Return to The Great Outdoors

 April 21st

It's six months since the last day out.  Despite some fickle forecasting from the Metoffice, it looked like there may be a decent day east of the Pennines.    So AT, BP, CB (a.k.a The Three Body Problem)  picked up where they had left off  at the regular venue on Sunday October 15th last year.

Scot Crags Scugdale

Our Trio joins four groups already out at the crag, plenty of chat in between routes.

AT models new Mountain Equipment Ibex Pant design

Snazzy

BP clips another wire into Curtain Crack

Holly Tree Wall is well protected by one bombroof Wallnut at hip level in this picture.

CB on the rather friable finish on Oak Tree Wall.

BP steals a march on Saints Wall

Awkward start leads to very steady climbing.

Dainty feet finish off the third route in this area.

Moving along to Scot Buttress, AT on the favourite Corner Direct -Left.

Slightly precarious before jugs arrive to finish.

CB shapes up nicely on second.

CB rattled up Woodpecker Wall and BP picks out the pockets.

Romulus

BP finds out what the Romans ever did for us.

CB shows where it goes from there and moves up to finish in a fine position.

12 routes done, more than the rest of the teams put together it seems!

Indoor Games

 Tuesday 5 March 5th

Weather still far to fickle for any outside plans so keeping going with the training, another good session, seem to hitting a bit of plateau.

This year's progress starting in November

The Magnificent Seven

 Thomski 2024

Arrive Sutton Thursday 18 January after a typically tedious drive at about 4pm.  Evening out at the Ginger Italian.  CJ joins in from London stop over for business.

Friday out for a walk and lunch with RL.

Depart Sutton Saturday 07.15, Tunnel 0840, called 09.10 for 09.48 shuttle.

Overnight arrangements as per last year, arrive Best Western Quetigny 17.50, dry drive.

Girls returning to hotel after top meal at Le Tire Bouchon.

Sunday, depart 09.10 collect NB at Chambery 12.35 arrive CGB at 13.55.

Down to la Cage Au Sports to hire gear.

From CGB balcony

Monday all out, scene of morning involuntary off piste excursion (AJ) .  Ski Patrol called but rescue effected by efforts of team.  Lunch Borseliers, flat light so called it a draw.

Tuesday AT NB CJ.

Inaugural meeting of Blackwell Ski Club with PW

New lunch venue at Plagne Bellecote, very nice there.

Team regroup at CGB for two course supper RL special.

Wednesday 6 at Pralognan 

AT MT CJ NB RL AJ

Obligatory picture up at Les Glieres ski patrol post.

RL rocks the new red gear.

Lunch at Fontainettes

Thursday 6 out la Plagne

The Clitheroe Flyer is 

OK TO GO!!

Coffee at Monica's Plagne Soleil.

Got there.

Eventually.

Emerging from the sanctuary of a sneaky snifter late in the day

Friday, AT NB out with PW, routes below 

Verdons to Plagne Centre, via adrets to Fornelet, back to Bellecote via Bergerie, down to the Bijolin above les Coches, Lunch at Crozats, up Inversins down Sources up Blanchet down Geisha, up Borseliers Rossa down via Roc Blanchet (aperro) to Telecabine

Big day out for Thomski travelling far and fairly wide

Note unusual warp drive moment

Click on map for detail

Friday Nite is Pizza Nite

One of two, enough for a spot of YMCA 

Saturday

7 out

Magnificent 

Best day of the week

Glorious weather

Quiet pistes

Great Lunch at Le Roc Blanchet

All requirements met!  Left on a high!

More photos here

Return Sunday

Depart 06.45

Chambery drop off NB 08.05

Channel Tunnel 17.35

Shuttle 18.18 

UK 18.00

Sutton 19.20

Star Takeaway!

WHAT A WEEK!

 

Christmas 2023

 Dec 21st - Jan 1st

Featuring a second year in a row visit by V & P, driving all the way up with a car full of goodies to create a proper family Christmas experience.   

Train arrives at Darlington Station, AT heading south for the routine Newark pick up.  Gales disrupted the trip, but managed to rearrange meet at Retford with not much loss of time.

Friday V & M to Headlam for pamperage, then a meal out at the Spotted Dog.

Saturday M & V to town for a bit of shoppery.  AT collects at the steps

Pizza for supper, two made.

YMCA all set!

Sunday stroll in South Park before the weather went to pants

V rustles up a chillistastic bean thing.

P gets a dreaded double red line.....  oh dear!

Monday

Happy Birthday Vikki!

Bucks fizz and scrambled egg on the way

Followed by coffee and wild unwrappping

Christmas Day kitchen team in full readiness for a bit of turkey carving action

SERVICE!!!!

Just a few pieces of white meat if you don't mind

Don't want any of that Paxo muck.

Festive

A Beauty

All the way from Brooker Bakery

Tuesday

Enough left over for the inevitable gourmet bubble and squeak breakfast.

Followed by a walk out around Richmond,

Swale in full flow

Wednesday

Shame we missed the Geordies on Wednesday owing to 4 Briar designated plague central

Good session on this weeks go to game.

POPMASTER with Ken Bruce

(board game version)

Vikki sweeps the board

Thursday

Car all loaded and ready for the off!

BYEEEE!!!

Thanks for all the fun!