Who's into hill walking?

This sounds like something that would happen on one of our walks, only I would probably be the one in the river!  We did a 5 1/2 mile slog last weekend featuring mud up to our knees at one point -- there seems to always be an abundance of mud! 

It sounds like you are really getting a lot of experience out there so by June you should be good to go! 

Best of luck on your training! Lets hope some of this water/mud dries up soon.

I walked nine miles today.  It was hard & hurty, but at least I did it.  Now if my joints aren't too stiff to move tomorrow, that'll be even better.  In any case, I'm glad it's over!  Lol!

There is nothing about this fitness stuff that comes easy to me.  Good thing I've got my DH to goad me along.

That's fantastic, Carolyn! I think we ended up doing 5+ miles today, but it wasn't all hilly. And I'm ready for a hot bath and an early night!

Excellent Carolyn! Nine miles is a great distance! I know that you are training for your big walk/hike.....keep it up! Even though it can be painful...keep clocking those miles! 

Talk a nice hot bubble bath.....that will really help! 

Funny thing is I thought I'd be really sore today.  My knees were stiff last night, right after.  I didn't sleep well - I got a slight sunburn on my face & I was hot, so I kept waking up in a sweat, then it was time to get up.  Must be turning into a thermogenic machine here (or else pre-menopausal, but I don't want to think about that, so I'll go for thermogenic machine) - lol!  I'm not too sore today, just got a bit stiff being confined to the desk again.  My little toes are hurting but other than that I felt I could have been out walking again today.  Maybe this thing really will happen after all.  Who knew?!

Did anyone else get out & get mud on their boots this Easter weekend?

We did a 9-mile walk on Saturday from Hathersage (in the Peak District) up to Stanage Edge, down the edge & back & around back to Hathersage.  It was sunny & almost hot at times that day.

On Sunday, we walked about 4 miles near Bakewell, from a town called Youlgreave.  Still sunshine but a lot windier.

Monday, we went to Castleton & did a 5 mile walk up Cavedale, around the high pastures to the cave sites, then back down into Castleton.  We had cool weather & light mist nearly all the way, so I was glad to stop at one of the caves where they had a shop & shelter with picnic tables - so I could dry out (while we had hot chocolate & lunch).  I really got muddy that day.

I've only got a blister on one of my smaller toes and only mildly stiff.  The 9 mile walk was still a stretch physically - I got pretty worn out near the end.  But at least I was able to get up & at it again the next day!

It was great walking weather this weekend. We walked about 8 miles up to the Tan Hill Inn in Swaledale on Saturday, which is the highest pub in Britain. Not such a strenuous walk as we'd expected, although if it hadn't been a bright sunny day, it would have been quite difficult finding the way. Luckily a pint at the pub and a stop for toasted teacakes at Keld made the walk back seem shorter.

Sunday we went about 10 miles up Swinner Gill and back round through Gunnerside to Muker in time to hear the Muker Silver Band; sunny but very windy on the tops.

Monday we went on up to Middleton in Teesdale and did a circular walk over the fells - much wilder and more open than Swaledale.

Boots not very muddy at all, but I did manage to fall in the river while trying to use some stepping stones - luckily not too far from the end of the walk. 

We just got back from Derbyshire (Peak District). We did a fair amount of walking. The weather was great!

Beautiful countryside, I just bought a new camera so I was a bit OTT with it (152 photos). Derbyshire and Yorkshire (we visited last spring) are truly incredible and those that live there are so lucky!


Caroline, you are really doing great with your preparation for your mega walk in June.

 

Oh I hope you got some good Peak District photos.  I don't think Steve fared so well - particularly with our day in Castleton, which is gorgeous(!!), but it was overcast & with a cool mist all day long -- so the light just wasn't good.

He did get a few:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclebucko/tags/peakdistrict/

Carolyn, you are really doing great with your preparation for your mega walk in June.

Thank you.  The prospect still seems quite daunting.


HME, we really enjoyed the weekend we spent in Swaledale a lot!  Hope to go back again sometime.

Have you ever walked around Alston, up at the northern end of the Pennines?  We went there last year & had some gorgeous walks around there -- to all sorts of little waterfalls that were in the middle of nowhere, and not a soul around.  It was amazing (except for the day it poured & me in inappropriate clothing--that part was not amazing).

Carolyn....great photos!! I have to say since I have a new camera with many features that I have not yet learned...I don't think mine will live up to your husband's. (I will post soon).

One of our days was a bit overcast as well but I thought the pics looked still looked nice (aside from me the photographer!) because the scenery was incredible even without the sun or camera experience. We went to Copehagen the week before and I left my instruction manual on the plane so unfortunately I was just click and shoot in Derbyshire.

Carolyn, great photos, and I particularly like the one of your husband doing the 'Elizabeth Bennett' pose on Stanage Edge. 

We're going to the Hope valley next weekend!  Can't wait especially because we're going to a big ceilidh so all the locals, and everyone and their dog will be there.  Friends of ours are moving up to the lake district after over 20 years in Hope and it's their big send off.  I'm really, really looking forward to it as well as a good walk before the party!  Doggy has to be boarded though so he'll miss out on the big walk part.  Bummer. 

We have not done a lot of walking the last two weekends.  Last weekend, we were in Norfolk for Steve's grandma's funeral (a week ago on Friday).  His parents took us for a 5 mile walk on the Saturday there in Norfolk, not far from a place called Chelsea on the Sea (or something like that?).  We had lunch at an unusual seafood restaurant called Cookies there.

We were going out today for a planned 9-mile near Skipton, North Yorkshire, up something called Flasby Fell...but I had a tummy-ache so we just did a short walk around Skipton Woods (including a stop for our picnic).  We'd got a late start anyway, and since I wasn't feeling well...  Steve said we'll do the Flasby Fell next weekend instead.

9 miles today - from Skipton, North Yorkshire up around Flasby Fell & back to Skipton.  I'm doing walks of that length alright now, except that my feet tend to get kind of hot & I guess swollen towards the end - causing them to hurt.  Other than that, I'm alright doing it.  I'm not sure what to do about that?

I'll be looking into some lighter weight boots & socks - shopping in Leeds tomorrow, but not sure if that alone would solve the problem.  Plus - I really like the boots I have, because they are so sturdy & really waterproof.

Today, we first got accosted by two small boys near a farm, who decided they didn't want to let us pass by them - lol!!  And then a field of cows later took unusual & somewhat troublesome interest in us - no bulls though, fortunately!

The calendar says 17k for next weekend (11 miles)!!  With an increase to 20k by mid-June, and then we're off on the long, long walk.  It's all booked & everything now!

That's really great, Carolyn!!

One question ... um ... the only time we did a walk approaching that distance was a couple of summers ago when we did about 6 miles around St. Anne's Head. It was nice and flat so I felt I could have easily kept going, but I had to wee! Really badly! I wasn't born with the ability to pee behind a tree or in a hedge or long grass. Seriously, I cannot do it. So we had to cut the walk short and return down the road rather than continuing to do the entire coastal walk.

Any advice?