Having arrived in Bangor, Northern Ireland, on a Saturday we had all of the following day to relax and explore. Early Sunday morning we headed away from the sea, hoping to leave the cold sea wind behind for a while. After wandering for about an hour we came across a vast park, green grass sprawling …
UK
We Left Largs!
The day that we would set sail from Largs had finally dawned. (For real this time!) We’d moved our starting date back by a day due to around 20knots of headwind which our experienced sailing friend, Ollie, had advised against if we wanted to keep our growing love for sailing intact. We’d decided to heed …
A Week on the Water – completing our Day Skipper Practical
(April 2022) We had booked a week off work to do the Day Skipper Practical course. It was a very exciting moment as, although we’d had many days on a boat over the past few months, the boat had never been floating. Our first evening was a brief affair, we met the other people doing …
Part 2 of 2021: lessons from the boatyard
Little did we know when we hauled out at the end of July, that we wouldn’t be heading back into the water until April the following year. Nor did we realise all that was yet to unfold over the coming months, had we known, we would likely have made different choices. Although we faced many …
Hello there readers
It has been a long time since I wrote something here, what a busy couple of years it has been with many unexpected twists along the way (for all of us I’m sure). As my life transitioned from a backpacker who picked up work along the way, to what is known as a digital nomad …
Part 1 of 2021 – the beginning of a life-changing venture
Our time in Italy was cut short due to the looming Brexit deadline. We discovered in mid-November it would be much easier for Miki to stay for a longer period in the UK if we arrived before 11pm on 31st December 2020. So bags were packed, notice was given at the flat in Genova, and …
Spring and summer 2020 – lockdown in the UK
After our stressful exit from Sri Lanka, we were very grateful when we finally touched down in the UK. This was Miki’s first time in the country and was most likely a very strange way to experience it, when most things that help create the culture and atmosphere are closed or off-limits. We had flown …
From The Peaks to Derby
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, …
Into The Peaks
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 …
Lincolnshire Wolds on Wheels
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 …