Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
The route for 2018's TGO Challenge came back from the vetter yesterday unscathed in terms of significant changes. The route is basically ok, with a couple of recommendations in terms of better camp spots and places to cross rivers. Disturbingly our vetter seemed to want to up the difficulty level of our route by ADDING … Continue reading The 2018 TGO Challenge Plan
After last year's formal camping out duel between myself and my daughter Rebecca, we decided to give it another go this year. Both of us enjoyed taunting each other about the race, and for my part it did help motivate me to camp out with fair regularity. A slight tweak to the rules this year … Continue reading The Camping Duel 2017
A hectic schedule of work, art fairs and the like suddenly opened up and I found I had a 3 day window to get some time on the fells. The forecast was for cold, so the winter bag was packed. A train delay saw me arrive in Windermere an hour later than schedule, and with … Continue reading A Mooch About the Middle
If you liked my watercolour that featured in the "In the Frame" feature in the October issue of TGO Magazine, and have been burning up with curiosity as to how you could get hold of it, then I'm delighted to tell you that I have a limited run of prints of "Cairngorm Glen". These come … Continue reading Liked my picture in @TGOMagazine …?
The results of the 2018 TGO Challenge application came out today, and thankfully I made the cut. For my second crossing, I'll be walking with my good friend Paul Buck, aka Moorland Walker. We did the Devon Coast to Coast together last October and found we could stand each other's company for a whole 8 … Continue reading Made the Cut
Barely am I back from my cruise to Greenland, Iceland and Norway (more about that if I get around to it in due course), then the post-holiday gloom of returning to work hits full face. A lack of decent walking opportunities on the cruise, means it's 3 months since I did any form of backpacking, … Continue reading Unexpected Joys in the Clag
I finally got around (largely prompted by watching Andy's video) to putting my photos into a video of this year's Challenge. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS_KJrTqTFo
A few weeks ago, the editor of TGO Magazine contacted me to ask if I'd like to be in their "In the Frame" feature, which showcases the work of a different landscape artist each month. Of course I said yes, and after offering Emily a selection of works to choose from, she went for "Cairngorm … Continue reading In the Frame
The track is mine and I enjoy the novelty of walking without the expectation of seeing anyone. I’m alone with the sound of my feet crunching stones on the track and birds going about their business above. A herd of deer scatter on the hillside to my left, a rabbit bounds away through the wood. … Continue reading The Moor
Amongst all of the other kit decisions I had to make ahead of embarking on the TGO Challenge this year was the one about art kit - what to take ? what would I be likely to use ? was it even worth bothering ? In the end I stuck to my usual approach of … Continue reading Art of the TGO Challenge
We trudged through hop field after hop field, along shady lanes and even a bit along the road. Barely noticing our surroundings and wrapped up in our conversation - a conversation that had been going for several hours now. Frequent breaks, hidden stashes of sweets, Special Brew and Benson & Hedges. A burning hot day … Continue reading The Power of Nostalgia
I’ve already told the story of the actual walk, but also wanted to wrap up some comments on the planning for the trip, route and general experience of the whole thing. So here's an index to the individual blog posts and some general thoughts on this year's Challenge... Day What Happened Distance (km) … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2017
Cath's (@wellycath) been wanting to get a group together for a camp around her birthday for a couple of years now, and finally managed to seize her chance last year when Team Social Hiking decided not to contest the 5-in-5/10-in-10 this year, and instead to try to get together socially sometime in June. This also … Continue reading Never invite someone called Dale to somewhere all the places have “Dale” in them
The relative bustle of Challenge Control in the Park Hotel is left behind while I take to the streets. First I try to check-in to my accommodation early - they're not having it, but do agree to keep hold of my pack while I roam about. The quest for some acceptable fried food isn't terribly … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2017: Aftermath
Ian is gone around 7am, and the site is mine alone. I've been having a lie-in since waking at 4am. There's limited signs of life elsewhere. I pack up in my own time and am still away by 9am. It's about 15 miles to the coast and a further 6 to Montrose. That makes it … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2017: Day 13-14 – The End