Road Trip, Camping in the UK. Bude, Bath and Beyond...

As you get older in life suddenly things or rather objects in life aren't so important, especially when it comes to your birthday. I remember as a young child getting a copy of the Argos catalogue months before my birthday and studying the pages from cover to cover creating the ultimate birthday list. Writing down the catalogue number and the page number and marking the item with a felt tip pen birthdays were extremely exciting.

Now in my thirties, things have very much changed and although I don't dread my birthday and fear getting older, I no longer have a list of things that I 'want' Instead I have a mental list of things I'd quite like around the house, including a casserole dish, a spatula and even a new ironing board cover. When did I get so domesticated?

I'm not sure what happened but when my other half ask 'What I wanted for my birthday' I replied with camping!

I wanted to go off and get away from it all, I wanted to sleep under the stars in a van without WiFi and without television and get back to basics.

My partner pulled a brilliant weekend away out of the bag and started by driving up the coast just an hour away just the other side of Bude where we wild camped the night. We were not alone as two other vans joined us for the evening but we enjoyed waking up to the sound of the waves and a morning stomp up a very big hill to the next beach and back.

Steep hill climb off the beach up onto the coast path

Northcott beach near Bude Cornwall

Northcott beach near Bude Cornwall

North Cornwall Coast Path

Walking along the North Cornwall coast path from Northcott beach to Sandymouth beach

Walking to Sandymouth Beach near Bude Cornwall

Sandymouth Beach near Bude Cornwall

I was feeling extremely lucky, as not only were we staying in a beautiful location but the sun was shining and it was hot. I write this today as the wind howls and the rain rolls down the window so getting sunshine whilst off work in the UK is something to get excited about.

Sunrise on Sandymouth beach near Bude Cornwall

We then left the North Cornish coast and headed up country for a few hours until we reached Bath. We arrived at the Bath Marina campsite which sounds amazing however doesn't quite live up to it's name. It is right on the canal and does have a tow path access directly to the city centre however the facilities somewhat reminded me of an eighties holiday camp and the staff weren't particularly helpful either. We asked the reception staff if they had any cycle maps for the local area of which they didn't and when asked which direction we should head to get to the two tunnels cycle path were answered with a vague knowledge of the attraction but no idea where it was!

We made a start on the tow path and with a combination of a few cycle route signs and some very friendly people we found the two tunnels cycle paths. For anyone that hasn't experienced these tunnels on a bike I would HIGHLY recommend.
One of the tunnels is over a mile long and is the longest cycling tunnel in the UK, It's really is pretty cool. As you enter the tunnel your eyes take a while to adjust to the dimly lit corridor and the temperature drops, as the tunnel bends around you can't see the end or the beginning of the tunnel and then out of nowhere you catch a glimpse out of the corner of your eye of light and realise that there are lights and sounds all around and a feature of cycling through the tunnel.

Entrance to the Two Tunnels cycle path near Bath

Inside the Tunnel, the longest cycling tunnel in the UK just over 1 mile long

Cycling the canal paths around Bath

It's an awesome experience whether you walk or cycle the tunnel but hugely recommend exploring the area if you get the chance.

After cycling through the tunnels we met up with another canal path and made our way back into bath city centre and back to the camp site. In total we covered around 16 miles and feeling very pleased with our efforts decided to head back to the van, have a shower and head back into the city for dinner. However before we had even made it to the nearest bus stop we bumped into the riverside pub. Another thing the staff in the camp site had failed to mention, the fact that there was a pub a few minutes walk away!

We soon ditched the idea of getting the bus into the city centre and opted to stay by the river and have a meal here. It was a lovely evening and we watched the sun set over the water enjoying a glass of wine and a very lovely first day.

Sun setting over the canal in Bath

Bath Marina

A whole slate full of desserts

Food and wine coma, but delicious and well worth it!

The Boathouse Bath

The following morning I woke up early and completed another few miles of walking along the canal path before my other half woke up and then it was back in the van before heading to the new forest. Another place I have never been to so when we arrived at quite possibly the most beautiful camp site I was hugely excited. My partner had booked us onto a pitch right next to a fishing lake in an adult only section of the camp site and it was perfect.

Camping in the T4 in the New Forest

The sun continued to shine and so we headed off on our bikes again through the new forest in search of the nearest pub. We actually went for the second nearest pub and completed a lovely, if not rather hilly in places, 8 mile bike ride. After a bite to eat, and a pint it was time to cycle back to the camp site for the next activity, Go Ape.

Cycling in the New Forest

The Green Dragon in Brook - The New Forest

Enjoying a pint in a beer garden

Now I do love the outdoors, I love cycling, surfing, running and all things active but I wasn't sure about heights and being Tarzan for the afternoon. It wasn't long before we arrived in another beautiful forest and I was being harnessed up and ready to start the sessions. It was late in the afternoon and we were on the last session of the day and suddenly the walking, cycling and beer drinking in the sun was taking effect and I was feeling sleepy!!!

That soon changed as I climbed the first rope ladder up a huge tree and had to use a zip wire to get back down. It wasn't something that I would have chosen to do normally, however it was brilliant and would hugely recommend it to anyone. I've never done rock climbing or used a harness before and when a very confident child whizzed around my feet during the training protesting she knew what to do I soon found myself feeling a little worried and embarrassed.

The first few times I was clipping myself on I struggled and got my partner to double check them and the first leap off our of a tree was particularly scary but by the end I was loving it.

Go Ape flatforms in the trees in the New Forest

We might be adults but feeling very proud at the end getting our certificates

After nearly two hours of climbing, jumping and swinging through the trees it was time to leave and with the sun setting it was time to find another pub for the evening.

The following day we didn't really have any plans and found ourselves yet again enjoying the sunshine with good food and good drink in a beer garden in the new forest. I was so happy, the weekend was turning into something really wonderful and that afternoon with heavy stomachs we cycled another 17 miles.

We camped the final night in the new forest itself, in a camp site with no pitches, with very few rules and we didn't even have to pay until the following morning. We rocked up, camped under a tree and paid in the morning. It was great and apart from showers and toilets in a nearby building, there was nothing else here, apart from forest. It was amazing to just sit, and chat, and drink. No clubhouse, no TV, no Internet just the forest and our little van.

Camping in the New Forest

On our last day we were up early and headed into the local village of Lyndhurst where we managed to dine alfresco for breakfast. It was gorgeously hot and sunny and we were so lucky to be able to enjoy the sunshine.

 After breakfast we headed in the van across the New Forest until we reached our last destination and had an afternoon cream tea and more beer in the quant little village of Burley before heading back on the road home to Cornwall.

As far as birthdays go this has been my favourite and getting back to basics and camping and making memories means so much more than anything I could purchase from the Argos catalogue!!!

Except for unicorn onesies!!! Every Birthday girl needs a unicorn onesie for camping in the UK when the evenings get cold!!!

 

Just being all grown up on my birthday.... Being a UNICORN hee hee

Running the World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff.

I had absolutely no intention of entering another half marathon after I had completed my first in October 2015 The months went by and as the new year started and new year’s resolutions begun, myself and two other family members decided to enter the Plymouth half marathon that is coming up in less than two weeks’ time on April the 17th.

The training for the Plymouth half was going really well, I was regularly doing 8 and 9 mile runs comfortably. I had even run my second fastest Park Run and was just 11 seconds away from getting a PB and then an e-mail dropped into my inbox. I read the e-mail and saw that they had re-opened entries to the Cardiff World Half Marathon again. I instantly dismissed the idea and closed the e-mail.

It would be crazy to do a half marathon in just 10 days’ time without any warning, or planning or training... Well I was training and I was feeling strong but that was for a run in 4 weeks’ time! Not in just 10 days!
      The World Half Marathon landed on Easter weekend so even if I did enter I could have two full days on the sofa to recover, if needed.... After not too much thought and just 10 days before the event I found myself re-opening the e-mail and signing up to the event.

A few days later I thought I would take a quick look at the weather to start thinking about what kit needed washing in preparation to take. AND THEN, like a slap in the face it dawned on me. I was not only running a half marathon in a few days but I was potentially now going to be running a half marathon in a predicted severe weather warning. It was bad enough having gale force winds predicted but torrential rain too, that was just so unfair and I was soon wishing I had checked the 10 day forecast before signing up.

This was only going to be my second half marathon and I hadn't yet endured a very wet run! I had done a fair few soggy Park Runs but that was only 30 minutes in the wet. I've often achieved a run in Cornish mizzle and more frequently a run in gale force winds but usually although really windy most were still dry and never more than an hour out on the roads. It was dawning on me that I needed to do some research on what exactly to wear to run for over two hours in the worst weather imaginable!

After reading a few blog posts and articles I was starting to get into a slight panic and was reading horror stories of needing to Vaseline all toes to stop multiple toe blistering. Vaseline, basically was the suggestion for everywhere as once clothes were wet and heavy things would rub more than before.

In a slight panic I resorted to asking the trusty community of Newquay Road Runners who advised me that it would never be that bad and to wear a bin bag on the start line to stay as dry as possible and to just go out there and enjoy the event regardless of the rain. They suggested a few clothing options and I was armed with slightly less scary advice on how to overcome my first very wet half marathon.

Good Friday arrived, it was the day before the run and so I found myself in the car heading on the roads up to Cardiff. The day couldn't have been any more beautiful, clear crisp blue skies, the warmth of the spring sunshine yet unfortunately I was joined by thousands of other cars on the roads also attempting an Easter getaway.
We got stuck in traffic on the A30 leaving Cornwall, stuck again on the M4 after Bristol, Stuck again before the tolls on the Severn Bridge and again the other side. A journey that should have taken just over three hours was clocking in nearer to five hours. We had spent the majority of this gorgeous sunny day on the motorway and was arriving into Cardiff with just enough time to make it to the conference centre to collect my race number.
With Race number in hand and feeling slightly drained we headed straight for the hotel for food and rest before the event the following day.

Due to being a World event, the race wouldn't start until 2pm due to being televised all over the world so I managed a nice leisurely start to the day. Leaving the hotel late morning and taking a drive to the city centre it was dry and it was forecast dry right up until 2pm when rumour had it, it would then chuck it down.

Feeling optimistic we walked the 1 mile into the city centre from the park and walk car park and headed straight to the conference centre. We spent several hours in the conference centre amongst many other runners. There were people stretching, foam rolling, jumping about, eating, sleeping, the atmosphere was pretty intense as everyone muddled through the morning waiting for the event to start. As the time got closer we headed to the race start and found the massive queue for the portaloos and it was there and then in that queue that the rain started to make its appearance.

This was just typical, this could only be described as 'The law of sod' I left my partner and started making my way into the allocated pens. I was in the 'Everything else' category over 2 hours 15 minutes. I was given a plastic poncho in the conference earlier that day and had put this on in the toilet queue as the rain began to fall and was feeling confident that the rain wouldn't come to much, it had been dry pretty much all morning with only a few light showers.

The race then started, we had stood in our pens whilst the starting ceremony got underway and the elite race started. We started to shuffle forwards as each of the pens was released. Everyone else started discarding their plastic ponchos and so I decided it was time I did the same. I tore and ripped my plastic poncho off and tossed it away to the side over the crowd. There were bin bags, bottles, old t-shirts being thrown into the sky and we slowly shuffled forwards again as the next lot of runners got underway.

And then arrived the first downpour, we hadn't even got through the start line and the first heavy rain shower hit us. We had literally just removed our waterproof poncho layers as the cold hailstone filled rain gave us a brief soaking. Things were muttered between runners and people were grumbling and moaning about being cold and wet but with my lightweight running jacket I figured I was well prepared and didn't really want to run in the poncho especially in the strong winds that were blowing up.

We were off, we passed under the start funnel and began running. I started to get warm and as I approached mile 2 was warm and dry enough to tie my running jacket around my waist. Things weren't so bad after all, it was a little drizzly and blowy but not too bad and so I started to relax and enjoy the run.
Although the weather had other ideas and the light rain started to get a little harder again. I decided to throw the jacket back on but leave it undone so that I would get too warm. I passed through mile 3 and the drinks station and grabbed a bottle of water and things were going well.

Then came the monsoon, or was it a biblical or even apocalyptic downpour? It was just horrendous, I was approaching mile 4 and the heavens literally fell out of the sky. I had my bottle of water in my hands without a lid on and I couldn't quite do my jacket up and tried to clasp the jacket together the best I could and tried to keep my head down and battle on through but it was the worst rain I'd ever experienced.

The roads started to swell with running water at the edges, the spectators, many wearing full wet weather clothing with umbrellas started running for cover and one runner shouted "IS THAT THE BEST YOU'VE GOT" and it just poured down. The rain drops were massive, I can only describe it as a bucket of water being chucked over me and everyone else. I kept going and started to get jealous of those runners still with their ponchos on. I then started to feel my feet getting very wet and they began to sound squelchy and heavy. Luckily the torrential rain didn't last more than a few minutes but it had managed to soak me completely through every layer even to my pants!

I was then approaching the marina and the barrage and I could see the sign for mile 5. As I crossed the dividing footpath between the marina and the sea the wind cut across making me feel even colder in my soaking wet clothes. I saw a bin and ditched my water bottle and finally zipped my coat back up. Although already soaked I hoped it might at least shelter some of the wind.

Mile 6 went through fairly quickly and with another water station and shouts and cheers of support it wasn't feeling as bad as 2 miles previous where I was on the verge of laughing and crying through the rain. After mile 6 we climbed over a dual carriageway and back towards the city centre, mile 7 was reached on a lonely stretch of road. Heading back into the city centre the crowds were back and moral was lifted and I was soon flying through mile 8, 9 and eventually to the dog leg section of mile 10 around the lake. I looked across the lake to see all those other runners much closer to finishing and felt strong and happy that it wasn't raining and I was literally 30 minutes from finishing.

But then the worst thing happened, I approached mile 12 and got a sudden, sharp, shooting pain in my foot. I literally ground to a halt, I stopped in agony and then gave my foot a wiggle and it kind of felt ok so I walked it off. The only way I can describe the pain was like treading on an upturned needle. A piercing pain straight up through my foot. After walking for a few minutes and passing mile 12 I knew I couldn't walk the last mile and picked up the pace back to a light jog and managed to finish the run in a very respectable 2 hours 15 minutes and 37 seconds.

I was over the moon with my time having done it 5 months previously in 2 hours 23 minutes. I had managed to knock 8 minutes of my previous attempt. I walked through the finish funnel, collected my medal, T-shirt, water and banana and started to feel a bit achy. But at this point had completely forgotten about that weird odd foot pain. My right groin was twinging when walking and so was my right glute. I headed to the massage tent and had a massage and did the best to get out of my wet clothes and left the massage tent feeling relaxed and slightly warmer. Grabbed a hot drink jumped in a taxi and headed back to the car and onto our journey home to Cornwall.

Sadly the following day when I woke up I couldn't put any weight on my foot. I couldn't work out what it was that I had done. As the days went past I was able to put more and more weight on the foot but it was still sending shooting pain through my ankle and foot. I managed to get an emergency appointment with my physio who at first couldn't work out what I had done but soon suggested that it was a pain brought on by the mechanics of my foot being out of line and the constant use over 13.1 miles had left a particular ligament with trauma and that was causing the pain. He strapped up my foot into a better alignment and I returned to see him after 48 hours and it was feeling much, much better. I was getting an occasional twinge but nothing at all like it was previously.

Things are feeling a lot better but I still haven't since the Cardiff Half. I'm hoping to try a little run this week whilst still taped up and fingers crossed if everything behaves itself I might be able to complete the Plymouth Half in less than two weeks’ time!!!

Storm Imogen hits Cornwall with a day of destruction and the biggest waves of the winter

On February the 8th 2016 Britain was hit by yet another storm. Yet this latest storm, Imogen was certainly an angry lady!

After a weekend of torrential rain and flooding across Cornwall today was the time for giant waves battering the coasts and gale force winds howling onto shore.

Winds were reaching speeds of up to 79mph across Cornwall and although the day was relatively mild and even saw glimpses of sunshine and not a drop of rain in sight the real drama was on the coastline were high tide hit at 5.10pm and crowds of people finished work and headed to the coast to witness mother natures epic show.

Myself with many other people had the same idea. Filling the carpark at Portreath were crowds of people, whole families, children and even the elderly all taken a spot to watch the phenomenal waves come rolling in.

It all felt safe, keeping a distance from the waves and not going onto the beach and feeling the safety of several coastguards and police in attendance only having to tell a small minority that they were perhaps a little too close to the water.

One couple were down on the beach frantically filling sand bags as they feared there house close to the harbour would flood.

About an hour after high tide had been and gone, one rogue giant surge of water came pouring into the carpark and many people were seen running away from the water and the water rushed and swirled around the many parked cars. Soon people were quickly leaving the car park for fear of more rogue waves loaded with debris would come crashing into the car park.

I just wanted to say what a fantastic job the local coastguards and police were doing keeping everyone safe, roping off dangerous areas and making sure that no one risked their lives for that elusive glimpse of such impressive seas. The tide is now on its way back out and when it comes back in the wind will have completely eased and the swell dropped right back and hopefully no damaged has been caused by dramatic storm Imogen.

Is cycling the Camel trail in Cornwall the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon?

After running my first Park Run of the year on Saturday morning my glutes were certainly feeling it, I have run a few times so far in 2016 but nothing as gruelling as the Lanhydrock Parkrun. A course of fast downhill followed by a gruelling 1.5 miles of uphill across fields and up through sticking slimey steep boggy mud.

On Sunday morning I woke up feeling rather tight across my backside! With my legs feeling fine I thought I would go out for a nice gentle bike ride. I thought about how much my muscles were aching and figured that cycling anywhere straight from my front door was a bad idea as every direction was up hill and I fancied a nice gentle relaxing bike ride to ease my legs back into it this year.

I loaded up my bike into the car and headed on the ten mile drive to reach the famous Camel Trail. The converted disused railway line has nearly 20 miles of cycle paths completely traffic free and completely flat.

Ok, so that's a small lie, the paths aren't completely flat but they are very gradually inclining and once you get yourself going you don't realise there is any uphill at all.

It was the perfect destination for a little, gentle, relaxing blip on my bike to ease the legs after the previous days run...... However it wasn't raining, It wasn't cold and so I just kept on going. I managed to cycle from Wadebridge up to Bodmin then up to Wenfordbridge. Around 24 miles in total!!!

I can't believe I have lived in Cornwall for ten years this year and have never in my life been on the camel trail from Bodmin to Wenfordbride and It is BEAUTIFUL! I have peddled the trail and even run the trail between Padstow and Bodmin many a times but never once been up this section of the trail.

Following the river camel I cycled alongside the river through wooded forests until I reached the end of the trail and the route then joined the small Cornish back roads. Stopping at the Snails Pace Cafe, although closed, I used their benches to rest my weary legs and ate my packed lunch. I had just cycled 12 miles and now was refuelled to cycle back another 12.

 

This time the gradual gradient was downhill and I managed to get back in a much faster time. I whizzed all the way back to Wadebridge.
Although the day was dry, the weather over the previous few days had been extremely wet and the trail was very wet and VERY muddy. I was lagged in mud. All up the insides of my legs, splattered up my bag and even my face had a few delicate splodges.

Getting the completely soiled wheels off the bike and into the car was interesting to say the least and before I knew it I was covered in even more mud!

I loved my gentle Sunday cycle ride even If I cycled much further than I had intended, but it is so easy to do when your enjoying the day.

Getting home covered in mud and slightly cold and then having to clean the bike was a slight downside to the day but hopefully the summer is just around the corner and the weather will start to pick up and we will all be able to enjoy the Cornish countryside with maybe slightly less mud!

Check out my progress and the route on my Strava profile here.

New Years Eve Fancy Dress

I can't believe that this time last week I had a drink in my hand and was just a few hours away from seeing in the new year. For a long time New Years Eve means fancy dress, friends, booze and usually a very late night and this year was no different.

With an invite to a hats and wigs party, this year was to be a more mature affair, not full blown fancy dress but simply the addition of a hat or wig to add an element of fun to a house party full of adults. However it is really rather impossible to simply wear a hat or a wig without dressing the rest of your outfit to match the chosen head wear.

I decided to opt for the gorgeous purple curly haired wig from Tickled Pink fancy dress because lets be honest, who doesn't want to have gorgeous long purple curly hair without having to use hair dye or curling tongs!!

With the addition of the feathered headpiece over the top I was soon transformed into a 1920's inspired character. Then it was simply a case of wearing my own clothes to suit the wig and headpiece. One polka dot wiggle skirt and a plain black top and I was ready to go to the party. My partner who likes fancy dress a lot less than me was reluctant to wear a wig and was insisting on wearing a beanie hat! Anyone that knows my partner will know he always wears a beanie hat and that doesn't really count as fancy dress!!!

After a few phone calls we had borrowed a steam punk themed bowling hat that teamed with a smart shirt and trousers worked really well with my 1920's look.


It's great that with a few simple additions to your existing wardrobe you can make a complete fancy dress outfit without breaking the bank.
All I need now is another excuse to wear fancy dress again. I might well have turned 30 but there is no way that I am giving up behaving like a child and getting out the dressing up box and wearing something awesome.

Here's to 2016 a year filled with fun times with my wonderful friends, lots of running and surfing and lots more adventures with my camera in Cornwall.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 

12 months as a runner.

After reading a fellow Newquay Road Runners blog post about their journey from running their first half marathon to full marathon including moving to Cornwall during this journey I felt inspired to write about my story into running.

When I was at school I loved running, I loved sports day and I certainly had that competitive edge. I was part of the hockey team and basketball team, as well as the athletics team and outside of school I was a member at the Melbourne Athletics Club in Chelmsford, Essex and regularly used to compete in the 800 Metres, 1500 Metres and the cross country.

But at the age of 15 I became less and less interested in competing and missed more and more training sessions and found new hobbies in boys, drinking and going out. By the age of 21 I had had enough of growing up in Essex and my life had lost a lot of direction. I used to dable in a little swimming before work and often cycled to work but other than that I wasn't very active. At the age of 21, I decided that what was the point in living somewhere that you didn't particularly like and what was there to stop me moving somewhere else?

Just weeks after my 21st birthday my plan was made and I was off to Newquay. The coast of dreams, I was going to live by the beach and be happy ever after away from the city life I hated so much in Essex.

Things went fantastically well, I landed a job in a holiday park behind the bar, found a place to live and started to make friends and begain my new life in Cornwall. Over the years I moved from place to place and from job to job. I joined a ladies surf club and really was living the dream. However fast forward several years of living in Cornwall I was invited to attend my first Park Run event with my sister.

Now to give you a little more background, my sister wasn't in any of the sports clubs at school and certainly didn't go to after school athletics clubs. So for her to invite me to a running event I felt that I couldn't say no. Deep down I was thrilled to be running again, although the realisation that I no longer had suitable running shoes and barely owned enough gym clothes to take part in a run was a slight issue. I hadn't exercised for ages and was certainly very, very unfit.

With a seriously old and squashed pair of very warn trainers and some old skool Addidas three stripe trousers I was on the start line with my sister and taking part in my first bit of running for nearly 15 years.

The event started fast and everyone disappeared off around the course and I don't think it had even been a mile before I had to walk a section. With another flat section I tried another little run but then another hill and I was walking once more. With a combination of walking and running I managed to get around the 5km course. Although I struggled the whole way around I enjoyed it and I really wanted to attend again.

The following week, this time with a pair of newly acquired running leggings I was back on that start line taking part in my second Park Run event and I loved it even more than the first week. People were friendly and encouraging and getting a faster time then the week before fuelled my desire to go again and again.

That was just 12 months ago and now exactly one year on I have not only attended 24 Park Run events. I have also joined the Newquay Road Runners club and competed in two races for the club including the Cubert 5 and the Falmouth 5 Mile Mob Match. But the  biggest highlight of the last 12 months was reaching the age of 30 and signing up to my first half marathon, which I completed in October.

I now try to run every Tuesday night at the intro to running night put on by the Newquay Road Runners as well as attend Park Run on a Saturday. I might not be running very fast or very far but I am loving being a runner again and can't believe what I have achieved in the past 12 months.

I can also confirm that in the 12 months since I started running I am the proud new owner of several new pairs of swanky running shoes and the old trainers and Addidas three stripes will never be seen out in public again! I have made loads of friends since that first Park Run and personally achieved so much and I can't wait to see what my rekindled love for running will give to me next year.

Here's to 2016 and hopefully another great year of running.