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Rufus Campbell-Blackboard

@campbellblackboard

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Grateful for the little things, wild swimming and mountain biking. Also, isn’t the world beautiful? #actuallyautistic #chronicfatigue #autisticburnout

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Perfecting the lobster tan 🦞

The struggle is real….

#coldwatertherapy #justlookatthatwater #blue #getoutside #friends #rocklobster #theoutdoorswimmingsociety by @campbellblackboard

Rock Lobster 🦞🧜‍♀️♥️

Winter swims are most definitely here again. We walked in under the last of the sunshine, ranting about bad parking (not me for once) and catching up on the gossip. Lovely to see the river is a little higher, and we got changed in the mud and fallen leaves, stuffing our clothes into dry sacks at speed. Such a joy to be swimming in a chilly river again, but soon the 8 degrees water nipped at our toes (and other bits 😳), and it became less chatting and more hard swimming. The fallen tree has broken off and is now lodged by the bridge. We arrived lobster pink and full of the joys of cold water, and nearly died with laughter at the sight of Joe struggling into his skinny jeans. Thanks @amy.floating.along and Joe, that was amazing. Although we really need some speed in the swoosh if we’re going to keep swimming the full kilometre all winter 🥶🧜‍♀️😂💙

#swimwildandfree #gratitude #winterswimming #natureheals #autisticjoy by @campbellblackboard

Everyone should be born into this world happy and loving everything,
But in truth it really works that way.
For myself I have spent my life clamouring towards it.
Halleluiah, anyway I am not where I started.

Halleluiah, I am sixty now, and even a little more,
and some days I feel I have wings.
Mary Oliver.

These words sing to me! Yes, my life has not always been easy. Depression, eating disorders, anxiety, late diagnosed autism and ADHD, all the therapies, many of the drugs, and yet…. Life can be incredibly, wonderfully joyful, and getting older and wiser has given me wings! Just keep going, believe in yourself, be grateful for the miracles of life and say no to those drains (yes, you know what they are). And make time to stop and soak in the beauty of our wonderful world 💚

#gratitude #sixtysomething #mentalhealthmatters #autisticjoy #justkeepgoing by @campbellblackboard

Staring at the sea….

Beautiful bike ride to a remote cove at the end of the world. Glimpses of blue sky and glimmers of sunshine setting the world on fire. We eventually found a suitable place for me to plop into the aquamarine waters, and I rolled around like a porky seal, squealing with joy as a pair of curlews flew overhead. Such serene beauty. Such silence. Such steep hills!

And swipe to the end for the scariest thing you will see this Halloween 🎃

#swimwildandfree #scotland #chronicfatiguewarrior #explore #midges by @campbellblackboard

Sunset swim…..

Thank you @timmyslates, that was absolutely magical. The bats fluttering around in the dying light were the perfect end to a beautiful day.

#swimwildandfree #ardnamurchan #seaswimming #autisticjoy #love by @campbellblackboard

We eat in only the best places….

Epic adventure miles into the hinterland so that I could skinny dip in a very high, very remote, very exposed loch. When we finally arrived the wind was blowing a hoolie, so we were extremely grateful to this lonely boathouse to shelter behind and eat lunch. And yes, the loch was blinking freezing and I swear nothing has ever tasted so good or so warming as this lentil soup. We walked back over the russet wilderness with fleeting glimpses over Skye and the little isles, feeling wonderfully alive. Praise be 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙

#explore #ordnancesurvey #wildernesswalks #skinnydip #swimwildandfree by @campbellblackboard

Off my tits on watery joy….

There is nothing I like more than plopping into the sea from a barnacle infested rock. This is one of our favourite spots to sit and watch the seals, otters and cormorants, and if we are lucky to enjoy a sunrise or sunset swim (yes, it is utterly magical). Today, however, the sea was choppier than expected, and we didn’t really want to be smashed into aforementioned rocks. But despite the grey light, the sea was mesmerisingly blue and incredibly tempting. We identified a safe exit point, and in I plopped like a porky seal. Such heaven to be tossed around in the clear waters and then spat out to be caught and dragged to safety by @timmyslates. Utter joy. Praise be 💦🧜‍♀️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙

#swimwildandfree #getouside #joy #whatmoodswings #sensoryjoy by @campbellblackboard

Staring at the sea….

At last the wind has dropped enough for us to get out on our bikes without being blown into outer space. Lush ride across a post apocalyptic landscape to a deserted beach. Riding across a sandy beach always makes me feel like a child (eat your heart out Enid Blyton), but I had forgotten just how hard it can be! Topped off with a lush swim and play in the crashing waves; perfection. It started to piss it down just as we were getting home, our hearts full of wild joy. And our pants full of sand. Praise be 🧜‍♀️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙

#swimwildandfree #getoutside #mountainbiking #nevergrowup #autisticjoy by @campbellblackboard

When you finally get your swim after Storm Boelo has kindly done one….

Exciting couple of days in the wilds of Ardnamurchan. The journey up was hazardous to say the least, and we were lucky enough to catch the last ferry across the Corran Narrows before they stopped running, and boy was it rough! What an incredible job those ferry workers were doing, managing to stay cheerful and collect fares while being tossed around and slapped in the face by freezing waves. The wind was mental, but we luckily got to our cottage without being hit by debris (filling with fuel was like an event on Its a Knockout). But the storm damaged all power supplies on Saturday night, and we awoke to no heat, no electricity, no internet and howling winds. Wasn’t the best start to our holiday, but goodness knows how the locals cope living here full time and staying so helpful. Forty hours later and power has been restored, but it has been wild to say the least. In good news, Boelo has blown in a mass of redwings from Iceland, so I have been able to enjoy watching them having the best time swooping in the wind and munching on plenteous berries. Enormously grateful for the luxuries we take for granted; warmth, hot food, light, the internet… and COFFEE. Praise be.

#gratitude #stormboelo #powercut #coldwatertherapy #natureheals by @campbellblackboard

When the water has dropped into single figures and you stay in a little bit too long…. 🥶🧜‍♀️🦞

Absolutely fabulous and freezing swim with the wonderful @_emma_thackray. I must admit it was rather daunting to swim with a body builder (let alone one who has been crowned Miss Universe), but Emma is not only incredibly friendly, she is also very silly and totally bonkers. A perfect combination in my humble opinion. We were about to get out (honest) when some crazy mallards nearly crashed into us, and a kingfisher lured us upstream. So we stayed in longer than we probably should. We emerged lobster pink and totally high on life. Thanks Emma, that was blinking amazing 💙

#swimwildandfree #thestoics #wonderfulwildwomen #coldwatertherapy #joy by @campbellblackboard

Slowly, slowly the world is turning gold 🍁💛

Decidedly wintery swim with @amy.floating.along and Joe. So good to catch up with these two nut jobs, and swim in the mist and the mizzle. The leaves are turning brown, and recent rain fall has made the river rise enough to make swimming under the dead tree interesting (it nearly stole my bobble hat), but not enough to make the swoosh any swooshier. Swimming for over twenty minutes in chilly water (around 10 degrees) was quite a shock to the system, and my bare feet were a tad frozen when we finally emerged. But such laughter! Such joy! And without doubt, the best swim ever 😂🧜‍♀️💦🍁💚

#swimwildandfree #thestoics #mentalhealthmatters #coldwaterswimming #autisticjoy by @campbellblackboard

Autumn bike rides…

When you are alternately blinded by low slung sunshine, skidding on dewy grass, getting spattered with shit and overwhelmed by the miraculous beauty of nature doing its thing. Exquisite chilly thirty miler with views to die for. Highlights were being overtaken by a green woodpecker (twice!) and having a fly over of pink footed geese. Praise be 🍁💚

#mountainbiking #getoutside #solitude #chronicfatiguewarrior #autumndays by @campbellblackboard