WEEKLY BLOG EPISODE 141 | WOODLAND WANDERING

I mentioned at the very end of my last weekly blog – episode 140 – that I’d just received word our guided stargazing experience had been cancelled due to bad weather. Again. While it makes complete sense to postpone such an activity when it’s going to be cloudy and wet, as there’s no point going stargazing when you aren’t going to be able to see any stars, it did tinge this week with a bit of disappointment.

With my stargazing rebooked for next month (hopefully third time lucky on that one), I got on with making this week as outdoorsy as possible, even with the absence of a new-to-me activity to tick off my list. And it’s been a pretty good week, all things considered. My One Hour Outside daily photo challenge has certainly helped with that aim, as did the better weather we had on Saturday.

Although, even after writing about it at length last week, and sharing my blogging goal in my Bucket List Reset article, I once again didn’t get my weekly blog episode written over the weekend. I was too busy doing other things! I’m still working on finding a writing routine that works even when I’m out and about enjoying myself. There must be a way.

If you would like to be in with a chance of winning a copy of Cook Out by Harrison Ford (it really is a fantastic outdoorsy cook book), you can do just that in weekly blog episode 140. Head over there now, then come back and read this one!

My Week

If we discount the day job, because sometimes ignoring that ‘must-do’ chunk of life and concentrating on the fun stuff is the best option, I have had quite a pleasant week. A normal week in many ways, but a nice one. It’s been about getting my One Hour Outside, eating delicious food, spending time with people I love, going for walks, riding my motorbike, and trying not to worry too much about the list of chores and other things piling up around me.

Eating has definitely been a highlight of the week. I tried two new-to-me places to eat around Cheltenham, both of which deserve a quick mention.

The first was Curious Café on Bath Road in Cheltenham, where I had a simple yet delicious omelette on a lunchtime outing with some work colleagues. The reason for the meet up was pretty rubbish, and not for my weekly blog, but the food and setting were both lovely. We sat out in the courtyard (which is covered and heated), which was such a nice place to have lunch – comfortable and nicely decorated. The food was excellent, too, it was hard to choose what to have. It’s somewhere I will certainly return to; I can see myself becoming a regular!  

We also tried the new independent Italian restaurant in Bishops Cleeve, a large village a little north of Cheltenham. La Vecchia Banca, which translates as ‘the old bank’ (as it is in an old bank…), is family-run, and is another place I’ll return to, given a suitable opportunity. Our pasta mains were very tasty and clearly freshly made. Although, the apple tart dessert my husband had was disappointing, not a patch on the pistachio cheesecake I chose. I definitely won the pudding game!

One Hour Outside February Photo Challenge

I don’t think I was overly kind when I set the themes for my photo challenge this week. Some were easy enough, but others were particularly hard work. For me, anyway. That was, in part, thanks to what I had going on in my life each day, but also because the themes required far more thinking than my brain was willing to do. I think I just about managed, though, and you’ll see some of the photos I took this week dotted through this weekly blog episode.

This week, the themes have included ‘cup of tea’, ‘on my lunchbreak’, ‘amongst the trees’, and ‘very old’. I’ve been sharing some of the ones I see on Instagram in my stories. Although, Instagram no longer has a way to see most recent images by hashtag, which makes finding your photos much harder than it used to be. Apologies if I’ve missed yours.

Weirdly, even though I designed a walk for Saturday specifically to get some tree photos (more on that a little later in this weekly blog episode), I think my favourite photo of the week is the one I took on day eight – Thursday. The theme was ‘my normal’, and while I know it’s a terrible photo in many ways, it couldn’t be a better demonstration of the theme.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3GO7bCLVnG/

My Normal

I got to mid-afternoon on Thursday feeling dissatisfied. I had lots of ideas for my photo – a selfie of my silly face, a nice moody image of one of the very local trails I walk regularly, or some kind of arty shot of me running errands on foot. But Thursday wasn’t overly kind if I’m honest. It was the most Thursday kind of Thursday I’ve had for a while. Everything was a bit of a rush, it rained heavily all day, and I was in a bit of a grump (it happens sometimes…).

Instead of something beautifully curated, showing off my photographic creativity and making a philosophical comment on what normal is, I shared the snap I took of my socks-and-sandal-covered feet when I was filling up the bird feeder and putting the bins out in the late afternoon.

I was disappointed in that, but more than one person commented to say they really liked the image and the sentiment, including a very good friend. It probably doesn’t get more ‘my normal’ than doing chores, especially on a Thursday, and my feet look like this at least twice a day, if not more. Looking back at the photo and caption, it is a nod to the fact that life doesn’t get more normal than standing in my back garden wearing socks and sandals in the pouring rain. I’ll take it.

Next Week in Photos

This coming week we cross the halfway mark for this year’s One Hour Outside Daily Photo Challenge. You are not too late to join in, even if you’ve only just heard about it. Start from today – your theme for day 13 (Tuesday 13 February) is ‘the smallest’, and tomorrow (Wednesday 14 February) is ‘two’s company’.

I look forward to seeing how you interpret the themes and, most importantly, where and how you spend One Hour Outside each day over the coming week. Do use the #SplodzDPC and #OneHourOutside hashtags when you share your snaps, but also consider tagging me (@Splodz) to help make sure I can find your posts on social media.

Applying to be an Ordnance Survey Champion

I’m proud to have been an OS Champion since January 2017, flying the flag for the everyday adventurer. My seven-year partnership with Ordnance Survey has been a wonderful celebration of my aim to encourage you (yes, you) to get outside whenever you get an hour, and for trying to demonstrate that the outdoors is for everyone. I have always considered my place in the scheme as a positive acknowledgement of my desire to make the most of my days on this planet. And that has felt pretty great.

After a couple of years without renewing the Champions, Ordnance Survey are shaking things up a bit. They recently opened applications for the OS Champions programme ready for Spring 2024, and as this is a complete refresh of the scheme, I’ve been asked to reapply to be considered alongside everyone else.

OS is looking for people who don’t just go outdoors, but who truly live for getting outside and know a thing or two about maps and navigation as well. They are hoping to attract “authentic, fun loving and creative people with a strong social media presence who are embedded in their outdoor communities”. I’ve put my application in – maybe you’d like to join me?

If you are interested in applying to become an OS Champion, you have until 18 February to put your name in the hat. You’ll find the application form and all the T&Cs here.

Wandering through Standish Wood

I can be quoted as saying my favourite woodland of the Cotswold Way was Standish Wood (read Ten Favourite Cotswold Way Moments). There was just something about it and how I felt when walking through it that stuck in my mind. It was glorious woodland walking; smooth underfoot, fast, pretty, and peaceful. It went on for long enough that we really felt the benefit of being amongst the trees, but not so long that it felt like we weren’t making any progress.

I promised myself I would return to Standish Wood to explore more of the footpaths that weave through this National Trust woodland. And after a little wait, that’s exactly what we did on Saturday – using the One Hour Outside photo challenge theme of ‘amongst the trees’ as my motivation.

It was a beautiful sunny morning, and after checking out the views from the topograph on the sticky-out-bit of the hill (technical term!), my husband and I took the easy-to-follow Cotswold Way through the woodland that sits on the edge of the Cotswold escarpment. The woodland varies in its thickness, with some areas having been recently felled and replanted, while others are dark and dense. 

Down and Back Up

When we reached the edge of Standish Wood at the Randwick end, we continued our loop by taking the path down the hill, returning towards the car park via the lower path. The first couple of miles, the Cotswold Way section, was more-or-less level – very easy going. The second half was more than a little undulating, including a steep climb back up to the top of the hill at the end.

The whole route was on well-made footpaths, and while there were quite a few other people enjoying the woodland, once we were a short distance from the main car park, it was nice and quiet. It really is a pretty place to wander, clearly popular with families and dog walkers, helped along by the little coffee van that parks up in the (pay and display) car park.

I really enjoyed going back for another look – shame the snowdrops weren’t out yet, but that’s just an excuse to go back again another day. You can see our route on OS Maps, one to consider when you visit the lovely Standish Wood. I would highly recommend it.

Spoiling the Showroom Shine

With my engine bars fitted (read weekly blog episode 140), it was finally time to give in and get my new bike dirty. I absolutely love going on motorcycle road trips and overland adventures, which means I ride in all kinds of weather. But when I’m at home, I am very much a fair-weather rider. My bike is for adventure trips, not British winters!

Anyway, knowing I can’t just wait until we’ve got a proper road trip organised to ride my new bike, and with the weather being nice enough, it was time to get this thing dirty. I need to make the time to get used to my new steed, work out what all the buttons and dials do, and get as comfortable riding this as I was my old bike.

So, on Saturday afternoon – after our wander in Standish Wood – we went for a pootle around some of the country lanes in Gloucestershire. We only rode 50-miles or so, but it was a really nice route which afforded me some ‘working it out’ time.

The Difference is Real

Riding my new bike really shows how far things have come in the last few years in adventure motorcycles. My probably-won’t-get-a-name new bike is far more modern than my old one. Everything is in a different place. And there are heaps more buttons to press and settings to fiddle with.

Whereas my old F650GS had, er, a trip metre, gear indicator, and the ability to turn off ABS, my new F750GS has ALL the toys. Maybe not quite all of them, but it has a lot. I have different ride modes, a TFT screen with heaps of information controlled by a wheel on my handlebar, automatic lights, a tyre pressure monitor, and a really fancy (and fun to use) quick shifter. Oh, and the thing that’s taking me far too long to get used to, the indicator buttons are in a completely different place!

It is all good. The bike is comfortable, easy to ride, and feels nice. It’s quicker, it’s smoother, and sounds nice. It was absolutely the right bike to replace my beloved F650GS. But having ridden such a basic tank of a bike for over a decade, it’s going to take a lot more than 50-miles to be road trip ready.

A River Shower

Anyway, back to the ride. We stuck to the little country lanes, some of them very little and only recently reopened after flooding. Which meant they were covered in mud and debris, which of course ended up splattered over my bike – and me. We even went through a ford, which I took way too quickly and ended up with a river shower. Yes, I know better. Oh well!

Don’t worry, I’ve since washed my bike – I made that my Sunday afternoon One Hour Outside. It’ll never look like it did when it came out of the showroom again, this is a bike to be ridden not looked at, but at least it’s not covered in mud anymore!

That’s Entertainment

Short Film: Welcome Back to Earth

I was sent a press release about Salomon’s Welcome Back to Earth campaign, and I thought it deserved a little space in this weekly blog episode.

Inspired by the truth that being active in natural environments significantly improves mental health, as well as overall wellbeing, quality of life, happiness and life satisfaction (so everything my One Hour Outside project is based on…), Salmon want to transport tech-overloaded city dwellers to the mountains, welcoming them ‘Back to Earth’.

By highlighting the value of the outdoors for our minds and bodies, the aim (other than advertising Salomon, of course), is to share the fact that a deeper connection with nature makes us all better.

I couldn’t agree more, Salomon. I couldn’t agree more.

Documentary Film: Head Above Water

Talking of videos to watch, Alex Staniforth, a fellow OS Champion, has a new adventure film coming out later this month.

Head Above Water explores Alex’s journey of identity, discovery, and completing the Frog Graham.

Navigating ill mental health, epilepsy, and bullying since school, along with surviving two major disasters on Mount Everest, Alex is no stranger to overcoming challenges. The founder of mental health charity Mind Over Mountains, in 2020, Alex ran the National Three Peaks Challenge, covering 452 miles in 9 days and 12 hours. That’s just ridiculous, Alex!

While unable to pursue his goals as an athlete in 2020 thanks to Long Covid, Alex discovered the healing power of open water swimming. This ended up forming the basis for his ambitious comeback challenge, the Frog Graham Round. The UK’s ultimate swim-run challenge, competitors run roughly 40-miles, ascend over 15,000 feet, and swim two miles across four lakes.

The film will premiere on 23 February in Ambleside, followed by a mini screening tour at Ellis Brigham stores around the country. Sadly, I can’t go to any of the screenings – I’m busy for the one that’s closest to me. But I thought you might like to go. Find out more and book your tickets on the Ellis Brigham website.

See You Next Time…

What does your week ahead look like? Mine is likely to be as busy as normal, but I’m looking forward to continuing to use those One Hour Outside Daily Photo Challenge themes to inspire some purposeful time outside in amongst it all.

My meal plan includes two new-to-me recipes to try, including a lentil coconut curry and a pearl barley, bacon and leek casserole, both of which will be cook-once-eat-twice dinners. And of course, it is Shrove Tuesday today (Tuesday 13 February), and so I will very soon be eating my weight in pancakes (the batter is made… I just need to cook them!). I’ll try and get a photo to share in my next weekly blog episode.

If you haven’t already, I would really love it if you would head over to read my Bucket List Reset 2024 article, in which I share some of the outdoorsy and other things I want to tick off over the coming months. I hope to use that list to keep me outdoors, active, and healthy this year – and would love to hear what your good intentions are when you’ve read mine.

I hope you have a most excellent week… see you in my next weekly blog episode.

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Buy Me a Cuppa?

If you enjoyed this weekly blog episode and fancy supporting me and my mini adventures this year, you can “buy me a coffee” for £3 (well, a cup of tea, if that’s okay?). Head over to Ko-fi to find out more. Thank you.