Mountain Bike Project

Yep, you guessed it. I'm doing another mountain bike film project for my major media project in my final and third year at the University of Cumbria. It makes sense, in that I enjoy shooting mountain bike footage and the majority of inspiration has been collected from mountain bike films. Lately this has been follow me, great music great mountain biking.

Anyway, below are a few quick snaps I managed to take whilst shooting the first part of this project. The weather was extremely against me with lots of fog and damp drizzle.

Expedition Film from Easter 2010

Whilst taking a break from uni work, I stumbled upon our video from our Finland expedition. It made me reminisce about how awesome this experience was even though whilst there I didn't really think this. Beautiful country, cool people. Enjoy!

Finland 2010 from Dom Bush on Vimeo.

Gorillaz Featuring Daley - Doncamatic

I know this isn't really outdoor related, but it's a tune that's definitely motivating me to run. Enjoy!

Inspiration

This year, I have quite a lot of opportunity, within my university work, to do pretty much anything I want in terms of a dissertation and, the cream on the cake, my main media project. I'm really excited about this as it really reminds me of the times I was in school studying art and photography at a-level, where I also got free reign over my projects. I know this is hard in terms of time management but I know I enjoy the process once the ball starts rolling. When the creativity flows and I'm trying something new.

Over the past few weeks, I've been collecting some inspiration for my main media project. It's about mountain biking and how it allows us to explore and have freedom.

Here are a few of those inspirations:

[scattered flurries] from felt soul media on Vimeo.

FREE RANGE TURKEY_dispatch #2 from camp4 collective on Vimeo.

Way Back Home from hyungseuck JUNG on Vimeo.

Even though these aren't all to do with mountain biking, I feel they're shot beautifully and that's something I'd like to take forwards in my own work.

Oxford

A change in scenery to me is always important. Especially when you live in a small town like Penrith. Even with the Lake District practically on my doorstep it's always the same colours, similar smells, textures and people.

My boyfriend and I decided to take a trip down to Oxford, to visit his local haunts and catch up with people he probably hadn't seen in a year or more. So to put it into other words, we got drunk, saw some cool music, ate a lot of gorgeous food,saw the sites, stayed in a posh apartment, stayed in the countryside with his best friend, ate Chinese food by the river and photographed red kites.

Here are a few photos from the botanical gardens.

The End of my Start

I remember walking into that interview room, the veluxe window flung open trying to mask the stale smell emanating from the two male interviewers. I remember stepping through the back door on my first day, my excitement was high in being able to get a job in retail. It seems a very long time ago but perhaps working there just helped to slow down time.

Every week my hours would increase and as I kept up with my biking and other outdoor exploits it began to take a toll on my health. My boss noticing this, had to tell me to cut down. I felt low, how could someone tell me how to live, how could work control how I lived? It was a concept I struggled with for a long while and I contemplated this at work. It lead me to resent working, resent the very customers paying my wages. Even though work fueled the things I wanted to do most, it was a vicious cycle which, in the end ultimately lead to the loss of my job, the job I had craved for many months.

The job that had opened a lot of opportunity was suddenly closing without warning, like automatic doors. What gave them the right to take my opportunity away from me? It's also left me questioning why the outdoor world is so dominated by males. Now all staff at my last place of work, bar one lovely lady, are male. I had a male replacement who's probably no more adequate for the job than I was.

Maybe I'm just being bitter. Maybe this happened to open up other opportunities, which have not yet presented themselves. In situations like this you've got to question where a lady's place in the outdoors is. I'd like to think it's firmly established but obviously the end of my start is clear. A lady's place in the outdoors will always be more of a struggle.

Dusty Dalby.

"What is the point in this?"

I said it. Covering a distance of about 23 miles in 26 degree heat, at first I was happy but then it slowly turned my mood fouler and fouler.

The start was a sure sign of things to come, a "technical" dismount occurred and after that a great big hill which killed my chest and required me to stop and hold up Tim and Chris. But once I'd had a shot of my inhaler, which, I don't think actually worked we were on our way again in the baking heat and an occasional cool breeze.

The first few miles didn't really seem that technical, even some of the black optional routes. It was just long, flowy and very dusty. However, on these long flowy sections, I found it very difficult to keep my speed up and keep up with the others. This frustrated me a little and in my frustration and lack of concentration my foot slipped off my pedal and it landed right in the middle of my shin. Now accompanied with a bleeding gash or two in my leg, I decided to follow the guys down a gnarly rock garden, after which my brother tells me, "the world cup girls don't even do that, they cut down the side!" I was happy but I barely clung onto my bike as it buffeted me round like a raging bull.

After a while, the more technical downhills started to appear. I was tired and I wanted to enjoy them but simply could not push myself to ride as fast as my brother or Tim. There were also very tight downhill berms which lead to a lot of skidding around and praying that I wouldn't top out over the edge.

The home straight was gruelling, my stomach growling for food, my empty bladder a sign that this was too much. We eventually made it back to the centre. The last run down was a relief as my parent's van appeared in the gravel car park.

Although a challenge this was, it's something I know is doable with more riding in and around Cumbria. This will become comfortable.

Crazy times.

Whilst living in Penrith without a car, and without the majority of your friends around, boredom does tend to take hold and it sends you on adventures rummaging through bookcases and boxes shoved under your bed. On one particular adventure I came across my old Whitelines magazines and started flicking through the beautiful photographs and witty articles which make this magazine so special to me.

One article in issue 86 particularly interested me, called 'Will this hurt?' It questions why as beginners, or even as pros, we throw ourselves into snowboarding risking life, limb and humiliation. Eventually the answer appears. CURIOSITY.

In all outdoor adventure sports we've all had that one challenge that just pushes you completely out of your comfort zone, even when you just think about it, let alone do it. I've had plenty of these, waterfalls in kayaking, tomb stoning, and the sport that's really pushed me lately has been mountain biking. One quote from the magazine stood out from all the rest. It tells you of the experience we've all probably had; to "stand firm , shush the voice, trust in your ability to do this thing... and then go". It's something I've had to do countless times standing before a section of boardwalk, urging myself to do the obstacles that present themselves to me on the way round the ride, and to try things which I've made my nemeses.

I think this moment of quiet is incredibly important, it's that moment where you're completely in focus with what you're about to do. The curiosity can finally be answered and we won't be forever questioning why we didn't do something. We won't be tormented by questions of 'what if?'

Whitelines magazine

Job Seeking

Job seeking, for me has never been difficult. I've always walked straight into it and settled very quickly into the £100 or £200 pounds appearing in my bank account on a weekly basis. However, now I have found myself completely jobless, it's beginning to scare me at how hard it seems to be able to get a job. Everyone I know seems to be working which leaves me with nothing to do during my days other than to eat or if I have the car go somewhere to do something.

I feel as if I have no purpose and that what ever I do has no meaning because I haven't looked forward to doing something. Nor have I had the time in work to think about what I wanted to do. I have too much time to think and too many choices. But the thoughts and choices just don't seem to lead anywhere.

It's not like I'm not trying though. It's just nowhere seems to want an intelligent, responsible and well mannered student to work for them. Sometimes I feel it's just beyond me. But I know I have to keep trying and once I have something, just settle for it. Take the boss peering down on you because you made one tiny mistake whilst others sneak off and do "naff" all. Take on extra shifts because you feel you won't get asked again. And feel worthless for those pennies that will, in the end, make you feel better about being a student.

Summer Adventures

Now that I finally have the car back from the grasps of my brother the weather in Cumbria has actually taken a turn for the better. Tim and I decided to make the most of this and do a short ride around Askham Fell. The sounds were marvelous, the wind was just littered with bird song and the sun shone hotly for the entire time we were out.





The second trip was an outing to Black Moss Pot on Langstrath Beck. We saw the sunny weather here (in Penrith) but driving up the Borrowdale valley it soon became clear that it was going to be cloudy although humid. The walk up past Stonethwaite was pretty straight forward, every pool we passed looked extremely inviting and we made mental notes as we went on.


You know how walks always seem longer when you don't know where you're going? Well Black Moss Pot was exactly this kind of situation for me. It wasn't far at all but the walk seemed to drag for miles. As we arrived music blared from some speakers and I instantly knew the local youths were hanging around. I wanted to go back to the places we had seen previously but Sammie was adament on jumping in here and seeing what it was like. As soon as I saw she was enjoying it despite the youths above us, I knew I had to have a piece of the icy cool waters.


Having splashed around for a while we pulled on some layers and walked back down to the pools we had seen before. On entering them it was noticably colder and refreshing in comparison to Black Moss Pot. However it didn't put us off swimming and crawling behind waterfalls. We then finished the day by drying ourselves in the sun on a flat, hollow sounding grass verge.

Although I enjoy university, and learning, I think life is meant for days like these
.
All photos courtesy of Tim Hall

Finnish Canoe Expedition Part 2

Pinks and oranges started to appear as the sun slowly sunk to cast an even glow on the horizon. The colours were truly incredible and I felt privileged to be there. We were all in complete awe of what was happening around us. Magnificent and alive. Away from everything.

I couldn't see! I shut my eyes and I couldn't see again. I allowed my eyes to focus on something and realised that the sun rise was so bright it blinded me. It was awesome. However, the sun rise was no where near as beautiful as the sun set. It was 4 am so I decided to fall back to sleep.

Mother kestrel woke me up bringing in the first feed for her chicks and then warded off a hooded raven. It sounded as if the water had risen and I worried, but for the first time camping in Finland I did not fear for the loss of a limb due to frost bite. I was warm and it felt incredible waking up like this.

The morning was extremely tranquil and I wanted to make the most of the morning by paddling in windless conditions, alas the boys slept in.

Back on the lake the weather was closing in which made it seem so much less spectacular than the previous day. The going was relatively tough although time seemed to fly by as Cal sprouted useless fact after useless fact.

Eventually we made it back to Kuru. The prospect of hauling the boats back up to the campus sat heavy on our shoulders and the now reappearing sun put us all in for a nap on the porch.

A really cool experience. Cheers guys.

Finnish Canoe Expedition Part 1

Two days, Seven Students, three canoes and a sea kayak. What do you have? You have a plan in the making. Apparently. This is the story of our original expedition plan only shortened.

I've always had a bit of an irrational fear of canoeing but it was a decision that I had to compromise on. No one mountain Biked and there was no snow for cross country skiing, so it was canoeing. With the gracious help of the wilderness guides, the boats were brought to the house, from which we would walk 200m to the lake side. Although this seems relatively short, it still proved difficult with the amount of stuff we had to take.

Finally after a lot of pulling, shoving and sweating we made it out onto the lake and were beginning our journey to our island destination. Paddling on flat water, I find is never fun and requires much more effort. However, the Finnish wildlife helped and put on a display quite like none other I'd ever seen. Gulls and terns swooped around the many tree clad islands, squawking and dive bombing us as we passed.

We pulled up on an island to find a local bird enthusiast. He beckoned Matt to take some pictures of the nests that littered the island. He didn't speak English but it was amazing at how a few hand gestures are understood between any human being.

Back on the lake again and we had a slog of a paddle into a fairly strong head wind. I was not happy, especially as I was sat in the front and would not be able to take breaks to rudder the canoe back into position. The clouds above me formed and deformed. Shapes which were indescribable, some which were. Animals and people. This cloud watching really allowed my mind to drift and forget that we still had about an hour's worth of paddling still to go.

On reaching the island I was amazed at how in the middle of it all we were. Seriously close to nature. I felt like an intruder. Our man made materials scattered over the rock. I wanted to tidy but doing so was futile. A lot was learnt from the island. How a young kestrel defended her eggs, how a pair of Canada geese would shreek if we got too close to their nest and how beetles would always find their way into the darkest depths of your sleeping bag.

Busy few months

I've had a busy few months, what with university work, trying to enjoy what the countryside can throw at me and spending 3 intense weeks in Finland, I'm pooped! And well overdue a nice big holiday alas, this blog needs updating and I intend to spend more time showing what's happening over the summer in the Lakes.

Over the past few months I've been photographing duathlon events with be.challenged, run and organised by Ian Mulvey. These have been fantastic sporting events and I have thouroughly enjoyed photographing these and the rush I get from trying to move into position to get the best photographs. Awesome fun. The photos below are from the Newlands Duathlon event. This consists of a run leg, bike leg which included Whinlatter and Honistor passes and then another run leg.

Ian also organises mountain duathlons, which include fell running and mountain biking. This was a very exciting event to photograph.

Still to come are musings and photos from Finland and other various adventures. Speak soon, Bex.

An Update

An update is most certainly overdue. And my reasons... Well firstly winter skills. This is a week where second year students head on up to the Cairngorm national park to learn about winter mountain conditions. Scotland was seeing it's best winter season for a long while and we were all excited. An extract from my journal:

Crunch, thump, crunch, thump, crunch, thump. The beautiful sound that can only mean one thing. Dry pure powder on a clear bright and biting day. Mountain ridges rise above me either side of the flat bottomed valley and standing in all of the glory is the bothy.

There is a silence so vulnerable that a snapping twig would send the whole scene into chaos. It's so muted, cushioned. An occasional woot of joy can be heard as skiers and boarders swish and cut their way through tree infested lines of ecstacy. Snow begins to tumble from the trees and lands with a thwack, occasionally landing on an un-expecting passer by.

After this trip it inspired another, a friend and I decided to go snowboarding and skiing in the same area. We had fallen in love with this part of the world and the amount of snow made it difficult to decline temptation. But what was interesting about this trip was the people watching, I paid particular attention to the people around me what they were doing, their mannerisms. Anyway here's an excert from my journal:

Eyes dark and sunken, beard untamed and blonde hair flowing in waves almost at shoulder length. He carried a battered laptop case, and spent money sparingly. I think he was there just to use the internet, which, in the grand scheme of things isn't such a bad thing. He took his hot chocolate and paid with coins. He walked from the counter silently, his jeans were baggy and his jumper creased and stained with car oil. He was focussed as he had an intense light in his eye. He sat in the corner and got out his laptop.

The day that we were supposed to depart, it snowed like I've never seen it snow before. 40cm fell in one night, my journal explains more clearly:

Crunch crunch crunch. The snow rises up to my knees and it still keeps on snowing. It's am in the morning. It's so magical. My breath, the mountains the trees clad in lumps of the white stuff. Sensibility takes over and we decide that it's best to try and get out. much to my reluctance. We set about digging Sarah's car out but it was no use. As quickly as I dug, the snow fell and covered it again. A frustrating process for both of us. It later dawned on us that this was not getting us anywhere. We trudged down the YHA track and to the camp site across the road, but they didn't prove to be of any help.

There are more winter tales to follow but I thought that was an interesting taster as to what winter held for me. Amazing. Look out for more shortly

Bex