Backstage with the Bottlemen

Another long, but excellent day! One for the memory banks! Meetings, kit sorting and general grafting meant that the day flew by before driving over to Liverpool to see  Catfish and the Bottlemen perform a sell out gig at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

I've been incredibly lucky to have been on the guest list, so after arriving at the venue, we were ushered straight down to 'catering' for a big feed with the band.

And I should mention that we parked underneath the stadium on a ramp that led up onto the actual stage! As we arrived, I spotted Bondi, the guitarist. He was super nice and showed me how to sign in. I was parked underground next to the double decker tour bus and 5 massive lorries that had transport all the gear. 

I was amazed at how relaxed the band were as we ate and they caught up with their family and friends. They were due on stage soon and the noise of the support band (Little Comets) made the room reverberat a bit. Rob and co went off to their dressing room, while our security guy took us out to our seats, where we had reserved just to the side of the stage - and above the mayhem of the standing crowds! All 12,000 of them!

The band came onto deafening cheers and the crowd sang louder that the band at one point!

Total rock and roll - an amazing performance. The light show was choreographed so that the lights went out at the end of a song, or went crazy as the crowd did. What a show!

All too soon, the final song was sung, the band left the stage and the lights came up. It was pretty cool to also see the military operation that was taking place to clear the place up. There were 40 people just on the band's road crew, but the stadium must have had hundreds more.

Our special wristbands allowed us back stage to the after show drinks area, where I met some interesting folk and had some good chats  before it was time for us to get going back to Wales. 

The road crew we already half way through dismantling the set and loading the lorries by the time we left. Serious logistics...

Sadly, we had to disappoint the crowds of fans who were waiting with anticipation outside the stadium's underground car park. They'd already taken a few photos at the windows of the Skoda as we were driving away before they realised that there were no international rock stars inside! Just little old us! What a night! A late one, but one that I'll remember for a while!

Alpine Starts for Cader

Sleep deprivation and flying at full speed have been the themes of the last week! A few more days until it's time to chill! After a couple of hours sleep in the back of the van, Thursday started off with an early morning ascent of Cader Idris in mid-Wales. Alarms were set for pre 3:30am! Ugh!

There was a thick damp mist covering the mountain from bottom to top. I was taking some students on a challenge day to climb Cader, Tryfan and Snowdon. We were on top before 7:30am where we sheltered in the summit hut while eating donuts. 

On the way down, the clouds lifted slightly and we could enjoy a view out to the west coast for a while. 

Once into Ogwen, Aled took over the guiding while the rain began I earnest. It only took them about 3 or 4 hours before I was driving them around to Pen y Pass. It would have been completely honourable to call it a day here, given the horrendous weather, but all but one continued up to the summit. It was about 9:30pm when the battle weary and bedraggled team re emerged from the mists... Elated yet exhausted, I got them back to base via champagne and a burger stop and eventually got to bed shortly after mid-night...

Swims and Slates

There's been a bit of a feeling of 'expedition fatigue' in the air. After a morning of jobs, a swim across the lake was just what we needed. I met Clare by the pontoon once she'd finished a presentation she was giving. We decided to go for wetsuits and went out to the far side, which was a decent way was by my standards. The water felt warm with my suit on.

On the way home, it looked like the earlier drizzle had dried off, so we stopped off for a quick climb up 'Equinox' in Bus Stop Quarry, before a Cottage Cafe session, including pancakes!

Bus Stop Quarry:
- Equinox, VS (4c)**

Charity - Climbing on Idwal Slabs

Another evening session on Idwal Slabs in Cwm Idwal. We didn't set off until gone 8pm and weren't really keeping any track of time. Deep in conversation and chat, we climbed steadily upwards. It's one of the less popular of the way up the slabs, but the climbing is really good. On the second pitch, you have to cross a slab of granite. Looking back down, it looked like a ice pitch!

 

It was starting to get dusky and damp when we reached the top and began to walk off. Luckily we were back at the car before it was properly wet or dark. Arriving back home just after 11, we were greeted with hot food a cold drinks. It was well past dinner time and we were ravenous. 

 

Prior to the decision to go climbing, I had my first trip of the year to the 'watering hole'. It was cloudier and cooler than recently, but Clare convinced me it would be a good idea. 

 

She was right. It was certainly a lot colder than the lake, but just as refreshing and invigorating. My entrance was no where near Clare's olympic standard dive and I needed a lot more psyching up. But in my defence, I didn't have a wetsuit. 

 

It's such a simple thing to do, jumping in a river and we are both aware of how lucky we are, to be able to do so from so close to home. The effect is magnificent. It literally washed away the tiredness from earlier in the day and left us buzzing and refreshed. Which in retrospect was lucky, as it turned into a rather late night..

Idwal Slabs:

- Charity, V.Diff**

End of the Expedition Season

 

Well that's it done for a while and what a day to finish on! Total contrast to recent conditions in the mountains. The van is yet to be unpacked and the bags full of kit from the last few weeks can be dealt with tomorrow, but I'll be sleeping in my own bed tonight as today was the end of my last Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition for a while. There have been some fantastic moments spent in some fantastic places. Lots of fun memories, with a whole bunch of fun young folk. Hopefully they'll be able to look back on their "D of E" expedition with as many fond memories as I do on mine all those years ago. 

Expedition Training

I finished the first aid course on Tuesday evening with another dip in the lake as the temperatures were still sky high. After having had a few gruesome scenarios to deal with, I met with some friends for an ice cream on the way home. Unbelievable heat. 

I managed another night at The Cottage before  heading back to tent living. This time with two Gold Award training expeditions. It was apparently the hottest June day in 40 years! Too hot to get in my sleeping bag when I went to bed, above Conwy Mountain. But in the morning, I was shrouded in mist and rain was pelting the tent. The temperature had dropped by half and a sting wind was blowing!

 

Today has been pretty frantic as I've tried to squeeze in teaching some expedition skills, meeting the teams at different check points between meeting other staff for planning! I think I need to work on my cooking lessons, judging by this mornings results from the guys...

 

After a cold, wet and windy day, we got some evening salvation! Everyone has dried out a bit, but we've still camped lower than intended to increase our safety margins, due to more bad weather on the way.

 

This sheep just walked past and made me chuckle though... Punk Sheep? Or the one that got away!

 

All is calm and I'm happily reclined in my therm-a-rest chair, with feet in sleeping bag, wondering what tomorrow will bring. Ideally, a hot shower at some point!..

 

The days are just packed...

When the weather is this good and it's almost mid-summer, it's amazing what you can pack into a day! Got back to The Cottage quite late last night and early next morning, I was dealing with this!....

As part of my outdoor qualifications, I have to undergo a two-day First Aid course every three years, to ensure that I am current and up to date. As I've basically had a pretty busy timetable recently, this was the only time that I could fit one in, so I didn't even have time to unpack before I was back out of the door. I must admit, I was a bit gutted to be on a course when the weather was so spectacular! We did however, get a 25 minute lunch break, which was just long enough to go and dive in the lake at Llanberis!

 

I don't think the thermometer has ever been so high here in Wales! It was a well needed and very refreshing swim, before getting back to the afternoon first aid session.

 

As soon as the course finished, I drove home, stopping briefly again to dive in the lake! I met Rusty just after 6pm and we carried on up into Cwm Idwal, where The Slabs were fully in the sunshine and amazingly, no one was about. There was not a breath of wind, yet the temperature remained in the mid to high twenties.

 

For speed, we moved together up 'Hope' (V.Diff), then onto 'Lazarus', (Severe, 4a).

 

With the absence of any wind, the midges came out in force half way up and despite the heat, we had to cover up for the last pitch - 'Groove Above' (H.S, 4b), which has a pretty desperate start to get into the groove (see pic below). Tonight though, there was no time for faffing - we'd have got eaten alive; so charged upwards as fast as we could.

 

A short ropeless continuation took us to the top of the rocks and over into the Nameless Cwm.

As the sun was clipping the top of Y Garn, we set off up Ceniefion Arete, solo.

It's such a fantastic scramble anyway but doing it in the pink glow of the evening sun was really special. 

 

We topped out at about 9pm, but the sun was far from setting.

 

Tryfan and Glyder Fach were glowing as we walked back down, past Cwm Bochllwyd.

 

And in the distance, the Ogwen River glistened in the bottom of the Nant Ffrancon Valley. Magical stuff.

 

Although I'd still not had dinner, we stopped off at the classic 'Douglas Arms' for a celebratory shandy on the way home. It's amazing how much you can fit into a day...

Cwm Idwal:
- Hope, V.Diff***
- Lazaras, Severe (4a)**
- Groove Above, HS (4b)**
- Ceniefion Arete (Gd.III)***

Rhyming Nonsense from the Isle of Man

Gold DofE on the Isle of Man – a bit of rhyming nonsense…

Gold DofE? Sounds good to me, 

A week away, just wandering free.

Lake District? Nah, a better plan, is,

Take the ferry to Isle of Man.

With all we need upon our back, 

All neatly packed in a rucksack.

We'll hike a trail by coast and sea,

And get to watch the 'ol TT.

There's only one thing, better than biking;

Some good old fashion, DofE hiking!

We've map and compass, pots and pan,

All non-essentials left in van.

We're here to do a four day hike,

But wish we'd thought to come by bike.

We've got a sleeping bag and tent,

And twenty quid for campsite rent.

Apart from that it's just us four,

In search of history and folklore.

Vicars and hippies, runners too, across the Isle of Man,

Have stopped and waved, and said hello, and helped us where they can.

I even met an Old Boy here, while waiting by the car,

The Old Daividian network; it stretches wide and far.

Better team you couldn't ask;

They're just the men for such a task.

With Neil's looks and Harry's brain,

Jack talks the talk and Tim’s the same.

He'll chat to anyone in sight, and even those who aren't, 

He thought he'd make the week offline, but found out that he can't.

His bare essentials, minimum, really must include,

The inclusion of a battery pack, before thinking of food.

Neil, only brought one shirt, which to everyone's dismay,

Smelt worse than you'd imagine by end of the first day.

Harry and his trademark hat, keeps tabs on navigation,

And keeps the others on the route, and away, from the station.

At camp Jack felt his time had come, to take a wild poo,

Then later on discovered, a fully working loo!

So all the way, around the coast, such graft, such sweat, such toils,

The recognition, is an invite, to the Palace from the Royals.

ian m... 

Duke of Edinburgh's Award Assessor

Homeward Bound

Waking up to blue skies on a quiet cliff top gave a refreshing start to a day. 

 

I sorted out kit back down at Calf Sound, then checked a few beaches in the hopes of a swim/wash. Didn't get in, in the end, but did find the boys as they marched triumphantly, yet wearily into Douglas. 

 

After a quick look in an old camera obscura (where I got student admission and one of the lads had to pay 'teacher price'!), we went and got a well earnt feed.

 

After a humorous presentation of their expedition in the cafe, we boarded the ferry.

 

It's been a flat but long crossing. Everyone  super keen to brush teeth properly, wash hair and have a shower. Otherwise all is great. Just a drive west to go...

 

Isle of Man Bouldering

A very bright dawn woke me at 5:47, but by the time I surfaced from the tent, a cold sea mist had rolled in! You can just spot my yellow tent in this picture.

 

I spent a lovely morning down at the southern most tip of the Island, watch seals on the Calf of Man.

 

Once the guys had passed by, I went down to the bouldering area at The Chasms. Just by chance, Kerry and Steve arrived at exactly the same time, so they were able to point out all the best problems.

 

The views were spectacular and the climbing pretty great for those with an adventurous outlook. 

 

We did some laps on the bouldering traverse wall which is really excellent. It was shirts off in the baking heat for a while. After an hour or so, it was way too hot and I was way too pumped!

 

Went straight round to Gansey beach and had a swim to cool off!

 

When I checked on the lads in the evening, they were camped by a lake and a fisherman had donated them a fish. Unable to cook it on the gas stove, they passed it onto me. Kerry and Steve had suggested meeting back at Port Erin beach for a BBQ, so I didn't have to turn up empty handed!

 

There was a cracking sunset over Bradda Head. 

 

And find foods to go with it...

After a filling trout dinner, I hiked up to Bradda Head and found a quiet little area to camp the night. 

Once again, it barely got dark. I took this photo at midnight, from bed...