alice out there
Tsk tsk, tut tut, women drivers
April 23, 2018
You know that moment when you realise you have been a disgrace to your gender? That moment when you have let down women all over the world? That moment when you have reinforced every misogynistic stereotype? Yes, this was one of those moments when I was an embarrassment to the sisterhood.... in a big way!
How to be brave
April 2, 2018
Hiking in the desert mountains can be quite a challenge. I didn't set out to scare myself when I set out from Tighmert near Guelmim to walk the ridge, but I managed it nonetheless and in doing so learnt some lessons about how to be brave.
Goat’s milk and boiled butter
March 10, 2018
An adventurer needs adventures, so with that in mind, I packed up the cats, my bike and my hiking and running kit and moved to a tiny oasis in the south of Morocco called Tighmert for a couple of months. I want to see what living in an oasis is like, explore the desert area and mountains around Guelmim and get to know the Sahara people. My first adventure was a hike from the oasis, across the desert plain to the mountains.
Climbing Ben Nevis in December
December 29, 2017
Climbing Ben Nevis, the UK's highest mountain, is always an adventure, but climbing Ben Nevis in winter is definitely an epic. 1350 metres of ascent and then the same back down again. It may not sound much, but the weather conditions make it a real challenge.
A Moroccan Christmas Miracle
December 12, 2017
If ever there is a bad time for your car not to start. Surely, it has to be when you are getting in it before dawn to drive to the airport. In Morocco, though, there is a solution to every problem. This one was my own little Christmas Miracle.
Hiking under the Volcano
December 3, 2017
Misty mountain mornings and bright, hot, sunny days. I spent week of hiking under the shadow of a dormant but rumbling volcano, Mount Teide, on the island of Tenerife, which surprised me with its glorious views and empty trails.
In search of flamingos
October 9, 2017
Flamingos in Morocco? I didn't believe it when I first heard it and then when I was assured it was true, I had to find out where they nested and try to see them for myself. This was one running adventure I was prepared to suffer sore legs for gladly.
Love in the desert
June 12, 2017
It is a Mills and Boons fantasy: the flashing-eyed Arab Sheikh on his long-maned Arab stallion, descending upon a quivering damsel and sweeping her off to who knows what exotic delights. And the reality? Here is a little snippet of love in the desert 2017 style.
Running tales: A thief and a knight
February 4, 2017
Running in Morocco is always an adventure. Sometimes the trails are long and sometimes they are short, and this morning's run in Essaouira had its fair share of surprises.
Whipping down your sweaty shorts
January 19, 2017
Penis envy is something I have never previously suffered from, but the challenges of maintaining some degree of decorum while cycling across Africa, drinking four litres of water a day ... well, let's just say, far too many people on that continent have seen my bare bottom.