First Day of Advent - Lego Star Wars

I've done a stop-motion build of each day of the 2014 Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar.

Here is the first day!

Happy Halloween!

YouTube Channel Turns Four

It's now been 4 years since I started my YouTube Channel, "neilrbee".

The number of views has grown year on year:

Year 1 - 654

Year 2  - 4,518

Year 3 -  31,165

Year 4   -50,812

So the current total number of views is over 86,000.

The current top videos are:

Will Fujifilm Finepix S8200 zoom test still be at number one in a years time or will it be replaced by Moon zoom with the Panasonic Lumix?

Camera videos and Lego videos make up 90% of my top ten.

For those who like Lego Star Wars I'll be posting each day from this years advent calendar of what's behind each door in December!

Not too long and I'll have reached over 100,000 views, will post the top ten to see if any new entries etc.

So big thanks if you've watched any of my videos, if not! why not have a look at my playlists to see if something catches your eye.

Kickstarter Project

Just funded to my first Kickstarter Project:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/astroworx/goknuckles-for-your-gopro-hero-camera


Recently got the new GoPro Hero4 Black edition and after looking at GoPro videos on YouTube I came across the project.

Check out my current 3 videos of my initial tests of the GoPro!

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQeoJaLMqg_XlGIvg508l7ofUyD3S2W9U

Once the GoKnuckles I'll be testing them out to see how they fair.

GoPro Hero 4 Black: Unboxing

Blog turns 4

4 years ago I set up my blog when I decided to take a career break and do some travelling.

So what are the main things I've done in the last 4 years?

• Got fit for 40
• Walked 97 miles completing the Cheshire Ring
• Covered over 200 miles of the Wales Coast Path
• Doubled the number of views on my YouTube in the last year.

More on the number of views on YouTube in the coming weeks when my Channel turns 4!

Increase YouTube views using Twitter

Upload views to YouTube?

If so use Twitter to help promote your videos and increase the number of viewings.

Steps:

1. Upload video

2. Share the link to Twitter

3. Add hashtags

4. Post to Twitter

Result:

200 miles in 2 Years

Two years ago I set off on the Wales Coast Path from Chester. A long distance footpath of 870 miles from Chester to Chepstow covering the Wales coast.

Well 2 years later I've walked round from Chester to Menai Bridge and round the whole of Anglesey.

Tuesday of last week I walked from Holyhead round to Trearddur on Anglesey. This walk took my total mileage to over 200 miles walked in two years.

In a previous post I mentioned using buses for the walks. I use the mobile website of transpordirect on my mobile phone. I plan my journey then use screenshots to capture the results of the times and changes etc. This saves you using your data on your phone, plus you don't always get a signal.

http://m.transportdirect.info/

You can do the same with train times using the National Rail websites.

My chosen camera now for the walks is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60 compact. It's a 30x optical zoom camera which shoots video in full HD and a cool slow motion video function.

Pictures of each section I've covered and videos from my favourite spots on Anglesey can now be found in my Playlists on on YouTube channel.

I'll be covering the rest of the Wales Coast Path over the coming years in future posts so watch this space!!

Walked all of the Anglesey Coast Path

The end and start of the Anglesey Coast Path

Day 2 of my back to back walks on Anglesey.

The official start of the Anglesey Coast Path is Saint Cybi church in Holyhead.

Today was the end of my walks on the path.

7am rise to catch the sunrise and by half seven I was off to walk from Holyhead round to Treardurr.

My Endomondo wouldn't pick up any GPS so luckily I had my Garmin watch to track the mileage. It too struggled at times to get a signal.

Carrying my 40 litre rucksack at times walking upto the top of Holyhead mountain was tough going! Think I may invest in some good walking poles.

Captured different sides of South Stacks lighthouse on video. You can find it on my Anglesey playlist on my YouTube channel.

Greeted by a fabulous view of the Welsh mountains on the mainland as I reached the top of Holyhead mountain.

The going underfoot for the last section was a lot easier, just had to watch out for the cliff edges!

The walk ended with another eerie house, yesterday one in Aberffraw looked a bit spooky at the start of the walk. Amityville sprung to mind!

So with back to back walks I've covered off all of Anglesey, 132 miles.

Felt sad as it has come to an end on the island of Anglesey. Will be back to see the birds and jets from RAF Valley.

However my journey continues on the Wales Coast Path as in October  I will be doing 3 days in a row using Abersoch as a base.

Back to back walks on Anglesey

Usually I write these posts the day after my walk on the Wales Coast Path. Today as I’m staying in a b and b I am using the wifi to cover the day’s event.

Took a bus from the now familiar stop outside of Bangor station to Aberffraw.

I'll be sharing my tips on using buses for the walks in a future post.

The section was to be Aberffraw up to Four Mile Bridge.

For half the journey  I was chatting to a retired chap from Crewe, exchanging places we have walked and I got some good walking tips.

Had a busy day taking videos as well as the usual pictures. Took in Rhosneigr beach, a RAF jet taking off from Valley airport and spotted an oyster catcher looking for food.

Added a playlist on YouTube for all my videos taken on Anglesey and another for all the photos taken walking the Wales Coast Path.

For the first time I’ll be walking tomorrow to finish off the Path on Anglesey, from Holyhead round to Trearddur. So will update my miles covered so far tomorrow.

Been a long day, so my bed calls!

YouTube Channel Playlists

I've added some Playlists to my YouTube channel at the bottom of the screen:

• Video tests
• Lego Creator
• Anglesey
• Wales Coast Path

Will be adding a few more videos to the Wales Coast Path playlist over the next few days and will add a couple more Lego playlists.

Lego Technic 42027: Desert Racer (time-lapse)

Lego Technic has come a long way since I was a teenager!

Wales Coast Path - Anglesey

Yesterday was back to Anglesey to walk from Aberffraw round to Newborough.

I had planned to walk it the week before but due to the changeable weather I changed my mind.

Lots of different animals to see from pheasants, rabbits, cows and a tiny frog! The tiny frog didn't stay still enough to get a photo. (see video of same title of this post)

The terrain was flat so was very easy going apart from crossing a dune as the wind drew me to  the sea. (see Llanddwyn Island video)

I could of walked the beaches/dunes but as I was on a time restraint due to the infrequency of buses I stuck to the inland paths of Newborough forest.

My time on Anglesey draws to an end, it's definitely a place I want to go back to at some point.

Just 2 sections left which I will be doing back to back days. A good fitness challenge!

Wales Coast Path - Aberffraw to Newborough

Llanddwyn Island on Anglesey

Lego Star Wars 9493: X-wing Starfighter (time-lapse)

Wales Coast Path - Anglesey

Yesterday I had planned to walk from Aberffraw round to Newborough, but due to the rain on the way I decided to walk a different section.

So it was a bus to Newborough to walk back to Gogogogoch.

Soon I had to negotiate the stepping stones over the river Afon Braint, not too easy as it had started to rain! See a previous post for a video of the spot.

Was a good spot as saw a swan on the river and a gaggle of geese flying overhead.

This section was mainly inland with not many views of the coast, but I was rewarded with an excellent section which took in the southern shore and the view over to Caernarfon and the Welsh mountains covered in cloud in the background. Check out the video for the view and peacefulness the island offers.

Glad I packed my waterproofs as was caught in a heavy shower!

The usual pictures of the day are on my YouTube channel.

So another section ticked off with just 3 to go now!

Stepping stones over the river Afon Braint on Anglesey

Wales Coast Path - Newborough to Llanfairpwllgwyngyll

Caernarfon and the Menai Strait from Anglesey

Lego Itchy and Scratchy see Eye to Eye

YouTube Channel - 75,000 views

My YouTube channel has now passed 75,000 views.

Menai Bridge round to Holyhead on Anglesey on the Wales Coast Path

Today it's raining and miserable in the UK! but yesterday was a much better day for walking the Wales Coast Path on Anglesey.

For some reason the bus in Bangor was delayed to take me to Moelfre which meant a knock on effect for the end of the walk!

Section to cover was Moelfre round to Amlwch. It was the only part of the eastern part of the island I hadn't covered in my travels.

I'd previously suggested the section to my friend Marcus, but in parts I found it tough going so deffo would of been a test of the friendship!!

Some good steep sections on the coastline and a road section near Dulas all made for good cardio!

The bays on the walk ranged from stony to sand.

Took some video (previous post) of the different birds inhabiting a small island, it reminded me of Puffin Island but not quite as big in size.

Pictures from the day started off with grey skies and cloud, finishing up with blue skies and big white fluffy clouds. (see previous posts or check out my YouTube channel).

Once the section was over I had to run to the bus stop so I didn't have to wait over an hour at Bangor train station for the journey home.

12 miles ticked off and now I've walked from Menai Bridge round to Holyhead.

4 more sections then it's back to the Welsh mainland to continue my journey!

Bird watching on the island of Anglesey with the Panasonic DMC-TZ60 digi...

Wales Coast Path - Moelfre to Amlwch

Walked half way round the coast of Anglesey

Yesterday went back to the island of Anglesey with G.

G went for bike ride of the island whilst I continued covering the miles of the Wales Coast Path.

The section for the day was from Trearddur round to Four Mile Bridge.

Twice in the day I heard and spotted a Sea King helicopter flying over the island. Managed to capture it heading towards RAF Valley at the end of my walk. Check out the video on my YouTube channel on a previous post.

Managed to get pictures of different types of butterflies whilst walking the path. My usual pictures of the day are on YouTube.

It was one of the shortest sections in the book I'm using at 9 miles.

So now I've covered 70 miles out of the 132 on the island.

I'm over half way now :) !

Wales Coast Path - Trearddur to Four Mile Bridge

Sea King helicopter near RAF Valley on Anglesey.

The Tour de France

Last Friday was a 3 day holiday to Yorkshire for the Tour de France.

After checking into the hotel on the outskirts of Huddersfield it was a bus to the centre of Huddersfield.

The square outside of the station was decked out in all things French!

A delayed bus due to road closures for a cycling event that evening took me and G to Holmfirth. The evenings venue was the Picturesdome.

Peter Hook and the Light was playing some Joy Division tracks and the first two New Order albums.

I've seen the band a few times now and the small venue was ideal to get close to the performance.

I was well pleased when the above photo was favourited on Twitter by Hooky himself :-).

You can check out a compilation of the songs performed in a video on my YouTube channel. The clips I took reminded me of tv footage from a music show in the 80s, The Old Grey Whistle Test.

The rain had stopped from the Friday and the sun came out on the Saturday.

A crammed train and we arrived in Leeds, finding a spot wasn't easy to view the support cars then the riders. Still managed to get some video of the action though for Stage 1.

The crowds remained and it was down to the Town Hall to see what was going on.

A fiver was charged to enter the Town Hall for a glorified sales pitch! from small cycling firms. There were speakers through out the day and it allowed us to have a rest from all the standing up!

Sunday the weather remained good and it was Stage 2 to look forward too. G had worked out a spot on the ring road where the riders had to slow down! Otherwise they go past in a flash, if you blink you can miss them!

We got to the spot about 10.30am and claimed our spots to see all the action. The riders didn't turn upto around 2.30pm but by then the crowds were very busy.

On the Saturday we missed the promotions caravan but on the Sunday we were treated to all the wacky designed cars and vans.

My Panasonic Lumix TZ60 camera in hand I managed to catch the breakaway, peloton and support cars in HD slow motion video.

Videos of the caravan and the riders can be found in previous posts, or find them on my YouTube channel.

Walking back to the car we took in some action on the big screen in the town square, it was rammed with loads of spectators taking in the action.

The Tour de France Caravan

The Tour de France 2014: Stage 2 Huddersfield (slow motion)

Peter Hook and The Light: Holmfirth Picturedrome 4th July 2014

Tour de France 2014: Stage 1 Leeds

Maginon HD Wildlife Camera footage of a Badger at night

Walking round Anglesey on the Wales Coast Path

Yesterday I went to the north west part of Anglesey, the walk was to be Church Bay to Holyhead.

Once again took the train all the way to Holyhead then got a bus to Rhydwyn and about a miles walk to Church Bay.

Compared to previous sections the path is relatively flat. A mixture of grass, pebbly beach and a bit of sand.

You got good views of the ferries entering and leaving Holyhead.

Favourite pic of the day.

Other pictures are in my video in the previous post.

Endomondo managed to loose the gps signal on my phone twice, but View Ranger kept my position. Back to my Garmin watch for the rest of the island I think!

Mis-read the way markers at one point and ended up climbing over a stone and barbed wired wall to avoid doubling back.

Need to take sun tan lotion if sun forecast next time as deffo caught the sun!!

14 miles ticked off and just one more section and I will have covered the northern half of the island.

Wales Coast Path - Church Bay to Holyhead

Walking round Anglesey on the Wales Coast Path

Yesterday with a forecast of no winds I went back to the northern side of Anglesey to cover part of the Wales Coast Path.

Took the train all the way over to Holyhead then caught the bus to take me to Cemaes Bay.

What began as a grey cloudy day turned into a beautiful blue skied day.

The section from Cemaes Bay to Almwch is one of the shortest in the guide book I'm following at 8 miles. However it's not flat! At least twice I was caught for breath on the ascents, proper lung busters!

I use Endomondo to track my walks then import the data into Strava.

Strava gives you PBs for cycling and running but found out also best efforts for hilly walking segments.

.










Currently hold the record on the section on the above photo. Checked other sections I have walked and 11%  average grad seems to be the steepest so far.

Wait to see how steep it is on the Holyhead section with Holyhead Mountain.

You can check out the photos of the day on my previous video post.

8 more miles walked, two sections to go and I'll be over half way round Anglesey (in split sections!).

Wales Coast Path - Cemaes to Almwch

Walking round Anglesey on the Wales Coast Path

Yesterday I went back to the eastern side of Anglesey to cover part of the Wales Coast Path.

Initially I'd planned to walk on the north coast but with the winds blowing from the SSW and after having fun! walking in them last walk it was the east coast.

So it was a bus from Bangor to Beaumaris then on foot round to Pentraeth.

Not far out of Beaumaris you get great views back over to the Welsh mainland.

See my previous post for a video of the rest of day's pictures.

Getting used to my Lumix TZ60 camera more. Not really impressed with it's macro function but due to the size of the megapixels you can zoom into a picture quite well!

Reminds me of a bug from Starship Troopers!

Was definitely a good workout covering the normal grassy paths, but with the challenge! of stony beaches and white sand.

Well I can tick another section of the path on Anglesey off :-)

13 miles done yesterday brings total mileage on the island to 39. Over a quarter done!

Wales Coast Path - Beaumaris to Pentraeth

Hen Borth on Anglesey

Wales Coast Path - 100+ Miles

Yesterday I went back to the island of Anglesey to continue walking the Wales Coast Path.

Section to be covered was Cemaes on the north coast round to Church Bay on the west coast.

Weather was cloudy and very windy in parts but still managed to catch the sun!

For those people who enjoy watching birds, you won't be dissapointed.

I spent some time trying to catch oyster catchers but didn't get the photos I wanted!

Taking a break at Trwyn Cemlyn I was rewarded by shooting some slow motion video of one out on the rocks.

You can see the video footage in a previous post.

My favourite spot of the day was a little cove called Hen Borth. There was an abundance of oyster catchers sun bathing on the rocks but I managed to disturb them and they flew off!!

Check out the video on the next post.

Photos of the day are in a previous video post.

So another 12 miles ticked off.

This brings total miles walked to date to 105 miles so broken the 100 mile mark :-)

Wales Coast Path - Cemaes to Church Bay

Oyster catcher captured in slow motion video using the Panansonic Lumix ...

Back to the Wales Coast Path

On Saturday it was an early rise to go back to Anglesey to continue walking the Wales Coast Path.

Whilst waiting for for the bus to take to me to Crewe train station the cloudless sky allowed me to try my Panasonic zoom camera at capturing the moon.

You can check out the results in the video on a previous post.

Slowly increasing the mileage on Anglesey, last October covered 6 miles of the eastern part of the island. The days plan was to cover 8 miles of the southern part of the island, from Gogogoch round to Beaumaris.

Note to those travelling by train to Anglesey, all the stops before Holyhead on the island are request stops so you need to make sure you tell or find! in my case the conductor. Think otherwise I would of been walking a 12 mile section from Holyhead, but that can be saved for another time!

Leaving Gogogoch station it's a short walk to Wales Coast Path and I couldn't of asked for better weather with views back to the mainland and the Welsh mountains.

This section of the path allows you take in both bridges which joins Anglesey to the mainland. Parts are very tranquil and an abundance of birds and cattle. From herons, oyster catchers, geese, bulls and bearded! cows.

Leaving Menai Bridge the path heads inland but the height gained and monotony of walking on a minor road is rewarded with the views back to the mountains.

Other pictures of the day can be found in the video of a previous post along with view of journeys end at Beaumaris.

So the total for miles on Anglesey to date is 14. My next walk will take me past 100 miles :-)

View from Beaumaris on Anglesey

Wales Coast Path - Llanfairpwllgwyngyll to Beaumaris

Moon zoom with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60 digital camera

First YouTube video to reach 10,000 views

This week one of my YouTube has passed 10,000 views.

Testing the 40 times optical zoom on the Fuji bridge camera has now attracted over 10,000 views.

Total views for my channel has passed 50,000 so pleased just one video has helped me reach that benchmark!

Be interesting to see if any of my other Lego videos in my Top 10 can pass Lego Pacific Rim Trailer for views.

Two recent videos include:

• Lego Cuusoo Back to the Future DeLorean set 21103 (time-lapse)
• Pictures taken on the Olympus PEN E-PL3 with M.Zuiko Digital 17mm F/2.8 lens

My first off-road race

Yesterday I took part in the Cloud 9 Hill Race, an off-road running race from Congleton to Bosley Cloud and back.

The distance is 9 miles or 14.5km over trail, road and boggy! fields.

As it was the first time I'd entered a running race and knowing the terrain and ascent in advance! I set myself a time of under 2 hours to complete the course with a mixture of walking! and jogging.

With support from the marshals around the course and members of the public out walking I managed to finish it with a time of 1 hour 56 minutes (419/432 place).

Thanks to the other runners I spoke to along the way who helped keep me going.

On the way back I thought I may loose my running shoes in the muddy fields but managed to keep them on!

Some photos taken on the day by taken by Bryan Dale and Michael Escolme. (Thanks for being able to download them for free :) )

  

Will I be doing it again next year? The answer is Yes!

50,000 YouTube views

Had over 50,000 views for my YouTube channel now.

Below are my current top 10 videos.

New YouTube number one

My Lego Pacific Rim trailer has been knocked off its number one slot.

My YouTube video with the most views is now "Fuji 8200 zoom test".

Things To Do in 2014

Ticked off one of the things to do in 2014 this morning whilst out for a run.

Taken a few years to break the sub 8 minute mile, my previous PB was 8 minutes and 6 seconds.

After a slow 4km run and a short walk I thought I'd give it another go going under 8 minutes.

So new PB is 7 minutes and 57 seconds.