Well, retirement then...

 First Tuesday of my retirement.

Well...

It's a strange new reality.

I suppose it really started on my last day. It was quite overwhelming, what with all the handshakes, best wishes and gifts and cake, not to mention the 'Don't be a stranger' stuff.

What I need, apparently, is a routine...

I cycled to work every day, that kept me fit, I'll have to continue something similar, to stop turning into a couch potato.

I'll also need to ramp up the hobbies & projects I'd previously had no time for, one of which is to repair an oscilloscope.

I also realise I have no weekday/weekend!

Which is why I've started writing this again. I can appreciate the days will blur, but I hope this blog will keep me mindful of time.

The first Sunday consisted of a secreting 24 years of accumulated personal gear around my small house. It looks even smaller now.

The first Monday I was busy looking after a sick relative.

Now, the first Wednesday, I'm running errands and going for a nice 4 mile walk.

Coast To Coast 2022

Days one and two

Day one 7.8 km

This adventure starts at Ravenglas. We had walked the official Wainwright route from St Bees some years ago.

To the woods men, again!

Mad Midweeks

Following on from the success of our last mini break, before the start of the zombie apocalypse lockdown, we thought we'd try another now things were easing up. David suggested a cycle to a camp, go for a walk and then cycle back. Not long, three days. A Mini adventure.

Good idea!

Mad Midweek two - Lea Vally and Epping Forest

Well, not really midweek - Sunday, Monday & Tuesday.

To the woods, men!

 LET ME OUT!

Well, after 4 months lock-down, the gardening jobs and those around the house and on the car were petering out.

Unable to go on the planned Peninne Way this year was disappointing but as the good weather persisted, not being able to go anywhere had been frustrating.

When travel restrictions finally started easing, plans were discussed for a mini break. Not far, just local. Unwilling to mingle withe the infected hoi palloi on public transport and more in need of stress relieving exercise than stress inducing traffic, a cycling and walkimg trip seemed the ideal solution.

Along the canal side to quirky Norcott Farm to camp among the Victorian apple trees for two nights.

It would provide the necessary stress relief and allow me to try out my tarp, bivvy bag (I've only had them three years) and Komoot on my phone.

Snowdonia Odyssey - Day seven & then home

So, I'll just nip off early then....

Up early, dress and go. There must be a bus stop near the camp site...

But no. No bus stop. After half and hour I stuck out my thumb.

Another five minutes later I got a lift with a friendly Scot who had just nipped out to get breakfast for his son, who was still sleeping at our campsite.

As I explained my mission he offered to hang around until I'd retrieved my stick. What a nice chap.

Snowdonia Odyssey - Day six

Cnicht or a day off?

We decided that we needed a day off .

 Over a leisurely breakfast we decided to see what Beddgelert was like.

Our noisy neighbours

I asked our neighbours how their Snowdon trek had been. They said they had avoided the crowds by taking the Snowdon Ranger.

Nimblewill Nomad's 'Little Dandy'

We had missed out on the lakeside path back to the campsite yesterday so we thought we'd take it today to see what we'd missed, then walk to the nearest bus stop for the bus to Beddgelert.

What could go wrong...

Snowdonia odyssey - Day five

Snowdon Horseshoe

Early breakfast? Nah. We'll be up and down in 6 hours.

We didn't rise early anyhow as we'd had a bit of a cabaret last night as our neighbours, [Rob, ?, ?, & Kate?], loudly talked bolx and about their plans for tomorrow's assault on Snowdon.