No depression for me this year! Even though I cannot cycle – a knee problem – the cold weather and a lot of sunshine meant that I could be outside with a camera.
The short days disguised the fact that I could not go far. The new boots were a motivation and the frozen ground and periods of sunshine made it at times delightful. If only we could have this weather every winter.
I have really enjoyed walking this holiday. It is not often when the forecast suggests that the best weather – sunshine – will only be in the Pennines. On one day I drove into Manchester, foggy, was seen by a consultant and was home by 8:30. I was walking on the moors by 9:15 in sunshine looking down on a sea of freezing mist in the valleys. I bought, just before I stopped bouldering, a Rab down jacket at great expense that had been worn twice. The weather has never been cold enough to wear it. Today I put it on and with two pairs of Ron Hill tracksuit bottoms I was prepared for the worst. In fact with no wind and sunshine. I walked for a couple of hours without a hat, gloves or jacket. The air temperature was below freezing the whole day. I wore a ruck sac filled with the clothing I thought I would need.