It’s been pretty busy; things are starting to build up a pace. We had another team meeting over Mr “V’s”. Cuppa of Mrs “V’s” best tea, lack of the regular cheap (75p buy one get one free) pizza was conspicuous by its absence. It was brilliant in the main because Huw turned up, his input had an impact on the progress that was made.
Del (Derek Saunders) my neighbour and our good friend was also in attendance as he was at the last meeting. Due to Dels generosity we have a tent on order, it’s a Go Lite Hex 3 on its way over from America as I type. I’m not sure if the “Day Glo Pink” colour along with two blokes trekking in France will go down well with the hardy locals. We may end up covering the distance quicker than anticipated. Cheers Del for your assistance in the planning and organisation it is appreciated.
We have a dance organised for the 24th March, with a live band (Mid Life Crisis). We were taken aback by the quick sale of the 120 tickets available to fill Caerwent Village Hall. Two weeks all gone! These sales were down to the hard work of Liz and Jackie. Well-done girls. The support we have from our friends and locals is absolutely incredible. Another 41 quid from the raffle at the Coach and Horses as Wales played France on Saturday. Well the curry at half time was good, never mind boys next time.
My eldest son Ian has acquired two off free tickets to be raffled off from the company he works for “Easy Jet” the prize is for two off return flights to any of their destinations in Europe. Not bad eh! He has also distributed a number of collection boxes in Caldicot and Chepstow, along with buckets sat at the end of the tills in the local supermarket. Stewart is back in training, getting back up to speed. We have a trek planned for the 31st March, Abergavenny – Sugar Loaf – Blorange – Abergavenny. What is pretty cool about this walk is that Huw and one of his neighbours are onboard. It will be great to have their company.
Monday, 26 February 2007
Wednesday, 14 February 2007
Off to the gym for a good chat!
Stewart and myself have been taking every opportunity to slog out our training regime. We train together very in frequent due to our different working patterns, availability and commitments. The only true form of training is to actually get into the mountains covering distance, ascent along with different terrain. We are fortunate to be on the doorstep of the Brecon Beacons, Black Mountains and the Wye Valley. These areas of outstanding beauty are taken advantage of when possible. A long distance trek prior to the Pyrenees has been discussed, this being the crossing of all of the major summits of the Brecon Beacons -West to East. We are aware of the “Beacons Way” however we feel our route will achieve greater ascent / descent, which will blow a few cobwebs out.
Again we are fortunate enough to have a small hill –Grey Hill- bang smack on our doorstep. This little devil is more than enough to get one into trim. Oh yes it must not be sniffed at! Different routes, with challenging times being achieved.
Core fitness is being built by battling out mind numbing hours in the gym. Poor ole Stewart to date has strived to attain greater fitness only to be knocked back by a blessed bad chest and colds. Determination will prevail, once he has overcome this bad patch fully.
My personal gym performance is by no means record breaking, however I can assure you I am achieving greater targets than I have since my hernia operation just over twelve months ago.
When I come home from France my first objective is to take a sledgehammer to the Concept 2 rowing machine, I hate the thing. I started off just before Christmas with a time of 1min 59.1 secs / 500m, I was chuffed with this for starters. After much huffing and puffing along with some choice words I am down to 1 min 45.2 secs / 500m. Well I’m pleased with it! Best to date on the treadmill being 33.5 min / 6 k. & 60 min / 7 kph / 15% incline. Like I say not World best stuff but I’m pleased. The one thing that has made the hours in the gym more bearable is having my wife Liz’s company. Her enthusiasm and own personal targets have given me encouragement. On occasions I have to admit when I come home from work and cant be bothered, off I’m dragged and away to go……….hello Concept 2. We are both very fortunate to have wives who are also committed to our objective. Well we will tell them what all the exercise is for closer to the date!
Again we are fortunate enough to have a small hill –Grey Hill- bang smack on our doorstep. This little devil is more than enough to get one into trim. Oh yes it must not be sniffed at! Different routes, with challenging times being achieved.
Core fitness is being built by battling out mind numbing hours in the gym. Poor ole Stewart to date has strived to attain greater fitness only to be knocked back by a blessed bad chest and colds. Determination will prevail, once he has overcome this bad patch fully.
My personal gym performance is by no means record breaking, however I can assure you I am achieving greater targets than I have since my hernia operation just over twelve months ago.
When I come home from France my first objective is to take a sledgehammer to the Concept 2 rowing machine, I hate the thing. I started off just before Christmas with a time of 1min 59.1 secs / 500m, I was chuffed with this for starters. After much huffing and puffing along with some choice words I am down to 1 min 45.2 secs / 500m. Well I’m pleased with it! Best to date on the treadmill being 33.5 min / 6 k. & 60 min / 7 kph / 15% incline. Like I say not World best stuff but I’m pleased. The one thing that has made the hours in the gym more bearable is having my wife Liz’s company. Her enthusiasm and own personal targets have given me encouragement. On occasions I have to admit when I come home from work and cant be bothered, off I’m dragged and away to go……….hello Concept 2. We are both very fortunate to have wives who are also committed to our objective. Well we will tell them what all the exercise is for closer to the date!
Thursday, 8 February 2007
Dolgoch
Off we trundled last Friday evening around 18:30 on another one of our weekend ventures. This time we were to visit one of the most barren regions of mid Wales the Cambrian Mountains. We stopped off at Builth Wells for what has become the mandatory fish and chips on the outward-bound journey. This is one of the treats we afford ourselves. The other treat is the odd shed full of barley or hop pop! Of which we did sample one and a half buckets of, in the Coach & Horses, after the Welsh defeat against the Irish on Sunday.
We arrived at Dolgoch YHA pretty late in the evening after making our way along the Abergwesyn to Dolgoch road up Devils Staircase and eventually along the rough track to the cottage. What a brilliant cottage, no electricity or hot water. This place is pretty luxurious compared to some of the rocks we have slept under or bog ridden trench and tarp. Coal fire and bunks wow. Stewart, Scott and myself were looking forward to a good weekend.
Porridge & raisins “gloop n bunny poop” was on the breakfast menu. Water was boiled for the camel backs, boots laced, gaiters bound and off we tramp. This trip was to take us up the Tywi valley, a sixteen mile round trip.
Once again the tree felling that covers the footpaths fooled us. The forest tracks that have been hidden, gateways replaced by fencing. These obstructions do make the walking in this area an additional challenge; with out a map and compass we would find ourselves in trouble. Of course we fought our way across the quagmire we have become accustomed too, finding ourselves at the source of Afon Tywi.
Our thoughts were with Mr “V” who was unable to accompany us due to his bronchitis; he had been looking forward to checking out his new sleeping bag.
Stew for supper after our sponge bath in front of the coal fire, stood in a washing up bowl - luxury (what a sight for sore eyes).
Part way through the Saturday evening a couple of families from London turned up with an army of little ones. Nice people, good company. The little ones were amazed by the fact that the moon was so big and bright, “you don’t need a torch to see the fields at night”, “why don’t you need to lock the doors?” The coal fire mesmerized them! On the Sunday morning whilst I was making the fire for the next visitors to warm themselves, one of the lads asked me “can I switch it on please?” On leaving and saying our good byes we were given a kind donation for the cause.
It was decided to drive home along the western most edge of the Brecon Beacon National Park. This would allow us to bag another Hewitt Garreg Lwyd 616m, only a five-mile trek but the 360’panoramic view from the summit has to be the most prolific of the Brecon Beacons, absolutely amazing.
We arrived at Dolgoch YHA pretty late in the evening after making our way along the Abergwesyn to Dolgoch road up Devils Staircase and eventually along the rough track to the cottage. What a brilliant cottage, no electricity or hot water. This place is pretty luxurious compared to some of the rocks we have slept under or bog ridden trench and tarp. Coal fire and bunks wow. Stewart, Scott and myself were looking forward to a good weekend.
Porridge & raisins “gloop n bunny poop” was on the breakfast menu. Water was boiled for the camel backs, boots laced, gaiters bound and off we tramp. This trip was to take us up the Tywi valley, a sixteen mile round trip.
Once again the tree felling that covers the footpaths fooled us. The forest tracks that have been hidden, gateways replaced by fencing. These obstructions do make the walking in this area an additional challenge; with out a map and compass we would find ourselves in trouble. Of course we fought our way across the quagmire we have become accustomed too, finding ourselves at the source of Afon Tywi.Our thoughts were with Mr “V” who was unable to accompany us due to his bronchitis; he had been looking forward to checking out his new sleeping bag.
Stew for supper after our sponge bath in front of the coal fire, stood in a washing up bowl - luxury (what a sight for sore eyes).
Part way through the Saturday evening a couple of families from London turned up with an army of little ones. Nice people, good company. The little ones were amazed by the fact that the moon was so big and bright, “you don’t need a torch to see the fields at night”, “why don’t you need to lock the doors?” The coal fire mesmerized them! On the Sunday morning whilst I was making the fire for the next visitors to warm themselves, one of the lads asked me “can I switch it on please?” On leaving and saying our good byes we were given a kind donation for the cause.
It was decided to drive home along the western most edge of the Brecon Beacon National Park. This would allow us to bag another Hewitt Garreg Lwyd 616m, only a five-mile trek but the 360’panoramic view from the summit has to be the most prolific of the Brecon Beacons, absolutely amazing.
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