Hot (Damn Hot!) Hike

Setting off .... a walk around High Island Dam with Cliff and Mike. It was hot. Too hot in fact. In hindsight, we probably shouldn't have done such a challenging walk. It must have been around 33 celsius, but with no shade whatsoever and the sun beating down, parts were a real struggle
















The first view we came across (above) and the first beach of many on the walk. Hard to believe we were still in Hong Kong, one of the most dense and polluted cities in the world.
















High Island Dam at Po Pin Chau (above). Now it's starting to get hot. Quite hot, actually. I didn't bring a hat, either.

Idiot.

To give you an idea, the picture above shows the breakwater on the left and the actual dam on the right. The picture below shows Mike and Cliff walking along the road on the dam to the left, with the reservoir behind them.
















(Below) One man's walk is another man's hike. Quite a stressful hike at that. Someone said at work afterwards ... "well, at least you could see the path".

We couldn't. And it was hot. Really hot.
















Below. Take a break.

















The next beach ... with seating arrangements.

Zippy

Zippy is our favourite children's character from kid's TV in the 1970's.
Well, that's not quite true. He's Tom's favourite character. This section is in honour of his unknown origins and status as a ... well .. a loud mouthed whateverucallhim.

Here he is in all his glory.






We've DJ'd together many a time and I thank God he managed to pull in the crowds and keep people dancing when my choice of reggae was lacking.



With both Tom and Zippy being great fans of David Bowie, it was only natural they hit it off when Zippy launched his Zippy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars Band.


Ok ok ok ... this is the one you've all been waiting for, the famous Twanger episode. Contrary to popular belief, it was NEVER aired. It was made as a Xmas party special for the cast and crew. Enjoy. And don't forget to pluck away ...



Don't let anyone tell you it was broadcast. It wasn't.

Shame, Huh?

This is Zippy and his cousin Zippo. Don't tell Zippy that you can't tell the difference. You'll never hear the end of it ...



"I'm ZIPPY!"





















Beware imposters (above right) .. they're easy to spot. Zippy only ever has one hand and is NEVER seen apart from waist level up. If you see more than one hand and anything from the waist down, you've been had, kid!

Finally, here's a quick test to see if you are Zipped up to scratch ...
Fake Zippy?



Or Genuine Zippy?


Real Zippy?










Or is this English actor George Cole in the UK TV 70's series Minder, trying to pull the wool over our eyes?

Tai Ma Shan

Tom, Cliff and his son Anthony brave the humidity and an old British base.














The higher you got, the more wet it got. You could see and feel the clouds.









































Anthony takes a moment at 2,000 feet to add to the all ready wet atmosphere.

The old army base, all locked up. Well, almost ...

Unfair Fishing ...

Tai Po Fish Pond

Fishing shouldn't be like this but we couldn't hire a boat at such short notice, and besides the three of us hadn't fished before.














The day was science at it's best. A small self-contained pond teeming with hungry fish and a large, ever-stocked fridge overflowing with beers.

You do the maths.

Here's Tabs' mum getting a quick lesson in snaring just one fish in a million that are all starving and nowhere to go ....














Something bites ... reel it in .. play it .....














Hours later, a beautiful fish is brought to shore ...














A beautiful day all round. In the end we caught five fish, and took them across the road to a Thai restaurant where they cooked the biggest one for us. Tabs' Mum took some home for her Dad.