How do I begin?
2020 will go down in the history books, and will always be the year when I came to truly understand why “may you live in interesting times” was not the positive phrase I thought it was when I was a child, watching my Dad’s old DVDs.
But throughout all this, small things did happen, so I thought I would write down some updates, while Carl and I look hopefully to the future and start to cautiously plan more time outdoors and adventures to share with you.
I think I might start with some of the most exciting personal news - as we dipped in and out of lockdown, I managed to get a date for my driving test - and passed! I have now inherited the classic old car that takes as much cajoling and kicking as it does fuel to run. The clear (and possibly only) benefits to such a car is that I have no scruples about throwing muddy boots, wet rain coats, or smelly dogs in the back whenever we are able to go out.
Having a car now means that we don’t have to devote half of our time just figuring out how to get to places via public transport - which we did enjoy taking as it was an environmentally friendly way for us to get between trails, but does have many limitations in Ireland. Especially this coming year, where social distancing is still going to be important, I’m so excited and relieved that we’ll be able to make our own ways to trails.
Photos from Coumshingaun, Co. Waterford
At the end of 2019 we started the “Three Minute Trail” series, where we summarised each trail we’ve walked in roughly 3 minutes, packing the video as full as we could with information and links for anyone who wants to go and walk one of these trails themselves. Throughout 2020, while housebound we worked our way through most of the National Waymarked Trails, and have scripts written for the final few.
The three minute trails have been really fun to make, and hopefully these will grow and evolve so that we can help as many people get out on the trails as possible.
Inspired by Kraig Adam’s silent/ambient noise hiking videos (honestly, I’ve completely fallen for them), and wanting to try and make something new, I started making compilation videos, drawing on everything we filmed. Each video is covering 100km of walking: so far the videos for 0 - 1000km, and 1000km - 2000km are out, with the final two videos coming out this month. It was so interesting to go back through the old footage (both for the 3 minute trails and these 1000km videos). Neither of us had any video experience before and it clearly shows, but I’m still proud of the silly mistakes that we’ve made.
Last March I wrote a blog called “The Great Indoors List” that featured many books, blogs, podcasts, and outdoor adventure films / documentaries that were keeping me sane while at home. I think it might be time to collect together another list, and if anyone has any recommendations I’d also love to hear them. A book that will probably feature on my new list is Wanderlust Europe by Gestalten and Alex Roddie. My photos from the Kerry Way are included in this amazingly beautiful coffee table style hiking book, that would inspire even the least outdoors inclined person to daydream about lofty peaks and meandering trails.
We were on the Hiiker Podcast in December where we talked about our hiking adventures, but also about the importance of finding whatever way being in the outdoors makes you happy, and not comparing yourself to others. I also recently chatted to Roisin Healy from Irish Country Magazine about walking and how I hope that with more people going out and experiencing the outdoors, more people will become aware of the actions we need to take to preserve and protect nature (Irish Country Mag Jan/Feb 2021 Issue).
As 2020 moved online, I had the absolute joy of working with Leave No Trace Ireland in creating youtube videos for them, and being part of bringing their Awareness courses to primary schools in Ireland via zoom. I really love getting to put the skills I’ve learnt from Tough Soles towards other things that are important to me, and there’s not much higher on that list than the environment.
I mostly filmed in local forests and beaches, talking about different aspects of how we impact different habitats. One such outing was up to the Hell Fire Club with Coillte, the Dublin Mountains Partnership, and RTE news to talk about the dangers of campfires, and our collective responsibility to leave no trace when we go outside.
The unexpected cherry on top at the end of the day, was to get the new completion patches for the Dublin Mountains Way. I really do love stamps and patches.
Photos below: Leave No Trace Days - filming, litter picks, and awareness events
Continuing along the path of personal news - I have finished (but not yet graduated from) a Research Masters. Surprising no one, I was looking at the effects of long distance walking on cultural ideas of “place”. If you’re interested in going down this academic rabbit hole with me, you can find the entrance over here. Finishing my research and writing my thesis is also the reason that Tough Soles has been quiet the past couple of months - me, sitting in a corner writing, and Carl, proofreading everything and providing the steady stream of coffee and calmness that my brain strongly lacked. This is also why this new years hello is coming in February! I’ve learnt so much from this process of conducting my own research, and really enjoyed the process … but I am also very relieved to be at the end of it, and to be able to work on Tough Soles and all the other things I love again.
As it’s not yet really possible to make concrete plans, all I can say is that we’re hoping to do a lot of walking in Ireland again this year. There are many trails in Northern Ireland that we’ve never walked, as well as Pilgrim Paths, a couple of new National Waymarked Trails, and just general beautiful looped hikes. We might even sneak in a bit of urban walking, if our 5km restrictions continue for much longer.
While at home I started to draw variations of views or memories I had of different trails, and I’ve printed some of them on cards that you can find in our little shop. Being at home so much also sparked a new attempt at running, which for the first time in my life has stuck. Possible running challenges in the future of Tough Soles? We’ll have to wait and see …
And I think finally, I might just finish up with a smattering of photos - it will be a lot faster than chewing over the few thousand words. I could claim they represent. I hope you’re all keeping as well and safe as possible, and here’s to a new year and new adventures, in whatever form the come in!
Photos: Wanders in Marlay Park and other Dublin haunts, the Knockmealdown Mountains, swimming escapades, coffee, and of course sourdough bread, the only lockdown trend that might stick with me forever