Adventures of an Archivist

As well as the diary of his cycling adventures, Rope also deposited some of his maps and guidebooks at the archives. I discovered among...

Transcription by Alex Mager Itinerary: Horsepath, Foresthill, etc. (cycling) – 14th May 1901  Littlemore, Cowley and Cliffton Hampden...

Transcription by Alex Mager A few notes about this transcript before we begin... Words added as quotes (like this) are all taken from ...

Transcription by Alex Mager* April 1901 Faringsoutset We left Shrewsbury sheer against a sharp cool freshenend windbluster which grew as...

I can't wait to tell you about the wonderfully quirky diary which I have had the pleasure of unearthing of late! But first, as ever, I'd...

Transcription by Alex Mager Note: transcript of complete text, with added punctuation and headings for ease of reading. Any additional...

Researching the places mentioned in the "Log of the Gnat" and finding out if it is possible to revisit them...

Surprise discoveries opening up a whole new perspective on the canoe trip of 1867.

Original text of the "Log of the Gnat" with a page by page full transcript.

Researching the author of the "Log of the Gnat" and the rest of the crew, along with the fascinating world of nineteenth century canoeing.

Here I explain what first inspired me to start this blog, travelling beyond the stores and into the wilds...