Where did you walk ( locally ) in 2021?

[Camino Chrissy]

We drove to a nearby park yesterday. It was cold, 30° F, but sunny and no wind. The prarie grass was still standing.
I have a friend who is not very outdoorsy. I invited her to come walking with me last fall and she thought the red sumac berries were cardinals. Here is a lone one; the first I've ever seen all by itself.

 

[mspath]

We drove to a nearby park yesterday. It was cold, 30° F, but sunny and no wind. The prarie grass was still standing.
I have a friend who is not very outdoorsy. I invited her to come walking with me last fall and she thought the red sumac berries were cardinals. Here is a lone one; the first I've ever seen all by itself.
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Camino Chrissy,
That sumac is most emphatic! It would be worth a fortune at any Christmas market here in France.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Camino Chrissy,
That sumac is most emphatic! It would be worth a fortune at any Christmas market here in France.

Margaret, Sumac's are a "dime a dozen" here in Illinois. The berry clumps are the size of cardinals. Here is an internet photo.

 

[mspath]

Margaret, Sumac's are a "dime a dozen" here in Illinois. The berry clumps are the size of cardinals. Here is an internet photo.
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Chrissy,
Ditto with mistletoe here along the Marne River. Great balls of it wrap high branches of trees. However in urban markets a teapot size cutting is at least 50€, ie. "money grows on trees" !

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Chrissy,
Ditto with mistletoe here along the Marne River. Great balls of it wrap high branches of trees. However in urban markets a teapot size cutting is at least 50€, ie. "money grows on trees" !

And we have few areas of mistletoe here. A google search mentions only a small area in a southern section of Illinois.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Camino Chrissy,
That sumac is most emphatic! It would be worth a fortune at any Christmas market here in France.

We see it on our walks too. Peg picks some off the bush each year because a lot of Middle-eastern dishes use it.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

We see it on our walks too. Peg picks some off the bush each year because a lot of Middle-eastern dishes use it.

Wow, I never knew that all 250 species were edible, and recipes can be found. I can't wait to start picking some and expanding my culinary skills. I also read they are the only shrub or tree native in all 48 of our contiguous states.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

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Sabine, you need this book.

 

[Esauro57]

Well...After my 2 Covid Shots i did the Francigena from Home to Rome ;-) Panorama shot from the top of Mt Valoria 1224m. The Cisa Pass 1041m is just below this mountain ...well worth the detour/option from the Francigena route.

 

[SabsP]

Four k. Orchards, wood, Roman road, mud , part of a GR and a view which made me feel on the Meseta.

 

[hecate105]

We spent much of october walking on Anglesey - sacred isle of Mon!
It is a fantastic place to walk - particularly the coast. Beautiful scenery and wildlife (clouds of choughs/seals and their babies/black-throated diver!) packed with ancient monuments, passage tombs, stone monoliths
and holy wells.... and wonderful Cymraeg-speaking people!

 

[Former member 49149]

On a balmy morning, i went out for a late trot around a familiar route. First photo is of one of winter's beauties. I met an elderly gentleman - that means older than I am! - I know him on nodding terms. I asked him what it said to him, thnking he might say - food for the birds. Much simpler: Christmas!


Then I found a bouquet placed against a wall on the street, with a message, poignant. A little further on, some cyclists who were on a very long trek. Finally, a friend and her little doggie. That added to the imagined length of time of my short walk! Now, time to get cracking with the dinner...

 

[koknesis]

Snowshoeing deeper in the forest for today...

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Snowshoeing deeper in the forest for today...

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I noticed in your "likes" that Sabine is shocked that there was no mud.

 

[SabsP]

I noticed in your "likes" that Sabine is shocked that there was no mud.

Yeah..that is a bit of a disappointment....hehe!

Meanwhile my shoes are still drying in the hallway. The cleaning will be for tomorrow.I fear that the nomal brush will not be enough this time.

 

[koknesis]

I noticed in your "likes" that Sabine is shocked that there was no mud.

well, I can not promise the mud, but after the snow will disappear some nice swamp pits will show up for sure..

 

[Theatregal]

Walking the paths of a favourite spot that I find beautiful in every season. There is a mystery carver who creates figures - many with variations of the same face - and places them along the paths and in the woods. I always find something new. Snowberry bushes, a Hairy Woodpecker and a final small clump of surprisingly vibrant red blackberries along the way - surprised the birds haven't eaten them!
I didn't get Sabine's mud but had to wade through knee high water after crossing a bridge and misjudging the river tides on the way back It was worth it !

 

[Former member 49149]

Sorry, this is a total cheat. I only walked from the front room to the kitchen, where I am reading the paper online. I will walk later, I promise myself!
I cannot resist sharing this photo. Irish Times, online edition. Specially for @Theatregal !

 

[Former member 49149]

Out along the north arm of Dublin Bay, and back again. What is called a pet day here. We are so lucky to have the sea so handy.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

We went to the Open-Air Museum in Arnhem yesterday.
Nice walk back in time.

 

[mspath]

We went to the Open-Air Museum in Arnhem yesterday.
Nice walk back in time.
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Peter Fransiscus,
These are handsome autumnal shots; is this the area of The Bridge Too Far?

 

[Phoenix]

Somewhere on the Front Range of Colorado

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Peter Fransiscus,
These are handsome autumnal shots; is this the area of The Bridge Too Far?

The bridge you are talking about is on the south side of Arnhem. The Open-Air Museum is located on the north side of Arnhem.
And the bridge was named the John Frost bridge in 1978 in honour of the bravery and leadership of Colonel John Frost.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

We have 44 Forest Preserves in my county in Northern Illinois, an area of 519 sq. miles, and I have been to many of them dozens of times over my adult life.
My pictures today are from one of them, located only six miles from my home, yet I'd not walked there for a couple of years. It was 38°F, sunny and no wind. Geese normally enjoy this park with it's four small inter-connecting lakes. There are trails surrounding each of them.

 

[Former member 49149]

Out early this morning, walking along by the river to do some shopping before Omicron appeared in the crowds...
I saw artificial lights. Never a patch on the real thing.
I saw shadows of real people, who never did see the luxury of the promenade they are destined to traverse, for as long as they last…
I saw boardwalks. Boardwalks! Far from boardwalks were we reared. A closer look showed a heap on a bench on a boardwalk. Some mother’s son. Or daughter.
I saw the juxtaposition of bricks and mortar from times past against the glass and shine of modern construction.

 

[Kanga]

Getting towards the end of 2021 - and I don't think life is any more predictable than last year. I am trying to keep up some local walking, which means very early morning starts before it gets too hot as it is summer here in Sydney.

We live in an area that has a remnant of the Sydney Blue Gum High Forrest. Rather special trees. Here is a photo I took yesterday on my 6am walk.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Several years ago I figured out a way to connect some of my woodland walks together by a bit of road walking to create an eight hour walk going from one town's commuter rail station to another station in another town (not that it helps me, they are on different lines but Bostonians could use it). I've walked it a couple of times around the winter solstice as there is just enough daylight to do it. This year I've only done short walks with Peg so I made the challenge easier by cutting off an hour at each end. We drove to a spot near Walden Pond and walked together a bit before she headed back to the car and I headed home. An hour before reaching home my legs and ego started a debate. My brain decided in favor of my legs and Peg got a call. I walked it a few days ago, earlier than normal because the weather demanded it (warm enough for just a sweatshirt over a tee-shirt and before a snowfall).

The most interesting part of the hike is in the town of Concord and so here are some pictures of it with links (mostly to the Wikipedia and New England Travel Planner websites).

We walked the short local Emerson-Thoreau Amble to Walden. It is used as part of the Bay Circuit Trail, a 300 km walk around Boston.


Walden Pond showing how low the winter sun is.


The site of Henry David Thoreau's hut was found about 100 years later.


On a slope the dry oak leaves were slippery but on the level it was fun to kick them when walking to hear them sing.


At another pond a beaver left behind a sculpture.


In the center of town is the interesting original burial ground.


Just a short walk away was the Sleepy Hollow cemetery with the Melvin Memorial, one Civil War veteran's homage to his three brothers who died in the war. The sculpture is by Daniel Chester French.


Also in the cemetery are the graves of Thoreau, Emerson, Alcott, Hawthorne and French. All are awarded tributes from fans. Here is Thoreau's headstone at the family plot.


At the site of the skirmish that Concord says was the start of the American Revolutionary War (nearby Lexington has a different opinion) is French's first public sculpture, The Minute Man. One of his later ones was of Abraham Lincoln in Washington, DC's Lincoln Memorial.

 

[SabsP]

Received a breakfast box ( a nice present ! ) so I felt obliged to walk off the calories.
I shared with family and neighbours!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Wow, Rick, lots of history on that circuit. Thanks for sharing and including pictures and links.

 

[Phoenix]

5.2-mile hike.
Douglas County, Colorado.

 

[zenofmatthew]

Pictures lie in my case. I have some wonderful pictures of this suburban reservoir / oasis in the north Texas scrubland. Every day the animals have fewer places to run free as the suburbs continue their explosive growth. Every day, I go there (well, as many days as I can). Often I go right after work, wander around, watch the sunrise, then get home to bed to do it again (I'm a vampire by trade ). I did walk a portion of the Camino Frances (first timer), and I want to walk more of it.

 

[Icacos]

Cloudless, blue skies today, brilliant sunshine and invigorating, crisp air. My trek included a walk to a nearby park to get a relatively unobstructed view of the Lions. Anyone who knows what kind of weather we’ve had recently on Canada’s ‘wet’ coast would appreciate my glee.

 

[Icacos]

Pictures lie in my case. I have some wonderful pictures of this suburban reservoir / oasis in the north Texas scrubland. Every day the animals have fewer places to run free as the suburbs continue their explosive growth. Every day, I go there (well, as many days as I can). Often I go right after work, wander around, watch the sunrise, then get home to bed to do it again (I'm a vampire by trade ). I did walk a portion of the Camino Frances (first timer), and I want to walk more of it.

Do show us pics sometime.

 

[zenofmatthew]

Do show us pics sometime.

You asked for it The sky and water were both wonderful that morning, foreground betrays some of the lack of trees and brownish hue of the grass.

 

[Former member 49149]

Sorry! Another cheat! I just walked from my own perch in the front room, where I enjoy looking out and letting the darkness turn into light. I read the paper online in the kitchen, before I go out. On the front page, a sign of true love for our world and all its creatures:

 

[Theatregal]

Cloudless, blue skies today, brilliant sunshine and invigorating, crisp air. My trek included a walk to a nearby park to get a relatively unobstructed view of the Lions. Anyone who knows what kind of weather we’ve had recently on Canada’s ‘wet’ coast would appreciate my glee.

It was indeed a gorgeous day!!!

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Last Tuesday I walked to therapy for my knee.
All well with my knee. Keep doing some extra exercises .

"Kyck over den Dyck" is the only mill left in Dordrecht. This mill was build in 1612.


Translation,
Augustijnenhof

The Hof was built in 1275 as an Augustinian monastery. The monastery was destroyed by fire at the beginning of the 16th century, but was rebuilt. The original outline of the cloister, together with the washing place and well, has been made recognizable in the paving of the square. The well is covered with a cast iron manhole cover with symbols referring to the Order of the Augustinians.

Partly due to a restoration around 1970, the building got the appearance as it is still recognizable today. The Hof was the most important Augustinian monastery in the Northern Netherlands, but lost its religious function in 1572. Then the city sided with Prince William of Orange during the First Free States Meeting. An event of historical importance, which partly laid the foundation for the independent Republic of the Netherlands and the Netherlands today.

The Court of the Netherlands

Today, the Hof van Nederland is housed in the building, an interactive museum that tells the story of Dordrecht and at the same time unmistakably the story of the Netherlands. The history of the city as a sample of Dutch history with important milestones such as the Dordtse Synod and with a central role for the First Free States Assembly, filmed by a top director with well-known actors. On display at the very spot where the meeting took place in 1572, in the Statenzaal of the Court of the Netherlands

 

[Former member 49149]

I thought I would beat the madding crowd this morning - what a joke! I was finished my shopping by 08.34, and it was a packed scene all around. Usually, just myself and a few other early birds, along with the ataff and security guys! Anyway, on my walk along the quays this morning, I stopped to take a photo of what is known as CHQ. It has a new life now, having survived from former times. Here is the photo from this morning, and a link to a wiki entry - giving its history.

CHQ Building - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Icacos]

I thought I would beat the madding crowd this morning - what a joke! I was finished my shopping by 08.34, and it was a packed scene all around. Usually, just myself and a few other early birds, along with the ataff and security guys! Anyway, on my walk along the quays this morning, I stopped to take a photo of what is known as CHQ. It has a new life now, having survived from former times. Here is the photo from this morning, and a link to a wiki entry - giving its history.

View attachment 115325

CHQ Building - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Curious - I realize it means the Custom House Quay (CHQ) but is it actually called the ‘Cee Aitch Cue’ Building? I’m inclined to say ‘Check,’ ‘chq.’ being an abbreviation for ‘cheque.’ How do Dubliners refer to it?

 

[Former member 49149]

Curious - I realize it means the Custom House Quay (CHQ) but is it actually called the ‘Cee Aitch Cue’ Building? I’m inclined to say ‘Check,’ ‘chq.’ being an abbreviation for ‘cheque.’ How do Dubliners refer to it?

EPIC! That is what is housed in the area previously used as the wine storage area in the vaults. Generally, though, it would be C sounded as if spelling, H ditto, and Q ditto. So:C H Q, each letter understood as standing for a word. Epic is an excellent Emigration exhibition, very well done. It links in with the Famine statues I sometimes post, and a replica of a Coffin Ship, taking hopefuls away to the beautiful New World, poor innocents. The particular ship, the Jeanie Johnston was known for its excellent record, the Captain treated everyone well, and according to history, nobody arrived in a coffin...

 

[Camino Chrissy]

the Famine statues I sometimes post, and a replica of a Coffin Ship, taking hopefuls away to the beautiful New World, poor innocents.

I saw this famine memorial ship in Westport, Ireland a few years ago. It was very sobering to reflect on what had happened as I had not known about the potato famine prior to my visit to Ireland, sorry to say.
(Stockphoto)

 

[SabsP]

Some mud for @Rick of Rick and Peg

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I've given your post a like Sabine but I'm giving it here an additional for thinking of me and a for being such a good sport about my constant comments about your constant muddy hikes.

I was actually purposely stepping on mud on our daily walk today. It's usually easy to avoid but I wanted to feel ridges being pushed down with a crunch; we've had a couple of days of sub-freezing weather. To give you an idea I have a picture, but not of the walk, it's me harvesting our last leek in the vegetable garden. I tried a spading fork first but I thought I might bend the tines if I pried any more.

 

[koknesis]

The winter solstice has passed and there is a hope for better times to come!
I wish very merry Christmas to everyone!

 

[Ekelund]

A rare thing happened in Denmark today - the sun was up and about from sunrise at 8.39 til sunset at 15.41. Yesterday we had a light snowfall and today in the sun it was so pretty.

Merry Christmas to all of you, I hope to met you all on the Camino some day.

 

[Former member 49149]

Yesterday it was wet and miserable. I scoured the skies - no, just the weather app! And saw that if I was smart out of the trap this morning I would come home dry.
Looking to the left at the river, the belching incinerator chimney never stops.
I always use this walk to drift back in time, either my own, or long long ago. That is when it hit me. Today, a day of slaughter of the Innocents. I am glad it was dark, as I was weeping. As ever was...here, I refer to current news.
I took lots more photos, but only one more here, Guinness looks like it never sleeps either...

 

[VNwalking]

The particular ship, the Jeanie Johnston was known for its excellent record, the Captain treated everyone well, and according to history, nobody arrived in a coffin...

She must have missed the Typhus epidemic of 1847. This makes shocking reading.

That's a beautiful photo, @kirkie, the second one.
May light come back to this darkening world, like that.

 

[Theatregal]

Christmas Day - beautiful, fragrant and bracingly cold in the woods for my very short walk. It's fun posting wintery photos with Ivar's snow animating them

 

[Theatregal]

Walking the streets of the abandoned site of the Vancouver Wireless Station / Military Base in Ladner - now a park and gathering place for Bald Eagles. Passed an overgrown apple orchard and watched Varied Thrushes feasting on windfall apples.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Last swim for 2021 with my son and grandchildren at Orewa beach.





There wasn't much surf but I managed to get the grandkids in with their body boards towards the end of the afternoon as the wind and the swell picked up. I was in myself and so no photos

 

[SabsP]

On the first of 2022 I will open a new local walks thread and post the link here.
I will then ask the moderators to close this one.

This walk around the world of 16 pages is a joy to view! Thanks to all of you!

 

[Theatregal]

A beautiful day dawned after a night of heavy snowfall. A long walk this morning near my home.

 

[VNwalking]

Mostly I'm lurking here, because my corridor is static, though it never fails to entertain. Today's treat (in time for 31 December) was a trompe l'oeil. A clothesline with wings separating the white ceiling from the green walls.

Happy New Year, each and every one!
\
Edit, now the pics have loaded: Wow. @Theatregal, I never thought I'd see coot feet and snow together. Poor thing must have freezing phalanges.

 

[Former member 49149]

Mostly I'm lurking here, because my corridor is static, though it never fails to entertain. Today's treat (in time for 31 December) was a trompe l'oeil. A clothesline with wings separating the white ceiling from the green walls.
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Happy New Year, each and every one!

Fortunately, your eyesight is alert to the slightest change! Even the light at different times of the day can offer another view. Keep them coming, no matter how repetitive.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

A beautiful day dawned after a night of heavy snowfall. A long walk this morning near my home.

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I have a "thing" for birds and your photos always entertain me, in addition to to lovely scenery and architecture posted by those who participate on this thread.

 

[Former member 49149]

Let the dawn of a New Year help us to hope. One of many I have taken this year from the same spot...every new day offers a different perspective, different light.

 

[SabsP]

Maiden trip for my wellies!!
Not for long walks but ideal for the local circuits.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

@SabineP, you will burn twice the calories every time you need to wear those boots.
I'm wondering if they will fit in your backpack on your next Camino.

 

[SabsP]

@SabineP, you will burn twice the calories every time you need to wear those boots.
I'm wondering if they will fit in your backpack on your next Camino.

Hihi..no way they will go with me.
And yes true about the calories.I also do feel a slight tiredness in my hamstrings. My pass and speed were different than when I walk in my Hanwag boots. But what a joy to clean the wellies!

 

[Theatregal]

Today's treat (in time for 31 December) was a trompe l'oeil. A clothesline with wings separating the white ceiling from the green walls.

Edit, now the pics have loaded: Wow. @Theatregal, I never thought I'd see coot feet and snow together. Poor thing must have freezing phalanges.

Exquisite trompe l'oeil / photo, @VNwalking !

I was surprised to see him out there! That little coot was pretty active on his snow day, wandering about the field next to the frozen pond, stopping to circle and stomp the snow down around a bush, eating a leaf. At one point he tried to make friends with some snow geese. They were having none of it. Every time the coot got close, they'd turn and move away. He gave up after 3 attempts and headed for the pond.

 

[C clearly]

A long walk this morning near my home.

Was that a friendly encounter between the sparrows and the squirrel?

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Maiden trip for my wellies!!

Sorry Sabine but I saw wellies before anything else and I couldn't stop myself from laughing knowing what was coming next.

On one of our usual walks yesterday we had mud most of the way but just a very thin layer making things slippery once in awhile.

Today had us also doing a usual walk but one we hadn't done in four months as it brings us across a dam that has been closed for repairs. This walk has some muddy spots easily avoided but I put on boots instead of shoes to give you a picture of me in muck. The muck didn't cooperate. I couldn't sink deeper than the top of my soles. I think that my trails are missing two things your roads have had, two millennia of armies and a century of tractors.

I hope to see more of your mud in next year's thread.

 

[Esperanza]

I have not posted in a long while because I have not been walking. That little tumble I took knocked me back for months, with a badly bruised calf muscle and bruised bone. I am walking some now, but feel very out of shape and feeling those winter doldrums. Anyhow, here’s a picture from my front porch of the park and school yard across the street. It’s what I have been looking at a lot lately.

Happy New Year to all!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I have not posted in a long while because I have not been walking. That little tumble I took knocked me back for months, with a badly bruised calf muscle and bruised bone. I am walking some now, but feel very out of shape and feeling those winter doldrums. Anyhow, here’s a picture from my front porch of the park and school yard across the street. It’s what I have been looking at a lot lately.

Happy New Year to all!

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I hope you continue to mend well from your injury and that 2022 will be a better year for you. In the mean time, I'd say you have quite a nice view from your porch.

 

[Esperanza]

@Camino Chrissy Yeah, no complaints in that department. And thank you for the well wishes.

 

[Former member 49149]

I have not posted in a long while because I have not been walking. That little tumble I took knocked me back for months, with a badly bruised calf muscle and bruised bone. I am walking some now, but feel very out of shape and feeling those winter doldrums. Anyhow, here’s a picture from my front porch of the park and school yard across the street. It’s what I have been looking at a lot lately.

Happy New Year to all!

View attachment 115688

And you have trees, and mountains... and endless changing light! However: the sooner you can change your view, the brighter your day will be! That it may be very soon.

 

[Former member 49149]

A short quick trek to the tree that I often use to peek through. The wind was howling but no point in letting you listen to that! And I found the early bird!

 

[SabsP]

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/where-do-did-you-walk-locally-in-2022.72571/

I will ask the moderators to close this thread.See you in the new one!