A weekly blog-style episode featuring a motorcycle ride out, a long weekend at Center Parcs, and a weekend in London. Oh, and taking a tumble and hurting my rib…
Welcome to another weekly blog episode – except, of course, they are monthly at the moment. But let’s not get caught up in semantics; the format works, and that’s what matters. April seems to have passed in the blink of an eye, as all months do these days, and while I haven’t had any hiking adventures to speak of this month, life has certainly not been dull.
As always in these chatty updates, this recap of April isn’t about any big trips or multi-day treks, but instead shines a light on the moments in between – the snippets of life that celebrate anything that’s slightly outside normal routine, whether that be getting One Hour Outside, one day outside, or sometimes, not being outside at all.
April has seen me off on two weekends away, seeing a comedy play in the West End, going on my first motorcycle ride of the year, indulging in far too many meals out, and – well – hurting myself. There’s a little bit of all that in this month’s round-up…
Spring Has Sprung!
I said it last month, but I’ll say it again here… isn’t it wonderful to have a warm and sunny spring? There was some very heavy rain and storms in there too, I know, but we started and ended the month with beautiful warm spring weather. I love it.
Inspired by the brightness, I freshened up the garden with a few new flowers – bright pinks and purples bringing a welcome splash of colour. I’ve no idea what they are (I know I could look…), but they’re thriving, and that’s good enough for me.
The birds have finally found their way back to our feeders, and we have a steady stream of regular visitors. A particularly confident Robin has claimed the garden as his territory, keeping a watchful eye on things. We’ve not had a resident Robin for a couple of years, when we had two fighting over the feeder, so it’s nice to have him here. I hope he sticks around.
Oh, and I finally upgraded my watering can after the longest time moaning about my broken plastic one. I bought a good-looking metal one from Garden Selections (via Amazon). A little indulgent, but it’s nice to have nice things. Honestly, it pours so much better than the old one!
Back inside the house, I continued my aim of trying new recipes at home – this Chicken Satay Salad was the winning dish of the month and will go on regular rotation. I also enjoyed making and eating this one-pan Turkish-style eggs dish (almost a Shakshuka, served with bread), this Chicken Parmesan (served with broccoli), and the social-media-made-me-do-it tuna and crispy potato salad (no accompaniment required). I’d make all of these again.
Anyway, let me get to the things I said I’d talk about in this episode.
First Motorcycle Ride of the Year
After far too long off the bike, this month finally brought my first ride-out of the year – and it felt so good to be back on two wheels. My BMW F750GS was more than ready to stretch its legs, and although I expected to feel rusty after months off, it only took a handful of miles before I felt right at home again.
My husband and I tagged along on a group ride around the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, winding through scenic roads under a bright spring sun. It was a chilly start, but as the miles ticked by, the warmth kicked in, making for perfect riding weather.
We stopped for lunch at the Classic Motor Hub in Bibury, where I spent a good chunk of time admiring (and wistfully wishing for) cars I absolutely cannot afford. It’s good to dream, though!
A ride, sunshine, good company, and a bit of car envy – what more could I ask for? It was a brilliant day out, and I’m already looking forward to more of the same later in the year.
Family Fun at Center Parcs
We headed to Center Parcs at Woburn Forest for a Friday-to-Monday escape over Palm Sunday weekend, sharing a four-bed lodge with my husband’s family. It was a lovely mix of quality time, woodland walks, and proper relaxation, sprinkled with plenty of activities to keep things interesting.
We like to try out the activities on offer at Center Parcs, as while they are a bit spendy, they are always good fun. The restaurants are generally good too, especially the Pancake House, which is a solid tradition at this point, and always a winner. We actually went twice (because one pancake is never enough pancakes).
Badminton is always a winner. Every single time I play, I remember just how much I love it (throwback to my school days in the early ‘90s). Glow Table Tennis was also fun, but definitely didn’t steal badminton’s crown.
The Aerial Adventure high ropes course was a highlight – both a workout and a little adrenaline rush. Navigating the obstacles was exciting, and it all built up to a zipline over the lake, which was an excellent reward.
The Family Ball Wall on the squash court was another surprise hit. It’s basically a giant interactive video game where we hurled balls at the wall with full enthusiasm. Space Invaders and Candy Crush ranked as my favourites, and let’s just say, it’s far more of a workout than it looks!
Beyond all the structured fun, the weekend had plenty of lounging, cycling, and wandering through the woods, soaking in the atmosphere and just enjoying the time together. It was exactly what we needed – though, unfortunately, the weekend didn’t go entirely smoothly…
A Not-So-Graceful Moment on Two Wheels
In the spirit of taking every opportunity to have a little adventure, midway through the weekend we took the hired mountain bikes on a little jaunt along the undulating woodland trail that hugged the perimeter of the grounds. It was me, my husband, and the perfect moment of single-track fun – tame in reality, but there were twists, turns, ups, downs, roots, and just enough excitement to keep things interesting.
And then came the gravel.
Somewhere between flying out of the woodland and rolling onto the new terrain, I misjudged thing, and thinking I’d completely passed over a slippery gravel section, I gave the brakes a squeeze. Bad move. In a blink, I was head over heels, taking a tumble down the sloped track with my bike entangled in my legs. Winded. Stunned. Very much not upright.
My husband – who I’d been chasing down at the time – rode back to find me in a heap and making all kinds of groaning noises. I could tell I’d done no major damage to my legs or arms or head, thankfully, but I did look a mess – a hefty graze on my arm full of grit, a nasty shoulder wound, and a rib that felt like it had been run over by my other bike!
Recovery Mode
In the spirit of getting back on the horse (bike…), once I caught my breath and was upright again, I pedalled back to the lodge, where I took a brutal but necessary shower to remove the grit from my arm. Realising my arm and shoulder would need something more than I’d got in my little first aid kit, I headed to the first aid centre, where the staff were incredible – gentle, kind, and efficient. As someone who struggles to ask for help, I was made to feel welcome and cared for.
I admit I tried to ignore my ribs at first – I mean, there was no blood in that area! But as the adrenaline faded, the pain settled in. The next morning? Let’s just say I was battered and bruised in all-new ways.
Two more visits to the first aid cenre, multiple rounds of manuka honey dressings (which I’m now fully converted to), and some impressive bruises later, I’m officially in recovery mode. My rib(s)? Still very sore after nearly three weeks, likely cracked or badly bruised and with muscles pulled. But healing, slowly.
I am trying to be patient, but it is frustrating. I keep reminding myself: this is temporary. It might not have been in my plan, but at least it’s just a short-term obstacle. And let’s be honest: I might not bounce quite like I did in my twenties, but at least I didn’t smash up my face or break a limb. Small wins.
A Bent Phone
Want to know what made me most upset as I caught my breath immediately after the accident? The state of my phone. Sad, I know, but it was the sight of this physical thing that made me realise I’d probably also hurt myself.
It was quite something, really – I’d not only smashed both the front and back, but also bent it. It had been in my trouser pocket; I even had a phone-shaped bruise on my thigh to prove the impact. Oof.
Thankfully, I have phone insurance bundled in with my bank account, and so I’ve been able to get it repaired using that service. I mean, it’s not Apple Care so they haven’t used genuine parts, and the communication has been odd at best, but they have (somehow) been able to repair my phone and I am back online again.
Looking back, it was the kind of accident that left its mark – physically, sure, but also in the laughable absurdity of it all. Gravel, misplaced confidence, and a moment of misjudgement delivered a solid reminder that adventures don’t always go to plan. But I’m fine, healing, and grateful it wasn’t worse. Just another story for the collection.
Oh, and given that I had to cancel the deep tissue massage I’d booked as a treat for the last day at Center Parcs (there was just no way!!), I need recommendations of where to get a good one for when I’m all healed.
Weekend in London
We spent two nights in London over the Easter weekend, mainly to see Comedy About Spies, the latest Mischief Theatre production. Having loved The Play That Goes Wrong, booking tickets for their newest show was an easy decision, and it didn’t disappoint. Without giving anything away, think 1960s spy caper packed with bungled missions, tangled identities, and all the miscommunication you can imagine. It genuinely had us laughing from start to finish, and it comes highly recommended.
As is tradition when we visit the capital, we ate exceptionally well. We tried two new restaurants: Blacklock City, where we had a fantastic pile (and I mean pile) of chops, and Burger and Beyond at Borough Yards, a solid spot for decent burgers that we’d return to. We also revisited Duck and Waffle for brunch, this time in its spectacular location on the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate. All three were excellent, albeit pricey – eating out seems to climb in cost every time!
We also ticked off a very touristy London to-do: a trip inside Tower Bridge. Walking along the glass-bottomed walkway high above the Thames was a highlight, and the museum itself showing the old steam engine that powered the lifting bridge was fascinating. Booking the first timeslot of the day meant we could take our time without too many other people getting in the way.
Beyond that, we spent hours wandering and mooching through London’s streets. Despite the Easter rush in the expected places (although I don’t actually think it was too bad, even in Covent Garden), it wasn’t hard to find near-empty streets just a few steps away. Staying in Blackfriars was ideal (a Premier Inn as normal), giving us access to quieter corners while still being central.
See You Next Time…
The last weekend in April only counted for half as I had to work for one of the days, but I did manage to have a (sore but happy) walk on my local hill, having not been there all month. I wasn’t out long, but it was a much-needed blast of fresh air and exercise, even with having to be very careful of my footing so as not to jar my side.
I think I did a pretty good job of cramming April full of fun things, even if one of those did lead to an injury I know I’ll be feeling well into the coming month. And I hope you can say the same about your April, too, minus the consequences of misreading gravel, naturally.
Here goes May!
If you haven’t already seen, I finished up my Mendip Way adventure journal series with my day four and hints and tips posts, wrote about a really great day hike in the Clent Hills of Worcestershire, and shared a review of the Rohan Aira waterproof jacket. Gives you something to read next…
