After going to University and establishing himself in the world of engineering Rob returned to his childhood passion and as an adult started to attend various bushcraft courses. Whilst on one of these courses he had the opportunity to paddle a cedar strip canoe which kick started another passion that complimented the bushcraft - open canoe tripping. Open canoeing allowed Rob to undertake trips that he would have never imagined. He undertakes at least one week long unsupported Scottish canoeing trip every year and since 2014 has included his family in those adventures. Their first family trip was the Loch Shiel Circuit which culminates in a paddle around Scotland's west coast. At that time his boys were toddlers but that just provided additional challenges.

Rob currently holds several British Canoeing star awards, he has white water and open water safety and rescue training and is currently one of a handful of people in the UK who hold the title 'American and Canadian Style Paddling Assistant Instructor'.

Open canoeing is a big thing for Rob but he has never lost the passion for Bushcraft. In 2008 this stepped up another gear after being fortunate to attend a course with the legendary Mors Kochanski. This really was the trigger for Rob that cemented in his mind where he wanted to go in the years to follow. It took more than a decade however before an opportunity arose with Woodland Ways allowing an avenue onto the Apprentice programme. Rob grabbed that opportunity and is happily pursuing that apprenticeship role whilst juggling a full time job, family life and Group Scout Leader role in his Oxfordshire village.