The 56th AGM of the Oread MC will be held at The Bear Hotel, Alderwasley at 8.00.p.m.
Meet at Ashford-in-the-Water, near the sheepwash bridge. We'll be heading off to Monsal Head for a coffee before going down Monsal Dale, across the A6 and up Deepdale and so to Sheldon. Stop here for food and beer before a gentle stroll takes us back to Ashford.
As you will know from the meets list I am planning an Oread trip to the Calanques in the south of France this Easter. We are planning to travel out - probably on Good Friday 25th March and returning on Saturday 2nd April or Sunday 3rd April.
The current thinking is to use a house/flat in Cassis and Simon has made a provisional booking of such a place. He is planning to fly out - with costs in the region of £190 - £220 plus car hire charges. Others will probably drive.>/p>
I have been there before, and the normal plan in the past has been to climb at En Vau, although we have climbed at several other places between Cassis and Marseille. The climbing is largely bolted, but on some longer middle grade routes the bolts are sparse, so it's advisable to take some traditional protection with you. We normally walk down to the Quay in Cassis and get the tourist boat round to the cove at En Vau. There is a small but attractive beach there. There are routes of 70 ft to 300 ft just above the beach - so it would be suitable for families. If we finish climbing before the last boat departs, we get on it for the ride back and step across the road straight into the bar (sunshine and French ambiance of course). If we miss the last boat back, we walk across the headland - it's about an hour's walk. I've done it several times - but have usually got the boat straight to the bar! The scenery from the crags and the atmosphere on the boat ride are beautiful - making this a favourite place of mine for climbing at Easter. Cassis is a small attractive town with good bars and restaurants near the quay.
If you would like to come along then please let me or Simon know ASAP, as we need to firm up on numbers and book accommodation ASAP. Call me if you want to know more about the climbing.
All change this year. The main show will take place at the gorgeous Rainster Rocks. In the past there have been access problems on the East Hill. Ironically there is a right of way to near the summit of the hill. But there is no regular right of way to the West Hill whose owner, however, is not ill disposed towards climbing. But, please do take care crossing the boundary fence between the two hills. Here are such stunning routes as West Hill Arete, Penlington's Progress and Puttrell's delicious route just to the right. Afterwards, another change. This time we will repair to the Miner's in Brassington.
I expect that by the date of my meet it will be warmer and what little snow we have had will be gone. So those Oread gnomes who have been lurking in the shrubbery all winter can venture out again. With global warming, Wales will be hot and sunny! So pack your shorts and sun cream and join us in our Cambrian Hideaway for a balmy weekend.
June 18/19. ADD Lakes camping meet. Roger Larkam. This is the same weekend as the summer stroll.
June 25/26. ADD Joint meet with LCCC at their Tranearth hut. This is the same weekend as the Golden Oldies.
November. The annual dinner and Tony's Coniston meet have been swapped round to look like this:
Petzl OUISTITI C68S kids full body harness suitable for 5 - 11 year olds. Pristine condition. A pint of decent bitter is all that is asked. Chris / Jan Wilson
[My apologies to Oreads and especially Colin Hobday, for omitting this item in the February newsletter. RT]
Thanks to everyone who has helped on the evening meets at The Royal Oak: all the speakers and all the club members and guests who have supported the meets. I have taken on the role of organising next year's speakers but to make the job easier for me I am looking for any suggestions or volunteers to help fill the programme Many Thanks. Tim Cairns
I am planning a trip to the Alps this July and will be climbing with my son David and daughter Vicky. If Oreads would like to join us, they would be very welcome. We plan to drive out on the evening of 8th July, arriving in the Aosta valley the following day. We have not selected a campsite yet, but we are working on it. We would return home on the weekend of 23/24th July.
The plan is to do easy routes to the highest summits, so we have in mind peaks such as the Gran Paradiso, Breithorn, Castor, Pollox, and Monte Rosa. Lower peaks may come into the plan for acclimatisation reasons. If you are interested in coming along please let me know ASAP.
Joan Pike has applied for full membership of the Oread. Members having any views as to her suitability, should write as usual to her husband.
[A welcome return by this old favourite!]
The Newsletter Editor had used all his spare cash in the Miner's Standard, and wanted a bag of chips and various odds and ends on the way home. This led him to ask the Treasurer for his outstanding expenses which he had listed and totalled on a scrap of paper. A little later, having as yet spent nothing but five pence which he flipped to a Civil Engineer begging outside the pub, he felt in his pocket and realised that he had exactly twice as much as he had originally asked for. It later transpired that the Treasurer had inadvertently transposed the pounds and pence in the amount asked for.
(Copyright flattus Rainsteris)
[Er... isn't the genus, rather than the species which is supposed to have the initial capital? And I wonder whether that should be Flatus?]
At the time of writing, I have not received subs from Dave & Janet Appleby, John Bolton, Chris Bryan, Julia Gale, Daryl Kirk, Roger Larkam or Nick Moyes. Could I remind these people that subs should be paid before the AGM on the 19th March. Full members should pay £26, Senior Families £19.50 and Prospectives £13.
A vacancy has arisen... for a dinner secretary. C'mon guys. The venue is booked; the President has arranged a guest to speak. All you need to do is look beautiful on the night! Learn all about it (the looking beautiful, that is) from me. Rob