www.walk1000miles.co.uk
I think one of my biggest problems was always doing walks round here and not driving a little ways out to different routes, which is kinda silly actually as I don't mind driving at all. So with that in mind this morning I drove about 15 minutes up the mountain behind my house to a small ski resort called Orange. Technically it is part of my village but being further up the mountain we don't really "connect". And when I say "small" ski resort, I mean small. It really is for very young children to ski and for those that might want to do a bit of cross country skiing or luging. Not today though as there was no snow, but I suppose it'll arrive soon enough.
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| Orange |
Obviously, since I have no physical disabilities, walking 1,000 miles in one year shouldn't be that difficult, I mean it works out to only 2.74 miles a day, or 4.4 km in my case. The problem as I see it is that for three months of the year we will be ankle deep in snow, and then for about two months of the year I just want to lie under a stone to escape the heat, so I guess that means that in order to compensate for those times I will have to go on some fairly long walks on the good days! We'll see how long the enthusiasm lasts but I know I have never regretted going out for a walk once I've made the effort to get out the door! Well I almost regretted it today as a ruddy great German shepherd was roaming around up at Orange, chasing after the one or two cars on the road with not an owner in sight. One guy drove all through the village slamming on his brakes and honking his horn trying to get rid of it. I hung back at my car for a while to see what the dog was like and if I needed to jump back into my car for protection. I wish people would keep their bloody dogs in their gardens!! While I like dogs I don't like being lunged at by a ruddy great dog, jumped all over with their muddy paws and in any case, some people, strangely enough, actually don't like dogs, if you can believe it. Anyway, as I set off further up the mountain I heard the car driver giving the dog's owner (who had obviously just let it out "for a roam") a mouthful and telling her to keep the bloody thing locked up. Good for you mate!
As it started to cloud over and turn cold I headed back home after about 90 minutes to have lunch, but when I looked at how many (few) km I had done I was disappointed, so decided I had to go out again round the back of my housing plan to clock up a few more km. And wouldn't you know, another bloody dog came lunging and barking at me as I walked up the road. Now this particular dog has done it to me before (it's never fenced in) so I had the foresight to take my walking stick this time just in case. While I didn't need it for protection, luckily, I do think some dog owners need locking up more than their dogs do!
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| The housing plan next to mine |
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| The still haven't take Santa's sleigh down I see! |
On the "trying out new recipes" front, I've been pretty good about that, although I'm rather disappointed so far. I succeeded in making the cheesecake that called for condensed milk, and while it tasted very nice it didn't set solid enough (they said this would be the case) so I won't be making that again. Then I made a potato and courgette rösti which turned out rather bleh, so another no-no. After that a crab chowder which was okay and I'm making stir-fried chicken and broccoli tonight using a lovely marinade I found on Mavis' blog over at $100 A Month! That one was a winner, thankfully!
And talking of recipes, as I'm putting my books back on the bookshelf in my living room I'm taking the time to go through them and decide if I should keep or donate them. But I found a Martha Stewart book/magazine which was God-knows how old. I tell ya, if you ever want a magazine that contains 100 pages, of which 50 are advertising, I've got a magazine you can have! Bloody hell, I've no idea why I bought it (I threw it in the bin), but I guess now I know why I don't buy glossy magazines any more. All that advertising!
And finally, for Northern Living Allowance, if you read this, I've tried to comment on your blog a few times with no luck, so I guess you have the same problem I do sometimes - people's comments just don't go through, even allowing for the fact that you have "comment moderation" on. Just thought you might want to know - I'm not ignoring you. And well done you on buying all the gear for your new fitness regime! Now we both have to keep at it don't we!
I am a dog lover yet do not understand why people insist on letting dogs out like that. I constantly see missing dog notices. They get hit, they got stolen (at least here they do) or cougars get them. Also when we walk Buddy I have to constantly be vigilant as he is petrified of loose dogs - it only takes one bite to snap his little neck and we have come close one to that happening - hubby instead stepped between him and the big angry dog and I picked up Buddy. I would much rather be bit than have my dog be dead. Fortunately the dog backed down and then the bloody owner said "he wouldn't have bitten you". Yeah, well why the hell was he loose on the sidewalk snarling at us? 1000 miles is a great idea. I would sign up too but after my tendonitis in 2017 (2 bouts) I am hoping to find other ways to get healthy this time. I've been sick for 3 days though so today might be the first day I can do anything exersize related. It seems I had the flu, not too much wine on NYE!
ReplyDelete"He won't hurt you" drives me mad. Like you say, why was he snarling at you? Keep your bloody dog on a leash. I remember taking my friend's dog for a walk one time and this absolute crazy "hound" came running at him. The owner came running with a huge stick too as she admitted her dog was vicious - so why did she let him run free? Drives me nuts. And I remember how well you were doing with your 10,000 steps a day until tendonitis scuppered you. I'm sorry you've been ill, hasn't been a great start to the year for you has it!
DeleteI should sign up for something like that. I've been a sloth for weeks. Don't know what's wrong with me. Possibly mild depression which ironically, walking would help with.
ReplyDeleteSo thanks for the inspiration! And yes, I need to do a bit more driving to get to places where walking is more fun. I get into such ruts.
Sometimes dogs get loose around here but luckily, they are generally just in the mood to ramble and are not mean but one never knows. I have been dog bit on a run once, a long, long time ago. When I ran.
I think we all know getting outside and walking is good for depression don't we. Trouble is, if you're depressed you usually can't be bothered, and I understand that. Why don't you take the 1,000 mile challenge? Or even the 500 mile challenge, it really doesn't matter. I walked for 2 hours today because of it - more than if I hadn't signed up. Then again, I know it's still early days so ask me how I'm doing in March huh!
DeleteWhen I was able to walk further than the mailbox, I took a one mile walk morning and evening. I avoided the residential area where I lived because of dogs. I preferred to walk in the business district. Plus there were no bushes and trees to hide anyone who might bother me as there were in the residential area where I lived.
ReplyDeleteI can see why walking in the business district makes sense. And mall walking (although they don't do that here). Dogs are definitely a "factor" in walking though, but I will always have my stick with me in future!
DeleteAs a dog owner I get incensed when other owners have their dog off the lead and it comes bounding towards us. They have no idea if my dog is friendly or not and as I have it on a lead they should assume its for a reason but they just don't think. My dog is actually very friendly but I don't let him off the lead as he is also very stubborn and if it doesn't suit him to return to me when I call he takes his time! I feel I get enough walking taking the dog out once a day. My husband takes him in the morning and I do every evening. I reckon we walk about 2 miles every time and sometimes more on a particularly nice day so I feel ok with that. I think if I felt I had to walk to up my miles I'd probably not! I too need to get some new recipes under my belt but we're going to eat everything in the freezer first as some of it dates back to 2018 and in 2019 that was ok but now its 2020 it seems too long! What a difference a day makes! x
ReplyDeleteI know it's nice to let your dog off the lead but sometimes it's just not possible. I'm not particularly afraid of dogs but the big sod up behind my house IS scary and I don't see why I should change my route just because they can't look after their dog properly and either fence him in or tie him up (or walk the bloody thing). Actually, you also wouldn't believe the amount of dog crap I have to pick up in my back garden - and I don't even have a dog. I don't say anything though because the one set of neighbours are quite old (as is their dog) - she just manages to get her arthritic knees down to my garden to take a crap - but they have been good to me and I can forgive them a lot. My immediate neighbours have a dog that yaps all day long, every day. One day she may well regurgitate her own lungs with all that yapping! I guess her exercise is every time she yaps her whole body comes off the ground like she's on a trampoline! As for the recipes, I get tired of the same ones all the time (don't we all) but I hear you on eating up the stuff in your freezer now it's a "whole year older"!
DeleteGood on you for taking on the challenge. Walking here in the winter is a real challenge. I thought I'd try taking the lomg way 'round from the mailbox. When I slipped and nearly fell crossing the street I changed my mind. Maybe mall walking is in my future.
ReplyDeleteOh I understand that. It was quite slippery here yesterday too - I actually have spikes for my boots but haven't used them yet - so I understand mall walking (almost wrote "wall malking" - ha)!
DeleteAnna! I got ALL your comments, mon amie. They come through just fine ;) I've only managed to get online this morning - after my first run! - to 'unlock' them. I think the 1000 miles in a year walking challenge is a terrific idea, and one that I might join you in (on my non-run days). Hmm. What about adding some miles on during days that are not snowy or too hot? That way you can stay on track to get your 1000, but not feel pressured to maintain if you feel you really can't one day.
ReplyDeleteI am a hug dog lover, and am of the mindset that it's always the owner, never the dog. Why would you allow your dog to roam free like that, causing problems for drivers/people and putting it in real danger of being killed? Irresponsible is an understatement.
Here's to 'crushing' our fitness challenges - of every kind! - in 2020! xx
Oh it's good to know my comments get through. It's just that usually it says "comments pending approval" and that never happens on your blog. I think Lucinda has the same problem on my blog. And I agree with you, it's not the dogs' fault, it's the owners. Same with aggressive dogs I feel. And well done on going out for a run. Yeah, we're gonna kill it this year (I hope)!
DeletePup and I, well mostly him, got attacked when he was still a puppy. Owner had a shoddy gate and dog plowed through. I threw myself in to protect my little guy. Owner acted like it was my puppys fault-must have set him off! Dog parks are meant for runnung loose. Public places, no. I too want to walk more. I need to drop weight, get stronger, and be greener.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing when it's YOUR fault that someone else can't control their dog isn't it!!!! And the thing is, often if you pick your puppy up then YOU get attacked! Some owners are just so irresponsible! And I've just come back from another few hours walking and already I'm feeling better. It doesn't take long to get in to the swing of things does it!
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