Travels to the upside down world...

Our Air New Zealand B747-400 stands at the gate at Heathrow, ready for its 12 000 mile journey around the globe

As you may have guessed I have arrived in New Zealand, after nearly two days of crossing the globe! A really fantastic journey with Air New Zealand - enjoyed every minute of the 28 hour journey (in real time) which means two days after all the additions. Departed a cloudy and dark Heathrow onboard the B747-400 Monday night at about 2300 - unfortunately two hours late due to a passenger checking in but then not turning up at the gate - so his luggage had to be located in the hold and removed from the aircraft. Soon zipping Eastwards across the N Sea and then dinner over Poland. I think I must have fallen asleep over Belarus and most of Russia, as I missed Moscow. But dozed in and out of sleep over the sunlit Centre-East of the former USSR. Was fully awake again over the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, and they served our breakfast as we were cruising over mile after mile of green terraced hills, toffee brown rivers and rice paddy fields of China. Then it was time for touch down in Hong Kong for a two hour refuel/ clean, whilst a thunderstorm passed over. By the time we were airborne again, it was dark - a day having gone by in half the time it should have. Heading southbound over the S China sea we soon passed over the lights of the numerous islands of SE Asia, followed by a really clear and smooth crossing of the Equator. Next up was Eastern Australia which lasted for about 3 hours, so I slept again for most of this. Seeing the lights of Brisbane meant we were off the East coast and on the final 3 hour hop across the Tasman sea to Auckland, the first evidence of NZ was the sudden appearance on the horizon amidst a sea of low little white clouds, of the perfect white cone of Mt Taranaki.

It was a fine crisp, clear winters day in Auckland and so the hours flight down to Wellington, aboard one of Air NZ’s B737’s, was not surprisingly quite picturesque. Was sat on the western side of the plane so got awesome views of the snowcapped Mt Taranaki, the perfect volcanic cone out on the western peninsula of N Island.


Mt Taranaki framed by the wing of the B737

Touched down in Wellington at about 1430 on Wednesday 27 June. Made my way aboard the Stagecoach Flyer into Wellington City Centre and to the Hostel which goes by the name of Nomads, where I am spending the first few nights before I move into my accommodation.

Last 2 weeks in the land of fine Ale...

Mainly spent enjoying all things British and the like, and making the most of decent ale as I don’t expect to find such quality alcoholic produce in the Kiwi land. Took a trip to Exeter to visit Chris, this was cool - seeing the result of 24 hours of devising a film noir from scratch, and strolling round a rather damp but nice city centre.

Then I headed off to Snowdonia with Rowan on Tuesday 19 for a three day expedition through the Rhinogs. This is a really cool range in Southern Snowdonia, off the beaten track and away from the crowds of the North. Starting at Talsarnau we strolled over all of the 2000 footers that form the range with a night by a small Llyn on the way through. Second night was spent on a campsite at Fairbourne after completing the ridge on the second day. Really recommend these little chain “Y Rhinogydd” for those who speak Walisisch! Really rugged bolder strewn/ heather slopes at the northern end with deep corries, with a sudden change to rounded broad grassy slopes further south for the last bit to Barmouth.

After returning from this it was time for the final weekend in the UK during which I had a wonderful goodbye visit from many relatives and we took a family trip to Flat Holm (a small island in the Bristol Channel), where we enjoyed being dive bombed by nesting gulls.

And as for tomorrow it’s up to Heathrow, via a trip up to Paddington on First Great Western of course, and then on to the Airport on the Heathrow connect!
Next report: from a wintery island somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere!

Epic Rail Travels...

Following on from the previous post on the theme of baggin' but this time of quite a different type. Railway line baggin must be something of a Daf..ydd speciality as I can't really see it catching on much, but still, here is a description of my latest travels. Over the last two days have been out enjoying our fantastic British National Rail Network again, this time starting off on Monday with a quick nip up on the 0844 Voyager from Lancaster to a rather wet and miserable Edinburgh, after spending an hour there mainly in Waverly station it was time to head south down the East coast on GNER to York. On arrival the weather was somewhat improved, now nice and sunny. Couple of hours in the national railway museum followed by a sprint round York to find the York Brewery as recommended by JP, and 'reht good it were too - polished off a pint there before heading back to the station for the train to Derby. VXC down to Derby and then across to Beeston, just outside Nottingham where I settled for a few more pints and a fine meal at the Vic pub with Liz and Steve.

York, one of Britains' railway cities, GNER 91109 leaving with the down Newcastle express.

Tuesday the march southwards continued with midland mainline down to London St Pancras - a most exciting rail hub which will become the finest station in Europe if not the world in November this year when Eurostar moves north of the river with the opening of High Speed 1. Underground to Charing Cross, followed by southeastern through Kent to Dover. Spent a few hours strolling along the seafront and gazing from the top of the white cliffs at ferrys coming and going from Calais. Then time to begin the journey northwards to Lancaster. On the return I took the slightly longer route through East Kent to Victoria and then across to Euston ready for the home leg - and what is always my favourite part of any travels: the West Coast mainline aboard Virgin. I started on the Holyhead bound Voyager from Euston to Crewe, where I changed onto the following Carlisle bound Pendolino, arriving in Lancaster dead on at 2238.
All in all a great trip, on the move pretty much constantly for two days, saw plenty of places - just my cup of tea!

Dover's international port with the Seafrance Rodin arriving from Calais.

Langdale - last Lakeland trip...

What an awesome trip this was, in typical LUHC style. Good bit of climbing on Middlefell Butress with mouse, JP and Jamie on Friday in the sun, followed by a trip to the NDG. Saturday a rather hazy and humid day with an ascent of Scafel Pike along , back over the usual Esk Pike and Bowfell, down the band - the classic Langdale walk, thanks Graeme, Andy, Mince, Jim, Heiko for a good stroll. What can be said of Saturday nights festivities in the ODG? Well surely only one phrase can describe it...TOP STUFF!!! Which was followed most rightly by our fellow entertainer by"Where the f**k are you from?". After tales of 'lal Skidda' n 'elvellyn donning white winter caps we retired to the bridge just up the road from the ODG where festivities continued for a few hours, and of course checking JP was still stargazing every few minutes!!!
Sunday, notsurprisingly not much happened but was still a good day of hanging around on the campsite - literally as we practiced prusiking in a tree. Bus down to Ambleside for fesh and apple pies followed by a refreshing cruise back to Bowness along Windermere.
Awesome weekend, one I'll remember for quite a while, hope everyone else who went enjoyed it. Look forward to more adventures like these again soon.





Ahh - a nice comfortable seat. Mouse belaying on Middlefell Butress, JP below.