Going to Chicago

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On Sunday drove down to Heathrow to catch the plane to Chicago. Got stuck on the M25 for one hour and made the checkin 75 minutes before the scheduled flight leaving time.

Flight was full. Had plenty of wine and food on the trip. Arrived in Chicago, and filled in the customs form to say I had been on a farm. They were still concerned with FMD from England, so cleaned and disinfected my shoes.

Caught to Chicago City train into tge city, as this is quite a low clost way in.

The Hilton Palmer House Hotel was good, it is a 1900 hotel with a wonderful ceiling in the entrance hall painted by a French impressionist. 

Had a burger and a few glasses of beer before going to bed.

Annecy Paragliding

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On Friday got back from Annecy after a week of paragliding.

We drove out with Cloud Nine and stayed a Maison Du Moulin as guests of Irwyn Jehu. 

The weather was excellant and we had five days of paraliding. The last two days it rained, and instead Irwyn tooks us canyoning.

Had good flights from Col de la Forclaz where I managed to gain 600 meters above take off in quite strong conditions. In fact I had to put in the big ears to stop going into the rather black looking clouds. Managed to get over to the teeth, but chickened out from crossing the lake because of the now very black looking clouds. After landing down by the lake, a thunder stor soon started.

We also flew at Grand Bornond, near La Cluzas, where I also gained much height. The second flight though was rather rough and I spend 10-15 minutes with big ears pulled to get down quickly. No one I spoke to enjoyed that second flight.

All in all had a wonderful time, with great food and wine. Should have some pictures later.

Faroe Holiday

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We arrived back from the holiday on Sunday. The weather was very mixed. Rain, wind, fog and sunshine, all in one day. The last few days were quite warm.

I was able to take some close up pictures od the puffins, and also ate my first puffin, it was quite a gamey bird.

We participated in quite a few walks, which generally meant going up steep slopes and down again. After the walk a few Black Sheep beers were always consumed.

Last afternoon at Vågar

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Took the bus to an old house which had been inhabited until the 1956. It had been built in the 18th century, was grass roofed, dirt floored and build of wood and stones. It was three rooms, one for the cows in winter, one room for cooking, and the final room the best room with a couple of beds.

We walked back over the hill, couple of hours walk. A few beers before supper. For supper had a started of dried meats. These were dried lamp, dried fish (probably plaice) , dried whale meat and some blubber. Was interesting and not too bad.

Tomorrow we are off to another location. A grass roofed hostel, and to see some cliffs with lots of birds.

The vist to the puffins

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The night never actually got dark, it though rained pretty hard. Had a good sleep, Good breakast of meats, cheeses and bread. Then walked down to the boat. Looked quite promising, not too much wind, and the rain had stopped. But the boat was not running because it was too rough out at sea. So walk around the village. I took a few pictures of the village, the school and church. Now we are back at the hotel waiting for a bus to take us to a local museum in a near by village.

The island of Vågar

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Up early in the morning for breakfast and then to the airport for the two hour flight to the island of Vågar. Excellent service on the plane. Arrived at the airport, and walked across a field to the hotel. Hotel two story modern hotel. Had a quick lunch of a thick soup and then went for a quick walk to the coast. The walk took us alongside a lake. The lake reached the sea where it ended in a water fall. Lots of birds on the walk, which were identified for us by the birders in the party. They managed 25 birds on the walk.

The short walk ended five hours later back at the hotel after 10 miles. Quick shower and then some beers and supper. Big surprise was a new member of the party turned up at 6.pm. He is Ian who was on the Georgian and Armenian trip the prvious year.

Supper was OK, we all thought there would be loads of fish on the menu. In fact there was only Atlantic Salmon.

The weather, it rained a little but not alot. Just low cloud at 200 to 300 feet spoilt the look of the place. Best described as soft. 

The tour guide is Norwegian, who has lived in Ireland for a a couple of years and has an Irish accent. She has just graduated from Edinburgh Uni with an Artificial Inteligence degree.

Tomorrow we are off to an island called Mykinos (sound like that but not spelt that way. ) This is a high light of the trip with puffins. But may not happend because the sea must not be rough and today the boat had been canncelled. Looking forward to eating some Puffin, its a national dish as is whale meat.

Well that is for now. It is 10.30 in the evening and it is still rather light. 

Holiday to the Faroe Islands

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Set off early in the morning to Gatwick airport and took a flight to Copenhagen. Arrived Copenhagen and went straight to the hotel in the middle of the red light district. Went straight out and walked around the centre, had a beer for lunch, visited the Guiness museum and had an evening meal sitting out side the restaurant. It was quite a warm night.

Watched an open air jazz concert in one of the squares and then went on back to the hotel for bed. Woken by fire works and rather a noisy street.

Axon Summer Party

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This weekend was the Axon Summer party at Brighton. We had a good trip down there around the M25 and M23 and finally were delayed along the Brighton front as we made our way to the Grand Hotel.

After booking and having our car taken away from us, we caught the coach to the Racecourse where the afternoon entertainment was taking place. Lunch was a BBQ, with lashings of beer. Played on the dogem cars, quad bikes and a simulator for the Aintree Grand National race. This time I did not turn the quad bike over. There were other activities, laser clay shooting, Pilot Bikes and a show for the kids. The weather held out, and got brighter as the day progressed.

Made our way to the hotel, our room was on the front, so had a good view of the see. We went for quick swim, and then down for the evening meal. Managed to speak to the head honcho Mark Hunter during the cocktail event. He gave his view of financial analysts, which was not very polite. 

The meal was pretty good, and the evening continued with usual formula of gambling, disco and slot car racing.

In the morning breakfast, and then visited Karen and her boy friend in their room. She had been booked into a honeymoon suite as they are getting married next Saturday. It was magnificent with a four poster bed in a large room, and another lounge with television sofas and writing tables. We then headed back home in the rain. Not much else during the day just relaxed. Rain held off later, so was able to do some mowing around the field.

Stonehenge with Andante

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We had an wonderful weekend visiting prehistoric monuments in Wessex with Andante travel. More details and pictures to be posted on the website later.

We travelled to Salisbury on Friday for an evening lecture on Stonehenge.

On Saturday we started early for a private trip around stonehenge. Here we were able to walk among the stones. After the visit, which had to end before 8.30, before the general public arrived, we had a walk through the prehistoric landscape of stonehenge.

Picnic lunch in the afternoon, then a visit to the Trust for Wessex Archaeology, and a visit of Salisbury Museum. 

Supper was provided by Andante and was excellant.

On Sunday we went to Knap Hill by coach, and walked from there along the Wansdyke to the burial chambers of West Kennet long barrow. We passed by Milk Hill, and Tan Hill. I saw a paraglider and hangglider flying Milk Hill.

After the barrow we walked on the Avebury passing Silbury Hill. Excellant picnic lunch by Andante, and then a visit to the stones. Back on the coach to Salisbury and then on home in the car. 

A great weekend.