Mini Adventures

Like any father of two young children, I have a pretty full week. With work, spending great time with family and fitting in all the other things that a typical week brings, my opportunities  for big adventures are fairly limited. So I have embraced the ideas around mini adventures. Alastair Humphries spent a year doing and encouraging short, easily accessible adventures. I hope to take on some of his ideas later this year.

Quite often the adventure occurs not simply because of the physical act, but by the headspace you place yourself in. I'm fortunate enough to have plenty of opportunities to leave the front door and be surfing, riding single track or rock running within minutes. This weekend, in each of these I thought I would push things, perhaps scare myself in the process and gain adventure.

So, surfing just over head high waves I took off later, dropped into closeouts, went when it would have been easier (or more sensible) not to. Caught some great waves and 'enjoyed' some great poundings.

Mountain biking my usual loop I decided to go as fast as I could, not necessarily on the up hills, but going down. Nearly had a couple of close encounters with some trees, learnt a little more about the subtle use of rear break through a corner when you are pushing the limits and ended up beating my best time by a good two minutes!

My run route takes me down the beach towards a rocky headland. I usually turn around from there but today, with the tide low, I could see that I could rock hop a fair way down the headland. Going as fast as you can without slipping or rolling an ankle is a real balance, in more ways than one. I got to a large rock wall, about 10 foot high, but with some nice big holds to get myself up. From the top I noticed a ridge line up to the top of the headland, where I knew there was a path back towards home. The ridge was less than a metre wide with a 20 odd metre drop on the other side. One of those moments where you think that it wasn't the smartest place to find yourself, that it is probably easier to keep going rather than heading back and that this is great fun! Up to the top and then running towards the path where I joined my usual loop.

All three events had me away from home for no more than an hour.

And in getting home, each time I felt I had enjoyed a short, but great adventure.