Oh well, that's half our Combined Nitrox course done...

[Buoyant Babe]

Jo Rawley and myself booked ages ago to do the BSAC Combined Nitrox Course this weekend. As it is with the Northern Regional Coaching team the theory side was at Hartlepool Divers Club in the Marina all day yesterday. Also on the course was David Pye (and we think Jo might have recruited another YDer called Fran).

It was a very intensive day, and despite my relative inexperience with BSAC tables on account of being a PADI crossover, I passed the exam with only two wrong (Jo only got one wrong - the girlie swot !). This was no mean feat considering we were treated to the Sea Cadets marching band playing 'When the Saints Go Marching In' and 'The Blaydon Races' ALL BLOODY DAY!

Today's practical was at Wastwater. Jo stayed over at mine last night to get an early start. We were due to start at ten, so being organised, Jo and I set out at 6.15am in order to get there with bags of time to kit up. Neither of us had driven to Wastwater before.

We were promised snow, and for once the weathermen didn't get it wrong . Most of the journey from Newcastle and across to Carlisle was in thick gusts of snow, although it was wet snow and only seemed to be lying on the highest points.

Within twenty miles of Wastwater at 8.30am the weather had lifted and the snow stopped. Unfortunately it was at this time we got the call to say the diving was canned. We did point out that it was okay nearer Wastwater, but to no avail.

Disappointingly, as soon as we turned round to head back the sun came out and the roads were clear and dry all the way back.

So, we're going to have to reschedule, but Jo and I have quite a lot of diving booked over the next few months so who knows when we'll finish the course. Never mind, I'm sure we'll get there.

Thanks Jo for driving all the way there and back - I hope your journey back home was okay

Helen xxx

[B]

Well done both of you on completing the half of it so well... bum about the cancelled dive....



B x

[Buoyant Babe]

Originally Posted by B

Well done both of you on completing the half of it so well... bum about the cancelled dive....



B x

Thanks B. It was annoying that it was cancelled when we were so close and when it was clear nearer Wastwater, but others were still travelling over the top in the thick snow and I suppose no-one could have known that it would clear up completely on the way back.

[Nick Kay]

I'm running a combined Nitrox course in the near future - you're welcome to come to our practical day (will be at The Cape)

[Buoyant Babe]

Originally Posted by Nick Kay

I'm running a combined Nitrox course in the near future - you're welcome to come to our practical day (will be at The Cape)

Thanks for that. We've paid for this already so I'll wait and see what the arrangements for rescheduling are first

Hxxx

[jorawley]

how the hell can an inland fresh water dive be blown out due to the weather FFS!!
almost a 500 mile trip this weekend and no dive...
off to snorkel in the bath....

[ratcliffe]

Sorry to hear you didn't get to dive, but at least the non-diving bit is done now

[triplefin]

Sorry to hear about your ruined day Helen but if you were planning to go over Hard Knot Pass to get to Wastwater in the snow it'd be pretty dicey and not something I'd like to chance. Beautiful drive tho and one of my favourite areas up there. Worth going the day before for a traipse around Wasdale Head and a quick hike up to Sty Head Tarn if you have time next time. The easiest route up to Scarfell Pike is just near the NT campsite there as well.

[Buoyant Babe]

Originally Posted by triplefin

Sorry to hear about your ruined day Helen but if you were planning to go over Hard Knot Pass to get to Wastwater in the snow it'd be pretty dicey and not something I'd like to chance. Beautiful drive tho and one of my favourite areas up there. Worth going the day before for a traipse around Wasdale Head and a quick hike up to Sty Head Tarn if you have time next time. The easiest route up to Scarfell Pike is just near the NT campsite there as well.

Cheers Jane - it would have been good to stay over Ssturday night but we didn't finish at Hartlepool until 6pm!

We missed the Hard Knot Pass - we took the A69 to Carlisle then the A5086 from Cockermouth, then the A595.

Hxxx

[sas steve]

Just come in from the garden in my shorts and t-shirt, What's all this about snow and stuff.
Last time I saw snow was 1982 up in the Valleys of Wales.

People these days don't know how to drive in bad weather,I remember driving the Old Morris Marina through 10 foot snow drifts when i was a young lad just to get to Pen-y-fan pond for a dip in my home made woollen wetsuit and fire extinguisher dive set.