 |
| The big church in Veresegyház near BP |
On Thursday, 3rd May we departed from Bér and pootled into BP on an unusual route, doing some geocaching. I was going to visit the site of that mysterious spring that nobody knows about, but unfortunately the otherwise lovely, but a bit stupid lady who was going to show me where it was, finally worked out that she had no idea herself. And all this in the sudden tropical weather of over 30 degrees Celsius, I wasn't amused. Still we visited a few caches after that futile trip and were happy to arrive in BP in good time.
 |
| Crossing the lake on the ferry |
Bozsa came for my concert ticket for Friday, that I couldn't attend, so that she could take Árpi instead.. Then on Friday morning we departed towards Monoszló, caching all the way. This time we chose the Southern side of Lake Balaton and it was quite enjoyable. We crossed the lake at Szántód and were at Pityu's place in good time for dinner. David and Ági arrived a lot later and we played some cards before retiring.
 |
| The Abby CHurch at Tihany |
The following morning we departed for Tihany, where the big geocaching hike was taking place. The weather was in the 30's and with high humidity as well. There were about 40 people who turned up and we got going with great expectations of a good day. My orienteering friends Laci and Márti have turned up as well and we had a good time until I started feeling unwell. It must have been the barely 4 hours' sleep as well as the heat and humidity, but long before half way round I had to stop.
 |
| A beautiful wildflower, the names of which escapes me |
Thankfully, we had two cars, as Pityu turned up late with Ági's son Tamás, so Pityu could take us back to David's car and then we all went back to Pityu's. David would have loved to finish the hike, as he felt perfectly well, but I promised that the next time we are down there, I will go and finish it with him.
 |
| Ros and Ian in a beautiful meadow |
Sunday we didn't do much and left quite early to make sure we get home safely. The week beginning with 7th May was terribly busy. It started with yet another hike, but this time with our English friends, Ros and Ian. Roy was only joining us in the restaurant afterwards, but the hike with those two was delightful. The weather cleared up, it wasn't terribly hot and not at all humid, as there was a pleasant breeze all day. We completed 18 kilometres with about 400 metres of climb in lovely broad leaved forest and hills, occasionally interspersed with conifers.
 |
| Ros and Ian by the big cross on the top |
Originally we planned to find 4 caches, but we ran out of time for the last one as we were running late for the table booked already. We had two reasons for running late: 1. I managed to misplace my car keys as I was getting out of the car, so we spent about three quarters of an hour looking for it. Eventually we found it, but then had another set-back by not finding the hiking path markings in a new development, so we lost at least another half an hour there. The rest went without any hiccups, including a 45 degree slippery, rocky hillside that we all climbed up grabbing trees for safety.
 |
| Another pretty wild flower en route |
The dinner at the restaurant was delightful: we sat outside, the service was great and the food excellent. Obviously the company wasn't bad either - Ros and Ian are always a delight to be with, whatever the program. I was amazingly well, considering this was only 2 days after my mishap in Tihany, but I am sure this was because the weather had changed and I could breathe better.
 |
| Béla, our guide: one of the nicest blokes on the planet |
On Tuesday Roy went for his check-up with the urologist and all was well. I also handed in my letter of complaint to the director of the clinic, answer to which is still awaited. I will have to do something soon, as my digestion is still in a mess, but I was hoping to hear something by now. However, it doesn't surprise me at all, I am never going back there, that's for sure. Any legal action will have to be considered, but I suspect we will just write it up to experience and move on.
 |
| Water lilies |
Wednesday was spent packing and preparing for my 4-day trip away over a long weekend between Thursday and Sunday. The first two days I had Mariann for company, the second two days Gyuri. The venue for the first two days was the Tisza-lake, which is the second biggest stretch of water in Central Europe, after Lake Balaton. It was dammed back in the 1970's and is now an absolute haven for birds, fish and all manner of recreation. The highlight of the trip was a 4 and half hour boat trip with an outboard motor and a lovely guide, who took us to all parts of the lake and where we managed to find all geocaches that can only be reached from the water. It was a lovely, simple boat for 4 passengers and the guide and we all had a ball.
 |
| A black-crowned night heron we passed |
After those two days Mariann went home and I was picked up by Gyuri, coming up from Békéscsaba, and we went North. We first attended the 35th Geocaching Festival and Competition and then went caching ourselves for the rest of the time. The weather was very hot again and one day we cached for 14 hours, which was definitely a bit exhausting. The total tally of the four days was 45 caches, which was not bad, and finally Gyuri delivered me to Hatvan, where Roy waited for me at Tesco's. We shopped and drove home happy.
 |
| The invincible red 44 |
I even managed to watch the Spanish Grand Prix, which gave me some joy and Lewis won again and is now ahead in the championship. Only by 17 points, but it is a beginning, which hopefully he will build on.
 |
| An old quarry lake |
As we arrived home we looked at the garden, and thankfully the grass was not as high as it could have been. There has been a fair amount of rain and plenty of strong sunshine, so we expected it to be up to our knees again, but it wasn't. We set about mowing it already on Sunday and all day Monday, and I am happy to report that it has been done. It isn't easy, as our garden is sloping and has many nooks and crannies where the tractor can't get to. Those bits have to be done by a hand-pushed petrol mower and by a strimmer.
 |
| Some spectacular rocks in the forest |
I also did some washing and started the preparations for this weekend, which is yet another 4-day geocaching trip, but this time going West to the Slovakian and Austrian border. This trip was originally for three people: Judith, Gyuri and me, but the silly moo fell off a chair and done herself in. So it is a 2 person trip again with just Gyuri and me, but we should have a chance to gather quite a few caches again. Today I spent all the day writing just two third of the cache list, tomorrow I will have to finish it. I am also way behind with my TV serials, but those will have to be watched on catch-up next week.
Must go now as I need my beauty sleep. Thankfully I had a couple of hours sleep in the early afternoon today, so I am not as knackered as usual. But I still have to go to bed early, so I can get up early and do all my chores. Next instalment, hopefully, next week, but don't bank on it!
No comments:
Post a Comment