Hiking
Keeping going on the running here, working on stamina, lifting my feet and lengthening my stride, still landing too hard. The camera’s useful to check style. I’ve researched a couple of routes new to me including woodland paths that are fun to bounce along as well as softer on the feet.
Great to be running after it seeming for many years that my joints wouldn’t let me do it any more. But I overdid it and ended up walking like a robot for a day or two, not because of joints pain but a strain to my Achilles tendon. Rest and anti-inflammatory gel have calmed it down. A warning.
Back buzzing from my run up Latrigg (368 m.), the cross-country runner in me doesn’t get out much these days. That was a new personal best time. Just the three photo stops. Mind you every incentive to keep running, there’s a brisk wind blowing the mist up there.
I chose the steep route up, the “runners’ path”, and was happy to find the stile at the forest edge has been repaired. Back down the main path - it’s a great opportunity to straddle run.
Not many people out up there in the driving drizzle but great to hear an encouraging shout of “Go for it Lad” and another of “Go for it Soldier”, both in strong Geordie voices.
Landacre Bridge, River Barle
Withypool Bridge, River Barle
An enjoyable day’s hiking with my Brother in the valley of the River Barle on Exmoor, though wet underfoot and the bracken has already turned golden. The river and the valley area SSSIs are particularly protected within the national park for their international importance as an assemblage of upland dry and wet dwarf shrub heath, valley mires and breeding bird sites. One of the mires grabbed me when I was slightly off the path; a slight mis-step and the mire sucked me in up to my thighs, so wet gear and heavy boots for the rest of the hike. Finally an Exmoor Cream Tea back at the starting point of our hike, Withypool Bridge.
More photos: River Barle SSSI - South Exmoor SSSI - Exmoor National Park
Hike in the Calanques from La Madrague-de-Montredon at the end of Marseille bus route 19. We started out late in the day as there were problems hiring a city bike as the app wouldn’t work. But hiking in the sunshine under the blue sky and in moderate temperatures is always a great tonic, even though we didn’t get that far in or up the Marseilleveyre Massif. Great views of the Baie de Marseille and even Mt. Ventoux far away.
More photos: Blue sky and sunshine - Parc National des Calanques
Stomping up the main path on Skiddaw. Blustery wind and not the weather for great views, this was a training hike instead of the gym.
