The Barefoot Backpacker
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barefoot-backpacker.com
The Barefoot Backpacker
@barefoot-backpacker.com
1.2K followers 460 following 1.1K posts
Podcaster ("Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure"). Travel/Lifestyle Blogger. "Gloriously Unhinged Travel Gremlin". Asexual, Non-Binary, Dyspraxic, & ADHD. (They/Them)
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barefoot-backpacker.com
Did a 24km / 15 mile walk today, over the hills and along the wooded river valleys.

Taking advantage of the one dry and sunny day recently!
A full shot captures a figure in a landscape. The figure, positioned slightly to the left, is adorned in a multi-colored knit hat with a pom-pom, round glasses, and vibrant purple hair that falls to their shoulders. They are wearing a dark blue raincoat over a green top, complemented by a green scarf, a blue jean skirt, and patterned leggings that peek out from under the skirt. Their footwear consists of brown hiking boots. A colorful bag hangs across their body, adding a splash of color to their attire. They stand in a field of tall, dry grass that occupies much of the foreground and stretches to the right side of the frame. In the background, rolling green hills meet a bright blue sky, with a few scattered clouds enhancing the scene.
November 30, 2025 at 9:31 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
The question is not "where is Nel today?".
The question is "why is Nel *there* today? It's been so long, and there's not very interesting!".

(I'm meeting a friend later & I'd never posted my old hometown on YouTube)

Selfie with Harold Larwood. Not the friend in question.
A person with pink hair and a multicolored hat is posing next to a statue. The person is wearing glasses and a green shirt. The statue is of a person holding a ball. In the background, there are cars and buildings. The photo is taken outdoors.
November 15, 2025 at 10:34 AM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Anyway. Hair recoloured. My hairdresser is awesome, took this pic of me, is not on text-based social media, but you can find her! :)
A full-length, eye-level shot captures a person with purple hair standing barefoot on a pavement covered in fallen leaves. The individual is positioned slightly left of the center and is gazing directly at the camera. They are clad in a dark green t-shirt with a graphic, a denim skirt, and black leggings. A light blue denim jacket is casually draped over their shoulders, and a small bag hangs from one shoulder. Their expression is neutral, and they have glasses on. A sign reading "OUTLAW HAIRDRESSING" hangs on a blue metal gate behind the person, pointing towards a lush, green ivy-covered wall. The background also features a brick building with visible windows, which suggests an urban or suburban setting. The pavement appears wet, hinting at recent rain or damp conditions. The overall lighting is soft, casting gentle shadows and enhancing the color saturation of the scene. The composition is balanced, with the subject, the sign, and the background elements harmoniously arranged to create a visually engaging image.
October 30, 2025 at 3:38 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Oh eff off, AI.

"The individual, who appears to be in their late 40s or early 50s" ... cheers for the accurate but unwelcome reminder! :D
A full shot depicts a person indoors with their hands in their pockets, framed against a bright, artistic background. The individual, who appears to be in their late 40s or early 50s, has fair skin, is barefoot, and sports purple hair. They are wearing glasses and a dark-colored choker. The person is attired in a dark top and a denim-looking overall dress with a front pocket and a slit at the bottom. Below the dress, they are wearing dark leggings. The setting seems to be a salon or art studio, with various decorations and posters adorning the walls. A black rolling chair is to the side, and artistic elements are visible in the background, like a colorful painting on the wall and an abstractly painted mirror. Overhead, a simple light fixture illuminates the scene. The floor is speckled with what appears to be paint stains, suggesting a creative environment. Extract from AI-generated alt-text of the other image. Make particular note of the phrase: "The individual, who appears to be in their late 40s or early 50s"
October 30, 2025 at 1:28 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Past Me thought £12 was a great price for a ticket from Manchester to Glasgow.

Present Me is irked at the 4.57am departure time.
A woman with purple hair and glasses is wearing a light-wash denim jacket over a dark green t-shirt. She is turned sideways to the camera. Her hair is a vibrant shade of purple, and she wears glasses with a round frame. The denim jacket is a classic light wash with visible stitching and metal buttons. The t-shirt underneath is a dark green color with what appears to be a white graphic design on the front. The lighting is somewhat dim, and the background is out of focus, suggesting the photo may have been taken indoors (it was on a train). The woman has a fair complexion and a faint smile.
October 30, 2025 at 5:32 AM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Trig-point selfie.

Not long after this there was lightning. Tall people on treeless moorland do not mix well with lightning.

It passed me by safely. But still.
A person with purple hair wearing a daisy-patterned bucket hat, glasses, and daisy-patterned leggings is standing barefoot in a grassy field, leaning against a concrete trig-point pillar marked with a red heart. The person is also wearing a dark t-shirt, a black dungaree dress, and a decorative floral-themed metallic belt, with a jacket tied around their waist and a striped bag (in the non-binary flag colours) slung across their body. The background features a misty sky and a landscape of low-lying vegetation.
September 7, 2025 at 4:27 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
"I'm off to watch the sunset; it's something that doesn't happen very often" is such a bizarre sentence to say/write. And yet.
The landscape shows a view of Longyearbyen, Svalbard, under a cloudy sky with a dramatic sunset. In the distance, the sun casts a vibrant orange and pink glow along the horizon, silhouetting distant mountains. Closer, across a body of water, are small, scattered buildings that make up part of the settlement. The foreground features a field of dry, brown grass, partially enclosed by a simple wooden fence. A large, complex building dominates the midground, with a central rotunda-like entrance and long wings extending to either side. Several cars are parked near the building, and further to the right, a modern-looking structure stands adjacent to the more traditional building. The overall scene conveys a sense of remote beauty combined with a functional, built environment in a stark, northern landscape.
August 24, 2025 at 10:26 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
"Do one thing every day that scares you" the self-help gurus say.

I slowly slid down a steep scree path today, and honestly that's my scaredness quota filled for the week!

No I was not barefoot.
A vague path runs up/down a very rocky hillside. By vague I mean there is a narrow section of the hillside that is not covered with small rocks.
August 23, 2025 at 1:31 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Sometimes it's nice to have a window seat.
Picture taken from an aeroplane window. The wing is in full view on the left. The rest of the picture is sharp bare mountain ridges, steep gradients of hillside, and scattered cloud. Some snow/ice patches evident.
August 22, 2025 at 11:57 AM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Am in Tromsø. The furthest North I've ever been. Until tomorrow.

Yes it's bright and sunny.
Yes it's nicely cool.
Yes it's windy.
A close-up portrait of a person with purple hair and glasses, set against a backdrop of a modern architectural landmark and a bright, sunny day. The individual, who appears to be fair-skinned with white stubble, is wearing multi-colored glasses with round lenses. They are positioned on the left side of the frame, with the background cityscape stretching out behind them. The background features a road with a yellow line, a metal guardrail, and a unique triangular building constructed primarily of glass and white metal. The building's design is modern, set against the backdrop of a green, tree-covered mountain and a clear blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds. The photo is taken during daylight hours, with the sun casting light and shadows across the scene. Cars can be seen driving on the road, adding depth to the composition.
August 21, 2025 at 8:11 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
The definition of (class) privilege:

Getting drunk in Norway and not looking at the receipt.
August 19, 2025 at 9:46 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Quite well, actually :)
August 11, 2025 at 6:22 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
All the cool hip influencers have a tote bag ...
... eh, at least I *tried*, lol :p

(Granted, #PureMichigan is some 3,500 miles from me, but hey, it all counts!)
A person with purple hair stands barefoot on a grey brick sidewalk, holding a black tote bag with the words "Pure Michigan" printed in white. The person wears dark blue leggings, a short black skirt, a dark blue t-shirt, and a light blue denim jacket adorned with various pins. A patterned bucket hat sits atop their head, and they wear round glasses. To the left, a metal fence borders a grassy area with trees. The sky is overcast with grey clouds.
July 29, 2025 at 8:08 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Today's Parkrun. Centre Vale. Today is also the local "Happy Valley Pride" day, hence my running in the non-binary croptop!
A person with purple hair stands confidently in front of a brick wall, wearing a striped crop top, skort, and rainbow socks. A "Centre Vale parkrun" sign is nearby, with a playful drawing next to them. The scene is lively and vibrant.
July 26, 2025 at 11:36 AM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Selfie from two days ago having just gone for a jog. But that's not the point here.

Rather, I got an online alt-text generator to write me some alt-text for it. It replied:
"A woman with purple hair on a skateboard".

There are many things wrong with that, but mainly: skateboard?!!
A tall, confident, person with striking shoulder-length purple hair and glasses stands stands confidently on a paved path next to a quiet road that curves into the distance. They're wearing a soft brown T-shirt that reads “Be Er — The Essential Element” (a cheeky reference to beer, using mock chemical symbols), bright navy-blue skort with colourful footprint pattern, and bare feet. Their posture is subtly dynamic here: one leg is bent at the knee, slightly crossing in front of the other, as if mid-stride or playfully posing. One hand rests on their hip, the other hand is relaxed, and their expression is content, maybe even a bit mischievous. The lighting is bright, the sky vivid blue with scattered clouds, and the rolling hills behind them look green and sleepy. It’s a blend of grounded realism and joyful eccentricity—a travelogue moment wrapped in a personal style zine.
July 20, 2025 at 11:53 AM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Was onstage at Social Refuge Manchester again this evening, performing at @queerdiary.bsky.social. This time it wasn't my teenage diary i was reading, but rather extracts from my teenage penpal letters!

"The clues were there...!"
A person with purple hair, a plaid overshirt, black t-shirt, striped rainbow skirt, and a blue bucket hat is speaking barefoot on stage. They hold a microphone, AI tells me in a way that's "projecting confidence". YMMV. The phrase "Queer Diary" is on a projection screen in pink letters behind them. A person with purple hair, wearing a bucket hat, checked shirt, black t-shirt, and a colourful striped skirt, stands barefoot on stage holding a microphone and a piece of paper.
July 4, 2025 at 10:40 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Went for a morning jog.

Even before 10am, this may not have been a good idea.

Waiter, Check Please!
A person with purple hair stands barefoot on a paved sidewalk, wearing a colorful crop top with a bare feet motif, and a purple/green skort. They have one hand on their hip. A fence and buildings are in the background under a blue sky.
June 30, 2025 at 9:18 AM
barefoot-backpacker.com
I can see cows from my living room window!
Fields, the nearest to foreground has several cows in it. There's a few buildings behind, and then trees, and then in the background, the fields continue, rising uphill.
June 21, 2025 at 8:40 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Greetings from Barbados.

Normal service will be resumed Sunday.
Sandy toes on a blue towel on a beach with sea in background and palm tree on right edge
June 13, 2025 at 5:21 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Obligatory sandy toes shot, from a Caribbean beach.

(Feet in general aren't particularly aesthetic things imho, but here we are.)
Beach, mostly sand but a bit of gravel mixed in, as can be seen on the legs in the bottom of shot. The sea is in the midground, a large mountain, a standalone peak, is behind the sea on the left of shot. It's covered in trees. Above is a blue sky with scattered fluffy clouds.
June 5, 2025 at 1:30 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Piton beer, with Petit Piton mountain in background.

It may be off-brand for me to be in Saint Lucia, but I'm very much doing things in an on-brand way!
Beer bottle on a wooden table, on a beach, with a stand-alone mountain in the background.
June 3, 2025 at 2:27 AM
barefoot-backpacker.com
Oh, it's been a while since you last run, they said.

It's been a week of travel and beer, they said.

Take it easy, they said.

...

Fastest jog on that route this year.

Nailed it!
A person with purple hair and glasses stands confidently on a quiet country lane. They wear a blue shirt with text and a purple skort. They are also barefoot. Green trees line the background.
May 23, 2025 at 12:59 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
New hair, don't care
A person with long purple hair smiles, wearing glasses, a red plaid shirt, floral shorts, and crocheted sandals. They stand casually, exuding a relaxed vibe.
May 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
barefoot-backpacker.com
It's very much athletic crop-top weather for jogging. It was, in fact, glorious running weather outside as a slight breeze kept the heat at bay a little.

Still not glorious enough to get me to smile on selfies, mind!
A person with long purple hair and glasses wearing a non-binary crop top and a patterned purple skort stands barefoot in front of a stone wall, with one hand on their hip.
May 13, 2025 at 11:48 AM
barefoot-backpacker.com
There are many disadvantages with country living, but it is nice to be able to just wander close to home through peaceful and green countryside.

#Calderdale
A person with purple hair in a plaid shirt and rainbow skirt stands barefoot on a stone path, looking at a lush, green landscape under a clear blue sky, in front of a stomach-high brick wall.
May 12, 2025 at 1:58 PM