#And as they got older it turned into having picnics in caves and on cliffs n places Nurm finds

[themintman]

Maybe Vos and Jack weren't Sammy's only friends.

[pokenimagines]

SFW | Miriam | Fic | Reader somehow finds a person to cover for Miriam's job and also offers to take Miriam out on one of their outings? I just met her, but I am already in love.

Bruh, she’s got a chokehold on me. I sweat, she’s so fine. I love her. I simped the moment I found her in my life. Even my older sister is smitten with this nurse. She claims that “They knew what they were doing by making everyone hot in this region.” And truer words have never been spoken.

Rules | Discord Server (16+)

SFW Miriam: Adventures Await Us

“Ah! There’s a cliff there!” Miriam said in shock. Thankfully you had a legendary ride pokemon who jumped and began soaring through the sky. You sadly couldn’t see the pink haired nurse’s face, but you knew it would be wide eyed.

“Welcome to the wilds, Miriam!” You shouted, as you soared through the sky. You guys managed to land in a large clearing and you helped Miriam off, before putting your partner back in their pokeball. “If we’re not soaring, then we’re probably climbing…and if we’re not doing that, then we’re swimming.”

“You do this all the time?” Miriam said as she stood on wobbly legs. She looked around the wild area, watching a few igglybuffs waddled around near the grass.

“Every day I can. Seriously, I can’t believe you’re always locked up in that nurse’s room.” You said with a sigh. Miriam looked so alive out here, “Didn’t you ever go on an adventure in your school years?”

“I wasn’t able to. I went to study at a pokemon center for my scavenger hunt.” Miriam admitted, “I wish I had gone out and explored some more.”

“Well, we just gotta make up for lost time. There’s a cave around here that’s crawling with the most adorable noibats.” You said, pointing off into the distance. “We can set up a picnic and then head inside after eating lunch.”

“That sounds lovely…and thanks for finding someone to cover for me.” Miriam said, as she grabbed your hand and dragged you into a hug and squealed, “You’re the best!”

You laughed and patted her back; you felt a bit sad when she parted from you, but you quickly shook off the feeling.

“Who did you find to cover for me, by the way?” She asked, since you never did tell her. You felt your entire body clam up as you cleared your throat.

“Trust me…they’re professionals.” You assured her.

“That doesn’t sound too convincing.” Miriam said but decided to drop it in favor of enjoying the rest of this little adventure. She only had till the end of the day before she went back to her job.

Meanwhile at the School:

“You’re…a Chansey…” Arven said as he looked at the pokemon. He managed to burn himself during a failed cooking experiment. The Chansey looked at him and cooed, walking over to him and handing him an egg. Arven awkwardly took it before something clicked in his head.

“NURSE MIRIAM TURNED INTO A CHANSEY!”

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[starr-fall-knight-rise]

Earth is a Death World, “Ice Climbing.”

ope you guys like another themed story :) 

Wind whipped at the outside of his containment unit. It came in great frosty gusts and billows which made it difficult to see four people trudging through the snow in front of them. 

As the wind continued to pick up, great swathes of snow were blown off the ridge in massive undulating sheets. The little specks of ice clattered against the glass of the container even as he watched.

The five humans struggled through the snow, which reached almost up to mid thigh in certain places, though their thick layers certainly didn’t help their movement all that much either. They were slow and shambling , like great beasts milling about through the arctic expanse.

It was sometimes hard to remember  that they were even on a habitable planet, and that the humans din’’t require space suits because all around him he saw only an alien landscape covered in ice and bathed in the disseminated gray light of a blizzard.

Out of the snow he could now see a straight cliff-face rising up into the white. He might not have seen it if he wasn’t looking, though the occasional jutting rock was more than helpful, black against the white of the snow.

The humans hurried forward the snow growing shallower the closer they got to the cliff face.

Eventually they reached their destination, ducking into a small crevice in the rock where the wind wasn’t so bad.

Krill was set to the side against one of the walls trying not to look up at the towering cliff face as the humans adjusted themselves.

Five faces peered out from fuzzy winder coats, the hoods lined in animal fur clung to by flakes of ice and snow. Their faces were covered as well, their eyes only visible behind clear orange goggles, and their faces swathed by fabric to cover the exposed nose and mouth.

To his side, Adam Pulled up his goggles and down on his face protection. His light skin was red with the cold, but he didn’t seem to notice or care, “You picked a great day to come up here sis.”

Across the circle, one of the figures pulled off their goggles and ask as well. 

Maya Vir, Adam’s older sister looked out from the depths of her hood, “If I had known ou were going to be this much of a chicken, maybe I would have picked another day.”

Adam’s brothers hooted from behind their mass and goggles.

Adam rolled his eyes, “hilarious guys, just hilarious.” Maya grinned, “Anyway, I know a place. Husband and I mapped it out a few weeks ago, and it's a very good climb up, relatively easy, no jumps or anything like that.”

Krill looked out at them baleful from inside his test tube, “I thought we were done.”

The humans turned to look at him, though the expressions on their faces were mostly concealed he received wicked grins from the other two.

“What makes you say that?” Adam wondered, as the group began adjusting themselves, “We did say we were going Ice climbing.”

Krill nodded and crossed his arms, “yes, and there was plenty of ice and plenty of climbing.”

It was only when the humans began uncoiling rope did Krill know something bad was about to happen.

Even worse when he saw the humans….. Strapping knives to their feet?

What was this nonsense.

Up ahead of them, Maya pulled two pick axes? Or miniature hooked versions of the from her gear.

Krill stared.

“What are you doing with those.” he wondered, watching as everyone else began pulling the same equipment from their bags.

Adam pulled his face protection back over his nose and mouth, “Well how else are we supposed to get up the cliff.”

Krill stared at him, “I’m sorry, you, What!.”

Adam dropped his axes to the side for a moment, pulling Krill back onto his back, “That’s what Ice climbing means, Krill. We are going to use the ice to make it to the top of the cliff. In the summer there is a little waterfall here, but in the winter it gives us some great ice climbing.”

“Define ice climbing for me again, because this surely can’t be as stupid as I think it is.”

“You’ll see in a minute.”

Krill glowered out from his container, “Which one of your insane family members picked THIS pass time, why couldn’t you guys play cards, or have a picnic. I like those things.”

Adam snorted as they trudged their way over to the bottom of the cliff face.

Krill looked up at the great snow covered ice expanse, though evidence of the blue tinted ice was underneath coming down like a rock formation might form in a cave over a million years.

“You only like playing cards because you can count them, and picnics because you're a plan, and besides it’s my sister’s birthday tomorrow, and for her birthday she wanted to take us ice climbing.”

“Why is no one in your family normal?”

“What about dad, you get along with him just fine.”

Krill huffed, “I did, and then I learned he rides giant four legged beasts for work.”

The human rolled his eyes again.

Maya turned, “Alright, split up into one group of two and one group of three.

“Jeremy will be the lead on one, and I will be the lead on the other, “Adam, you can come with me.”

Krill very much didn’t like where this was going, watching as the humans tied themselves together with rope.

“There are guide points placed on the stone and the ice, so the lead will attach the rope as we go up.” She was saying, and krill watched as she drove back her arm and slammed the head of the axe into the ice. He could hear it crunch and shatter under the head of the axe and then lodge there as she kicked into the ice with the blade on her foot. Eventually she was suspended by nothing but the blades .

Adam looked up, watching and waiting as she slowly made her way, ten feet up the ice face where she found one of the hidden markers and connected dtheir rope. Adam let her get up at least twenty feet before following behind hooking himself to her rope  and following up after.

The other three were doing the same some meters away.

The higher they went, the worse the wind grew, until snow ad ice was buffeting them lightly from one side to the other. 

Krill was right next to full panic as they dragged themselves further and further from the comfort of the ground below. Water droplets trickled and froze on the face of the cliff as they clambered upward, the sound of the axes just barely audible over the howling wind. 

At one point he made the mistake of looking down but saw nothing but a white wall of snow as it blew past. The ground no longer visible.

He covered his eyes hating every moment that they were hauled into the air.

Why why why could he not be with a normal human, one that liked to sit in front fo the TV and eat chips.

Why couldn’t he be with someone sedentary, and the only thing he had to worry about was them dying from blood clots.

The human drove his hand back, ramming the blade into the open ice face. Small chips of blue cascaded down onto his arm and then fell into the white expanse.

Krill couldn't watch.

But the humans continued to pull themselves up using incredible and unbelievable strength to haul their own mass up the face of the ice wall, using blades and axes to get there, for no other reason than the fact that they could do it.

Why why why were humans so stupid 

Why couldn’t they just be content to sit back and survive like every other species.

And why, even when they insisted on having hobbies did it have to be something that involved, extreme weather, heights, and --arguably-- deadly weapons.

His angry contemplation didn’t last long as a distant voice cut through the blizzard, “ADAM LOOK OUT!”

Krill’s head snapped up, as did Adam, just in time to see the blue chunk of ice pelting down right towards him.

He didn't have time to move and Krill felt the violent jolt as Adam was knocked hard in the right arm.

The ice fractured one piece slamming again’st Krill’s tube.

Adam’s grip was broken on his axe twisting him to the left. The loop of paracord around his wrist, connecting to his axe caused the pick to be yanked from the ice face and flung around as adam flailed nearly hitting him in the back of the right leg.

As his body contorted, the ice around the picks on his feet shattered and gave way and his legs were flung out to the side as well.

Krill squealed, watching as the world careened past them.

He expected to fall but was surprised when they didn’t.

Adam grunted with exertion, and Krill looked up to find the humans still gripping hold with one singular ice pick. He looked down again into the white void, feeling as the human gained enough power to swing himself back to face front driving one of his feet into the ice for more leverage, and then the other foot.

From there he managed to swing the second pick up into his hand climbing back upwards to follow his family members who were frozen not twenty feet up the face looking down and waiting for him.

They seemed relieved when he appeared and climbed the last ten feet to safety.

Krill and Adam were hauled up onto the ledge, where, pressed back against the rock, the wind had died down again.

“Adam are you ok!” Maya said looking him over for injury, “I’m so sorry, I saw it dislodge above me, but I couldn’t stop it.”

He waved a hand, “It's ok, just a little bruised is all.” He flexed his hand 

Krill had had enough.

“OK! Ok! We nearly died. Why do you humans insist on going out in adverse death world weather where the visibility is almost zero,just to climb up an unstable ice structure using fancy knives and some rope thinking that will be enough. Why, why, why do you always have to do stupid things that involve almost falling to your deaths.”

His rnt continued on for a few minutes 

So its not like anyone had time to tell him that, even if they had fallen, the rope woudl have caught them

Just let him think what he needed to think

[roundtheworldrambles]

Yangshuo, China

Day 62 - Guilin to Yangshuo

It was a cold, grey morning as Christie and I boarded a riverboat at Guilin’s wharf, beginning our 5-hour journey down the Li River to the town of Yangshuo. The riverside port was a scene of chaos, with more than half a dozen boats boarding simultaneously. Pulling away from the dock, the noise of the crowds was slowly replaced by the steady rumble of engines below deck.

Misty Karst peaks in the Guangxi Province

The stretch of the Li river between Guilin and Yangshuo spans approximately 83 kilometres, and meanders through an incredible range of landscape: bamboo forests, riverbeds with grazing water buffalo, karst peaks, and rice paddies. The natural scenery of the river valley was jaw dropping at every turn, as we passed through towering limestone gorges and ancient fishing villages.

Journey by riverboat down the Li River

Along our journey, rafts propelled by long-tailed outboard motors regularly criss-crossed the river in front of us. This type of traditional raft has a long history on the Li River; historically constructed by tethering stalks of bamboo together, fishermen and farmers would use a long pole to navigate up and down the river. Although these rafts continue to be widely used, the bamboo has long since been replaced with plastic tubing, with small motors now driving the rafts along the waterway.

Typical rafts used by fisherman and farmers living along the Li River

As we made our way past some of the villages, we saw many of these rafts being used for fishing - including some fishermen who practice the ancient method of fishing with cormorant birds. Using a technique that has been around for hundreds of years, cormorant fishermen cast out a large net, tossing it high overhead so that it lands in a circle on the water. Once the net has trapped the fish, the fisherman lets the cormorants into the enclosure to catch them. Although these birds have been trained to return to the fisherman, a small ring or rope is placed around the neck of the bird in order to prevent the cormorants from swallowing their catch. It was an interesting cultural practice to observe, but also quite difficult to see the ring around the bird’s neck.

Cormorant Fisherman on the Li River

We wound along the river for several more hours, passing countless farms built into the steep nearby hills. Thick forests of bamboo tumbled over near the edge of the river, framed by pink and black mountain faces and distant caves. Christie and I arrived in Yangshuo mid afternoon, a town that is well known in China for being an outdoor playground. In addition to the countless jagged cliffs nearby - a rock climber’s paradise! - the area also has many opportunities for rafting, dirt biking and hiking. Christie and I immediately liked Yangshuo. Much smaller than Guilin, spiky green hills and countless farms encircle the town. Evidently popular among backpackers, Yangshuo surprised us with a smattering of English-speaking restaurants, and many cute, hipster-style cafes.

A typical fresh produce stall, set up on a roadside curb

As we headed to our accommodation for the next few nights, Christie and I passed several construction sites with bamboo scaffolding. Although this was a sight I would soon get used to in Asia, at the time I was stunned that bamboo was strong enough to be used this way. We walked through a number of farmers markets in town, selling a rainbow of produce from nearby fields directly on the curb. Several roadside vendors operated sugar cane presses, selling freshly squeezed juice to passers-by.

As evening fell, Christie and I set out to explore the town, which was built around steep rock formations jutting up from the ground. Veering away from the touristy area of West Street, we explored the narrow streets around the small downtown area. Garage-like shops lined the street, giving us a window into the town’s local businesses. From welders and tailors, to mechanics and bakers, these wide storefronts allowed us to glimpse into the day-to-day lives of local Chinese workers.

Exploring the town of Yangshuo

For dinner, we delved into some more traditional Chinese cuisine - this time trying Szechuan cooking. It became immediately apparent that we should have asked for the least spicy version possible, as after a few bites of delicious Szechuan chicken – we were breathing fire! Hunting for a cold beer to counteract the spiciness of our dinner, Christie and I found a nearby outdoor patio. We promptly hit it off with an older Australian couple from Sydney, who more-or-less adopted us for the evening - complete with buying us a few rounds of drinks and sharing travel adventures. Our outdoor seats made for terrific people watching, with a constant stream of locals and visitors passing in the nearby lane. Sitting on the patio, it did not take us long before we came to the comical realization that we were being watched just as much - catching countless attempts at “sneaky” photographs in our peripheral vision.

Day 63 - Yangshuo

Cycling in the rural countryside around Yangshuo

In the morning, Christie and I rented bikes and spent the better part of the day cycling through the rural countryside surrounding Yangshuo. It was a spectacular day, as we wound through scenic rice paddies and little villages, traversing waterways and lush farmers fields along the way. At every turn, we were surrounded by a backdrop of otherworldly green cliffs, shrouded in layers of mist. With very little signage along our route, we were nearly lost several times - only to be helped out by giggling groups of schoolchildren, who gleefully pointed us in the right direction after practicing their English with us!

Taking a break from cycling to explore the banks of the Yulong River

Our route took us through several ancient villages, with cobblestoned streets and beautiful examples of architecture dating back hundreds of years. As we cycled along the banks of the Yulong River, we watched a line of traditional bamboo rafts float down the waterway, slowly punted by men with long poles. Stopping on the banks of the river, we enjoyed a picnic lunch from the local Chinese bakery, taking in the impressive view.

In the afternoon, Christie and I cycled to Moon Hill. This iconic cliff formation is named for the moon-like circular hole that punctures through the mountainside.  Visible from a great distance, the hole is so large that the sky beyond can be easily seen. Perhaps Yangshuo’s most famous rock-climbing destination, Moon Hill is among the most challenging natural-rock pitches in China.

Moon Hill

Christie and I hiked up to Moon Hill, where we watched a skilled rock climber lead-climb up one of the challenging routes. Hiking through the circular hole, we scrambled up to the summit above, where we had a fantastic panorama of the layered karst cliffs in the distance. This was one of my favourite vistas on my trip, as there was something magical about the jagged skyline, blurred through layers of fog. Without a doubt, Yangshuo is an incredible showcase of China’s natural beauty.

Summit of Moon Hill, overlooking the Karst Cliffs surrounding Yangshuo

Day 64 – Yangshuo to Hong Kong

Christie and I spent our last morning in Yangshuo exploring the town and picking up food for our long, overnight train journey to Hong Kong. An ongoing challenge for us in China, finding healthy “take-away” food options continued to be difficult. In our experience, we found that aside from restaurants, our food choices tended to fall into one of two categories: which we dubbed the “overly processed”, and the “scarily fresh”.

Compared to what we were used to, the amount of packaging and processed foods in grocery stores was simply stunning. Occasionally, there would be a “fresh” foods section, although this would tend to be a very limited selection of fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, farmers markets in town had countless fresh options, from vegetables and fruit, to fish and meats. However, our main concern with these food choices was the low standards for food safety. Carcasses of cows, chickens and pigs would be chopped up on open-air tables, directly next to produce that was being sold. Vegetables and fruit would sit on the curbside, as countless pedestrians and scooters passed nearby, their feet and tires mere inches away from the food for sale. Although the markets had an incredible range of fresh produce and meats, the vast difference in food safety standards between China and Canada was enough to make Christie and I cautious customers.

In the mid-afternoon, we got on a bus to return to Guilin, where we later boarded our overnight train to Shenzhen, China – a city on the border next to Hong Kong, where we would be crossing out of mainland China by foot. Feeling exhausted, Christie and I had the good fortune to have a sleeper compartment to ourselves, as we embarked on the 13 hour journey ahead.

[maxbrenna]

Santander to San Sebastian

So last you heard we were in a beach town headed for Oviedo. In the morning we stopped by a place called Cathedral beach, which unfortunately we didn't get to see as the "Cathedral" part only appears in low tide. Basically these cliff edges have arches in them that you can see/walk through but only in low tide and it was definitely not that. But we did check out an old school crustacean farm, very much abandoned but looked interesting. 

We decided, while the coast was lovely, we were ready for a scenic change so we hit the highway to Oviedo. Went straight to the city and got some parking and found a nice place for lunch. Salad, ham and potato with paprika, and a white asparagus omlette. Simple but warm and yummy. We did some quick research on Oviedo but decided we wanted to keep moving so booked a hostel in Santander. 

On the way we decided to pull of the highway and drive some back roads, even if it wasn't towards our destination. The area that we were driving was just above the Pico's De Europa which is this large national Park (Europe's first, hence the name) that has this amazing trek you can do, which was originally part of the plan. Due the the weather (like a high of 4deg and snowing/raining) we decided to ditch that part of the trip. So it was hard to resist these beautiful mountains, the sun hitting them perfectly. 

While we may of gotten pretty lost (the GPS even dropped out) it was so beautiful and surprising it was worth it. While we were lost we turned this corner and suddenly we driving inside a cave! Like a full on cave inside a mountain with a road through it. Now that's the kind of thing you don't really find on a tourist map. 

Got back on the highway eventually and finished the drive to Santander. Got a lucky parking spot and checked in. We arrived early evening so we went out in search of food. Found a busy little place with a small table. Ordered way too much food, but it was amazing. We had a cheese platter, some padron peppers, sardines (not tinned) and some Spanish meatballs (more of an almond sauce than tomato.) 

We must of been still full from lunch because we honestly would of been fine with just the stilton cheese with bread and half the sardines. They were all really good though. And it's fun to sit and people watch. 

So next morning  after some take away coffee and mini sandwich for breakfast we drove up the peninsula of Santander to the palace of Magdalena. We didn't go inside the building but just walked around the park grounds/ outside of the building. Honestly I wasn't that impressed, maybe it's prettier inside?? They did have a few enclosures with seals and penguins inside which was pretty cool, although no information on if they were rescued or bred from captivity, so was unsure how I felt about that. 

So we hit the road towards Bilbao. We found some parking and went in search of lunch. We found a pintxos  (like tapas but the Basque equivalent, pronounced pin-chosh) place that looks awesome. Stood at the bar then moved to a stool while we had 4 pintxos each. Fried fish with peppers on toast. Chorizo wrapped in grilled vine leaves on toast. Procuitto brie and tomato on toast. And a mini crab roll. It was really tasty and nice to have something different to eat. We've had alot of traditional food so far so something different was definitely well accepted. 

So after lunch we went to the Guggenheim. We particularly enjoyed the older works, Picasso, Monday, Basques. There were some contemporary pieces made from huge self balancing pieces of steel which were incredible. But as for the other contemporary works, we definitely preferred the work at Serralves in Porto. Not that we're art professionals at all... Maybe it would of been different with a guide to explain the story behind them. 

Anyway so we were liking Bilbao so booked an Airbnb on the other side of town. Walked back into town for dinner, were a little early so stopped into a little bar on a busy street, had a beer and tapas, just a small toast with procuitto cheese and pickle. 

Then we went into this fancy restaurant that had great reviews and so we'd made a booking for as we though it would be crazy busy. 

While the food was nice, (one dish in particular was amazing) there was no one there when we arrived and only joined by one other table during the meal. The stand out dish was pigs trotter stuffed with oxtail. It was so freakin good!

So next morning we packed up the car and then found a cute cafe for some breakfast. We had this sweet omlette thing. Tastes like French toast but without the bread. Then we get two pieces of toasted baguette, one side with olive oil and a little cup of blitzed tomato and one side with jam and butter. It was really nice, been trying to have different types of breakfast. 

So we drive about an hour towards to coast to a place called gaztelugatxe. It's a church on top of this mountain/cliff face with this winding stair case (for those who watch game of thrones it's the entry to dragon stone. )

Bit of a hike but it was awesome. It was the first time we've really felt surrounded by tourists. 

So we kept driving on to a town called Gurnica. It was carpet  bombed in 1937. It also has a huge mural by Picasso, called guernica. They have a museum of peace which we check out. Had an amazing room where you sat in the mostly dark while a recording played, a woman talking about regular life, having to go the shelters a lot, the war and then the bombs hit. The room had a mirror running the whole length of the room and as the bombs faded it became glass and reveled real rubble right next to us. It was a really intense experience but very worth it. 

So afterwards we went to the super market and had a picnic lunch in the sunshine. 

We drove on to San Sebastian, to our Airbnb, a house converted into a hostel/hotel on the outskirts of town. We got shown around but then left the car and got the 15min bus into the city. 

We walked around a little, heading towards the headland called Monte urgul. It's like a parkland with old lookouts/a church etc. Had amazing views of the city in the afternoon light and the ocean and bay as well. 

Back in the city we did some pintxos (like tapas.) One drink and a few little bites a one place then walk and the same again at another. Then we went to this bar/restaurant that our Airbnb host said was his favourite place to eat, zazpi. At first we just had to stand at a side bench, then got some stools but the hostess was really nice and gave us lots of suggestions. The portions were pretty small so we were able to get a lot of stuff. All really yummy, high quality ingredients. See the photos for the food, there were too many things to put into words. We fell in love with the food, definitely thinking of going back again. So with 6 dishes and a few drinks, still only cost us 34euros ($55aud) 

So now it's morning and I'm sitting at our Airbnb after a simple free breakfast. We're probably going to go for a coastal walk and then out for pintxos again tonight.