Pendle Hill

gary and i went to Pendle Hill again after 2 years away for my first walk in what seemed ages. was a bit muddy as it always is but otherwise a decent walk with some great views from the top on a good day.

we did want to go to the witches shop and do the walk in a giant hat but it was closed dammit :(

Darwen Tower

Me,Craig and Gary did a small walk around Darwen Tower. it was a dull windy day but Craig had never been here before and the Tower itself is always a cool place to be and very windy at the top!!

Gary was at the top of the tower trying to work out how he could 'get people' with his imaginery sniper rifle ;)

Harrison Stickle (Langdale Pikes)

Gary,Simon and myself went on to the Langdale Pikes expecting a fairly tough walk and fair bit of rain. we were wrong on both counts. not a drop of rain and a walk that was so steep and tough i almost gave up several times. what the pics dont show is i was soaked in sweat(i lost about 4 pounds in weight) burnt and feeling dizzy. i had my big walking jacket on most of the day and was ready to keel over. Its a beautiful area and very busy with other walkers. We had to ascend nearly 2500 feet in just 2 miles so it was steep all the way, not a bit of flat ground at all.

I didnt think i would get to the top but can say now i have done it. it maybe was my hardest ever walk,i could barely stand at the end. Poor Simon had not been on a decent sized walk since Crinkle Crags in autumn 2007 and had to drive back very tired indeed. coming down was almost as horrible as going up, my poor knees took a pounding as it was very steep and i had to use my hands coming down too quite alot.

Grizedale Mountain Biking (2)

Gary and me took a day off to have another go on the mountain Bikes at Grizedale. we got there early to avoid the heat but it was still hot and overcast. we both took alot of fluids. i took 5 lucozade which is 2.5 litres and drunk most of it on the way round. it was hard work but worth every penny.

we went anticlockwise round the 11 miles this time which is the recommended way to go and knocked our time down from 2hrs 45 to 2hrs :) also my bike was better this time. the brakes actually seemed to do something ;)

a good day out and i was really impressed at how we did. think this could be a regular thing now!

Clougha Pike

me and gary went walking together for first time in 2 months in the hot sun. we started at the busy Jubilee Tower car park where a local classic car meet was being held and started the slog up towards Clougha Pike. you get some great views from the top in all directions but we wearily made our way back over some rough boggy ground. not a great walk but great for shedding the pounds on a day like this.

Weeton - Greenhalgh - Weeton circular walk

Finally after 33 years i have done my first proper walk in the Fylde. me and Craig started and finished at the Eagle and Child pub in Weeton and went thru fields to Greenhalgh village, over the M55 and over the railway and back to the pub. about 6 miles in blazing hot sunshine. am a bit like a lobster still as i write this. Craig wore shorts and got stung tons of times in the thick nettles that we had to cross and we retreated from a field full of cows and a bull.. back to the pub at the end for some welcome liquid refreshment from the hot barmaid there :O)

Grizedale Mountain Biking

As you can see this wasnt actually a walk. This is the first time me or Gary had been Mountain Biking. we went to the Lakes, to Grizedale Forest a place i last went with Amy and Henry back in autumn 2006 when i walked to the top of the forest.

Its £15 each to hire the bikes for the day and we did the 11 mile course up and down the hilly forest tracks. by the end of it i was soaking wet, filthy,muddy and completely knackered but i loved it! its a real buzz flying downhill at over 20 mph,wind in your face and wondering whether you are going to be able to make the turn! it was wet and misty which added to the atmosphere and we passed thru beautiful scenery including several big waterfalls.

We even went the 'wrong' way round the course which only made it tougher and made us nearly quit but i cant wait to do this again! :)

Nicky Nook - scorton

This was the 2nd time i had been to Nicky Nook in 2009. this time with Gary. this was on one of the most gorgeous days weather i have been out in. I couldnt resist having a lie down for a while on the top in the sun. A nice scenic walk, seeing lots of new born lambs on the way back where i treated myself to another Toffee Ice cream from the Barn Gift Shop :O)

Longridge Fell

me and Craig (who was back for Easter) did this walk to Longridge Fell in again hot,sunny weather. I was a little overdressed with my big jacket on. Another good walk though it often gets muddy here as it did today. nothing too strenuous today.just good views and good exercise :)

Helm Crag - Grasmere

Me and Gary had another walk in perfect weather. 2009 so far has been fantastic every time :)

Helms Crag is near the pretty town of Grasmere and though it aint that high its steep and very rocky and hard work. though it was a hot day it soon turned very cold and windy on top of the hill. The 'Lion and the Lamb' are the names of the two huge boulders at the top of the hill for what they resemble and i put a picture of them on here. superb views and a really good walk :)

Warton Crag - silverdale

me and Gary did our first walk together since Gisburn forest in September. the weather again was superb! I had previously been to Warton Crag in september 2006 with Amy but this time i cut the walk to about half the length (about 5-6 miles).

You start climbing straight away to the top of Warton Crag which aint that high but fairly steep. the beacon on the pic is at the summit and was used to warn of enemy ships. Then it was mainly a woodland walk with some road walking. the views on the way up and at the top back down to village and over to Morecambe bay are superb and the setting is beautiful :)