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A wild first week in Tassie
A week ago I moved to Hobart, or nipaluna as it is known in palawa kani, the language of the First Nation’s people of lutruwita, Tasmania. It was a pleasantly sunny Saturday afternoon as I got off the airport bus by Constitution Dock. The brightly coloured fishing boats bobbed gently on the water, tourists filled…
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Goodbye blue shorts, and thank you for your service
A couple of weeks ago, on a camping trip, I was climbing down from the roof of the car, having replaced the gas bottle in its holder on the roof rack. As I reached my foot down to the rear bumper, I heard a ripping sound from near my left knee. Once safely on the…
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How Warren Thompson Taught Me Surfing’s Life Lessons
This year the Western Australian surfing community lost a real legend. I got to know Warren while growing up in Perth’s coastal suburbs. My sisters and I were friends with his daughters, and I have fond memories of going to their house, sitting under the shade of the big eucalypt in their backyard. He shaped…
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How to make nature great again
This summer I went camping with my boyfriend’s sister and her husband. They are Londoners. They inhabit a concrete world of tube stations, coffee shops, busy footpaths, museums and art studios. Places where scraps of nature have to fight to keep their place amongst the many tiled roofs. Our car ambled down the pea gravel…
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How I stopped being a nature snob
Traveling through predominantly urban environments over the last 5 months, I have become increasingly frustrated with being separated from the natural world. I will be the first to admit how privileged I am to label such a thing as a problem. Who could possibly complain about a three week train trip across Central Europe, traveling…
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Why mountain biking is the best thing that ever happened to me
The first time I had anything to do with mountain bikes was on my gap year in 2009. I volunteered at a summer camp just outside of Squamish in British Columbia. I had been paired with the camp’s mountain bike instructor, the enthusiastic and knowledgeable JB. I helped her set up the skills park, moving…
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An argument for the solo adventure
Don’t get me wrong, I love adventuring with mates. Hanging out in the bush with your best pals makes for seriously good times. Whether you are walking, biking or running to your destination, whether its breakfast or time to set camp, banter is flying, jokes are being made, laughter is your constant companion. Friends have…
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Ode to Poirot
On Saturday we made it back to the UK after a 4000km road trip through Europe. Our faithful steed throughout that time was Poirot – a 2008 2 door Ford Ka kindly leant to us by family. He was flawless the entire trip, valiantly climbing up to ski towns in the Alps, winding his way…
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Running: My On-Again, Off-Again Life Partner
Although now I quite happily call myself a trail runner, this was not always the case. I don’t exactly have a lot of ‘runner traits’. I am definitely not what someone thinks of when they bring that phrase to mind. I do not look remotely like anyone that has ever been on the cover of…
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The surprising joy of getting lost
Sometimes you just have to choose the less sensible option
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The coolest piece of gear… ever
I love outdoor gear. Like really love it. When I walked into Mountain Equipment Co-op in Canada for the first time, it was like all my Christmases and birthdays had come at once. A giant warehouse full of every bit of kit for every activity you could ever imagine. The walls were covered with brightly…
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Travel and the Big Picture
I find when I am living my Regular Life, my mind is full of a constant barrage of Regular Life Thoughts. Stuff I need to do today at work, what groceries I need to swing by the shop on the way home for, what am I getting my sisters for Christmas, who can I convince…
Whit in the Wild 