emiGrants: A couple of lunches and some more geocaching

The lunch with Robert last Thursday was OK, but I had such a violent allergic reaction to something in the food that I still don't know what it was, and therefore we are not likely to go there again. The real fun, however, started once we went upstairs in the block to Robert's new flat. This is the one that was bought for investment and letting, but ended up as his main base now.

A carpet of leaves in Badacsony

It is situated in the historical centre, but is totally new built and modern. Many of these solidly built late XIXth century - early XXth century blocks are suitable for loft conversions and many of them now have one or two new floors added on the top. His is a maisonette and is decorated/furnished in a striking manner. The walls are all white, the furniture a mixture of modern and antique and the ambience great. We had a nice long chat, had tea and cakes and finally went home happy.

We followed the Study Route backwards

On Friday I had to drive to Veszprém, as Edit's car gave up the ghost in the very cold weather. Before that, though, we had our lunch in the Dobrumba with Ros and Ian. They were lovely, as per normal, and the food was great again, but the service less so. I am not sure if I bother going there again, as their target customers are a million miles from us, the piped music too loud and the service can be negligent and grumpy.

Basalt scree on the Badacsony volcano

The drive down to Veszprém was done in the dark, which included a brand new junction off the M7, so I really had to concentrate. I never drove to Edit's house before, so that was a bit of an adventure too, but managed. I went to bed quite early, as the weather was still pretty cold and miserable and we had to get up early on Saturday.

Lovely rocks everywhere

The bad news in the morning was that the pea soup fog forecast has definitely arrived. Typical of us, choosing a large mountain with sensational views all round for our hike and then do it in a visibility of no more than 20 metres. Still, the winter woods have other attractions than views and on the top the crunch of the fallen hoarfrost was magical. We walked almost entirely round the mountain, saw a lookout tower, a big cross and a few other memorials, after which we climbed down, which was about as much of an adventure as climbing up.

Vineyards and summer houses high up on the mountain

This took us nearly 4 hours, so we only had time for one more cache before it got dark. That one was quite nice too and had it not been for the thick fog, it could have provided lovely views as well.

The wanderers' steps which were long, steep and hard

Sunday the weather got a great deal better. It was sunny and a lot warmer. We searched for and found 5 caches that day, starting with a moving cache, which is placed along the route of hiking tours, upon which competitions are held once a year. We put it on a route which is close to Veszprém and which was my idea, based on something Edit told me.

Big rocks loom through the murk

After that one we went to mend a missing one South of Veszprém, showing the remnants of a Roman villa. The owner of the cache was grateful for our help and saving him the trip out to replace his box. The next cache was quite a lot of hassle. I felt that somehow the atmosphere between me and Edit was not quite right. She was less friendly and happy than normal and, to be honest, I was a bit tetchy too. I definitely didn't have a good night's sleep and perhaps that was also the trouble with her too.

Frozen leaves on the top

At that second cache, she kept leaving me behind because she is younger and fitter than me, plus my knee is still not 100%, but mostly because I had to keep stopping to check our route. Unlike all the times before, this time I couldn't rely on her 100% to go the right way. At this cache she went off way ahead and completely in the wrong direction, insisting that the tourist markings were pointing that way. Wouldn't listen to me when I said that while tourist markings are OK on the whole, one must use one's GPS to be sure that we are heading towards the cache box. Needless to say I was right and we had to cut through a ploughed-up field to correct.

Crunchy frost on the ground

This cache was very neglected and the box was round the back of a large tree in impassable jungle. I refused, but Edit bravely crawled in. The owner did not answer his phone, but rang me back later. I told him that we have found it, but suggested he found a better hide for it. Instead of accepting, or at least considering my comment, he went on the attack. He accused me of liking only easy and lazy caches, which was pretty infuriating. Eventually, I put the phone down on him as our conversation was not going anywhere.

Thick hoarfrost on the trees

The next cache was at a site of a supposedly large crater, caused by a meteorite landing. I couldn't see it, but we had a lovely, albeit muddy walk. Finally we went to a spring by an old railway line which is now a cycle route. At the end both of us were tired and not exactly happy, so we scrapped the rest of the day, went back to her flat, had a small lunch and I departed. I know everybody can have a bad day or a bad night, but it dawned on me for the first time, that caching with Edit is not as enjoyable nowadays as it used to be and perhaps I shouldn't be pushing the issue in the future.

Large stone cross with views (when you have them)

Monday and Tuesday were spent relaxing in the flat and not doing a lot. The weather is still not very pretty and while there was a plan by Feri to go out for a beer in his favourite pub, it looks as if that is not now going to happen. Or at least not this week. Tonight I have a concert and as Bozsa is away, Vera is coming in her stead. I promised Vera that I would take her home after the concert, so I will have to take the car. We have Arkady Volodos playing in the Palace of the Arts, so this should be a good evening.