Rise Park & Top Valley.

 

Like with many Sunday training sessions of late, it has become the day of adventure. Something, which has tickled the interest of a few other practitioners after seeing the areas we had visited so far. The weather always seems to be nice on a Sunday too, so what better time to train again or even wait for the adventure day instead, which isn’t the usual spots of town?! After the successful Bulwell session we had the other week, [1] people wanted more new terrain and I had just the place which wasn’t that far from the Parkour Park either. It had been ages since I last visited Rise Park and Top Valley areas. It had been 2010 [2] to be exact, as that blog entry states as the last time we ventured that way as a community. So there wasn’t a better time than now and it seemed a fair few were game for the session. A funny part of the day was when I arrived at the park to find myself and Eddie were both wearing the same Npk t-shirt design [3] and colour.

Once we had all met at the Parkour Park, we all synced with the location on Google maps. Then we all rolled out like a convoy, following each other in the cars until we reached the destination, managing not to lose anyone in the process. We made our way to the first location which were some orange walls (seen below), which were next to a subway. The precision jumps (from what I remember) still seemed pretty big as a standard jump. It didn’t stop Gio doing all of them though, even the upward ones which looked impossible. Adam, Eddie and Benj were aiming to do the main precision, just the part closest to the floor, to avoid injury. Seeing which of them would get it first, some friendly competition for them.

 

Risk Park Hotspot.

 

I do like the area I must admit, even though it is a hugely precision based area and some of the walls were chipping away and broken in parts. If I lived closer, I would love to spend hours doing the precision jumps there as they are at a nice distance generally, not too small, not too big. Although, you can go to that bigger scale if needed to, so the jumps are challenging enough to keep you on your toes. Some of the upward precisions I can see, but don’t dares do just yet. Unable to mentally go for them, even though I wanted to. There didn’t seem to be a jump there that Gio, couldn’t do… David was doing a downwards catleap, instead of a precision across, seen in the image above. I don’t know why but that felt worse than attempting the precision across.

Holbrook was linking together a small run, involving pop vault up to the wall, striding across and then he wanted to pop and scale up and over the subway railing. There seemed to be a mental block with the run though, with him being afraid of slipping on the slopped wall of the subway. It was stone, but he didn’t want to push off it, if he was going to slip to the ground below.

Bulwell Bravado.

 

So, it was that time again, to venture to another unexplored area (Parkour wise) seeing as it was a Bank Holiday! After a rainy weekend. It seemed that lots were game for being out this Monday due to the predicted good weather, which meant it should be a great day of jumping. James was unsure about being out, due to various body aliments he had. Adam seemed to be less than happy we were going on an adventure without him, due to him seeing his other half. Though in the end he did come out to train instead. Later, a few people had backed out of this day already. Thankfully, in the end, most people did turn up on the day, give or take a couple. I was even ready for action and out early for once, we all met at the Parkour park for 1pm and waited until half past before moving on to other locations.

There was no Patryk today, who had said he would be out for sure. We sadly had no Gio out today either. We made our way via cars into Bulwell Town Centre. Ben had a lift and was on route, being out soon, great news. It was good to have Tom from Derby out again, even if he was yet again out when it was another adventure exploration day coincidently. Once we arrived at the first area beside the subway, many felt a little disappointed from the onset with it. I thought there was more to do there, than there actually was. It was a little damp and wet in places too, but people found things to practice, even if a lot of the precisions were quite big. It was one of those areas you had to work with what was there.

 

James – Precision.

 

Will did the big precision downwards, right to left, seen in image above, as well as across too! He has really upped his precision game of late. I could see the jumps but was too scared to even attempt them. I had hoped David would try them to help give me the motivational boost I needed, but he was a no to them all. Yet he was fine doing the jump as a catleap back instead, which was scary and slightly downwards too. James and the others were doing catleaps to an over grip wall and looking at 180 precision back too. I filmed a few movements, I had the intention to film and make a small video of the day, failing that a RAW video of myself. I did do the downwards precision in the end, but it felt like I wouldn’t make it or fall short and shin the wall…

It was one to push for, seeing it there, then that vision fading away. I didn’t want to leave without doing it though. Thankfully when I did go for it, I didn’t fall short and stuck it beautifully. Adam was impressed and didn’t think I had that sort of range with my precisions, nor would I do that jump. The same level precision felt impossible and so I did the catleap David had done instead. Next time I need to look at the running upwards precision which feels there, but is horrible to commit too. Some of the guys went to shops, while I met Ben at Tesco and then we moved over to the other side of the subway. It had an awkward (for many) seen below running precision to try. I say this, as many people didn’t like running along the edge of the wall, much preferring to run along the wood chippings instead.

Parkour & GO.

 

People had made it clear, that it was time for more exploration jams within Nottingham. Some were up for doing just that, this weekend. With Highfields being a desired location, seeing as that was a recent place of training. With that, I created an event for the day. I wasn’t that bothered about meeting people in town first, as that would be a long slog for myself. It was quicker to get there of my own accord, I had put step by step instructions on how to get there via all modes of transport. James felt that was a bit unfair to people that were still unsure, or couldn’t understand the instructions of how to get there. I had covered ALL the possible ways to get there and how, it was up to the others attending to make their own way there and meet up with people on the way if needs be. It’s not like they’re all kids any more and needed a chaperone for a trip…

I was unsure how I was getting there myself now. I had hoped to get a lift from Adam, but he was meeting others in town first now and going via tram earlier than the meet up time. I could have gone via bus, but that would take ages, meaning I would have to be going into and out of town. Another route, which was the more direct and easier way there didn’t have a bus from mine. In the end I did manage to get a lift to QMC, only to find the bridge over the motorway was closed! Since when?! I had to walk the long way around and through the university campus, doing a few jumps on my way to kill the time. The others had bumped into Daniel Bunkle and a few others who were out in Nottingham for the ‘Fearless Jam’ organised by Jack Cobb. Which seemed like it was to be a bit of a shambles, organization wise and I’m not too sure how it would go day wise. Annoyingly it was on the same day, we had chosen to venture.

 

Highfields © JamesAllenVisuals.

 

As I arrived at the meet up point, there was no one to be seen. How on earth did this happen? I was a tad later than expected and everyone else should have been there long before I was, due to meeting in town an hour and half before the meet time. The few people who were sat on the grass bank sunning, looked at me oddly while I jumped around on the edge of the tall walls beside the lake, waiting for everyone else to arrive. Derby Tom of all people had arrived first. He always seemed to be out on these adventure days, which I’m sure is only coincidental, but we never seem to see him any other time. The rest of the guys did finally arrive, they were late due to waiting on others in town and had mentioned that Femi wanted them to wait for him too, as he was running late. They obviously didn’t and I don’t blame them, I wouldn’t have either with him ALWAYS being hours later! #blacktime

I was unsure what to practise, instead opting to eat while the others warmed up. Some of the guys at one side were jumping to the steps from a wall, going up a step each time. A tree branch seemed to be hampering them and so I decided to break it down. The tree was dead anyway and it allowed more space to precision to the steps further up. Pete and James said to not destroy the tree and stop, as there was no need and it makes us seem like vandals. I wouldn’t have done it, let alone been able to if the tree was still healthy!

Rain Warriors.

 

I could hear the heavy Summer rain hitting against my window as I was rudely woke from my sleep just before seven. I thought to myself, isn’t that typical?! It seems like I won’t be going out later today and with that, I drifted back off to slumberland. I was woken a second time by the same monsoon. It sounded like the rain may never stop, even though there was promise of jungle like humidity later in the day when we trained. I finally got up at around ten and decided I would slowly get ready for training as the rain was meant to stop by the time we met, though that was looking unlikely as time went on. It seemed that most were against coming out today, even the weekly regulars! And who could blame them with the current weather! There was no James this weekend since he was away, due to that fact I had expected it to be great weather, as it usually was when he wasn’t free to be out with us.

In the end I decided against going out, the weather hadn’t and no doubt wouldn’t pick up for training. Adam seemed to be annoyed and still wanted to train, even if the current weather was terrible. He said he was going to meet up with Ben and get a jumping session in. I was tempted earlier, but now had decided not to, plus it didn’t seem like many were out, if anyone apart from them. At around one, it had started to dry up with the pavements drying too, not to mention the sun had even started to come out as well! I changed my mind and carried on getting ready in a rush to get to Plaza for two. I arrived to find just Ben there in his waterproof gear. Where the hell was Adam?! He left long before me and I had beat him there. Femi was running on black time as he always did, he had only just got up, seen the rain and instantly said he wasn’t feeling it, even though town was now sunny and dry. Will arrived, who had the same idea as me due to the weather change, followed by Adam.

 

Camera.

 

We practised a precision jump to a curb, instead of using a wall as a take off. We took off from a slopped wall which felt horrible, but it was a new challenge. Femi text and said he would be coming out after all, and for us to wait until he arrived… I really didn’t want to be waiting for him, time was already getting on. It would be past three, maybe even four at this rate before he arrived! I text back and said if he didn’t hurry, we could be anywhere, even places he hasn’t seen before and so he should make haste! We spent some time at IBM while we waited. I quite liked a precision Will was doing, down to wall in front of the railing surrounding the area. Adam was filming a few movements and filmed Luka doing a roll on and off a wall, which can be seen in the image above. I really liked the look and feel of that image. I didn’t expect him to even attempt that and it looked really nice when he did as well.

Femi arrived and just in time, we were growing tired of IBM and were ready to move on and only had remained due to Fem. He wanted to stay a bit longer, so he could warm up before we move and I we all agreed. It was just as well, as it provided me with some new images to the norm when I took some shots (one seen below) with Femi in shot watching Will as he did a kong over the outer railing. I must remember to experiment more with these type of shots in the future, as it adds a nice dimension to them. While Will was jumping around, he had inadvertently put his hand on a ladybird which prompted me to get some photos of them. Anyone that follows my blog, may remember on occasions I have taken images of lady bugs