Green Holidays

If you are planning any wild swimming – read this carefully…..

There are many waterborne illnesses and diseases carried in rivers and streams – so you should really be aware of the risks of each and their symptoms.

Being safe in the countryside is obviously something you need to think about – but it can sometimes seem like a chore or something that makes your trip ‘less fun’.

For example, ideally you shouldn’t swim or splash about in river water – and you certainly shouldn’t drink it – but how much fun would wild swimming be if you can’t let the water get on your skin, up your nose or in your mouth?

However, these are the very things that could put you at serious risk from Leptospirosis and Weil’s disease.

Waterborne Concerns:
There are of course, plenty of things that could happen to you if you submerge yourself in fresh water, lakes and ponds; ranging from diarrhea, through to infected cuts all the way to the more serious diseases like Typhoid and Cholera.

And you can get really ill or die from infected water – which could appear to be very clean and fast flowing.

Needless to say, if you can reduce the chances of becoming submerged, swallowing water and getting water up your nose then you can reduce your risk.  Also, making sure you don’t cut yourself in the water and cover any existing cuts with a water-tight plaster can be a huge help in lowering the chances of infection.

And vaccinations against the serious culprits will be an advantage.

The Symptoms:
Knowing what to look out for in terms of symptoms after infection can also be a worthwhile pursuit as spotting an illness early will greatly increase the chances of the treatment working and so your chances of recovery will be greater.

Keeping a log of your outdoor adventures will be helpful as sometimes you might not feel ill for around 3 weeks after you entered the water – and finding out where the water you are swimming or rowing in comes from in advance can also help – as cows can pass on diseases in rivers and streams that they have access to.

photo credit: AnnieGreenSprings

Many waterborne illnesses result in flu-like symptoms or upset tummies - which really doesn’t help you much when on holiday as you may get these even if you stay on dry land - so tie it in with your river adventures and act on it. 

Yeah, you might just have a few headaches and stiff joints due to lack of sleep or over-work – but if you had fallen in water in the past few weeks – then maybe get it checked out and tell your Dr where you have been to get a better diagnosis.

An hour of your day for a wasted Dr’s appointment is far better than 3 days in hospital seriously ill!

So, go have fun on the water – but know the risks!

If you are wondering where you plan your first great green adventure – then look to London!

The Outdoor Adventure Show 2011 promises to be even more of an inspiration than ever before with over 60 amazing (and free) workshops in 6 different theatres, including both photography and writing seminars.

With so many experts on hand over the whole weekend and advice from people who have already been traveling ‘green’ for years – you can’t go wrong with a trip to experience it all.

Step 1:
Buying your tickets online in advance can be your first step – as they are £2 cheaper! 

Not only does this mean that you are leaving more money in the jar for your trip – but you can plan ahead what seminars you want to see and if you want to book up on one of the photography courses which will have limited spaces.

Also, you can plan how many days you need to attend for – as the seminars run all day every day in 6 theatres – so you can only see the rest of the stalls and companies and stop for lunch when you aren’t taking part in a workshop or listening in to the tips fo an expert!

There is no point turning up for 1 day for the show only to find that you couldn’t get around it all in just a few hours as you were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of advice crammed into that 1 exhibition hall.

I’ve been to a few of these myself – and you can never get around everything in a day – and you certainly won’t come away with anything really helpful if you do rush about!

Step 2:
Open up a file on your computer and start jotting down your ideas.  Only when you actually put them down in writing can you start to put together a real green adventure!

There are always so many things that appeal when you are at work, or watching the rain lash against your windows – but when you try to make a solid plan they don’t always fit together – such as on a round-the-world trip.  I mean there are only so many times you can zig-zag about in 6 months!

What if 1 thing is totally nowhere near the others?  What if you just can’t get to one place without flying?  What if the things you want to see will take too long?  You won’t know this until you make a rough plan.

So you need to make this plan.

Step 3:
Take it to the experts!  Once you have a better idea of what you actually want – you can run it by a few people that can tell you whether it is feasible or not!

Until you have travelled a certain way or through a certain place – or more likely got something completely wrong – you don’t know how to do it properly!  Experts have this experience!

They could make your simple plan a reality by adding greatly to it and save you time and money along the way – or they could let you know that your plan will never work – and offers suggestions for alternatives or how much more time and money you need to complete yours!

Step 4:
Spend some money and get things moving!  By coming away from the show with something set in stone will really make your trip a reality.

Too many times you leave a show on a real ‘I’m going to do it’ high, and by the time you have sat on the train al the way home in the rain, got back to your house in the dark and fallen asleep with a cold – the trip moves onto the back-burner and another year will pass by before the show comes around again and you get all ‘inspired’ again!

You might be paying to park on gravel or grass – but you are saving the view!

Have you ever stopped and thought about where the money from that Pay & Display machine actually goes? 

Well, have you considered that it is those few coins you push in the meter that are bringing you to that car park in the first place!

Without the ease of that carpark – would you really be visiting that place at all?  If there was no parking in that cute village – would you even go there?  I mean, if parking was banned around Longleat, Stonehenge, The Eden Project, the Lake District, Legoland and Hadrian’s Wall – would you go and visit them?

If your favourite restaurant, gastropub or countryside tavern had no parking – would they be your favourite anymore?

The Penny Drops!
The land that car parks are on always costs somebody money.  Whether it is the cost of maintenance, the cost of renting it off a landlord, or even the cost of not selling it – there is money involved with leaving land ‘spare’ just for cars.

Many businesses and companies think that it is worth the cost in terms of the customers it attracts – and they will usually offer ‘free’ parking to customers.  They will however factor in the cost of that parking into your bill somehow – but you don’t mind paying it in exchange for great food and great service!

photo credit: James Byrum

Others without food or the chance to actually come face to face with their customers sometimes charge for the parking itself.  The great service is however a bit more difficult for some to see.

Countryside Parking:
When you turn up to a car park in the countryside to walk your dogs, spend time outside with your family, visit that castle, earthworks or river, or just admire the view – you are stepping into that service without even noticing.

Someone has had to create that car park – and then maintain it.  Someone else probably makes sure that there is an up-to-date information sign for you to read, a leaflet or 2 about wildlife and landmarks, some seating and possibly some signage to make your stop here more pleasant.

Yet another person might be in charge of installing and maintaining toilets on the site, creating a bus link to the site and even finding/hiring an ice cream van or hot food stall on site in the summer. 

Another team of staff or volunteers may well be engaged in fixing fencing, marking parking bays and bicycle racks, fixing potholes amongst other things.  They may also arrange for bins on site – both rubbish and dog poop – and even for picking up dropped litter in and around the car park and disposing of it elsewhere.

Now can you see the service?
So if you turn up at a place you want to visit and you easily find a well marked parking space which isn’t filled with empty food wrappers and dog poo – the view is just as you expected with information and clean toilets close by – and there isn’t a burnt-out car in sight – why are you complaining about paying £2 to park there?

You wanted to visit this site didn’t you?  And you expect it to be as beautiful as it was last time?  So why are you not happy to pay somebody for keeping it that way?

Sometimes, people assume that all councils just charge for car parks to ‘make more money out of us’ – but if you look closely at parking signs – most of them go directly into funding the site you pay at – like all National Trust car parks (however if you are an NT member your parking is free anyway).

So before you grumble about spending a few coins to be somewhere you want to be (I mean it is just like paying an entrance fee to visit a museum or castle, etc except it is outdoors) – think about these 2 things:

1) The fact that you actually wanted to come here to this exact carpark of your own accord because it offers something special or something different, and;

2) The fact that there are plenty of free carparks and laybys across the country and plenty of other bits of quite similar-looking fields you could go for a walk across instead!

Your choice!

Taking a few wrong turns could really clock up the environmental cost of your green holiday!

Sometimes, you can really enjoy a diversion – and many people plan their vacations based purely on where the wind takes them – but not planning your route when you are aiming for a specific place can really clock up your eco footprint!

Not only will you use more fuel, you may get stressed, have to re-fuel, eat out or even book an extra night in a hotel you happened across out of desperation!

Extra Fuel:
This one is obvious really – if you have to drive further to get to your destination – then you will use more fuel.

However, diverting down country lanes, through villages and up and down steep hills can seriously add to this with the reduced speed, gear changes, stopping and starting and increased risk of hazards.  Yes, sometimes these are the fun parts of a journey – but if you haven’t planned them in advance, they could add money to your budget.

The Vehicle:
By getting diverted off a smooth motorway surface onto a B road surface could affect your everything!

Not only could it put extra pressure on the tyres with the uneven surface, you could drop into a pot hole, spray up gravel or mud onto your underside and even scrape through branches and twigs as you pass another vehicle.  None of which will do your vehicle any good!

All the other little things soon add up too, including the extra cleaning it now needs, windscreen wiper use, brake pads, wing mirrors, general wear and tear, rick of puncture, etc.  You could even lose some value off your car if it is brand new!

I know they all seem petty – but all these things add up over time to give your vehicle a shorter lifespan and you the need for extra resources to clean and repair.

Food & Drink:
By getting lost or taking a long diversion could increase the chances of the passengers becoming hungry or thirsty along the way.  Now, you may well have planned for packed lunches or a favourite pub along the way – but diversions just ruin it all.

After a 30 minute panic to get back on route – you may well find that toilet breaks and eating take on a life of their own and you end up paying out for takeaway food along with its associated packaging and carbon footprint just to feel ok about using their toilets.

photo credit: Risager

Not only will this cost you more in money and time – but could waste the plans you made beforehand – I mean those cheese sandwiches you made before you left aren’t going to last all day in a hot car.  And the thermos only keeps coffee warm for so long!

So eating out has not only cost you more in the first place – it has also caused you to waste your own money and resources along the way – and you aren’t even any closer to your destination!

And There Is Yet More:
Obviously there are loads of other things that can end up costing your more in terms of resources if you get lost along the way. 

For example, an unexpected night in a hotel for you all after a few wasted hours.  Just like the food – the hotel you had originally booked won’t give you all your money back after cancelling at such short notice (and could remain empty all night now) and you will have to pay the full price of the only other place you could find for that night. 

Plus, you may have to rush your journey the following day to catch up on where you should be – maybe missing out planned landmarks or viewpoints to do so.

This leads to the worst enemy of a long journey – STRESS!

The more things that go wrong, and the more things you have to cancel, the more stress you will be under to enjoy the holiday in the first place!

So, plan ahead – plan for problems and plan to have a great time!