I’ve always been a little trepidatious when it came to kayaking. Ever since high school when kayaking in the school swimming pool was a component of PE. Physical education, for a geeky teenager who could barely throw a ball to save herself, wasn’t great at the best of times, but the kayaking class was something … Continue reading Facing my fear of kayaking – and not letting it hold me back from achieving my dreams
Comfort zone
Adventure alert: I’m going to solo walk the length of New Zealand
I’m saying it, it’s out there – starting in November, I’m going to solo walk the 3,000km Te Araroa trail down the length of New Zealand. Yip, you heard right. New Zealand, Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud. Lots of walking. The thru-hike (or through-tramp as it’s known in kiwi land) will take around … Continue reading Adventure alert: I’m going to solo walk the length of New Zealand
More volcano adventures coming up
I might have been a bit quiet on the blog front as life has been seriously manic doing DIY ready for the return home of the boyfriend’s father after a 10-month stint in hospital following a bad stroke. But slowly things are returning to normal, or as normal as things can be. Plans, volcanoes and … Continue reading More volcano adventures coming up
Turning disaster and uncertainty into a silver lining
I’ve realised I’m not that great with the unknown. It can be scary not knowing what’s around the corner or on the other side of that bank of cloud when you’re high up on a mountain. When faced with the unknown or uncertainty when we’re out on an adventure, we often instantly jump to the … Continue reading Turning disaster and uncertainty into a silver lining
How I found my outdoor adventure mojo
I’m actually pretty new to this hill walking and mountain climbing business – although I think I’ve always loved the idea of it but have just always found excuses why it wasn’t for me. Well that all changed at the end of 2014: that’s when I found my outdoor adventure mojo and new-found passion of … Continue reading How I found my outdoor adventure mojo
When the sun sets and you can’t find the path home
“Seriously Del, we have to hurry up. The sun is setting and I have no idea where the start of the path down Devil’s Kitchen is.” I left him to bumble about with his gloves and ice axe while I tentatively began a hasty and very steep descent of Glyder Fawr, a 1001m high mountain … Continue reading When the sun sets and you can’t find the path home
When not to give up
Say you’re running a marathon. You love running, you’ve trained hard and you’re running for a good cause, yet about halfway through you hit a wall – not literally but figuratively. Your energy levels slump, every movement creates a shockwave of pain radiating through your body, and your heart wants to leap out of your … Continue reading When not to give up
Volcano number 2: The muddy volcano
The jungle on Nevis Peak “That was your warm up. Now you climb.” Those were the words of our buff 57-year-old guide as we stood in a scraggly jungle of moss-covered trees, vines and ferns, staring at a criss-cross ladder of tree roots that ascended heavenward. We’d been walking up hill for the past 20 … Continue reading Volcano number 2: The muddy volcano
Why we are more awesome than we think we are
After writing my last post on being paralysed by fear, I was reminded by the boyfriend that four years ago I was s*** (his words) at camping. A previously successful camping adventure Yes I remember that first experience with him well – a long weekend just outside Oxford. I had camped a couple of times … Continue reading Why we are more awesome than we think we are
Volcano fitness regime – death by spin class
After completely embarrassing myself on a climb up a small mountain (more hill really) in Spain a couple of weeks ago – wearing inappropriate foot attire (damn those plimsolls) and proving to be woefully unfit – I’ve taken it on myself to increase my sprightliness and lung capacity. I’ve started a spin class – after … Continue reading Volcano fitness regime – death by spin class