Always worth the drive

We are so lucky to call Norfolk home with its coastline and countryside, however sometimes I long for a ridge walk or a summit. As the weather looked amazing in Cumbria for half term (and Norfolk looked far too hot for lots of walking,) I packed the van and we headed north. 

The beauty of the van is I never have to be organised and book as I can either just park up, find a pub that offers overnight stays, or as we did this time, went to our favourite campsite in Borrowdale. It’s a simple grass field owned by a sheep farmer who is a top person and will always find you a space.  So many people once they know this place return to it again and again. I ran into a lovely couple I met on the site back in 2022, who were there again walking with their beautiful collie, Zee. 

On our first day we warmed up our legs (and paws) to walking uphill again by walking from the campsite up to High Spy, Maiden Moor, Catbells and down into Keswick. These are summits and a route we know well. As well as other peaks we’d hiked before including Scafell Pike (but this time via the Corridor Route,) I finally got the window of weather to hike some new ones. Haystacks was the highlight. Not one of the highest fells, but such a great view down to Buttermere and over Crummock Water. What a place for Betty Wainwright to scatter her husband’s ashes at Innominate Tarn. It’s pretty special.

Poppy was a star and coped with all the walking, including some pretty big descents (always harder than the up!) Needless to say, back at the campsite, we both slept so well after eating big suppers!

For me, the lakes will always be the most beautiful place in England and always worth the journey to get there. We plan to be back again soon…

 

Journeying Home

This Monday I find myself on a train to London, looking forward to catching up with friends for the day. It’s been three weeks since my travels came to an end and I returned to the small patch I call home. We’ve been treated to the first signs of Spring with some warm, sunny days, daffodils, glorious sunsets and clear nights with the sky full of stars. Norfolk is known for its wide, open skies and very little light pollution. I also managed a couple of visits to see our local grey seal colony before the pups who were born between November and February and are growing fast, leave the beach and go out to sea.

Today as I travel by train, I am reminded of people I crossed paths with on my journey through South America, many of whom are still exploring the continent and visiting places I was lucky enough to see on my trip. It also made me think of friends in London who I can’t see today because of other commitments or because they too are on journeys of their own.

When out on dog walks and chatting with those of you who read my blog from around the globe, people ask where my next trip will take me. The truth is, I have nothing planned! Of course I have lots of places I’d love to go and I think for the upcoming holidays at Easter, in May and over the long, summer break I will be spending most of my time in the UK back in the van with Poppy dog. We still have hidden corners to see, more Scottish islands to visit and perhaps a long distance hike up our sleeve! 

For now we are simply enjoying being home, grateful to live in a peaceful, safe place where the best place to be is outdoors.

Third Time Lucky

My first attempt at skiing was during my semester at university in New York. A group of us went, a friend and I had never skied before and for some reason we decided it didn’t look all that difficult and so with no teaching, we headed to the slopes. How both of us ended the day with no injuries I shall never know, but I remember our university lecturer from the UK told us not to go again as the university insurance definitely did not cover us!

Fast forward to when I moved to New Zealand and decided to try skiing again. This time I made sure to hire the right stuff including a ski instructor. All was fine until after a couple of hours in, a snowstorm came in, visibility was zero and everyone was evacuated off the mountain!

I love spending time in mountains in winter. In recent years I’d had great experiences cross country skiing in Norway and snow shoeing in Bulgaria, so, when a friend invited me to a week skiing in the Swiss Alps with an instructor, it could only be third time lucky!

It was at times painful, challenging, fun and strangely peaceful. We cried with laughter at points, perfected our ‘hip hop’ walk in the ski boots, enjoyed many sweet treats and amazingly ended on a high tackling part of a red run. Finally, success on the slopes! What a week to complete a nine week journey with the backpack. Tomorrow it’s home sweet home.

Thanks for reading and travelling along! Until the next trip…