Sharp Shooting

A long dry spell, the lack of leaves on the trees and some days with high milky clouds has given us the perfect opportunity to start getting stuck into sourcing crag-shots for the new Peak Limestone guide. I knew there was a reason we came back from Kalymnos early.
It has given us an excuse - if one was needed - for some lovely walks through Cheedale and Water-cum-Jolly, there were even a few climbers about making the most of the dry (but cold!) conditions. I have to admit that paddling across the river below Chee Tor was certainly enervating enough for me!
Another week of the current kind of conditions should have the job largely sorted. The fact that the spring is a month late has been a bit of a blessing - we just need to make the most of it before we head off to France.

Blue Wales

After a great team outing to Stanage on a glorious Sunday (weird how those routes just keep getting harder as the years roll) the farming forecast for the week was so good, especially for the west, we decided to head over to Wales for a few days, a chance to revisit old haunts. It was as good as hoped for; -6C at night, but crisp blue days and hardly a soul anywhere. The tops are plastered and spring is just arriving in the valleys - fantastic.
A day wandering around the icy wastes of Cwm Idwal contrasted neatly with a day clipping bolts in the slate quarries, lovely stuff, and the forecast remains cracking.

Bizzy Boy

Two weeks at home and it is busy, busy, busy - my To Do List is growing much faster than I can get through it; the French Guide, a Kalymnos article, half-a-dozen book reviews (the Norwegian one has got my fingers itching), an El Chorro update, a Lofoten update and a Peak Limestone guide. And that is before helping to get the new North Wales Classics ready to fly the nest. Back to France in a month (UKC/RF jolly) then there is the summer to sort.
Beats being bored though.

Back to Base

The journey home was slow but mellow, a couple of very pleasant days on Kos and a day/night in Athens, a few hours to explore Heathrow's T5, a 40 minute flight and taxi ride over the snowy Pennines and that was it - 18.5 weeks gone - poooof! A great trip though and I am pleased to report there is still enough to go back for at least one more time.

A ride up north to visit the parents brought back the 'delights' of winters in the UK; grey skies, damp air, crowded roads and above all - cold. On the upside, a big bed, a bath and a tele for the 1st time in four and a half months was a real treat!

Then there was the snow - wow, haven't seen anything like that for ages - though I think most folks have had more than enough this winter already! A Burbage round was most excellent.

And It Was All Going So Well

We got the Tuesday ferry as Wednesday morning was forecast to be windy. A beach walk, a meal out, taxi ordered and early to bed. No-one told us about the National Strike slated for Wednesday - hey ho! No flights to Athens on Thursday either, or onwards to the UK on Friday - good job a) we are not in a rush b) Sherri had the wit to take out cancellation insurance! A glorious beach walk, and a lack of ferries due to the wind means we probably did the best thing coming over early anyway. A city break in Athens then onwards!

Notes from a (Very) Small Island

Time rolls on, almost 18 weeks now and it is time to start thinking about that 'other' place, always assuming the winds drop and we can escape!

Thoughts on wintering in Kalymnos:
1) It has been a lot warmer and a bit more unsettled than we were expecting; 99 sunny days, 13 cloudy days and 9 wet days pretty much tells all though.
2) The place has been MUCH quieter than we expected, since late November it has been pretty much deserted.
3) Stopping in Myries was a good call, much sunnier than Masouri, and with a supermarket just across the road for getting the daily basics - spot on!
4) The locals are a wonderful bunch and have done a great job keeping us supplied with cakes and weather forecasts.

Would we come again? You bet - the flight is already booked!

Arctic Turn

Whoosh - where did that come from? A northerly wind blew and blew developing a bitter edge, the temperature dropped steadily over several days and last night it was down to 2.7C - the locals are in shock! It was bright so we had a walk up to Yeriakos for a poke around, it was like being on a UK hill in mid-winter. With all the clothes we have with us on we just about stayed warm though my chin went numb!
Tuesday was better though, still windy but a crystal clear biting blue day. The walking into Dolphin Bay was a chilly experience but once there it was near perfect.