Pre-Christmas Sun.

The week before Christmas I used up my left-over holidays and we jetted off to Portugal.
The aim was for sun, warmth and surfing.


We got the sun.


Unfortunately Easyjet forgot to book the warmth and surf so we made alternative plans by following our noses and driving around.

Luckily leaving a frost coated Newcastle airport we were wearing warm clothes, arriving in Faro we found out that Portugese winters can be flipping freezing (Note Rab jackets!).

We went to the highest point in the Algarve (Nice views)

We did lots of walking round cool cliffs, and found some excellent passage ways and caves to explore.

We also had an entertaining night out in Lagos which ended up in an English themed bar playing darts with two genuine Eskimos. Brilliant.
Unfortunately I then slept for most of the following day wearing off the hang-over!
Let it be known that Eskimo's can handle their drink.

Other highlights of the trip were:

• Eating lots of fresh fish.
• Eating out everynight.
• Visiting the most South-Westerly point of Europe.
• Watching the Portugese authorities faff on a grand scale for 4 hours only to end up back where they started (Ask us about the Stealth boat story).
• Pursuading a nice old couple to let us stay in there house for the night as it was too cold for camping.

Nice to be back in Portugal, we'll be back soon - if only to finally see Paul's wife in the flesh.

More photo's can be found here.

Great Sheffield Flood

On a recent DIY orientated weekend, we allowed ourselves a break by going on a late afternoon wander around the nearby Dale Dyke Dam. Despite having lived in Sheffield for 25 years I've never visited this dam - the cause of the great Sheffield flood of 1864.

The outlet of the dam doesn't look like it could cause much damage.

250 people died in the flood, caused by the catastrophic failure of the newly built dam.

More information on the Great Flood can be found here.

A very nice walk it was too, even if it was a bit damp.

Catch up.

Have failed to keep this updated recently due to lack of enthusiam, and actually having some work to do at work!!

Whats been happening;

• We visited the Tyne Tour, paid attention in the expedition talks, watched the fireworks, had a most excellent curry (ta Matt) then got very drunk. Oh I also kicked Billy's ass - several times.
• Went boating on the Tyne on the Sunday.
• I've sold my play boat to Adsy - heard he was (Back) looping in the Lakes last weekend - Nice.

Although he's not paid me yet. Slacker.

• We actually went boating, paddled the Tee's (High Force to Low Force) at a nice level with NUCC. We fished out a suicidal nutter who paddled Horse shoe weir and un-surprisingly got a beating.
• Then had a nice days biking North of Newcastle with old Scout mate Davish, Katie and friends. It was blooming freezing with a swift snowball fight before heading down the hill to the tea shop.

• Si asked me to be his best man, I accepted, I got very drunk.

Unfortunately no pictures worth posting of the above events.

Norway.

Norway.

A couple of weeks ago we had a flying visit to Norway. It rained for most of the weekend so we did a lot of driving and looking. We managed a few strolls in-between showers, up a couple of hills and round a typical Norwedish coastal town.

Despite not having any paddling kit with us we still checked out a couple of interesting looking granite bed rivers.
I have still not managed to see any wild Trolls or Elk so will have to return for another visit. Sarah's decided we won't be living there at any time in the future due to the lack of people!
And we discovered that in October the rivers and fjords are getting a bit too cold for washing in whilst wild camping!!
Despite the rubbish contrast and grumpy face we did have a lovely time.

Almost forgot - Hertz kindly upgraded us to a Volvo estate - yay.

We have now received a bill from them for 'extra' items - doh!

Sandy.

Preparation........

Just starting to think about getting organised for the Tyne Tour this weekend.
BBC weather are predicting cold but clear weather. Theres a couple of interesting sounding talks on Saturday night including one about kayaking in Madagascar which Sarah has a particular interest in.
So we'll be slumming it in the Post Van, trying to avoid low flying fireworks and high flying drunken students.
Hopefully catching up with lots of friends from SUCC, NUCC, Bristol, and all the other stragglers you tend to meet in the kayaking world.
A bimble down the Tyne on Sunday and back to Newcastle for Tea and Cake.
Sounds like a super weekend!!!!