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Post by digitalmonkey on Apr 18, 2016 19:54:59 GMT
A thread that needs no explanation really -
Spent last weekend in Wales at Crickhowell, near Brecon. Camping for the first time this year, it got a bit brass monkeys in the evening. My 3 season sleeping bag just about sufficient. I wasn't expecting to be viewing snow clouds in the morning  .
I was doing some walking with my walking group. Fortunately weather was superb during the day and we had terrific views over both days. The 16 miler wore us out a little bit. However by the end of the walk the leader realised he had left his lights on so returned to a dead battery. By pure luck - there were only 4 drivers in the group - one person had jump leads and the problem was resolved.
The Sunday walk was much shorter and gave us opportunity to walk along the England - Wales border. Again, views superb. Had to slap on the sun lotion. Bit weird as we definitely had a frost the previous evening.
Crickhowell was a cracking little town with plenty of independent shops. A couple decent boozers, one especially although ale choices okay but in the main stuff I could get back home. The Green Man Festival situated just a couple miles up the road.
Great weekend. _
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Post by calndel on Apr 18, 2016 20:13:11 GMT
lovely part of the world
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Post by sc on Apr 19, 2016 5:40:49 GMT
Yes beautiful countryside, we did the Brecon Monmouth canal by narrowboat 5 years ago, we will go back It too went past the Green Man Festival, which was on as we past. It was weird in that the canal passes higher than the festival, so you looked down on the festival field A few Festival goers had also hired narrow boats to stay at the festival rather than camp, how cool would that be |
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Post by digitalmonkey on Apr 20, 2016 20:01:40 GMT
Yes beautiful countryside, we did the Brecon Monmouth canal by narrowboat 5 years ago, we will go back It too went past the Green Man Festival, which was on as we past. It was weird in that the canal passes higher than the festival, so you looked down on the festival field A few Festival goers had also hired narrow boats to stay at the festival rather than camp, how cool would that be Wow that sounds fantastic.
I have Green Man on my "Maybe" list. Not this year perhaps
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Post by sc on May 8, 2016 15:29:34 GMT
Not exactly a weekend away but a day trip to France with a few mates |
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Post by digitalmonkey on May 15, 2016 18:12:04 GMT
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Just arrived back from the Young Ramblers Weekend away in Cardiff. This was an event hosted by the Cardiff young Ramblers group and invited all other young Ramblers groups across the country; an attempt to increase engagement from the younger generations to the Ramblers as a whole. A great thing about being a member of the Ramblers Association is that you are considered "young" if you are still of working age .
Did some exploring of Cardiff through a historian and an entertaining treasure hunt. During the hunt our group met a "lady" in her 50's smoking like a chimney claimed we are "boring" and we should "go and get a f****** beer". So we did. But not with her.
A choice of 6 walks on Saturday, alas could only do one but went for the 12 miler. Decent fruity ale at end of walk and only £3.20 a pint.
Workshops today with plenty of interaction and sharing of ideas between the groups.
A fantastic and very rewarding weekend away. |
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Post by sc on May 15, 2016 18:59:34 GMT
During the hunt our group met a "lady" in her 50's smoking like a chimney claimed we are "boring" and we should "go and get a f****** beer". So we did. But not with her.
A very wise decision |
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Post by sindigo on May 16, 2016 8:00:54 GMT
We were away last week at Bluestone in Pembrokeshire www.bluestonewales.com/ and it was absolutley fab, despite some dodgy weather. During term time so almost everyone there had a pre-schooler with them so Amelie had lots of kids her age to play with in the fab adventure playgrounds and the pub on-site had a decent local beer on tap so I was happy. I'd recommend it to anyone if you can book early and get it cheap. The lodge we had was about £300 for the week but apparently goes for over £1000 in season! We also visited www.folly-farm.co.uk/ which was also amazing. Huge indoor funfair and a small-ish zoo which we dragged Amelie around in the rain. Highlight was the Giraffes, where they have built a skywalk structure so you can get up to eye level with them. They were literally close enough to touch, though we didn't. Those things are bigger than they appear from the ground. Amelie's highlights were the porcupine, which she delighted in telling everyone about and also the giraffes as she was very excited to see one do a poo. |
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Post by digitalmonkey on May 17, 2016 20:37:13 GMT
We were away last week at Bluestone in Pembrokeshire www.bluestonewales.com/ and it was absolutley fab, despite some dodgy weather. During term time so almost everyone there had a pre-schooler with them so Amelie had lots of kids her age to play with in the fab adventure playgrounds and the pub on-site had a decent local beer on tap so I was happy. I'd recommend it to anyone if you can book early and get it cheap. The lodge we had was about £300 for the week but apparently goes for over £1000 in season! We also visited www.folly-farm.co.uk/ which was also amazing. Huge indoor funfair and a small-ish zoo which we dragged Amelie around in the rain. Highlight was the Giraffes, where they have built a skywalk structure so you can get up to eye level with them. They were literally close enough to touch, though we didn't. Those things are bigger than they appear from the ground. Amelie's highlights were the porcupine, which she delighted in telling everyone about and also the giraffes as she was very excited to see one do a poo. Glad to hear you had good time. Just had a quick look at the link, nice to see that the cater for a good mix of combinations regarding beds - twin beds/bunks etc, possibly for a walking group like mine.
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Post by digitalmonkey on May 17, 2016 20:38:56 GMT
I also forgot to mention that I won a prize in a raffle! I picked up a Craghopper waterproof jacket.
That is two raffles in a row I have won following the Folk Club gig last year
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Post by standing stone on May 18, 2016 8:57:19 GMT
Back from an extended weekend in Rome, which is exactly the place I would recommend you to go if you'd like to buy selfie stick; there's no place better, I'm sure Highlights for me: Thurs - "NO TTIP" posters by ther roadside on way from airport to hotel Finding hotel (Panama Gardens) is lovely Finding Colosseum is huge 20431 steps 9.1 miles 3 hours 25min sleep previous night 50 floors Fri - Hearing a production of Aida loud and strong while walking through the garden of the Vestal Virgins at the Roman Forum Briliant busker belting out Pink Floyd's "Money" and "Wish You Were Here" in the plazza just outside the Pantheon; listened while eating bramble gelato by the fountain there.. Blackbird singing its heart out while we had bread cheese and wine on the balcony with our feet up 20417 steps 9.16 miles 9 hours 15 mins sleep last night 37 floors Sat - Blackbird singing its heart out again, in pelting rain at 6.15 when we left the hotel for the Vatican tour Mosaics on the floors of the Vatican Museums Henri Matisse's gallery - fabulous cut outs 17184 steps 7.71 miles 7 hours 12 mins sleep 48 floors Sun - Jasmine, swallows and dappled, warm sunlight on walk to National Gallery of Modern art Watching starlings feeding chicks in a tree-trunk nest Finding Van Gough, Klimt, Picasso and more treasures at the gallery; we had it to ourselves Noticing the vending machines on the street are for condoms Thunder and rain, laying in bed, balcony doors open, cool air, sound of blackbirds and rain beating down 17496 steps 7.85 miles 10 hours 30 mins sleep 24 floors Mon- finding the park over the road from the hotel had ovely woodland walks and lake with terrapins in Overall, eleven flavours of gelato sampled Next time - Tiber and Rome at Night - we were just so walked off our feet by 5/6pm! Pavements are hard and cobbles are harder, and that is with using the metro for getting in and out of the centre; we decided before we went to save ourselves the hour walk each way in and out and just had the 15 min walk to St Agnese Metro stop. Unforseen - the climb to the top of the dome at St Peter's Basillica is not for the claustrophobic - narrow, airless spiral staircase; coming down with wet trainers on steep wet steps with wet tiled walls and no handrail was very scary..... |
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Post by standing stone on May 18, 2016 8:58:39 GMT
..glad to be back in the lush greeness now |
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Post by standing stone on May 18, 2016 13:43:05 GMT
a couple of picces from my camera; H hasn't had a chance to download his yet - I'll let you know when they're on his flickr page; in the meantime:
View through the oculus at the Pantheon:
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Post by standing stone on May 18, 2016 13:44:33 GMT
.. and rain hammering it down on roof tiles:
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Post by standing stone on May 19, 2016 7:37:39 GMT
..and a few from H's phone:
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