Where do ( did ) you walk ( locally ) in 2023?

[lovingkindness]

..walking in the fields about Stewkley, Buckinghamshire (UK). Great clods in freshly ploughed fields, autumnal hedges berry-laden. Half timbered houses . A very fine Norman church c. 1160, with unknown pilgrim saint...

Greetings to all!













---pause---


Dove House, Stewkley


St Michael's parish church (c.1160), Stewkley




Unknown pilgrim saint.

 

[lovingkindness]

Ps the manor house in Stewkley was once owned by the son of Geoffrey Chaucer, author of 'The Canterbury Tales'...

 

[SabsP]

Good to see you back @lovingkindness ! What a stunning church.

 

[Kirkie]

I do love the Ye Olde England style, and the names are fascinating!

 

[lovingkindness]

Good to see you back @lovingkindness ! What a stunning church.

Thanks, SabsP
...I've missed you all.

 

[lovingkindness]

I do love the Ye Olde England style, and the names are fascinating!

Yes! Here's another..

 

[Annette london]

A walk to Aysgill waterfall yesterday in the Yorkshire Dales
soon after starting the walk, the rain started and got progressively worse
The wind was ferocious
Normally we were told, it’s a busy path but we didn’t meet anyone, I wonder why!
ankle deep in mud and water, we eventually got there and what an amazing torrent.
Definitely worth the effort and we even forgot that there’s a heatwave in the South!
Slipping and sliding back through a field of beet
Lit the fire and the rain and wind forgotten

Today, more rivers, fields and waterfalls but the mud had dried and now for the washing

 

[Kirkie]

After a duty day in the Camino information Society centre, we had a guided tour of this church, followed by a celebration for members. This more or less followed the recent inauguration of the mouteira (distance marker) in the Bray to Dublin section of the Celtic Camino.

https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/st-audoens-church/

After the tour we repaired across the road to a former Guildhall, now a pub, for chat and refreshments and food.
Here are a couple of photos from the church.The first one shows the lucky stone. It dates from the ninth century and local people still come in to touch it and make their wish... the baptismal font is a little younger, I think. The stone is recognised as having been brought over from England. The gourd and staff and camino shell are there also, and this is one of four clear stopping points for modern pilgrims to obtain lovely stamps on their way to Santiago..
I did not know this till today. It will not be long before I call back in and get one of my credentials stamped!

 

[peregrino_tom]

Black mountains yesterday. Incredible weather. I thought there'd be more people about, enjoying the final gasp of summer, but no. As usual some people around at the top end where the trippers come up from the valley. But otherwise practically alone, apart from the horses..
If the pics look odd, it's a very old camera that I've obviously forgotten how to operate!

 

[Annette london]

This day was all about the waterfalls on the Ingleton waterfalls walk
Some amazing forces of water after all the rain last week
A very undulating walk with what it seemed a thousand steps
Hard on the knees but worth the nine km.
Took us about 4 hours

 

[SabsP]

Wonderful pictures everyone!
Unfortunately I was home too late for a long walk so I kept to the main road.
Winter hour is coming quickly.

 

[lovingkindness]

...strolling along the Southdowns, above Eastbourne (UK). Lounging on a pebble beach...

 

[peregrino_tom]

...strolling along the Southdowns, above Eastbourne (UK). Lounging on a pebble beach...

I recognised it instantly!

 

[VNwalking]

A 5km amble above the beautiful Grose Valley - past hanging swamps and over wee streams that throw themselves over the valley walls into space. The Waratahs are in bloom, their lovely red flowers lighting up the forest.

 

[astronwolf]

Walked the Pilgrimage for Restoration just over a week ago - 62 miles in 3 days. This starts at Lake George, New York (USA) and ends at the Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville, New York.

 

[Annette london]

As Ronald Reagan once said”Hard work never killed anyone but why take the chance”
Growing up, I heard this quote so many times , but without the “why take the chance bit”
Certainly not many who quoted it ever had to work down the mines or dig for lead ore which most probably killed so many
It was a hard life for those miners in the 18th century

These were some of my thoughts as we walked this very scenic walk from Gunnerside in the Swaledale Dales, with many abandoned buildings dotted all over the valley sides
It was a hard enough walk and 12 km over 5 hours but worth it for the wonderful scenery
A beautiful church at the end

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I still have two Ireland walks of ours to post but I'm going to switch to something closer in time and distance; we spent a few days camping and hiking north in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As you can see, in the autumn the color white isn't the best color to describe the mountains.

These pictures show two short walks we took on our first and last days of the trip. This was along the river that was a stone's throw away from our campsite (if there weren't trees between us anyway).

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Day 2 of our camping trip we hiked one of our favorites, a good warmup hike to two ponds.

On our way back we got passed by an 80 year old man coming down from a couple of peaks accessed by a side trail. New Hampshire has 48 mountains with an elevation greater than 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) and many want to hike all of them. He had decades ago (so did we) and many times since but for his 80th year he wanted to do them all again.

The 4000-Footers of New Hampshire

An overview of hiking the 48 4000-footers of NH. Includes level of difficulty and quality of views or each peak

newenglandwaterfalls.com

 

[AnaZ]

So many beautiful locations to walk in preparation. The photos of your locations are breathtaking. Being in S. Florida we do have some beauty but it is either in the Everglades, a very flat marsh or underwater.

Husband and I are planning to walk our very flat area during the week, and continue preparing our shoulders for the weigh of the backpack on weekends.



Of course it isn't the same but the closest trail with any elevation change (maybe 50 meters or so) requires 8 to 10 hour drive.
For now the plan is to walk longer and heavier each day with a backpack until we can do 35-40 km days without ending the day like we need to just die. The plan also includes to learn to use the trekking sticks correctly.
After that we'll figure a practical mountainous location to travel with facilities close by (no camping for us) to practice the ups and downs. Mostly the down hill portion, seems to be going up may be hard but always controlled, if one has difficulty climbing just stop for a moment, until you can make a few more steps up, repeat as necessary. I'm concerned about losing control going down, when I was young my reflexes were very good and knew how to roll when falling, not sure I can relay on that anymore.
That first portion crossing the Pyrenees, feels very scary to this flat lander.

 

[Annette london]

A beautiful clear day so it had to be Whernside, the highest of the Yorkshire 3 peaks at 2415 ft
Saying that however it is the easiest one to walk with a gentle up and down

The 3 peaks in Yorkshire is undertaken quite frequently by many walkers and the challenge is to walk all 3 within 12 hours with a total ascent of 9843 feet and an equivalent amount of decent over 26 miles

We have walked all 3 but at different times.
Starting at Ribbleshead viaduct and passing rivers and waterfalls we reached the top and had a wonderful view, returning by the fields and tracks
12 miles and just over four and a half hours

 

[SabsP]

Autumn.

 

[nycwalking]

Walking in Rose Garden across street from University of Southern California, (USC), my crosstown rival.

And, a Fan Fest event on other side of Rose Garden and museum.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

The day after our warmup hike to Greeley Ponds we decided to hike to the open ledge of Mt. Pemigewasset. This is a nice autumn hike with normally colorful views. It has been very wet through the summer though and that diminishes leaf color. The pictures of Peg show her hiking down. Some sections near the top were steep enough that she felt safer going backwards.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

We passed this on our local walk today.

 

[Theatregal]

A walk in the beautifully scented woods on a drizzly rainy day. Tis the season for interesting fungi. I especially liked the Dali melting egg : )

 

[Reija]

A walk in the beautifully scented woods on a drizzly rainy day. Tis the season for interesting fungi. I especially liked the Dali melting egg : )

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WOW! Fantastic pictures of beautiful woods!

 

[Reija]

This walk made me quite serious. We have not learned too much about the history, have we? My walk followed the St James Way near Ulm Germany and went by an old fortress (built in the 19th century) and it was used as a concentration camp for political prisoners in the 1930s. The foggy weather and the constant stream of terribly news made my steps rather heavy and the prayers in my heart loud. This was yesterday and I did think of this forum and posting the picture here but forgot.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

We and a friend took a trip to visit another friend and ended up with some time to kill so we took a walk in the town forest. The trails were marked with colored blazes but also with something we've never seen before, miniature birdhouses with roofs in the same color. I used the OSMand app to navigate the trails leading us to a swamp where I expected to see colorful foliage. I include some pics of poison ivy. I, for some reason, take a good amount of pictures of it. It looks great this time of year but don't pick any to bring home for decoration.

 

[Reija]

I took an evening walk with my daughter in her university town, Tübingen, Germany. We were on the Camino as well and the fog was rising. Fantastic!

 

[nycwalking]

I love evergreens. Thought I’d share though view from driver’s seat.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Finally, I'm back to Ireland, Northern Ireland this time. Actually this walk was done on day 5 of our visit. The previous walks I posted about earlier were taken later (Croagh Patrick and Cliffs of Mohar).

We went to see (but not cross) the famous Carrick-a-rede rope bridge. We used its parking lot to access the Causeway Coast Way's trail heading in the opposite direction. That is a subsection of the Ulster Way. Peg rates this walk very high on list of hikes she has taken.

We walked along cliffs for a bit (in the first picture you may be able to see Carrick-a-rede if you zoom in). We then walked down a road to visit a beach we had seen from above coming to a small harbor first. This was used to ship limestone from the quarries along the cliffs. Some of the bollards along the quay served double duty as memorials. We followed the trail below the cliffs for a bit before heading back. There was only sporadic light rain.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

Since mid-October we have plenty of snow – 30 to 40 cm / 10 to 16 inches. Even the larger lakes start to freeze over.
For a couple of days I was at our little homestead in the wild to get some work done. After all the plan is to move there permanently soon ... as I mentioned (too often?) in earlier posts
As I took two of the dogs with me, I had several walks with them when I was not working. Very nice crisp air, -5 to -15°C (23 to 5 F) and some beautiful light.
Picture #4 by the way shows an old cabin and the plan is to disassemble it in coming spring and rebuild it closer to the main house – all part of the big relocation project going on.
And of course, every walk in the snow should end at a warming fire

 

[Kirkie]

Since mid-October we have plenty of snow – 30 to 40 cm / 10 to 16 inches. Even the larger lakes start to freeze over.
For a couple of days I was at our little homestead in the wild to get some work done. After all the plan is to move there permanently soon ... as I mentioned (too often?) in earlier posts
As I took two of the dogs with me, I had several walks with them when I was not working. Very nice crisp air, -5 to -15°C (23 to 5 F) and some beautiful light.
Picture #4 by the way shows an old cabin and the plan is to disassemble it in coming spring and rebuild it closer to the main house – all part of the big relocation project going on.
And of course, every walk in the snow should end at a warming fire

You are very fortunate, even if sometimes it may feel very ccoolldd! Thanks for beauty in your photos.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

You are very fortunate, even if sometimes it may feel very ccoolldd! Thanks for beauty in your photos.

Thank you, yes, it feels fortunate. But I am not sure if you are referring to the snow or the general life-situation

 

[Kirkie]

First, to respond to previous post: reference to the temperature!
Today, bright sunshine. Defying the numbers, I chose to wear my sandals.
I had intended to take another route but on the spur of the moment headed to the port. New path still not open.Never mind. Blissfully peaceful walk. Bus ( infrequent) arrived as I was about to walk home, so took it for two stops and now need 500 steps to reach my daily goal!

 

[Arctic_Alex]

First, to respond to previous post: reference to the temperature!
Today, bright sunshine. Defying the numbers, I chose to wear my sandals.
I had intended to take another route but on the spur of the moment headed to the port. New path still not open.Never mind. Blissfully peaceful walk. Bus ( infrequent) arrived as I was about to walk home, so took it for two stops and now need 500 steps to reach my daily goal!

OK, the temperature, then I do not have to respond in a more wider sense of life-choices and and goals

At the end of the winter, when it gets up to -10°C then that actually feels so warm that one is tempted wearing sandals

I remember one sunny late winter day when it was -33°C and I came out of the local supermarket eating some ice cream to go. I had to hurry finishing it before the ice cream would get too cold and hard

 

[SabsP]

Intens workout at the gym this morning so just a short walk around the block.
We had some heavy rain so muddy now.
The orange buddy welcoming everyone at gym/ swimmingpools.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

We had some heavy rain so muddy now.

Be careful out there Sabs.

A woman is found alive and stuck in the mud a week after she went missing.

 

[SabsP]

Ah poor lady! Luckily a good ending. A strong reminder to always inform someone when you are out and about for a longer time.
I text a friend/ neighbour when I am doing a longer daywalk.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Maybe you remember this picture of a pond I posted last week.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/attachments/pxl_20231017_171730925-jpg.158599/

We passed by again today. There was more color and less gray.

 

[Annette london]

A walk in Dentdale from the village of Dent with cobblestone road a and pavements
Prayer mats in the church and lots of kissing gates on the way
Very narrow stiles and picture perfect cottages
After all the rain, some of the paths were like rivers
A nosey sheep watching us over the wall

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I'm slowly editing photos of a top five ever hike on Peg's list (Ireland) but in the meantime it is autumn in New England so there is color to show. Here's pictures of yesterday's once-in-a-while hike over meadows and fields to a hill in the woods before a return over the same stretch.



I didn't do something right. The last of the photos are in a different format. For the last two: I've mentioned previously that I like taking pictures of poison ivy; el gallo was at a farm stand where we tried to buy some sweet corn but the season is over.

 

[SabsP]

Changing of the clock. Up early. Seeing storm is predicted for this afternoon I thought it was
better to go out straight away.

Mud of course.
Hunting season so I saw some trackers with their dogs.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

A bit of a sad walk today with the only two dogs remaining. Had to help Umiak yesterday to leave this world.
Unlike with Ölina earlier this year, Umiak's death was long expected. More than 14 years of age is a good age to reach for a hard working sled dog. We owed him a calm ending, at a place he knew well and among people he liked.

 

[SabsP]

@Arctic_Alex : A beautiful tribute.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

@Arctic_Alex : A beautiful tribute.

The video shows the youngest addition to the pack. He has probably not realized yet that Umiak has left us. The white princess however does know ...

 

[Tulle]

I usually don’t like the autumn, but when there are days like this! Cold at night, sunshine all day and beautiful colors

 

[Theatregal]

A walk along Boundary Bay and on the lookout for a reported rare bird - a Tropical Kingbird (success!). A beautiful morning, with frost on the ground leaves and fence rails. The bird is much farther north than it should be and was puffed up against the cold and very busy catching insects. Beautiful to watch as it darted out to catch, always returning to the same branch.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Saturday we were out for a bit longer walk. It was the last day of a near record warm spell. Besides the excellent weather the best part was there were now enough fallen leaves on the trail to kick them up and make them sing. We have now shifted over to late autumn weather, rain and cold. The tomatoes in our garden aren't going to be around much longer.

No pictures. A nasty software bug has arisen in my mobile and it has affected file storage so I can't file any picture taken and can't get to any already taken without doing a lot of work. Google's working on a fix. My photos of our best walk in Ireland will have to wait.

 

[Theatregal]

Beautiful day walking the trails of ƛ̓éxətəm (tla-hut-um) Regional Park yesterday. No bears : ) but a nice surprise to see 4 Western Meadowlarks along the way, sticking pretty close together, feeding and flying back and forth across the river.

 

[Roland49]

Just 14k through the local range of Hills (aka The Deister).


Have fun!

 

[Icacos]

Yesterday, I finally got to walk a stretch of forest that I’ve long wanted to walk. It could not have been accomplished if it weren’t for two fellow slow hiker/companions - each with a set of wheels - who provided the necessary transportation to and from each end of the trail.

The first picture below, I took. The three pictures of the mushrooms were taken by one of my companions. A different calibre of photography, wouldn’t you say?

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

The first picture below, I took. The three pictures of the mushrooms were taken by one of my companions. A different calibre of photography, wouldn’t you say?

Personally I like your photo best. I think it's difficult to get a good picture of a forest and you did a good job of it.

 

[Wheelchairpilgrim]

Every year since 2016 I roll a part of the route from The Netherlands to Santiago by wheelchair.
2023 was the year for me that things went wrong... because my back hernia gave me a lot of trouble just a few days before I should leave for the stage from Rocamadour (where I finished in 2022) to the Spanish border. Instead if being in France doing my camino I ended up in hospital, had surgery en after that a long rehabilitation. But end of September I was feeling finally a bit better (but nog my old self yet) but I was able to do a pilgrimage in the Netherlands. I rolled most of the road next to the sea and I even could camp again.
I had a great time. But now I look forward to go back te France next spring.

www.rolstoelpelgrim.nl

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Today on one of our usual walks. It shows the change of season from early autumn (seen in some of my recent posts) to mid autumn. Used Peg's phone.

 

[SabsP]

291 steps. Belfry of the basilica of Tongeren. On the Via Limburgica towards Santiago.

 

[Frankybaby66]

A new year. Looking forward seeing your gorgeous pictures from all over the world.

Thumbnails and resizing the pictures is always nice as not to overload the system here.

Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England (no, I didn't see him )

 

[SabsP]

Very muddy 8k. Planted forest.
Did not take many pics seeing we had to watch our steps. Branches everywhere after the storm from last week.

Part of a castledomain. We hopped over the languageborder with Wallonia time to time.

Landschapswandeling Hornebos - Opheers-Batsheers

In Heers kan je het landelijk leven met al je zintuigen beleven.

www.visitlimburg.be

 

[mspath]

November 11 is a public holiday in France commemorating the end of WW1.

Here on the Marne River I attended la cérémonie de commémoration du 105e anniversaire de l'Armistice de 1918 the morning service of commemoration when the Mayor and veterans laid gerbes of flowers at the foot of our local war memorial.

Nearby at Belleau Wood 2,289 American war dead are buried, who fought here and elsewhere along the Marne River during the summer of 1918....May we never forget.

 

[SabsP]

@Merci @mspath.

Also a solemn national holiday here. Remembrance of WWI and WWII here in my country.

Lest we forget!

 

[Kirkie]

View attachment 159980

November 11 is a public holiday in France commemorating the end of WW1.

Here on the Marne River I attended la cérémonie de commémoration du 105e anniversaire de l'Armistice de 1918 the morning service of commemoration when the Mayor and veterans laid gerbes of flowers at the foot of our local war memorial.

Nearby at Belleau Wood 2,289 American war dead are buried, who fought here and elsewhere along the Marne River during the summer of 1918....May we never forget.

 

[Kirkie]

View attachment 159980

November 11 is a public holiday in France commemorating the end of WW1.

Here on the Marne River I attended la cérémonie de commémoration du 105e anniversaire de l'Armistice de 1918 the morning service of commemoration when the Mayor and veterans laid gerbes of flowers at the foot of our local war memorial.

Nearby at Belleau Wood 2,289 American war dead are buried, who fought here and elsewhere along the Marne River during the summer of 1918....May we never forget.

Thank you. I have just completed a complex task and will go now to walk, not too far, not too long, but with your message in my consciousness. Merci. When will we ever learn?

 

[Kirkie]

An old distance marker. Not metric, imperial. Distances from the GPO were standard in those days...I pass this often, and cover just over 6.6km from my house to a nursing home I visit, and back home again.
It might add a cubit to someone's span of life to follow up on the Irish Mile.

GPO: General Post Office in Dublin

 

[SabsP]

Short loop around the village.
War memorial WWII.
Kept to the small paved roads. A dry day for a change.

 

[Theatregal]

A gorgeous autumn day walking with my brother and step-mom along the Katzie Marsh Loop Trail in the Pitt-Addington Wildlife Management Area. At the end of the walk, a quick glimpse of a Varied Thrush.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Peg and I were in Ireland in September (hi again @Kirkie). We took four hikes that are worth posting about here. I've already posted about our hikes at Croagh Patrick, Cliffs of Mohar and a coastal one near that famous rope bridge, Carrick-a-rede. Two months late it's now time to report on our first hike in Ireland.

A tourist bureau arranged a couple days stay in Bushmill, known for its whiskey distillery. It's a short walk away from the Giant's Causeway, a world heritage site and a place we were going to visit anyway. So we walked there.

Peg inserted this hike into the top five we've ever done (she's got NZ's Milford Track at number one). I've had a difficult time editing my photos as a result. Since this was spectacular and at a place that many of you may visit I'm going to break the hike into three parts, to there, at there, and back.

From the town it was a short walk to a tourist train rail line with a wide trail that paralleled it. This was well used by the locals, especially the ones with dogs. The tracks and trail crossed through a golf course and then over a bridge. We then took a side trail following the river and crossing dunes came upon a lovely beach. We walked that in the same direction as the railway and at the end of the beach joined it again.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Nearby at Belleau Wood 2,289 American war dead are buried, who fought here and elsewhere along the Marne River during the summer of 1918....May we never forget.

Your post triggered a significant memory for me. Nearly 30 years ago, I took my two sons on a trip to Europe, and we visited the battlegrounds, stopping at the extraordinary British memorial at Thiepval, not far from Belleau. The huge arch was inscribed with the names of thousands. Among them, my elder son found his namesake, Fee J. I must ask him if he remembers.

 

[Theatregal]

A sunset walk at Terra Nova - thrilled to see two Barred Owls!

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I needed to use up some Airpoints before they expired and so I decided to take two weeks on the GC.

I stayed with my brother in far north NSW for a couple of nights from Tuesday. He lives in the bush. We were sitting in the dining room looking out across the lawn when a medium sized goanna walked past. It was about the size of my thigh. This reminded him to mention that if I heard any noises in the ceiling at night to not worry as it was just the goanna bumping into things as it moved about

I didn't get any photos of the goanna. I am now in Southport and today I walked up to Runaway bay and then turned south and walked to Main beach . A total of 25klms by the time I did a bit of exploring and shopping.

It seems that even in Paradise it does rain sometimes and it did today briefly (but strongly) and I learnt something. It seems that when it rains, pelicans turn into the rain and open their beaks so that they can get fresh water.


Runaway bay


Further along the foreshore, including the shark-proof swimming area for the nervous swimmers.


Finally, a bit of Ozzy art.


I am going to see if I have time to walk down to Coolangatta via the beach while I am here. The intention is to walk around 20-25klm a day and then bus back and forward as needed to connect each day's walk.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

While visiting my brother he happened to mention that he avoids Nimbin, which is just up the road a bit.

If you have not heard of Nimbin (which included me before this week) then you won't know that it has been declared (for some time) as Australia's illicit drug capital.

Of course, once I heard of it, I just had to go and have a look

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I flew into Coolangatta and so these photos are where I am planning to walk back to.

 

[Kirkie]

I flew into Coolangatta and so these photos are where I am planning to walk back to.

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And by the way, not that I usually employ the 'cool' adjective... your new avatar is just that!

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Giant's Causeway, part 2

The admission charge you may be bamboozled into paying is for the visitors center, not the Giant's Causeway itself so we took a left and walked around the hotel instead of entering through center. A trail follows the edge of a cliff. We took another left to postpone our trip down to the causeway. This gave us some nice views and a picnic area near a cow pasture for our lunch.

Our walk was on a Sunday so there may have been more people visiting than normal. A bus can take you up and down. I expect the uphill trip gets more riders. We walked up along a trail approached by walking a bit further away from the road. That's part 3.



Edit: BTW, we saw this sweet short fictional movie with the Causeway's car park and visitors center featured way before even planning our trip to Ireland.

Spoiler

Husband of visitor center worker has been unemployed for six months. They are going to lose house. Attendent retires. He is actually the lot's owner. Lot gets a new attendent.

 

[Kirkie]

Giant's Causeway, part 2

The admission charge you may be bamboozled into paying is for the visitors center, not the Giant's Causeway itself so we took a left and walked around the hotel instead of entering through center. A trail follows the edge of a cliff. We took another left to postpone our trip down to the causeway. This gave us some nice views and a picnic area near a cow pasture for our lunch.

Our walk was on a Sunday so there may have been more people visiting than normal. A bus can take you up and down. I expect the uphill trip gets more riders. We walked up along a trail approached by walking a bit further away from the road. That's part 3.

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Just to pad out the background...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant's_Causeway

 

[Kirkie]

Giant's Causeway, part 2

The admission charge you may be bamboozled into paying is for the visitors center, not the Giant's Causeway itself so we took a left and walked around the hotel instead of entering through center. A trail follows the edge of a cliff. We took another left to postpone our trip down to the causeway. This gave us some nice views and a picnic area near a cow pasture for our lunch.

Our walk was on a Sunday so there may have been more people visiting than normal. A bus can take you up and down. I expect the uphill trip gets more riders. We walked up along a trail approached by walking a bit further away from the road. That's part 3.

View attachment 160178 View attachment 160179 View attachment 160180 View attachment 160181 View attachment 160184 View attachment 160185 View attachment 160176 View attachment 160177 View attachment 160182 View attachment 160183

Edit: BTW, we saw this sweet short fictional movie with the Causeway's car park and visitors center featured way before even planning our trip to Ireland.

After the edit: Rick and Peg, it is Friday and almost evening. What's the secret story? Too complex for this innocnt.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

After the edit: Rick and Peg, it is Friday and almost evening. What's the secret story? Too complex for this innocnt.

I added a clickable spoiler button just above the video.

 

[Kirkie]

I added a clickable spoiler button just above the video.

Ah! Innocent has the light bulb moment. Tanx! Wish you both were still here and we could laugh together!

 

[DoughnutANZ]

And by the way, not that I usually employ the 'cool' adjective... your new avatar is just that!

A friend watching my back

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I bussed back to Main beach today, had a coffee at the surf club and walked the next stage, down to Miami beach. Only 17klms today but the first 8klms were on the sand with the tide coming in and the wind in my face and so those 8klms needed a lot more effort than walking on the grass or walkway.

First photo is the life guard tower outside the surf club, complete with Christmas decorations.


On Main beach looking south towards Surfers Paradise


Looking northward towards the Spit


A few people were in the water, swimming and enjoying themselves despite the constant strongish wind but no rain today and I got a tinge burnt on my arms and neck.


Looking back north towards Surfers Paradise after I had walked past. I stopped for a lunch break at Broadbeach, enjoyed a couple of very nice coffees and practised my sketching as I am in the process of teaching myself to sketch.


At Broadbeach there were a number of people playing beach volleyball. I think that there was a competition. Here is one game.


I didn't take any further photos.

Tomorrow I will bus just past Miami beach as there is a rock outcrop at the end of Miami beach that prevents me walking the beach.

 

[SabsP]

My two Caminobuddies from the most recent Camino and I went for a walk of 9 k through the orchards. Now a rather " bland " walk seeing there are no blossoms and harvest is done. Quite some rain so I kept my phone in my pocket.

Perenboomgaardwandeling Zepperen - Toerisme Sint-Truiden

Deze pittoreske wandelroute loodst je…

www.visitsinttruiden.be

Afterwards sharing plates and a very decent white wine from Campo de Borja.

Menu

www.noenrestaurant.be

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Giant's Causeway walk, part 3

We decided to continue walking along the coast from the causeway to the point in the distance. The trail ended early due to a washout.




Once we got back up to the top we had these views.



Peg decided to take the train back and had me hand her the keys to the apartment. I did but said I would beat her back to the end of the track anyway. I think you can figure out who won the race (I was given a bit of a head start).




Yesterday when I was searching for the video I shared I came upon this six second video showing most of the trail along the cliff.

 

[Icacos]

Today I did an urban hike, up and over my favourite hill, and then stopped for an iced chai latte (yes, iced!) before heading home. When I was exiting the parking lot I happened upon this lone, bright and cheerful rose bravely hanging in there so late in the season. It lifted my spirits and cheered my soul.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

A more restful day today, caught the bus back to just past Miami beach and walked Burleigh beach


to Burleigh heads.


Visited the Sunday market in Burleigh where I found a delightful plaster scallop shell for $7


Had fish and chips for lunch on Burleigh beach then walked back north on Burleigh beach for my first swim of the Southern summer.


I am still a bit lilly white except for the slightly burnt bit around my neck but the rest of our summer should see that fixed

 

[SabsP]

Workout in the gym this morning and lots of energy so local round also.
Dry for a change but you can see how wet the fields are.
Met a driver who trusted her gps too much for visiting a local artwork. Luckily she saw the tractorlock on time. Then to say there is a parkingspace so close by.

 

[Annette london]

Arrived in Haria in the valley of palm trees in Lanzarote
It’s been said that many years ago, that when A baby was born, a palm tree was planted
Arrived to the sound of deafening music and clapping for the annual race of 14km and the Haria Titans were off and running

This walk had not been the intended one but once we saw the runners arriving from a different direction and hot footing up a steep hill, what could we do but follow them to see what was at the top
A steep climb and decent with lovely views and we ended up in the village of Maguez about 12 km and the bus back to where we are staying
We will walk the abandoned walk next week

 

[WalkingInGers]

I am obliged to walk to muscle my back before setting out again on the Olvidado late March 2024. I found a 20 kms trail..actually road, that gives a real workout with rucksack..

 

[Kirkie]

Last week I forgot to post these photos, after a storm. The first day after the storm, the tree seemed so vulnerable. The second day, ignominiously exposed, cut up to be taken away for safety...

 

[domigee]

Last Friday, only a short walk (about 5km) in Sevenoaks. I hadn’t been back since Covid and it is still magical

 

[Annette london]

A few days walking by the coast, mostly through volcanic rock but with some nice sandy paths too as well as some ankle twisters
Walked by the Los Jamos del agua but did not go in this year as too busy.
Its an amazing natural space created inside a volcanic tunnel
It contains a natural auditorium with extraordinary acoustics and formed when the sea level was 300ft lower
33 species of animals are exclusive to this tunnel and not found anywhere else in the world
Also spotted a little dog keeping the door open with his nose!

 

[WalkingInGers]

Am planning to hike in northern Italy and the following week, spending one full day in Switzerland.

 

[SabsP]

Long workout gym yesterday.
Three k. walk around the block today.

 

[WalkingInGers]

Walking away from the Chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle …

 

[Kirkie]

A short walk reconnoitring in case we take a boat over to Inis Boffin. A boreen features in one of the photos. It is actually quite a posh boreen!
Public water pumps preceded running water at home. A panel detailing part of the past of this country.A seal, basking, but on a tiny rock, and not a glimmer of sun.A monument to another feature of life and death in this type of locality.
The Irish coffee and hot whiskey (Irish, with an e) had people attached so won't post!

 

[Annette london]

Bus to Soo to explore “little and large“ calderas
Tried to see the smaller one first but the path was too vertiginous so it was back down and onto the larger one which was much larger and higher but easier to get to the top
The view made it all worthwhile with the sea on one side and numerous volcanoes in the distance on the other side
The scree path made it more difficult to get down though

 

[DoughnutANZ]

After a diversion up to Brisbane and then Tin Can Bay I returned to the GC last night and finished my walk from Paradise Point to Tweed Heads along the coast today (inbetween the rain showers) and so I have completed my planned walk and I can fly home tomorrow morning.

 

[Kirkie]

Today the sea was smooth enough so we took a boat trip to Inisbofin and did one of the loop walks. I took many more photos but limit them to save space!
A panoramic view from a beach; a derelict heap of stones, a sign of lives once buoyant; a pretty house with a bench outside - could be on a Camino! The last image as we left the island. Sunset was at 16.27 this evening.
We ate in a hostelry run by a family we knew of, and my companion sampled a small glass of a clear liquid that is called Poitín. It has a history... I was driving later so no sampling for me!

 

[Kirkie]

A brief walk today, following a look at an exhibition in the Visitor Centre in Connemara National Park. just one photo from there, and one from the walk, trying out a panorama shot.
Panorama shot is too big. Pity, but anyway, it was beautiful!
Edit: a screenshot sorted the problem...

 

[Kirkie]

A strange walk, across a sandy stretch to a tidal island. Omey Island. The surrounding people still hold their burials on the island. Access is clearly linked to the tides...in the house where I am staying there is a beautiful book with stories of past residents of the island... a way of life and living that is special, at least to this townie...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omey_Island

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omey_Island

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

I'm in Epen South Limburg while Marianne is on a Rhine cruise with her Niece.
Did a 10km. walk around Vaals yesterday.
It was a slow and wet walk.


And I visited the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten. 🕯🕯

Netherlands American Cemetery | American Battle Monuments Commission

The Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial is the only American military cemetery in the Netherlands. The cemetery site has a rich historical background, lying near the famous Cologne-Boulogne highway built by the Romans and used by Caesar during his campaign in that area. The highway was...

www.abmc.gov

 

[Kirkie]

All good things come to an end... here are my final photos from this part of the world.
A striking contrast with the calves. The poor sheep was limping! The Wild Atlantic, seen in the third photo, has been far from wild the entire week.
Farewell peace, quiet, restoration, and welcome the daily round, the common task.