- Time of past OR future Camino
- All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
I know , you need to post thumbnails.
Thumbnails need les storage space.
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I know , you need to post thumbnails.- or just use smaller pictures... in editing, right click on bottom right corner on said picture until small blue square appears and move cursor on this square upwards to the left, thus skrinking your picture to your own liking.....
So glad you enjoyed the London Loop...and in 8 days....weve been walking it since 2013 on and off and as a few loops are within a mile of the house, have walked the same ones a few timeApologies 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.
Another 10K walk in a forest at 500 meters from our doorbell
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Yes! There is so much to discover in Agen... and there is a gîte de pélerins!@lovingkindness : Gorgeous pics! Always so nice to see how the French provide such detailed walkingmaps.
Lacépède Did not know you are so close to Agen.
Have you any idea what a treat it is to see all these beautiful images? Thank you.Warm day; 30 C, with a northeast breeze. Jervis Bay.
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48° F. That‘s about 8.8° C. and what it is here today. I was out this morning and thought it was lovely and mild.I walked 4.5 miles in the park today with a friend I met last year. It was a very chilly 48° and dreary. I came south for this? Brrr.
My only photo of an armadillo.
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Well, I'd left my winter clothes at home in Illinois.48° F. That about 8.8° C. and what it is here today. I was out this morning and thought it was lovely and mild.
We was very near you at the time, snowshoeing at Grouse. A small worldPart of the trek that I really wanted to do today was closed because of a rock slide, so I had to make a significant diversion. Disappointing, but I did see some areas along the Capilano River that I hadn't seen before. It's hard to think that just a bit over a hundred years ago there were old growth forests near here. What we have left now, still beautiful, is second growth forest. Pics include the upper portion of the Cleveland Dam spillway. If you look closely through the railing to the right of the walkway at the top of the spillway you can see a snow capped mountain. We do get snow here in the winter but it is usually at the higher elevations.
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Beautiful! I did say there was snow at higher elevations.We was very near you at the time, snowshoeing at Grouse. A small world
Annette, sounds like a very similar change of purpose for the local asylum next to my hometown. It was declared a model of enlightened treatment in its day. The luxury homes are all new, except for a couple of facades and a clock tower, so I have not heard of spooky sensations. I will check with a brother, he lives there!Less than 10 minutes walk from home is Claybury Park, Londons newest park opened in 2010 and 270 acres
I am ashamed to say that I've only walked through this once as a shortcut going somewhere since opening but what a change from the same ole same old walks since the latest lockdown
And what a discovery it's been..2 woods, open spaces and a lake.
Greeted by muddy paths at first, we explored the many wooded paths and then the open tracks in the open.
5 miles was a good walk for us yesterday
HISTORY OF THE PARK AND THE HOSPITAL
The park was once part of Claybury Psychiatric hospital...built in 1883 and known as "a mental asylum for the clinically insane" ...a term outdated now.
A costly private hospital then...it could treat up to 2,500 patients and was one of the country's pioneering mental establishments.
It had vast grounds and a farm where patients were able to work and wander.
However after the NHS was established in 1948 the patient numbers began to dwindle and it was closed in 1997 and "care in the community" for most psychiatric patients became the norm.
I always loved the buildings of this hospital and along with colleagues did many a training course there for our own specialities in the NHS
Even then however, the long halls and corridors always seemed a bit spooky!
The buildings were renovated instead of being bulldozed and now consist of very expensive,luxury homes inside a gated community estate.
The outside character of the buildings has been maintained however, especially the beautiful old church.....I hate to say this church now houses a gym and a swimming pool but this is the way of the world now I suppose!
Reports of spooky goings on have frequently been reported at times though and people who used to work at the hospital before it closed in 1997 are convinced they saw the ghosts of distressed patients still roaming around the buildings!
My neighbour however who lives next door and who worked at the hospital for over 40 years will not tell me the full story!!!
I think I can feel a shiver down my spine!!View attachment 91225View attachment 91226View attachment 91227View attachment 91228View attachment 91229View attachment 91230View attachment 91231View attachment 91232
I don't know how I missed this when originally posted but it is excellent. I've given instructions too but this is so concise and clear. Great job!
Sort of the same technique as. the church in @Sabine’s avatar. @chrissy, do you know why “connect” and “feel” are written in large letters on the walls?We've been to the same state park where @Camino Chrissy took her pictures. Those weird buildings are intended for bird watching but they are good for getting out of the sun too.
There are three wood structures in a row. The last one out of sight says "listen" so connect, feel and listen. Inside each one there are a few other interpretive words, benches to sit on and a big square open "window" on the back sides for watching birds and nature...probably mostly geared towards children.Sort of the same technique as. the church in @Sabine’s avatar. @chrissy, do you know why “connect” and “feel” are written in large letters on the walls?
We’re getting snow as I write this, so you are lucky to be away from Illinois!
Trust that you are avoiding the aggressive Coyotes in the the park. I guess if they had a Goldeneye duck or 2 they would mellow out.A walk on the Stanley Park seawall. Along the way an otter and a large flock of Barrow's Goldeneye ducks. I had meant to walk all the way around but a good portion of it was closed due to clean-up of debris from the high winds and king tides the last few days. Had to detour up into the woods. Found a view of the wall from above that I hadn't seen before. A beautiful day.
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I was one who never minded the cobbles on the Portuguese.In case anyone is missing the Camino Portugues...it was dark when I went out, best way to stay away from people. I looked down...on my regular circuit.
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Beautiful heron photos Chrissy! Love it's shadow and footprints in the sand.This morning a three mile walk on the beach. Met up with a blue heron and frightened him away. I thought it unusual those shells were laying perfectly on the sand.
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Thank you! That's quite a compliment coming from the lady who takes the most beautiful photos of birds and shares them with us!Beautiful heron photos Chrissy! Love it's shadow and footprints in the sand.
They are fascinating to me because they look so "prehistoric".Those herons are everywhere! Here's one I found on my walk today.
And they always look grumpy!They are fascinating to me because they look so "prehistoric".
Wish I had some pictures from this morning’s walk to share, but almost run over by two of these huge moose... too busy reeling in the borrowed dog to think about snapping a pic...sorry.View attachment 90999Moose on the loose
Lovely! The green calls to me...much of the UK apparently stays green all winter.Walking through a local forest - I do this twice a week. Not a "camino" but simply a lovely walk.
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It rains mud in Belgium?Theme of today...
I did my first marathon in Belgium 2003...and it did seem to! Of course it was the Flanders Fields marathon...so at no point could you complain!It rains mud in Belgium?
Kirkie,In case anyone is missing the Camino Portugues...it was dark when I went out, best way to stay away from people. I looked down...on my regular circuit.
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Chrissy...you must have feet of Iron! But for some reason, I can't remember the cobble stones when we walked the CP ...maybe best forgotten!!
I LOVE sand dunes and blue sky. Maybe because I come from the Pacific Northwest (aka the Wet Coast).A lovely day...a three mile beach walk.
Hi Chrissy! The pine trees are "evergreens". But we are lucky in the UK - minimum temperature this winter around minus 2 deg C here in the east of England: currently, as I write, a very unusual +11 deg C.Lovely! The green calls to me...much of the UK apparently stays green all winter.
Nor me, Chrissy. They have the great advantage of being able to hear a car coming from half a mile away. Unless, of course, they're like this .... taken in Porto in 2011.I was one who never minded the cobbles on the Portuguese.
The trees remembering me of the tree of Denise. Beautiful , thank you for sharingTo the dentist and back... wet cobblestones this morning, but on the return, dry. A mountain of containers at the stacking area caught my eye, as did a couple of scrawny little trees, defiant signs of hope!
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So true, Stephen. The rumble of speeding car tires on narrow cobbled roads on the Portuguese was very helpful for safety.Nor me, Chrissy. They have the great advantage of being able to hear a car coming from half a mile away. Unless, of course, they're like this .... taken in Porto in 2011.
Can you see the map now?I see no map, but I love Edith Piaf. Thank you!
Bonjour, @ SabineP...I see mistletoe (le gui) suspended in trees. Does mistletoe feature in Belgian mythology or festive traditions?Also five k. circular walk. Seven Celsius. Feels like spring. Trying out my new Fitbit.
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Bonjour, @ SabineP...I see mistletoe (le gui) suspended in trees. Does mistletoe feature in Belgian mythology or festive traditions?
Cheers
Sabs, Happy New Year to you also!Hello everyone and Happy New Year!
Looking forward seeing your pictures and stories behind it.
Fingers crossed for you, my friend!So... my work's Fitness Coordinator put something in front of us and of course my wife and I eagerly signed up.
It is akin to something other Esteemed Members here spoke about (and even did\doing), namely it's a 'virtual walk'.
We are participating in "Run West Ireland"
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only we wont run - we are walking.
Starting from this past Monday we have until 31 May to complete 503 miles between us (it averages about 13.3 miles a week per person... but there is no requirement per se to walk any minimum or maximum)
So... we started on Monday "from Céide Fields Visitor Center" and as of yesterday looks like about 1/2-way through on to Crossmolina
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Of course if The World opens up and I do get to start my CF as planned - I get 10 days to hoof it up (Plan to leave SJPdP on 22 May) and REALLY blow the "Ireland" distance out of the water since I doubt very much that I'd be averaging 13 miles\week
Thank you, yes. Sorry I didn’t see your question till now. I had a very busy day.Can you see the map now?
Bonjour, @ SabineP...I see mistletoe (le gui) suspended in trees. Does mistletoe feature in Belgian mythology or festive traditions?
Cheers
Were you wearing the same watch?A question for the more knowledgeable — why is sunrise on January 21 the exact same as it was on December 21? l thought the days were supposed to be getting longer! I left the house at 6 in the dark, and the sun came up at 7:10, exactly the same time as on my December 21 ride!
Oh, there was a 4 minute difference.Were you wearing the same watch?
According to this there was a difference:
December 2020 Sunrise and Sunset Times in Champaign, Illinois
Sunrise and sunset in Champaign, Illinois, on December 2020 with day length, twilight and solar noon.sunrise-sunset.org January 2021 Sunrise and Sunset Times in Champaign, Illinois
Sunrise and sunset in Champaign, Illinois, on January 2021 with day length, twilight and solar noon.sunrise-sunset.org
I hope this helps but figuring out all the angles and motions in astronomy can be pretty confusing.A question for the more knowledgeable — why is sunrise on January 21 the exact same as it was on December 21? l thought the days were supposed to be getting longer! I left the house at 6 in the dark, and the sun came up at 7:10, exactly the same time as on my December 21 ride!
Do people typically walk around your area with birds of prey perched on their arms?!Met a man with a Goshawk on his arm...nearest we've ever been to a bird of prey
Good mud pictures, I’ll bet it brings back a lot of camino memories. I had to push my bike through mud that was nowhere near as bad, but it is impossible (for me anyway) to ride a normal bike when there is even a slight bid of mud.
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