9RV2gYlFXBEuDVvhWagZ6qqCGQtT3P8kZFA_mu0HqnN_KPZF-SeHOWpe3ruphB8JcCK9iGNe0KkIkJBo4LkEYVwKzxb9gpA/s400/image0002.jpg" border="0" /> Cheryl hard at work in the garden!<br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200671695407062834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi172FyG1X8orgOboERKNLP_H00S1zzEe0GR0pbU1UTkunGAuO2NorJ7bo5H-1AT6SnNYV0seT-bO8-0goJ1GFyiFjOJdFH2Cq5jaqdi9QKWN6qIUHYASf2YzM65HF2zgS3FBNxpQoL2Ak/s400/image0001.jpg" border="0" /><br />After removing lots and lots of weeds, we now have a beautiful vegetable patch all seeded and planted up ready to give us its fruits in a few months time. We have planted over 20 different types of veggies..<br />Not just content with veggies we have also planted a few flowers, herbs etc and we are really pleased with the results.. considering we have never had a garden before. At times it felt a little overwhelming. Next up chickens, a cow and a few pigs.....<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200671725471833938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwV3VkyteHFfSEuGvpiixKJf5n3-LcqH2_Jv46akcKhT942ynWGs2YNvOZjDqXmQx-4FL6_RQ6ny_GaUDo9G7gejJ4c5GjS5IZArR5ookRX7NckwGx0diJhgPJEmk7ig0ROn6amLQgx2s/s400/image0003.jpg" border="0" /><br />There is a nice 'hill' nearby, with good prospects for mountain biking - the Wrekin, which is a good afternoon stroll up to the top.</div><br /><div>Cheryl managed to escape to the Tryweryn river which amazing is little over 1 hour away from the house and is a fun little river. (by US standards) By UK standards it is a raging whitewater torrent!!</div><div><br />While Cheryl only managed to get a day away, Si some how managed to blag himself a weeks holiday after only starting work 2 weeks ago.<br /><br />The Italian and Swiss alps were the destination, and a great holiday it was too.<br />We paddled lots of great rivers, with good friends. There was a low swim count (more importantly no swims for me!) Levels in Italy were a bit disappointing, so we headed out to Switzerland, and stayed there most of the time. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200671725471833954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1giGCP4hHMUjxNI38rHducMDxFtaN17Bkaf6bh5F1EGODMutq3KvIhHhcrFpXGJOJFbq6_laG8JZ00YDYcO0GccORIJW78qUNpyjeB4SwlG3XaPG4vYxCLupNumWX5QXDu7FdyutiEQ/s400/IMGP5563JPEG.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><br /></div><div>The runs were characterised by deep deep gorges mostly away from the road, with most takeouts being must-make eddies above more even deeper deep gorges, even further away from the road.... I'm not joking.....<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200673619552411698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrq-9YWi6qxQGHkoePhl_u6ZytIJrumdENLBPAzFtkiz8F2v8SsM4dZwJJ-xzMVy0VF1LR-WWG0aL6oIPlRSlEwlelNLkpx1y0mHc3Fk5D15OZHHL0-XugoHC4DOx3NWvPPBDAGD6kDbQ/s400/IMGP5740JPEG.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200672717609279442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5JgO7-ktzOho2EgFt-TI3NT0Zbwmdv2P9AeizAhuhY-gyKKM27tuUUMXhetwr9igDKgoXu5GWABBS4a1lOQO6cFkbo1IfSSX8gPfLokESSTR2-0SIPhRAgSs9qmny2fz1LOeP8TD1dI/s400/IMGP5665JPEG.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200671729766801266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO649wO9oUvmLgeyxZ4Jadq9ULFTOjYz6pvlq-AtWHIeyj5sgQ2hpNZnsp9s1OYazalHcWlSST6EmPlFXheXUa1RB_pJzXCUbAtGfNhm_KoDdU2tiALauiFfZ982N8O3Z-8UMuwuyz7cU/s400/IMGP5575JPEG.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200673623847379010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0q7x5zr1hX5r6JQzt4mUc6aoLzhTeuo635PAlr4ZUDEVRVA1BDjjXHBLKVPDgPuK4_xC-VImcEECAbRYFLG3G1Gxq9seB9p9XdSNCWjgZHEw3wwW4Q7JaGQeq1BHqESmPlNbW-ezNdY/s400/IMGP5743.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>We met a friendly swiss paddler - the force was with him..</div><div><br /><div>We did have one section that had no convenient roadside takeout, and had to slog up hill out from the takeout bridge for an hour or so before being reunited with our cars.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Highlight of the trip has to be the big drop / slide on the Ribo river!!! Great fun, very intimidating, but straightforward. There were a fun stunned looks rolling up after this one!!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200672721904246754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivh32d8BRQ-6sUWL4z9F-gX1MiDx90Q_5RXjZ7i4foRqQpTkhzi2uZxgsy-rpb-HMm4ha3XlcRhNtAHtA_X1Vslk1XiqnConZ7mRTekfuINPcxvHJtMdriCJkVyBxMBXZNakIiYeoSZI0/s400/IMGP5682JPEG.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200672726199214066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDqVWBcIoSbHyLiEIGbDHq927MDG0tZAlxXPRXQGzvHgzVWEKr3oaemjWw1Q0DccDgJVdRRxLtDIWwUa-j88A3qvQF65LwppK9ibK-W6-4CAuxopEUe5z4URchV5s_7jRddmnNbu6Rcc/s400/IMGP5694JPEG.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>The "famous flair drop" Is this the most photographed drop in Switzerland ? (usually from above). We'd initially dismissed it as a chossy drop, not worth running. We climbed back up and ran it. It still wasn't worth the bother, but once some of us had run it, we all had to... I'm sure it looked bigger / better / fun in the pictures.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200672150673596290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpPDeS_fey7XVTR1k2l8LTpE_NnjOTp9-rWb9bKu_ggukD0T4ynQWaG9yFRpYDbq48-AOhs7Xq_QQ0UzT6A2k-Z0U0hyphenhyphenWAzfvpFtpy34BvPDo7sd3CHckNbn5Ak-1Igo2KSEEMhBElsg/s400/IMGP5585JPEG.jpg" border="0" />It’s a great destination, and one I’m looking forward to getting back to.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200672163558498242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGo1gc_qoEEQxlRydZAKN8UNVcoCr0aRbhdg5p6U3U60f_zifTH_ZEI0UJ7TnChNstrif-rDYE4YRc-oucW5WVMaQHhqXt5yI-SLA12LAhF0TLaOAg5GF1l6E6378CXl46u6Uq6eJmOJU/s400/IMGP5656JPEG.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div>The rivers were truly world class, everything from narrow Vermont style canyons to big water rapids, big falls, to cali style slick bedrock. Amazing!! No suprise there are so many UK boaters out there.<br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200672159263530930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jBOQiytdXfA6n1iI40mxqI_dN3I4O8G5Jt7pfCzqu_XqrHv1j5PC4xNhBVAErvEtIQbgsI2aLU6WH3DdFeiwBK64Qx1n_ld1D21zwkPJzrH3grGLBsMoCafULUi2WSywjbEvsKDfpUY/s400/IMGP5636JPEG.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200672154968563602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3H1tME3-lNrGmFngg_q_H0OQrkkyVDMfm4SiB22eqNniL0LkdPbV6jy5Afu_Gyug17ayhG7Br-3rvBlvz4p_PhFOifCBbBbWab1e9BBt1MKspHvsQ0yqNlo4il_DJxXUmOc1p18jILM/s400/IMGP5592JPEG.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200672159263530914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlpng4S-2Nl_G2JSJhGHSHhCXtcDjwctukaut3JufxMQXQVvhaaW4XiEXwc7GISvf81fKPDQzjQzMgTBz1SUpuJb_kqNqvU44Ydm9pt-KwGfB6WZhFNymeByidHee6IGKJcyyUQBVamQ/s400/IMGP5593JPEG.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>It wasn't all paddling (ok it was), but we still had to eat.... <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200672730494181394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gFblXlADvzB9ytMEe0MP32SXtFp5C_ydFzefB2Q8T7hreU-IniSGsEOQrCi7zhB7c9ahyphenhyphenMzIBfnCdkikpLten_Ymd6-svcn2eJRmq5ivhjqUDCfCm7WOFe_jCxK52EAso_iseYyItkQ/s400/IMGP5717JPEG.jpg" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>The villages up in the hills were amazing. We constantly asked ourselves "what do they do up here!!!"</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200672730494181378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSa1ufSFBInttDEQX4Ykc6Tp1N_o7UZLiG6Fw8QAC0d6b77CYIgaVQOeCpd5kcg4hMRlf7HvbxVc_z_3QWYhxss4CzAMdD5dIKq7W8lkoq8PQ7QBYFALePmmSLydsZID1k7sWWdEC_2I/s400/IMGP5695JPEG.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200673606667509794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfpljr58gV0ZYCXmY80qUjcnq6zSVZ3Sm5O9IRpUTbG78vKiZHhA-c8Os4fjB7X1myDlXGITGoVv310JNxbrRkPhzWgzKcA2bw-6wBRJBFhtj1RwfwPl81JIuIVEDLHFXq8epV6nXuzI/s400/IMGP5718JPEG.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><br />The house is pretty much ready to accept visitors, and we have plenty of overflow camping space, so come over for a weekend!!!</div></div></div>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-63838382529327235062008-04-13T05:02:00.000-07:002008-04-13T05:25:25.209-07:00Flurries of all KindsTwo weeks ago we left the wintery south and headed up to Sunny Barrow. <div><div>Our first river was the Leven (Cheryl: after paddling this little gem I can't believe I lived on its banks for so long and never paddled)</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188703004291958898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVo7y5sxacoj2GBrXX7E4DV9DrAxmmZ-CR4J0famas3ZIsqkWnbVLh9myEXnfKkSwUlZ2_vWy-FuAYDpsjhuOCwh9oNVl05kAkjVWclzmp4-KO3kZ9RoVsMdzjh08QDu1B4Cdj8sveUo/s400/Leven+09.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188703012881893506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcCrxSlT96njjcwB01dr7EM7A8Zx23E2LjIEooGWaSgpVGPoWDKMoN_UNPfxacNqKc7qaPWY-BTABZrtJKs0ZD5aRBTrpUNNCFmmHKLU7uu0MPUreH7iqpl9raEGJIh0u2aT4FshH2DU/s400/Leven+10.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>With not many days before we returned to work we decided to have a short holiday because we needed it in Scotland. Scotland however wasn't quite so inviting....</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188703463853459650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbic2ihRL-VZHzqj-tSqvEvkQctgMXPRULfmNu-2b89oLU77ro_shXYkSBZj8JYidoBc9dGgMuSspbx_1hGqOG9ZSepQQg3zZpq-iefhgWoko3X-yKMcnX5vbS1ViJLoIp1gw526r0FJg/s400/Scotland+02.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188703463853459666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5C9BdHC0-9-lGROsnSmMkAzMuqaVsGKoAj4seeBIdZo3aCI7uHluiVbEAqkQ_uRu-JmA01LBEfgWPIoAoTzSMegkuU10Pta4cUug_US5FHDOHATw0Pst3S2zwoVSaDVJ0ODffYd25Uk/s400/Scotland+04.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>While Cheryl stayed toasty warm in the car sniffling into tissues, Si braved the cold weather to run three of Scotlands ditches, The Kinglas, orchy and Nevis falls. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188703017176860818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4pXwthricSG5iQkjaqiBNNurJOYlNge-S7UWnFdo7zjgFfRfpnx8ELYKX9hClIfwB5YwZ0BUW34nurEX74F0PiY2WGUOPaBHa_mrQKtjitKNdixCsAZxUWSj9SN1eVCb-AM_lQEp7Mg/s400/Nevis+Falls+01.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188703017176860834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Iu0b7SGbeCSuICAvKgZnpJqn-w0j7GeNSVJXRKfTSQ6xr_hN8YGTOVh1EEgk12Ke0KVLdCGDE_pLvIA-kxMw3jOM_a-A2XpKVDWJfuMHKGED5qSPkUETApykUtrXzSHWZ6DqRXMZeRE/s400/Orchy+03.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>Following Scotland we have had a busy week. We have both been offered positions at BAE Telford, and start on Tuesday 15th. We have found a stunning little cottage in Wrockwardine, and move in next Friday. Cheryl found a perfect kayak mobile, Pip Squeak!!</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188703468148426978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rt_MhKH2RBge1UUKMovjeXKXF1zOiYiV3zvg1LXJ71Msw_ub5EF7-hYG5fdycnfbrzC2uwjak8pwsXG9vWO7_cKTnikqFLPUeVA0MIHcLzuP18sAxWNC2VA2L7EryS_2FgrZUIHWYIE/s400/Wrockwardine.bmp" border="0" /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188703472443394290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBmYyjKjC2FjMw3NUoHKa5VRCZX-8E3NJnYPPV3xKxM-4ZHdGk5gTnK8Q-ud3ZPsLs-WBOboDkLsZoKK8VA2P11aEbBkFPSsknwe_z2plCVuyztJAekve2O0u01vD4L0IqCPE6yGkrXA/s400/Wrockwardine1.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188703472443394306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFF1HxB8nswkBS9_GkpoB7Fo5LHX50leWAK3OScYDIzHzwGNqJWaTMU0mqIp6c1Hh_k11pT8nJhVK8-WFexoAeNIgXXA2-gGZzh8D35ASQFPm5Yg7PBIoBbOb-osFXwDJ7rGxRNFXZcWU/s400/Wrockwardine+2.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188703017176860850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVUIyJZDOMs_Ijdfut3jxLM_opHkN00ppb2ajmHSqDti-G0EwEiQjQDQJjY07c38ACnG1ZxMF2Yr2-GyB4IibtflxLWZ79YnfzqHf5UP-Br_9fNUCiz16rL_wCh1CqjarHci6GkS03yc/s400/Pip+Squeak.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>To top off all our good news Portsmouth have made it in to the Cup final ..YEAH</div></div>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-86810862106638685932008-03-31T02:20:00.000-07:002008-03-31T02:35:18.856-07:00Back In the UK..<div>One of our first priorities on arriving back in the UK was a new kayak mobile..</div><div>Si, settled for a gorgeous Nissan Primera estate..which even came with roof bars. </div><div>She hasn't been named yet. But she did have her first kayak outing yesterday when we headed to Wales with a few friends to hit Cheryl's first Welsh ditches.</div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183834749418488738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdK2yJ0HsiocA9Ps0ca-Bl4F9It96UPA0GJWqcJ4AcVpgW-1k2FET4Wtu3nuiNjtEM5JaDzgjP8dpOKbmJXC0K1hcZUwrulXsU3jExoy34UvFBS73DtG-1087EOxvtEMJ4l-nhq9F1TM/s400/IMGP5438.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>We paddled two stunning gorge ditches with numerous waterfalls. The Nedd Fechan and the Mellte. Both of them Welsh classics.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183834753713456050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxs813U9YftCbXwq2kWEgOcpqcGabguwFpuV9cX1-RlqHf-2p77E7jVkD8sVWL1hEuQl8PhHX3pqaNy8TxVTCzhsuVwpWVYKlxRkVbY7R1b79Beux5K00hmDQrTEwxMWkyNcj2QS4x3l4/s400/Mellte+04.jpg" border="0" /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183834762303390658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6ahzYrsHc7KwIk0RbQswLItsv6w7p35IVwO0bY8g_h20-mOG9j40v5Th84I80Ptk6SeQMVPaKq7_zo0X5d8HdNcbBOd4s8YVz5lkD6EcpQE6L0M4cwT7HbJNWpD-MY2k5p8BnhXLlcE/s400/Mellte+16.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183834762303390674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfsvjTigCdzIhJY1p_8ziQdCvwYzRDtz2_VXVtUUVQomfMgFK3xcywXPdpHUlCST3H2M_obdOqJBKM7GOwjGajDp-8bhm5VnCJG9EXKPZy6rRlgWxD9WFR5deuAfUFb2G2kBtP58IVV0/s400/Mellte+17.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183834762303390690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnP9iUs-gdt8am6raFQ83pzSyQPsDtFH9LJQ3rJw-mE8fTNMvrSMdK0Z99eaycvzvOWowbUE5WRhEx627Qv90eoayowIWxWiI2_YHZdnxT2doVyqp5vOcH5xDzyIqhqDutEj71PNQSGOg/s400/Mellte+18.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183835569757242354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST2_NUW18uRr283BZMWKmcppx0Zk2cWLG_qdLuUf7NjcfkKo-ot8HAzfIYAOyB0kh-Yhusc5vUAqsYfwqOCE9joBcdKektGadQPeSn1qEGfVEcK9jPc5w1Zil6CnnUHBo5dr1CSmWQHk/s400/Mellte+22.jpg" border="0" />Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-40262307528745139902008-03-30T15:05:00.000-07:002008-03-30T15:33:05.665-07:00Trip StatisticsWe have come to the end of our World trip, and we thought people might be interested in a few statistics on our trip.<br /><br />10 Countries we visited<br />359 days we travelled<br />128 different Rivers paddled<br />160 days paddled<br />0 Swims for Simon...and we leave you to guess Cheryl's<br />47 Books read during the trip<br />3 sets of sunglasses broken / lost<br />128 hours spent travelling on buses<br />2 vans owned<br />28,250 miles travelled in these vans<br />35 different friends paddled with along the trip<br />17 different hostels stayed in, in 7 different countries<br />70 blogs posted while travelling<br />2 Watches broken<br />2 bikes stolen<br />1 PSP left in hire car(Doh)<br />1 Bag still MIA with BA<br />Amount of gear broken 2 spray skirts, 2 neck gaskets, 1 pair of shorts, 2 pairs of booties, 1 pair of creeking gloves.<br />0 boats broken... YIPEEE!! 1 boat sold..Si's first creek boat to be sold before breaking (Burn)<br />0 Pounds / dollars paid for Kayaks on flights<br />0 tins of spam eaten in desperation<br /><br />Don't stop reading the blog, we will have UK updates coming soon!!Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-87410961416215180982008-03-23T10:44:00.000-07:002008-03-23T11:26:54.802-07:00Pura VidaReturning to Costa Rica after 4 years came as a bit of a shock. It didn't seem as cheap as before, particularly having just been through South America. It seems on a par with the US pricewise for many things.<br />The low water levels turned the trip into more relaxation than paddling...shame as we had hoped to end the trip on a paddling high..(hope UK has some good water levels.)<br /><br />We met up with our friend Ferdinand who accompanied us on some river trips. We had hoped to do a overnight trip on the Chirripo Atlantico, but unfortunately were thwarted both times by logistics and injuries.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181002626508669746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgdpBF0UFeE8mYnY9u8zAEOgxxpRdltvP1hfAyXAPmGYokeKRmG6-IMA2xCLoxDlKuTjAV0HrNxHTKc0YG6ClDPkvT4FGgp5Te_Sw_4z5RZzPsNJ-14LV64vJO52JarxkBSDr94XyCvU/s400/OrosiSm.jpg" border="0" /><br />We based ourselves out of Turrialba for a few days, and paddled some classic Costa Rica rivers, the Orosi, Reventazon, Upper and Lower Pacuare , and even safety kayaked for a day for a rafting trip. <div><div><div><div><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181002630803637074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXRZYC6htRPBxFfeYSEcfLdlf4PYqvDXxkXMA-aC3IXb30NEJsDuq9HvCbP-zlWEVOrqH0v-JZhp8-8auGBI8u6eFeHgvo2PwCNUncAWH5LgTYlq9ShoRKtFXORoBigml0-qFQxRrXEU/s400/Upper+Pacuare+07Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181002832667100002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDm4xHlyDrE6PaIa2aDMbblGFm-71qU6raGGhXoQmbLmdxkh78JCYD3AK9rLdyJUYwztzc3CTei7gUWg_K0n0fDU3Y3-e2cQio22yCaL2YO1_XN7Lk1XS60tb_66QuEgFEvXXkl6DSXUA/s400/Upper+Pacuare+12Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181002836962067330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIAmhqA_ksM5Ur17rg1fqMvZeBjDo_1n_KJacgULLr0KAYsc6SmSoEzVpGBf5r76bkqFuGU4z7znnUmLg1Aei9NOqFOkXNUbS_dTk0ks3-6yLN8QUltyr_SQZ5gZeGxQBiziuvJmuAAo/s400/Upper+Pacuare+26Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181002836962067314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZO_dm8ieDUZD2xkhKq6cY2CPX4F47DSoVqOovJa65O7d-nuUuyMwP756PL1USD54PhLJtrQths4gwrBjP3I_xN4QdO0v2rDk8E5rKfdCRTaiECCXd0vPhDsz_ewEmEEau9DyAmW66tw/s400/Upper+Pacuare+19Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181002626508669762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9w0iES7Em5_g158JVOHYid26mDCd7CJLDIY-NsWrGgYALEZY9jlNeGTp6fvVnxqe6uLn21ITGVTBnre6jCEuwt-knoVOsvPh2kTQ4E_lTOONm2H_PUHLVw6lhFKslpfjb0y6fup0fb0/s400/Reventazon+06Sm.jpg" border="0" /><br />Turrialba is still relatively untouched by tourists, On one particular day..A horse parade closed the entire town down. The idea of the parade is for local cowboys to come and show off their horses..most can do wonderful spanish prances. Cheryl got a treat when she was asked to ride (prance) a horse up the street. There were over 500 horses in the parade... later in the evening many of the horses were with the cowboys outside many of the bars, it was quite a sight.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181001475457434242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lhPvLRKh2XOh24slZHoc3c9yHCkXn9L-O8qCef1s6BUivEmBv0nuAmGLD8zu0kClUE_d_6Tm7QABo9xpJacHHsBzgSTyXAdlUWu_OuyoZqRsm0t5XFBCubLVf8v4Xyivo72-y6XRt_E/s400/Horse+Parade+34Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181001479752401554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApYebmYCwz_-nzIpLohISb_9nBAJ0jRXUhFyBSkZ8Wwvg4rYw5KI4XOq7bZnOEk4GKbGzvTnoS66rrsnsHmvS5kWNZvm8u2SdMCrHA65M3HzY7sYAHuQIMsoWuRzxWUjOWH22yPIUHAY/s400/Horse+Parade+42Sm.jpg" border="0" /><br />Due to the lack of rivers we headed out to Quepos / Manuel Antonio. We managed to paddle the labyrinth section of the Naranja, which is a great low water gorgey option.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181005035985322898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFDt30FtqZvTMHpu8eWc2Nwtx3VnzUW0nrOJsaRXScTQEb1Eob8myuPsa_d0opoFy6Zxnowf3w4oGt0JZP5TAAQPtlUbw2SbNjiTLXekgoMJwe_oThYPSmcm3840RssCUzMo8I6unMwI/s400/Naranho+Labyrinth+06Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181002622213702434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYtfdl3lGwxCfoNP4crScVcxZ-hX9-1B8gmKa0scLx0pX-QIc2Giraf8a4g-KqFy8A1oVoYz3NnngPkMKga6yQM9_8cD_D75dhuMGj0GpEBL7rFL69nu6RZgaQ3Db60M2TCalpWNCY3g/s400/Naranho+Labyrinth+13Sm.jpg" border="0" />The remainder of our time was spent relaxing, enjoying the scenery and taking in the abundance of wildlife in Costa Rica... we saw sloths, agoatis, cawatis, lots of monkeys, lizards and huge iguanas. One Iguana has taken to enjoying the local tico food on the beach.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181001484047368882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJ08S4BkO7KQ3xRGm0pJxEAlUqffJmm6C-t1zdvbTRNcSNEsJqZlNhJLieWeEJIZ6Ufrkk-4COlghUjckgrO884efCWMXIIrr7seFVbE3P1fOIBq5TyDMWe2jyn7OPLRzo4-FpoDbg8A/s400/Manual+Antonio+44Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181001484047368866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihc1shmL7LRQv0K99PMWVI4KNL-rSp43FMIsoBc2eTBvFAOaLGqZMe7PfWvr-SDS2ZU141nFK3QEg0nwysQnMphaj5UwgGFaaWVTp4BClWE0Ul_QBA2TAZuLMTWpWKB1GYsqVYKrZ9HBo/s400/Manual+Antonio+14Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181002321565991666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCpVhwyJVpuJh8g4lCvq3lJ4BPMfSC58L4BhLGm-CnNWKhrKhagfHRMBJ-Hydt8lYCZJDduF8jmUVkN8rgkT8GY19BLbiKpBBpXVrOpKk5fEOMhjz2fNKBmTR7Q9LHpRM9ps6payw4_4/s400/Manual+Antonio+99Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181002317271024354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2nt7MgWdhepOigSIAEkr7Ae5K6h9GBT5Bl1Swmwmm-r7bIgYA3aTbq8pHwug0SHoKB_NbpvRVL1nqFZykl7p_THtrDsbv6EDo3-t2Z6mvFzH8SrLWjaZCnrlMZ_40NJwsprDFyHloks/s400/Manual+Antonio+90Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181001466867499634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9DZGldvFaOEv7g1bDkpHhyphenhyphenSU29Xs2fZG46C7ZoMLxPkON0jkifw9NhHssaoai0QPASCLeqVbU1yiWT6J4trkC2ij2LZb5ZxcdmRiKPGFSFNZqpLNhKcUKZNtEEybcUCOk8c6pyLmcus/s400/Guinea+Pigs+04Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181002622213702418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Q6UgYZe09Nvk8WUfYVAAjvSMvje9aYv-TEzErHi8qhE_eu9UAg7jWJVDlEfGiQqclfssoaHzyK4TKQaGleX7ub8Z_fjxLisiiSGBlTf8h6vUkxwA3surWRTGuTCIGZ4siqDwXWY1Ne4/s400/Manual+Antonio+135Sm.jpg" border="0" /><br />Our trip is sadly coming to an end, Tomorrow we fly home to blighty...It been a wonderful 12 months. Its gone fast but the memories will last a life time.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181002312976057042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73TlKpvDpWFWGww7C-vZ2PL3Po7jdjl-QqIIXvufiozhJBo4bBEWWxUnvpcnjdC1tRP2zTnwRpcbHL5ZPvQ2kAEtg-EpzGnVnTIQHPl7tHWTrcAysKIwzbcs6p9cq5s2fMJbPq4LoST0/s400/Manual+Antonio+77Sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181002321565991682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkftlV-aKuAEqaYqa43nk8kP1hxXNCPgAlboBQJjAS7d9c5dy6SDf6noNCrV_oO9dtnYg0Y_i39uCCbX_TaroKWSzg41Sik-SrMJL2aS6wSLBJTFhfttDOFBM4Q8ReUgN2wbeUO8q1n4/s400/Manual+Antonio+124Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181002308681089730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hLnr9b6LAVtL0a1eQMKc5G3VCLcqnLagF1eqZw4jsBrYz1oX89f47LwTqPJA4O4BogB55J6GwJxaHhGTtSlrAnClymDXnnYhhnkAGGH4JEbg5jTL2bBLVmjVU7bFfeZMIjiryMzn5Po/s400/Manual+Antonio+73Sm.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-44795821190791958362008-03-10T14:36:00.000-07:002008-03-13T13:09:00.037-07:00Amazon AdventuresFor the last two weeks we have been enjoying ourselves in Ecuador. Eric and Chris, our friends from the US flew down to join us for a couple of weeks boating in the jungle.<br /><br />After arriving in Quito, the capital, we headed out to Tena, one of the jungle towns that we based ourselves at. Our group swelled to six when we were joined by Alan and Emily. Logistically Ecuador is a great kayaking destination.<br /><br />Each day, our taxi driver Oswaldo, would arrive at the hotel, and load up with boats and people. He’d drop us at the put in, and then pick us up hours later at the take out. Having door to door service really made things easy.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176234214322490098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZAgQa6y8TgLGs3vilB7fh1YGW0b2oE03bLRH3oJBuDPn8Av0s4o-YLdQJUiIbpAbZN6xFqHpjVrNXD4YPRB4F9IauJNBAd_P6YCZ7I7jeas2DXZOTJ-Ksy9wTLWbAFKotbksWGPi2qY/s400/Jatunyacu+01Sm.jpg" border="0" /><br />Eric was very disappointed that the rental boats promised all turned out to be broken, and the only alternative was for him to paddle a pink Dragorossi boat.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176239849319582738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjju8Gd6BgimIwicoUxwzFux3rdX48dAUYVeXWQ_xloj1O51UGolfm8PPtp50zuSjr933kCPhyQXZzMhXn1qwcV482q8aieV5N1ebC5RHyYXGDStkxGSkkofMmhCSKSfNM-WXOsqHjem3c/s400/Lower+Jondachi+43Sm.jpg" border="0" /><br />We paddled all the established rivers in the area, as well as a newly discovered run, the Piatua, which is becoming very justifiably popular. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176237697540967314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-OHL5HdnqS4ZZDEu7UVuCimYNJOs140V8-clrLrR2gIn8aEyzDp3q76O9p0L4M6akwJiM5NXvFj4HvQwvsIeSJw-Gd-zzmG3kGiswWywPoShiKnz_ss-fGhbl0hGoyFNsLcLyUuDFV0/s400/Lower+Jondachi+06Sm.jpg" border="0" /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176249461456391410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyebeQfj00c6ljzzVLT0ZrBZzeeeXZGoi3EleWweoVcCHRLQ42WJreGpahUuR81zQvnzbUVNDqOuDR4JIOFMo6dipr-Viqse-0OrIBiSR3F4jo_iTrPhbUm764eLFANOulpkeDdjCnB4/s400/Upper+Misahualli+15Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176238028253449122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQkhlCBFEWgH3Iki0FrkpxlSOwwqKgPjk8DuTDYDl_nMMRqatb_wkEKvJkWs21_WLPiWe_WUrXlTiuDXBtfVVnOXogZSIvoMpuXips1XYfQN9mbaVuAOWi92cGG6mcwbaRXodqqBslpk/s400/Lower+Jondachi+22Sm.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176239574441675778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Vml_axV4mHnvhyphenhyphen2JRxb-CuBS2H0MPAHbyffW8FpeqDAvzCbVBUxwxNZxElR9UFWjnV0JTuenqGhnS9bIzdxie0HsghkrqrIrpc0IbUuxqonILMfdTkXV2oPIjhJNApTkdxoiSzx3dhI/s400/Lower+Jondachi+28Sm.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176243796394527890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjF0jyYwP41ihNQgO-UhJrGtOVCagVDjUPuILCqg9cOPMSnASI313ERLKKHQACZoxbx6AYIc1j39e8XMYmoNNOnkxcHBq0oqet3l0DTGcBlWIDtGNBm-eGNLvGxGs8gXBtsaImdRrlISI/s400/Piatua+17Sm.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176249049139530978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0fliIWWP_mx9XlYEFZ20DdIaI-l0ogB8cZ03EEVSKpYTVp4m_EFybjXOmUfHPpxpj_Fma9SexZNmZtO4EpWIa_zLDxrm9DsKV8p_kwQc9Bu5eJEnDwYBVB1-e5mfLSM6nS98ksZmrL8/s400/Upper+Jondachi+04Sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176242074112642146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-ULRYT8FsZz5f2VQmKn9mHjuUq9C1LS9s9cde_GJu7q1QluBFQu5ARLxeEcsUYFln6GGpPgt1ICj-BEVVB-x49Sc8a2Yo7ATijKJKD46a0sduVruazzTDn1deO2qXrBKjlnopO9CM1c/s400/P3050100Sm.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176241352558136386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiur7xNWLHCfJj80Yeu2raTUvQx_-TCZYAt-YeQKqOt0oKB6S7gvoDUi0HcKeshBiGnu95GOJqtteHIDx9a6huPeMM-lr6T3oB8YuR4Dk5wnXWAuoxCREc8l-cJC8dEUSSvkZFgntnQny8/s400/Lower+Misahualli+34Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176241803529702482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWFScgxpqWsu2H8WdrVslikG8e6vZvI8ck6A2bjQDjdG6Ogxbno0bKL50j9fOmZ8apepoc4hSNSf6IX_RFE2A4sZMgznAgkXITD7TO2cI07UackxrZO_Xs5szkUOXNuPM4wW-Zht_uVQ/s400/P2290067Sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div>One river of note that has got much worse is the Lower Misualhi, which now has a grueling 2 hour portage around a waterfall, that used to be a simple scamper along the rocks!!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176240716902976546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlMETCiUEHEKl-hcMkozyUspxHl35O9xiz836GjmbSiiY1nnPbOROmg_naXbvbHyOt9kVvCzs_6ZWRvuoSTRtwk9epV78pIPhCjUx0ReA7oDTmql4m_WoPlch-45f8wg-j9ibyUY8-qY/s400/Lower+Misahualli+26Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176241051910425650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXdGSVLQUyAusTXd3051Y5fZhEjG8PFZI-qUabQpILNpFdcwUvlmUUY6fsu9UkHh02REnjVK6apm5FOoWt2BDFIA6FpCWSH0wx8wJnHUPknqBxj4G2eFK1sVC4a3ewsU1iBNvuaxxKKo/s400/Lower+Misahualli+27Sm.jpg" border="0" /><br />In addition to the fantastic rivers in the area, we marveled at the wildlife. At our Hotel we were frequently visited by pygmy monkeys, and we took in some of the more exotic species at a wildlife park, where a monkey took a great liking to Cheryl.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176232951602104946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmoQJ5mvnsOjz1y5BmWCTf6z_GaZJ-YIoNK7-ITBWtE3Eu0KtCv-2Hx05io15x5D6TBCLFbRvcY8e4v-bAZxGLw8XYqXpIrzl32xmMMcFMnB1YpodSDc_XkuoDVEBXr-7viGtqXm6hiE/s400/IMGP5051.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176235696086207330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ICPHTJ9crL8bO13kxDDSXtTiZdPEKBseCeVcyrBCH87tRUvP7DkS27PoiqwXqZh8otO4FepPIwstsvznZNsMjF_ZxsAIyofkGa5UpAz5O4wMxtzqY0D36R-Ehot76hm_ybPLqk766W8/s400/Jungle+Tour+28Sm.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176234480610462466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbGxiVfynH2Fe1cjTmBxCu5jz9FBxs63dusvo8Os5ZGO1ZIGS7TUHMhS2yurbVwe19qMmyUVFYtYZr3s2x8Jzx31MTcd2yFJCr-by9q1HIJOa4eGbmIXRtVGUw7MkB2xpbvGlRP8Dj98/s400/Jungle+Tour+18Sm.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176237199324760962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrlS3ftdIBCo_PjFum9bO3ufJ9_FDTXpN_Xu7L2qO6MBKDnw17HPXa1nPdscBZZKq0MCT2WGMusXgt1HfTwaOhyphenhyphenC4_MFxdwXY1cYknYxnbI2b3CcX_KTST_Ef_RUiK9S-ppXkoT1KZ54/s400/Jungle+Tour+38Sm.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176244865841384642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6Ntu3VWMHYiOMPeYWeuKx73wkpt6ZENI4qQm9chcm2_kRUAGApPzq0x6QJxeN7E9SitPazyg7AnHF2BhaSuDIATYmguVnGTVrXeBq48zaewY8smZOU_NyQn2q54iVtBS6AIdollxZdo/s400/Spider+Monkeys+08Sm.jpg" border="0" /><br />After more than a week in Tena, we moved to Baeza, where we paddled many great sections of the Quihos river, and its sidestreams.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176244530833935538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR128bkU_LiNaA6f8dYVisl_8fr7KlCXy35odQCHOXN7ppOruOcSXVeIRkNNFgt2K1IO8RmR-5J_pzN_oCv8MYWwNtqbDJq7C8t0IV1Y65Z0e4-1gI9gvQwRaXDfojEFJfMjFXLp-IFBg/s400/Quihos+-+El+Chaco+05Sm.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176244255956028578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuqbAhgFVpzoqCEBoxhdFiCMT_X0X2guSHTQVwUMPihSUtqnTfOQYoSaFZYw4qPVqGBvM_hAevsHK40Xl3CphgiK-l_c8uw1P7N9iEcDWaGmt4MwCVukxzFnQ3nVjmeC1oohGz13HdJg/s400/Quihos+-+Cheesehouse+06Sm.jpg" border="0" /><br />The paddling in Ecuador may not be as hard as some other locations, but it more than makes up for it in sheer consistency. Miles and miles of class 4 boulder gardens. We paddled six different sections on the Quihos river, covering about 30 miles. There’s plenty more that we didn’t have time for.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176242370465385586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJ9gaYXovHul3ijcdtPEAwPmeHD5_0suoInK-4jXCqY7IaISTxYx94DXnynwuNEf72oxJaeCFzVp-6vac2swejM2B_unkdHt0Qn21Wjx3TTOnXZP2egG71gQmUcHVPSeAVk-1KATbLCw/s400/P3080166Sm.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176243409847471234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHQwXYUV_luL4sVcJTkCQq2JK06K0l0DG2LK-RW2K_Wi7GJHIiaeGGuWINe4lNyw0HSHr7_NUWVc_f-1Vz_3LVtsQQ4SdIZzlMP0cg3apHQVV3p4XevJO3R_W6p3KBDoYK_kPXrI9TE8/s400/P3080181Sm.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>More Pictures are posted up on Webshots, Use the Our Picture link to the right to get there.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757357510111568720.post-22861373988053461262008-02-23T15:12:00.000-08:002008-02-23T15:33:17.131-08:00New Photo's availableOur photo's from Chile, Argentina and Peru are now available on our webshots page. The folders are seperated between paddling and scenery.<br />You can either use this link <a href="http://community.webshots.com/user/riverhoney?vhost=community">http://community.webshots.com/user/riverhoney?vhost=community</a> or the Our Picture Gallery to the right of the page.Si and Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422835698709869845noreply@blogger.com0