Seaside Bloggers: Chasing Wight

Today’s post comes from a little closer to home. Right at home in fact, as Tom is now blogging away on his own little corner of the internet. I’m so in love with our little seaside town, I’m happy to have the excuse to share it from another perspective.

1) Tell me about your slice of coast and why you love it.

Being island dwellers, we’ve got a lot of coast around us. Cowes may not have the long sandy beaches of Sandown, or the rugged cliffs and coves of the south of the Wight, but our part of the coast is still pretty special. I love how the the sights from our stretch of coast are ever changing and always full of interest.

We’re a mecca for sailing, the waters of the Solent an irresistible lure for yachty types from around the world; but we also have regular visits from the imposing cruise and cargo ships, wending their way to Southampton. Every time I look, something different is there…what’s not to love?!

2) What’s your favourite thing to do by the sea?

My favourite thing to do by the sea has to be the same as my favourite thing to do anywhere: run! I’m not much of a swimmer, and canoeing/kayaking requires more upper body strength than I possess, but to run by the sea is a really special thing. Whether pushing against a headwind or propelled by a tail wind, nothing feels better than the sea air rushing past as I stride along.

The (currently) undeveloped seafront between Cowes and Gurnard is my most regular run, at its best with waves splashing over the side or the sun just dipping below the horizon and putting on a light show. We’re blessed with fantastic coastal running here though, with coastal downland providing challenging terrain and terrific views.

3) If you had a little sailing boat, where would you go?

I think I’m a homebody, I wouldn’t want to venture too far! First I’d find someone who could keep me from drowning in the open waters; I’ve never sailed despite living in Cowes for seven years now! Then, I’d get them to take me on a coastal tour of the west of Great Britain.

We’d start in the magical land of Cornwall, visiting the secluded coves and steep valleys, before heading north to the Pembrokeshire coast, so rugged and ancient. I know these places well, but am always happy to visit again. We’d finish our trip with the islands and Scotland though, they look so beautiful and are certainly top of need to visit places.

Scotland is pretty close to the top of my list too! Though I suspect we’re more likely to travel overland than by boat.

If you have a slice of sea you’d like to share, please get in touch!

Photos by Tom Pratt.

Climbing Up High

It’s always so satisfying to climb a tree: to scramble up and reach that first low branch and carefully wind your way higher before sitting against the rough bark. I can’t think of a better way to end a busy week. So I was delighted when Goodleaf invited us to try out their new twilight tree session. We met them at a huge old oak tree, standing just above the beach, with ropes reaching high up in to its canopy.

These guys seriously know their trees, and it was great to grab the odd snippet of information (did you know cork trees are part of the oak family?) whilst we harnessed up. After the briefest of intros, Tom and I were wending our way to the top of this magnificent oak, clambering in to hammocks strung up high, and peeking through the highest leaves at the city across the water.

I confess my competitive spirit got the better of me. When Paul mentioned Goodleaf’s vertical marathon fundraiser for local Island charity, Gift to Nature, I had to join in. So, I proudly wore my gold ‘three climbs’ sticker on the way home, while we buzzed with the beauty of the adventure and planned our return.

Now it seems strange that we hadn’t done this before. After a taste of that great height and the light through the youngest leaves at the top of that old tree, once could never be enough. We’ll be back!

Thank you to Paul, Archie and Abi at Goodleaf tree climbing company for showing us such a good time.

PS…

Seaside Bloggers: Foof & Faff

Elise is from West Scotland: a place undoubtedly among the most beautiful in the world. She is moving to the city today; I’m so glad she stopped by to write about her love of this spot before she moves.

1) Tell me about your slice of coast and why you love it.

I live on the south west coast of Scotland, in an average town full of tourists in the summer and familiar faces every other time. I love it here because it’s where I grew up. Actually I grew up about twenty miles down the coast, but I’ve lived here most of my adult life and it feels like home to me. Familiar.

I know how long it takes to walk one end of the beach to the other, I know what the view is like from every point of that stretch, I know how long each path leading towards and away from the sea takes to run, and I know how much my legs will hurt after every trip. It’s always worth it though. I mean, we have a huge old fishing boat docked at one end and a castle at the other – local history built right in!

A night out at the pub usually ends in a trip to the park and a run around on the beach, and even in the worst weather you’d find a person or two down there walking their dogs or running or photographing the waves.

2) What’s your favourite thing to do by the sea?

Ooh this is tough… It’s a toss up between walking along the promenade with my friend, talking the whole way, or when the sun heats up just enough (a rare thing in Scotland!) to walk along the sea, knee deep in water. It’s shallow for quite a long way out so it’s the perfect place to keep cool. Having said that, this past winter my Cub Scout group did a beach clean in the most horrific weather and we had a blast, so there’s no shortage of things to do here!

3) If you had a little sailing boat, where would you go?
Can I have a big sailing boat to go across the water to visit my best friend when she moves to Ireland later this year? We can see the Emerald Isle on a clear day but waving over won’t be the same…

I love those beaches where you can wade out on the hard dimply sand for miles without your dress getting wet! It sounds very peaceful.

If you have a slice of sea you’d like to share, please get in touch!

Photos by Elise

24/7

Four years ago today, Tom and I were standing in front of our friends and family, talking of climbing mountains and fighting tigers (that’s what happens when you write you own vows;) We met in the love of one another and danced haphazardly to cheesy songs.

Looking back over these photos had me smiling at all the little things. After all, the wedding is a pretty little thing: the champagne and the frisbee, the sunburnt photos and the drunken hugs. But the life together is a far bigger deal.

I’ve spent fourteen years with this guy, and life is all the sweeter for it. With him, the smallest trip is an adventure, and the tiny things in life feel important. We’re a team. Sure he’d fight that tiger for me, but we’d be more likely to take it on together. Tom has shown me the value of listening (he always does a better job of it than I do) and the magic of challenging ideas.

I love being with someone as geeky about the outdoors as I am. Our first road trip down to Cornwall, I remember insisting that he take a proper look at the clouds and agree to their awesomeness. Now he’s always giving me snippets, about the Latin for badger, or the origin of a holloway.

I want to climb more mountains, ride more miles, and spend more hours just sitting by the fire with this guy. I love him, he is my best and most awesome. Thank you for marrying me Tom (and sorry I was a little late!)

Seaside Bloggers: That Adventurer

Today’s guest blogger, Hannah, shares her corner of Norfolk. Her beautiful pictures had me searching the map, and enjoying the placenames (Metheringham, Swaffham, King’s Lynn). Hannah is off adventuring in South America at the moment, so it was all the sweeter to read of her love for her local Norfolk beach.

1) Tell me about your slice of coast and why you love it.
My little piece of the coast is Hunstanton in North Norfolk. I’ve always loved the sea and dreamed of living by it, and last November that came true when we upped sticks and moved to the sea. Hunstanton’s beaches don’t always get the recognition they deserve, but that just means you won’t find hoards of people like you do in Bournemouth or Cornwall.

Old Hunstanton beach is the best. It’s usually deserted, save for a few kite surfers, its dog friendly all year round, and it stretches for miles and miles! Oh, and we get the best sun sets around!

2) What’s your favourite thing to do by the sea?
My favourite thing to do by the sea is to pull on my wellies, put the leads on my two dogs Cosmo and Mable and go for a long, long walk rain or shine. I like to watch them jump about in the sea whilst I scan the beach for any washed up starfish, crabs or other sea life.

Sometimes walks in the rain are even better. I rather like getting drenched and then coming back home to a hot shower, pyjamas and a hot chocolate.

3) If you had a little sailing boat, where would you go?
If I had a little sailing boat I’d travel north, towards Scotland (and hope there were no storms!). I’ve never seen much of Scotland but its wildness always looks beautiful in photos and I’d love to see it for myself. For somewhere warmer I’d have to take my boat to Brazil. I’m in Brazil at the moment and the coast is stunning and my little sailing boat would get me to those hard to reach bays and beaches.

I don’t want to wish the summer away, but getting drenched on a rainy beach before heading home for hot chocolate sounds like heaven.

If you have a slice of sea you’d like to share, please get in touch!

Photos by Hannah K