In typical English fashion the train was over thirty minutes late. My anxiety increased as it pulled slowly into the station, the doors opened and I struggled out with my bags and bike. Then came the tedious pace of the station lifts, and of course, the platform for my next train placed separately to its …
At 4am I dragged myself out from shelter to stand beneath the dull light of dawn, wanting to be gone without trace before any early risers made their way past on a morning jaunt. I had the joy of packing away under the rising sun. The light blue sky began to emerge behind the clouds, …
The turning into The Peaks introduced one of the hardest physical and mental challenges I have faced cycle touring. As the hills continued, albeit none quite so steep as this first, I began to question everything. Why was I doing this? This is the Peak District, named as such for a reason. Why did I …
Back on English ground, I took the opportunity to explore as I never have before. In the past I used a bike as transport within Leeds city, but generally took public transport for longer distances. This time, determined to see more of England and with a great desire to keep my legs moving, I made …
After returning to England I spent some time with family before making my way to Wales for the Green Gathering festival. I had discovered the Green during some online searching, after my experiences at Woodford left me looking to find some festivals on this side of the world with a similar ethos. I’ve discovered one …
My time in Quillan at the ecobuild turned out to be much less eco or build than I’d originally thought. Much less eco due to the use of a large amount of cement in the base of the greenhouse we were building, much less build (for me) due to my ridiculously swollen ankle and the …
Not long after my arrival in Hanoi , Vietnam was celebrating Tet holiday (Lunar New Year). Everything was closing and many people were leaving town for a week. This resulted in two mini adventures I had not expected. The first, was spending just under a week in Thailand on Koh Chang island. A blissful retreat, …
The second part of Woodford, so different, but just as great as the first. I struggle to find a way to put my experience into words. So much that I gained from the place was from the energy and environment around me, rather than something physical. That said, the finished product, seeing all of our …
Just a short train ride south, Woodford is a world away from the life I lived in Bundaberg. In the country, surrounded by greenery, the suffocating packing shed is but a distant memory. Having found out about Woodford Folk Festival through a friend, I secured a volunteer position as part of the setup crew. Working …
And so after my four month sabbatical, I am once again here to grace you with my presence (/words). As I write this, I am two days into my new Australian adventure, but before I embellish, I’d like to recap on my final few months in New Zealand, my home for the last year and …
