Our First Trip

Converting the van has been really hard work, Davy has spent long hours stripping all the walls back, cleaning and then insulating it.  This is the boring laborious part because there isn't really any design involved.  We have also been trying to find some inspiration as to how we are going to deck it out.  But we thought we really needed to spend a night in it to find what we truly need!

So we headed to Keilder forest for a couple of nights.   Kielder is a manmade forest and lake that is situated in the heart of Northumberland, it's not too far from where we live so we thought this would be a perfect place to have our first adventure.

Around the lakeside there is loads of really interesting visual art and architecture.  We spent a lot of time on lengthy walks exploring it all. Lola was in her element.  This little house is called Freya's Cabin which is all carved in the inside and is in a fantastic location overlooking the lake.

Lola was absolutely pooped after so much walking!

This is the view we woke up to every morning

This installation is called Silvas Capitalis, a giant timber head nestled in the woods.

Lola was a little bit scared of it at first and it took a little bit of coaxing to get her to climb the stairs into the top.  This is the view looking out of one of the eyes!

Davy had a go at stone balancing, I think he's done pretty well!

3 of our travel candles, the smell from the Vanilla essential oils filled our space it was lovely.

A Run Around Northumberland With Lola

So it's less then 3 weeks until we go away to Marrakech on holiday, I've left it a bit late to get the dream bikini body but something is better then nothing non?!
I've been a seldom runner for a few years now, I've never really found it easy, some people are born to run, not me, but I do love the feeling after I've completed one, the health benefits are definitely to be reaped.
Since moving here running is no longer so much of an urban chore, I'm not sure if it's because every run is an adventure and I'm not doing the same mundane route.  Sorry this is the second 'Northumberland is my new beau' post but it really does make my heart beat.  Today's run was a good 10.5k but a slow one (1hr 41) because I kept stopping to catch my breath and soak up the views. Here's some pics to share...

 Acomb Hall in the distance

 Rapeseed as far as the eye can see, I just wanted to dive in this field, the smell was immense!

 These cheeky calves, so curious. Lola was too, she's not met that many.

 a lot of Northumberland was regularly under attack from Scotland so had means of defence built to protect livestock.