Ron Caves
@roncaves.bsky.social
Always looking for new landscapes to explore whether by foot, bike, paddle, ski, pen, canvas, lens, antenna, equation or beer.
Short bonus paddle early this am from Mackenzie Beach before driving home (7 km). Rare calm conditions (low wind + swell) for the exposed paddle round to Chesterman Beach and back. Fantastic seeing the beaches and reefs from the water. Wonderful long weekend of paddling despite a poor forecast.
October 13, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Short bonus paddle early this am from Mackenzie Beach before driving home (7 km). Rare calm conditions (low wind + swell) for the exposed paddle round to Chesterman Beach and back. Fantastic seeing the beaches and reefs from the water. Wonderful long weekend of paddling despite a poor forecast.
Another good paddle, exploring Tsapee Narrows to the NE of Tofino (12 km). Lots of shallow bays with thick sea grass and mud banks. Somewhere best explored on a rising tide, which it was.
October 12, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Another good paddle, exploring Tsapee Narrows to the NE of Tofino (12 km). Lots of shallow bays with thick sea grass and mud banks. Somewhere best explored on a rising tide, which it was.
Annual trip to Tofino for Thanksgiving. Pleased I brought my kayak despite a windy forecast. Explored Toquart Bay and Pipestem Inlet this AM in flat calm! Lots of Kingfishers, spotted one Black Bear. Amazing reflections on the flat water. Found the wind along the coast in Ucluelet later in the PM.
October 12, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Annual trip to Tofino for Thanksgiving. Pleased I brought my kayak despite a windy forecast. Explored Toquart Bay and Pipestem Inlet this AM in flat calm! Lots of Kingfishers, spotted one Black Bear. Amazing reflections on the flat water. Found the wind along the coast in Ucluelet later in the PM.
Friday cycled the Vedder River loop (30 km). Loads of people fishing the river. Easy but pleasant trail. Halfway lunch stop at Sidekick Brewing.
October 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Friday cycled the Vedder River loop (30 km). Loads of people fishing the river. Easy but pleasant trail. Halfway lunch stop at Sidekick Brewing.
Out for a Sunday hike from Kettlewell in Wharfedale with Leeds friends Wad and Christina, and Bruno the dog. Lovely to see the Yorkshire Dales on a sunny autumnal day. Rivers were very high after all the rain on Saturday. Enjoyed a pint of Old Peculiar at the pub in Starbotton.
September 22, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Out for a Sunday hike from Kettlewell in Wharfedale with Leeds friends Wad and Christina, and Bruno the dog. Lovely to see the Yorkshire Dales on a sunny autumnal day. Rivers were very high after all the rain on Saturday. Enjoyed a pint of Old Peculiar at the pub in Starbotton.
Saturday, on my way from Edinburgh to Leeds stopped for a few hours in a rainy York. Wonderful to finally see York Minister, much more impressive than I expected, particularly all the medieval stained glass windows.
September 22, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Saturday, on my way from Edinburgh to Leeds stopped for a few hours in a rainy York. Wonderful to finally see York Minister, much more impressive than I expected, particularly all the medieval stained glass windows.
Thurs had planned to hike Lochnagar with friends Humbie and Jackie but far too windy (150 kmh gust forecast for the summit). Instead explored the Victoria Cairns and Pyramids above Balmoral, found eight of them but apparently there are more.
September 19, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Thurs had planned to hike Lochnagar with friends Humbie and Jackie but far too windy (150 kmh gust forecast for the summit). Instead explored the Victoria Cairns and Pyramids above Balmoral, found eight of them but apparently there are more.
Tuesday, a breezy hike on the Cairngorm plateau but with fantastic views, particularly of Loch Avon, gusting 95 kmh at the weather station (15 km, 1100 m).
September 19, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Tuesday, a breezy hike on the Cairngorm plateau but with fantastic views, particularly of Loch Avon, gusting 95 kmh at the weather station (15 km, 1100 m).
Nostalgic hike today out to Ryvoan Bothy and along the Meall a' Bhuachaille ridge north of Loch Morlich. Wonderful clear views of the High Cairngorms and distant Northern Highlands. Great seeing numerous peaks that I had hiked and skied in the 1980's.
September 14, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Nostalgic hike today out to Ryvoan Bothy and along the Meall a' Bhuachaille ridge north of Loch Morlich. Wonderful clear views of the High Cairngorms and distant Northern Highlands. Great seeing numerous peaks that I had hiked and skied in the 1980's.
Explored the coastline of Assynt on Friday before heading east to Dingwall. Impressed by the remains of Clachtoll Broch.
September 14, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Explored the coastline of Assynt on Friday before heading east to Dingwall. Impressed by the remains of Clachtoll Broch.
From Ullapool drove around Coigach Peninsula then up to Lochinver. Clear views of the peaks in between blustery squalls but way too windy to hike up any; gone soft ;) Stopped to see Knockan Crag, scene of a seminal geological debate about thrust faults, and windswept Achnahaird Beach.
September 14, 2025 at 7:48 PM
From Ullapool drove around Coigach Peninsula then up to Lochinver. Clear views of the peaks in between blustery squalls but way too windy to hike up any; gone soft ;) Stopped to see Knockan Crag, scene of a seminal geological debate about thrust faults, and windswept Achnahaird Beach.
Applecross to Ullapool with numerous stops to explore the coast, stunning scenery, clear and dry but windy. Wonderful seeing peaks I had hiked 25 to 40 years ago. Others I need to come back for.
September 14, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Applecross to Ullapool with numerous stops to explore the coast, stunning scenery, clear and dry but windy. Wonderful seeing peaks I had hiked 25 to 40 years ago. Others I need to come back for.
Oban to Applecross with numerous stops along the way to see sites old and new to me. Cloud hiding higher peaks but still some great views. Last 60 km was mostly on twisty single lane roads, thankfully almost empty as it was late in the day, and hence fun to drive.
September 14, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Oban to Applecross with numerous stops along the way to see sites old and new to me. Cloud hiding higher peaks but still some great views. Last 60 km was mostly on twisty single lane roads, thankfully almost empty as it was late in the day, and hence fun to drive.
My heart jumped when I came across a brontosaurus hanging out in my back yard this evening, seemingly feeding on the Camilia bush! After me freeing it of a plastic tag, it floated gently up and away, hopefully back to the Jurassic.
July 29, 2025 at 2:37 AM
My heart jumped when I came across a brontosaurus hanging out in my back yard this evening, seemingly feeding on the Camilia bush! After me freeing it of a plastic tag, it floated gently up and away, hopefully back to the Jurassic.
A night at the opera. Got a last minute Stehplatz to see Wagner's Siegfried at the Vienna State Opera. I only planned to watch the 1st act but enjoyed the spectacle and music so much that I lasted the full 5 hours. Fun exploring the opera house during the intervals, rather grand.
June 25, 2025 at 9:55 PM
A night at the opera. Got a last minute Stehplatz to see Wagner's Siegfried at the Vienna State Opera. I only planned to watch the 1st act but enjoyed the spectacle and music so much that I lasted the full 5 hours. Fun exploring the opera house during the intervals, rather grand.
Mellow morning cruise down the Danube from Melk to Krems before catching the train to Vienna. Late afternoon out to see the impressive gardens at Schönbrunn, much more extensive than I expected. Imperial oversize?
June 21, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Mellow morning cruise down the Danube from Melk to Krems before catching the train to Vienna. Late afternoon out to see the impressive gardens at Schönbrunn, much more extensive than I expected. Imperial oversize?
Onwards to Melk on the Danube. Long wanted to visit the famous abbey since seeing a picture of it in the late 80's. It did not disappoint. The high baroque interior is sumptuous but no pics, photos not allowed. Irish connection, the abbey contains the tomb of St Coloman a 10th century Irish pilgrim.
June 20, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Onwards to Melk on the Danube. Long wanted to visit the famous abbey since seeing a picture of it in the late 80's. It did not disappoint. The high baroque interior is sumptuous but no pics, photos not allowed. Irish connection, the abbey contains the tomb of St Coloman a 10th century Irish pilgrim.
By chance I caught the Corpus Christi celebrations in Hallstatt. Locals were very smartly dressed in traditional garb. A church service was followed by a procession through the village and then by boat onto the lake. Afternoon I took the cable car up to Krippenstein for a hike on the karst plateau.
June 19, 2025 at 7:26 PM
By chance I caught the Corpus Christi celebrations in Hallstatt. Locals were very smartly dressed in traditional garb. A church service was followed by a procession through the village and then by boat onto the lake. Afternoon I took the cable car up to Krippenstein for a hike on the karst plateau.
Finally got a full view of the impressive Dachstein south face before leaving Schladming. Two hour train ride to Obertraun. Took a ferry across the lake to see Hallstatt, stunning location and dangerously pretty. Busy but not crazy. Amazing that it is all due to some ancient celts looking for salt.
June 18, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Finally got a full view of the impressive Dachstein south face before leaving Schladming. Two hour train ride to Obertraun. Took a ferry across the lake to see Hallstatt, stunning location and dangerously pretty. Busy but not crazy. Amazing that it is all due to some ancient celts looking for salt.
Monday, travel over to Dachstein. Mountains in cloud this AM, gambled and took the cable car up to the glacier. In luck, the N side was in the sun with dramatic cloudscapes along the ridge. Hiked over to Gjaidstein and then Seethaler hut. Later hiked down through beautiful larch woods to Ramsau.
June 17, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Monday, travel over to Dachstein. Mountains in cloud this AM, gambled and took the cable car up to the glacier. In luck, the N side was in the sun with dramatic cloudscapes along the ridge. Hiked over to Gjaidstein and then Seethaler hut. Later hiked down through beautiful larch woods to Ramsau.
Quiet AM hike Oberau to Obersalzburg where I joined the crowds on the bus up Kehlstein. Hiked the ridge towards Hoher Göll, losing the crowds once the scrambling began, great views. On return saw the museum on Obersalzburg during the Nazi era. Weird that so much evil came from such a beautiful spot.
June 14, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Quiet AM hike Oberau to Obersalzburg where I joined the crowds on the bus up Kehlstein. Hiked the ridge towards Hoher Göll, losing the crowds once the scrambling began, great views. On return saw the museum on Obersalzburg during the Nazi era. Weird that so much evil came from such a beautiful spot.
Morning hike out to Maria Plain, a prominent rustic church on a hill north of Salzburg. Then caught the bus to Oberau near Berchtesgaden.
June 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Morning hike out to Maria Plain, a prominent rustic church on a hill north of Salzburg. Then caught the bus to Oberau near Berchtesgaden.
Cycled out to St Leonard today and took the cable car up Untersberg for a short hike. Hazy but still some great views. More exploring around Salzburg when I got back and a chamber music concert in the evening.
June 12, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Cycled out to St Leonard today and took the cable car up Untersberg for a short hike. Hazy but still some great views. More exploring around Salzburg when I got back and a chamber music concert in the evening.
Fun day Wednesday exploring churches, fortresses, beer gardens, cafes and bike routes in Salzburg.
June 12, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Fun day Wednesday exploring churches, fortresses, beer gardens, cafes and bike routes in Salzburg.
Stopped in Ulm for one night, mainly to see the tallest church in the world (161 m). Impressive, despite lots of ongoing work inside and out. Endless spiral staircase up to the viewing deck. Great setting beside the Danube
June 10, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Stopped in Ulm for one night, mainly to see the tallest church in the world (161 m). Impressive, despite lots of ongoing work inside and out. Endless spiral staircase up to the viewing deck. Great setting beside the Danube