Caching Trip to Hebden

Decided to head north to Hebden, South Yorkshire Dales for a days caching. What brings us to this location? Well a cache series that has been recommended a number of times called the Miners Trail. It is 10 caches with a odd few thrown in over approx 8 miles. I as joined by Ken (Wigganeer), Roger (RogerW8), Andy from The Walker Clan and not to forget Don (The Syllogiser). A cracking day in great surroundings.

Town Hall Clock Tower Tour

After seeing the article in the Manchester evening news about the tours taking place decided to book on one as was one of the best opportunity s to get a god view over the city and get some pictures.

Well what a experience. After taking the lift to the sixth floor of the town hall it was to the stairs at the start of the click tower. 22 steps later and we were in the bell ringing room. After a shirt stay here it was straight up to the top to see Great Abel to witness the sound of 6pm while stood next to it. Some time then spent taking pictures from the catwalk before heading downwards.

South Manchester Cycle Ride

After 3 weeks of not being out on the bike the weather was on my side so headed of out for a while. Heading out via Clayton to pick up the Ashton Canal before following the route of the old Stockport Branch Canal to Debdale.

 Here I picked up the Fallowfield Loop and cycled to the end of that at Chorlton. After taking the wrong route out of Chorlton I got back on track to head for Jackson's Bridge over the Mersey and around Sale Water Park. 

Then heading through Stretford and Trafford Park to Salford Quays.

 Quick lunch stop here before heading into Manchester City Center via the Irwell River Path. 

It was then the final leg home via Collyhurst and Moston.

South Manchester Circular

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Lochaline - Day 1

Not done a post for some time but I'm back but for how long.
A group of 10 of us are here in Lochaline to dive the wrecks of the Sound of Mull. Staying at The Dive Lodge and Diving aboard Sound Diver Charter Boat with Lochaline Dive Centre.

The first dive of the trip and my first sea dive of the year was on the SS Rondo. The dry cargo ship Rondo was driven from her moorings in a fierce winter's storm in 1935 and drifted powerless down the Sound before the wind until she ran aground on a shallow reef running out from the small rocky islet of Dearg Sgeir. She sat there stranded until she was declared a total loss by her insurers. Salvors started scrapping her in situ and she was cut down almost to her water line. Another storm battered her remnants over the edge of the reef and she plunged down the near vertical underwater cliff face of the islet before her bow ploughed into the seabed at the bottom. The wreck stands nearly vertically on her bows in 50msw with her uppermost rudder in just a few metres. She is perhaps the most unusual wreck in Scottish waters.

I headed down the wreck on a solo dive to 43 meters before turning round to head back to the surface. I swam under the hull at 29 meters crossing from the starboard to port side. It was then back over the side and into the wreck for shelter from the current before getting to the start of the rudder at which point I decided to pop a SMB up and leave the wreck to make my way to the surface.

After lunch and a wander around Tobermary it was time to head back out and a dive on the SS Hispania. The SS Hispania sank on 18 December 1954 in 25-30 metres of water. All her crew escaped alive save for her Captain who went down with his ship. The wreck is stunningly intact and in a strongly tidal area it must be dived at slack water. The fierce currents which sweep the wreck have brought an abundance of sealife and the wreck is now almost completely blanketed in a carpet of white and orange plumrose anemones.

This time I had a buddy with me who goes by the name of Gavin. Being the first in the water once the tide had dropped we headed down the shot line and towards the stern of the wreck before having a rummage in the rear cargo holds. We then made our way across the deck to the Bow and then back to the stern before picking up the shot line to the surface.

Tomorrow we are heading towards Oban.

Pendle Wakes

So here we are for another crazy walk in the early hours of the day. We met at the car park in Barley at 5.30am for role call by Team Leader Foinavon. Setting off around 5.45am it was a short walk out of the village before heading along Ogden Clough. A couple of geocaches found along the way before the ascent up onto Pendle Hill via Boar Clough (I think). On top the wind was blowing, ice was forming on everyone and cold was not the word. A quick visit to the trig point before moving off to find shelter from the wind. That didn't last long before we headed down hill and back to Barley for a well deserved bacon and egg butty.

Pendle Wakes

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Egypt 2010 - Part 2

Day 2

Dive 3 was on The Dunraven, also known as The Dullraven after you have dived it a number of times. The wreck sits on the seabed upside down. On reaching it the first section is a quick swim through with the second section taking you pass the boilers and engine and you then leave the wreck at the stern just below the prop and rudder.

From the stern marking your way along the hull of the wreck back towards the reef to finish of the dive with a nice gentle drift. Life spotted on the dive included a Giant Moray, Blue Spotted Ray's and some Red Sea Anemonefish

For the next lot of dives we moved across to Abu Nuhas Reef. Here there is four wrecks to dive. The first for dive 4 was to be the Kimon M

A interesting dive. Even after diving it 3 times before there is always something new to find. A good rummage around the wreck and a swim up onto the reef to look at the anchor and get a photo of it before swimming back along the outside to the shot line for the trip to the surface.

Dive 5 was on the Chrisola K. This is my favourite dive on Abu nu has reef. Plenty to see and loads of swim throughs. Managed to get down into the engine room and over into the generator room. My exit was smaller than it looked and I only managed to exit to the waist before having to drop down and find a different exit. The rest of the dive was just a swim around the cargo holds and along the sea bed looking at some of the debris that has come off the wreck.

No pics of this dive as I left the camera on the boat.

The night dive was on Abu Nu Has reef. The highlight on the dive was a Spanish Dancer.

Egypt 2010 - Part 1

The journey started at 8.15pm on the Saturday (11^th December) evening when the taxi arrived to take me to the coach station. Once there I had to wait an hour for my first coach of the night.

This would take me to Birmingham and a wait of 1 hour 20 minutes before the second coach left. This took me on a tour of Coventry and Heathrow Airport before arriving at Gatwick just after 5am Sunday morning. Within 50 minutes I had checked in, passed through security and made it to McDonald's for some breakfast and to sit and write this.

So after a good flight which took just 4 hours and 15 minutes due to a strong tail wind we landed I Sharm to be greeted my galeforce sinds and a sandstorm. After the journey through the airport, a coach trip to the port and more security checks there it was time to get on the boat, unpack have some dinner and get some sleep.

Day 1

The wind has now died down but we are having to wait for the harbour master to allow us to set sail. Finally we got the all clear at just before 12. We should get our first dive in by 3 o'clock.

Dive One

Beacon Rock and The Emperor Fraser

So this was the check dive and the first time a check dive has passed the 20 meter mark. The current was fast moving so it was follow the rope tied to the fraser's bow and have a little swim around. On returning to the line the current had picked up slightly so I decided that I was going bacl up the line instead of swimming up the reef and fighting against the current. After a 2 min stop at 8 meters and safety stop at 5 meters it was out of the water.

Dive Two

Night Dive at Beacon Rock

Not the most interesting night dive that I have done over the years but it was a dive. Two Jack Fish were out hunting for there supper and towards the end of the dive I spent time helping a lion fish hunt by shining my torch on the small fish.