Open water swimming events

Lac Montriond (summer 2016) – Visiting the French Alps in the summer was a dream come true. I cannot recommend it enough. The scenery was breath taking – huge lakes filled with clear blue water surrounded by majestic mountain tops, it wasn’t too hard to hike above the cloud line. This lake attracts lots of people in the summer and many people sun bathe around it. There is a smaller lake which you can stand in allowing children to play. The larger lake has lots of water sports to offer but the lake is so large, once you are away from the perimeter, it seems rather quiet. There are no rules regarding how you swim the lake or safety regulations but the water is extremely deep and when you reach the centre you are a long way away from the side so you must be a confident swimmer. It is 19m deep and 33 hectares large.

Lake Windermere (summer 2016) – This is the longest lake in the UK and I have always wanted to swim it. Last summer I had the opportunity to swim in it when on holiday with my friends. There are safety rules in this lake and I required a coloured inflatable attached to me in order to make boats aware of me. I also had to swim by the side of a boat. The lake is very mucky and there are lots of shallow parts meaning you need to keep checking which direction you are heading. I swam the width and back of the lake which was in total around 3 km. I would love to go further but would recommend doing it with the organised event if you can! I would also highly recommend wearing a swimming suit as this lake is COLD!!

North Coast 500 cycle

North Coast 500 (summer 2017)

• 500 mile cycle around northern Scotland!

The journey began with an 8 hour train journey from Hull to Inverness. The bike ride started here, taking the route up across to the coast then up the west side along the top of the Scottish Highlands to John O'groats and back down the east coast finishing in Inverness again.

The ride was extremely hard and the hills were never ending. My legs became numb by day 3 meaning that any pain and discomfort from the saddle became bareable.

The weather was crazy. I have never experienced weather change like it. My body couldn’t cope – I came out in huge rashes due to the sweat evaporating too fast due to the harsh winds and freezing cold air brushing against my skin. This weather made camping a true struggle – especially when we were cycling a coastal route.

One of the many gorgeous beaches
along the coastal road

One day which will never leave my memory was cycling in a valley between two great mountains, no housing or habituation in sight. We were being blown across the road. It was disastrous. I was watching my partner cycle on an angle fighting against the wind, going around corners proved great difficulty as you were trying to fight the wind but also balance a bike with extra weight from your luggage straddled across the back of it. I fell off my bike and we decided it was too dangerous to carry on. We resulted in hiding behind a huge huge rock and snuggling up together in order to keep warm. We then waited and waited for a car to pass. We waited for around 4 hours – a few cars drove passed but none were interested in helping 2 lost cyclists. Then one man, driving an old postman’s van decided to stop and take us back to the nearest hostel. We left our bikes in the long wilderness and headed back along the track we had fought so hard to travel down. All of the hostels we passed were full. After travelling around 10 miles back, we noticed a lady had a caravan in her garden and asked if we were able to stay in that for the night – she accepted.

This was the plan for the ride
Day 1 - Travel

Night 1- Inverness- HOSTEL

Day 2 – 101 km

Night 2 – Locharron

Day 3 – 95km

Night 3 – kinlochewe (campsite)

Day 4 – 80km

Night4 – dundonnell

Day 5 –100km

Night 5 – Lochinver HOSTEL

Day 6- 97km

Night 6 – Durness

Day 7 – 85km

Night 7 – Strathy HOSTEL

Day 8- 96km

Night 8 – wick

Day 9 – 86km

Night 9 – Golspie NICE HOTEL

Day 10 – 86km

Night 10 -Inverness (hostel)

Day 11 – Travel

Cycling sportives

Cycling Sportives

I got into cycling when doing my A levels (2016). I was bored of being cooped indoors revising and decided to sign onto a long endurance event (125km) across the Yorkshire Wolds. This seemed like a great idea at the time although I had not taken into account the fact I did not own a bike and had done no training. This event was tough. I was the only rider not on a road bike and chugged my way up all the hills knowing there would be flapjack stations at the top. Since then, my love for cycling has grown. I have written short reviews of the sportives that I have completed below.

Wolds 123 (summer 2016) – This ride was hilly. Great meal at the end. Options to make it shorter during the ride. I did the 125km.

Heart of the Wolds (Easter 2018) – Well organised. Lots of parking available. Great scenery. Good number of feed stops. Massage at the end. 100km.

Scarborough Sportive x 2 (summer 2016 and 2017) – This ride is a good one. You all start at Oliver’s mount and the view from the top is great. You finish on a great big field and have to do a lap prior to finishing.

Charnwood Primavera (Summer 2017) – Busier roads than I am used to in Yorkshire. Finish at their local gym with a large buffet making it a very sociable event.

Coast to Coast Bike Ride

                                        Overview of the coast to coast bike ride in 2 days

On Friday evening in the summer of 2018, we traveled from Hull to Morecombe - cancelled trains and rush hour traffic made this journey incredible stressful not to mention the 30 degree heat wave the country was going through. We planned to do the way of the roses route.

We arrived in Lancaster (cancelled train meant to we had to cycle the final part of the journey) and we immediately went to Lancaster Cathedral. This was a beautiful place for a picnic as it is based on a hill with great views out across the land onto the horizon. Cycling into Morecombe along a pathway felt very safe and we made it to the coastline just in time for sunset. The famous west coast sunset was amazing and we could clearly see the Lake District and Wales in the distance. We chose to stay in an air b and b. These are great value for money and allows you to meet people along your travels.

We woke up early on Saturday morning for breakfast and opted for the early leave but unfortunately my cycling partner let down their tires when trying to pump them up - disaster number 2! Eventually we started and went straight to the sign post on the seafront stating that Bridlington is 170 miles away and the 'way of the roses' sign. Then followed an exhausted day of climbing up huge hills.

The scenery on the first half of the journey was breath taking and I wished we had more time to explore. Eating lunch in Settle was a great idea given the steep never ending climb out of the village which resulted with me laid out with the bike on top of me. We took a slight detour in order to see Malham Cove and stopped for a dip in Linton falls. These two natural beauties are not to be missed. The hills were hard and we did have to walk a few of them (mainly due to my achy legs). Following the stop at Linton falls, my clip in on my shoe broke meaning on every hill my focus was no longer getting up the hill as fast as possible but staying on my bike! We finally reached our accommodation in Bishop Thornton and realised we had no food - this was a disaster. It was now bordering 10pm and we stunk and were starving! Our hosts took great care of us and drove into Harrogate in order to buy us a large greasy take away.

We knew the Sunday riding was supposed to be a lot flatter and looked forward to it. It was quite smooth riding. We stopped at York minster to inspect the design and had our lunch along the river running through the centre of York. There was lots of off-road cycling in this part of the journey but the scenery as still amazing. We reached Bridlington at around 6pm and enjoyed fish and chips on the beach.

Things to note: pre book bikes onto train. Pick viewpoints. Be aware of the hills that you will face. The first day is extremely hilly! It is hard to get lost because the way of the roses signs are so well located at nearly every junction! Total of about 22 hours of cycling.



Coast to coast bike ride itinerary

Friday 29th – arrive at 8 and stay on Morecombe seafront.

Have a look around Morecombe bay, grab snacks for following day.

EARLY NIGHT – start early sat.

Saturday 30th (70 miles) -

Cross the first bridge and Lancaster castle will be present (5.1 miles)

Great stone of 4 stones – 4 miles near kitten bridge just after Hornby. (10-15 miles)

Start looking to head to Malham cove/Gordale scar which is off black gill lane onto grains lane then peart lane then up to Malham. Follow signs for Cracoe now.

Hill out of settle (mile 35) is the hardest. Very hilly nearly Brimham Rocks.

Linton falls are in Linton between Cracoe and Thorpe (slight detour) but could go via hebdon (very pretty on B6265)

Stop at pately bridge (half way for effort, 62 miles/100km – aim for 5 hours ish, 45 miles from great stone) – tea rooms and visit the oldest sweet shop in the world!!! Been voted best highstreet in the country: probably best stopping for food here – late lunch)

After go to Brimham rocks (pictures) (4.2 miles)

stay at 38 Colber Lane, Bishop thornton, England, HG33JR. (6 miles)



Sunday 1st July (100 miles) –

Fontains abbey and Studley royal water gardens for food and pics (looks gorg) (5.1 miles from start)

Studley park

Ripon (8.1 miles)

Ripon to York is the easiest section seeing Benhingbrough hall, wooden planks of Aldwark bridge and vale of York

just after York (34 miles ish) there is an offroad piece of track to be careful on.

Could go to KP lodges for food/drink (18 miles from York ish)

Burton agnes (21 miles from KP lodges)

Finish in bridlington!

Goals: 100 miles in one day. Furthest distance ever cycled over a weekend. Completed coast to coast!!! With our accommodation it comes to 299km.

Grandma Eileen and Poem