LOW TATRA AND KARKONOSZE MOUNTAINS

This time of year is always a busy time for us in the lead to the festive period, with back-to-back Christmas markets and events and our studio becomes a tiny post office in and of itself. All this is a far cry from the tranquil summer days on the road, exploring new terrain and meeting new makers. It’s nice to have an escape to summers sun when the days draw in and darkness has fallen even before our days work is out. This time round our latest journal is a whimsical throwback to summers rambles, climbing in the Lower Tatra Mountains in Slovakia and exploring the Polish side of the Karkonosze Mountains, learning about small scale mountain sheep farming, meadows and wild swimming.

Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 1Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 2Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 3Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 4Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 5

Travel has and always will be at the heart of what we do, what keeps us motivated and inspired to hit the road for days on end. We find conversation and even thought is different when the wheels are spinning beneath you. Somehow one can be lighter, and ‘what if’ feels not only possible but probable as you travel with the whim of the present. Simply being is sometimes hard to achieve when running a small independent company. It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day tasks of business, planning and ultimately existing months ahead and forget to really be in the moment. Nothing compares to a new view or encounter no matter how great or humble that may be: some of the most captivating experiences and encounters we have had on our travels with the Travelling Basket have been everyday goings on of far off places, skills and tasks in hard to reach places or sometimes simply a quiet spot on the bank of a free running river where you can float away your thoughts and quiet the mind. Sometimes it’s space is all it takes to really see clearly and to engage again with open eyes. This one is to travels and adventures whatever that might be for you!

Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 6Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 7Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 8Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 9Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 10Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 11Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 12Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 13Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 14Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 15Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 16Travelling Basket Journal - Low Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains - photo 17

Wishing you all a beautiful autumn and festive period, N&J