Just occured to me, I didn't mention my new kit. Nothing exciting though.
The rain wasn't wet enough yesterday for me to don my new Paclite trousers, but they are nice and light to carry, taking up no space at all. Jolly dee.
We both needed new poles and I needed ones that were suitable for a bear of little brain. I really fancied Pacer Poles and have seen many a recommendation for them, but I am somewhat, how shall I say, completely useless with this twisting mechanism thing. I either can't undo them, can't do them up, or inadvertently pull them apart. My bottom bit has also been sucked off in a bog on atleast two occasions.
So, we went for the easy option and both have nice new, shiny pairs of Black Diamond Alpine CF poles which have FlickLocks. Light, oh yes, very. Easy, oh so easy peasy! I can adjust my poles on the move, all by my little old self, no help required. Yey! David will be happy.
I am too.
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
Bowled over!
The reason I originally planned to post today was just a catch up for the last two weeks, the healthy 'plop' on the doormat threw me completely until I realised the date... And I should have been merrily wending my way around the shelves at Tesco, if only number three child, Ciara, hadn't been off school with Laryngitis today. My children are never ill, what's happening!
Anyway, it's been a case of ups and downs over the last fortnight. Haven't had a lot of success on the walking front. Last week my foot was sore. It was the large joint on the ball of my foot below my big toe. I remembered having trouble in this area a couple of years ago and at that time I was convinced I had the beginnings of a bunion or gout! (I can be a little, er dramatic?) It took me about two weeks to decide it was an impact injury, not caused by a trip or bump, just through walking over particularly stoney ground. Soft feet or what!
This time, it took me a few hours to work it out. I'd been in Elgin, walking over the cobbled area in the High Street and I hadn't had my walking shoes on. I usually live in them, but I'd worn my thin canvas trainers because we were only strolling around the town centre. Shan't do that again. I decided to stay off my foot as much as possible because I was due to walk along the Isla Way on Sunday with the girls.
In the mean time, I won a competition over on Martin's blog! I never win prizes, I was a little over-excited, but the prize of a drink in the Park Hotel, Montrose the day after my birthday gives a good incentive to make it across Scotland. If my name comes out of the hat. That's the biggest hurdle at the moment. Thanks again Martin, made my day!
On Friday I walked the three miles home from town to test my progress and it was fine. Number two child, Aedan, started secondary school on 18th August and has really settled well. Considering the misery he suffered at primary, I'm relieved. That morning, he'd forgotten his gym kit, through no fault of his own. It was there ready, but he'd put it down to help Rhiannon look for her umbrella. He didn't pick it up again and I didn't notice in time. I had expected him to come home with a logging, but it turned out Rhiannon had volunteered her own gym kit, (which is blue, not pink, luckily...) so he hadn't been punished. Wow! If only you knew, that was stunning and I actually cried.
Another quiet day Saturday and I was ready on Sunday to put my best foot forward. This turned out to be an interesting day.
Usually someone knows the chosen route, although like all good walkers, there is always at least one map amongst us. Turns out, that doesn't always help. The Isla Way travels by the side of and along part of the old railway between Dufftown and Keith. We were planning to start the walk in Keith and catch the train back from Dufftown, but this section of the walk is, to say the very least, unclear. We faffed about for about an hour before we admitted defeat, returned to the cars and drove to Drummuir. After a minor detour, we found the station , parked, kitted up and had lunch. Everything stops for food and pee stops.
We set off and about 25 yards later, Alison's dog, Alfie, literally bowled me over! I found myself taking an unexpected lie down in a muddy puddle. Me, being me, I was laughing too much to speak or move. There was a horrified silence before Sally offered me a hand a heaved me to my feet. I still couldn't speak as my fellow walkers looked on, thinking I was crying with pain.
I am a giggler.
Good job I have a sense of humour. I had to do the rest of the walk with a muddy bum and wet pants! It was a lovely day, including drinks of cold traditional lemonade and ginger beer at a dinky little coffee shop in Dufftown, but I didn't fully dry out until we caught the train back from Dufftown. What should have been about thirteen miles was whittled down to nearer seven and a half, with the extra three miles faffing in Keith on top. We spoke to a lady at the station who told us the part of the walk we couldn't find is along the main road and she felt too dangerous to recommend, especially as we had two doggy companions, so I suppose it was a good job we never found it.
Yesterday, David and I had planned to do the sixteen mile circular route at Dunphail that I'd done in April with the girls. We set off, fully kitted with waterproofs and gaitors, after a supply stop at Tesco. Ofcourse, in England it was bank holiday, so Tesco opened late (in Scotland!?) and we were late getting started. And it started to rain as soon as we left the car park, but it wasn't heavy.
Not far down the road, I was beginning to think my heel wasn't going to loosen off after all. I must have twisted my lower leg slightly when Alfie swept me off my feet, but it hadn't hurt at the time. Now, it was sore. As I perservered, I obviously walked awkwardly and started a hotspot on my other heel. So after 3 miles, we decided on an escape route and shortened the walk to about six and three quarter miles. This was really disappointing although the most sensible option. We don't get to walk together often and I was gutted, but we have at least proved to me that we can make these decisions and my map reading is good enough to get me out of situations. As long as it's never anything more serious than a tight tendon and blister!
Another quiet couple of days and I'll venture forth. Again.
This new term hasn't got off to the flying start I'd imagined...
Onwards, ever onwards.
Anyway, it's been a case of ups and downs over the last fortnight. Haven't had a lot of success on the walking front. Last week my foot was sore. It was the large joint on the ball of my foot below my big toe. I remembered having trouble in this area a couple of years ago and at that time I was convinced I had the beginnings of a bunion or gout! (I can be a little, er dramatic?) It took me about two weeks to decide it was an impact injury, not caused by a trip or bump, just through walking over particularly stoney ground. Soft feet or what!
This time, it took me a few hours to work it out. I'd been in Elgin, walking over the cobbled area in the High Street and I hadn't had my walking shoes on. I usually live in them, but I'd worn my thin canvas trainers because we were only strolling around the town centre. Shan't do that again. I decided to stay off my foot as much as possible because I was due to walk along the Isla Way on Sunday with the girls.
In the mean time, I won a competition over on Martin's blog! I never win prizes, I was a little over-excited, but the prize of a drink in the Park Hotel, Montrose the day after my birthday gives a good incentive to make it across Scotland. If my name comes out of the hat. That's the biggest hurdle at the moment. Thanks again Martin, made my day!
On Friday I walked the three miles home from town to test my progress and it was fine. Number two child, Aedan, started secondary school on 18th August and has really settled well. Considering the misery he suffered at primary, I'm relieved. That morning, he'd forgotten his gym kit, through no fault of his own. It was there ready, but he'd put it down to help Rhiannon look for her umbrella. He didn't pick it up again and I didn't notice in time. I had expected him to come home with a logging, but it turned out Rhiannon had volunteered her own gym kit, (which is blue, not pink, luckily...) so he hadn't been punished. Wow! If only you knew, that was stunning and I actually cried.
Another quiet day Saturday and I was ready on Sunday to put my best foot forward. This turned out to be an interesting day.
Usually someone knows the chosen route, although like all good walkers, there is always at least one map amongst us. Turns out, that doesn't always help. The Isla Way travels by the side of and along part of the old railway between Dufftown and Keith. We were planning to start the walk in Keith and catch the train back from Dufftown, but this section of the walk is, to say the very least, unclear. We faffed about for about an hour before we admitted defeat, returned to the cars and drove to Drummuir. After a minor detour, we found the station , parked, kitted up and had lunch. Everything stops for food and pee stops.
We set off and about 25 yards later, Alison's dog, Alfie, literally bowled me over! I found myself taking an unexpected lie down in a muddy puddle. Me, being me, I was laughing too much to speak or move. There was a horrified silence before Sally offered me a hand a heaved me to my feet. I still couldn't speak as my fellow walkers looked on, thinking I was crying with pain.
I am a giggler.
Good job I have a sense of humour. I had to do the rest of the walk with a muddy bum and wet pants! It was a lovely day, including drinks of cold traditional lemonade and ginger beer at a dinky little coffee shop in Dufftown, but I didn't fully dry out until we caught the train back from Dufftown. What should have been about thirteen miles was whittled down to nearer seven and a half, with the extra three miles faffing in Keith on top. We spoke to a lady at the station who told us the part of the walk we couldn't find is along the main road and she felt too dangerous to recommend, especially as we had two doggy companions, so I suppose it was a good job we never found it.
Yesterday, David and I had planned to do the sixteen mile circular route at Dunphail that I'd done in April with the girls. We set off, fully kitted with waterproofs and gaitors, after a supply stop at Tesco. Ofcourse, in England it was bank holiday, so Tesco opened late (in Scotland!?) and we were late getting started. And it started to rain as soon as we left the car park, but it wasn't heavy.
Not far down the road, I was beginning to think my heel wasn't going to loosen off after all. I must have twisted my lower leg slightly when Alfie swept me off my feet, but it hadn't hurt at the time. Now, it was sore. As I perservered, I obviously walked awkwardly and started a hotspot on my other heel. So after 3 miles, we decided on an escape route and shortened the walk to about six and three quarter miles. This was really disappointing although the most sensible option. We don't get to walk together often and I was gutted, but we have at least proved to me that we can make these decisions and my map reading is good enough to get me out of situations. As long as it's never anything more serious than a tight tendon and blister!
Another quiet couple of days and I'll venture forth. Again.
This new term hasn't got off to the flying start I'd imagined...
Onwards, ever onwards.
OMG!
It's 1st September.
Guess what just landed on my doormat....
Approximately another two months and I'll know.
Oh my.
Guess what just landed on my doormat....
Approximately another two months and I'll know.
Oh my.
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Therapy
After our little wild camp, the main thing we agreed on was that we should get new waterproof trousers. Our current ones are Peter Storm and have served well over quite a few years now, but I wanted something lighter. And waterproof. (I am a little dubious about mine in extremely wet conditions.) So when I spotted Berghaus Paclite trousers for less than £70 at Gaynors, I caved.
That's not quite fair, it took me at least four days to cave. My excuse being the £60 saved (on two pairs) will go towards new walking poles. Mine keep coming apart and David's were my dad's and since mum's have now fallen to pieces, he's given them back. So we both need new ones. That was bad planning. Although I've spied some at backpackinglight that will fit the bill, along with one or two other useful items I've got my little beadies on. I'm being patient...
Didn't walk into town today as I'd planned. I took one look at the weather forecast/warning and the black clouds approaching and took the easy, and dry, option. Glad I did in the end, it would've take a month to dry out!! Mind you, even that might have been preferable to the mountain of ironing I persuaded myself into doing. Still, I'm going to have so much time on my hands from next week. Ciara and Conall are going to be walking to and from school without me, so I can leave earlier, go further and return later from any little walking adventures I have.
That's not quite fair, it took me at least four days to cave. My excuse being the £60 saved (on two pairs) will go towards new walking poles. Mine keep coming apart and David's were my dad's and since mum's have now fallen to pieces, he's given them back. So we both need new ones. That was bad planning. Although I've spied some at backpackinglight that will fit the bill, along with one or two other useful items I've got my little beadies on. I'm being patient...
Didn't walk into town today as I'd planned. I took one look at the weather forecast/warning and the black clouds approaching and took the easy, and dry, option. Glad I did in the end, it would've take a month to dry out!! Mind you, even that might have been preferable to the mountain of ironing I persuaded myself into doing. Still, I'm going to have so much time on my hands from next week. Ciara and Conall are going to be walking to and from school without me, so I can leave earlier, go further and return later from any little walking adventures I have.
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Back on track
Ah, what a relief. The little treasures went back to school today. I now have two at secondary school, leaving two at primary. I finally have enough hands per child when we walk to school, hoorah!
The other upside is I escaped for a walk with Angela and Lyn today. Around 7.5 miles of varied landscape, but nothing taxing, just Angela pace which is taxing enough for some of us! Now Angela's youngest is at school, we no longer have to rush back, although she's starting college in two weeks time, so I may be back to walking alone. Which I shall be doing on Thursday as I will stroll into town to fetch my prescription. Seems silly to take the car on a 6 mile round trip when I have no other shopping to do and all this time on my hands, especially now Conall finishes later with Ciara now.
David and I are planning a little jaunt on Bank Holiday Monday. Only a little jaunt, because we need to be back for the children coming out of school ofcourse. It's a walk I've done with the girls near Dunphail and he's making me write a route plan. With GRs to boot. Good practice I'm sure.
I think this will be the way of things, lots of short walks, interspersed with occasionally more challenging routes, when time allows.
Excellent stuff.
The other upside is I escaped for a walk with Angela and Lyn today. Around 7.5 miles of varied landscape, but nothing taxing, just Angela pace which is taxing enough for some of us! Now Angela's youngest is at school, we no longer have to rush back, although she's starting college in two weeks time, so I may be back to walking alone. Which I shall be doing on Thursday as I will stroll into town to fetch my prescription. Seems silly to take the car on a 6 mile round trip when I have no other shopping to do and all this time on my hands, especially now Conall finishes later with Ciara now.
David and I are planning a little jaunt on Bank Holiday Monday. Only a little jaunt, because we need to be back for the children coming out of school ofcourse. It's a walk I've done with the girls near Dunphail and he's making me write a route plan. With GRs to boot. Good practice I'm sure.
I think this will be the way of things, lots of short walks, interspersed with occasionally more challenging routes, when time allows.
Excellent stuff.
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