6th October 2013.

Dear All,

“If we had survived what tales we would have told of human courage and endurance” – well we did survive our assault on the summit of Snowdon on Tuesday. The ascent was rather grim and foggy but fortunately it cleared for the descent which made a world of difference. I am sure they have added a few hundred feet to the height since we last climbed it about 25 years ago! Maybe flat land East Anglian walking is not ideal preparation but Esther had no problems – it was a job to keep up with her! She has now knocked off about 30 of her 40 pre 40^th birthday challenges.

We walked up the Pyg Track in 3 hours and down the Miners Track in 2.5 hours and the threatened rain did not materialise.

Setting Out  

                                                                 Visibility Moderate

No we Didn’t!  

                                                              Near the Summit  

                                                 

 The Summit (I think!)  

  Made it  

 New Building at Summit  

                                                                  

                                                 So that’s what it looks like!

Llyn Llydaw

                                                                 Looking back

           

We stayed at Borth y Gest beyond Porthmadog, overlooking a fine sandy bay.

 Borth y Gest

The house would have slept 8 so we rattled a bit. On Wednesday we explored Criccieth, Pwllheli, Caernarvon and Harlech and Thursday morning walked into Porthmadog via the coast path before Kate and I returned as I had a Garden Club appointment at Ashwell that evening.

On the way down on Monday we broke the journey at Wroxeter, a restored Roman site and Attingham Park near Shrewsbury which had a fantastic walled garden.

 Wroxeter    

                                                               Attingham Walled Garden

Friday I took delivery of a new backup mower for the cricket square so tried it out by giving the whole pitch a shave as well as the back lawn. The main cricket mower has been nothing but trouble all year so this is a welcome addition.

Keen gardeners will not need me to tell you that runner beans are still cropping well and it is time to start winter digging.

Love

Mike & Kate