Saturday 13 February 2010

How Was Your Walk?


11 comments:

  1. There will be walking in West Stafford this afternoon. I've been very moved by your journey so far but will be following with special interest now you are with The Archdeacon - stay warm! Ruth

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  2. From Home to.... Home.
    Distance: just over 4 miles
    Time 5-6pm
    Weather: Cold and occasional snow flurries.

    So I think the request was for us to walk just for the sake of walking? I almost managed that but not quite. I heard this morning of a very sad and quite sudden death and decided that I wanted to follow my usual practice of finding a church where I could light a candle and say a prayer. It turned out that I could only really do this and my walk if I combined them both and then came up with an idea that I thought might still count, even though it wasn't really walking just for the sake of walking... The idea was to walk to my nearest church (if open I would go in of course) and then to walk to the next nearest one and so on. I was interested to know how many of the churches I could get round and how many would be open for business. The plan (which was still unfolding as I left my front door) was to stop at each one, say the nunc dimitis (whether inside or outside) and I would aim to get as many churches in as I could in an hour's walk.

    The first church, East Barnet Baptist church had lights on so I hesitantly tried the door and walked in. An elderly lady said, "Can I help you?" so I asked if I might sit in the church for a few minutes. She said of course I could but had to go and let a few people know (presumably in case someone thought I was trying to steal the music stands or something?!). Anyway, thumbs up to the baptist church for being open and willing to let me in, although I have to confess I didn't "feel" the atmosphere I was looking for.

    On to the Methodist church a few hundred yards away - lights out and door locked. Then a walk through the park and up the hill top St Mary's, the CofE parish church. That had a big sign up advertising that it was open between 2 and 4 on a Saturday so I wasn't surprised to find it in darkness with the doors locked. Still, I said the nunc dimitis anyway (although a brief aside: I was surprised to find that despite the fact that I have sung this almost weekly all my life I was not entirely confident of the words!)

    Back through the park and up the hill towards Cockfosters (and back past the Methodist church which now seemed to be showing signs of life but I think it was a yoga class!). Quite a long walk to a Welsh Trinity Church. This was full of life, or at least the church hall was, but the church itself was definitely locked. And then to complete the circuit back home I thought I'd try Christchurch Cockfosters. Again no luck.

    So that was it, my little pilgrimage of the churches in my locality. Maybe if I'd done a circuit in the other direction I'd have been luckier or maybe it was just a bad time of day. Apart from my little survey and the inevitable reflections on bereavement, I also noticed a couple of things. Firstly, being on my own without music or company was pretty difficult for me, even for just an hour - I knew it would be but wanted to do it anyway. Maybe it would have been nicer if the walk had been in a nicer place! Secondly, as it was getting dark I noticed how quickly and easily I felt vulnerable but also, strangely, how significantly this changed (even over the course of a hundred yards or so) when a part of the route was highly familiar to me, compared to walking down roads that I'd never been along before.

    Anyway, could have written twice as much but probably already too long since this is your blog and not mine! I'm now sitting in front of our real fire, lit for the first time, with a very nice glass of wine. Look forward to hearing whether my walk counts or not even though I broke the rules a bit :)

    Now where are the reports from the rest of you?!

    Catherine

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  3. Just thought all that probably sounds a lot more miserable than it was meant to so apologies to everyone for that! That's what walking round East Barnet and Cockfosters does to you!
    Cath (again)

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  4. I went for a walk yesteday - it was with you, does that count? We walked to Bishopsbriggs and then around the village. We had to go quite slowly because of your heal, but it was a very pleasant stroll.

    About to set off on the next leg with you. 19 miles through Glasgow city centre and then along the Clyde to Bothwell Castle. And it's raining. I don't think it'll be very pleasant.

    Happy Valetines.

    Susie

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  5. Just realised I can't spell.

    I obviously meant Happy Valentines.

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  6. Hi Stuart,
    Hamish has only just told us about your pilgrimage so I've had a quick catch up on what you've done so far and will be following your progress from now. Having done a few walking holidays last year I am rather jealous of what you are now doing.
    I was walking on the Isle of Arran over New Year which was spectacular. Amazing views of snow covered mountains and I only disappeared up to the top of my leg twice!
    Last week I did my Holyhead Mountain walk for the first time this year and will be going on a Ramblers walk on Thursday. I was going to wait and see what the weathers like but think I should do it anyway as you're going out whatever the weather.
    Enjoy the rest of your journey.
    Sue (Barclays Adventurer)

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  7. Stu,

    I will not bother you with the details of the Essex County Council road refurbishment programme but we did not get to go for a walk yesterday - Unless a tour of Tesco looking for Fairtrade sugar counts. Tesco (cards and flowers on special offer today by the way) was followed by a protracted discussion with a council contractor along the lines of " well just how do I get back to my house then?".

    Anyway, we are due to go out today.

    From Home to Home via the fields out the back of the cricket pitch.
    Weather - Wet and a bit chilly, been out in worse but tempted to wait till it brightens up a bit.
    Distance - As far as I can push a pushchair or walk with a 12Kg baby in one of those baby rucksack things.

    Full report to follow, once we have returned. We aim to leave around 12:00 so have been "getting ready" since 08:00.

    Al,Lucy & Lawrence.

    P.S.
    It was Mum who explained to me how to get the post to go on to the blog! !

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  8. A Very Happy Valentines to you and Susie, I did not manage a walk but did manage to hop to the wine shop where I picked up a bottle of Corva, Vendemmia 2007 that I will be testing with Harriet this evening with a home cooked pie. Your journey sounds epic so far. Look forward to the photos later. Just picked up this quote from Charles Dickens "The sum of the whole is this: walk and be happy; walk and be healthy. The best way to lengthen out our days is to walk steadily and with a purpose."

    take it easy

    Oliver R

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  9. I went for three walks yesterday but the first two were to take Luke to the library and then the museum so I suppose they don't really count - although they do for him as he does everything just for the sake of it. He doesn't care about the books in the library or the exhibits in the museum, it's all just a chance to run around and explore. I did finally go for my own walk as you asked around 5:00pm when I decided to take a 3 mile walk around the park. Trouble was, it was really cold and the wind made it even worse. In the end, it turned into a brief stroll around Grand Army Plaza. In any case, I did spare a thought to all those who spend their days outside in all kinds of weather (including those who do it by choice), and went home for my dinner.

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  10. I too went for a walk today, it was a beautiful blue sky, sunny but cold morning and I walked along the river Avon,close to my home town of Evesham. Unfortunately, I was on my own as John is still nursing a sore heel (sounds as if he may have some sympathy!) But it was uplifting and peaceful and I thought of you and Paul and Susie starting your 18mile walk today. Liza sends her love and all in Australia will soon be reading all this, I hope.

    Helen

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  11. I always go walking just for walking sake. I love it and recommend it to everyone. Am currently (don't tell anyone) writing this in the office, after Susie showed me the lovely pics from your walk on the weekend and previously. Several gasps and almost a tear at the snowdrop message moved me to drop you a line to say I wish you all the best for the rest of your journey. I hope that the joy you have captured on this trip will remain with you forever. Kind regards, Julie

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