Ski season sojourn
Kitzbuhel, Austria. 24 November 1986
Stayed at the Enzian pension for 3 weeks futilely looking for work. Arrived about a month too early so very few jobs being offered. Ran out of money and had to hitch back to England.
First day of the Everest trek
Near Jiri, Nepal. 18 April 1986
Heading up the first ascent of 700m past Jiri on day one of the Everest trek I came across these locals.
Near Jiri, Nepal. 18 April 1986
On the road to Bagan, Burma
On the road to Bagan, Burma. 2 April 1986
The Dingle, Liverpool
Parkhill County Primary School, Liverpool, UK. 22 September 1986
My cousin Marie took the day off work and drove me into town. To the Dingle and Dad’s old primary school [he later told me that wasn’t it]. Marie took a photo of me in front of it. Arthur Street has been demolished. Toxteth was interesting. Since the rioting [1981] a lot of government money has gone into building new houses, sports centres etc. Lark Lane is now a trendy shopping and wine bar street. My grandparents lived around the corner from it.
Went past lots of derelict, burnt, vandalised houses and flats.
Stanley House Community Centre, Liverpool, UK. 22 September 1986
This was the former St Margaret’s Home for Girls (an orphanage) opened in 1872; a derelict community centre when I visited; and now completely redeveloped:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44435674@N00/14405314663
Sefton Park, Liverpool, UK. 22 September 1986
Sefton Park had a smashed up car half submerged in it.
Ben Nevis Race
It rained during the night and in the morning so I stayed in my tent [in the Glen Nevis campground] until 10. It was clearing with occasional sunny spells so started the ascent of Ben Nevis at 11.15. Felt quite fit, great to walk without the burden of my pack.
Of course I wasn’t the only one heading up. A lot of army and Rescue Association people taking stretchers up. Didn’t know why until later.
It was completely misted over at the top [at 1,345m the highest mountain in the British Isles] and very cold, around zero degrees. Braved a few snow flurries while eating. Had taken 2 and a half hours.
Twenty minutes down I saw this huge group of people approaching. Turned out to be runners, this was the day of the annual ‘Ben Nevis Race’. The leaders were incredibly fit running up the scree slope. I had to get out of the way of most.
Ben Nevis Race, 6 September 1986, Scotland
Couldn’t believe it when the leader came hurtling down shortly after. [The winner that year finished in 1.25.48 – the second fastest time on record dating back to 1951].
Ben Nevis Race, 6 September 1986, Scotland
According to the race records from the Ben Nevis Race website http://www.bennevisrace.co.uk/?page_id=11 number 247 was Albert Sunter from the Horwich RMI Harriers Club who finished in 60th place in 1.43.06.
The steepness and loose rocks made it very dangerous – saw some falls and some guys covered in blood. Took a few photos of it all.
Ben Nevis Race, 6 September 1986, Scotland
If you look closely you can see the runners coming down the muddy ridge-line.
Inspired, I came down pretty quickly.