Enjoying Life: Mid Year Update and Goal Reflection

I can’t quite believe that it’s July already, or that I’ve been in the Lake’s for 5 months. I know people say that time feels like it goes faster as you get older, but I’ve really been feeling it recently.

Back in April, I did a little 1/4 year update (which you can check out here). My main focus for the past three months was getting out on as many adventures as possible, and personally I feel like I’ve been absolutely smashing it. Something I noticed when I was reflecting on my goals, was that for the first time in my life, they didn’t include things such as ‘lose x amount of weight’. This feels like a huge shift in my mindset about life and what’s really important. I’m probably the fittest and healthiest I’ve been in a long time, without even focussing on it. It’s a nice realisation I’ve had and helps me see just how far I’ve come in the last few years.

2023 Goals

I’ve managed to tick off a few more of my goals for the year and have definitely been doing more than a mountain a month! Though my ‘no spend’ month back in April didn’t quite go to plan, I’ve been managing to save more than my monthly target whilst still treating myself to the odd thing here and there. I’ve been making a little extra on the side each month, through surveys, instagram and affiliate links, which is a huge help when on nearly minimum wage.

Both my reading and Italian has fallen by the wayside a little recently, so I definitely want to try get back to doing both daily. I seem to have lost any kind of routine I had, mostly because of my current shift patterns, but also because I’ve been out camping a lot more.

I’m going to try make some time over the next few weeks to sit down and look at my goals. I want to make sure they’re all still relevant and aligned and see if there is anything else to add for the coming months.

6 Month Update

One of the things I really wanted to do this year was a multi-day hike. I now have one under my belt and will be heading off on the next in just a few days. I’m so glad that I managed to get out on the Dale’s Way before taking part in the upcoming Highlander 100km Lake’s event, as it’s definitely built my confidence and prepared me for what to expect. I can’t wait for another 5 days out on the trails and the opportunity to catch up with friends that I’ve not seen in far too long.

Wainwrights:

I’ve made a big dent in hiking the Wainwrights, having ticked off 77 so far. The last few weeks of incredible weather has made it easy to get out and make the most of my days off, with at least one big hike a week. Day after day of wall to wall sunshine hasn’t really felt like spring in the Lake District, but I will take it! The clear skies have made for some exceptional views from the tops and very rewarding post hike dips. I’ll be doing a post soon on some of my favourite routes so far, so keep your eyes peeled if you’re looking for some inspiration.

Northumberland with Black Rock:

At the end of April I took my best mate on a mini-adventure around Northumberland. thanks to Black Rock Adventures. We headed out in one of their converted jeeps for some relaxation and waterfall hunting. We actually spent our first night just over the border in Scotland, and stayed at Rue Du Chateau camping, which I would highly recommend. There are so many incredible swim spots in and around Northumberland, it’s hard to decide where to head when limited on time. The jeeps are kitted out with everything you need for an adventure, with a rooftop tent, cooking facilities, fridge and water. You can find out more about the jeeps and their availability here.

Scotland:

May started with some family time in Scotland. Paddleboarding, waterfall hunting, reading and lots of card games. I feel very lucky to be able to have this quality time with my parents and grandad, and share a place that’s special to them. They’ve been going to the same cottage in Rockcliffe for a few years now and we have a lovely relationship with the owners. This was the second time I’ve been able to join them for part of the trip, with the first being back in September, just after I’d moved back from Cornwall. It was the perfect place to reflect on the 6 months prior, and I even managed to find a waterfall just down the road from the cottage. It’s a pretty special spot, with some spectacular sunsets over the estuary.

Wales with Mac in a Sac:

In May, I also had the opportunity to head down to Wales with the Mac in Sac team. This was the second of their adventure days that I’ve been lucky enough to attend, with the first being back in 2021. We had a day filled with hiking, abseiling, laughs and glorious weather. It was a lovely opportunity to catch up with friends that I haven’t seen in ages, as well as meet some new faces. The event took place in Llanberis, with a hike up to the Anglesey barracks, which is an incredible spot to check out if you’ve never been. The day was topped off with a well needed cool down dip in Llyn Padarn.

We were kindly gifted some gear, including their down jacket, waterproof packable mac and down gilet. Their down jacket is an absolute favourite of mine for taking hiking and camping as it packs down so small. If you’re on the lookout for one, I’d highly recommend checking them out.

The Next 6 Months

As much as I’m loving my life right now, I’ve realised that I’m just not the kind of person who can not have something to aim for. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about potential options, but there’s more research needed before anything is set in stone.

My aim for the next 6 months is to keep getting out on as many adventures as possible and to make the most of being in the Lake’s. I still have both a hammock and bivy camp to tick off the list, so hopefully I’ll be able to make these happen over the next month or so, whilst the weather’s nice (fingers crossed).

I’m in the process of planning a 10 day road trip in Scotland, which I’m super excited about. I did a solo trip back in summer 2020, but with my knee being pretty bad and there still being a lot of restrictions in place because of covid, I wasn’t able to do half the stuff I wanted to do. We already have a huge list of places to go and things we want to do including hikes, camps and plenty of paddleboarding opportunities! I’m also hoping to squeeze in a trip down to Cornwall before the end of the year.

My other focus is to try and put more time and attention into this blog. It’s been tricky trying to find the time to keep posting regularly now I’m back to working full time, but I really enjoy writing it and the responses to my last few posts have been great, which really encourages me to keep making the effort. If there are any topics or adventures you’d like to hear more about, then please do let me know! Thank you to everyone who keeps following along.

Happy adventuring x

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