It’s taken me a bit of time to get my weekly blog online this week. No excuses, just been a combination of busy enjoying the sunshine and tired from enjoying the sunshine.
My last week has been pretty okay. I’m still exhausted, still failing to exercise much, still trying to make the most of the little things, still wondering where all my motivation has gone. But in all that, I’ve made some lovely memories this weekend that I wanted to share with you in this weekly blog.
Planet Patrol with SUP Gloucester
On Friday evening I joined SUP Gloucester on an Planet Patrol clean up on the Avon near Tewkewsbury. I’ve done a few of these before; I met founder Lizzie thanks to Ordnance Survey’s GetOutside campaign, and I’m always happy when there’s a paddle boarding clean up close to me.
Five ladies and our guide took to the river for a couple of hours to pick out as much rubbish out of the river as we could. We found the usual suspects of drinks bottles and crisp packets, along with a fully working (but very stinky) garden parasol, a thigh high platform boot in a size four (just the right one), and a fully sealed box of fizzy sweets that did seem to still be perfectly okay to eat… although you’ll probably be pleased to know we didn’t actually try one even though they looked sound.
I certainly hit the jackpot with the weather, it was an excellent way to spend such a lovely warm and calm evening on the water, doing my bit for the river wildlife and our environment.
If you fancy joining a clean up like this, head to the Planet Patrol website for all the events.
Blue Skies on Cleeve Hill
I had the best walk on Cleeve Hill on Saturday morning. I was very indecisive when I got up, I couldn’t decide where to go, didn’t know how far I wanted to walk, and was a bit worried about getting too hot.
So, in a bid to avoid spending all day at home trying to make a decision, I pulled on my walking shoes and headed up my local hill – Cleeve Hill. It was the default choice, “oh I’ll just go up the hill”. Thankfully, Cleeve provides a whole bunch of routes and so I could basically walk for as long as I wanted once up there.
I’m so glad I went. I beat any crowds doing the same thing and spent most of my time on my own enjoying the blue-sky day, easy footpaths and Cotswolds scenery. I meandered along footpaths both familiar and new to me, walking around six miles in a loop before my one litre SIGG bottle was empty and it was time to go home and get out of the sun.
I might have only been out a couple of hours, I might not have climbed a mountain or walked a route that required carrying loads of gear, but it goes to show that the great outdoors is always open and available, even when you are unable to make a decision.
Adventure Overland Show
On Sunday we headed to the Adventure Overland Show, a gathering of overland vehicles at Stratford Racecourse. There were hundreds and hundreds of very cool cars, trucks, and few bikes and tuk-tuks too.
As you know I’ve always liked the idea of vanlife, and that I’ve always been taken by both the modern car-like vans that are well built and easy to drive, as well as the super rugged and utilitarian vans and trucks with huge wheels and Africa-going capabilities. This show gave me both ends of the spectrum, and has definitely fuelled the road trip wanderlust up to the brim.
I wish we could have got inside some of vehicles to see what overland life looks like, but this wasn’t a show for manufacturers to sell their wares, but rather an event for owners and clubs to bring along real overland vehicles. Which is actually what made it so good for a wander – it was people and their hobbies on show, there were thousands of stories on display in those fields.
The show was rolled into one with the International Campervan show and in all honesty it was hard to see what was in one show and what was in the other. But that didn’t matter, the random way things were set out just meant we had more to look at. I’m not sure it’s something we’d return to regularly, but it was an excellent way to spend a Sunday, we even missed the rain.
That’s Entertainment
I enjoy sharing my entertainment suggestions in my weekly blogs, and this week I’ve got two concerts for you to watch on YouTube.
The Mountbatten Festival of Music
If you like a bit of military band music, film scores, and the like, I highly recommend the recording of The Mountbatten Festival of Music 2021 from the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Featuring 57 Royal Marines musicians, the Fanfare Team and world-famous Corps of Drums, the charity concert also celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the Royal Albert Hall.
It’s well worth a watch and listen one evening, full of rousing scores old and new, it certainly made me smile.
The Show Must Go On
If you prefer your West End Musicals to marches and drums, then The Show Must Go On live concert from The Palace Theatre in the West End will really get you singing along.
Broadcast on Sunday evening, and presented by Theatre Support Fund+, The Shows Must Go On and National Theatre Live, this concert is all about celebrating the world’s most iconic musicals. There are songs from a heap of popular musicals, including some new ones, performed in a stripped back manner without losing any of their stage presence.
Although a Bon Jovi sung in a musical style kind of jarred a little… but that’s just me.
Both are charity concerts, with all the details on that included in the videos themselves.
As always, I would really love to hear from you in the comments below. What have been the highlights of your week? Let me know what your favourite thing about the last seven days has been. And don’t forget to get your One Hour Outside today… whatever day you happen to be reading this on!
Buy Me a Cuppa?
If you fancy supporting me and my mini adventures, you can “buy me a coffee” (or a tea, naturally). If you enjoyed this post and would like to support what I’m doing, head over to Ko-fi to find out more.
Sarah Irving
I am glad your blog was a bit later this week, I’ve actually had chance to read it early for a change.
Local walks really do get overlooked, even when they are sometimes the best of the bunch. I did a lot of local walks last week and discovered all kinds of new to me routes, ginnels and paths. As you say, it makes it easy to go for a short walk or a long one depending on how you feel (and how intense the sun is!)
Where on earth does that orange van go?! It looks bonkers! (that would have been amazing to look inside!)
Splodz
Ah thanks, I’m late again this week so at least you’ll be happy with that!
I love local walks too – I hope you can show me one of your favourite new local walks soon 🙂