So it's been a pretty busy week! Just back from the Lake District, and I'm knackered! I think I've driven about 1500 miles in the last 5 days!
The Bushcraft course was pretty good fun, though I'd have preferred to focus a bit more on the survival side of things than the crafty side of things. My hand is all blistered and cut from whittling! Don't think wielding a knife is quite my forte, though I did really enjoy learning all about fire, water, shelters, and gathering and preparing food.
I have taken something really positive from the course, and from Saturday's beginner adventure race though ... I think I may have found my future calling! Adventure Racing looks amazing and combines all my loves - travel, the outdoors, fitness and thrill seeking! One of the guys on the bushcraft course was amazing - he had done 6 Iron Man triathlons and was now doing Adventure Races and Triathlons around the world - he's just come back from an Escape from Alcatraz triathlon - how amazing is that??!!
SO inspired :)
As soon as I get back from all my travels, I definitely want to start properly training for adventure racing!! Hopefully by then CC will have been commissioned, and I could do the adventure races around the world as part of the series!!
Big plans, but then I guess that's what Challenge Charly is all about - thinking big, and not worrying about physical constraints, you can do anything you put your mind to!
Charly xxx
Friday, 27 June 2008
Sunday, 22 June 2008
2 down, 1 to go!
So ... my manic weekend is almost over!
It took just over 4 hrs to drive down to Salcombe yesterday (and then another 4 back at 11pm last night, in the fog!) but it was more than worth it.
The Pirate Rampage - an adventure race run by the company Endurance Life was absolutely brilliant.
We had to wade into the estuary to get to checkpoints, climb up steep hills, negotiate balance beams, and kayak across the harbour. The big finale was swimming 50 of the longest metres of my life across the freezing windy estuary and clambering up nets onto an authentic pirate ship moored in the centre!
Brilliant fun! I haven't felt like such a big kid in ages!
Then on just four hours sleep it was off to Kempton Park, another hour's drive, to run 10k chasing men in banana outfits. I have to admit I took it a tad easy! but me and Amy had a great time, and we got to keep out fluro yellow t-shirts - trust me you can't wait for that video!!
Anyway, best get off - 5 hrs of driving up to the Lake District ahead of me this evening! I'm doing a Bushcraft Course all week.
Videos from ice climbing and flying have just been uploaded, and I shall sort out the videos from this weekend as soon as I get back from the Lakes
Charly xxx
It took just over 4 hrs to drive down to Salcombe yesterday (and then another 4 back at 11pm last night, in the fog!) but it was more than worth it.
The Pirate Rampage - an adventure race run by the company Endurance Life was absolutely brilliant.
We had to wade into the estuary to get to checkpoints, climb up steep hills, negotiate balance beams, and kayak across the harbour. The big finale was swimming 50 of the longest metres of my life across the freezing windy estuary and clambering up nets onto an authentic pirate ship moored in the centre!
Brilliant fun! I haven't felt like such a big kid in ages!
Then on just four hours sleep it was off to Kempton Park, another hour's drive, to run 10k chasing men in banana outfits. I have to admit I took it a tad easy! but me and Amy had a great time, and we got to keep out fluro yellow t-shirts - trust me you can't wait for that video!!
Anyway, best get off - 5 hrs of driving up to the Lake District ahead of me this evening! I'm doing a Bushcraft Course all week.
Videos from ice climbing and flying have just been uploaded, and I shall sort out the videos from this weekend as soon as I get back from the Lakes
Charly xxx
Friday, 20 June 2008
Challenge Lulu!
So ... this week I'm not sure who is facing the bigger challenge, me or my old school Mini Cooper Sport, Lulu!
Tomorrow's challenge - the Pirate Rampage, takes place in Salcombe - a 4 and a half hour drive from Reading, where I'm based.
Then it's back late tomorrow night, only to have to drive to Kempton Park, Middlesex first thing on Sunday morning for the Leukemia Research Bananaman Chase, and then that evening I'm driving to Windemere to do a Bushcraft Course in the Lake District - at least another 4 and a half hours driving.
Unfortunately both these distant challenges are in places which are really difficult to access with the train, so it looks like Lulu will have to suck it up and face the challenge!
As for me, not sure how sprightly I'll be doing the 10k on Sunday! It's been a pretty manic week - not just with the three challenges I've already done since last Sunday (London to Brighton, ice-climbing and flying) but I also managed to squeeze in the Cambridge vs Oxford cricket Varsity Match at Lord's and the May Ball back at my old Cambridge college (essentially 9 hours straight of drinking!), so I'm a tad delicate already to say the least.
Plus, the Pirate Rampage finishes tomorrow night at 10pm, so after a 5 hour drive home I should get about 5 hours sleep before I'm up again and having to drive to Middlesex for the run ... delightful!
Remind me again why I do these things ;)
Charly xxx
Tomorrow's challenge - the Pirate Rampage, takes place in Salcombe - a 4 and a half hour drive from Reading, where I'm based.
Then it's back late tomorrow night, only to have to drive to Kempton Park, Middlesex first thing on Sunday morning for the Leukemia Research Bananaman Chase, and then that evening I'm driving to Windemere to do a Bushcraft Course in the Lake District - at least another 4 and a half hours driving.
Unfortunately both these distant challenges are in places which are really difficult to access with the train, so it looks like Lulu will have to suck it up and face the challenge!
As for me, not sure how sprightly I'll be doing the 10k on Sunday! It's been a pretty manic week - not just with the three challenges I've already done since last Sunday (London to Brighton, ice-climbing and flying) but I also managed to squeeze in the Cambridge vs Oxford cricket Varsity Match at Lord's and the May Ball back at my old Cambridge college (essentially 9 hours straight of drinking!), so I'm a tad delicate already to say the least.
Plus, the Pirate Rampage finishes tomorrow night at 10pm, so after a 5 hour drive home I should get about 5 hours sleep before I'm up again and having to drive to Middlesex for the run ... delightful!
Remind me again why I do these things ;)
Charly xxx
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
I Can Fly!
Just back from my first flying lesson and it was BRILLIANT! Though actually a tad tame ... when I saw the size of the aircraft I was really worried it would be a bit scary being so high up, and yet when you actually do get up, the world is just like a toy village!
Really enjoyed rolling and banking to turn, though because it was technically a private pilot trial session I wasn't allowed to do anything too extreme!
I did, however, manage to convince the pilot to go at 60 degrees and create a centro-fugal force :)
Really keen to try aerial acrobatics next - they even have cameras built-in to the plane so you can get footage of the view over the pilot's shoulder, AND at the same time there's a camera filming your face as you fly upside-down, round and round and do other crazy stunts!
Can't wait :)
Charly xx
Really enjoyed rolling and banking to turn, though because it was technically a private pilot trial session I wasn't allowed to do anything too extreme!
I did, however, manage to convince the pilot to go at 60 degrees and create a centro-fugal force :)
Really keen to try aerial acrobatics next - they even have cameras built-in to the plane so you can get footage of the view over the pilot's shoulder, AND at the same time there's a camera filming your face as you fly upside-down, round and round and do other crazy stunts!
Can't wait :)
Charly xx
Ice Climbing
Yesterday I headed to Covent Garden to ice climb on the indoor wall there.
What a crazy sport! I can't believe how physical it is - you really have to put in some effort to get the axes and crampons in, and then it takes some getting used to trusting them to then support you as you climb up.
Thank god the helmets have visors, coz I just completely covered myself in ice chips, and chipped away half the climbing wall trying to get my axes in.
I think I got about a metre above the ground the entire session! But it was definitely good fun.
The footage should be amusing, mainly because the guy who was filming me decided to tip the camera up 90 degrees like you would if you were taking a long still photo! So on all the climbing footage I just look like I'm lying across the screen!!
Oh dear :)
What a crazy sport! I can't believe how physical it is - you really have to put in some effort to get the axes and crampons in, and then it takes some getting used to trusting them to then support you as you climb up.
Thank god the helmets have visors, coz I just completely covered myself in ice chips, and chipped away half the climbing wall trying to get my axes in.
I think I got about a metre above the ground the entire session! But it was definitely good fun.
The footage should be amusing, mainly because the guy who was filming me decided to tip the camera up 90 degrees like you would if you were taking a long still photo! So on all the climbing footage I just look like I'm lying across the screen!!
Oh dear :)
London to Brighton Cycle Ride
The video is up!
But for those of you who haven't watched it yet, I did make it!
To be honest the distance wasn't all that strenuous (I walked almost as far in March), the main issues were just the hills (which were a nightmare, particularly the Beacon 50 miles in!) and the other cyclists.
There were FAR too many cyclists on very narrow roads at times, and people just weren't cycling safely. I can't believe how many people I saw not even wearing helmets.
The race also wasn't that well organised. Unlike a marathon you had to pay for any refreshments on the way round, and our medals are positively tacky. Whilst obviously it's run for charity, the BHF underlines that the £30 entry fee is purely for organisational costs, which was surprising considering how little we received, and the fact 27,000 people were paying £30 each.
Ah well ... another challenge down!
Definitely my most spontaneous one too! I literally agreed to do the race 2 weeks ago, so truly in the spirit of Challenge Charly! And I hadn't even cycled my bike in the last 6 months! (which became quite evident, first when we realised the front wheel was on wrong! and then when I realised it was flat!!)
Am keen to do more cycling challenges though ... am thinking of doing 100 miles next.
At the mo my bike is still in Brighton because we weren't allowed to take them back on the train the day of the race, and my mini boot is TINY! So I've been toying with the idea of cycling from Brighton to Bournemouth, which is roughly 100 miles ... though after Sunday I'd try to find the flattest route possible!
Guess I'll need to sort out my hill cycling if I'm really going to do Land's End to John O'Groats in November :)
Charly xxx
But for those of you who haven't watched it yet, I did make it!
To be honest the distance wasn't all that strenuous (I walked almost as far in March), the main issues were just the hills (which were a nightmare, particularly the Beacon 50 miles in!) and the other cyclists.
There were FAR too many cyclists on very narrow roads at times, and people just weren't cycling safely. I can't believe how many people I saw not even wearing helmets.
The race also wasn't that well organised. Unlike a marathon you had to pay for any refreshments on the way round, and our medals are positively tacky. Whilst obviously it's run for charity, the BHF underlines that the £30 entry fee is purely for organisational costs, which was surprising considering how little we received, and the fact 27,000 people were paying £30 each.
Ah well ... another challenge down!
Definitely my most spontaneous one too! I literally agreed to do the race 2 weeks ago, so truly in the spirit of Challenge Charly! And I hadn't even cycled my bike in the last 6 months! (which became quite evident, first when we realised the front wheel was on wrong! and then when I realised it was flat!!)
Am keen to do more cycling challenges though ... am thinking of doing 100 miles next.
At the mo my bike is still in Brighton because we weren't allowed to take them back on the train the day of the race, and my mini boot is TINY! So I've been toying with the idea of cycling from Brighton to Bournemouth, which is roughly 100 miles ... though after Sunday I'd try to find the flattest route possible!
Guess I'll need to sort out my hill cycling if I'm really going to do Land's End to John O'Groats in November :)
Charly xxx
Friday, 13 June 2008
Challenges This Week ...
It's not just technical logistics I struggle with (oh dear, I really do need a production team!!!) ...
Sometimes Challenges provide more difficulties than just the physical ones! Take Sunday for instance - I've agreed at very short notice to cycle the London to Brighton cycle ride. 54 miles ... now hopefully my 4 hrs or so of cycling in the gym each week should stand me in relatively good stead for the race, even if, as those of you who have watched the Stockholm video will know, my camera skills behind the handlebars are absolutely appalling!
No, the problem is the logistics of getting my bike to London, and getting home from Brighton!
In the end I decided to start 2 days early, and my bike is currently locked up outside my uni's Cavendish Campus.
What an absolute nightmare taking a bike on the train and the tube! Half the tube lines don't allow them! And I still have to get it all the way to Clapham tomorrow! Oh dear!
I have decided to leave it in Brighton on Sunday and just drive home! (I have a tiny old mini - one tyre wouldn't even fit in its miniscule boot!!)
Though I'm not just being lazy, I promise!! I'm going to leave it on the coast, because I'm hoping to cycle it from Brighton to Land's End, in a warm up for cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats in November!!!
Anyway ... that's months away ... this week in addition to the cycle ride I plan to squeeze in a spot of Ice Climbing, and hopefully a Rally Car Driving Day ... oooh and I'll be filming some more footage of me learning how to jump a horse ... that Challenge to be posted soon :)
Charly xxx
Sometimes Challenges provide more difficulties than just the physical ones! Take Sunday for instance - I've agreed at very short notice to cycle the London to Brighton cycle ride. 54 miles ... now hopefully my 4 hrs or so of cycling in the gym each week should stand me in relatively good stead for the race, even if, as those of you who have watched the Stockholm video will know, my camera skills behind the handlebars are absolutely appalling!
No, the problem is the logistics of getting my bike to London, and getting home from Brighton!
In the end I decided to start 2 days early, and my bike is currently locked up outside my uni's Cavendish Campus.
What an absolute nightmare taking a bike on the train and the tube! Half the tube lines don't allow them! And I still have to get it all the way to Clapham tomorrow! Oh dear!
I have decided to leave it in Brighton on Sunday and just drive home! (I have a tiny old mini - one tyre wouldn't even fit in its miniscule boot!!)
Though I'm not just being lazy, I promise!! I'm going to leave it on the coast, because I'm hoping to cycle it from Brighton to Land's End, in a warm up for cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats in November!!!
Anyway ... that's months away ... this week in addition to the cycle ride I plan to squeeze in a spot of Ice Climbing, and hopefully a Rally Car Driving Day ... oooh and I'll be filming some more footage of me learning how to jump a horse ... that Challenge to be posted soon :)
Charly xxx
Technical Troubles
Finally ... new videos are up!! Have been experiencing technical problems all week finding an internet connection strong enough to support the uploading, but ended up going back up to university to post my last 5 challenges.
Am gradually getting the whole process speeded up, though I haven't been helped by the fact that no HDD cameras I can find are compatible with a Mac - at the moment the whole editing process takes twice as long as it ought to because I have to upload all the footage onto a PC before I can transfer them to my Mac to edit them in Final Cut.
Ah well, bit by bit the process should become a smooth oiled machine! I hope! She says, having just spent FAR too much money on a second redundant HDD camera!
Until November I'm ok because I return to the UK in between travels, however from November onwards, when I am on a round the world ticket, I'm going to need to be able to edit footage as quickly and easily as possible ...
Aargh I need a production team!!
Or maybe the Discovery Channel could just produce CC for me?! ;)
Am gradually getting the whole process speeded up, though I haven't been helped by the fact that no HDD cameras I can find are compatible with a Mac - at the moment the whole editing process takes twice as long as it ought to because I have to upload all the footage onto a PC before I can transfer them to my Mac to edit them in Final Cut.
Ah well, bit by bit the process should become a smooth oiled machine! I hope! She says, having just spent FAR too much money on a second redundant HDD camera!
Until November I'm ok because I return to the UK in between travels, however from November onwards, when I am on a round the world ticket, I'm going to need to be able to edit footage as quickly and easily as possible ...
Aargh I need a production team!!
Or maybe the Discovery Channel could just produce CC for me?! ;)
Monday, 9 June 2008
Diary Disaster Strikes!!
So it's definitely Challenge Month, if ever there was one in particular, here at Challenge Charly!
I started the month wakeboarding, then it was straight off to Southampton to learn how to sail a yacht.
The plan for the rest of the month includes zorbing, bushcraft, the London to Brighton cycle ride, and a Pirate Rampage, amongst other challenges!
But there are definite downsides to cramming my days full ... namely diary malfunctions! Basically without realising I booked myself in two places at the same time - on Friday I was sailing, and also meant to be driving to Wales for the start of a Mountain Leadership course. By the time I realised it was 11pm, and I was going to have to wake up at 4am in order to drive over to Snowdonia in time for the start of the course.
Total nightmare! After 6 sleepless nights in a very uncomfortable cabin there was nowhere I was going to be able to function, let alone drive! on just 4 hours of sleep. And so ... I'm not in Wales. Which is really gutting, not only financially as I lose all the fees I paid for the course, but also, because I've got about 4 spare days between now and November, I can't do my training course before my assessment week in October.
Eeek ... looks like that's one challenge which is going to be delayed :(
Ah well, on a brighter side, it looks like the CC website should be up and running really really soon, and hopefully this impromptu extra week will allow me to cram in an extra couple of challenges :)
As ever - give me challenges!! and volunteer to be a challenger!
Charly xxx
I started the month wakeboarding, then it was straight off to Southampton to learn how to sail a yacht.
The plan for the rest of the month includes zorbing, bushcraft, the London to Brighton cycle ride, and a Pirate Rampage, amongst other challenges!
But there are definite downsides to cramming my days full ... namely diary malfunctions! Basically without realising I booked myself in two places at the same time - on Friday I was sailing, and also meant to be driving to Wales for the start of a Mountain Leadership course. By the time I realised it was 11pm, and I was going to have to wake up at 4am in order to drive over to Snowdonia in time for the start of the course.
Total nightmare! After 6 sleepless nights in a very uncomfortable cabin there was nowhere I was going to be able to function, let alone drive! on just 4 hours of sleep. And so ... I'm not in Wales. Which is really gutting, not only financially as I lose all the fees I paid for the course, but also, because I've got about 4 spare days between now and November, I can't do my training course before my assessment week in October.
Eeek ... looks like that's one challenge which is going to be delayed :(
Ah well, on a brighter side, it looks like the CC website should be up and running really really soon, and hopefully this impromptu extra week will allow me to cram in an extra couple of challenges :)
As ever - give me challenges!! and volunteer to be a challenger!
Charly xxx
Thursday, 5 June 2008
I need action!
Oh dear, I don't think I'm cut out to be a sailor ... or at least not a cruising yacht sailor.
I am SO bored! It's just not high-paced enough, or scary enough! I'm definitely a thrill-seeker at heart, and pottering around the Solent really isn't doing it for me!
Hmm... maybe I shouldn't completely give up, but if I do another sailing-related challenge, I think it will be sailing to somewhere like Morocco, or doing the Isle of Wight Cowes Week 'Round the Island' race, or maybe something smaller like dinghy sailing?
Anyway, only one more day left, and then on Saturday I'm off to North Wales to do my Mountain Leadership training ... hopefully that will be a bit more active! And hopefully the sleeping arrangements (even if they turn out to be tents) will be more comfy ... yacht bunks are surprisingly hard :)
Charly xxx
I am SO bored! It's just not high-paced enough, or scary enough! I'm definitely a thrill-seeker at heart, and pottering around the Solent really isn't doing it for me!
Hmm... maybe I shouldn't completely give up, but if I do another sailing-related challenge, I think it will be sailing to somewhere like Morocco, or doing the Isle of Wight Cowes Week 'Round the Island' race, or maybe something smaller like dinghy sailing?
Anyway, only one more day left, and then on Saturday I'm off to North Wales to do my Mountain Leadership training ... hopefully that will be a bit more active! And hopefully the sleeping arrangements (even if they turn out to be tents) will be more comfy ... yacht bunks are surprisingly hard :)
Charly xxx
Monday, 2 June 2008
Watery Challenges!
As promised I am attempting to write this blog a bit more frequently.
So ... I am on Day One of Challenge 10 - Learning to Sail. I'm still aching from Challenge 9 - Learning to Wakeboard, and I didn't even technically wakeboard! I spent two hours being dragged around on a knee board. I'm definitely looking forward to getting up on my feet though, and getting behind a boat!
But for now I'm on a boat. I'm down in Southampton doing my Royal Yachting Association 'Competent Crew' qualification, well technically I'm now in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, after my first day of sailing. The weather has been pretty bleak - grey and rainy, but no wind! Hardly ideal for sailing, but have learnt heaps already - SO much to remember!
So far I think my most successful part has been navigation, which is a relief, as I'm doing my Mountain Leadership training next week and I have a feeling map reading and compass bearings are going to feature highly during that.
By the looks of things June is going to be a really exciting month. In addition to the two courses I've already mentioned, I'm also doing a Bushcraft course, and I have lots of random day challenges planned. Hopefully should be squeezing in indoor sky diving, zorbing and ice-climbing either this month or next month. I've also signed up for the Leukemia Research and 'Banana Man Chase', Pirate Rampage in Dorset.
The most exciting thing has been a spontaneous last minute challenge which I'm really excited about - a friend from school who I literally haven't seen for at least 6 years messaged me on Facebook to ask if I'd like to join her on the Brighton to London cycle ride! So I now have just 2 weeks until I'm cycling in the 54 mile race :) Brilliant! That is JUST what Challenge Charly is all about - you guys challenging me, and ideally joining me on the challenges.
At the moment I am especially looking for challengers to join me doing the Three Peaks Challenge - Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, all within 24 hours. I'll be doing the walk the first weekend of August - if you fancy joining me, either message me on the blog, or on YouTube, or via the Facebook group.
And if a random challenge has just sprung to mind, then let me know! I get inspiration for challenges everywhere! ... literally 2 days ago I caught a clip of Jordan and Peter Andre doing the Rally Master challenge at Brands Hatch and it looks brilliant! Just trying to work out when I can fit it in :)
Charly xxx
So ... I am on Day One of Challenge 10 - Learning to Sail. I'm still aching from Challenge 9 - Learning to Wakeboard, and I didn't even technically wakeboard! I spent two hours being dragged around on a knee board. I'm definitely looking forward to getting up on my feet though, and getting behind a boat!
But for now I'm on a boat. I'm down in Southampton doing my Royal Yachting Association 'Competent Crew' qualification, well technically I'm now in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, after my first day of sailing. The weather has been pretty bleak - grey and rainy, but no wind! Hardly ideal for sailing, but have learnt heaps already - SO much to remember!
So far I think my most successful part has been navigation, which is a relief, as I'm doing my Mountain Leadership training next week and I have a feeling map reading and compass bearings are going to feature highly during that.
By the looks of things June is going to be a really exciting month. In addition to the two courses I've already mentioned, I'm also doing a Bushcraft course, and I have lots of random day challenges planned. Hopefully should be squeezing in indoor sky diving, zorbing and ice-climbing either this month or next month. I've also signed up for the Leukemia Research and 'Banana Man Chase', Pirate Rampage in Dorset.
The most exciting thing has been a spontaneous last minute challenge which I'm really excited about - a friend from school who I literally haven't seen for at least 6 years messaged me on Facebook to ask if I'd like to join her on the Brighton to London cycle ride! So I now have just 2 weeks until I'm cycling in the 54 mile race :) Brilliant! That is JUST what Challenge Charly is all about - you guys challenging me, and ideally joining me on the challenges.
At the moment I am especially looking for challengers to join me doing the Three Peaks Challenge - Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, all within 24 hours. I'll be doing the walk the first weekend of August - if you fancy joining me, either message me on the blog, or on YouTube, or via the Facebook group.
And if a random challenge has just sprung to mind, then let me know! I get inspiration for challenges everywhere! ... literally 2 days ago I caught a clip of Jordan and Peter Andre doing the Rally Master challenge at Brands Hatch and it looks brilliant! Just trying to work out when I can fit it in :)
Charly xxx
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