Category Archives: Preparation

Like so many outdoor enthusiasts I need my regular fix of activity in the mountains, whether that be through trekking, on skis, or even just touring; but this week Rachel and I have tried something rather different, and certainly new to the both of us. Snowshoeing. Around five years ago friends of ours from ourContinue reading “Eagle”

There is a certain added pleasure in walking from one’s own front door, first covering familiar paths and then going that extra mile or two on new trails a little further away, all the while in the knowledge that every inch of the way has been achieved on foot. And so it was today, aContinue reading “Cold Rain”

I was delighted to share most of today’s Chiltern escapade with my close friend Philip, who many of you may remember as my companion on the first three days of my LETJOG trek nearly two years ago, and again last winter on a section of the South West Coast Path back down in Cornwall. WellContinue reading “End Of The Line”

A wonderful winter day greeted us yesterday: myself and friend Mark, setting out early in the chill from the village of Frogmore, three miles south of St Albans. Our start point was determined by a car service in the local garage, and the consequent improvisation of a scenic route back to Berkhamsted led us downContinue reading “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”

Winter walking is truly the best, particularly when still blue skies prevail and the shallow sunlight casts long morning shadows across frosty meadows, and so it was for me starting out on the 10-mile Chess Valley Walk yesterday from Chesham to Rickmansworth. A wonderful way to spend four or five hours, this walk is aContinue reading “Valley Of The Low Sun”

Beauty is to be found on every doorstep, and in our fortunate case in Berkhamsted one such source is the woodlands and commons of the Ashridge Estate on the hills to the north of the town. Managed in large part by the National Trust, the Ashridge landscapes encompass a variety of forest, field, down andContinue reading “Round And Round”

First of all, a belated Happy New Year to all those who have kindly followed my Blog over the last two years throughout my LETJOG and C2C treks and during my R&S journey around northern Scotland, and a very warm welcome to those new to these musings. Let’s hope that 2023 treats us all kindly!Continue reading “Starting Over”

A few days have now passed since our return from Scotland, and with the memories of our NC500 challenge at last winning through against the muscle-aches of our exertions, I would like to pass on the thanks of the Ride & Stride team to everyone who has supported our efforts over the last couple ofContinue reading “Bring It All Home”

Ride & Stride – Day 9, plus 1: Friday 16 September – INVERNESS to HOME I may be exaggerating here – Scotland is hardly the world, but it does feel as though we have all been travelling at some considerable pace for the last ten days! There has barely been a quiet moment on RideContinue reading “I’ve Been Around The World”

Ride & Stride – Day 9: Thursday 15 September – EVANTON to INVERNESS (58 miles) Breakfast today was leisurely, and for me a later start, in the camper-van with Julian, accompanying the runners to their start point at Balblair on the north coast of the Black Isle. The cyclists had already departed, from Evanton, onContinue reading “Journey’s End”