Belle Dune - last day

Misty to start but becoming glorious. Shorts on again. Had arranged to bring start time forward to 8.30, giving a bit of extra leeway for return trip.

Played 2 man Scramble, partnering Trev vs Phil and Martin. Started strongly but then hit several awful drives. Each time Trev's shots were okay so we continued to score well, getting 22 out. Much the same on the vack nine, boosted by some really good putting by Trev to get 24 back and gross 75, 4 over. Highlight was Trev's second on 17 from my drive to right hand side. 6 iron over the trees to a yard, long putt.

Gary and Pete had same net 61 so Gary held onto first place overall, with me in second by half a point from Phil.

Quick lunch, leaving at about 2 pm for the 3.50 crossing, which was then delayed until 4.30. Easy drive home, arriving about 6.15.

 

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Saturday 13 September

Up at 7.30 for breakfast, first down, others looking a bit hung over.

At The Dunes in good time for 10.30 start, weather great. Played singles Stableford with Phil vs Pete and Tony. Phil played really well over first 9, scoring 21 to my 14. But I then had a good back nine of 19, squandering a couple of holes and losing by 1.

Drove really well, remembering to turn properly. Pete had torrid time, 7 blobs, several big hooks into the trees. Tony also a bit hampered by bad back.

Back to Montreuil, going straight out again to sit on the square watching the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the town.

Froggys and the main square.

 

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France 2014 - start of the boys' trip

Off with Phil and Tony at 7 am, getting to the tunnel in good time for the 10.06 crossing, ahead of the scheduled 10.30 time.

Country route to Hardelot, turning off at Boulogne rather than using the peage.

Started round at 1.36 but horribly slow.

Pete and I vs Gary and Martin. Gary the strong man of the day, giving them a better ball 20 out but 13 back. Just enough to beat Phil and Tony's 32, with the rest of us on 30.

Five hour round, people ahead not in any rush. Result was a dash back to hotel, quick shower and off to restaurant Denatel. Nice place but menu limited. Had what turned out to be raw fish starter followed by minuscule lamb chops. Staggering bill, several staggering golf ears too.

Gave the last bar visit a miss but the others didn't.

 

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Slovenia - 10 September, Going Home

Awake soon after 6 and at breakfast promptly.

Minibus on time, collecting six other people from other hotels. Raining but light cloud cover for people staying on.

Chatty driver so the hour to Ljubljana airport passed quickly. Small airport so soon through the formalities and in the departure lounge by 10.

And here comes the plane.

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Slovenia - 9 September, Tuesday

Another morning of blue skies. Breakfast at 6.45 despite the scowls that it didn't open until 7.
Set off on the bus to Bled, joining the girls and spending most of the day with them. Train from Bled to the Soca river where we boarded the bus to the starting point for the hour's circuit by boat of the lake created by the dam and hydro plant.

Back onto the bus for about an hour, getting to the lunch place for a traditional Slovenian meal and climb up the spiral tower - but only so far because of the swarms of wasps at the top.

On to the winery, where we had a tour before the tasting session.

Back onto the bus eventually and surprised to hear it was over 200 km back. Quite quick once onto the Italian motorway but running into heavy rain as we approached Kranjska Gora. Felt a bit smug that we'd had a beautiful day for the whole trip bar the last few miles.

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Slovenia - 8 September, Monday

Fantastic blue sky to greet us as we woke up, and staying all day.

Met the walking party at 9.15 and set off along walk 8, starting near Hotel Lek. Mixture of tracks, steep rocky paths with cows on them, open meadows and continuous walking/cycling track back.

Stopped for lunch soon after 12.30 at a small cabin, using our packed lunches provided by the hotel.

Much more direct and quicker return down a gravel track, getting to KG at about 4.30. Had a couple of beers then hired bikes for ride through Podkoren and into Italy. Missed the turning to the Fusine lakes and rode on several miles before backtracking. Uphill and wind against much of the way back but a nice cycle track.

Welcome shower and relax before evening meal.

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Slovenia - 7 September, Sunday

Sunshine! Started cool but progressed into a lovely warm day. So much for the pessimistic weather forecasts.
Waited for the welcome session at Hotel Lek, deciding to go on the schnapps walk later and picking up tips about walks.
Decided on Walk 2, which started near our hotel and climbed up into the woods. Lovely route and very quiet at first. Stopped for drinks after an hour or so, very friendly guy who offered us something with loca blueberries that turned out to be a big slice of strudel.

On along a quiet track overlooking the valley then down to the river, which looked like the one at Bovec, blue and fast flowing.

Called in at a bar for refreshments before heading back to the hotel for a shower and snooze. Early dinner then out for the schnapps walk.  This involved a 20 min walk to a traditional Slovenian bar, where we all sat outside and tried three different types of schnapps accompanied by the unfortunately named local delicacy krapi.

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Slovenia - 6 September, Saturday

Move day. Dull start developing into rain. The Chinese had pretty much cleared the breakfast buffet, eating half and making the rest into packed lunches.

Did last walk along lake as they prepared for a triathlon event. Spoke to people who'd just arrived from Kranjska Gora, saying the weather had been bad and they'd run out of things to do. Not promising.
Minibus on time, making its way through the gloom to KG. Checked into Hotel Kompas and a nice room with view of the mountains. Walked into town to the accompaniment of the ever-present Harley Davidson motor bikers (big convention over the border in Austria), eventually finding a nice restaurant for pasta + lasagne lunches.

Asked about walks at the tourist office, but a not very helpful lady. Headed for Podkoren, at first along the noisy road as the bikers ground their way up the mountain. Turned off on route 4, which was much better, very rural and peaceful among the forest trees.

Back to the hotel by 4.30 for a cuppa and rest before the evenings entertainments.

Went to Devil Bar in the evening after meal at the hotel, for quiz night. Very light hearted including prize for best paper plane - Hilary's. Teamed up with earnest Robert and slightly twitchy Janet, who were amazed at our dingbat solving and mental gymnastics.

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Slovenia - 5 September, Friday

Good night's sleep apart from noisy Germans waking us up. Bright start to day despite continuing forecasted rain.

Walked up past the church, heading for Vintgar Gorge. Half sunny but pleasantly warm. Throngs of people at the start point of the gorge walk (4 euros), most having been delivered by buses. Spectacular walkway hanging off the cliffs, and dramatic water falls in places.

Arrived back at the top at lunchtime, which had to be river fish, brown trout. Came back a slightly different way, not immediately finding the path, which didn't have any markers.

Standard shot as we reached the lake ...

Stopped for tea as we reentered Blad then back to Hotel Kompas for shower and downtime.

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Slovenia - 4 September, Thursday

Overcast at first but nothing other than a few spots of rain during the day, and pleasantly warm with some sun.

Went to welcome briefing then met up with our guided walking group. Set off clockwise round the lake, turning off towards Selo and onwards south to the river.

Then climbed up to Ribno where we stopped for tea and a chat on the balcony of a large hotel. Continued back to Bled and a pizza restaurant on the upper level of the shopping area surrounding the small square. Large pizza for me and enormous tuna salad for H.

Walked that off during our climb up to the castle with its spectacular views, not apparent in photos below but perched on a cliff face.

Back to the hotel for a shower and rest before dinner.

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Slovenia - 3 September 2014, Wednesday, First Day

Awake at 3.30 am and at Stansted by 5 am despite fog. Dropped car off at Meet & Greet, very easy, just arriving in car park and dropping key at reception rather than having to phone for collection as at Luton.
Boarded on time for 7 am flight but an hour's delay because of the fog. Rep and bus waiting at Ljubliana and a short transfer to Bled and the Kompas Hotel. Nice hotel and room, weather overcast but warm enough.
Started the walk around the lake but stopped for lunch after a short while. Restaurant full of motor bikers so lots of throaty revving. Lovely view across to the chateau and church.

Walked on round the lake, stopping for an ice cream at the far end. Some spots of rain but nothing much. Had cup of tea at a place with balcony facing the lake, then headed back to the hotel at 4.30 pm.

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Derbyshire - 23 June 2014

Fairly good night apart from the builder men's noisy getting up soon after 6am. We'd been told breakfast started at 9 am so had to go for a stroll until the cafe doors opened. Then a slow process of getting the not full English and some toast and marmalade.

Drove to Monsale Head and parked at the top car park. Then walked down to the viaduct but turned off it in favour of the small road and paths heading for Miller's Dale. Nice walk in warm but increasingly cloudy weather, reaching The Angler's Rest soon after 1 pm. Ploughman's Lunch for me, prawn baguette for H.

Started to rain as we walked back along Monsale Trail, the old railway route. The tunnels gave shelter from the increasingly heavy rain but we were a bit damp getting back to the car.

Stopped at Bakewell on way back, buying some walking trousers for H and tea and Bakewell Pudding for top-up.

Back to Matlock Bath for change and relax before going to the Charles Restaurant for a cheap and cheerful supper, chicken pie for me, cod and salad for H.

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Derbyshire - 23 June 2014

Set off from home at 9.30 in warm sunny weather. Drove to Chatsworth via M1, getting there at about 12.30.
Walked around the gardens for a while, had sandwich lunch, then walked some more until we'd seen just about everything.
Continued on to Mortlock Bath, finding the B&B easily. First impression was grim. Communal bathroom, dilapidated duvet, soft bed, old telly etc. Beside main road so noisy. Loads of motor bikes congregating at one bar. Booked it late so limited choice, bad one.
Walked along Main Street looking for decent place to eat. Lots of chip pies and noisy pubs, nothing appealing. Eventually spotted a small Italian restaurant up an ally and it looked okay. Decent meal. Watched a bit of World Cup.

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Australia - Wednesday 12 March, Journey's End

Sunny morning for our last in Sydney.

Sarah drove us out to Manly again, this time allowing us to see the view across the Heads towards the city.

Parked  between Manly and Shelly Cove and walked along to the latter.  Couldn't resist a last dip, among lots of other people.  Had refreshments at the cafe and headed back to the house for toasted sandwiches and final packing.

Sarah dropped us off at the airport at 2.30 and we were quickly through check-in and into the departure area.  Plane away on time at about 5 pm, this time with several empty seats in our area.  Settled down to watch films, including The Butler, American Hustle (again to understand it) and The Book Thief.

Slept with the aid of wine and Tamazepam, making the hours pass acceptably quickly to Dubai.  Had to do four big loops in a holding pattern because of congestion at the airport but told we would make up the half hour on the leg to London.

The time again passed fairly comfortably and the formalities at Heathrow were quick and easy.  Jamie was there to meet us in the arrivals hall and we arrived home in less than an hour despite the fog and traffic.

Australia - Tuesday 11 March, back to Sydney

Fond farewells to Penny and Jim at the motel and off back to Cairns. Easy drive and check-in, and flight away on time at 12 noon.
Watched The Railway Man on the Qantas iPad, excellent film but hard to hear against the general background enoise and screaming child.
Sarah at the airport to collect us and soon back to the house. She went off to a squash meeting and we went for a walk down Arabella Street, taking in views over the river and city.

PS. Finally decided this tree is Tibouchina.

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