Sam n' Ed stuff

Islay Summer Hols -2011

2011-08-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

2 full weeks on Islay this year - just returned, and it was fab.

We took the two Wilier bikes, Dad and I had a couple of smashing rides on the island. Dad had a crash though, which hampered our ambitions.

Loads of swimming done, Claggain Bay and Big Strand. Some excellent bodyboardin on Big Strand in week two.

Picked Aunty and Uncle up from Islay airport at end of week one for a few days, then other Aunties arrived on middle Saturday with Whippets. Casper was chuffed - he's as fit as a butchers dog now, having chased the Whippets over miles of sand.

Highlight of the hol though was the hour spent fishing on Bruicladdich Pier, fairly rough sea, grey and overcast, but we landed 10 Mackerel in no time. Auntie Hil and Auntie Sue caught fish, as did Uncle Johnny and me and Ed. Dad then had a to gut and fillet all 10! Delicious.

Again - pics to follow, Sam n' Ed ;-)

New Bike ! Wilier La Triestina

2011-08-28T23:48:00.000-07:00

Well, having upgraded the Giant OCR, I promptly sold it in June. Then scoured eBay, found a beautiful Wilier La Triestina 2010 bike, drove to Burnley with my Dad and bought it. It's gorgeous, rides like a dream. Carbon forks and KBS carbon rear stays. Campagnolo group set of veloce and centaur. Absolutely chuffed with it. Pic to follow.

Gary Neville's Testimonial - Old Trafford 24.05.11

2011-05-30T02:39:00.000-07:00

What a surprise we got this week, Mam n' Dad collected us early from school on Tuesday and pretended we were just visiting Auntie Hils and Auntie Sue in Stockport. But our fabulous Aunties had got us tickets for Gary Nevilles Testimonial match versus Juventus at Old Trafford. Brilliant occasion with a couple of bonuses, Ian Brown ex Stoneroses sang the teams out acapella with 'This is the One' and David Beckham turned out - played great as well. Ed managed to high 5 with Del Piero as he left the pitch, dont think Ed's washed his hand yet!

Magic - thanks Aunties x

Sam n' Ed

Bars and Stem continued

2011-05-30T02:30:00.000-07:00

Just an extra pic - close up of the new stem bars and "bike pure" spacer on my Giant - Nice eh?

Sam's bike project May 2011

2011-05-22T06:40:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone

Been busy lately making my bike lighter for racing and the new season ahead.

I have added a new handlebar stem and handlebars, moving from old standard size stainless bars to a new shallow, aluminium ITM Alutech oversize bar, in shorter width of 38cm as opposed to the 44cm originals.

I had to renew my stem, so a nice white 60mm Deda zero1 was purchased.

I figured a nice lime green tape would look smart, so on went new ITM cork tape, double wrapped on the top but single on the drops. Very comfortable and will match my cycling socks!!

My saddle is the next planned component upgrade - the current one is about as comfy as sitting on a sack of conkers! It will be making way for a Selle San Marco Prorace Ponza in black with carbon rails. Hopefully a bit more gentle on the "snutya" !

I have also added two new spacers on my steerer. One in carbon - £1.99 from Braemar Bikes in Whitehaven, and a nice blue one supporting http://www.bikepure.org/ for drug free cycling

Click the link, donate and wear the band !

Got some Grass Track racing coming up next week - think it might be a bit hard ! Will let you know.

Sam

February 1/2 Term - Islay

2011-02-27T01:13:00.000-08:00

Hi, Been to Islay for 1/2 term. Weather was quite poor, Ileachs would say 'dreich' - damp and windy to you and me, but we don't care. But when the rain stopped, we went Power Kitin' on the Big Strand and Kintra Beach. Proper Atlantic on shore winds. Ed has a 1.9m Peter Lynn vibe and I have a 1.7m Symphony Beach kite. Its just not as good as the Peter Lynn, doesnt fly as well, it's ok, but just nowhere near as smooth. If you are thinking of an entry level power kite, then try to justify a bit more money for the Peter Lynn, you wont regret it. We got some amazing flying in, Ed got pulled off his feet a couple of times, Casper wasnt too sure of the kites though!

We are just learning but it's fabulous, especially on Islay with the wind and space on the beaches. We want to start 'bagging' beaches for the best wind - Kintra, Big Strand, Gruinart, Saligo, Sanaigmore, Claggan etc etc - keep an eye on these pages for recommendations. And if you want to persuade your Mam n' Dad that Islay is a good holiday spot, then point them at http://www.goislay.com/ for some great accommodation and links to our Power Kitin' vids

Blog again soon, cycling and trout fishing season just around the corner, off to get some miles in!

Cya

Sam n' Ed

Xmas 10 Skiing 11

2011-01-29T23:52:00.000-08:00

Hi
Ed and I had a fab xmas, Ed got a new tv for his X Box, and I got a Fender DG5 Acoustic in Black. Just need a guitar tutor now!

We have just returned from a great week skiing in 3 Vallees - Courchevel. Mainly blue and Green runs, but a blast down a short bit of a red run was a bit of a milestone for us. We had an instructor for the week, Ben Brierly from Momentum Sports. Ben showed us the run through the Vampire Forest, nearly lost Mam and Aunty Hil in there!! Great fun!

The air strip behind me in the picture was the one used at the start of the Bond film Goldeneye! Its at about 2000 mtrs up the valley just underneath Aguille de Fruits - spectacular.

We had a brilliant Chalet with hosts Chris and Alex ..... Hoookkaaaaay!

It was just great to be with uncles and aunties, mam n dad and Andy and Sarah, not forgetting Joseph and Archie x

Off up to Islay for half term, time for the power kites to get a debut on the Big Strand - Cant wait

See you soon

Sam n' Ed

Gorillaz at M.E.N arena 12th Nov

2010-11-13T01:16:00.000-08:00

Hi all, Gorillaz last night at M.E.N arena, absolutely brilliant, Damon, Bobby Womack, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, which is actually half of The Clash, legends! Dancin in the aisle, Little Dragon and De la Soul supportin....Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach !

Islay Hols - Summer 10

2010-09-06T05:13:00.000-07:00

Hi All - Sam and Ed here - just returned from a fabulous week on the Isle of Islay - Inner Hebrides - Scotland with Mam n Dad and Aunties Hilary and Sue - not forgetting the Whippets, Billy and Betty - and of course our very own Scottish Sand Racing Dog - Casper the Border Terrier - grrrr!

We had beltin weather all week - proper Summer sunshine

We swam in the Atlantic and in Sound of Jura - we caught loads of Pollack off Ardbeg Pier - even caught them on handline - but float fished bait was best tactic. We ate like kings - Blackberry crumble, local Mussels, even made Pollack Pate !

We took some great rides on some decent waves on our bodyboards on Islay's Big Strand - Ed got some really long rides

We did some kayaking, Sam cycled with both the Velo Club d'Ardbeg and the Port Mor Wheelers, and met some of the islands cycling legends - Thanks to Brian Palmer @twmp - check out www.thewashingmachinepost.net theres a man passionate about cycling - the people were extremely friendly and helpful - but then Islay people just are.

The highlight of our hol was a morning spent in the company of Mr Jez Hastings who runs Islay Birding tours - we had a fabulous and extremely interesting time with Jez - found Otter prints on the sand, watched Golden Eagles, Peregrines, and finished or walk with a cup of freshly made Sea Buckthorn tea ! If you ever go to Islay book some time with Jez for a tour - its magic - www.islaybirding.co.uk

Please feel free to check out our holiday cottage - we rent it out - you could go do all the same things that we have - www.goislay.com

Bye for now - Sam n Ed

Middle of Summer Hols

2010-08-09T00:33:00.001-07:00

Hiya

As you can see - more Rainbows for me and Ed, again on the dry fly - Red Klinkhammer and Green emerger. Caught in flat calm conditions too.

Three weeks till Islay - going to try diving for Scallops and Razor Clams - mmmmm! If you fancy staying at our cottage - have a look at www.goislay.com

Casper just sneaking into photo - bottom left!

Bit tired today, cycled 12 miles up Ennerdale Valley yesterday with the Lakeland Sprinters to Black Sail.

Till next time

Sam Ed n Casper

Start of Summer Hols 2010

2010-07-22T10:13:00.001-07:00

Hi, Ed and I started the hols with a Rainbow Trout apiece - both on dries from Cogra Moss tarn - caught mine on a tying of my own, green body and tail and deer hair wing - very pleased. The session was all going fine until Ed tripped and took a dive fully clothed and wearing chest waders!
We had to tip him upside down to get all the water out of his waders - v funny !!!

So I had a last cast off the dam on the way back to the car and, whammo, beauty Rainbow, loads of jumping and tail walking, excellent scrap, then it all went slack - that was on red klinkhammer - will start with that next time I think.

Had a long walk today with Casper -from Bowness Knot at Ennerdale to Gillerthwaite and then half way to Black Sail - very knackered now - but enjoyed the Billy Hartley bubblegum ice cream too ! mmmmmmm........

More adventures soon

Sam n' Ed

Even more Cogra Rainbows

2010-07-04T03:04:00.000-07:00

We did spend 1/2 term on Islay, but it was clearly a bit too early for the Pollack and Mackerel, nothing off Lagavulin pier and nothing off Port Askaig either. Im sure it will be a different story in August though. So me Ed n Casper spent the week beachcombing. We had a dip in the sea at Claggan Bay, fabulous water, but freezing, gave you "ice cream head" !

Have had quite alot of success fly fishing since we returned, dry flies - elk hair caddis and F Fly - even had a two pound blue trout - best fish ever - on the left

Ready for school hols now, few weeks fishing, cycling n stuff, then off up to Islay in August. Hopefully next blog has news of Scottish Pollack !

Bye for now Sam Ed n casper x

Another Cogra Rainbow

2010-05-22T22:45:00.000-07:00

Hiya - Quick pic of my latest Cogra Moss Rainbow - caught on May 20th - fishing a small Damsel nymph on the floating line. I have to say this fish fought way above its weight, it ran all my line out to the backing, perhaps should have bossed it a bit more, but I'm only learning.

We filleted this one, well Dad hacked it to pieces, but Granny made a salad and we all enjoyed it.

Me and Ed off up to Islay for 1/2 term next week, so hopefully next blog all about Mackerel and Pollack.

Slainte' Sam 230510

Easter Hols 2010

2010-04-05T11:36:00.000-07:00

Well, the new Trout fishing season is here, Me n Ed fish a local tarn called Cogra Moss, its very beautiful and in the heart of the Lake District. I had a very succesful first day, 2 fish at 2lb each. First fish with the new Hardy Demon. Both caught on the sunk line fishing a Cats Whisker fly. Not ideal, but it was very cold, so the floating line and dry flies was out of the question.

Our dog Casper has had tones of exercise this holiday, wewalked up Dent fell, then right round Buttermere lake the next day, then we walked round Cogra Moss and Knock Murton fell, and tomorrow we plan to walk around Derwent Water and catch the Ferry Launch from teh other side of the lake back to the car park.

Ed has a football match tomorrow night for Bransty Rangers U10s. He scored his first goal a couple of weeks ago against Parton, he's in good form at the minute.

We didnt get to Islay this holiday, but cant wait until we go back in the summer, I have new telescopic spinning rod, so the Pollack and Mackerel had better watch out !

United for the Premiership and Champions League, Celtic for the Scottish Cup and Bransty Rangers for the Cumbria Youth League !!!

See you soon

Sam Ed n Casper x

Bayview Lagavulin Islay for 1/2 Term

2010-02-26T06:35:00.000-08:00

Me n Ed spent 1/2 term at our house on the Isle of Islay. Its in Lagavulin Bay and has a ruined castle, Dunyveg, almost in the front garden! While Mam n Dad worked on the house we explored the bay, there are a family of seals, we named one Smokey Joe, seems to be ok with visitors, might try him with a fish. Next time we go we will be fishing for Pollack so we may catch something we can chuck to him! There are loads of coves and rocky outcrops nearby, as can be seen in the picture, can't wait to go spinning from them, or jigging for Mackerel with shirt labels, just like the lads off Three Hungry Boys ! Casper (hairy one in the photo) dived in the bay chasing ducks, he doesnt even like swimming, shouldve seen his face, a Border Terrier in shock, v funny!

More tales from Islay next time, Sam Ed and Casper xxx

Christmas 09

2010-01-12T14:14:00.000-08:00

Me n Ed had a fab Xmas, got Hardy Demon fly rod for xmas, cant wait for new fishing season. Also got Opinel carbon blade knife, have been whittling for England!

We went to Les Gets - French Alps skiing, fabulous, really enjoyed it, loads of snow, great skiing, tons of cheese, ham and potatoes.

Steph is the greatest chalet maid ever!

Cant wait for half term, off up to Islay, beach combing, fishing and pottering about.

Look out for our next blog.

Sam n Ed

Revolution

2009-11-16T06:34:00.000-08:00

Went to Manchester Velodrome at the weekend for Revolution 09. Had a great time, great riders on fantatstic bikes. Craig McLean - v fast! V spectaucular, especially if you stand on the bend!

Sam n' Ed

2009-11-16T06:12:00.000-08:00

Hi

Our blog will just be about things that we are doing and about things that interest us.

Our interests are Fishing, footy, films, outdoor adventures, cycling, Scottish Island Holidays, Wildlife and other Lads Stuff like Wildwood Wisdom.

Join in with the crack anytime!