Tim Dobson
Thinker, Blogger, Hacker, Hiker.
A really long wet slippery tunnel
3 December 2020
Exploring a really long, flat, boring, wet, slippery tunnel of doom back in June. In both directions. I shall not be repeating this one. Originally posted on this post on Instagram
Wandering through the bog to Shining Clough
3 December 2020
Went for a wander in June. Grade 2/3 bog squelch. Shining Clough. Met some monkeys. Turned out to be friends. Stayed away from them. Absolute weirdos. With Kristian and Gwen Originally posted on this post on Instagram
Swim-scrambling explained
3 December 2020
Swim-scrambling (verb). Portmanteau of swimming and scrambling and involves scrambling up a moorland brook on a warm evening and jumping into bits of stream along the way. Eg. "After lockdown ended, Sarah and I went swim scrambling up Torside Clough". Originally posted on this post on Instagram
Maria and I went for a walk as lockdown eased
3 December 2020
As lockdown 1.0 first started to ease, me and Maria went for a scramble up Wildboar Clough and down Torside Clough. I'd done this before, but it was surprisingly good value and good quality scrambling on a scenic day, in streams in the setting sun. Recommended. Originally posted on this post on Instagram
The lockdown project I am most proud of
1 December 2020
One of the lockdown 1.0 projects I'm most proud of was a series of talk nights, both with the Climbing Clan, but also Paddling Pals, Caving Crew and Social Clan to share some of the stories and knowledge within the communities. I'm sure I can't remember everyone who spoke at them but I have particular […]
Remember when summer was really warm
1 December 2020
Remember the start of summer when it was really warm? Here's some photos of a walk up Yellowslacks brook with my dad. Memorable from my point of view when I discovered "I've packed water" meant "we have 600ml of water between us". Yellowslacks brook is ok, but the part you can access from the path […]
Lockdown 1.0 was a strange time
1 December 2020
Lockdown 1.0 was a strange time. Noone knew what was happening or when we could meet again. New friendships were born and on zoom, the broken finger crew came together. Why? Apparently we were the only ones to want to stay awake. Lockdown is temporarily but friends and memories are forever. Originally posted on this […]
Spontaneous lockdown gatherings
1 July 2020
During lockdown all sorts of spontaneous and semi spontaneous socialising moved to Zoom. Dean and the gang, Emily and gang, Wheaty, Mat, Helen, cake'n'roll, clan friends etc. I'm looking forward to seeing people's faces in real life, but I won't forget the very silly times we managed to have despite all the distance Originally […]
When vanlife became unsustainable
30 June 2020
As lockdown hit, vanlife became increasingly unsustainable. My style of vanlife relies heavily on outside services – making use of sports centres, supermarkets, cafés and other communal spaces. As these shut down and travel became less possible, time in my van became less feasible. All my power is usually generated by driving. Without the constant […]
Friends came together at lockdown start
30 June 2020
Right at the start of lockdown, some friends got together to cook food on Zoom and chat. Cooking with Company was born. Every week, people will come together on Zoom. Ignore the theme for that week, and share their successes, creations, failures and commiserations with the crew on Zoom. We've had curry night, Italian night, […]
Did I take up a new hobby during lockdown
12 June 2020
Someone asked me the other week if I'd taken up a new hobby during lockdown. "Zoom" was my reply. It didn't take us long to move the Climbing Clan to Zoom and those first few weeks were memorable for the excitement and the novelty. "Should I try and table boulder my table?" "Yeeeeeeeees" everyone shouted. […]
Returning to Eagle Crag – a childhood scramble revisited with Alex
10 June 2020
I was very young when I first did my first scramble up Eagle Crag. I loved it. So when we needed a fun little Scramble off we went up Eagle Crag. Stomp stomp. We walked along the valley. Stomp stomp stomp. We walked up the hill. "Are we nearly at the scrambling yet?" asked Alex […]