Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
I've been out and about quite a bit (for me) in 2015. This has quite a lot to do with the goals I set myself at the start of the year: Spend more on walking and less on gear: Sort of Achieved - a shaky start as the end of year sales usually sees me … Continue reading 2015
At the start of the year, I set myself the objective of camping out every month of the year. Twelve camps that shouldn't be too hard should it ? After all I tend to do more than that each year. But what I've struggled to do is maintain my tent-dwelling evenly over a year, and … Continue reading Camp of the Year 2015
Like a fool I passed up the chance of a camp the weekend before Christmas when the weather was clear and warm, and so put myself in the position of having to do a last minute camp in order to successfully complete my one wildcamp a month challenge. Having managed it all the way up … Continue reading Last Camp of the Year ?
So I've now completed the Wealdway, my Long Distance Path project for 2015 and it's worth a look back at how it went. Actual v Plan - the stats I planned the walk to take advantage of the various railway stations the route crosses: In Kent and East Sussex railways run broadly east-west and so … Continue reading A Look Back at the Wealdway
The sun was still trying to inch its way up into the sky as it I got back to the car from last night's camp, and such was the direction I was headed in that I found myself driving almost head-on into the sun for most of the drive. Irritating but a positive sign for the … Continue reading A Long Man and a Long Walk (Wealdway: Berwick to Eastbourne)
Moonlight bathed the tent in streaks of silver, filtered by the straggling branches of the bush sheltering us from the big open field, and from the gaze of any passers-by foolhardy enough to be out on this cold night. In terms of other life, all was quiet - no birds, no small mammals, not even the … Continue reading The Last Wealdway Camp
It's a little known fact** that the version of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist that we all know and love is in fact not the original version serialised starting in 1837. For instance, the most famous scene originally went thus... ...The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The master, in his cook's uniform, stationed himself … Continue reading Can We Have Gruel Instead ?
It’s been a couple of years since anyone’s sent me gear to review – not because I haven’t had the offers, but simply because I only accept those offers that fit into the type of activity I do and are the sort of thing I would at least consider buying myself. And being able to … Continue reading Target Dry Element Jacket – Updated Review
Dirty cloud obscured the rising sun, with just a small distant patch of orange beyond Great Mell Fell and some reflected colour to the west to betray the start of a new day.  A cacophony of barking, baying and yelping accompanied the start of my climb above the kennels at Gategill, and I could still … Continue reading On My Tod
I'm no stranger to this particular patch of woodland on the North Downs. Numerous walks have been done through or alongside it, but always solo. This time though I had some company. Stuart (@LoneWalkerUK) was already at the appointed rendezvous when I drove up and so a little under ten minutes later we were heading … Continue reading Screech Wood
Cath was on a bus heading home, but I still had another night and a day to go. The weather was stunning for October, and the thought that was foremost in my mind was repeating the previous night's stunning camp. Could I take another night of fiery sunsets, 360° views and clear moonlit skies. Hell … Continue reading Moon, Mist and Matilda
The taxi dropped me at Grasmere Youth Hostel, my wallet lighter to the tune of a pony. It was either that or a long wait for a bus. A quick check-in and then a squelch around the lawn in the dark to find a suitably dry spot to pitch the tent. Matilda went up relatively … Continue reading A night on Madonna’s chest
It feels weird heading into London at the end of the day, destined for a walking trip. The usual stressed and miserable faces passing me are replaced by somewhat more relaxed, and somewhat less sober ones. I arrive at Paddington and settle down for a beer to wait for Rich (@FlintyRich) to turn up. I … Continue reading Sleep Walking and A Less Than Manly Beverage
A sleepy Saturday afternoon it was in Meopham as I parked the car. A rather leisurely-looking game of cricket was taking place on the green, a cyclist was taking a rest and that was about all there was in terms of signs of life. I threw my pack on my back and headed off down … Continue reading A Camp on Pheasant Down
The plan was ambitious, and as it turned out, too ambitious. A dry and warm forecast for the weekend, and the need to get out for a camp in August to maintain the goal of a wild camp every month led me to the attempt to finish the Wealdway. It was always going to be … Continue reading There may have been some swearing… (Wealdway: Uckfield to Berwick)