Microadventure #9 - Autumn Wild Camp

After my first wild camp in a soggy Kentish field in March with Sophie, and another damp night by myself in the Spanish mountains in May, I had high hopes for a clear night and starry skies for an Autumn bivvy in the Surrey Hills. It didn't quite work out that way, but that's all part of the fun!

It started out with another (micro) microadventure - to find a gas cylinder for my new Alpkit brukit. Apparently they're more widely available at the start of the summer when 'normal' people go camping, but after trying lots of places, I finally found one in a little camping shop in Shere, so managed to squeeze in cake and coffee at one of my favourite cycling stops (The Dabbling Duck) too.

When Sophie and I did our 5-9 adventure in March we didn't have time to recce camping spots until after a) it was dark and b) we'd shared a bottle of wine in a local pub, so we decided to make the most of pre-drinking daylight hours and explore a bit of the North Downs Way in advance so we were camp-ready.

On the advice of my go-to adventure community (Adventure Queens Facebook Group) we decided to base ourselves near St Martha's on the Hill, with great views overlooking the Surrey Hills towards the villages of Chilworth and Albury, not far from the bigger town of Guildford. Located right next to the North Downs Way, it's a popular spot with hikers and mountain bikers.

Never too old for a swing!

New season heather

Once we'd found a good spot to camp, we headed down the hill to the village of Albury, and dinner at The Drummond Arms pub.

#treehugger

A whole baked camembert, smoked pork belly, steak and ale pie and bottle of red wine later, we headed back up the hill with our head-torches, dodging tree roots, toads and the first of the evening's raindrops...

It didn't rain alllllll night, but even when it did, we were bivvy-ready, so it was worth it for the peace and quiet before the first of the morning trail runners hit the North Downs Way. And with a working gas canister, the brukit's first outing was a success. So after a massive cup of coffee we headed back to the relative comfort of the car and a massive cooked breakfast. Next time the challenge will be to cook breakfast outside too!

Microadventure #8 - Monsoon Commuting in India

In their book 'Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world', Mark Williams and Danny Penman introduce the concept of 'habit releasers', which they define as "a deliberate choice to break out of one (or more) of your usual routines".

Habit releasers could include sitting in a different chair at home or at work, trying a different coffee shop or supermarket from your usual choice, or switching up your route to work, school, the gym etc.

Since reading their book, I've tried to keep this concept in mind whenever I feel I'm getting stuck in the rut of routine - eating the same food, watching the same TV shows, buying the same newspapers etc.

One of my favourite habit releasers is experimenting with modes of transport and routes to and from work. What can often feel like a dull and stressful part of your day can even become exciting! When I'm in London, I mix up cycling to work with running and taking the bus or tube. Taking different routes also means I'm discovering new places and waking myself up from the autopilot of the daily grind. 

This month I've been really busy at work, including a two week trip to India, so it's been challenging to find the time to plan or do a microadventure. But then I remembered that's the whole point of this challenge - to find the adventure in the small things. So this month it was all about building adventure into my commute, and India during monsoon season meant there was no shortage of opportunities.

The photos and film clips below give a little insight into some of the microadventures I had from hotel to office and back...

Bangalore river/road

Microadventure to find the Decathlon I spotted from the Bangalore office window

Delhi morning commute in the rain

The relative uniformity of the M25 on the way home

Microadventure #7 - Climbing Col de la Joux Verte

A 'col' is another word for a mountain pass, and this month's microadventure was to climb one on my bike, coinciding with the Tour de France https://www.letour.fr/en/ 

Staying in the heart of Morzine in the French Alps, there were a lot to choose from, ranging in difficulty, altitude, distance and gradient. 

There are two sides to the Col de la Joux Verte - the better known southern route from Morzine to Avoriaz (known as Montée d'Avoriaz or Route d'Avoriaz) or the lesser known northern ascent - more beautiful, more varied and less busy. So we decided to go for that. Starting at the roundabout in the village of Montriond, the road climbs from 886 m through wooded areas and past the stunning Lake Montriond for a total of 14.7 km before finally reaching the col at 1760 m.

The average gradient was 6.5% and each km post tells you the gradient of the next km, which I found really helpful... until the middle sections rarely dipped below 9% and I would have rather just not known! Just as I was in the middle of one of those km, I saw a snail and reminded my competitive alter ego that it didn't matter how slow I went, just to KEEP PEDALING!

The scenery on the way up really was stunning, with Lake Montriond (where we swam the next day) and the village of Les Lindarets (aka GOAT VILLAGE) being highlights.

Lake Montriond

Swimming in Lake Montriond the next day

Meeting the goats at Les Lindarets

After Les Lindarets, there was a welcome 2 km respite at 5% before the final 2 km ramped back up to 8%. It then flattened out just before I arrived at the Morzine-Avoriaz ski station and then enjoyed the descent back down to Morzine.

Start of the descent from Morzine-Avoriaz Ski Station back down to Morzine

A couple of days (and cols, because climbing mountains actually starts to become 'fun'...) later, we went to watch the Tour heading up Col de Romme, and even made it on the telly! They make it look so easy...

The leaders of the peloton on Col de Romme

We made it onto TV!

Microadventure #6 - Jersey 'Round the Island' Challenge

This month's microadventure began when my plane to Jersey was diverted overnight to Southampton airport because of fog! But I finally landed the next morning in time for some carb loading, sleeping and gin 'hydrating' in my cousin Penny and Andrew's lovely garden.

Beautiful sunshine above the fog!

Clearer view the next day

With my sunbathing buddy, Doogle

With Mum (also visiting), Penny and her Mum Jenny in Penny and Andrew's garden

This time last year I had never even been to Jersey, but on Saturday I got to know every corner of the island as I walked and ran around its 77km coastline. If you want a speedier version of my 12.5 hour round-trip, you can do a quick circumnavigation (without the blisters and sore legs) here: https://www.relive.cc/view/1657179158

Over 1000 people signed up for the event - mostly walking, some running and some doing a mix of both like me. We started at 03:00 so did the first few km in the dark, but as it was only a couple of days after the summer solstice it wasn't long before we were treated to an amazing sunrise and the smell of freshly cooked bacon wafting over the hill as we approached St Catherine's for our first break.

The 03:00 start at St Helier

The procession of silhouettes rounding the south-east corner of the island

Approaching Mont Orgueil Castle in Gorey 

Sunrise at Anne Port

Bacon roll and coffee stop at St Catherine's 

Having walked the first 12km, my legs felt warm (but still fresh) enough to break into a gentle jog as we hit the undulating north coast.The ups and downs of the narrow coastal path were a welcome distraction to the monotony and relative flatness of the south-east. With the sun now up the views were incredible, and as long as I kept the sea to my right I knew I couldn't get lost!

While I was walking and running on my own, I wasn't ever really alone. Everyone was really friendly, so I joined other groups for a bit but also enjoyed the quietness of listening to my own breath, taking in the views and letting my thoughts wander. The beauty of a long challenge is there's no time pressure (or at least none that I gave myself), so I could just relax and really enjoy the experience. 

Long morning shadows

Stunning coastal paths

Half way point

Plémont

As I came off the coastal path in the north-west corner, I could see Corbière lighthouse in the distance, which I recognised from my recce walk earlier in the year, but it was at the end of the long flat beach of St Ouen's. Mentally this was the hardest part of the whole thing for me - the lighthouse didn't seem to get any closer and the midday sun was brutal. So I had well-timed support from Mum, Penny and Jenny followed by a surprise visit from my friend Jenny and her daughter Jess, who brought a 'Keep Going Auntie Charlotte' pack of energy bars, plasters and ibuprofen/paracetamol as well as a much-needed hug just when I needed it the most!

The long flat stretch of St Ouen's

With Mum and Jenny

With Jenny and Jess at St Ouen's

When I finally made it to the lighthouse, I knew it was 'just' the south-west corner to go, and the ups and downs were a welcome change to the flat terrain of St Ouen's. Also part of my recce walk, I knew the twists and turns coming up so I could pace myself and really enjoy the last bit again. Amazing what some support from friends, a fresh pair of socks and a couple of paracetamol and ibuprofen can do to your motivation!

Corbière lighthouse... finally!

St Brelade's

Portelet beach

The last flat bay from St Aubin to St Helier was mentally tough again, but after 12.5 hours of moving time I finally made it to the finish and a very welcome leg massage!