Countdown has begun to the 5 peak challenge!

Training has started in earnest for the next Macmillan challenge. The bar is set high after the phenomenal amount we raised last, the task is daunting and surrounded by friends and sheer determination, we are ready to fight.

The macmillan nurses are unsung heroes and as so many of us have had first hand experience of their care, energy and help, we want to help raise awareness and funds to help their quest and battle.

Here's the link if you can help....

5 Peaks climbing against cancer

We luckily have a great park on our doorstep, time and moxy in abundance for a cause, worthy of as much recognition and in need of funds. Challenge accepted….cancer, we will beat you.

Here’s the link if you can spare any money for the amazing and worthy cause, I appreciate not everyone has been touched by this awful disease, trust me it’s awful.

I promise to post pics of the training, any celebrity friends I can bring along and updates through the adventure itself. You’ll see the good and great, with pictures along the way, i promise to keep you informed and entertained.

The amazing Teri Hatcher came along to help spur us along, through our trek around Windsor Great Park, her energy, humour and enthusiasm were astounding. The only thing desperate was the need for our dinner afterwards.

Visit Oakland!

Visit Oakland!

So let me tell you about Oakland. Downtown is a sleepy, friendly version of San francisco, filled with quiet streets, independent coffee shops and cafes, bagel houses and locally owned restaurants.

I love the marina, around Jack London square and the variety of cool bars and restaurants, more upmarket than the quieter streets. Obviously catering to many more people and many more patrons.

The main street runs parallel to the impressive railroad that cuts through town. It’s crossroads and road intersections collide in a most casual way, these huge double decker trains glide through downtown Oakland, just feet from shop fronts and pedestrians.

Walking from 12th street station we stop at the Authentic bagel store, for a local delicacy. Onion bagel with cream cheese and chives, cinnamon with butter. Accompanied with their great coffee, suddenly jet lag, hangovers and general fatigue evaporate.

So much choice!

A perfect start to the day!

Onwards to the wharf. From 11 am the early drinkers can find cold beers in Jack London’s rendezvous, the bar is on a crazy slant, so with or without libation, you’ll feel merry in every sense. I love the quirky, somewhat dusty and unique bar, it might not be incredibly clean but makes up in character.

No alcoholic drinks outside unfortunately, so inside for beers it is!

Just next door starts the parade of restaurants, cool bars and night time retreats. Promising a great night out and catering to every taste or appetite.

Great lunch spot!

The start of the harbour, great place to hang and chill.

Beers again at the plank!

Lunch was in chinatown, local restaurant called ‘Shandong’ full of amazing home made dumplings and hand shaved noodles. Again another culinary must do on your list.

The evening was milling around the great bars and restaurants, involved local beers and great bar snacks, hanging out in Longomare. Another great destination restaurant and bar.

Loved the street art, downtown, so many amazing and crazy murals, so much to see!

Santiago, te amo

Santiago, short and sweet but was truly amazing. The long flight was made better by the 787 experience and with lower altitude, cleaner humidified air, not even a hangover could stop me! Some 15 hours later we touch down in what looks reminiscent of the caribbean.

The flight was filled with lively conversation, chatting to my fellow travellers from Sweden and Portugal, both now living here, discussing plans for arrival. Getting restaurant recommendations, bars not to miss and must sees and dos, this really is a city to explore and fall in love with, you won’t be disappointed. Both offer different ideas, that both listen intently too and make note off, it looks that even if you’ve lived here a while, there’s many undiscovered favourites just around the corner.

The streets are busy and lively, the people friendly, the drinks and food amazing....especially the pisco sour. Please put this on your bucket list, it's a long flight but worth every minute.

Take your time and explore this amazing country, you will love it.

Denver…...you rock!

I cannot tell you enough, how great this city is and all that it has to offer. Endless bars and restaurants, strong music vibe, fun people and loads to see and do.

You would find me each night around Larimer square, dozens of bars and eclectic restaurants, everything to appease even the most particular food aficionado.

City hall dominates downtown, surrounded by a myriad of finance buildings, it feels as grand as the illustrious Washington, just maybe scaled down. The gold dome is a beacon, as we weave our hangovers (from jet lag I may add) towards the epicentre.

Downtown holds not just the 76 acre baseball stadium Coors field and the Colorado Rockies, but also Mile high stadium, home to the NFL Denver Broncos. Plus the Pepsi centre, which is home to the Denver nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Mammoth…..I could go on….there’s sport for everyone.

The Denver art museum is moments away too, an easy way to while away your stay. The museum was designed by Daniel Libeskind, inside you can explore the amazing various galleries, including the brilliant American Indian art collection.

Downtown you can find a huge mall, a theme and water park, an awesome science museum, an impressive aquarium and also a cutting edge centre of performing arts. There wasn’t enough hours in the day to see it all. You could spend weeks here and never get bored.

From wine tasting in ‘The wild woman winery’ to listening to local musicians holding a jam session in a busy bar nearby. To night clubbing (do they call it that these days?) in Vinyl, endless great bespoke restaurants, there is no end of things to do, see and enjoy.

Less than an hour from town, you can be skiing, or in a rock formation arena, that can boast hosting U2…….this place rocks!

Another great example of the local craft beer bars that you can find in Denver, this is located in the old converted train station, stunning building, loads of cafes, shops and bars. Please order the sweet potato fries and one of the craft beers, you'll not be disappointed.

On your bike…..Washington!

Saddle up and we’re off on a fifty mile bike ride around this wonderful city! Starting off near Tysons Corner and heading downtown.

The chiselled and monumental city is more than worth exploring by bike or foot. At every turn and corner is something else worth stopping and taking in…..look up every step, or you’ll miss something amazing.

Besides the near 40 miles cycle into 50 mph head winds, resulting in…...cycle helmet flat hair, windswept and disheveled clothes, battered complexion of a norwegian trawlerman and the blood shot eyes of a morning after Las Vegas bachelor party survivor…...it was all so very worth it.

Washington boasts these amazing and picturesque cycle paths, old rail tracks converted and snaking around this wonderful city. A fit alternative to the actual train and another great perspective to explore the space.

Starting with the Jefferson Memorial, the cherry blossom is just started to bloom. We stop and admire this huge tribute. A taster of the buffet to come. Although after surviving nearly being blown off the bridge to get here, I’m wondering if the adrenalin is contributing or just the appreciation of surviving the near death experience.

Next the monolith of Washington’s Memorial, stunning views and bright skies, make it seem like a film set or endorphin fuelled dream, as it’s surreal loftiness towers over you.

I loved how it evoked a memory jog, from all the movies that have been filmed here, we marvelled at the view to Lincoln memorial ahead.

What a legend! Worth the trip downtown, just to see this alone!

We cycled on the White house, it’s incredible how everything is so close in proximity. Literally at every turn of the corner, there is something else to admire and explore.

Meeting the gang, to catch up and discuss the trip to the park and waterfalls tomorrow…..with a unwelcome guest ;)

Great falls park, just outside of town, twenty minutes from DC and you are in waterfall wilderness. Great views of the falls and great walking trails. Take a picnic and enjoy lunch in the park...you will love it..

George Washington solved a huge problem for traffic on the Potomac River long before he became the first President. He laid out a canal system in Virginia to go around the majestic Great Falls. Genius and modest, what a great man.

Ten bucks entrance per vehicle, which is waived after 4pm. Great visitors centre serving awful coffee but full of great information. Loads to see and do here, trails for all levels and abilities. It draws a real eclectic crowd, even on a busy weekend there’s still loads of space.

High water marks are scarily high, even as late as 1972, where it's about my head height!

Three photo spots of merit, different stations giving incredible views, this picture was slightly off piste but we followed some intrepid climbers down to the water edge *probably best you don't try this!

Watching the paddle boarders sail past, looks far too cold but they were laughing so I'm presuming they were having fun. Unless I misheard and it was cries for help and the spiralled off into the sunset.

Finish with a short walk up to the above dam, along the path below. You'll love the aspect from this side, although the Maryland side is awesome too.