Tim Corrigan blogs on cycling, trips and programming…

There is plenty to do in and around Livingstone, Zambia, but the highlight for me was a full days white water rafting on the legendary Zambezi river.

18 separate rapids over 24km had us paddling for all we were worth, several people falling over board, swimming through some of the smaller rapids whilst crocodiles watched on from the shore and finally flipping the raft in a rapid and getting repeatedly dunked! This was so much fun! 

Myself and a group volunteers turned travellers drove for a day from Cape Town to reach it and a day back, but it was well worth it. This 216m bungee jump off a bridge is the highest commercially available bungee in the world. 

In retrospect I don’t really know how I came to make the decision to do this – I’d never planned to do a bungee jump, indeed I’d never even really thought about one. But the ever persuasive and adventurous Simon Gamboni sucked a bunch off us into the idea and soon we found ourselves edging out along a wire mesh walkway trying not to look down at the ravine 200m below.

Once at the center of the bridge there is a fairly large platform below the main road level which has suitably pumping dance tunes to get you in the mood and take your mind off the fact you are about to jump head first off the thing! 

When it comes to your turn you are sat down with one guy talking you through what’s going to happen (you don’t hear a word you are so scared) whilst another ties your feet together with the end of the bungee and before you know it you are being shuffled towards the edge of the platform before a quick count and being more or lest pushed (otherwise you’d probably never jump) over the edge! 

It’s then suddenly completely quiet aside from the air rushing past you as you realise you really are falling headfirst off a 216m bridge. The most intense and extreme experience of my life (so far) – and I’m so glad I did it!

In early September, I travelled to Scotland to walk the West Highland Way with my good friend Michael and I moblogged it! Go here to see all my posts from my mobile on the trip (up to 4 a day). It wasn’t our first walking adventure together – check out the last time we went on a long distance walk along the coast of Cornwall.

As for the West Highland Way, the official route is 95 miles – we added on 10 miles from Glasgow to the start at Milngavie, an ascent of Ben Loman and an ascent of Ben Nevis. Our longest day was a 20 mile walk. Including travel to and from London the whole trip took 12 days. 

Note: My blog posts are mostly interesting anecdotes and pictures from the trip. If you want actual information about walking the West Highland Way, try the official site.

Last weekend I went with the University of London Graduate Mountaineering Club to do some traditional outdoor climbing in the Peak District, staying at their Falcliffe hut near Heathersage.

The weekend got off to a cold start arriving at the hut to find the storage heating off and no matches to light a fire. After toying with various fire starting ideas we ended up driving to the nearest shop to get some. Even with a good fire going – I still put full thermals on and didn’t take them off for the rest of the weekend! (I must be going soft) Mark then proceeded to give me the low down on all the climbing gear and at least one rope work related debate ensued.

I should add that I’m far from experienced at this climbing thing – I’ve been climbing for about a year, but only outdoors a couple of times and this was my first time seconding (taking out the gear placements that the leader has put in on the way up). Mark however has been climbing for years and recently got his SPA (climbing instructor qualification) so I was in good hands.

We got in a range of climbing over the weekend – some very succesfull climbing at Stanage, some bouldering at Millstone, some aborted climbing at Froggatt due to a sudden onset of rain and snow (I got 3/4 of the way up a route without being able to feel my hands) and finally some great indoor bouldering at the Works in Sheffield to make sure we totally tired ourselves out!

All in all a great weekend, and I’m looking forward to the next trip with the ULGMC!

10 of us set off to ride some of national cycle route 4! Know the one? Our section followed the route of the Kennet & Avon Canal from Reading to Bath over 3 days. The starters were myself, Liz, Alison, Craig, Andy W,  Michelle, Chris, Ursula and Andrew M.

Day 1 took us from Reading to Froxfield, near Hungerford – a total of 35 miles and a lovely day of riding, despite some surprise hills on the road section towards the end. We rounded up the evening playing quick scrabble and drinking Belgian beer.

Day 2 had Tim B join us with the national cycle route taking us off the towpath for 27 miles of road to Devizes. It might have been possible to ride the towpath for this section (as two girls on folding bikes were doing) but with a group this large we stuck to the designated route. The evening brought huge quantities of curry (and prawn cocktail and chips for Craig!), plenty of beer and killer pool in the local version of “Reflex”. There were some quite hilly sections, especially that one towards the end – but all coped very well – have you all been out secretly training or something?

Day 3 had us back on the towpath for 22 nice flat miles, a stop for some big cakes and an eventual race (for some reason) into Bath city centre led by Liz including overtaking the local cyclists and fending off the double decker tourist bus!

Nick names for the trip: Tim C: Maintenance Man, Liz: My Pet My Responsibility, Alison H: Queen of the Hills (again!), Tim B: Tight Chain, Craig: Prawn Cocktail, Andy W: Where is my food?,  Michelle: Pool Queen, Chris: Egg, Ursula: More Tea!, Andrew M: Marathon Crossover and Alison S: Team Z (drove to meet us at the pub!).

A great trip –  and importantly one in which everyone who started finished, and not only that finished together and with a smile on their face. Well done everyone!

Last weekend Andy, Mark, Chris and I headed over to Afan forest in south Wales for some mountain biking on the custom built trails there. On the first day we rode the Penhydd trail, with a guide giving us some skills coaching including handling switch-backs, roots, and all sorts of other trail obstacles. Andy managed to fling himself over the handlebars but landed on a nice grass bank so all was well.

The night was spent in a B&B in Port Talbot – a town that although not blessed with beauty or wealth was nonetheless worth a visit for the experience (£9 for 7 drinks). The B&B also provided sherry in our room!

Day 2 was pure adrenaline on the White’s Level trail up the road with an hour and a half of technical climbing, followed by enough downhill that we were struggling to hold on to our bars by the end (I have blisters on my thumbs). Everyone came off the bike except me – I’m the cautious one (and therefore not that fast!) but all walked away without injury and a big grin on their face. We can’t wait to go back!

Im mountain biking in north Africa – the scenery is dramatic, the riding technical and fun and the hotel has wireless so I’m able to blog from my iPhone – can it get any better?

After a very late arrival Sunday night (3am uk time) in Agadir we started with a 3 hour transfer by 4 wheel drive to start the first days riding. Then proceeded the setup/checking over of the bikes – 15 hired Specialized hard tails and 1 non hired Specialized hard tail. This took a long time as all the bikes needed to be adjusted after they’d been in transit and a number of people (including myself) had brought their own saddles and pedals. There were also several stripped threads to deal with.

Once we got under way the riding was excellent. A rocky, fairly technical descent becoming smooth and quick towards the end. We did suffer from punctures though and after riding through a village almost every bike had at least one thorn induced puncture so we arrived at our hotel in the dark. I loaded up on pasta and meatball tagine which was excellent. 1 beer and 1 glass of wine later I headed for a fairly early night as I was still recovering from that late flight into Agadir.

Day 2 is to be a 70km ride with a mix of road and off road. 80km if we add on the section we missed on day 1 due to the fading light. If you’ve cycled with me before you’ll know I’m unlikely to turn down the chance to do a bit extra!

The following are two photos of the scenery during the day and the last is the view out of my window in the hotel!

First Descent of the trip

Evening sunlight on the hills

View from my window

Well no-one did the extra bit today because again it was dark by the time we got back. It was a full on day – including a long long offroad descent, an 11km road climb and a 12km road descent. That’s it for now. I’m off to see some carpets!

Start of day 2

My (hired) bike for the week

In a gorge contemplating the 11km climb

Typical morning greeting on this trip: “Morning – how are your thorns?”
Most people have at least one still in their tyre from the night before…

Anyway day 3 included some barely rideable single track, some ‘good’ climbs and an awesome fast offroad descent. Also a broken shoe, some James Blunt on a misty hilltop and some ‘falls’ on the singletrack – see photos and video…

Our trusty support vehicles

Tim with helmet camera at the ready

Juliette's bike after her crash

Emergency shoe repair

This mornings bike maintenance time entertainment… “I went shopping and I bought: an axle, a brake, a chain, a derailer (front), an elastic band, a front wheel, a gear cable, a handlebar, an indexing system (Shimano), a joly nice front fork, a Kona frame, lube, a Mavic rear wheel, a nut (large)”….. Etc… And some people here call me a geek!

In other news I split my small chain ring today, I am now competent at pouring mint tea from height and the riding was great.

Split and bent small chain ring

Mint tea - yum!