Where did you walk ( locally ) in 2021?

[jpflavin1]

Santa Monica.

One of my favorite cities. A real walk to everything community.

 

[Annette london]

Awww, thanks, Annette for the "like"! Nothing like all the beauty you are near outside of London and within 6 hours in all directions you are practically in heaven. It takes me a two day drive to get to the Rocky mountains or a 3+ hour flight!

Thanks Chris, yes I know we are pretty lucky here to have so many green spaces and public rights of way just outside London in which to wander…..and indeed in the whole of the UK
you mention the Rocky mountains…..are there any countryside walks near you, or within, say, a ten mile radius?
one of your photographs looks very like some of our walking tracks

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Thanks Chris, yes I know we are pretty lucky here to have so many green spaces and public rights of way just outside London in which to wander…..and indeed in the whole of the UK
you mention the Rocky mountains…..are there any countryside walks near you, or within, say, a ten mile radius?
one of your photographs looks very like some of our walking tracks

We have many country forest preserves within a ten mile radious and I definitely walk them occasionally. A few weeks ago I posted a few photos from our hike in my favorite state park in Wisconsin, a 2.5 hour drive away. Another stunning area is a six+ hour drive away...the Porcupine Mountains state park In Michigan.

 

[SabsP]

Circular walk of six k. Drove to the next town where there is a small forest. Perfect for some shade because temperatures were already in the mid twenty Celsius. Too hot for my liking. Give me a wet spring Camino anytime!
But glad I walked this route. Even with the high amount of grasspollen.
At the entrance there is also a nice playpark and picknickarea.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Too hot for my liking. Give me a wet spring Camino anytime!

I too, dislike heat. I'll take "some" rain any day provided I can stay dry!

 

[Theatregal]

A walk along Wiffin Spit at Sooke on Vancouver Island. Cloudy and cool at the start of my walk but soon cleared. Beautiful colour of the abundant Feverfew and Salal plants growing along decaying cedar logs. A White-crowned sparrow and chicks darting in and out of the rocks.

 

[Former member 49149]

I set off this morning with the intention of being a pilgrim. That meant that I walked, and looked around, and listened, and thought. I covered roughly one third of a day's gentle camino distance...8km.
Out on the streets I saw many little plots of ground around Trinity College, deliberately being cultivated as wild gardens. I also saw a kaleidoscope of human experience on the faces of people I passed. You see them too, if you walk in a city.
Eventually I went into a city centre church. Isn't that something pilgrims do along the way? The silence was like a balm, along with the soft light offered by all the stained glass windows. I saw a small number of people there, using the space for private prayer and reflection. Some people busy putting money in for candles, for prayers for who knows what intentions...entrance, special sitting areas, exits - all prescribed by Covid19 rules.
I came home with a question, asked umpteen times already in this Forum! : what turns a person into a pilgrim? There are many one word answers. One I offer is intention. And you? EDIT: the answer is for yourself! Unless you really want to share...

 

[mspath]

Circular walk of six k. Drove to the next town where there is a small forest. Perfect for some shade because temperatures were already in the mid twenty Celsius. Too hot for my liking. Give me a wet spring Camino anytime!
But glad I walked this route. Even with the high amount of grasspollen.
At the entrance there is also a nice playpark and picknickarea.

View attachment 102477View attachment 102478View attachment 102479View attachment 102480View attachment 102481View attachment 102482View attachment 102483

Your Sunday walk looks very pleasant.
I love the tiny figure of Mary tucked into the tree.

 

[Roland49]

Been in the Harz again.
14km in 2:54h, 380m elevation.


BC
Roland

 

[Roland49]

After my walk I drove to Halberstadt:



BC
Roland

 

[rometimed]

On June 24th I will be attempting to complete the whole "Baden-Powell Trail" near Vancouver, Canada in a day. The trail is 48kms in length with about 2600 meters of elevation gain up and down the coastal mountains.

The last couple of months I have been hiking sections of it and have done all of them just waiting for more snow to melt.

 

[Annette london]

A walk from Fyfield to Peppers Green and Salts Green on another stretch of The Essex
way

The ”wits end” sign seemed very accurate as we reached it….some council jobsworth had moved the path a bit further down the road without any sign or mark so it took us a while to find it!..
This part of the county is a big wheat growing area so a lot of going around and through wheat fields
In the village of Willingale we visited the two open medieval churches ..St Andrews and St Christopher’.
Although today it appears to be two churches in one churchyard , each does indeed have its own, with the parish boundary running between the two
St Andrews has been named in the Doomsday book and it was also the parish church for the US airmen whilst stationed in Willingale
19 km took us back to Fyfield

 

[Icacos]

On June 24th I will be attempting to complete the whole "Baden-Powell Trail" near Vancouver, Canada in a day. The trail is 48kms in length with about 2600 meters of elevation gain up and down the coastal mountains.

The last couple of months I have been hiking sections of it and have done all of them just waiting for more snow to melt.


View attachment 102586

That is so exciting! I’m planning to do a portion of that trail later this week, but am not expecting to get anything like the views shown in your pics. I’ll be rooting for you! Do let us know how you manage.

 

[Koidream]

Today, with insoles. i must say I prefer walking with...

 

[Mark Day]

Apologies if this is in the wrong place, I was only made aware of this thread in the recent Forum Digest. It relates to last year but the 2020 thread has been closed and I do want to give a shout out to the London Loop.

My plans for 2020 had included walking La Ruta de Pedra en Sec across Mallorca in May/June and continuing on the Ruta de la Lana (Cuenca to Burgos) in September after a week on a beach with my other half on both occasions. The high rates of infection in Spain and the 14 days quarantine on return to England put us off and we postponed both trips. Some time in August, Portugal was briefly removed from our quarantine list. We seized the window of opportunity to get to the beach for a few days in September. Without planning it, my morning run from Cascais to the ocean took me along part of the Caminho (with an 'h') de Santiago and Caminho de Fatima. I hadn't planned to walk in Portugal but rather to undertake the West Highland Way in Scotland as soon as we got back home. Unfortunately while we were in Cascais Scotland put Portugal on their quarantine list (swiftly followed by England a week later but we were back in Blighty by then). I started to make arrangements for what was now about Plan F - the Coast to Coast from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood Bay in Yorkshire - while we were still in Portugal. Then the Rule Of Six kicked in. This meant that all dorms were closed with the inevitable consequent hike in hotel prices. In the Lake District National Park you had to make a reservation for two nights - never mind the single supplement. I moved on to Plan G.

A few years ago some Aussie friends of ours were returning home to Sydney and gave me their London Loop guidebook. They were very enthusiastic. They'd done the walk over a number of weekends throughout the year. I tried to look interested but cannot help feeling that my eyes must have glazed over and my nodding appear mechanical. I had a hundred and one things that I'd rather do than walk around London. The guidebook made its way to the bottom of the barrel. By September I'd reached the bottom of that barrel and it was either that or paint the kitchen!

In brief the London Loop is 150 miles (240 km) within the M25 motorway along a green corridor. You start in Erith in Kent on the Thames estuary work your way clockwise, south, west, north and back east to Purfleet in Essex. The guidebook breaks the walk up into 15 daily stages but you could do it in less than that. I mostly ran in the mornings and walked in the afternoons after a couple of lunchtime pints and got around in 8 days. The route takes you through countryside, parks, woodlands, marshes, along canal towpaths, rivers and waterways, some residential areas and past a number of historic sites. You get to see how the other half live (Chislehurst and Hadley Green), any number of historic buildings and churches, old gunpowder factories, the oak under which Wilberforce and Pitt The Younger debated the abolition of the slave trade, the deer park at Hampton Court, the Grand Union Canal, the site of the Battle of Barnet, locks, Elizabethan hunting lodges, the concrete barges that towed the Mulberry Harbour over to Arromanches, the occasional view back over the city and many other things besides. Plenty of birds, including pheasants, and aquatic fowl.

My Tube pass covered almost all the Tubes, trains and buses I needed so I was able to return home at the end of each day and go back the following morning to resume where I had left off. The upside of this was that I only needed to carry the smallest of day packs. A sandwich and a piece of fruit for lunch, the guidebook, a camera, as well as a reading book (it took me up to an hour and half to get to and from my daily start and finish points). I was also incredibly lucky with the weather - eight days of Manchegan blue skies, so I didn't even have to carry any waterproof clothing.

The only bleak spots along the way were Hayes in Middlesex and Turkey Street in Enfield - and I commiserate with anybody who has to live in either.

I was rather disappointed to discover that a good number of the pubs listed in my guidebook had closed, been bulldozed or now had flats where they once had stood. My disappointment was exponentially increased when this discovery coincided with lunchtime!

The London Outer Orbital Loop may not be Spain but it was a good Plan G.

There's an inner loop, The Capital Ring, which I plan to do when lockdown is over and the weather gets better.

I'm currently doing the London Loop. Third of the way through. I did the Capital Ring last year. An excellent walk.

 

[SabsP]

Today, with insoles. i must say I prefer walking with...

View attachment 102659 View attachment 102660 View attachment 102661

Brave people! Going out in this brutal Belgian weather.

 

[Tulle]

After days of rain there was some sun this evening. So I went for a short walk, talked with the sheep and picked some flowers.

 

[Former member 49149]

Does opening the back door count, and walking a few steps? I did actually walk this morning but took no photos. However our neighbours have just donated a wonderful garden parasol. We have a yard that gets lovely sunshine in the summer. Yippee! It is like an outdoor room! So simply happy! It will not stop me from heading out for my at least 10,000 steps daily, but I will actually start praying for sunshine from now on!

 

[Annette london]

Does opening the back door count, and walking a few steps? I did actually walk this morning but took no photos. However our neighbours have just donated a wonderful garden parasol. We have a yard that gets lovely sunshine in the summer. Yippee! It is like an outdoor room! So simply happy! It will not stop me from heading out for my at least 10,000 steps daily, but I will actually start praying for sunshine from now on!

Kirkie
love that photo
those feet were made for walking!

 

[aliciag56]

I've been re-habbing from a torn miniscus so not much hiking these past 6 months. Today I ventured out though - route was a little more challenging than I remembered. Poles kept me steady though. Outside Denver CO

 

[Former member 49149]

Usual circuit, but in reverse. First photo shows steps at landing from ferry of olden times - I remember those times! Second photo shows the matching steps on the north side of the quays. Workers used this ferry to cross from both sides before there were bridges. Third picture is typical now, in each local district. Last one is a makey-uppy, but it is cute! I imagine it was actually in use at one stage of its life.

 

[Lexicos]

I’ll add my bit to the longest thread of all time.
I haven’t walked anywhere noteworthy lately but this is where I start from in just under 3 hours, at 6 am. I’ll be walking by the sea for 11-12 hours, 46 km, passing some spectacular scenery along the way.

And at this time of the year it’ll be just me and the sea, all to ourselves.

Perfect!

 

[SabsP]

Usual circuit. Massive rain and thunder this night but still extremely dry.

Sky picture is from this night.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I’ll add my bit to the longest thread of all time. I haven’t walked anywhere noteworthy lately but this is where I start from in just under 8 hours, at 6 am. I’ll be walking by the sea for 11-12 hours, 46 km, passing some spectacular scenery along the way. And at this time of the year it’ll be just me and the sea all to ourselves. Perfect!
View attachment 102935 View attachment 102936

Do you know what those blue dashes are in the dark night sky?

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Do you know what those blue dashes are in the dark night sky?

Aliens?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Aliens?

I wondered about that, too, but decided to keep my mouth shut.

 

[Annette london]

A 10 walk on the The Roding Valley Way which is about 15 minutes walk from home
it still amazes me that up to 2 years ago and before lockdown we were unaware of so many walks practically on our doorstep
I had passed the entrance so many times on my way to work and visited many homes on my rounds not knowing that the river flowed so near to them
This walk by the river is an oasis of calm in the middle of an urban jungle and is well marked from Buckhurst Hill to Ilford in the outer London borough of Redbridge
the river itself is 31 miles long and rises in Dunmow, flows south through Essex and into the Thames. It passes through groups of villages known as The Roding
the paths are good…some clay, gravel or tarmac
we got the bus home from Ilford.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I walked with a good friend this morning near home. Nothing interesting to look at, but I enjoyed taking the photo of our shadows like many of us do on the Camino mornings.

 

[Lexicos]

It’s impossible to capture the natural beauty of a place in a photograph but anyway try to imagine the sun, the smell of eucalyptus, the sound of water crashing over rocks and the crisp clean air of these places that I walked through yesterday on my 10 hour hike… I was in awe for nearly all of the time.
Lorne to Apollo Bay. Great Ocean Road. Victoria. Australia.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Today is my birthday and it has finally stopped raining so I went for a walk along Takapuna Beach after enjoying a Mochaccino and a Pho for late lunch. Along the walk I spotted this nice Scallop shell and so, of course, I took this as a sign that I should be posting my walk to this forum and bought the shell home.

 

[mspath]

Today is my birthday and it has finally stopped raining so I went for a walk along Takapuna Beach after enjoying a Mochaccino and a Pho for late lunch. Along the walk I spotted this nice Scallop shell and so, of course, I took this as a sign that I should be posting my walk to this forum and bought the shell home.

View attachment 103067View attachment 103068View attachment 103069View attachment 103070

Doughnut NZ,
Beautiful photos with a shell for your next trip. Happy birthday/Carpe diem!

 

[Koidream]

Today is my birthday ...

Happy Birthday, enjoy your day...

 

[Former member 49149]

Yes! Happy Birthday! A special day to be thankful for everything!

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Yes! Happy Birthday! A special day to be thankful for everything!

Thank you, it is a poignant day for me. My Dad chose my birthday to die, as his mother did for him. As a result I tend to celebrate with family prior to my birthday while spending the actual day doing things on my own.

 

[Former member 49149]

Thank you, it is a poignant day for me. My Dad chose my birthday to die, as his mother did for him. As a result I tend to celebrate with family prior to my birthday while spending the actual day doing things on my own.

Understandable. Pax.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

My Dad chose my birthday to die, as his mother did for him. As a result I tend to celebrate with family prior to my birthday while spending the actual day doing things on my own.

Happy birthday @Doughnut NZ!
It sounds a very unusual day for you; probably full of mixed blessings and memories.

 

[Lexicos]

Your birthday then has double the meaning, double the value.
I hope your next birthday will be on the Camino Dough. All the best fellow pilgrim.

 

[Lexicos]

Do you know what those blue dashes are in the dark night sky?

My apologies for this delayed reply, I only just saw your question. And I don’t know how to quote your Q.

No! Is the answer. I wasn’t aware of those light streaks in the sky and I didn’t see them until I looked at my photos much later. No idea what they could be. I can only guess that it has something to do with the camera lense on my phone.

 

[Lexicos]

I’d do this walk again any time

 

[Annette london]

A narrow path from Salts Green through the field of wheat to reach the church of Good Easter which was closed
then through “green lanes” to reach the village of Pleshey, a lovely village with “chocolate box” cottages
We happened to meet the Vicar and a local historian at the church who gave us both a tour and a wonderful history lesson.
a beautiful tapestry hangs in the church commemorating the 800th anniversary signing of the Magna Carta in 1215.
The Earl of Essex who was a witness to the signing of this document lived in Pleshey castle at the time
A return to Salts Green and 20 km walk

 

[Phoenix]

Among the redwoods and cliffs of Big Sur (central coast of California).

 

[Camino Chrissy]

View attachment 103318
View attachment 103320
Among the redwoods and cliffs of Big Sur (central coast of California).

I have visited both areas and loved it...I need to go back!

 

[Phoenix]

I have visited both areas and loved it...I need to go back!

The trip was to celebrate our anniversary; the scenery was almost as lovely as my wife.

We saw so much beauty and majesty, but there's just something about the famous, 250+ yrs old lone cypress growing from the rock: a stoic, resolute sentinel keeping watch from its vantage point above Monterey Bay.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

View attachment 103363

The trip was to celebrate our anniversary; the scenery was almost as lovely as my wife.

We saw so much beauty and majesty, but there's just something about the famous, 250+ yrs old lone cypress growing from the rock: a stoic, resolute sentinel keeping watch from its vantage point above Monterey Bay.

I remember that drive and the lone tree! It's been quite a few years ago, but you never forget...especially when you live in the Midwest.

 

[Phoenix]

Today: Black Forest, Colorado
First 4+ mile hike since getting my new knees.

 

[Lexicos]

Gippsland region, South East of Melbourne. No walks on this day. It rained most of the time.

 

[Theatregal]

I've been in Victoria working on a short contract the last 3 weeks. A day off yesterday and a chance for a road trip along the west coast of Vancouver Island to Port Renfrew and my ultimate destination of Botanical Beach. A gorgeous, though intensely hot day - 38 deg! Stopped along the way to explore beaches and any little trails I saw. Then a hike through the woods to beautiful Botanical Beach with it's wide sandstone plateau and tide pools filled with marine life. Botanical is also the trail head (starting or finishing) for the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail - a rugged, spectacular 50 km hike following the coast from Sooke to Port Renfrew.

 

[Lexicos]

“I've been in Victoria working on a short contract the last 3 weeks. A day off yesterday and a chance for a road trip along the west coast of…”.
Looks great!
Well you’d never have guessed it, we have a very similar coastal trail here called The Great Ocean Walk, which follows the South West Coast of Victoria for 100 km. It too goes inland through dense forest and via rugged coast and some gorgeous beaches.

 

[Theatregal]

Well you’d never have guessed it, we have a very similar coastal trail here called The Great Ocean Walk, which follows the South West Coast of Victoria for 100 km. It too goes inland through dense forest and via rugged coast and some gorgeous beaches.

Very cool. Twins!

 

[trecile]

Perfect for some shade because temperatures were already in the mid twenty Celsius. Too hot for my liking.

You wouldn't like the weather here much - 46C yesterday!
I've still been doing my daily 9 km loop from my house. Just a little bit earlier in the morning than usual. I set out at 4:30 this morning. It wasn't necessary to start quite that early, but I wanted to start before the sun rose - it reminded me of early morning starts on the Camino in the summer.
There is usually some suburban wildlife around.

 

[mspath]

You wouldn't like the weather here much - 46C yesterday!
I've still been doing my daily 9 km loop from my house. Just a little bit earlier in the morning than usual. I set out at 4:30 this morning. It wasn't necessary to start quite that early, but I wanted to start before the sun rose - it reminded me of early morning starts on the Camino in the summer.
There is usually some suburban wildlife around.
View attachment 103593

Trecile,
Great wildlife photo. Is Mount Hood melting now?
Stay cool and Carpe diem.

 

[trecile]

Trecile,
Great wildlife photo. Is Mount Hood melting now?
Stay cool and Carpe diem.

I'm way down in Southern Oregon, far from Mt. Hood, but that area had record breaking heat, so I'm sure that a lot of snow has melted. Fortunately the temperature dropped 10 degrees C today - only about 36.
But it has been cooling quite a bit overnight - down to around 20C. Nice for my morning walk.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Yesterday's 3 mile walk from home...llinois cornfield (yawn), wild gooseberries, an ant "sandcastle".

 

[Annette london]

A walk from Eype to Abbotsbury on the Jurassic coast in Dorset
wonderful scenery all the way with rolling hills and sheer cliffs
passed through West Bay, a popular film and TV location
The TV series Broadchurch was filmed there …I think the USA made their own version.
Walked on a shingle beach which was quiet difficult with one step forwards and two steps back!
Had coffee in a village and watched the pigeons getting friendly
In trying to avoid more shingle we took a detour and got a bit lost, eventually arriving in Abbotsbury, a lovely village with some very old churches which we will explore more in a few days
returned home on the Jurassic coaster bus

 

[Lexicos]

Through the glass doors all that I can see from where I sit is the black night. Dark outside, light inside. The sun has yet to rise. No doubt the gods have had a busy night, deciding who shall come and who shall go. They must use dice to decide such things for their decisions seem to be so random, so senseless, so ill considered. They play with us, moving us from black square to white, throwing us in the air with little regard for where we might fall.

Reflections from the summit of our tallest mountain.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Yesterday we visited the "Zaanse Schans"

In its 18th and 19th century heyday, the Zaan region was an important industrial area dotted by hundreds of windmills producing linseed oil, paint, snuff, mustard, paper and other products. Many of the Zaanse Schans' characteristic village houses are now museums, gift shops or workshops while others are still used as private residences. Some of the Zaanse Schans' remaining windmills are also open to the public.

 

[mspath]

Yesterday we visited the "Zaanse Schans"

In its 18th and 19th century heyday, the Zaan region was an important industrial area dotted by hundreds of windmills producing linseed oil, paint, snuff, mustard, paper and other products. Many of the Zaanse Schans' characteristic village houses are now museums, gift shops or workshops while others are still used as private residences. Some of the Zaanse Schans' remaining windmills are also open to the public.
View attachment 103728View attachment 103729
View attachment 103730View attachment 103731
View attachment 103732View attachment 103733

Peter Fransiscus,
Your first photo is a classic image of how one imagines the Netherlands; it is perfect.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Walking with a friend this morning for 4.5 miles, we headed out on the country roads over to the cemetery instead of on the trail for a change.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Peter Fransiscus,
Your first photo is a classic image of how one imagines the Netherlands; it is perfect.

We owe the landscape we have today in the Netherlands to them.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

We owe the landscape we have today in the Netherlands to them.

Peter, we have a real one on the Fox river we biked on last month in Batavia, Illinois . It's the Fabyan windmill. They offer tours.

Fabyan Windmill - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Peter, we have a real one on the Fox river we biked on last month in Batavia, Illinois . It's the Fabyan windmill. They offer tours.

Fabyan Windmill - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

It's a beautiful mill and you have a other beautiful mill "De Zwaan" in Holland.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

It's a beautiful mill and you have a other beautiful mill "De Zwaan" in Holland.

I just googled and it is indeed beautiful, Peter!

 

[Annette london]

A challenging walk along the cliffs and a slog up to Golden Cap, the highest point on the south coast
Through many wildflower meadows and a view of some intriguing field shapes
Through an interesting gate
Coffee in Seatown and onto Lyme Regis, a popular seaside town where the film”The French Lieutenants Woman”(1981) was made. A story of forbidden love starring Meryl Streep
In the film she was often seen staring out to sea on the Cobb of the town with the waves crashing around her....an interesting walk as it slanted downwards
Back to base on the Jurassic Coaster bus

 

[Phoenix]

~4 miles at a city park in Colorado Springs. Hills, rocks, mud, sand, etc. - much like some days on Camino.

 

[AlanSykes]

The first heath orchid of the year, 15 minutes up the track from my front door (just south of Hadrian's Wall).

 

[Annette london]

walked on path high above Lulworth Cove then down to the cove and up to Durdle door via Stair hole
The best views looking backwards and forwards are from Durdle door
A good walk and then we went to Lulworth castle and walked around the vast grounds where we saw a wedding taking place
a beautiful bride whose big day had to be postponed for a year due to the pandemic

 

[Koidream]

Today we drove to Durbuy with our new ride.
Durbuy, also known as the smallest town in the world. Here are some impressions...

 

[Annette london]

Lots of Churches and pilgrim sites
St Nicholas church founded in the 14th century and the wooden pulpit still shows the musket holes shot in 1664 during the civil war
once again we met a local historian who gave us a tour

The stitched kneelers made and used by the congregation are beautiful
Tithe Abbey barn was part of the Benedictine monastery founded in the 11th century in the reign of King Knut

then up to St Catherine’s church high on the hill….apparently once a pilgrim site for single women looking for a husband!!
I must keep this in mind!!
down through the fields and over the stiles to the coastal path with Chesil bank in view
another church at the end
got the bus back from Weymouth to West Bay

 

[SabsP]

@Annette london : absolutely stunning!

 

[SabsP]

My middle of the road pics after Annette'' most recent gorgeous ones.
Citywalk through Tongeren. Oldest town in Belgium. Also on the Camino.
Temporary exhibition about daily life in the Roman Empire.
Pieces from the British Museum.

 

[Annette london]

My middle of the road pics after Annette'' most recent gorgeous ones.
Citywalk through Tongeren. Oldest town in Belgium. Also on the Camino.
Temporary exhibition about daily life in the Roman Empire.
Pieces from the British Museum.

View attachment 104502View attachment 104503View attachment 104504View attachment 104505View attachment 104506View attachment 104507

Oh Sabine,
your photographs are so lovely
so often like the fields and tracks of our own locality and surrounding area
this pandemic has changed so many of us regarding how we view and enjoy our own backyards …almost having been forced into it so to speak!

 

[Former member 49149]

I have a number of photos from my last week's peregrinations around Dublin city. Most in this post are from St. James' Church, with two from the Peace Garden opposite Christchurch. The latter was a total surprise to me, in spite of many years living in Dublin
.

 

[SabsP]

9.5 k. circular walk. Stop at pub.
Fallen tree so plan B.

 

[Esperanza]

Snoqualmie Falls, Washington State, US.
This was short and steep walk, but a spectacular waterfall. Perfect on a hot day.

 

[Koidream]

A few days ago we made a trip to Geraardsbergen.
Geraardsbergen is one of the oldest cities in Belgium. It is known for "The wall", a steep street paved with cobblestones, climbed every year by cyclists during the "Tour of Flandres". On top of the hill you have the Chapel of Our Lady of the Oudenberg (see pics).
In Gerraardsbergen they also have a "Manneke Pis", older than the more famous one in Brussels.
And then of course there are the famous Mattentaarten, I am sure Sabine knows them ;-)

 

[Annette london]

Some good walks in the Lake District once again
Great weather after all the rain
not too many people
wonderful lakes and mountains
A fair bit of scrambling ….well “himself still thinks he’s 25”!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Gorgeous pictures, Annette! You are lucky to have Himself as a sidekick on all of your walks...and he is a cutie!

 

[SabsP]

Some of you might read or heard that big parts of Europe have had floodings and mudslides this week. The deathtoll especially in Germany and here in Belgium is devastating. Still many people missing. And this only an half hour drive from home.
This region escaped the worst but my heart goes out to everyone involved.
Never will I complain again about the mud here on our local paths.

 

[Ekelund]

Since I'm not going to Spain this Summer, I decided to do a hike in Jutlandia, the Danish mainland.
On my very first day I started early in the morning and I walked out of a small village, where I had spend the night. It was a lovely morning, very quiet and everything was good when I was passed by a man. "Buen Camino" he called out to me, I was so surprised! "Oy, are you Spanish" I yelled at him. It turned out he was from Iran but he had walked to Santiago from SJDPP and he just felt, it was the right thing to say to me. When I walked away from him, I felt like a part of the Camino was with me even thou I was not in Spain. And it happened again when I was in Varde and visited the towns church, St. Jacobs Church (Jacob is Santiago in Danish) and on the last day of my walk, I saw a sign with the Camino sign on it together with the sign for the trail, that I was walking. It was wonderful! The Camino was with me all the way!

 

[SabsP]

9k.walk at national park. Gate Pietersheim. With a gorgeous watercastle.
Mostly woodland and all unpaved.
Educational playfarm ( petting zoo ) with a nice cafeteria.
.

 

[Koidream]

A few days ago we went to the West, away from the water...
In Bruges we took some time for a walk and promised us another 36 years (yes, on Monday we had our 36th wedding anniversary) on the "Bridge of Love" or "Pont d'amour". I am happy to share some pics with you...

 

[Annette london]

A path through the ferns on the side of the mountain
i first saw this path about 35 years whilst travelling down the road from the Newlands pass and always wanted to walk it…taken a long time but we made it this time!
ferns up to our shoulders with wonderful views
back by St James little church and the Old School now used as a community hall
another little church in Thornewaith where a wedding was due to take place
the graveyard was huge and I loved that all the gravestones were facing Skiddaw mountain …not a bad place to end ones days I suppose
All the kneelers once again lovingly stitched in both churches

 

[Esperanza]

A short hike to a fire lookout tower, with great views in all directions (not too surprisingly!) The Cascade Range, Washington State, US.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

We ventured up north to Door County, Wisconsin for five days of great weather. Here are a few pics from my 3 mile walk I took each morning on the country road next to where we stayed. A variety of green on one side of the road and water on the other side.

 

[Turga]

A different local walk: A Saturday morning stroll through the center of Copenhagen – with a little “tourist information”

A view towards “Gammel Strand” (Old Beach) along Frederiksholms Kanal/Canal. Though close to the city center it is quite peaceful on a Saturday morning. The square building in the center is Thorvaldsen’s Museum. Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844) was a famous Danish/Icelandic sculptor and the museum was built (1839-48) to exhibit his works.



A view with Christiansborg Slot/Castle to the right. It was built 1731-1740 by King Christian VI but there was actually a castle there as early as 1167. Today it is the seat of the Danish Parliament. The building in the background with the pointy, spiral tower is “Børsen” built by Christian IV in the 1620s as a commodity trading central.



D’Angleterre. Originally built in the 1750s, burnt down to the ground in 1795 (in the ‘Great Copenhagen Fire’) and rebuilt in the early 1800s. Today the most luxurious and iconic hotel in Copenhagen.



Nyhavn. This old part of the inner harbor dates back to 1671 and is one of the most visited ‘tourist traps’ in Copenhagen. Every (every!) house along the street is a bar/restaurant and during summer it is totally crowded every day.



The ‘Storch Fountain’ on ‘Strøget’ (the longest pedestrian shopping street of Copenhagen). The Storch Fountain became famous (notorious?) during the 60s and 70s as a symbol of the ‘hippie-movement’ when, for some reason, young people with long hair and guitars tended to hang out around it singing songs of love, peace and harmony (I was one of them).



The City Square with the City Hall. The current City Hall was built 1892-1905 as number six in a row of city halls the first of which was built in the early 1400s. Two prominent Danish architects (Martin Nyrop and Anton Rosen) competed for the contract to design the building, and Martin Nyrop won which was a bad blow for Rosen, who was a professor of architecture and considered himself top of the heap. Martin Nyrop insisted that the building should be constructed to the highest standards of craftsmanship, and it is indeed a magnificent building. Everything is beautifully made: The floors, the ceilings, the doors, the wall paintings.

Soon after Anton Rosen was assigned to design the Palace Hotel (1907-10) which is the building with the tower to the left. This too is a grand, beautiful building. On each of the four sides of the tower there is an antique decoration. You can’t see it on the picture, but the decoration facing towards the City Hall depicts a nude male figure partly turning his back to the City Hall. The story goes that this is Rosen’s revenge for losing the contract to Nyrop: From the City Hall you will for ever have a view to a back and a nude behind



Why not end this leisurely city walk with a small lunch on Hviids Vinstue, one of the oldest bars/restaurants in Copenhagen established in 1723.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Turga, such a lovely city. Thanks for the narration to go with the pictures.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

A different local walk: A Saturday morning stroll through the center of Copenhagen – with a little “tourist information”

A view towards “Gammel Strand” (Old Beach) along Frederiksholms Kanal/Canal. Though close to the city center it is quite peaceful on a Saturday morning. The square building in the center is Thorvaldsen’s Museum. Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844) was a famous Danish/Icelandic sculptor and the museum was built (1839-48) to exhibit his works.

View attachment 105547

A view with Christiansborg Slot/Castle to the right. It was built 1731-1740 by King Christian VI but there was actually a castle there as early as 1167. Today it is the seat of the Danish Parliament. The building in the background with the pointy, spiral tower is “Børsen” built by Christian IV in the 1620s as a commodity trading central.

View attachment 105548

D’Angleterre. Originally built in the 1750s, burnt down to the ground in 1795 (in the ‘Great Copenhagen Fire’) and rebuilt in the early 1800s. Today the most luxurious and iconic hotel in Copenhagen.

View attachment 105549

Nyhavn. This old part of the inner harbor dates back to 1671 and is one of the most visited ‘tourist traps’ in Copenhagen. Every (every!) house along the street is a bar/restaurant and during summer it is totally crowded every day.

View attachment 105550

The ‘Storch Fountain’ on ‘Strøget’ (the longest pedestrian shopping street of Copenhagen). The Storch Fountain became famous (notorious?) during the 60s and 70s as a symbol of the ‘hippie-movement’ when, for some reason, young people with long hair and guitars tended to hang out around it singing songs of love, peace and harmony (I was one of them).

View attachment 105551

The City Square with the City Hall. The current City Hall was built 1892-1905 as number six in a row of city halls the first of which was built in the early 1400s. Two prominent Danish architects (Martin Nyrop and Anton Rosen) competed for the contract to design the building, and Martin Nyrop won which was a bad blow for Rosen, who was a professor of architecture and considered himself top of the heap. Martin Nyrop insisted that the building should be constructed to the highest standards of craftsmanship, and it is indeed a magnificent building. Everything is beautifully made: The floors, the ceilings, the doors, the wall paintings.

Soon after Anton Rosen was assigned to design the Palace Hotel (1907-10) which is the building with the tower to the left. This too is a grand, beautiful building. On each of the four sides of the tower there is an antique decoration. You can’t see it on the picture, but the decoration facing towards the City Hall depicts a nude male figure partly turning his back to the City Hall. The story goes that this is Rosen’s revenge for losing the contract to Nyrop: From the City Hall you will for ever have a view to a back and a nude behind

View attachment 105552

Why not end this leisurely city walk with a small lunch on Hviids Vinstue, one of the oldest bars/restaurants in Copenhagen established in 1723.

View attachment 105553

Aah you Danes, you are such a civilised people

 

[SabsP]

Moody weather but it stayed dry. Bench with QR code to listen to an art project.
And the farmers have been busy.

 

[Theatregal]

A beautiful evening for a walk in the Terra Nova Natural Area. Many lovely things to see along the way - especially the sighting of a rare Green Heron - the focus of some very excited birders!

 

[Annette london]

Well after jumping through a few hoops, I finally got home to see my sister in Ireland.
After a short drive to the village of Ferns, the former capital of Leinster(one of the 4 provinces of Ireland….the others being Munster, Connaught, and Ulster) we had a very historical walk and tour of the village.

in one area, the ruins of the medieval cathedral, and the church of Ireland cathedral….reported to be the smallest cathedral in Europe
the graveyard hosts the remains of Diarmuid Mac Murrough (1171) the king of Leinster who is most famous for having invited the Normans to Ireland in 1158
Also buried there are the part remains of Fr. John Murphy, famous for having led the 1798 rebellion against the English.
The Vikings also paid a visit in the 10th century
Ruins of St Mary’s Abbey 1157 are here too

the visitor was closed but we did manage to get in and view the wonderful Ferns Tapestry, 25 individual panels telling the history of the village in stitch work from 598 AD to the coming of the Normans in 1169

Onto Ferns castle where one tower has been beautifully restored…now unfortunately closed due to Covid …the former grate of the great hall is visible near the tower
Lastly is the monastery of St Aidan where there are little little stone hermitages used for retreats.

 

[SabsP]

Today's walk, with a friend and her dog.
Wetlands!
Area is around the river Gete and there is a wobbly bridge over the small river called the Golden Gete..

 

[OzAnnie]

Today's walk, with a friend and her dog.
Wetlands!
Area is around the river Gete and there is a wobbly bridge over the small river called the Golden Gete..

View attachment 106119View attachment 106120View attachment 106121View attachment 106122

“Argh ! “ The dog says … . “Not sure about the wobbly bridge… but the water is definitely calling me ”. .. …. nice day out Sabine.

 

[Annette london]

A walk on The Norman Way in Wexford ….a cycle/ walking trail via a series of protected medieval sites which tell the story of the Normans and their way of life here over 800 years ago.
The Normans were descendants of Scandinavian vikings who settled in NW France
They invaded England in 1066 and a century later came to Ireland

A good walk around Templetown where the Knights Templers had their headquarters before being disbanded in 1307 when their lands were given to the Knights Hospitaliers.

Then a walk around Hook lighthouse which was built in the 13th C
it’s a unique example of an intact lighthouse and at present the oldest fully operational one in the world.

 

[shefollowsshells]

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!

Looking forward seeing your pictures and stories behind it.

So it wasn't 2021, but 2020 "Covid era, so I think it counts". This thread seems the perfect opportunity to share it as I loved it so much!!! We hiked The Foot Hills trail that is a trail that either start in Georgia and end in South Carolina, or start in South Carolina and end in Georgia. If you do it you'll spend a few hours in North Carolina as it enters and leaves it before returning to South Carolina.

We hiked in Late July early August, about a week exactly and filled with Waterfalls. No chance for provisions but there is a trail angel named Taz who will bury food for you and help you get to the trailhead. This hike reminded me of the Pyrenees, beautiful flora and mushrooms etc...

 

[Annette london]

Two wonderful walks at two pilgrim sites
First Glendalough, (Gleann- da - Lockha)…valley of 2 lakes and a place of pilgrimage amid stunning scenery in a glacial valley
Founded in the 6th century by St Kevin as a place of retreat, the entrance is via a double gateway..the only example of its kind in the world.
some buildings are intact whilst others are in ruins

the tower is 100ft high and the door 12 ft off the ground and reached by means of a moveable ladder which those inside could pull up after them to prevent an enemy from entering the tower…there are many towers like this in other places of pilgrimage around the country

The second pilgrim site is that of Our Lady’s Island, a site of pilgrimage since the 6th century
It’s the oldest Marian site in Ireland and a lovely loop walk around the island by the estuary

 

[Phoenix]

Today @ Paint Mines Interpretive Park
Calhan, Colorado

 

[Camino Chrissy]

First Glendalough, (Gleann- da - Lockha)…valley of 2 lakes and a place of pilgrimage amid stunning scenery in a glacial valley
Founded in the 6th century by St Kevin as a place of retreat, the entrance is via a double gateway..the only example of its kind in the world.
some buildings are intact whilst others are in ruins

the tower is 100ft high and the door 12 ft off the ground and reached by means of a moveable ladder which those inside could pull up after them to prevent an enemy from entering the tower

Annette, I have been to both Glendalough and Wexford. I have been to Blarney castle and you probably have been too...we both have the "gift of gab" and I didn't even kiss the stone.

 

[SabsP]

@Annette london and @Phoenix : absolutely stunning! I am in awe!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I have returned yesterday from a 5 day trip to Sedona, Arizona with a good friend. We hiked every morning for 3-4 hours in 90° temps, but at least no humidity. The huge red rock shapes are outstanding; such a nice change for us Midwestern flatlanders. That's me in the vertical picture.

 

[Annette london]

I have returned yesterday from a 5 day trip to Sedona, Arizona with a good friend. We hiked every morning for 3-4 hours in 90° temps, but at least no humidity. The huge red rock shapes are outstanding; such a nice change for us Midwestern flatlanders. That's me in the vertical picture.
View attachment 106367View attachment 106369View attachment 106370View attachment 106371View attachment 106372View attachment 106373View attachment 106368

I have returned yesterday from a 5 day trip to Sedona, Arizona with a good friend. We hiked every morning for 3-4 hours in 90° temps, but at least no humidity. The huge red rock shapes are outstanding; such a nice change for us Midwestern flatlanders. That's me in the vertical picture.
View attachment 106367View attachment 106369View attachment 106370View attachment 106371View attachment 106372View attachment 106373View attachment 106368

Chrissy,

Phoenix and Chrissy
Fantastic photos
I just can’t work out how you got up there Chrissy?