The FastDay Forum

Been back about an hour from our walk. it was 2.41 miles and was sunny when we set out. We had wrapped up well because there was still frost on the ground in the shade and it was quite enjoyable except my right hip was a little uncomfortable on the way back. They have been harvesting sugar beet in the field behind us today and the track is very chewed up and there is mud all over the roads, Never mind, it's the penalty that we pay for choosing to live in a rural location and the expanse of sky makes it all worth while!

I'm afraid I'm letting the side down as I'm full of cold and moving very little :0(
Hoping things will pick up soon.
Happy walking everyone :0)

@Azureblue sorry to hear you are full of a rotten cold. I hope you feel better soon. No serious walking for me today, trip up and down the hill to the shops for groceries, hair dye (auburn) and greeting cards. Tomorrow is a local circular walk, about 4 miles along a parkland walk, through woods and then across Alexandra Palace to the garden centre to get ideas for the garden plan this spring. Just heard my walking friend who lives in Qatar arrives in London on Monday - not sure for how long, but I hope we get a walk in at some point.

Arrived back an hour ago from a two and a half mile walk around the local Nature reserve and along the river bank. We were well wrapped up and it was quite lovely out, despite being very muddy underfoot! It's great to see the days getting longer. It was still quite light at five to five, which is so encouraging! I love light evenings!

I'm improving but is the weather
Rumours of snow tomorrow so today I invested in a swanky pair of Doc Martens, colour grape, from their factory shop sale. Not long laces but two neat buckles, short height leg. Immensely comfortable for walking I'm hoping

http://www.drmartens.com/uk/Womens-Boot ... /14765510#

Nice one @Azureblue. Buying walking equipment like good shoes is so encouraging. I have walked around Melbourne and I even went on a walk around the suburbs of Geelong. Now home. Off to Cradle Mountain with cousin and her OH today. My trusty pedometer needed a new battery - well, that was my diagnosis. It was not counting as many steps as previously. I would go on my regular walks which would usually bring me to 10,000 steps by the end of the day, but I found I wasn't making it. I started at first to think that I was sitting around to much the rest of the day, but then it started not telling the correct time. I bought a a new battery in Melbourne and now the whole thing has done a wobbly and I have to re-set it. I have to find the instructions! My cousin is staying with us and life is too busy to look for them. I do have another one, because I lost 2 and months later, found both of them. So I'll see how that goes today.

@Azureblue nice, I have eight pairs of these Dr Martins in different colours, red, turquoise, black, brown etc. I wear them through out the winter with dresses, skirts and trousers. They are very comfortable and supportive and a great cushion in my life! Must buy more . I'd be lost without them.
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://media.alltheshoes.co.uk/images/large_dr_martens_3a63_authentic_wedge_zip_calf_boot.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.alltheshoes.co.uk/dr_martens/dr_martens_3a63_new_auth_wedge_zip_calf_boot.html&h=495&w=275&tbnid=HkC5lHPt2u4P1M:&zoom=1&docid=6tH1qBUrBfIOoM&ei=1W_JVICpFML2Uv6PgvAO&tbm=isch&ved=0CF8QMygxMDE
@Sallyo I googled your meeting point in Melbourne (the station with all those clocks!) and Geelong to see where you were. It's nice to walk in new places and explore. I hope all is well on the pedometer front. I too lose instructions!
So, I'm visiting my parent in Lancs this Friday for the weekend. Lot's of walking (and cooking ) involved but the job type of walking. Mum will walk me off my feet delegating her instructions of what needs to be done around the house and gardens and that is always good and healthy for all. I will carry my pedometer and measure my output!
Happy walking everyone and if it's cold where you are wrap up warm and do it.

EIGHT PAIRS!!!!! I might start calling you Imelda Marcos, @Lizbean! That is serious shoe acquisition! All different colours! I am astounded. I had a good walk today in Cradle Mountain. It wasn't a really long walk because my cousin's OH has a dicky knee and has recently had a surgical procedure on it. He was keen to test himself so we did a walk from the Interpretation Centre to Snake Hill. There were a lot of steps. Then we caught the shuttle bus back to the car. The plants in that world are very special, some of them are Gondwana plants and have relatives in Chile and New Zealand. They are very old in evolutionary terms, going back to when Australia was part of the super continent Gondwana. As well some of the individual trees are thousands of years old. I am lucky to live so close to such a special place. I did nearly 16,000 steps today.

@Sallyo I am green with envy for your fabulous walking environment and excellent step count. May I put in a request for any photos of this amazing place please?
My little river walk severely curtailed by oncoming snow today, though my new Dr Martens felt so good I wanted to carry on forever!
Happy trails m'dears

@Azureblue I know what you mean I'm straight to google whenever @Sallyo's describes a place or nature! Note to self I must do better, that means making more time for me!
I often wonder if we should add to the tent thread strapline 'walkers tent with a taste of history, biodiversity, geography, and culture chatter' or something like
No snow in London, but glad to hear the Dr Martens are spurring you on.
Sallyo, ha! my lovely mum was a chiropodist, look after number one in her book was healthy FEET - so it was drummed into me. No high heels in my house, only functional footwear has a life.
Edit: I mainly buy brand new unwanted pairs of Dr Martens in the auctions on e-bay.

My doc Marten shod feet took me for a good warming walk this afternoon around a country park/ex gravel pits now flooded and full of birds. Saw many herons so I think they're mate-finding, also huge black-backed gulls, Widgeon, tufteds, coot, moorhens, teal, black headed gulls and the inevitable mallard. Managed two miles so I'm happy with that.
Off to do the ironing now with every intention of getting fit post cold :0)

On Sunday my husband and I went for a walk around Willow Tree Fen, owned and managed by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. They are returning some arable fields back to typical Fen wetland and it was full of water birds using the lakes. We were the only ones there and covered a distance of just over three miles. It was very cold, with a biting north-easterly wind, but we were well wrapped up and greatly enjoyed out lunch of soup and home-made bread when we got home!

Very nice to catch up with all your posts!
Wednesday evening I'm meeting a friend who has flown into London. We are ex-buddy London walkers so I'm hoping she will opt for a walk in the city and then dinner, rather than theatre etc. Her choice as she might want a culture moment.

There's something in the air which is urging me to clean up my boots and start the rambling season this week.

I have kept my road walking going since the New Year and today I did the first leg of my planned Carlisle Circular. This is a walk I am devising that goes around the edge of Carlisle on streets and footways, but not footpaths. If feasible, on one long summer's day I hope to do the entire circuit. I may have to jog it. As long as it is not getting on for a marathon! I like to have a mental challenge as well as the challenge of putting one foot in front of the other (a lot ) and this is more interesting than just marching into the city from a free parking spot every time I drive OH in for his work.

It's been such a beautiful day here which has helped me to hit the magic (and EXTREMELY rare) 10,000 steps...
I walked down the (steep) road (imagine a rural Welsh, (very) minor road) to the beach, and up the steps to the cliff path. I only went a short distance along the path as I get a bit scared by the loose shale on the steep section if I'm on my own. The view across the sea was fab-u-lous! Then back down to the beach and the edge of the waves before the climb up the road. It's not far, but makes me puff a bit. Then we went into town and parked in the free carpark so that we would have further to walk.
Gold star for me today!