Road testing the new boots.

Hello. Road testing the new boots went well yesterday. I checked my local OS map and decided on a four hour walk, which turned into five hours. It's amazing, even though I was out of my village I still saw friends who live here. There seems to be quite a few health and fitness conscious people here, walking, running, and cycling. I was striding along minding my own business and Anita and Christopher passed me by, then stopped for a break on a bench. A bit later on as I was about to leave a village down a footpath, who should come along on his bike but Paul one of my walking buddies. I ought to get out on my bike a bit more. 

A few photo's I didn't take many because it was a route I have taken many times before. I have walked past  this bench several times over the years, it is always in the same state, neat and tidy. Grass cut, pot plants and fresh flowers, amazing when it is surrounded by fields and quite some distance from a road. Someone must be pulling a cart to carry the equipment needed. That's dedication indeed. 

One can't help but notice a pretty chocolate boxy country cottage with a beautiful display of flowers and shrubs in the front garden.

 Believe it or not there is an official legal path over this field. Ok, so it only cuts the corner, I could have diverted around it and walked on the road, but no, I will make a point and walk through the middle of the potatoes. The farmer should have left a path through. At the far end buried somewhere in the middle of those trees, is a stile into a paddock. It was all overgrown, had to carefully wade through nettles. Looks like they no longer keep horses there.

Heading back into my village high above the River Trent.

I landed back home at 6.30pm and checking the distance on www.bikehike.co.uk  I had covered 12 miles. Couldn't be bothered to cook so one of my own ready meals out of the freezer was zapped in the microwave.

My feet felt ok. A slight soreness around the ankles early on because I haven't worn boots for a long time, but the toes didn't feel squashed up so that's a good sign. I think these boots will be fine.

I'm off to town this morning, have sorted some stuff out, mainly clothes, to go to the charity shop.

Thanks to the walking group members who have sent in their current mileages, I have added them to the page. Some of you are striding ahead and will be there ahead of me, well done. Don't forget to send yours in if you haven't already done so. Even if you have done just a few miles, it all counts towards your total.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Carpet testing new boots

Hello. Showing off my new Berghaus boots. I am wearing them in the house to test for comfort, so far so good. I got a size 6.5, though the assistant said I might be better with a 6. I know they have to be a snug fit because any movement of the feet inside might cause blisters. I am trying different thicknesses of socks, the purple ones work well. I have a drawer full of socks so no need to buy more. The toes are where I usually get blisters, mainly because my bunions cause them to crush up together. Feet get hot and swell when walking so I think it's best to have a bit of wiggle room in the toes. I'll make a decision later today if I should keep them or change them. So far so good. 

You can't skimp on good boots, I would draw the line at silly prices though. I bought these because they have a wider fitting. I also don't like fabric boots, these are better for durability in my opinion. They are a bit more than the last boots I bought, but at £100, not as expensive as the swanky designer names that some walkers go for. I like my boots rugged, not a fashion statement.

Good to see they are promoting recycling the box. It's a very sturdy box, I'll keep it a while, it might come in useful.

 Just while I think about it. If you use any of the carton nutty or otherwise milks, it is wise to shake before you pour. I have noticed that when I start a new one, I shake but when I pour, the contents have not fully mixed and the first pour is watery. I pour a small amount onto my cereal which creates a little space, replace the top, and shake with more a lot more gusto. That mixes it better so there is no separation. This one tastes lovely. Only two cartons left, (3 for £1), I think the Cash and Carry might have sold out by now.

It's a nice morning. I'm just off to do a walk, (not in the boots), and call in at the Church Post Office to pay my Council Tax. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Cheap as cheese

It's a glorious day in North Lincolnshire, I woke at 6am and rolled over for another hour's kip. After coffee and bran flakes with a banana, I went off to the car boot sale at the football ground. Not looking for anything in particular, just to see if I could snaffle a bargain. And I did. You know I have a boot fetish, in fact I was just thinking the other night, at the party, that I was probably the only female wearing boots. No I didn't have great big hob nail boots on, I had a pair of black, dainty, soft bootees on. They fit like a pair of gloves and are so comfy. 

Anyway, what did I buy at the car boot sale? I found a smashing pair of boots for just £5. Look, don't you think they are the bees knees, ha ha. Hardly worn, size 6, fitted me so well that I kept them on and brought my old tatty pair home in a bag. The old ones are not finished with yet, they have been relegated to gardening boots. 

Heidi getting in on the act. This brings my boot count up to eight, plus a pair of boot style trainers. Boots for all occasions, I love them. all bought from car boot sales or charity shops, except for those I walk long distances in. They have to be as perfect fit as I can get, if they are to stay on my feet for 12 + hours a day.

I spotted these judo belts on the Rabbit Rescue pitch, 50p for both. They will be useful for something, maybe handles for bags.

I have had it in mind to get a strimmer for ages, to make tidying the edges of the garden a bit easier. I get a bit fed up of getting down on my hands and knees with a pair of shears, or pulling weeds up with my hands. The whole job takes ages. The bank balance is healthy so I think I can afford to buy a gadget to make my life a bit easier. I went across the road to B & Q while I was in that vicinity. My friend Polly works on the checkouts there, at the weekends. I studied the range of strimmers on offer, nothing too technical, nothing too cheap, a mid range would suit me. There was an older male assistant wearing the standard orange apron, to help me out. I love the way they employ oldies on the shop floor on a part time basis. B & Q  recognise that a person is not past it just because they have hit retirement age. In fact they often prove to be more helpful, simply because they have the skills required and the knowledge they need for the products they are selling. Anyway, got my Bosch strimmer, so weeds beware, you're gonna get slashed. Must be careful though, I have froggies in the garden.

Here is my light lunch today. Salad - carrot, pickled onions, two kinds of tomatoes, cucumber, and a few salad leaves from the box. Need to let them recover for a few days before I pick again. Three kinds of cheese and three crackers, with dollops of tartar sauce. It's all gone, scoffed the lot. Well not all the cheese, that has gone back in the fridge.  

I took some pictures yesterday of these gorgeous flowers, I have seen them dotted about in various gardens. Aren't they wonderful. 

Right, lunch eaten, I'm off out into the sunshine, to play with my new toy. Weeds beware. I hope your Sunday is full of sunshine and fun. Toodle pip.

My new second hand boots

Hey, what do you think of these then, bobby dazzlers aren't they. I thought they were fab when I spotted them on the shelf at the hospice charity shop today. They looked comfy, broad fitting, and my size, so I tried them on. Perfect, my mind was made up in super quick time, at only £3.50 I had to have them. Will be nice to wear them in the summer, instead of my usual brown or black boots. Can't wait to show them off.    

Looking further along the shelf I found these. Hmmm, I wonder if they will fit, tried them on, yep, they will do nicely. I have a battered and leaking pair which are falling apart, I need to throw them out, these will be a good replacement, and at £5, I think they are a good price. They haven't had much wear, and will last a couple of years.  

I didn't go in the shop for boots, I was looking for a blue sweater for Barry, he has joined the bowls club and needs to wear the same colour as everyone else in the team. I didn't find one, as it's a bit out of season, plenty of shirts and tee shirts, but no sweaters.

I may not have time to do a post tomorrow as I'm going to be busy all day at the party. I'll be back on Monday with the third day of the Lincolnshire Wolds trip. Have a nice Sunday, and lets keep our fingers crossed for sunshine.

Toodle pip.

It's about priorities, simple really

It had to be done. After squelching my way around Weardale this week, in soggy boots and soggy socks, it was time I invested in some new footwear. My old boots looked like these new ones when I first had them, they have served me well, so I wanted a similar pair.

The nice people at the Trespass shop showed great patience as I tried on several pairs before I made my final choice. As I sit here writing this I have the new boots on. I have 14 days to wear them around the house, and if I don't like them I can take them back. They feel quite good actually, I'll let you know how I'm getting on with them in a weeks time. I need to get used to them in readiness for the big walk. The cost? Not too bad, £60, supposedly half the recomended retail price.

I had a letter from Santander today, after paying off a chunk of my mortgage recently. Technically I am mortgage free now, as my emergency fund in the bank exceeds the balance I still owe on the house. I could write a cheque for the remainder and say bye bye mortgage, but it would leave me skint. I am going to leave it as it is at the moment, my piddly monthly payments are easily manageable. I need to keep a bit of cash. My pussies might need veterinary treatment, council tax is about to start again after the two month break, my RAC renewal is due next month, my computer might break, I need to put money aside for a new car in a couple of years time, and I need some cash for holidays and days out, while I am still fit and able.

Although my finances are looking quite healthy now, I shall still be exercising the same amout of self restraint when it comes to my day to day living expenses. No need to go bananas just because I have got money in my purse. It is all earmarked for something, none of it is spare cash. Tonights dinner was steamed potatoes, carrots, and parsnips, topped with half a tin of baked beans with garlic puree stirred in. About 30p I reckon.

It's all about priorities, each and everyone of us has a choice. I choose not to eat out, go to the pub every week, walk about with a cardboard mug of coffee in my hand, buy newspapers and magazines, have takeaways, sit outside the coffee shop in town, buy new clothes when I don't need them, visit the hairdresser, and buy new makeup. No Sireeeee, I don't need all that stuff.

What makes me happy is a new pair of walking boots, a car which will transport me on trips out, and a bit of cash to pay for some nights in a B & B. This will enable me to go out into the countryside to enjoy all the best things in life. Simple really.
Toodle pip.

Buying the right walking boots

I see there were a few questions in the comments yesterday, on the latest walking post. Rather than skim through them, I thought I would do a mini series on all aspects of walking, whether it be easy walks for the beginner, or longer distances on unfamiliar routes for those wishing to up their game. Although I have quite a lot of experience, I tend to forget that not everyone has the confidence or the ability to walk 20 miles in a day, using a map for navigation. Perhaps if I go through the basics it might inspire anyone thinking about getting started. You don't have to walk great distances to reap the benefits of walking, a few miles pottering around your home town is enough to keep the muscles flexible. If you are not used to regular walking you will find that in the beginning you will ache a little, but over time, and walking at every opportunity, your body will become more flexible and the muscle ache will gradually become less noticeable.

I have always loved walking, and getting away out into the countryside. I have old Ordnance Survey maps for the Peak District where I used to walk regularly when I was in my twenties. It was a short drive from my home in Burton upon Trent to Ashbourne, Buxton, or Bakewell. I enjoyed many long days out on the hills. My walking was mostly alone, because I didn't have any friends who had similar ambitions. Walking is a great stress buster, it gives you time to ponder, time to take in the beauty of the landscape around you, and for a while be at peace with yourself and the world.

Then work got in the way, and for a long time I wasn't as able to get out as much as I would have liked. Working 60 hours a week at a physically and mentally demanding job leaves little time for anything else except flopping down on the sofa at the weekends. But now I am retired, I am pleased that I can take it up again and delighted that I have the energy to do it. I didn't start walking longer distances, and by that I mean over a period of several days, untill 2011, when I got a train to Blackpool and walked back home, a distance of 137 miles in seven days. The first few days were hard, but I felt a great sense of achievement at the end of it, even though I hadn't done the full distance that I had planned. The fact that I managed to walk the thirty miles from Selby to the Humber Bridge on day seven, still amazes me even now when I think about it.

In this first post of the mini series on walking I want to talk about the most important part of the equipment you will need. If you want to walk a long way, you need to make sure that your feet will stand up to the hours and hours of pounding over all terrains, from tarmac roads, cobbled paths, rough dirt tracks, muddy uneven footpaths, slippery wet grass, jagged boulders and rocks, and boggy fields. Your ankles will need support so proper walking boots are a must.

I have several pairs of boots, but only one good pair for walking long distances. I have cheaper boots which I bought for a few quid at car boot sales and charity shops, these are ok for local walks for up to about three miles, but any further and my feet would be sore, because they are not a perfect fit. My best boots fit me like a glove.

How to chose boots. The only way is to go to an outdoor shop and spend time trying them on. It took me a couple of hours of trying almost every boot on in the shop before I found mine. Take socks with you, preferebly the socks you might wear while out walking. I wear a thin pair and a thick wooly pair. Wearing the right socks is a bit trial and error, try several combinations on short walks first before you tackle a long walk. You do not have to pay a fortune to buy good socks. I use the socks I already have, I've got a drawer full of them. My feet don't sweat very much at all, but if your's do you need to get socks that won't get damp soon after you start walking.

What causes blisters? If your feet move in your boots, the rubbing will give you blisters. What you are aiming for is no movement at all. This is why you try lots of socks until you find the right ones. So, you want snug fitting boots. After an hour or so you might need to stop and re do your laces, because they stretch and can work lose. If you find your feet moving about adjust your laces to stop it. Don't tie them too tight so that your toes get squashed as that would be uncomfortable and will give you cramp in your toes. There should be some ankle support in the boots, to stop your foot going sideways if you step on a wonky bit of rock. Put your fingers inside the boots and feel around for any hard surfaces or uneven stitching that might become a problem later on, especially around the heels. Always check that the boots fit correctly across the widest part of the foot. I have large bunions, no pain at all I may add, so I need wide fitting boots.

These days a lot of boots are made of fabric which has been treated to make them waterproof. I am not too keen on these, as they are not very easy to clean. I much prefer leather boots, where I can brush the dry dirt off them and cover them in boot wax. My boots were waterproof when I first had them, but now I find after nearly three years they are leaking. I think all boots leak eventually. I will keep on wearing mine because they are so comfortable. If my feet get wet on a long walk, I just dry the boots out each night.

You can buy a decent pair of boots for around £100, I wouldn't go much lower than that because you will find that they use materials of inferior quality. Mine were £110, I paid £55 in the half price sale. I must say they have been excellent boots. They told me that I could try them out at home. If I only wore them on carpets in the house and found they weren't right, they said I could bring them back and change them. I didn't need to, they were perfect from day one. When you buy boots ask about the try at home deal.

Once you have your boots, you might think about getting a waterproof jacket and over trousers. There is some very expensive kit out there, some walkers like to go for the must have names, and wouldn't be seen dead in some cheap Joe Bloggs gear. There is no need  to spend a fortune. My jacket was £30 from Trespass, and my over trousers were £12 from a department store. Perfectly adequate. If you need to buy a small back pack for day walks, you can get them quite cheaply. Put things in plastic bags as you pack them, then if the pack isn't fully waterproof it doesn't matter. All other clothes can be what you already have, nothing fancy needed.

Tomorrow, I'll answer the question of how to keep safe while walking alone, I am asked this question constantly. Toodle pip.