A little walk

 After having little bit of a lie in, I am off work using up some annual leave, I decided to go for a little walk. I thought it would also give me the opportunity to see if my now ancient Pentax K30 DSLR was indeed broken. I bought the camera way back in 2013 when I went away to visit America, and really the camera hasn't seen all that much use, mainly because I was too lazy to learn how to use it to its full potential.

  

Pentax K30

Pentax K30

Anyhoo some weeks ago I had got the camera out from under my bed and the bag it was living in and thought to have a go at using it. When I went to take some shots they all appeared to be really dark. Possibly because it was late on one afternoon and indoors, who knows.

I did a little research online and discovered that this particular model of camera suffers from something called "aperture block", and well my camera had been lying about doing nothing for yeah, probably years. Like most people I tend to just take snaps with my mobile phone.

So heading out, with no particular place in mind I dropped the hood on my wee Abarth and headed over to Craghead, and headed up Wagtail lane towards the Stream Valley and the little carpark there.

Once parked up I then proceeded to change from my trainers to my walking boots as I knew it would be fairly muddy. I then set off on the trail and tried to discover somethings interesting to take a shot of. Not much success I am afraid, my creative brain not really kicking in, and I found I was walking with my head down trying to keep my footing as the trail was all slippery with mud and chewed up by the numerous horses that had been using the route.

Horses have fairly chewed up the trails

I only managed to get approximately 9 to 10 shots on the whole walk around, covering about 4.70 miles, in a loop, going as far as Maiden Law and then back towards my car.

Heading up towards Maiden Law

Upon arriving home and having a look at my photos I have sort of come to the conclusion that I don't think the camera has aperture block, no its more a case of me just being inept in its settings and how to use it to it's best potential. I have always been hit missy with this camera. Never mind I will give it a go another day. I still enjoyed the walk. It's nice to sometimes just get out with no particular place in mind, listen to the birds and I even enjoyed the light rain upon my face.

Farmers Trail and back to my car

As I got back to my car and attempted to remove my boots and put my trainers back on, now that was a bit of a struggle. My lower back having seized up. all part and parcel of being an amputee I guess, that and old age LoL.

The 3 Amigos Fight the Wind

 What a most excellent morning I had this morning. I mean not only did everything go to plan, I was able to find my bike kit, my bike turned on and connected to my phone immediately, my new Oakley Sunglasses with Trail Prism Lenses are awesome and I can actually see, and to top it off meeting up with my two compadres Lee and John who I have not been out for a ride with as the 3 Amigos in like what seems forever.

The 3 Amigos

From meeting up with the lads we were soon into  fantastic banter and reminiscing about the good ol'e days and some of the funny adventures we had previously been on, on our bikes. I really do hope this year we can make it another year to make some new memories and get out more together, as that is what life is all about.

Even though the weather man, or woman had said it was going to be windier than yesterday, and I think they were right, it didn't take away from how much we all enjoyed meeting up and spending time in one another's company.

  

Love my Orbea Gain

Bike isn't great in the slippy bits Whoooaaa!

Riding in the sheltered areas wasn't so bad, like going through South Moor Park, and parts of Chapman Wells. However going across from Maiden Law to towards Burnhope and then going down the old Peth bank was canny windy, so much so that I was only doing 9mph and having to pedal down the Peth. Normally I can do 30 to 40 mph down there no worries, and boy riding up the Lanchester Valley into a head wind was tough.

Not often Lee is behind me

Lee

As usual John and I were trailing behind Lee. Lee is like the Energiser Bunny and just keeps going and going and going LoL.

From the get go John had been informing us of his desire for a Cornish Pastie, not just any old pastie mind you, Oh No, according to John these are the best Cornish pasties in the world. As we got nearer to Knitsley and the farm shop, his hankering had not diminished and I actually think he sped up somewhat.

  

John and Me

Love been out with the lads

John came out of the Farm shop and didn't appear to dismayed that he had not been able to obtain the best Cornish pastie in the world (allegedly I don't want anyone suing me) instead he had gotten a corn beef pastie, it must have been good as he almost took his fingers off with the first bite Lol

 

Could this be the best pastie in the World ?

Off we set once more facing the wind towards Consett, John now packing "Pastie Power", we eventually come up past the old red Wagon on the cycle track near Hownsgill and we headed back towards Stanley. The ride home became easy as we now had the wind at our backs and it really did push us along.

A liittle bit of single track after crossing the main road at Greencroft and we came out at Dodd Terrace and then it was easy to get back on the C2C at Anfield Plain.

As we got to John's house he popped in to go and get his wee dog to show Lee. John's dog is a cute little fella, proper friendly. John, says he is called Bruno, but I call him Frank, I think he looks more like a Frank. I like to wind John up, however he knows what I am like and always takes it in good fun.

19.1 miles done. It was a fairly hard ride, due to the wind, but well worth it for the craic and hanging with good m8's.

  

Frankie... Err I mean Bruno

Frank n John

Ooh and the day hasn't ended just yet., more excitement with a little added nervousness, as the short film I was featured in is being privately screened at Newcastle tonight. 

 

I didn't choose the title `LoL

I have invited friend and family and hope it goes down well and they all think the film is something special. The film is still doing well having received 6 awards at various film festivals.

Well I had better head off and try and make myself look pretty Bye for now.