Building shelters, jumping walls, scrapes, falls, tears, and avoiding streams...

No, not the life of a child in the countryside, but mine this weekend. Who says you have to be grown up to be an adult?

It had been nearly ten years since I’d last hung out with Adam, but a mutual desire for adventure, regaining contact via Facebook, and more importantly, both finding ourselves in the UK at the same time, for the first time in who knows how long, we decided to head off on a weekend microadventure (alastairhumphreys.com/microadventures).

We decided upon Arundel as a starting point. That was the extent of our plan. There was a river, and there were forests. We were both sure we’d be able to find an adventure there.

And so, upon disembarking the train, we walked toward the late first Earl of Arundel’s 1067 home; Arundel Castle. The area is steeped in history, with traces of settlement dating back as far as the Roman period. And today, it was going to gain a new settlement. 

The area is steeped in history

We took many turns at random, and from then on we identified an area we wanted to head to, and we intended to make our way there, as the crow flies.

There were a few streams in the way (only one near fall, resulting in a slightly soggy foot), one river (very fast flowing)one herd of cows (thankfully a lot better behaved than previous encounters with the bovine variety), numerous electric fences (only one shock), and one VERY high flint wall. Well, perfectly scalable from the one side, but quite a drop into sting nettles the other side. But the stings fast dissipated, and we made our way through dense brush to the woodland.

SURPRISE! A deer jumps out in front of us! For both of us, our first wild British deer!

And then BOOM! Pheasants flying at us from various angles! Another first! 

We decided on our spot, in amongst this natural wonderland, and went about making a shelter; The decaying wood, and autumnal leaves both lending themselves fantastically to an open shelter. Two to three hours, and four tired arms later, we had ourselves a shelter. And just in time – as the heavens opened! We quickly set about covering logs under the roof of our shelter in order to make a fire. And shortly later, there we were, in an ancient forest, doing what people through the ages have been doing through the centuries; Living the simple life! Seeking shelter, building fire, and enjoying the art of conversation. Real life conversation. The simple life rocks!

The Simple life

The following morning, we dried our dewy boots and bags by the yet again roaring fire, before waking the 20 minutes back to modern life, through brush, tall flint walls, and farm fences.

After a refreshing breakfast we were back on the train home, feeling tired yet alive, and ready to plan our next adventures.

Smoke and sunlight in the forest canopy

Country Pub!

Breakfast

Hitchhiking and community in Newfoundland

I set off on a quick trip on Tuesday – Now finding the time to sit down, basking in the sun, in the back garden I have written down my observations, comments, whatever… Forgive the ramblings. Enjoy/endure.

With the news that I am through to the next stage of my visa, and one and a half days off from work, I felt pretty damn good. Add in to the mix one part cold, lonely house, with a girlfriend the other side of the Atlantic, and one part feeling adventurous, the scene was set for a microadventure.

I have taken a few hitchhiking trips in Newfoundland (my home for the previous 9 months, and *touch wood* the next 15 months) before this one, each with varying degrees of success. Few of them have been documented on here.

The weather was reasonable, and the premise was simple; Hitchhike after work to somewhere cool, and sleep under the stars (somewhere equally as cool). I’d then return the next day, in order to make work for 9.45am on the Thursday.

I got off to a great start, with a friend (thanks Valerie!) driving me to a petrol station out of town, on the Trans Canada Highway (TCH). She also allowed me to gorge myself on some of her leftover birthday cake.

Within twenty minutes of setting myself and my bag down, I was on the way along the TCH with a part time man of the cloth/part time hairdresser, providing my wheels! Conversation flowed, and within 30minutes he’d already offered me a job on behalf of his mate – As a stonemason! Furthermore, Derek insisted I take HIS contact details so that when I was next out his way, he could take my girlfriend Elissa and I on a tour of the area. Nice bloke.

However, just before disembarking from Derek’s car, the heavens decided to open. My microadventure under the stars could turn into a washout… But never one to let a little bit of rain put paid to my oft ill conceived plans; I decided to plod on, to my as yet undetermined destination. I sought shelter under a highway flyover, and once again stuck my thumb out.

My next lift was with Cordell, an educator who has recently moved back to Newfoundland. He was en route to Gander to see his mother. Again, the conversation flowed, and after a quick text to my buddy John to find out what to do in the Gander/Twillingate areas I decided, on a whim to head up that way with Cordell.

John came through big time. Bearing in mind the weather, he had already okayed it with his parents for me to stay with them in Lewisporte! Fantastic stuff – No rainy night out in my bivvy!!! Not only that – the welcome I received upon entering their abode was akin to that of a long lost son. Cordell dropped me at their door, and I was welcomed with not just open arms, but opened beers and an open fridge. Boooyah!! The next few hours were spent socialising, not just with them, but also with their daughter Becky (back visiting from outta town) and their friends!  And, before bed, I was invited by Becky to go iceberg hunting with them all in Twillingate the next morning.

After a night under the ceiling, and home cooked food, I woke up in a jovial mood (with obvious good reason), and the lingering blanket of fog did little to dampen that. Passing little towns, hamlets and communities along the way we were welcomed into Twillingate by a big old berg. More followed. And with the aforementioned fog, the views out from the lighthouse were mystical and awe inspiring. And later that day I was treated to the Newfoundland delicacy; cod tongues. It felt as if I was slowly turning into a Newfoundlander.

Mystical views at Twillingate lighthouse

Icebergs at Twillingate

Icebergs at Twillingate

After lunch, Becky and her daughter drove me out to Gander. It was going to be hard going to make St John’s in the same good time I made Lewisporte the day before, but I felt the 9-10hrs I allowed myself would be ample time in order to make work the next morning, at 9.45am.

The open road

The lifts back from Gander to (near) Charlottetown were short, but plentiful, encompassing a wide spectrum of society – Managers, security officials, off duty taxi drivers, young, old, male, female, couples. There was another job offer too!! However, due to construction, I was progressing slowly. It was getting dark. Quickly. I was going to have to find somewhere off the road to camp out for the night, ready to start the journey again the next morning, at day break. But I kept telling myself ‘just one more half hour’ – It was now near midnight. No-one was driving past, and who in their right mind would pick up a bedraggled lone hitchhiker along the side of the road in the middle of nowhere? AT night?!?

Then Michelle came along. She was on a night time drive to clear her head. Our conversation was stifled. I wasn’t even sure she liked me. But I was really appreciative of the lift. She could take me 15mins down the road. 15mins down the road is 15mins down the road. 15mins I wouldn’t have to hitch in the morning. But upon getting out the car she then proposed I stay in her spare room for the night – She would set her alarm for 5.30am, and drive me back to the highway. I quickly weighed up my options, and found myself heading back the way I came, to stay in her spare room for the night.

Out of bed by 5.30am, and back on the highway by 5.45am I had some serious hitchhiking to do! And boy did I do it?! One favour (thanks Tessa), one lorry driver, and one newspaper delivery driver later I was at work – only 30mins late. I just hope work don’t read this, and find out the real reason I was late. (Sorry – But I guess this is a kind of car trouble?!)

Sign found on the side of the TCH

Despite the stress of being late for work, despite not achieving a night of camping (thanks weather), and despite the short sleeps, I rocked up to work refreshed, and with a warm glow – Glad to have witnessed and experienced an essence of the Newfoundland outside of St John’s. I’ll be doing it again – So work, be warned.