Kingfishers Galore

The beautiful River Lugg provided a back-to-nature day trip down to The Wye. Paddling quietly, we made about 20 kingfisher sightings and are confident that over 4 hours it wasn't the same bird each time! We even managed to get one on film, although the usual view was a flash of blue (and red) inches off the water at full speed away from us. 

Tall Ships

We joined the throng and watched the tall ships enter Gloucester Docks ahead of the weekend festival.

Croome Park & The Malvern Hills

On a soft-top day we took a turn around Croome Park, where Capability Brown had his first complete bash at landscaping (moving the peasants out of the way and doing lots of digging). Requisitioned in 1941 to become RAF Defford, a new nearby airfield became the secret home of RADAR development. Staying with the aeronautical theme, after lunch, we moved on to watch paragliders leaping off the Malverns and riding the thermals under the flat-bottomed summer clouds. A fine day. 

Shakespeare at The Bishop's Palace

With the trauma of the A level result wait over, the boys decided to take a picnic and go on an ocean paddle adventure East towards Solva. Finding we had a large climbing slab to ourselves all morning, we tried a few routes up and then invented some of our own. The sea was like a millpond beneath us. The evening entertainment was our traditional evening walk into St Davids for a cultural evening under the stars: This time "The Merchant of Venice". Click here for the film of the week in HD.

Caves

On a bright morning we walked the coast path to sunny Pothmelgan beach. Setting up at the mouth of a cave the lads rediscovered crabbing and frisbee throwing, trying not to think about A level results tomorrow. In the evening, Tim and Jerry explored deep caves between Whitesands and St David's  Head, one being about 70-80m of paddle-able subteranean space. A cave paddle film. 

Climbing Over The Sea

After a tour of the galleries in the City, we headed to the south and a bit of climbing warm-up. We ended up on a rocky outcrop over the incoming waves, with the sun lighting up the stone. Amazing. Then we all piled into the sea, with a gentle offshore wind holding up the swell, for the best evening session of the week.

Caerfai Bay

A morning explore in board shorts in south-facing Caerfai allowed us to warm up our balancing muscles as we crept into watery caves and tunnels. One island called Penpleidiau, surrounded by kelp forests, provided a good opportunity to do some underwater filming. We also sussed out some potential slabs for future climbing. After a wet afternoon reclining in the warm Turton conservatory, Tim and Jerry set out from Porthclais for more adventures on the high seas. The paddle back up the creek between the moored boats on the incoming tide was sublime.

Pembrokeshire

Safely established in a private camping corner, we enjoyed a choppy evening surf to launch the 2011 Welsh Tour. After supper and a big sleep, the boys went in again for a breakfast session that degenerated into headstands and the usual chaos. Here We Go. On a sunny afternoon we climbed the nearby carn (low mountain). We watched seals basking and walked the coast path to survey our land before the evening dunking.

Cutshill to Ford

Our walk with Dave and Liz took us past picture postcard houses and J J O'Neil's stables and gallops. Luckily we found The Plough at Ford open and were able to revive our throats nicely. 

Time Lapsing in the Landscape

With a low August sun lighting up golden sandstone on a balmy day, what could be better? With panoramic views to enjoy from various altitudes, we climbed 'in the moment' until the sun set over The Malverns. A better antidote to work is hard to imagine. Sublime.