Water – I Am A Polar Bear

One really simply does not walk into Mordor: swimming in a volcano & getting stranded in a lava field

February 2, 2026

This is a really old adventure that’s had two or three posts over the years but deserves a new write-up and a new place at the very front of this blog rather than being buried in its bowels: the day I swam in an active volcano, got stranded for hours in a lava field and … More One really simply does not walk into Mordor: swimming in a volcano & getting stranded in a lava field

What was the best place I swam in Iceland?

October 6, 2025

That was the question my boss asked as I signed off the day before I headed to London. “I want you to do me a favour. Tell me where you swim and tell me which is the best pool”. I already knew that was far too big a question to be answered with a single … More What was the best place I swam in Iceland?

My Paddlesport Leader training course

June 23, 2025

It’s been a while since I added a new instalment in the Journey to Paddlesport Instructor series and that’s partly because there’s been no major step forward for a while and partly because I have an entire separate paddling blog now (I’ll admit it at last: I’m plotting to become one of Paddle UK’s #ShePaddles … More My Paddlesport Leader training course

My swimming routine

June 19, 2025

It’s that time of year! My beloved outdoor pool is open again for the summer season and I’m going to swim – my primary semi-formal exercise of the year! I’m not a gym girlie and never will be. I’m not a “girlie” of any kind, come to that. But no, I don’t go to the … More My swimming routine

In defence of the Boat Race

April 14, 2025

I enjoy the Boat Race. There. I said it. I’m not a fan of sports – not of watching it, anyway. I’m still not accustomed to the idea that I myself could be a participant in sports but archery & fencing are both in the Olympics and therefore sports, and kayaking is indisputably a sport … More In defence of the Boat Race

I kayaked across central London

April 3, 2025

Did you know you can kayak in London? Central London, that really busy bit with the thousands of Clippers and tourist boats and all the other chaos? Whether I could take my own kayak and do it myself, I don’t know, but there’s certainly a company that offers the experience with an expert guide and … More I kayaked across central London

Visiting Lindin Husafell | iamapolarbear.com

Visiting Lindin Húsafell

January 13, 2025

Since I’m on the subject of pools, I’m going to carry on and introduce you to the revamped geothermal pool at Húsafell in the west of Iceland. Not that I ever went there pre-revamp so I can’t compare it to what it used to look like but it’s been on my to-do list for years … More Visiting Lindin Húsafell

How to use a swimming pool in Iceland

January 9, 2025

On Monday, I talked about the best swimming pools in Reykjavik and today I’m going to go over how you actually use a local swimming pool in Iceland. When you arrive, they’ll ask “have you been here before?” and even if you say you have, they’ll still ask “So you know all the rules?”. If … More How to use a swimming pool in Iceland

Which is the best public swimming pool in Reykjavik?

January 6, 2025

Why not follow a best pools post with a completely different best pools post? Today I’m in Iceland and I want to talk about the best swimming pools in Reykjavik. I’m not talking about the likes of the Blue Lagoon and the Sky Lagoon, fine as they are. I’m talking about public pools, the kind … More Which is the best public swimming pool in Reykjavik?

My second season as a kayaking instructor

July 15, 2024

Just for the avoidance of doubt, I’m not actually a kayaking instructor. I volunteer at our Girlguiding boathouse where we have one qualified leader and three assistants. I’m kind of hoping to be an actual qualified instructor by next year maybe but for now, I’m using “instructor” in the sense of… well, my job is to go out … More My second season as a kayaking instructor