My First Bikepacking Adventure! It Didn't end well...
Life is full of ‘firsts’.. Your first holiday, your first car, your first house. Some are certainly more exciting than others and some are, well, a bit of a disaster! I took my first bikepacking adventure last week and very much like all of my other ‘firsts’ it had it started out great and soon descended into calamity…
Life is full of ‘firsts’.. Your first holiday, your first car, your first house. Some are certainly more exciting than others and some are, well, a bit of a disaster! I took my first bikepacking adventure last week and very much like all of my other ‘firsts’ it had it started out great and soon descended into calamity…
It’s probably best to start a few months back though, when I went on a little hiking trip to Wales. This trip was all about gearing up to do a spot of Wild Camping. The premise was simple, I want to do a bit more traditional landscape photography and shoot something different to my typical Birmingham or Commercial Photography.
However, as a non-driver, getting about in the wilderness isn’t exactly easy. As my little hiking adventure proved, carrying the weight of a tent, all of my camping gear and photography gear on top was a challenge! As a forty something male with a phobia of gyms, let’s just say I’m not exactly built for long rambles with tens of kilos of gear on my back.
One thing I can do is cycle though and despite my ‘comfy’ rather than ‘athletic’ body shape, I actually quite enjoy cycling and I’m happy to rack up the miles. So the solution seemed simple, buy a bike, put the gear on the bike, cycle out to the middle of nowhere. Sounds like a great plan so I set about assembling the perfect bikepacking rig!
I won’t bore you with the details (I’ll save that for another post) but it’s fair to say my fully loaded bike at least looked the part and with the amount of gear strapped to it, I’m sure most people would assume I was off on a six month trip around Europe. I wasn’t though, I’d decided to go for one night in Wales, to the same campsite I had been to on my mini hiking adventure.
For all of my other sins, I am quite a logical person and logic stated that my first bikepacking adventure should at least be to somewhere I know rather than diving headfirst into a week's adventure cycling the length of the Outer Hebrides… though that is on my ‘to do’ list! So with everything packed up, I made my way to ‘good ol’ New Street Station and set of to Machynlleth.
The observant amongst you may notice that the Cae Du Campsite that I had previously stayed at and would be a guest of again on my bikepacking trip is not in Machynlleth. It is some 20+ miles around the coast. This was all part of the plan, the idea being to get some miles under my belt to see how the bike, the gear and my legs all held up on some of the kind of terrain that I plan to be travelling on more often.
This would be a relatively easy feat to even most amateur cyclists. However, with a strong headwind, rain, the weight of the bike plus my hefty size - it would be a bit of a struggle. As I set out from the station, the riding was pretty nice. The scenery certainly pulled me along with every turn seemingly revealing a rewarding view. It felt like I was climbing forever as I skirted the coastline but the descent into Aberdyfi was worth the effort.
After a very brief stop I could see the rain heading in off the sea so decided to keep going. A little over 14 miles into my journey I hit Tywyn where the heavens opened and I had my first taste of bikepacking in a storm. I laughed it off as this was all part of the ‘test’ but like some cruel joke, this was just a light shower compared to the downpours I would endure over the next 24 hours!
As I cycled out of Tywyn and along a beach road, I stopped for a snack and after jumping back on my ‘hog’ I noticed the rear tyre was a little squishier than usual. Ah, my first puncture! No bother, I thought, a little air and I’ll fix it when I get to camp… That was wishful thinking and before long, the innertube was completely deflated and soon after, my spirits would be the same.
Around this time, a full blown thunderstorm broke out and it was clear that I was not going to make it to camp anytime soon! I found shelter under a tree and with a half dozen sheep watching me, decided to swap the knackered innertube for a good one. A wise choice I thought as making it to the campsite was going to be a challenge with only one working wheel.
My decision was soon challenged when I attempted to get the wheel back on the bike. The axle refused to tighten up and without getting too technical, you kind of need that to happen otherwise the wheel drops off. After several failed attempts and even more expletives shouted at the wheel, I pretty much gave up - I was pushing the bike to the campsite!
As I watched the thunderstorm slowly push on (happily in the opposite direction to me!) I thought I’ll have a look online and see what the smart people recommend - there I found my solution and this very Reddit post saved me! ‘Try loosening the hanger’ it said, well I did and guess what, it worked! The axle started to tighten and I was back on my way!
Full of beans after my Reddit hero had come to my rescue, I made my way the remaining four-or-so miles to my campsite. Even another huge downpour couldn’t deter me. Admittedly, by the time I got to the campsite the rain was so heavy that I decided to not even bother attempting to put the tent out and just stared out to sea like I was in some kind of dramatic film - I’m sure my fellow campers were mildly concerned for my sanity.
Later that evening with the tent up, food in my belly and the sun finally making an appearance, I went for a little cycle along the coast. This was what I was here for. The bike felt light with all of the gear stowed in my tent and with just a camera and mildly damp shorts, I was out on the road. This was how my adventures should be going.
As beautiful as the evening was, I didn’t really feel like taking pictures and I was enjoying the cycling so much, I just kept going. The only anchoring thought was that however far away from camp I went, I needed to cycle back. I got back to camp around 9.00pm, just in time to watch a very nice little sunset and after some food, I settled in for the night with the waves in my ears.
The next morning I was woken to another sound, a slightly more sobering one - heavy rain hitting the tent! At first, as a person who struggles to sleep at the best of times, I thought ‘this is nice’. Then it dawned on me, I was going to have to pack the tent up and cycle back in this weather. A not so gentle clap of thunder brought the realisation crashing home.
I put the inevitable off long enough and dash out of the tent, scrabbling to take the tent down as quickly as possible and get all my gear together. This was in vain though as the weather pelted me from all angles and within minutes, I was soaked through and destined for a day of wet clothes, cold limbs and the delights of a severe headache for my troubles.
“with the thought of a twenty-odd mile cycle back to Machynlleth in my mind (next to the headache!) I decided to call quits”
I slowly cycled back up to the main road and with the thought of a twenty-odd mile cycle back to Machynlleth in my mind (next to the headache!) I decided to call quits on my adventure and just get a train from Tywyn back to Birmingham! By the time I got to the station, I was ready to have a little cry but my tears would have been hidden by the storm anyway. Fortunately, I only had a few minutes to wait for a train.
Looking back, I’m glad the trip didn’t go too well. The whole idea of doing a little tester trip was to see how the gear and I held up to adversity. I know there are a lot of things that could have gone wrong but I think weather and bike issues are the two biggest challenges I would face doing bikepacking, so it was interesting to go through a few challenges.
I only took about ten images on my ‘big’ camera and most of those were of the bike - but this was never really about the photography. The trip wasn’t a waste though, a few tweaks to my setup and I’m itching to get out and do more! I’m glad my first trip wasn’t the Outer Hebrides, that may have put me off bikepacking for good if it had been a disaster! That can wait for another day…
About the Author - Ross Jukes is a professional Photographer and Videographer with over a decade of experience. Working in both Digital and Analogue formats, Ross has worked with international clients, had his worked published numerous times and exhibited his work extensively. With a passion for all things photographic, Ross combines his experience, enthusiasm and dedication to his art form to create engaging and educational content for the photographic community.
Disclaimer: All links to Amazon UK are affiliated links - you will still pay the same price but I will receive a small commission for providing the link. All information provided in this blog is intended either for educational or entertainment purposes and is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, further research/professional advice should be sort before making purchases/implementing any advice given and no responsibility is taken by the author or parties mentioned here within.
Birminghams Ever Changing Skyline - A Trip to Staying Cool at the Rotunda
Photographing Birmingham’s Skyline can sometimes feel like a thankless task. Living in the knowledge that your photo will pretty quickly be outdated when the next development shoots skyward can make you wonder why you bother. However, this is not all doom and gloom, quite the opposite.
Photographing Birmingham’s Skyline can sometimes feel like a thankless task. Living in the knowledge that your photo will pretty quickly be outdated when the next development shoots skyward can make you wonder why you bother. However, this is not all doom and gloom, quite the opposite.
Staying Cool at the Rotunda are more than well established in the city. The landmark building has been delighting Brummies and travellers from all over the world for decades. However, such is their commitment to the city, they continue to be a positive force, so when they launched their Creative Heights II schedule, you knew it would be filled with wonderful events.
I was lucky enough to attend their ‘Shoot the Sunset’ photography session, offering Birmingham based photographers the opportunity to take in the amazing views from the penthouse and capture some summer sunset goodness. More importantly, this was a ticketed event with 100% of proceeds going to the amazing LoveBrum charity, who support countless good causes across the city.
103 Colmore Row dominates the skyline with the BT Tower to the right
Now in truth, I’ve been very lucky to capture photographs from the penthouse at the Rotunda on many occasions. However, it seems like lately there has been a glut of new buildings springing up all over the place and the views only take in around 180 degrees of the Birmingham skyline, with many new developments only being visible from the other side of the building.
The view towards Broad Street with The Mercian and Bank Towers
That said, the view we had was by far the preferable side to be on, overlooking the majority of the city's landmarks. Grand Central dominates the view with it’s sprawling rounded shapes and curves. Not too far though are the Raddisson, The Cube and a whole group of new buildings on Broad Street including Bank, The Mercian and more new developments.
Paradise and One Centenary Way in the centre with Octagon on the right
Looking to the right of Grand Central and 103 Colmore Row dominates the skyline, leaving just enough room for the iconic BT Tower to be visible. Only a stone's throw away is the Paradise redevelopment including One Centenary Way and just behind, the new Octagon building which is creeping upwards at a fair pace. All of this represents investment in Birmingham and even though some might not like the change, it does show the city is still an appealing place to build!
“It was a beautiful summer’s evening and there was just about enough cloud in the sky to give hope of a decent sunset.”
I was more interested in photography though and the weather was certainly on our side. It was a beautiful summer's evening and there was just about enough cloud in the sky to give hope of a decent sunset. The event was sold out so around 25 of us mingled in the penthouse, occasionally popping out onto the balcony to see how the light had changed and see if it was worth capturing another image.
In truth, it’s very easy to create good images from this vantage point as the skyline views of Birmingham don’t get a lot better than from our perch. It was more of a waiting game to see how the sunset developed and whether the view would improve when it got a bit darker and the city lights slowly started to twinkle.
In the meantime, our generous hosts had provided food and drink for us to enjoy whilst we admired the view. The drink was particularly noteworthy as Staying Cool had partnered with the Birmingham Brewing Company to create the Rotunda Pale Ale - which was slipping down very nicely. Being the professional that I am and knowing I had a photo shoot the next morning, I only had a few and managed to bag a couple to enjoy at home!
As the evening slowly progressed, I had a great opportunity to meet and chat with many other local Birmingham Photographers. There was a great range of age and experience in the room (or I should say, on the balcony!) and it was fantastic to see everyones differing approach to photographing the skyline. Some were going wide with super wide-angle lenses, others were choosing to zoom in, knowing they would stitch huge panoramas together after the event.
I chose the lazy option and pretty much stuck to one lens, only taking out the zoom when I had finished my drink so that I could employ the use of both of my hands! Capturing skyline images can be a challenge, there is no one best way to do it and a lot depends on how much work you are willing to put in with your post production. My simple approach would pay dividends as my edits were quick and easy!
That said, I have already seen some images from my fellow Brummie photographers on social media and once again, I am blown away by the amount of talent our city has! There were so many skilled photographers on that balcony and I have huge admiration for their dedication in capturing some truly wonderful images.
As the evening drew to a close, the insomniac in me couldn’t help but chuckle as I thought I would be counting cranes rather than sheep that night! It’s true that the rate of change in the city is huge at the moment and the skyline will be evolving for many years to come - I also couldn’t help but think of the ‘Brmingham, it will be nice when it’s finished’ quote that I have no idea who to credit for!
It is scarily accurate though, it will be nice when it’s finished but as the tongue in cheek jibe alludes to, it won’t ever be finished. That is a scary concept to me and it reminds me that I won't ever see all of the things that the city will become - but rather than being all melancholy about it and worrying about my mortality, it fills me with joy! I can only imagine what the rotunda will look like in 2323 - hopefully it won’t have gone the way of so many of our other lost buildings.
For me, that is the beauty of capturing the skyline. Rather than feeling like a chore that you will never complete, I see it more as a service. The images captured by those photographers on that summer's evening should last hundreds of years. They will provide a snapshot of what Birmingham was like in 2023. Future generations will ponder over where they used to work, live, the roads they walked down and even in 2323, people will still be claiming they went to the ‘original Snobs’...
One thing is for sure though, I really hope it’s not my last opportunity to take in this view and photograph Birmingham from such a great viewpoint. I can’t wait to see how I can capture it for many more years and more importantly, all of the great changes to come!
About the Author - Ross Jukes is a professional Photographer and Videographer with over a decade of experience. Working in both Digital and Analogue formats, Ross has worked with international clients, had his worked published numerous times and exhibited his work extensively. With a passion for all things photographic, Ross combines his experience, enthusiasm and dedication to his art form to create engaging and educational content for the photographic community.
Disclaimer: All links to Amazon UK are affiliated links - you will still pay the same price but I will receive a small commission for providing the link. All information provided in this blog is intended either for educational or entertainment purposes and is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, further research/professional advice should be sort before making purchases/implementing any advice given and no responsibility is taken by the author or parties mentioned here within.
WELCOMING THE SPRING WITH THE BEST VIEW IN BIRMINGHAM!
I’m pretty sure I’m not alone when I say that I can’t wait for Spring! It feels like it’s been Winter for an eternity so when the amazing people at Orelle, Birmingham’s hottest spot for fine dining (and even better views!) got in touch and asked if I’d like to welcome the Spring in style, it was a resounding yes!!
I’m pretty sure I’m not alone when I say that I can’t wait for Spring! It feels like it’s been Winter for an eternity so when the amazing people at Orelle, Birmingham’s hottest spot for fine dining (and even better views!) got in touch and asked if I’d like to welcome the Spring in style, it was a resounding yes!!
If you have any connection with the Birmingham food scene then Orelle will have been on your radar for quite a while. The awesome guys from D&D London had been planning something special for their first restaurant in Birmingham and they certainly found a great spot for it! The 24th floor of 103 Colmore Row offers 360 degree views of Birmingham. But as an additional treat, they also have a fantastic cocktail bar on the ground floor.
And it was a cocktail that was the main attraction and the perfect accompaniment for welcoming in the Spring! You see, I’m going to let you in on a little secret, Orelle are launching their own Speakeasy! A secret cocktail launched each month that can only be accessed by those with a special password! I obviously can’t tell you what it is but what I can say is that I happened to be at the bar and uttered the words ‘Golden Key’ and before I knew it, a kindly gentleman behind the bar nodded at me and said ‘Certainly, Sir’ and the magic commenced…
Please note: I received a cocktail for free for attending this event but no other payment or controls were in place, in exchange for publishing this content
The first cocktail to be launched is the ‘Equinox Sour’, a celebration of the changing season it’s a Pisco-base mixed with fresh Spring flavours including, Elderflower, Fresh Lemon and Butterfly Pea Flower.The highlight being the addition of lemon which turns the cocktail slightly pink from its deep purple colour, referencing the changing of the seasons and lighter days and evenings.
However, as much of a treat as the Equinox Sour was, there was something else that had piqued my interest, and that was the views! Even though the promise of a beautiful sunset to mark the changing of the season would have been the perfect way to say goodbye to the Winter - This is England, so of course it was raining! Nonetheless, the views are breathtaking no matter the time of day or night and regardless of the weather conditions!
“I can safely say, those views never lose their appeal and you certainly have to experience them in person to appreciate them.”
In truth, I’m no stranger to the building. In fact, my relationship with the site started many years ago when I joined a group of other photographers to photograph from the roof of the Natwest Tower, which stood on the site before being demolished and replaced by the new 103 Colmore Row.
I was very fortunate to photograph the building throughout its construction and was present at many of the key milestones. I even got to interview the guys from D&D when they first saw the new restaurant space before it was transformed into the beautiful environment you now see. So I have been fortunate to see the panoramic views on many, many occasions. I can safely say, those views never lose their appeal and you certainly have to experience them in person to appreciate them.
However, back to the fun stuff and after watching the Equinox Sour slowly transition from a deep violet to a beautifully layered mix of pinks and purples, it was time to taste it! Wow, is all I’ll say. I’m no cocktail connoisseur, but what I can say is it certainly got my attention! I can see why it’s creator, Tiago Bastos, Orelle’s bar manager thought that this would be the perfect accompaniment to bring in the fresh, bright new season! If only the weather had been a bit more fitting, but I’m not complaining…
After pretty much glugging the cocktail down, I couldn’t help but grab some shots of the views - regardless of how many times I see them, there is always something new to appreciate. In truth, these are far from my best images I’ve taken from this vantage point but I actually really liked the moody ‘Blade Runner’-esque vibes - I could even live with the warm reflections from inside the restaurant which almost felt like light leaks on an old roll of film - something I would know all about!
And while I’m at it, how amazing does the restaurant look?! I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure of trying the food yet but one thing is for sure, anything would taste better in these surroundings, possibly even my cooking! The warm, welcoming interior screams class with just enough of a hint of fun, and when combined with the ground floor cocktail bar, you can certainly tell that the guys at Orelle are offering something truly special for visitors from Birmingham and beyond.
Thank you again to the guys at Orelle and ReWired PR for the very special invite and complementary cocktail. If you get the chance to experience the bar and restaurant for yourself, don’t forget to utter the magic words (Golden Key!) to one of the bar staff for a very special treat - Oh, and grab some photos of that view!!
About the Author - Ross Jukes is a professional Photographer and Videographer with over a decade of experience. Working in both Digital and Analogue formats, Ross has worked with international clients, had his worked published numerous times and exhibited his work extensively. With a passion for all things photographic, Ross combines his experience, enthusiasm and dedication to his art form to create engaging and educational content for the photographic community.
Disclaimer: All links to Amazon UK are affiliated links - you will still pay the same price but I will receive a small commission for providing the link. All information provided in this blog is intended either for educational or entertainment purposes and is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, further research/professional advice should be sort before making purchases/implementing any advice given and no responsibility is taken by the author or parties mentioned here within.