Growing Older, Not Giving Up: Finding Adventure in a Different Way

I still love a bit of adventure and the outdoors, but I now have to look at it and do it differently.

Sadly, gone are the days when I could throw a 15kg (33lb) backpack over my shoulders, walk for miles, find somewhere to pitch a tent, and happily spend the night under the stars. Back then, the heavier the pack and the more remote the destination, the better.

These days, my idea of adventure involves rather more forward planning.

Even when I go kayaking, I have to think about things I would never have given a second thought to in the past. Is there an easy-access launch point? How far will I have to carry the kayak? Are there any awkward or lengthy portages along the route? Can I park reasonably close to the water? What might look like a simple paddle on a map can involve quite a bit of logistical planning when your body isn't quite as cooperative as it once was.

Is all this age-related?

Indirectly, yes.

But it isn't necessarily my age itself that prevents me from doing many of the things I once enjoyed. It is the collection of physical problems that have arrived with it — many of which are, at least in part, the result of how I have lived my life for nearly seven decades.

My work-hard, play-hard approach to life has finally caught up with me.

Over the past five years, especially, my body has made its feelings known. Osteoarthritis in both knees, chronic lower-back pain, and a collection of injuries have gradually changed what I can comfortably do. At the moment, shoulder tendonitis is adding another restriction to the list.

For years, I simply got on with things. If something hurt, I carried on. If I was tired, I pushed through it. If an activity was difficult, I somehow found a way around the problem.

Perhaps that worked when I was younger.

It doesn't work quite so well now.

During visits to doctors, hospitals, and various tests, I have increasingly heard phrases such as "at your age" and even the rather less diplomatic "old bones." 😂

For a long time, I would probably have laughed them off.

But eventually, you have to accept reality.

I am getting old.

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

When I finally retired from work last year, at 68, because I had become physically unable to continue doing my job, that reality really hit home. Retirement wasn't simply the end of a career; it was also a point where I had to accept that I couldn't keep living physically as I had done for most of my life.

Would I change the past?

Not a chance.

I've had a bloody good run. I've worked hard, travelled, explored, practised martial arts, enjoyed the countryside, camped, paddled, walked, and generally thrown myself into life.

I wouldn't swap those experiences for anything.

But while I wouldn't change the past, I have had to change the present.

And that means adapting.

These days, my hobbies have evolved into things that allow me to remain active and engaged without constantly fighting against my own body.

Flatwater kayaking has replaced some of the more demanding paddling I once enjoyed. My walks are shorter, but that doesn't mean they have become less interesting. I can spend a few hours wandering through a woodland, exploring a village or visiting a historic place of interest without needing to walk ten miles to feel that I've achieved something.

Sometimes, the journey is simply about slowing down enough to actually notice what is around me.

I've also discovered fishkeeping, which might seem about as far removed from outdoor adventure as you could possibly get.

But in a strange way, it brings some of the outdoors into the house.

There is something wonderfully calming about sitting and watching an aquarium. Maintaining it, learning about the fish and plants, and simply observing what is happening inside that little underwater world gives me another connection with nature.

And then there is video production.

My videos allow me to combine several of the things I still enjoy: getting outdoors, exploring places, history, photography, filming and storytelling — while doing it at a pace that my body can tolerate.

I'm not pretending that I am still the bloke who could strap a huge backpack to his back and disappear into the countryside for days.

I'm not.

But I'm still out there.

And perhaps that is the important bit.

Through my videos, although I am really just being myself and sharing the things that interest me, there is also a quiet message behind them.

You don't necessarily have to be fit, young, strong, or completely mobile to enjoy the outdoors.

You might have to change how you experience it, but that doesn't mean you have to stop experiencing it.

Maybe your adventure is now a short woodland walk rather than a full-day hike. Perhaps it is sitting beside a river instead of paddling several miles. Maybe it is visiting a village and exploring its history rather than climbing a mountain.

And if getting outdoors simply isn't possible on a particular day, that doesn't mean the day has to be wasted.

Find something you can do indoors.

Read. Create. Paint. Build something. Keep fish. Make videos. Learn something new. Plan your next outing. Watch the birds from the window. Do whatever keeps your mind active and your curiosity alive.

Then, when your body gives you another opportunity to get outside, take it.

Because the reality of life is that we are all going to get old.

There is no clever way around it.

Our bodies change, our abilities change, and, eventually, the things we once took for granted may become difficult or impossible.

But growing older doesn't have to mean simply surviving the years that remain.

We can adapt.

We can find different ways of doing the things we love.

We can discover completely new interests.

And we can continue to have adventures, even if those adventures look very different from the ones we had when we were younger.

So yes, I have had to slow down.

I've had to put the big backpack away, shorten my walks, choose my kayaking locations more carefully, and accept that sometimes my body is going to say no.

But I'm still here.

I'm still curious.

I'm still exploring.

I'm still making plans.

And, whenever possible, I'm still getting outdoors.

Perhaps getting older isn't about giving up the things you love.

Perhaps it's about learning how to love them differently.

Farningham: A Walk Through A Quintessential Kentish Village.

Join me as I take a walk through Farningham, a beautiful historic village in Kent, and discover the fascinating history hiding in this quiet corner of the Darent Valley.

 

Although Farningham may look like a peaceful Kentish village today, its history goes back thousands of years. In this video, we explore some of the places that have helped shape Farningham over the centuries, including St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Market Meadow, the historic Lion Hotel, the River Darent, Farningham Mill and the old High Street.

Along the way, we also discover some of the interesting people connected with Farningham, including Admiral William Bligh, Charles Dickens, Marianne Farningham, and Major W. G. Wilson.

It was a real pleasure making this video, especially since I live only a few miles from Farningham. It’s one of those places that I’ve passed through many times, but researching its history and actually taking the time to walk around and look at the village properly gave me a completely different appreciation of what’s right on my doorstep.

I’ve combined walking footage with aerial views captured with my DJI Mini 4 Pro to give you a different perspective on Farningham, the River Darent, and the surrounding Kent countryside.

I hope you enjoy coming along with me and discovering a little more about this fascinating Kent village.

Sometimes you don't have to travel miles to find somewhere with a great story. You just have to slow down, have a wander, and look around.

Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you again... Out & About. 🚶‍♂️🎥

The View from Above: Privacy, Photography and Perspective

It goes without saying that whenever you share photographs or video footage of property or people publicly on social media, there will always be somebody who feels that the images are an invasion of privacy. I accept that. People are entitled to their opinions, and I certainly don’t expect everyone to see things in the same way.

That said, provided I am not trespassing, taking inappropriate images, or flying my drone illegally, I am perfectly entitled to exercise my freedom of expression.

This morning, I shared a couple of photographs of Farningham Mill in a local private Facebook group. They were very well received by the majority of members, with plenty of flattering comments. What I found interesting, though, was just how differently people can perceive exactly the same photographs.

Several people actually asked whether I would capture some aerial video footage over their houses and streets. On the other hand, a couple of people said they felt that my photographs and video footage of the mill were an invasion of privacy and could potentially create a safety concern by making the property more visible to criminals.

Now, their comments were not a rant, and I genuinely appreciate that they were simply expressing their concerns and opinions. Because they were polite about it, I didn't feel the need to launch into a detailed explanation of the legalities of what I was doing.

I could have pointed out that I was flying at an altitude where I was legally entitled to fly over the mill estate and capture images. I could also have mentioned that I am an experienced drone operator, registered with the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority), and carry £10 million of liability insurance for both leisure and commercial drone operations.

But I didn't.

Instead, I simply pointed out that Google Earth already gives anyone with an internet connection a remarkably detailed aerial view of around 90% of the planet. If someone really wanted to look at the layout of the estate from above, they don't necessarily need me and my little drone to do it.

As for the concerns about security and the possibility of increased criminal activity, I would imagine that an estate where apartments start at around £4 million, and where residents presumably pay substantial annual management and service charges, probably has rather more sophisticated security arrangements than simply relying on a gated entrance and a cheap Ring doorbell.

At the end of the day, though, you can't please all of the people all of the time.

Some people see an aerial photograph of Farningham Mill and think, "What a beautiful place."

Others see exactly the same photograph and think, "That's a breach of privacy."

And that, I suppose, is the nature of photography and social media. We all see the world through our own eyes.

Halfords, E-Bikes and a Rather Confusing Definition of Mechanical Work.

Now, I have to say, I’m a little confused by Halfords.

Their website says:

“We are unable to complete any electrical work on non-Halfords E-bikes, but we can still complete mechanical work.”

Fair enough. I have no problem with that.

My e-bike is UK-compliant, and all I needed was for Halfords to refit my front tyre, because injuries currently prevent me from doing it myself.

So I phoned them, explained exactly what I needed, and specifically told the customer service operative that it was an e-bike.

“No problem,” I was told.

So I booked the appointment, made the journey, and turned up at the store.

And then I was told they couldn't do it.

Now, perhaps I'm missing something here, but how is refitting a tyre not mechanical work?

I wasn't asking them to touch the motor, battery, controller or wiring. I wasn't asking them to diagnose anything electrical.

I wanted a tyre refitted.

That's it.

And this is where I have a problem with the whole thing.

If Halfords' policy is actually “we don't work on non-Halfords e-bikes”, regardless of whether the job is mechanical or electrical, then surely that's what they should say.

But that's not what their website says.

It says they can't do electrical work, but they can do mechanical work.

And when I phoned to make the booking, I was told the fact it was an e-bike wasn't a problem.

So why was it a problem when I actually arrived?

Perhaps there's an insurance issue. Perhaps it's a store-level policy. Perhaps there's some other reason I'm unaware of.

But whatever the reason, the customer shouldn't have to make a journey to find out.

And I'm certainly not blaming the staff member who refused the work. They're simply following the instructions they've been given.

My issue is with the inconsistency between what Halfords says, what I was told on the phone, and what happened when I arrived.

All I needed was a tyre refitting because I can't physically do it myself at the moment.

Halfords, could you clarify exactly what you mean by “mechanical work” on a non-Halfords e-bike?

Because apparently, in this case, it doesn't include a tyre.

And I'll be honest...

I'm still trying to work that one out. 🤔 Also, if I need any components or parts for either of my vehicles or my bike in the future, I’ll be taking my business elsewhere.

Despite knowing I really shouldn’t have done it with my current health issues, I managed to lift the bike, turn it upside down, and realign the tyre myself. Ironically, the whole job took me considerably less time than the drive home from the Halfords store, a journey of just five miles