The earth has tilted and the evenings are slowly getting lighter (or darker), the (Gregorian) calendar has turned and it’s onto another year. December was the last month for our themed microadventures. The challenge was “revisit”: time to revisit places and themes and reflect on the past year.
"A pair of mute swans swimming in the first blush of dawn on the river . . . and a bright 2016 begins." (Gillian)
Allysse: on a bicycle through KentAllysse did not let any wintry weather deter her from her final month of microadventure. She writes: On the second week-end of the December, I hopped on my bike and headed for Kent. I spent three days cycle touring on small lanes between orchards, mansions, fields, and finally the seaside. Throughout those days and nights I ended up revisiting several themes from previous months but the one that kept coming back was darkness. The days are short in December, ending around 4pm and I found myself with plenty of time after dark. The first evening I explored the Pinetum at Bedgebury, walking among the pine trees with my head torch as sole guide. The second night I found myself in Whitstable, the lights of the city behind me and the darkness of the sea in front of me. I took a walk on the pebbles, listening to the distant waves and trying not to fall over in the vegetation. Jonathan and Dan: fiiive oo-oold theeemesWe bandied the idea around of revisiting every theme from the year, but illness scuppered our plans. The themes we did revisit were:
Mags: returning to the important placesMags revisited a few different themes from her year of microadventure, writing it up on her blog. Here's one: At the beginning of December I revisited a place of historic interest in the form of a trip to Patan Durbar Square. On this occasion I was revisiting the square 8 months after many parts of it were damaged by the devastating April earthquake. Even some of the temple structures that survived can be seen to be supported by wooden struts. Danni: meteor spotting + bike ride = MeteorideDanni’s adventure was a 325km bike ride (revisiting a favourite activity?) to try to spot meteors (explore the darkness?). Here’s an excerpt from her blog post about the ride (go and read it all): Day 4 was the hardest day of riding. Around 80km, hot, mostly into the wind with about 30km of gravel. I was also starting to get tired and it became obvious it was important to pace myself. 30km into the ride you climb Victoria Point, which is the tail of the Grampian ranges, it’s a great place to stop for a cup of tea. About another 20km gets you to Mirranatwa. Mirranatwa is really just a church and tennis courts. It had been hot and we were exhausted. We ate lunch on the back patio of the church and refilled our water from their tanks (which was so deliciously cold). Had a little bit of a sleep before the push into the national park. The road through the national park was gravel and at times highly corrugated. At other times quite slushy and resulted in a couple of epic power sliders. We stopped at the Murra Murra reservoir with ideas of a swim, but it was more or less a dried up marsh. We kept going to Paddy’s Castle. Clare: the thing is now, I'm hungry for moreI enjoyed reading Clare’s reflections on the year. Here are her ‘best bits’:
Gillian: a new dawn, a new day, a new yearGillian took the opportunity to watch the sun rise on the new year (I think that just about counts as a December microadventure)! You can find her photo of mute swans at dawn at the top of this post. I'm not one for staying up for the bells at midnight; I prefer to watch the dawn and greet the first rays of the New Year's sun. It's lovely to see the transition from night to day. I walked down to the shore of the River Clyde in the dark. There was a sharp frost scrunching underfoot and a halo around the moon. As night gave way to twilight a robin began its trilling song, preempting the dawn. A pair of mute swans swimming in the first blush of dawn on the river . . . and a bright 2016 begins. Thank youIt’s been quite a year! Thank you so much to everyone who came on the microadventure adventure in 2015. I think this is everyone, but if I've left you off just let me know!
I hope you all have exciting plans for 2016. I look forward to reading your posts, seeing your photos, watching your videos and envying your adventures! |  Allysse rides into the night.  Bright lights in the distance on Allysse's adventure.  "The days are short in December, ending around 4pm." (Allysse)  One of the less-windy days in Norfolk. (Dan and Jonathan)  We didn't sleep on these verandahs - but close by! (Photo by Gerry Balding)  Mags revisits Patan Durbur Square  "Sunset just outside the city of my birth, Newcastle Upon Tyne." (Mags)  Mt Eccles campsite on the metoride. (Photo by Geoffmo)  Mirranatwa. (Photo by Geoffmo)  Danni in action! (Photo by Hamilton)  "I’ve discovered . . . places that have taken my breath away." (Clare)  Orion hunts as the year turns. (Gillian)  A halo around the moon on new year's morning. (Gillian)  "A robin began its trilling song, preempting the dawn." (Gillian) |
Dan and I are being a little less ambitious with our aims this year (no more microadventure every week)! We’re planning to get away for a weekend once a month, and to spend it in different accommodation each time. That could definitely include bivvying on a hillside or camping in the woods, but it will also include such adventures as staying at the Premier Inn in Chichester. I am, in partial jest, calling it our Year of Sleeping Variously. Stay tuned!
Should you wish to revisit any of the themes from this year, here they are:
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