Alastair Humphreys

Posing with a Paralympic Gold Medal I did nothing to earn! @stevebatembe talked to me about how going blind is one of the best things in his life, because it has jolted him into action, appreciation and making the most out of life. I find it bonkers how often I hear this viewpoint, that we need a disaster in our life before we wake up and remember how short and precious life is! Steve is a cyclist, an adventurer, "dad" to a truly messed-up, bonkers rescue dog, and a really, really great guy. Good luck for Tokyo, Mr Batembe! #yorkshire #blog #goniceplacesdogoodthings #alpkit

Saltaire was built in 1851 by Sir Titus Salt, a leading industrialist in the Yorkshire woollen industry. Salt moved his business (five separate mills) from Bradford to this site near Shipley to arrange his workers and to site his large textile mill by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the railway. Salt built neat stone houses for his workers (much better than the slums of Bradford), wash-houses with tap water, bath-houses, a hospital and an institute for recreation and education, with a library, a reading room, a concert hall, billiard room, science laboratory and a gymnasium. The village had a school for the children of the workers, almshouses, allotments, a park and a boathouse. Recreational initiatives were also encouraged such as the establishment of a drum and fife band for school age boys and a brass band, precursor of today's Hammonds Saltaire Band, for men of the village. With the combination of quality housing, employment, recreation, educational facilities and social services the model town represented a landmark example of enlightened 19th century urban planning. So the mill and the village is fascinating to see. The highlight for me (and once again this was partly because it was an unknown surprise to me) was the exhibition of David Hockney iPad paintings on the top floor of the mill. I loved them. #yorkshire #blog #goniceplacesdogoodthings #neverstopexploring

Wild camping whilst cycling round Yorkshire is fun. But even more fun is kipping on my friends' lawn when they are out of town and have no idea I've broken into their garden for the night. This amused me greatly. Plus, they had grown delicious peas which I got stuck into. 😂 Thank you Rose and Rich! (Though you need to get that lawn mowed...) #yorkshire #blog #goniceplacesdogoodthings #neverstopexploring

It is a fascinating thing for an author to walk you around the landscapes that feature in their book. Thank you, @robbiecowen, for sharing your Common Ground with me (bonus point for the kingfisher), and for feeding me so well from your allotment. #yorkshire #blog #goniceplacesdogoodthings #neverstopexploring

It was so interesting to spend a little time at the Leeds Islamic Centre. Evening prayers, the chanting imam, the clothes and looks of men whose families came from lands spread out across my dreams but who are also born and bred here in Yorkshire like me. Stillness, calm, and the surprisingly audible clicking of knees when 100 faithful stoop to pray. #yorkshire #blog #goniceplacesdogoodthings #neverstopexploring

Mastiles Lane: 2000 years ago the Romans marched here, 700 years ago the Monastic monks from Fountains Abbey sent their flocks this way to graze, two centuries ago it was the droving route for bringing sheep from Scotland to London. And today there's just me and my bike. (And a curlew and a couple of peregrine falcons.) #yorkshire #blog #goniceplacesdogoodthings

Epic is an overused word on social media. Descending into Gaping Gill was epic. #yorkshire #blog

"It's alright for you to have adventures," I often hear, "but it's not possible for me. I'm a mum; I've got responsibilities and a job." So I was interested to ask the lovely @Yorkshirerows gang about how a bunch of "not very physical" middle aged women / mums / business owners rowed the Atlantic. The answer, as always, is that it was simple but not easy, and it came down to the choice of deciding to making it happen and the realisation that we are all capable of far more than we often imagine. 👍👍👍 #yorkshire #blog #goniceplacesdogoodthings #neverstopexploring

Imagine the day when you cannot ride a bike any more. When you cannot even leave the house without help. Cycling Without Age takes old people out for rides on this fabulous ebike. Last week Theresa took a 100-year old lady for a spin! Theresa needs some help though: someone with a van in Calderdale who can occasionally move the trike for her. And someone to help with admin, emails etc. ("probably someone's mum", suggested Theresa.) If you'd like to help in any way, please visit @cyclingwithoutagecalderdale or https://ift.tt/2Zuf24M @sustrans - please would you very in touch with Theresa with any advice? #yorkshire #blog #goniceplacesdogoodthings #neverstopexploring #cycling #ageuk #calderdale

Ones of the pleasures of travel is seeing wonderful places - places that fill you with wonder - with your own eyes. But it's an even greater thrill when you have not been primed and prepped by guidebooks and expectations. I had never even heard of Beverley Minster until I stumbled upon it by chance. #yorkshire #blog #goniceplacesdogoodthings #neverstopexploring