The Penair Oldies Blog

Monday 1 October 2018

Three Peaks Challenge

Three Peaks Challenge

This year - we planned a bigger challenge! Yes the Camel Trail has also been documented but we never found time for that one as well......maybe next year! Anyway, this Challenge was just Neil and myself and we set off in August to attempt the Three Peaks

I will take the liberty of linking to the Penair Oldie Flickr feed for this one as I've written up that adventure there. It's a very photo indulgent Blog so I don't fancy loading it twice!!!

So click on any of the following pictures to take you to that blog and on how a stumble (by me) caused a rather unexpected diversion.......

Tuesday 21 November 2017

2018 Challenges

A new year about to begin and nicely, not just one but two challenges ahead of us.....

First, the usual summer challenge involving all of us. Despite my best misgivings they'v e talked me into rising a bike again! Now long time followers of the Oldies will know my hate of riding push bikes (only proper bike has an engine!) so please see the following examples of what is right and what is wrong:-

Wrong!!! My last ride on a bike without an engine. So wrong!!!!

Right - how it should be done!!! Say no more......

Anyway - this is our route, penciled in for 1st July 2018

That's almost 40 miles worth of saddle soreness fellas! Remember this is your ideas! Not mine!!!!

Second Challenge

The second challenge is just Neil and Claire, and we're planning to do the Three Peaks Challenge;

So, this challenge does fill me with dread in many ways, but in other ways excitement. For a start, it'll be the first "mini Oldie" challenge as just two out of four of the group will be attempting this challenge. Neil Jones - former school friend, business partner and all round good guy, has agreed to do this ridiculous undertaking.

So over six days sometime in 2018 (TBA) we'll be walking:-

Ben Nevis (Scotland), at 4,410 ft the highest mountain on our list
Scafell Pike (England) 3,209 ft
Snowdon (Wales) 3.560 ft

Details to be announced as they are arranged.......

2017 Autumn Reunion

All pictures and content (c) Penair Oldies 1980 - 2017. C.Stocker, J.Brinkhoff, N.Jones, S.Varker

Saturday 6 May 2017

Our route for this year - 7th May 2017

Funny old year, honestly I've been busy!!! So I find myself updating the Oldies page in November after one challenge, one reunion and plans beginning for next year - D'oh!!!

A shorter walk this year. Many of us are nursing injuries - between Steve and myself four surgeries in two years for example. So a mostly down hill short relaxed challenge this year......next year will be different!!!!!

Neil Jones, John Brinkhoff, Claire Stocker, Steve Varker.

The Penair Oldies

Four old school friends still doing stupid things way too many years after they should have stopped!!!!

Charlestown - our starting (and ending) point.

Charlestown

Starting at the Eden Project we followed the Clay Trails through the mining and rural countryside surrounding St.Austell

Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum

St.Austell

Charlestown

All pictures and content (c) Penair Oldies 1980 - 2018. C.Stocker, J.Brinkhoff, N.Jones, S.Varker

Welcome!

Welcome to the Penair Oldies Blog

Four old school friends who have stayed together through many of life's many adventures.

We have always kept in touch, supported each other through marriages, funerals, one divorce and between us 11 children!!!

We reunite twice a year if possible, in the Autumn for many years especially to remember Kaimen Wong who passed away in early November 1986. He was a brilliant young man who I think would have approved of our joint nuttiness! We never make such reunions morbid, more a happy celebration of life and to ensure he remains part of the Oldies!

Until this stage, we jokingly called ourselves the 'Old Buggers'!

In 2010 we began the Oldie challenges. Started because of a rainy day talk over a cup of coffee at Steve's house, we decided to formally try and raise money to help send his son Joseph to the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden! Between us we walked the south Cornish Coast from Rame Head to Lands End, a total of 150 miles (give or take). Because of the need for a more public profile, this page was created along with a new name more media friendly - 'The Penair Oldies'

The Challenges continued albeit slightly more low-key - In 2011 we walked 26 miles between Devoran - Portreath and back again on the 30th July 2011

In 2012 - We attempted to cycle from Plymouth Hoe to Dartmoor and back again! This particularly was important for me as it marked the last event the 'old' me took place in. (for those not in the loop, ask someone else, it's no secret and I'm getting tired telling the same story after all this time!)

In 2013 - we walked between Rough Tor to Golitha Falls Bodmin Moor - a huge undertaking made worse as it was the first for the 'new' me. The boys were brilliant and really you couldn't ask for better friends

2014 we took a slightly different approach. Rather than distance we went exploring! We walked the banks of the Rover Tamar from Gunnislake discovering the long forgotten river port of 'New Quay' hidden in the undergrowth. Brilliant, March adventure that for that time of year was warm and bright.

2015 we had a far more relaxed challenge. I was still getting over an operation, Neil was awaiting yet another baby-oldie, Steve is old and John, well John just doesn't age curse him! So a gentle stroll across almost ten miles of the south Devon countryside close to the South Devon Steam Railway.

2016 marked 30 years since Kiamen's passing - our reunions reflected that. - Princetown on Dartmoor to Plymouth - "Prison to the Sea".

2017 - an easier trek across the China Clay Pit area of Cornwall down to the sea

2018 - provisionally two challenges are planned!! The first will be the usual Oldie silliness - this time cycling the length of the Camel Trail and back again (about 50 miles, don't tell the rest of them!)

The second is a "mini" challenge in so far as just Neil and Claire will be doing it - the Three Peak Challenge,

Claire and the Old Buggers (Penair Oldies)