No Pen Y Fan

No Pen Y Fan

Sugarloaf instead

Well my trip up Pen Y Fan failed. Yes due to the SixtySixty coach service (x43) which should have stopped at the bus stop near my campsite at 11:40 failing to arrive. I was on a tight time schedule, having just 5 hours walking time to complete the walk. This relied on all the public transport being on time, everything was going great, i have got up at 3 am walked to my local station with heavy backpack to catch the 5.03 train to victoria, i then got the tube to paddington and then a 3 hr journey to Newport where i changed again to catch the next train to Abergavenny arriving at 10:25am. This is when it all went pearshaped, Iwas expecting taxis at the Rank outside the station, Oh no, i had to walk a mile and a half to the other end of town to get a taxi. I got to the campsite at just after 11 am and rushed to put my tent up and get to the bus stop, i managed to get to the stop at 11:20, the bus was due at 11:40 but did not show, i waited until 12:10 then decided my attemp at Pen Y Fan was over, Any later bus would not have given me time to do the walk and get back to the returning bus stop in time (Last bus back 17:23).

Dissapointed, well yes you could say that. I had maps for west brecon Becons which covered Pen y Fan but no map for the east side, other than Memory Map on my PDA. Well i had to make a decision, do i call it a day and go sulk in my tent or try Sugarloaf, Yes you guessed it Sugarloaf here i come.

Sugarloaf is 1955 ft (596m) high and is just north of Abergavenny.

The Route was long

The Views were fantastic

An opportunity to rest and take in the views

Happy to have reached the summit a big thumbs up

Mountain Walk

My first planned Mountain Walk, will take place on the 31st May in Wales

Pen Y Fan

Hopefully if all goes well, i will be walking up this little beauty at the end of the month. Pen y Fan is the highest mountain in southern britain and is 2906ft high. I am getting the train (at 5am) from Whitstable to Abergavenny, arriving by 10.30am and then onto a bus to get me to my start point by 12.30. I will then have 5hrs to scale this monster and get back for my bus at 5.30, to take me to my campsite where i will stay overnight and then return home by train the following day. I love my walking and often go out at weekends walking footpaths and bridleways. I have a sister site at www.jimpowell.co.uk/walks where i have descriptions photo's and videos of some of my walks.

Wish me luck for the 31st and i will report back here on how it went in due course.

These photo's were taken from the internet are not my work

New Birth

Congratulations to Sara and Mark

On the Birth of their Daughter

Katelyn

Born on 6th March 2008, at 3.49 pm. weighing 3.530 Kg

Congratulations

CONGRATULATION

Michelle and Derek

On Getting Married. I hope you have a fantastic life together

Yes my Little sister Michelle, got married on the 6th October 2007 to Derek , an old friend from my childhood, we used to hang out when we were about 9 - 13 years of age.

He has finally got my sister to settle down and i think they are well suited. The Actual day was ok weather wise pleanty of sun although a bit of a chill in the air. The service was held at Harbledown church near Canterbury. It was a good service and was conducted by two Vicar's (always been greedy has Michelle).

My brother Mick gave her away and looked the part in his suit and Derek's Uncle Michael was Best Man

The Bridemaids looked fantastic along with Josh (Michelle's son)who was ring bearer.

Michelle could not wait to hit the booze

Derek, Michelle and Transport (Nice) Derek and Daughter

The Day Was Saddened by the Death of Our Mum on the 6th October 2007

We know you were there Mum We All love you and will Miss you loads.

R.I.P

Holiday 2007

Our Butlin's Holiday

We spent a week at Butlins in Bognor Regis. I think a week is too long at this place, entertainments starts to repeat itself and it's a struggle to find things to do during the day. We enjoyed the first 3 or 4 days but then unless you had an unlimited supply of money to spend on the arcades, there was not a lot else to do. We went out a couple of times and i spent a few hours walking the south downs, i visited Chantonbury Ring which was great.









Some of the Evening Entertaiment was ok, With the likes of Ben Mills from the X-Factor


Also (keep this to yourself's) Chico was very entertaining and really quite good.

Not being a big drinker, i enjoyed 2 or 3 pints a night at the centre stage which as you can see is more than enouth for me.



















But at least i did'nt pig out on the ice creams Deanna











I think my girls are too old for Butlins now as it seems the holiday camp is geared more towards the younger kids, 4-12 years. Yes a week is too long and it was a struggle to find things to do, but we did have some fun there and have some good memories. I don't think we will be going back again soon though.

The Fishing Trip

Derek's Stag Fishing Trip

On the 7th September 2007, went on Derek's fishing trip for part of his stag do (getting Married to my sister Michelle). I was really looking forward to this trip having not done any sea fishing for over 20 year, this was gonna be fun!.

Wrong. Both Mick my brother and myself discovered we did not have any sea legs and both suffered from sea sickness, Mick worse than me (he was vomiting a lot). It was a shame as it was great weather and we felt we let Derek down a bit as we both had to lay down for quite a lot.

Mick Wishing he was on Dry land













The rest of the group had a great time though and everyone except me caught some fish (even Mick who fished for about 30 minutes). I think Dan caught the most, about 10 or 11 in total.The main catch were or Dog Fish and pouting.

Matt and Dan watching their rods and Mick laying Down.

Derek With a Dogfish

Paul And Derek discuss the days fishing as we pull into Ramsgate harbour.

Would i go again (i would have to say no) not on a boat. I enjoyed the fishing and the company but the nausea was too much and spoilt it for me. If i had more money, i would have paid the skipper to take me back to dry land and take the others back out, but i was skint .

Derek and Matt

Our Camping Trip

Michelle an I spent the weekend in Sussex on the South Downs Camping. The girls stayed with their auntie Sara. The weather was Great, Hot and sunny all weekend and allowed us to do some hiking over the downs.








We Camped at Henfield and visited a few local beauty spots like, Ditchling Beacon, Devils dyke and the Jack & Jill Windmills.








The views were fantastic and because the weather was so good, the Sunsets were spectacular.

The highlight of the weekend was an 8 mile hike across the Seven Sisters country park and back.

Cuckmere River

A View into Devils Dyke