A mini adventure

I am currently reading Pants of Perspective by Anna McNuff and this reminded me that I promised to write about the mini adventure George and I went on last summer. So first of all, who is Anna McNuff and what is a mini adventure?

Well, I first heard about Anna McNuff through work. She is a lovely, friendly, and excitable person who loves to challenge herself. It can be a big challenge, like cycling the Andes, or running the length of New Zealand solo (which Pants of Perspective is about) or it can be smaller, like running Hadrian's Wall or going wild camping. Well George and I like a challenge too, and whilst we're not about to run across a country we can try wild camping. Firstly, to explain wild camping it really just means load up your sleeping bag, hit the countryside and keep walking until you find somewhere you want to spend the night. Then snuggle in your sleeping bag and enjoy a night under the stars - it sounds idyllic doesn't it? Well here's how our Mini Adventure went...

We decided the location of our adventure would be Weymouth. To be honest, I can't remember why. It's by the sea and is very pretty, but we didn't know the area. George has some cousins there, but we didn't have their contact numbers. Luckily the weekend we picked ended up being perfect weather for a night outside. It rained for about 20 minutes but then it was beautiful sunshine, which led to a warm evening. We alighted the train and headed straight to the seaside. Then we decided to walk east along the coast. We had no plan we just wanted to see where we ended up.

The scenery was absolutely stunning, and whilst I remember there were some hills, it was a relatively easy walk, even with us being loaded up with all our bags.

We didn't spot anyone until we wandered past a small pub where, thankfully there were some public toilets.

We stopped here to use the facilities but then decided we had to keep going. We wanted to be away from civilisation and as lovely as the pub looked we had dinner in our backpacks to cook. To be honest, I don't know how long we walked for, it was definitely a good few hours. Our starting point was miles away and we didn't know where we were going to stop!

Finally we decided to set up camp down on the beach. We found a little space at the bottom of a cliff, with one side blocked off by the cliff. That way, we figured we would be able to see anyone approaching from just one end of the beach. Not that anyone would be coming down there, we'd walked for miles!

We started with the most important thing, setting up George's mini gas stove so we could get our first cup of tea and some toasted marshmallows.

Then with our beanies on we settled down in our sleeping bags to wait for the stars to come out. The sunset over the sea was extremely captivating.

And then it was dark and we were left looking at the stars and waiting for morning. Now I guess the whole point of wild camping is getting back to nature and enjoying a peaceful night away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. However I just could not get to sleep. There were too many what ifs running through my mind. What if someone found us? What if the person who found us just happened to be a serial killer? It turned out George was wide awake too, harbouring the same fears. What I must state right now is that we both have a small obsession with the Wrong Turn films. I can't remember why or how (if you can George please remind me). In these films (and yes there is more than one) inbred hillbillies terrorise and kill, in exceedingly creative ways, anyone who end up in their neck of the woods. Now I didn't say they were good films, but the characters really stick in your brain - especially when you're alone on an isolated beach. Oh, and if you're going to watch any the second one is the best.

After a few hours of no sleep and no sounds but the sea we suddenly heard people! People all the way out here, in the middle of the night! They had to be hillbilly killers (sorry people of Weymouth). Slowly and quietly we decided we were not going to sit there and wait for the inevitable. We packed up our bags and stomped across the beach to find safety. Now, as as soon as we started moving my rational brain told me the noise of us walking across the shingle was so loud that we would have easily heard if anyone came near, and that the voices we heard we drunk campers heading to the beach for some nighttime shenanigans that definitely didn't involve us - we were too far away, the quiet night was just carrying their voices. But it was too late, 'I'm not going to be a murder victim Sam' was in charge now. With our sleeping bags returned to our backs and a small torch lighting the way we were determined to find a main road, and safety. Again, I don't know how long we walked for, but I do know we scared a whole field of cows. The sound of cows stampeding in the dark is one I won't forget - like thunder with occasional snorts. Luckily we were on a pathway and the cows were behind a fence so we were no danger to each other. Finally at the end of this path we found a main road and George called for a taxi. The poor driver who had probably been ferrying clubbers home had to pick up two tired, beanie wearing, sleeping bag toting, paranoid weirdos. Who knows what he must have thought of us? After a 20 minute drive we were back in the centre of Weymouth with no further plans than getting back to civilisation. We had nowhere to stay, it was at least 3am and all the hotels were closed. So what did we do - walked up and down the beach and eventually napped there! In hindsight it's amazing we felt more comfortable there, where clubbers were walking past, heading home or on to the next party, than we did out in the wild where there was no drunk people walking past us! Eventually we took refuge with all hardcore clubbers in a McDonalds and had an early breakfast. Finally though, the sun started to rise, and we were treated to a beautiful pink sky.

Exhausted from a long walk, no sleep and a nice helping of an overactive imagination we sat in the train station and waited for the first train home. We must have looked a state on that journey home!

Since our less than successful attempt at wild camping Anna McNuff has suggested some tips if you want to try it which you can read here. Don't be put off my our failure, I still stick by the fact that it was a fun adventure, but we just need to stop watching Wrong Turn films and imagining everyone is a murderer. I don't know if I'd do it again, I think I would, but with more people, that way if the hillbillies do attack there's a chance I could escape by leaving all my friends behind! Don't worry George, I know you'll be okay, you've watched enough horror films with me to know how to escape too, sorry everyone else!

5. Try and make some healthy snacks

I love snacking. As soon as I'm even slightly peckish I'm breaking into the biscuits to tide me over until the next meal time. It doesn't have to be biscuits either, crisps, chocolate, anything we have in the house isn't safe from my snack attacks. However, I know I'm not making healthy choices when I go for the cookies and sugar loaded treats. I don't think I'll be able to stop snacking so I decided I should try and have healthy snacks in the house instead. I also wanted to see what all the fuss was about 'Deliciously Ella'. I've heard her name all over the place, with people recommending her healthy recipes, which more importantly for me, are easy to make. One thing that annoys me about recipes is when I have to go and buy five random ingredients I've never heard of which I'll use a pinch of, and then it'll just be left in the cupboard for the next six months. So slightly warily I jumped on the the Deliciously Ella website. I was pretty pleased to see she had a whole section on snacks! As I'm a novice in the kitchen I decided to start nice and easy with the Apple and Raisin Oat bars.

The main thing that drew me to this recipe was that it only needed six ingredients, most I already had in the kitchen; oats, raisins, coconut oil, cinnamon and dried apple. The only ingredient I didn't have was rice syrup, but the recipe said honey would work just as well so I just switched over to the honey that's been sitting in our cupboard for over a year. Thank goodness honey doesn't go off!

Even for me this recipe was so simple. First you blend 2/3's of your raisins with the honey, cinnamon and melted coconut oil until it forms a paste.

Then add the oats, apple and rest of your raisins and mix together. Now here is where I went away from the recipe slightly, as they say to blend it together with your food processor. I only have a hand held blender and using this caused the oats to fly everywhere so I decided to play it safe and just mix it thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Then it's just a case of packing it down until a tin lined with grease proof paper.

Then pop it in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. I left mine for 20 minutes and the raisins on the top and some of the edges started to burn, so remember to check on it!

Once it's out the oven let it cool and then put it in the fridge to cool a bit more for 20 minutes or so. And then you can cut it up and enjoy!

I had my slice with a little fruit and a big glass of water because it was pretty dry! I think this could be because I used too many oats. Or maybe if I had blended it rather than just mixed it together it would have been less dry. Still it was a very easy recipe to follow and it does taste good. I will definitely make some again. I'm even tempted to try out some other recipes on the Deliciously Ella site. They have a range of categories online, and I might branch out and make some of the main meals too. Who knows maybe I'll even splash out and get one of the books (unless anyone wants to get me an early Christmas present). 

For now though I'm going to enjoy my snacks in the garden whilst reading my new book The Pants of Perspective. It's by Anna McNuff who ran the length of New Zealand. I'm hoping it inspires me to restart my 0-5k running podcast - that way I have an excuse to snack more!

4. Visit Hever Castle

Ever since I worked on a school project when I was around 12, I've had a small obsession with the Tudor period. Henry VIII fascinated me. He started his reign with so much hope, charm and possibilities for the age, but ended with as a paranoid, cantankerous old man with a trail of headless bodies behind him, including a couple of queens. I think every child at school learnt the rhyme 'Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. As I've grown older my fascination hasn't waned. London has so much history to discover and I love visiting historical buildings like Hampton Court and the Tower of London. I currently live near Syon House, and like to imagine what it would have looked like during the Tudor period, when Henry VIII would stay there, and legend has it, use the secret tunnels underneath to get to the local pub to meet his mistresses. Syon House is where poor Catherine Howard was imprisoned before her journey to the Tower. It is also one of the locations where Henry's body stopped on its journey from London to Windsor and, famously where, whilst resting overnight, his bloated corpse exploded in its coffin. Not the most glamorous end for one of our most well known monarchs. But enough about the King, the Queens deserve our time too, none more so than Anne Boleyn. She was the woman who caused Henry to split from Rome and create the Church of England, the mother of Elizabeth I and the first Queen to be beheaded. To me she has always been the most interesting and engaging of his wives so I decided it was high time I left historic London and headed out to Kent, to visit her childhood home, Hever Castle.

We arrived at 11am, and as the sun was shining we decided to start by walking around the 38 acre lake. Whilst this wasn't here in Anne Boleyn's era, it is a delightful and tranquil trail to take. Even though it was a Saturday in August we hardly saw anyone else on this route.

My favourite part of the lake walk had to be the Japanese style tea house. Reconstructed in 2013 it is a new addition to the lake and gives you the perfect place to sit and take in the view for a few minutes.

We continued on our walk past fountains and swans until, finally, the castle came into view.

We were ready to head indoors and explore the castle, but the skies had darkened. Because of this we decided to go against logic and walk round the rest of the gardens first. We figured if it did rain, it was going to rain for the rest of the afternoon, so we should see as much outdoors as we could before it happened. As luck would have it, apart from a few threatening drops the day stayed dry. And the gardens are blooming lovely. Definitely worth your time.

When Stuart started pilfering blackberries from the gardens I realised it was probably time for lunch, so we stopped off at the cafe, for something similar to what I like to think the Boleyn's may have eaten (minus the potatoes of course!)  - a hearty steak and ale pie.

  

Refuelled, we were ready to head indoors and check out the castle. But first we had to get past the knights who had shown up for the jousting tournament. When we arrived we hadn't realised there was a special jousting event happening, and although we didn't go watch it, it was fun to see the horses riding past in all their regalia and actors playing the part of rebels, calling the knight to the field. Henry VIII himself strode past me, but alas, too quickly for me to grab a picture.

With the crowds heading off to watch the jousting the castle was relatively quiet, so we could enjoy it at our own pace and stop to really look at the parts we found most compelling. The whole building was smaller than I would expect of a castle, but had lots more space than I thought it would. That probably doesn't make sense, but it does to me! It is decorated in various eras, not solely Tudor period but there are nods to its Boyle heritage spotted around everywhere.

I particularly liked whoever choose these two cats for decoration! So as well as the more modern drawing room showed above, there are old detailed tapestries, stunning stain glass windows, beautiful views and much much more. 

I wish I could show you more photos of the place, but I feel I've already posted so many that if anyone actual reads this they may have got bored by now anyway! Safe to say I really enjoyed Hever Castle. The building and the grounds are flawless. I really wish it were mine. There's nothing I can fault. I would love to live in such a historic building and stunning grounds. Alas, it will never be so!

And believe it or not, we still hadn't explored all the gardens. So after feeding the ducks and trying out the maze, we made one last wander through the gardens.

Finally, we were back where we started at the lake. There was only one way for to top off this splendid day out - ICE CREAM!