2024 Reya Sunshine

 2024 A Rey-a Sunshine to come into our lives... a yearly catchup

January, as always starts of a little bleak added with no dog to keep me busy, a lack of people doing much and not any big plans for the year, it felt like a right drag and still scarred by the tragedy of losing Lola last year - has it really been nearly a year!!

Started easy with a few flooded runs. Hip and hammy will be a constant niggle throughout the year, which certainly puts a dampener on wanting to get out for a run. a good excuse not to run was to take my mum out somewhere fancy, Chewton Glen, for a wonderful afternoon tea then a beach walk.

With nothing much on i headed down to Plymouth for some nice walks, cold swims and some dancing. Always fun times catching up with Greg. Once back it was more exploring, this time lots of long walks in the New Forest, finding some gorgeous winter hikes.

Lee came back from Singapore so got to hang out a bit, eat a bit and drink a bit more.

Then over to Austria for some skiing with Dave. Beautiful place just sketchy snow conditions. The adventurous ski touring days seems far away nowadays. I am hopeful for 2025.

With a year gone I still felt immensely sad not having Lola with me. Loss takes time and that dark hole needs replacing.

Inching into March the weather improved and i had that Deja Vu feeling. Back to explore the New forest with lots of long hikes and down to Greg's in Plymouth for more swims, hikes and dancing. Fun times again, very much needed.

Then i saw her. Nothing special but after months and months of searching, looking, even fostering 2 dogs. I saw something, a goofiness, something, a similar sad soul in need of a spark. 

We went and saw Reya, twice. We had reservations and the fosters/Charity also weren't sure she was for us and so it felt like another one had slipped the net. But, days later a flicker of hope. The fosterers were going away and needed someone to look after Reya for 2-3 weeks. No problems, we jumped at the chance. What better way of knowing for sure if she was right if we could actually have her for a time.

How to mend a broken heart ..

Reya moved in and within 4 days i knew. So she never has to find another home. She is loved and will be with us from now.

                  

The constant sadness was quickly replaced with joy, fun walks, play fights and horsing around. A lovely well mannered girl with energy to burn, friendly with other dogs and good with people.

With her being over 2years old I could chuck her in the deep end and off we went on all day hikes, long runs and an overnight camp in the first month. She took it all in her stride.

 

With energy to burn i joined up the the local Canicross group and unfortunately on one outing another dog bite Reya. Her first war wound a few stiches' and a cute onesie to wear. 

All this before we had officially adopted her. So working out the insurance was tricky. But things get sorted and we adopted her on 21st April. I will be forever grateful to the charity SOS Oroklini from Cyprus and to Sarah and Dave (and Trina) who fostered her to the UK.

With the new family member in tow we headed, with my folks, down to Cornwall for a holiday. A stunning place in Polzeath, a great location to walk the coast, the beaches, trips out to explore the old towns and places with good food, beer and company. Even got dad to go for a swim.

At the end of the trip and being so far down I decided to start my long adventure with Reya. I had done the SWCP with Lola and so wanted to start something with Reya. I decided to do the End to End Trail. Hiking from Lands End to John o'Grouts.

E2E Section 1, was everything i wanted and more. Wondering the coastline, stopping for swims, coffees, beer and food then pitching up as the sun sets satisfied and eager for the next days adventure. After 3 days I finished in Newquay and headed home.

Days later while runnign around the local woods Reya managed to cut her paws up on broken glass!!

The poor thing had to take it easy for weeks and even to this day the web part of the paw has a tendency to split. Just when life gets great we will always, it seems, get knocked back by unforeseen events.

With Reya resting i went away on a stag do, not been on one of those in a while,  to Bristol with my old welsh friend Dave and all his pals. A fun weekend ensued.

Still reeling from the hangover I headed back to cornwall for Section 2 of the E2E. This time Greg joined and we shall endeavour to finish this together now.

A top coastal section from Newquay to Boscastle. Although cut short as on the last morning Reyas paw opened up so we stopped at Tintagel and came home.

More fastpacking trips followed with Reya. An overnighter on the Jurassic coast with Dan. Then up to the Brecons all nice easy training mileage.

My uncle, Patrick Humphrey, passed away in June. He kept himself to himself sadly and a sobering reminder to my dad that time is ticking away too fast for us all. One thing is sure in life is that none of us make it out alive.

Lee came back from singapore for a summer break so was good getting out and about with him.

To blow out the cobwebs it was back for Section 3 of the E2E, Tintagel to Barnstaple. 

The SWCP just keeps giving. Wonderful time enjoying the outdoors. Being able to hike and stop for a swim, a coffee, a beer from town to town is just a great way of life.

Then it was up to Snowdonia for a last long training weekend. Instead of more miles i went for elevation and with Reya we scramble dot the top on Snowdon and then the top of Tryfan. 

Each scramble she gets more confident and is amazing to see her from being nervous and clumsy to now moving over rock extremely gazelle/goat like.

Being this far north i wa also able to stop of in Shropshire to drop in on Dave which is always good to catch up on busy folk.

Was i ready. Who knows. My one and only big race had come around The UT Monta Rosa, 100miles around this mountain range in Switzerland. 

I travelled to Sass Fee first and acclimatised with a Via Ferrata and run down. 

Then met up with Paul in Grachen where we waited and waited for the race. 

The weather was looking ominous for race day. But we kept busy with some hikes/runs. They cancelled the 100miles to a 100km race due to the snowstorm so we went hiking more. They then cancelled the 100km due to landslides and didn't know what to do so we went for a 50km run up the valley. When we got back we heard they were putting on a 50km run - up the valley. We did it as there was little else to do and the mountains and trails were majestic.

It was a fun race, started way too early, 3am. But was a stunning race along the mountain trails and good to chat to all sorts of different folk.

After the race we had a few beers and then next day headed over to Kanderstag. A place i had wanted to visit for years. And it did not disappoint. We had a shake out hike up to the lake shrouded in clouds and mountains.

Next day was one of those never wanting it to end. Fueled up on Rosti and chucking it down i headed over to the Via Ferrata. The mountain cliff was overhanging so i was sheltered from the rain. On my own, Paul decided to opt out of this and meet up later. 

The VF did not disappoint and was even though i was a little apprehensive going solo i soon was fueled up on adrenaline and loving the climb.

From the top i decided not to take a the lift but run down and met up with Paul and with it raining hard down we headed up a very isolated valley to explore. Again this did not disappoint. Majestic mountains surrounded us with huge waterfalls tearing down the vertical cliffs. We made our way up the valley and approached the largest waterfall and had fun getting near it. The wind, the water, the noise was beyond comprehension and we just hollowed with laughter.

What a day an amazing experience elevated that no-one else was around.

Our time had passed and it was time to go home. To be able to travel these lands with time and money is my dream for one day soon.

Back to reality, I got back into the normal, it was good to be back finding places to go with Reya.

Dave and Kerry got married in their 'back garden' in Shropshire so that was a lot of fun catching up with old friends and family. 

Then back on the trails with Section 4 of E2E, Barnstaple to Bridgwater. This time heading away from the coastal path and inland over and across Exmoor and the Quantocks. 


Before winter fully arrived I had (i was rather drunk at the time at Daves wedding) offered my services to help prepare to complete the Welsh 3000s next year.

First up was a recce to Snowdon. Nicely tying in with Dave and the boys being up there.

A good recce and Reya proving more than capable in the mountains, just dont let her off lead near sheep!

We topped out at a busy Mt Snowdon and next day topped Tryfan as well. Now we just wait until the weather breaks and train again.

I just hope my hip and hammy tendinopathy doesnt hinder me too much. It certainly puts the brakes on hard training.

Back at home it was a restful month catching up locally and trying to enjoy the Six Nations. The beers and steaks helped, the rugby was pretty average.

More exploring walks including the Basingstoke canal with dad and also some first time snow for Reya, which was amusing to watch her play in.

With Section5 of E2E (Bridgwater to Bristol) pencilled in and Storm Bert approaching. We brought a poncho and ditched the tents for BnBs and went out. 

It was a section i thought would be dull, uninteresting and just get it done. It ended up being very enjoyable, we were back on the coast but in more built up areas but i liked Weston Super Mare and all the other coastal towns we visited.

The year ended with more walks and runs. The Jurassic coast, the beaches around Poole, The rivers Itchen and Hamble all make for a great day out in all weathers.

I even went to the beach Christmas morning for a dip, brrrrr.

Plans for 2025 are sparse. Injury seems to breed demotivation. I hope to ski tour, i've was asked to go to Georgia but hope something else comes about. There are a couple of longer races to consider, Utmb Nice 100miler. But i like the E2E so will concentrate on that this year and if not a race, an adventure in the dolomites and doing the Alta Via 2 would be a one to go for, both VF and fastpacking.

2024 was a busy year with regular climbing. I started the year climbing my first 7a. Then overdoing it I have now spent the rest of the year rehabbing my climbers elbow tendon issue. I think this is now fully healed so i can concentrate fixing, if possible my hip/hammy tendons now this year? And maybe another 7a project.

Running took a back seat, a shame as Reya loves to run and i'd like to try canicross again. Here's hoping for an improvement, be good to enjoy those long runs again.

Micro adventures seem to have gone by the wayside. i love going away with the guys but it seems only Greg is interested nowadays so hopefully others will get an interest this year so i'm not on my own too much.

 Not much swimming or biking either but again swimming comes and goes but i'd like to try biking with Reya, now that could get interesting, let's see.