The rain on the tent sounded like an army chucking thousands of buckets of water over it. It had sounded like that all night; a constant drumming as the torrential rain pelted the tree above us, which jettisoned the water directly onto our tent. To say it was wet was an understatement. We’d completed the … Continue reading Another epic weather fail
Travel
When the weather scuppers your volcano-climbing plans
“Are there any questions? Does anyone have other plans for tomorrow?” the hut warden Sally asked the motley group of trampers as we huddled in the Mangatepopo hut on the skirts of the Tongariro National Park in the centre of New Zealand’s North Island. Outside the wind was buffeting against the hut’s wooden walls, whipping … Continue reading When the weather scuppers your volcano-climbing plans
10 reasons I love New Zealand
Well I’m back in London after a hectic and fun-packed month traipsing around my home country New Zealand. As I sit at my computer, wading through a month’s worth of unread emails, and staring out the window at the spring blossoms and daffodils, I can’t help but feel a pang of holiday blues. I’ve lived … Continue reading 10 reasons I love New Zealand
Here’s the plan for the trip to New Zealand
So, the next lot of volcanoes in my #40by40 quest have now been lined up as I head off back home to New Zealand for a month in a little over two weeks’ time. Woohoo can’t wait! The original plan had been to fit in five volcanoes but trying to also fit in a friend’s … Continue reading Here’s the plan for the trip to New Zealand
These were my highlights from 2016
In my last blog, I listed all the mishaps, lows and hilarious misadventures I had experienced in 2016. Now I turn to the highlights and good times. At this time of year, with a spangly new year full of promise on the horizon, it’s good to remember the positives and to be grateful for the … Continue reading These were my highlights from 2016
The mishaps, lows and hilarious misadventures of 2016
It’s that time of year when I can’t help but do some navel gazing, looking back at the year that was. And boy has 2016 been an interesting one (I leave the interpretation of the word “interesting” up to you). There has been a mixture of highs and lows but here are the top mishaps … Continue reading The mishaps, lows and hilarious misadventures of 2016
That time the car got stuck in a paddock on Mt Snowdon
When you take a trip to the mountains, you might think you’re more likely to get stuck on a mountain (yip pretty much did that) rather than getting stuck in a muddy paddock. Well, I have the dubious honour of being able to say I essentially achieved both in my recent trip to Snowdonia in … Continue reading That time the car got stuck in a paddock on Mt Snowdon
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
Volcano number 6: The first high altitude volcano
From a distance, Mt Etna – Europe’s highest and most active volcano – seemed mysterious. She sat surprisingly quietly in the background as people wandered the streets of Sicily’s port city Catania, just the occasional wisps of steam floated above her. Up closer, her smoking was more pronounced and the landscape changed from lush greenery … Continue reading Volcano number 6: The first high altitude volcano
Volcano number 4 and 5: The opposite volcanoes
It was only about 11:30am and it was stinking hot. The yellow sun pierced through the clear blue sky and scorched both me and the earth as beads of sweat started to gather on my brow. For what looked like a relatively easy 390m high volcano to climb, Gran Cratere on the Aeolian Island Vulcano … Continue reading Volcano number 4 and 5: The opposite volcanoes