Week 4 - 100 miles!

I can't quite believe it, but I have walked my first 100 miles in just 4 weeks. Feeling extremely pleased with myself as I really didn't think it would happen so quickly.
I have been trying to keep myself ahead of my targeted 20 miles a week as I know there are going to be some times when I can't get out.
With working 3 days this week I thought I would aim for a really long walk on Monday. I parked at the Pontcysyllte aqueduct and headed for Llangollen, a 9.5mile round trip!

Its a good walk to do as it is mostly flat and you do pass some beautiful scenery and interesting features.

This interesting derelict boathouse was behind a large hotel complex and it seems such a shame.

Then next to it was this gate to nowhere!

The walk to Llangollen was fine. I really enjoyed it. The weather was ok but the landscape got a bit "samey" so I didn't take too many pics.

In Llangollen stopped for coffee and a very small cake (please, I had just walked over 4 miles!) and then headed back. I was ok for the first 2 miles, got a bit tired the next mile but the rest of the walk was hard. I had aches in places I didn't know I had places and every step hurt. My thighs, my hips, my ankles all started complaining and my back pack felt like a small child had climbed in! Most of my layers of clothing had been removed and I have never been so glad to see the car.

Had a bit of an attack of the crazies later on tho as I thought it was a shame I hadn't managed to make double figures, so had a short hike around Ellesmere before the school run. I know, glutton for punishment, but....

The rest of the week has been a bit more sedate with some good but shorter hikes and I am finding it a challenge to keep as local for these as possible. I don't have a huge amount of time between school runs so don't want to be spending most of it in the car. So I am spending a lot of time around Ellesmere and the challenge is to look at things differently so that all the photos don't look the same, after all, the photography is and always has been the priority with all this new stuff I do.

I was very happy with this shot of the warehouse on the Canal Wharf and the 3 ducks taking off at just the right time was perfect. I liked the b&w of this as to me it looks more timeless. I wasn't sure how it would come out as I was shooting into the sun, but I was pleasantly surprised. Fastest shutter speed as possible to capture the birds clearly.

So overall its been a great week. I have hit my 100 miles, booked my extreme activity for February (more on that another time) and had a very interesting invitation from my new young surfer friend that I am seriously considering (and that one I am keeping to myself)

Lessons Learned: I am amazing! I have walked 100 miles in 4 weeks and have enjoyed practically all of it. You never know what you will or won't like until you have a go. So to quote a well known sports retailers slogan "just do it"

Diet Diary: Little disappointing, just dropped a pound this week, had hoped for more, but its still in the right direction and I am extremely determined.

Rambling Record: I may have mentioned previously, but 100 miles!!! In fact 100.31 miles to be exact. Just 899.69 to go!

Week 3, seasides, sunshine and surf

Someone somewhere is smiling down on me. I have had 2 fabulous days out this week and the weather has been just perfect for both.
Wednesday found me with the opportunity to have a long day out so for a change I headed to Aberystwyth. I have only been there once, last July but didn't get the opportunity to really explore.
The day started off extremely cold, misty and frosty which made the journey incredibly beautiful. Just had to stop for this shot, the trees looked gorgeous but I just loved the little lone tree in the field behind. I have just softened the image a little in Lightroom and am very pleased with it.

By the time I got to Aberystwyth, the mist had cleared, leaving a beautiful blue sky and a wonderfully bright sun which lit up the colours of the houses.

I parked the furthest end of the promenade, by the harbour and walked the length of the sea front, then climbed to the top of the cliff shown in the following picture. Only had to stop to restart the breathing a couple of times. Definitely getting better. However, the views were worth it and the little white blob you can see on the horizon over the sea is actually Snowdon. Quite incredible!

So this was a completely fabulous day and what did I happen upon to make it just perfect? That's right. Surfers!

Because the day was bright, I was able to use a very short exposure to capture the moment. I tried manually focussing but I really wasn't quick enough. When I tried autofocus, it seemed to work most of the time. The trick is trying to predict which way they are going to head and I am definitely getting better at recognising the signs and enjoying the moment when the right wave forms.

This one I like because you can see the channel of water just carved out by the board. I shared the photos with the lad who was surfing (James) and one I took of his friend was posted on the Aber Surf Club F/B page! My fame is spreading.

I don't really know why surfing fascinates me. (Leaving aside the whole fit young men in skin tight outfits etc). It's not something I ever want to try but maybe its the feeling that I am watching the closest we would ever get to flying, the whole working together with the elements. I'm not sure, and if I ever come up with something that makes sense, I'll let you know.

And just to finish the day off perfectly, sunset! Don't know who the man is, but he stopped at exactly the right time and place!

2nd fabulous day out this week was to Llandudno, but I've wittered on too much about Aberystwyth to bore you with many details apart from to say that I had my climbing head on again and got up to the Great Orme Hill Fort and this is the view from it!

Lessons learned: I have learned this way, way, way too late, but photographing surfers is a very good way to meet handsome young men. Darn!

Diet Diary: Doing well, 7lb down! Combining the diet with the walking does seem to be doing the trick. Lets hope it continues for at least another few pounds!

Rambling Record: My target is to walk 20miles a week. At the end of week 3, with a target of 60miles, I have walked 74! Yay me!

Week 2 Mountain hikes and minimalism

Determined this week to get out as much as possible before the threatened wintery weather appears. I am quite happy to hike in all sorts of conditions, but I do hate it when its icy. I have absolutely no sense of balance and it only takes the smallest patch of something slippy to send me head over heels. One of my life's regrets is that I have never been able to ice skate or roller skate, and that surfing will always only ever be a spectator sport. (Although if I am honest, that might be more to do with the thought of trying to squeeze myself into a wetsuit!)

So, with this in mind I head into the mountains. I knew there was snow on the higher ground but I thought I'd be ok. It is the most amazing approach, you turn a corner and suddenly the snow capped mountains are spread out in front of you. It is really completely breathtaking.

My photo doesn't do it justice at all, but if you want to see one that does, follow this link to see one of Stewart's. I can only aspire!

The weather was ok so I thought I would head to Llyn Idwal and walk around the lake to get some miles in, plus some wonderful photo opportunities. I had one of those brainwaves you have when it seems like such a good idea at the time. I parked at the very far end of Llyn Ogwen and walked a mile or so to the visitor centre at Llyn Idwal and then up to the bridge over the waterfall.

I love this bridge and the walk to Idwal is beautiful and quite forgiving to the lapsed hiker! In the dull light, the colours were very dramatic. I have tweaked a bit in Lightroom just to enhance the clarity, but haven't done a lot. Continued up to the lake which was looking fabulous.

However at this point the wind came up and it started to rain, as you can see from the splodges on the lens! Raindrops on roses, fine. Raindrops on lenses, not so much. So decision to make. Take a chance and walk round the lake or wimp out and head back to a flask of soup in the car. Wimped out.

Actually it was a good thing I did as the weather got steadily worse and I walked most of it in hail and horizontal wind. Now this is going to surprise regular readers, but I actually had a complete change of clothes in the car, all the way from ladies "unmentionables", to another coat (the one I bought last time I forgot a coat). So after a certain amount of undignified wriggling in a confined space (well you try changing trousers in a car!) I sat there warm and dry sipping on piping hot soup. Smug doesn't even come close!

On the way home I even managed to take a photo ready for Derelict Sunday on Blip. One of the disused farm buildings on the road from Capel Curig.

All in all a pretty fabulous day with well over 5 miles walked.

In the 52 in 2016 challenge, this week's theme is minimalism. I've never really had a go at this and not sure if I really understand the brief, but here is my effort.

It's hard enough trying to take a good photo with what's in front of you, but to have to put it there yourself in the first place is a whole new challenge. I had a go at a few different things but nothing worked until I found my bottles. It's the positive side effect of being a crafter and hoarder, there is all sorts of junk treasure in the house to shoot!

Lessons Learned: Remember to put the clean dry clothes back in the car for next time!
Never throw anything away as you never know when you might need to photograph it!

Diet Diary: Still feeling determined, so its going well. The trouble is that the hiking makes me hungry, so it's hard trying to find the balance.

Rambling Record: At the end of week 2 I have done nearly 47 miles, with a target of just 40, so well ahead. Gives me a bit of wobble room.

New Year, New Challenges

Last year was all about discovering a new and exciting me. About pushing all the boundaries and seeing what sort of person I became. Had a few wobbly moments, but on the whole am very happy with how it all turned out.
Now all I have got to do is decide what to do with the new me!
So I have started off with a few new challenges. First one is another photography challenge. This is through Flickr and is called 52 in 2016. Basically a theme is assigned for every week and you enter a photo fitting that theme. This week has been "reflections" and this is what I entered.

Taken by the canal in Ellesmere and just tweaked a tad in Lightroom.

Next week is "minimalist" and I haven't got a clue at the moment. I think this one is going to be a real voyage of discovery.

2nd challenge is the 1000 miles in 2016 which I mentioned before. I have worked out that I need to walk roughly 20 miles a week to achieve it and at the end of the first week I have walked 26, so a good start. Much of it at Criccieth.

I really want to discover some new places, but before I do, just had to revisit my favourites. Although at Criccieth I was very daring and parked the other side of the Castle! 

It was a beautiful evening just as the sun was setting and it cast gorgeous colours over the water, but I just couldn't get a good photo. If I picked up the colour there was no focal point to the photo and it just looked flat, the main interest was on the other side with the light behind me. This is all still very much trial and error with me, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't although I think the working bits are starting to outweigh the non working ones!

Had a walk to Hell's Mouth too which was as fabulous as usual, and to make it even better, not only was the tide out so far that I could explore previously uncharted territory, but also a couple of surfers came out to play!

3rd Challenge is the resolution to do something daft, outrageous or dangerous every month. I think I have January's covered by signing up for the 1000 miles. Can't get much more daft than that! I have a few ideas for future events, some I need to get a bit of weight off for tho. But suggestions always very welcome.

4th Challenge is the diet. Just got to do it this time, and currently feeling very positive, but we all know how long that usually lasts!

Today's hike took me to Llangollen. The day started off very misty and was quite ethereal and beautiful.

I walked from the weir into town, around town, had coffee and walked back again. I have never seen the river so high and wild. All the areas that you could walk on in the Summer were completely covered with raging water, it was actually quite a scary sight.

So wild, and with the mist still hanging, so beautiful.

Lessons Learned: I am actually enjoying the walking. I have been lucky with the weather and visited some wonderful places, so I think there is a good chance I will keep on with this.

Still can't get used to the idea of not having cake with my coffee. It's just not right!

Diet Diary: The walking does appear to be helping and I have lost 5lb in my first week which I am completely chuffed about. So only another 2 1/2 camera bags to go!

Rambling Record: I am going to keep an account of how far I get each week in case anyone wants to follow my progress. 

So week 1, 25.92 miles - 974.08 to go!

Ellesmere and New Years Resolutions

Because we have had some horrendous weather here recently, there hasn't been much of a chance to venture out. All I have managed over the past couple of days are local visits to Ellesmere. In itself this is no bad thing as there is so much to explore and photograph here.

Yesterday was a walk through the murk and drizzle, but even that can have its own beauty.

One thing I am finding now with the photography, especially since I have been blipping, is that I am starting to look at things differently. The following sculpture (or art installation, not really sure what to call it) is in Ellesmere and I have walked past many times.

However yesterday, I found myself wondering a) what it was actually like inside and b) what would the view from the windows be?

a) muddy
b) as follows:

I had to play around with this one quite a bit to get the right positioning. Firstly I cut off the top of the tree, then I didn't get any of the Mere in. Finally an acceptable, yet uncomfortable position was achieved. Think very large chicken laying an egg! I do suffer for my art!

Today's trip to Ellesmere was completely different. It stopped raining and the evening brought a gorgeous sky.

I followed the canal for quite a way and the sky reflected in the water was just stunning.

I hadn't taken my tripod with me so this was all hand held but I don't think they came out too badly.

I wasn't out too long as despite all the daft things I have done already, I am conscious that I am a lone female walking isolated places in fading light. And although I have a torch and a whistle, that just might not always be enough.

So onto the New Years Resolution part of the blog. I have decided that I am going to do at least one outrageous or dangerous thing that is completely out of my comfort zone every month. Have got a few ideas, but nothing set yet. Watch this space!

Actually tho, first daft thing I have already done is sign up for the Country Walking 1000 miles in 2016 challenge. Sounds a lot, but if you break it down into daily targets... who am I kidding, it is a heck of a lot, but I am determined to do this. So another space to watch!

Lessons Learned: Don't tell people about the walking challenge because they will start singing the Proclaimers 500 miles song and I will get it stuck in my head for the next 2 days!

Diet diary: This is it, serious now. Put on a pound or several over Christmas. With our American holiday in mind later in the year I have got to take control and do something about it. So still looking at losing a camera bag at a time (10lb) only now I probably need to lose 3 rather than 2 :-((