.............not all those that wander are lost..............

Tuesday 14 January 2014

Playing catch-up.....

Oh dear, it's been a while since I sat down to write anything here. Not deliberate, but I have been busy doing things. Plenty of walks in December, by myself, with Louise and with the Friday walking group. Some decisions were made about what to take on the Challenge in May - although I constantly keep changing my mind (well, I am a Libran) so I won't write about it until I've properly decided.

Christmas was spent in the Alps. It was really dreich weather and so the skiing didn't get going until after that. The snow is a bit wet at the moment and the avalanche warnings have been somewhere between 3 and 4 for the past two weeks. There's enough to downhill ski on and there have been some good days in the limited sunshine of early January.

I have shelled out for a season pass for the x-c skiing too. It's a good way to make me go and do it! Had a second day out yesterday even though the snow was a bit hard and icy. I have been looking to buy some more cross country skis, the ones I'm using are probably 20 years old, and I find them rather long. I know they're supposed to be long but there are some available now that are slightly wider so it's possible to use a shorter length. Keeping a snow plough with the longer skis puts a strain on my knees that I can do without!

After the last post I wrote about the Inov-8 shoes I reconsidered the wear and tear and decided to contact Inov-8 to find out if this was a problem they know about. In response, they sent me a leaflet about lacing shoes properly. However, an arrangement was made with the retailer (outside.co.uk) and I sent off my shoes for Inov-8 to look at. I then got a full refund as they said they were 'faulty' but unfortunately they didn't answer my question about the shoes. I still have the second pair I bought more recently and I'm pondering whether to wear them for the Challenge or not. If I can keep my pack weight down, even try to lose a few pounds from my body weight (!), then they may be ok.

One of various problems I'm having with my computer is that most of the time it won't read my camera's SD card so there are no photos for the moment. If I can get it all to work without the gremlins I'll post them up later......... That's the photos not the gremlins......

In the meantime - Happy 2014 to everyone.......







5 comments:

Louise said...

Maybe I'll ski again one day. It was fun...
Word: peculiarly...

AlanR said...

Happy New Year Laura. usb SD card readers are pretty cheap stand alone items. May be worth getting one if you are having troubles.

Laura said...

Maybe a new computer would be the best option.....

Alan Sloman said...

Inov-8s are fine shoes, but do not expect them to last more than one Challenge & its training walks.

Amazingly, Inov-8 always replace their worn out shoes and always say that the pair you had were faulty.
They just can't publicly admit that the wear characteristics are so appalling.

I know one chap who has had four pairs and has only ever paid for the first.

For better wearing shoes try Salomon or La Sportiva. L-S last a couple of Challenges and I've heard it said that Salomon last three.

Cracking picture, Miss.
:-)

Laura said...

I did get good service from both Inov-8 and Outside.co.uk - so I can't complain about that aspect. Although I would have liked the shoes back so I could have worn them out completely!
The other as yet unworn pair will probably default in the same way - I'm considering putting the moleskin patches on the heel area BEFORE signs of damage but I'm still thinking about that. There's a strong probability I'll use them for the Challenge this year.