JaksTrips

Calgary

20th May

Didn’t sleep enough. I was worried about not having access to money so rang my credit card provider who sorted it out. Quite an achievement as I couldn’t remember any details of my account.

Glen gave me fresh fruit and scrambled eggs and coffee and juice. I went and bought some groceries in Safeway. All the veg seemed bigger. Most things were in huge multi packs. Glen then took me for a little tour in his car. We stopped off at Tim Hortons and he got me an espresso. Then we looked over the Bow river to the downtown skyline. He drove around the area overlooking the river and with a view of the Rockies. He was keen on a huge multi million dollar house that was going up. Some old houses in old clapboard style but a lot of new too. We stopped at an estate sale and looked around at what was a lifetime of someone’s old stuff mostly old tat. I think someone had died, it seemed quite sad. Then Glen took me to the Ramada and I checked in.

I went to the Mountain Equipment Co-op, a wonderful outdoor store. Looked into bear spray and bells. Bells not recommended so decided to ask tour leader.

Eventually met up with the group. Mireille is the leader. Group is Andy, Heather, Natalie, James, Norman, Sally, Joy, Geoff, Steph, Chris, Jo and me. M gave an introduction. I said my intention was to feed myself and not join the kitty. I need to watch the pennies plus want to eat what I want to eat. Off to nice restaurant Murietta as gesture on my part that I’m not completely isolating myself. I had a Calgary blonde beer and a big goats cheese and kale salad. Very good.

Watched Allied movie. Bit rubbish really.

Upside down switches. Naked cars with only rear number plates.

Canada May 2017

Friday 19th

A long day with the added confusion for me of traveling back in time. I flew from Leeds Bradford to Heathrow “we had a problem with one of the aircraft’s computers but are going anyway “. Visions of switch off/on and waiting for Microsoft’s own special idea of time passing. From Heathrow it was my first long haul flight. I had a nice and interesting companion to chat with. Watched Denial which was very good about Penguin books and Deborah Lipstadt fighting David Irving. Listened to some podcasts and read a bit. The veggie food was fine, rice with veg and tofu. Had a beer. Walked about a bit. Suddenly it went dark which confused me because it had been bright sunshine outside despite being so late at “night”. Mechanical darkness. I failed to sleep. Hummus sandwich came when they wanted to wake everyone up. A wobbly landing at Calgary but thankfully the plane didn’t tip over. And in Calgary it was only 2 hours after the time I left Heathrow.

Then my big failure. I’d not brought the card I’d loaded up with cash. Managed to get cash out so not a major problem but annoyed with myself. Got a bus into town. Seemed a long way. Walked 10 minutes to Tuxedo House bed and breakfast to be welcomed by Glen. Slept a little but not enough.

MTL Holme Chapel to Hurstwood 14th May 2017

The last section. Very glad to have Babs with me to finish it off. After a bit of confusion on my part at the Ram Inn and giving the man who was minding the pub car park a good laugh, we set off. The morning’s hail storm was a memory and my wet clothes soon dried off in the heat of the sun.

The route takes you to the Long Causeway via lots of lime hushings which are the hillocks caused by all the flushing of the stone they had to do. There were once 50 kilns in this area but now dismantled and turned into walls.

Then it’s across to Cant Clough reservoir and a short hop to Hurstwood reservoir and Babs’s car. Back to the Ram where we had a drink which I had promised the publican we would do!

Now it’s over. The route is only 47 miles and tough cyclists do it in a day. I’ve walked nearly twice the miles. Babs and I did the 2 car thing twice. I did a short and not very nice section by bike. I walked in all weathers. So what’s next? I’m probably going to walk the full Calderdale Way because Carol and I never actually finished it when we did it about 12 years ago.

The last few sections from Lumb were top notch and I feel sure Chris would have loved it too. Here’s to you my darling love.

Babs says I have an invisible dog on a lead!,

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map and use a compass with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

MTL Deerplay to Holme Chapel 13th May 2017

This was a back to front chunk. I parked in the Ram Inn at Holme Chapel. Once under the railway line the way goes past a couple of farms, one with far too many dogs, thankfully all chained up. One was massive and scary. A train passed by. Then up quite a steep hill to Mary Towneley’s stone. Up a bit more to another farm and then along past lots of sheep and lambs including some black ones that looked like Gnasher the dog, scrawny with spindly legs.

Turned back at Deerplay for the clockwise experience. There were young cows out near the railway but they ran away from me! A train went past. And then I was back at the pub. Just a couple of hours.

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map and use a compass with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

MTL Lumb to Deerplay 7th May 2017

Fabulous day. Warm at last. Out with Babs. We started off with a visit to Babs’s sister who lives near Lumb.

From Lumb it’s a lovely section of the Loop through rolling hills. And at last some horses on the bridleway! It had seemed as if I was going to walk the entire Mary Towneley Loop without seeing a horse on it. And today we were rewarded with a bunch of 4 and then a man and boy with the horse pulling them in a slo mo version of a quad bike.

We had a bite to eat at Deerplay (great name) no deer in sight and then returned by the same route.