Blog posts

  • Moving house in the time of Coronavirus!

    March 23, 2020 by

    Since my last post, the initial shock of my daily life being flipped upside down subsided somewhat, and Liam and I made the decision to move to Sheffield as planned. Our lovely new landlords even brought the date forward for us because we began to panic that by our move date of 27th March, there… Read more

  • Ruth and Liam – Not going places

    March 17, 2020 by

    One year ago today, Liam and I were on our way to Heathrow Airport to board a flight to Nepal to start what would become a nine month period of travel. The game we were obsessed with at the time was called ‘Plague’; a game on our phones where you try to kill everyone on… Read more

  • We’re home!

    December 13, 2019 by

    A lot has happened since we pedalled off from our Italian couch surfing refuge back in October. Dark nights have drawn in, along with storms, flooding, and Christmas festivities. Liam and I have made it, slowly, back to Hull, where this travelling chapter of our life has reached a happy conclusion. We are both returning… Read more

  • Trentino times with an incredible couch surfing host

    October 11, 2019 by

    We spent an amazing nine days being hosted by the amazing couch surfing Roberto in the Trentino mountains. I’ve said repeatedly that the highlight of our trip has been the people we have met. We planned to stay with Roberto when we were keen to explore the Dolomites, and looking for someone who could help… Read more

  • Ruth and Liam go places… without the bikes.

    October 2, 2019 by

    After leaving the Air B&B in Lake Maggiagore, the next month of our trip became very random as we’ve wrestled with what to do next, changed our plan completely several times (sometimes several times a day…no wait… hour), and worked towards a return to my full health. We’ve finally accepted that despite wanting to cycle… Read more

  • Exhaustion, Hunger, Hospitals and a week on Lake Maggiagore

    October 2, 2019 by

    I am writing this post five weeks into a period of time (mostly) off the bikes, before we head onwards tomorrow. I will attempt to tell the convoluted story of why we ended up having such a long time not cycle touring. In a nutshell, we are not people who like concrete long term goals,… Read more

  • Cycling in the Italian Alps

    October 1, 2019 by

    Writing this from an Italian couchsurfing host’s house, and I am amazed at how much I have to catch up on. The blog has been very neglected! I found this post half written from August, and it is now October, so I will do my best to tidy it up and get onto more recent… Read more

  • Tales of people

    September 6, 2019 by

    I am writing this from Air BnB number two in Italy. Currently we are enjoying week two of rest, soaking up the benefits of being indoors, cooking sumptuous food and charging our batteries in a comfortable bed. I have so much to write about but first some tales of the interesting characters we have come… Read more

  • Personal limits and gender

    August 26, 2019 by

    I am absolutely loving everything about this trip and what we are doing, but that does not mean it is always easy. I am loathed to discuss difficult topics because I know I have chosen this path, and I fear sounding like a whinger/moaner. Yet, incredible adventures are not always just about having fun. They are about finding your limits, meeting the worst parts of yourself, pushing through anxiety and batting away those self critical voices. I have spent some parts of every day over the last few weeks either in tears, or close to them. But, I am happy.

  • Is this a wilderness adventure or not?!

    August 8, 2019 by

    Since leaving our workaway host in Switzerland, we’ve cycled across the French Alps into Italy. A question we’ve been reflecting on a lot apres-cycle, is whether or not our tour can be considered truly adventurous as we are cycling across the more developed parts of Europe. Many other cycle tourists move quickly through Europe to… Read more

  • Overcoming internal mountains

    August 5, 2019 by

    Not written the blog in a while, but I will get caught up! I’ve got loads to write, its just hard on the road on the iPhone, and when we are staying with other people and I could use the laptop, we like to make the most of the time with them. However, when I… Read more

  • People are amazing!

    June 30, 2019 by

    It. Is. Sweltering. We’ve been cycling through through the French heat wave and have paid the price. Man down, man down! Liam is experiencing heat exhaustion, we think. On reflection, there is no wonder. With regular highs of 42 degrees Celsius, and it not getting cooler than 21-25 on a night, cycle touring through the… Read more

  • Reflections on cycle tour life after two weeks

    June 19, 2019 by

    Home It is amazing how quickly somewhere can feel like home. It depends how you define home. For some people, it means bricks and mortar, belongings, memories, and a period of elapsed time. To others, it is a geographical location, sense of community, history or belonging. Home is not a noun, it is a feeling.… Read more

  • Cycling the Canal Du Midi

    June 11, 2019 by

    Writing this blog entry from our tent fortress in Toulouse! We have been resting at a campsite and sheltering from the rain; living in a tiny flat in Hull has prepared us well for managing in this confined space. We finished the Canal du Midi cycle route from Sete to Toulouse, the first leg of… Read more

  • And we are off! Again!

    June 4, 2019 by

    I’ve relapsed into non writing of the blog due to being super busy having adventures. Nepal lent itself well to blogging due to short days and free WiFi everywhere… but France is not the same! Long long days, so much to do, and camp life, have meant little time! I will try to get back… Read more

  • Last two weeks in Nepal!

    May 15, 2019 by

    Our last two weeks have flown by, and I am writing this in the air on flight number one to Oman. The next blog entry shall tell tales of our time in Pokhara, a yoga retreat, and then, similar to my fate in Portugal last year – the Great Malaise- I got ill for the… Read more

  • Finishing the Circuit! Back to Civilisation.

    May 7, 2019 by

    It’s been a week since I blogged and that’s because we’ve been pretty busy, relatively speaking of course! We finished the Annapurna Circuit, stayed two nights in Pokhara and are now on day four of a seven day yoga retreat in Begnas Tal, a small town 20km from Pokhara. I will hazily attempt to describe… Read more

  • Jungle paradise, rain and leeches

    April 27, 2019 by

    It is nearly time for us to end our time on the Annapurna Circuit and after 37 days of trekking life, I have to say I am nearly ready. It turns out, there are only so many Dahl Baht and Tibetan Breads you can eat before the menu becomes an item of horror rather than… Read more

  • Trying hard for your walks- High routes and rewards

    April 24, 2019 by

    Life on the Annapurna Circuit is a lot more relaxed post altitude, snow and Thorong La. Suffering and fear being my favourite muses, I find less motivation to write a blog now I don’t need it as therapeutic discharge for my adrenaline filled dramas! Beer, sunshine and sleeping nine-ten hours a night -are my new… Read more

  • Resting and descending into the apple blossoms

    April 18, 2019 by

    Sitting here, writing, sheltering from the wind blasted rain, listening to the consequential rockfall crackling into the Kali Gandaki River in Kagbeni (2800m). Since coming down from Thorong La, we’ve descended another 1000m and taken several rest days. 24 days on the Circuit had left us a little battered and requiring some staying in one… Read more

  • Journey to Thorong La High Camp

    April 14, 2019 by

    Writing this from other other side of Thorong La in Muktinath. We finally crossed the pass yesterday after 23 days on the Annapurna Circuit. Most people seem to be spending between 10-21 days in total trekking and we are about half way through our trek! This is because lots of people shorten the trek, and… Read more

  • Always use your eyes, ears and mind.

    April 10, 2019 by

    Writing this back in the safety of Manang in the lovely beach hut cabins. We’ve had quite an experience whilst trekking to Tilicho Lake since the last post, and I warn you now, it hasn’t all been nice. So, without further ado…. The first guests of the season! We left Manang in high spirits, back… Read more

  • Resting in Manang

    April 9, 2019 by

    Writing this (6th April) from a teahouse at 4200m – the first time it has been open this year! We are the first guests! They are still making repairs on the windows which were very recently under a lot of snow, and cracked. It is now Day 16… and we are not on the Annapurna… Read more

  • Mountain WiFi

    April 3, 2019 by

    A brief note on WiFi connection in the Himalayas. When you ask your lodge if they have WiFi, they reply “mountain WiFi”. This means: works for about a total of two hours a day, sometimes very well, but only in spurts of about 10 minutes. Power is often out in the Himalaya, and so this… Read more

  • Highs and Lows

    April 3, 2019 by

    It’s our day 13 on the Annapurna Circuit and we are currently sat in the glorious sunshine in our lodgings ‘Alpine Homes’, which consists of 10 beach hut rooms built around a glorious sun trap sheltered courtyard. It’s kind of Bridlington Sea Front meets the Himalayas, and it is making us feel very at home!… Read more

  • Day 9 on the Annapurna Circuit

    March 30, 2019 by

    Currently having a rest day watching the clouds descend on the Annapurna II (7937m) in the stunning village of Upper Pisang (3300m) We’ve had two hard days followed by two easy days, and are making the most of sitting, eating and resting before we trek onwards (and upwards) tomorrow. The views After the torrential rain… Read more

  • Trekking begins!

    March 26, 2019 by

    Currently on Day 5 of the Annapurna Circuit and having a very wet and cold “rest day” which officially began at 10.00 after having walked for two hours from our last accommodation. Good wifi, warm, and little walking to do… So, time for a blog post! The “Road” When we decided to do the Annapurna… Read more

  • Travelling is not all rainbows and unicorns

    March 22, 2019 by

    The past few days have been spent participating in a local festival, buying lots of stuff and travelling to the start of the Annapurna Circuit. A few tales! Holi Festival Holi Festival is a Hindu/Indian festival that celebrates the start of spring – the visible way to mark the festival is by throwing colourful paint… Read more

  • First few days!

    March 19, 2019 by

    Passing out in plane toilets We are three days into our trip, so time for a blog post. I’ve already done two but they seem to have disappeared in the ether of terrible internet connection. I was unsure whether to be devastated/relieved about one of them because I wrote it following a lethal combination of… Read more

  • About us and our trip

    March 17, 2019 by

    I’ve been meaning to blog for a while but not had time… something I’m not going to be in short supply of now I’m not at work and on the way! Wooo! Who are we? I am Ruth, most likely to be writing this blog (as I write this Liam is playing a game about… Read more

  • And we are off!

    March 17, 2019 by

    On the megabus after a 4 hour sleep following champagne and red red wine…. can’t believe it’s happening! Goodbye Hull for 9 weeks! Liam’s mum has packed us up with loads of cookies, bagels and lemonade

  • Goodbyes

    March 15, 2019 by

    Cocktails with friends in the week leading up to travelling. It’s always hard saying bye to those you love! I’m used to seeing my friends and family weekly and will definitely miss everyone.

  • Packing for Nepal!

    March 11, 2019 by

    Two shorts, one trousers, one leggings, two t-shirts, four vests, thermals, fleece, soft shell, down jacket, 5 pairs of socks… bikini, buffs, shawl. And an outfit for best (crop top, leggings and light jumper). Is it too much for 9 weeks trekking!

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