Where do ( did ) you walk locally in 2024?

[Bradypus]

When I'm walking in Spain I sometimes make a palm cross or two from the fronds of the cabbage palms you often find by the path. Just to keep in practice though I do sometimes offer one as a souvenir to any passing pilgrim. Struck me today that I could do something similar with the broad leaf rush that grows in boggy ground beside the cycle path. Much thinner and less durable but transience sometimes has its own appeal.

On to the pub with a little detour past the site of Melin Mynach (Monks Mill) - a former watermill dating back as far as the 12th century though what can be seen today is much later. Bluebells in bloom. Including white bluebells if that makes any sense!

 

[SabsP]

13k organised walk at Webbekoms brook. Afterwards mini pub crawl in Diest.
Excellent weather with 25C.
Labour Day so lots of people enjoying this day off.

Home | Visit Diest

Welkom in Diest! De historische stad is een schatkamer aan erfgoedplekjes, boetiekshops en restaurants. Ze is gebouwd op eeuwenoude fundamenten, maar je ...

visitdiest.be

 

[JordonOzero]

We are in training for the CP coastal route. This is the west coast of Vancouver Island (Tofino) with sand and surf as far as the eye can see so seemed like an appropriate place to train

 

[lovingkindness]

Last days in the marshes: frogs leaping at footfall; bird whizzling & trilling in a hedge; the haze of reeds bordering slimy canals; newborn calfs; chatting in an old pub where lanes cross.

*Walking through the fields from New Romney to Old Romney medieval church:


New Romney

Old Romney

* then from Brenzett via Snargate to Snave:



Snargate at the pub




Snave

View attachment 20240501_135937.mp4
volume = loud

 

[SabsP]

Meeting in Leuven with a dear Caminofriend.
No pictures seeing we were too busy talking.
We had a nice pizza and afterwards we went to visit some open churches.
The Saint Kwinten church appealed the most to us.

https://www.visitleuven.be/sites/visitleuven.be/files/documents/2023-04/MonumentaleKerken_NL.pdf

Saint Quentin's Church - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The anatomical theatre is also worthwile to visit.

Anatomical Theatre

Discover this unique octagnal building, created for the research of the human body.

visitleuven.be

 

[Arctic_Alex]

Local walks with the dogs these days: While most are already posting green landscapes, we are still not there yet up north Still plenty of snow, but plenty of sunshine as well - which feels like hot summer. It is the in-between season in between seasons. Most roads are snow free but very wet, sometimes horribly muddy, the large river has mostly opened up and only patches of ice remain. However, some more snow to come next week

 

[Bradypus]

While most are already posting green landscapes, we are still not there yet up north

I walked the ST Olavsleden from Sundsvall to Trondheim in May. Beautiful but chilly! Mostly snow-free apart from the border crossing into Norway where there were still a few deep drifts that came as a bit of a surprise!

 

[Arctic_Alex]

I walked the ST Olavsleden from Sundsvall to Trondheim in May. Beautiful but chilly! Mostly snow-free apart from the border crossing into Norway where there were still a few deep drifts that came as a bit of a surprise!

View attachment 169414

Trondheim is about 400 km further south from here, but as you say, in the mountains the altitude helps preserving some snow in places

 

[Bradypus]

The usual stroll along the ex railway line to the pub and back yesterday. An exceptionally warm sunny day. The tables turned for once. On a day when Galicia was wet and cold we here in Wales managed to sit outside in the warm sunshine at 5pm. Didn't last long but much appreciated! On the way back I spotted these poppies. The red poppies are probably in bloom now or very soon out on the meseta. But these are Welsh poppies and have to be a little bit different!

 

[Arctic_Alex]

The usual stroll along the ex railway line to the pub and back yesterday. An exceptionally warm sunny day. The tables turned for once. On a day when Galicia was wet and cold we here in Wales managed to sit outside in the warm sunshine at 5pm. Didn't last long but much appreciated! On the way back I spotted these poppies. The red poppies are probably in bloom now or very soon out on the meseta. But these are Welsh poppies and have to be a little bit different!

unbelievable warmth and growth from my (sub)arctic perspective ;-)

 

[SabsP]

This morning. Walk to main village and back. Bakery and quick coffee.
Sideview of the town hall and the amphitheater. A recently cleaned up canon house.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

My oldest grandson turns 10 in a couple of days and when I asked him what he wanted for his birthday he said "I want to go fishing with you" and so that is what we did .

 

[Tia Valeria]

So far today it has been wet so we have only walked around the house. Very local .
However sitting with a cup of tea we saw 2 goldfinches on the fence. Not a great quality photo as it was taken on my old phone and through the window.

The sun is coming out now - so off for a short walk.

 

[Annette london]

A visit with a friend to Hayling island on the south coast
The island is 4 by 4 miles and shaped like an inverted T
Access by a bridge
Still a lot of flood water so we didn’t get very far on our walk

A visit to St Peter’s church and surrounded by some beautiful houses
Inside, prayer mats covered with cross stitched covers

Outside a little Easter grotto in a tree

A headstone for a Russian Princess Catherine Yourievsky, daughter of Alexander 11 born in 1878
She fled Russia in the wake of the communist revolution and came to London where she had a singing career.
Later on, in 1932 she moved to the island and died in a care home in 1959
Her funeral was attended by just 8 people

 

[lovingkindness]

...lazing the day in a buttercup meadow, Willow Maze by the Great Stour.

 

[Tia Valeria]

Today we walked round the lake at Stover Park. There were several coot families with their chicks as we walked round the lake. The lake itself, which had been very overgrown, has been cleared and is being dredged as part of the restoration project. The silt will be dried and used in the woods to plant new trees.
Further along the path there was a fallen tree with bees around the exposed honeycomb - and a warning not to linger!

 

[SabsP]

I managed to have my lunch on one of the benches of the Groenmarkt in St-Truiden. No rain for a change and nice temperatures.
View of the main church.

Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Sint-Truiden) - Wikipedia

nl.wikipedia.org

Got my 10000 steps even with lots of deskwork.

 

[Kirkie]

Along the coast towards Bulloch Castle, Dalkey. Early for an appointment, so watching a cormorant. Maybe it is watching me? And! I see a seal!

 

[nycwalking]

Just walking around the neighborhood.

 

[domigee]

I’m very lucky to be back in Alicante this week so it was a 75 min walk under a deep blue sky - 75 mn as I am still following @dougfitz ‘Aussie training programme’
May it do the trick and get me fit enough for the Camino

 

[nycwalking]

I’m very lucky to be back in Alicante this week so it was a 75 min walk under a deep blue sky - 75 mn as I am still following @dougfitz ‘Aussie training programme’
May it do the trick and get me fit enough for the Camino

Spain’s topography and flora remind me so much of California.

 

[Bradypus]

Spain’s topography and flora remind me so much of California.

My mother-in-law walked the Camino Frances 5 years before I did. When I got back to London at the end of my walk she asked which section I'd liked most. When I replied 'Galicia' she said 'Of course - it's so like Scotland!'

 

[nycwalking]

My mother-in-law walked the Camino Frances 5 years before I did. When I got back to London at the end of my walk she asked which section I'd liked most. When I replied 'Galicia' she said 'Of course - it's so like Scotland!'

Maybe that’s why we pilgrims love the Camino so much.

Bits and pieces of it remind us of home.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Mt Tamahunga at 463m is one of the higher hills in the Auckland region. This tramp follows a ridgeline straight up, lunch at the top and then straight back down again.

A bit of mud, because it is Autumn, but not too much. Lots of tree roots to help with the very steep parts but not too many of those.

A good old Kiwi day tramp with friends.

 

[domigee]

Loved Auckland!
Unfortunately, I lived in Wellington

 

[lovingkindness]

Mt Tamahunga at 463m is one of the higher hills in the Auckland region. This tramp follows a ridgeline straight up, lunch at the top and then straight back down again.

A bit of mud, because it is Autumn, but not too much. Lots of tree roots to help with the very steep parts but not too many of those.

A good old Kiwi day tramp with friends.

View attachment 169899 View attachment 169900 View attachment 169901 View attachment 169902 View attachment 169903 View attachment 169904 View attachment 169905 View attachment 169906 View attachment 169907 View attachment 169908

...they're not smiling. Must have been quite an ascent.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

...they're not smiling. Must have been quite an ascent.

It did get the lungs working a bit but I think that the expression in the group of three people is more quizzical than tiredness. There was something happening behind me and I took that opportunity to take a photo.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Loved Auckland!
Unfortunately, I lived in Wellington

You are the exception that proves the rule. Most people from outside Auckland call us JAFAs (Just another "friendly" Aucklander)

I have also lived in Wellington and it has its charms. Wellington on a good day is brilliant! Unfortunately there aren't many good days

Wellington has great coffee, has a compact downtown area and, in general, is friendlier to people from out of town as most people there are from out of town.

I enjoyed the years that I lived in Wellington.

 

[lovingkindness]

It did get the lungs working a bit but I think that the expression in the group of three people is more quizzical than tiredness. There was something happening behind me and I took that opportunity to take a photo.

Dare I ask what it was?

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I think that it was a Kererū. A native bird that is called a pigeon by some. They are very large for a non-predatory flying bird and seem to be on the edge of an evolutionary change where they, perhaps, lose the ability to fly.

They are so heavy, especially after a meal, that they fly below the tree top line and so it is easy to hear them. Often, on a hike, you hear Kererū before you see them.

They have a fuff, fuff, fuff sound as they beat their wings.

I think what happened was that we heard the telltale sound somewhere behind me and so they were looking for the Kererū but couldn't immediately spot it.

Here is a link to a video with the flight sound

 

[VNwalking]

You are the exception that proves the rule.

I too, appreciate you who can stand living in the Big Smoke. I lived in Taupo, which surpassed both Auckland and Wellington, hands down.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I too, appreciate you who can stand living in the Big Smoke. I lived in Taupo, which surpassed both Auckland and Wellington, hands down.

I, on the other hand, love living in a vibrant city situated between two beautiful harbours that has everything that I enjoy within very easy reach.

In my mind Auckland is the most Pasifika area of Aotearoa New Zealand and what sets Auckland apart are the islands and animals of the Waitemata harbour.

I tell visitors that if you want to appreciate the real character of Tamaki Makaurau Auckland then you need to take a trip out into the harbour in a boat. Preferably a small boat but if you don't have access to one of those then a ferry trip, perhaps to Waiheke (where I think that you also lived), might surfice.

I love being on the harbour and observing dolphins, penguins, sharks and other fish.

The other beauty of Auckland for me is that it is big enough to have culture as well as nature.

On Thursday I was hiking in the bush 45 minutes drive from home, on Friday I enjoyed great coffee in the morning followed by great restaurant food in the evening, today I watched top class Rugby in an international class stadium (The Blues won and are now top of the table) and followed that with an Italian film depicting the life of Michaelangelo the painter.

Hard to beat that.

 

[lovingkindness]

I think that it was a Kererū. A native bird that is called a pigeon by some. They are very large for a non-predatory flying bird and seem to be on the edge of an evolutionary change where they, perhaps, lose the ability to fly.

They are so heavy, especially after a meal, that they fly below the tree top line and so it is easy to hear them. Oftekn, on a hike, you hear Kererū before you see them.

They have a fuff, fuff, fuff sound as they beat their wings.

I think what happened was that we heard the telltale sound somewhere behind me and so they were looking for the Kererū but couldn't immediately spot it.

Here is a link to a video with the flight sound

I saw a Kererū in it's natural habitat once (as opposed to in old paintings and stuffed toy ones) whilst tramping the Abel Tasman Inland Track, between Moa Park shelter and Castle hut. The Kererū was so plump and slow in flight that I reckon if I'd had a butterfly net I could have caught it just like that.


Pikitia.co.nz

 

[VNwalking]

I think that it was a Kererū.

Favorites. Especially when they are eating fermented fruit in the autumn and get a bit drunk.

 

[Theatregal]

Walking at Terra Nova Natural Area, serenaded by many goldfinches along the paths and enjoying all the blossoming colours.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Last Thursday we had a early walk in the National Park "de Biesbosch "

Discover the park – Nationaal Park De Biesbosch

np-debiesbosch.nl

 

[ShoshTrvls]

It’s Mother’s Day in the US and my kid and I started the day by walking a half-marathon near us in Pennsylvania. It’s pretty much the same distance as an ordinary stage at 21km and today it was raining the entire time, sometimes heavily - so definitely had that Camino vibe.

 

[SabsP]

Thursday we walked 16k at Tielt-Winge.
One of the wineregions in Belgium.
It was one big long slippery walk in the most horrid sticky mud.
Then to say the organisation rerouted parts seeing they considered it as too muddy. Can't imagine how those stretches looked like.
The second part was through the wine slopes and much drier.
At the start there was also a mobile vendor with outdoorgear.
Democratic prices at the canteen.

 

[domigee]

Today’s training was one hour hill walk with 3 kg backpack.
So off I went up Santa Barbara castle.
After a Sunday lunch and aperitivo, not a good idea!
It nearly killed me lolol
(But I did it!)

 

[Damien Reynolds]

PCT - Day 28 - Wrightwood, Ca - 369 mi (605 km)

The path from Big Bear to Wrightwood was the best yet so far. It was without the drama of dangerous snow, washed out trails, or viral outbreaks. It included a trip to McDonald's, well actually 2, and even many more friends met. The scenery shifted from mountains to desert back to mountains again. Views were spectacular. Logistically, somehow the package my sister sent from San Diego to Wrightwood ended up in Washington DC and is still there. Whatever, I'll deal.

 

[lovingkindness]

PCT - Day 28 - Wrightwood, Ca - 369 mi (605 km)

The path from Big Bear to Wrightwood was the best yet so far. It was without the drama of dangerous snow, washed out trails, or viral outbreaks. It included a trip to McDonald's, well actually 2, and even many more friends met. The scenery shifted from mountains to desert back to mountains again. Views were spectacular. Logistically, somehow the package my sister sent from San Diego to Wrightwood ended up in Washington DC and is still there. Whatever, I'll deal.

28 days already, that's transformative! Those are fine views in your photos @Damien Reynolds . How many more miles will you be walking and for how long?

Buen camino

 

[Theatregal]

A walk at the Iona Natural Area to see the newly arrived and nesting Purple Martin swallows. Scotch Broom and Sea Peas are blooming!

 

[Annette london]

A walk from the 7 sisters visitor centre passing the Belle Tout lighthouse and Beachy head with much needed tea at Birling gap
These 7 sisters are some tough ladies for sure!
Beautiful scenery all the way
13 km and 5 hours got us to Eastbourne

Beachy head is one of the most notorious suicide spots in the world with approximately 500 suicides since 1965

The Chaplaincy team …a charity search and rescue team patrol the area by foot and car and are available for anyone in distress 365 days a year.
They are supported by a large team of volunteers that seek to save lives at Beachy head and have responded to some 15,000 incidents since 2004

 

[markie6]

A few days back from me walking some more of the South West Coastal Path in Devon and Cornwall , England.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

A few days back from me walking some more of the South West Coastal Path in Devon and Cornwall , England.

I remember that path fondly! I also happen to be coauthor to a German guidebook on the SWCP ...
I see you also made it through Clovelly. One of my favourite places for a weekend trip when I was living in Exeter. It certainly has become very touristy during the last decades but still I think it is a beautiful place. Together with Bucks Mills nearby.
You just stirred up lots and lots of memories from the past

 

[markie6]

I remember that path fondly! I also happen to be coauthor to a German guidebook on the SWCP ...
I see you also made it through Clovelly. One of my favourite places for a weekend trip when I was living in Exeter. It certainly has become very touristy during the last decades but still I think it is a beautiful place. Together with Bucks Mills nearby.
You just stirred up lots and lots of memories from the past

I live in Sussex but am fortunate to be able to use a friends static caravan in North Cornwall and be able to walk from lots of locations near there. The tourists arrive when the nice photos appear and give them ideas

I have completed maybe 500km of the path now but not able to do a continual start to finish.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

I live in Sussex but am fortunate to be able to use a friends static caravan in North Cornwall and be able to walk from lots of locations near there. The tourists arrive when the nice photos appear and give them ideas

I have completed maybe 500km of the path now but not able to do a continual start to finish.

I did not do the whole path myself but only some sections, but some of them repeatedly. My OH did the whole thing though, while I was doing remote office work in a small cottage near Pendeen. Beautiful coastline.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I too, appreciate you who can stand living in the Big Smoke. I lived in Taupo, which surpassed both Auckland and Wellington, hands down.

I read this very well written article about growing up in New York City versus other places.

Of course Auckland is not NYC but I think that similar concepts apply.

Where’s the best place to raise a small child: New York City, or literally anywhere else? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/may/14/best-city-raise-child?CMP=share_btn_url

 

[VNwalking]

Where’s the best place to raise a small child: New York City, or literally anywhere else?

Anywhere else, please.
Auckland would be a fine place. Or Waiheke, even better. The city is close enough to be easily reached but emphatically separate.

An evening stroll in Emelia Romana - I'm busy, but there is time at day's end to walk a bit.

 

[Annette london]

A walk from Alfriston to Seaford, about 14 km and on the South Downs way
Quaint buildings with numerous steps going up and a friendly pony going down
Passing the Litlington horse in the distance

Walking parts of the Cuckmore Pilgrim Path, circular walk passing 7 churches
Onto the England coastal path with the 7 sisters behind us all the way to Seaford

 

[markie6]

A walk from Alfriston to Seaford, about 14 km and on the South Downs way
Quaint buildings with numerous steps going up and a friendly pony going down
Passing the Litlington horse in the distance View attachment 170441View attachment 170442View attachment 170443View attachment 170444View attachment 170445View attachment 170446View attachment 170447View attachment 170448View attachment 170449View attachment 170450

Walking parts of the Cuckmore Pilgrim Path, circular walk passing 7 churches
Onto the England coastal path with the 7 sisters behind us all the way to Seaford

Always love the view after going up the steps and past the flint wall

 

[Kirkie]

Catching up, a few photos from the last week of being in a place where the loudest sound was the tide...
View attachment IMG_2407.mov
It is a minuscule settlement at one side of a ferry crossing from one county to another in the South of Ireland. Seniors travel free on the ferry, on foot, so I did, to enjoy the views from both sides.


I was astonished one evening... only about 300 cabins, quite small...Post Covid life has returned to normal, for some...

This morning, driving home, I found the answer to a question: are the feral goats still tripping around?

I was in Passage East, Co Waterford. Plenty of stony beach and local road walking.
One last thing: it is a fishing village. A relic of times past- the green area is where the clothes are still hung out to dry!

 

[Dov of the Galilee]

My picture is of Mount Tabor or Har Tavor found in the Book of Judges. My back door here in the Galilee, Israel offers a variety of hikes from 1.5 hours to six and half covering 26km. It's very thought provoking to literally walk in areas where Jesus undoubtedly did so two thousand years ago.

 

[lovingkindness]

...and here is Mount Tabor's little cousin, Summerhouse Hill (148 m) -a chalk hill forming part of the North Downs in Kent, England.


Hi there, @Dov of the Galilee !

Mount Tabor is astonishing to see when approached by foot. It has presence. One Springtime a few years ago I roamed the fields and trails in Galillee staying with friends of new-found friends as I walked from place to place. The moment I viewed Mount Tabor I was determined to sleep up there...

 

[Arctic_Alex]

Local walks during the last week. Not all images are taken in the exact same location, but still they show nicely how fast winter disappears now. About time

 

[SabsP]

Less humid than the last days. Dry for a change.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

We've been doing our usual daily walks but there hasn't been anything unusual going on with them. Things changed in the last few days though as spring took a great step forward. We noticed more pink lady slippers ready to bloom. Yesterday they took a vote and decided to then. Peg likes counting them and decided to start yesterday. It was a good move as the count for that trail was 125 at the start of blooming and at peak bloom last year we counted about 150.

The walk occurred after a morning shower and I wasn't in the mood to both get wet and collect ticks to get good shots so no pictures today.

I've started taking morning solo walks also over the last month. These are longer, faster and in different spots. Let's see if I get the ambition to talk in addition to walk.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Yesterday we had a beautiful walk in "Gooilust" famos for the around 100 different kinds of rhododendrons , near Hilversum.

Gooilust - Natuurgebied | Natuurmonumenten

Natuurgebied Gooilust bij Hilversum toont je de rijkdom van weleer. Wandel langs exotische bomen, door de kleurrijke rododendronvallei of bezoek de weelderige siertuin.

www.natuurmonumenten.nl

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I'm a month late reporting this walk. On April 19th I walked from home to Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts. That's where the War for American Independence started 249 years ago (some say Lexington earlier in the day but I'm a Concord fan). I've done this walk on several anniversaries before leaving around 1:00 or 2:00 AM to be there for a sunrise flag raising but this year I left home at sunrise. That gives you a chance to see some of my walk. I didn't take the same walk down roads as the town’s militia back in 1775; I had a safer way through woods and some suburban streets and rural roads.

1) Boarding a cornfield I had a corn cob come close to hitting me. It dropped from a large pine. I suspect a raccoon did it.
2) There were a number of crossing of wet areas.
3) Out of the woods into a rural area but headed back into the woods shortly.
4) One of two curious deer I encountered.
5) See #2.
6) Ditto. But this stream crossing was below where Henry David Thoreau’s father’s sawmill was.
7) At Old North Bridge a school group from Michigan was listening to a talk.
8) The grave of two British soldiers who died at the bridge.
9) A 1830s monument, a replica of the 1775 bridge and the Minuteman statue again in the distance.
10) Once again but without the students.



For the curious:

Old North Bridge - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Theatregal]

A few days across the border in Seattle visiting family. A walk today in Volunteer Park and after, visiting the phenomenal Seattle Asian Art Museum.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I was back at "my" beach house at Anawhata on Auckland's West Coast last week and got some great photos including a post sunset shot where I am not sure if I captured the afterglow of the sunset or the Southern Lights. We don't often see the Southern Lights this far north but last week's sun spot storm was strong enough for some other locals to claim that they saw the Southern Lights.


About an hour after sunset, looking South.


The white spot towards the centre of the photo is the beach house. No neighbours, no Internet, solar power for the lights and the fridge and gas for the stove and hot water with a tank to capture rainwater from the roof.

My piece of paradise in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland.


The sunset casts a golden glow onto the swing under the old Pohutukawa tree out the front of the house.


Looking down towards the headland where I took the second photo from with the sun going down to the West.


Looking down at the beach from a lookout about 50 metres south of the house.


A sunset from the same lookout spot by the house.

View attachment PXL_20240517_051632603.mp4
A short video from that lookout (note to SabS, I can't decrease the size of the video preview).



Two views from the beach.

View attachment PXL_20240518_003314124.mp4
Lastly, a short video taken from the headland.

 

[SabsP]

---

Today 13k in the muddiest of the most possible mud. I fell , though luckily without any harm, only a bruised ego.
It was falling in a big puddle or falling in a streaming brook. Still not sure what was the worst option .
I chose the puddle.
Afterwards a nice Orval and I was happy again.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Same trail today as two days ago. The count is different though, 151.

 

[Bradypus]

On my way home after walking the Portugues and Ingles. Stayed for the night with family in London. On my way from Tooting to Brixton and passing the church where I was married on St James's day nearly 37 years ago. Saw a yellow arrow on the pavement outside. Must be the Camino de St Reatham....

PS: The lady in the blue-green silk dress was my mother-in-law Barbara who had walked the Camino Frances two years earlier in 1985, had made both her own and the bride's dress for the occasion, and also made the two wedding rings for us. A remarkable woman.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

Yet another dog walk: May 25, 21 hours of daylight, +27°C ( +80F) ... spring is here and the last bits of ice are floating into the main river heading for the Baltic Sea.

 

[SabsP]

Today 16k walk from Bassenge to Tongeren.
Organised pilgrimage. By bus to Bassenge. Start at Lourdesgrotto.
We did not attend the blessing but walked individually back to Tongeren.
We really did not want to walk in group.
Neither did we attend the Pilgrim's Mass at the basilica.
We opted for some drinks on what most probably will be the only sunny day of this week.
We walked from Wallonia to Flanders.

 

[mspath]

Sunday, May 26, 2024,
the American Battle Monuments Commission at their worldwide sites commemorate Memorial Day.

Within the Aisne-Marne Cemetery site near Chateau Thierry, France, are buried 2,289 American war dead who summer 1918 fought at Belleau Wood and elsewhere along the Marne River.

During the past two decades that we have lived nearby my husband and I remembered those fallen Americans as we do today.

...May we never forget those who died on the battlefield.

 

[Theatregal]

A walk along Sturgeon Slough in Pitt Meadows. Intermittent rain until the final 2km when it poured and I was drenched! Still, it was a beautiful walk with some lovely birds that popped out to sing during any lull in the rain. Photos of a Common Yellowthroat and a Bullock's Oriole (first time I've seen one!)

 

[SabsP]

You are such a talented photographer @Theatregal !
No pics of birds, only registration of the sounds via the Merlinapp.
Local walk and a U-turn seeing the mud.

 

[Bradypus]

Back in Wales after walks on the Portugues and the Ingles. Came across a guelder rose bush in full bloom by the cycle path. Viburnum opulus. Or if you are Russian - Kalinka. Couldn't get the tune out of my head the rest of the way to the pub...

 

[KariannNor]

Yet another dog walk: May 25, 21 hours of daylight, +27°C ( +80F) ... spring is here and the last bits of ice are floating into the main river heading for the Baltic Sea.

Not long until midnight sun for you then.

 

[Theatregal]

View attachment 171367

Thank you @SabsP The lovely song of the Chaffinch was a constant companion along the Aragonés. Usually the first song I'd hear every morning.

 

[Annette london]

Another walk on or near the South Downs
Wide open spaces and sheep, lambs and a pheasant on the way
Wilmington Priory and nearby church with the oldest yew tree in England believed to be around 1,600 years
It’s now supported with long timbers…I suppose at that age, it’s entitled to have a little support
Then the Long Man of Wilmington, a hill figure cut into the underlying chalk on the steep Windover hill
The origin of the Long Man is unclear but maybe it represents a Pilgrim with walking staffs

 

[Damien Reynolds]

28 days already, that's transformative! Those are fine views in your photos @Damien Reynolds . How many more miles will you be walking and for how long?

Buen camino

About 2650 miles over 5 months...

 

[Arctic_Alex]

Not long until midnight sun for you then.

Indeed! Technically just a couple of days until it starts, but it feels as if it was already there

 

[SabsP]

Yesterday. Dry and wonderful clouds.

 

[lovingkindness]

About 2650 miles over 5 months...

I hope you've got lots of yummy food in your pack and warm woollies to sleep in on cold nights.

 

[Annette london]

A spur of the moment decision finds us back in the Lake District and a stroll up to see the old MN of Coniston at 2634 ft.
beautiful scenery as usual with Coniston water and village in the distance
Abandoned miners houses …a hard time back then for those working in the slate mines
Back by Goats water and down on the Walna scar road 5 hours and 13 km
These boots were made for walking as the song goes

 

[Bradypus]

On the way back from the pub. Foxglove. Digitalis purpurea. I saw a lot of it on the Camino Portugues recently. A welcome link with home. A staple of Golden Age detective crime stories though I think Dame Agatha exaggerated its toxic properties a little.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

A spur of the moment decision finds us back in the Lake District and a stroll up to see the old MN of Coniston at 2634 ft.

We've only spent less than two weeks in Britain but this was a walk we took there. Thanks for the memories.

 

[Damien Reynolds]

PCT - Day 47 - Walker Pass/Ridgecrest/Huntington Beach
652.5 Mi / 1070 km
It's a glorious day because I am sitting in my living room in HB totally clean, new equipment arriving, laundry laundering, Jersey Mike's at my door. It is a bittersweet day because friends met are still on trail, they'll take some zeros but be a day or so ahead when I'm back on trail 6/3. I'll catch up.

 

[lovingkindness]

A spur of the moment decision finds us back in the Lake District and a stroll up to see the old MN of Coniston at 2634 ft.
beautiful scenery as usual with Coniston water and village in the distance
Abandoned miners houses …a hard time back then for those working in the slate mines View attachment 171647View attachment 171648View attachment 171649View attachment 171650View attachment 171651View attachment 171652View attachment 171653View attachment 171654View attachment 171655
Back by Goats water and down on the Walna scar road 5 hours and 13 km
These boots were made for walking as the song goes

Hi @Annette london What a wonderful walk. I wouldn't mind going there myself. Are you using maps and compass?

 

[lovingkindness]

PCT - Day 47 - Walker Pass/Ridgecrest/Huntington Beach
652.5 Mi / 1070 km
It's a glorious day because I am sitting in my living room in HB totally clean, new equipment arriving, laundry laundering, Jersey Mike's at my door. It is a bittersweet day because friends met are still on trail, they'll take some zeros but be a day or so ahead when I'm back on trail 6/3. I'll catch up.

Enjoy your rest!

 

[Annette london]

Hi @Annette london What a wonderful walk. I wouldn't mind going there myself. Are you using maps and compass?

Hi loving kindness
Yes we always have the pertinent map and the compass although as we’ve done this walk before and the weather was great, we didn't need to use either
In mist though they are always on the go!
In our earlier years when we walked in hail, rain and snow, the map was always out and in one of those plastic covers hanging around our necks!
Didn’t mean we never got lost though …we did!

 

[mustang2actual]

This is such a wonderful spot to see everyone’s journey to the Camino. Looking forward to adding some pictures for my preparation for the Camino Portuguese.

 

[SabsP]

7.5 kilometers around the block.
Bit of everything.

 

[ShoshTrvls]

5.5 miles through Hickory Run Park today. Perfect weather … for the mosquitos to come out.

 

[Annette london]

A beautiful day so it had to be the Langdale Pikes
Some of the highest fells surround this area
The approach to Stickler tarn welcomed us with steps and easy to follow up the side of the river
With so much erosion in The Lakes, steps are laid in popular walks and boggy areas
A fair amount of scrambling on the left side so maybe we chose the wrong side for us

Stickle tarn is popular with walkers and campers
A nice rest before we approached the gully leading to Pavey arc
5 years ago we descended this gully and I swore…”never again”
Going up is a tad better but it was a scramble all the way and the walking poles were more hindrance than help so now it’s definitely “never again”
Short legs are not an advantage here either

One guy passed us like Geronimo at great speed

The path to Pike O Stickle was vague and a few red and white markers wouldn’t have gone amiss
Down and across to Snake Gap and a long walk to the track which eventually reached the road

The 20 km had taken us 8 hours

Then…..a Mirage…an apparition….. ??
No, it was the little Lakeland bus,
And who were we to pass up on a miracle?
On we hopped and back to the car park
God bless the bus driver

 

[Annette london]

Another great hike from Ambleside called the Fairfield Horseshoe
Harder than we remembered with large and high rocks on the way up and with a bit of pulling and shoving to be expected!

As usual, wonderful scenery all the way
Lakes and far off fells on the way down
We passed Rydel Mount at the end, the home of Wordsworth

“Peak Bagging” is a popular challenge for many in the UK and can take anything from weeks to years to complete

It involves the summiting of 214 mountain peaks …also known fells in the Lake District as described by Alfred Wainwright in his pictorial books written over 13 years
Also known as ‘Wainwright bagging”

He wrote the first guides to the Lakes starting in 1952 and also devised the Coast to Coast walk going through the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the north York moors
It’s a very popular challenge taking about 2 weeks
The 17 km took us nearly 8 hours so we’re definitely getting old and slow

 

[VNwalking]

I'm in the Toggenburg, in Western Switzerland. I'm pretty busy, but had the luxury of having much of the afternoon off. So I headed for the hills, pdq. And look who I saw!

.....

 

[KariannNor]

I'm in the Toggenburg, in Western Switzerland. I'm pretty busy, but had the luxury of having much of the afternoon off. So I headed for the hills, pdq. And look who I saw!
View attachment 171839 View attachment 171836 View attachment 171835View attachment 171840View attachment 171841 View attachment 171838
.....

Beautiful pictures.

 

[KariannNor]

I went for a walk somewhere else in the country, and look what I found! Camino colours and look almost like a scallop. I have no idea if there might be someone inspired by Camino or a coincidence. The text says "soon there".

 

[Bradypus]

Up into the hills above Pontarddulais on a circular walk. Spotted these on the way back into town. Tiny but tasty!

 

[SabsP]

Had some time to spare between appointments so visited the beguinage and the gorgeous church in St-Truiden.
Dates back to the 13th century. Well preserved fresco's.




UNESCO world heritage.

World Heritage Photos - Flemish Béguinage Sint Truiden

World Heritage Photos Flemish Béguinage Sint Truiden. Flemish Béguinages: The Flemish Béguinage Sint Truiden is one of the Flemish...

www.werelderfgoedfotos.nl

 

[Bradypus]

Cycle path between Pontarddulais and Gorseinon. I've posted a photo of this information board before but I think it is worth another mention.

This morning started for me with an American diplomat talking on BBC radio about the long history of cooperation between the armed forces of the USA and UK. In the context of the memorial events today and tomorrow marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. We have been hearing eye-witness accounts from some of the few survivors who now are mainly 100 years old or more. 3,000 American servicemen prepared for the D-Day landings in a camp half an hour's walk from where I am living at the moment. Now a slightly boggy field for grazing sheep and cattle. A solitary poppy struggling but succeeding in rough ground marked the start of the cycle path today. The only one I saw in 5+km. Set the tone for my thinking on the way. Wondering how many of those 3,000 made it safely home.

 

[Kirkie]

Cycle path between Pontarddulais and Gorseinon. I've posted a photo of this information board before but I think it is worth another mention.

This morning started for me with an American diplomat talking on BBC radio about the long history of cooperation between the armed forces of the USA and UK. In the context of the memorial events today and tomorrow marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. We have been hearing eye-witness accounts from some of the few survivors who now are mainly 100 years old or more. 3,000 American servicemen prepared for the D-Day landings in a camp half an hour's walk from where I am living at the moment. Now a slightly boggy field for grazing sheep and cattle. A solitary poppy struggling but succeeding in rough ground marked the start of the cycle path today. The only one I saw in 5+km. Set the tone for my thinking on the way. Wondering how many of those 3,000 made it safely home.

View attachment 171867
View attachment 171870
View attachment 171873
View attachment 171868
View attachment 171869

'Safely home.'
On my way to a meeting this morning, via my wonderful hearing aids and my phone, I heard Colm Wikinson singing Bring him home.
Not quite on topic, but essentially, this is a special moment of remembrance...and another song - they do mark moments - When will we ever learn? Buen camino, locally. I thought this morning as I covered terrain in a very special place for me, that the tarmac was not there 50 years ago. Nothing stays as it was. Neither locally, nor on the various caminos.

 

[Annette london]

Aas the weather turned today we decided to take a shorter than usual trip
Off to Red Screes with a few intermittent showers
At the top we ate in the shelter beside the trig point
Then looking down of the Kirkstone pass road with the Kirkstone pub in sight
It will be. Quick return won’t it?

t some stage and in the rain we veered off the path to some boggy terrain but the road was in sight
Without warning I inadvertently stepped into a water filled bog…
Flat on my face, arms outstretched and soaked from top to bottom
as himself almost fell in too, i told him to keep away and eventually got myself up
and all the while the music kept playing on my phone but not enough to cheer me up right away
Arriving back dripping and frozen, we did have a good laugh later on!

Tomorrow will be a better day

 

[Bradypus]

Someone else obviously stopping here to think today

 

[VNwalking]

A 5.7-ish km loop, with 200m up and then down - getting drenched by a sudden gathering of the weather on the home stretch. All part of the fun. (I had a rain jacket but it did a pathetic job.)

 

[Bradypus]

The cycle path is built on the track bed of a former railway line built to carry coal from local mines. It runs over boggy ground which must have been a challenge for the builders. In parts there are pools of standing water at the side of the path. One of them almost completely covered with horsetail - a living fossil virtually unchanged since its much larger ancestors grew in marshes on the same spot and whose remains formed the organic matter which became the high grade dense anthracite which was the speciality of this part of the coalfield. The largest specimens here today would probably reach my shoulder. Much larger back in the Late Carboniferous. Quite sobering to think that the view from this spot would have been essentially the same 300 million years ago.