From Avoriaz Skiing with the Muppets
From Barnard Castle Cycling
From Cheeky Chamonix Ski
From Black Forest New Year
From Xmas 2022
From From Alleppey to the coast and to Fort Kochin
From To Alleppey
From Border Hiking in Periyar Tiger Reserve
From More farmland and even more tea plantations and on to spice plantations

Avoriaz Skiing with the Muppets

Monday, 13th February 2023

After the poor snow conditions at New Year we were concerned what might await us in Avoriaz for our ski trip with the Muppets… We needn’t have worried so much … loads of snow fell in January, and a week of consistently low temperature (approx -10C throughout the day) ensured our week based in the …

Barnard Castle Cycling

Sunday, 22nd January 2023

We needed to get our eyes tested so we headed off to Barnard Castle with Andy & Astrid Saxby and Nigel & Kath Hooker. It turned out that we could all see fine! Surprising really, considering how utterly bloody freezing it was on the bikes, how knackered our un-used to hiking legs were from a …

Cheeky Chamonix Ski

Monday, 2nd January 2023

After the Black Forest we swung by Chamonix hoping for a little more snow. Alas, while there was more snow thanks to the higher altitude it wasn’t that great. Especially considering the €54 each lift pass pricing. You might have thought that with such poor conditions they’d have had an offer on?

Black Forest New Year

Sunday, 1st January 2023

We’d hoped to be able to do some skiing in the Black Forest with our friends Rebecca and Mathias. But the weather was more like spring or autumn than winter … glorious blue skies, dry leaves on the ground instead of fluffy snow, and T-shirt wearing temperatures!

Xmas 2022

Sunday, 25th December 2022

Hopefully Covid isolation, lockdowns, etc. are finally just a memory … back to normal with a big family Xmas dinner! Yum Yum!

From Alleppey to the coast and to Fort Kochin

Thursday, 1st December 2022

Leaving the luxurious house boat behind, we got back on the bikes and cycled a short 30km to the beach.

To Alleppey

Monday, 28th November 2022

Leaving the spice plantation behind us, we started the journey toward Allepey. The smells were still amazing, with drying cardamon wafting through the air.

Border Hiking in Periyar Tiger Reserve

Sunday, 27th November 2022

On Sunday we woke to rain, which didn’t bode well for our ‘rest day’, a 15km trek in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Fortunately the rain was warm, but it soon stopped so we didn’t really need to carry our waterproof coats and trousers all day!

More farmland and even more tea plantations and on to spice plantations

Thursday, 24th November 2022

The next day, Thursday, we cycled from Pollachi for 50km through very fertile farmlands. At one point we stopped and chatted to a couple of ladies weaving screens from palm leaves. They aim to weave about 100 in a day and they will get paid 500 rupees. They looked very happy in their task.