I’ve done 2 walks this week both around the Eggleston area, both fairly easy walks.

Eggleston Burn

Distance : 8 miles

I was scanning old walking routes into Evernote before throwing out the original magazines and this was one one of the 400 routes I’ve scanned so far. Although I was too busy talking and went the wrong way according to the original route. We ended up jumping a wall to rejoin where we should of been. We also changed the end and decided to walk down the road for the last mile, rather than over the same fields we had already walked on our earlier slight detour.

There are 2 sections to be aware of, the route follows Eggleton burn up to old mine workings. This isn’t  marked as a path on the map but there is a clear path following the covered water course (a man made stream covered with rocks, I think it was “man made” for the mines). The other part to note is over the moors where the path becomes almost impossible to follow which is why I missed it. Oh also the bridge is down at NY988246 but you can hop the stream.

If you would like the route click the link below, this includes the original route and my tracks (including detour). I would advise the original route not my detours.

• GPX Route

Hamsterley Forest to Eggleston

Distance: 12 miles

The second Eggleston walk of the week, we decided to do a walk that came over to Eggleston so we could stop at the Hill Top pub and have some dinner. Which is exactly what we did, getting to Hill Top at 12 and consuming a pint, bacon chop, egg and chips. The hard part is leaving back into the cold. This walk is generally easier to follow than the last other than trying to navigate your way through the maze of tracks in Hamsterley Forest. The GPS decided while I was in the pub that I walked a mile or so away (I didn’t) so ignore the spike from Hill Top.

This route is along bridleways and would make a good mountain bike ride, there are some open moorland but nothing is too hard. Hoping to do this again but on my mountain bike over the next week.

If you would like this route click the link below (original route & tracks with spike).

• GPX Route

I’ve just watched Alex: A Passion For Life after reading about it on Peewiglets blog. Its about a young man with Cystic Fibrosis who’s ambition is to conduct the St Matthew Passion. There was a program a couple of years ago about him, which I never saw. This is defintely worth watching to see someone with serious health problems but determined to not let them get in his way. He puts most of us to shame.

I’ve always loved maps, when I was 10 I can remember getting my geography booklet out of the cupboard at school and completing it because I couldn’t wait until the following week to answer the questions on maps. I’m not quite sure why I like them but I do.

I mentioned in a previous post that I had a mini project to create something to mount  maps to the wall. I haven’t done this yet, because I ordered another 2 maps. I already listed the Munro & Corbett chart but I also ordered the Long Distance Path Chart, unfortunately there’s a 1-3 week wait on it.

Maybe I need a bigger wall to put this lot on:

Anyway I spent an hour or so leaning over another map on my dining table today, the Ben Nevis OS 41. This covers Fort William, Glen Nevis & Glen Coe. If the weather isn’t too bad (don’t mind some rain) then I should be heading that direction next week. I have an idea of where I would like to walk, but don’t want to say and not do it again. I cancelled the idea of the Bob Graham round, because this will be the only full weeks holiday I will have for a few months and I can get to the Lake District any weekend.

I was just reading Kevin Shannons Because it is there blog and he had posted this quote from Beachcombing in Miramar. From these few paragraphs it sounds like my sort of book.

“I have a choice, the same choice that faces every man. I can live a frivolous life, trying to impress others with the house I live in, the clothes I wear, the car I drive. I can strive to be a success in the way of the world, seeking the admiration of others, reveling in their jealousy. I can seek domination over my family and fellow workers in a vain attempt to hide my own deficiencies. I can seek fame, which is the most elusive pursuit of all, for it has no substance and soon vanishes in the air.
I can indulge in endless prattle about my friends and neighbors, dissipating my life’s energy a little at a time. I can wallow in self-pity, refusing to accept responsibility for my own circumstances. I can manipulate others into taking care of me, which is the way of all petty tyrants. I can complain about boredom, as if it were up to those around me to inject excitement into my day.
“These are the patterns of the living dead, people who have forsaken life, who are willing to squander their most precious gift, because they refuse to face up to the reality of death. If they wanted to live, truly wanted to live, they would rise up in a resurrection of their own making and commit themselves to the life they have.”

I’m on holiday for 2 weeks, so far I’ve just spent the weekend sleeping and doing very little. I’ve been thinking of doing a longish distance walk but can’t decide what to do, especially with the weather looking a bit iffy.

So that I get out and not sit on my arse I decided Monday and Tuesday I’d go for some day walks with my dad. Tomorrow I’m off for a fairly short 7.5 mile walk from Eggleston, which was in Country Walking a couple of years ago.

I will decide tomorrow where I’m going on Tuesday.

I’m still toying with the idea of doing the West Highland Way but really I have left it a bit late to sort stuff out for it (maybe an excuse). My dad said he would do it next spring with me, but not sure I will have the holiday time with other things I have planned for the year.

I have loads of little jobs to do and various computer projects I should be getting on with. My mind has has been working overtime recently thinking about Zippymap ideas (needs a rename).

My first small project will be to create some frames/backs for my hill bagging charts. I’ve got a Wainwright, Mountains of England & Wales and soon Munro & Corbett charts. Which I want to put a wooden back on each and hang like a picture rather than blue tacking to the wall (just painted the walls). I also want some sort of pin board that I can add pictures or things that give me ideas, but don’t really like those cork or green/blue fabric things.

It’s been a while since I’ve built a new computer, the last was an emergency build a year or so ago when my server blew up. I haven’t built a main desktop computer in years, mainly due to not playing PC games anymore. I’ve been getting by, for almost a year on an old PowerPC Mac Mini after my desktop windows machine also blew up. Strange, 2 machines popped within a few weeks (I blame the power). I also have a laptop and another old desktop machine, I did have another 7 computers in the cupboard but stripped these down and disposed of a few weeks back.

Anyway below are the components I just ordered from Ebuyer. I already have several cases, DVD Writers, etc so don’t need those.

• Western Digital 500GB 32MB Cache Caviar Black -£41.57
• AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition 3.2 GHz Socket AM3 8MB -£134.92
• Crucial 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1333MHz/PC3-10600 Memory Kit -£63.86
• Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT-UD2H 785G Socket AM3 Motherboard – £71.12

I have used Dabs for years, but after a change in their delivery arrangements and costs I wont be again. It’s also almost impossible to speak to a human at Dabs. I used Ebuyer over 2 years ago to buy an MP3 player for walking and received excellent service. That combined with a recommendation from Mr Craddock, made me try them again. They tell me my order will be here by 11am, excellent if it is.

I was also going to buy Windows 7, but decided to hold off for now. £107 for Professional OEM made that decision. The last O.S. I can remember buying on launch day was Windows 95, would of also bought 98 but I was on holiday. I will have a play around with Win 7 RC if it still works, otherwise XP it is.

I decided to finally buy a few walking gear bits and bobs I’ve been wanting.

The main thing I fancied was a Therm-a-Rest Neo Air, I struggle sleeping on my back and my current Alpkit Slim Airic is a bit thin when sleeping on my side. It’s also nearly 3 times heavier and considerably bigger rolled up than the small Neo Air. I have previously bought items from Backpackinglight.co.uk (3 years ago) and had received excellent service. So, when I became undecided over which size to purchase I sent an email and within 10 minutes Rose had answered all my questions, thanks Rose.

While browsing bpl I decided to order a few other things, rather than writing about each I will just list them below.

• Neo Air (small)
• Silk sleeping bag liner
• Backpacking Pillow
• Repair kit
• Ortlieb A4 map case (already have a map size one)
• Thermarest Lite Seat (needed due to small Neo Air)

I think that was it, very nearly bought a new pair of Montane Terra Pants, my existing pair need re-proofing will try that first. I have worn them on almost every walk I’ve done for 3 years, so becoming tatty.

Now that I’ve bought some more camping gear, I definitely have to get out on some multi-day walks. I have 2 weeks holiday after this week, now where am I going to go?