Plumbing and banking problems, a large water bill, The Diplomat, family birthdays and a 3-day trip NE

I think we are moving into a cooler, but still warm and extremely busy period this October. The last week was a bit traumatic on several levels, but we coped quite well. The first frustrating fight with the security bureaucracy I think I lost, but am working on ways round it. One of my credit cards, which is definitely  the best on security, had seemingly gone a bit barmy. It may just be that the cyber attacks are getting so frequent and sophisticated, that their security department is finding fault with everyone, but I was hoping that someone who had their card for the best part of the last 50 years, might not be picked on.

Lookout tower above Sajóbábony

Without boring everybody with the details, the upshot finally was that having deleted the well used and absolutely perfect website I used for at least 30 years, and forcing everybody into the all purpose, one size fits all, new website, I couldn't access it. It let me register, but I cannot use it. Well, the result is that I no longer use the card until perhaps I might try again and get through, but if this is not possible, I will have to visit a branch in future, should I feel like it. This means loss of business for them and a slight inconvenience for me, but such is life.

The views down to Sajóbábony

The other annoying event last Wednesday was the non appearance of the plumber, who we expected to arrive at 2 pm and he didn't. Apparently, he had a traffic accident, when somebody T-boned him, and he promised that as soon as he is better he will ring. So, our slowly, but surely, disintegrating kitchen tap is still dreadful, but we are keeping our fingers crossed that the plumber will eventually turn up.

The way markers on a study trail

A rather high water bill arrived, but after the initial panic, I managed to remember that it is this high due to having to pay for our new water meter and the labour costs of having had it fitted last month. The next news is a pleasant one, though, namely the reappearance of The Diplomat on Netflix, which I actually binged on Thursday all in one go. Loved it, although, some of its story lines are getting a bit carried away with disasters upon disasters, but it is still fun.

The lookout tower above Háromhuta

As the autumn is quite busy with family birthdays, after Roy's in September and Xander's in mid-October, it was Alex's turn to be asked what he would like for his birthday, which is in 2 days. Apparently, with his new job in the world of selling, he needs a new suit and some other elegant clothing, so I sent him $400 for said items, and am awaiting the photo that he promised of himself wearing it. By the way, the photo of the new bike with its owner, that we have contributed to for Xander's birthday is still to arrive. The last time I asked, Stephen mentioned that they are still waiting for the helmet.

The views from the top of the lookout tower

After all this excitement, both good and bad, Friday, 16th came and in pursuit of further caches in the Ancient Trees series, we departed to spend another three days away, this time in the Zemplén Mountains, including attending the 51^st Festival and Competition in that region. I booked a couple of nights in a place we haven’t yet stayed in, hoping that it would be nice. It turned out to be a perfect choice, as we were in the middle of a lovely old park, around an old château that has been beautifully restored in the last 15 years.

The Château Hotel in Újhuta

Day one was travelling down to the accommodation, starting with a lookout tower and following up with a wide variety of pretty villages, castles and other interesting places in the mountains. We stopped in one of the villages to eat our sandwiches in a park, using their tables and benches in an idyllic setting.

 

Giant conifers meet at 50 metres high

After the mountain villages, we also saw some more interesting hills, one with some cellars and a Calvary, others around ancient churches. Unfortunately, we arrived in the dark and after reception had closed, but the overnight security staff was delightfully welcoming and helpful, including one of them leading us to our little apartment in the park. The accommodation had been upgraded and renovated to a very high standard, with high end finishes, comfortable beds, a little kitchen and faultless WiFi. 

The Château at Füzérradvány 

We asked the security guy about restaurants, and he mentioned three of them in the nearby village of Pálháza, so we went and had dinner in the one that we knew from two years ago when we last geocached in the area. The Megálló was OK, but we thought that the food could have been better and decided that on the following day we will try and eat in one of the other ones mentioned.

The Lower Gate of the Castle of Füzér

The following morning we started with a cache that we missed the day before, followed by the star attraction of Füzér Castle, which is one of the earliest stone castles built in Hungary in the 13th century. It is situated  on top of a volcanic cone, and is quite impressive from a distance. Roy opted out of the steep climb, so I went on my own. I discovered that the way to the cache was barred by a padlocked, but low  gate, which I managed to climb over quite easily. The cache was hidden on a forested rock face, which was very exciting, but I got it with no problems. 

Glorious autumn colours in the park

Next was to the Festival/Competition, which was not very well attended, compared with previous years. I suppose the several hundred kilometres travelling one had to do to get to the NE corner of the country didn’t help. We stayed at the central base of the event for about 2 and half hours, chatting, eating, drinking and having a good time. We were waiting for some friends who are always late, and eventually gave up. As it always happens, we met them on their way in, as we were going out. Never mind, we can meet at other times, and I was happy to go as Roy was getting a bit cold.

Roy with his favourite Gypsy roast

We managed to find one of the other restaurants for a mid-afternoon meal, which was definitely better than the one the night before. It was so nice to arrive back at the château in the daylight, this way we had a chance to look at the park, which was quite impressive. I also realised that I have been in this park before, albeit  very many years ago, when during one Hungária Cup, which is the one big multi-day orienteering event in the country, one of the days' competition was there. I even remembered getting the geocache in the middle of the park all those years ago.

A 4500 year old barrow on the Flatlands

Finally, the last day was spent motoring home, this time taking a large detour towards the South, taking in Nyíregyháza, which is one of the bigger towns in the East and a few villages travelling West back to BP. This trip was very nice, it was successful in every respect: the accommodation was superb, the weather was great, I managed to find and log 15 new caches, we saw a good few geocaching friends, some of whom we have not seen for quite a while and enjoyed ourselves in spite of the distance and lot of driving that Roy had to do. Next trip is probably next month, still in pursuit of ancient trees. We will go either West or South, as we still have a few of them missing in those two regions.

A large herd of sheep near the barrow

Next post, all being well, is due on next Wednesday.