With vague plans forming in the latter part of last year to do a coast to coast walk (note "a" not "the") and for my main trip to the Lake District in 2012 to be the Far Eastern fells, it's become clear that 2012 could see me step up a level in my walking. Â In … Continue reading Moving it up a level
Author: Matthew
Artist and Backpacker
The Ghosts of Past Walks
I seem to have started the year off focussing on the negatives - first a post entitled "Failure" about walks that have gone wrong through the weather, navigation or even, cowardice. Â Then the follow-up, "Despair" got darker still and talked about my worst ever day hillwalking - the day I came closest to chucking it … Continue reading The Ghosts of Past Walks
A Day of Judgement
The title's probably a touch dramatic, but in my post New Year's zombie-like state of mind, it seemed to do the trick. Â Of course, if you believe the Mayans we've just had our last New Year's Eve parties (no loss there really) as the world is due to end sometime this year. Video by CGP … Continue reading A Day of Judgement
Failure
Whilst everyone else is starting the New Year with positive thinking (that is apart from the effects of last night's drinking), I thought I'd take an opposite tack and talk about failure. In my walking career I've notched up a few failures and whilst I've not let them get to me too much, I'd be … Continue reading Failure
Fenplodder!
It's so low and flat where I live that my GPS sometimes shows me as being below sea level, and today was no exception when I grabbed an opportunity for a last walk of 2011. Â Given the short daylight hours, rather than opt to be dropped off at Hampton Court, near where the rest of … Continue reading Fenplodder!
A Year in Tweets
This year I really started to get into using Twitter to record my walks, network with other outdoors types and pass comment on the issues of the day. Â Here's a selection of the least bad: Joined new gym today & had facilities all to myself. Only downside was rain & the 7 mile run to … Continue reading A Year in Tweets
Hey, that went a bit quick!
Ok, I know it's not the slightest bit original, but I felt the need to write a year-end wrap up of what's happened this year. Â I've tried it before in less eventful years, but this year I'm really looking back at a year quite unlike the previous one, and looking forward into next with barely … Continue reading Hey, that went a bit quick!
Dark Days for Blacks
This week I was going to wrap up my "Project Management for Hillwalkers" series by covering the benefits of learning the lessons from the past and applying them to future walking. Â But as I thought back over the last 6 years or so, looking for material, I couldn't ignore the sad business story playing out … Continue reading Dark Days for Blacks
Jim’ll Thicket
Now then, now then, first things first. Â An apology for the title of this post. Â And an even bigger apology for the pun and tenuous association with the actual subject matter! (Sir) Jimmy Saville who died this weekend was known for his brightly coloured shell suits and big chunky jewellery. Â And his chair which seemed … Continue reading Jim’ll Thicket
North Downs Way 9: Dunn Street to Chilham
I learned something overnight. Â Something which was actually pretty obvious and staring me in the face the whole time. Â And it's this....you really don't need that much stuff to have an ok time. Â Let me elaborate.... I've always taken far too much stuff on walks, mainly because of the "this might be useful" trap. Â But … Continue reading North Downs Way 9: Dunn Street to Chilham
North Downs Way 8: Detling to Dunn Street
Last week I was all packed and ready to go on this walk, but for one thing - my fitness. Â On the morning of the walk I realised my ribs were still not healed enough for it to be a sensible thing to do. Â So reluctantly, but in hindsight pleased with myself for making the … Continue reading North Downs Way 8: Detling to Dunn Street
North Downs Way 7: Blue Bell Hill to Detling
Dropped off at the picnic site, I started by walking back up the road to the exact spot where I'd stopped the day before and walked along again to the picnic site off-road. It was still a bit hazy over the Medway valley, but it was already warming up nicely. With legs still smarting from … Continue reading North Downs Way 7: Blue Bell Hill to Detling
North Downs Way 6: Wrotham to Blue Bell Hill
I thought I wouldn't get much more walking in this year, but with a delay in starting work (due to not having any yet!) and a spell of fine weather, the opportunity was too good to miss. I decided last week that after several weeks of holding off due to uncertainty around my work situation, … Continue reading North Downs Way 6: Wrotham to Blue Bell Hill
The Joy of Tarns
"I looked down over the edge of the fell at the tarn below and to my right, glistening and beckoning me down to say hello. After what seemed like a long day, I was tired and knew that once I was at the tarn, all I had to do was follow the path down to … Continue reading The Joy of Tarns
A Lakeland Round (2011)
With my career break now over half gone and opportunities for trips disappearing fast, I took an 11 day trip to Cumbria to bag some Wainwrights and Nuttalls. Â Having done the majority of the convenient stuff in the easily accessible centre of Lakeland, this was always going to be about knocking off some of the … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011)