Day two of my ninth volcano, walking across the Cheviot Hills in England’s Northumberland National Park, and we were off. The rain of yesterday was gone, replaced by a gentle frost and lashings of lush sunshine. Now this was more like it. My walking boots were still sodden from yesterday’s dismal weather and bog-hopping. Pulling … Continue reading Volcano number 9: The boggy volcano (part 2)
Travel
Volcano number 9: The boggy volcano (part 1)
The road stretched ahead of me, weaving its way into the lonely depths of Northumberland National Park. As the boyfriend and I strolled along, the click of my walking pole on the road, the rolling mountains of the Cheviot Hills rose up around us, luring me in with their promises of high adventure. At this … Continue reading Volcano number 9: The boggy volcano (part 1)
The pitfalls of preparing for volcano number nine
The bags are packed; map directions sorted. The boyfriend and I are about to set off up to the Scottish border to spend two days walking over the sparse and volcanically formed Cheviot Hills – subsequently bagging volcano number nine in my #40by40 quest. I have to admit, I’m a little excited. All that fresh … Continue reading The pitfalls of preparing for volcano number nine
5 steps to an epic volcano-climbing adventure (without making my mistakes)
Just over two years ago I came up with a crafty idea. I thought, why not set myself the ambitious quest to climb 40 volcanoes by the age of 40 – a feat that needed to be achieved in a five-and-a-half-year time frame? It was a bold, daring plan, borne out of a fascination of … Continue reading 5 steps to an epic volcano-climbing adventure (without making my mistakes)
Plans for volcano number nine
Finally, an update – plans for the next volcano in my #40by40 are coming together. This will tick off volcano number nine (if I include my accidental volcano as number eight). Hurrah! It’s not a volcano on my original list. It’s not a volcano that’s spectacularly tall and grand. It’s not a volcano that breathes … Continue reading Plans for volcano number nine
Volcano number 8: The accidental volcano
Yip that clock is ticking – 40 volcanoes by the age of 40 (#40by40), and I’ve currently checked off… a big fat seven. As you know it’s not quite the progress I was hoping to have made but in the name of positivity, you have to admit, it’s progress of sorts. Now that I’m taking … Continue reading Volcano number 8: The accidental volcano
An adventure into the New Zealand wilderness
We arrived in St Arnaud, in New Zealand’s Nelson Lakes, to persistent drizzle and a grey cloud that hung in the air and made driving difficult. It wasn’t a great start to a three-day walk into New Zealand’s wilderness, and a real mood-dampener considering the bad luck we had already had with the inclement Kiwi … Continue reading An adventure into the New Zealand wilderness
Highlights from New Zealand – in pictures
It’s been almost two months since our trip to New Zealand. Despite the balmy weather in London, I couldn’t help having a reminisce about the great time we had. Here’s a selection of the highlights in pictures.
Planning isn’t everything
Yip, I admit it, I’m a control freak. I love planning and I love making to-do lists. And the recent month-long trip to New Zealand was no exception – I had a detailed calendar of our movements, a spreadsheet, and an A4-page to-do list to make sure all logistics and bookings were sorted. It worked … Continue reading Planning isn’t everything
Volcano number 7: The successful New Zealand volcano
Finally, a day of sunshine! I almost couldn’t believe it – I had to pinch myself to make sure – but there it was, crisp blue sky and a white-gold orb coating my immediate world in warm rays of sunshine. No rain to be seen; not even a cloud. It was rejoice-worthy. The majestic-ness of … Continue reading Volcano number 7: The successful New Zealand volcano