Monday 24 Jan 11 – Mare Harbour

Didn’t really know what to expect and after having our safety briefing we were kitted out with padded, waterproof suits and life jackets. We were then walked outside to go aboard – a landing craft! This was going to be fun?? I had already forgotten whether my bum looked big in the suit and was more worried about being sea sick because this was a flat bottomed boat! I had been promised sightings of dolphins and seals so I was keeping my eyes peeled. We had a bit of an amble around Sniper Island and saw a seal in the water, tracking us as we walked along the shoreline. Then they had a bit of fun with the passengers… water was crashing over the front of the ramp and I couldn’t get my hood up. Try as I might it wasn’t happening and was tangled in the lifejacket. Both the guys were helping me now when an almighty wave came over the front and absolutely drenched me, yeah …wouldn’t worry about it now mate! I looked like a sea witch. Then they let us have a go at driving the boat. I got to do a donut and an emergency stop and bring her almost back to port before handing back to the experts. What a fab way to spend a Monday morning! Thanks to Micky, Manse and Tuna.

San Carlos Water – Sunday 23 Jan 11

Ajax Bay

San Carlos Jetty

I wanted to visit Ajax Bay and see the ruins of a refrigeration plant, a project from the early 1950s which had intended to produce mutton for transportation by sea between the Falklands and Southampton. Sadly the plant survived for a little less than two years, sheep in the Falklands had been bred for wool and their meat was not necessarily the right quality. In 1982 these buildings were used as a military hospital. It was eerie walking around the site, now very derelict. In fact the only sound was corrugated iron creaking as it was tugged by the wind. Even the RM Commando flag burled silently. On the opposite side of San Carlos Water, a half an hour’s drive by road (well I say road but it is more like a yellow grit track), is San Carlos settlement. San Carlos was one of the landing sites used by the Task Force. Seeing the landing site today with blue sky and sunshine, it is quite impossible to imagine the noise and the activity that must have taken place back on 21 May 1982.

Clay Shooting – Saturday 22 Jan 11

Went out for a bit of sport today and went on a shoot on a range just outside of Stanley. Group was mixed between those that wanted to do pistols and those that wanted to do Clays. I wanted to have a go with the big gun and was both nervous and psyched all at the same time. I asked the guy if he had a ‘ladies’ gun because the thought of the recoil was making me nervous. The gun was just too heavy for me and, although I was given lots of encouragement, I still felt really nervous. I am ashamed to say I fired once and wimped out – not before I had my picture taken in this very fetching vest!

Argentine Cemetry

Found this cemetery on the off chance on the return trip from Bodie Creek Bridge. It seemed churlish not to visit their war dead. The maintenance of the Cemetery is the responsibility of the families who lost soldiers and it was immaculate. Seeing the rows of white crosses, each one bedecked with at least one string of rosary beads was incredibly moving.

Bodie Creek Bridge - S51.51.188 degrees W059 degrees 00.972

Just beyond Goose Green is Bodie Creek Bridge. This is the most southerly suspension bridge in the world and is 120 metres long. It crosses the waters of Bodie Creek. Built in the early 1920s, the bridge was made in London costing almost £2300 and shipped to the Falklands. What was it used for? Herding sheep from Walker Creek to Goose Green. It is very dilapidated and unsafe but still incredibly picturesque

Battlefield Tour - Mt Longdon - 13 Jan 2011

I've been itching to get out on a battlefield tour. I'd been advised that Mt Longdon was a good one to do because it is a reasonable walk but it also saw some of the bloodiest fighting. You know me, I'm dead enthusiastic about these things... so i was really up for it... daysack packed, packed lunch collected, sun cream applied i headed off with the group by landrover to Stanley. Our first stop was at Moody Brook where we were orientated to the ground. With our backs to Stanley we were looking toward Mt Harriet, Two sisters, Goat Ridge, Tumbledown and to our right Longdon. We were taken a bit further by Landrover along a very bumpy track - i suspect the original road - before getting out to walk. They promised me I wouldn't be yomped - or tabbed!! - but for each stride they made I was making two. The terrain was very uneven, coarse grass, tussocks, dips where your foot disappears into the peat - i can't imagine how the paras had the strength to do this fully laden with kit and supplies. we skirted Longdon so as to climb from the back, the route 3 Para would have taken from Estancia. Once around the back the scenery changed, it was relatively flat and very open, panoramic viewpoint for whoever held the hill.  We made our ascent which, at times, was incredibly steep. It really is incredible to think that so few men made a successful assault without being picked off by the machine guns or snipers. The picture top left is one of the machine gun posts. This is one of two that I saw and lots of other paraphernalia which have respectfully been left put. I found it quite chilling to see a blanket in a makeshift bunker and the soles of plimsoles scattered about. Today the privilege was mine to have walked in their footsteps.

Saunders Island

This is the second largest offshore Island in the Falklands. I was given a lastminutedotcom invitation to go along to see the wildlife on Saunders Island. More than happy to oblige, not just because it would be a day out but I would get to see the King Penguins. The helicopter trip was a long one, I got to see a lot of helicopter! Some two hours flying, but seriously... what better way to see the scenery than from the air. The difference between East and West Falklands is quite dramatic, the West being more rugged and the landscape more hilly/mountainous. And to see the kelp beds from height was beautiful. The kelp is the colour of rust and very straggly and there are metres and metres and metres of the stuff but it is in shallow water, the colour of the water is turquoise and the kelp beds looked like something you would see through a kaleidoscope. We had a pleasant walk at tourist speed along a rocky road to The Neck. This little stretch of beach connects Elephant Point to Saunders Island and is a mecca for all four penguins. And I saw my first King Penguins. They are truly handsome birds, and there walk is very comical. I was able to get incredibly close and as they have no land predators they are remarkably tame. I saw a large creche of chicks being looked after by some adult birds so thought I would walk down towards the sea shore and take some pictures of them, but as I walked down their flank (at some distance I will add) they all began moving forward rolling like pebbles towards the sea. David Bellamy never appeared to have those problems when he was filming! Clearly not the Ninja I thought i was!!

Mount Harriet

Feeling inspired by the weather - blue sky, whispy white clouds and sunshine - I thought I would go up something... and plumped for Mt Harriet. I took another two ladies with me, promising them it would be a good walk. 
From the hard standing at the foot I couldn't see an obvious path so decided to attack from the side and walk up diagonally, the climb being more gradual. yeah, yeah... best laid plans. What I thought was a saddle turned out to be a plateau which hid quite a steep climb to the ridge - but hey, we are athletes in training so we were up for the challenge!
It felt good to climb and once we reached the ridge we made a beeline toward the memorial cross hidden amongst the rocks. 
Obviously the descent was much easier as we had the advantage of height. However, I wont be volunteering as a mountain leader just yet!
 Ascent - 891 ft. (For Dad - S 51.70846 degrees W058.01296 degrees)

Fitzroy

What an absolutely stunning location! The drive out was exciting - a gravel track that winds and dips and climbs over the cliff head to the bay. The only sound to be heard was birds nesting in the long grass but certainly not distracting. Even the wind was quiet... There are memorials there for the Welsh Guards, the RAMC and those young men that lost their lives on the Sir Gallahad and Sir Tristram - ships from the Royal Fleet Auxillary. The memorials are immaculate and i could have spent hours just sitting on the bench looking out over Fitzroy bay watching the sea.