Everyday Adventures #29
A month of a running adventure everyday, and a look forwards to the summer solstice.
Summer is in full swing with the summer solstice fast approaching next weekend and I’ve watched spring turn into summer with adventures everyday throughout May. It’s been one of mu busiest months for spending time outdoors, mostly due to a running challenge I set myself.
Here’s a round up of some adventures over the past month:
Running Everyday In May
I gave myself the challenge of going for a 5k run everyday during May. It was the perfect opportunity to spend time outdoors everyday, exploring my local area and also had the benefit of seeing first hand how nature grew and changed across the month. Fields that started as grassy meadows blossomed into wild flowers as the month passed.
You can check out my post about my 5k running challenge here to see how I got on.
Climbing
A couple of years ago I got into climbing at my local bouldering gym and loved it. It’s something I wanted to build up and hopefully become good enough at that I could do some outdoor climbing in the Peaks. Unfortunately I ended up taking quite a long break and never getting around to it.
Inspired by watching a few too many climbing documentaries, I’ve recently got back into it and have started climbing twice a week again in a new gym. I’ve got a few friends who are also into it, and experienced outdoor climbers too, so I’m hopeful to make that a reality this time around.
Birdwatching
I’ve dabbled in some birdwatching before, finding some cosy little hides in the Norfolk Marshes with my camera in hand. I confess to struggling with the concept of sitting still. My mind is always racing 100mph and I’m easily distracted, however birdwatching seems to be something that helps me just switch off completely for an hour or so. I recently bought a cheap pair of binoculars that fits into my pocket for when I’m out and about. I just need to work out how to actually spot some birds now and not just hear their choruses from the trees.
When I find myself with free time that isn’t spent outdoors, I usually end up reading or watching other people spend their time outside.
Is it time to stop feeding the birds? - The RSPB have shared some new guidance on when and what to feed garden birds to help combat the spread of avian flu and help stop the decline of certain species.
Matt Smethurst shares his retrospective reflections of walking Parkhouse Hill and Chrome Hill, a spectacular ridge of limestone often referred to as the Dragons Back. This also happened to be one of the first hikes I did in the Peaks many years ago.
With Summer Solstice fast approaching (21st June) here’s a look back to when I went for a sunrise wild swimmer to celebrate the solstice a couple of years ago.
Last month was my first attempt at setting myself a target for a specific adventure that month and I managed to complete my attempt of running 5k everyday throughout May. With June upon us it’s time for another monthly adventure…
Folklore and Feast
This month I will going along to an event fellow substacker Luke @ Peakrill Walks is helping host in the Peak District, which also happens to fall on the Summer Solstice.
I’ve been following Luke ever since I’ve been on Substack, with his newsletter Peakrill Walks bringing to life some of the beautiful places I’ve visited in the Peaks. Whilst I visit these places and enjoy the adventure of exploring them, Luke’s newsletter is great for actually learning about the history and folklore that makes the Peak District such a wonderful place.
Luke will be giving a guided tour as we hike through the hills, before we’re off for some food cooked over a campfire.
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Congratulations on completing your month of 5ks! That must have really taken some discipline.
It’ll be great to meet you at the event next weekend. I’m looking forward to it!
I’m no bird expert, but I think there’s no reason you can’t get in to bird watching just by spotting what‘s around on your regular walks, pausing for a look through the binoculars whenever you see something. I find it can be harder to see and learn birds in a woodland or park than at eg a reservoir bird hide, because they’re often small and there’s a lot more cover to lose them in! But there’s no sitting still required and it’s still very rewarding as you get to know your local patch. You’ll learn loads quite quickly, which is a satisfying part of it too. I love getting to know the birds that want to be in the same environment as me.
Well done on your 5k a day 👏🏼 Have you got the Merlin Bird ID app? If not it’s a game changer and very addictive 😂