Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
Imagine the scene - standing on the edge of a flat table of rock with nothing but a 2,000ft drop straight down to the fjord below... We were coming to the end of our two week cruise up and down the coast of Norway. Ahead of us lay Norway's oil capital, Stavanger, and we'd not … Continue reading Fottur til Preikestolen
After the 3 months I took off work last year, 2008 was never going to come close, but all in all I've not done too badly and I've managed to arrange things to optimise my use of annual leave. A quick trip up to the Lake District in April started things off. A wet and … Continue reading Review of 2008
My three month sabbatical was drawing to a close, but I had time for one last mountain binge. Having failed to achieve a family camp in Langdale during half term due to awful weather, it seemed natural a few weeks later to head to Langdale solo and see what I could do by myself. Monday … Continue reading The Last Hurrah
Having now given up all hope of completing half, let alone all, of the Hewitts by the end of my sabbatical, the focus has moved to enjoyment. Â Which is where it should have been all along, of course. Â To this end, my father and I spent a few days in the Yorkshire Dales, basing ourselves … Continue reading Walks in the Yorkshire Dales
Well this trip has been a bit of a journey. Â Not quite the journey, either literally or figuratively, that I was aiming for though. I've had some massive lows - on the first day when I realised I'd screwed up big time by travelling too heavy and being over-optimistic with how much I could do … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: The End
Despair I sat on a rock and cried for my mummy. Â The rain was still sheeting down, visibility was zilch and I couldn't be entirely sure where I was - not that I could have seen through my misted up and droplet-covered glasses anyway... Â Ok, maybe I wasn't quite as much in the shit … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 9 – Tuesday 24 April
Washed Out The forecast for today was rain all day and I haven't managed to dry my boots from yesterday. Â Using the highly scientific method of comparing the weather outside my window to what it was like yesterday evening, I concluded that today was going to be worse than yesterday, and yesterday I'd only just … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 8 – Monday 23 April
A taste of things to come After two nights at the farm at Little Town, it was time to move on and the plan tonight was for a B&B in Keswick. Â But the day dawned cloudy and grey and so the joy of yesterday wasn't looking to be on the cards. Â But it wasn't until … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 7 – Sunday 22 April
The Grisedale Horseshoe I awoke to lowish cloud over Causey Pike, which I can see from my bedroom window, and whose nobbles have intrigued me since I first saw them yesterday afternoon. I had second thoughts about my planned walk as the last thing I wanted was to bail out part-way through, especially now that … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 6 – Saturday 21 April
Buttermere to Little Town Today's plan, formed in the pub last night and refined as I lay awake listening to the wind and rain, was to have the easiest possible walk over into the Newlands Valley, whilst still gaining some summits. Â So it was quite obvious to pick Robinson and Hindscarth, but I made the … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 5 – Friday 20 April
The Crummock Horseshoe It was quite windy last night, but somehow I slept better than Monday night. Â I lay awake listening to the wind and wondering if the tent would stand up to it. Â Which it did. Â When daylight came, I fell asleep and later after a lingering breakfast I found myself running for the … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 4 – Thursday 19 April
Buttermere I went to bed last night clean, refreshed and with a new plan formed, that would see me claim 21 peaks between now and Sunday. Â So I woke in a more positive frame of mind and set out round the shops first thing to secure the kit that the whole plan relied upon - … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 3 – Wednesday 18 April
Let's start by adding a 5th lesson to last night's list: don't expect a good night's sleep in a tent. Â I know the first night in a strange bed isn't usually great, but you can multiply that by 10 when sleeping in a tent and on a very (too) thin mat. Â I probably did sleep … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 2 – Tuesday 17 April
I woke at sunrise which I considered good as that's what is probably going to happen whilst I'm sleeping in the tent. Â After final checks and packing of last minute items I set off. Â The first thing I noticed as I walked down the road to the station was that I somehow must have left … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 1 – Monday 16 April
After the week in the Peak District, I've spent the last few days having a "normal" family weekend and spent some time planning my Lake District trip, which starts tomorrow. I made an overall map to chart all 114 peaks so that I can visualise the route and plan accommodation etc. Â But having done this, … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Planning