Last night, Helen was playing with her saxophone friends online, via Jamulus, when an unknown/unannounced drummer joined in, and played with them for a few numbers. (you can do this on Jamulus).At the same time, in my ‘den’, I was playing with the Improvisers Ensemble, along with musicians from all over Europe. One player announced […]
September 12th 2020 Sometimes things don’t go the way you intended. We had this weekend down for a wild camp in the Lakes, and planned a route from Grasmere to Coledale Tarn. Our Vango Banshee 300 was still relatively new to us, and Helen had a couple of new items of gear to test out, […]
One of the memorable innovations of the Lockdown period has been the Virtual Event: a chance to accumulate the miles that one would have done on an event, but in their own backyard, so to speak (and in some cases, actually!). And, the chance to acquire some unique bling! May, June, July is peak season […]
As the restrictions around Coronavirus continued to be eased, it became possible to go further afield to start a run, and to aim for hiller and wilder ground. Given the amazing weather, a search for areas that would not be too popular was always going to be difficult. I chose the West Pennine Moors since […]
Four weeks after the Spine Race and time to test my knee out over more ambitious terrain. So far it has been two weeks of rest, two weeks of occasional cycling and a 10-mile trot around the Staines’ reservoirs last Sunday. Today’s route was one my all-time favourites – train to Chirk, along the canal […]
Friends and colleagues will know that I prefer Moor and Mountain running to that of Road. This course was flat and tarmac/gravel all the way, adhering to the Trans-Pennine Trail route all the way – the only ascent coming at bridges. The pace was fast from the start – I dropped into a pack that felt […]
Having an Audax for 215 km (133m) on the near horizon I needed to do a lengthy bike ride to reacquaint myself, mentally, with long distance cycling. I guessed that if I could do 80 mile comfortably then I can squeeze the extra out on the day. I had a number of routes to choose from, […]
Corfu’s highest point is M. Pandokratoras, in the Northwest of the island. Standing at 911 meters (2988 ft) it is visible from much of the island, and is distinctive for its army of masts on its summit. The Corfu Trail (CT) visits the base of the summit before heading to its conclusion at Agios Spiridonas, […]
Photos :- here Working in a University means that work oscillates with a termly frequency, and the end of each term usually arrives with a crescendo of stressful proportions which needs to be dissipated as soon as possible. My cure … run to the hills! I love coming up with new routes and prefer to […]
RatRace’s The Wall event is, essentially, a 69-mile road race with a short cross-country section in the middle. Starting at Carlisle Castle at 7am, competitors have 24 hours ( plus two grace hours ) to make their way via a well-signed route to Newcastle. The event is very well organised, yet quite expensive (Early-bird rate […]
Garfield Southall, percussion 