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Best foot forward for 2023: a thread for walkers

133 replies

crosshatching · 27/12/2022 20:27

Come and tell me all your walking adventure plans for the New Year. No matter if you're just making it around the block, walking the pooch or doing the Camino de Santiago.

I'll be exploring the countryside around me and hopefully a further afield, getting a bit fitter and hoping to meet some other local walkers.

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17
MastieMum · 08/01/2023 15:44

Managed 7 miles today, including a green lane and an abandoned medieval village, so pleased with myself.

MrsMullerBecameABaby · 08/01/2023 18:00

Byfleet · 29/12/2022 04:52

I am hoping to do the Camino in the autumn. Does anyone on here have any experience of this?

I'm walking one of the Camino routes but from a long way away - I've done 14 stages so far, but I did the ones within about 2 hours each way by public transport from my home in single days here and there and then started to do two days together with one overnight as I got further from home. Now I'm too far away (and at a point without good public transport links) and will be doing 5 days together at Easter.

I'm hoping to walk through Switzerland this year, then France in 2004-5. I probably won't get to Spain until 2006 or possibly later (as my children get older I can feel less guilty about being away for more than a week I think).

I'd like to do the Camino del Norde when I do get to Spain. Which one are you planning?

Best foot forward for 2023: a thread for walkers
JustWhattheDoctorOrdered · 08/01/2023 18:13

@MrsMullerBecameABaby that’s a great plan. I would love to walk through a whole country! I am planning on walking the whole Camino Frances. What times of year did you walk the stages of the Camino and did you walk alone? I would like it to be busy enough with walkers so that I feel safe but not so busy that I have to keep making conversation! I guess that depends on the season.

Theskyoutsideisblue · 08/01/2023 18:19

@FireworkFluster totally agree. They are a lifestyle. We got ours once my partner retired as I’ve had them before. We see animals pacing in a zoo and never think we are doing that to our dogs. 12 miles today

MrsMullerBecameABaby · 08/01/2023 18:38

JustWhattheDoctorOrdered · 08/01/2023 18:13

@MrsMullerBecameABaby that’s a great plan. I would love to walk through a whole country! I am planning on walking the whole Camino Frances. What times of year did you walk the stages of the Camino and did you walk alone? I would like it to be busy enough with walkers so that I feel safe but not so busy that I have to keep making conversation! I guess that depends on the season.

I walked the stages I've done between early spring and October.

I think the Camino Frances is extensively walked and if you go between easter and September there will definitely be plenty of people around.

It was lovely walking in October but unfortunately a lot of accommodation was closed so I ended up struggling to find anywhere a couple of times (I never booked far ahead as I wanted flexibility about exactly when to stop for the night 😳).

I stayed somewhere really nice but expensive a couple of times when I couldn't find anything from the guidebook - one time I stayed in a guest room above a restaurant which was hosting a wedding on a mountain - I stopped for a very late lunch on the terrace and phoned everything in the guidebook looking for accommodation that night and everything was closed! So I asked the waitress and she said a wedding guest had cancelled and I could have their room, so I did...It was lovely but over budget (and cowbells were ringing all night).

I can't start again until Easter because I've got to the Allgäu and most of the accommodation reopens then.

Mind you in this unseasonable weather I'm pretty sure the season could be safely extended.

I walked some early stages with a local friend but she's a single parent so once I was staying away overnight I started walking alone.

If I'm honest I very much prefer to walk alone, though I guess my preference would be walk alone and meet up each evening ☺️

I have rarely felt unsafe walking alone tbh. So far anyway! Obviously it'll depend a lot on the location.

I often walk in places where I don't see anyone for an hour or so (both on the Camino and near home) and don't feel unsafe, but places have a feel don't they - I've also unexpectedly felt unsafe on just the odd occasion and made sure my location tracking is on and that my family know exactly where I am, and picked up my pace, made sure I have my sticks in my hand (usually I leave them in my pack and only use them for very steep downhill stretches).

Flowersinthebasement · 08/01/2023 18:43

For those interested in the Camino de Santiago, this website is very informative with a forum and topics from those on it, about to do it, and finished it.

www.caminodesantiago.me/

My plans to start the stages from St. Jean de Pied de Port to Pamplona in March 2020 were scuppered by the C word. I have now lost the huge enthusiasm I had back then, but might think about it again.

Anyway, I have friends based in Ireland, and we are doing (one per year) the Greenways on foot, starting this May hopefully! Looks amazing.

greenwaysireland.org/

Let it be said that I am no athlete, but at 65 years young I walk a minimum of 5k every day Mon-Friday. Sloth or house stuff at weekends, which can be busy outdoors with families and such, so I leave it to them now I'm retired.

Good luck and I'll keep an eye on your adventures.

JustWhattheDoctorOrdered · 09/01/2023 08:22

@Flowersinthebasement
@MrsMullerBecameABaby

Thank you for your info about walking the Camino, it’s really helpful. Happy walking!

ProfYaffle · 09/01/2023 18:25

We had a weekend away in Lowestoft, managed 11 miles on Saturday. This is the view on a blustery January day from the most Easterly point in England.

Best foot forward for 2023: a thread for walkers
MissVeronicaSpeedwell · 13/01/2023 08:59

@percypal I have two small moany DC and an even moanier DP so very few of my miles are 'proper walks'! Plus my Fitbit can be somewhat temperamental so I can't always check my previous mileage Sad

I would love a dog @Theskyoutsideisblue but our cats would be more than miffed Grin when I retire though it will definitely be on the list, to make sure I keep active. Mind you I have at least 20 years of work to get through first...

Tobermory is beautiful @Billybagpuss, thank you for the amazing photos! And great photo (and impressive mileage!) from @ProfYaffle

Thank you for the helpful info on the Camino de Santiago @MrsMullerBecameABaby and @Flowersinthebasement, I have a friend that did it a few years ago but with an organised group - it was his retirement project. Like @Byfleet I'd love to do that walk, or even the Cathar Trail. Flowers that's really interesting about the Greenways too; I read this book about walking the Kerry Way, which also sounds lovely!

ErrolTheDragon · 15/01/2023 23:13

Another week with quite a lot of bad weather so just some short local walks (5.5, 5.5, 6.5, 0.9Hmm that didn't go to plan ) but today was sunny so we did a nice 9.5 circuit in the next town up - canal, river and then the return includes a local nature reserve.

61.6 km total to date

BigSkies2022 · 16/01/2023 11:31

Hello again. Participation has been bad, rather like my walking. But DS goes back to university today, DMum's health is improving, and all the various excuses I have been using not to get outside more regularly and walk properly (dog walking in local settings doesn't add much - too slow and sniff-obsessive - it's daylight and fresh air, so still good) are evaporating.

In preparation for my future feats, I found and downloaded quite a nice podcast called Stompcast with Dr Alex. It's conversations with interesting people on topics loosely related to health, and includes topics like finance, therapy. I will be roadtesting it outside later today.

crosshatching · 16/01/2023 11:59

Ooh that looks like a really good podcast @BigSkies2022 will give that a go. Walking has been reduced to 'bombing asap to the supermarket and back' between rain showers nicely finished up with a sleet coming in sideways school run this morning. Ugh, the rest of the week is set to be dry but cold though so I'm determined to get out, out.

@Billybagpuss the pictures are just stunning, what a perfect getaway!

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percypal · 16/01/2023 13:56

I’m up to 50 miles now in total (all steps not just walks) and have hit my step goal each day in January since I started.

Another podcast recommendation is Walking The Dog.

midgetastic · 16/01/2023 15:49

Got out today 24km
Hard work

Best foot forward for 2023: a thread for walkers
crosshatching · 16/01/2023 18:17

Stunning pic @midgetastic and 24km! Fantastic effort through the snow, have a nice relaxing soak in the bath now!

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Daisymay2 · 16/01/2023 21:39

First snowdrops in sheltered spot in the Churchyard. Just a very muddy 2.5miles with DH. More slipping than walking so curtailed it.

Best foot forward for 2023: a thread for walkers
Best foot forward for 2023: a thread for walkers
Theskyoutsideisblue · 17/01/2023 05:30

No snow here but the rain has been hideous. Last week was a bit of a washout. Did about 30 miles and got soaked on most of them. Yesterday was lovely and sunny so took the day off, I’m part time and can flex when I work a bit. Did 15 miles.
snowdrops and it is starting to get slightly lighter. There are signs of spring.💐💐💐

ProfYaffle · 18/01/2023 07:37

Ooh! First snowdrops! One of my missions of walking at this time of the year is finding signs of growth to reassure myself that spring really is coming.

Dh and I have covid so my good progress has stopped. I was ahead of myself on the 1000 mile challenges but that's scuppered now!

Thanks for the stompcast recommendation, I'm going to download that.

Lifesyoungdream · 18/01/2023 21:42

Managed to get out today and walked over 7miles. Lovely blue skies today.
Im already 14miles behind in my 1000 miles target.

MissVeronicaSpeedwell · 18/01/2023 23:13

Thank you for the podcast recommendations @BigSkies2022 and @percypal! I've mainly been listening to the Martin Lewis one which is also good, but more for one when you have pen & paper handy to make notes on some money saving tips Smile

Beautiful photos here too! Most of my walking is done through solid mud unfortunately... Hoping to do some more walking once the weather isn't quite so flipping cold!!

midgetastic · 19/01/2023 08:01

Lifesyoungdream · 18/01/2023 21:42

Managed to get out today and walked over 7miles. Lovely blue skies today.
Im already 14miles behind in my 1000 miles target.

Based on last year - the mileage in the summer can more than make up for the winter season - bright evening , better e weather

... so try and get ahead before next winter !

ProfYaffle · 21/01/2023 07:26

midgetastic · 19/01/2023 08:01

Based on last year - the mileage in the summer can more than make up for the winter season - bright evening , better e weather

... so try and get ahead before next winter !

This is what I'm hoping. I was ahead of my target until we got ill. Hoping to get out for a walk this weekend to start and get back on track (so to speak!)

crosshatching · 30/01/2023 16:25

Afternoon everyone - how is your year in walking going?

I finally managed to get going for a gorgeous, extremely blustery 7-mile walk yesterday. I say 7 miles but it was possibly more as it turned out I had stapled the walk instructions together in the wrong order and probably made us walk another mile feeling increasingly lost and frustrated before I realised what the problem was 😳. Felt great to be out though. Note to self I'm going to need to wear sunglasses on winter walks too and possibly up my moisturiser efforts.

How are you all doing?

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midgetastic · 30/01/2023 17:26

About 6 or 7 miles yesterday ( windy ) and 16 today ( I don't work Mondays ) as it was glorious - and today was a new route from the door across glorious countryside . We'd only done short routes that direction up till now

I feel quite shattered !

PauliesWalnuts · 30/01/2023 17:46

10 miles over the moors around beautiful Heptonstall yesterday, including a quick nod to Sylvia Plath in the churchyard. Joined the local gym near me at the weekend on a 3-months for £100 gym and swim deal at the weekend so walked another 1.5m each way to see this morning as other half had to borrow my car.

I am 50 and going through peri and need to get physically fitter. They did one of those body scans at the gym - my lower body bone density is very good but upper is woeful. I need to get some kind of weekly routine to include my two cycle commutes, a swim, a strength/weights session, a stretching/yoga session, and one v long hilly hike a week. As well as striding round the locale instead of driving. I am determined that this is going to be the year when I undo all the laziness of my forties!

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