A half term week in Northumberland with Scotland-dwelling family. Based in the amazing Old Vicarage in Beadnell.

Part 1: Sunny exploring

Part 2: Castles by bike

Part 3: Damp autumnal wanderings

Ten years after our exploratory expedition in Kyrgyzstan, the team decided to meet up. Despite the many additional trip members of all ages, the adventurous spirit continued.

A long weekend on the Yorkshire coast, getting our beach fix for the summer. (We’re a bit late posting this after going on too many holidays and taking a month to recover…)

Part 1: rest day, waterfall cycle, forest/alpine meadow/hut walk

Part 2: cragging, ridge walk/scramble

Part 3: rest day, cycle up (and down) the Col and journey home

Our first trip abroad for three years – family camping, walking, cycling, swimming etc in Samoëns, France. HOT.

One and a half years after it was originally booked for, we met up with friends for the “2020/21 New Year” trip…

Even with two extra toddlers, the Presbytery was spacious and comfortable and we did a lot more than we usually manage at new year, so definitely a success!

Afterwards, we tacked on two most enjoyable days with Ruth and Josh to make the most of half term.

“If we’d known it was going to be this wet we wouldn’t have come…”

25 hours of near-solid rain didn’t make for the best reintroduction to camping weekend. But there were many positives: bluebells, puddle jumping, like-minded friends old and new, fun with fires, sticks and water rockets, cake…

Our first ever trip to the Cotswolds – a long weekend with Grannie and Grandad. Also our first attempt at taking the bikes away – everything did fit in the car but we’re still trying to work out if we can fit a tent in as well…

There was a slow realisation that the weekend might include some cycling, then a realisation that it would be three days of cycling. Having not ridden for 1.5 years, this was a quick reintroduction to saddle soreness.

We started by cycling over to Littleover on Monday for a playdate – avoiding more time in the car and giving the bikes/trailer/seat a test run.

On Friday we made a short trip to a park in Burton where we met Joe, Andrena and Cassie and cycled back together.

Saturday was a longer 30k ride via an off-road cycle track for Jess, a closed playground, a cafe, a steep hill to a priory and then finally an open playground.

Sunday started with a quick ride to the Melbourne Cloud trail, where we left Joe and Andrena (and Cassie) to get on with their ride to Peterborough and beyond, while we tootled back past a playground to home. Another great 30k ride.

An afternoon jaunt from Bradwell that resulted in some good pictures!