Leeds, Yorkshire

This was taken from the office window on the last day of work before Christmas, at about 4 in the afternoon.

Ardrossan, Scotland

Within the department there's a certain amount of negativity surrounding the harbour town of Ardrossan. So I took on a challenge to find one nice thing about the place by the end or our work on Arran. The very next time we were up there I managed to get this picture from the ferry as we were leaving for Arran which I think fulfills that challenge. However, according to Andy, a photo of the town as you're leaving it (like the road out) doesn't qualify. The challenge continues...

Selside, Yorkshire

Long Churn Caves. I went on a first aid course out in the Dales. One of the guys running it was a caver and very kindly offered to take us out one evening. And no, it wasn't to try and get some 'real casualities' for us to practice on (although I did wonder!).
N.B. Caving is definitely not pot-holing and we didn't go there on motorbikes.

Arran, Scotland

On the ferry to the mainland looking back at Goatfell.

Arran, Scotland

The field campaign for the Arran project started in October with the construction of one of three 30m masts. The masts are going up on a ridge on the north-east of the island over-looking the sea. Each mast will be bedecked with instruments to measure various properties of the air-flow as it interacts with the ridge and the trees. This is Andy, Cathryn and Jenn putting the finishing touches onto mast number one.

Machrie, Arran

From left to right, back to front, Kevin, Jenn, Andy, Cathryn, me and Stephen- this is the Arran field campaign team photo! (Note the half eaten pie to the right- what was to become the campaign logo).

Liverpool, Merseyside

The Leeds to Liverpool Crew (minus Tor and Paul) at the end of the canal. 127 miles from Leeds.

Wigan, Greater Manchester

Evening of day 2 of the crazy Leeds to Liverpool cyclethon and we're struck down once again with punctures. We're some unknown distance outside of Wigan, our stopping place for the night, and the light is fading. Thankfully it happens on a part of the canal that runs through some pretty woodland where several very colourful canal boats are moored. It looked just like the riverside in 'Chocolat'.

Wigan, Greater Manchester

Back in July, while out on a nice Saturday morning bike ride along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal someone made the absolutely ridiculous suggestion of cycling the whole way to Liverpool. Then Gerry implied that we couldn't manage it, and even went so far as to bet 20p (yes, that's right, 20 whole p) that we wouldn't have done it by the end of October 2006. Well, that sealed it. On the Friday 13th October (eek!) Nat the Nimble, Rosey The Relentless, Jet Set Gerry, Tor The Tyreless, Flea The Fearless, Tom The Trooper and Persevering Paul loaded their packs and mounted their bikes...

I took this in the same spot as the picture above. I really liked the colours of this boat, and how the reflection was so crisp.

Froggatt, Peak District

Robert belaying off Three Pebble Slab at Froggatt. This route desrves everyone of its 3 stars. We had another beautiful autumnal day of climbing there.

The Roaches, Peak District

Crispin and Nat at the top of Valkyrie.

The Roaches, Peak District

Robert, Crispin (one of Robert's climbing partners from his first Peru trip), Nat (a friend of Crispin's) and me had a weekend climbing in the Peak District. This is Crispin modelling the top of Valkyrie.

Kildonan, Arran

The School of Earth and Environment at Leeds ran a summer school in atmospheric measurement on Arran. On another excursion to pick up a Hobo, we passed by a small loch where this boat was moored.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

After T-Rex we drove to Santa Fe for a conference on Mountain Meteorology. The conference was held in La Fonda hotel, many of the buildings in Santa Fe were like this one.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Strings of chillies for sale on the side of the street in Santa Fe.

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Sunrise

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Sunrise

Grand Canyon, Arizona

At sunset.

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Rock Creek

On our last day in Bishop we took a hike in Rock Creek. Thanks to James for this picture.

Kearsarge Pass, California

Kearsarge Pass, California

View from the pass (11,760'), looking West over Kearsarge and Bullfrog lakes.

Kearsarge Pass, California

Another Hobo was placed just a few metres above the Kearsarge Pass so we made the hike up to the pass to get it passing these amazing rock formations.

Kings Canyon National Park, California

As well as the instruments in the base of the valley there were also some bits and pieces scattered in the mountains on either side. This is a Hobo (a data logger for measuring temperature) and modelling it are me, Ralph and Stephen (behind) and Tor and Hal.

Owens Valley, California

Hal, Tor, Ralph and James in the back of Hal's truck.

Owens Valley, California

So it's a boiling hot day in the base of Owens Valley, temperatures reaching a scorching gzillion degrees. We've been working in the dust and sand for a few hours, battling with barbed-wire and ground anchors. Time for a cup of tea "just as the British like it".

Yosemite, California

El Capitan. The final T-Rex (Terrain induced Rotors experiment) mission took place in August. The team, led by Stephen, comprised of Ralph, James, Tor, Flea and me. We flew out to Reno and on the drive down to Bishop we made a very speedy detour to Yosemite.

Bournemouth, Dorset

Sisterly Love.

Somewhere, Lancashire

Somewhere, Lancashire

Five Locks, Yorkshire

The Elite team. No, really. That's Mike and Paul (behind) and Gerry, Tor, Nat and me (in front).

Saltair, Yorkshire

In training for The Great Leeds To Liverpool Crazy Weekend Cycleathon a group of us (organised by Tor) decided to attempt the slightly less crazy Leeds to Skipton Saturday Morning Jaunt. We left Leeds where the Leeds to Liverpool canal meets Kirkstall and followed it all the way to Skipton. We went though Saltair, passing the old salt mills.

Leeds, Yorkshire

A few of the people in my department at university got together and competed in a rely race at Golden Acre park. Lindsay, Natalie and me went along as the support team. Gerry took this picture of Natalie, me and Rachel (Thanks to Gerry for the picture).

Leeds, West Yorkshire

Nat was having a play with Gerry's new fancy camera at the rely race at Golden Acre park. I like how this is framed with the tips of the leaves in the foreground. Thanks to Nat and Gerry for the picture.

Somme, France

As we were driving north through France we kept catching glipses of memorials stood on high ground and visible for many miles. We decided to make a detour and visit one. They looked impressive from a distance but up close they left you speechless. This particular memorial was for men who where never found. Each of those white faces at the base of the memorial had 1000 names on it; Tor and I calculated 86 thousand names in all.

Northern Blackforest, Germany

Tor drove out the the Blackforest for a 3 week reconnaissance for some work she'll be doing out there this time next year. I flew out for her last weekend and we drove back together. This was taken on a mad dash to reach some high ground for the sunset. It had been a very warm day but the weather had broken in the evening and these left-over clouds got trapped in the valleys.

Bedgebury Forest, Kent

The Grants.

Bedgebury Forest, Kent

This is a photo of Robert not being a beautiful thing. I quite like the way only his arm is in focus. I won't say that's how I intended it to come out but I like it none-the-less.

Bedgebury Forest, Kent

Whitelimes Barn.

Robin Prochters Scar, Yorkshire

Luke, Fin and me went for a climbing trip to Robin Prochters scar. It was scorching hot and getting sunburnt was unavoidable. But towards the end of the afternoon clouds started to build up in the distance and after a while there were a few rumbles of thunder. By about 5pm the clouds that had been threatening to dump a big old shower on us did just that. The light went very funny as we packed up our things. After the hot of the day we made no attempt to get to the car before getting properly rained on.

Stanage, Derbyshire

Andy (below) and Matt (above) and Robin Hood's Cave Innominate, VS 4c... hmm...

Harpur Hill, Derbyshire

Pete (below) and me (above) on our 6a+/6c variation of In the Gravy/From Cradle to Grave.

Me and Coral Seas, 2* 6a, really amazing climb. Harpur Hill has some really good climbing, we spent the day there and I didn't do a single climb I didn't enjoy. Well worth a visit. Thanks to Pete and Luke for the pictures.

Malham, Yorkshire

Jem also came up to make sure that everything was ok. I took Friday off and we drove to Malham for a day in the Dales.

Addingham, Yorkshire

Cazza and Halina made the intrepid journey from Bath to make sure I was settling in ok. After having inspected the flat and come to the conclusion that both that and the flatmate that came with it were very suitable, we took a drive out of Leeds and to a small village on the edge of the dales. Addingham is home to The Fleece which apprently is the best pub in Yorkshire. It is also home to these ducks and this Oak.

Wastwater, Lake District

Tor, Conny and I took a trip to the Lakes for a hike. We parked at Wastwater and did a few of the surrounding peaks. It was awful weather all day with rain and thick fog so not a single view to be had until we decended back down to the road to be greeted with this.