Climbing

For the past month I've been going climbing again, and I have definitely noticed the strength and stamina building in just a few sessions. Today was one of those days and after work Big ash and I headed over to evolution and hit the wall for a couple of hours, they've made a really fun route on the overhang that has left us shattered! We shall be going back next Wednesday and hopefully see some improvement!

blogging once again!

I have been thinking about how much i loved blogging in the time that i spent travelling and even when i came back, just putting a few thoughts into words, and telling the world about new adventures or past experiences. Even if no one reads it at least it will stay on here and i can look back on my life and see how things used to be! I have been kindly given and Iphone as a 22nd birthday present by my beautiful girlfriend so updating the blog should in theory be a lot easier!

That's all for now, hope you all like the new look, since traviajero.com has been taken by someone else i have had to think of a different web address so hence the change there! but the blog is the same, trips, film, music, adventure, life!

Take it easy brothers and sisters, good night.

Santiago.

It's always a pain having to pack and organise everything for a trip without forgetting anything important, we left Tunbridge Wells just after our planned departure time and reached the eurotunnel in plenty of time. I must admit i had a bit of a shiver down my spine to the tought of being let loose in a strange land, driving on the other side of the road and not wanting to mess anything up. This feeling was soon eased down and i was able to relax.

The roads were beautiful; mostly empty, at times it felt like i was on my own private motorway heading East. Words can't describe the freedom of suddenly being on the same landmass as most of the world and knowing that borders were the only thing separating me from faraway destinations such as Siberia or China. The car drove like a champ and even though it's just a few bits of metal joined together i felt it come alive and enjoy the drive as much as i did. We drove on through the evening and night. Due to the higher speed limits of 130kmph or 80 mph i was able to open the throttle up just that little bit more than in the UK. It gave a further feeling of freedom and cruising at just under 3000 revolutions/minute the Fiesta took us ever Eastwards until morning. The sun rose just after 5am to what seemed like a very instant dawn and soon we were once again driving in the daylight. The scenery grew stronger and soon we were in the Swiss mountains. Plowing through the miles at now 75mph i was engulfed in the powerful and mystical views from the farway valleys; snowcapped mountains that were much higher and meaner than anything i had previously experienced before, it made me want to be up there on the solid rock attatched to the rope, living.

It has now passed a week and although we only went on one hike, i have been able to relax like never before, the sunshine has been amazing and we spent most days by the pool catching the rays, which for us "brits" is no a common experience. Tomorrow morning we will be setting off back home and aim to reach Calais' tunnel terminal in just over 10 hours. I am as always very excited about the long drive and can't wait to see the look on my friends' faces as we turn up to Karina's 21st birthday party. A spontaneous thought decided that instead of taking two days to drive back we will do it all tomorrow and therefore be able to attend their much antisipated gathering which we would otherwise miss.

That's all for now, cheeeerss!

Santiago.

Snowdonia, Snowdon and Tryfan

It was June 13th, and the start of a three week holiday off work. A friend of mine, Wes, and i decided to head to the hills of North Wales for a few days and attempt a bit of climbing. Leaving a bit later than expected due to repeatedly snoozed alarms, we made a good 130 mile run non-stop and finished off the trip shortly after. The campsite was situated just outside the national park, about a thirty minute drive, which was maybe a little too far to drive everyday to go climbing but we soon got used to it and the site's owner was pretty chilled which just added to the fact that it was empty, quiet, and real nice and clean. On the first day we drove around and i showed Wes the area as i have been there before a couple of times, the roads are incredible, it reminded me of the car advert where after a series of turns a picture perfect road appears and the sat nav reads "now, enjoy!". According to the weather forecast Tuesday was to be the clearest day of the

week and following this forecast we decided to take on Snowdon's Miners' track on that day. We made it up there in a little over two hours which with my current level of fitness at least, wasn't too bad. It was busy as usual up there with dozens of people enjoying the endless horizon and suprisingly summery atmosphere. We even had a little nap on the grass admiring the view below! This was now my third ascent of Mt. Snowdon and i must say i really enjoyed it just as much as the other times.

On Wednesday i wanted to try my luck on a second ascent of Tryfan, this is a little more technical than snowdon and tends to get a little edgy, i knew Wes would enjoy a bit of an adrenaline rush so we headed up there and tried the North Face of the mountain. The weather wasn't great and it was spitting with fine rain, we saw a group of people heading up there so we too decided to give it a go. About half an hour into the climb after we tackled one of the first scrambles, the rain grew thicker and providing

Wes didn't have proper hiking boots (only trail shoes), he was slipping on some of the footholds that should have otherwise been safe. I didn't want the day to end on the back of a Seaking rescue helicopter so after assessing the situation we decided it was probably best to head back down before it was too late and attempt the same route on a drier day with better footware. So for the rest of the day we visited some of the local waterfalls which were pretty cool, a fair bit of water flowing through them due to the past few day's percipitation.

On Thursday we found out that the weather wasn't going to improve, and without those proper shoes we were limited to just less exciting walks, so we opted for the lazy man's option and took the scenic route back home. We headed West to the coast and then headed down the A470 to explore the rest of Snowdonia's scenery, it was quite pleased with what we found on this scenic route, picture perfect forests, rolling hills, rocky faces and little traffic just about sums it all up. I'm glad we did that instead of taking the usual A5 straight back to England.

After about a good 8 hour run we were back home, exhausted but quite pleased to what we had achieved and with future plans to return to Tryfan and "knock that bastard off!".

I now have a week back home, again off work, and on Friday Millie and i are heading to Switzerland, the long way round. Driving through France it should take us between 14 and 16 hours to reach the scenic settlement of Nandez. It's something i have been looking forward to for a few months and i must admit i was even happier when she agreed to take the car rather than fly out there. There's something about a long distance drive and brings a smile to my face, perhaps its exploring unknown territory or just time to listen to music or sit quietly with nothing but the open road ahead.

Santiago

So far away from me

Here I am again in this mean old town
And you're so far away from me
And where are you when the sun go down
You're so far away from me

So far away from me
So far I just can't see
So far away from me
You're so far away from me... All Right

I'm tired of being in love and being all alone
When you're so far away from me
I'm tired of making out on the telephone
'Cause you're so far away from me

So far away from me So far I just can't see
So far away from me
You're so far away from me... All Right

And I get so tired when I have to explain
When you're so far away from me
See you've been in the sun and I've been in the rain
And you're so far away from me

So far away from me
So far I just can't see
So far away from me
You're so far away from me...

So Far Away From Me...

I love you Millie, i miss you so much.

Santiago.

559 Miles

It's 4am and i am about to get in the car, the tank is full and the road ahead is clear...today will be a good day : ) Just off to Scotland, if the weather allows i will try and climb Ben Nevis, if not then just have a wonder come back down to the Lake district and see what Scafell Pike looks like. I will post photos and let you all know how it went when i get back in a few days!

Santiago

21082 metres

The sun is shining and despite various rumours during the last few days that the weather was going to deteriorate, mr blue sky is here with us. Breakfast today is a bowl of chopped fruit; two kiwis and two bananas to be exact. I can't eat too much as this will result in stitches. In a couple of hours i will be in the first few steps of my 13.1 mile half marathon which will take us around the back lanes of Tunbridge Wells, Bidborough and Fordcombe. Am i looking forward to it? Yes i guess i am, i am full of energy, i have set up a playlist long enough to see me through the worst of it, and all i have to do now is put one foot in front of the other.

"It's the eye of the tiger."

Santiago.