Dave Hewitt's visit to Bristol in the autumn of 2001 finally nagged me to tie down my actual total of Marilyns. After going through various old diaries I found, with dismay at the final total, that I'd clocked my 100th on Long Knoll with Dave as dusk fell on a gorgeous (good as mid-summer) October day. This was after a hilarious GOMAS (Get Off My Archaeological Site) encounter with the landowner of Milk Hill (accused of using metal detectors, we were).
Carn Fiaclach (11B) was my only Scottish one last year but the summer holidays brought about some nice low-level hill days blessed with good weather with the kids down south. Highlights? The coastal top Golden Cap when doing Hardown Hill - the views are brilliant. In Pembrokeshire the Clement of Carn Lidi was rather good (wee scramble at the top). Ysgyryd Fawr is one of the best lower hills in south Wales - a pleasant mini-ridge with good views also. And I can confirm the top of Wentwood isn't that hard to find, but I was still relieved to find it.
Feelings at the end of another wee year of wee ascents - maybe it's time to set targets and aim for 150 by the end of 2003? But it was nice just to pick a few ascents and get the weather right, have good company and a good picnic - isn't that what it's all about?
