New Year, New Plans

I had hoped by now to write this column with absolute freedom of movement and choice returned to us after the last two years of fluctuating restrictions and inability to leave home. However, although I am sure the worst is behind us, we have not fully returned to the normality we took for granted pre-2020.

For us, we are planning on a UK based winter. Therefore, we will give us some time to get the Adamo motorhome serviced, and spring cleaned in preparation for another busy year. We’d like to do a few weekend trips with the kids around the local area – Devon, the Brecon’s, maybe as far as Pembrokeshire. Then as winter, hopefully, loosens its grip, I will be using it as a base for weeks of skydiving training in Devon and freediving in Cornwall as soon as the weather starts to improve. By the end of March, I have high hopes we can return to France, where I will be heading out there on a cave diving filming project. We will be off for at least a week somewhere during the boys’ Easter holidays from school. We are considering Scotland or Germany, as I think, having the UK and a non-UK plan is probably sensible right now.

At the end of May, we’re all heading off on our Alpine Adventure. We’ll be driving the Adamo down to the Alps, then working our way around the French, Italian and Swiss Alps, enjoying some mountain biking, canoeing, walking, Via Ferrata and whatever else is on offer. There are some fantastic campsites up in the mountains, and this area is often ignored by folk who think the Alps is only for skiing in winter. I find the lakes, mountains, and meadows offer much more variety for families in the summer.

I am often very busy during the summer, but we’ll take at least a week to drive over to France, assuming that it’s allowed by then, to visit one of our favourite campsites – Le Pin Parasol Nature and Sens. Only a few hours from the St Malo ferry port, it’s a true 5-star campsite and a great place to relax for a week.

By September, I’ll be taking the 24- hour Santander ferry and praying for a calm crossing to establish the Adamo as our exploration base for a two-week cave diving project in the French-Spanish border. And with the World Skydiving Championships being held in October (in Arizona unfortunately, so I won’t be able to take the motorhome) I’ll be back and forth to Holland, Germany and Portugal and international competitions in the run to the World Champs. And for these, the Adamo will become the Team GB Speed teams tour bus.

I appreciate some people don’t like to make plans or feel as things stand right now. I prefer to make plans. It keeps me optimistic and focused and gives me hope for what adventures may come.