04 August 2025

Exploring Canada & Alaska: A Trip to Remember...! In May, I had the absolute pleasure of taking a truly unforgettable trip with my dad – a journey that blended breathtaking scenery, once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters, and some amazing travel experiences. Our adventure began in style, flying Business Class with Air Canada to Vancouver (my first time!). The service, comfort, and space made for such a relaxing start to the trip, and I can confidently say it’s a great way to begin any long-haul adventure. We spent our first night in Vancouver, soaking in the lively atmosphere before boarding our next big adventure – a 7-night cruise up Alaska’s Inside Passage on Holland America Line’s Koningsdam. I hadn't sailed on Holland American before, and not in a cruise like this, I had previously only done warm weather European cruises. This one was perfect if you are the sort of person who likes to explore new places, learn about the history and culture and see some amazing wildlife in its nature habitat. The dress code was very casual but you could dress up in the evenings if you wanted. We had one Speciality Dining meal included in our cruise and enjoyed all the dinners in the other restaurants. Lots of variety for all appetites. There was entertainment each night in the theatre - comedian, ventriloquist, dance company and a magician. Something for everyone. The Inside Passage cruise was simply incredible. From the moment we set sail, the scenery was stunning – dramatic coastlines, snow-capped peaks, and endless views of untouched wilderness. Juneau – famous for its glaciers and whale-watching opportunities (this is where we saw an Orca during a wildlife tour). Skagway – a charming Gold Rush town with a rich history (I can highly recommend the White Pass Yukon Route train journey). Glacier Bay National Park – an awe-inspiring highlight, where we witnessed towering glaciers and pristine wilderness, and Ketchikan – full of culture and vibrant native history. And full of Lumberjacks - this is the place to take in a Lumberjack Show! And the wildlife! We were lucky enough to spot humpback whales, bald eagles, sea otters, and an orca – an unforgettable experience. Back in Vancouver, after the cruise, we had three days to explore Vancouver properly, and it didn’t disappoint - Grouse Mountain – with stunning views over the city on a glorious day. Stanley Park – which we explored by bike and even enjoyed a morning run around the famous seawall the following day. Granville Island – we got there via a fun and quick little ferry boat ride and found the place full of markets and artisan shops. And Gastown – Vancouver’s historic heart, with its iconic steam clock and great restaurants. Next, we boarded the world-famous Rocky Mountaineer, travelling in GoldLeaf Service – an absolute highlight of the trip. From Vancouver, we made our way through stunning scenery to Kamloops for an overnight stop before continuing to Jasper. The glass-domed carriages, friendly staff, and incredible food and drink made this experience truly special. On the way, we even spotted a black bear and an elk just before arriving in Jasper. We spent a couple of days exploring Jasper, including a fantastic wildlife tour with Maligne Adventures. They showed us areas affected by last year’s devastating wildfires, a sobering reminder of nature’s power and resilience. Despite the damage, Jasper’s beauty remains, and wildlife like elk and bears still roam freely. From Jasper, we joined Brewster Sightseeing for a spectacular coach tour along the Icefields Parkway – one of the world’s most beautiful drives. We stopped at the Columbia Icefield, where we actually stood on a glacier, before continuing to Lake Louise. While stunning, it was busy and, thanks to a spot of rain, not at its best that day. My personal favourite stop on this drive was Lake Peyto – its bright, almost unreal blue colour was jaw-dropping. Our final destination was Banff, and it quickly became one of my favourite places. With its fresh air, mountain views, and endless outdoor activities, it’s somewhere I could easily imagine living. The weather was perfect while we were there, allowing us to make the most of everything Banff has to offer. This trip was busy, full-on, and absolutely amazing. It opened my eyes to just how diverse and beautiful Canada is, from its bustling cities and serene lakes to its wildlife and mountains. Experiencing this with my dad made it even more special, and it’s given me a whole new list of places to return to and explore further. If Canada or Alaska is on your travel wish list, I can’t recommend it highly enough – and I’d be happy to help you create your own unforgettable adventure.

13 January 2023

During a cold Nov in 2022, I received a call from the Barbados Tourism Board asking if I would be interested in going to Barbados to see what the country had to offer + to take part in a running festival called ‘Run Barbados’. After several questions to find out costs, logistics + dates, the checking of the diary + a mental check on how fit I was to run any distance having been on a bit of a break training wise, I thought, life is too short, I’ve never been to Barbados, I don’t know when I will get the chance to go again, let's do it. So, 3 weeks later a party of travel agents arrived at Heathrow excited to see what this trip was all about. An 8hr flight to Barbados + wow some actual warm air as we got off the plane, even at night. Just what I needed having been living through a cold snap with subzero temperatures back in the UK. Throughout the whole of the trip, everyone was very friendly + accommodating - you are guaranteed a Bajan welcome wherever you go! All the islands in the Caribbean are very different in terms of their own characteristics, landscapes + traditions + Barbados is renowned for its stunning beaches, turquoise waters + rum punch! Most of the luxury hotels + resorts are based on the West Coast which is nicknamed the ‘Platinum Coast’. Being the more sheltered side of the island, it’s good for swimming/snorkeling whilst the South offers a different experience + a great spot for family holidays or with groups of friends, due to the restaurants, bars + nightclubs of St Lawrence Gap + Oistins, with its famous Fish Friday (every Friday, hundreds of tourists + locals gather in the small fishing village of Oistins for a knees up +to enjoy a feast of freshly caught fish n chips). The ‘Barbados Run’ festival used to be held on the West coast but they have now moved it to the East Coast where it’s cooler with the Atlantic breeze coming in + less populated, to make it easier for the event organisers. If you are an experienced surfer, the East Coast is definitely a place to bring your surfboard whilst the North of the island has many secluded coves + a rugged coastline to explore. It takes approx. 1hr to travel one length of the island by car (it’s 21 miles long + 14 miles wild). As with most places, taxis are the easiest way to get around + cabbies are a great way to the see the island as they are packed with lots of knowledge of the island + its history. The beaches in Barbados are the many reasons why people flock back year after year + they are constantly voted the best in the Caribbean. Every beach in Barbados has public access so you never feel intimidated to enter a beach. There are plenty of water sports + activities available on the South + West Coast + if you are looking to conquer the Atlantic surf then Surfer’s point in Christchurch is the ideal place to start. There are also plenty of championship golf courses to practice your swing on. Or why not try a catamaran tour for a bit of sun, sea, wildlife + adventure which we did, to relax after the runs + what a blast it was. Just what we needed to take away any aches and pains. ‘Barbados Run’ is an event that has been going for almost 40 years with a variety of distances to choose from – starting at 3km through to a marathon. You don’t need to be an experienced runner + you don’t have to ‘race’ as such. There’s even a 3km walk you can enter. Yes, there are prizes for the winners of each race + age category (I won my age group in the 5km race + came in the top 10 in the half marathon), but it’s about bringing together friends + families, + having fun in a safe environment, experiencing the friendly local culture, with the sounds of steel pan, whilst enjoying a cool ocean breeze + the natural beauty of the East coast. And the medals that each competitor gets for taking part are awesome too! Barbados is a great destination for year-round sunshine + warm weather with temperatures between 23-30’C. Across the Caribbean there is a wet + dry season, with Dec to Mar/Apr being a good time to visit with the least chance of seeing rain and lots of sun (high season). May to Oct is when the rainy season hits the Caribbean with heightened humidity too. There is very low risk of hurricanes due to the easterly position of the island. And rather than non-stop rain, the wet season tends to involve short downpours or storms followed by hot and sunny weather which dries everything out quickly. Some people rate Mar to May as a great time to visit as it’s a shoulder season, crowds are lower, but it’s still lovely + warm. There are races at the ‘Barbados Run’ event across both days with the 3km + 5km on the Saturday afternoon + a 10km, half marathon + marathon on the Sunday. The races on the Saturday were in the late afternoon to allow the temperatures to fall + it’s an early start on the Sunday to get you out running before the heat sets in for the day. Barbados + rum go hand in hand + is on tap virtually everywhere. To get a better understanding of the drink, why not go on a rum tour. Or drink like the islanders in one of the many ‘rum shacks’ that are dotted around. Wherever there is a church there is a ‘rum shack’ nearby! After the races on the Saturday at the Run event, depending upon who is designated driver, there are plenty of opportunities to hang around for a rum punch or two + enjoy the sounds of the steel bands + properly experience a Caribbean night. We were all very sad when our trip came to an end + it was time to go home. Lots of friendships + connections had been made, another destination explored + 5 days of sunshine, topping up our tans ready to make our friends back in the UK very jealous. Everyone needs a bit of vitamin D during the winter months + we all struggle a bit with this, not getting out enough + generally not getting enough sun. So having a winter break away in warmer climates is the way to go + one I would highly recommend. Fly back home with a bit of a tan all ready for the Christmas party season! If you would like to know more about this running event and/or a holiday to Barbados, please get in touch + I can give you further details. Why not plan a family holiday, set yourself a goal + enter one of the races, or just come along as a supporter + soak up the atmosphere whilst enjoying the sun + the rum punches! Or get your local running club or a group of friends involved. Start planning now before it becomes another thing on your bucket list that you have yet to tick off!

24 November 2020

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m a bit of a fitness freak and I compete in triathlons. Every year I tend to go away with my friends on a training camp or a cycling holiday, somewhere warm, escaping the cold and damp English weather. Last year was no different, faced with another bleak winter I needed something to look forward to, so Mallorca was booked. We have been to Mallorca a number of times before to train so know the areas quite well, certainly the areas along the North East coast which is where we generally tend to stay. Alcudia is one of the largest tourist hot spots on that coast which we tend to avoid and favour instead the northern town of Puerto Pollenca to use as our base. From there we can cycle up into the mountains to the North, and if we are feeling brave we might head over to Sa Colobra (a category 1 climb, 9.4km in length, with a stunning set of beaches at the bottom tucked in amongst steep rocky cliffs that makes the climb back up, all the bit more worthwhile). We also regularly cycle from Puerto Pollenca down the coast and across to the stunning town of Porto Cristo where you can sit on the beach and dream of winning the lottery one day and owning one the yachts that are moored up! Pollenca is a lovely small town with an oyster-shaped bay, with the Serra de Tramuntana mountains rising behind it. It's got two pretty beaches both reaching 1-2km in length, one ending up by the marina – a popular hotspot for eateries. There’s a large square in Pollenca called the Plaza Miguel Capllonch and this is lined on three sides with various restaurants and bars so you are never stuck for somewhere to eat or drink. For this particular trip we stayed in a hotel a few streets back from the beach so we weren’t right amongst the hustle but still close enough to get in an early morning swim, or grab some dinner and drinks and not have too far to walk back to the hotel. The hotel we stayed at on this trip was called the Puerto Azul Suite Hotel. A lovely 4-star hotel booked on a half board basis. This meant we fuelled up with a large breakfast which kept us going for the first part of the day, then had a late lunch when our energy was sapping, before heading back to Pollenca for dinner. During these training camps we don’t tend to do any organised activities as we’re training a lot of the time, and when not training we’re topping up our tans by the pool and recharging the bodies ready for the next session. But we do have our favourite spots that we like to ride to because they serve the best coffee in the area or they make great cakes, and when you’ve cycled there you’ve burned off lots of calories so can have more cake!!. One of our ‘must visit’ places is Cap De Formentor, a rugged peninsula with huge cliffs that dip sharply into the sea giving some of Mallorca’s most dramatic views. Apparently it’s also home to the Formentor Hotel, a 5-star hotel with its own private beach – and this is where Agatha Christie wrote ‘Problem at Pollensa Bay’. We’ve never made it to the hotel but I’m sure it’s worth a visit. Another favourite spot of ours is a place called the ‘Coves de Campanet’ in English meaning ‘Caves of Campanet’ but we call it ‘Cats in the Caves’ as there is a small colony of cats who live there. We have never actually been into the caves, we generally just stop for a drink and enjoy the views on the terrace and have a play and a cuddle with the cats! So in a nutshell, although this post is mainly about cycling I hope it also gives you an insight into the island itself, well certainly the North Eastern side which has miles of beaches to choose from, and plenty of places to explore. The weather is generally pretty warm from the end of March onwards with only the odd shower that quickly passes. It’s a relatively cheap destination for a holiday and it’s pretty easy to get around. When can I book my next trip back to the island???