Seriously, where did the summer go...

We were spoilt with the summer last year and I'm seriously missing the warm afternoons with only the need for a pair of shorts and an impact vest at the lake. Winter hasn't been a particularly cold one but bugger me, it's been wet. The far side of the park by the river Thames hasn't been under less than 2ft of water since the end of 2013. Out for a walk with Ted & Tilly (we now have 2 dogs) and the Thames has increased in size again. Most of the O-Shire seems to be underwater if you're even just in site of a river - link

As I said a second ago, we now have another dog. This is Ted. I'm informed that he is a Cavachon. Unlike Tilly who is an accidental Sprolly (a rescue Spaniel/Collie), Ted is an on purpose mix between a King Charles spaniel and a Bichon Frise. Ted and Tilly get on most of the time now but the initial meeting wasn't a complete success.

In prep for the 2014 wakeboarding season to start, I set-up my new board and bindings. Bindings are bleddy tight but will loosen up after a couple of sessions. The only problem is (a rather large problem) that WMSki aren't opening fully this year. They have moved location but due to some cock-up they're only going to be running a 2.0 system and not the full 5-system. It means no hanging about for the day on a membership but having to book slots and Pay As You Ride....not going to be as easy to sneak a session in after work this time. Think I might even head back for a spot of boat action.

New LF board and old O'B board. Going to lend my O'B board to a friend, so he can give wakeboarding a crack (it just needs a spot of tlc and a repair or two).

Think next week I might give Quayside a go and after that me and a few guys might head over to Liquid Leisure if they ever reappear from the flood water (poor guys).

Summer has almost gone...

Wow, where has the summer gone?

We’ve had a good one to be fair. Since the beginning of June, the lake has been warm enough for boardies and an impact vest, so it’s going to be a shock to the system when temps start to drop and I’ll have to put a wetty on.

Our trip north of the border was a good one. 
Edinburgh was bonkers but I should have realised that as the Fringe was on. Theatrics freak me out at the best of times and so being at the Fringe in August was absolutely mental - Thespians all over the place; each one trying to out-ham the next.
Fort William was more my scene, with more space and some great places to explore. No mountainbiking (as planned) but a brilliantly bonkers hotel and some good walks.
Dumfries was the final destination. Not as mountainous as Fort William but some amazing sights. The place we stayed was a tad weird. Love a spot of caravanning but a friend had arranged for us all to stay on a holiday park and sadly it had no soul….in fact it seemed to have destroyed the village in which it was set. Away from the site and there was a some brilliant mountainbiking, cycling, castles, abbeys and even a spot of wakeboarding at Loch Ken - this setting was just beautiful (the red coloured water did freak me out a bit to start).

Would I go back to Scotland - hell, yes! I just know a few places to avoid now.