Hiking Curtailed!

I have had the misfortune to pull my achilles tendon. Luckily it's not too serious but it does cause me problems when hiking. I am not too bad on the flat, but as soon as I try to go uphill it hurts a lot.
So, although I am not having to stop walking altogether, which was my worry, I do have to be very selective and very sensible, which as you by now know, doesn't come easily to me!.

A while ago I decided to walk the length of the Llangollen and Montgomery Canals, so bearing in mind that canals are by their very nature generally flat, I thought I would make a serious effort.

This is looking down on the Chirk aqueduct with the viaduct to the right. A different view to how I normally photograph it, and I thought the mist added another dimension.

This is a more usual view of the aqueduct, but I love the beautiful spring colours.

So over the last couple of weeks I have crossed off a lot of bridges along the canal and walked several miles of it and have come to a very serious conclusion. Canals are boring. I can't imagine why anyone would voluntarily pay to float down a canal at a mindnumbing 2mph past trees, fields, cows, more trees, a few more fields, and if you are really lucky, sheep! No mountains, no lakes, no stunningly beautiful scenery, just a few pleasant views.
I think it was when I overtook a boat, and me with my bad leg, that I realised life on the open canal probably wasn't for me.
I will continue with the walking of the canals as I have now set myself the target and it suits my health status at the moment, but as soon as I am fit, Snowdon, here I come!

Trying to mix it up a bit with some town walks too. Earlier it was Chester and the first time I have been able to get a shot of this bridge with no pedestrians!

Then thought a nice gentle stroll from Betws-y-Coed to Swallow falls would be good. It was a nice even path so no trouble. Except that it was 2 miles uphill! Definitely struggled a bit with that one!.

But what an amazing place to be!

So although the emphasis may not be on "Dramatic and Dangerous" at the moment, but more on "flat", I am still very determined to Carry on Hiking! (was there ever a Carry On film about Hiking? If not, there should have been!)

Lessons Learned: Although my heart and mind are telling me that I am still in my thirties, my body is telling me "Just because you believe you have the heart and soul of a much younger person, if you don't actually start to accept your limitations and take care of me and settle nicely into middle age, I'm going to start telling people how old you really are!
I've never been one to listen to my body, and I have no intention of starting now! So 35 next birthday again, and probably quite a few after that too!

Diet Diary: Not too bad. Struggling to stick to it completely, but not putting on which is all I can hope for at the moment.

Rambling Record: Over 320 miles so far this year. Completely unbelievable! It has dropped a bit over the last couple of weeks because of my leg, but am still a bit ahead and am very determined!

Finally out again!

Many apologies for the long wait for a new post. There seems to have been a lot going on recently.
First and foremost, I have a new job! I am now working for Mountain Warehouse and so far am loving it. I have been a regular customer for ages and love the products so am really pleased that I am getting a chance to work with them. They have a huge concession shop within our local garden centre and because I am only working 2 days a week, I will have plenty of time for some more crazy outings!

Haven't had much chance recently to get out for a full day, but yesterday the forecast was brilliant, the kids were amusing themselves and so out I went.

I often have this internal battle where part of me wants to go somewhere new, but the rest of me wants to go somewhere that I know I love. The rest of me won this time and I headed to Llandwyn Island on Anglesey.

It's a fairly long trek from home, just under 2 1/2hrs but the drive is beautiful, through Llangollen, Betws-y-coed and the Ogwen valley. But it is so worth it. How many other beaches can boast miles of soft sand, a forest, views of Snowdonia, 2 lighthouses and a ruined monastery!

Plenty of people around today, but the beach is so wide and long, it would be churlish to object as we all had plenty of space. Some people even had a very innovative mode of travel to get to the beach.

Because I have been here many times, the challenge again today is to take photos different from the one's I have taken every other trip. Not so easy, as I tend to go for my favourite shots! Still had a bit of a play around with different angles and hope I have achieved a difference.

That picture somehow makes it all look very stormy, but most of the time the skies were brilliant blue and the sun was bright and warming. This is more of an illustration of what it actually was like.

There were about 6 ponies just wandering around the island, ignoring the people, but just keeping far enough away. Thank heavens for telephoto lenses!

On the island there are many sheltered bays overlooked by small cliffs. I climbed to the top of one to sit and admire the view, where I came across a kindred spirit who was watching out for sea lions. We sat and chatted a while about the spirituality of Llandwyn, the beauty that is Hell's Mouth (although he goes there to catch a possible glimpse of dolphins rather than surfers!) and the joys of being out on the Welsh Coast. We did see sea lions, but unfortunately too far out to photograph.

So a bit more exploration of the island and I found that I had covered about 6 miles!

I recently posted a question to female hikers on my blipfoto page (Maisiebeth's blips) about how they avoid needing "comfort breaks" on a hike. The answer generally came back as you don't, you just find a large bush in a secluded area. (But if anyone out there knows anything different, would be glad to hear) Not too many secluded areas yesterday, so I headed back to the car park to "freshen up"

From the car park, there are many forest trails of differing lengths. I decided to go on the fitness trail, 1.7 miles with various instruments of torture pieces of fitness equipment that you can have a go on. Passed the first one, then didn't see another. Must have somehow missed the big green signs highlighting the path. I know, completely hopeless! But I thought its a fabulous day for a walk and I can always retrace my steps. It was just gorgeous, all I could hear were the birds singing in the trees. Past just one jogger with dogs and then saw no one as I went deeper into the forest. Had a bit of a Hansel and Gretel thought, but clean out of breadcrumbs! Finally ended up back on the beach but an awful long way away from where I started, completely the other side of the island in fact so a longer hike than expected, but a glorious one. 

I am not a religious person but I do find a spirituality in Llandwyn. It's a bit hard to describe but it feels like being at peace. Not sure if it is the beauty of the surroundings or the feeling of insignificance when you look across Snowdonia, but there is something about it that tops the zen levels way up!

Lessons Learned: There is just no pleasing me! I have a fabulous new job working with wonderful people and products and yet I am disappointed that practically none of the clientele are handsome, fit, young outdoorsy types! Most are the more mature on coach trips to pick up some seeds and shrubbery from the Garden Centre:-( Still, I suppose no job is perfect!

Diet Diary: Easter, chocolate, Beth home from Uni and baking. 'Nuff said I think

Rambling Record: With the 11.63 miles done at Llandwyn (I know impressive huh!) I have currently done 276 miles of the 1000 so far! Feeling really pleased.

Just a note, I have had some strange comments put on the blog. The last was a whole paragraph in an arabic language. I have deleted them, but if anyone sees any of these, I apologize for any offence caused and I will try to keep them off.