Author: Justine

  • Old Favourite

    I love new experiences, but some things just keep me coming back for more. Penrhyn Mawr tidal race is one of those places that can put a big smile on your face on most occasions. Today Baz and I spend a couple of hours playing in the waves!


  • Sarah Outen in Adventure Kayak

    It’s good to see Sarah Outen in the pages of “Adventure Kayak” magazine. I hope I did her justice as I wrote the article!

    After a ‘time out’ due to a show-stopping tropical storm, Sarah will continue with her grand adventure of looping the globe next Spring, when she and her new rowing boat will set off across the Pacific again!

    The latest issue of Adventure Kayak is now on magazine racks & available dititally.

  • Rolling in Chinese

    Today’s thud on the doormat didn’t bring any bills! Instead the postman brought a magazine all the way from Hong Kong with a review of “This is the Roll” in it. It looks very pretty and the words that I understand look relevant! If you understand Chinese, perhaps you can let me know what it says! Hopefully it’s another good review!  The magazine is X Life, an Adventure travel & exploration magazine published every 2 months.

  • Loopy in the Lakes


    The email from Cheryl’s mother simply read “Are you still in one piece, Justine?”

    I can only imagine she was wondering why I was taking part in a 3-day 200km off-road loop of the lake district on my mountain bike, after I punctured my lung the last time I mountain biked with her daughter!

    Yesterday evening, I could happily reply to Brenda that I am still in 1 piece, with a big grin on my face. An accident doesn’t stop me enjoying something – although I was careful! I love journeying through wild and beautiful places, whether that’s by kayak, bike or on foot so I was really excited when Cheryl invited me to pedal “the Lakeland Loop” on a “girls trip”. The 3 day trip would wind it’s way around a lot of the Lake District, climbing over 3 or 4 passes a day & staying off-road wherever possible.

    Don’t think that this must be easy if a bunch of girls can do it! The other lasses were fit, feisty & great fun! We biked for 8 hours a day, got wet feet within 30 minutes of starting, climbed 7,000 metres with burning thighs & descended 7,000 metres with big smiles. The terrain varied from wide grassy tracks, forestry roads, technical single track, squidgy bog & everything in between. We were fuelled by yummy cakes, teas & sandwiches at pubs & cafes, while home-made flapjacks, Nakd bars, Clif bars & happy laughter kept us going in between! At the end of a long day, we stayed in a YHA at Wasdale and a great B & B at Croswaite.

    Cheryl runs a cycling holiday company called “Rather be Cycling” with her partner Gavin & this is one of the routes that they take people on commercially. Gavin kindly met us at the end of every day with a bag of clothes, & he fixed any creeks or squeaks on our bikes. If you fancy a challenging & beautiful bike tour then I can recommend this one – it’s brilliant fun! Here are the Lakeland loop details.

    If you prefer to go further afield, “Rather be Cycling” also run mountain biking trips in Nepal, Kazakhstan & Europe, & classic road bike trips in the Alps & Morocco. Read more here  or follow them on facebook.