Crunchy Frog Video Finally Edited – Thankyou Virtual Dub and Camtasia Studio 7
Anybody would think I’d set out to make a proper movie! Back in June when the sun still shone – when there was a hint of strength in the arms; Tim, Dorine and myself warmed up on Brown Slabs Corner before Tim had a poke at Crunchy Frog. It was one of those evenings with warm sun, perfect warm rock and azure skies. Where did they go? While Tim led, Dorine belayed and I just leaned back against the tree and caught almost the whole climb on my little cheapo video camera as Tim cruised up. Like a smart arse though, I decided to hold the camera portrait style to get the (foreshortened) perspective of the whole route, and when I first tried to edit the movie on Windows Movie Maker, discovered that WMM squished the aspect so the the movie would have...
Time Flies When You’re Getting Old! Unless You Decide to Become a Photographer
It’s a sad reflection on our advancing years that we don’t feel like accepting the arrival of a certain degree of “maturity”. Last weekend my old mate Phil hit the ripe old age of 60. As has been his habit for many years, he had the mandatory party. Phil’s parties are a bit of a legend. He’s one of those unsung consumate musicians. So there is always music and this time, his 2 daughters were about. Now these two ladies can sing! With 2 other musicians and a couple of Bodran imposters there was a great wee session. I was blown away by the way Phil and his two girls worked their way through an encyclopaedia of classics. Most of the geriatrics disappeared after midnight, but Phil, myself and the 2 ladies didn’t...
Scotch Mist and Scramble in Sandbed Ghyll
As the summer holidays approached, it was obvious the monsoons were about to kick in. The steady drizzle of scotch mist on the windscreen as we headed down St. John’s in the Vale confirmed that the day’s options were indeed the wet wander or the even wetter scramble up a ghyll. What I couldn’t believe was that for a couple of the day’s gang the concept of the “Ghyll Scramble” was a completely untested idea. We set off in pretty crappy conditions with much chuntering going on and Martin upping the ante with tales of upgrading and “… it’s a 5 now!” “Never fear!”, replied I. I’d been there before, I well recalled its November, pre annual dinner, pushover nature!! Thing was though,...
Gillercombe Buttress Winter – Not Quite!
Went up to Gillercombe today to have a look at its eponymous buttress. The 3-legged dog boy had given up walking duties for the day to tutor me in the art of scratching about. As we walked up past a barely frozen white bordered Sour Milk Ghyll, Gillercombe looked “bloomin wonderful” but rather bare on the buttresses of “The Buttress”. It was a stunning day but clearly the long eyeballed buttress climb wasn’t going to be on: at least not as a proper winter jaunt. Though we were somewhat disappointed, it’s always possible to find something to do. Sure enough the chimneys and grooves of Grey Knotts Face; or a version of it, saved the day again. Avoiding the letterbox section we took a line to the right up wintriest looking...