http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Monkey-Magic/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Monkey Magic en-us Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:55:01 +0000 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:55:01 +0000 Day OneAfter an early morning flight from Luton costing around 140 return with Ryanair we arrived at Marrakech airport. First post of call was to obtain some local currency as you cannot obtain it outside of Morocco. The next port of call should of been to the duty free shop to get some drink supplies but we passed on this which would later haunt us.Our Moroccan host Mohammed Aztat had arranged f http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Souss-Massa-Dra-/Mount-Toubkal/blog-382315.html For a while now I have been in contact with Ian who is a mountain guide who lives on the Isle of Skye so when a chance offer of a winter skills course came about I jumped at the chance. Joining me on this weekend was Paddy and Gill.After setting off from Hartlepool around 130 I arrived at Incree outdoor centre and we found Ian waiting for us in the bar which is normally a good place to find me http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Glen-Coe/blog-377062.html Thomas climbed Roseberry Topping on 9208. He has been asking to join his dad on a mountain climb so we took him to our local Matterhorn Roseberry Topping near Great Ayton.Kitted out in Spotty Otter suit he walked unaided all the way to the top taking about hour and half. We stopped once so Thomas could rest his legs and have a snack.The weather was great but a tad windy on the top. After rea http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/North-Yorkshire/North-York-Moors/blog-374823.html This report was written by my good freind Mr Blister.Irsquoll put this one down largely to UKmase who really wanted to do the walk to test his stamina over long distance in preparation for his Cleveland Way trip. After lots of PMrsquos flying here and there the walk was set for a very windy Saturday 1st March.Night before saw gales and sleeting rain and so it was some relief that I saw th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/East-Riding-of-Yorkshire/Beverley/blog-374659.html Leanne joined me on a 10 mile round walk starting at Square corner car park. As you can see from the photos snow was falling and the moors were covered in mist when we set off. We scrambled straight up the side of Black Hambleton not knowing about a path further down the trail. Thick heather covered in snow made life difficult and we stumbled upon the trig in thick mist. After a quick refreshment http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/North-Yorkshire/Yorkshire-Dales/blog-374309.html After reading endless reports and getting teased with amazing pictures in Trail magazine of Striding Edge i finally got my taste of this classic lake land climb.Chris aka Darksky form the UKwalkingforum joined me on this walk. We had previously stayed the night at a cold Swirral camping bairn close to Glenridding it was basic but well worth the 7 a night charge.We set off early around 830 follo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Cumbria/Lake-District/blog-373370.html Thomas and Leanne joined me a weekend camping trip to the Lakes our destination Hollows Farm Grange in Borrowdale.We arrived early and quickly pitched my new tent the North Face Tadpole 23 which i can now confirm is officially the best tent on the planet lol. 2 adults and a 3 yr old child managed to fit in it which was quite surprising. once the tent was up we headed for a car park just North http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Cumbria/Lake-District/blog-373067.html A bit of a last minute job this trip. Got bored on the way home from London and next thing i know i have managed to arrange a weekend trip to the lakes.We stayed Scotgate Holiday Park near Keswick. Bit of a crowded caravan type park great facilities though but i like seclusion. Anyway Thomas made loads of freinds so Bonus The walk i done was featured in this months trail magazine and included http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-373062.html I arrived in Nant Peris around 7pm and met fellow FC members Pete Paddy and Gill in the Vaynol Arms. We decided on climbing Snowdon and another mountain. After pitching my tent in the campsite opposite the Vaynol Arms we headed up the road for fish and chips. Before decking down for the night we sank a few ciders outside the tents and took in the great views provided by the full moon.The overnigh http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Wales/Snowdon/blog-372579.html Ben Nevis ChallengeThe gauntlet of climbing the highest mountain the UK was laid down and a team of seven signed up myself Ashley Bowers Phil Cartmell Sam Thrower Owen Bouwer Claire Nicholson and Kathryn Shackleton. Arriving on Friday 29th September we soon realised the extent of what we had let ourselves in for. I would describe the Nevis Range as the lake district on stilts.After a very col http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Fort-William/blog-207355.html Disney land Paris blogDay 1 sun 19th aug 20070824Well as usual Leanne was up first making the sarnies to take to airport and finishing off the packing. Next up was Thomas very excited saying ldquoare we going to see Mickey mouserdquo. Soon the car was all packed and off we went. On arrival at airport car park we were escorted to terminal on minibus everything went smoothly and soon we http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-195987.html Well hats off to Leanne she managed to win 2 V.I.P passes to Sunderland airshow. We arrived at 1100 for the Champagne reception and quickly realised the alchol was free all day. The weather was totally amazing we spent most of the day sat in our own private viewing area watching the air displays.Thomas couldnt come in the VIP area so his nana and grandad Mason took him around the shows which h http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Tyne-and-Wear/Sunderland/blog-187507.html DAY 1The holiday started by Bert dropping us off at Teesside airport. Got there well in time and chilled out in the airport so much so that Leanne nearly cause us to miss the flight by going shopping for sweets Thomas loved the plane and was very well behaved he did find the pilots voice quite amusing and couldnrsquot stop laughing. He spent most of the journey just looking out of the wind http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/blog-191310.html Leanne thought we were going to London to enjoy a stage show 24 hours later she was engaged and in the sureal setting of the Ice Hotel 200km inside the arctic circle. A holiday to beat all holidays the most amazing place we have ever been to. At it coldest the temparature was a chilling 28F. DAY 1 We woke up at 530 on Monday morning we packed our bags and headed for central London to visit th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/Norrbotten/Jukkasjarvi/blog-167979.html Well its a early rise and shine this morning 5am to be precise by 6am we were all packed up and raring to go. We arrived at Stonetwaite near Keswick around 9am. Mase put up the tent while Leanne supervised . During this time Thomas took in the scenary including local sheep and lambs. After we had setup the tent Mase decided to cook the first feast of the dayhotdogs. We enjoyed our meal and de http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/blog-168024.html Three nights of Amsterdam at its best nearly 20 of us made it out for Davy Butlers and Danny Hewitts joint stag weekend madness. I was best man for Davy and had a few tricks prepared for the lucky grooms. Our flight took less than 2hours and by the time we arrived in Amsterdam we were well on our way to being drunk. We all departed the airplane Vince sported an easyjet travel meal sticker that h http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/North-Holland/Amsterdam/blog-171208.html We took Thomas to see Old Mother Shiptons cave. in Knaresborough. On arrival we soon scoffed our sandwiches while Thomas made himself at home in the childrenrsquos adventure playground. Little T showed no fear and was soon flying down slides meant for kids twice his age . We made the 15 minute walk up to the Old Mother Shiptons Cave now this was the point I expected Thomas to get scared as h http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/blog-168018.html This was our first family holiday together Thomas was still a tiny little baba but had loads of confidence. We stayed in a 2 bedroom comfort villa at SHerwood Forest Nottingham.The villa was a good size and had an excellent log fire and was right in the middle of the forest all around us was surrounded by nature we sat for hours watching the wildlife pass our patio area we seen squirells pigeo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Nottinghamshire/Nottingham/blog-168020.html We went to Magaluf when thomas was just a bean inside Leanne.After a pleasent flight we reached our destination. We were expecting an all inclusive hotel of a reasonable standardd however when we arrived it wasnt as we expected. After a few moans and groans they finaly accepted our complaint and upgtaded us to a five star on the condition we went half board instead. we agreed. Our new hotel wa http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Balearic-Islands/Majorca/blog-168023.html I am writing this account nearly 10 years on from when I visited Brazil seems a long time ago but it is still strong in my memory so I will blog it before I forget.At his time I was serving as a deck officer on the MS Isomeria for Shell Oil international it was my first trip on a ship and it is what I consider by turning from a boy into a man.We sailed from Gibraltar to Brazil and subsequently c http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Pernambuco/blog-174124.html