Grumpy old mountain man living in Spain
When southern Spain hits 40°C+, you either go high or go low. We chose low — an unmaintained river walk through the Sierra de Almijara that turned into a five-hour, 8km battle through brambles, fallen trees, and deep pools. We planned 14km but we eventually bottled it in favour of some ice cold beers.
Exploring that potentially dangerous but gloriously confusing grey zone where scrambling and rock climbing overlap
How my daughters went from horse-loving teens to Mountain Leaders and Cave Guides. A funny, heartfelt post about pride, change, and not understanding your kids' hobbies anymore
Exploring a shift from paid Mastodon to self-hosted GoToSocial + PureBlog. Imported 3000+ posts with AI, monthly, and took control of my digital footprint in the Fediverse
Three day mountain trek turns chaotic when weather forecasts promise light drizzle but deliver thunderstorms and hail. A hiking adventure, pink camouflage tents, no coffee and running for the car
A week with The Nomads hiking classic Pyrenees routes from our Panticosa base – Punta del Pacino, Bachimaña Alto, Refugio Respomuso, Refuge Pombie in France, and Ibón de Piedrafita. Includes wildlife sightings, minor navigational mishaps, and zero mountain heroics.
Exploring high lakes around Ibon de Arriel, negotiating stormy weather, making questionable stealth camping decisions and learning when to retreat, all while trying to hide our bright pink tent
A windy walk up the remarkable natural sand dune of the Duna de Bolonia, Spain
Well, for a start they constructed the city of Baelo Claudia. "Where's that?" you all ask!
Why and how I made this decision to move SSGs and a list of the steps it took to change this site over from 11ty to BSSG
From dusty boxes to the Western Front - Discovering my grandfather's secret war
My relationship with landscape photographer, Chris Wright who sadly and tragically passed away on Sunday 11th January 2026
Today’s rope course turned the usual “hold‑on‑tight” mantra into a full‑blown symphony of knots, hoists, and hearty laughter. With gusts whipping around us like an over‑enthusiastic photographer chasi...
Patagonia stands at a crossroads. One path leads to a future where wilderness is a gated asset, a serene backdrop for the ultra-wealthy. The other leads back to the core principles of true ecotourism and public protection, where conservation benefits ecosystems and local communities, and awe-inspiring places remain for all.
The journey home was a breeze, a stark, welcome contrast to the stress and queues of the outward leg. This was the easy part, a long exhale after over a month of wonders.
Water of a piercing blue, fringed by beaches of sand the colour of the Sahara. We were, of course, immediately captivated. A plan was formed.
The condors taught us that the most magnificent views often lie just beyond the point where you think you can wait no longer
