What has been has gone. Most of us wanted 2020 to disappear as fast as possible, 2021 was going to bring a new dawn, fresh hopes, a worldwide collective will in combating climate and environmental issues and the ending of a pandemic ever lingering and affecting life.
At the end of the year, it's all hot air. Media ever portraying a doom and gloom divided society, no-one of influence putting themselves above the parapet to make much needed changes and instead we forever naively pick from low hanging fruit as the temperature outside hits 16'C in deep winter, heavy rains above 3000m in the Alps and forest fires in all arid areas of the world and any meaningful policy change we wont see for years to come, far far too late. But the political and media doomslayers will be happy as we clutch onto their decision making with fantastical hope. Oh and the pandemic is spreading as fast as it has ever been, thankfully not as deadly but enough to restrict us in what we want and love doing.
Enough ranting leave that to the ones that enjoy the ever hotter air. I'll stick to a brief recap of my own personal year
(2021 Pictures)A year ago it was a cold, frosty start both in weather terms and back into another national lockdown as the winter covid virus threatened high death rates. Very little to do except to enjoy the small things in life, dog walking and running by late January we had some snow to cheer up a slow month.
February was a similar feeling. Stay indoors, stay away from people this virus is not going away quickly. We were mainly unaffected by the pandemic but this month one of our neighbours had caught it and both required hospital treatment, they recovered fine but while away we were able to look after their dog Charlie which was great fun walking 2 dogs and seeing how Lola was happy(ish) to share her home with another, even if it did steal her bed and food constantly.
A problem with my calf meant i couldn't run for a bit and so wheeled out the battered bike and enjoyed some longer muddy trails out.
March was a stunning month of spring colours. Showing signs of winter coming to an end and best of all the end of the 3rd Lockdown.
To celebrate this and my calf feeling better and went for a superb 20mile run on the Jurassic Coast. Just what the doctored ordered in an area never to be bored off.
With new found freedom in April the micro gang got together for a overnight bike trip to shake off the cobwebs.. great fun to be out again, camping and drinking and with other people.
The pubs re-opened and we celebrated by booking tickets to the Rugby World Cup in France 2023. Certainly something to look forward to once we are passed this covid time.
The weather just kept on giving, so back to back trips first to the Isle of Wight and explored a beautiful 20mile loop around the western side. Relaxing after on Dave's boat with a few cold beers making it feel like a holiday.
Then down to Dartmoor to fully explore the River Dart and surrounding countryside. A top campsite found for Greg and Tonys campervans and my small tent. Interesting walks with lots of river crossings.
Spring sprung with all the flowers in colour, a fab april rolled into a chilled start to May with more pub visits, bbqs, playing golf and getting out on the bike and exploring the best woods for bluebells.
Towards the end we got ourselves finally upto Wales to attempt the Welsh 3000s in the opposite direction |(we had failed the previous occasion). Nearing the end and Crib Goch we had had enough and headed for the car park rather than Snowdon summit. But a cracking day all round.
Into June my planned race in Norway was going ahead but whether I was allowed to travel was another thing. So I had to keep the training up. More long miles in the Purbecks and a great days Charity golf in which we won a barrow full of wine. I still have some left.
To finish of the training I headed to dartmoor for a long solo hike with Lola. I was so pleased to see the old girl still had it in her for long days out - we hiked 27 and then 17 miles. not sure she was up for a 3rd day out so went down to Plymouth and chilled out with Greg, swimming, drinking and eating well. Lola sure had missed Greg.
I couldn't travel to Norway so with no races, instead I did my usual test piece and ran from Weymouth to Poole (40miles) on a hot day and welcomed a cool sea swim on the beach at the end.
All this training was in the middle of the Euros and England were actually winning games so was good to catch up and enjoy some matches.
We had camped in dartmoor and then made it to a bunkhouse which, with luck, served great food, lovely beer and best of all had a big screen for just us to watch the footy and what a game it was, thrashing Ukraine 4 to 0.
Some of the boys left us in barnstaple (one sooner due to covid complications). But the hardy among us carried onto the coast to enjoy a late and early swim and a camp out on Morte Point.
Back at home we all watched as England capitulated in the Euro Final. So to get over the sporting blues I headed to Plymouth to dress flashy and watch the SailGB racing in the harbour. A scorcher of a weekend and a spectacle to watch. Fun times.
More disappointment was to follow. You wait 4 years for the best tournament to arrive and in the midst of the pandemic our hopes were high that the Lions would entertain and beat the Springboks.
What we witnessed was the worst in viewing rugby and in sportmanship. A stain on rugby and one just to be forgotten about and thrown on the trash heap. What a waste.
Moving on swiftly I headed to North Wales and a plan hatched years ago in
exploring the Rhinogs. Great fun in this remote area but boy it takes an age to move around as the terrain is ever so slow going.
On the way home i did a quick up and down Cadair Idris which involved more of the training i wanted in fast hiking up and faster descents down
At home I realized that a new, big climbing wall had opened just down the road and so after checking it out decided to take my brothers kids and to this day Tasha and i go weekly and we are slowly improving back to my old standards. Just maybe I will get back out climbing on rock one day.
With the training done and being allowed to travel I was finally off somewhere. Something that has been on the ticklist for an age and with not much racing happening I hooked up with my Dutch friends, Paul and Roy and we headed to
Corsica to traverse the mountains on the GR20 route.
What an adventure. Over 7 days on the hardest trails in all changing weather and feeling the highs and the lows (being sick) . This was awesome and with age catching up on me something that appeals and an exiting prospect when the running legs give out.
With the season calming down we managed a family holiday - even getting my folks down for a few days - down to South Devon via dartmoor. Where the weather was poor so we just took our time walking the coastline (with more river crossings), finding pubs and chilling out by the fire.
Best to keep busy or life can get depressing as we gradually fade into winter darkness.
Out with dad, we finished off the Itchen Way. Superb going for an old fella of 82 managing 14miles and a couple of pints.
A solo overnight on the South Downs Way with a loop over to Arundel castle. 2 great days with a massive storm right in the middle to make the campsite interesting overnight in the forest but did give me a nice lie in.
Then a cheeky Bike micro with Rob in the Brown Forest with treats galore - top beer, a curry by a campfire, a full english and an ice-cream.
Although my bike certainly needs some TLC soon before anything else breaks.
Then lots of social runs, beers and tomahawks with some decent rugby to watch.
Finishing off the year with a good family Christmas, a long run and a long hike back down on the Purbecks.
STATs - lots of different activities, got back into mountain biking for a bit, started back up climbing and swam here and there a little. Managed over 210 sessions over the year resulting in a lowish running total of 1100miles, mainly due to no big races.
Highlight - has to be GR20
Lowlight - still in a pandemic and omicron has delayed this further into 2022
Only injuries were my calfs in feb and may and shoulder from climbing in Nov.
2022 Plans-
Ski Chamonix - cancelled
Winters Tanner 30mile
Punchbowl 30mile
Ski Touring Norway
Run parts of the SWCP
Lakeland 3000ers
Pembrokeshire Coast path
Xreid 120k Norway
Brecon Travese
Snowdon Traverse
Via Ferattas?
Tor des Glaciers 450km
