Robin walking back after a day of climbing in Cornwall.

Bright sunny day in Dorset.

Beautiful lakeside camper spot, North Wales.

With Stan the van Robin and I spent our summer holidays chasing the UK sun. Dorset, Cornwall, Wales and the Peak District, it was like having a mini adventure.

Climbing in the Peak District August 2015

Robin getting ready to climb at South Stack Gogarth  August 2015

Me seconding in the Peak District August 2015

Injury

Leaving  out patients with my air cast

  I thought having a air cast would make life easier, at first I found really painful and constricting.
 I had been ok with managing the pain but took a few days to get use to it.
As the pain settled I started doing my physio exercises to keep some strength in my right thigh.

I was keen to try other forms of fitness, as my stitches and skin were healing nicely we looked into swimming . A friend had recommended to Robin London Fields Lido had really good facilities, clean, heated, good value and in the local area (what's not to like?).
Ahh... the fact that its a lido in winter!

We checked it out and I'm glad to say I was pleasantly surprised. I actually enjoy the outdoor swimming and it does help that we've had a reasonably mid winter.

Another form of fitness I could do is Kundalini yoga, unlike other styles of yoga which have standing postures Kundalini can have seated mediation, mantras and asana. The classes have a lovely healing quality to them and that's just what I needed.

Now I have graduated to other styles of yoga that can give a light stretch and lets me work on strengthening my Achille's tendon.

I'm now at 12 weeks and beginning to climb,   just top roping at lower grade indoors. Its a little frustrating to feel limited but some how we adapt to the situation and do what I can.

Robin and I plan to base ourselves in Europe climbing and enjoying a simple life in our camper van named Stan.
 Stan is a VW California, over the summer we took some trips to Dorset, Cornwall, Wales and the Peak District. We also were going to take a few weekend away in the winter months (Stan comes with great heating) but disaster struck.

In November I ruptured my Achilles' tendon playing netball in a social league and had to have surgery to have it repaired.

Ahead now was months of hard work to rehabilitate my Achilles' tendon and no climbing. I spent the run up to Christmas resting my foot, hobbling around on crutches and trying to remain positive.

Rehabilitation started with physio exercises, swimming and a bit of yoga. Now I am at the stage that a bit of climbing is possible and gaining more strength and flexibility.
Ideally we both would have trained over the winter months in preparation for our adventure but instead I have to focus on recovery while Robin has steamed ahead in ability and strength.

My Air Cast Boot

 

Photo of Robin

Robin and I meet about 11 years ago and have gradually changed our lifestyle to a more outdoors way of life. Robin is from London and I was born in New Zealand and grew up in a small town on the West Coast.
It's easy to take it all for granted when you are surrounded by natural beauty of the New Zealand landscape.  Outdoor climbing gives us both a sense of adventure,  freedom to explore and some amazing challenges.