With new Marilyns a major trip away, progress is now very slow. In May, Tove and I managed a week's trip to clean up Harris and Lewis. Unfortunately the weather was extremely mixed. My 1500th Marilyn, Forsnaval, was reached in terrible weather. We were just glad to get back to the B&B. The following day was much better, with a fine traverse of the four Marilyns above Breanais. The descent off Griomabhal's north ridge was quite an epic and resulted in a new route nicknamed Tove's Gully; something we don't plan to repeat. From Roineabhal we had a great view of St Kilda. A venue for future years Brent?
Within weekend range I have been visiting the Deweys, and reached my 400th in November on Pen y Bedw. I had some excellent days out and some epics. Banc Dolwen provided one of the roughest forest fights I have ever encountered. Rather annoyingly, having converted my orange cag into a green one with the gunge off the trees, I emerged onto a track near the summit that had just (that morning) been constructed. Grrr! My latest epic was provided by my car completely dying on a remote col above Llwyngwril near Barmouth. Both AA recovery guys who came to help will dine out on this story for years to come. It took nine hours to get off the hill and arrive home. The car needed £1500 of new steering column. Some cars have too many electronic gizmos.
Tove and I had an excellent trip to Ladhakh in India, summiting Stok Kangri (6141m) on the most perfect day. We concluded the trip with a visit to the Taj Mahal. I'm not really a culture vulture but the Taj Mahal certainly 'does what it says on the tin' - most impressive. (AD: I agree, but when I was there in 1994 my partner showed due respect for the historic culture by vomiting on the premises. Not good anywhere, but especially not good where everyone has to take off their shoes. To be fair, I think it was outside the front door, and she wasn't at all well).
Graham and Tove on Stok Kangri
