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

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

We got back from a trip south and have had the opportunity to do two local walks since. I'll save yesterday's walk and the previous month's walks for later because today's walk has only one picture to caption.

Each year Peg likes to count the pink lady slippers in bloom that we see on our walks. We have gotten to 300 (plus or minus) but today the count was 50, a high number for the first count of the year but we returned north later than normal.

Here's a picture of the first one seen locally this year.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Our first day back from our trip we went to walk at the state park that leases the farm within it. We go there often but generally walk in the woods. This time we paid a visit to the cows.

 

[Corned Beef]

Not walking but saw this sign on the West Atlantic Way. Reminded me of those pilgrims who were concerned about getting caught up with the hunters.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

We had a wonderful walk in the Biesbosch last Friday ,

 

[Annette london]

A walk in the Alpujarras, a region , at the foot of the Sierra Nevada in southern Spain.
For four nights we stayed in the village of Capileira, one of the three villages perched on the Poqueira gorge
The highest mountain in mainland Spain at 3482 m (11423 ft) was always in view but we did not go to the top this time as we hadn’t acclimatised properly
We did five years ago and the views were as far Morocco
This walk was to the abandoned village of Cebadilla and back on the other side of the Poqueira river
Water channels from the mountains rushed water down the valley and we were surprised to see the little chapel contained fodder for cattle
The village had an eerie feeling

 

[Theatregal]

A walk this morning along the paths of the beautiful VanDusen Botanical Garden with the absolute highlight being watching a baby Barred Owl testing it's wings. It couldn't quite get lift off and it was trying to navigate a way to get to it's parent above. Such a little beauty!

 

[mustang2actual]

From the Land of Lincoln, this is the local homage to Stonehenge - beautiful morning. Getting in shape for the Camino.



I’ll check back on the Summer Solstice next month.

 

[Mananath]

In April I spent about 16 days in Nepal walking the Annapurna Circuit. This month I have been doing day hikes in northern Pakistan. In July I will start the Norte!

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Sunday we took an unexpected walk with the local chapter of American Pilgrims on the Camino. We had forgotten about it as I hadn't marked it on the calendar thinking that we would still be on our trip. @TaijiPilgrim happened to have mentioned it that morning on another thread. Its length was about at the limit of Peg's comfort zone but with few hills and recent longer hikes she was up for it. It was mostly in the woods but also across a few fields. The Ipswich River was at the mid-point. Part of the trip was along a stretch of the Bay Circuit Trail ringing Boston.

 

[MARSKA]

From the Land of Lincoln, this is the local homage to Stonehenge - beautiful morning. Getting in shape for the Camino.

View attachment 147631

I’ll check back on the Summer Solstice next month.

Carhenge!

 

[Corned Beef]

West of Ireland. Came across these strips of peat briquettes which are a traditional method of heating. In contrast in the background is a wind farm - the modern replacement.

And further on the briquette making machine which appeared to have broken with the operator calling for help.

And the Shannon ferry.

 

[VNwalking]

A few familiar flowers from a short walk at dusk in Italy, where I'm staying for much of this month. Not much time to walk, sadly, but still gorgeous.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Carhenge!

Okay. Since you asked, here's a couple of my photos of Carhence in Texas. Cans of spray paint are left around for the Druids' worship.

 

[mustang2actual]

Okay. Since you asked, here's a couple of my photos of Carhence in Texas. Cans of spray paint are left around for the Druids' worship.
View attachment 147748 View attachment 147749

That’s Cadillac Ranch! We stopped there and really enjoyed it. It’s iconic - on the highway, Texas, old Cadillac cars, and A spray paint vendor onsite. somewhere Dali is smiling upon those old wrecks.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

That’s Cadillac Ranch!

Thanks for the correction. I got the two art installations mixed up. Here's Wikipedia links to the two.

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

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

 

[mustang2actual]

Thanks for the correction. I got the two art installations mixed up. Here's Wikipedia links to the two.

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

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

That Carhenge is pretty neat.

 

[Corned Beef]

Knock basilica. The size is surprising but it seems 450,000 people came here once to see the Pope!

 

[Kirkie]

The Monsignor who gathered the money for that airport had a great vision,

Knock basilica. The size is surprising but it seems 450,000 people came here once to see the Pope!

Without Monsignor James Horan, perhaps the shrine would not be what it is today. He wheedled money out of government and the pockets of the then faithful citizens of Ireland and members of the dominant relgious tradition.
It attracts thousands of passengers and many visit the shrine.
Thanks for the photos.

Ireland West Airport - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[mustang2actual]

The Monsignor who gathered the money for that airport had a great vision,

Without Monsignor James Horan, perhaps the shrine would not be what it is today. He wheedled money out of government and the pockets of the then faithful citizens of Ireland and members of the dominant relgious tradition.
It attracts thousands of passengers and many visit the shrine.
Thanks for the photos.

Ireland West Airport - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I actually have flown into NOC to visit family. Great to see the pictures @Corned Beef , and you’ve got that story right @Kirkie .

 

[Annette london]

A walk around the La Tata ….6 villages connected by rough paths and the name comes from the Arabic word Ta
with a moorish heritag, their history goes back to Roman times
we stayed in Capileira at 4700 ft approx and is the highest of the three villages
walked down to Bubion the middle village and up over the ridge with a wonderful view back to all 3
Coffee at Pitres the first of the Taha
Very few people seen but the mule was interested in our passing by
This time we didn’t go down the gorge to the Roman bridge as it was a long enough walk
More coffee before the bus came right on time

 

[mspath]

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

During the past two decades that we have lived nearby my husband and I remembered those fallen American forces as we do today, Sunday, May 28, 2023, when the American Battle Monuments Commission sites commemorate Memorial Day worldwide.

May we never forget those who died on the battlefield.

 

[Kirkie]

I had to dig deep into my school French while speaking to some French motorbike enthusiasts heading for the ferry to the Isle of Man.

 

[koknesis]

I went for a hike in Gran Canaria and suddenly discovered that I was walking Camino de Santiago …

 

[mustang2actual]

Thank you @mspath for the commemoration.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Some photo's from last days walks.

 

[mustang2actual]

Went for a 5K stroll today, as yesterday was my long training day. Not a 100 M into a crushed limestone path, a beautiful deer broke cover and stood abreast of the trail looking at me. He was calm and we both were relaxed, and eventually he ambled off. Positive start to the day.

 

[Corned Beef]

St Aengus Church in Donegal, Ireland. The shape reflects an Iron Age hill fort that sits above it in the hills. When I got to 800 ft I could see the fort another 200 ft higher. Decided I had enough and headed downhill to the replica. Great weather though.

 

[SabsP]

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Borderhopping in Flemish Kanne with Walloon border and the Dutch one. 13k.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

Back home from Spain and my Camino adventures. So now it is no more tortillas and bocadillos, but my usual walks close to the river again.
Quite a change now since when I left for spain, this was all still ice and snow.
(In case the video with the sound takes too long to load, I also attached a still image.)
View attachment IMG_3451.mov

 

[VNwalking]

A day in the Appenino Piacentino, endingvthe day by a detour in the car to visit a venerable oak.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I wasn't able to do one of my favorite walks this year as we were away April 19th. That's Patriots Day in Massachusetts (well, until they made it a Monday observation). Local miltias in 1775 met to observe the King's troops on their mission to confiscate weapons. Things went badly and the war for independence started. Several times I've walked overnight to attend a morning commemorative ceremony.

@mspath's post triggered the thought that I could walk to Concord this national Memorial Day holiday instead. I headed out right after dawn but drove halfway to Concord this time instead of walking from home as Peg was unable to pick me up. I walked though woods and then a rural road to Minuteman National Historic Park.



A visitor center near North Bridge, where a fight took place, used to be the home of a descendant of one of the officers that day. He had landscaped and gardened around the home and the Park Service has maintained that.



The bridge where companies of the opposing sides fired on each other was removed for many years and so a memorial obelisk was erected on the town side. For the centennial commemoration a bridge was rebuilt and a statue erected on the side occupied by militias. The bridge standing now is a close replica to the 1775 one.



It was a good wildlife day. There was half a dozen turkeys blocking the road to my start point. They were mainly Toms strutting their stuff. There was no safe place to pull over so no pics. I startled a white tail deer in the woods. Too fast so no pics. More turkeys, too far away so .... A snapping turtle crossed a path and, although slow, still managed to get into a poison ivy patch before I could get a good picture. Canada geese were abundant.



In the afternoon Peg and I took one of our usual walks. So it was a 17 kilometer day, my longest one in a very long time.

 

[Icacos]

These are not ‘local’ and normally I would not post them. However I was specifically asked to post some pics of my visit to Czechia where I am travelling with a Czech friend, who wanted to visit “one last time.” Today we went to the very informative museum in Jáchymov where silver was discovered in the the 15th century and uranium more recently. On our way back to our hotel, instead of walking along the main road we discovered a beautiful old trail through the forest.

 

[Annette london]

Walking down to Pampaneira the lowest of the poqueira villages, we took the GR7 to the “witches village” of Soportuijar
Paths going in all directions and the GR poorly marked on overgrown paths so naturally and as per usual we were going in all directions!
Quite funny I suppose as the very last marker we saw was bran new with the GR/E4 beautifully painted on it
a lovely scenic walk until we hit the road without a clue as to where we were in relation to the village,
Deciding to walk upwards, we saw a bus coming in the direction of home, waved the driver, he stopped and on we hopped!
well we can always get to Soportujar another time, and 20km was enough for one day

 

[SabsP]

My local village.
You never walk alone .

 

[Kirkie]

My favourite bush, not far from home...

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Just past the Children's Hospital in North Madrid, today.

 

[Annette london]

Back in Blighty and in the Yorkshire Dales
Path from Aysgarth along the river Ure to Ashrigg and back by a higher path through the hills
Beautiful trees all around us and meadows in bloom

Cows that came towards us as we crossed a field….and kept coming towards us ….what to do but hot foot it to the nearest gate
They were young cows and perhaps just curious but we weren’t taking any chances!

A stile in the middle of a field and a few more along the way but if I get any bigger I might just get stuck in one
good walking weather and the gizmo said 20km but the legs already knew that by the time wed finished

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Back in Blighty and in the Yorkshire Dales
Path from Aysgarth along the river Ure to Ashrigg and back by a higher path through the hills

I love the names. Our short stay in the Dales had us spending a couple of nights in Giggleswick.

In other walking news I'm a week late in reporting that an invitation Peg extended to friends in a weekly Zoom session resulted in four of them visiting us to go on a wildflower hunt on one of our usual walks. A normal hour walk was two and a half hours that day. So, a success. Wine, crackers and cheese followed.

 

[Kirkie]

Well known territory, for me.

 

[Annette london]

A circular walk to Whernside, the highest but easiest of the Yorkshire 3 peaks at 736m or 2415 ft
The 3 peaks challenge is undertaken by hundreds if not thousands every year …the challenge is to tackle the 25 mile circuit of the 3 peaks in less than 12 hours!
We’ve done all three but not on the same day and the time was a lot more than 12 hours!

The Ribbleshead viaduct ,one of the great feats of Victorian engineering loomed over us as we approached the start, then up all the way
Wonderful views as far as the Lake District from the top
A good walk of about 14km

 

[Annette london]

A very scenic walk from Muker to Keld
Part of the walk was on the Pennine way with A small section on the “Coast to Coast” walk
High above the valley on the upward stretch and back by the river with waterfalls and natural pools
the little village of Keld was founded in the 9th/10th centaury by Scandinavian settlers and the old school there now houses a wonderful museum of past local history
The little church is next door to the old school

 

[SabsP]

Yesterday I walked by a procession. Not something you see much anymore in this region.
To honour Saint Genoveva.

Today a fourteen k walk in Webbekoms brook and the gorgeous town of Diest here in Belgium.

How to spend a day in Diest

A day in Diest, Belgium can include a visit to the Museum De Hofstadt, a beguinage, a town walk, a snack at a biscuiterie, and lunch at Wannes Raps.

www.discoveringbelgium.com

Webbekoms Broek - Wikipedia

nl.wikipedia.org

 

[Theatregal]

A day off and a chance to spend some good hours outside at two favourite places - Iona and Terra Nova. A beautiful day to wander and see what's going on, what's flying and what's blooming I'm seeing more butterflies this year! Today a Lorquin's Admiral and a lucky Western Tiger Swallowtail who escaped whatever bit off its right tail and a chunk from its wing. Watched a group of artists painting along the river and was serenaded by a Song Sparrow. Feeling rejuvenated for another long week ahead!